NETS 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Blog

Individuality is a very important concept in today's education and thanks to technological innovations; teachers and students are in a perfect moment to expose this and much more. Through Blogger, a Google blog publishing service, I created a classroom blog. A blog is a website in which anyone can record information or opinions, that can demonstrate the individuality of each student in a social manner. I have been able to customize the blog to portray my individuality by changing the background, customizing a template, and adding pictures. Secondly, I created an about me page in order to have a stronger connection with my classmates as well as included multiple journal article reflections from the ISTE publication Learning and Leading with Technology website. Finally I have been able to portray my work on my blog using embed codes. On my blog you will find my classroom letter, crossword spreadsheet, and an iMovie that do not only expose my individuality, but also demonstrate my fluency in technology. The collaborative nature of my blog will allow me to exemplify my creativeness as well as collaborate with my fellow peers through a virtual environment.

Newsletter                        

Teachers need to create and promote events such as conferences, literacy nights, and workshops that will benefit student’s success. I used Microsoft Word to create an innovative newsletter for an invitation to join the school yearbook staff. I started by using the table feature of word to add a masthead in the upper part of the newsletter using Word Art for the title, and line art for decoration to make it more appealing to the eye of the reader. The second step was to add three interesting articles utilizing drop caps, relevant graphics for each article, colorful titles, and customized bullets. I finalized the project by inserting and wrapping text around inserted Clip Art and pictures. I used the newsletter to get students interested in real world applications to request their help on the yearbook. By modeling my innovative work in a creative newsletter, students will be more engaged and willing to participate in projects that involve technology.

2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessment

Prezi

One of the main tasks for educators is to keep students engaged during lectures. Through Prezi, a web-based presentation application and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of traditional slides, I created a presentation named “Incorporating Technology in the Classroom” integrating my knowledge about the 2007 ISTE NET Standards for grades 6-8. Following a Prezi tutorial, I learned how to create my own background for the presentation without having to use the ones that were already made. I learned how to insert pictures, YouTube videos, and zooming effects. I added four frames about how to integrate technology in the classroom that contained the all the information mentioned above always linking them to the NETS Standards. By creating an informative and interesting Prezi presentation, I can facilitate the communication between parents, administrators, and most importantly students.  Prezi is an innovative way to present information making it easier for the audience to analyze, learn, and evaluate the presented information by making the presentation more entertaining and enjoyable with videos, zooming effects, pictures and relevant information aligned with content and technology standards.

Excel Crossword

Online tools and software programs make the life of educators much easier. Using Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet program, I was able to create a crossword puzzle for a middle school algebra class. By following an online tutorial from the Atomic Learning website, I learned how to format the cell’s height and width, enter multiple words to the puzzle, format cell’s font, alignment, border, and learned how to fill in the background. I learned how to add clues and to test/edit conditional formatting, which turns the text red if the student types the first letter of the word incorrectly and green if the student types in the first letter of the word correctly. I also learned how to set up the blank template, print, and work the crossword. By incorporating Excel into a student crossword puzzle, I am incorporating an innovative tool into my classrooms that will make students use their creativity to create and personalize their own crossword puzzle. The crossword puzzles demonstrates how we can use content and technology standards to create a crossword puzzle by using diverse learning styles, working strategies, online tools and resources.

3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning

Diigo

Virtual collaboration is the best way for educators to get engaged in a life-long learning experience. I created an account with Diigo, a collaborative social bookmarking website, in order for me to keep an open mind and learn from the experiences from educators throughout the world. Social bookmarking is an online tool that allows its user to organize, store, highlight, bookmark, annotate and share information. I started by learning how to interact with other people by adding tags in different articles, these tags allowed me to categorize my information to make it easier for other users to find, I also  highlighted and bookmarked different articles. I researched and added tags and bookmarks to eight different articles; National Archives, National Education Association, Stop Cyber Bullying, Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything, Multiple Intelligences, Teaching Tolerance, Multicultural Education and Equity Awareness Quiz, and Free Rice. After reading each article, I wrote a short reflection expressing my opinions about the articles, which allows me to start getting involved in this virtual community. Diigo helped me to interact with educators from around the world in order for me to have a better understanding of different cultures. By using this application and connecting with other Diigo users around the globe, I will be more aware of new and innovative technologies that are being used by other professionals.

iMovie PSA

Creativity is not a gift that all people possess, but technology makes it very easy for us to be more creative. By using Apple’s iMovie video editing software, I was able to create a public service announcement (PSA). The main goal of the public service announcement was to promote California State University, San Marcos to prospective students. I learned how to import/export video content, music and pictures into the software program. I had fun learning how to add titles, text, ending credits and how to detach audio from the video. I mastered the ability to change clip volume levels and to create a freeze frame from video and add a voiceover/voiceover. I also learned how to upload the video into my blog as a YouTube video or QuickTime. By creating an interesting video, I am able communicate relevant information to my students, parents, and administrators in a more innovative and creative way. iMovie makes students demonstrate fluency in technology by allowing them to transfer their knowledge and creativity into innovative projects.

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Collaborative Cyber Safety Website

Educators are responsible to promote and model good citizenship and responsibility for students. Using Weebly, a free website creator, I collaborated with other group of students in order to create a cyber safety website in Spanish. The website intended to help the Spanish speaking community of North San Diego County. In this project we had to create a website that had to include different tabs titled; homepage, identity safety, cyber bullying, cyber predators, inappropriate content, social networks, piracy, plagiarism, and a list of resources.I was responsible to create the piracy and plagiarism page in which I included the definitions of piracy and plagiarism, a brief discussion about the topic, tips for educators, students and parents and three links with resources. I also included embedded pictures, videos, and links for the website. By modeling these types of projects in an online environment, educators will be able to exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. This will teach students how to properly use online tools, information, and resources by reading about the ethical use of digital information and technology.

Journal #8- Adaptive Technology

Teachers should be up to date with the most current information regarding tools that can assist students with disabilities. I used the Internet to research different tools that can support students with disabilities to enhance their ability to communicate, learn, and enjoy a better learning experience. For this journal, I defined Augmentative and Alternative Communication also know as (AAC) which is a set of strategies that assist people with severe communication disabilities to participate more fully in their social roles, and Input device, devices that are designed to help students with disabilities to operate a computer. I also researched one low/no teach and a high tech tool and one software and one hardware tool, a pencil grid and an iPad app can make a huge difference in students learning ability. After reading and learning about these tools, I described their function and how they can assist students with special need, I added a picture for each one of them and posted the journal in my blog, I also had to comment on two other blogs from other classmates in order for me to learn about more tools. Obtaining information about new digital tools that support students with special needs allowed me to access information about appropriate digital tools and resources that can enhance student’s learning ability. By implementing the strategies that I learned in my classroom, I will be able to address the diverse needs of learners making my class an inclusive learning environment.

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Professional Learning Network (PLN)

The best way to learn new teaching strategies is through communication. A professional learning network (PLN) is interacting and learning by collaborating and developing professional networks not only with local teachers, students, and professionals but also with people from all over the world. I created my PLN by joining Twitter, Diigo, and Classroom 2.0. In Twitter I was able to network with professionals and share/obtain innovative ideas that I can implement in the classroom. By using Diigo, I was able to highlight, share, bookmark information, for example, by using a tag I was able to share the information with people that have the same interests as me. Classroom 2.0, an online multi-user virtual environment,  makes you feel more comfortable because obtain ideas and support from other new educators. By engaging in PLNs, I was able to participate in local and global conversations exploring issues that contribute to my future student’s learning experience.  Creating a PLN gave me the opportunity to learn and discuss with other educators about new technology that can support student’s learning. The discussions and connections made me reflect on current research topics that are impacting our education and how beneficial it is for me to be part of these professional learning networks.

Reflective Journal Articles

Educators are always seeking new information in order for them to increase their students’ academic success. By becoming a member of  the International Society for Technology (ISTE), a non-profit organization in the field of educational technology, I was able to subscribe to their online magazine called Learning and Leading with Technology (L&L). By reading articles in this magazine I was able to read and reflect on different digital tools that improve learning and teaching. After reading and analyzing articles such as Re-Imagine Your Library with iPads, Massive and Open, and Ten reasons to get rid of Homework  published in the L&L journal, I wrote a summary/analysis about the information provided. I included two questions that the reader could have and answered them. I also cited the article in APA format and posted the reflection on my blog. By becoming a member of ISTE and L&L, I was able evaluate and reflect on different digital tools that I can implement in the future with my students in order for them to have a more gratifying learning experience. Exhibiting my journals in my blog allowed me to demonstrate a vision of technology infusion, not only by developing my leadership and technology skills but also sharing them with others.