Read what?

I was informed that we needed to be blogging on  week 5 readings and tutorials.  Well with all the work due this week I did not get to blog on them.  I have watched some of the tutorials but that is as far as I have gotten.  I have saved some and will save the rest so that I can view them in  relax mode when I get back from vacation.  No Internet camping.

The End Is Here!!!!

I have been taking Literacy & Technology for the past 5 weeks and it is our last class tonight.( In 1.5 hours)  I cannot believe how much I have learned in such a short time.  I have to applaude my group/support team (Tara, Lauren, Kim, & Pat).  If we were not going through this together, I do not know if I would still be here.  It was certainly a lot of work for 5 weeks but I succeeded, at least I think I did, hope I did.  I did not realize how much there was to know about technology that you can incorporate into classrooms.  This class has taught me a lot about technology and myself. 


As for me, when I started this class I was afraid to go on sites and "explore".  Now I have no problem, it does help that my husband purchased me anti-virus software to protect my computer.  I now know about LoTi and how to incorporate it into my lesson plans. I have also learned about the NET-S, which I have never read before.  I now know about different sites to use for multi-purposes.  Wiki, webs.com, GoogleDoc's, WYDWYD, GoogleWave, Gloster, and LettePop are some of the sites we learned about and used.  I do plan on using some of these sites in my future as a teacher and as student.  There are so many site that are great for students to use but first we need to talk to them about Internet safety, copyright laws and etiquette,  as a parent I always just signed the paper and sent it back.  Well, I will no longer do that; I will be reading the contract.  Teachers not only have to teach the core subjects but we also have to make sure our students are safe on the Internet. Working in the group, collaborating has given me insight into what it will be like working with different people with different priorities and schedules.  I really enjoyed working with K2TLP members this experience was a positive one and I know I will be ready to work in a group like this with other teachers. All the sites that we found that would be great for students, too many to list, are all interactive ones.  Since we have Digital Natives as students this is the best way to keep them engaged, on task, and absorbing information.  I will still be using the pencil and paper assessments but I will also incorporate alternative assessments like portfolios, webquests, and mind mapping to name some of the great new online assessments that are out there.


We have been blogging on our "blogspot's" about weekly readings and tutorials. I have never blogged or even kept a journal.  This was all new to me.  I cannot say that I like it, maybe if it was just about my feeling and what happen, I would.  I did enjoy reading others classmates blogs and seeing how they see thing or interpret them.  We had to comment on classmate's post (the list of the ones I commented on are on the side under my picture, they are linked) this was fine.  I did find myself mainly agreeing with them or commenting that I did not see it that way and stating my case with questions for them.  Some of the blogs were very interesting and made me really think about what I was reading. I also commented on group projects, PowerPoint and Newsletter.  Everyone did such a great job on all of them.  It was interesting to see all the different ways people interpret the same set of instructions.  Almost every group used different types of technology to do their project, so it was nice to see them work and the final outcome. 


The WOW projects were great tonight, the ones we saw.  Everyone gave such great information and lots of it.  I cannot wait to sit down (after vacation) and really read them and go to all the links. Was and still am not happy that I have to put audio to my presentation because we ran out of time.  Still cannot figure out how to do this, tried screen toast, jing, and tipcamm.  They do not want to work with me right now.  I think I have lost patience with this for tonight.

As far as the class goes, it was a great overall experience.  I had never taken an on-line class before.  I am not a big fan I like to see my instructor and be able to ask questions and get an answer right away.  Just to know that if I have a problem I can talk to them in class.  This was hard for me.  Not being good with computers was really hard at first.  You are told to go do something with no real instruction or guidance.  This was frustrating at times.  The activities, reading, and tutorials were all very helpful and fun to do, read and talk about.


All in all it was a great experience.  I have learned so much new technology information and tools.  I hope to one day use them in my class, but for now I will enjoy them and so will my children.  Bye!!!

WOW, I did it!

This was a very cool project. At first I was not happy doing it but then as I was going through all the different websites of writing tools to teach literacy I became very involved.  I have never heard of most of the sites that I was looking at.  I realized that I will try to incorporate some of the new tools into my classroom.  Some of what I looked at was more for high school students but none the less they were still interesting.  My favorite site would be Bookr, on this site you make your own book with turning pages.  You type in key words and up pops pictures that you can drag onto your page and then you write what you want on the bottom. I really enjoyed making a book that I put in my presentation.  This is something that I will try to implement in my class.  Students would love to do this because it is something that they made.  I think any writing tools would be beneficial to students in their learning.  By have the writing tools on the computer is just how the Digital Natives know how to learn.  Literacy is reading and writing, you need to know how to do both to succeed further in them.  You want your students to write because it only improves their spelling which will help them recognize words when reading.  It all goes hand in hand.  If you can have your students do writing activities on the computer and make it more interesting and fun for them, why not?  Not only are you teaching them reading and writing you are also teaching them technology.
I was suspose to present my PowerPoint to night, July 29, 2010. I was very nervous and still am.   First, I do not like talking to a lot of people. Second, it was all online, so you really do not know what your classmates are thinking. But as far as the presentation goes I still have not presented my presentation.  I got the short end of the stick on this one tonight.  I was totally ready to go but we ended with at least 8 people left.  So because we ran out of time and others took others spots, the ones that did not go have to record audio to go with their presentations.  I feel that this is totally unfair.  I have not idea how to do this using a published PowerPoint.  I looked quickly at screentoast but cannot figure out how to up load a PowerPoint. This class was suppose to be over tonight but now it will not be.  I will not be writing on how my peers received my presentation because I am going on vacation (on Internet access!).  I hope all have enjoyed the presentation there is a lot of great information on my PowerPoint.

Not so much paper & pencil test anymore.

That's right, teachers need to cut back on the hand written tests and do more alternative assessments.  We need to assess the students FOR learning not what they have memorized.  "Assessment FOR learning is the process of seeking and interpreting evidence for use by learners and their teachers to decide where the learners are in their learning, where they need to go and how best to get there."(Barrett, June 2006).  I feel the best way for a student to show what they have accomplished is my doing a portfolio and now that we live in a world of technology, E-portfolio's would be best.  My children at the end of each school year bring home their Art portfolio's (paper versions) and want to save every big piece of art work but cannot.  Not only as a Mom but as an older student it would be great to have this type of work on a CD, DVD or on a devise you can save.   This allows the students to always have it and can share their work with  anyone at anytime.  To a Mom it is a memory piece/chip that we would keep to show them when they get older.  This gives me an idea,  make one of these e-portfolio's for each child at the end of each school year with all the class work and art.( My own children, too many students in a class to do this for).

You want to assess my work how?

Using E-portfolio's, is how teachers will want you to be assessed in the future.  A portfolio is a collection of work that a learner has collected, selected, organized, reflected upon, and presented to show understanding and growth over time: "A purposeful collection of student work that illustrates efforts, progress, and achievement in one or more areas", say Helen C. Barrett, PhD in the article Using Electronic Portfolios for Formative/Classroom-based Assessment.  An e-portfolio is a portfolio that on the computer, students use different media to present their work like; audio, video, graphics, and text.

There are many benefits to using e-portfolio's: (from the following website)

• The use of rich media is often a hook for the learners. “The use of multimedia tools is one strategy that involves and engages learners” (Barret, 2005)
• The paper portfolio can't reflect the learning process as well as an e-portfolio.  As Ian Fox said: “The power of ‘student voice' should not be underestimated. To hear students reflecting on their own work, in their own voice, with their own intonations and expressions, conveys meaning in a manner that is simply not possible in written form."
• The e-portfolio encourages and facilitates the learner’s support network to participate through appealing social networking resources
• The quality, not just the quantity, of feedback is enhanced and facilitated via social mediums.
• The e-portfolio encourages and enables the process of reflection, self-evaluation, and action planning as a process for lifelong learning. The e-portfolio not only develops skills, it develops approaches to learning.

•  The student ought to be able to carry the e-portfolio device with him or her wherever he or she goes, and use it to record, assess, evaluate, and reflect at any time.

Above is a diagram of cycle of an e-portfolio. The purpose for doing a portfolio is to share and celebrate achievement with yourself, teachers, parents, and  anyone else you want to view your work.  You are getting supportive assessment for learning through, criteria, feedback, feedforward, peer/self assessment, and reflection.   By having/posting your work and receiving feedback on the work submitted you are showing ownership in your learning. You are seeing and reading how you have grown over the months and this has happen because you are listening to others as you go and fix/improve your work.

But students using e-portfolio's they are in control of what is being seen.  By the students using technology to demonstrate or just publish their work makes it assessable to all to see.  I feel that this will be a good way to do an assessment in the future.  I know many art classes do a paper portfolio, so why can't teachers use one to and be green while doing it.

Read all about it! Get your Parent Newsletter.

This was probably the most exciting group project we did.  A parent newsletter is something that every teachers will have to make or do when they are teaching.  This is not your regular newsletter, it is an interactive one which makes it even better.

Newsletters are a great way for teachers and parents to stay connected.  I think the key to a great school year is communication between parents, teachers, and administrators.  By posting your newsletter on a website or a wiki page your parents will always know what is going on in your classroom.  This way communication  can take place before the event happens and everything is post for all to see.  This way the teacher is showing her schedule before and she/he is not surprising anyone.  By the teacher and parents having a good line of communication there will be no surprises for either side.

I will definitely be communicating with my students parents by newsletters on my school website.  This is a great idea.  My one sons teacher did all of his announcements, posting of homework, party notices, and any other important information that we need to know about on his page of the school website.  He told us in the beginning of the year and it worked out great.  If he need to talk to us he would e-mail or we e-mailed him and he got back to us within hours.  I loved the way he set up his way of communicating to the parents and this would be the way I would do it in my classroom.

In our newsletter we talked about new assessment techniques that we feel would be a good way to assess students besides the old standby, pencil and paper.  We like several different ideas but the ones we liked the best were; blogger, podcasts, webquests, Avatars, and Gloster.  Each one of these on-line assessments are interactive and fun for the students to do.  As a group we decided to use Gloster to do our newsletter, because it had some great designs, a better selection of layouts, and graphics (as you can see above). 

We all really liked doing this project together.  As always we, K2TLP, work great together and all get along really well, which helps in collaboration situations.   Kim did a great job pulling it all together and adding the final touches at the end.  I liked our class newsletter so much that I would not change a thing if I had to do it or another one again.  We all put a lot of work into making this letter creative, unique,  and to the point.  Go K2TLP!!!

What have you learned?

Mind maps, what a great way to help students breakdown what they know.  Mind maps can be used several different way; before lesson (to see what the students know), during (as an activity do be done as they are learning the topic), and after (to use for studying purposes).  This site, Inspiration or one like it, is one I will try to use in my classroom.


I picked History because I have a degree in history and I really enjoy learning new things about the history of the world we live in.  I picked the branches of the United States Government because I remember my son having trouble remembering who was in charge of the different branches.  I drew out what I just did on Inspiration for him to study from. This allows him to see the big picture of the United States Government, who is in charge of each main department, where they are located, and their main jobs.  If I did this in my classroom I would make this part of a webquest assignment.  I would have the students do the webquest and then do different mind maps for different parts of  the lesson they will learn. Mind maps will help students organize the main points/parts of the lesson which then the students can use a study guides. 


The most important lesson I learned from mind maps was that it is hard work brain storming.  It took me awhile to decide what my topic was going to be and then how the students were going to get the information.  Once I started it then became easy, then the hard part was deciding what shapes, colors and designs to use on the mind map.


I really liked this software, maybe because I have worked with it before and felt comfortable using it.  I really did not look at any other site for mind mapping, which maybe I should have.  The graphics are real cool and colorful.  The only thing I wish was that every time you typed in the different shapes you had to pick the font, size, and color each time.  There should be a paintbrush button, so you can just copy your font, color,and size in each shape you write in.  That was the most annoying and time consuming part of this project.


I will be checking out other on-line mind mapping sites before I do or assign this to my future class.  There maybe a friendlier site out there with a lot more graphics to choose from.  When it comes to assigning a mind map assignment I realize that you have to be very precise in your directions on what and how you want the project done.   You can do these maps several different ways and students can interperate your directions differently, so I will make sure that I put what I want from my students in black and white.


All in all I really like and enjoyed do the Inspiration mind map.  Like I said, "I will be using this tool and site again".

Making our lives easier --- Rubistar.

I really like looking at these sites that will one day make my life as a teacher a little easier. I reviewed some of the rubric generators' sites and the ones I looked at were great. Some did not work but that was OK since most did. I liked that they had ones for Pre-k/K rubrics. I really did not think you needed a rubric for kindergarten class. I played around with a couple of them but I made one on Rubistar. I did it for a history project, making a map of the United States features. They make it so easy for you, all you have to do is pick what you want and you are done. No sitting and pulling your hair trying to come up with what you expect. I think if you really want a rubric that is very specific you need to make your own. But these sites are good for basic rubrics. I had fun make my rubric and I would/will be using this type of site in my teaching career.

Do you know what your child is looking at?

Do you think about this? 

When my children come home the first week of school and hand me the computer permission sheet to read and sign.  I have to admit that I really have never read it in its entirety.  I never thought about how much work goes into protecting or children on the Internet. Our children/students are told what to do and what not to do on the computers. I never realized that as they get older they are taught what web sites are good and which ones are bad to use.  It is important that students are taught, if not already, to use a criteria for evaluating web pages.  This will come in very handy to learn as they will have to do more papers.  If the students are using web sites in there papers they need to know that the site they are using is creditable and the truth. One of the readings we did was the "Five criteria for evaluation Web pages" this was a great chart to us when viewing a web page.   It tells you why you need to evaluate that certain criteria and then gives you example questions that you need to ask yourself to make sure the web page meets the requirements. Students need to be able to critically evaluate information; this is very important skill to have in this information era. "The acquisition of digital literacy skills is dependent up in the student's ability to find information, determine its usefulness and accuracy."(Classroom Connect, Dec98/Jan99)  I will start using this chart when I am looking at a web page.


Another very important part of using the Internet is the safety.  Students need to be taught all the wrong things that can happen on the Internet.  They need to be taught computer netiquette, how to surf the Internet correctly, the rules of e-mail, and the dangers of chat rooms (the good ones to).  I know teachers do teach this to their students as they get in the older grades but parents need to also do their part in tell their children about the good and bad of the Internet. 


With the world that we will soon be submersed into one day, students need to be very computer savvy.  Children need to be on their toes when it comes to all the problems and bad things that can happen on the Internet.  I know that I teach my children what I know about the Internet, in hopes that they will not run into any problems.  As a future teacher I will also do my best to educate my students on Internet safety and how to evaluate a website.

Take a Poll anyone?

I just made my first poll.
I first tried to use Survey Monkey but it would not load correctly.  Thank You Kim for coming to the rescue again.  She recommended addpoll.com instead.  I love that site, it is just like it says 1 2 3 to make your own poll.  I will be playing with my polls and changing them from time to time.  I could see a teacher using this, a poll, to get feedback from parents.  If you have a teacher page you could post a poll.  I also really liked that you can design your poll to look cooler than just a bunch of words on the page.
Check out my poll next to this blog entry and answer the question.

On-line Gradebook, What will they think of next.

I really liked this software.  It was a very friendly site to use.  All you have to do is follow the directions and you will have a on-line grade book in minutes.  No more paper needed, this is a go green website.

I liked that you have everything in one spot.  All you have to do is type in what the item is that is being graded and the grade.  If you make a mistake no more erasing or white-out.  I also really liked that you can have the list of student's in your choice, four different ways, depending on what you need.  I really did not understand what the one box in where you posted grades was for; the number correct or EC.  I would really like to be able to post one grade for several students instead of entering the grades one at a time.  This type of feature would save us a lot typing.  I would use this in my future classroom, even know I like seeing things on paper.  But this system seems really good and easy.  You can print out reports of students progress and scores to be sent home at the 5-week progress report time.  I think that this would save you lots of time, instead of looking up each student and writing down all the scores.  Instead you just type the students name and up comes all their scores.   If I did use this system for my grade keeper I would not let my students or parents of students know.  I feel that elementary students are not interested in their grades and parents would use it to make sure their child was on top or on top of the teacher's, "Why did my child get that score?"  I would use this program or one like this for my own needs and  convenience.

This type of web 2.0 tool for teachers gets two thumbs up from me.****

What is the ASSURE Model?

What is the ASSURE model?  It is what most teachers should be using when designing their lesson plans.  This model is a lot like our lesson plans, with objectives, materials, and evaluation, but it goes a step or two further.  It shows you how to incorporate technology into our lesson plans.  Since technology is up and coming in schools it would benefit all teachers and future teachers to know how this model works.  So one day they can use it in there lesson plans.  All students like and enjoy using technology so incorporating technology into our lesson plans will only benefit us and the students.  This will be an article and graphic organizer that I will keep in a "to use file". 

Podcast

This was one of the hardest things that I have had to do in this class so far.  I started out doing my podcast on podcast.com.  I made my podcast on you cam to up load the video but when I went to upload the video on Sunday night it was giving me a hard time.  The site kept up loading the video but I could not retrieve it.  This was very frustrating.  I then decided to look at the other sites available to us to use.  I then decided to use podomatic.  I again tried to up load the video and had no luck.  So I had to use there video and recording stuff and redo my podcast on "Podcast in schools."  I was a little tired and fustrated at this point when I redid the podcast and not to mention  having a hard time remembering what I had said on the first one.  The podcast I posted was after my fifth attempt, by that point I was really tired and started to slur. 

 I can see that having podcasts in schools would be very beneficial to students and teachers.  The students really enjoy working together and using the computers.  It is a great way to make learning even more fun and exciting.  I just hope the podcast software/websites are easier to use than the ones we used.

Event Poster - Pretty Cool

I had a fun time making an event poster.  I tried to find a site that you can make posters on but I had no luck.  I used Publisher instead.  I choose to do a Family Literacy Night celebrating Dr. Seuss's 106th birthday (which was this past March).  I am a very plain person and to the point.  So as you look and read my poster it is reflected on it. it was fun looking at the different fonts and items you can add to a poster.  Publisher also has a lot of other types of documents, cards, and other paper items.  I will be using this software in the future.  Enjoy reading and looking at my poster.

My Website

Wow, I made a website.  It was very easy, you just had to follow the directions and in a matter of ten minutes you have your very own website. Since I have made it I have changed it twice now and keep rewording my introduction.  I really enjoyed make this site but I do not know if I will use it after this class.  I have not yet decided what to do, keep it or not.  Only time will tell.  I am a very private person and having something like this puts me out there in cyber-space for all to find. I am not really keen on having all these on-line accounts for this class.  We had to open up a Twitter account too, it is no one else's business what I am doing every second of the day, not even I know what I am doing every second of the day.  For now I will enjoy playing around and having fun doing things on my website.

The 9 Golden Rules for Good Technology

In the article, "Nine Rules for Good Technology" by Stephen Downes he list the criteria of a great technology system. Except in today schools teachers have to deal with technology malfunctions, breakdowns, or broken items.  When teachers should be teaching they are sometimes troubleshooting what is wrong with the computer, Smart Board, TV/VCR player, or some other piece of technology.  Teachers were never told that they also need a degree in technology systems. 

Mr. Downes says that technology has to become wide spread and easy to use.  No one wants to sit and read a 500 page manual before they use there new piece of technology they just bought.  The technology needs to come easy to install and use without reading the manual.  This is exactly what teachers need when they want to use technology in there classrooms.  They do not want to have to bring home the manual to read before they can use it.  This is the last thing teachers want with all the other work they have.  They to have a life outside the classroom.  Districts could also help teachers by having training sessions on how to use and troubleshoot the technologies (computers, systems, & Smart Board) they will be using in there classrooms.

The nine rules for good technology that you want to look for are the following:

1. Always Available: You have access to it at all times and do not have to track it down.  Great if all classrooms had there own technology equipment
2. Always On: Is always on or can be turned on with a one-stroke command.
3. Always Connected: The technology can send information when and where it is needed without human help.
4. Standardized:  Can work with any computer, can use any browser, search engine or Internet provider.
5. Simple:  You can just turn it on and go, you do not have to read the manual before you start.  Just get what you need and nothing more.
6. Does Not Require Parts:  You just need what you have, set up is easy, do not need buy any parts. 
7. Is Personalized:  You make it your, you personalize it. It is meant for you.
8. Is Modular:  It is made up of parts that work together smoothly
9. Does What You Want It To Be: Works correctly and does not do whatever it would like to do.

 As homeowners we have the ability to do research on what technology is what we want and then can buy it.  As employees of a district, teachers are just give whatever the district has purchased.  Many times it is not the best and usually along the cheap side. expensive then schools usually do not have enough for every classroom.  When I went to school we did not do much with computers and Smart Boards, we did have VCR and projectors.  And I remember my teachers complaining that the VCR was broken or the projector's light has blown. They then had to use there back up plan or we sat there until someone came down to fix it  or brought us a new one.  If teacher nowadays  get this great technology in there classrooms it would be great if they were given in service classes to help them.  Even new and updated technology has is not perfect and many have problems once and a while and that is why teachers always have back up plans.  Nothing is perfect.  The more technology we can use and teach our students the better we all will be in the long run.

"What Should We Learn?"

So the big question is "What should we learn?"  Well I know that I want to learn everything that I can learn.  I guess I need to think about what I really want to lean, what is really important for me and what I will need to know to function in life. 

The author of the article, Holly MacDonald, put together a list of all the tools that  are important to her.  She has on the list; blogging, screen casting, video-camera, search engine, membership in an online community, browser, and web collaboration tool.  These are all great and important tools to have learned and will come in handy in the future.  I guess I feel that I need to learn the more basic things, like the content of what I am learning.  When I think about learning, I guess math, English, history, and science come to mind. I really was not thinking about technology.  But nowadays computers are very important and we all need to learn about them as much as possible. 

Search engines and browsers would be something that I want to learn more about.  I know that there are lots of different ones out there, not just Google.  As a future teacher I need to know how to use the Smart Board and about Power Point.  It would also benefit me to know how to run different software and programs that I can use in the different content areas.  The one thing that i do enjoy using and had to learn was Gmail (and my optonline account).

As a student and always wanting to lean new things I know that I will be learning many more great technology tools.  These tools will help me in my life and as a teacher. 

The other question in the article; "What am I really glad I learned and has served me will over the years?'   My answer to this question is very easy.  I am glad I learned how to use a pencil because if computers go down I can still communicate with others. 

Connected Classroom

Watching the video, "Connected Classroom", was very eye opening.  China is the largest country.  Yes, we all knew that but what we did not know was that it will be the number one English speaking country in a couple of years.  I must have missed the announcement that My Space had become a country, and it is the 12th largest country.  This is amazing to me. 

I really liked the quote "...prepare them for their world, teach them the way they learn best."  This is so true.  You can not teach a person if they are not interested.   The best way is to keep the students engaged in the lesson, right now the 21st century learners, is with computers, Smart Boards, and Elmo's.  Children are into technology gadgets; cell phones, iPods, computers, and hand held game systems.  We need to upgrade our educational system and create high technology classrooms that will keep our students engaged in learning.  This sounds great but a little unrealistic with the way the economy is going these days.  Many school districts are cutting back and laying off.  So I do not see many school districts having high technology classrooms for at least a couple more years.

One day our schools will be totally free of pencils and paper and we will have to prepare our students for a the very competitive and technological world.  And the first step is to get the technology and the teachers up to speed in order to teach the 21st century digital learners.

Different Types of Literacy

Computer Literacy is the knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses.

Information Literacy is knowing how to find, analyze, and use information; the ability together information from multiple sources, select relevant materials, and organize it into a form that will allow the user to make decisions or takes specific actions.

Integration Literacy is the ability to use computers and other technologies combined with a variety of teaching and learning strategies to enhance student's learning, matching appropriate technology to learning objectives, goals, and outcomes.

    Computer Literacy and Information Literacy are the two most important ones for students to learn so they can live and learn in the 21st century.   We live in a very technological savy world and we need to have or students able to live in this word.  Students need to be computer literate so they understand how to use the computer and being information literate will allow the students to use and process the information they gathered. They will need these skills in order to prosper in the future global economy.

As far as how literacy of the future will be that is unknown.  No one knows this, things change very fast as we all do know.  I grew up using pencil and paper, I never thought my children would be using a computer to write down their assignments.  I do know and I will try my best to do as a teacher to teach my students to be computer literate and to be able to teach themselves.

NETS-S????

To be honest I have never heard of NETS-S before this class.  (Wow, am I learing a lot of new thing in this class.)  I  have read them and some are still very confusing to me, so I do not know if they are being implemented in schools.  I do think that we are using some, if not many in our class, especially number 2: Communication and Collaboration.  We are doing all of this in our groups as we are working together to do our projects. 

Personal as a future teacher I do not feel very ready to implement them in my lessons.  I will need to do more reading and get a better understanding of NETS-S.  In order for me and all teacher's that are not up on technology we need to be taught.  In order for that, schools are going to have to provide computers and classes for teacher in order for them to implement technology into classrooms.  For me I hope it will be a little easier, I am still in school, learning about the importance of technology in the classroom.  I will also  learn how to implement  technology into my lessons the correct way by meeting all the NETS-S.  It really comes down to money and  how much school districts want to incorporate technology into their classrooms.

Education 1.0 is a thing of the past

We are definitely changing gears when it comes to technology.  Pretty soon pencil and paper will be a thing a of the past and every house, school, and student will have a portable computer. 

I went to school in the time of Education 1.0.  We did not have computers in school or at home.  I think my parents got a computer when I was in high school ( in the late 1980's), you could only type, no Internet.  In school we took typing and you prayed that you did not make a mistake, there is no spell check on an old typewriter. 

I do wish that computers were around when I went to school.  They do make a big difference in everything, especially school. I see my children coming home and using things on the computer that I do not know.  My seventh grader's teachers have him making powerpoint presentations, brorchure's, and many of them have the textbooks on-line.  What a powerpoint presentation, I did not know what that was up until a year and a half ago.  And having textbooks on-line, you mean you do not have to carry your books home every night.  Life is getting easier and computers are helping with that.

In order to be a teacher these days you need to be a 21st century teacher so that you can teach your 21st century learner everything they need to know and more.  The student of today use computers and different types of technology, so us future teacher need to be able to use the same types of technology.  Students come to school wanting to be creative, so what a better way then having them express it on  the computer.  Especially with all the different programs out there for the to be creative on.  We need to keep them interested and wanting to learn not board and asleep.

Try Google, You Will Love It!

Wow, I cannot believe all the things you can do on a computer. I would not know about a large majority of them if it was not for this class. We were just asked to explore Google and I thought Google was just a search engine. Well was I wrong, I still cannot believe all the things you can do using Google.



I have looked at several different Google applications such as; Google Docs., Google calendar, Google wave, Google side wiki, and iGoogle. The Google application that I found the most interesting to me was the iGoogle. This is a great application, if you set it as your homepage every time you start your computer your iGoogle will be there. You will see all the useful and practical applications you picked all in one spot. To read more about iGoogle, the themes, and add on in iGoogle go to my newsletter.


Google Docs. is also a good application, it has come in very handy for our group meetings. I also have started to use the Google calendar which I have on my iGoogle page. This is a good add on for someone that is very busy, you get reminders and e-mails of upcoming events and important things you put on your calendar. I could see using these tools in the future in my classroom and in my everyday life. We as future educators need to be up to date with all the new technologies out there so we can teach our students. But first, I need to learn all the old tools that many of the students nowadays already know about and use.


Google is definitely something that I will be using in my future classroom. It is so easy to understand and it is all right in front of you. We need to bring in 21st century tool into the classroom to teach 21st century learners.

Too many Wiki's

I am so confused on how a wiki really works.  The only problem I had was down loading the google sidewiki, it down loaded on the second try.  When I compare the Litamce21 wiki site and the google sidewiki, I feel the google one is a  lot clearer and easy to use.  The sidewiki is to be used while surfing the internet.  It allows you to blog your reflections on what you have just read, an article, blog or just a website.  This is a great feature because I can reflect on what i just read.   When I set up the Litamce21 wiki it took me 2 days and a lot collabration with group members to finally set it up.  I know a lot teachers use wiki's on their teacher pages.  To me right now it just seems like we are setting up a lot of places for us to be reflecting/writing on.  The one neat thing about the wiki is what we are all working on it the group.  We all have access to revise the documents in our group wiki, this is great.  Eight eyes are better than two,especially when these two eyes are getting bad.  I guess I need to do alot more research on how a wiki functions and it's purpose.   Happy 

Hard Work Show

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That was a neat web site, Picasion. I really enjoy making the slide show. I had done one in Google movie maker for WYDWYD and that was a lot of fun too. This web site was a lot easier than the Google movie maker. With the Picasion you see the pictures right there in front of you. There is a little more work with Google movie maker. I would have like to be able to rearrange the pictures once I saw them up. I guess next time I will have to think through how I want to put the pictures up. I would have liked to be able to put a song to the show. It makes it a little more personal.


All in all, I really enjoyed making the slide show. I know I will be making many more of them.

Move over Twitter, welcome iPod

I came across this blog on a website I was looking at; it said "iPod touch in the classroom."  I could not believe my eyes; I thought Twitter in the classroom was bad.  I realize all the things an iPod can do but technology like this does not belong in the classroom.  It says that it can be used by both teachers and students.  My kids have iPod touches and I see all the things they can down load and all the items it comes with.  But how do you know if the student is using the iPod for educational purpose or not.  It is not like the computers in school where you can monitor the students.  These pieces of technology are small, not like the big 17" computer screen that sits in front of them in computer class.  In some schools the computers are linked to the teacher's computer so the students can be monitored.  Teacher's would not be able to monitor the student's iPods.  The best part I thought was that if you go on Apple site, they tell you all of the down loads they offer for teachers and students to use in the classroom.
Maybe it is me, but some pieces of technology do not belong in the classroom.  Have the students and teachers keep their iPods at home.
Let me know what you think.

What is Literacy 21st Century?

So what is Literacy 21st century?  At first one may think that you are promoting literacy in the 21st century.  But as I read all the readings, watched all the videos, and talked to other classmates I realized that literacy has a new definition.  I was amazed at what is all now considered literacy.  We have gone beyond text books and adventured out into the land of technology.
I have always thought of literacy as reading and writing, and the ability to talk.  Well after reading all about 21st century literacy and redefining it, I now have a totally different meaning of Literacy.  My definition of a literacy teacher was a person that taught you how to read, sounding out of words, and writing, from basic writing to the organization of how to write. The way schools have evolved over the decades is amazing to me.  When I went to school we did not have computer class we had typing class. The computer we had a home was just to type papers on.  As far as listening to music, you were hip if you had a walkman. Now a day's students have computer classes and learn how to surf the internet and use all the resources that are available on it.  Now children have IPods to listen to music on. Another thing that we did not have was cell phones; nowadays you do not see a child without one.  Wow...has times changed.  I have found that they are changing for the better.
Literacy 21st century, to me is being fluent (being able to read, write, understand, and just doing it) in all types of technology.  Today's students are digital learners, multimedia users, multi-taskers, team and social learners, and electronic communicators.  This is just some of what today's learners can do.   Children today have to be fluent in technology because of all the changes in the job market, life, society, technology, and education.  We need to prepare our children for a future full different types of technologies.  In the classroom we, as teachers or soon to be teachers, need to provide a classroom that encourages: critical thinking, communication, technology, flexibility, innovation, creativity, and engagement.  We need to stop providing our students with a classroom that is textbook driven, time-based, worksheet based, teacher centered, unengaging, and isolated.  Teachers need to be flexible and willing to learn new things.
The contexts in which students use literacy has evolved and Educators now need to incorporate the technology student's use in their life in school.  I do believe this but to a point, I as a teacher will not be using Twitter in my classroom. I feel that elementary students need to be learning social skills by interacting with people face to face.  I will be using as much technology in my classroom as possible, like a Smart Board (if I have one), have the students doing projects on the computer, podcasts, and video and audio assignments.  I feel that the more exposed to technology students are at a young age the quicker and easier it will be for them.  It is like riding a bike, once you do it you never forget.
My classroom will be a Literacy 21st century classroom, so that I can help prepare my students for their future.

Computer Not Saving

Well I have to write this all again, the computer did not save the very long reflection I just tried to post.  The last sentence was, "When it comes to blogging, I did not realize that many people.... blogged.  I always thought that celebrities, companies and organizations blogged, not everyday people.  Well was I wrong, I now have my own blog page. I am not much on writing down my thoughts but  I guess that is going to have to change.  I could not believe how easy it was to set up a blog, Dr. Smirnova sent us to some great sites to view other people's blogs and the tutorial on blogging helped. I am a hands on type of learner that needs to see things done before I usually will attempt them.  So this is very hard for me to be taking a class that I do not get to see the Professor in really life at each class.  I really enjoyed making my blog page, not enjoying doing my posts, yet.

I really liked doing the WDYDWYD page.  I am not a very artistic person, so it was hard for me at first to come up with a way to express to others "Why I Do What I Do...".  I do what I do because I want to help children succeed in education and in life.  I do not only what help my own children but I want to help as many children as I can.  Teaching is the best way to help children you are teaching them the basic skills, besides the ones their parents taught them.  You are teaching them about reading, writing, math, history, science, manners, communication, and a lot more skills that will help them be prepared for their future.  So I decided to do a slide show using my own children, these pictures express how we have guided/teached them skills in life that will help them in education and in their life.  If you get a chance check out my slide show of "Why I Do What I Do...".

I was introduced to LoTI for the first time.  All the videos, PPT, forms, and discussions with classmates has really helped me understand how it is implemented.  By using the framework sheet you can see if and how to set up your classroom to have great use of technology.  The best thing is that it promotes higher order thinking (Bloom's Taxonomy) and after talking to Kim about it she put the two together and made it a lot clearer for me (Thank You Kim).  I do believe that it will be harder in a computer sense to implement, than in regular subjects.  Schools, most do not have enough computers for every students to use.  Students only get to use computers two to three times a week, and that does not seem like enough time to set the students up at a level 6: Refinement.  At this level the students are taking charge, using higher order thinking skills, multiple technologies are used, problem solving outside class,and they have no constraints on technology.  This will not happen in many schools because they do not have the resources.  I believe that most schools are at a level 3 or 4.  Maybe one day all students will have access to computers in schools whenever they need them.

After reading about LoTI and having the different level of technology in the classroom, I read about Twitter in the classroom.  I believe that students need to learn about computer and the different types of technology available to them.  I do not believe that having Twitter in the classroom is right.  After watching several videos on Twitter in the classroom, I realize that I would not want my students or children doing this.  I do realize that the majority of the classrooms were high school and college classrooms, but the concept is wrong to me.  Many people say that since the students are communicating to each other this way outside class why not allow them to do it in class so they feel more comfortable.  This will allow them to participate in class discussion, be more open, and want to participate.  By having the students communicating via Twitter they are losing their social skill and communication skills.  Today people are communicating by Twitter, face book, e-mail, IM, or texting.  The voice is becoming a thing of the past.  When I sat down and thought about what it would be like in a classroom or in general, people Twittering to communicate with eachother I thought about the movie Wall-e.  The people in this movie are stuck in chairs and communicate through a computer.  I do not want our world to come to this, people need to still have human contact by talking to eachother.  I will keep an open mind as I go on in my studies of incorporating new technology into my future classroom. 

I still cannot believe that the first week of classes is over.  I have learned a lot of new and exciting tools and sites to use.  I now have a framework of how to set up my classroom with/using technology, I can also use the framework in any area of teaching.  I realize that I need to be open minded as I go forward in this class.  As a person I do not have face book, MySpace page, I do not IM, and I just started texting (Lauren).  As a parent my children do not have video games, cellphones, and their computer time is monitored.  I will have to be more open to technology for me and my children, and my future students so that we will be able to keep up with the world in the future.

Learing about new technology in a head spinning first week.

Wow...I, we have done a lot in the first week of Literacy and Technology.  We have learned many new tools, programs, and web-sites.  I was and still am scared of the big world wide web.  I am really hoping that by taking this course it will make me more confident in exploring and trying new things that the web has to offer. 
When it comes to blogging, I did not realize that many people