I enjoyed this unit and the thinking it required of me regarding formative and summative assessment. I have discussion questions embedded into my online seminars but didn't really think about them as assessments. This unit has given me the opportunity to look at those discussion items differently and consider how important they are that I give feedback and encourage feedback from their peers.
The other thing I appreciated about this unit was the opportunity to think about how to integrate a variety of web 2.0 tools into a formative assessment practices. I tried to include several types of tools that I could use to help my students understand the content. Where I believe I still struggle is trying to finding ways to vary how they receive feedback.
As for challenges, I see many of them that are the same as in any brick and mortar classroom. Often as teachers we are caught up in the delivery of your content and we fail to remember that we need to provide students time to process, talk it out with another and digest the content before moving on to other things. With the desire to make sure we use every moment for great teaching we need to remember that we need to let students assess each other and we need to also comment and be part of the discussion to help students understand the content. I see the on line/blended learning teacher naturally being more of a facilitator of learning vs the sage on the stage because of the need to provide feedback without seeing your students face-to-face.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
4.3 Reflection Social and Professional Networks - Part 1
I decided to write this reflection in two parts. The reason will become clear as you read each part!
Part 1 - Sunday, July 7, 2013
I write this part of my reflection as I prepare to leave for a week long camping trip. I have been busy today getting as much of the LEC work completed as possible as I won't have reliable access to the Internet for the next week. A bit of irony that the reflection this week is about use of the Internet and my social and professional networks as I am being cut off from the distraction or tool (depending on the moment) that I have come to rely on! I will complete part 2 on my return to let you know how this experience works in reality!
BTW...I am all in when it comes to the Internet. I have even considered canceling my cable TV ...why do I pay for TV when it is on the Internet?! I hangout on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to name a few of my favorite places. I read my newspaper from the Internet, play games, communicate with my children (they come to dinner much faster when I Facetime them to tell them dinner is ready than when I yelled). I have a Linked In account, I enjoy a fun Google hangout and I have my own YouTube channel. I also have a new app, Zite, that keeps an online magazine of what I look to view and lets me read them everyday. I am trying to find the best Google Reader replacement, so far Feedly is winning. I don't go to the bank anyone since I can now deposit checks with my Iphone.I believe the Internet is an incredible tool, both personally and professionally. I have learned so much and have access to so much more information because of it. As a professional tool Twitter is my favorite. I appreciate the condensed information and if I want to read more I can open a link. I see many applications for the Internet in the classroom setting. The collaboration tools available with Google would be a great tool. I would also use Twitter and Facebook to create a classroom community and Skype to connect my classroom to other classrooms in the US and the world. . Personally, Pinterest is my favorite. It took me awhile to understand how it works but really enjoy the sharing and keeping of information. I even find great educational tools there.
As for a distraction...absolutely! I must admit Solitaire is a mind waster...but fun :-)
I will leave you now and continue to get ready for my unplugged vacation. I will post Part 2 upon my return.
Part 2: - Saturday, July 13, 2013
It was a great vacation and I did my best to stay disconnected. I will have to admit that I did check my email on my phone when we got some where will cell service. I spent this morning (we got home to late last night) catching up with some of my networks. Funny....one of the articles on Zite this morning was about how to maintain a good PLN. Great ideas, following hash tags i.e. #edchat, reading RSS feeds but one of the ideas I gleaned from the article that I could improve on is having more conversation with the folks that I follow. Less stalking and more messaging was the recommendation to continue to improve and grow my PLN.
Part 1 - Sunday, July 7, 2013
I write this part of my reflection as I prepare to leave for a week long camping trip. I have been busy today getting as much of the LEC work completed as possible as I won't have reliable access to the Internet for the next week. A bit of irony that the reflection this week is about use of the Internet and my social and professional networks as I am being cut off from the distraction or tool (depending on the moment) that I have come to rely on! I will complete part 2 on my return to let you know how this experience works in reality!
BTW...I am all in when it comes to the Internet. I have even considered canceling my cable TV ...why do I pay for TV when it is on the Internet?! I hangout on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to name a few of my favorite places. I read my newspaper from the Internet, play games, communicate with my children (they come to dinner much faster when I Facetime them to tell them dinner is ready than when I yelled). I have a Linked In account, I enjoy a fun Google hangout and I have my own YouTube channel. I also have a new app, Zite, that keeps an online magazine of what I look to view and lets me read them everyday. I am trying to find the best Google Reader replacement, so far Feedly is winning. I don't go to the bank anyone since I can now deposit checks with my Iphone.I believe the Internet is an incredible tool, both personally and professionally. I have learned so much and have access to so much more information because of it. As a professional tool Twitter is my favorite. I appreciate the condensed information and if I want to read more I can open a link. I see many applications for the Internet in the classroom setting. The collaboration tools available with Google would be a great tool. I would also use Twitter and Facebook to create a classroom community and Skype to connect my classroom to other classrooms in the US and the world. . Personally, Pinterest is my favorite. It took me awhile to understand how it works but really enjoy the sharing and keeping of information. I even find great educational tools there.
As for a distraction...absolutely! I must admit Solitaire is a mind waster...but fun :-)
I will leave you now and continue to get ready for my unplugged vacation. I will post Part 2 upon my return.
Part 2: - Saturday, July 13, 2013
It was a great vacation and I did my best to stay disconnected. I will have to admit that I did check my email on my phone when we got some where will cell service. I spent this morning (we got home to late last night) catching up with some of my networks. Funny....one of the articles on Zite this morning was about how to maintain a good PLN. Great ideas, following hash tags i.e. #edchat, reading RSS feeds but one of the ideas I gleaned from the article that I could improve on is having more conversation with the folks that I follow. Less stalking and more messaging was the recommendation to continue to improve and grow my PLN.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
3.3 Using Web 2.0 Tools Reflection
This has been my favorite section of LEC! I love Web 2.0 tools and see so many applications in the classroom. It was really hard for me to pick just one tool to share. I believe the best part of the Web 2.0 library is that you have such variety in not only use but also cost. For the most part I think you can find a tool for free that will accomplish what you would have paid for years ago. FREE is the magic word for teachers especially if they find it easy to use.
Where I struggle is implementation. Since I am not in a classroom and view the process from the outside I want to make sure that teachers are supported in implementation. This is where I believe the system needs to do a better job. Where is the on the ground support for teachers to implement these tools to improve student learning, allow for collaboration, embrace student creativity and change the classroom to engage more students? Are there teachers out there doing it without support, of course! However, if we are to truly change the dynamic of the classroom we have to support all teachers, if not Web 2.0 tools will just be a tool on a shelf, an idea in a notebook, a "I'll understand that someday"and not what it could be to engage students.
It is my goal as a professional developer to get all these tools in the hands of teachers with the support to implement them. Imagine what the classrooms will look like and the learning that will take place. How exciting!!
Where I struggle is implementation. Since I am not in a classroom and view the process from the outside I want to make sure that teachers are supported in implementation. This is where I believe the system needs to do a better job. Where is the on the ground support for teachers to implement these tools to improve student learning, allow for collaboration, embrace student creativity and change the classroom to engage more students? Are there teachers out there doing it without support, of course! However, if we are to truly change the dynamic of the classroom we have to support all teachers, if not Web 2.0 tools will just be a tool on a shelf, an idea in a notebook, a "I'll understand that someday"and not what it could be to engage students.
It is my goal as a professional developer to get all these tools in the hands of teachers with the support to implement them. Imagine what the classrooms will look like and the learning that will take place. How exciting!!
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