Blog post 10

While I was pondering the topic of my integrated technology assignment, the suggestion was made that I consider reporting on the use of wikis in the classroom. This topic both intrigued and baffled me, as the only wiki with which I had interacted was Wikipedia, and to a extremely limited degree. During the search for material on this subject, I located a bevy of videos that elucidate the rationale and proper use of wikis in the classroom. Although there are several work viewing, the one located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pR5yogCmkA is very informative and helpful. I plan to use wikis and blogs in my classroom in the fall and this site provides an excellent framework from which to work.

Another useful site is located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXFsBkKA3JE. This one provides sample wiki assignments, assignment rubrics and clearly defines the characteristics of a wiki in child friendly language. I will rely heavily on this site as I prepare for implementation this fall.

Blog Post 9

In preparing for the presentation for this class, I have come across a couple of videos that speak volumes about the use of YouTube in the classroom. One such video, the one located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r1SRJCViUY, neatly encapsulates the points enumerated in the literature review. It lists the 10 reasons for using YouTube videos in the classroom. Coincidentally, most of the reasons mentioned in the video clip are reinforced by the literature. Another fantastic resource on this same topic is the video found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9db9FyDkppk. This video provides explicit examples of how to navigate YouTube to ensure that the proper content is accessed. Both videos were discovered well after the literature review for this course was complete, but these resources bolster the assertions made in the articles.

Blog post 8

Since I began this program, one of my best friends has become Google Docs. I thoroughly appreciate the flexibility it allows when communally drafting a document with others. Google Docs functions consistently, is easily accessible and can be manipulated by anyone who has permission to do so. Without this option, my doctoral program journey to this point would not have been as efficient. Recently, my wife began using Google Docs to work on a brochure with some of her co-workers, so it has useful for me/us personally, too. Good stuff. 

Blog post 7

The idea of interweaving technology into education is hardly novel, however, it appears to cropping up with increasing frequency since the beginning of this class. The only problem I have with the infusion of greater technology into the classroom is that it seems to be superimposed on teachers, without the requisite training. More and more, I'm hearing tales from teachers who are being asked to venture outside their comfort zone to create lessons and provide alternative programs for students which reflect technological savvy. This is not necessarily bad, however, sometimes adequate training for teachers is needed in order to accommodate these requests. A friend from Los Angeles recently recounted to me how she was in a meeting with her vice-principal and a parent and was asked to create a series of quizzes for a student who has a chronic illness. She was bemused, because she didn't know how to begin putting that together. According to her, when she expressed her ignorance to the VP, he told her to check with the IT person who comes to campus once per week (Wednesday's). Without providing all the details, suffice it to say that there was a disconnect between the IT guy and my friend, and when the VP followed up with her, he was quite dismayed to learn there had been little progress in providing the online tests for the infirm student. I think the suggestion to make adaptations for this student was dynamic and appropriate. The problem was that the teacher had not been given the needed tools to discharge that task prior to the suggestion. Maybe, the VP should have coordinated a short training between the IT person and my friend, as his "suggestion" would have likely carried more weight.

As an aside, it would be wonderful if a system similar to Blackboard were available where I work (cost notwithstanding). This could serve as a repository for assignments, announcements and tests. Just a thought.

Blog post 6

It occurred to me at the beginning of this course that I am a neophyte when it comes to Twitter. Unwittingly, wife has been giving me tutorials. I casually ask her questions about how to do this or that, and she kindly answers them, largely unaware that I have absolutely no idea what some of the terminology means! I am gaining a better handle on Twitter, however. I recently opened a personal account and became a follower of Dwyane Wade, my favorite athlete, among others. I think I kind of understand the idea behind Instagram as well. I'm glad about that. Fundamentally, I don't quite get why people post up-to-the minute accounts of their day and current goings on, such as "Just came from the store" or "Watching CSI." I think it's somewhat foolish, but perhaps I don't get the kaleidoscopic viewpoint. I am much more comfortable texting or emailing, or heaven forbid, calling someone to convey ideas. Yeah, I think much of my resistance to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc., stem from the notion that I think they are unnecessary. Lucrative inventions, sure. Again, maybe I'm missing something, or maybe I'm just a 39 year old curmudgeon. Who knows?

Blog post 5

Recently, I had severe challenges creating a survey on Surveymonkey connected to my dissertation. When I mentioned this to a colleague, she said, "What's the problem? It's all right there for you!" After fumbling with it for another several hours, I discovered that she was correct and that it wasn't nearly as challenging as I was making it out to be. This and other travails are commonplace with me when attempting to learn about a new technological advance. Usually, I first complain about the immense difficulty of the new learning without giving it my full attention. Then, once I focus on the issue, I discover it is a relatively simple intellectual acquisition. Surveymonkey, for example, is pretty darn simple! Unfortunately, heretofore, my apprehension prevented me from acquiring a valuable piece of information that I could have been using all along. For this reason, I am thankful for education/ academic training, because it forces me to operate outside of my comfort zone(s).

Blog post 4

I am not sure about the other course later this summer, so I will focus on the technology I would like to utilize beginning in the 2013-14 school year. As much of the current literature on education illustrates, today's classrooms are filled with students who are tech savvy and heavily reliant on technology. Because of that reality, I would like to introduce the use of a wiki in my classroom. The use of a wiki in my classroom really intrigues me, and using it in this class has been a tremendous learning experience for me. I believe it can be an excellent way of capturing and maintaining student attention to assignments. One way I plan to use it is to chart students' responses to reading a text and interacting with it via the wiki. For instance, this school year we read "The Giver" and scripted responses and reactions to the book in journals. This was effective, but could be made more so through the implementation of at technology such as this. Much like with Blackboard for this doctoral program, using the wiki can allow students struggling with their responses to use another students' work as a model to complete the assignment. The wiki would give students who have online access a chance to "journal" at home as well.

Using the wiki could also allow my classroom to interact with other classrooms in my school and district, not to mention beyond. I am excited about this prospect and hope that it yields favorable results.

Blog post 3

There  are numerous areas of technology in general that befuddle and stymie me, but I suppose I should narrow the focus a bit. I would like to learn more about the effective implementation of YouTube in the classroom. This is also the literature review that I elected to do for this class (with Jeremy). Currently, I do utilize YouTube in my classroom, however, because BCSD filters out this particular site, I have to save the videos to a flash drive in order to show it to my classes. This may seem like a commonplace task for many, but I still am uncomfortable with this practice and often, inadvertently, fail to correctly save videos. It has really been embarrassing at times. Also, I have had the pleasure of watching videos produced by some of my colleagues throughout the district and would like to eventually place review lessons, information absent students, and parental correspondence in video format on YouTube. I want to dramatically increase parent participation in my classroom and, hopefully, using YouTube can provide me with another medium to achieve that goal, in addition to email, written letters and phone calls.

Blog post 2

 This process of completing this assignment was reflective and thought provoking for me. During the course of sharing my tech journey in class, I discovered that my family (specifically my brother and sister) was an integral part of not only my technological journey, but many of my significant life experiences (no duh!). Previously, those memories had escaped me. One of my take aways from this assignment is that I have a more varied and decorated exposure to electronic technology than I'd previously thought. From my colleagues (the three with whom I spoke), I discovered that family is was also a key component in ushering them along their journeys, both technologically speaking and in general. The timeline for this assignment revealed to me that my family was often on the cutting edge! Another key take away is that my family has been and remains the impetus for the jubilation I sometimes feel when discovering new learnings.

Blog post 1

I don't know anything about blogging. This is the very first interaction I've ever had with blogging. This process was immensely confusing for me. I can see the potential benefits of blogging, however. For instance, if I need to share or retrieve important information about a topic, this might be a viable option for me. Also, if I were to need some professional assistance, I would tap into that resource.