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August 29, 2009
Sample Journal Entry (these are actual entries from a previous class) July 12, 2009
Description: This week for SOLT, I read everything at the beginning of the week and posted on discussions right away so I could focus on my OLE yesterday and hopefully some later tonight. I thought a lot about how to make discussion boards happen in my classes (mostly because I can't count on the access to computers/internet outside of school hours with my students). I also realized that while I love my OLE, it is a giant beast that I will probably be working on as the school year starts and continue throughout the year. But I am excited about it and that's important. I focused on statistics for my Techniques of Research class, but found it kind of confusing. I like the idea that I can continue to look things up about it when I am confused, but beyond that I am not sure it is ever really going to sink in. On another note, I had an interesting (to say the least) critter encounter on Friday night---a wolf spider was on my headboard of my bed. I didn't notice it until I was already in bed and going to turn off the light. Not my favorite thing in the world. I am all about being in the woods (obviously), but this is where I draw the line. Don't believe me? Check it out:
Literally...the body was the size of a silver dollar, with the legs about the size of my hand. On my headboard. Luckily, one of my staff members was awake and helped me kill it. It took me a lot longer to fall asleep last night though.
Impact: It felt like a mad dash at the end of the week to get my OLE underway. I was really excited about and spent most of Saturday afternoon and evening working on it (interspersed with all camp activities, taco bar and our weekend dance). I realized how time consuming building a website can be--not necessarily the technological leg work (I am using iWeb because I have before and am very comfortable with it), but how much content can snowball. I suppose that is one of the points of looking at things from a TPACK point of view, but I just kept finding things and researching more and creating new things. I was into it, but I still am not sure how I will know when to stop. There is so much interesting things out there! Because this is a new course for me, it feels totally new and foreign (in a good way) and I hope that this energy I feel for the course translates to this project and my students this coming fall. I really think that this is going to be a project I continue to work on for a long time and keep adding additonal pages.
It might be cool to get my students into using iWeb if they are so inclined and have them create pages or help me build the type of site that will help them. If anything, I want to make sure that what I am creating is a help and not just "one more thing" that they have to do or that they have to worry about. I really just want them to have the tools to surive outside of the little world of Euclid they inhabit. I know I keep harping on it but I can't seem to forget the conversations that Dan (from this class and my cohort) have had about students being prepared for the real world. We do ok with OGT things (though we could do better), but our seniors really have NO IDEA about collegial expectations or work life. If it is about collaborating together to build a website, or even small groups to build a website so they can have that technical experience (and the experience of working in groups like it is in the "real world"), maybe that would help even the littlest bit.
Intent: In the short term I still need to find some sort of time management exercise/game/strategies to share with the students in the OLE. I also am looking forward to learning about assessmets because I feel I am lacking in that arena for the moment. I may have already discussed this above, but I really intend to keep working on this OLE beyond this class. I think the skills are important--both for me and my students. And for someone who plans on being a tech facilitator, important that I continue to explore (and as Dr. Ward has said--challenge myself with the fear of some unknowns in technology). I want to model for my students a passion for life long learning. I think my recent obsession with this OLE can prove it! I tried out so many different things online that I thought could be a resource, tool, or just something different for my students to explore. I want to keep that interest and passion alive in me for sure! Perhaps that is the solution to the slump that some teachers get into as they become more seasoned, teach the same classes, etc: teach something new or create an OLE around what you already teach.
It's like using my left hand to do something--I understand the logistics behind it but the excecution is hesitant and not as smooth as I am used to. With a little practice though right...
June 18, 2009 • TPACK
Description
Over the past few days I have read about, watched videos regarding, written about and researched TPACK (Technology Pedagogy and Content Knowledge). I had heard about this before, though not completely understanding it, through a group presentation in another class I had taken.
Impact
I think that TPACK is a good concept. I feel that we're at a very exciting point in history in which things are changing at such a rapid pace that we all have to be on our toes or we, and our students, will be left behind. This provides us, as educators, with a lot of responsibility, personal challenges, and exciting opportunities. I don't feel that anything technological is a passing fad. Yes, there are fads within the realm of technology that may pass (like myspace), but even those are relevant to our students when they are in the forefront. Before reviewing the information for this class, I was a bit confused as to what TPACK was, and how it was at all relevant to me. Now, however, I see how this is relevant to all educators.
Just getting hired into a STEM school, it's glaringly obvious that TPACK and I will be inseparable. I'm positive that 90% of the reason I got the highly sought after High School Art position at this school is because of my obsessive use of technology in my classroom. In my old school I didn't use it for every project, because it was not accessible. However, I am VERY excited for the opportunities that my new district seems to be hungry for me to persue.
Intent
This summer I plan to use the TPACK model to go through all of my lessons to see how I can incorporate technology in appropriate ways. I would love to create billions of learning objects that can show my students in various ways (text, video, voice, interactive modules) what they need to know/do for each project. I also want to create some exciting new lessons for my students that have a technology focus. A few of the other teachers have already expressed an interest in cross curricular collaboration, in which would allow us to use web 2.0 for classes who meet at separate times. All in all it's a very exciting time for technology, and myself. JUNE 26, 2009
Description: This week we focused on collaborative online learning. We read a couple readings on this topic, experimented with some collaborative technologies such as EtherPad and Google Docs, and engaged in group discussions.
Impact: This unit added to my understanding of the importance of collaboration in an online environment. I feel that one of the most successful aspects of this class has been our discussions. I think the requirement to sign up for different discussion roles really played a big part in this. I know I feel more engaged and accountable than I have in other discussion boards. Some people were questioning if we are more collaborative this summer because many of us have gotten to know one another better or because of the key elements (clear guidelines, collaboration, social presence) that are present in this class that make an online environment successful. I think it is a mix of both, but I have learned how important collaboration and a sense of community is in an online setting. I have observed the benefits of the community that our cohort has formed and its impact on our learning.
Intent: After reflecting on the many different collaborative tools we were introduced to this week, I would really like to try to use the EtherPad with my second grade students as a way to complete our daily journal. I love the idea that you don't have to log in or have any username/password. It is very easy. I plan to use it as a reflective piece to the end of a specific lesson or the day. I think small groups would really benefit from this type of reflective collaboration. I will start it early in the year so that by the end of the year, they will be really comfortable with it. I will progressively increase their responsibilities and will have clear guidelines as to what they will be expected to do.
I am also really interested in using discussion roles in some way. I want to adapt the roles we used in this class to meet the needs of my second graders during our group work throughout the year. I think this makes discussions much more meaningful, online or not. I'm excited to try this out!
Sample Journal Entry (these are actual entries from a previous class)
July 12, 2009
Description: This week for SOLT, I read everything at the beginning of the week and posted on discussions right away so I could focus on my OLE yesterday and hopefully some later tonight. I thought a lot about how to make discussion boards happen in my classes (mostly because I can't count on the access to computers/internet outside of school hours with my students). I also realized that while I love my OLE, it is a giant beast that I will probably be working on as the school year starts and continue throughout the year. But I am excited about it and that's important. I focused on statistics for my Techniques of Research class, but found it kind of confusing. I like the idea that I can continue to look things up about it when I am confused, but beyond that I am not sure it is ever really going to sink in. On another note, I had an interesting (to say the least) critter encounter on Friday night---a wolf spider was on my headboard of my bed. I didn't notice it until I was already in bed and going to turn off the light. Not my favorite thing in the world. I am all about being in the woods (obviously), but this is where I draw the line. Don't believe me? Check it out:
Literally...the body was the size of a silver dollar, with the legs about the size of my hand. On my headboard. Luckily, one of my staff members was awake and helped me kill it. It took me a lot longer to fall asleep last night though.
Impact: It felt like a mad dash at the end of the week to get my OLE underway. I was really excited about and spent most of Saturday afternoon and evening working on it (interspersed with all camp activities, taco bar and our weekend dance). I realized how time consuming building a website can be--not necessarily the technological leg work (I am using iWeb because I have before and am very comfortable with it), but how much content can snowball. I suppose that is one of the points of looking at things from a TPACK point of view, but I just kept finding things and researching more and creating new things. I was into it, but I still am not sure how I will know when to stop. There is so much interesting things out there! Because this is a new course for me, it feels totally new and foreign (in a good way) and I hope that this energy I feel for the course translates to this project and my students this coming fall. I really think that this is going to be a project I continue to work on for a long time and keep adding additonal pages.
It might be cool to get my students into using iWeb if they are so inclined and have them create pages or help me build the type of site that will help them. If anything, I want to make sure that what I am creating is a help and not just "one more thing" that they have to do or that they have to worry about. I really just want them to have the tools to surive outside of the little world of Euclid they inhabit. I know I keep harping on it but I can't seem to forget the conversations that Dan (from this class and my cohort) have had about students being prepared for the real world. We do ok with OGT things (though we could do better), but our seniors really have NO IDEA about collegial expectations or work life. If it is about collaborating together to build a website, or even small groups to build a website so they can have that technical experience (and the experience of working in groups like it is in the "real world"), maybe that would help even the littlest bit.
Intent: In the short term I still need to find some sort of time management exercise/game/strategies to share with the students in the OLE. I also am looking forward to learning about assessmets because I feel I am lacking in that arena for the moment. I may have already discussed this above, but I really intend to keep working on this OLE beyond this class. I think the skills are important--both for me and my students. And for someone who plans on being a tech facilitator, important that I continue to explore (and as Dr. Ward has said--challenge myself with the fear of some unknowns in technology). I want to model for my students a passion for life long learning. I think my recent obsession with this OLE can prove it! I tried out so many different things online that I thought could be a resource, tool, or just something different for my students to explore. I want to keep that interest and passion alive in me for sure! Perhaps that is the solution to the slump that some teachers get into as they become more seasoned, teach the same classes, etc: teach something new or create an OLE around what you already teach.
It's like using my left hand to do something--I understand the logistics behind it but the excecution is hesitant and not as smooth as I am used to. With a little practice though right...
June 18, 2009 • TPACK
Description
Over the past few days I have read about, watched videos regarding, written about and researched TPACK (Technology Pedagogy and Content Knowledge). I had heard about this before, though not completely understanding it, through a group presentation in another class I had taken.Impact
I think that TPACK is a good concept. I feel that we're at a very exciting point in history in which things are changing at such a rapid pace that we all have to be on our toes or we, and our students, will be left behind. This provides us, as educators, with a lot of responsibility, personal challenges, and exciting opportunities. I don't feel that anything technological is a passing fad. Yes, there are fads within the realm of technology that may pass (like myspace), but even those are relevant to our students when they are in the forefront. Before reviewing the information for this class, I was a bit confused as to what TPACK was, and how it was at all relevant to me. Now, however, I see how this is relevant to all educators.Just getting hired into a STEM school, it's glaringly obvious that TPACK and I will be inseparable. I'm positive that 90% of the reason I got the highly sought after High School Art position at this school is because of my obsessive use of technology in my classroom. In my old school I didn't use it for every project, because it was not accessible. However, I am VERY excited for the opportunities that my new district seems to be hungry for me to persue.
Intent
This summer I plan to use the TPACK model to go through all of my lessons to see how I can incorporate technology in appropriate ways. I would love to create billions of learning objects that can show my students in various ways (text, video, voice, interactive modules) what they need to know/do for each project. I also want to create some exciting new lessons for my students that have a technology focus. A few of the other teachers have already expressed an interest in cross curricular collaboration, in which would allow us to use web 2.0 for classes who meet at separate times. All in all it's a very exciting time for technology, and myself.JUNE 26, 2009
Description: This week we focused on collaborative online learning. We read a couple readings on this topic, experimented with some collaborative technologies such as EtherPad and Google Docs, and engaged in group discussions.
Impact: This unit added to my understanding of the importance of collaboration in an online environment. I feel that one of the most successful aspects of this class has been our discussions. I think the requirement to sign up for different discussion roles really played a big part in this. I know I feel more engaged and accountable than I have in other discussion boards. Some people were questioning if we are more collaborative this summer because many of us have gotten to know one another better or because of the key elements (clear guidelines, collaboration, social presence) that are present in this class that make an online environment successful. I think it is a mix of both, but I have learned how important collaboration and a sense of community is in an online setting. I have observed the benefits of the community that our cohort has formed and its impact on our learning.
Intent: After reflecting on the many different collaborative tools we were introduced to this week, I would really like to try to use the EtherPad with my second grade students as a way to complete our daily journal. I love the idea that you don't have to log in or have any username/password. It is very easy. I plan to use it as a reflective piece to the end of a specific lesson or the day. I think small groups would really benefit from this type of reflective collaboration. I will start it early in the year so that by the end of the year, they will be really comfortable with it. I will progressively increase their responsibilities and will have clear guidelines as to what they will be expected to do.
I am also really interested in using discussion roles in some way. I want to adapt the roles we used in this class to meet the needs of my second graders during our group work throughout the year. I think this makes discussions much more meaningful, online or not. I'm excited to try this out!