The Importance of Learning Environments

        The learning environments of today's classrooms are in a state of change.  This comes as no surprise as we know our environments affect how we feel, how we think, and can be motivating or deflating.  Learning environments are not only the physical spaces surrounding us, but also the digital spaces to which we have access.  Today's students are connected to the digital global community and we want to provide them access to technology that enables them to use open educational platforms and promotes collaboration.  According to this video, when students feel comfortable in their learning spaces, they are more likely to focus on the four Cs: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical Thinking.  These are the qualities and attitudes of tomorrow's marketable adults!

     As a teacher and mother, I am constantly amazed at the number of Google Apps that can be used in the classroom setting to enhance learning.  My third grader knows how to use her Google email account to use Google Docs and Slides.  She understands how to share documents with friends and her teachers and enjoys doing it.  She likes to explore using Google Earth. She even used another Google App to create music for her music class and was able to create a presentation!  Educators, incorporate Google Apps for Education into your repertoire!  If a third grader enjoys collaborating with peers and teachers using these applications, think of what a young adult could do!  You can assist them by providing structure with calendars and assignment directions that are accessible whenever, wherever.  Yet, the assignments can be more student centered.

      Because technologies are so essential to learning environments, we need to break out of the traditional factory model of the classroom.  Classrooms should provide transparency to learning and be spaces that promote sharing and the ability to explore.  While I disagree with Tina Barseghian that "By 2019 half of high school classes will be delivered online," I do agree that brick and mortar schools will need to shift away from traditional classroom models to remain relevant to the needs of today's and tomorrow's learners.  Her article can be found here.  Learning environments need to be flexible and engaging.  Students need the freedom to view different focal points. A white board and Smart board, perhaps? .  Many schools already have BYOD (bring your own device) use policies in place, as a majority of students possess tablets, phones and laptops which they bring to school.  Chromebooks are becoming popular items for creating classrooms that provide technology to every student in other schools.  These technologies allow for teachers to create interactive lessons that provide more student engagement than traditional lectures and direct instruction.

     Currently, at the University of Akron, the campus has many updated buildings and spaces that are better tailored to suit the needs of its students.  Bierce Library has small conference rooms, a large space with tables and chairs that can be arranged in the most conducive ways, many computers, and two stations that provide tech help.  In the newer buildings, such as Zook, there are tables and chairs in common areas that are comfortable and provide access to power outlets.  I do not spend much time on campus, but my needs are met when I am there.  I remember when this wasn't always the case.  This shift is evidence of the changing learning environments happening in grade schools and secondary schools across the nation.  

Rights and Responsibilities of Digital Citizens

    We all seem to agree that today's students are digital citizens.  And citizens have rights and responsibilities to follow laws and respect others' privacy.  We educators must understand these laws and guidelines so that we can teach our students how to use digital resources effectively.  Part of the Common Core requirements is for students to be able to use technology to produce and publish writing.  We should strive to help our students become creators!  And to do this, they need to know how to use digital resources responsibly and how to give borrowed work the attribution or citation that is due.
   
    When teaching any lesson, we first model the behaviors or goals we want from our students.  Why should the way we, as teachers, use technology be any different?  When I share content with my students, I should check to make sure it is public domain or that I am following the rules of the copyright license and note this to my students.  In her article "Teaching Kids About Copyright", Tara Woodall explains that before we assign tasks that involve students creating digital content, we must first teach the following concepts: Copyright, public domain, fair use, and creative commons.  Her article can be found here.  By helping our students understand these terms and the differences between them, we help them comprehend the rights people have over their intellectual property and creations.  We can help them grasp the importance of using and sharing the work of others legally.

     We must also stress the ethics behind the seemingly innocent sharing and downloading of videos and music.  If these creations are someone's livelihood, illegally downloading or borrowing their work to contribute to your own without their permission is STEALING.  I believe it is important to stress this, as kids understand that stealing is wrong and that is has legal consequences.  We want to encourage them to be creators.  And we have the power to show them where to find resources that they CAN legally use as well as how to be responsible with the work of others.

Project progress-week 2 update

     This week's progress consisted of prep work and purchasing materials.  I am a little afraid of the demolition part (removing the countertop and mirror), as my daughter's use this vanity daily to get ready for school.  In order to give myself ample time without upsetting our daily schedule, I plan on completing those parts of this project this coming weekend and will provide photos then.

This week I checked out the following sites and videos to be sure I would be prepared.

https://www.maisondepax.com/2016/08/diy-gel-stain-cabinets-no-sanding-stripping.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/made-and-remade/learn-it/use-gel-stain-to-spruce-up-cabinets-lamp-bases-and-more

https://youtu.be/plePW69gKcw

I also purchased the following supplies:

I found them on Amazon.com, but it is possible they are sold elsewhere at better prices.  With 4 kids and my own classes to juggle, I don't usually have time to shop around.  I fully take advantage of a Prime membership that gets me free shipping on many items.






The sites also recommend having sanding blocks and/or an electric sander, drop cloths, painters' tape, painters' pyramids, foam brushes/old socks, TSP (a deglosser), mineral spirits, and general tools like screwdrivers.  I am not using TSP, but am going to wipe everything down with diluted denatured alcohol instead.  I am also planning on throwing the old socks or paintbrushes I use away, so I am not investing in a large can of mineral spirits, only a small one for minor clean up.  Everything else we own somewhere in the garage or craft box.

   I have taken off cabinet doors and drawer fronts.  They are currently in my basement waiting for me to sand them down. That was an easy job with a screwdriver.  I will admit I needed by husband's muscles to remove a few of the knobs, as whoever originally put them on must have been related to Superman.  Tonight begins the sanding!

Expect more photos later this week!

Cool Tool Review 5- Mind42

     Today, I got organized for my final project by exploring Mind42.  It is a mind mapping app that allows users to create some pretty elaborate maps.  As a newbie, mind isn't so elaborate.... my mind is a less is more kind of mind.  I have always like simple outlines, but I see the benefits of complex too.

    I like that this user friendly site has ways to embed links, add images, and easily search for terms.  It also can easily be shared with others and has a notes feature for collaborative projects or for teacher feedback.   I couldn't figure out how to rearrange how the nodes come off the topic in the center, but I am pretty sure it is possible.  

    This tool could be used in a variety of content areas.  For ELA, this tool could be used to help student organize ideas and topics for papers.  Students who prefer using tech over pen and paper would definitely gravitate toward a tool like this.  The collaborative features mean saving time and paper when giving feedback to students.  This could also be used as a vocabulary tool with each word as a node with photos, definitions, synonyms and antonyms.  Any content that requires building schemata would find this useful.  

     It is easy to use and allows for sharing, but remains safe and private unless the students choose to share.  The buttons for creating your mind map are easy to locate and manipulate.  You can change text color and add or delete things without disrupting the entire map.  Students will love organizing thoughts with this tool.

Cool Tool Review 4 - GoogleLitTrips

   I came across this cool tool while reading a techie article a few weeks ago and immediately thought it sounded like a great way to get students interacting with the literature I plan on teaching.  I had to check it out! It was kismet.  The tool is called Google Lit Trips.  It works in conjunction with Google Earth, which must be installed first.  Via a Lit Trip, a teacher (or student) is able to place mark places on a map that are vital to the literature.  They can add photos, notes, or video to highlight important aspects of the text and enhance comprehension while mapping out the movement that takes place in the book.
   
    Google Lit Trips has three ways it can be used in the classroom.  A teacher may select an Google Lit Trip from the Google Lit Trip Library to share with students.  (The Library has a small variety of books for various grade levels).  A teacher can choose to create their own Lit Trip for a book they are reading or to map out something that happened in history.  To do this go here. Or, a teacher can demonstrate and have students create their own Lit Trips!  If this idea appeal to you, check this out!  The link will give you instructions and useful tips on how to help your students create their own trips. I love the last option!  So, much better than reading book reports...

    This tool is called Google Lit Trips and does lend itself to an ELA classroom, however it also could be used for social studies/history classes, geography, and to create cross curricular lessons.  If a teacher wants to create or have students create their own Lit Trips, a few things must be remembered:
1.) It only works with narratives or histories set in real places. (or made up places based on real ones)
2.)  There must be movement in the story... as in the characters actually must move from place to place.  This can mean between countries, cities, or even different places within a city.
3.) Google is big on following copyright laws.  They repeated recommend having students practice finding images on places like Creative Commons, Wikipedia, and similar sites and state clearly that when creating Lit Trip, they can only be published if all images are copyright safe and sources are cited.

    So, how might one use this?  I would use this tool when reading books dealing with the Holocaust, or about Greek mythology, or books about the relocation of the American Indians.  Anything historical where people move great distances would be great to teach using this tool.  If I were to teach historical biographies, I would have students select one of four to five Holocaust autobiographies.  I would then use this tool as summative assessment.  Students would be asked to get in common groups according the book they selected.  Then they could create a Lit Trip documenting the journey their character took.  They could add photos and video of survivors discussing the various labor camps, what was happening on the front lines of the war, and what happened when the war ended.    It would be a great way to compare survivors experiences, and to assess what students understand about their stories.  I love that students get to take the role of the teacher, and prompt discussions that interest them.

     Using this tool, students can save their trips to their individual devices and can share them with others if they choose to submit it to Google.   I found it easy to download Google Earth and access a premade Lit Trip.  It takes some practice learning how to navigate on Google Earth, but once you understand how to move on the map following the path becomes easy.  Creating a Lit Trip would be more difficult and more involved.  I or my students would need to take note of the places mentioned in the reading, then seek out URLs for images and video that would be useful in understanding characters, setting, plot or themes.  Here I would need to teach my students about the rules of copyright and how to find images and video that are safe to use.  Then, they just plug and chug!  While it is a bit complicated, Google Lit Trips does a great job providing detailed instructions, even I was able to follow them.  Check out this Cool Tool here.


   

Final Project - Learn Something New

   After all this talk and research about technology, I need to put it to good use and use technology to teach myself a new skill.  After much thought and consideration, I realized if I was devoting all my spare time to a project, I wanted to have something lasting to show for my effort.  I settled on learning to refinish builder's grade oak cabinets, a vanity, in fact.  I have lived in our current home for about 5 years, and I have wanted to replace the strange built-in vanity since we moved in.  Our budget, however, has never been able to stretch far enough to replace it.

    After a bit of Pinterest research, I realized I could refinish it to make it look more updated.  I just need to learn to use some tools and new products! The internet is full of YouTube tutorials and blogs on how others have done similar projects.  I like this blog tutorial best so far and am using it as a guide.  While my husband is fairly handy and owns quite a few tools, I have never been one to tackle power tools and stain.  Painting a room I can do.  Using saws, drills, and power sanders?  Well, I am going to learn.  In addition to gel staining my vanity, I intend to replace the mirror and frame a new one, and I plan on replacing the laminate countertop with something nicer.  My husband has kindly offered to tackle the one thing I do not feel prepared to do... move an electric outlet.  It is currently sitting in the middle of the mirror.  Weird, right?  Let me give you a better idea of the project.

See the outlet?

 


(Sorry, for the strange angle, but a wall is in my way and is prohibiting me getting the entire vanity in the frame from the front.)   So other than that pesky outlet, this project is all mine!

Bring on the parts I am most looking forward to, demolition and shopping for supplies!

Techie Tool 3 - GoAnimate for Schools

   Today, I enjoyed creating videos on GoAnimate4Schools, which is saying something because I typically don't enjoy that sort of activity.  It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.  The templates are at your disposal, you can add preselected music, and have your characters talk.  It actually reminded me a bit of creating an ebook, only instead of writing text you and/or your students are creating a cartoon.  It is a very safe way to incorporate technology into your classroom.  The site doesn't allow sharing with other sites,  its templates are all PG, and teachers get to preview student work to make sure profanity isn't included.
   
   Unfortunately, this tool isn't free.  Teachers are required to purchase an account.  I was able to try it for free using the 14-day free trial.  But even my limited experience with it demonstrated to me the ways my students would find it useful.  Students could recreate a play or story and put it into modern day with modern language.  Students could demonstrate how to properly perform a task such as a science experiment or art technique.  Students could even explain the parts of a sentence or story line sequence with their cartoon.  The app has messaging and notification systems, so communication between students or to the teacher is easy.  And teachers are notified when new work is ready for viewing.

   The humorous backgrounds and characters insert some fun into content.  Students would find the tool engaging while processing important concepts.  This tool allows students to guide the learning.  They can be the teacher by creating cartoons that review, explain, or create something new.  The app is pretty straightforward and easy for students to use, though I couldn't view it as a student from the teacher dashboard.  I like how it prohibits students from accessing mature content, however I wish they were able to share or publish their work more easily.  Students like being able to show off what they create if they are proud of it.   While I like the tool, the cost makes it less likely I would use it unless my school was paying for my account.  If I am only sharing videos with my students the cost is $79 per year, but if I want my students to do the creating (and I DO!) the cost is $446 per year.  YIKES!

Are ebooks the future of education?

      Apparently ebooks are the new trend in the classroom, both reading and writing them.  Which I supposed makes sense when considering that teachers are supposed to be considering things like TPACK, open learning, and helping students create digital footprints when planning their lessons.  This dinosaur still prefers books made from paper....preferably hard cover ones... but I digress.  

     I get it.  Ebooks are the future for their multiple appeals to students.  Writing on paper is old school and so very analogue to students who travel on the information superhighway for hours each day.  And if we educators want our students to be interested and engaged, ebooks are one great tool.  As Jon Smith, a fellow educator states in his, article found here , "[Students] need to be creating content and be a part of the learning process.  They need to show us what they know.  They need to be able to explain it."  Ebooks provide a way to move away from teacher driven learning to learning that is student-led.  

     As a potential ELA teacher, I see ebooks being a great way to get students writing.  Jon Smith experienced impressive results getting multiple types of kids writing using this tool.  What I found most interesting was that he found that this tool could be used across content areas is so many different ways.  It was so versatile!  Because students have an interactive and engaging way to express themselves to an AUDIENCE, it gives them a bigger sense of purpose behind their work.  While some students may balk at the idea of putting their writing out into the world, I think many would embrace the idea of publishing it.  Students now have the ability to create an entire report online, complete with outlines and places for notations.  Collaboration with peers and teacher can happen online, both in and out of school.  Parents can easily view what their children are working on and start a dialogue with them about it.   

      To effectively teach using ebooks, there are some things to consider.  Think of TPACK before you try to create an ebook assignment.  Does the content and pedagogical method lend itself to this technology?  Also, with students downloading photos, art, or quotations there is always the danger of plagiarism.  Be sure they understand what plagiarism is and how to follow copyright laws.  A good source for this can be found here.  

    

    

     

Digital Citizenship...It Really Matters

      Here we are.  Online.  Sharing thoughts.  At least, I am currently sharing mine with you.  And being present online is something I do daily, yet I have only recently realized that this makes me a citizen of a digital world.  I am a citizen, and therefore have a responsibility to be aware of my digital footprint and keep it in good standing.  As a teacher who plans on incorporating technology into her classroom, I also have a responsibility to teach my students how to be good digital citizens.  

   

     But what does being a responsible "digital citizen" look like?  What does that actually mean?!  It means that you participate kindly, and responsibly.  You are respectful of others thoughts, feelings, and privacy.  Just as we don't steal from others in the real world and ask before using someone else's bike, we need to use the digital work of others with permission and give credit where it is due.  Digital citizenship means remembering that toothpaste can never get shoved back in the tube!  What you share in the digital world is out there forever....you can't get it back.  So I think before I post, or share, or buy.  You never know who might see it.  A thief?  A future employer?  A student?  A parent of a student? 

    As a teacher, I want my students to use technology and become familiar with the digital world.  The odds are good that they will all be frequent flyers here and will have jobs that require familiarity.  But I understand why adults are worried about what kids are being exposed to.  Not so very long ago, kids didn't have hand-held access to so much of the world.  Once we could be shielded from the ugly parts, from the predators, from constant consumerism.  Now, with a few taps on a screen or keyboard, today's youth have and inside pass to anything and everyone.   According to the article found here, "Among social media users, 88% of teens have seen someone be mean or cruel to another person on a social network site."  This lack of control and lack of ability to protect has parents trying to limit their children's access to the digital world.  They assume that by limiting their child's use of technology they are protecting them.  In truth, they are often sheltering them too much.  We don't protect our children from bumps and bruises by not letting them learn to walk or ride a bike.  Instead, we hold their hand, run with them, and buy them a helmet.  In much the same way, parents need to demonstrate digital safety and good digital citizenship to their children.  They need to discuss what is safe and what to avoid.  Provide some protection without smothering the creativity!  There is so much potential for learning and discovery in the digital world.  Our job as parents and teachers is to prepare our children to use it to expand their potential.

   

Cool Tool 2 - Peardeck

     This week I took a moment to review Peardeck, an awesome (FREE!) interactive slideshow tool for teachers who have 1:1 technology in their classrooms and a projector of some sort.  

    Peardeck allows teachers to create interactive slideshows for their classrooms.  Unlike Prezi, it has fewer options and no preset backgrounds, however it does allow a teacher to load in a slideshow from Powerpoint or Google Slides if you are looking for something fancier.  It is incredibly user friendly.  The best part?  Educators can quickly create an interactive slide show where students can type in answers, visit preselected websites or videos, and select multiple choice answers to teacher's questions.  I think the most user friendly part is that it shows teachers exactly what students can see as they create the slides.  

         This is an excellent tool to engage students in classroom lectures.  They can participate in the learning by exploring preapproved websites and sharing what they find important with their peers.  This would also be a great way to begin classroom discussions during the introduction of a topic and as the class moves toward deeper understanding.   Students can even pose their own questions. This tool allows for constant student feedback and makes formative assessment easy.

     While this app is not something students would use to create something, it is a great tool for teachers.  It allows for communication between teachers and their students rather than the teacher talking "at" their students.   Students take part in exploring topics and are more likely to be engaged.

  

  To create your own interactive slideshow click https://www.peardeck.com/

Unpacking TPACK

       TPACK...funny little acronym.......loaded with meaning!

       That is what I have been learning about this week.  To be honest, I had never heard the term before, but a quick Google search led me to realize that apparently I have been sticking my head in a hole.  The term was all over the internet.  For those ostriches like me, the acronym stands for Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge.  Important loaded term right here!  I found the most helpful and quick explanation of TPACK to be this link here.  Sometimes simple is better!

       So what does this all mean to me as a future educator?  As an educator of digital natives, I need to be on board with incorporating technology into my classroom.  My students not only are engaged by it, but the futures I am preparing my students for will require them to be fluent in it.  When designing my lessons, I need to consider every domain of knowledge that I am incorporating.  If I decide to introduce a new tech tool, I need to consider a few things.  What content am I teaching and what is the desired learning objective or product?  What is the best teaching method or strategy to obtain this outcome?  And finally what technology can enhance my students' learning this information?  The technological domain is important and cannot be viewed as extra or merely tacked on.  It must be seen regularly used tool with a purpose, not superfluous.

     Using tools in the classroom, particularly technology based tools, can be a great way to interest students and get them involved and interactive in their own learning.  These tools provide students access to real audiences and help whenever they need them.  Using technology, students can publish their own work, collaborate with others outside of the classroom, and find additional resources.  I view technology as a real boon, particularly for introverted students who find being on the spot during in-class discussion a difficult and stressful situation.  By providing them a bit of a time and space to work, I as a teacher am better able to assess what they know.  
 
     However, technology is a bit like fire.... while essential, it needs to be handled carefully.   Technology can be dangerous and students must be taught to use it responsibly.  Teachers must familiarize themselves with the tools they are asking their students to use.  And they will constantly need to update their skills, as tech is always changing.  It also has the potential to completely ruin a lesson if you don't have a back up plan and the school's network goes down.  YIKES!  Some teachers aren't comfortable using technology, or aren't using it to its full potential.  If you are someone who collaborates with these teachers, this may not be an easy partnership....or it may be the perfect opportunity to share wealth of information!

     Because I am not a digital native, I am going to have to start small.  I hope to learn a few tried and true great ways to incorporate technology that can be implemented in a variety of formats.  Google Docs is a good start.  I plan to have a classroom blog and discussion board that students and parents regularly use.  In order to find the rest, I will ask fellow teachers and continue to search the web to see what other ELA teachers have successfully used for different units. The information is out there, I just need to learn how to use it.

Cool Classroom Tech Tool Review - Prezi

     This week, I took a moment to explore a tech tool I could implement in the classroom.  I chose to explore and experiment with Prezi.  I selected only tools I was unfamiliar with so that I could give an unbiased opinion, and Prezi is no exception.  Prezi is a tool used to create slideshow presentations.

     Let me start by saying I enjoyed using Prezi.  In my undergrad days, presentations were made using Microsoft PowerPoint... and that was it.  While I am more familiar with PowerPoint, Prezi was slightly easier and faster to use.   I feel like the pros of this tool is that many of the presentations are designed for users to simply plug information, the tool comes with a variety of predesigned presentation formats, backgrounds and fonts.  It also has the text and slides move in attention grabbing ways.  You can change these things, but you also do not have to start from scratch.  Prezi allows users to embed videos and links, however these features require a paid subscription.  The free version is more limited.  Fairly typical..... annoying.... but typical.

       I think this tool could be very useful in a classroom.  A teacher could use Prezi in order to create and share lecture notes.  Students could create presentations on a variety of topics, create digital book reports, or to present speeches.  Students could also use this tool as a way to plan out papers instead of creating paper and pencil graphic organizers.  In fact, many of the presentations are already formatted with slides for introducing a topic, followed by slides for subtopics and details.  It provides a nice visual for how to organize many types of writing.

      I believe I would encourage the use of a tech tool such as Prezi in the classroom.  The presentations it can create are eye catching and fairly easy to modify.  I had a bit of a struggle figuring out how to add animation, but I feel that today's digital natives would be more adept at using Prezi than I am.  I could definitely use it to create slides for book introductions or to demonstrate how to map out different forms of writing.  However, I wonder if there are tools that can do more for less?  Can I embed videos and make things more interesting with similar tools such as GoogleSlides for free?  After all, if my students are digital natives, these are the things that will catch and keep their attention.  I don't know, but I am willing to bet there is probably something better out there.

If you are interested in using Prezi, check it out here.