Digital Blog Post L: Chapter 12

Here are the three most important concept I learned from this chapter:

1. Stages of Technology Integration
2. One-to-One Laptop Computing
3. Technology and the Culture of Schools

When I think back to when I was still in school teachers were barely starting to incorporate the computers into daily lessons, but I slowly noticed how it became more prominent as I went up in grade levels.  So one conclusion I can draw is that school did not just shove the technology based lessons immediately into their curriculum, but rather they chose to slowly blend it in in a more natural in subtle way.  I still remember my first reaction in seeing computers in the classroom, all I wanted to was just to start pressing all of the buttons, but we did not actually start to use the computers until about halfway into the year, and the TA for that class had to constantly supervise us while we did our work.  So when it comes to introducing new technologies to the lesson a teacher must always start off slowly to give students enough time to adjust to the agenda that has been set for them to use that technology properly.

I know a lot of school nowadays are making it mandatory for students to have some kinds of portable technology that gives them internet access, even it is only limited to the classroom.  There a middle school I had to observe several weeks ago that mandated chrome-books to each students, and most students understood the protocols for specific classrooms such immediately checking programs for assignment updates or getting started on their bell-work that is submitted electronically.  The only thing that concerns me about this is that this is not the subtle approach to introducing technology in schools, they may teach students how to use it, but some maybe overwhelmed with the responsibility of its condition.  I also know that a lot students from foreign countries may be even more alarmed by this sort of curriculum, especially if their original school still only utilized the basic curriculum, as not every country has computers.

I am sure a lot of cultures are not too enthralled of the idea of having their children exposed to a whole new type of learning introduced by technology.  The news also does not help sway peoples minds when they are always showing reports of cyberbullying and suicide as a result of the internet, but then again who could blame them?  I personally believe that schools should have separate departments for those who prefer learning with technology, but also give the option to those who prefer not to have their children exposed to it.  It may become mandatory at some point, but instead of just forcing it on the child, they should have the parents take special classes on how to use and manage technology so that they may assist and supervise their child until they are comfortable.

https://tackk.com/pgsg6t

References:
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.
 Garza, R. (November 29, 2015) Websites created with Tackk. https://tackk.com/home

Digital Blog Post K: Chapter 6

Here are the three most interesting concepts I learned from chapter 6:

1. Information Alerts, e-Newsletters, and RSS Feeds
2. Taking Virtual Field Trips
3. Interactive Videoconferencing

Information alerts are one of the most useful technological concepts, especially when it comes to school, since teachers can send emails to students.  Depending on the programs that schools are utilizing, teachers can send emails to students to alert them when an assignments due dates are approaching or if there has been any sudden changes to the curriculum.  I remember how frustrated some teachers would be when they were trying to contact students to let them know about changes made to assignment and failing to contact them in time, but thanks to email alerts I see those type of problems slowly diminishing.  Most of the online community implemented in schools require students to log-in at least once a day to check for updates, so students really can no longer use the excuse that they were not informed, because it is now part of their job to always check emails for alerts.

The concept of virtual field trips without a doubt sounds innovative and convenient as students would no longer have to go physically to their destination but just observe online, however, to me that takes out some of the fun students can have in school.  A teacher can tell you take an online field trip to the beach and to just take notes of what you see, but then again your not getting the fullest benefits from the experience as you are only utilizing one of you senses which is sight, but if you went to the actual beach you could be utilizing all of them.  The whole point of a field trip is to feel the sense of wonder and excitement that comes along with it, as you are experiencing something from the usual norm.  I can only see that an online-field trip could be beneficial if was something like observing a phenomenon in another country or observing something we cannot physically go to, but otherwise students should always be given to opportunity to experience something new.

Interactive videoconferencing is something that is also a very convenient tool for schools and families to utilize nowadays, as we can speak to people as we would do physically but without the stress of trying to make time to go and visit, or set up an appointment with someone.  Sometimes in schools teachers need to have a conference with the parent, but due to the nature of both parties sometimes having a busy schedule can always be frustrating, and it only makes matters worse when the progress of the student is in question.  Thanks to interactive conferencing teachers and parents can now have the benefits of a physical conference without having to work it in their daily schedule, and can discuss matters with each other in the relaxed comfort of their home.

Tackk: https://tackk.com/j0xf1f

References:
 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.
Garza, R. (November 15, 2015) Websites created with Tackk. https://tackk.com/home

Digital Blog Post J: Chapter 11

Here are the most essential concepts I learned from this chapter:

1. Elements of Teacher Portfolios
2. Digital Portfolios for Students
3. Reasons for Teaching with Clickers

 I am not going to lie, but at first I really hated the idea of using portfolios because I thought it was too hard to customize them, however, over time I got more used to them, so now I actually look forward to doing them.  Portfolios can either be digital or physical, but the digital concept is much more easier to put together because of the fact that we can include links in the portfolio that can lead to another website for referencing.  When I become a teacher I will probably use a digital portfolio to keep up with the progress of my students and keeping note of anything unique that happens during my time instructing them like field trips or special event days to see how they react differently from the typical classroom setting.

I would strongly recommend for any school to incorporate the use of online portfolios as part of the student curriculum, as it can allow for students to keep better track of their assignments this ways.  For students, a online portfolio can easily accessed or modified at given any time, and with online access the students can further inquire on a subject relating to their studies to be linked to their portfolio for reference.  Students can also take the time to become more conformable with software usage through the careful technique of slowly constructing an online portfolio like if it were a set of online internet instructions.  Also, if teacher were aloud to access student portfolios they would be able to see which students are applying themselves and which ones were in need of assistance.

I remember that my high school was just learning how to use clickers back when I was a still a junior taking Algebra 2.  At first they pretty confusing and annoying when were trying to use them to do bell work and we had hard time trying to synchronize ourselves with the pace with the rest of our classmates, but we eventually found out momentum.  The clickers actually helped us keep up with each other as a whole class, and thanks to the clickers no one really fell behind as we all learned how to pace ourselves.  The clickers are useful in preventing cheating among classmates as students would not be able to directly see what the rest of their classmates are imputing.
Tackk: https://tackk.com/gkzyx1

References:
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.
Garza, R. (November 8, 2015) Websites created with Tackk. https://tackk.com/home

Digital Blog Post I: Chapter 4

Here are the three most interesting concepts I learned this week:

1. Learning Assessments (Knowing What Students Have Learned)
2. Using Technology in Lesson Planning
3. Using Electronic Grading Software

One of the most helpful aspects of online teaching is that teachers have no problem keeping track of work submitted by students.  School's today can input grades from an assignment onto an online database that can keep track of how well students are doing in school, for example a teacher can look at the grades to see where the students weakest grades are, and work with them on improving them.  Online work submissions also help prevent cheating among students since a lot of these educational programs have a built sensor like Turn-it In that helps detect any similarities between submissions.  Thanks to technology students can be learning assessments at a comfortable pace with the teacher keeping track of that progress and letting the student know if they are falling too behind.

I definitely know that lesson planning has become easier for students and teachers, especially with online classes that utilize programs like Canvas, which is probably one of the most useful is lesson planning.  With Canvas students can look up assignments, while viewing their lesson plans, and keeping track of approaching due dates, its pretty much an online planner, but the schedule is already there for you.  Its probably very useful to the teachers since all teachers really have to do prepare a lesson plan and post it on Canvas for students to view at anytime, and the teacher do not have to repeatedly remind students of approaching due dates since it is always on the front page once students log-in.  Technology in lesson planning pretty much does almost everything except for the actual work that the students must do on their own.

 I bet teachers are very thankful for the electronic grading software nowadays, because things like quizzes and test are automatically graded in the computer.  I still remember that back then teachers had to use a score card to grade their student's papers while constantly looking back at the quiz, but now they have things like scan-trons where they just have to program the right answers in the machine and just put the student's quizzes inside of them.  Even things like essays are much easier if done online now since teachers can easily put in sides notes to critique a students work and point out directly where the flaws in the assignment are, instead of trying to write something in a narrow margin that looks sloppy and hard to read for the student.

Quiz Time!
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References:
 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.