Module 4: Assignment 7

     I'm writing to express my opinion about BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device to school.  While this hasn't been fully implemented yet in our school district, I believe it's just right around the corner. Perhaps working out the logistics of BYOD has been the stumbling block.  I have read several articles in our local newspaper concerning this issue as well as heard talk around the division about this topic. 
     Today's learners (21st Century learners) can access information that is alive and linked 24/7.  They constantly collaborate and connect to each other and the outside world.  Today's learners are digital natives who live in a multimedia world.  Their media is all color, and they prioritize visual learning.  They demand creativity and learn through trial and error. Therefore, we MUST provide them with the "means" (technology) if we expect them to learn at their fullest potential. They are boring easily with lectures, but are fully engaged and on task when technology is brought in the picture.    How do we do this?  Do we allow them to bring their own device to school? 
    First, I'd like to begin with the pros of BYOD.  The benefits of having your own device are limitless, but here are just a few.  The device provides the student with writing, inspiration, news, calculating, references, collaborating, drawing, etc..    The school system does not have to cover the cost of the purchase nor the repair of the device.  The devices are most always updated and maintained by it's owner.  Therefore, the school system's ITRT isn't having to maintain and update, which would be impossible if EVERY student had a system-owned device.  The students are more familiar with their own device, which would save navigation time during class. BYOD is not mandatory, just allowed.
     Now, please allow me to present the cons of BYOD.  As we all know, children are tech savy and can go anywhere and do anything on a device.  How do we know when they're on their device if they're really working on what they've been asked to work on?  As a parent, I control, to the best of my ability, what my children can and cannot access on their devices by putting restrictions and passcodes on their devices.  If they're using these devices at school, I have to disable the restrictions to allow them to access certain websites, etc.  Therefore, I 'm letting down my "parental guard" and feel as if I'm doing something that goes against my parenting techniques.  The students would have uncontrolled network access.  Another con is the lack of uniformity of devices and platforms.  The school system would have to pay for an infrastructure with larger bandwidth to support the amount of devices being used at one time. BYOD would require a robost network.
     I am sitting on the fence about how I feel about BYOD.  I have had to come to the raw conclusion recently that if I'm going to be an effective teacher in the 21st century, then MUST learn about technology and be more accepting of devices in my home and my classroom.  This has not been easy for me at all.  I've been teaching for 20 years.  Trust me when I say, "It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks!"  However, I want to be as effective in the last 20 years of my career as I was the first 20 years, therefore, I will do what changing I need to do to see that my students learn!  Our school system has strict policies on cell phone and device usage.  I think if we went to BYOD there would have to be a huge change in policy and acceptance of devices.  As we all know, some children do things just because they know they aren't allowed to.  Perhaps if we allow them to bring their own devices and use them for educational purposes only, device issues would be a thing of the past. If we allow BYOD straightforward policies MUST be in place and MUST be carried through for it to work.  I think we are quickly moving to BYOD.  With that being said, I must wonder, will this replace me?  Time and change will tell I suppose. 

Module 4: Assignment 3

Google Docs was very easy I thought.  Google Drive makes sharing files simple and easy.  It allows multiple people to edit the same file and allows for real time collaboration.  I chose to share our  honor roll list because my colleague and I both have to put our students who made that honor roll on one document and forward it to the office.  If we are working from the same document, then we don't have to email, print, etc.  I also spoke with her about sharing lesson plans in Google Drive.  I can plan one subject while she plans the other subject all the while working at the same time on the same document.  She isn't familiar with this right now, but hopefully she will learn soon we will work smarter and not harder.
 A link to this document is as follows:  https://docs.google.com/a/henry.k12.va.us/document/d/1RyHtp8ZlNJhOwlJPzUDPaz0L8Cr2n2mjb1alpUHHze8/edit?usp=sharing

Module 4: Assignment 5

I'm excited to learn more and begin using the new app, "Explain Everything."  According to the article and videos, Explain Everything is essentially an app with a whiteboard type screen that allows users to record, write, and move objects all while recording in real time. The end products can be pictures, videos, are even template projects.  It makes it easy for kids and adults to capture their screens and share it with virtually anyone. It also has a front-facing camera which allows its users to record themselves while creating a screen cast.  I'm assuming this is the app that teachers use to do "Flip the Classroom" units and assignments.  Explain Everything allows users to annotate any object on the iPad with the touch of their finger.

Photo Courtesy of iTunes

Teachers are able to use it to record lessons, create demonstrations, and export their videos to their blogs or Edmodo to support their instruction. They have also been able to use the videos that students create as an assessment tool.  I have this app installed on my Ipad, and I'm ready to learn more and begin using it. 

Module 4: Assignment 4

Sharing files and folders are simple, or so I thought. I clicked on the Dropbox icon on my desktop to create a folder, no problem. Everything was going well until I tried to share the folder and file. We have recently gotten new laptops in our county, and it seems that every time I try to download or do something very important, a screen pops up requiring an administrator's password. After several attempts at this, I finally just shut down my computer and restarted the entire process. That's when I realized that I wasn't actually on the Dropbox website. Once I went to the actual website instead of the desktop icon, I had absolutely no problems sharing files and folders. We have started our unit, "Long Ago and Today" in social studies this week, so I wanted to find some great lessons and activities on this topic. I found a wonderful website that I am posting a link to if any first grade teachers are interested. I can't wait to use these wonderful website. I shared this folder with my colleague through Dropbox, so I hope she finds it useful as well.


http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/resources/elementary/1history.htm

Module 4: Assignment 2

Our Best Friends on PhotoPeach <iframe width="445" height="296" src="http://photopeach.com/embed/5t27tc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Module 4: Assignment 2

All Because 2 People Fell In Love on PhotoPeach <iframe width="445" height="296" src="http://photopeach.com/embed/5egcv6" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Module 3: Assignment 7

I have mixed feelings about bringing technology into the classroom.  I absolutely think it is a wonderful thing to have to ADD to the lessons.  For example, various media outlets, games, apps, etc.  However, technology should never be used as "babysitters" while the teacher does his/her own thing.  Unfortunately, my own children have had that happen to them too many times.  I also feel that technology needs to be monitored very closely. As a parent, that has been a major concern for me since Ipads came on the scene in their schools.  As we all know, children are genius' where technology is concerned.  They know how to meander around firewalls, etc.  Recently, I was reading an article in our local paper that said that New York had to remove Ipads from the classroom because the students had figured out, in a very small time frame, how to maneuver around the firewalls.  The local governments were debating on when and if the Ipads would be brought back into the classroom and how to up the firewalls so that the students could not get around them.  All I can say is, "Good luck."  I've learned this by dealing with one of my own techno-genuis son! Everything that I know about technology I owe to him!  Not because I wanted to learn it, but because I HAD to learn it to keep him protected and outsmart him! Therefore, I feel technology (Ipads, cellphones, etc.) are wonderful if they're being closely monitored. 
     I added two apps to my Ipad.  They are Toontastc and PuppetPalsHD.  In these apps, the students can write and act out their stories with puppets and animated characters.  There were several from the suggested list that I was interested in, but they were not free.  I'm a teacher, so I have to get freebies.  :) 

Module 3: Assignment 5

The Flipped Classroom is a new way of instructing to better meet students' needs in this technology age of learners.  The teacher makes videos of lessons actually teaching the students the skills.  The students watch the videos at home for homework (if feasible) or at school before the lesson is even taught.  The students can watch the videos over and over again until they feel confident in their learning.  The students are given checklists for focus as they're watching the videos.  After viewing the video, the students are given a group ticket or a problem to prove they're ready to come to a group where further learning and application takes place.  The students are able to work at their own pace and test only when they 're ready and feel confident to test.  The videos are posted online for parents which makes homework easier for parents. 
     I like the idea of the flipped classroom.  I think students work well with working at their own pace.  However, our school district has pacing guides that we're expected to follow to ensure that all Henry County students are learning the same things at the same time.  ALL skills are expected to be taught.  If I allow the students to work at their own pace, it is a given that some of them are not going to fulfill all the expectations of the pacing guide.  Some may stay on the same skill for months. What happens to the rest of the skills that they're expected to know?  Do I send them to the next teacher not knowing how to perform those skills?  I feel that the entire school would have to be on board from the lowest grade to the highest grade for this to work effectively.  If I send a student to second grade only know half of the expected first grade skills, I have a feeling my head will be on the chopping block!  We expect our students to come to us ready and knowing the last year's skills.  I'm not so sure that's what happens in the flipped classroom.  I'm thinking long term results.  I do like how she spends  more time with her students. 
     Because I recognize that the times have changed, I've totally changed my way of teaching this year.  After 20 years of teaching, I came to the raw reality that students today do not learn like students did 15 years ago.  We must incorporate technology, and lots of it, movement and social skills.  While this has always been important, it's more important in today's world where technology and collaboration are musts for employers looking for effective employees.  Therefore, I've gone from lecturing to rotations in math and English.  Much of my day is spent working with small groups and my students moving from one group to the next.  When I do try to lecture (during social studies and science) they drive me nuts trying to interrupt me and talk to each other.  I think much of this is because the adults in their lives do not communicate with them like they should and kids today are constantly engaged in some sort of media outlet.  With that being said, I am embracing, though hesitant at first, a new way of teaching to meet my students needs.  I absolutely love it.  I never thought I would say that because I am a control freak.  I very rarely have behavior issues during rotations because the students are actively engaged and not waiting for me.  I'm not sure I could do the flipped classroom.  Rotations take me a very long time when planning them.  I can't imagine spending 8 hours on one unit like the teacher said she did in the video.  I simply don't have that much time.  I'm busy raising my family.  I only get one shot at that, so I must invest my time there right now while I can. 

Module 3: Assignment 4

Google forms was a little complicated for me.  First, I couldn't wrap my mind around what kind of survey that would be feasible for first graders.  I decided on a beginning of the year "Getting To Know You" form.  I think this would be wonderful for me after the data is collected.  I would have to do this in the computer lab, and someone would have to read the questions to the students and help them answer the questions.  The process may be difficult and time consuming.  I also think doing a pre-assessment would be easy to do in Google Forms.  It would save paper as well as receive responses to questions quickly. 

Module 3: Assignment 3

I'm interested to learn more about Google Forms.  I found the article and the slideshow to be informative.  As I was viewing the slideshow about how to use Google forms, I was trying to think of ways that I could use them in my first grade classroom.  Basically, I think I will have to use them as a means of communication between me and the parents and as a tool for collaboration among the staff in the building.  Of course, this must be led by the principal for the most part. 


6 ways to use Google Forms:

• Spelling Tests
• Comprehension Questions
• Weekly reading record
• Getting to know your class
• Stimulating a staff meeting debate
• Feedback from parents

Module 3: Assignment 2

When I opened up my Twitter account, I immediately started following T.D. Jakes (my favorite preacher), Luke Bryan (oh my),  Carrie Underwood (my favorite country music singer) and Dr. Phil.I must admit that I've always been intrigued with "stardom."  I've always tried to be "in the know" about what my favorite people are doing.  Before the internet, I had to read about them in magazines such as People and Us.  Never in a million years would I have ever dreamed that there would be a way that I could keep up with my favorites every minute of the day.  I almost feel like I'm invading their privacy. When I read their tweets, I find myself asking, "Is that REALLY Carrie Underwood saying that, or is that someone saying that for her?"  I enjoyed her cute video of her puppies playing on the bed, while I'm trying to see the foreground of the picture to get a peek of what her home looks like. I LOVE Twitter for this very reason.
     I also opened a new account for my classroom news.  The name of the account is Room14.  These days, we teachers have such a hard time trying to make paper copies.  Believe it or not, our paper cabinet gets locked after 4:00 everyday!  As I was reading the articles, I thought about how a Twitter account could be a wonderful way to keep in touch with my parents. However, my principal is very cautious (and I'm thankful) about how we teachers use social media.  Therefore, I've emailed her to ask her if this is permissible.  I'll let you know what she says! 

Module 3: Assignment 1: Blogging

I'll be honest, before I read this article, I thought, "There is NO way I can using blogging in my first grade classroom!"  These kids can't even type, much less blog!  However, the more I read, I proved my own thinking wrong.  I loved the idea of the staff blogging. This is sort of an on-going professional development model.  There are people that I work right down the hall from that I don't see all week.  I'm not exaggerating!  We are so busy and so wrapped up in what we're doing, that we don't have the time to speak to other, much less confer with one another about ideas, plans, etc.  A school blog account would be an awesome way to do that!  Of course, someone in the building, preferably the principal, would have to lead the blog.  As I was reading the article http://kidzblog.en.softonic.com/,  a wonderful idea occurred to me (this doesn't happen often, so you'd better listen up! :) )  I think it would be wonderful to have fifth graders blog with first graders about the first graders' writing.  For example, the first grade teacher would type in a sample of the students' writing.  The fifth graders would then blog about how the writer could make it better, edit the writing, offer suggestions, etc.  The first graders would then confer with the fifth graders about the whys of their suggestions.  The fifth graders would hold the first graders accountable to change their writing.  Not only does this help the first graders, it would also help the fifth graders feel responsible, review their own writing techniques, etc. Once the accounts have been made, the fifth grade teacher does very little to maintain the blogging activity.  My trouble in this would be finding a fifth grade teacher in my building to get on board with me on this idea.  Wish me luck! 

Module 2: Ipad

I installed IXL Math on my Ipad.  This is a fairly new program that students in Henry County are strongly encouraged to use.  I use it with my students everyday as a part of their math lesson.  I love it because it is broken down by SOL's and strands.  I can have the students practice past and present SOL's that we are working on by telling them to go to a particular letter on IXL.  I asked our ITRT  just today to install the IXL app on the Ipads that my students use so they can start using IXL more during math rotations next week.  The students love the app because they earn points and awards as they work through their math lessons. 

Module 2: Dropbox

Of all the new programs that we're learning about in Web 2.0, I'm finding Dropbox to be the most useful both professionally and personally.  I do most of my planning for the week on the weekends.  Since I've learned about Dropbox, I've started putting all of my lesson plans, Smartboard lessons, worksheets, etc. in Dropbox.  It only takes one little click while I'm teaching, and everything that I need for that lesson is at my fingertips.  Before Dropbox, I wasted valuable time searching through numerous websites trying to find what I needed for that particular lesson.  I wishthat my first graders could utilize it more.  I think that as the year progresses and they get more and more used to the Ipads, I will feel more comfortable having them use Dropbox.  It will take a lo t of training, but I know they can do it. I'm also going to eventually getting around to taking the pictures off my camera roll on my Iphone and putting them in Dropbox.  This will free up space for more pictures, and I won't have to worry about them getting lost or stolen. 

Module 2: Google Docs

I can see how Google Docs would be a useful tool.  I would love to learn more about how I can use Google Docs in the elementary setting.  To be honest, I think I could use it more in my personal life than I can in my classroom.  First graders would find it difficult to use Google Docs.  However, as a teacher, I can use it to find the readability of passages.  In the past, our school district gave benchmark tests.  These tests were made by someone who didn't quite understand how "little people" read or even took tests.  Sometimes, I would look at those tests and think, "What on earth are we trying to do to these kids? "  On occasion, our reading specialist would take these benchmarks and find the readability of them through an option on Microsoft Office.  We would find that some of the first and second grade benchmark tests had a readability of sixth and seventh grade.
      I could also use Google Docs to plan with my colleague.  We are finding it more and more difficult to actually sit down together and plan.  I told her about Google Docs and how we could use it as a collaborative way to do lesson plans from our homes.  Hopefully, she will get on board, and we can start utilizing Google Docs to communicate and collaborate on lesson planning. 

Module 2: Pinterest

I pinned one post to my "Classroom" board.  It was a subtraction dice worksheet. We are working on subtraction in class right now,  so I plan to incorporate this worksheet into my math stations next week.  I also started following Genell and Stacey.  I'm sure they have some interesting ideas they're posting!  Can't wait to find out. 

Module 2: Delicious

I added the following websites to my Delicious page:  IXL, Moby Max, CNN, Weather Bug and Think Central.  Most all of these are sites that I use on a regular basis in my classroom.  I also started following Mrs. Bazak, Wendy, Genell and Stacey.  I look forward to seeing what you guys have on your page.  Hopefully, you'll find my links helpful as well. 

Module 2: Twitter

Twitter is a social networking site that simply answers the question, "What are you doing?"  The tweeter is only allowed 140 characters, so the tweet must be short and sweet!  :)  It is intended to form a community, share resources, research people worldwide.  People who use Twitter must cut to the chase and think about what they want to say before they say it.  Hashtags are identifiers.  A hashtag will keep you connected to a group, such as a class, a cohort, etc.  Educators can use Twitter as a means of communicating, a way to collaborate with other educators around the word and a way to connect to other classrooms.  Another way that Twitter can be used is in the classroom as a means of collaboration and communication between the teacher and the students.  Just like in the video, the teachers asks the questions and the students tweet the answers as they are being displayed on the "electronic chalkboard."  The students who are shy participate more readily when they can tweet versus oral lecturing and volunteering in class.  The feel as if they have "found their voice." I suppose I'm old school, but I feel this totally takes away from communicating.  Yes, it's good in some ways, but in my opinion, I wouldn't use this method all the time.  I think about how the students already lack communication skills.  That is one thing that is vital when they find a job in the future.  By allowing them not to have to communicate, I feel this would do this an injustice for future ventures.  Just my opinion.

Module 2: Tagxedo

This is the coolest website!  I could play with it for hours.  I especially like the gift store.  I've already made and ordered some Christmas presents for grandparents from this website.  They will make unique gifts this Christmas!

Module 2: New Page Added To My Blog

I thought it was very simple to add a new page to my blog.  I actually was surprised, because I've thought it would be difficult to add pages and images to my blog.  However, it was very simple, and I enjoyed adding pictures of my family.  It makes my blog personal now. 

Module 2: Assignment 1: How To Use Blogs in the Classroom

I found the blogs that I explored to be very interesting.  I do agree that it is difficult to imagine how I can use blogging as a teaching tool, especially since I teach first grade.  After viewing the blogs, I learned 5 ways that blogging can be used in the classroom.  They are as follows:

• Staying in touch with former students long after they leave your class
• Sharing images with parents about what's going on in the classroom
• Blogging with international students about cultures,etc.
• Having book clubs and blogging thoughts about what's being read
• A means of communication with parents

My favorite blog was http://ourworldourstories.edublogs.org/