1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Classroom Blog

Using Blogger, Google’s free web based blogging tool, I have created a blog which allows me to showcase my work using technology. On my blog I was able to choose the layout that included uploading pictures, adding pages and post which allowed the viewer easy access to my work. In the design I was able to choose the different fonts and colors. In addition, I used HTML codes to embed  widgets such as Diigo, Educator’s PLN, and Symbaloo certification and multiple examples of my work using technology.  My blog also contains written reflections or journal entries on education related topics based on readings from Learning and Leading with Technology, an online journal found on the ISTE website, that focuses on education and technology.  I was able to share my thoughts on my blog,  an online journal-type program where my posts allow anyone to view and  comment on my many different topics of discussion on the various pages. By using a virtual space I was able to allow people to view my blog, interact and comment on my work. My blog showcases my work and understanding of how to use technology and integrated in a classroom, which will serve as a model for how my students can integrate technology into their work.

Classroom Newsletter

The perfect way to communicate weekly to students and parents is a classroom newsletter. Through Microsoft Word I was able to created a newsletter to incorporate classroom news, hot topics, and important events.  I used the table feature of Word to create a custom masthead delivering the title of the newsletter, volume number, and date.  All of the information was placed in two columns with added pictures and bullet points to make the newsletter visually pleasing. In addition I created thee informative articles and wrapped images into the text. My use of Microsoft Word to create a classroom newsletter cleverly shares information with students and parents. My innovative use of Microsoft Word will demonstrate for my students how  they can use technology to aid and clarify their conceptual understanding, and creative process in their curriculum.

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Excel Crossword Puzzle

Each teacher should be aware of up-to-date digital tools that improve their students learning. With Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet software, I developed an animal related crossword puzzle. To create the crossword puzzle I followed tutorials provided on the Atomic Learning website. The tutorials helped me create the words to stand out against a blue background. Also, I applied clues to each word by adding comments to the first cell of each word. Lastly, I added conditional formatting to the letters, so that the words would turn red if they were typed incorrectly, and green if correct. With the crossword puzzle students can demonstrate their knowledge of an academic topic. Also, the crossword puzzle evokes creativity with their own design, color fonts, and learning content.  

Google Forms

In education, assessment is important to the learning experience. Using the forms feature of the tool Google Docs, a free web-based office suite offered by Google, I developed an assessment based off my Prezi ocean presentation on the NETS-S. In the Google form I created a series of five questions about my presentation. Each question was formatted to be answered in different ways; scale, multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blank, and a check all that applies box. The Google form takes the answers from the questions, and organizes them into a spreadsheet for analysis. In addition I embedded the form onto my blog with a link to the spreadsheet of results.The Google forms is a digital-age tool where students can learn a digital age tool which will enhance their learning experience. In addition Google forms demonstrate their knowledge can be used to evaluate student learning through a new age form of assessment. 

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Mind Map

In the classroom students should have the ability to connect a topic to smaller ideas. Using the Bubble.us, a free web-based brainstorming tool, I developed a mind map based on my technology work that meets the NETS-T narratives. On the website I followed the instructions to create bubbles stemming from one main idea. In each smaller bubble I typed one of the NETS-T for teachers. From that I added two more bubbles from each a single NETS-T. Furthermore, I organized the three scaled bubbles by color, to make the map visually pleasing and organized. Once I uploaded my mind map on my blog, I was able to see the connection between the NETS-T and my assignments. The mind map is a part of a new digital age tool that can benefit a student's understanding by organizing content and ideas visually in a mind map related to the content.

Prezi

In school students are expected to present their knowledge. Through Prezi, a web-based multimedia presentation software, I developed a presentation that communicated lesson plans about the ocean using the NETS-T standards for technology in education. On the Prezi website is tutorials, which I followed to make an exciting presentation. In my Prezi I inserted videos, pictures, texts in various sizes, and created a path between the relevant information. My presentation included four separate frames that I related to the different NETS-T performance indicator. Each frame in the presentation list a potential lesson plan about the ocean. Prezi enabled me to model a learning experience with a digital-age tool to enhance student learning by researching content. Furthermore, Prezi will help my future students learn a digital tool and be creative by using texts, videos, and pictures into a creative presentation. 

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Cybersafety Website

Technology is becoming the way in which we communicate, research, and share information. Although technology is a helpful tool, it can also be dangerous. Through Weebly, a free web-based tool that enables anyone to create a website and publish to the internet, I collaborated with my peers to make a cybersafety website. Together we made pages that discuss the importance of cybersafety; identity safety, cyber bullying, cyber predators, piracy and plagiarism, inappropriate content, and social networks. Individually my page was identity safety. On the page I added three tips for students, parents, and teachers about identity safety. In addition I defined what identity safety is. Also, I provided resources for future use and a video about identity safety. This cybersafety website enabled our group to advocate the importance of cybersafety by demonstrating knowledge of various topics presented online. The wealth of cyber safety information on the website shows how teachers, parents, and student should take the responsibility to model digital citizenship for safety of everyone. 

Adaptive Technology

In education it is important to recognize the needs of all students learning. Addressing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), which is a non-verbal communication tools to assist people with severe communication disabilities to be able to communicate, I used the Internet to find technological tools that would benefit people with communication disabilities. I researched a low tech and high tech tool for students with disabilities. First, I found a low tech tool called a Speak Book, which enables communication between a student and teacher by using their eyes to look at a specific spot on a book to answer a question. Next, I found a high tech tool called LightWriters, which enables students to type a sentence that instantly turns into speech. In addition I researched software and hardware for students with disabilities. The software I found was a program for the iPad that provides users with a list of picture vocabulary to communicate a sentence. Lastly, I found hardware called the Magic Touch Screen which can be added to a computer monitor. The Magic Touch Screen enables users to touch the screen to better communicate through symbols, pictures, and words. This research and discovery of a multitude of tools about adaptive technology promotes the responsibility of educators to make an inclusive environment for every student. Furthermore, I demonstrated my ability to research solutions for better communication in the classroom. 

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Professional Learning Network (PLN)

All educators can improve their knowledge of education. Therefore, I created my own professional learning network (PLN), which is informal learning networks that consists of the people a learner interacts with and derives knowledge from in a personal learning environment. My PLN includes; Twitter, a useful online social network site, Diigo, a collaborative online social bookmarking tool, and Classroom 2.0 a online network for educators that use technology in education. On Twitter I participated in an educational chat called KinderChat, where I tweeted with other educators about creating environments that encourage imaginative play.Using Diigo, I bookmarked relevant websites for future lesson plans, like the National Archives that would help for history lessons. On classroom 2.0 I connected with other educators through forums, and various articles. My PLN enables me to have leadership in the educational community by sharing ideas with others and growing as an educator to better student experiences.  Furthermore, my PLN is ever growing, as I will continue to obtain and spread useful information about education through forms, reading different articles to use in the classroom, and twitter chats to connect on educational topics. 

Reflective Journal Posts

In education it is important to evaluate, and reflect with the people around us to build a better community. Therefore, I used the journals reflections of educational articles posted on my blog to better commit to growth and leadership of education. Most of the journal post were written about articles from the publication Learning & Leading with Technology, which I was able to view as a member of ISTE, The International Society for Technology. One of the topics I reflected on was about how to foster creativity with technology in the classroom. I discovered a school district that spent twelve weeks studying video game design which was apart of a math lesson. After summarizing the importance of the article I posted two questions that reflected the article. One question I posted asked, “How can teachers use technology in classrooms without a school budget?” This question was important to evaluate on, because schools are struggling to find the money to integrate technology in the classrooms. However, after reading the article I discovered there are a lot of software that is free or discounted for school use. These journals help me evaluate and reflect on technology in the classroom by learning about the importance of technology integration in education. This research is helpful, because it enables me to examine digital tools and resource into the classroom, like a video design software that could be used for a math lesson, which I can then share with my peers.