Journal #9 - Web 2.0. Today's Technologies, Tomorrow's Learning - NETS 5

As a member of ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), I read Learning and Leading With Technology, an online journal published bimonthly that contains articles about the effective use of existing and emerging digital tools. I evaluated, reflected, and wrote Journal Reflections on this current research and professional practice on a regular basis. Teachers and researchers write articles in the journal sharing what is effective for educators using technology in the classroom in support of student learning. I summarized and evaluated the articles as well as posed and answered two questions relating to each article.

Groff, J, & Haas, J. (2008). Web 2.0 today's technologies, tomorrow's learning. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(2), Retrieved May 3, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/SeptemberOctoberNo2/L_L_September_October_2008.htm

This article defines and discusses the role of social networks, digital games, and simulations in education today. The article answers the question of how educators can incorporate what students are doing outside the classroom into learning events in the classroom. The authors are researchers at MIT's The Education Arcade in Cambridge, MA. They reference other MIT research and anecdotal evidence from schools in Massachusetts of Web 2.0 technology being successfully used to enhance learning.
An example of social networking is Facebook. An example of a digital game is World of Warcraft, which provides scaffolding of increasingly difficult tasks. An example of a simulation is Second Life, which gives the user the chance to explore new ideas and tasks. Essentially, they bridge the gap between the traditions of teaching and the present digital lives of students.
While some teachers continue to push back against their use in the classroom, others are finding that their implementation is a positive. Social networking tools allow a teacher and students to collaborate and communicate ideas and learning, making the network private for the class if desired. Ning is a site that is being used by teachers who create a community to share best practices and curricula. Science teachers are using simulation to study the principles of evolution and factors in a forest fire. Social studies teachers and others can use digital games for critical, experiential learning. For instance, Muzzy Lane's Making History allows students to role-play as World War II leaders to take on challenges like diplomatic, economic, and military decisions. The author reports that the gain in conceptual knowledge from these games has contributed to higher scores, because of the subject matter reinforcement and development.

Question: Can social networking, games, and simulations interfere with standards-based curricula? I believe time can be made to introduce these Web 2.0 technologies in the classroom
without diminishing the learning of students. Carefully selected, focused use of these technologies can have a place.

Question: I will I know which technology to implement? By reaching out to a school Academic Technologist and other educators personally and online, a teacher can confidently and successfully implement a new educational technology. Technologies exist for all grade levels and age groups. I will need to spend some time exploring and playing with them first to decide which will be best for my students.

Journal #8 - Tapping the Wealth of Social Networks for Professional Development - NETS 5

As a member of ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), I read Learning and Leading With Technology, an online journal published bimonthly that contains articles about the effective use of existing and emerging digital tools. I evaluated, reflected, and wrote Journal Reflections on this current research and professional practice on a regular basis. Teachers and researchers write articles in the journal sharing what is effective for educators using technology in the classroom in support of student learning. I summarized and evaluated the articles as well as posed and answered two questions relating to each article.

Greenhow, C. (2009). Tapping the wealth of social networks for professional development . Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(8), Retrieved May 3, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3620082009/JuneJulyNo8/L_L_June_July_2009.htm

This article discusses the power of social networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. The author is an educational researcher and references her own work three times. She also reference some other studies that have been done on information and communication technologies. Millions of users can quickly exchange information in real-time. Besides, the pure social aspect, there are benefits like getting news instantly. I recall how images of the devastation from the earthquake in Haiti were shared on social networks and then broadcast on TV news programs. New York Times writer David Pogue reported on his use of Twitter and said that "no other communication channel can match its capacity for real-time, person-to-person broadcasting." The digital age is changing how students, teachers, and others get informed and inform other people. Many people use these networks like MySpace to share pictures, videos, artwork, or other creative work. They can receive feedback right away.
Research has shown that these communication technologies can have an impact on our economy. We can collaborate to share our collective intelligence, share our opinions with a wide audience, and help shape our democracy. Two trends that have emerged is the use of social bookmarking sites and the use of social networking tools. Delicious is a bookmarking site whereby teachers can annotate, recommend, and share scholarly resources. It is a very effective and efficient way to expand your base of resources. Classroom 2.0, Ning, Twitter, and Facebook can offer teachers emotional support for the creative sharing and well as during transitional times in their career. Problems can be solved and questions answered by the use of social networking to enable students to gain quick access to knowledge through their teacher's involvement in the above communication technologies.

Question: How can you trust the source for accurate information when Web 2.0 sites like Wikis are open, interactive sites that can be edited and digital manipulation of images can alter the truth?
I believe that you must verify the sources, like a reporter would before publishing an article. Rumors and spectacular images (like the one with the great white shark breaching to snatch a man from a helicopter) circulate online like wildfire. Alarming posts can cause a panic online at times. Eventually, these rumors are rooted out, but not before doing damage.

Question: How might I encourage social networking among students in order to foster collective intelligence that encompasses the traits of digital citizenship?
The article discusses the positive impact of peer validation and appreciation for those students sharing creatively online. However, not all comments are positive. I will teach students how to be good citizens by displaying safe, ethical, legal, and responsible behavior. I will also warn them that they may encounter cyber-bullies and encourage them to report this behavior.

Journal #6 - A New Concept of Citizenship for the Digital Age - NETS 5

As a member of ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), I read Learning and Leading With Technology, an online journal published bimonthly that contains articles about the effective use of existing and emerging digital tools. I evaluated, reflected, and wrote Journal Reflections on this current research and professional practice on a regular basis. Teachers and researchers write articles in the journal sharing what is effective for educators using technology in the classroom in support of student learning. I summarized and evaluated the articles as well as posed and answered two questions relating to each article.

Greenhow, C. (2010). A New concept of citizenship for the digital age. Learning & Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved May 3, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=March_April_No_6_1&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4516&ContentID=25564&DirectListComboInd=D

This article is about digital citizenship. It defines the term and discusses its research and its importance. The are six 21st century competencies that the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the partnership for 21st Century Skills have defined: technological fluency, innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, problem solving, and digital citizenship. The author states that digital citizenship is the least likely to be discussed in the educational research literature.
Students' involvement in Web 2.0 applications like blogging and social networking sites has prompted the conversation about what is "legal, ethical, safe, and responsible." Students are now participating as citizens online getting involved in volunteering, lobbying, campaigning, and keeping up on the social, cultural, and political current topics. Ways that students and others can be good digital citizens is respecting self and others by adjusting privacy settings, downloading music and other files legally, and encouraging other to be responsible online as well.
Teacher and student teachers need to teach students that what they do online will follow them when they apply to colleges and look for a job. Increasingly, U.S. employers are checking Facebook and LinkedIn to look for potential employees.

Question: Should cyber-bullying be protected under the freedom of speech clause in the U.S. Constitution?
I believe that cyber-bullying should not be tolerated. It should be a zero-tolerance violation that immediately and permanently restricts site access. Cyber-bullying has led to students feeling emotionally harassed and even, in the most extreme case, committing suicide. It must be taken seriously, just like regular bullying in schools. If reported by the victim, it should be noted and investigated by the police if there is a history of it from one user. An IP address can be traced by computer forensic investigators, increasing the chance of catching the bully.

Question: What are the benefits of students learning about digital citizenship? Students will become better educated about proper behavior online and hopefully that will remind students to also behave better offline. Another benefit is students can, anonymously if desired, become informed and act online in ways that they may have never done. The Internet gives students equitable access through digital communication and collaboration and the opportunity to be active citizens.

iMovie - NETS 3

This movie is a Public Service Announcement for California State University San Marcos promoting the university for future students. It was created with iMovie by editing video clips and adding a music file from iTunes, a voice over, and transitions. This project demonstrates fluency in technology systems and transfer of my current knowledge to iMovie, a new technology.

Crossword - NETS 1,2

Movies With One Word Titles

This crossword was designed using an Excel spreadsheet. The clues appear if the mouse is rolled over the first letter of the word, and they are also listed on page 2. This project adapts learning experiences by incorporating digital tool and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

NETS-S PowerPoint Presentation - NETS 1,3

Journal #7: Podcasting - NETS 5

In joining the Classroom 2.0 community, I participated in a local and global learning community to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning. I chose a tool from the Classroom 2.0 website that interested me (Podcasting) and followed two discussion threads about the technology. I defined the term and then discussed what I learned from the tool. Finally, I evaluated and reflected on current research and professional practice provided by other educators in the threads.

Podcasting

Definition - The term podcast comes from "iPod broadcast". Podcasting is a great way for people to create files (podcasts) that others can download to their media devices. Broadcasts were first designed as audio files to be listened to on an iPod or other portable device. Now, they are often listened to on computers and can be made with audio, images, and videos. A podcast has a web feed, known as RSS, that allows it to be cataloged and followed in various podcasting directories, such as iTunes.

What I learned from the tool:

I learned that podcasting is a very useful tool for educators. Teachers can provide podcasts to students or make podcasts with students. Itunes and websites, like www.podcastalley.com, offer thousands of free podcasts. You can subscribe to a podcast series or listen/view one episode. For example, www.howstuffworks.com offers over 200 podcasts available for free at iTunes. You can set up the free subcription and iTunes will save the next episode in a list for when you want it.
I learned that there is software available that makes creating a podcast fairly easy. You can simply record an mp3 audio file or a more advanced mp4 video file. Students become motivated to create podcasts in the classroom when they realize they can share it with an audience around the world. Their podcast can be save and then listed in iTunes, with other major content providers, like Disney and the Discovery Channel. The process of creating a podcast provides a valuable cross-curriculum learning opportunity for students and appeals to the various multiple intelligences of students.

Discussion Thread 1:

"Podcasting Daily Lessons"

This thread was started on September 28, 2009 and has 17 posts. The thread starts when a science teacher asks for ideas about how to create and use podcasts (or vodcasts) in her middle school classroom. She wanted to know how to include it in her daily lessons and wanted some suggestions. The first response was from a teacher who had a good experience using a bluetooth headset to record his voice while walking around the room. The next post in the thread was from a teacher who had started a podcasting club with her students using a Mac. She discussed how she used Powerpoint to make slides of vocabulary words and definitions. She saved the slides as .jpg files and then used Garage Band to make her podcast. She had her students add their voices. She also suggested using a Smartboard to make a podcast, and she offered a link to a youtube tutorial on how to use a Smartboard. Finally she discussed how there are some new video cameras on the market, like the Flip camera, that record straight to mp4 files, which then can be added to iMovie.
The next poster said that Promethian Activboards are another option other than the Smartboard for recording voice to something you are presenting. Other posters said that they use Audacity (someone recommended the beta version which allows for exporting to MP3 format easily) for recording and editing audio. One post had a link to a very interesting site, http://www.masterymaze.com with screencasts of different subjects, including dozens of Powerpoint presentation about world and U.S. history. Another post mentioned a teacher who uses a Flip video camera and tripod to record the audio and content on her Smartboard. She posts it to youtube and then embeds the link on the schoool wiki. Lastly, a poster introduces iPadio, a free service for consumers that allows you to record a podcast by using your phone. You call a toll free number and then the podcast, or "phlog", is posted on the iPadio site. Then from there, you are able to download or embed it to another site. One example of iPadio being used today is 13 year old Jordan Romeiro calling and giving daily updates from base camp on Mt. Everest - his phlog is linked to Facebook.

Discussion Thread 2:

"Great Post - 100 ways to use podcasting for learning & studying"

This thread was started on January 16, 2009 and has only 7 posts. The first post included a link to a blog showcasing the 100 ways to use podcasting. Although the thread is very short, I chose it for two reasons. First, there were posts that stated that the blog was removed and then that the link is dead. As sometimes happens, websites, like blogs, get deleted and the link cannot open the webpage that the poster has referred to. So what would have been available to others is now not accessible as originally intended. It an unfortunate consequence of the ever-changing internet. However, another poster saved the thread by including a different link to an article that he said was very similar. Secondly, I chose this thread because I discovered a lot of great content in the substituted online article that is found here - 100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better. In the article there are links to many podcasts. By clicking on one of the links, I found podcast resources that I can use in the future from The Education Podcast Network. This is a site that serves as a directory of a wide range of podcasts categorized by subject matter.