Warlick, D. (2009). Grow your personal learning network. Learning and Leading with Technology, 36(6), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200904?pg=15&pm=1&fs=1#pg14
Summary: In this article the author, David Warlick, explains the importance of maintaining a Personal Learning Network to establish life long learning. He writes that, "Technology has inspired a shift from a hunting-and-gathering information economy to the domestication of the information landscape"(Warlick, 2009). This refers to the vast amount of information available to educators who have established a network of peers to collaborate and gain information, without aimlessly searching in textbooks and other sources.
Warlick identifies 3 types of PLN's used to establish collaboration with others. The first is a personally maintained synchronous connection. This is the traditional network which is like attending a meeting with out the restrictions of being in the same room. The second is referred to as, personally and socially maintained semi synchronous connection. This refers to the conversations you can have through your PLN's with out the constraint of time, so people can respond when it is convenient for them. The final category is referred to as dynamically maintained asynchronous connections. In comparison to the first two categories which connect you to other people, this branch connects you with useful content sources such as education blogs and social bookmarking tools. This will be useful to you when you are searching for information because rather than getting ALL the information that has been posted on the internet about a particular subject to search through, you will only be given the sources that others have found useful, and are pre-recommended for that subjects use. All of your many PLN paths, through both new and old technology, lead to the same goal of reflecting and knowledge building and will assist you with your life long learning.
Question 1: What resources will you include in your PLN?
So far, I have already found many helpful resources to use to build a strong PLN. This includes, twitter and educational #tags, Diigo’s social bookmarking, TaskStream, and Skype. I hope that through these sources I will be able to expand my PLN by collaborating with others and learning of great new sources.
Question 2: What is one advantage to establishing a PLN?
A PLN allows me to expand my learning by collaborating with others who have similar interests. Through resources like Twitter, I can connect with fellow educator and we can share helpful links, and new ways of thinking with one another. This allows me to gain support from people all over the globe in which we can discuss educational tools and discover new techniques. My PLN will also separate useful resources from non-useful sources which will save me time and effort in the long run.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
All About Me Survey
NETS-T 2, 3
This is an about me questionare I created using google forms. I created the questions, and choose the answer format as well as an appropriate background.
This is an about me questionare I created using google forms. I created the questions, and choose the answer format as well as an appropriate background.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Journal 4: "It's Time To Trust Teachers with the Internet: A Conversation with Meg Ormiston" NETS-T 1,2,3,4,5
Schaffhauser, D. (2010). It's time to trust teachers with the internet: a conversation with meg ormiston. The
Journal, Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/12/01/its-time-to-trust-teachers-with-the-internet-a-conversation-with-meg-ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en
Summary:
This article is an interview between The Journal staff, and Meg Ormiston, about her efforts and struggles as a school consultant responsible for incorporating technology into the classroom. Meg Ormiston has served as a " curriculum coach, school board member, conference presenter, professional development specialist, and grant facilitator" and yet she is still facing resistance amongst school districts in her argument to use Internet resources in the classroom. She claims that most of this struggle comes from school boards simply not trusting their teachers to have Internet access in their classrooms.
Ormiston explains how she understands the importance of protecting our children, however this doesn't mean we need to cut them off completely from all of the useful and free, resources on the web. Rather, she believes that administration should trust their teachers judgement to preview material for appropriateness, while also teaching students safe and responsible computing. In doing so, she also believes that districts should not go blocking crazy, and limit access on school computers. while she clearly believes that pornographic material, and other malicious sites should she be blocked, she believes that the blocking of social networking is more of a nuisance and will lead to further problems. First off teachers are likely to give up on using technology in the classroom if they are continually blocked from resources. In addition, students are not being taught to how to self filter, and are likely to run into inappropriate sites when they are surfing the web at home and have no guidance.
Ormiston suggests that the first step is educating administration so that they become less afraid and can see the values of using the web in the classroom. From their she suggests first opening up access to the teachers, and from their slowly opening access to the students. Ormiston stress that regardless how much you block in the classroom, we live in an age filled with technology where children have access to the Internet regardless of schools attempt to hide it from them. So rather than blocking sites, we should focus on educating our students with supervision, to teach them how to use all the tools at their fingertips.
Question 1: As a teacher how could you ensure the safety of your children while using the web?
If i was given the opportunity to use the web as a resource in my classroom, with out having to worry about blocked sites, i would make sure that I was not endangering my students with inappropriate material. First off, Any sites, or videos used in class, i would make sure to preview for appropriateness. Second, I would teach my students what to be aware of, and how to be safe, and appropriate while using the web. Finally i would make sure my students were always being supervised, to prevent them from entering dangerous sites, and to assist them with learning how to use web tools and resources in a positive way.
Question 2: If you had limited access at your school and found a site that would be appropriate and beneficial to your curriculum, how would you go about using it in your classroom?
If i found a site that I had previewed and was sure it would be beneficial and appropriate, i would talk to my superiors about its value. I would schedule an appointment with the person in charge of Internet access, and show them how the site would help my students, and aid to the curriculum. I believe after showing them that the site was safe, and age appropriate, as well as the benefits from using the source, they would realize that it was a great aid, and would allow me to use this site. In this way I would gain the respect of my superiors by not going behind their back, and showing them that web resources, can be a great education tool in the right context.
Journal, Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/12/01/its-time-to-trust-teachers-with-the-internet-a-conversation-with-meg-ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en
Summary:
This article is an interview between The Journal staff, and Meg Ormiston, about her efforts and struggles as a school consultant responsible for incorporating technology into the classroom. Meg Ormiston has served as a " curriculum coach, school board member, conference presenter, professional development specialist, and grant facilitator" and yet she is still facing resistance amongst school districts in her argument to use Internet resources in the classroom. She claims that most of this struggle comes from school boards simply not trusting their teachers to have Internet access in their classrooms.
Ormiston explains how she understands the importance of protecting our children, however this doesn't mean we need to cut them off completely from all of the useful and free, resources on the web. Rather, she believes that administration should trust their teachers judgement to preview material for appropriateness, while also teaching students safe and responsible computing. In doing so, she also believes that districts should not go blocking crazy, and limit access on school computers. while she clearly believes that pornographic material, and other malicious sites should she be blocked, she believes that the blocking of social networking is more of a nuisance and will lead to further problems. First off teachers are likely to give up on using technology in the classroom if they are continually blocked from resources. In addition, students are not being taught to how to self filter, and are likely to run into inappropriate sites when they are surfing the web at home and have no guidance.
Ormiston suggests that the first step is educating administration so that they become less afraid and can see the values of using the web in the classroom. From their she suggests first opening up access to the teachers, and from their slowly opening access to the students. Ormiston stress that regardless how much you block in the classroom, we live in an age filled with technology where children have access to the Internet regardless of schools attempt to hide it from them. So rather than blocking sites, we should focus on educating our students with supervision, to teach them how to use all the tools at their fingertips.
Question 1: As a teacher how could you ensure the safety of your children while using the web?
If i was given the opportunity to use the web as a resource in my classroom, with out having to worry about blocked sites, i would make sure that I was not endangering my students with inappropriate material. First off, Any sites, or videos used in class, i would make sure to preview for appropriateness. Second, I would teach my students what to be aware of, and how to be safe, and appropriate while using the web. Finally i would make sure my students were always being supervised, to prevent them from entering dangerous sites, and to assist them with learning how to use web tools and resources in a positive way.
Question 2: If you had limited access at your school and found a site that would be appropriate and beneficial to your curriculum, how would you go about using it in your classroom?
If i found a site that I had previewed and was sure it would be beneficial and appropriate, i would talk to my superiors about its value. I would schedule an appointment with the person in charge of Internet access, and show them how the site would help my students, and aid to the curriculum. I believe after showing them that the site was safe, and age appropriate, as well as the benefits from using the source, they would realize that it was a great aid, and would allow me to use this site. In this way I would gain the respect of my superiors by not going behind their back, and showing them that web resources, can be a great education tool in the right context.
Journal 5: "Research Windows: Collaboration Makes the Ed Tech World Go Round" NETS-T 1,3,5
Niederhauser, D, & Knezek, G. (2011). Research windows: collaboration makes the ed tech world go round. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Research_Windows_Collaboration_Makes_the_Ed_Tech_World_Go_Round.aspx
Summary:
This article discusses how worldwide collaboration has allowed ed tech to expand to new possibilities. Due to advances in transportation, telecommunication, and global web connectivity, International collaboration is now a prominent tool for educational growth world wide. Through these tools educators are able to connect with one another, and schedule conferences around the world, to meet and collaborate on topics such as, standards, conference and research. Through technological advances, today's tech advocates are able to work together "despite distance and cultural differences" to advance technology opportunities and education for our future.(Niederhauser, & Knezek, 2011)
The way collaboration is used is to establish technological standards for our students, and lead to initiatives such as NETS-T. This has lead to other nations attempt to collaboratively form a set of International technology standards that would provide all nations with a framework for teaching information and communication technology or ICT, in hopes of supporting innovative teachers. Collaboration also allows educators world wide to meet through conferences in which they are able to share their ideas, research and practices. These help establish partnership amongst different nations in their shared goal, of expanding technological opportunities, and lead to collaboration amongst many different organizations. These collaborations ultimately lead to new research, and new technological advances and possibilities. This research also allows us to see how technology is being used in the classroom world wide, and teaches us how we can improve, as well as the positive effects it will have on future generations.
Question 1: How could we take global collaboration to the next step?
I believe one way to use technology to advance global collaboration would be to use tools such as skype, to hold digital conferences, where educators around the world could meet and discuss standards and research with out worrying about the expenses of traveling. In addition, even tools as basic as google docs, would allow people globally to bounce ideas of each other with regards to research and ideas, in which they could collaboratively work together on research for the future.
Question 2: How can I ensure that I am teaching my students the most current and age appropriate technological skills?
Through memberships such as ISTE, I will allow myself to read up on current research, as well as participate in collaboration with other educators through conferences, and networking. In addition talking with my peers and using educational tools such as twitter, will allow me to network with other educators and share ideas, research, and resources, to ensure that I am aware of the nations view on technology.
Summary:
This article discusses how worldwide collaboration has allowed ed tech to expand to new possibilities. Due to advances in transportation, telecommunication, and global web connectivity, International collaboration is now a prominent tool for educational growth world wide. Through these tools educators are able to connect with one another, and schedule conferences around the world, to meet and collaborate on topics such as, standards, conference and research. Through technological advances, today's tech advocates are able to work together "despite distance and cultural differences" to advance technology opportunities and education for our future.(Niederhauser, & Knezek, 2011)
The way collaboration is used is to establish technological standards for our students, and lead to initiatives such as NETS-T. This has lead to other nations attempt to collaboratively form a set of International technology standards that would provide all nations with a framework for teaching information and communication technology or ICT, in hopes of supporting innovative teachers. Collaboration also allows educators world wide to meet through conferences in which they are able to share their ideas, research and practices. These help establish partnership amongst different nations in their shared goal, of expanding technological opportunities, and lead to collaboration amongst many different organizations. These collaborations ultimately lead to new research, and new technological advances and possibilities. This research also allows us to see how technology is being used in the classroom world wide, and teaches us how we can improve, as well as the positive effects it will have on future generations.
Question 1: How could we take global collaboration to the next step?
I believe one way to use technology to advance global collaboration would be to use tools such as skype, to hold digital conferences, where educators around the world could meet and discuss standards and research with out worrying about the expenses of traveling. In addition, even tools as basic as google docs, would allow people globally to bounce ideas of each other with regards to research and ideas, in which they could collaboratively work together on research for the future.
Question 2: How can I ensure that I am teaching my students the most current and age appropriate technological skills?
Through memberships such as ISTE, I will allow myself to read up on current research, as well as participate in collaboration with other educators through conferences, and networking. In addition talking with my peers and using educational tools such as twitter, will allow me to network with other educators and share ideas, research, and resources, to ensure that I am aware of the nations view on technology.
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