CAST UDL Book Builder - Book for EDLD5364

One of the assignments for this week was to use the CAST UDL Book Builder and build a book online.  This is a great site and I plan on sharing it with all the teachers in Azle ISD.  I think there are many that would enjoy using this tool as another way to use technology to reach students.

Go check out my book:  Internet Safety for Teens

EDLD5364 Teaching With Technology - Week 3 Post

I have been teaching with technology for over 10 years.  I didn't have access to materials like I was exposed to this week and had to research, attend workshops and scour the internet for ideas.  I think since I started teachers are much better prepared to use technology in their classrooms due to the availability of materials that show them how, the actual technology itself and the desire to use technology with their students.

In 1999 I was put into a technology classroom to figure it out on my own!  There were no inservices to give me ideas, no textbooks  available, and I didn't even have a projector to demonstrate to the students.  As the years have gone by there have been many changes in our district and many others as well.  All the teachers in our district now have projectors, SMARTboards, laptops, and iPads for use in their classrooms.  On top of that they have many training opportunities that show them how to incorporate those and other technology in their classroom.

Since I am the Instructional Technology Specialist for our district I have the pleasure of working with the teachers and am out in the classrooms seeing technology used.  I see students enjoying the technology and creating awesome technology projects that just a few years ago we would have never dreamed about. 

I particularly enjoyed the two videos this from Luis and Cameron.  I see in them the future of education.  I see 2 students that love what they are doing and incorporate it not only into their school but home.  I see that because of them teachers are realizing that using multimedia isn't hard.  If students Cameron's age and younger can create videos other students can as well.  I know that many of our campuses have flip cameras and teachers are using them in class having students create video projects. In the past year we have created a "share server" where students can download their video to so the group can have access to the material.  As part of my job I have made teachers aware of various free websites where they and their students can build their video.  I have taught teachers about PhotoStory, MovieMaker, Animoto, Xtranormal, Slideroll and many others.  I see teachers using video projects all the time and the students are just like Luis and Cameron - they love it!  I think the 2 books that had reading assignments are good resources although I think some of the material in  Web 2.0 new tools, new schools is a little dated. 

I have seen technology change education dramatically in the last 10 years and see it moving at an incredibly fast past!  I don't see technology going away I see teachers quickly adapting, using technology daily and more than ever students are engaged in their lessons.  I see students with technology at home bringing it into the classroom.   One great example of a teacher using technology was our AP World History summer assignment this year.  The teacher assigned a book and a group of students were then to create a 10 minute video over the book.  I personally witnessed a group of young men working on their video because I have the video cameras and the students shot their video at my house including my own son.  I saw students engaged in meaningful dialog regarding the material and how to best re-create the concept in film.  I saw them work collaboratively and create a movie that was worthy of a an A.  Did they learn the material?  You bet they did.  In speaking with them regarding the assignment they were all excited and really enjoyed it. 

I'm guilty of loving technology and wish every teacher would embrace it with their classrooms.  Not all do and I think it will take a few more years to see every single teacher at the point they feel comfortable.  My goal is to work with those teachers having difficulty and make it easier for the sake of the students!

EDLD5364 - Teaching With Technology - Week 2 Post

This week has been a week of confirmation for me.  I have learned that I am not alone in believing that technology makes a difference in education.  I have read articles by educators that have echoed my thoughts.  I have watched videos that showed me that no matter your learning style or your capabilities technology can benefit your education. 

I love technology!  I'm the person that is lost without being attached to something be it my laptop, iPad or smart phone.  I love learning about what is new in technology and am fascinated with the digital natives in our schools. 

I love that technology can make differences in how and what students learn.  I love that technology is available for ALL students no matter where they come from, how they learn, or what their capabilities are.  I love the confirmation that technology can make a students have better self esteem. 

I love that I am part of technology and making a difference in students lives. 

The materials this week were awesome and hopefully everyone in this class feels the same.  All I can say is hold on---this technology ride is getting ready to explode with devices, apps, and cool new things!

EDLD5364 - Teaching with Technology Week 1 Reflection

Constructivism, Connectivism and Cyborg learning theories O my!  I really understand how constructivism and connectivism work in education and will continue to work in education for a long time.

In constructivism the theory suggest that we never learn anything from scratch and that all ideas stem from something that is already in your brain.  This builds or constructs the framework. I don't believe this will ever go away, maybe change but will always be involved in learning.  It is obvious. 

Connectivism has also been around when we really think about it for a long time as well.  People have always been connected and learning from others has always occurred.  But, now with computers, wide world web, smartphones, Skype, and many other technologies we are more connected than ever!  With Facebook we are making connections with people we haven't seen in a long time.  No more are the days of learning about happenings in another part of the world and important part of the evening news.  We know almost instantly when something happens around the world due to technology.  This connectivisim I believe will only increase.  We now have teachers using Skype in the classroom to reach other classrooms live via webcams.  Fifty years ago the only way to connect to a classroom would have been via the mail and it took weeks to receive letters. 

The Cyborg Learning theory really scares me right now.  Will it in the future?  I can't answer.  I am a true believer in the advances of technology and education.  I like that technology can save a person's life when a pacemaker is implanted.  But, I don't know if I'm ready for a chip to be implanted that will know when I approach a building and open the door for me.  I don't know if people in general are ready for that either.

I do know that as educators we are working during an incredibly fascinating world right now.  I love the advances in technology that allow me to work from my computer basically anywhere.  I love that I can communicate with someone many miles away via a text message and even send them a picture if I want.  I know that students in the classroom are the same way.  They cannot be away from their technology so it is important that we as educators embrace every type of technology that we can to help our students learn.

Critical Reflection EDLD5366

Where have these 5 weeks gone?  I can't believe class is over and another already beginning.  This is a topic that I really enjoy---digital graphics and webpage development.  Both are something that I do in my job as an Instructional Technology Specialist.

Here is my reflection for the end of course assignment:

Reflection is something that we are seeing used more and more in the classroom.  I feel it is necessary and beneficial.  In my opinion it is necessary for true understanding.  Critical reflection actually allows for the learning to reach the highest level of Bloom’s by Evaluating and then Creating.  The evaluation allows the learner to review the learning and the process of creating the reflection meets the top of Bloom’s through creating.  Creating a reflection allows the learner to put down their thoughts into words that can express what they learned but also how they felt bout said learning.

The learner should be critical of their reflection.  They should be truthful but it is not necessary to

simply repeat the knowledge learned.  I think there are some that will have problems with this as expressed in the article that was part of our reading assignment. According to Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D., the current generation is a product of a standardized system that is required to memorize standard information for standardized tests.  I feel that she is right in many ways but, it is the responsibility of every teacher to make sure that their students can do more.  I believe the process of reflection can allow for that. 

Through this course we have been allowed to critically reflect many times.  The use of the forum allows each to post about their learning, read fellow students reflections and then post to them.  Through the use of response it allows all learners to further learn.  I realize that that might seem redundant but, by reading the posts of my fellow classmates I learn more through their posts because each of us sees things, learns things and reflects in a different way.  There have been times there was something that I didn’t quite comprehend but after reading forum posts I was able to have the “aha” moment. 

I must confess that I was very unsure of the group project.  I wondered how in the world we could work together on something such as a website.  Through email though we developed a vision and were able to come together creating a website that was truly a collaborative effort. 

Regarding the use of websites in the classroom I have used them in the past and feel they can be an excellent tool for many reasons.  The process of the development and planning is a great use of collaboration.  Students must work together for the good of the group.  It has become so much easier to use this form of collaboration since there are many ways to use Google or other free websites for creation. 

I can see the use of critical reflection in the classroom as very rewarding and encouraging higher level thinking that is necessary for students. I think it must be used starting at lower elementary and developed throughout a student’s school years.  We can no longer expect students to be able to “just spit back facts” they must understand what they have learned and how it fits into life.

My animation

EDLD5366 Digital Graphics - Week 3 Animation

What a great week!   I have always loved using animation in the technology classroom.  When I was working at the junior high level I loved using animation with all classes.  I just never realized that what I was doing was involving Bloom's Taxonomy! 

This week I learned about "Blooms Digital Taxomony"!  Here is a link to an article that will help explain it further:  http://www.techlearning.com/article/blooms-taxonomy-blooms-digitally/44988

How can we prepare our students for the future if we don't use digital animation? You can't.  Our students love to create and use computers.  What better way to keep your students engaged. 

Try it in your class I"m sure you will be surprised in the wonderful way students of all ages can ebrace technology and create a great product!