Closing Thoughts - EDUC 422

Prior to taking this course, the phrase 'technology integration' meant incorporating some sort of technology into the classroom and curriculum whatever it maybe. Now, I believe that technology is definitely a helpful tool as long as it is being used in the right way. There needs to be a reason for the tool to be used rather than have a tool and force it into the lesson. Through this course, I was introduced to new digital tools that I never knew existed. 

One of the topics that really stuck with me is the idea of digital citizenship and responsibilities. I think it is crucial for us as educators to teach our students about this. Too often, do people post something without thinking about the long term consequences. If we educate students on what it means and looks like to be a citizen in the digital age than I think we can really make a difference in our students future. 

After reading multiple articles and furthering my research, I don't think that I have really changed my mind regarding any specific topic discussed in this course. I feel as though my beliefs remained the same throughout this course and will continue to remain the same throughout my career. However, I still plan on looking more into ways of incorporating social media into my classroom and into my curriculum. 

EDUC 422 has definitely changed the way that I thought about technology integration. My eyes have been opened and I have seriously started to research and consider ways these digital tools can help my students. I feel more confidant that I can make an educated decision regarding this topic and know that I can and will be able to help my students when the time comes. 

Thanks Adina! You have really influenced and inspired me and I know that I will take the things I learned in this course and apply them to my future classroom! 

Social Media.. Does It Belong?

http://bit.ly/1luVkiM

Recently, Social Media sites have begun to play a more prominent role in lives of both adults and children. In the education world, there is a constant debate regarding what role social media should play in a classroom and child’s education. Below you will find a Pro’s and Con’s list that I created regarding this topic.

Pros: 

• Allows for teacher collaboration with educators around the school, county, state, etc.
• Allows for student collaboration
• Reduces the ‘fluff’ and gets straight to the point due to the limit of characters
• Share resources
• Can learn from others which leads to self-reflect 
• Easy and time effective to use once you know how to use it
• Helps create a digital footprint

Cons:

• Takes time to learn how to use
• Public information to anyone
• Private doesn't really mean private
• Lead to other outside sources and websites
• Gray area for teacher & student communication
• Potential misinterpretation of information posted
• Cannot necessarily control who students communicate with

After reading the four articles it seems as though those in support of social media sites in the classroom really support it and those who are against this idea are really against it. Prior to this course, I have done some research myself and found that there are definitely some ways other teachers have thought of to incorporate sites like Twitter and Facebook that can help further a child’s learning and education.  However, there is still some serious risk present. My main concern regarding this topic is the liability and student safety aspect. While we can monitor student communication in the classroom we cannot monitor it outside of the classroom. It makes me nervous to know that there is the potential of someone other than myself of a student in the classroom coming in contact with the child.

http://www.socialmediasmarketing.com/

There are many aspects to consider when thinking about incorporating social media into a classroom and curriculum. Overall, I believe that if the lesson calls for it and it would be beneficial to my students I would incorporate some sort of social media into the classroom. I also would need to consider the age of my future students and the overall mood coming from my students to decide if they are ready for these tools. I’d like to think that I am neutral on this subject. Yes social media can be beneficial, but it can also be risky.

CLICK HERE - Can Tweeting Help Your Teaching?

CLICK HERE - Teachers, Students, and Social Media. Where Is The Line?

CLICK HERE - Using Twitter To Breakdown Classroom Isolation
CLICK HERE - 13 Great Twitter Chats Every Educator Should Check Out

Digital Accessibility and Equality

Prior to reading this article, I was aware and knew a sufficient amount about accessibility and equality in the classroom. In previous courses we spent an immense amount of time discussing the laws regarding this topic and ways to get the necessary materials. However, we never spent much time discussing the technology aspect of this topic. 

With ever changing technology it seems as though the 'old' way of teaching and learning isn't cutting it anymore. It is important for all educators to be aware and recognize these changes in order for our students to be successful. According to the IDEA Act, both local and state educational agencies are required to provide specialized formats in a timely manner to any individual who requires it. With teaching methods shying away from books and paper texts and moving more online it is crucial that we adapt the new technologies created for this purpose. "...it is possible that the move to digital materials will create barriers to access, participation, and achievement for these students" (Bowser,Zabala n.p). This quote raises concerns because it is the job of all educators to ensure that all students are treated fairly and equally all while striving for success in the classroom and in life outside of the classroom. 

CLICK HERE - AIM for Digital Equality

Flipped

The term "flipped classroom" basically refers to the idea of integrating more technology in the classroom. Generally, when this method of teaching is in practice, the teacher would record/post a short video online and have the students watch it prior to class the following day (it becomes their homework). Then, the next day in class instead of spending time lecturing on the topic at hand, the time in class is spend discussing what the students saw and learned in small groups, working on projects, or individual exercises. According to the article Flipped Classroom: 7 Things You Need To Know, "The notion of a flipped classroom draws on such concepts as active learning, student engagement, hybrid course design, and course pod casting."

http://ctl.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/flippedgraphic(web1100px)_0.png

Supports of this concept say that flipped classrooms allow for more one-on-one time with the teacher, students are able to learn at their own pace; it levels the playing field, etc. However, I think I fall more on the critics side. Some critics of this idea say that it requires more 'screen time' meaning that children are spending even more time staring at a screen. Critics also say that practicing this method is a one- sided teaching method because it heavily relies on dialect, and questions the idea that it really levels the playing field among students.

The article Flipped Classrooms: 7 Things You Need to Know, offers a list of things one must consider when partaking in this method. Of these seven things, I think the most important thing to know is the significance, downside of this method, direction it is heading, and the implications of this method. First, let us look at the significance behind this method. Supports of this idea say that it allows the teacher to spend more one-on-one time with the student therefore they are able to determine any errors of understanding/thinking and can correct it. Hum... Is that actually the case? I guess in order for us to truly find the students error in thinking, we have to trust that the student actually spent time watching the video/clip that was posted. Next, let us look at the some of the downfalls to this method. Aside from the fact that we are assuming all students have the ability to connect to the internet to watch the videos, this method has a great potential to become very time consuming as it requires a well thought out plan. Moving on to the future of this idea, the article states that new technologies are being introduced. It would be important for individuals practicing this method to stay up to date on these new types of technology and use them in the best way possible. Finally, the article states that this style of learning puts more responsibility on the students to learn the topic at hand. Again, I wonder, how are those students who do not have the means to watch the online videos going to succeed? How can we hold them to the same standard as our other students when it's simply just not fair?

As far as using this method in my classroom, I guess it all depends on when, where, and what I am teaching. Personally, I see this method working best for the older grades (6 and up), but even then I am still a fan of spending the time in class to discuss the topic at hand. I am a strong believer of the multiple intelligences, and believe that we need to strive to meet as many learning types as possible and posting a video online for our students to watch is only meeting one type. Showing videos is definitely a helpful tool, but I do not think that it should be the soul source of providing information.

CLICK HERE - What Is A Flipped Classroom and Why Is It Amazing?

CLICK HERE- Flipped Classroom: 7 Things You Need To Know

Internet Usage During Testing

http://indulgy.com/post/AaDuBAtTJ1/testing-treats

Should be students be allowed to use internet while taking a test? On one hand, it forces educators to think outside of the box and ask questions that require a higher level of thinking. But on the other hand, it provides an opportunity for students to "Google it" rather than spend time thinking of an answer and putting it in their own words and thoughts. I think both sides to this argument, but personally I and more on the side of not allowing internet use during tests. 

My main reason for feeling this is simply because I've been in course where I was allowed to use the internet while taking tests. Ultimately, I didn't learn anything from these courses. Why would I take the time and really study the material when I knew that I would have the internet as a tool if and when needed? Especially when I had three other tests during that same week that I needed to study for. How are we supposed to test and measure our students’ knowledge if internet is accessible?

I guess ultimately it is a personal decision on wither you think students should be allowed to use internet during a test or not. 

CLICK HERE - Should Students Use Internet While Taking Tests?

Social Media and My Future

All three articles addressed social media and the long term effects it can have on one’s life. I am part of a generation who thinks it is necessary to share every little detail about their day and share it with the world. It's common for individuals to type whatever they are thinking at that specific moment without really thinking of the long term consequences. After looking myself up online and thinking about my digital tattoo, I found that I don't really have one. To others, I know this can be seen as a suspicious, but to me I see it as a good thing. I'd rather have nothing than a bunch of negative things out there. When it comes to posting things online, I like to think, "What would grandma or my significant others mom think if she saw this? Would she be proud or would she be calling you the second she saw it?" It is important to portray yourself in a positive light in person and on the internet and to be honest, I wish that I had learned that lesson a lot earlier in life. One step that I want to take in order to create a digital tattoo is to start sharing works that I am proud of. I hope that I can play a key role in working with my students to create their digital tattoo. I will take my experiences and share them with my future students. Explain to them the importance of always portraying yourself the right way wither it be online or in person. I'd like to share my students work with the world. Obviously, it is crucial to get the proper permission and follow the appropriate protocol when doing so. I can only imagine what the future has in store and it will be crucial for my students to be properly educated and make good decisions when online.

CLICK HERE - What Kind Of Stuff Do Employers Search For When I Apply?
CLICK HERE-Online Activity That Keeps You Unemployed
CLICK HERE: They Loved Your GPA, Then They Saw Your Tweets

Technology Integration Response

Technology in the classroom seems to be a topic that is being discussed more and more. There are those who love it and those who detest it. So what’s my personal opinion? I'd like to think I'm Switzerland on this topic, neutral. I think that embracing new technologies in the classroom has the potential to do great things, but I can also see the dangers of this. When reading the article, "Technology Integration: A Short History" by Suzie Boss my eyes were opened up to some of the research that has been done, but this research also made me reflect on my schooling as well as made more questions arise. 

I remember attending elementary school at Vista Academy and having a designated day of the week where we went to the "Computer Lab". If I remember correctly we would spend about an hour a week in there learning to type and played various 'educational games'. Now the reason I say 'educational games' is because at the time, it didn't feel like we were learning, it was just fun. This article discusses research done by a man named Seymour Papert. Boss wrote, "They not only gained deeper understanding of geometry concepts along with programming expertise but also showed an engagement in learning that's rare in more traditional, drill-and-practice classroom activities". When I consider my experience, I can see how this is true. Now, I wasn't learning how to write computer programming but I do feel like I gained a better understanding for geometry and other mathematical concepts. 

One concept of this article that forced me to start questioning this trend is when Boss wrote, "Researchers have determined that, when used for more ambitious learning goals rather than basic skills, technology can help students develop higher-order thinking skills, creativity, and research abilities". For me, the key word in that sentence is creativity. I feel that there is little to no opportunity for students to express their creativity. I mean think about it aside from being able to chose a color scheme almost all programs (Power Point, Prezi, Blogger, etc.) have templates already picked out that one can choose from. Another phrase that stands out to me is research abilities. Yes, there are great resources out there, but how do we know they are credible? I remember being a student and just taking the first thing that I found because, let’s face it, it was easier and allowed me to get my work done quicker. I would like to know more about how these researchers are coming to these conclusions and what resources they are using when conducting their research. 

CLICK HERE - Technology Integration - A Short History