Edublogger

I have been following an edublogger from the states named, Jamie Forshey. Her blog has tons of resources, ideas, tech buzz talk, video's you can use in the classroom and ton's of other tech related idea's and tools that teachers can use. I found out what an infographic was on her site and I would suggest that if you want to keep up with what teachers can do in the classroom, she is one edublogger of many to follow.

Jamie is an Instructional Technology Specialist and teacher at the Bellwood-Antis School District in Central, PA and is dedicated to innovative teaching and learning through the use of technology and digital media that engages students in learning while providing them with a 21st Century educational experience.

http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/

Comment on a classroom blog

This is my comment that is still waiting for the teacher to approve it, for a grade 2 student's post about not having a hockey game in two weeks! Ha ha, it was a cute little blog post he left and sounds very anxious and eager to get out on the ice and play. Stay tuned, I will post when and if he comments back.

http://kidblog.org/scottsblog/

Web Based Application

Being an active user of mostly Facebook and Pintrest, I see a lot of images with "quotes" on them and some are very attractive. There is a web based app called Quozio that you can use to make these types of images for free and has tons of beautiful backgrounds that are available. It is a really easy application to use and navigate through, creating an image takes seconds. This app would be useful in the classroom where students can turn "meaningful words into beautiful images".

 

It's nothing big, but a nice little tool I thought I could share with the class. 

https://quozio.com/ 

The Future of Education

After reading the Horizon Report 2013 (K-12 Edition) I gained new information in regards to technology and the direction it could possibly be leading education towards. It "examined emerging technologies for their potential impact on the way we teach and the way students learn. This report is almost a year old and based on their data collection, we should be in the end of the "near term horizon". I have heard of cloud computing but have no experience using it, but it does make sense for school to adopt this type of storage system. I also haven't heard of any school that use it. There are schools out there that use the BYOD approach, so we are in the midst of this. Many schools though, do allow the use of mobile devices in their classrooms if it will benefit the learning process.Two to three years away is "Mid-term horizon" findings which is "learning analytics" and "Open Content". I think seems to be accurate. As educators we do look at each student as an individual learner and customize their learning when needed. As for open content, we do have access to a lot of material that is online. Access to free resources and even courses are available online, this has never really crossed my mind, but they are out there apparently. Their findings stated that "far-term Horizon" (4-5 years away) which would now be 3-4 years away is 3D printing and virtual remote labs. This is really crazy, I wouldn't have thought that 3D printers would even be available in schools. Actually, I didn't even know that there was really such thing (shows how behind I am). I have only heard of them on an episode of Grey's when Merideth uses a 3D printer to replicate a sheep heart and attempts to transplant it (ha ha). The report stated that these types of printers would be used to illuminate the design process, build rapid prototypes and make is possible to design models. I guess this could spark interest in careers related to industry. Students would  be able to design many things using this type of equipment, which could really revolutionize the way certain skills in education are learned and taught. The other finding was that real hands on labs may be replaced? by virtual remote labs. This is pretty cool and very different. It has its advantages such as allowing students to conduct research online and have access to other resources they would not have in a classroom. I personally don't know if schools will phase out labs and I'm not even sure if that's what they are getting at in the report, but it is a cool idea. The remote lab is really something, how cool would it be for a student in the school be able to access equipment in another location.
The future of education according to the Horizon report sounds like educators have a few more skills to develop, should schools adopt these types of technologies. I think that if it goes in this direction, teaching and learning with technology is going to benefit because it gives students more opportunity to learn how to use and work with types of technologies that are out there today.

Using Online Video in the Classroom

Using video in the classroom is an excellent teaching tool, in my last two classroom placements I found I used it a lot to teach students about many topics. For example, last placement I taught science to grade 4/5's and used a series of videos from YouTube from "makemegenius", they average about 3-5 minutes long and very informational and engaging for the class. Here is one I used when I introduced the "Body Systems" unit.


I love watching video's because I'm a visual learner, I need to see things, I guess that's why I incorporated it a lot in my past student teaching placements. Also, most students appreciate a video more than listening to the teacher explain content.

Last spring I student taught grade 3/4's and we were learning about Africa, I used a great video I found on YouTube to introduce it. The use of video's as a teaching tool in the classroom is something I enjoy using.



Also from YouTube, I found this video that is explaining to children why physical activity is important to our everyday lives and the importance of learning new skills as well as having fun! I would use this in the phys. ed classroom at the beginning of the year. It is important that students are active at a young age so that the chances of them being physically active as they get older, are higher.

I found another video that I could use personally for my professional teaching on the vimeo site. I could also use it to show students how to play the game if I needed to. It was a video that showed elementary aged students using their overhand throwing skills (force and motion), to hit targets (ducks) as they move across the wall at a station. (another way to use technology in the pe classroom)!

Here is the link https://vimeo.com/2365122 

BYOD Panel & PLN's

R. Norris (Dakota Collegiate), A. McKiel & D. Kuropatwa (SJSD), M. Ingenmey (Minnedosa) & J. Finch (MB Ed) all came to visit us at BU on Tuesday and shared their views and teaching using the BYOD approach in their schools and why it has benefited them and some of the cons. It was nice to see their views of why it is successful for their school and the students. With BYOD and a strong learning platform, I believe that this type of approach is great for schools because it allows for students to take their device home, which gives them more opportunity to do assignments, learn with educational apps, and to do research. BYOD means phasing out of computer labs in schools, which  means lower costs for the school in regards to purchasing technology devices and also provides teachers to build their professional knowledge of technology.

On Thursday John Evans from MB education was a guest speaker in our class. He discussed why every educator should have a PLN and also walked us through MAPLE. The information he shared was very valuable and MAPLE is a great network for teachers to interact with each other. There are groups such as Math, Social Studies and Planning for students with autism, for example. I will definitely be adding MAPLE to my PLN, there is so much information and resources on there.

Every teacher should have a PLN, so many resources and educators are out there sharing their professional knowledge, which could very well make your teaching practice much richer! Why not take advantage of what's available.

Podcasts

Yesterday John Evans visited our class and he briefly introduced this website, http://thepegeek.com/, which I looked through and it's pretty great. He shares valuable information on his site, including ebooks he is reading or has read to enhance his physical education program, he also shares apps that could be used as well. I looked through his podcast episodes and came across "Episode 7: 10 Things to do With One iPad". I chose to listen to a podcast related to physical education because that is what I specialized in and I want to expand my knowledge of how to incorporate technology in the PE classroom, so I thought this would be perfect to listen to.

The ideas that I have gained and apps that he shared sound great! The first thing he told listener's is that these apps will be more beneficial if shared together as a whole class and projected, so everyone benefits. I liked the description of each app he stated and how he also gave examples of how he uses them in his own class. One app that really stood out to me was the "Three Ring" app which can be used as a portfolio where a teacher can create all classes and set up an ipad in a corner of the gym called "portfolio corner". This is where students can record whatever they wish to and keep it in their portfolio (they do it maybe once a week, he says). Example would be to record a serve they mastered, this is also great for teachers because it gives them evidence to assess and actually show parents. Wouldn't this be awesome for parents, I know I would be excited to actually see the progress my child is making in pe. 

I would use podcasts in my classroom so students can see and hear their learning, I think that it could be fun for students and there are many ways it could benefit them. If I had a blog set up for the classroom, I could make a podcast to give instructions for assignments where students can go and listen to them if they need to. Students can also share their learning and work on their ELA skill of speaking.

Here is the link to the podcast http://thepegeekpodcast.podomatic.com/entry/2013-11-08T22_50_13-08_00 

Thanks John Evans, for sharing this website and making my life of finding a good podcast that is related to physical education, easier!

Infographics

Infographics are visuals of information, data or knowledge; where one could learn about a topic quickly with minimal reading required. They also present information in a simple, engaging, attractive way for the audience.

I think infographics are useful in the classroom because they are a great visual for students to learn something quickly, paired with a picture and with little text. Teachers can use infographics to promote learning or participation in P.E., show how to do a task or how something works, to simplify a concept. There are probably more things you can do with infographic in the classroom, I just named a few that came to mind. Students can compare and contrast with infographics, make a timeline or present information.

This is an example of an infographic I made showing information about Canadian NHL star Sidney Crosby. Click the link to view:  https://infogr.am/sidney-crosby-87?src=web

(tried to embed the code, but it wouldn't work)

21st Century Connected Student & Myself as the Connected Teacher

This is my PLN at the moment. As you can see, I am not as connected as others that I have viewed but it will only continue to grow as I do with technology. Most of the educators I follow and connect with are on twitter and Pintrest.

This is my version of the 21st century connected student. The way students learn today has changed, they read books, study, write, note take listen to music and many other things from some form of technology device. It it different from when I was in school, computers were mainly used to type up a project or paper. As educators we need to embrace their way of learning so that they are engaged in our classrooms, this is the time of the Digital Natives. Today we can connect with people anywhere in the world, and isn't it something to think that we will be able to connect with humans living on Mars in 2025? Who would've thought it would happen that soon, or at all.

Social Media and Web Based Course Delivery

This week in #I4Ed our task was to discuss what social media is and would we use it in our classroom. Social media is a way we can share and collaborate with others and participate in social networking globally. In the google I4Ed community I had mentioned that I would love to incorporate it in my classroom. Students now are the "digital natives" and we as teachers need to bring this into our classroom as much as we can.

During Sophia's presentation she discussed Web Based Course Delivery. I have no experience with this type of learning so I don't really have anything to comment on about it. I do however, think that it is a valuable resource in many cases. I watched a video about online courses and the delivery of them, it stated that the teacher should present instruction through videos and podcasts, so it feels more "real" I guess. This summer I may begin to take some online courses to earn an Interior Design Diploma, we will see how that goes. I have been interested in this for a while and I love to decorate, see what happens.

Other then that, I plan to get through some tech tasks this long weekend and just enjoy the Olympics and spending time with my son. I'm scheduled to go to his V-day party at daycare at 3:45 so I've got to run!

Happy Valentines Day People! xoxo

Digital Footprints

Your digital footprint is a "footprint" you leave online. I am unsure of how one could access a complete digital footprint, but I'm assuming a task like that can be done with all of the technological advances of today. As a pre-service teacher I do take caution in what appears and does not appear online about myself, with the internet making it easy for potential employers to "look you up", I mainly want to display the professional, driven teacher that I am. 

This leads into the next discussion about Digital Identity. Digital Identity is ones online identity. Even if I wasn't in the career of teaching I would still have this type of digital identity.With the career I have chosen, I completely understand why teachers are held to a higher standard than other careers. So again, I do watch what makes its way online these days.

Teaching students about digital footprints and digital identities is essential for them to learn about so we can produce knowledgeable digital citizens. They need to know how to use the internet in a safe, positive way and that whatever they put online can be traced back to them and in most cases, can not be removed from the internet.

I have recently followed an EduBlogger and she posted this on Jan. 30th...it is a good resource to have and I would definitely use it.

http://edutech4teachers.edublogs.org/category/infographic-of-the-week/ 

New vs Old Devices I Have and Have Not Come Across

Nearing the end of last class I began to really think about the final summative project for the course. Although I am looking forward to putting it together, it will also be a new skill I will be learning to use in the case of technology. I have never used a microphone to capture my voice and put in on a file. These skills I wish I would've learned in school and did not. There was a course called "Information Technology" in high school that I didn't take, now I wish I had! The teacher for that course was awesome, my close friend was in it and she was making little movies. That beautiful classroom has since been removed and is now being used as a cafeteria in my old high school.

Last class Mike was able to show us how quick and easily a podcast can be put together in the classroom and used as an exit slip, for example. I was able to see how, with advanced forms of devices such as the mac book, it could be put together easier. I have an old laptop at home and it is no where near advanced as the newer devices that are out there. Oh, and I wasn't sure what a podcast was up until last class. (yikes) and I have also never worked with a mac device, besides my iphone.

Anyways, I'm excited and a little nervous to get down to starting my final project. I have tried to look at previous projects from last year and I was not able to locate them on the NING. 

Not so organized online just yet

Organizing myself online is something I don't do too much of, besides Pintrest. Not because I don't think I need to, but because I need to get myself into it more and just haven't yet.

 As a teacher I think that it would be a good idea to use online apps such as symbaloo for a classroom organization tool, where students can add their resources or websites to and where I could possibly organize my teaching plans.

AND also, the RSS feed "feedly" has made tracking blogs easier for me :)

That is all.

more tech ideas gained

The career fair and guest speakers on Tuesday was kind of nerve wrecking. It was good to hear how newer teachers are incorporating technology in their teaching and left me with some ideas on how I could begin or go about technology in my future classroom.
Using twitter for formative assessment is a great idea and something I wouldn't have thought of.

My sister is a teacher within the Frontier School Division and they are not up to date with technology, a lot of schools within the division do not have laptops let alone iPads. Very few classrooms have SMART boards, these are just my thoughts I had while the teachers were speaking. It makes me :(

My next teaching placement is in Souix Valley teaching K-6 P.E., I've never been in this school before, so I'm excited to see how technology is incorporated throughout.