Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Week 8: Twitter Reflection

My Twitter Reflection

 During this semester, I have learned quite a bit about technology and social networking. One on the social networks that this course required was Twitter. Since I hardly ever used technology, Twitter was something I had to struggle with until it clicked for me. Twitter allowed me to connect with many other educators to discuss varying educational topics. Twitter ultimately made my profession easier by researching helpful hints and tips.

Twitter has been great for many things. It has allowed me to broaden my mindset on technology in the classroom. It has allowed me to view different perspective from many different educators coming from either similar or different backgrounds from me. I have learned that Twitter can not only be used for professional development, but also as a way to communicate with parents and students. Since Twitter has such a user friendly interface that documenting or contacting people is simple.

Twitter is a great way to engage students and interact with parents. Twitter also allows parents to see what is happening in the classroom. Today's education is currently undergoing a technology facelift, and students are loving it. Twitter is a great social network and I am believe that more teachers need to hop on the tweeting bandwagon!

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1 Helpful Hashtag (#)
One hashtag search that helped me a lot was #EdTech.

 2 Personal Tweets

Twitter is great for involving parents in classroom discussions! Everyone can learn now! #EdTech

3 Helpful Tweeters 
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Week 7: Assistive Technology

Special education is a term that includes two definitions. One definition in a child that is mentally or physically disabled. The second definition of special education is a type of curriculum that supports students labeled as "gifted." Technology has proven itself useful not only in the general classroom but also in the special education  classroom. 

Due to the academic standards set by NCLB, the inclusion classroom is in need of technology, especially "assistive technology" (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p. 402). Technology has always been a term to explain how to make society's life more functional. In the past, assistive technology was used to help those with a physical disability. However, assistive technology has grown to include software programs and other types of hardware (Roblyer and Doering, 2013, p. 400). 

Now that assistive technology is merging into instructional planning, differentiation can now be more feasible. Listed below are some common known disabilities and some assistive technologies that can help aid those in need. 
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Common Disabilities and Assentive Technologies

Mild Disabilities
Students with mild disabilities could educationally benefit from interactive notebooks and basic reading or math skills practice software.

Website Suggestion
Hardware Suggestion
Livescribe Pen

 Moderate to Severe Disabilities
Students with this type of exceptionality could educationally benefit from videos or software that support day to day needs.

 Website Suggestion
Ablenet
Hardware Suggestion
Tobii ATI

 Physical Disabilities
Students will physical disabilities could educationally benefit from technology that would allow them to be more kinesthetic.

 Website Suggestion
Dragon Dictation
Hardware Suggestion  
Air Parrot

 Sensory Disabilities
Students with sensory disabilities could educationally benefit from technology that could increase in vision or hearing.

 Website Suggestion
Kurzweil
Hardware Suggestion
CL-iLoops

At-Risk Behaviors/ Students
Students with at-risk behavior would educationally benefit from technology that increased student motivation and engagement.

Website Suggestion
Edmodo
Hardware Suggestion
IWB

Gifts and Talents
Students that at gifted would educationally benefit from technology that increased the expectations of the current state standards.

Website Suggestion
CAST
Hardware Suggestion 
iPad

References:

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H.  (2013).  Integrating educational technology into teaching.
Boston, MA:  Pearson Education, Inc.



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Sunday, July 28, 2013

Week 6: Web 2.0 Resources

Web 2.0 Resources

This Web 2.0 is called a Glogster. A "glog" is basically a multi-based media power point. This glog is based on a lesson on Context Clues for a remediation class that I teach. The glog is embedded below.


An Animoto is a video based power point. It allows the user to present texts, pictures, and video at a high quality. The Animoto that I created is also based on a lesson on Context Clues. The slideshow is embedded below.


Make a video of your own at Animoto.

Here are two games from classtools.net that I made for Context Clues!

Game 1

Game 2
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Connections to the Text

 The evolution of technology has seemed to have happened at the speed of sound. Being always connected to our smart phones and tablets has led to rapid developments in communication characteristics. We are now at a point in our society where constant communication and connection to the Internet is simply ubiquitous. "This ubiquitous use of technology has given new life of education in the form of distance education"(Roblyer, M.D., Doering, A.H., pg. 205). Although the term Web 2.0, an Internet trend that puts  the authorship of online content into the hands of websites' users, has become very common in educational circles, what educators are hearing more about today are discussions around social networking. Developing  web based lessons has become  an excellent way for both teachers and students to learn the power of the Internet. These resources are not only easily accessed, the majority of them, related to education are available at no charge to the student, teacher, or school district. This makes them very appealing. Only a few years ago, web pages could not be developed without program authoring languages and scripting tools. This is no longer the case.

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Final Thoughts on using Web 2.0 Resources

 Once I was familiar with the use and practicality of the media resources, I would certainly use them in my classroom. Prior to being exposed to these resources, I could gather enough material and information for a lesson in approximately forty-five minutes to an hour. After the initial "trial and error" of putting together the same type of material, this time in a technological format, I could easily find the benefits of multiple uses. In other words, I could easily see that the benefits outweigh the initial time it takes to put the lessons into a technological format. I look forward to utilizing multi-media in the future.

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Saturday, July 27, 2013

Week 5: Mobile Technology and Applications

Mobile technology is sweeping the educational system by storm. Mobile technology is very exciting because it is "mobile!" Students can carry them virtually everywhere, and teachers can, too! Students can participate in QR code scavenger hunts, they can make iMove videos, they can perform any type of assignment while hiking or biking! Children with ADHD can move around and complete their work without causing a disruption, and students can translate words into another language! 

The iPad is one piece of mobile technology that I would like to talk about. Apple has partnered with educators to develop applications that can enhance student learning. The iPad is built to fit all the modes of learning. The apps make the device and the apps are changing education. The iPad fits all levels of learning from Pre-K to students in Med School. Student engagement is becoming feasible with the iPad.

I would use this piece of technology to promote student engagement. I would digitize my lessons and allow the kids to move around in groups. Learning centers can be used along with social networking to assess student learning. There would be a collection of classroom apps that comes from the Apple Store that the students could use. 

Below is a video on iPad technology!


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Blogger
Click here to visit the Blogger app.

The blogger app is simply a way to access Blogger from a mobile device. It would be perfect for students would need to complete simple reflections, journal posts, or summaries.

Twitter
Click here to visit the Twitter app.

The Twitter app is great for accessing Twitter for virtually anything. Students can micro blog quickly. Students could send teachers questions, and students can connect to other educational Tweeters!

Google Drive
Click here to visit the Google Drive app.

Google has provided a free series of software similar to Microsoft Office. All you need is a google account. The Google Drive app allows students to make power points, excel spreadsheets, and word documents from the iPad. Students no longer need flash drives, or to boot up a computer.

Edmodo
Click here to visit the Edmodo app.

Edmodo is a facebook-like social network that is meant for teacher to students communication. Students can access course material and take a variety of assessments straight from the iPad. It is very similar to blackboard!

 All these apps are also available for android mobile devices!

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Connections to the Text

One of the major issues in education is student motivation. According the text, students are more likely to produce quality work when published of the web (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p.25). This makes complete sense because there is difference from a teacher assessing a product and the world assessing the product. This will also make the work more authentic if the student's product was geared towards an authentic audience. For example, a student writes a summary on Japanese culture. I have would have the student post a link Twitter to have real Japanese people comment on the summary. The combination of Twitter and Google Drive allows this scenario to happen.

Another hot topic in education is student and teacher collaboration. According to the text, word processing has changed the way people exchange ideas (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 118). The Google Drive app has given people the ability to share ideas and other forms of documents. Students can easily critique and assess their classmate's work, and teachers can provide meaningful feedback, quickly.

Every student learns differently, and every teacher teaches differently. The iPad and the concept of distance learning can bridge the gap of students learning from different types of educators. According to the text, students who spend more time learning online become better with online resources (Roblyer & Doering, 2013, p. 213). This in turn suggests that a hybrid classroom can provide students with a balance of face-to-face teaching and online education. The iPad allows students to learn online from a variety of people by using Oovoo, Skype, and Khan Academy.

Here is my tweet on mobile devices!



 References:

Roblyer, M. D., & Doering, A. H.  (2013).  Integrating educational technology into            
            teaching.  Boston, MA:  Pearson Education, Inc.
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