Tech Play #4

YouTube is a video sharing website. Individuals, organizations and businesses upload content to the website. This tool allows educators to display content in the classroom. YouTube can be used to show a clip of a movie that is being discussed or also used to show students how to solve a math problem showing them to students. I believe that YouTube does open the doors to allowing student to think critically since it can assist in helping student to develop their thoughts. YouTube is extremely beneficial to my work life. I am able to refer a student to a specific school and they are able to watch the school's welcome video right in my classroom. This is extremely helpful since the majority of my students are unable to travel and visit colleges. I think it is an awesome! Here is a link to provide an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mckf0NlTsLU

Another tool that I find helpful is Remind 101. Remind 101 is a safe alternative way for educator to text students and parents. It provides an opportunity for an individual to contact a student without providing personal information, such as a cell phone number. View a demo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwqPzBD79U

Creativity Tools

• Discuss the variety of tools you explored, what you liked or disliked about each one and which one you selected one to continue to reflect on.
• Describe how this creativity tool that you selected might fit into the TPACK model. Specifically, describe the content, pedagogical and technological aspects of some student work that uses the creativity tool you selected.
• Identify other ways that students could use the creativity tool you selected.
• Why is it important to know about and use creativity tools? What do they offer that other tools (i.e., drill and practice, tutorials, instructional games, etc.) do not offer? 

             

The first tool that I explored was an app for a tablet/iPad. The name of the app is 10,000 SAT words. The application is pretty straightforward in which it has SAT words that students can study from. My favorite feature of the application is that you can share the words via Facebook or email. I think that is a great way for students to build their vocabulary and study for the SAT.

The next tool that I explored was Instapaper. It is a tool that is used to save and store articles. These articles can later be access offline for reading.  I think this is a great option for teacher to share articles with students, especially the classrooms that are migrating to tablets/Apple products. Not only can students access article later but they do not need internet access. The only qualm about the application is the cost- it is $3.99. I am sure there are ways around having to pay for the application since school will have a contract with Apple.

Both of these tools fit into the TPACK model because it brings together a subject matter and technology.

It is important to know about and use creativity tools in the classroom because they simply keep the student engaged. Students are constantly connected to some sort of technology and creativity tools offer relateability to the learner. Students tend to learn better when the can relate things together and we live in a technology run environment.  Students do not typically have access to the tutorials and games that are played at school but they have their smart phones/tablets and are able to access the creativity tools they learned in school practically 24/7.

Tech Play 2: ePortfolios

Whew! Who would have thought that posting online from the comfort of your own home could become so stressful. I am currently experimenting with Wiki in my Web 2.0 tools course and I have already decided that it is NOT my favorite site and I did not want to choose it as a forum for my ePortfolio. 

This is my first ePortfolio and I must admit that I have mixed feelings. Will I have enough information to enter on my site to show that I am an up and coming educator or will this be the next best thing for my career? Hmm, only time will tell! View my ePortfolio here. 

Happy Teching! -Sophie

Post 1: Tech Play 1

1. Begin by describing student work that you might design using blogs. Use the TPACK Model to identify each aspect of the work. The following questions will help guide your thinking:

·      Content- What content are you addressing? Considering the verb in the standard and Blooms Revised Taxonomy, what is the desired level of thinking from the standards?

·      Pedagogy- What pedagogical stance (or which learning theories or theorists) does this work support? In other words, whose “shoulders” did you stand on?

·      Technology- What affordances can you identify for the technology selected? Justify the match of your pedagogical stance/strategy with the technology affordances.

2. Discuss other ways that this technology can be used in the learning environment.

3. Identify any obstacles to using this tool. What makes this tool worth using even these obstacles?

 Objective: The student (high school seniors) will create a blog using Blogger. The student will illustrate a weekly post of approximately 300-500 words in response to the weekly topic based on knowledge applied form actual situations. Posts will be graded on areas of content, creativity, voice, use of multimedia and visual aids, timeliness and quality of writing.

Students will have specific weekly topics to discuss their thoughts and journey of their senior year, specifically college preparation obstacles they face. This will allow student to become familiar with the site and the idea of blogging. This will help to reinforce the use of proper grammar and help student to continuously develop their writing skills.

Learning Theory: Constructivist theory is based on the idea that each individual constructs their own meaning and understanding of  new knowledge based on individual experiences and evolved beliefs BUT what happens when the learner does not have any experiences relating to the topic at hand. Does the learner disconnect? I believe that student involvement is key to learning and teachers must create learning situation where students build knowledge on their own; therefore, I am taking a stance with progressive education.

Obstacle: My number one obstacle would be student safety. During the introduction of the assignment, I will provide students with key tools on how to be safe when using the Internet. This assignment could also be an issue with students who do not have access to the Internet or a computer outside of school. Luckily, Blogger has an application for smartphones and student can post right from their phones. Morning and afternoon tutorial will allow student time for posting. I strongly believe that the benefit of this activity outweighs the risks since the tool helps to benefit the student in multiple ways.

Additions: This form of technology can also be used to create a blog with videos for the students. I could provide instructional videos on how to apply for college and register for specific college entrance test. The benefits and uses are limitless.