Week 8 - Where Do We Go From Here?

My "Aha!" moments appeared weekly.  The course was a discovery journey.  I found the ease of setting up a Google site the most astonishing.  It was there all of the time.  The lesson learned is to continue to explore because the explosion of applications available.  A side discovery was the PC version of Kindle.  I have downloaded and now enjoy downloadable books.

I now have a must better equiped toolchest to work with in creating educational products.  The challenge will be to select a few of the best and most approproiate on which to focus.

My philosophy of life-long learning and that education should lead to self actualization continues to motivate me and inspire me personally and strengthen my resolve to share this with my colleagues.

My philosophy has stayed the same in most respects.  The addition of teaching discernment has been a new goal due to the availabity of information. 

Week 7 - Do You Google?

Week 7 Reflection

I had to document this experience.  I was able to subscribe to Kindle for my PC and purchase a Web 2.0 book to help with this class.  Oh, what I found.  My first discovery was Evernote.  I have just subscribed and not used it yet - but the possibilities....  I have downloaded Google Earth.  What a time to be a teacher.  I have not made so many discoveries since I was introduced to the Internet in 1995.  I am enjoying this course and the opportunity to learn  about new technology applications every day.

I am going to have to stop now for the morning.  My latest discoveries are Websperation and online whiteboards.  There are a lot more of interest, but I must choose a few to focus on which to focus.

 Three years ago I took a fun class offered through our Instructional Technology Department on Google Docs.  One of the most usful tools I found was Google Forms.  It served many educational purposes.  I first used it to help counselors set up a survey to collect information from graduating seniors.  When the opportunity presents itself, I share this with the teachers I coach.  Because of its availablity, simplicity and multiple applications, I chose this topic to present.  I believe that from this small sampling of what Google can offer, the participants will be inspired to explore other Google applications.

 What are your expectations for the learning outcome?

Although I have always loved technology and its classroom applications, I am more committed to making it a part of every class.  I view it as an essential for engaging the digital native and a way to enrich and simplify the lives of the newcomers to technology.

 

Week 6 - Technology Project 6: Audio development "Can You Hear Me Now?"

Week 6 Reflection

About the Podcast!  I am so excited.  I did it, even with the phone ringing, the dog barking, the sirens blaring, the doors opening and closing - I did it.  (That is why it took to videos)  I struggled and thought about calling someone.  I also go Kindle PC and downloaded a Web 2.0 book.  It has been a great educational, problem-solving activity.  The work is not that good and needs a lot of fine tuning, but I will learn.  Thank you for this great class.  The link to my podcast is in the title.

As we discussed earlier, we are attempting to reach a generation of digital natives.  This generation respond to technological delivery systems.  Pod casting is one way to engage these learners, but it does not stop there.  It also records instruction, freeing the instructor for additional instructional responsibilities.  Students have an archive of the instruction  Characteristics of the technological instruction are:  real time, accurate, step-by-step instruction.  These technologies add another dimension to instruction.

Educators, more so than ever before, are under pressure to continue technological education and stay updated on tools.  It imposes a financial change on institution who must replace technology at increasing rates and update professional development offerings.


Not everyone is disciplined enough for online instruction.  There will always be a portion of society who will want and require face-to-face instruction.  As mentioned earlier, technology is rapidly changing and it is time-consuming and expensive to stay up to date with the changes.

There is also the technology fear factor - those who don't understand it and fear they cannot be a part of the change.

 If I could wave a magic wand, I would change the "mindset" which is the obstacle to any type of change.  Personally, I am able to accomplish many more tasks efficiently with the use of technology.  I am able to create educational materials and share them in second.  The world is open to me through the Internet.   With a growth mindset, people would desire to learn, experiment and learn of the miracles available for their use.

Week 5: Critical Analysis of Information

Week 5 Reflection

I just wanted everyone to know I have just "revived"  my Delicious account and have added Dr. W. to my network.  I look forward to being a part of yours. 

     I found trom the pre test there was a lot of information about web sites I did not know and did not know how to obtain.  I learned how to verify information and to determine the motivation of the site developer.  I also learned how to obtain the history of the site.  This exercise was very enlightening.  

      This assignment has given me the tools to go more in depth with my interent research.  These are additional sources to verify credibility.  I first refer to my intuition, but then confirm with more expert opinion and verification. 

       I am confident that the information I have selected from the Internet has been credible.  I obtained my research skills before computers were used in libaries and classrooms.  With this manual research I learned to authenticate sources.  I have transferred the skill to internet research.  No matter what source I find, I always verify.

     As an educator I am concerned about the studnts' ability to differentiate fact from fiction, opinion from fact and objective reporting from propaganda.  If we fail to teach our students to read and research critically, their adult decions will be compromised as will society.

      I see Delicious as an electonic file cabinet stored on the interent.  Not only is everyhting in one place, it is stored on the interent.  The ability to tag the sites and write a description is helpful for speedy retreival and an excellent organizational tool.  I see it not only as an academic tool, but a personal tool for me which will help with my family history research.

     I am always finding sites and sending them to teachers as a part of my coaching responsibilities.  This would be a great networking source amoung coaches and teachers.  I am looking forward to populating my site.  The site which appeared to be the best fit for me other than delicious was http://www.diigo.com/ .  I am looking forward to exploring this site.

Week 4 - e-Portfolio and Assessment

e-Portfolio and Assessment

My Site:  https://sites.google.com/site/education4uandme/

Reflection 4

Which tenant did you most relate to and why?

I related to "AFL develops learners’ capacity for self-assessment so that they can become reflective and self-managing" because I believe that self-assessment, reflection and self managing is the high level we aspire to in education.  Any tool or media which effects this in learners is one worthy of learning and embracing.

What potential if, if any, do you see for portfolio assessment?

The potential is in the ability to use the  cycle of creation, review, reflection and change but in a compresses time period.  Also, the reviewers are world wide.  I also believe this format will increase the credibility and the integrity of the product due the  massive viewing audience.

What do you think the creation and development of your portfolio will do for your learning?

It is already expanding my learning.  I am enjoying these cold, snowy days in my house with the computer to keep me company.  I have the opportunity to reflect and create.  This portfolio has been a dream of mine for many years.  I am now able to pull together a career of accomplishments and writings.  I will be mindful that all I create will be available for the world to see and critique.  My portfolio is a work in progress.  I have ambitious plans for it.  I hope I am able to meet my own expectations.

Week 3 - Wiki Week

 

My new  Wiki Site is:   http://educationeclectic.wetpaint.com/
Check it out

Purpose of My Wiki

My purpose is to compile a group of quality educational resources.  Currently I send out resources as links in e-mails.  Many years ago I had my students create a project entitled "The Best of the Web for Science and Engineering."  I see this as a modern version as the Best of the Web for Education, only with adult contributors. 

Advantages

Collaboration The Wiki offers an easy, creative forum to share ideas.  It is easily accessible, user friendly and free.  I see these type of forums extremely useful in business and education.  In our graduate programs students are located all over the country.  This makes collaboration easy and inexpensive.  The best advantage is the forum is free.

As a form of expression it gives voice to uncensored expression and new meaning to the phrase free press.  I am optomistic about its uses and my personal ability to  use it as an educational technology tool.

Disadvantages

I foresee only one disadvantage - there are so many forums, it will be difficult mantain and follow very many.  Personally, I feel overwhelmed with the information available and therefore must be selective what I choose to follow, learn and utilize.

Do Wikis have the potential to engage Digital Natives? 

The answer is yes, for a time, until waiting for the page to load is too long, it too will pass.  I see it as a forum to engage secondary and college students to collaborate, compose, research and create.

Week 2 - What is Educational Technology?

Definition

Simply stated  the term educational technology is any technology which supports understanding and instruction.  The world has seen and continues to see an exponential growth of educational technology in the use, the strands and the fine tuning of the strands.  No classroom is complete without Internet access.  The field educational technology encompasses the theory, the professional growth, the ethics and the instructional standards embedded in technology’s use in the classroom. 

Wordle - Concept Map

                                           

For my concept map I chose two songs which illustrate societal and technological change.  The first is from the 1960's, In the Year 2525 and the second is more modern, We Didn't Start the Fire.

Today's Learner

Today's Learners also referred to as Digital Natives are experiencing a physiological change.  It has been found that their brains can be reorganized and have been.  The teachers (baby boomers) referred to as Digital Immigrants, if not connected themselves can bore the student.  Today's students complain about being bored at school and report that they have to power down.  They are regularly connected to several types of media and socially networking.  One has only to watch high schools students try to stay away from their social network for the duration of an Advanced Placement exam to know how pervasive technology is in their minds and lives.

The Reality of Education

The reality of education is it must change to satisfy the demands and needs of the new learner.  Specifically the mindset must change from the administration down and teachers must continually look for ways to integrate technology to keep students engaged.

Potential Impact

If the brain of the student learner can constantly be reorganized, so can that of a teacher. Teachers must change to meet the needs.  It is still to be determined what the reorganization of the brain will produce.  My personal experience is that I become so "wired" I have to take a technology break.  I find myself so unsettled it is difficult to sit down and read. 

One key area found to be impacted is one of reflection.  This has suffered in the information age.  We will have to invent ways for students to incorporate this into their learning plan.

Videos

I have seen these before and each time I view them I am overwhelmed with our task of educating the future.  I am reminded of a quote I read when I was an undergraduate many years ago.  Paraphrased is reads, "What we learn in life is of little moment, what is important is we learn how to learn."

I will consider myself a great success if I can teach my students how to learn for themselves.

Week 1 - Reflective Blog 1

My Educational Technology Philosophy

In the beginning of my teaching career my educational philosophy was composed of idealism with what the world and education should look like and would look like with me as a teacher.  I am happy to say that I have not lost much of that perspective.  My overarching belief is that education should be part of the self-actualization process, is a life-long endeavor and, to a large extent, to be student driven.  The student should ask the driving question of where do I want my life to go and education is the means to arrive at that goal.  I subscribe to parts of several educational philosophies.  The primary is constrivism, followed by components of idealism and...

In the reflection of my own experience and what was present in good teaching and absent in bad teaching was the same – a good teacher has high expectations for their students, helps them set goals and is supportive during the process.  The role of the education is to empower students and help them see and meet their potential.

I have experienced the exponential emergence of technology into education.  With this the educational process is faster and broader.  With this technology infusion into education the obligation to teach students to discern what is true is of more importance and the need to continue the exploration of new educational tools.

My objective as an educator is to create an environment and be a resource for student awareness, goal setting and actualization.  I support this by continuing my pursuit of life-long learning.

This exercise gave me the opportunity to rexamine educational philosophies and to revisit why I do what I do and keep myself focused on the real objective. 

Blogging is a venue for two of the four language omains - reading and writing.  It opens doors to sharing ideas and collaboration.  It also has its concerns in education, especially monitoring what the k-12 children write.  As an group of educators we have not reached the potential.  We still have teachers who have not turned on their computers, but blogging is being included in curriculum planning guides and is considered a new genre.  Its beneifts are considerable in the generation of ideas and improving the writing process.  Those who see its potential will use it and bring eduation and thoughts to a world wide audience.

In November's article, Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning, the area which I believe is the most critical (although it was a difficult choice) was " If it's on the Internet, it is true?"  Discerning truth from falsehood and objective journalism from propaganda has always been a concern of language teachers.  The use of the internet has magnified the problem.  It is similar to the problem math teachers face when students depend on a graphing calculator - if the calulator said it, it must be true.  Teaching students to identify objective, credible sources and to verify on their own the credibility is an expanded goal for teachers.  It is due to the critical thinking involved in this area realated to technology I consider it the most important.