The 1-2 most important things I learned in this course were the important of exposing students to the opportunities of coding and my experience with two different coding programs. I think looking forward I really would like to plan for an after school coding program for younger students, so that they have more than just an Hour of Code during the year. I think before i begin that, I would like to initiate an Hour of Code a few times this year and encourage teachers to explore coding. The second most important thing was the exposure to different coding programs. I was only familiar with code.org and I thought Scratch and Python were challenging for me, but I learned a lot.
Moving forward, I need to learn more about other coding programs and which ones are most appropriate for primary students. I would also like to learn more about resources that I can use with teachers, specifically in the area of coding. The two program tools I learned about in this course was Scratch and Python. I haven't used them yet in educational context, but do plan to expose students to Scratch in an after school coding program and Hour of Code days. I found out how surprisingly complicated, yet interested, coding was. Especially when it came to Python. Although it is perceived as an easy coding language, I felt that it was challenging. I was proud of myself for trying my best, especially when I saw that I did well on the "Rock, Paper, Scissor" activity as well as the Scratch lesson activity.
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1. Now that you have finished the course, what is your stance on your role as an educator of Digital and Media Literacy? Has this changed from the beginning of the course?
As a technology instruction coordinator and former teacher, my stance on education of digital and media literacy was always strong. However, this course did change my background knowledge in research about digital and media literacy, which is now solid. I believe the articles and research you've provided throughout this course was very useful and realistic. The data and infographics were also great sources for my own education, as well as sharing the pieces with educators I work with. 2. How can you continue growing as an educator of Digital and Media Literacy? I can continue exploring the resources my peers shared with me, and continue reading the updates and blogs. I can continue to connect with my PLN on digital and media literacy. I have a great group of people in the education field who post on digital and media literacy and I've learned a lot from them. If you are interested in following me and connecting, please search @ShadSalem on Twitter! Different topics on digital and media literacy are updated in Common Sense Media, so I will keep reading new topics as they arise. The current topic is on News and Media Literacy. 3.Overall, what will you take away from this course? The biggest take away from this course are the resource pages that my peers and I shared. It was a great idea to keep it all in one place and will be an amazing reference throughout our careers. Another great take away were the research articles that you've shared, from the introductory ones on digital and literacy media to the more specific and extensive articles. These articles were not only beneficial for my own background knowledge, but some of them I will use pieces of when working with teachers. Whenever I lead Professional Learning Communities or Professional Development sessions I like to share pieces of research that support what I am teaching. The articles you've provided us with were perfect to share with teachers. Thank you. As a previous English Language Learner reading teacher, one of the biggest take aways I got from this class was from chapter 12 in Technologies, Digital Media, and Reading Instruction text. One challenge we had this year was how to effectively evaluate the effects of technology integration on reading/academic achievement. There are many factors that play a role in student achievement, so it can be difficult to pin point what exactly is impacted from technology This chapter presented research findings that discuss the impact of technologies on reading instruction and achievement. Stating that when implemented effectively, it is effective. I will definitely be used the recommendations that are intended to support technology planning in my coaching with teachers and will create a checklist of these recommendations so that they can be referred to in discussions.
Next year, our goal is to develop parent education workshops and resources on technology integration and best practices. This class offered some resources that I've been compiling for this goal. One resource is The PBS Parent site, which shared information on digital media and 21st century skills. I am hoping to include social media and digital literacy in more integration goals next year as well. Sometimes it can be challenging to start younger students with this goal, but I plan to use a lot of the ideas my peers shared in the Cool Tools Show and Tell. I think this assignment was extremely beneficial. I really liked how my peers showed actual student examples of what they did with their students, for example the GoAnimate student example so that I can put it into perspective and use them to show as models when I am coaching teachers. The first week of the class, the introduction to the course, is really where I found some great resources that I will share with the teachers that I coach. A lot of them were great info graphics or comparisons of concepts. For example, in the article titled From Written to Digital: The New Literacy, had a great comparison chart of traditional to digital literacy that I will use next year with the teachers I work with. This will be a great resource to use when introducing digital literacy and its' important with students. I think this course was well-balanced and included a lot of activities that allowed me to learn from others. The resources were use able and friendly as well. As I reflect on the course, so far, I do believe it has impacted me greatly. I am also passionate about the subject, so it is very interesting to me. Thank you! The proposal preparation was something I experience first-hand at two of the buildings I am a Technology Instruction Coordinator in. The process has been smooth and the teachers are really excited about the new devices. Having a touch feature for students has made integrating technology easier for the children. Instead of struggling with the mouse pad or a mouse, the students can use their finger to draw or write. The touch feature has made the writing much smoother and there is less teacher assistance. I have observed students taking the MAP test with touch screen devices and the students were able to drag and drop objects so easily. They were more engaged with the test as well. I am looking forward to having the pilot teachers choose a device so that we can dive right into more technology integration!
There have been challenges along the way. As we research the best methods to handle these devices, we are trying to work around some of the things we already have in place that we would like to continue with the new devices. For example, we are looking into a better way to manage iPads that are shared among students. Students have Google accounts and we would like them to use their accounts. With shared devices, it is challenging for students to use their Google accounts. Apple is coming out with a school manager that will improve managing shared iPads. We are hoping this comes out soon before the end of the school year so pilot teachers can test it out. In addition to new changes with this Apple School Manger, Google will have Android Apps that the students can use just like iPad apps. This is supposed to be coming out soon and will impact student learning, as there will be a variety of tools for them to use. We are also hoping that will come out soon before the pilot ends. I am excited about my topic, as it is part of my responsibility and passion. It definitely does have potential and the decision made will impact the way teachers teach and the way students learn. The most positive aspect of my journey is connecting with teachers and hearing their feedback. Having that honest professional dialogue with teachers is something I am passionate about, because it allows me to listen and provide support- which I enjoy doing the most. The technology specialist wears many hats in this journey. In this journey I am someone who provides professional development for teachers. I am someone who supports teachers in the classroom and offers insight, listens and creates a culture of open and honest dialogue. I am someone who observes classrooms to gain perspective and learn what is best for students. As a technology specialist in this journey, I am someone who leads a team to making the best decisions that will impact the learning for their students and the students of the future. It has been a great learning experience and I've grown a lot from it. The process for my technology plan has been challenging and eye-opening. It has been challenging and eye -opening because of the insight I am receiving from the team of teachers piloting the devices. It's always so interesting to hear the advantages/disadvantages of both devices and having professional dialogue on the process together. I'm learning a lot about the needs of students and teachers throughout this process as well. There have been some challenges based on grade-level needs, which is also another great thing to have because it opened new insights that the team hadn't been exposed to before. For example, the need to type in 1st grade as opposed to Kdg and what is more of a need, the different tools each grade-level uses and what they find most useful. Although these grade levels are close, they are very different. So it was great to meet with them and hear their thoughts. The more excited thing I think about my topic is the fact that it is actually happening in my buildings! I get to live the experience and reflect/write about it. I am excited because it allows me to work with teachers to better understand what our students need to be successful. The most positive aspect of this journey is when I hear teachers say they want to higher expectations of technology skills of their students. This will impact the pilot because it will allow teachers to see the extent of what they can do with their students. That is very positive to hear from my team. The Technology Specialist roles of Learning Specialist and Instructional Designer is to be a leader in making those decisions that will impact student learning. The biggest role I've had in this plan was providing professional development so that teachers are aware of all of the features of the devices and how to use them seamlessly in instruction.
As I reflect on my role as a technology specialist, my biggest take-aways include effective utilization of media and networking through a PLN. I was able to see the impact of technology media that can individualize learning for teachers and support them through their professional development.
For example, before I used to create screen casts on my own time and share with teachers. Now, when teachers are participating in a one-on-one training with me, I screen-cast the meeting right then and there to make the tutorial unique and individualized for their own needs. As for the networking area, the continued knowledge I receive from networking through Twitter and sharing new knowledge through my website, is impacting my professional development and my team's professional development as well. Challenges will arise as I continue my journey as a technology instruction coordinator. But I am excited because I believe that all challenges bring new solutions, new knowledge and new reflections. I feel that one challenge I have faced and will continue to face is being sure that the tools we are using are primary-friendly and continue to make major impact on student learning. In addition to that challenge, which connects to it, is being able to measure that impact through data/evidence. Student learning is impacted through many ways, learning environment, strategies, teacher, home-school connection, parental support, interventions, etc. I continue to reflect on more ways to measure technology integration's impact on learning and hope to learn other ways technology instruction coordinators are doing this. Please click on the button above to view a tutorial on Nearpod, an interactive lesson that all students can engage in! I've use Nearpod in an Kindergarten-4th grade class, and it is definitely a tool that can be used in all grade levels and on any device. Teachers love the real-time feedback feature and students love being engaged. Learn more about how it works in my tutorial above.
The goal of my Professional Learning Network (PLN) is to connect me we other educators and colleagues who are using technology as a professional and as an educator with their students. The PLN aims to provide this community with integration ideas and resources. Not only does the PLN help educators, it also helps me. As a reflective educator and ongoing learners, I like to learn from other educators and professionals who are integrating technology into their classrooms.
I feel the biggest impact on my professional development is my Professional Learning Network. I am able to connect with others around the world, who share their same goals and interests with me. I am able to develop my skills at my own time, in a flexible manner. Through Twitter chats, I am able to participate in discussions with others on the same interests, passions and goals. The most important part of a PLN is CHOICE. Choice to focus on who you want to connect with, what you want to learn and how you want to engage. Click on the button below to view a great video on PLNs: Collaborating with technology made my project experience flexible, efficient and cooperative. My group decided on collaborating through Google Apps for Education. We used Google Docs, Google Slides and Google Draw. We also collaborated through email. Collaborating through Google Docs allowed each team members to post time-line like ideas and then comment on the side. I was able to reply to comments and color code my own ideas and thoughts. My group members were able to comment back and leave their ideas and thoughts. What I liked about this was that it was flexible and collaborative. Since I have a full-time job that requires a lot of my time, my schedule may not be like everyone else’s, vise versa. This is why collaborating through these means really made working on this project flexible.Collaborating through Google Slides was excellent. Each group member took on a responsibility and added to the slide. This created a balanced effort, with each members being able to provide their insight and be a part of the team. Currently, I use GAFE on a day to day basis in my position. For example, last week I held a workshop on iPads and I posted the agenda through our Google folder using Google docs. I linked each item on the agenda to a previous Google Slide presentation, videos and documents I wanted the team to collaborate on. It was a great way to keep the workshop organized and allow each participant to add their expertise, insight or anything they’d like to agenda items. I create spreadsheets for teachers using Google Sheets. This allows me to send the data pieces that need to be completed to all teachers and they are allowed to complete it at their own time, with multiple users in. As opposed to Excel, each teacher would have to complete his/her part and then attach it to an email to the next person. This process would take a long time and would not be efficient. Technology allows for efficiency and flexibility. Please click on the link below to view my screen-cast tutorial of Educreations, a recordable whiteboard that is versatile an simple to use!
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About this BlogThis blog is connected to the course EDU 776-98. Archives
December 2017
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