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Personal Reflection 811 - Adapting Innovating Tech

What are some things that you have learned about effective teaching strategies when integrating technology?
 

One of the most important aspects of integrating technology in effective teaching is that technology should never be more important than the content or the material being taught.  The integration of technology has three fundamental pedagogical approaches, namely TP Knowledge, TC Knowledge and PC Knowledge. Each approach ensures that knowledge required to be able to integrate technology in the classroom is identified. The TPACK strategies do not operate independently but rather highlights the new kinds of knowledge that evolves when they intersect. 

The use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), plays an important role in the manner in which knowledge is captured and transferred from a curriculum perspective. The importance if goal setting forms the foundation in which teachers will explore various methods, materials and assessments. The focus is not content centred but rather focusses on the student – and the manner in which we adapt content to suit their needs. The three fundamental principles on whoch this is based – Recognition Networks, Strategic Networks and Affective Networks allows for the exploration of multiple  meaning representations of content.

How did integrating web-based technologies help you think about and evaluate uses of technology? 

The STAIR project is a useful but also a creative tool in which teaching can take place. I must admit that I absolutely loved it in terms of its potential. The tool creates an engaging and interactive environment that allows the student to experience a range of learning environments. From quizzes to collaborative projects – the tool has a vast range of uses for the student.  

How have you met your own personal goals for learning about technology integration?

Doing the course has allowed for critical thinking in relation to technology and it educational uses and value. Skilled in the ability to use certain technology effectively it did not take away the educational and pedagogical role such tools play in education. 

My goal to create a more interactive learning environment was indeed achieved in doing this course. It afforded me the opportunity to explore and personally experience technology systems. 

Do you have any new goals? What are your plans for reaching your new goals and your long-term goals after this course is over?

My new goal for the short term is to audit and evaluate existing systems and tools at our school. The aim is to understand their effectiveness and explore new and maybe improved tools and systems In the long run I hope to develop a framework by technology tools and systems can be evaluated. I also want to create a knowledge base for students and teacher and a platform by which we can create dialogue and share ideas.

Wicked Presentation

Revised – Text to your problem

As student from 10 grade move into the IB program they are confronted with a range of demands. One such requirement is the CAS program that forms part of the IB program. Students feel anxious and frustrated as they are required to capture their experiences in an online portfolio tool. The reason for this is that students generally have no experience in 9 and 10^th grade dealing with such reflection tool.

This highlighted 2 major issues:

Students had no experience or familiarity in being able to articulate their experiences in a meaningful manner. They are suddenly thrusted into the world of reflective learning. At the same time there is a greater lack of understanding as to why they need to do it to create meaning for them.

The other problem is the lack of technology skills in which to navigate this new tool that would capture their data. Very little focus is given on what skills are required and acquired to use the tool effectively. In many was the technology is seen as separate from their academic knowledge base.

Revision Text to the solution:

As part of the solution we would also focus on the skills set required to use the tool effectively. Greater collaboration is needed in which more opportunities of dialogue are created in the planning phase of the program. Other tools such as training videos will be available for students to access any time about teaching them technology skills. 

Technology needs to be integrated in more classrooms and the development of a technology framework will be developed. As blogging lies at the core of reflective learning is important that we adopt a trans disciplinary approach in our collaboration as teachers.  

TPKnowledge

What do we know about blogging to fully understand why we using it?

Revision – the important of blogging as a tool for capturing experiences needs to explored. It needs to be given an academic background and relating it more to education.

 

 TC Knowledge

Having instant access and creating  a Student voice, do you  also teach about the responsibilty?

 

Revision- Students need to also learn about the limitations and correct manner in which to use and articulate blogging. Although there is guidelines, we did not spend much time it in discussion. There needs to be a focus on the behavioral changes necessary to make it more effective.

PC Knowledge

How is differentiation ensured with the tool and within this class?

We have embarked on exploring a variety of means in which students will be able to articulate their experiences. In doing so students will be able to find their own means of expression best suited to their learning style. 

Are our classrooms microcism of society, but how?

Read the article from Bowers and Flinders on the difference between schooling and education. I think this foundationally challenges the manner in which relationships within the classroom is about power.

Bowers Flinders - The Classroom as an Ecology of Power

Leadership project

1. What tool did your group use to deliver the PD tutorial?  Why?
   The group used Google presentation. This was important in that our project dealt with google doc and its products. This allowed us to highlight what google product can do for those using it.
   
   
2. What did you learn during the development process of the final product?
   I learnt that google presentation is a good tool to use as a collaborative tool in which to share ideas. It was important being able to add and share information. I did discover some limitations for example we cannot add sound clips to the slide. 
   
   
3. What would you do differently if you had to develop a similar product again?
   I think what I would do differently is being to evaluate what the tool can do and its limitations. It is important that we know before we decide how to use a a product.  I think this is an important aspect of using a tool.
   

Leadership Project

Leadership Project

Webpage Creation

 Below please find my webpage creation in my weebly....

click on the link below

Technology and Autism

Wiki Lab

I had to create a page for my High School as there was no page for the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ). I must admit that I find it confusing and not very user friendly. 

 I also created a class in Wikki - click on the link


Wiki Class

STAIR PROJECT - Understanding Economics

Click on the link below and explore the STAIR Project

STAIR PROJECT

PROJECT 2

Wicked Problem Project: Part D - Findings and Implications

Wicked Problem Project: Part D - Findings and Implications

Formative: Did the project get implemented as planned?

The project was implemented as part of the community service program, which formed part of the grade 9 and 10 graduation requirement. It proceeded as planned and piloting the program was the first step in creating this program. Although it was a graduation requirement – one still had to create buy-in from the student body. Explaining why we were doing, what was required how impacted their learning and enhanced their skill set was an important and relevant in creating understanding. 

Summative: Evidence of success in addressing the problem of practice

The posting of their blogs is a clear indication of the success with regards to the problem of practice. Students’ blogged about their experiences and for some, one could see the progression of in-depth blogging. An example of this could be seen if you click on the links below:

https://communityservice.21classes.com/BenG

https://communityservice.21classes.com/KathleenW

Students also used the standards in their last summary blog, in which they chose 2 that best suit their blog posts. This meant that they had to examine and reflect on their blogs as well as the standards and what it meant to them. This played an important role in creating independent learning and a more interactive process. By posting their blogs students had to familiarize themselves in navigating the website and understanding the steps in accessing their web blog page as well as how to post a blog. 

How would you approach another project of this type differently given what you’ve learned here?

An important learning moment for me as teacher is the ability to relate how this technology and the manner in which its used relate to everyday life. I would also place emphasis on the skills acquired by the users in relation to the technology. Next time I will also clearly highlight the pedagogical role technology plays within context of the project. This needs to be clearly communicated as well as presented to the students. 

I would most definitely communicate the TPACK application to the students and spend more time exploring it with them. This is an import part of creating a class that integrates technology. Posting the TPACK understanding on the website would also be a valuable informative section to the class.  

Another important learning moment for me is that communicating and posting information on the website plays an important role in creating understanding. One should not make any assumptions about students and their skills set. Outlining not only the content but also the outcomes that is aligned to it is just as important. I think that there needs to be some time made in which students will be able to reflect on their learning moments in the process. 

What are the lessons learned that others might benefit from knowing about?

Lesson Learned –

Communication is key – communicate content, outcomes, processes, experiences and educational value

Do not only reflect on content but also skills acquisition

Reflective learning needs to embedded in everything we do and learn

Highlight and make clear connections between content learned and skills to needed and acquired.

In what ways will you endeavor to do the same project again, and what will you change or not do?

As I move to integrate more technology in the classroom in other classes I would retain blogging as a way in which to reflect on the class. Reflective teaching would become an integral part of class. 

One thing I would change is to provide more mediums in which to articulate experiences, such as movie clips, posters, comic strips, etc. I would also like to involve students more in the process in deciding how the project will be implemented. Creating more dialogue in the planning stages with student involvement – allows students more ownership with the project.

Changed Lesson Plan

After reviewing and examining my lesson plan with the UDL principles in mind I have made a few changes to my lesson plan:

NEW LESSON PLAN

UDL

 I am great supporter of the UDL program as it does seem to explore lesson planning in a manner that talks to all students. Given that teachers know their students learning styles. It is a great tool in which allows teacher to be able to explore various avenues of learning and not a "one suites all approach"

• At the core of UDL is the premise that often the curriculum is disabled (and disabling!). It is not flexible; it often poses barriers, and consequently prevents rather than supports optimal learning experiences. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Why or why not? 

I do indeed agree with this statement in that curriculum is set up in such a manner that we teach for tests and assignments. Often is the case that we teach for standardize testing and for standards we neglect to explore how knowledge is obtained, processed and applied to life. It can can be so content based that we forget about the skills required. If each child is different with different skills, should we as educators not explore with them these skills in which would allow them to access content, skills, etc effectively.  Its about allowing teaching and learning to occur in creative ways. And creativity is the key to learning.

• What are the benefits of analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses rather than focusing on the student’s strengths and weaknesses? What are the challenges of this approach?

 One of the greatest challenges is the standardized testing scenario. This can be difficult as students are forced to present answers in a very traditional format - some of which do not necessarily take into account students learning styles or challenges.  

Using the UDL program forces us as educators to get to know our students - to get to know their learning styles.One of biggest benefits of exploring the curriculum allows for educators to expand the means by which content can be presented. It gives a flexibility to teachers to answer the diverse needs to student learning. By analyzing the curriculum allows for contextual application of its content - speaking directly to students learning needs. With a flexible curriculum and the digital age, "teachers can access new forms of media such as digital text, digital images, digital audio, digital video, digital multimedia, and networked environments. The coming digital curriculum holds the promise of increased flexibility and the capacity to align content and tools more precisely with a wide range of students’ strengths and needs (Richard Jackson & Kelly Harper,  Teacher Planning and UDL Environments, pg5). It allows for more collaboration and a deeper engagement for the teacher. In doing some curriculum modification - teachers are truely able to reach each students in the learning.



 click on the link below:

UDL Application


UDL Checklist

Mobile learning

In the classroom we have moving toward integrating handheld tools to teach students how to use them effectively as learning tools. We have used iphones and ipads which seem to be the two main tools students are using. Students will be using it as tools to blog about the class in real time and be able to use it as a search tool. This will give them realtime access as well as realtime input - they will be able to capture thoughts, emotions and content immediately.

One of the issues that we do seem to run into, is how they use it - to able to teach students to use it effectively. You will always run into challenge whether they are using it for the required activity or are they chatting with friends or doing something else. I am busy thinking about how do teach responsible usage. At the end of the way, they will be using it in the workplace - how can we teach them to use it to increase productivity,

Click on the link:

Story Board

The group for this project decided to spread the work evenly. During our collaborative session we each decided on which section of the project would best suit us. As we are working on Google doc as a collaborative tool – I decided to work on the Introduction, the creation of a google account to gain access to Google docs and the creation of a google document – this formed my 3 main slides. Each section is further expanded into the following:

1. Introduction – gives a brief introductory explanation of the video and its objective.
2. Creating a google account  -  How to create an account and how to access Google Docs,
3. Creation of a google document - how to create a google doc and how to rename a google doc.

This section forms an essential part of the video as it deals with the basic requirements to be able to access google docs. The section sets the tone and direction of the video. I will use google presentation as well as Jing to illustrate my section of the video. I will also embed a video that will be used in showing how a google account is created. Using google presentation allows each member to work on their section independently, but yet be able to align to create a consistent visual and message throughout the video. It allows us to give input to other members work. 

Click on the link to view our story board

CEP812Group3StoryboardJuanKirstenLacey (1).pdf - Google Docs

Script 

Part C

Survey Time

 Please click on the link below and fill the survey. This would help us to create a better and informative classroom:

Blogging Survey

PART B - Application of TPACK

Application of TPACK 

The following questions were answered with regards to Part B of the  Wicked Project:

1. What is the TP knowledge for the solution?  (i.e., how does the technology you have chosen support the teaching strategies and methods you have chosen?)

2. What is the TC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically does this technology make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?  Be sure to think about representation.)
   
3.  What is the PC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically do your pedagogical choices make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?) Be sure to think about how the student will experience the content given these instructional strategies

TP Knowledge is an understanding of how teaching and learning can change when particular technologies are used in particular ways. As we are using the website to capture community service experiences through blogging – we had to consciously move away from the dominant thinking of blogging as purely a form of social networking.  Blogging in essence is designed as a tool for communication and social networking – we have to create different parameters when approaching service bloggings. The students will have to learn that each blog posting has articulated a meaningful and authentic experience. Students will learn how to use the website to access their own web blog pages and how to go about adding their post. As it is a web base tool, students will have varied tools to access the site. 

As they are evaluated on their blogs – their web blog pages and the website become a platform in which dialogue, articulation, construction and negotiation will take place. Although it is essentially established as a data capturing system – the interaction requires creative and insightful skills. 

TC Knowledge, then, is an understanding of the manner in which technology and content influence and constrain one another. Having almost immediate access to the website, allow students the ability to blog in realtime if they wanted to remember something. The blog gives students a ‘Voice’ in which they decided for themselves how to set the tone of it. They will learn the importance of reflective learning when they blog. The can also represent they ‘voice’ in a variety of media formats.

PC Knowledge, I will demonstrate to the students a variety of techniques that would allow for easier access to the website. As most of the students are tech savy, we will also explore other means by which the access information. As students will be able to represent their postings in a variety of ways – in which I will show some, they can explore and will be encouraged to seek others. Students can thus choose means that would suite their learning styles best – encouraging a higher level of independence and free thinking.

My Visualisation Story Board but not in sequence

• What tools did you try?

  I must admit going through so many tools I felt like a child in a candy store. There are so many amazing tools that can use. What I tools I really enjoyed exploring Audacity (Win/Mac/Lin), Open Office Draw, text2mindmap, Survey Monkey,  Animoto, Podomatic and http://processing.org/. Wow it is amazing what is available and how they all can used in various ways to get a desired product.
  
• What are you representing in the visualization you created? |
  The Visualisation tool that I used was Animoto, originally it spoke to my more fun side but after doing one of my family - the thought sprang to mind why not do one of the pictorial steps of part of my Google doc project and so here it is click on the link:
  
  
  TRY ME.... ITS FUN
  
• What questions or "ah-ha" moments arise when thinking about representation?
  I think for the ease at which we can put things together in a dynamic and fun filled manner. I did not want it to be traditional and it had to be eye-catching and fast pace. It is important that although something can be fun it still needs to keep it essence and central point.

Data Visualisation

Making things a little more fun

I came across a real creative and interesting software programe just to sometime makes called wordle that uses words to make interesting word formations and just makes it a little more fun.

Click on the word below and see what I mean.

Wordle

WICKED PROJECT PLAN A

PART A: The Wicked Problem - A Need or an Opportunity

What is the important educational need that you are seeking to address? This element is fundamental in this project. Since we have limited time, energy, and resources, cool technology without a clear sense of why it matters or what we gain by it is of little value in the educational setting.

I am High School service Coordinator, and Community Service teacher – and this year community service has become a graduation requirement for all 9 and 10^th graders. In an effort to create a consistent learning environment as also an environment in which take charge of their learning we sought to create a technology tool in which students would be able to manage their service project with  more independence. An essential part of their class is to submit reflections of their experience through their blogs. They also needed to store evidence for their portfolios. The creation of digital portfolios in various media formats meant that from an educational perspective we needed to provide a system that is aligned to this requirement.

As we are also an IB School, all students are mandated to participate in the CAS program as 11 & 12^th graders. The portfolio of evidence required for this program is 100% electronic. The educational need thus arises that students in 9 and 10^th graders need to experience and learn how to manage such a system or one closely designed to it.

How you plan to address this educational issue with technology?  You need to make a clear and convincing case that your proposed solution will make a real impact on the issue you identify, and that your proposed approach is a reasonable approach given its costs and possible alternatives.

After some research and discussion we decided to use www.21classes.com system. This pre-designed web template allowed for the easy creation of our service blog: https://communityservice.21classes.com/. Each student received their own log in details to their web blog page. They are required to manage it themselves and are allowed to change the layout and personalise it. This is a perfect match as it echoes the same philosophy of the CAS Manage Back system.

The system allows for a foundational experience in knowing how to manage their own reflection process and store project evidence. It also enables the school to create their own content aligned to the CAS system (which is pre-defined by the World IB Organisation). We are able to tailor make the system to suite our needs and those of the students.

Logistics of solution: For example…What is the scope? (e.g., when and where will tool be used and for how long? Who all will use it?)

The website is specifically designed for 9 and 10^th graders who are completing their Service outreach program as part of their graduation requirement. A key aspect to this tool is its accessibility in which students can access it from any internet tool – e.g WAP phones, ipads, iphones, etc. As it is a web based tool it allows students to accessibility at any time. Although set times are set aside during class in which they have time to complete their tasks. The tool will generally be used over a time period of 2 years in which students will retain their account. 

Once their class has been completed their information will be placed in an archive for another year before it gets deleted.

Relevant research and resources (from the Internet and elsewhere) including reports on the closest effort you can find to what you are planning to do as well as ideas and materials you may be able to build upon in your own effort.  Your description should include:

The results of your search (What resources may help guide your project? What resources may help in the implementation of your project?)

What I did discover was that schools all had webpages dedicated to Service Outreach or Service Learning. Blogging is an integral part of capturing the service learning experience and is supported by extensive research findings. I found a vast amount of information about implementing service learning, but very little on community service. Although the distinctions are clearly made, very little information on community service as a High School topic could be found. The National Service Learning ClearingHouse was a good foundation from which to begin and had comprehensive resources to help one.

I used some of the information as content to the website for example the national standards, definitions and concepts central to community service. Another challenge for me was finding lesson plans or content appropriate to 9 and 10^th graders. With the focus on the service learning and the curriculum – nut much was found that spoke to community service as a class.

In future I would like to expand the resources and dialogue around community service and the skills development.

http://www.servicelearning.org/                                         www.21classes.com

http://www.servicelearning.org/topic/theory-practice/state-standards

http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=advocacy_index

http://edublogs.org/curriculum-corner-using-a-blog-with-students

What you learned from performing this search. For example, which search engines did you use? What strategies did you use? What helped or hindered your search? How would you search again next time? 

The internet in itself has become a valuable tool in which to research topics. I initially started of researching using Google Search Engine. Because the google search engine is such a comprehensive tool, it was important to use keys words in which to refine your search. The extensive search results made it somewhat tedious to find what I was looking for.

A plan for the portion you will implement during this course and the portion you will implement after this course completes.

The website has already been developed and is in use by the students. Although this pilot class, we have been getting some positive and constructive feedback.

During: What I want to focus on is which information is important on the website and what is good to know, but a need to know.

After: I also want to go through how the website it set up and why we followed the specific design and the, manner in which we layed out the content.

I also want to create a video that will explain to student (1) how to access the website, (2) how to create and post a blog, (3) how to change and personalize their web blog page

How would you know you were successful?

This I have already got some informal feedback from students with regards to the website.

I will also send out a monkey survey with regards to assessing the user friendliness of the website, and technical operability and navigation flow.