Digital Blog Post #F

Chapter 8 consists of ideas on communicating and collaborating with social media.  In my opinion, social media has taken over a huge chunk of the technology world.  Children begin learning about the internet and social media as early as five years old, and as they grow eventually end up sharing ideas, pictures, videos, rumors, etc on the world wide web through these resources.  A successful teacher should learn to uses these programs as educational resources to help them teach his or her students.  Children can access social media at any given point throughout the day, why not use it to our advantage.  If I allow my future students to conduct research projects for a particular subject or topic on Facebook, for example, it will allow for during and beyond the school day learning.

Photo credit to Leonid Mamchenkov from Flickr

Today's lifestyles are completely different from what they were 15 years ago.  Students are learning with different methods to get their education as well as parents and guardians to get reports on their children's progress.  We all love being informed of things going on in the world, as well as knowing more than once a quarter during parent-teacher conferences how their children are doing in school.  It is confirmed that every 9 in 10 adults are engaged in some sort of internet communication service.  Using email and text messaging to often speak with parents about students' progress can be very helpful.  This allows the teacher to express her thoughts on the student and get assistance from the parents when needed.  Here is a link to a website that talks about using email-based text messaging to effectively communicate with parents and students.

There are other available methods to communicate with parents that can be seen more efficient than individually emailing or texting each parent, which is to create a website or blog to reach out to multiple people at once.  For the most part, most students are usually at the same level and learning as a group and creating a blog or website to primarily inform the parents of what is happening in the classroom can be sufficient.  A website can include due dates for exams, help for homework assignments, and a schedule of school events.  On the other hand, a blog can be created to be more personal about ideas or thoughts that can be or are being used to educate the students.  Websites and blogs are also a great idea to share among other teacher or professionals.  I plan to create my own website for my future students and parents to access.  This is an amazing technology tool to keep everyone on the same page and always informed.

Resources

Gomez, M. (2017, February 17). Communication. Created with ToonDoo. www.toondoo.com

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O'Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post E

Chapter 7 talks about finding ways to explore problem solving using different softwares, apps and games.  Ill-structured problems is term used for real world problems that require in depth thought and investigation for a solution.  These problems are difficult to teach students to solve because they will come with time and will vary throughout his or her future career.  As a teacher, what we can do is introduce them to softwares, apps, or games that can help in finding a solution quicker and most effective, although many self skills will be needed to think throughly.  Here is a video that defines ill structured problems to better understand the excitement they can bring along with the work required to solve.

It is very true that using educational video games can be concerning and if or not the student will receive the education he or she needs.  It is also true that 21st century kids love playing video games.  It is smart to combine education with video games because it will entertain kids along with teaching them.  I believe using digital video games for learning does work to trick students into learning.  Without realizing students can be solving math problems to open the door to the next level or as seen in one of the video in the module, evolving elements together to create molecules to learn chemistry.  Here is a website that offers online video games that can be downloaded on cellular devices for easy access to education.

ITS or intelligent tutoring systems are powerful new software programs that promote inquiry learning through computer responses to students actions.  These programs sound very intriguing.  Using a computer based software to evaluate students responses allows the student to receive immediate feedback.  A computer is faster and more efficient in providing results to further education.  The program will recognize what material is being struggled with by the student to keep on giving him or her similar problems, otherwise the program will move on to new material.  A tutoring system like this can be extremely helpful for a classroom with multiple struggling students.

Resources 

Gomez, M. (2017, February 10). One. Created with Gliffy. www.gliffy.com

How To Solve Ill-Defined Problems - Jon Kolko. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1jrnMnO-dY

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O'Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA:Pearson Education, Inc.

Molecualar Jig Games. (2017). "Games | The Science Game Center". Web. Retrieved 11 Feb. 2017, from www.sciencegamecenter.org/games

Digital Blog Post #C

Active learning is when students are most apt to learn.  "Active learning is also known as discovery learning, learning by doing, inquiry-based learning, or hands-on learning" (Maloy, 2013).  Active learning sounds like the dream mindset for a student from a teacher.  When the student is directly involved in the learning process the material being taught will be better learned and kept with the student.  Always reading and learning from text books, taking standardized tests and attending a teacher-centered classroom will become boring and lose active listening from students.  Active listening is something all future and current teachers should be looking for everyday in the classroom.  I know I enjoy it most when doing something hands-on, as I am enjoying what I am learning whether it be through an online quiz about the bones in the human body or creating a powerpoint about a president.  Here is an article that I found very helpful with 40 useful strategies that help students to stay actively learning.

Teachers will be using technology to teach students successfully.  It is only fair to us as teachers, to guide students into building the own appropriate digital citizenship.  This is a personality they will be when online.  To teach students to use technology productively, honestly, and safely is the goal.  We never think of having an actual identity when we are using the web but we do.  When we create documents, blogs, pictures and videos that will be posted online for the world to see, we must make sure we are putting the best of us for successful websites.  Credit must be given to ourselves when creating these post, as well as to others when using information from other sites.  A positive digital citizenship is an important characteristic to possess as we do live in a digital world and will continue to live in a digital world.

Photo credit to MeacherTeacher on Flickr

                                                      

The third concept is to be able to actively engage students in learning whether it be by one-on-one tutoring, learning groups, inquiry learning, metacognitive thinking or finding new ways to successfully teach students.  I can say that learning groups is definitely my favorite method so far being used in a classroom.  When students are put together to work towards completing a goal, they share ideas and use each own unique abilities to help in completing the project.  One-on-one tutoring is best when a student is struggling because he or she will feel that the teacher cares about their success in the classroom.  Usually an extra hour of personal attention is all the student needs to feel like they are cared for or to fully wrap his or her brain around the material not being understood.

Resources

Gomez, M. (2017, January 27). Bones In The Human Body. Created with FlipQuiz www.FlipQuiz.com

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post #B

Chapter 2 goes over and introduces me to what is known as Web 2.0 tools.  "Web 2.0 technologies include blogs, wikis, podcasts, social bookmarking and social networking tools, inquiry based educational websites, photo-sharing websites virtual worlds and other highly interactive tools and services that are now becoming resources for teaching and learning in schools" (Maloy, 2013).  I have heard of most of these resources and have used them but never thought of it in a way where I could use it to teach others.  For example, podcasts I always knew were used for gossip or information, but I can see where it can be used for educational purposes, especially for those students whom are auditory learners.

A second concept that I want to further explore and want to be confident in once I graduate is my teaching philosophy.  Even though we are only in week 3 of the semester, I already have learned so much about who I am in terms of being a teacher.  I have found that I am fond of the classic teacher-centered method of teaching but also believe that students need to have learning experiences engaging with the outside "real" world.  Thinking ahead, I am excited to get through this teaching course with a great deal of new knowledge of who I will be as a teacher to confidently be able read students on who they are to teach them efficiently.  Here is an article titled "Six Questions That Will Bring Your Teaching Philosophy into Focus" that upon reading it helped me continue to answer questions to further build my personal teaching philosophy.

The third concept is about apps for teaching and learning.  So far I have learned of new programs and resources that can be used to enhance learning in a classroom with technology but what about the more simple types of technology that can be just as effective, such as apps?  Apps are so easy to access and are widely available on basically any hand held electronic, this means learning is available at any moment.  When I was taking Anatomy and Physiology last year there was two different apps I downloaded on my iPhone that helped me so much in learning the bones in the body, organs and system functions.  Having experienced these apps as a student, I hope in the future I can find ways to use them for teaching students as well.

Resources

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post #A

Becoming a 21st century teacher compared to the teaching I grew up knowing has definitely changed drastically due to the growth in technology.  Now that I am on the path to becoming a teacher, I can see that the way I grew up learning will not be the same for the newer generations.

The first concept that caught my attention is that grade school students now are known members of an iGeneration.  iGeneration are those whom have grown up using digital technology every single day of their lives.  Being born in 1989, I do not consider myself from this generation, but it was upcoming when I was still in some of my very own learning stages of life.  I see kids at the age of 6-7 years of age that are very technology literate to the point where they can find things that even I cannot.  Here is a video ad on the way Huawei is planning to create technology that can engage a student in the classroom using similar methods of interest, such as tablets and programs similar to facebook.

The second concept that caught my attention is how an everyday workday as a teacher is almost 100% technology based.  It was known to me elementary school teachers coming into the classroom carrying his or her grade book, folder full of homework to be graded and a calendar to fill in.  Now I watch my college professors walk in with only a laptop and a clicker in hand.  Times have greatly changed and now have a technology-based library, textbook, environment, teaching tools and office.  Students no longer need paper back books to follow along and have the opportunity to download versions onto a tablet, submit assignments online, ask questions through email and receive his or her grades through an online grade book.  Here is an article which describe 15 characteristics of a 21st century teacher.

The third concept that caught my attention is knowing that we each have a "digital identity".  Digital identity refers to ones technology talents and competencies.  After reading this chapter I realized that this is an identity that will continue to build no matter the career path.  In the teaching profession, we must keep up with what kinds of interests in technology future generations are using so teachers can incorporate it into a lesson plan for successful learning.

In conclusion, with this just being the first chapter of the semester, I am excited to continue to learn much more of how I can become a successful 21st century teacher.  Technology is advancing and we must use it to our advantage to teach future generations with what they are growing up with.  We now have the ability to teach with technology, teach outside the classroom with technology and record with technology.

Photo credit to Ken Whytock on Flickr

Resourses

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.