Week 7- We're Halfway There

I was shocked to learn that this week is the middle of my first graduate class. I have to say, I am enjoying this class more than I thought. I always thought of myself as rather tech-savvy and being married to an Internet Guy I really thought I was ahead of the rest. I was wrong. I have learned so many interesting technologies that I never would have known about if it weren’t for this class. Granted, blogging is something I do on a daily basis and so that wasn’t too new to me, but I learned a lot of other things.

This entry will be about the Learner Outcomes we want to achieve in this class and how I feel we’ve either reached them, or not reached them. That being said, I think I’ve learned more than what the state is requiring I learn. I have learned to enjoy technology and my opinion about tech in the classroom has changed drastically. I used to think that computers were the major proponent in laziness in children, but I’ve come to realize that computers/video games/the Internet are all ways that children, as learners, learn and express themselves.

Learner Outcomes!

1. Demonstrate the understanding of how technologies can effectively promote student learning.  – Kids today are way more into technology then they were when I was in school. I remember using CAD in middle school (mid-1990’s) and it was THE new thing. Today there are a ton of other interesting technologies that children can use both in and out of the classroom. From Facebook, to Blogger, to Animoto there is a ton of online tools that can be used in learning (and that doesn't include the myriad programs available through a Google account).

2. Evaluate and use a variety of current technologies to enhance content instruction and to advance students technological literacy.- We have used a variety of tools in this class. We are, obviously, using Blogger, we’ve created Google Documents, and we’ve learned about Scratch, we’ve made an Animoto. In addition to all of those we’ve also watched various YouTube videos and have been given a presentation on Digital 

Literacy.

3. Design meaningful and authentic digitally based learning experiences with multiple and varied assessments. – As a class we are journaling our experiences in blogger. We have created a PSA using Scratch, a technology I didn’t know even existed. I think more than all of this, I’ve learned that there are a lot of programs and technologies out there that will enhance how I teach, rather than how my students learn. I will be more than willing to use Scratch or Blogger, or Google Docs to teach my students, by using these technologies to teach my students will learn about them (and I’m pretty sure they already know most of them, so at least I’ll be with the times).

4. Reflect upon and demonstrate effective use of digital tools and resources. - I think the fact that many of the people in my class haven't been participating in Web 2.0 tools and now are is a prime example of how this class has effected us. Even though I am on Facebook and use OpenDiary to journal I (used to) rarely link anything into my entries. Now I am a pro at using Google to look up what I want to learn, and then adding it to my blog. I have no problem using Google Documents, and I think it's excellent you can use it to create tests. I think that learners, especially younger/adolescent learners, will be more interested in learning and test taking if it's off the paper and on the screen. 

5. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of safe, ethical, legal and moral practices related to digital information and technology.- Digital Citizenship has been a huge aspect of this class. We've been learning so many technologies that it might seem hard to fit in the importance of being a good digital citizen but that's not so. We used Scratch to create a Public Service Announcement about digital citizenship, thus rolling to important lessons into one. We've written blogs about what digital citizenship is. There has never been a time that digital citizenship wasn't an underlying issue in any lesson. I never realized how important it was to maintain a positive digital footprint but now I know.

6. Illustrate through application how state and national standards are implemented within the curriculum (e.g., NH Curriculum Frameworks, ISTE (NETS-Teacher/NETS-Student) and NH-ICT Literacy Standards for K-12 Students (306.42)).- When I was  student we did not use computers, at all. Everything was done on paper, worksheets, or an overhead projector that was older than the teachers. Today, because of the fact that all of our learners are Millennials, many states are requiring their future teachers to utilize technology in the classroom. These requirements can be found here. While we've touched base on all of the standards, I feel that I've learned more by watching my teacher. She's been an example of how to incorporate these technologies into our lessons. 

7. Demonstrate an understanding of the use of adaptive technologies and other digital resources to personalize and differentiate learning activities for every student.- Every student learns differently. The internet provides a WIDE variety of learning tools. Many of these tools are free, or they are discounted for educators. When I think of modifying activities to accommodate a range of learning styles I automatically think of using the internet. Students will be able to express themselves through podcasts, blogger accounts, and wikipages. Also, if my put my lesson outlines online than students that need a little reminder of what we've accomplished can look it up online whenever they need to. This allows for students to a. learn at their own pace. b. double check they are achieving the right goals, and c. communicate their findings to a wider audience then the classroom.

8. Evaluate, adapt and reflect on emerging tools and trends by participating in local and global learning communities and by reviewing current research and professional literature.- I'm actually not sure how to address this outcome. I feel like this class is definitely a graduate level class with varied assessments that you wouldn't find in an undergrad classroom. That being said, I would definitely have my students use several technologies we've used. I think that if we, as educators, take the time to teach the tools properly, then students can achieve the knowledge to use it on their own. With regards to this outcome I can't say that I'm participating in a learning community, however, I am blogging, and other future educators are reading my blog (even if it's because it's a requirement for the class). I think that I've contributed to the Internet by using this blog account. From reading our text I feel I've definitely read professional literature. Do I think we've fully addressed this outcome, perhaps not, but I don't feel like the class is lacking in this area, we're simply addressing this outcome by addressing the others.