Tech Academy Day 3 Reflection

PLN time - what new resources did you find?

I honestly did not have time to devote as much to PLN as I would have liked to today. For my PLN time I bounced ideas off of colleagues rather than full on searched for resources today. It was my intention to go back and do that more afterwards, but I have worked pretty much solid (aside from making food for my son for breakfast and lunch) today and it is now 1am and I'm just finishing with the rest of today's work. I'm too beat to go back and PLN anymore for today... especially since I have to be at our In-Class session by 8:30 in the morning! :)

Flipped Classrooms - what app did you use to create your video and describe how the recording process was for you

I created my presentation base on eMaze.com, then I used Screencast-O-Matic.com to record my "Flippage" video. Try as I might I could not figure out how to get the information condensed to under 5 minutes for the flipping video without completely scrapping this particular lesson and all the work I already put into this course so far and starting over on a new lesson. The actual recording itself was really easy with Screencast-o-matic, my biggest issue was figuring out where to post it once it was finished. I didn't really want to do YouTube because I haven't figured out how to create a channel that isn't linked to my personal email (which is what I have drive and all the other google tools connected to since I already had that) and I REALLY don't want my school videos attached to my personal email account. I ended up using Screencast-o-matic itself to publish the video and sent a link to my Google Docs. In real-life I will link it to the kids online classroom, Gaggle if that functions well for us, and probably will move all of my school stuff over to another "only school" google set up, but I didn't want yet another account of some sort to keep up with. I already had several google accounts/blogs that have been all but abandoned because of all of my other things we have going for school accounts (not to mention the personal ones long established!)

Your lesson and student sample - what level of Bloom's Digital Taxonomy does this lesson and activity target
I really feel like the Lesson and Activity land solidly in the Analyzing category of Bloom's Digital Taxonomy, though it could maybe bounce into some of the higher levels if I really played with the questioning or if I stretched for some justifications! 

Tech Academy Day 2 Reflection

PLN time - what new resources did you find?

I spent some time searching lessons and device management on Pinterest, but mostly I searched blogs and PDF's of how others are handling some of the barriers because that was foremost in my mind still from yesterday so I got lost in that search ... for hours. Uh oh! 

Flipped Classrooms - what did you learn from the webinar?

I really enjoyed the webinar. I feel like I really need to watch it again maybe when I don't have other assignments to focus on so that I can really absorb it some more. I learned a little better what a flipped classroom is and some tips for managing students with technology expectations. I also felt buoyed by his enthusiasm and real experience in a real classroom similar to the dynamics we are handling here to give it a try!

Your lesson and student sample - what is the lesson that you are using for this course and what web tool will your students use in this lesson?

I decided to go with the Love/Affection recognition lesson. I think I'm going to make a video about the different "languages" but then also the student projects are going to be to make cards for each language on Trading Cards.

Tech Academy Day 2 Prompt : Crushing Barriers

Yesterday, you listed 4 barriers that impede infusing technology in your classroom. As a teacher in your classroom, you are a leader. Remember that leaders always come with solutions! Think about the barriers that you listed. 

1. Student Resistance - This past school year many students complained of using the Netbooks and carrying them around, especially when they couldn't access the internet at home when our grant ran out.
2. Internet Speed/Accessibility - This past school year there were many issues with the students not being able to access the internet during class lessons that we were using the Netbooks and Apps. They also didn't have the same access as students that I had as a teacher and I didn't know that until we were trying to do something in class and they were blocked.
3. Students "forget" Netbook/Charger - MANY students wouldn't bring their Netbooks or Chargers to school, lost their chargers (some even misplaced the netbook itself), or they were unusable when we needed them waiting for parts or tech support.
4. Security of Apps for minors - I ran into several Apps that we were trying to use in class that would not allow "Private" settings in student mode. 

As a leader, what can you do to help overcome these barriers? 

1. Student Resistance - I believe I can make the technology (netbooks) a daily part of my classroom. If the students know that we will use them daily it will be harder for them to "forget" that they need to have it with them. It also was a problem competing with their more mobile and "off of our net" phones/ipods so I am going to make a place in my room where they have to put up their phones during class so that they can't resort to that being a distraction. I will also post in a more visible place m tutorial times with a reminder that if internet at home is a problem I will be available during those times for them to come and use the school net to complete necessary assignments/searching. I will also work at making the resources "downloadable" as much as possible so that they can be downloaded before the student leaves class making it available to him/her even without home access. 

2. Internet Speed/Accessibility - I will maintain communication with Ms. Kelsoe regarding internet issues. I will again make certain that the students are aware of tutorial times to come and catch up on any work that they may be missing due to maintenance issues with their Netbooks. I will also try to keep better communication with the tech department regarding student needs to ensure that they don't get "lost in the shuffle" and can be up and running as soon as possible.

3. Students "forget" Netbook/Charger - I think again that if I establish that we will use the Netbooks daily the students will have less question of whether it will be needed each day. I will stop bailing them out and making available alternatives for them in order to make sure they understand that coming to class prepared also means having a Netbook ready to use each day. I will establish procedures for supplies that are more clear than I have had in the past.

4. Security of Apps for minors - I will attempt to create student accounts as much as possible to test the lessons/Apps from a student perspective in order to make sure that the Apps work the way I think they will for the students as well as myself. Maybe ask Admin/Tech if there is a way for us to have a "student" log-on as well as our faculty log-on to test student perspectives.

What resources can you tap into that can help you overcome these barriers? Include any websites, blogs, videos, etc. that you find with solutions or suggestions for overcoming or minimizing these barriers.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16114511141864329/

http://www.cobbk12.org/griffin/PAWS/Lesson_6_Be_Prepared_for_Class_2012-2013.pdf

http://blog.peerinstruction.net/2012/04/20/how-do-i-get-my-students-to-prepare-before-coming-to-a-flipped-class/

http://www.sbbh.pitt.edu/behavioral%20health%20seminar%202011%20help%20desk/Armbruster_Students%20who%20come%20unprepared%20to%20class.pdf

http://www.ntschools.org/cms/lib/NY19000908/Centricity/Domain/154/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Prepared%20for%20class.pdf

http://www.techlearning.com/from-the-classroom/0015/one-to-one-computing-and-classroom-management/44472

http://www.districtadministration.com/article/one-one-computing-has-failed-our-expectations

Tech Academy Day 1 Reflection

What was new to you? 
I was excited about GoSoapBox.com. That is a new tool to me and seems so versatile that I am really interested in making that work for my classes. I also appreciated the opportunity to explore Google Docs. Though I knew of them, and had dabbled a little bit, I didn't really have a chance before to delve into them and now that we are doing so for our training I am hoping to use it often!

How can you use some of the tools from today with your students? 
I plan to use GoSoapBox.com to do some quizzing and polling as we go through our lessons. I also would like to use Google Docs to do more collaboration with the student work. There are always absences when working together over the course of a few days and I see this as a great way to keep the kids working even when their partner is missing! No more excuses! I really look forward to exploring all that Gaggle will bring to the table for us as well!

What lesson are you thinking about using this week as you infuse technology?
I'm still really trying to decide what lesson I'm going to focus on. I had originally thought to make one of the infused lessons from this past semester that wasn't as much as I wanted it to be bigger and better but now I am really thinking that I'd like to start fresh and make a whole new lesson out of it. I am leaning toward either our unit on identifying love/affection in Champions or structures of communities for Community Works.

TECH ACADEMY PROMPT 1

What do you feel are the 4 top barriers you face that make the infusion of technology more difficult?
1. Student Resistance - This past school year many students complained of using the Netbooks and carrying them around, especially when they couldn't access the internet at home when our grant ran out.
2. Internet Speed/Accessibility - This past school year there were many issues with the students not being able to access the internet during class lessons that we were using the Netbooks and Apps. They also didn't have the same access as students that I had as a teacher and I didn't know that until we were trying to do something in class and they were blocked.
3. Students "forget" Netbook/Charger - MANY students wouldn't bring their Netbooks or Chargers to school, lost their chargers (some even misplaced the netbook itself), or they were unusable when we needed them waiting for parts or tech support.
4. Security of Apps for minors - I ran into several Apps that we were trying to use in class that would not allow "Private" settings in student mode.