Presenting... Awesome I4Ed Projects!

I was so impressed with all of the presentations in our Internet for Educators yesterday! I thought it was especially great to see how many different presentation tools and styles were used. I love  that this class is multi-faceted... we consider how  using the internet and technology can enhance our teaching, experiment with tricks and tools and have the opportunity to share the information in person and online. Real integrated learning! I think all of the presentations were a great example of this... taking a subject we all know a little about, extending our understanding and providing time for questions, opinion sharing and discussion. I learned from all of the presentations.. about the content, about the delivery tool and through class face to face interaction. Great work, all! The video made me consider a video for my summative project... it looked like this group had a lot of fun putting it  together.

When I joined the class,  I had fears that it would be a lot of independent work and exploration.  I was concerned that my skill level would mean I would constantly be behind and my questions would be annoying to the tech savvy among us. I have a different view now. I can see how many tools  enable communication and effective sharing. Even when I am struggling along on my own with something like infographics, or have a question about how the heck to get on my group's wiki, or wonder how my computer ate my blog post, I can use twitter to quickly connect and ask questions. It is  easy to  seek info and collaborate from a distance. The presentation day was the best of both worlds for me.. tech  tools and in-person combined! I am really looking forward to seeing everyone's summative projects next week.

An Important Interactive Learning Site

This is an interactive website that I came across last term. It is a multimedia learning experience about residential schools in Canada. It is extremely user friendly and provides an authentic look at this issue in a way that has much more impact than reading a few paragraphs in a textbook.

http://www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/

This site has a wealth of important information.  Interactive activities for students including a virtual tour of a school, interactive maps and audio stories by residential school survivors. I also appreciate the links to teacher resources and support. As we move towards a culturally inclusive study of national and world history, the residential schools issue is a subject that needs and deserves respectful attention.  Integrating indigenous content into curriculum is important in all content areas, most especially in my own teachable area of history.  I think this site is an excellent starting point for learning, sharing and teaching.

Podcasts

In the past, my experience with podcasts has been catching up on favorite CBC programs that I missed! I have been exploring some more podcasts specifically for history: http://www.learnoutloud.com/Catalog/History/Speeches/Great-Speeches-in-History-Podcast/21306 http://www.todayincanadianhistory.ca/ http://www.cbc.ca/archives/teachers/ I enjoyed listening to some historical speeches on Saturday... a great way to emphasize "primary sources" in history. Some of these are actually archived speeches, and some are dramatic re-creations. I can imagine all would be more engaging in class than just reading the speech... after all, a speech is meant to be heard! I believe that differentiation is really important, to address learning needs and to add variety to lessons. Using podcasts can be another way to appeal to less visual learners or reluctant readers. I will use podcasts in many subject areas. Short podcast interviews would also be great for presenting different points of view. I will continue to check out and build up my collection of interesting podcasts... even if it cuts into my "listening to CBC" time... I can always find and listen to "Q" later!

Videos I have loved... part uno...

Who doesn't love a relevant, related or funny video in any class? I think video is a great tool to engage students and enhance a lesson. It presents information in another way and appeals to most learners. I have mainly sourced videos from youtube in the past, but my horizons are expanding! I like how there are so many sites now that focus on educational videos, organized by content area. I have checked out a few of my fellow ed student's favorites  and immediately started thinking about how I could incorporate some of the great short videos into my upcoming units.

I used this video in my first placement. I like that it was created by a student. The kids in my class loved it...

Othello in 3 minutes....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP2qQT6MuBQ&list=PLE690512369819D69

You may not believe this, but this computer-phobe also had students create videos in this class... just short moviemaker skits about issues in Othello set in  modern day Canada. I gave the students scenarios to base their skits on before we read the play. The students really enjoyed creating and watching each other's work. Once we started reading the play, they liked figuring out which issue their own video story was based on. We did a comparison exercise of "same issue... different setting". Video really helped me to engage this group who told me before we started that they "hated" Shakespeare.

WBC... and pedagogy!

Today our class had a visit from Donald Gitouard and Sophia Palahicky, who explained the resources available as web based courses in Manitoba. They explained how these courses expand opportunities for students. I had already considered some students that these courses could benefit, like those in small schools where courses are not offered because of numbers, or for students with frequent  / long absences for a variety of reasons. I was interested in Donald's comment that he felt this kind of course would have suited his personal learning style. I think this bears consideration... not all students like face to face interactions, and may contribute more to web based conversations. We will see more and more students who use computers / devices as  primary tools in their learning. While it seems strange to me to consider a class where most of the content is presented on the web instead of being co-constructed by students and a teacher, this way of learning is more familiar to today's student. I was happy to hear both presenters say that the teacher as facilitator, explainer and supporter is still a vital role in this process. The blended approach is ideal... getting info and assignments from the web course AND having a person to guide them and offer clarification and extension opportunities. The teacher remains connected to each student taking the course, through web based and conventional communication.
I can also see how the modules in web based courses would be useful resources. As beginning teachers, it is impossible for us to be familiar with every single curriculum in MB. Looking at these courses could provide a starting point for teachers new to a subject area or grade level. The 46 courses available on the Blackboard platform are easy to access, with clear, curriculum based outcomes.
The last point I would like to comment on is the emphasis Sophia put on pedagogy. The delivery tool does not make or break the learning experience, for teacher or student. There can be boring, bad
face-to-face classes with live teachers, too! It is important to understand, develop and live out our personal philosophies about education. This will be the main source of our success... whether we use i pads or crayons as the tools to enhance and support learning and understanding.

An Inspiring Edu-blogger

For the past few weeks have been checking out tweets and blogs by Larry Ferlazzo... wow, what a source of experience, ideas and resources!

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/02/19

http://www.classroom20.com/profiles/blogs


 Larry Ferlazzo is senior years educator in California. He teaches English, Social Studies and EAL... my faves! I am not sure when he has time to teach, as he is  a prolific info sharer via his blogs and on Twitter as well as the author of many articles and several books on education. He organizes useful links on all kinds of content areas, education and ICT issues into lists, simplifying access to information. I especially like reading his posts reflecting on his vast experience as a community organizer and educator... lots of inspiring ideas and honest reflection on how to help students succeed.

I tried visual.ly!

This is a visual.ly inforgraphic comparing my Twitter use to my friend Lisa's... I am obviously far behind her!  This example shows the impact of graphically illustrating a comparison. This infographic representation is a far cry from a comparison chart or conventional notes. Teachers and  students could use it in class to contrast / compare anything, in any content area. There are many inforgraphic sites, with different styles and adaptations. I plan to explore more!

infographics... twitter showdown!

create infographics with visual.ly

Digital Tip-toe

When I entered the Faculty of Education, awareness of "my digital footprint" dramatically increased!  The stories of people losing jobs, or not being hired in the first place because of a questionable presence online hit home. Security settings on social media? Change my name on Facebook? Why the heck would anyone want to look me up, anyway? Oh, wait... they might want to hire me! I googled my first and last name, and just found some geneology connections and an article in the "Souris Plaindealer" about me... quite wholesome, no? However, there are some other "Kelsey Penners" out there... yikes! Could an employer mistake me for them? I am going to get a tech savvy friend to google me more intensively and get their impression, as I know there must be lots of ways to get info that I am not aware of!

I also realize that I do not have a strong "positive presence" on the internet. Much of this is due to my lack of use of tech resources and communication in the past. I understand the benefit of people being able to see my work and connect with my website / portfolio etc.  I will learn more about this avenue for sharing (again... get ready for my questions, tech-savvies!) and try to create a digital presence that reflects my professional goals.

I heart Infographics!

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/02/11/three-infographics-about-valentines-day-including-one-perfect-for-english-language-learners/#.URlufsCGE9w.twitter
I came across this infographic via twitter... timely, and good for a visual to use in my EAL class on Valentine's Eve! I think my EAL learners will like how these graphics have text information in managable bits, with picture support. I have been checking out some other infographics and people's discussions about them. I agree that infographics could be a great tool for all students to show their understanding in a new, visually appealing way. Infographics can also provide another mode for presenting information to students that is more engaging than conventional notes. I plan to experiment soon... my early efforts might not be as fancy as this example!

Happy Valentine's Day, all... celebrate love!

Tweet, tweet, twitter, twitter!

It has been a few weeks since I signed up for Twitter. At first I found it a bit overwhelming... there seemed to be a lot to keep up with, and I could not imagine posting tweets as often as active users. I am starting to find my way with it. I must say, I like the great sharing I see happening! I have explored many great links that I likely never would have found on my own. My favorite "check-in" is with the #I4Ed group, of course... and a close second is astronaut Chris Hadfield's pictures and tweets from space! I also like how conversations start and educators can comment on each others' ideas. I see great potential for staying connected with others and sharing info and resources via Twitter. I like it!

Be in the world...

Clarence Fisher shared his thoughts and experience about ICT via skype. He is an educator in Snow Lake, a small community that is about to grow! Through ICT, his students have had a growth opportunities, as well. He told us about his class connecting with classes in L.A., Peru and Singapore. This small community has access to "global perspectives and connection"... how amazing! As an avid traveller and person interested in sharing culture, this aspect of ICT is so fantastic to me. I see so many possibilities for expanding horizons...learning about and experiencing different places and people. As Clarence said, this generation is on the front lines of globalization. Sharing and collaborating with students in other places offers  great possibilities for developing an online network. Helping kids connect to their own networks will prepare them for the future. These connections will also encourage understanding and  respect for different traditions and lifestyles.
I think this is important for everyone, not just students in small towns! I am seeing more and more clearly the possibilities for enhancing personal communication through ICT.

Confession time: I think some of my resistance to tech communication has been that at times, it seems to come at the expense of actual face to face communication. As a latecomer to communicating this way (I think I was the only person in Southeast Asia without a cell phone in 2009!), I found phone behaviour annoying for a long time. I would get irritated when in a social group, several people would be texting on their phones.  "Choose the real people...there are people to communicate with right here!" was my battle cry (I still say this sometimes). Or when people would wander the halls at Uni, glued to their phones, not making eye contact (I have stepped in their paths to see if they would bump into me so I could get mad). Or sitting in a room full of people with hardly any talking, seeing only the tops of heads bent over screens. A talker by nature, I am becoming more open to the different ways of connecting. I have  started conversations based on a topic discovered on twitter! It is cool to see opinions while things are in process! I can see the benefit of a quick text instead of a long, yappy phone conversation! Communication is communication, and one type can compliment another. All kinds are important. So, if I ever got in your way while you were texting and walking, I apologise... I now accept that you were busy communicating!

Hate the message, NOT the medium...

Our class had the opportunity to discuss important issues regarding ICT in schools with John Finch. I would like to comment on a topic we discussed: cyber-bullying.
I was surprised by John's data about the prevalence of cyber-bullying. In Manitoba, only a very small percentage of students identify as having been cyber-bullied. Is it possible that cyber-bullying is not as serious or widespread a problem as the media would have us believe? Several high-profile incidents that have ended tragically have led to calls for banning or limiting  the use of social media in schools. I think schools should not take sweeping action against legitimate learning tools, but look carefully at the deeper problem. I personally know several students who have been intimidated and slandered online. As teachers, we must impress upon students the seriousness of cyber-bullying. I am concerned that some people think "kids will be kids" and equate this bullying with school yard name calling of the past. The effects of cyber-bullying are different. Hurtful words, images and messages can be spread widely and quickly. The permanent nature of posting online is devastating to young victims. While it is the message that is so damaging, the medium in this case makes it easier to bully. It is important for educators to incorporate social responsibility into the teaching of ICT. This generation of students use social media as a primary communication tool. We need to teach them skills to help them develop into responsible students and citizens.