Animoto Inspiration

Animoto is so easy to use that I fell for their advertising and jumped right into it. My excitement is what prompted me to create a personal Animoto first, but I soon realized that I could do much more with an educational account.  Definitely the way to go!  Now that I have viewed other more educational Animotos, I see the endless possibilities. 


The Animoto entitled Children Learn What They Live on Mrs. Marrone's blog inspired me to really think about what I could use Animoto for. 

Her blog is:  http://ktbgconnect.blogspot.com/search/label/Animoto

O'Connell School in East Hartford is in the first year of the process of becoming an IB (International Baccalaureate) school comparable to other schools around the world.  

The following quote is from the mission statement taken directly from the IB website:  http://www.ibo.org/mission/index.cfm

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

There are several broad themes that revolve around notions such as responsibility for the planet, how the world works, how we express ourselves, who we are, how their identify fits, their role into the world, and so forth. In addition to these themes, there are personal traits called leaner profiles that are emphasized as well:  students are explicitly taught to be inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open minded, caring, risk takers, balanced, and reflective.  Should you have an interest to explore more, the following link is a video of these profiles "coming alive."


http://www.ibo.org/programmes/profile/


Teachers have been trying to integrate our regular curriculum into the IB curriculum but as the shift to Common Core occurs, I think that process will become easier. 

 My future plan is to create some sort of Animoto that is based upon the themes or learner profiles or both.  If that proves too difficult, I also really liked Meghan's plant vocabulary Animoto.  I can modify that for almost any vocabulary I teach to ELL's.  


                                                      

http://meghaneduc584.blogspot.com/2012/04/animoto-take-two.html

After seeing a short video on the inclusion of digital literacy on the IB website, I am much more inclined to try harder.  However, I just have to say that I don't feel the blame is entirely in the teachers' hand.  Many of us are inclined to incorporate more technology into our classrooms but lack the technology or the training to do so.  However, in the words of Snow White: "you are never to old to be young..." so I will do my best to keep with the next generation.

Kaleigh

Animoto

This is my first attempt at creating an Animoto, it is dedicated to my eldest daughter...

Kaleigh

                                           

Jillian's Dream

Blogging?

Blogging has moved beyond an acceptable form of digital tools to an increasingly preferable medium in the field of education.  There are many reasons why this shift has occurred.  The benefits of blogging far exceed traditional pen and paper assignments.

            I think one of the most powerful benefits of blogging may be the motivation students feel when having the world as their potential audience.  My daughter writes on fan fiction and she screams and comes running downstairs when people from other countries have made comments on her posts.  She read me some of the comments made:  some were very insightful, some, positive and some, with readers begging her to continue.  She has always been a strong writer but her enthusiasm with every new review is contagious; it is exciting for me to share that pride with her.  It far exceeded the Author’s Tea at her school.  


 I think it would be equally powerful for my ELL students, especially if people from their native countries could have access to their blogs.  The only problem being that many of their relatives do not speak English.  Perhaps, we could create a link to Google Translate.  

While I realize that is not the best resource because it translates so literally, I think the main idea of their writing could be communicated in that way especially if photographs and videos are incorporated into their blogs.  Motivation is crucial to a district like mine that is struggling with academic achievement; perhaps this could be one of the keys in moving students forward. 

As a teacher, I would need to blog simply to understand the tool that I am trying to incorporate into lessons.  It would be rather difficult to teach something I don’t even know myself.  Also, I had learned in the previous writing class that one of the most powerful things for students is seeing their teacher immersed in the writing process themselves.  I can’t think of an easier way to give students access to my thought processes and words.  For example, I really enjoyed "Ideas and Thoughts," Dean Shareskis blog:  Ideas and Thoughts | Learning stuff since 1964.   Not only was it entertaining, but he demonstrated how one may take other’s suggestions and comments and try them out, as in the numbers video.  

Additionally, one of the links, http://apcalc07.blogspot.com/ contained a teacher, Darren Kuropatwa that asked for feedback on his lessons at the conclusion of the year.  Besides the sense of empowerment students must feel, I think their input is an essential component of self reflection.  It would give the teacher insight for future planning along with the realization that you cannot please everyone all of the time, as evident by the comments.  I found it interesting that what some students wanted, others would want to change.  I would like to try something similar to see what my students found effective and what they didn't.

            One of my most favorite blogs was from that of an English class that wrote six word memoirs.  The idea intrigued me.  I have been thinking about writing one for days but I have as yet to come up with something brilliant.  J  Ms. Shay's English class memoirs



I also enjoyed Deb Norton’s blog.  The videos were practical for instructing me how to use iMovie and such.  The organization ideas were cute too, Sharing Technology by Deb Norton http://www.sharingtechnology.blogspot.com/.

Reflection

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. (3rd ed.). Corwin Press.

Internet Safety

Internet Safety

Having two teenage daughters, social media is very much a part of our lives.  Both of them have Facebook accounts and would probably have more of others (Twitter, MySpace) if I’d allow it.  The problem is I don’t have enough time to monitor what they are posting, what others are posting on their walls, who is “friending” them, and so forth. Admittedly, I have “friended” some of their closest friends so that I can at least be aware of what is going on in their lives.  I’m sure it goes without saying that some of their posts are inappropriate; I wonder to myself why the parents aren’t paying closer attention.  I doubt that my daughters are innocent, I am not that naive but at least they have the sense to not broadcast bad choices on the internet.  As a parent and an educator, we need to explicitly tell children/students/teens what is acceptable and what is not. 

I have repeatedly warned them that whatever they put on cyberspace will follow them for the rest of their lives.  We have talked about young stars that have some sort of naked picture or video come out after they have become famous, about how future employers may not hire people with digital histories that are unfavorable, and on and on because I want them to understand the severity of potential consequences.  I tell them to keep in mind that their grandparents are on Facebook, the rule is to not to post anything that they wouldn't be able to say to their faces.  I’m sure teachers go to the same lengths but I wonder how much of it sinks in especially when I see fourteen year olds posting pictures of themselves smoking pot, explicit language, or provocative pictures.  One friend in particular was close to our family but has since drifted away.  My daughter explained that she is 'just not in to' the same things anymore and she is too busy for her drama.  While I am glad that my daughter has chosen more wisely, I feel sad for her friend.  I've tried talking to my daughter about how it bothers me.  She nodded, saying she felt compelled to help her too.  She has tried to warn her but the friend’s comment was that her parents don’t care what she does.  


This article has safety tips for children and teens but is designed for parents with audio:  Internet Safety.  It also has a Spanish translation so I'll be able to use for many of the families of my ELL students as I begin to incorporate more technology.  It has been my experience that some families fear the internet so my friend and I have designed a Wiki page for them to find my information relevant to the education of their children.  

I think having similar conversations need to occur in classrooms in conjunction with monitoring students’ blogs/posts/etc.  Teachers may find examples of famous teen idols that have had their reputations ruined because of something exposed in the digital media.  Likewise, people (not just children) twitter without thinking about the consequences of their actions.  You can discuss how tweets have been hurtful to others or groups of others.  No matter how many times that person apologizes, that statement is out there.  People are free to judge accordingly.  Perhaps, these types of examples will make it more “real” to students that feel invincible or simply lack the understanding of the potential dangers and consequences of their actions.

References

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. (3rd ed.). Corwin Press.

New Literacies in the Digital World



New Literacies in the Digital World

New ‘literacies’ in the most simplistic of terms, to me, means that students and teachers alike use a variety of digital mediums for the sole purpose of determining and/or communicating meaning.  In order to do so, a series of skills must be developed including: computer literacy, critical literacy, traditional decoding and comprehension strategies, as well as cultural proficiency. 

While students and teachers each have their own set of standards as established by ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), these standards are essentially interconnected.  The following information was taken from the ISTE website.  To reference this resource, please use the following links: 

student:   http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-s-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2:

teacher:  http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-t-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2

NETS standards for Students	NETS Standards for Teachers
Creativity and Innovation/ Communication & Collaboration	Facilitate and Inspire Learning and Creativity
Both student and teacher apply existing knowledge for the purpose of learning.  Teachers model using creativity, innovativeness, and inventiveness in their lessons by designing real world applications promoting reflection, collaboration, and communication.  Students, in turn,  exemplify their own creativity as they engage in the tasks or explorations provided.
NETS standards for Students	NETS Standards for Teachers
Research & Information Fluency	Design & Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences & Assessments
Similarly, teachers design authentic learning experiences for students to engage in research; thus, building stamina.  By personalizing educational goals and fostering curiosities, students naturally plan their own process of inquiry, engage in higher order thinking tasks, and report results.  Teachers, naturally progress monitor and assess to inform further learning direction.
NETS standards for Students	NETS Standards for Teachers
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, & Decision Making	Model Digital Age Work & Learning
Students design and engage in projects that have real world application modeled and guided by the expertise of the teacher.  This process develops the collaborative and communicative skills of both student and teacher.
NETS standards for Students	NETS Standards for Teachers
Digital Citizenship	Promote & Model Digital Citizenship & Responsibility
Teachers model and teach safe, legal, and ethical use including etiquette and responsibility with the incorporation of technology; students simply follow the positive example and serve as role models for other students.
NETS standards for Students	NETS Standards for Teachers
Technology Operations & Concepts	Promote & Model Digital Citizenship & Responsibility
Students are able to incorporate their technological skills and effectively transfer those skills to the rapid advances in digital tools.  Teachers, likewise, must constantly be reflective practitioners, while maintaining knowledge of current pedagogy to continue to provide best practices in the area of technology for continued student achievement.

 Many of the standards described with the exception of digital etiquette, reflect or are connected to BEST practices for teaching ELL students.  It is my hope that as I learn more about different technological tools, I will be able to be more effective in my daily practices.  For example, using a variety of media will enhance how well I can incorporate scaffolding and/or sheltering strategies for my ELLs. 

References

International society for technology in education. (2012, October 01). Retrieved from      https://www.iste.org/

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. (3rd ed.). Corwin Press. 

My First Blog
Sooo, this is my first class in technology integration.  So far, it has been fun and fast paced :)  I am very excited to learn about all sorts of new tricks and tools. 

I like to play on the computer but spend too much time on it already so this is not going to help with my addiction.  However, I like to be able to keep up with my teenage girls and their friends.  :)