Friday, February 25, 2011

Journal # 4 "Its time to trust teachers with the Internet: A Conversation with Meg Ormiston.” (NETS 3 & 4)

Ormiston, M. (2010). Its time to trust teachers with the internet: a conversation with meg ormiston. THE Journal, Retrieved from
http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/12/01/its-time-to-trust-teachers-with-the-internet-a-conversation-with-meg-ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en
  In this article, the author Meg Orminston is discussing how teachers are being pressured to incorporate 21st century teaching and learning in to their classrooms, but are not being allowed to use the tools they need to do that. Schools are having a hard time trusting the teachers that they hired to care for children in a classroom setting. They believe that somehow teachers are not going to be able to teach responsible computing, so instead they block all of these websites that students could gain from.
Instead, how it should be looked at, is that teachers have the potential to help students make good choices with networking resources. They can teach them what is right and what is wrong to look at. Because, of course there are inappropriate things on You Tube and networks that are similar, but on the other hand, there are very rich, wonderful learning opportunities as well. At the end of the day, if schools keep restricting the technology in the classroom, teachers will eventually give up and students will lose because they aren’t able to keep up with the new information.


What can students gain by receiving information about how to use 21st century technology in their classrooms?
While they are still in school, the internet and social networks can help them find outside information on what they are learning in class. They may find more helpful websites than what has been presented in class. And when they graduate, and are in the real world, they are just one step ahead. They will know how to access great information, and will have developed better skills at exploring the internet.

Do you feel that teachers should be trusted with teaching this information, even if it may lead to some teachers putting up inappropriate information in class?
Yes, just because a few teachers may get out of line, the rest of the schools in the U.S. shouldn’t have to suffer. There is more to gain by trusting our teachers than worrying that a few may not be able to control a classroom.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Technology Self-Assessment: School 2.0

NETS-T 3,4 & 5
I chose reflection results NETS T module: Engage in professional growth and leadership. Specifically focusing in on emerging tools and resources that enhance students learning. I chose this standard because, even though I am gaining more knowledge about technology through this course, I still want to get a better idea of how to incorporate it in to the classroom and this reflection tool focused in on just that. I went over tools that provide resources for classroom management, collaboration, constructivist learning, curriculum, lesson plans, project-based learning, and web-based learning. As well as going over virtual schooling and how the rise of distance education, online learning, and cyber classrooms is creating new roles and responsibilities for today’s teachers and administrators.
I really enjoyed going over these reflections because now I have a few more tools to grab from that will push me towards professional growth and leadership. Its also nice to be able to come back to this self assessment and read up on other things and get more ideas. It raises my awareness to what I need to know, and to what I should have already been learning. These tools will hopefully help me engage my students and keep on task, as well as provide fun ways to learning!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Journal #2: “Join the Flock” by Hadley Fergeson and “Enhance Your Twitter Experience” By Shannon McClintock Miller (NETS 2 and 4)


Fergeson, Hadley. (2010). Join the flock. Leading and Learning With Technology, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/Leading_and_Learning_Docs/June_July_2010_Join_the_Flock.sflb.ashx

McClintock Miller, Shannon. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Leading and Learning With Technology, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/Leading_and_Learning_Docs/June_July_2010_Join_the_Flock.sflb.ashx

The summary of these weeks readings were about how to create a professional learning network through twitter and how to find effective strategies for tech integrators. Some of the more valuable lessons were, learning how to take time to build your community,tapping in on great people to follow and how to enhance your twitter experience as well as how technology can support school improvement and student learning.

Do you think that these articles are helpful for beginners?
  Yes, as a beginner, I dont know much about the PLN world.  I was able to get a better understanding of how to start a twitter account and manage my community.  I can see how important it is to follow other educators so that all of our ideas can be seen and heard.
  As far as integrating technology, I was able to find different strategies to incorporate technology in to the curriculum, as well as get some ideas of how to accomplish clear learning goals.

Can you see yourself incorporating Twitter in to your classroom?
  Im not too sure if I can see myself using twitter in a 2nd grade classroom, I feel like it may be a little too advanced, but I could be wrong.  I hope to use as much technology as I possibly can.

Journal #3 100 Things that make ME happy :o)


100 Things That Make ME Happy!!!

1.     My mom
2.     My dad
3.     My sister
4.     My boyfriend
5.     My friends
6.     My niece
7.     My grandparents
8.     My kitties
9.     My dog
10.  Quality time with the people I love
11.  Running
12.  5ks
13.  Hiking
14.  The ocean
15.  Shooting stars
16.  Sunrise
17.  Sunset
18.  Laughing
19.  Talking with my best girlfriends
20.  Wine
21.  Great motivational quotes
22.  Cheese and crackers
23.  Traveling
24.  Softball
25.  Baseball
26.  The desert
27.  Camping
28.  Chocolate
29.  Chai tea lattes
30.  Santa Barbara
31.  Walks with Maggie to Turtle Pond
32.  Napa
33.  Australia
34.  Las Vegas
35.  Summer time
36.  The beauty of spring
37.  The smell after it rains
38.  Shopping
39.  Love
40.  Hugs
41.  Affection
42.  Kisses
43.  Staring in to my boyfriend’s eyes
44.  Being appreciated
45.  Reading
46.  Knowledge
47.  Old married couples still in love
48.  Snuggling
49.  Sleeping in on the weekends
50.  Breakfast in bed
51.  Reality TV
52.  House hunters
53.  Discovery channel
54.  Sushi
55.  Mexican food
56.  Brownies
57.  Orange cookies
58.  Girl scout cookies
59.  Riding bikes
60.  Bloody Marys
61.  Kids
62.  Saving money
63.  Wakeboarding
64.  Swimming
65.  Being on a boat
66.  Listening to music
67.  Dancing
68.  Making dinner with friends
69.  Singing
70.  Overcoming a hurdle
71.  A good movie
72.  Making someone happy
73.  Taking pictures
74.  Photography
75.  Google
76.  Facebook
77.  New pair of running shoes
78.  A cute outfit
79.  Massages
80.  Cracking my knuckles
81.  Perfume
82.  Putting on make up
83.  Soft sheets
84.  Fluffy pillows
85.  Cute puppies
86.  A compliment
87.  Painting my toes
88.  Laying in the sun
89.  Sandwiches from Panino
90.  Riding horses
91.  A beautiful view
92.  When my grandma tells stories
93.  Times when my sister and I go off in to our own world
94.  Surprises
95.  Learning new recipes
96.  The smell of a good candle
97.  Showers
98.  Reading a magazine
99.  Laying down on a huge comfy couch
100.                 Home

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Journal #1 "Do web 2.0 right" By Daniel Bright (NETS 1-4)

Light, D. (2011). Do web 2.0 right [Pg.10-15]. Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201102?pg=12&pm=2&fs=1#pg12

Wikis and blogs are a great way to get students engaged and motivated to practice their writing skills, but for the beginners and people who just don’t know where to start, this may be hard. Fortunately, many educators have tried them out and are now publishing what works and what doesn’t seem to work.
What researchers have come to find is that teachers seem to have the best of luck with web 2.0 using tools to create ongoing conversations among students and “always on” learning communities. These teachers made wiki and blogs a daily practice in their classroom, not just one single project, they carefully considered their audience and taught and enforced appropriate behavior. Although, what they have also come to find out is, that if you’re not careful, you can also have a lot of unmotivated students. Making very careful consideration of how you intertwine blogs in to a classroom and on-line community is a very important part to the success you will see with your students.
Overall, wikis and blogs are a wonderful means to engage students in their work and the works of others. Even if you don’t know how to use the tools right away, going through the trouble of learning them can be very rewarding. When these tools are used right, it can add a whole new dimension to learning.


1.What do you think is the best way to incorporate a blog in to the classroom?
When it came to individual blogs, students seemed to be unmotivated for different reasons. Some were worried about making their school work public, while others were reluctant to write if they felt that their work might not be as meaningful as other students. Individual blogs seemed to work more flowingly when it was one on one with the teacher. The student felt more comfortable in their work and were more expressive than they were when they had to post their work publicly.
Even though I do think there are benefits to individual blogs and that they should be used as well, I like the idea of incorporating a classroom blog in to my curriculum. I think the students are more engaged and excited about the idea of a classroom blog. It seems to support student debates, generates interest as well as elicits prior knowledge.

2. How will you as a teacher prepare your students for the constructive criticism/ negative feedback that they may get in response to their blog post?
As a teacher, I would first explain what we will be doing on-line in the classroom. Give a few examples of how the blogging will work and make sure that I am creating the appropriate learning environment for the type of debates that will take place. I would establish ground rules and go over the mutual respect that they all must have for each other in my classroom and in the on-line community. I want to make sure that the students understand that they can be critical of others work and have people be critical of theirs, without it being taken to a personal level.