Week 10 Final Reflection

Who Knew?

What did I know?

    I knew that if a teacher used a Smartboard, planned lessons using backwards design, engaged students using differentiation and creative hooks, used technology--like a website, and corrected projects using checklists and rubrics that teacher was working really hard.  In fact, that was me.  I worked hard.  I put in huge amounts of time working hard for my students, my district, and for me.  I knew a bunch about Web1.0 and really nothing about Web2.0.  (Imagine my panic the week Web3.0 was introduced.)  

What did I want to Know?

I wanted to know how  I missed the bandwagon?  I quickly began to figure out that I wanted to know my new friend, Google.  (Sure, I would have said we were friendly before, but now, now I trust Google.)  I had no idea what a blog was or actually how many people blog. ( I was always curious about this, every now and again I would hear something about “bloggers” on TV.) I thought Facebook and Twitter were just for spreading gossip or sharing funny stories.  What was a digital footprint and how could having one be good, after all wasn’t it an invasion of my privacy to be “found” on the web?  

What did I learn?

I learned that I was going to head straight to the looney bin if next year I had to work this hard.  Students are not really motivated in my class.  Well let me be more clear.  students who want to learn are motivated and engaged.  Those students are the easy ones to reach.  I like the challenge type, I always have.  But I learned that I wasn’t meeting them where they were at.   (No, not like creating another song and dance or running the wheel like a hamster.)  I really connected to what Lee Rainie, from Director of the Pew Internet and American life project said, “Teens were born into a digital world where they expect to create, consume, remix, and share material with others.

I need to do more.  I’ve learned so much in this class that I really need to think hard and organize the change I want to happen.  I felt an urgency to quickly learn and tryout these new webtools.  Sharing what I was learning with my colleagues has also been important.  I’ve been most disappointed with the number of people who really dismiss this bandwagon.  I share things and they really just brush me aside, or at least it feels like they do.  So, I just tucked my head down and focused on becoming part of the Web2.0 world.  

Now that summer vacation is here I really want to decide how these tools will shape shape learning, not just make my class fun.  My school is changing to block schedules next year.  That means I have 80 minute classes.  (Finally just enough time to really learn something.)  I am hoping that the technology initiative that I have been invited to be a part of will help  organize my ideas so that I can lay out goals and make a plan.

Here are the specific things I’ve been up to the last 10 weeks:

Course Learning Objectives:	How did I meet them?
Provide instruction and modeling regarding digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.	I created a prezi called Digital Citizenship.  Through class lecture and readings I was able to learn what it means to be responsible on the web.  I also was able to see what digital natives believe compared to digital immigrants.
Promote and demonstrate effective use of digital tools and resources. Familiarize students with Web2.0 tools that may be used professionally or within the classroom environment to establish deeper learning experiences through proper curricular standard driven development.	As soon as I started to learn about the Web2.0 tools I tried implementing them in the classroom.  I currently have a VoiceThread account.  I think I am most proud of that.  I had to teach myself how to input all the student’s names and manage their accounts.  I learned about their safety policy and how it impacted my use of the tool.   I’ve also played around with or frequently use the following webtools as I facilitate my lessons or directly with students: Google Docs, Google Forms,  Slide Rocket, Prezi, Go animate (I made only a quick animation to try it out) Chrome Books, Popplet for IPad, I Tunes U, Diigo (personal use only thus far), Audacity, Feedly, and Youtube.
Become familiar with current technology issues, trends and technology use within the K- 12 environment. Discuss how technology use impacts student learning outcomes.	I now have a PLN that includes edutopia, edudemic, and several blogs.  I participate in 3 groups on Diigo and follow professor Tufts.  I belong to the Ning, Flipped Learning Network.  I am beginning to use Feedly more regularly.  I have issues with getting RSS feeds and need to work out the kinks.  It seems like their are so many apps and tools available it is hard to figure out which one will work for the lesson and goals.  One of the best lesson planning tools I ran across was this pedagogy which includes technology.
Design and implement digitally-based learning experiences with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments	Creating a 10 day unit I was able to implement VoiceThread directly into my reading class.  After students completed their work they were familiar enough with the program to create another one on their own.  The second time they made predictions what the new book would be about.  Two students later recorded their speech to the Constitutional Convention!  Additionally, I used Google Drive to share with my social studies students directions for creating a bibliography using EasyBib.  Students were able to submit a survey on Google Forms which allowed them to provide feedback on their summer reading work.
Establish a core personal learning network of technology leaders to follow. Utilize this new network of educators as personal professional development.	I am working on building my PLN.  My plan is to use time this summer to organize my goals and move forward with finding technology leaders to follow.  Currently I am following Kathy Schrock on Google+ and I have her blog Kathy Schrock's Kaffeeklatsch in Feedly.  Cool Cat Teacher blog and Karl Fischh’s The Fischbowl are also in my Feedly.  I have a twitter account and plan on investigating that further this summer.
Use knowledge of digital tools and technology applications to facilitate experiences that advance learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.	After having taught students to use VoiceThread I had a two students ask me if they could record their voices for the Constitutional Convention speech as an alternative to directly address the class.  I helped them get a picture into it and they recorded their work .  I’ve met this goal becuase students felt comfortable enough with VoiceThread they wanted to use it again.  They understood that this webtool could help them meet the requirements.  (Interestingly enough, it was highly motivational...both of these students are slow to complete their work.  Not only was the work completed but it was done on time!)
Evaluate, adapt, and reflect on emerging tools and trends by participating in local and global learning communities and by reviewing current research and professional literature.	I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with two local teachers on their use of Project Based Learning.  One teacher is interested in developing a workshop through the local community college and has requested my help.   My school district has asked me to join an initiative this summer titled “Future of Learning” organized by 2Revolutions.  Our task will be integrating technology to individualize instruction and create ongoing assessment into engaging digital content.   I believe these two small steps demonstrate this standard by providing me first hand experience with evaluating and adapting digital content and emerging tools.  Research will be required as I create my own form of inquiry learning (teaching myself what I need to know if order to facitlitate learning).

It has been a wonderful journey and I look forward to slowing down and really digging deeper.  If I paraphrase my administrator from work, I are looking for depth of knowledge, not breadth as I move forward in my new world of Web2.0!