Thing 16 - Evaluation

I must admit, I had no idea how addicting blogging could be.  I don't know if I mentioned before, but I'd started a blog about 3 years ago.  It was just something because people were so intrigued by my postings on Facebook regarding my students, the things they would do/say and my daily outbursts.  However, once summer ended so did my blog posting.

I have been inspired to start a personal weight loss journey blog from this experience. I haven't had time to update it because of school and work but as soon as I do, I will add it to here so you can follow me.


EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

My favorite discoveries has been learning about all the sites that are out on the web that allow you to create different videos and images for FREE!  I've bookmarked so many sites and every time I learn something fabulous, I take it and share it with my students. For example, some of them have computers at home but do not have word processing software.  I introduced them to Google Docs and Zoho so that they could type their essays this weekend that are due on Monday.

I especially like the video creation sites that allow me to upload my photos and add special effects.  A lot of the movie/video making software takes up so much space and memory.  With these sites, I don't have to worry about those limitations and I can make the video accessible for students, as well as, their friends and family.

I have learned so much I can't even keep up and I want to use it all at once!  This was a great exercise if for nothing else but exposure and awareness of what's available on the World Wide Web!

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

This program has affected my lifelong learning goals by enabling me to add to my learning toolbox. All that I discover, I am then sharing with others. This is too great of knowledge that I've been exposed to, to keep it to myself. I share it with my colleagues and my students. They will be so much more prepared, technology wise, when they enter middle school that I ever could have been back in my day. I also hope that this knowledge I share with them inspires them to seek more on their own and to teach me!

It has stirred me up to seek more knowledge and applications to use technology to my advantage. Why Not? There is a technology application or site for EVERYTHING you could ever imagine doing for the most part it is all FREE.

I am definitely more equipped after this blogging experience to add variety and excitement in my classroom and lessons.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

Yes, there were.  Just the fact that so much is available on the web for FREE.  I wish someone would just compile all these sites in one place, in a user-friendly format, for my use.  

I did not know what to expect at first but learned SO MUCH.  Surprisingly, I had used a lot of the resources in the Things and considered myself to be quite technologically savvy.  I had no idea!

I would even like to do something like this for my students.  Of course in smaller, more manageable doses.  But these are things they need to be exposed to, even the parents.  It may convince parents of the need to have some type of computer/internet capabilities at home.  As we continue to move forward and attempt to gain a competitive advantage amongst other countries, exposure is key to that success.

4. What could I do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

I think the concept of this program is great.  Like I said, I've learned a tremendous amount of useful information.  It was a great use of my time and breaking it up into chunks made it more manageable.  

I think the difficulty came in when certain links either did not work or had expired and browser compatibility.  I found that some sites did not work in Chrome but worked in Internet Explorer.  

Overall, the idea is great.  We were exposed to a vast amount of concrete, tangible, impacting information and practice and I would totally recommend the use of this in the future.

Thing 16 - Photopeach

From Trash to Treasure on PhotoPeach
For AIMS Night last year, the students chose to do "Going Green".  They had various group projects on everything going green - from recycling, to conserving, to alternative energy.

Well, that was their group project.  Their individual challenge was to create a product using any of the recyclable materials (glass, aluminum, plastic and paper) and the results were ASTONISHING! They truly exceeded any expectation I thought I had!  Here are a few of the top highlights of products from that night.  Enjoy!  You will be just as amazed as I was!

Thing 15.5 - Twitter

Twitter
I must say I was not a Twitter fan. I found it very difficult to navigate and post and didn't care for the limiting of my voice in numbers of words. However, since my initial attempt at it, I noticed some of its functions have changed. I am still having difficulty limiting my words and maintaining professional grammar and appearance, but I have used my 'professional' Twitter account more than I have used my personal one.

I am following several people and companies and people really do post some great information. I think I will continue to use my 'professional' Twitter account and enhance my educational resources data bank.


LinkedIn
I think this is a great resource to use when I complete my Masters degree and begin seeking employment that will utilize the skills I've learned. A lot of these sites are much like Facebook. I know Facebook wasn't the pioneer of social networking but it was created very well and emerged as a leader.

I would like to look more into this site when I begin that search and I think it will provide me with useful connections for the employment I will seek upon completion of Graduate School.

Thing 15 - Things like Skype

I have used Skype and "things like Skype" with my students for various purposes. There was one year my partner and I created what we called, "FUTURE FRIDAYS". We would have, many of who were people we knew, come in and talk about their occupations with our students. It was 1-2 Fridays a month, during our social studies block. We alternated between college-based careers and community college/trade careers.

One month we Skyped with my partner's father who is a coach at a college in California. IT WAS SO AWESOME! That was my first experience with video chatting back around 2007 or 2008.

Since then, our school librarian and tech specialist are ALWAYS finding awesome video chat opportunities for the students to participate in. Almost every year I have my students participate in "READ AROUND THE PLANET". In this, each participating class creates a presentation and shares it with another and then time is allotted at the end for Q&A either on the presentation or the students who are video chatting. I've had the opportunity to share with school in the MidWest, across Houston, and my last pair up was unsuccessful but they were in Canada! The students love it!

On a personal note, I use Skype to video chat with friends and family in other states, as well as, friends overseas. I even used Google Hangout to make final edits to my last group presentation.

Some difficulties I find, especially in the educational setting, are connectivity issues. Particularly with speed, buffering, and audio. Scheduling chats across time zones can be a little difficult to when tied to a bell-to-bell schedule.

Overall, I LOVE video chatting and all the wonderful ways it allows me, my students and experiences to connect.


p.s. I just had Skyped with Kate Jeter! We all have to help each other! Thanks Kate!

Thing 14 - Podcasting and Bookmarking

Podcasting

Podcasting has been around for a while (well, at least since I started buying iPods).  I would download Sesame Street videos for my niece to keep her entertained when I was going somewhere that she would bore easily of.

However, I really like the new iTunes U.  In fact, I actually considered buying an iPad just to take advantage of some of the available resources.  A service rep in Best Buy ALMOST had me when she showed me how she used her iPad and the iTunes U for books and homework help.

As I surfed around the available resources, what jumped out to me immediately was this:

There is still so much 'mystery' around the STAAR test and any resources you can find are like treasures!  There is a lot of information to listen to on here, but I can never find much for Reading/Language Arts.  

How cool is this?!  Creatures that you only read about but can now actually view!

Bookmarking

I first discovered Pinterest through others' posting via Facebook.  I didn't initially "get it" because I had to be "invited" to join and/or wait for approval.  Once approved, I began surfing around and saw the pics...but still didn't "get it".  Well, they send you a weekly "Inpiration from Pinterest" email and some things caught my attention.  Again, I surfed around and I was starting to get it but it was just there.

It wasn't until I began to plan my mom's 60th birthday party and was doing some home decorating that I realized the WONDERS of Pinterest!  I found SO MANY ideas for my home and SO MANY MORE ideas for her birthday party decor!  I was hooked!  I then began following others and others began repinning and following me!  I've tried new recipes, gotten ideas for my home.

Then recently, in class, it hadn't dawned on me before - but they also have TONS of ideas and very creative crafts that can be used in the classroom!  Pinterest is awesome!  I love how you look at one pin...and it turns into another pin...and another...and another... and before long you've got THOUSANDS of ideas that you can't wait to do and you've spent HOURS online!

Here is the link to my Pinterest page if you want to see some things I like...ENJOY!

http://pinterest.com/layers99/pins/

Thing 12 and 13 - Discovering & using YouTube

In this thing 12-13 I am supposed to add a YouTube video.  I actually did that in Thing1 not knowing it would "officially" come up.  However, here is a CATCHY video my students and I have been singing (whether we want to or not) that I used to teach figurative language:



I personally, <3 YouTube and am ALWAYS going to YouTube to look things up. I'm a visual person.  I have never been disappointed with the vast amount of data you can find there.

What I liked most about this video is that the students actually understood the figurative language and could bring up examples from the song in later lessons.  Some even wanted to assign vocal parts!  While others want to make songs for other lesson objectives.

Here is my TEASe video from last semester for a Holocaust unit that I initially created using Windows MovieMaker and then uploaded into YouTube:



As far as which social video site I prefer, it just depends on what I'm looking for. I definitely go to YouTube for more personal searches and the education based social video sites (TeacherTube & SchoolTube) for my instruction.  I do notice, however, that the education sites tend to be slower and sometimes have too much on a particular subject and I haven't quite figured out the best way to search in the site so I usually end up using YouTube or United Streaming.

I am truly grateful and appreciative of those who post/share educational videos.  It serves as a reference for subjects that I am not as comfortable in teaching due to lack of knowledge, it gives a different outlook/variety to my instruction, and it makes learning something new fun & the students are highly engaged enabling them to process and retain the information. 

Having students create videos and sharing will somewhat force them to research and process the new information, allow for collaboration and cooperative learning groups, and exposes them to new technology skills.  Having it uploaded gives students a sense of pride and accomplishment while also teaching the material from a kid's point of view and language.

These sites and videos are an ASSET to any teacher's career!

Thing 11 - Web 2.0 Tools

How ironic! I just used this site with PLowe in a group project, www.goanimate.com, to do a presentation on Schools That Change.  We thought it was the perfect medium for our topic, to keep it light and positive.

Here is our video presentation, the scenes without dialogue were our talking points.  Check it out!

South Heights Elementary School by pamloweregion4 on GoAnimate


Animated Presentations - Powered by GoAnimate.

I truly enjoyed making this and upon seeing it my mind IMMEDIATELY thought of ideas for use in the classroom!

In the classroom:

• students can use goanimate to create an original story where the teacher can assess their comprehension of the narrative elements (character, setting, plot and theme)
• students can use goanimate to create an alternative ending to a story or 
• change the story into a different genre by changing its elements
• students can use goanimate as we did, as an alternative to traditional presentation mediums, for a project or task WHILE at the SAME TIME developing technology skills and abilities.

Thing 10 - Online Productivity Tools

I created the following using ZOHO and published it to my blog! #EXCITING!

ZOHO Document

Thing 9 - Playing with Wikis

On the Technology Poppers Wiki, I posted the following:
Lesley: I would like to do a class blog for our 40-book challenge. The school is following Donalyn Miller's, The Book Whisperer, idea for students to be exposed to books in various genres. A blog, or even a WikiPage, would allow students to access it to post comments, suggestions and book reviews for other students to share and read. In the process they would be learning technology, netiquette, use of academic/professional language and writing and learn how to work collaboratively. I could also make pages to highlight books and provide links to outside resources like local libraries and free audiobook sites.

In my learning contract, I mentioned wanting to use a site that would allow me to communicate with my students after-hours.  A site that would allow me to post my lesson, provide extensions and serve as a communication tool for students and parents to ask questions if needed.  Professionally, I think a wiki would be a great tool for doing so.  However, I am not sure of the notification process, when someone posts something, how soon it will notify me via my smartphone.  It could also be used to collaborate with colleagues on ideas and resources to use in the classroom and in planning lessons.

Even just glancing at the ideas on the Technology Poppers page, I was inspired!

Personally, I could use a wiki to plan a trip or a party.  I am usually the one who does the party planning or the vacation planning.  I could use a wiki to post ideas and for others to share ideas.  It could also be used as a place for references of my services or reputable vendors.  I could also get sponsors via advertisements.

Again, wikis are a great collaborative and sharing tool for almost ANY idea you may want to develop and share with others.

Thing 8 - WIKIS

I found the links for this Thing 8 to be very helpful.  My students used WikiSpaces for their Spring 2012 AIMS Night using Web2.0Tools.  They used the WikiSpaces to record journal entries about the research process, to share ideas & collaborate with one another, and to email questions they had to us (the teachers) after hours.

We had to teach the students how to use it, along with setting rules and expectations.  In the end, it was a great tool for both students and teachers to be exposed to.

I do like the idea of creating a Wiki to share ideas, as in the Educator Wiki link.  This is something I've suggested to certain parties at my school.  Having a place to pool information, resources, and ideas to make lesson planning more effective and efficient.

I also liked the Book Lovers Wiki.  Our school is following the steps in Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer by taking on the suggested 40-book challenge.  In this challenge, students are charged with the responsibility to read 40 books in various genres (number of books per genre is based on Teacher discretion).  One way for them to get ideas of good books to read is by suggestions.  A Wiki created to share book suggestions would be a great tool in helping students read in new genres.

I also liked the library Wikis that gathered resources and technology ideas all in one place.

Overall, Wikis are a great collaboration and sharing tool that could add to the classroom with new ideas and go-to resources for the students.

Thing 7 - Image Generators

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the FlipSnack!!!  It is such an AWESOME alternative to the traditional PowerPoint.  The only thing I would change would be to only show one page at a time versus two (i.e.  the left page would be blank and the right page would display the content) and I am sure if I fiddled with it more, there are options to do that.

I could definitely use this as an alternative to presenting notes via PowerPoint.  As a student assignment, they could use it to restate (teach) objectives that I've taught in their own words.  For example, I did a lesson on Dictionary Skills last week for which most of my morning block failed.  I then went back and created an anchor chart and had the students take sticky notes and anonymously write what they still had difficulties with so that I could better focus my reteaching.  Then, I had them in table groups to create a "teaching" flyer for the concepts they understood well.  They could have created a PPT and uploaded it in to FlipSnack.  I could also have students use FlipSnack for story summaries, original stories and an alternative to PPT for projects.  And it still allows for those students who are proficient in using PPT to give their presentation a little flair.

Here is the FlipSnack I created using a project from last semester on copyright laws which I plan to present to my students when we begin research.  AND THE YOUTUBE LINK STILL WORKS! AWESOME!
What is Copyright? (FlipSnack Demo)

I also tried WordSift.  I could use WordSift to summarize key words and concepts from an objective taught.  The students could use this application as an assignment by doing the same to demonstrate comprehension OR by using the "squish cloud" and "visual thesaurus" to help extend their vocabulary.

Here is an example I used from my "What is Poetry?" notes PPT.

I have used the other image generators for my students AIMS Night projects during the Spring 2012 semester.  Their project was to select a topic and use a WEB2.0 tool to present it.  They could choose from Voki, Animoto, Glogster, Prezi, and Empressr.  It was TOTALLY OUT THE BOX!

Thing 6 - RSS

Wow....I had quite a bit of difficulty getting signed up for the Bloglines/Netvibes account. I waited hours to receive an activation link and then finally figured out how to link it to my Facebook account (which was not what I wanted to do). Nonetheless. I hope I did everything right. The page reminds me of the Yahoo or Google home page tied to my account and how I can add/edit/delete the layout, columns and information displayed. I do see how this could be useful. It allows you to view everything in one place. I may have added too much and will need to sit down and really go through what this RSS application has to offer before making a final decision about how I feel about it. I did like some of the teaching blogs linked to the instructions and added them to my feed. One was http://millersenglish10.blogspot.com/ because I want to eventually create a blog that can be used during the school year with my students and felt this would provide a good model. I also added several technology news feeds to stay abreast of new and FREE technology that I could implement in my classroom. I think libraries could use this because it allows you to see all the news in ONE place versus flipping between various sites and having numerous tabs/windows opened. I think it has the potential to be very useful once I get over the learning curve.

Thing 5 -The Many Faces of ME!

For my mashup experience, I decided to try Noodlepix (www.noodlepix.com)

This site allows you to upload pictures, select a main image, and then creates a collage of those many pictures into your main image selected.  I had tons of pictures of myself....AND I LOOK DIFFERENT IN EACH ONE OF THEM!
I am always changing up my look and this site pulled all those looks into one.

Click on the link below to see the picture.  Use your mouse to zoom in and you, too, will experience the many faces of ME!

The Many Faces of ME! 

Thing 4 - LIFE: a rainbow in the storm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexmatos/3833358146/

I love how in the midst of a raging storm, God can still comfort you with a simple rainbow.  Rainbows are instant "Joy Shots" that ignite your soul.  They remind us that God has not forgotten us despite what we may be going through.

A quote I really like that's been floating around Facebook is:

http://hopeencourage.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/the-teacher-is-always-quiet-during-the-test/

In the picture, the driver is going through the storm.  Yet God's presence is made known by a quiet rainbow in its midst.  Don't give up when things seem to get you down.  Keep trekking toward that rainbow and be ready to give your testimony!

Thing 3 - Pictures

  Education is very important to me.  But more so than that, is my family.  With a strong family in your corner, supporting you and backing you up, you can conquer the world.  Having a work-life balance enables you to keep pushing on and to be the best YOU that you can be!

My late grandfather, Ike, in the center.  My mother, Vernica, to his left

SkyZone - July 4, 2012

...and the younger of us always make time for

  F-U-N!

Thing 2 - "Blogging for Dummies"

Where was this class when I needed it?

When I initially started this and got into Thing 2, I remembered I'd started a blog back in 2010 when I was moved from 5th grade challenged learners to 6th grade gifted.  I had little knowledge of blogs then...it was summer....and I was just trying my hand at something new.  

So many of my friends told me I needed to start a blog because of all the funny stories I would post about my classroom shenanigans on Facebook.  I thought....why not?

It seemed a lot easier then than it did today...AND THE SITE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REDONE TO BE MORE USER-FRIENDLY! I couldn't figure out how to get the same layout I had in 2010.  I called SEVERAL people from my workplace of whom I thought would know and surprisingly they were asking me...."WHAT'S A BLOG?"  ....SERIOUSLY???!!!

So...I took a break... distracted my mind and came back to it.  I think I'm getting the hang of this new format.  I just may like it... 

I'm pretty sure I'll be spending quite a few hours on here.  I saw some of the other blogs attached to the Things lesson and saw some really creative ideas to use in the classroom.  I can't wait to do more and see more!

Thing 1 - 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful People

7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners

Below are the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners:

1. Begin with the end in mind.
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning.
3. View problems as challenges.
4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner.
5. Create your own learning toolbox.
6. Use technology to your advantage.
7. Teach/mentor others.
8. Play!

Of these habits, I feel that I am most comfortable beginning with the end in mind.  Anything I start to do, I MUST know what the end result is in order to properly plan and prepare for it.  If I don't know the purpose of the task, I will ask a plethora of questions until I understand what is desired of and from me.

I try to keep this in mind when planning and executing my lessons.  I plan with what objective will students need to master to be successful and what activities or lessons will enable them to comprehend the objective in a fun yet meaningful way.  I also tell them before beginning a unit or new objective what it is I want them to learn, so that they can focus and center their minds around the task.

Knowing, clearly, what is expected helps make the process a little easier.

Having said this, of these habits, the hardest for me is to view problems as challenges.  To me, having planned everything so perfectly (in my eyes) and to be faced with an obstacle that deters me from my goal seems more like a crisis than a challenge.

In a perfect world for me, everything goes as planned. Period.  But in reality, plans have plans of their own.  I guess the best thing to do when beginning with the end in mind is to also plan for the unexpected.

As I was creating my learning contract, I decided that I should have a teacher-centered one and a student-centered contract.  That is the planner in me.  I got so excited with the creation of this blog, that my mind started racing!

Learning Contract_Teacher-Centered

Learning Contract_Student-Centered