I have learned that social media and technology can be an effective tool in the classroom. It allows the students to interact with a network of teachers and learners. Students can use media and digital tools to enhance their presentation and learning skills. Using media in the classroom promotes collaboration, engagement, perspective, and a community of learners. As a 21st century teacher our roles are changing and incorporating technology and media within the classroom can develop the students digital citizenships. Digital citizenship helps the students build an online presence that is appropriate and avoid misusing and abusing technology. Students have access to Internet at home and public libraries and so students should be educated about the safety and privacy settings, safety and security when using the internet, types of content to post/access, how to know if you’re entering trustworthy sources and who to connect with. It is a teachers responsibility to shape students to be successful not only in the classroom but in the outside community/ world. If teachers teach media and digital literacy, the students will be able to successfully shape their career paths and adapt to the changing society. Students are already active online and using technology; if teachers teach how to use them appropriately and effectively the students will be able to build a safe online presence and gain a creditable network and worth of knowledge as well as share their work. My professor has taught me how to network and share work online safely through Google docs and other forms of outlets that are not public. In the classroom setting we have used different forms of media such as Google chat/slides and Padlet to create conversation and gain different point of views. Collaborating with others enhanced my ideas and allowed me to be inspired by others. I learned how to use “Mindomo” which helped me create my ideas for my digital film. This site helped me generate ideas because I was able to input resources and images as well as text. I was also able to change the formats and functions to my desire. I also learned how to use media and integrate learning from all subjects. For example, Flickr is a website that shows five photos and you are challenged to create a story based off of those images. This is a great idea for an activity for a writing, art, social studies and drama class. I learned how to have a balance when using technology and social media in the classroom. I believe there is always a time and place for technology use and learning with media as the media enhances the lesson but it can also be distracting if it is over used. What I love about technology is that everyone has a unique and creative eye; students are able to make their ideas come to life in their own perspective and unique way. Technology opens up a wide range of possibilities when producing work and allows different forms of media techniques such as, images, film and recordings to be combined. In the classroom I was able to be an assistance in helping a couple of my peers shape their digital story ideas and create their video using Premiere Pro and garage band. I was able to help them decide on transitions and create credits and titles. I also taught myself how to reverse a film and add scrolling credits and effects onto the titles. Technology will be forever changing and I plan on as an educator and leader of the community to continue to experiment with different media platforms and learn new applications and forms of technology. Little Miss Learning
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When I was using the EVO virtual headset I felt immersed in the environment although it was on a little screen. I felt as though everywhere I looked it reflected that time and place and even though I could not connect with the people and physically be there to touch and smell it was still surreal. Having an opportunity to play around with virtual reality has made me realize how engaging and entertaining the experience was while learning at the same time. Another form of virtual reality I was able to explore was the 4D anatomy. This app can easily be downloaded and the worksheets can be printed from online. The application allowed me to view the heart or skeletal system in 4D. I was able to change the functions to isolate a certain part of the organ and view its functions. Kids can be able to experience a new world through virtual reality and use the technology to learn about different subjects in an experimental context. The students can represent any function and visualize it making it easier to comprehend. The students would be able to interact with what they are learning in the digital world and apply their knowledge with more practical information and visuals of what they are learning. Students ultimately would have more passion for learning, attending school as well as maintain engagement while using virtual reality. What is great about virtual learning is that Google cardboard is an inexpensive tool for teachers to purchase and immerse the students in different settings and learning contexts. The students could also take mini field trips while sitting right in their desks. Virtual reality can enhance the students learning by experiencing the world around them and designing objects/spaces, which usually cannot be seen in a regular classroom. Little Miss Virtual
As a teacher candidate I find creating a rubric for a digital story a challenging task. How can an educator assess a digital story? What makes an exceptional digital story? And what components do educators value and consider while creating a rubric for a digital story? There are many elements that need to be included into the rubric such as the curriculum expectations, media literacy and techniques. First we must establish the rationale, knowledge of student’s media skills and their prior knowledge. Every year the students will be different and unique, using the same rubric every year will not be effective in my opinion because you want the students to be successful and assess them on skills they have been learning within the classroom. Having the students build the rubric with the teacher can help them understand the requirements and expectations as well as decide as class what to consider when creating a digital story and what makes a successful digital story. A digital story can incorporate a variety of media forms. ISTE standards for teachers encourages educators to promote, support and model creativity and innovative thinking and inventiveness, customize and personalize learning activities and collaborate with students and the community. When creating a rubric, a teacher must remember to leave room for flexibility and creativity and not limit the potential of their development with strict guidelines. Having numerical restrictions and time limits can be effective as the students are learning to use the tools and techniques to assess their knowledge but for their culminating task, the students should be able to take their learning in the direction that benefits their strength and skills and not be controlled by a rubric. The rubric should list criteria’s that the students have been working on and are familiar with, it should be clear and in student friendly language as well as explain what constitutes excellent, good, fair etc. The rubric should support the students learning to help them understand how they can be successful and is practical to the real world. Providing assessment that has real world applications will help the students use what they have learned outside of the school setting. Authentic assessment is meaningful, justifies answers, student constructed, polished products, seamless, accurate, ill defined and most importantly real. Educators should strive to make sure the students are going to successful in school and in real life. Little Miss Assessment
Safer Internet Day addresses Internet issues such as cyber bullying, social networking, and security. The organization raises the concerns of these topics/ issues and invests in creating the best possible use of technology for youth students. “Be the change: Unite for a better Internet”. To be apart of the change, you can follow them on Facebook, twitter using #SID2017 and #SaferInternetDay. It is important to educate students about making safe and appropriate decisions online because we are in the 21st century living in a digital world. With the Internet right at our fingertips, with the click of a button or a simple swipe, we can open and access all sorts of material. These materials can be useful and entertaining but also inappropriate, sexual, disturbing or false. Students are aware of their unlimited access and may be tempted to tune into these sites that may open up a digital world they are not prepared for. It is important that teachers prepare and educate their students by explaining and addressing these issues rather than ignoring them or limiting their time/access on digital platforms. Growing up, technology was evolving and I did not have an elder to discuss these matters with me or explain the importance of security and dangers of the Internet. As a modern educator I believe it is extremely necessary that these issues be constantly addressed in order for students to understand safer and more knowledgeable aspects to using technology and online safety. Cyber bullying, identity theft, and pornography are some of the concerning topics that young students are vulnerable too. If teachers do not address these topics within the classroom and create a safe place to open the discussion about these concerns than the implications will continue to carry one into further generations. The Internet can be a wonderful tool or can ruin a life. Helping kids understand and be aware of the smart choices they can make online and when using the Internet can impact their future positively. What I think kids should know about the Internet:
Little Miss Safer Internet
Digital storytelling enables individuals to create and reshape a narrative story with a variety of media content. Telling stories about meaningful experiences and topics has an effect on the population when all the components are combined such as, images, sounds, music, transitions, and special effects. When all these effects are organized they unfold a powerful story. “Digital media and digital distribution to the world community is reshaping the power of oral storytelling…” which can be an excellent way to introduce the art of sharing stories into the classroom setting. Having the story created digitally allows the students to share and view their experiences/stories long after it is complete. In my experiences with stories created through filming and other effects takes practice, planning and consideration to detail. Digital stories are often directed to personal topics that allow the audience to make an emotional connection, although the writer may not be the main character, the audience will still understand and contextualize the situation. Good story telling reveals a powerful message that teaches the audience a lesson and has valuable morals. Teaching students about the importance of storytelling allows them to reflect on their own lives and the issues or highlights of their experiences. It enables them to gain perspective of the world they live in through the lens of a digital platform. When the students are able to use multiple forms of media it opens up to numerous possibilities to create meaningful stories. Flickr is a great way to help students generate topic ideas and create a story based off of five images. This website is great for students who are having trouble generating ideas. In the classroom experience we also jotted down genres, topics and themes. Circled the words that stood out and created a story as a group, I found this to be a very effective way to integrate ideas and collaborate with others in the classroom. Little Miss Digital Storytelling
There are so many words too choose from in the dictionary, I did not know where to start. The word I have decided to choose for this year is CHANGE. I chose this word because as I continue to grow through my experiences and learning, so is the world. Change can seem difficult when the people surrounding you stay the same and the education system teaches specific topics to a particular age. We may not be able to change everything all at once but changing the way subjects are taught and changing the way concepts are presented can improve students engagement and participation within the classroom. I believe it is important for everyone to know that it is never too late to change the way you see the world and how others see you. It is not "fake" to act different, it is bold and brave. Everybody has greatness and talent but they allow themselves to listen to others and follow the trends. If everyone was unique in their own way, our world would benefit from the populations intelligence. Sometimes what teachers are teaching may not be interesting for the students and that does not reflect the students capability rather the teacher's skill in embracing the students backgrounds and adding student involvement within their own learning . How can we expect the students to sit through lessons and be continuously engaged when they change vastly.. "If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?" In today’s society technology is becoming more prominent and apart of our culture. Although technology is a popular form of communication and entertainment at times it can be a distraction and addictive habit. A research group called Latitude focuses on the effects and relationships with online consumption. In an interview "Who are today's app addicts and what makes them use (or lose) an app?."The participants in the video express their anxiety about using apps daily, paying at least five dollars for apps and downloading free apps. The participants use apps for news, sports and entertainment, they download apps that have high ratings, user friendly, and updates. Apps can be a great way to integrate technology within the classroom because there are many apps that are educational and great for creativity and sharing. Students who have digital devices will go home and download apps that are fun for them, as a teacher I think it is important to explore how these apps can be used to teach students and inspire them to create their own ideas and inventions. Latitude reports the key demand for storytelling are the “4 I’s: Immersion, Interactive, Integration and Impact.” The intention for creating a new way of story telling is to tell meaningful stories and network through the real world. A story can only be meaningful if the writer believes it themselves. Viewing videos, socializing and browsing through social media is one way technology is used, but technology is more than just that. As consumers we need to change our perspective on how we interact and use technology on a daily bases. Students can learn through using transmedia, an interactive way to communicate and mix multiple platforms to express and convey their discoveries and document their learning. Using technology to record learning is beneficial in the classroom because it can be shared and benefitted for their peers and other educators around the world. Having a community of network and connections is a process I am currently trying to build in hopes my ideas and thoughts can be shaped by wonderful educators as well as taken beyond my mind. Little Miss Change
I have learned that there is no escaping from the digital world. Media is all around us. When I enter into a classroom, I want to bring technology to life. I want students to have the opportunity tointeract with other students around the world and I want them to share their creations and develop a positive and safe online presence. I believe it is important to have the students gain web-literacy skills and participate in the online community. Having the students connect to media in the classroom allows the teacher to monitor their online behaviour and teach the students safety and respectful manners when interacting on the web. One important aspect I have learned with using technology in the classroom is using the media to engage the students. One of my favourite websites is GoNoodle because it has a lot of fun videos directed towards wellness and education. GoNoodle is also great for daily physical activities and as an ice breaker to get the students motivated and excited for the day. Answer Garden is another popular format that allows the students to create a wordle as a class and the students can input as many words as they like. What I enjoy most aboutAnswer Garden is that everybody in the class can participate. The website is very accessible and can be embedded into a blog or website. As a teacher I would keep all the wordles we have created and put them together in a digital album.
Hellen Dewaard helped me become more familiar with Google. Before my Google account was unorganized and I didn't have an efficient system for all my files. As I will be going on placement I want to take advantage of the all the great tools Google has to offer such as, slides, forms, docs and calendar. The Google forms is great for entry and exit tickets or just a tool to get to know your students. The students can access the form from any device and submit their answers with one touch of a button. Google Docs helps me save memory on my computer because they are saved online in a Google drive rather than in my computer memory. I can share my files with others and they can edit and comment on the sides of my document. The Google Doc saves everything instantly, a tool that is helpful for me.
I have been fortunate to sit with a group of peers that have been helpful throughout the term giving me guidance and support. They have encouraged me with ideas and thoughts I have. I have been able to help my peers with their Weebly blog, giving them suggestions and constructive feedback. My internship partner and I have been extremely helpful to each other in developing our social media platforms and keeping up with our postings. On top of all our classes it's easy to forget small details but as a class we have been successful in helping each other during class and staying connected outside of class.
Little Miss Giving
My first Google form. I think using Google forms is an awesome idea for exit and entry tickets. Students can easily access the form from any device, answer the questions and submit in a matter of minutes. The forms are great for getting to know your students, for taking surveys and determining prior knowledge.
Little Miss Forms I have created my first avatar! Creating my avatar was fun and exciting because I got to decide on which features best suited me! Having an avatar character is great for social media accounts and for a safe profile image.
What matters to me is making technology an effective asset to students and their education. Using technology in the classroom can be an engaging tool or a major distraction. Teaching students how to use technology professionally and meaningfully can enhance their knowledge to produce essential and productive ideas. To function and interact with today's culture means to be involved in the digital world. Students need to learn how they can use technology to connect with people all around the world and how they can make creative work, document, share and grow through different forms of media. I believe there should be no limitations when using the internet and different forms of technology. If we allow the students to develop their online profile in school, they will be educated how to put forth a professional and appropriate persona on the web. When using the technology in the classroom teachers can educate students about safe usage, respectful communication and critical thinking.
What matters to me is believing in every student. Kids need just one person who believes in them and a teacher could be that one person. Children have imaginative ideas and as teachers, our job is to show them what they can do with their ideas. Idea's can come from any interest of theirs, like Cain's passion for games. Getting to know your students is one way in which teachers can be supportive of their interests. If you know what your students are interested in then you can incorporate their hobbies into everyday learning. The students will want to take their learning further and possibly continue their projects after the completion date. Most importantly students works and creations should be shared, displayed and celebrated for everyone to see. Little Miss Idea |
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