Virtual Chatrooms, Valuable for Teachers?

As technology continues to evolve it is opening up new avenues for teachers to communicate.  From blogs, to screen casts, to virtual chats rooms, teachers are now surrounded with a multiple of tools to assist their teaching.  In hopes of gaining insight into using a virtual chat room, I met with classmates Connie Choi and David Crawford on Google Hangouts.  During our session we discussed presentation ideas for our upcoming professional development seminar.  As we shared our thoughts and ideas I was able to experience the ease and comfort of communicating virtually.  I was able to share my presentation plans face to face, as if I was with them at a local coffee shop.  I found Google Hangouts to be an easy tool to operate.  To access it you must first register through your Gmail account for Google+.  A one minute tutorial then provides helpful advice to make navigation easy.  Best of all, it's free!

After my experience with this program I brainstormed ways I could use it as a teacher.  I realized I could meet virtually with parents who are unable to make it to parent-teacher conferences, or collaborate with teachers from neighboring districts to gain ideas and support.  I could also use it to participate in distant professional development seminars wich are too costly to attend.  Finally, I could use this program to differentiate my classroom teaching.  To differentiate my classroom teaching I could expose my students to people from other cultures or job sites.  As my students communicate with people at different locations they would be able to gain perspective into their lives.  I could also use it to allow my students to particpate in a quiz or review session with other 1st grade classrooms.  Competing with another classroom would spark my students' interest and keep them focused.  I would not use this program to communicate directly with students, in order to maintain an appropriate student/teacher boundary.      


This 5th grade class is using Google Hangouts to compete in a science quiz with other classess in their school.

While I found Google Hangouts to be an affordable, accessible, and an effective tool for teachers, what has your experience revealed?  Are there additional ways it could be utilized?  Do you know of a similar program that would offer even more opportunities for teachers to communicate? 

Resources:

Untitled Clip Art.  Live Conferencing. Retreieved from www.blog.live-conferencing.com

5th Grade Class Google Hangouts Session. 2013. WBES Technology. Retreieved from www.wellsbranchtech.edublogs.org

Useful Web 2.0 Tools

This video describes three Web 2.0 Tools and how they can be implemented in a 1st grade classroom.  It specifically focuses on Tux Paint, a free and available Web 2.0 Tool.

Link to Video:
http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cIV1rdVisN

Resource:

Web 2.0 Clip Art. 2012. ICT. Retrieved from www.fjostsons.edublogs.org

Asssignment 2.1: Part 1 and Part 2

Videocast Explaining and Analyzing the following:

—Title: Changing Teacher Practices with Interactive Whiteboards
—Created:  Thursday, August 27th, 2009
—Narrator:  Jason Borgen
—Demonstration: Megan Power
—URL: http://www.portical.org/tv/category/data-driven-decision-making

(I aplogize for the seperate videos.  I used Screenr to record, so was cut off after the first 5 minutes and had to create a second part.)

Part 1 of 2 Link: http://www.screenr.com/9DM7

 

 

Part 2 of 2 Link: http://www.screenr.com/1ZM7

 

 



Common Core, Friend or Foe?

Over the years teachers have become accustomed to teaching state standards in their classrooms.  While not always easy, the standards have provided a beacon of light to help us focus on preparing our student for success.  Now that we've settled into our everyday routine of teaching these standards, a new set of standards has emerged... the Common Core State Standards.  As states continue to adopt these standards how should teachers react?  What are these “Common Core” standards and how will they affect our teaching?  Are they a nationalized approach to education and should we be fearful?  Will they be our friend or foe?

According to the Teaching Channel (Common Core for ELA, 2012) the Common Core State Standards were designed after gaps in our educational system became apparent.  For starters, states began analyzing their assessments and found that their standards were inadequately preparing students for post secondary education and the workforce.  Students and parents who moved between states also found it difficult adjusting to the different state standards.  Further, educators found that when comparing our education system to those oversees, our students were significantly behind.

Given this dilemma, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) teamed with teachers, school administrators, and experts from different states to design The Common Core State Standards in 2010 (Common Core State Standards, 2010).  The Common Core Standards address the subjects of English Language Arts & Literacy, and Mathematics in grades K-12.  They are a collaborative effort of states to restructure and unify our current standards, and are not a nationalized federal approach to education.  They have no part in No Child Left Behind, and while the implementation of the standards is not mandatory, 45 states have already adopted them (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2010).

In streamlining the Common Core Standard, many fear that the standards will lower the bar of achievement (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2102).  On the contrary, their goal is to raise the bar in order to be competitive with education overseas.  While our current standards are an inch deep and mile wide, the Common Core's goal is to teach less concepts with a deeper understanding of each concept.  They want to help students develop higher level thinking skills and a mastery of "core" areas.  They do not tell a teacher how to teach, but inform them on what key areas their students need to know.  According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, the Common Core Standards are being created with the following criteria (2012).

1. Aligned with expectations for college and career success

·         2. Clear, so that educators and parents know what they need to do to help students learn

·        3. Consistent across all states, so that students are not taught to a lower standard just because of where they live 

·         4.  Include both content and the application of knowledge through high-order skills

·         5.  Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards and standards of top-performing nations

·         6.  Realistic, for effective use in the classroom

·         7.  Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society

·        8. Evidence and research-based criteria have been set by states, through their national organizations CCSSO and the NGA Center.

            According to the Teaching Channel, 90% of what teachers are already doing in the classroom will stay the same with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (Common Core for Elementary, 2012).  So should teachers be intimidated of the Common Core?  Is it going to make our job more difficult?  After much research, it seems that our states are taking a refreshing step in the right direction.  The Common Core is going to provide a more focused approach to education, and will challenge our students to think at a higher level.  Our students should be better prepared for their professional life and real world applications.  While we won't know for several years what their ultimate affect will be, they might be a friendly change after all.

(Please forgive my references  I do not know why the computer is spacing them this way.  They do not appear this way in my draft)

References:

1. California Department of State Standards. (2012). Common core state standards. Retrieved  
          on December 12, 2012 from http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/

2. In the States Picture. (2012). California department of state standards. Retrieved on December 13, 2012   
          from http://www.corestandards.org/in-the-states

3. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers.
          (2010). Common core state standards initiative. Retrieved on December 12,    2012 from
          http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

4. Teaching Channel. (2012). Common core state standards: elementary school. Retrieved on         

            December 12, 2012 from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/common-core-state-     
            standards-elementary-school

5. Teaching Channel. (2012). Common core state standards for ela and literacy. Retrieved on          
           December 12,   2012 from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/common-core-standards-ela

6. Teaching Channel. (2012). Common core state standards for math.  Retrieved on December 12, 2012                   
           from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/common-core-state-standards-for-math

Tackling Standards with Technology

          Modern technology is developing at an alarming rate. As it progresses, it is providing a plethora of opportunities for educational growth. Educators must take advantage of these opportunities in order to best prepare their students for success. By evaluating how others are using technology to meet state standards, we can gain ideas on how to implement technology into our own classrooms.

            In the online video, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Projects Encourage Students to Excel (Edutopia, 2012), Mott Hall School shows evidence of meeting Standard 2.1: Creating a physical environment that engages all students (2008, p. 39). The school achieves this standard as they engage their students in project based learning through the use of individual laptops.  In this video students use their laptops to design and calculate the dimensions of a kite. As they create their hands on projects they become active participants in their own education.  Mott Hall’s Principal stated that this has allowed students, “To become directors and managers of their own learning” (Edutopia, 2012). Given this evidence, I believe that the this is an extremely effective teaching method in engaging students. If given the opportunity to have individual computers in my classroom I would apply this same approach.  In the mean time it is important to remember that my students will benefit most when they can take ownership of their own learning.  

            Differentiating Instruction Through Interactive Games (Edutopia, 2012) is an online video which meets the state standards Standard 3.4: Involving and guiding all students in assessing their own learning and Standard 5.2: Using the results of assessments to guide instruction (2008, p. 39). In this video, 2nd grade teacher Mr. Pronovost uses technology to actively engage his students in developing their math skills. Each student is given a laptop with educational games to help them practice what they have learned during their instructional time. Mr. Pronovost stated, “Not only are they getting immediate feedback and they are able to move at their own pace, but then I am able to support the students who really need my support” (Edutopia, 2012). He also says that while his students see technology as an opportunity to play games and advance to the next level, what they are really doing is mastering facts before progressing to the next skill. They are continually assessing their abilities to guide their own learning. I believe the technology he has integrated in his classroom provides an efficient way to assess students. While I do not have individual computers in my classroom, my school does have a computer lab that I could use to assess my students’ growth.

            In the article, Maximizing the Impact: “The pivotal role of technology in a 21st century education system”, schools use eMINTS (enhancing Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies) to meet Standard 3.4: Developing student understanding through instructional strategies (2008, p. 39). According to page eleven in this article, students use technology to, “Communicate with experts outside their classrooms as they gather perspectives to create solutions to real-world problems…” Students in this program use personal computers, interactive white boards, and cameras to learn from others who would normally be inaccessible. I believe that is an invaluable teaching strategy because it builds students' exposure to the world around them. While I am unaware of who my students might communicate with during a live streaming, I could allow them to view pod casts from future field trip sites.

           These are some ways technology is being used in classrooms today to meet the state standards and demands of the 21st century.  If given the opportunity I would love the chance to take advantage of these opportunities in order to help prepare my students for their future.  

References 

California Standards for the Teaching Profession. (2008). California Department of Education & California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Retrieved on December 2, 2012: http://www.btsa.ca.gov/ba/pubs/pdf/cstpreport.pdf 

Differentiating Instruction Through Interactive Games (Tech2Learn Series). (2102). Edutopia. Retrieved on December 2, 2012: http://youtu.be/XZ0BGXMf83U 

Maximizing the Impact: “The pivotal role of technology in a 21st century education system” Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Retrieved on December 2, 2012:       http://www.setda.org/web/guest/maximizingimpactreport

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Projects Encourage Students to Excel. (2012). Edutopia. Retrieved on December 2, 2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRrLPCQTZwc&feature=player_embedded

[Untitled photograph of a laptop and apple]. Retrieved on December 2, 2012:       http://www.multiplemayhemmamma.com