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TECHNOLOGY used for ASSESSMENT
Before class, I knew a minimal amount about this topic of tech tools used to assess student learning. I had seen Kahoot! used in class, and I have used Moodle throughout my education so I would refer to those two sites as a form of assessment that is used in today's classrooms. But what I didn't know was that there are so many more sites that teachers can use! So, while preparing for this class I played with Go Soap Box, Go Formative, and Screenchomp. These sites were all great for formative, and summative assessment through technology. But they are also very different from one another so I would recommend playing with them before using them in the classroom. Additional Resources: Top Tech Tools for Assessment List of Assessment tools In class I learned that using online assessment tools really helps the teacher stay organized. This is better compared to having papers, projects, and other junk piling up on your desk. This is key for teachers who want to finish grading in a timely fashion and to really study their students' progress throughout the year. This changed my understanding of assessment because I always though of it as grading written tests and quizzes. But in actuality, this is a new age where technology can replace a lot of tedious acts such as single-handly grading tests.
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DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM
Before this class time, my knowledge of devices used in the classroom was actually quite extensive. In middle school we used the COW or the Computers On Wheels. This was a cart that held about 30 Chromebook laptops and charged them. We also had experience with Desktop computers, which are less common in large schools today. I had very little experience with the iPad before high school though. Through my prep for class I learned:
For the Love of Laptops (article on website) Laptops vs. iPads (review website) In class I found that iPads offer many fun and educational apps that can really aid learning. But there are also so many downfalls to using iPads in schools that many schools are returning their tablets in turn for laptops. I think as I researched the benefits and downfalls of these devices, that my understanding has grown immensely. I also believe that if I had a choice in the matter, I would choose Chromebook Laptops for my classroom, not iPads. Smart Boards are awesome! Before class I watched and informational video on the them and learned some fun, new tricks. Like how to cover items up with a white box so students can focus more on one object.
I learned in class that Smart Boards can be used in so many different ways! I learned about how to use them to teach more interactive lessons. Such as using a virtual dice on the screen so students can roll it and learn about probabilities or about statistical math lessons. After learning all of this, my understanding of Smart Notebook and the Board is much larger and fuller, so I am very excited to use my new skills to teach in the classroom! Additional Resources: YouTube video on the Smart Board Teacher's Love Smart Boards Site SOCIAL MEDIA & COLLABORATION TOOLS
1. Before this class time I had a pretty wide knowledge of Social Media sites and different Collaboration tools that could be used for teaching. I have accounts on multiple social media sites such as: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, SnapChat, and Skype. Some Collaboration tools I am a part of are: Skype, Moodle, Schoology, and even Google Drive. The collaboration websites all enable me to connect with my fellow classmates and to get work done outside of class. Through my preparation for class I learned that some teachers today are finding ways to use Social Media sites in their own classrooms. I think this is very interesting since these websites were not created for this purpose but are being used anyways. Additional Resources: Social Media and the Classroom [YouTube Video] Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom [website] In class this week I learned that I don't think it is very appropriate in many situations to use social media sites in the classroom for teaching the elementary level students. I think it can be used in the high school level because these students are old enough to know how to respect one another on the sites and how to use them to their full potential. My understanding on this topic changed because I found through personal experience that social media gives you a fake sense of being 'social'. This means that if a teacher is using a social site to make his students more talkative with one another, he is going about it all wrong. He should be encouraging real social interactions and in class collaboration, not just online text-reading-typing conversations where there is a lack of emotion and understanding. CURATION TOOLS
I knew there were tools for curating but I didn't know of any. I didn't really consider some of them as being curation tools either... Through my prep for class, I learned that curation tools compile and organize the resources you find so that you can easily find them a second time. This then makes your life easier so you can find resources faster! ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: FEEDLY: a site for compiling magazines, blogs, and newspapers. Pinterest: used to find interests and compile them into folders and follow other people who pin your interests Evernote: compiling links, videos, and documents that can help you for future reference In class I learned that it is very important to use these curating tools in order to stay organized with your online resources. This changed my understanding of how I can use multiple sites to stay organized and on top of the information that I find on the internet. S.A.M.R. ModelBefore class, I knew absolutely nothing about the SAMR model. I knew of its concepts and ideas, but I did not know there was a set model for it. Through my preparation for class I found out that SAMR is used to not only ENHANCE learning in the classroom, but also to TRANSFORM it. Additional Resources: An explanation of SAMR for teachers Instructional website on how to use iPads Introduction to SAMR in the classroom What I learned about this model in class really changed my understanding on how the SAMR model is implemented in the classroom. To completely and most effectively implement the model into your class you have to REDEFINE the way you present the lesson. To do this you have to integrate tech that can create new tasks for the learners and have these tasks test their creativity, skills, and knowledge all at once. This then redefines the lesson and transforms the way that the student takes in the new information.
Digital citizenshipI really didn't know there was a title for the concept of digital citizenship. By this I mean, I didn't know they had named the way you behave online. Before class, I thought about how I would define digital citizenship. I think of it as being a person in the online community, who respects and acknowledges the rules and manners of being on the internet. Otherwise saying that we should follow social standards and not bully or be mean to people on our computers or other devices. What I learned through my prep for class on this topic, was that digital citizenship is not a very well known idea. I think that as educators we need to enforce and educate these policies so that the future generations of internet users know how to behave while online. Here are two links about digital Citizenship I found: Digital Citizenship Videos on Digital Citizenship I learned a lot about this topic in class. What I really loved and took away from class was this image that one of the groups showed. I though it was a great way to explain digital citizenship to students in younger grades. My understanding about this topic changed throughout class because I became more aware of how crucial it is to be an honorable citizen on the internet. I don't think I was very aware of this importance, but now that I am, I am eager to teach it to children of all ages.
I knew absolutely nothing about Schoology before this class. Although, I did catch on pretty fast. I found that with my experience using Moodle sites from my schools, I could easily navigate the Schoology website. This is because they are both very similar and are used to organize courses and course materials. What I learned in my preparation for class was that, creating the my own Schoology site as an Instructor was very exciting! It is nice to be on the teacher side of things for once. I also learned in creating my course that this website is so easy to use! I added materials, customized pictures, and did so much to my course in so little time. With this in mind, I will definitely suggest using this course in my classes in the future.
I learned in class this week that Schoology is not only for viewing and using your own courses, but you can also join other teachers' courses! This such a great tool to use because it is great for teachers to be able to compare and share one another's ideas so that the students can all be on the same page. In a way, this site creates a big, online, school community.
My understanding on Schoology changed more as I used it. I love the fact that you can put up just about any materials into your course page. I like that it connect you with faculty and students. I am intrigued to see the results that come from quizzes and forums in order to track student progress. Lastly, this site is free and very easy to use. All in all, my view on Schoology is that it's a great tool that all instructors should use. This week in class we talked about Ms. Morgan-Rallis' presentation on Personalized Learning. In her presentation we learned all about the new idea of teaching kids in a personalized environment where they are intermingled ages, in a comfortable classroom setting, learning curriculum at their own pace. Here is my response to the blog assignment!
1. I knew very little about this type of teaching before the discussion of it in class. What I thought about the topic was that it wasn't very popular and it would definitely take a ling time before it became popular in schools. I also knew I had experienced it once in my classroom in 7th and 8th grade. But at a lower level. Our class used the rolling computer station for some classes and this was how technology, along with the Smart Board, were used in our classroom to give us a more personalized experience. 2. What I learned in my preparation for class is that Personalized learning is a great idea, but it is also hard to flip a school around to do that sort of program. It requires a lot of work and cooperation from students, parents, and teachers who may be more stuck in their ways. 3. Some additional resources that I found on this topic were: Bray, Barbara (2014). Rethinking Learning: Personalized Learning. Stacey, Gen (2013). Schools Implementing Personalized Learning. Thinking Out Loud. 4. One main point that I learned in class about this topic is that the students who start Personalized Learning definitely benefit from it. They love the learning style and doing it at their own pace. Classroom management issues just about disappear because all students want to stay on task. And students are comfortable in their environment and ready to ask questions about their work. 5. My understanding of this Personalized Learning plan changed because, I asked Ms. Morgan Rallis a question about it. I questioned her on how the students that are in this program, handle being put back into a regular curriculum when they move onto higher divisions of school. So, when these kids go to high school, are they able to stand learning at the same pace as everyone else? I think there is a need for studies to be done on Personalized Learning and its outcomes, before we start implementing it more in Elementary schools. Because what if it is detrimental to students in their ability to focus and work productively in college, where there is very little Personalized Learning? I believe this is a big issue, and it needs to be addressed and studied before they go on with this plan. what i learned in class today...
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AuthorWith this blog I will be writing a weekly account about my adventures in my technology class! Archives
April 2015
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