Some Blogging Inspiration

I was looking around the web and I found some teaching blogs that I think are just great.
Third Graders, Dreaming Big is used as a public resource and communication with the students and their families.  This blog helps keep them updated not only on what students are learning in the classroom, but provides reminders for homework and upcoming events and trips.  This blog allows the teacher to highlight the accomplishments of the students as well and keep track of the different units as the year goes by.  She uses pictures, photographs, and videos to make her blog more appealing and interesting for the readers.
I also really enjoyed looking through this blog: http://blogs.yis.ac.jp/cowdyt/ipads/.
The author uses technology in the kindergarten classroom, and the lessons seem to be engaging and interesting to the students.  There are videos of the students, student work, and Kidblog, which allows the students to safely blog on their own, which not only exposes them to technology, but also encourages them to write and communicate with one another.  This teacher has some fantastic ideas about using technology in the classroom to enhance the learning of the students.
When I have my own classroom, I would love to keep a blog like this and use some of these lesson ideas to maintain communication with families and engage students in a variety of technology resources.

Webquestioning

Image found here

            The concept of a Webquest is one that is relevant for both students and educators because it allows them to discover new information in meaningful and relevant ways.  By throwing an urgent subject at students and expressing the need for each student to respond, students are motivated to step up to the plate and help  solve the problem at hand.  Learning content will become fun and interesting because each student has responsibility to learn it and help educate their classmates to learn as well.

Webquests involve a significant amount of creativity.  If I were teaching in a classroom with computer/Internet capabilities for all students, I believe that Webquests would be fantastic to use in the classroom.  Additionally, I think that teachers could use Webquests for any subject, and could use the curricula to decide where Webquests would be best implemented.  Webquests allow students to step outside of their everyday classroom routine and take the role of someone else, whether a scientist, news forecaster, or superhero.  They appeal to multiple intelligences simply because they can be used in a variety of lessons and involve different tasks and processes.  Because students learn best by finding information themselves, a Webquest allows students to take ownership of their education and investigate the topic independently or in small groups.  Working in groups would also give students opportunities to benefit from cooperative interactions with their peers, but the groupings can only be effective if each student is given an equal share of responsibility for the product.  This project can allow teachers to differentiate based on the students, and teachers may make decisions regarding grouping (whether to have homogeneous or heterogeneous groups based on student ability) to best help the students learn.

For ELLs, Webquests allow teachers to design lessons and find websites that are best for the individual students.  In addition, when students are given access to search online, they are able to use graphics, translators, and work together to create meaning.  When the teacher chooses sources for students to focus on, they will be exposed only to reliable sources of information and responsible to create their own conclusions based on the information given.  

Allowing students to use technology in the classroom is also extremely important.  Teachers should be aware that some students who are familiar with using the Internet may become distracted by all the Internet has to offer (facebook, youtube, and game websites, for example), students who are unfamiliar with using computers may find difficulties navigating the technology necessary for this assignment.  Teachers should be sure to scaffold the Webquest as necessary so no one is left behind, and all students are encouraged to learn.  Webquests allow students to focus on learning and introduce them to the vast amounts of information available online.  

The Wonders of PowerPoint

One great thing about PowerPoint presentations is that they can be used in every subject and in many different contexts, from math to science, to English to Social Studies.  Teachers may lead and organize lessons with their students, and students may use them to practice speaking, researching, and reinforcing new concepts.  Additionally, its various uses appeal to multiple intelligences and can help scaffold information in an engaging way. 

            In many ways I think PowerPoint is overworked.  Instructors insert their entire lecture into slides rather than drawing out important bullet points to discuss (I'm completely guilty of that one), leaving students frantically scribbling notes and probably ignoring what the teacher is saying.  For older students, reading off of a slide is not only boring, but it may be seen as demeaning (if they know how to read).  Animations may become distracting, or color combinations make slides illegible.  Understanding how to properly use PowerPoint could not only allow for effective communication of ideas, but also enhance learning for all students.

            Overall, I think that these presentations are great.  In creating a presentation, students are able to research a topic independently or in groups, determine the most important points to put on the slides, include images, and demonstrate this knowledge to the class.  Students are encouraged to add their own individuality to this project—they can choose the colors, pictures, font, and information, making the presentation unique to them.  By presenting to the class, their knowledge will be deepened—they will become the “professionals” of their topic, informing their classmates.

            Furthermore, working with PowerPoint presentations is comforting due to its ease of use and range of applications.  I have been using this program for many years, and I consider it to be my “go-to” for oral presentations.  Still, I am excited that there are always new things to learn about it.  Being a person who usually begins with a blank page and builds from there, I discovered that templates can solve my problems of matching fonts, sizes, and placements.  Hyperlinks help me connect to other sources outside of the presentation.  Adhering to the 5-5 rule (no more than five lines per slide, no more than five words per line), would promote better public speaking skills among students and professionals alike.
            Just for fun, I looked online for the "Best PowerPoint Presentation" and I was thrilled to see the presentations that won competitions.  Smoke was the 2010 winner that demonstrates a sophisticated continuity between fonts, colors, and images to create an engaging and meaningful presentation.  Overall, the message in your presentation should inspire creativity and provide an outlet to get your meaning across.  Looking at award-winning presentations is worth it--I am impressed by how well made they are, and how the creator has effectively shared their message.

            For English language learners, allowing them to experiment with PowerPoint gives them skills with using popular technology in an important way.  The limited amount of content on each slide prevents students from becoming overwhelmed with intense amounts of new language.  Adding images and charts helps students use context clues to fill in the pieces that are missing due to a language barrier.  Bright colors and animations also help to engage students and keep them focused and excited about the lesson.  Students would engage in high-order thinking by designing and organizing their presentations, and then would be able to practice the content before presenting it to others.  Engaging students with PowerPoint technology is exceeding beneficial—whether by leading lessons or encouraging them to create their own.  

Smartphones in the Classroom

Sometimes I feel like I am way behind on technology. I don’t have a smart phone, a tablet, fancy video game systems (besides the one I got when I was five), and I’ve had the same mp3 player since 2006.  I do have a laptop. That’s about as far as my technological savviness goes.  Along with the advances in technology that are constantly occurring (have you seen the new iPhone 5 updates??), attitudes regarding technology have also changed.  In high school, cell phones were taken away if a teacher saw someone using it.  Now, some schools embrace the use of cell phones, tablets, and other technology in the classroom and even incorporate it in their daily lessons.

I did I quick search regarding the use of smartphones in the classroom and came upon this article by the National Education Association about using smartphones to support students.  Teachers and students can use apps such as Remind 101 to help teachers stay in communication with students about upcoming assignments.  This app helps keep students organized and ensures that they remember information about tests, homework, and other important information, especially since many of them are constantly attached to their phones.  Of course, incorporating smartphones in the classroom would only be practical if the majority of students had access to a smartphone, but I personally like the idea of being able to stay connected with students and families to help them stay focused on their education when they are outside of the classroom.

So, why don’t I have a smartphone?  I’ve considered it.  I even owned one for a brief period of time before going back to my old phone.  First off, I’m extremely clumsy.  I’m fairly certain my current phone is indestructible.  It’s been thrown, dropped, lost, probably sat on… and it has persevered.  Smartphones probably could not withstand that much abuse.  My phone is also not in demand.  No one would ever want to steal my phone unless they were very desperate (in which case—it’s yours, my friend.  Your situation must be dire).  Mostly, I’m afraid of the social media bombardment/addiction.  I already spend too much time on my computer, surfing the web, hanging out on social media, responding to e-mails.  What would happen if I could access all of this all of the time?!? How can our students focus when they have the world at their fingertips at every moment?  Maybe taking away the use of phones in school would be a useful break and opportunity for them to refocus on school. I think that apps like Remind 101 could be beneficial to students to quickly remind them of school responsibilities when they are outside of the school environment, but the use of smartphones in school is still a questionable topic for me.  If possible, using tablet computers provide the same access to apps with bigger screens and therefore easier application.  For schools that do not have a selection of tablets for students to use in the classroom, teachers could incorporate student-owned smartphones if necessary. 

In terms of working with English language learners, smartphones provide students with immediate access to translator apps and websites.  This can be a blessing or a curse for the teachers and students.  Translators can be the "easy way out," limiting the necessity for students to figure out new terms and vocabulary on their own, using context clues, background knowledge, etc.  At the same time, it can help in communicative situations outside of the classroom where there is a language barrier.  Teachers should determine when students are able to use the smartphones, and monitor how students are using them.  For example, ELLs in mainstream content classrooms may occasionally be lost in understanding the curricular content.  If students are allowed to research the content, in their native language or in English, they may be better able to stay afloat in their studies.  

Most of all, I believe that students should be given opportunities to explore various technologies in school.  Because students may not have technology at home, allowing them to practice using it at school would be extremely beneficial.  Almost all of what I know about programs such as Microsoft Word was learned through exploring, pushing buttons and seeing what happens.  Even if it seems like students are not always focusing on a specified task, much of learning is simply the process of experimenting with the given tools. 

Perhaps someday I will join the world of smartphone users (That day will most likely come when my current phone dies).  Until then, I would encourage students when they are in school to take a break from the world of texting, facebook, twitter, and the world wide web to focus their attention—their full attention—on the teacher’s lesson.  If other technology sources are available, I would be more prone to use them in place of smartphones.  Still, this discomfort with using smartphones in class may stem from my own unfamiliarity with them.  I might just have to wait for the next installation of iPhone to truly find out.

We're Friends Because Facebook Said So

Image found here

I first got a facebook account when I was in high school.  My older sister was leaving for college and I wanted to keep in touch.  This was right when college e-mail addresses were no longer necessary for obtaining an account, and I felt really cool as a high schooler who was just invited to this new cool club.  And so began the obsession with social media.

Today, seemingly everyone has a social media account.  Grandparents have accounts.  Children have accounts.  Pets have accounts.  People are constantly connected to social media. Plus, it's addicting.  People are connected ALL of the time, liking, posting, commenting... and the need to be updated, to know what people are doing instantly, is addicting.  Because of that, I think that teachers should incorporate social media in the classroom (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!).

In undergrad I participated in an activity called "Neropolis" that was played online in the format of facebook.  Every student was given a secret identity with secret goals of people who were living during the time of Emperor Nero.  The game became so addicting that the teacher adjusted the rules so that we could not access Neropolis between 2am and 4am, simply because no one was sleeping and she could not keep up at those hours.  This kind of activity was extremely exciting, engaging, and informative.  We were given clear goals and we were encouraged to reflect afterward about our experience in the roles of Romans when Nero's life was on the line.  Frankly, it was awesome.  Possibly not great for anyone's sleep/stress levels (there was conspiring going on for about a week straight, and those in charge of protecting Nero became really paranoid) but still, it was memorable, it was great, it was informative, and it was lots of fun.  

If I had participated in an activity that was as interactive and energizing during elementary school, I would have been SO excited about history.  Teachers who are up to date on technology not only seem "cooler" to their students, but they also understand what the students find interesting, and use that resource to make their subject interesting as well.

Rather than fighting students to read a newspaper, encourage them to read an online news article.  Engaging students by using media that is available and interesting to them will make learning more exciting for them.  Are you teaching another language?  Change the language used on the account.  Connect with other schools and professionals through groups and host group discussions.  Have students discuss books they have read on their social media site.  Share videos of educationally relevant topics.  Learn about new scientific discoveries, and share that information with others.  

Teachers can also greatly benefit from social media.  Sharing ideas, strategies, and experiences with other instructors can help improve pedagogy and engage students.  Through this communication with others, teachers may find ways to reach all students and help them succeed.  As long as social media is used appropriately, teachers can always find new ways to spark interest in the classroom.

Some argue that social media is "dumbing us down," and that rather than engaging in intellectual discussions we feel the need to share every aspect of what we do and every feeling that we have.  As a teacher, we can encourage students to make smart choices about what to post on social media, and help them become interested in the world around them.

Working with others, discussing, and problem-solving, can improve our life.  By allowing simultaneous interaction with people throughout the globe, we are promoting advancement of our world.  Web 2.0 can, and should, be used to connect others within and outside of the classroom.  We can benefit from listening to what others have to say, we just need to promote constructive communication.