Reflection #3

Wow, technology has come a long way in the schools but can still go farther. My head is spinning with ideas and is overloaded with information. I guess I would like to take small steps in integrating technology into my teaching.

First I plan to share some of the online videos and use the laptops/computer lab more frequently when learning. I have 4 computers in my classroom that can get some more use from students too. Kids are empowered by technology and I need to plan my lessons around the resources that we have at the click of a mouse. I like the idea of getting a webkin for the classroom and allowing the kids to access that as part of the gaming. I first have to learn what a webkin can do and what kids learn by playing the webkin games.

I would also like to work on my website and add a blog or wiki for students to respond to questions or readings. I will continue to podcast but would also like to culminate a learning unit by making a short movie and digitally record student learning along the way.

School 2.0

Building a school of tomorrow takes a great deal of organization and collaboration. All stakeholders of the community need to buy into the process and the product- which may be tough. The community needs to show a huge commitment (time and money) to developing a school of tomorrow. The heart of the school 2.0 is the ecosystem. School districts and communities many times get caught up in comparing test scores to grade schools and sometimes teach to the test sacrificing student engagement and creativity. Integrating technology can build the learning ecosystem by empowering students to learn, be creative and meet goals. I think Hilton can be one of those schools of the future!

I would like to see segregation between stakeholders kept off the map. Sometimes stakeholders look out for the best interest of themselves and not keep the purpose in perspective. This would include having a give and take philosophy focusing on the needs of the students and schools to develop the best learning ecosystem possible. If one stakeholder pulls out, then the ecosystem fall apart. Stakeholders need to be supportive of each other keeping in mind the needs of all.

I would like to see more connections and collaboration between schools within the School 2.0 plan. I reflected on the relationships between the administration, the 3 elementary schools, the middle school and the high school in Hilton. It is sad to see the lack of collaboration and cohesiveness between the schools. Sometime I hear of the us vs. them attitude when it comes to allocation of funds, philosophy, equipment sharing, etc. We as a school community need to bind together to best meet the needs of the students we service. In the school 2.0 model I would like to see more connectedness between all schools - that would include communication and collaboration to pull the entire community together to build the learning ecosystem.

Preparing for digital, global and virtual world

Sounds like teachers have a great deal of catch up work and learning to do to keep up with the digital, global and virtual world. I think teachers can empower student learners with the use of computers but are sometimes limited because of the lack of up to date technology tools and personal knowledge. We as teachers can have a great impact on student learning by using computers in many different ways, more than once a week in the computer lab! Can you imagine if each student had a computer at their desk to use all day long? I think I am going to try to use the school laptops regularly in the classroom and integrate them into our learning. At QUEST we are constantly learning about cultures around the world - so why not contact those countries to help us learn first hand. We have the tools to reach people around the world!

Kevin Honeycutt teaching method

I enjoyed listening to Kevin Honeycutt's ideas. His Model T project was very inventive and engaging. I thought of an idea to try with my classroom that incorporates technology and collaboration. I'll have to think about it a bit more to refine the ideas but here goes:

• Choose a topic that your classroom is learning about - maybe a famous person, community, animal, biome, culture, etc
• Invite 2 other classrooms to join in on the project and learn along with you
• All 3 classrooms collect important information about the topic chosen
• Classroom 1 collects the notes from each classroom and synthesizes the information into a script, lyrics or podcast then sends information to classroom 2
• Classroom 2 puts the script/lyrics into video form then sends to classroom 3
• Classroom 3 adds music or narration to the video - when completed, they send final copies to classroom 1 and 2
• Classroom 1, 2 and 3 watch the video at the same time then participate in a webcast to discuss their learning

It would be interesting to compare classroom notes and see what kinds of questions the students came up with and how their questions directed the classroom learning. This project of course would take a great deal of organization and planning but in the end would be a great learning experience for students.

Reflection 2

Lessons 5, 6 and 7 have sent me into a new world of technology. I had no idea how to use the online videos, wikis or del.icio.us bookmarking. It is a great deal of information to take in and try to use. I hope to use all 3 technology tools at some point during the school year. I think I would like to use the bookmarking to compile a list of usable websites that I can access anywhere. I would also like to use the wiki in my classroom and have the students share their summer learning. This of course would get parents involved too! What a great way to start the school year having students post their learning on a wiki prior to the first day of school. I can learn what interests new students have and be able to interact with students prior to school. I hope to use the online videos throughout the year to supplement student learning and make connections to cultures around the world.

Using Wikis

Wikis seem to be an online tool that I can use in my classroom. I liked previewing the Village wiki - it was something that I could relate to and maybe even do with my class! It would be a neat way to connect classroom learning across town, across the country or across the world. I thought the idea to use a wiki for meetings was interesting. What a good way to provide feedback to discussions on your own time! Does it really work? Or do teacher have trouble finding the time to add to a wiki? It would be a cool collaborative tool. I also liked that the wiki administrator has control and sets the guidelines as to how the wiki will be used.

Online Video Resource

I was a bit frustrated trying to view the online videos because I only had access to dial up! I learned quickly how important it is to have the correct tech tools to complete work. I can relate to some of my students who do not have computer or internet access. That surely limits one's ability to complete work. Teachers need to consider the technology assessability of all students when giving work.
When exploring the video resources, I questioned the educational value of some of the content on the websites. I thought that NextVista was headed in the right direction but had limited video topics at the present time. I liked the guidelines set up when submitting videos and how they had the website divided into light bulbs, global views and seeing service.
I did not like the commercials/advertisements on some of the websites. It was too distracting and makes it harder for young learners to find an actual video to view. The reading ability of primary students also makes it hard to navigate one of these websites. As for teacher use, I would have to save a link on the student work group for students to click to view a specific video.
I can see me using the online videos in my classroom but it would take lots of time to search through the websites to find an appropriate video to view. It would be great if all our classrooms had a tv sized monitor or projection unit mounted in the classroom to show videos without having to get the projection unit and laptops set up for whole class viewing. The price of technology!! I do like how the videos can link students across cultures and be able to see how other cultures live. That is one aspect that I am going to continue to explore and try to link some video learning to our IB planners.
I do have a question - should we download videos that we would like to use and create our own video libraries? If so, how would I do that?
Carol