Intro To Tech for Educators

My  Experience through my Intro To Tech for Educators.

This summer I had the pleasure to take a technology course for new or aspiring educators. It really became a pleasant surprise. The last time I took this course was 20 years ago and Powerpoint was the hottest thing around. Things are so different now.

All of the things that we worked on are now necessary for all new teachers. Things like wikis, blogs, bitstrips,  building websites (health2pe.weebly.com/ just to name a few of outlets to reach your students. Learning about new websites and their uses for education will be a resource that I will surely use in the future. The use of Ted speaks give very useful insight on many topic. Digital Dossier is one of my favorite topic. This video on youtube really helps you to understand all that it entails.

www.bitstripsforschools.com/ was yet another way to reach young learners in your classroom. Using cartoon like characters to help engage children in the learning process. Another website that was similar to this was www.voki.com/. This web site allows you to create a cartoon character with a voice activated system which allows the information to be heard by the viewer.

I thought that this was a wonderful course for entry level teachers. A combination of individual and group assignments, wonderful resources, creative and educational websites, with great teacher support and guidance really is truly a well rounded class. After a twenty year absence from a class, this was just what DOE ordered. It was well worth the time and effort.

Resources:

Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA
youtube, emaze, PhotoPeach, Haiku Deck, ToonDoo, PowToon, BitStrips,  StoryBird, ZooBurst.

Byot - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

Digital Badge #5 and #6. I have some issues on my second comic. For some reason it does not show my character and it does allow me to add characters to any comic. I have tried different server (firefox and chrome) and two different accounts. It appeared on my original but I can no longer add a character. Every time I add one, it does not allow me to continue.

Creative Ideas Through Social Media
Most of the time I find myself thinking about what could go wrong first, because it most likely can not be fixed. At the same time I do realize that social media offers many different ways were students can engage in extremely positive activities. This summer I was positively forced to sign up for two summer classes at a local college where I could choose any course. I chose to sign up for two education courses that have opened my eyes to education in the present, future and online. I am in the process of developing a digital identity. Discovering many websites and applications through social media which allows for students to be engaged, enjoy the use of technology and also learn how to be safe online. These are a few of the websites that I am currently exploring as I develop my very own digital identity: youtube, emaze, PhotoPeach, Haiku Deck, ToonDoo, PowToon, BitStrips,  StoryBird, ZooBurst . There are many more of these social media tools available.

Develop Digital Citizens
As an individual you will start to develop a sense of understanding of what things you want for yourself as you grow up. The same is true for technology. Understanding all that it can offer you can be overwhelming with all you can choose to do with it. However, educating yourself with the tools to be able to use it in a way that it will become beneficial rather then detrimental. Educators are now being equipped to teach students how to use technology in an appropriate, creative and responsible way. Students are having to perform task under some supervision by the their teachers and sometimes totally on their own. The end result, is a student who is totally responsible as he continues to develop as a Digital Citizen. In this video clip you will get an idea of how a Digital Dossier is developed without even knowing you or your family members have already created one for you.

ITCP
ITCP stands for Information Technologies and Creative Practices. Educators intend to reach the students' full potential through a combination of Group and Collaborations Projects. The goal is to find the students' true form of expression through their creativity which will ultimately reflect through their work. Technology offers many ways through which students can express themselves. These are examples of some of the most common: digital projects, publishing websites/class projects, podcast, powerpoint presentations, group/collaboration projects. The possibilities are endless because of the variations that evolve just from one medium alone. This very blog is a prime example of a combination of creative practices that my professor expects future teachers to be able to assign and evaluate.

Resources:

Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA
youtube, emaze, PhotoPeach, Haiku Deck, ToonDoo, PowToon, BitStrips,  StoryBird, ZooBurst.

Technology in Education

Critics of technology in schools
     I do not understand why society is making a huge deal out of educators who feel that technology does help but it is not a necessity in the classroom. Many of the the great technological advances of today were not invented today. They were invented by people who did not grow up with Internet access. Can anyone today explain how the Maya Civilization were able to align the " vernal and autumnal equinoxes". At the exact moment every year the sun illuminates the stairs of a pyramid creating the shape of a snake slithering down a mountain to the earth. There are so many more examples of things that were created long before the Internet was available.

     I remember been taught how the "CPU" (central processing unit) was created and how it works. Anyone can click on an icon or link. Knowing how something works is always more complicated then learning how to use it.There are no short cuts, learn how to crawl, then walk, run and finally sprint!

Digital disconnect
     I believe that through feedback we can better educate our students. I do not believe that everything that you learn has to be fun. Student will always tell us what they want (cell phones, i pad, Internet, less restrictions). All of these do not guarantee that you will learn to function or develop cognitive qualities. In many cases they can add a number of negative risk if a student is not equipped to handle the responsibility that comes with them. There are some things that should be considered but the objective does not change. That is to make sure that at the end of each year, all students show significant gains. Through my experience I have seen many children held back only by their parents. Parents who do not allow their children to fall! When the getting up is what is going to make them who they will become.

     As a Physical Education teacher I would like to help my students enjoy their bodies in a healthy way through their thirties, forties or as long as they choose. If they can mentally believe that they can do things, they will. Once they believe it there is no limit where they can go. I believe that the excessive amount of information (too hot, cold, tired, too sunny, raining, cold) at times does not help but scares and hinders are willingness to explore what is possible. At the age of six a student does not know how something can be good or bad for them. Unless a parent or guardian has told them. That student now has what I call a "preset condition" when they get to my class. After a few months, the parents do not believe me when I tell them how active their children are in my class.

Ted talks
     During my last college course I had the pleasure to discover Ted talks. Now I got to read a little of what I had experienced a month ago. I have nothing but good things to say. The speakers are extremely knowledgeable and some even add a touch of humor which allows the audience to get a laugh or two while they are learning. So much experience and valuable information that can be obtained in very little time. I would recommend this website to anyone looking for interesting discussion material.

Sources

Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Technology in Education

Education  is always changing and with the use of technology there is always a medium to use it. In the process to becoming a more tech-astute I am beginning to see how everyday technology is and forever impact education.

Digital Identity

     As a passionate soccer player, fan, trainer, and coach I realized that every player if trained sufficiently can develop a Soccer Identity. My purpose in soccer is help each player master all the tools necessary to play the beautiful game.There are many aspects that should be mastered and in doing so so you create your very own Soccer Identity. In education like in soccer, you develop your identity by the vast amount of knowledge you can master in each subject matter. The term Digital Identity allowed me to better understand what this means for educators in search of becoming teachers in the 21st century.

Is Technology Healthy?

     As Physical Educator, I tend to worry how far our use of technology will take us away from a more physically active lifestyle. Just like in any research, we always have to allow adequate time for results. In the next ten to fifteen years we will see if this immense push for technology will benefit this generation know as the I Generation. Are they going to be more motivated and healthy as result of all the information that is available with the technology today? I think that part of the problem is that everything is a click away. This could be good but it could also be devastating. Maybe the only thing that you can not do with technology is take care of you body. I do not mean a quick fix (operation/surgery).

Are we leveling the playing field?

     While many children do have access to the technology that is available today. There are many children who are not exposed to technology because one or a combination of obstacles they face on their day-to-day. As an educator you should know how importance the role of a parent is in order for a student to show growth throughout the school year. At times having the technology is not enough if there is no guidance because of the parents lack of knowledge. Is the time spent in school enough? What are we doing to level the tilt on this field?

Sources

Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.