RodriguezJournalPost #10

How can technology engage and inspire learning for diverse students?

Multicultural education is a term used to describe how teachers go about affirming the expansive diversity of student interest, needs, and talents present in every school classroom.

James Banks states that all students regardless of where they come from or physical characteristics should have a equal chance to learn in school and participate in all programs and activities.

Sparking an interest is a key element within a group that is diverse.  What are their common interests and how can a teacher capitalize creating lessons around the group’s interest.

Integrating technology that allows students to obtain knowledge regarding information they have never been exposed to help students realize that their dream may not be out of their reach.

Technology can assist with making culturally relevant curriculum and instruction available to students as they learn how math will help them in real world situation.

Creating teaching and learning situations in which students can work together allow for student cross culture, racial, language, and gender boundaries on common projects together using technology.

Student benefit when their classroom goes beyond its four walls and into real world events and situations. Technology gives students the access to any type of information they can think of or what to research.  Teachers can utilize virtual field trips, translation materials and ways to expand communication between students and teachers during class as well is outside of school.

Tech Tools

Social Bookmarking

              Classroom blogs 

RECAP 

Technology is doing its best to bridge the gap in diversity within the classroom.  It allows students to participate in communicating and working with students with different backgrounds.  Teachers are becoming more empowered when it comes to working with groups of diverse students.  The more familiar the students are with the technologies that they have at their finger tips the better they will understand what they are capable of as an individual.  The more exposure they have to new technology the easier it will be for them to transition from education to the workforce.  

Resource:  

Edward, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transofroming Learning with 

          New Technology 2nd Ed. Upper Saddle Riverm N.J. Person, 2011

RodriguezJournalPost # 9

What is multimedia technology and how can teachers use it to effectively create and share visual information dynamically in their teaching?

There are a wide variety of multiple media available that will allow teacher to create a real world within their classroom.

Text

Data

Voice

Picture

Video

Multimedia sparks the student’s interest in the material being taught as they can participate in activities and engage themselves with their fellow classmates both in and outside the classroom.  Multimedia encourages the student to think activity and respond with creativity and critical thinking.

The use of technology gives teacher the opportunity to be creative in how they prepare lesson plans and deliver classroom instruction.  Many teachers are using technology to create a shared learning environment for their students.

Multimodal learning: occurs when teachers combine spoken words with visuals or written text with audio or utilize simulations and models.

Tech Tools

                                           Power Point

Smart Class

LET'S RECAP

Today’s classroom teachers are required to establish a dynamic that will allow student to use as many of their scenes as possible.  The use of multimedia technology does just that as students are engage in real world activities established by the teachers outline and guidance. The students can work together to develop strong team working skills or they can work independently to establish their critical thinking and time management skills. Technology allows teachers to bring the outside world into their classroom and give their students a head start on what real world is all about.

Resource:
Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New Technology. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Person, 2011

RodriguezJournalPost#8

How can wikis foster collaborative learning among teachers and students?

According to the textbook, Wikis: is a word that was generated from the Hawaiian word meaning quick or rapidly, are websites that teachers and students create and edit together by reading and revising each other’s ideas and comments. Wikis got their start in the mid-90’s and have grown quit popular over the years because of the way they engage the users in the process of sharing information collaboratively.   

In school wikis allow teachers and students to do the following:

• Use technology in meaningful ways in the classroom
• Collaborate with peers and colleagues
• Synthesize and explain the content they are learning through written expression and different forms of multimedia expression.
• Publish their writing and other creative or scientific work
• Receive feedback about their learning both inside and outside the classroom

The uses of wikis make for a positive collaborative learning environment for student to work together as teams to research and develop new elements to their learning.  Collaborative learning experiences in school simulates that way information is developed in our society.  There is never only one right answer in solving a complex question and wikis allow student work with each other to develop and solve complex social and technological problems. 

• Teachers are always trying to create new learning environments for their students. Developing a wiki with their students will allow both the teacher and the students to work collaboratively in the project. 
• Teachers can also us wikis to help with curriculum design and implementation.

The role of the teacher during collaborative learning is to be a facilitator and support the peer to peer collaboration.Wiki projects can be exciting for both the teacher and the students. The following suggestions can help teachers use wikis with their students.

• Decide on group processes: Teachers can introduce the project as a single student or group.
• Choose the Nature of the Wikitext: Teachers could ask each class to start a new wiki or work with a wiki that was previously written.
• Watch for Inappropriate or Plagiarized Material: Teachers must come up with clear rules as to what is considered inappropriate or plagiarized materials.
• Give grades for student work: Teacher needs to devise a rubric for the individual or group.

Tech Tools

http://www.wikispaces.com/ 

Recap

Wikis are being used to enhance the learning of students in most if not every classroom. Teachers are utilizing this technology to allow their students to collaborate and actively engage in their educational experience and progress. Teachers become facilitators and support their students learning instead of teaching them to a test. The students are allowed to explore their potential and learn from their mistakes.  Maria Montessori believed in allowing children to develop at their own pace and encouraged them to interact with their peers to do so. This age old philosophy has become a common practice in today's educational system.

Resource:

Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New 

Technology. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Person, 2011

Rodriguez Journal Post # 7

How do teachers use technology to promote problem solving and inquiry learning among students?

 

Problem solving and inquiry learning use real-world situations and issues to actively engage students.

There are steps that need to be taken by the students that will allow them to be effective problem solvers.

• Understanding the problem
• Using problem-solving strategies
• Checking results

 

Many student have difficulties with open ended problems.

 

 

 

 

 

It is important that teacher incorporate the students' own interest makes problem solving and inquiry learning  to engage the learners.

 

 

Problem based learning requires the student to research the problem, issues, and questions that do not have one right answer. 

 The student must use a process of:

•  Asking questions

•  Assembling evidence

•  Drawing conclusion

•  Evaluating results

There is a program called STEM at work which allows students to participate in real world career exploration.   

 

 

The is also a place called Wannado City that schools would take students on Field Trips to so that they could explore real world career and problem solving that is required in these fields.

 

 

Tech Tools

 

Using Computers to teach problem solving skills allows students to focus on both simple and complex problems based on the students grade level.   Simulation games in math and science tie economic and social outcomes to the in-depth problem solving experience.

 

 



 

 

Recap

Problem solving is a key element to daily life. Children as taught at a young age how to ask question, analyses the responses and draw a conclusion as to what needs to be done to solve the problem. Based on the child's age and knowledge the answers to the same question can very.  As student develop their problem solving skills teachers are using more computer generated activities to keep their student engaged in the problem solving and real world career experience.

 

 

Resource:

 

Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O’Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New Technology. 2^nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Person, 2011

 

 

Rodriguez Journal Post #6

What are WebQuests,virtual field trips,and video conferencing?

According to our textbook the follow are the definitions of :

WebQuests: are online inquiries by students that are designed and guided by teachers.

A WebQuest is distinguished from other Internet-based research by three characteristics. First, it is classroom-based. Second, it emphasizes higher-order thinking rather than just acquiring information. And third, the teacher pre-selects the sources, emphasizing information use rather than information gathering.Finally, though solo WebQuests are not unknown, most WebQuests are work groups with the task frequently being split into roles.(WebQuests Explanation, 2014)

Virtual field trips: are also called online field trips or virtual tours take students to places all over the world without ever leaving their classroom or school computer lab.

Virtual field trips have many benefits such as:

• Reduce lesson planning time

• Support visual learning

• Support ELL and IEP student

• Easily incorporate the motivational value of technology

• Budget and liability friendly

• Uses 21^st century learning tools with the learners

Video Conferencing: is a powerful learning technology that offers real-time access to people and places that students are unable to visit.

Videoconferencing provides students with the opportunity to learn by participating in two-way communication forums. Furthermore, teachers and lecturers worldwide can be brought to remote or otherwise isolated educational facilities. Such students are able to explore, communicate, analyze and share information and ideas with one another. Through videoconferencing, students can visit other parts of the world to speak with their peers, and visit museums and educational facilities.       

Tech Tools

Click the links and explore something new

http://zunal.com/index.php

Zunal WebQuest Maker - FREE

The easiest way to create a WebQuest with more than 261.5 thousand users. It is a web-based software for creating WebQuests in a short time without writing any HTML codes.

http://www.field-trips.org/vft/index.htm

The virtual field trips here at Tramline were developed with the goal of making the best use of the web in the classroom. These annotated trips take students to some of the best web sites on each trip subject. We have a Trailhead (Intro) and Teacher's Resource that set the stage for most of our trips. The TourMaker field trips format makes learning fun, and makes using the Internet in the classroom simple, efficient and focused. You will find virtual field trips on science, literature, social studies, and other topics.

Post Recap

The use of WebQuest, virtual field trip, and video conferencing are the way to help students explore and research new information.  Florida virtual school incorporates all of this technologies into the learning.  The students are engaged in video conferencing with their teachers daily.  My daughter is part of the virtual school community of students and she has a video conferencing with other students on and her teachers daily.  They use Skype and she thinks its awesome.  They also have virtual field trips. My daughter had to do a project on a career she was interested in and took a virtual field trip to an oncology lab. She was greeted by a lab tech who walked her through the life of an oncology lab technician. She said she learned so much about what is done in the lab and how they determine the treatments that will work for the patients.  Therefore, these technologies give education a new meaning and the are all convenient to the both the teacher and the student. 

Resource:

WebQuests Explanation". Concept to Classroom Workshop: Webquests. Educational Broadcasting Corporation. 2004. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O’Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New Technology. 2^nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Person, 2011

Rodriguez Journal Post #5

 What is the role of information literacy for teachers and students?

Teachers use information to assist with the development of lively curricula, update academic knowledge, and answer student’s questions.

Student use information to write paper essays, prepare for exams, develop personal talents, and propel their quest for knowledge.

The internet has become the key source for information for both teachers and students. Almost all schools and classrooms have access to the internet.

The internet is immensely important as an educational tool both in terms of how teachers use it professionally and how students learn to use it academically.

Students in the 21^st century need to learn to develop the skills and understandings included:

• Digital and information literacy:  the information found in various electronic sources
• Media literacy: The capacities to access, analyze, evaluate and communicate messages in a wide variety of forms.

Students begin their literacy skills at an early age and grade level. However, many college students find it difficult to evaluate, use and understand information efficiently and ethically. These patterns further reinforce the importance of information and media literacy as essential skills in our increasingly computer and information driven society.

Tech Tool

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/search/

Recap

Information enhances the way teachers and students interact during the school day.  Teachers use information to prepare to teach and students use information to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of what the teachers are presenting in the classroom. When I first started this course I was using the images on google image and our professor stated that I would not be allowed to use these images because they did not come from an accredited site.  I did not realize that the photos where not useable till I read this chapter.  Now I have three new sites that I can use to find pictures and other creative visuals that I can incorporate in my blogs.  Another thing that was part of many students learning experience is learning to do research using accredited publications or scholarly journals.

Resources:

Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O’Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New Technology. 2^nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Person, 2011

Rodriguez Journal Post # 4

How can teachers evaluate and assess students’ learning?

Teaching combination of planning, curriculum delivery and assessing if one of these elements are not part of the equation then learning is hindered.   

Educators generally discuss evaluation and assessment in two contexts:

• What teachers do as they finish a lesson or unit to evaluate and grade student performance
• What teachers do throughout a lesson or unit as they constantly monitor student performance

(Edwards, Maloy, Verock-O’Longhlin & Woolf, 2013, pg. 83)

Assessments are used to assist teachers in gauging the students learning potential and grasp of the lessons they are being taught.  Teachers use these assessments to alter their way of teaching to fit the needs of the students.

There are factors that teachers look at when they thing about assessing their students:
1.       Personal Experience: Using assessments they are familiar with and not branching out to explore new ways to measure the students learning.
2.       Standardized Testing: These assessments not only give teachers stress but students as well. Teachers are streamlining their curriculum to these tests so that students will score well or as I call it teaching to the test.
3.       Teacher Tests:  This test is to assure that educators have the proper competencies needed to do the work.

The way students are assessed and evaluated is ever changing. As technology evolves new testing systems are created.  

The test assessments such as:

• Norm-referenced tests: used to assess student to other students
• Criterion reference tests: assess the test takers personal performance
•  Standard referenced tests: used to assess students in comparison to national, state or district expectations.

There are many new ways that teachers can embark on assessing their student learning potential their comprehension of curriculum.   I am currently teaching a course of employ-abilityskills to high school students and I have embraced the idea of peer teaching with these students.  What I have done is assigned each student a chapter in the textbook.  They are required to present the key point information in the chapter and are required to answer any questions that the other students have based on what they presented.  I then in turn review any terms or topics that the student may have overlooked.  I not only use this assignment to encourage student participation but I also use it to grasp the level of skills my students have and their comprehension of the chapter they are assigned.  

Rubrics are a great tool to evaluate a student’s progress.  Rubrics are not only for the benefit for the teachers but also for the student.  The teacher has a method for evaluation and student has a gauge of what is expected from them to achieve a successful outcome of the assignment.   During the student presentations in my class I use a rubric to assess the student during their presentation.  I do this so that I can work with the student on the information that they are not proficient in.

Tech Tool

When I was setting up this class at the request of local businesses I used this link as my resource to design the curriculum and assessments.

http://cte.ed.gov/employabilityskills

Let's Recap

It is clear that assessments and evaluations are a very important part to both a teacher and students. For a teacher the assessments and evaluations allow them to monitor student progress, enhance classroom instruction, and gauge a lesson plan’s delivery method.  For students assessments and evaluations give them and sight to the information that they have mastered and the information they need to continue to work on.   There are many ways a teacher can create assessments without the traditional multiple choice and if in the blank test.  Teachers can create projects and performance based assessments which allow the students to demonstrate what they have learning in a book or lecture.  

Resources:

Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O’Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New Technology. 2^nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Person, 2011

Image Resources:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8204963410_29cb144fe0_o.jpg 

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJWj0oaqtVFlF7IA_dgzEaK35j7yzKCeQBsPPSGl2LcRugilvz 

Rodriguez Journal Post # 3

How does computer technology promote unique,powerful, and transformative learning for students and teachers?

There are all sorts of technology that promotes leaning for both students and teachers. Technology has changed the dynamics of the classroom and how students learn during and after school.  Teachers and students have the ability to use computer search engines, social media, electronic encyclopedias, and online databases. (Edwards,Maloy,Verock-O’Longhlin, Woolf, 2013) 

Information is at every student and teachers fingertips but now there is a new requirement about the quality of the information they acquired online.  Not all the information online is accurate or worthy.

• Accessing Information:  Activities that are used to find information.
• Assessing Information:  Determining the validity and efficacy of the information obtained.

               

Students that are information literate have the ability to:

           Locate creditable sources of information
          Organized the information they gather
           Identify the information that will apply to the subject or                    research

Reciprocal teaching is a technique that promotes student reading comprehension.  The teachers read web material during class and allow the students to discuss meaning for words and the understanding of the topic they have read.

Digital and Media Literacy require a combination of technical, cognitive, and social media skills. Digital media learning promotes visual learning that stimulates images versus words.

Teachers use a range of approached to digital media technology some examples our text give us are:

               Online research databases
               Classroom websites that involve students in design and                      maintenance
               Bookmarking and social bookmarking

Visual Learning

Visual learning with the use of computers allows teachers the freedom to assess and develop their student’s critical thinking skills.  Teachers are required to deliver curriculum content to students. However, they have the opportunity to choose how they are going to engage the students.

Communicating and Collaborating

New patterns are embarked upon once technology is introduced to collaborative learning.   During the collaborative learning process students work together to achieve  a common goal or task.  Teachers have the chance to use student’s interest spark in technology to promote the delivery of the days lesson.

Technologies that promote communication and collaboration among students and teachers are:
                 Collaborative digital storytelling
                 Online posters and website publishing
                 Social networks and social media

Tech Tools

Below is a link to a variety of applications that enhance student collaborations and technology

 http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2012/09/5-apps-that-encourage-social-play-and-collaboration.html  

Let’s Recap!

Computer technologies make learning interesting both in and out if class.  Students and teachers have the chance to make the best of their time in the classroom.  In starts with the teachers approach to technology and how they incorporate it into the student’s educational experience.  Students are more apt to become actively engaged in the learning process when technology is their way of travel. The more technology students are exposed to the better prepared they will be for the workforce and everyday life.

Resource:

Edwards,S.A. Maloy,R.W. Verock-O’Loughlin, R.E.,Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New   Technology. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River,N.J., Person, 2011. (Textbook title should be italicized.)

Rodriguez Journal Post # 2

How can teachers more closely connect learning to the experiences of the digital natives who are their students?

The students in classrooms today have grown up with the use of instant, interactive computers and wireless devices and are know as the digital natives.  This gives some teachers a greater disadvantage because they still trying to learn how to interact with the technology that is available to them. Teaching has taken on a whole new meaning since the use of technology is being added to the traditional classroom. 

There are two important implications for teachers regarding the way the use technology:

• Students Perspectives: Students through the use of technology have been able to develop ideas and talents that they would not have in a traditional learning environment.  The have learned skills such as how to research using the internet, games and multimedia. These skills are all necessary in today's workforce. 

• Teachers Actions:Teachers have the most difficult task when it comes to planning and creating a new learning environment.  Most teachers have only been exposed to book learning.  Most students are now what we call tactical learns because they can develop there skills only but interacting with the material they are learning. Therefore, teachers have to integrate new technology into their classroom. 

Tech Resources for Teachers

There are many resources site that can be used by teachers to help with the planning and implementation of technology in their classrooms.  There are sites that will help with creative classroom management, lesson planning and applications that both teachers and students can explore for different subject topics.  Many students learn from playing games and being allowed to create with the use of technology.  

askatechteacher.wordpress.com/.../41-websites-for-teachers-to-in..

Students and teachers have a digital disconnect due to the lack on skills needed to provide technology based classroom programs by teachers.  Many teachers find it difficult to keep up with the ever changing demands of technology. Students are no longer considered individuals who attend school in a classroom environment. Many students today do not even step into a classroom because they are virtual learners. Many teachers have become facilitators and are no longer required to physically teach a subject. Many school, colleges and universities have developed programs that solely focus on the need for online based courses. I have not only experienced online course work but my daughter is part of the online virtual school world. She is in the seventh grade and attends Florida Virtual School.  She was having a difficult time in school and I decided when she was in the sixth grade to take her out of the public school system and give her a chance to learn at her own pace.  She is doing great in all her subjects.  She is in a special middle school Cambridge Science, Math and Reading program for advanced learners.  I was worried about it at first; because I wanted her to have social interaction with other children. However, she still interacts with other child during her after school activities.  Technology has given my daughter the ability to grow as a student and develop her knowledge and skills at a comfortable pace for her.  

Rodriguez Journal Post# 1

What roles does technology play in the lives of student and teachers?

There are many roles that technology takes in the lives of both students and teachers. Technology is a great assist to our classroom culture.  A majority of teachers have altered their  classroom cultures by allowing their students to explore what technology has to offer. Students gain a sense of accomplishment and self confidence when they master new skills and create projects that allow them to explore new subjects. Teachers have found that through technology their group of students become cohesive and need very little guidance to complete their assignments. Many school are starting to look at substituting tablets for textbooks. I would like to break this question down into the students and then teachers.

Students:

• Students are actively engaging in their learning process. 
• Students use technology as a tool to support their performance.
• Students use technology as their connection to their teachers and the world.
• Students that are actively engaged with technology everyday and exposed to information, making choices and executing skills that are usually teacher led lessons/topics.
• Students with the help of technology are in a position that they can define their goals, decisions and evaluate their progress. 
• Students take pride in their abilities to master the use of the computer based tools.

Teachers:

• Teachers are no longer the students focus in the classroom as the dispenser of information.
• Teachers have become facilitators as they set the stage for the students to meet full performance potential. 
• Teachers in the classroom have taken on a new look they are no longer at a chalk board and behind a desk. Rather they are rotating through the room assisting the students with their questions and suggesting resources for them research for the answers to their questions. 
• Teacher encourage students to collaborate with their peers.
• Teacher help the students find their sense of empowerment by teaching them to master their skills and associating them with real world applications

Tech Tools 

Tech tools that enhance both the students and teachers abilities in the classroom and at home.  The tech tool that I would like to discuss is the use of tablets vs. traditional textbooks. I have been doing a lot of research regarding the purchasing of tablets vs. traditional textbooks over the last year because of the new school I am involved with.  The tablets are an excellent idea because their are several apps that can connect the teacher to student in and out of the classroom. There are many positive factors to this technology. I have only found one negative which is the up front expense for both the school and the student. However, many of the textbook publication companies have provided reasonable cost attached to their e-books and digital textbooks.  For teachers there are many resources to assist you with enhancing your students learning experience.  Teachers and students can download lots of free learning and planning apps that will create a library of knowledge and insight right at their finger tips.

Website link of the 70 top teacher/student apps for mobile devices. 

                              

                                                     

 http://www.edudemic.com/70-best-apps-teachers-students/  

Technology for both students and teachers help bridge in class and out of class learning. Today's students also know as the iGeneration have been raised in the ongoing changing world of technology.  Whether it be an Elementary, Middle, High School or College students technology is a part of both their personal and educational life. Children as young as 8 years old us technology as almost every waking hour of the day.  At the school where I work with we use technology to assist the students in credit recovery for their high school diploma.  The system is called APEX with this system the teachers can monitor the progress of the students g in any given subject area and if the student needs additional help the teachers have the resources to sit one on one with those students.  Our program is a blended learning module but technology is used everyday to enhance the learning and track the progress of our students.
We have started a new project at the school it is called Destination Occupation. Our students interview people from different careers  via Skype Conference. Then students have to create a power point presentation regarding what they learned during the interview with the guest speaker.  This project has been great for our juniors and seniors it is one example of the use of technology that has been successful for students career pathways.  The teachers of the 21st century integrate technology in to all aspects of student learning.  Teachers then have a chance to make to create their own digital identity that will incorporate all their technology talents and knowledge.  Classrooms are no longer a teacher, chalkboard and students now the classroom culture is embracing the world through technology.