I. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Classroom Blog 

As a teacher it is key to get your students involved and collaborate through technological tools. A Blog is a type of website with personal entries that have been published on the Internet. Blogger, a Google web-based blog platform, allowed me to create and sustain my classroom blog. In creating my classroom blog, I have set up a webpage using an appropriate username and experimenting with colorful backgrounds and fonts to create a visually pleasing webpage. I also used HTML code to visually embed my Newsletter, Prezi presentation, Excel crossword puzzle, and other examples of my work in tabbed pages. With the ability to responding to classmates’ blogs in the comments section, I was able to engage with my fellow classmates in an online environment. Creating a classroom blog has allowed me to collaborate with my classmates in an online environment and enhance my technology skills. By using my tools and knowledge of blogging to create a blog for my future class, I can educate my students in exploring, sharing, and communicating with one another through technology.       

Newsletter

An important factor in teaching is being able to model imaginative thinking and creativity as a teacher. Through Microsoft Word, I created an informative newsletter, where I discussed what would be taking place in the year ahead for my students. In the newsletter I addressed examples of activities and lesson plans that  encompass the purpose of technology within the classroom and students’ learning. When creating the classroom newsletter, I first generated a masthead with the title, volume number, and issue number using the table feature of Microsoft Word to make the newsletter visually appealing. Next, I generated two columns of text with drop cap features through custom formatting. I then produced titles and headlines that stood apart from the text, as well as incorporating colorful, relevant clip art into the text through the wrap text feature. Lastly, I created custom bullets for my newsletter using the format feature, which allowed me to choose an appropriate  picture for my bullet points to finalize my professional, informative newsletter. Creating the classroom newsletter allowed me to model creativity and innovative thought through the use of Microsoft Word to my students to demonstrate how they can utilize technology in the classroom by customizing and personalizing a Word document. Not only is my newsletter an example of promoting student creativity, but it also allowed me to adequately communicate pertinent information with  students and parents in an innovative manner.

II. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Google Forms & Spreadsheets

I used Google Forms, a feature of Google Docs and spreadsheets, to create an assessment for my classmates to complete after watching my Prezi presentation. After my classmates filled out the assessment online, the answers were automatically placed onto a Google Spreadsheet, where I could analyze my data. In using Google Forms I was able to use variety of questions types including text: paragraph text, multiple choice, checkboxes, and more. Given an assortment of colorful background themes, I visually pleasing form and embed it onto my blog under my Prezi presentation. Being able to assess students in multiple ways will allow me to gain digital learning skills.  Google Forms will also allow me to easily share assessment information with parents and students.

MindMapping

Mind mapping is an essential skill for students that allows them to process and start to brainstorm their thought processes. Through a free web-based brainstorming tool, Bubbl.us, I was able to make connections for each of the NETS-T narratives, utilizing a web-based mindmapping tool. Following the Bubbl.us tutorial I was able to insert bubbles onto my mind map to create a visualization of my work. Adding each of the NETS-T standards along with the related assignment I completed in class to my mind map ensured that I met the NETS-T standards. Once I created the mind map I was able to be creative and design the layout with different colors for each bubble as well as different fonts, sizes, and movements. Being able to use Bubbl.us mind mapping allowed me to digitally create my thought process and embed it onto my blog. Using the Bubbl.us tool, students can creatively design and express their thought process. Using a mind mapping tool like Bubbl.us allows me to show my involvement with a new digital tool that I can apply in my future classroom.

III. Model Digital Age Work and Learning

 iMovie PSA

With teaching, it is key to incorporate fun and resourceful tools through technology. With Apple’s iMovie, a video editing software, I created a public service announcement featuring Cal State San Marcos and uploaded the iMovie to my blog using QuickTime conversion. With the easy to use software I was able to select ten video clips, four still photographs and add unique transitions between each slide,  building a minute-long video. I inserted text, sharing fun facts about the campus as well as music that fades in and out. I enhanced the visual effect by changing the tint of the frames and I even added voiceover recording for a personal effect. I can use iMovie within the classroom to promote student learning and creativity by allowing them to make their own PSA about a variety of subjects. This will allow them to share current knowledge with their classmates and school community through modeling digital work.

Prezi

Sharing ideas, information to parents, students, and peers is highly important for teachers.  Using a web-based multimedia presentation software, Prezi, I produced a presentation that demonstrates my ideas to integrate the NETS-S for high school history class, into the curriculum. Following Prezi instructions I learned how to insert text in multiple sizes, pictures, videos, and to create a creative path from each performance indicator element. I  designed four different frames which included the NETS-S, followed by a related web based lesson plan. I even added a relevant image or Youtube video to each of the lessons, making the Prezi visually pleasing. With each performance indicator being linked I was able to create a pathway that guided the viewer from one idea to the next, zooming in and out of my presentation giving it a nice visual effect. By using a digital-age tool like Prezi, I was able to communicate with peers and students on NETS-S performance indicators and web-based lesson ideas. Sharing this new digital tool with my future students will encourage my students to explore creative ways to present relevant research and information through a digital age media and format.

IV. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Cyber Safety Website

In using technology, teachers must model awareness of safety concerns, ethical practices, and legal issues insuring the use of technology. Collaborating with a group of my peers we built a cybersafety website using Weebly, a free website generator allowing us to design and publish on the Internet. As a group we each created our own web page. The following topics were covered: cyber predators, social networking, piracy & plagiarism, cyberbullying, inappropriate content and identity safety. On my web page I focused on piracy and plagiarism, defining the topic and listed three tips for teachers, students, and parents. By embedding Youtube videos and adding pictures, I creatively got my point across on piracy and plagiarism. As an educator this website has allowed me to educate parents, students, and peers on cybersafety. Having created this website has allowed me to be collaborative with my fellow classmates, research important issues around online safety, and promote digital etiquette. Talking about cybersafety within the classroom and encouraging them to do their own research will also help push my students to model great social interactions through technology.

  Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Journal

 Using the Internet as a research tool, I investigated technological devices that could be used within a special needs classroom. Focusing on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools, which allows non-verbal students to communicate through technology, I found  low tech and high tech tools that could be used within the classroom, like a Choice Board which requires no technology allows students to communicate through pictures.  I also looked at software and hardware options for students with special needs, like Tobii Communicator which is a software program that converts text and symbols into clear speech. By researching and writing this informative article on technology tools, I learned about different ways to address diverse needs of students with the help of digital tools. Having shared my finding on proper digital tools for students with special needs, whether it be software or hardware, allows me to share my new knowledge to members of my PLN in an online environment.

V. Engage in Professional Growth

Professional Learning Network (PLN)

A Personal Learning Network (PLN) consists of a group of people, who can meet in person or online to share ideas and exchange information around multiple topics. I created an account on Twitter, which is a online social network.   I use Twitter to find relevant information on education and to connect with other educators.  I even participated in a live moderated chat, #ntchat. As a member of Diigo, an online social bookmarking allowed me to build an online library of sources. I even joined Educator’s PLN, a rich network of educators interested in technology, which allowed me to access blogs, forums, and chat rooms that will play a big role in my growth as an educator. Being able to connect to both local and global groups through technology will allow my PLN to grow, providing me with tools and information that will allow me to succeed within the field of education by using technology. My PLN will allow me to exhibit leadership skills with in my network by sharing, reflecting, and celebrating.

Educational Journals

Continuing to learn and educate oneself is just as important for students is it is for teachers. I became a member of ISTE (International Society for Technology) which allowed me to access to their Learning & Leading with Technology (L&L) journal.  Here I was able to read educational articles from L&L and document my reflections of these articles on my blog. These articles have provided me with digital tools that can be quite useful within the classroom enhancing student learning. For example the journal article, Upside Down and Inside Out talks about reversing the roles of homework and classwork. This article introduced me to the idea that students could spend class time working on ‘“homework” while at home they could engage in digital lectures preparing them for the following day. After I read the journal article, I would post on my blog a summary of the article as well as a self-generated question and answer where I would reflect on, and connect to, the article.  By reading and reflecting on journals based on technology and education issues, I can introduce lessons that incorporate current digital tools to the classroom. Through this information I will also be able to stay current with emerging digital tools allowing me to keep my students current as well.