Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Post #7
The standards for students were much harder to decide upon. I feel they are all equally important and all need to be taught and accessed by all students. The other challenging piece will be to make sure I am teaching to all of those standards. I know that Nadine (my teaching partner) and I talked about writing our final lesson plan to focus on digital citizenship. This will especially be a challenge since we are team teaching and need to carefully track what the other has taught. The one last area that I would like to learn more about is how to grade and assess these standards. I am sure in the coming years there will be more and more information offered in regards to these standards, but as I am diving in now it would be nice to start somewhere.
Post #6
The most important ISTE Standard for Teachers are 1) Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity 2)Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. I find that these two are the most important standards because of what kind of learning they create. Technology seems to already facilitate and inspire learning because of all of the options it allows beyond the typical paper and pencil. I'm my classroom I know I can take a concept that previously I offered two or three project options and now with added technology those project grow ten fold.
The second standard that is important is modeling digital citizenship and responsibility. Many of us teaching now came into the digital age in our late teens and after. We were never formally taught the do and don't of being a digital citizen. The students we have now will never have a moment where they are not a digital citizen. It is important that we teach good citizenship as well as help students model for others. In my classroom, in 2nd grade, we had just begin to skim the surface of digital citizenship. Now, as I shift to 4th grade learners, my team teacher and I both feel very strongly teaching this as soon as the school year begins.
The second standard that is important is modeling digital citizenship and responsibility. Many of us teaching now came into the digital age in our late teens and after. We were never formally taught the do and don't of being a digital citizen. The students we have now will never have a moment where they are not a digital citizen. It is important that we teach good citizenship as well as help students model for others. In my classroom, in 2nd grade, we had just begin to skim the surface of digital citizenship. Now, as I shift to 4th grade learners, my team teacher and I both feel very strongly teaching this as soon as the school year begins.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Post #5
In my experience teaching primary (kindergarten and 2nd grade) I really prefer the iPad for young learners. They do not necessarily need to be proficient readers to use the the iPad and many have experience because their parents are currently using them.
Now that I am teaching 4th grade, I anticipate that using the chrome book will fit nicely with the publishing and browsing, however I am still leaning toward the iPad at this point. 4th and 5th grade seems like a good transition point from iPad to Chrome book.
If I ad to make the choice for my district I would prefer that school intermediate teams and primary teams choose their device based on the needs and the development of their children. I also feel that teacher buy in is an important part of this process. If a teacher is more comfortable using an iPad, they are much more likely to weave that into their curriculum as opposed to a new technology.
Now that I am teaching 4th grade, I anticipate that using the chrome book will fit nicely with the publishing and browsing, however I am still leaning toward the iPad at this point. 4th and 5th grade seems like a good transition point from iPad to Chrome book.
If I ad to make the choice for my district I would prefer that school intermediate teams and primary teams choose their device based on the needs and the development of their children. I also feel that teacher buy in is an important part of this process. If a teacher is more comfortable using an iPad, they are much more likely to weave that into their curriculum as opposed to a new technology.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Post #4
I would tell my colleague to not swing with the pendulum all the way to the left or to the right. Both text books and OER's have something to offer. Unless the textbooks are horribly outdated or just plain useless, I would suggest to keep atleast enough text books around for a small group.
If I had to recommend a OER I would suggest that Utah site. I actually looked through all of the sites and found Utah's site to be the most teacher friendly and also contained the most supplemental curriculum for an elementary grade teacher.
I also liked the suggestions and support apps and sites that Utah offered for parents. I feel that this is very helpful in the elementary years for parents.
I would encourage this teacher to also review the other OER sites as technology is fluid and is constantly being updated. My final suggestion is that the OER is supplemental and like many of our materials in teaching, it is a resource. Use it as such.
If I had to recommend a OER I would suggest that Utah site. I actually looked through all of the sites and found Utah's site to be the most teacher friendly and also contained the most supplemental curriculum for an elementary grade teacher.
I also liked the suggestions and support apps and sites that Utah offered for parents. I feel that this is very helpful in the elementary years for parents.
I would encourage this teacher to also review the other OER sites as technology is fluid and is constantly being updated. My final suggestion is that the OER is supplemental and like many of our materials in teaching, it is a resource. Use it as such.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Post #3
Social Media would be a great way to teach Appropriate Digital Citizenship. Not only would students benefit from this, but I feel there are many parents who need this information as well. I'm not sure what this would exactly look like, but I do see that with the right planning and set up this could be a very powerful tool for teaching.
I also feel that elementary level students are in a difficult space, technology speaking. They witness older kids using social media, they watch as celebrities and all those around are popping up on the newest social media, but they are still so very gullible that it can sometimes be difficult to discern what is appropriate and what is true.
Bottom line, if I had to choose, I would use Twitter for my students and my classroom.
I also feel that elementary level students are in a difficult space, technology speaking. They witness older kids using social media, they watch as celebrities and all those around are popping up on the newest social media, but they are still so very gullible that it can sometimes be difficult to discern what is appropriate and what is true.
Bottom line, if I had to choose, I would use Twitter for my students and my classroom.
Post #2
Response to Prensky
When we began reading this article I couldn't help but think how much easier it would be if I could print it out to highlight points. I also have caught myself printing out contract because I feel that I may miss something if I read it online.
I believe that helping the DI and the DN connect will begin by the DI realizing that a shift needs to be made. My co-worker is a perfect example of a DI, she prints out all of her e-mails, teaches everything step by step and feels that is how the best teaching is done. I don't know if she would be likely to ever change or is even interested in changing. I also feel that she is intimidated by the technology, so she doesn't bother even taking a stab at it. Perhaps having very user friendly trainings or courses would be helpful, possible even teaching a class that is in the DI style to learn the DN ways.
I feel that Prensky's concerns are still valid. Aside from a few specific proper nouns, I also feel that this article could have been written 100 years ago from the viewpoint of those who grew up in agricultural society into an industrial society. The next generation always seems to speak their own language and move at a faster pace than the previous generation. I find this is something each new generation will have to contend with at some point.
When we began reading this article I couldn't help but think how much easier it would be if I could print it out to highlight points. I also have caught myself printing out contract because I feel that I may miss something if I read it online.
I believe that helping the DI and the DN connect will begin by the DI realizing that a shift needs to be made. My co-worker is a perfect example of a DI, she prints out all of her e-mails, teaches everything step by step and feels that is how the best teaching is done. I don't know if she would be likely to ever change or is even interested in changing. I also feel that she is intimidated by the technology, so she doesn't bother even taking a stab at it. Perhaps having very user friendly trainings or courses would be helpful, possible even teaching a class that is in the DI style to learn the DN ways.
I feel that Prensky's concerns are still valid. Aside from a few specific proper nouns, I also feel that this article could have been written 100 years ago from the viewpoint of those who grew up in agricultural society into an industrial society. The next generation always seems to speak their own language and move at a faster pace than the previous generation. I find this is something each new generation will have to contend with at some point.
Post #1
Blog Response -First Post
1. Yes, I can see myself blogging. I currently have a classroom website that includes a blog. Having a blog was especially fun when my class had special visitors, went on field trips, etc. It gave parents a snapshot via pictures and videos of what went on during their child's day at school.
2. The advantages of blogging are providing families with information that is relevant on the very day it is released. I have written newsletters for years and they are time consuming as well as updates only once a week.
3. Some of the hang ups of blogging are...it's just another blog. It seems like we get so many updates and announcements that it is easy to ignore blogs. However, I guess it is just as easy to ignore a newsletter.
4. Okay, this question makes me feel like a pessimist. I don't think we could get 100% buy in from the community The main reason being that we have 5 homeless shelters that feed into our school and those students and their families do not have access to technology, This seems like this is always the one argument that comes up time and time again.
5. My blog would replace my newsletter and hopefully emails that parents send regarding questions of what has happened in the classroom that day.
1. Yes, I can see myself blogging. I currently have a classroom website that includes a blog. Having a blog was especially fun when my class had special visitors, went on field trips, etc. It gave parents a snapshot via pictures and videos of what went on during their child's day at school.
2. The advantages of blogging are providing families with information that is relevant on the very day it is released. I have written newsletters for years and they are time consuming as well as updates only once a week.
3. Some of the hang ups of blogging are...it's just another blog. It seems like we get so many updates and announcements that it is easy to ignore blogs. However, I guess it is just as easy to ignore a newsletter.
4. Okay, this question makes me feel like a pessimist. I don't think we could get 100% buy in from the community The main reason being that we have 5 homeless shelters that feed into our school and those students and their families do not have access to technology, This seems like this is always the one argument that comes up time and time again.
5. My blog would replace my newsletter and hopefully emails that parents send regarding questions of what has happened in the classroom that day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)