I have enjoyed the exposure to multiple tools and ideas about blending online instruction with my current old school classroom. I have known that there are endless resources out there for teachers to use but finding the time on my own has always proven to be a daunting task. Other things always get in the way. So the exposure is one of my favorite parts of this course.
I also loved reading and responding to other classmates comments. It is comforting to see that many teachers are in the same situation that I am in. Trying to perform better in their rooms with 21st century skills. Some are ahead of where I am and where my school is but many are at the same spot as I. The blog has been a fun way to share some thoughts and archive many ideas that I have had. I found the Symbaloo project to be much the same. When this course is all said and done I will still have my blog and Symbaloo webmix which will provide a starting point for me this summer as I prepare for next school year.
I think that blending some online instructional tools with my traditional classroom is very doable. I have always thought that. I do think I walk away from this course with a bit more confidence that it can work and work well. Some of the concerns I still possess will probably always be there....how much screen time is too much for a kid on a given day? And digital citizenship is a concern. But overall, the power of engagement with the curriculum is what all teachers want and I think the digital world is making that arena better even with the fundamental shift on what education is becoming.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Social Media in the Classroom
As a teacher in a high school I have already developed an opinion about social media in the classroom. Overall, I see an ability to harness the power and engagement that social media can bring to the classroom. However, I am not convinced that the positives outweigh the negatives. I already fight the distraction that social media brings to the room. I run a fairly open classroom where the use of technology is the norm. I allow students to access information via their smartphones. I allow them to use some of the applications that are available to them. Those are the positives....the negatives come down to one main idea....distraction!!
Students struggle when given permission to use their phones to stay on task. A tweet, a Facebook post, an Instagram photo, or a Vine video all take a level of importance over the work that is supposed to be done. The students that struggle with ADD or ADHD now have a device in their hands that encourages them to multi-task, to have a short attention span, to seamlessly move from one social media to the next.
I do believe Social Media has a positive side. However, at this point I am not convinced that the positives outweigh the negative.
Students struggle when given permission to use their phones to stay on task. A tweet, a Facebook post, an Instagram photo, or a Vine video all take a level of importance over the work that is supposed to be done. The students that struggle with ADD or ADHD now have a device in their hands that encourages them to multi-task, to have a short attention span, to seamlessly move from one social media to the next.
I do believe Social Media has a positive side. However, at this point I am not convinced that the positives outweigh the negative.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Stormboard and Bag The Web
I have been exposed to so many good tools on the web to add to my classroom. One of my favorites has been Stormboard. It is a real time word wall that allows teacher control while students contribute. Pictures, videos, links and comments can all be left on the wall for others to see. All participants are also given the ability to vote for posts that are good, helpful, and meaningful.
I plan on using stormboard with my AP world history course in just a few days. I will be creating a board, with the help of my students to leave behind for my new crop of AP kids next year. The advice being left behind will be from students not the teacher. Hopefully, making the information more "useful" in the minds of my new students and a way to recap good study skills, the importance of not procrastinating, and a sense of community for my current students who will be moving on in just a few days.
I have also had fun using Bag The Web. A very nice way to accumulate WWW resources and make them available to students. Takes the immensity of a google search and brings it down to things that the teacher has looked at and approved as a solid source of information.
I plan on using stormboard with my AP world history course in just a few days. I will be creating a board, with the help of my students to leave behind for my new crop of AP kids next year. The advice being left behind will be from students not the teacher. Hopefully, making the information more "useful" in the minds of my new students and a way to recap good study skills, the importance of not procrastinating, and a sense of community for my current students who will be moving on in just a few days.
I have also had fun using Bag The Web. A very nice way to accumulate WWW resources and make them available to students. Takes the immensity of a google search and brings it down to things that the teacher has looked at and approved as a solid source of information.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Course Application
While working through the tasks of this course I have often thought there are many things that I will try next school year. I have also thought I would have loved to have worked on this course at a different time of the year. State testing, final exams, and the end of the year processes have taken more of my spare time than I would like. Thus giving me less time to work and tinker with this course.
I certainly have enjoyed the wealth of tools and resources that are a part of this course. On my Symbaloo web mix I have links to 40 plus tools for me to consider in the future. Allowing access to my students within this mix is also exciting. I am hoping that I can enhance their "homework" at this point and maybe even classwork if our technology access increases in the near future.
I teach an AP World course where we write early and often! Having the time with each kids essay to sit and discuss my written comments is impossible. So I really like the idea of the voice thread application so I can give feedback. It will probably take me more time......I think.........but it will be well worth it in the end.
Another favorite application is Padlet. I was excited to try to use Padlet with my classes this year as a way of community review for an exam. I just couldn't get the computer time in order to do it. But I think this can be a powerful way of increasing the community environment inside of my classroom and from home as well.
I think one of my most pressing concerns about all this digital enhancement to classrooms comes from my concern for my own children first. Too much screen time is not a good thing. My wife and I regulate how much TV, computer, ITouch, etc.... I am concerned that if I send my kid to school with a highly integrated digital curriculum that their screen time will easily hit 6, 7, 8 hours per day. That I am not sure is a good idea. So to be honest with myself and my few blog readers....I am not sure that all digital all the time is the way to go.
I certainly have enjoyed the wealth of tools and resources that are a part of this course. On my Symbaloo web mix I have links to 40 plus tools for me to consider in the future. Allowing access to my students within this mix is also exciting. I am hoping that I can enhance their "homework" at this point and maybe even classwork if our technology access increases in the near future.
I teach an AP World course where we write early and often! Having the time with each kids essay to sit and discuss my written comments is impossible. So I really like the idea of the voice thread application so I can give feedback. It will probably take me more time......I think.........but it will be well worth it in the end.
Another favorite application is Padlet. I was excited to try to use Padlet with my classes this year as a way of community review for an exam. I just couldn't get the computer time in order to do it. But I think this can be a powerful way of increasing the community environment inside of my classroom and from home as well.
I think one of my most pressing concerns about all this digital enhancement to classrooms comes from my concern for my own children first. Too much screen time is not a good thing. My wife and I regulate how much TV, computer, ITouch, etc.... I am concerned that if I send my kid to school with a highly integrated digital curriculum that their screen time will easily hit 6, 7, 8 hours per day. That I am not sure is a good idea. So to be honest with myself and my few blog readers....I am not sure that all digital all the time is the way to go.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
21st Century Skill Set?
At my school we have been having this discussion. We have to prepare our students to have a 21st Century Skill Set in order to compete in this world. I am looking for input.....what is the 21st Century Skill Set?
Monday, April 22, 2013
Technology Integration Matrix
Teaching high school world history for many years has allowed me to develop many different lessons that use technology in different ways. Internet field trips, exploration, streaming video and collaborative activities have become more common over the years. However, my most successful use of technology aided lessons come during my WWII unit where I have used Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) computer games to help engage students about the causes of WWII. The game Making History: The Calm and the Storm is a game made and produced by Muzzy Lane, an upstart software company that has done some great things in education. This lesson/unit falls on the TIM within Adaptive and Authentic categories. The computer game is a turn based strategy game that allows for internal collaboration, decision making, and outside negotiations in order to succeed in the game. Over the past several years I have had great success incorporating this tool into my lessons.
I have many other lessons that fall in different areas of the matrix. But one of the largest hurdles to overcome for me right now is access. Having access to a stationary or mobile lab can be arduous. Labs are normally difficult to schedule especially when teaching the same course all day so reserving a lab means taking it for the entire day! The lack of access to devices in my building really keeps me from incorporating more technology enhanced lesson plans.
In the past I have also used the computer game The Sims to be a weekly enhancement of Sociology lesson plans. This probably also fits in the Adaptive and Authentic are of the matrix. Much the same situation as the use of Making History. However, the drawback here is money. Having the money to purchase enough copies of the game was a huge hindrance to expanding the use of The Sims.
I don't really see my situation improving by the end of the year. My corporation is looking at moving to one to one in the near future. The interesting aspects about computer games in this situation is that previously I have been able to purchase a few copies of a game and I would incorporate them into my classroom. However, once we go one to one I could need 100 plus copies of the game to play it with all my kids. Losing a mobile or stationary lab will increase the amount of software I would need.
I have many other lessons that fall in different areas of the matrix. But one of the largest hurdles to overcome for me right now is access. Having access to a stationary or mobile lab can be arduous. Labs are normally difficult to schedule especially when teaching the same course all day so reserving a lab means taking it for the entire day! The lack of access to devices in my building really keeps me from incorporating more technology enhanced lesson plans.
In the past I have also used the computer game The Sims to be a weekly enhancement of Sociology lesson plans. This probably also fits in the Adaptive and Authentic are of the matrix. Much the same situation as the use of Making History. However, the drawback here is money. Having the money to purchase enough copies of the game was a huge hindrance to expanding the use of The Sims.
I don't really see my situation improving by the end of the year. My corporation is looking at moving to one to one in the near future. The interesting aspects about computer games in this situation is that previously I have been able to purchase a few copies of a game and I would incorporate them into my classroom. However, once we go one to one I could need 100 plus copies of the game to play it with all my kids. Losing a mobile or stationary lab will increase the amount of software I would need.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Removing Barriers
Never having been a student or instructor in an online environment, I can only really make some guesses as to the barriers that can be broken and possible new ones that may be created:
Breaking Barriers:
1. I believe the the environment created by online courses/blended courses will help with the acceptance of diversity. Online Diversity seems to lend itself to hidden social barriers that sometimes impact a students role in a tradition B & M classroom. Students who may be soft-spoken, who may be ESL students, or students who may not be as aggressive in the classroom. Online discussion and online interaction with the instructor certainly remove some of the social barriers that are prevalent in a B&M classroom. This digital environment gives all the same voice, with opportunity to participate in discussion, to ask questions without the fear of student acceptance, and/or approval from the teacher.
2. Some social factors that keep students from success in B&M classrooms that I see are attendance issues, teen pregnancy, suspension and expulsion from school. Regardless of a students situation, their education is still a gateway to opportunity and students deserve to have more than the traditional method to make that opportunity a reality. It is arguable that this will better society as a whole. I believe that an Online/Blended situation will break down this traditional barrier as well.
New Barriers:
1. Technology Access: Even in our digital age and easy access to the WWW I still have students that do not have internet access at home. I do wonder if this will become a new "IEP" and modifications will need to be made for the student....almost creating a Brick and Mortar situation for kids that do not have internet access.
2. Technology Bugs: Much like being early users of CAKE bugs always show up when relying upon technology for instruction. Projector lamps burn out, servers crash, and computers lock up. There are always hurdles to overcome in education but in a Brick and Mortar situation teachers can easily adapt to a schedule change, a convo, or something that modifies their day. Tech problems, however, sometimes require the assistance of a well trained individual to fix the problem. This can be very frustrating while starring at 30 bright young faces waiting to be instructed.
Breaking Barriers:
1. I believe the the environment created by online courses/blended courses will help with the acceptance of diversity. Online Diversity seems to lend itself to hidden social barriers that sometimes impact a students role in a tradition B & M classroom. Students who may be soft-spoken, who may be ESL students, or students who may not be as aggressive in the classroom. Online discussion and online interaction with the instructor certainly remove some of the social barriers that are prevalent in a B&M classroom. This digital environment gives all the same voice, with opportunity to participate in discussion, to ask questions without the fear of student acceptance, and/or approval from the teacher.
2. Some social factors that keep students from success in B&M classrooms that I see are attendance issues, teen pregnancy, suspension and expulsion from school. Regardless of a students situation, their education is still a gateway to opportunity and students deserve to have more than the traditional method to make that opportunity a reality. It is arguable that this will better society as a whole. I believe that an Online/Blended situation will break down this traditional barrier as well.
New Barriers:
1. Technology Access: Even in our digital age and easy access to the WWW I still have students that do not have internet access at home. I do wonder if this will become a new "IEP" and modifications will need to be made for the student....almost creating a Brick and Mortar situation for kids that do not have internet access.
2. Technology Bugs: Much like being early users of CAKE bugs always show up when relying upon technology for instruction. Projector lamps burn out, servers crash, and computers lock up. There are always hurdles to overcome in education but in a Brick and Mortar situation teachers can easily adapt to a schedule change, a convo, or something that modifies their day. Tech problems, however, sometimes require the assistance of a well trained individual to fix the problem. This can be very frustrating while starring at 30 bright young faces waiting to be instructed.
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