Week #4

This week we discussed distance and online learning. We had speakers Donald Girouard and Shannon Horne who spoke about the online courses offered here in Manitoba. I was pretty surprised to learn that Manitoba offers 43 courses available online. I also found it interesting that they have found them to work for students of almost all ages (down to grade 5). I noticed how these courses had the curriculum outcomes laid out, basically as the table of contents making these courses very outcome based, there is no guessing what your trying to learn or what you may be tested on. I never took an online course in high school or university but I think I would have liked the set up. I would have enjoyed having all the outcomes laid out so I know where the course is going, and where I am within it, at all times. I like the idea of fitting in the learning when you want to and are feeling the most motivated. Then you can mold your studies around your work schedule, and not the other way around. I also really find that the environment I am in when learning something matters. I would rather be in the comfort of my own home, warm, then in a cold classroom with those hard bench-like seats that never failed to make my butt cramp up. I also benefit from taking my own notes during a lecture or presentation, being able to pause something and go at my own pace would help exponentially.

 

I think it is beneficial to try things out and struggle for a bit yourself before going to the teacher for the answers. When doing a web based course I feel that more students would try questions and do their own research first, or collaborate with other students, before sending an email or text to the instructor.

Week #3

We looked into a couple of interesting topics this week. The first was the concept of PLN's, or personal/professional learning networks. These sound more complicated than they are.. at first I was weary, kind of an "UGGgg what do I need to create now?" sort of attitude. But once I had the chance to look into them on my own I realized they are more of a managing system of all your resources (human and not) needed for life long learning. With all the resources for information, sharing and connecting that are available today, and more will be coming, having a system that keeps it all organized and managed just seems necessary to be able to keep t all straight and actually use it beneficially.

 

 

I also looked at the Media Smarts report on young Canadians lives online. This was filled with lots of interesting statistics from surveys of today's youth on their online habits. Most of these stats weren't a big surprise, although I still find it hard to believe so many elementary students have cell or smart phones, this just seems weird to me. The stats seemed to stress that though our youth is very internet savvy and has more options then ever to connect, they are not using the internet to it's fullest potential. Like the “Ten Reasons to Stop Apologizing for your online life” video I watched last week implied, we need to commit to our online lives and create a presence that reflects our values. The students stated that they felt safe and well informed on how to protect themselves online... which OK sure, maybe they are, but are they informed on how to use it properly and to get the most out of it? Are they portraying a presence that reflects their values? If not, we should be providing them with the knowledge and tools to do so.

Week #2

This week we looked at digital identity, digital dualism, and technological determinism. It got me thinking about my digital identity and online “presence”. Then I watched the Ted Talk video “Ten Reasons to Stop Apologizing for your online life”. She talked about the concept that anything done online isn’t “reality” and we should realize that both our online and offline lives are real, and that they are one world and one reality. Just because we are using a pseudo name or avatar it seems like we are hiding, but in a lot of cases we actually being more authentic than when we are offline. I‘ve seen online communities be very helpful when people are going through something tough. Some things can feel to hard to discuses face to face with friends or family, I’ve seen a friend go through a situation where it was too tough to tell people about, but she found solstice in an online community. So the idea that we need to stop thinking of being online as not in the “real world “resonated with me, and if we are going to treat it the same as our online reality then I also agree that we should commit to what we are doing online, and create an online presence that reflects our values. 

Back at it!

Started out our last semester with two great presentations in the first week! Lots to think about and get our minds in gear for our final sprint to the finish line.

Our first presentation was very suited for this internet for educators class as we did a Google hangout with Shareski. This was quite like Skype with all the voice lags and freezing but still a very cool way to bring someone into the classroom. He could see us and we could not only see him and hear his dogs, but also see the presentation he had prepared for us. I do feel like we are on the cusp of a new era in education and it is very exciting to be a part of it. His notion to rethink content, assessment, community and modeling really did get me thinking. I agree with the idea of needing to engage and fascinate our students in order to achieve that higher order deeper knowledge that memorization of facts lacks.  His idea of an "unintended learning" column in rubrics really resonated with me as well. The lost art of reflection s a skill I want to work on and encourage my students to hone. I mean if I can't do it, how can I be modeling it?

We also got our copyright pants scared off of us. All I can say about that is YIKES.

And that's a wrap!

             I think the future of education is a smooth integration of ICT into the classroom and curriculum. The Literacy with ICT continuum is a great method to follow to accomplish this.  I hope to follow this as much as possible when teaching. There is a lot in all curriculums that pertains to ICT more than we think. Math for instances, leads to the basis for all computer programs. Pretty much all of the senior years math curriculum can be linked with ICT. Statistics and functions can be shown using programs that greatly help with a deeper understanding. In the PD using ICT in math I learnt about the Desmos graphing calculator. It is just one example of the neat apps out there to make math more accessible and even enjoyable. Another is this phonto below:

            I’d like to use ICT as much as possible in my classroom to activate and help create deeper understandings with the curriculum. I would also like to use ICT to promote creativity, in any subject. ICT changes constantly, which is a positive and a negative. It will be hard to keep up with the new, but very necessary. It will be a professional goal of mine to keep up with all the changes or my attempts to use ICT in my class will be too behind my students capabilities to be useful. 

                                                                                                                        courtesy of wordle

I learnt a lot this term about ICT, I hadn’t considered how useful networking and sharing information is in the teaching profession. We shared a lot of extremely useful apps that I will be sure to use in the future. I’d like to see more examples of ICT integrated into the curriculum as well as learn how to use it properly alongside assessment. I think the future of ICT in schools is going in the direction of the St. James school division that incorporated I pads into their entire school. It has and will continue to allow for students to have more contact with their educators and be able to learn from home. As teachers we will have to grow with it and be as flexible as it is.

Week 8

This week we looked at our internet literacy through the Alan November quiz. As I expected I am only somewhat savvy when it comes to the internet, scoring 4 out of 13 on the quiz. I think this is a really important topic, since most people are very well versed in using the internet but know barely anything about it. This is especially relevant to teens who are posting their every move on Facebook, instagram, vines, twitter, etc. without realizing the consequences. And as great as students are at being able to google Miley Cyrus videos, they lack the knowledge of how to use the internet to research scholastic findings. There are key words and ways to search for things that can lead you to sound resources quickly, and students need to be taught these things.

We also spent time sharing our e Portfolios with our classmates. I found it very helpful to see all the different approaches to the aesthetics and content within them.

Week 7

This week we had an interesting presentation on literacy with ICT from John Finch. It was neat to think of it as being a continuum and of use in all subjects. I also enjoyed the idea of using it to get students to be creative and innovative thinkers.

We also looked at internet literacy a bit. My group looked at social media in the classroom. I think students respond really well to this concept and it's a great way to further their learning and be able to reach them at home etc. I also think it needs to be kept within reason. It's something to be careful with. I really enjoy how social media can be used to bring "the outside in" to a classroom.