ITEC7430: Thing 3

People write blogs and update them regularly when they are interested in the blogging topic. When blogging, we show a lot of our personality. Others that have similar personalities or interests follow our blogs. I noticed several educational blogs; blogs informing people of how education is changing, why homework is/is not assigned and blogs by subject or classes taken. People follow or subscribe to blogs in order to communicate with others going through similar experiences or those that have similar concerns.

I think blog reading is different from other types of reading as it can include personal experiences. We not only read published articles, we read real life experiences, ideas, trials, success, etc...When blogging, we can give feedback, encouragement and support. We can discuss topics that are relevant to our situation and maybe get ideas from others that we have not already thought of.  I tend to see blogs as a more laid back form of discussion.

I see blog writing as more conversational than report. It is more opinionated and a way to express feelings, thoughts, successes, trials, and failures. Blogging allows ownerships. To some people, a blog is like a diary that others can comment on. Keeping a blog throughout the years can show growth in certain areas, depending on the blog.

Commenting on blogs gives the blogger other ideas, pros, cons, encouragement and support. It is a form of communication on which people are passionate about. I see it as a group working together. Having several ideas makes the end product more meaningful and productive.

I believe there is a blogging literacy not only with blogs, but in web browsing and online reading. Students need to know how to site, link, navigate, explore and use different medias. When blogging, students are responsible for their published work and there are so many skills and rules students should know before writing for public eyes. 

Blogging is a great way to facilitate learning. Archiving blogs is a way to track progress and growth from year to year. Students can reflect and evaluate on how far they've come and where they are going. Students can learn from each other and can learn to respect the comments and opinions of others. Students are not just limited to classroom discussions. Conversations can happen between students that are on opposite sides of the world. Blogs may also allow students to get in touch and have conversations with experts; conversations not possible in the classroom.

ITEC 7430: Thing 4

For each post required in the classroom, students need a format in which to complete posts to contribute to engaged responses. In teaching 8th grade, I know my students need structure when beginning something new. I think students will eventually get the hang of the format and it will become easier and easier to write and respond on their blogs.

Criteria	Unacceptable	Acceptable	Target
Blog Posts by Students	Little or no contribution from student. Entries do not reference classroom discussion or web/readings. No personal opinion stated.	Strong contribution from student that shows basic understanding of topic. Key issues mentioned from class discussion or web/readings. Personal opinion is supported with examples from class discussion.	Strong contribution from student that shows thorough understanding of topic. Original ideas. Key issues mentioned from class discussions or web/readings that include thought provoking questions or statements. Personal opinion well organized supported with facts beyond the classroom discussion.
Comments or Responses that students leave on other student blogs	Responds to other blogs with disrespectful and/or negative comments.	Responds to other blogs with positive, respectful comments that add value and contribute to discussion.	Consistently responds to other blogs with positive, respectful, and thought provoking comments that add value and contribute to discussion.

Blog Resources:

This site helped me come up with the blog post by students. 

http://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowc.cfm?code=M44A63&sp=yes&

This site helped me develop the comments/responses that students post on other blogs.  http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/profdev/rubrics/blogrubric.html

ITEC 7445: Design and Development Post 1/23/2011

There is no doubt in my mind that the design and development information will definitely help us as Ed Tech Teachers. We know more than just the basics of our concentration subjects. We know a certain depth of these subjects as we are to teach others. In order to teach other effectively, we should know more. I also believe this is true with design and development. In development, we are able to piece together a lesson that will allows students to go into higher order thinking. These are the skills students need to move forward and learn at a deeper level. Development also allows us to improve our teaching strategies with the lesson we are implementing. Design will allow the lesson/site to look a certain way that is easy to understand, pleasing to the eye and maybe hold our students attention.
Students and fellow colleagues will look to us to be technology literate. We want to be able to share our ideas and support our school in moving forward with technology in education.

ITEC7430: Thing One - Web 2.0

Last semester, my team teachers started twittering our students/parents. My team teacher, Mrs. F,  and I are trying to move forward in incorporating technology in to the classroom.  We wanted a way to communicate with our students outside of the classroom. Mrs. F had the idea of using Twitter. She made a Twitter account and had students follow her tweets. Then our other team teacher and I set up our Twitter accounts and now we are all tweeting with our students. We keep our students/parents informed of upcoming tests, assignments, events, deadlines, websites, study links and more. This has increased the number of students that turn in homework, study and and has helped parents stay in touch with what their child is doing at school.

Using twitter is just one small step we took to move forward. I know we have so much more to learn. Mrs. F is using wiki pages, Podcasts and videocasts and I will hopefully be up to date with her by the end of this semester. I would like for the educators in my system to have a better way to share ideas they have on technology and the web use in the classroom. I think sharing ideas can have a great impact on changing education. I want my school to take steps in moving forward with web tools in education because I feel like many students are being lost with traditional teaching styles.

Final Summary!!!!

I know we are all excited to be done with our first semester. I'm so jumping up and down right after this post! I've had a great experience this first semester. Dr. Williamson, you are awesome! I was so nervous beginning this semester thinking I'm going to drive myself crazy with school, work and family. It was not easy but I was also not the crazy wife I thought I was going to be this semester.

I found all of our assignments to be relevant and interesting. This semester was extremely useful to my teaching career and I am so glad that I chose Instructional Technology. I feel like my eyes have been opened to so many possibilities. I've been able to nerd out with my team teacher, who is also getting her degree in Instructional Technology at a different University, and it is great having someone to go to for advice or to just tell her that found something cool. Taking this course has gotten me to tweet my kids, use iFlashcards, Mobile Study and Study Island. Taking this course has also made me look at how I teach and what I can do to make my instruction and class time more engaging for students.

The vision and SWOT assignment helped me to see where my school is and where I eventually want my school to be. I know we have a lot of progress to make, but the assignment gave me a starting point to see what small adjustments I can change now to move us forward. It was also helpful for me to see and hear what everyone's schools were like and to hear what cool ideas they were trying. I've obtained a plethora of information and sites to use at school and I'm very excited about moving forward.

I'm sure I will be in touch with everyone in this class as we have much more to learn. Our next classes, multimedia and web tools sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun! Thank you all for a great semester!

Grants and Partnerships

Funny thing happened this week. I began working on my grant assignment one day and then the next, I found something for our school to use the grant on. My team teacher and I are the tech nerds on our team and we always seem to be finding new ways of implementing technology into the classroom. We were trying to use the school's iPod cart for a lesson when we realized that we needed the updated iPod Touches in order to do the lesson. After we realized that, I told my team teacher of a grant we could work on to help fund buying the devices. Until then, we will be adapting our lessons to the technology we currently have available. We were able to have students use their iPhones for part of the lesson and they are now able to use their iPhones to stay connected to education.
Reading about the grants available to teachers was eye-opening! I did not realize there was so much funding available for education. We just have to go out and find it. I searched the School Funding site as well as the NEA site to see all the cool lessons, activities and projects teachers were doing in the classroom with grants they were awarded. One thing I learned was how important it was to plan ahead when applying for grants. People who award grants want to see what the grant is going towards and to make sure the grant money will be used in a way that engages students in critical thinking and problem solving and is aligned to educational standards.
I've heard of grant writing workshops before but never really though it would be something that pertained to me. I was so wrong! We have a time during the school year when proposals for mini-grants are taken and I've never written anything for it before. Now that I have a better idea of what I can do with technology and education in the classroom, I will probably be looking to write these grants to fund some of my "dream" projects. 

Internet Safety

Completing the Internet Safety assignment showed me information already on the Internet that can help teach children about the risks of the Internet and how to protect themselves on the Internet. One great website is NSTeens.org. I was able to use several videos from the site for my PPT. The site is geared more towards students in middle and high school. I sent the link to our technology teacher so that she can use it in her classes. My PPT focused more on cyberbullying, posting too much information and copyright issues. I focused more on these topics because I've noticed these issues with students at my school. We had more issues with it last year than we've had this year...so far. One student posts something about another student and then there is a girl fight in the hallway or feelings are hurt. I've seen posts and pictures that children in my school have posted and it makes me sick how they are ruining their image/reputation.
I think Internet Safety is something that should be taught to students every year. It is something that is constantly changing and students need to be protected. Students need to understand what is appropriate and inappropriate when using the Internet and also to be held accountable for their actions. This assignment was definitely beneficial to me and now I have a presentation to use with my students that is age appropriate.