TT#7

Infographics are a visual images such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data according to Google.  If used correctly, infographics could be useful in the classroom for students to display information that they have learned.  The possibilities are endless!

I used the site Piktochart to create my own infographic.  There are so many different templates to choose from.  Here are two examples that I found on the site:

These two examples are very different but both used for the subject of ELA.  The first one examines language, while the second one tells a story.  The second infographic I could see as useful when looking at character traits in novel studies.









Here is a story map infographic I created.  The story is from the Fountas and Pinnell Levelled Books.

This style would be great for younger grades in retelling the events of a story they read.  This would show the teacher if they were able to pick out the main points of the story.














~ Miss Laing

Week 9 - The Final Week

It is hard to believe that my final semester is coming to an end.  The past two years have been full of memories that I will cherish.

For our final week's post, Mike wanted us to share our final projects, so here is mine:


Although this is my final post for I4ed, this is not the end of my technological journey!

http://pixabay.com/en/emoticon-smiley-waves-waving-hello-25531/

~ Miss Laing

WestCAST and Week 8

It has been awhile since my last post.  Going to westCAST was such an amazing experience.  The keynote speaker was basically able to summarize the main points that Mike has been teaching us in class.  The break out sessions were great.  My favourite session was by a teacher from Alberta who talked to us about communicating with parents.  This was the most beneficial session I attended.

This week I have been stressing over my final project for I4ed.  Normally I have a few ideas about what I would like to make my movie on, but this time I am not sure what to do.  This feeling does not sit well with me.  After viewing a friends I got a few ideas, and it is slowly coming together.  Luckily one of my sisters was willing to lend her voice to help this project.  My focus of this project was to talk about different topics that teachers need to discuss with their students about being responsible online, importance of bring technology and social media into the classroom, and what kind of 21st century teacher I would like to be.

This week we had our final presenter come to talk to us about EverFi.  Although I am not a fan of online courses, because I am the student who always needs one-on-one help, it was interesting to learn about how they are partnered with the National Hockey League.  This is one program I will definitely want to keep in my sites.

~ Miss Laing

TT#8: Podcast - TEDtalks

This is one of the blogs I have been dreading.  I am not a fan of sitting and listening when I have a person in front of me to keep my focus.  This is one challenge I face when listening to podcasts. Much to my surprise when I searched podcast's on iTunes, I was shocked to find TEDtalks.  I would have never thought to categorize TEDtalks with podcasts.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TED_wordmark.svg

During my high school placement, I showed TEDtalks to my students to help enforce the material we were looking at.  What I like about TEDtalks is how they cover so many different subjects.  Each episode are roughly 20 minutes, they are not too long that I can re-show the episode back to back.  I have found that some are so compacted with information, that you need to watch them more than once to catch all the information.

The TEDtalk I had found for this post is How Schools Kill Creativity.  The speak was Sir Ken Robinson.  He discussed many in ways in which schools limit students ability to be creative.  The Arts receive the lowest amount of funding and students who need to be move to think are suppressed with medication.  This really made me think.  Do I suppress creativity in my students?  Ken told the story of Jillian Lyne who danced for the Royal Ballet in England.  When Jillian was young her teachers believed she had a learning disability.  Her mother took her to a specialist.  After hearing everything the mother had told him, he told Jillian he needed to speak to her mother for a moment and that they would be right back.  As he left, he turned on his radio.  He told the mother to just watch Jillian as she began to move to the music.  He informed her mother that Jillian was a dancer and that she should take her to a dance school.  This was the best possible thing for Jillian.  How many students are forced to sit still and learn.  Ken talked about how we learn through so many different forms.  This is why it is so important for teachers to not just teach in one way.

Depending on the grade level and the subject, I would consider showing this specific episode to my students.  I do recommend that teachers take the time to watch this video and think about how they inspire creativity in their students.

~ Miss Laing

1:1 Devices and Educational Tools

With everything I have learned about incorporating technology into my classroom, teaching at a school that supports 1:1 devices would be so great.  Having students with their own devices would help me, the teacher, support and personalize their individual learning.

In my future classroom I would love to have my students:

• Blog
• Tweet
• Skype

These tools would enhance the learning of my students.  

http://pixabay.com/en/twitter-tweet-twitter-bird-312464/

Twitter will help my students connect with professionals and other students.  I have been in contact with a teacher who uses Twitter for educational purpose with her class to connect other classes.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blogger.svg

Blogging is a great way for my students reflect on what they are learning.  This also provides me, the teacher, a chance to provide formative feedback for my students.  This also allows my students to give peer feedback.  Due to the fact that we would have a class blog, to which each student would have their own link, students would be able to easily access their classmates accounts.  Having a class blog would allow parents access to what students are learning and creating in the classroom on a weekly basis.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skype_t.png

Being able to Skype with other classrooms and experts helps provide students with information that as a teacher you might not be able to bring into the classroom otherwise.

So now, one issue I have been thinking about, is what do I do if these sites are blocked.  This is one topic that Kelli Boklaschuk from the Brandon School Division came to talk to our class about.  This is an issue I have come across in other divisions.  BSD expects teachers to use ONLY the tools they feel are appropriate to their students.  This is where I question WHY? Why only those specific sites when other divisions are supportive of those technologies? Teachers go to PD's where they learn new techniques and tools to bring into their classrooms.  It is very frustrating to be restricted.  Kelli did mention that if we feel a tool being blocked has educational value, to bring it forward and it will be considered.  I understand that blocking sites has to do with student safety, and I would never want to put my students at risk but to block sites like Google Drive just because of the ads that can be shown, is something that does bother me.  There are so many benefits of students using Google Drive and/or Google Community.  I personally believe that IF teachers take the time to teach their students about Digital Citizenship and online safety then why not allow students to expand their learning through these online tools.

~ Miss Laing

TT#11: Show and Tell

One app that I have used in my teaching experience is Pixlr.  I had my students download this app but it can be accessed on the web.  This is a photo editing app.  I was teaching grade 11 ELA and we were looking at the impacts of the Media in the News.  To begin this unit, I wanted my students to see how easy it is to take a photo and change it to say what you want it to.  They were to choose simple objects from around the room and edit them to tell a new story.  It was interesting to see how the students took items and transformed them.  Students worked in partners for this assignment.  After they had completed the editing stage of the assignment, they had to prepare for their presentation.  I wanted to know what editing techniques they used, why they chose the item, and what story their new photo told.  Here are some examples my grade 11's submitted:

 

When I first mentioned this assignment to my class, they thought I was joking.  For this reason, when the students had to actually stop and think about what they would do took longer than I thought.I was very impressed with the risks that some of my students took.  The picture of the iPhone was the one I was most impressed with because this group had to find a way to take two pictures and overlap them to create their final product.  This took this group just over a class to play around with, but I was impressed with how they did not give up and try something simpler.  

Using this app, along with the Dove Evolution Commercial, allowed my students to see how simple it is to take a photo and change it to tell a new story.

~ Miss Laing

TT# 12: The Future!!!

The practice of teaching is always evolving.  Articles like Horizon Report highlight aspects of ways in which the practice is changing and how teachers can incorporate technology to help improve the way students learn.

The more I have been talking with current teachers who use technology in their classroom, the more I wonder if there is any other way?  What I mean by this is technology and Social Media are large parts of most students lives.  Some will be hesitant at first because they want to keep Social Media for their own personal social lives not for academics.  From what I have heard from presenters and in talking with teachers, most students in the end get over that separation and embrace learning through these mediums.

When looking over the table of contents for the Horizon Report, certain headings caught my attention.  These titles are:

Rethinking the Role of the Teacher
"Teachers are no longer the primary sources of information and knowledge for students when a quick web search is at their fingertips. Instead it is up to teachers to reinforce the habits and discipline that shape life-long learners — to ultimately foster the kind of curiosity that would compel their students to continue beyond an Internet search and dig deeper into the subject matter."The Horizon Report 10.

As I have gone through my education courses I have heard from many profs a similar version of this quote.  It is interesting how education has shifted since I was in grade school; this is now almost 10 years ago just to put things into perspective.  I remember being in school and listening to the teacher talk or read a textbook or if we were really lucky we would get to watch a movie.  It was not until high school that I was finally able to begin research on the internet for assignments and projects.  With students having so much information at their fingertips, teachers have to find away to keep up with that change, just like the quote above suggests.  Teachers need to start thinking of themselves as coaches rather than teachers.  In coaching we will help the students develop life long learning skills rather than overload them with the facts from a textbook.

Shift to Deeper Thinking Approaches
By working on self-directed projects where students think critically and communicate effectively, students are mastering core academic content aligned with 21st century skills while tackling real issues in their community and beyond. The Horizon Report page  12.

Some, not all, teachers are beginning to integrate project-based learning, problem-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and self-directed learning into their units.  Students are not just learning the outcomes but more importantly developing skills that will benefit them in their future, as the quote above mentions.  It through inquiry-based learning and self-directed learning that allows students to integrate technology.  Today's student, most again not all, are very technologically savvy.   Allowing them to use technology provides them with more opportunity to be creative.

Good teachers are always finding new ways to engage their students academically and creatively. The Horizon Report looks closely at the shift in Education as technology becomes a greater component. Teachers are using technology to teach and record information.  Teacher need to be aware of all precautions to ensure the online safety of their students.

Today's teacher is shaping the future leaders!!!  It is important that we prepare them with the tools and skills that will help them in their future.


http://www.flickr.com/search/?l=commderiv&q=The%20future%20signs

~ Miss Laing

Creativity and Technology

Today's class is one that will stay with me.  We had Martin Ingenmey and Bryce Ridgen from Minnedosa Collegiate come to present to our class on Initiative and the Classroom.  They talked a lot about how they are a 1:1 high school.  This means that every student has a device provided by the school.  The students use this device through the years.  When graduation comes they can either buy the device or return it to the school.  This concept is great in theory.  It would limit the headaches of booking computer lab time or the reserving the portable laptops.  This is an issue I have run into during previous placements.  Having all your students have their own device would open up so many more options for assignments you could create or implement in your classroom.

http://www.schrockguide.net/samr.html

During the presentation Bryce looked at how teachers need to create assignments that reach the higher levels of the SAMR model and Bloom's Taxonomy (the picture to the right connects the two models).  Technology can greatly impact how a student is able to demonstrate their understanding of their knowledge.  It was great to see some of the exemplars from Bryce's students, past and present, as he has challenged them to think creatively, allowing them choice in how they demonstrate what they have learned.

One concern that came to mind during this presentation was how to use some of these ideas with younger students.  My next placement is in grade 4.  With the age restriction for some sites or apps my students would be limited to what they could do to publish their work.  I have been hearing more and more about the use of Twitter in the classroom, but it is the teacher who publishes the posts. Students do not have their own accounts, it is the classroom account.  I agree with the statement that students take more pride in their work when it is published, but I believe that they would have even more pride if they, themselves were able to publish their final product.

One other concern that was in the back of my mind was "what if I end up working in a division where they are not supportive of using technology in the classroom" or "what if I end up working in a division where technology is very limited?".  The second question is the direct result of one of my placements.  I was at a school where the wi-fi was blocked to students.  There were no iPads, or netbooks, or laptops for the classrooms to share.  There was 3 computer labs, and one was a teachers classroom (ICT).  This made it challenging for one of the assignments I had created.  Thankfully, my students were able to use the app, but they had to download it at home.  Also, to submit their assignment they either had to connect their phone to the computer or email it to me outside of school hours.

With these thoughts in my head, I had to remind myself that teachers can modify anything to work with there resources, laws, and students.  Teachers just have to get creative, especially when they expect their students to be creative.

~ Miss Laing

TT# 4: Follow an Edublogger

Much to my surprise I recently learned that I have been following an Edublogger for the past year. Last year I was introduced to Ms Bettess' blog.  I do not remember how I came across hers but I'm glad I did.

She is a grade 3 teacher from Northern Manitoba and has a love for technology.  Many of her blogs talk about how she integrates technology into her lessons.  Her most recent post is all about #ilovetoreadbingo.  Her students have been challenged to chose a prompt from the bingo card, take a picture of them doing something that matches the prompt, and then as a class share it with the #ilovetoreadbingo along with the bingo prompt.  The photo's can be shared on Instagram, Twitter, or both.

This is not the first photo challenge her students have been a part of.  This same year, her students participated in the math photo a day challenge.  In one of her blog posts she talks about how enthusiastic her students get as they create their photo to match the challenge.  What teacher would not be excited about their students being so excited about a math assignment, and on a daily basis?

Reading her blog posts makes me excited for my student teaching placement, and future classroom to see how I can integrate technology into my lessons, but it is so much more than that.  Reading Zoe's blogs makes me want to become a better teacher in creating lessons that my students will be excited about.  I like to think the lessons I have come up with are good, but now I want them to be better. Zoe has been an inspiration.

You can follow her class on Instagram and Twitter by searching either #ilovetoreadbingo or #mathphotoaday.

I can't wait to learn more about how Zoe is integrating technology into her lessons.

~ Miss Laing

TT#6: My PLN & the Connected Student

Above is a mind map of my Personal Learning Network.  This map illustrates the different tools and sites I use on a daily basis.  These tools are for both personal and professional use.  As I learn more about the different benefits of these online tools, I am beginning to think about the different ways I could use them in my future classroom.

I decided to try another website in making the next mind map; I read Cecile's Blog and thought why not give it a try.  Once I figured out how to actually get to the part of the site where you can make the maps, Inspiration proved to be a lot simpler than Piktochart.

For my connected student mind map I chose to colour code to help make it simpler to separate school life and their personal life.

~ Miss Laing

Online Learning

Today's student is: tech savvy and most like to learn at their own pace.  A great option for these students in online courses.  I was one of the few students in my class to experience a web-based course.  Although I believe it is a good option for students, it was not a good option for me.  I am the kind of student who needs to be in a classroom, surrounded by my classmates, with a teacher leading the lessons.  Learning at your own pace is great, but thats if you are able to make sense of the information you are learning.  This was my issue, I struggled with the material I was learning.  Let's keep in mind this was more than a few years ago.

This week Donald Girouard and Shannon Horne, from Manitoba Education, came to talk to our class about online education.  They talked about the advantages of online education:

• Those living in remote or small communities who want to take a course that is not otherwise offered to them. (This was me)
• Single parents who need to be home with their kids.
• Students who are not able to be on campus.

Online education allows these individuals to continue on with their education.  This also allows them to work at their own pace.

It was great to learn how schools in rural areas are using these tools to bring more classes to their students.  In some small town schools, they have a blended system.  This means that sometimes the teacher will be directing the lesson via teleconference, lab work (where all the schools meet at one for a whole afternoon of instruction/lab experiments),  printed packages, online tools such as Blackboard, and synchronous lessons.

As a teacher about to graduate, it is great to know that the province is doing what they can to make sure that everyone has access to education. 

TT#5: Digital Footprint

So after the first week in my class Internet for Educators I decided to Google myself to see what came up.  I was very thankful to find out that the only thing on the first page of Google results was my Pinterest page.  When I looked through the pictures, I did not find any of myself.  This was a relief.  I have been told numerous times how employers will Google you before they meet with you to see what they can learn.  This got me thinking: if all they find is my Pinterest page is that a good or bad thing?  With this thought in mind I created my AboutMe page.  On this page I can direct what sites they can be linked to, as well as provide them with information that will be beneficial to hiring me. Here is the link to my AboutMe page if you would like to check it out: http://about.me/m3laingmk

Creative Commons: http://pixabay.com/en/footprints-feet-walking-toes-human-149398/

So how do I control my digital footprint?  I try my best to lock down my privacy settings on my Social Media sites.  As an upcoming teacher, I do not want my students to have access to my person life.  I would like to keep my Professional and Personal lives separate.  With younger sisters, it is hard to keep my online identity private.  Although I have changed my name online or my online addresses, my students are able to go through my sisters contacts to find me.  In most cases, my students have to request permission to follow or be friends with me online.

The article Digital Habitus gives a great definition of habitus:

"the process through which the activities of our everyday life shape and order our values and expectations."

It is so important to teach our students at a young age the importance of their online identity.  They need to be aware of their use of the digital world.  They need to know how to protect themselves. Students need to learn that every site they visit can be traced back to them, it becomes part of their history.  Many people hide behind the screen, creating a second identity.  What students need to realize is that they have one identity both on and offline.  It is possible if we start teaching students at a young age the impact of the internet and the consequences of misusing the internet, we can help keep our students safe and help limit cyber-bullying.

~ Miss Laing

TT#10: Commenting on a Kids Blog

As a teacher it is so great to see, hear, or read how kids express their learning.  Having a class blog is a great way for other teachers and parents to see what the students are learning each week.  This is especially great for the parents who ask their kids what they are learning and all they get the answer "nothing".  I decided to check out a few different class blogs.  I found it interesting to see the ways that teachers set theirs up.  The one that stood out the most to me was Ms. Cassidy's Classroom Blog. I loved how on the home page of the blog Ms. Cassidy posts what her class was working on and how to see more, check out the students individual blogs.  I checked out a few and loved that it was more than just writing a blog post but rather incorporating technology with writing.  Each student creates a video that they upload as their blog post explaining what they have learned.  One of my favourites was a young Hailey put together a video on Lady Bugs.  I loved how she included music to help catch the viewers attention.  Here is a picture of the post I left for Hailey:

In my future classroom I would love to set up a blog similar to Ms. Cassidy's classroom blog.  I really like how the students are able to create their own posts, on their own pages that are linked to the classroom blog.  By posting what the students have learned allows them to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.  It is also a great way for parents to know what is going on in the classroom!

~ Miss Laing

TT#9: Online Videos in the Classroom

I don't remember a time in school where I was not excited to watch a video.  Watching a video meant you did not have to take notes, read the textbook, or listen to the teacher talk.  Most of the time there was an assignment that went along with the video, but hey it was still the best option.

I support online videos in the classroom.  In my past teaching placements, I have found online videos to help solidify my students learning.  I have found videos on YouTube and TEDx talks.  Here are two examples of how of I used online video's in my classroom:

1. In my first placement I was teaching grade eight Social Studies.  To help my students create a study guide, I had them create their own rap songs.  The raps were to include everything part of Ancient Egypt we had studied.  They were allowed to choose their own music.  The example I showed was from YouTube.  Here is the link to this video: Walk Like an Egyptian.

2.  In my third placement we were looking at photo editing in English.  To help my students see and understand photo editing we looked at many videos.  Some were found on YouTube and there was a TEDx Talk.  What I loved about the YouTube videos was how the clip showed the process of editing a photo from the beginning to the final product.  I was able to find videos for both a female and male photo edit.  Here is the link to the female photo editing video: Dove - Evolution Commercial.  Having more males than females in that class I wanted to make find a male version of a photo being edited. Both the genders were taken by surprise about how a male photo could be edited.



These videos provided my class with a visual to the information we were talking about in class.  They were able to provide more insightful answers and contribute to conversation.

So it must be obvious that I like finding videos on YouTube.  One other site I mentioned I liked was TEDx Talks.  I was able to find a model talking about her career.  What stuck with me the most was how she talked about her life, her job, and how they are separate.  She showed some powerful images of her before a shoot and her after the photo had been edited.  She was so honest in her answers.  I would suggest this TEDx Talk for teachers who need to address body image and photo editing with their students: Cameron Russell: Looks aren't everything. Believe me I'm a model.

 Ok, so now you must be wondering, would I consider having my students create their own videos/multimedia.  My answer: Absolutely!  Most students learn best when they are able to learn by doing.  Creating videos would allow students with all different strengths to work collaboratively in groups.  Each student would be able to contribute their own strengths.  I like the idea of creating a video or a project to demonstrate their learning, rather than having the students sit in the desks and answer questions.  Questions limit how they can demonstrate their knowledge.  If my school allowed it, yes I would post my students work.  Posting their work would give them a sense of pride in what they have accomplished.  It also provides other students a chance to learn from my students.

If anyone knows of good video/multimedia sites to share, please let me know!!!

~ Miss Laing

TT #2: Organizing yourself online

When I first read about TT#2 I had no idea what to write about.  It got me thinking, how am I organized online?  Truth be told, how am I organize period?  I will admit, I am the person that will put important papers and items in a "safe place" but then when I need those papers or items I could not tell you where I had kept them so safely.  Thats how safe they are, they are so safe even I cannot find them.  So you must be wondering how does she stay organized online?  This is a good question. As probably predicted I forget what username I have created or which password I used, which username goes with which site, and yes the list goes on.  I remember Mike talking to us last year about this issue.  He told us about an app he uses to keep all his passwords and usernames safe.  My problem = I am a broke student and the app coast $10, my other problem I don't remember what the app was called (probably because it cost $10).

What helps me stay organized are sites like Pinterest, Google Docs, Google Community, and Feedly.

I love Pinterest.  I am able to create my own boards to categorize all my pins.  I have boards for:

• Healthy Options
• Workouts
• Fashion
• Specific subjects (Math, ELA, etc,)

I have yet to learn the maximum amount of boards one person can have.  So far and counting one friend has over 100 Pinterest Boards.  

The site is easy to use and allows you to narrow down your search.  I have seen many teachers use this site to help develop their units.  I really like the feature of sending pins to your friends that you follow.  I have come across recipes, workouts, and activities that I have shared with friends and family.  My one caution is make sure to really look and see if the option is worth pinning or still exists.

Google Docs is one of my new favourite sites.  I love that I can create and collaborate with friends, family, and classmates on this site.  My one example I will share is how I was able to help edit my sisters paper with her even though I was in Brandon and she was back home.  I was able to leave comments and suggestions for her as she worked on her paper.  One other feature, you can access your Google Doc account from any computer, just sign in with your username and password.  This came in handy when my computer crashed and I lost everything.  This is a site I would love to use in my classroom someday; as long as the division does not have it blocked to students.  This would help students be able to collaborate on assignments after schools hours.  I, the teacher, would be able to see how is contributing as well and leave comments for my students as they work.  

These two sites are the ones I use the most to stay organized online and ones I plan to continue using when I have my own classroom.

~ Miss Laing

What tools will you use to reach your Success?

I find that in presentations there is so much information provided.  It is hard to absorb everything. This week Joe Evans provided us with information overload.  What I appreciated was that he admitted to "information overload".  Joe told us to explore just one or two sites that he showed us, learn about them, and consider how we can use these sites in our classrooms.  So pick two, I can do that but with so many options how do I choose?

One I have looked at is a site called AutoMotivator.  This site allows you to make motivational posters, and get this "For Free!!!"  As a broke student and future first year teacher, free is very appealing.  Browsing the site, I found it is pretty easy to figure out.  You can:

• choose a picture from their gallery
• upload a picture from your computer, or
• open a picture from the web

From this point, once your picture is chosen you choose your title and the text you want included on your poster.  I always previewed my poster before saving to make sure I was satisfied with the final product.  If you like it, save your poster and you are finished, it is as simple as that.  This is the one I created:

The quote I chose is one of my favourite quotes. Our success is up to us.  Believing in ourselves and our capabilities is the first set to succeeding. This is something I would like to introduce or revisit with my students.  I want to help them believe in themselves so that they can work towards achieving their goals and dreams.  Sometimes just knowing that someone else believes in you helps you to believe in yourself.  If I can help any of my students believe in themselves, I know they are one step closure to their goals.
I chose a waterfall for the picture because personally someday I would love to climb or descend a waterfall.

So how do I use this site in my classroom?  Do I create posters to hang in my classroom?  Do I have the students create their own posters?  If so, for what purpose?  All of these questions are possibilities.  Creating posters for my classroom would be great.  These posters would help surround my students with positive and inspirational quotes.  Having my students create their own, why not. Why not surround the students with quotes that they have a connection to.  Why not have them contribute to the atmosphere of the classroom!  Depending on what we are learning, creating these kinds of posters could be part of an assignment.  Students could take a theme from novel they are reading and use it as part of their "Book Review".  There are so many possibilities, these are just a few ideas.

John talked about Maple, Diigo, and Twitter.  I must admit I have not spend much time looking at Maple or Diigo, even though I have heard John talk about both of these sites prior to this week. There is so much to learn about these sites, I just need to set time aside to learn more about the benefits of both sites.  Twitter is a great form of communication, and slowly over time I am learning more and more about its benefits.

If you take away at least one thing from todays post, let it be:

In order to succeed, we must first believe we can! 
The first step to reaching your goal is to believe you can!!!

~ Miss Laing

Digital Identity, Who Are You Online?

This week we talked a lot about Digital Dualism. When I think of Digital Dualism I think of Digital Identity.  Who are you online?  Are you yourself? Or are you hiding behind a different identity?  The TEDx video "10 reasons to Stop Apologizing for Your Online Life" makes you stop and think about who you are online.  With graduation nearing I find I am being more cautious about what I do online than I ever have in the past.  I like to think I am myself, that I do not hide behind a username.  The caution is more geared towards who I allow to follow my Social Media sites or what I post on my sites.  Although I have changed my name and my settings, my students have been able to find me because they are friends with my younger siblings.  I changed my name to protect my privacy, I do not see it as hiding.  Yet with these precautions, it has not been enough from preventing my students from finding me.  I would never post anything that could jeopardize my career in Education but that does not mean I need my students to have easy access to my personal life.

Ok back to the video.  As I was watching, I found myself thinking about what I could use from this video to teach my future classrooms about the internet.

• Your Real Self:  This point lead me to think about the effects of bullying.  I recently watch a video about bullying through the web.  A group of students posted a picture with the intent that feelings would be hurt.  Some find it easier to say things that they cannot say in person.  They hide behind a new identity.  It is important for students to realize that everything they do online can be traced back to them, creating their Digital Identity.
• These are Real Friends:  Victoria talked about how people need to stop and think before they hit confirm.  The people we add to our online should be those we actually know and like.  We do not need to add everyone just to increase the number of followers or friends we have on our Social Media sites.

These were the two main points that made me think about my future students.  Students should be able to be themselves whether in person or in front of a screen.  Our Digital Identity should mirror our "Real Life", not be two separate identities.

 ~ Miss Laing

Twitter for Teachers?

I have had Twitter for at least a year now, but if I am being truthfully honest I really do not know much about Twitter.  The only reason I signed up for Twitter was due to my siblings, 4 out of the 5 of them were always on their Twitter accounts.  After I signed up, I started following:

• my siblings
• celebrities (ie: Ellen)
• and the few friends I knew had an account

And so my Twitter journey began.  I would go on maybe once a week to read new posts I had not seen yet but maybe, for that account, posted a whole 5 times.  I never new what to post or thought of anything worth while posting.

Last year in my ICT course the idea of having a professional and a personal account for Twitter.  This got me to thinking, why not?  Having younger siblings, who follow me or tag me in a post, I find that their friends, my students, are trying to follow or add me on social media.  So, as you can guess, I created two accounts; one personal and one professional.  

I am still trying to figure out how I can use Twitter in my classroom?  There was one classroom I saw that had a daily Twitter wall.  The teacher would have students post, on a piece of paper, their favourite thing, or interesting that they learned this week.  This I can see myself trying in my classroom.  It would be a great way to see what my students learned and are interested in.  

Another option for a classroom Twitter account I have heard of was where the teacher would create an account and have students post about their learning, again once a week, online.  This would be a great way for parents to see, on a weekly basis, what their children learned that week.  IF I were to try this with my class, I would make sure to check with my admin team if this was allowed.  From there I would send home a permission letter for the parents to sign, giving their child permission to post on behalf of the class.

The other possibility of Twitter in the classroom is the endless possibilities of people/groups you can follow.  I believe it would be great to follow another class that lives in another country.  It would be a great a great way to learn about another culture.

If anyone has more ideas about how to use Twitter in the classroom I would love to hear them.

~ Miss Laing

An Important Read for all Teachers!!!

Day 2

Today we had another guest speaker.  We had the pleasure of talking with John Finch.  This was not your typical presentation but rather a chance to sit down and ask any questions about technology or about anything we may encounter out in the field.  This lead to a very interesting conversation.  Two topics really caught my attention.

1. Rights to Music and Movies

• It was very frustrating to learn how teachers are unable to: play the radio in their classroom, music they have bought on iTunes, or any option that requires you to sign into an account, such as Netflix.  I still do not clearly understand why teachers are not able to play music or videos they have personally purchased in their classroom.  Teachers are only legally allowed to play music or videos when they have been purchased for an educational purpose.  This makes me wonder, how so many schools play movies for students on days like the last day before Christmas Break or Spring Break? Are they legally allowed to? If so, what is different about those days? Why only those days? I realize (Mike) that these questions should have been asked when I had the chance but I was still in the initial shock of learning how teachers are not legally allowed to play music or movies when they have to sign into an account.

2. Investing time into learning how to use technology properly.

• John talked a lot about how schools are investing money into technology, technology that       a) teachers do not learn how to use properly, and/or b) never actually is set up.  It was upsetting to learn that many teachers still do not know how to use the technology their division has bought them.  I will admit I do not know many features the SmartBoard offers.  Sadly, this is the technology I have most often found in today's classroom.  
• In my last placement, the only modern technology the classroom had was a Document Camera. There were no computers, no laptops, or SmartBoard.  When I asked my Cooperating Teacher how the Document Camera worked, she answered that she did not know how to use it but that I would be welcomed to figure it out and then teach her.  This is one example I have come across that proves John's point about school's purchasing technology that teachers do not take the time to learn how to use.
• This leads me to the question...                                                                                                                       Why aren't more teachers learning to use the technology provided for them?

Until next time...

~ Miss Laing

The Beginnings of Internet for Educators

It's the beginning of 2015 and I'm beginning my second adventure into the world of ICT.  This course is the sequel to the course I took last year, Intro to ICT.  I am excited to learn more about different ways I can incorporate technology into my lessons, making my lessons more engaging for my students.

To start off this semester, my final one I may add, our class had a virtual presentation by Dean Shareski.  Some of the questions he asked us really made you think.

• How is learning different in 2014?
• Why is learning different in 2014?

These questions are important for future teachers, as well as current teachers, to think about while planning their lessons.  Learning is about more than just teaching the facts.  With tools like the internet, students can look up the facts for themselves.  Dean asked us to discuss in groups these questions.  One topic my group discussed was how teachers need to teach how to look up reliable sources, rather than just the facts.  Students need to be aware of how anyone can post anything they want on the internet.  Here is a link to a video I made with my classmates last semester.  This video is about the importance of finding credible and reliable sources.

 

Another part of the presentation that caught my attention was when Dean was talking about what needs to change for the better.

• Content: just teaching your students to read and write will not make them literate
• Assessment: tests do only show you part of what the students know, and only one way to assess their knowledge
• Community: it is important for students to know that it is important that they not only learn from the teacher, but also learn from each other. 
• Students should reflect on their learning.  Ask them: "What did they learn from others?" and "How did they contribute to the learning of others?"

I am excited to see what this semester has in store for my learning in the subject of ICT!!!

Stay tuned for more...

~ Miss Laing