ED422 Spring 12 NETS 1-5 Rachel Ross
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Classroom Blog
Creative and innovative thinking is an important part of making the learning process more interesting and entertaining. A blog is a website containing the writer’s own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often contains images and links to other websites. By creating a blog through Blogger, a free web-based publishing tool from Google, I learned how to make an informative classroom blog that is not only informative, but visually appealing. I am able to share my work with others who follow my blog by embedding my work with Hyper Text Markup Language (html). Examples of the work I share on my blog include: a classroom newsletter, a NETS Prezi presentation, a crossword puzzle made with Microsoft Excel, a research project on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), a project explaining how I created my personal learning network (PLN), and my blog also contains links to a technology self-assessment, my Diigo tagroll, a survey created with a Google Docs spreadsheet, and a mind mapping project involving the NETS. Creating this blog has allowed me to collaborate with others by posting my own opinions, thoughts, ideas, comprehensions, and understandings about a specific topic, and then exploring my peers’ blogs to compare their insights with my own. Creating a blog has enhanced my own creative and innovative thinking by having control over what my blog looks like and what information I allow to be presented in my blog. It has also provided a virtual environment for collaborative learning because I can compare my own observations to my colleagues’ by exploring their blogs and reading about their personal understanding of any given topic.
Classroom Newsletter
Effective communication is crucial among students and parents to ensure that parents are involved and updated with the classroom happenings. Through Microsoft Word, I created a newsletter that gives information about different classroom activities, projects, and various reminders. The newsletter gives parents instructions on the at-home projects and updates about on-campus events. It’s a great way to keep everyone updated and on the same page. Microsoft Word made it easy to customize my newsletter and format it to create the visual replica of an actual newspaper. I created columns and increased the font size of the sectional headings to make them stand out. A custom masthead was created using a table. I added text in the different rows to give information about the volume and edition numbers, and changed the table border to a design that was colorful. Relevant pictures were added to each section and were formatted so that surrounding text “wrapped” around the graphic. Creating an innovative classroom newsletter promotes creative thinking and allows me to model how my students can use Microsoft Word in their work.
2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
iMovie
Using Apple’s video editing software iMovie, I created a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about the Cal State University San Marcos campus. I started by uploading video clips and photographs onto iMovie, and was then able to adjust the length of the video clips and arrange the order in which each visual slide would appear. I added transitions between each slide and text that gives prospective students facts about the classroom technology, student population, campus organizations, etc. With each slide, I was able to format the font of the text and add a filter to affect the colors of the images. I recorded a short welcome statement and uploaded a few songs so that music would play while the slides of the video were being presented. I was able to cut the songs so that specific parts would play. I also formatted my voiceover so that the current song would “duck” and the volume would decrease for a few seconds, allowing the viewer to hear my welcoming statement. After my PSA was complete, I was able to convert it to a Quicktime file or share it on YouTube and embed it onto my blog. The iMovie software allowed me to design and develop a PSA that is a great resource for prospective students of CSUSM. I can transfer my knowledge of this user-friendly digital tool to my students and incorporate it in my classroom to promote student learning and creativity.
MindMapping
I used the web-based diagram software Gliffy to create a mind map that represents the 5 different NETS-T Standards and the different artifacts I’ve used to demonstrate my technological proficiency. I created an account on the website so that I could save my work and share my mind map. I began with a blank document and inserted different shaped “bubbles” to create a mind map. I added text to each bubble that stated the NETS-T standard and the related class assignment. The center of the mind map was the title bubble, with 5 lines connecting to each standard. Each standard then had 2 lines connecting to the assignment associated with that standard. And finally, each assignment bubble had a line that connected to the specific part of the standard the assignment focused on. The connected bubbles created a visual representation of my thought process. When all the bubbles were filled with text and organized, I changed the color scheme so that the standards in my mind map were differentiated by different colors. The Giffy website made it easy to save my work and embed my completed mind map onto my blog. My mind map shows how I have learned about the NETS-T standards by incorporating various digital tools and resources into my class assignments. Students can create their own mind map using this digital tool to creatively portray their thought process. This digital tool supports diverse learning styles because it allows students to create and personalize a visual learning tool.
3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning
Prezi
Using the web-based presentation software, Prezi, I created a digital presentation to show the different ways I could incorporate the NETS-S standards into my 5th grade curriculum. I created different sized frames for 4 of the standards I chose to highlight, and added pictures, video clips, and text to discuss my future lesson plans that represent the standard. I connected the frames with an invisible path so the different slides would be presented in a specific order. Each frame represents a different standard, and the invisible path zooms in on each slide to relate the images and text, before zooming out and travelling across the page to the next frame. I was able to personalize the font, the layout of the images and text within the frames, and the path that leads the viewer through the presentation. Creating my Prezi presentation allowed me to exhibit my knowledge of the NETS-S standards and my work process in which the standards will be integrated in my classroom. I portrayed fluency in technology systems by adapting my knowledge and skills of other presentation softwares, like Microsoft PowerPoint, and applying it to new technologies, like Prezi.
Through Twitter, an online microblogging platform from Google, I connect with people from all over the world to share resources, articles, opinions, and ideas. I “follow” profiles of various teachers, school administrators, and other educational websites. Twitter allows users to post “Tweets” that appear on their followers’ newsfeed. With my Twitter account, I have discovered many interesting articles, learned about several resources available for teachers, and even participated in an educational chat. When I find an interesting Tweet, I can repost it and share it with my followers. I have already learned about educational issues that have been reported in the news, and read about different lesson plans that I will be able to incorporate into my curriculum. My Twitter account gives me the opportunity to network and learn from many educational professionals from all over the world, both asynchronously and in real time. This digital tool promotes collaboration among students, parents, and other educators in a professional, global, and digital society. Educational Twitter form an online community of users who share resources to support student success and innovation.
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Journal
Using the Internet as my research tool, I learned about adaptive tools that can be used to help individuals with special needs, specifically communication disabilities. These tools can be used in the classroom to help students participate and communicate in a nonverbal manner using different Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. I researched different types of AAC devices that are categorized as either “low-technology” or “high-technology” tools, like picture communication boards with symbols, and handheld electronic devices. There are also hardware options and softwares that can be installed on computers. I analyzed and summarized all my research in a journal entry on my blog. I defined each tool, attached a picture, and explained how I might use it in my classroom. By creating the journal entry, I learned to use AAC devices to address the diverse needs of my students. My blog post is a digital tool that is a great resource for other educators who also support learner-centered strategies.
CyberSafety Collaborative Site
I worked with 5 other classmates to create a CyberSafety website utilizing Weebly, a web tool that enables the user to create, customize, and publish a website. We were able to work on the website together, and each person had access to edit the settings because each person was an administrator. We worked together to design the homepage of our website, but each person was responsible for a specific page. Different pages gave information about Identity Safety, Cyberbullying, Privacy and Plagiarism, Inappropriate Content, and Social Networks. My page focused on Cyber Predators and had general information about the strategies online predators use to manipulate their victims. It also had helpful tips for students, parents, teachers, and resources for those who want to learn more about the issue. I inserted a couple different pictures to make the page more colorful and was also able to embed a video clip. I was able to customize the layout of my page, the font for the paragraphs and title. Using Weebly, I was able to create a collaborative website that models and teaches how to safely and legally use digital information and technology. Each page gave detailed information about how to respect copyrights and appropriately document sources. My students can refer to our CyberSafety website to learn more about exhibiting ethical behavior and digital etiquette.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Learning & Leading with Technology Journals
The International Society for Tehnoglogy in Education (ISTE) has monthly magazines full of informational articles and resources for teachers. The magazine, Learning and Leading with Technology (L&L), is the monthly magazine is available for members of ISTE. On my blog, I posted summaries of some of the educational articles I have read related to digital networking, advice for bloggers, supporting students’ creativity, infographics, etc. My blog posts included a citation of where to find the article, a summary, and questions that helped me reflect on what I learned from the article and how I would use that knowledge in my future classroom. Many of the articles I read involved the use of digital resources and the benefits for educators. Summarizing and analyzing the L&L articles helped me evaluate and reflect on the effective use of digital tools and resources. I can use the emerging digital tools that I learn about to support student learning in my classroom.
Personal Learning Network
A collection of people, who connect together by sharing information, resources, ideas, and thoughts online, is called a Personal Learning Network (PLN). A PLN is really helpful because connects people who share similar professional interests and goals. I created my own PLN using a variety of web-based networking tools like, Twitter, Diigo, School 2.0, and Educator’s PLN. I added lots of educational professors to my online community by following them on Twitter and Diigo. Twitter gives me the opportunity to collaborate and learn from other educations because I can read different posted articles, learn about new classroom lesson ideas, and keep updated with the changes made in our current education system. With my Diigo account, I can bookmark the various resources I find in an organized manner, so it’s easy to reference to. I can also follow Diigo users and see their bookmarked pages. Being an active member of the Educator’s PLN gives me access to discussion forums so I can communicate with, or ask for help from other educators. I can also join an Educational Chat and collaborate ideas with other educational professionals. In an Education Chat, there is no pressure to consistently participate; I only added a couple comments but it was still interesting to hear others’ opinions on different topics. The blog using Blogger keeps all my information in a single location. All of my journal article summaries, links to resourceful websites, and projects I have created utilizing different computer programs are for display on my blog. This is a great tool for other educators to see the assignments I have completed and certificates I have earned. Creating a PLN allows me to participate in local and global learning communities and gives me access to resources that help me improve student learning in my classroom. Collaborating with other educators in my PLN allows me to continuously improve, model lifelong learning, and exhibit my leadership skills in my school and educational community.