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.