Virtual Schooling- Final Post

There was a lot of information to digest however it was all very helpful because I am very interested in online learning. I think if I started as a traditional educatior I would feel different but my first introduction to education came through online learning and I love it.

 If I was a Principal and one of my parents wanted to pull their child out of Mr. Siko's class because one of their older children had a class with him and the student hated him for whatever reason, I would explain to the parent that Mr. Siko's is one of the best chemistry teachers in the district and the experience that the older child had may not be the same experience. However if the parent still decided to put the child in a online chemistry class through my school I would still allow Mr. Siko to over see the class because he is the teacher with the chemistry experience.

I also think Principal's should stand behind their teachers and even if a student wants to take a online class that does not prevent them from coming in contact with the department on staff. Online classes require qualified teachers to make sure students are getting the most from the class especially when they have questions or any struggles with the content.

If the parent decided to remove the child all together because of a personality conflict with a instructor, I would try to discourage them from doing that but not at the point of disrespecting any of my teachers.

Virtual Schooling - POST 2

As I read all the myths most of them I had heard before but there was one that really caught my attention which was " Virtual schooling is not about establishing online learning as a delivery system competing with traditional k-12 schools. It also is not about disseminating new or innovative instructional technologies. Before reading this statement I thought that was exactly what online learning was all about.

It is essentially about educational improvement, school reform, and improving academic performance in America's high schools."

As I listen to Professor Siko's video he stated that anyone could teach a online class however the Plato credit recovery class I taught for a year the district required that the instructors have a teaching certification. Not just anyone could have taught that class. I was very upset however I agree that instructors in a online class should meet the same requirements as any other teacher.

As I listened to Professor Siko's video it dawned on me we are talking about k-12 not just high school. As I pondered over that thought I began to think about children in k-6, how would they stay focused and sit long enough to complete their work in a online class. I thought about my twin grandsons and how one can sit in front of the computer for hours and the other one needs to be motivated by bright, colorful pictures to keep him interested in what is happening on the computer. From my experience I think if the teacher can come up with lessons that will keep the student engaged no matter what age then the student will be able to have a great learning experience.

Virtual School Discussion Part 1

The only teaching I have done has been in an on-line class. I was offered a job as the I.T. Coordinator/Plato Facilitator. I had never heard of a Plato credit recovery class before however I found it very intriguing. My class was for 9th-12th grade and I offered every class in the curriculum on a lap top in the computer room. What I know about on-line education is that it can be very rewarding, full filling, user friendly, patient and motivating because the class is on a computer which allows you to go over your lesson as many times as you like. On line classes also meet all standard requirements as well as levels of understanding. I think my students felt much more comfortable struggling on the computer than out loud in front of the class. I discovered that learning on the computer required students to allow themselves to try something new and learn a subject they failed in previous classes. I was very excited to teach and learn at the same time right along with my students.

The good thing about on line education is that as long as internet is available you can even do your homework on a cell phone which most students already have.  That saves the school and parents money if they do not have a lap top at home.

I found most teacher who had been teaching a long time did not care for on line education at all, they felt that it was not real teaching however the district decided all the teachers in a on line class had to be certified and have the same qualifications as any other teacher. This is one of the reasons I returned to school, to make sure I would be qualified to teach a on line class if I desired.

I decided to return to 25 yrs of healthcare employment while i complete my education because it pays a lot better than teaching . When I return to teaching it will be because I enjoy it and I really think I only want to teach on line classes.

Links

Here are a few of the blog links I really like because they give information to me, my students and the parents to help them understand more about what is going on. The one that has been the most useful to me at this point has been the Plato link because parents are able to understand just what Plato will be doing to assist their child in understanding the subject matter better. It also gives them access to see what their child should be doing on a daily basis and all the work that needs to be completed in order for them to receive an acceptable grade.   It is also a good tool to use at parent conference because it has a rolling report of everything done from the first day so it speaks for itself.







http://www.businessinsider.com/
http://technorati.com/technology/cloud-computing/
plato-philosophy.org/resources/blogs
www.edutopia.org/blogs/tag/online-learning  
http://www.teachingblogcentral.com/

Week 7 Youtube and Wikipedia

The Charter schools I work for have all the computers blocked so that students can not pull up YouTube at all. Some how my students always find a way to get around the block and pull them up anyway. If they are caught the principal suspends them from school for three days on the first offense. In my class as long as students are using YouTube in a productive way that can help explain a educational point I'm fine with it.

As far as Wikipedia goes I have no problem with students using it as long as they have at least three other references with it to verify that the information is accurate. Anyone can post information so I want them to make sure they have more than one source especially if it is Wikipedia. All sources need to be backed up with more than one reference no matter what it is. I have discovered just because it is on the internet does not mean it is the truth and I want them to know that as well.

Week 5 : Introducing new technology in the classroom in a thoughtful way.

As I read Tom Barrett's three articles i found him to be a very caring and compassionate educator. He began his articles by sharing with other educators tips on introducing on line collaboration to students. He talked about something i think is so important in the classroom which is modeling what you want your students to do. It is not enough to just give an assignment instructors need to demonstrate what is to be done so the student can get a clear picture of how they should be performing to obtain a certain outcome. I also love how he talks about modeling not only the technical side but the communication side as well throughout the entire project.
 For me even as a graduate student communication helps me to get a much better understanding of what is expected. In his second article he talks about communication being the key not the tool when putting your students together in groups. He makes a good point that just because students are working together in the same online space does not mean they are collaborating well with each other. In our technical age he points out how important it is to close the computer and talk to each other to make sure everyone in on the same page.
In my classroom I use everything in moderation so that my students will have a balance in using critical thinking along with communication as well as utilizing technology to enhance the process. I also believe when you are introducing new things that some students may never have experienced you need to be patient with them and put them in groups with others who have strong technical skills so they can learn from each other. We fear what we do not know so I think it is important to introduce new technology with a lot of patience and understanding to make sure your students grasp all the techniques.

Week 4

As I read the information about the SAMR Model I began to think about how I could use these tools in the classroom to help my students become more excited about learning. I taught in a Plato Credit Recovery computer lab where all subjects are loaded on the computer . Some students find it difficult to focus on their subject matter when they have no interaction with the subject but the computer and the instructor .
Substitution level introduces students to how the computer is replacing pencils and paper. This method helps expedite functional change. With the substitution level I am able to show students how the computer can be their friend because it gives them time to get the understanding of the subject rather than taking the book home they can print it out or pull the homework up when they get home.

Augmentation level - With this level I am able to give students immediate feedback on their quiz's so they can see where they need more clarity to achieve a better understanding. This level helps students to become more engaged with not only the computer but the subject matter as well, it continues to work with them until they get the correct understanding.

Modification level - With this level I am able to see how each student is progressing and assist them with one on one tutoring to make sure they get a clear understanding of each assignment. I can create a spreadsheet that shows how much time each student has spent going over the material and how many times they did not pass the exams. This level helps me to get them back on track so they can improve their grade at home as well as in the classroom. This level helps give peer and teacher feedback and I am able to put the students in groups to monitor for significant change in the classroom.

Redefinition level - With this level I can create a website for parents, students and staff that shows all the assignments for the entire semester. I can also create a video that gives step by step instructions for students who need visual aid. This level could also be used  for a question and answer session where any subject matter could be discussed to help students get one on one assistance at anytime. Students could also create video's and post them on the website that show how technology has improved their understanding of the subject matter to help other students become more engaged and motivated to learn with technology. Video's of student's working out a difficult math or chemistry formula could be a great encouragement for students to get a better understanding of how the formula works instead of just reading it on paper.