Saturday, May 14, 2011

Journal 7 Creating Your PLN

Journal 7 Creating Your PLN (NETS 1,2,3,4 &5)

The PLN (Personal Learning Network) consists of people who work in the Special Education Teaching field. I teach special education so I am excited to see how this will enhance my classroom for the benefit of my students.
My twitter account consists of special education teachers as well as fellow classmates. I participated in #ellchat on Monday, May 9th, 2011. I was very intimidated about the whole process. As I teach my students, they are all wierdos and do not talk to strangers so it was a little odd to be chatting on line with strangers. Once I got past the initial shock, it took me a minute to understand and follow the chat. I had to scroll back to get the idea of what the topic was. The topic of the chat was a couple of Speech Pathologists and some techniques they use with their students. This area is definitely an area of interest as they work so closely with the special education teachers. It was definitely good information at the tip of your fingers. You can pick out a subject you would like to learn about and get instant answers to your questions.
In my Diigo tag roll, I bookmarked sites that I feel can be useful for myself in the future and helpful to others who may need the information. There is a wealth of information out there and it is up to us to help facilitate others through it.
For Classroom 2.0, I read an article where a father is praising the way his daughter’s teacher uses the pre-test as an awesome AFL (Assessment FOR Learning). He uses the AFL for the subject of spelling. The students are given a pretest on Monday and if they score a 100% on Monday, the grade is logged into the grade book and the student is exempt from the final spelling test on Friday. This motivates the students to study and do their best on the pre-test and gives them the opportunity to peer tutor other students throughout the week.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Excel Crossword Puzzle

My excel crossword consists of personal information about me. NETS 2 &3

Cybersafety

Cybersafety is a web page that discusses the importance of keeping our children safe from sexual predators. NETS 1,2,3&4

Monday, May 2, 2011

imovie

My iMovie is a video used to encourage new students to join the Cal State San Marcos family. NETS 3&4

Monday, April 25, 2011

Journal 9

Journal 9: “Taming the Chaos” (NETS 1,3,&4)

Johnson, Doug – Taming the Chaos (November 2010) Learning and Leading with Technology. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Taming_the_Chaos.aspx

Summary: This article addresses the issue of how we should allow our students to use their personal technology in the classroom in a controlled, positive environment. If we prohibit them from using these tools, we are essentially limiting the learning process. The students that are abusing technology in the classroom are most likely the same students that are not paying attention in the first place. We have a better chance of grabbing their attention if we can use the technology that they are accustomed to.

Q1. Should we allow laptops, call phones, PDA’s, iPod’s in the classroom?

A1. Absolutely! I allow my students to use these items to help them in the classroom. They will use this technology to help them in the real world and it is our job to prepare them as much as we can for that. I will be the 1st one to pull out my cell phone and use the calculator to figure out the grade on the papers I just corrected. I listen to music to calm me or to help me focus from time to time. So why would I not allow my students the same… I would and I do!

Q2. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from allowing technology in your classroom?

A2. I have learned that by allowing my students to use their technology in the classroom, I have learn new things that I may have never known. They teach me something new every day. It allows them to become a leader and teach new skills to their teachers as well as their peers. It reaffirms to them that learning is a lifelong process.

Journal 8

Journal 8: “Should Schools Be Held Responsible for Cyberbullying” (NETS 1, 2, 3, &4)

Bogacz, Renee & Gomez Gordillo, Miguel – Point/Counterpoint Should Schools Be Held Responsible for Cyberbullying (March/April 2011) Learning and Leading with Technology. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_Schools_Be_Held_Responsible_for_Cyberbullying.aspx

Summary: In this article, Renee Bogacz, a language arts teacher for 20 years in Illinois, validates her side as why she feels schools should be responsible for cyberbullying. She states that the school, along with the parents, need to work together as a team. The school needs to establish clear rules and enforce the consequences when those rules are broken. All the students should be able to talk to any member of the staff and feel that the situation will be handled appropriately.

Miguel Gomez Gordillo feels that the schools cannot possibly be held responsible for cyberbullying, which is much larger than the schools can take on alone. He states that the love that is taught or not taught in the home is the foundation for the students’ decision to do the right thing in school. He feels that some parents just don’t have the time to show their children the love that they need.

Q1. From a teachers’ perspective, what are your feelings on who is responsible for cyberbullying?

A1. As a current educator, I do not feel that schools can be held responsible for everything that goes with the students on a daily basis. There are just too many students in each classroom and too much unsupervised time during the school day. There must be a strong team connect between the school and the parents and students need to be held responsible for their actions or their lack of action in some cases.

Q2. From a parents’ perspective, what are your feelings on who is responsible for cyberbullying?

A2. As a working, single parent of a 15 year old son in the 10th grade and an 8 year old daughter in the 2nd, I cannot possibly know everything thing that my children are doing all the time. I pray every day that the Christian education I am providing them will override their sinful nature if a less than desirable situation arises. I strongly believe that a great working relationship between the parent and the teacher will encourage the student to do the right thing. It takes a village to raise a child and I am glad to be on both sides of the fence for this one.

Journal 6

Journal 6: “Grow Your Personal Learning Network” (NETS 2, 3, 4&5)

Warlick, David Grow Your Own Personal Learning Network (March/April 2009) Learning and Leading with Technology. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-march-april-2009.aspx

Summary: This article was written to encourage educators to keep up with technology and the students of the technological age that they are growing up in. PLN’s is something that we have been doing all of our life, we are just using different types of technology to do the work for us now. Using technology such as twitter, blogging, wikis & our cell phones expands our learning network that were not available to us before the world of technology.

Q1. What is your suggestion for people who have a fear of computers because they are technologically challenged?

A1. You definitely need to keep it simple as it can quickly become overwhelming. There needs to be a distinction between personal and work PLN’s and the time spent with on each one needs to be limited as time flies in the world of computers. Organization will be a huge to success. Remember, this is the same thing you have been doing for years, it’s just now you are using your computer and the multitude of information it now at a whole new level.

Q2. How do I determine what PLN will work best for me?

A2. As with any new technology program, only time will tell. Take your time and investigate one or two at time until you find a couple that you like. The key is to start out simple and slow and build on your skills as you become more comfortable. This is a self-paced learning environment and remember you only get out of it what you put into it.