Using technology as a meet and greet

Recently my family and I have decided to make the move back north to Vermont from North Carolina. I was able to secure a job as a 4th grade teacher at the school I went to as an elementary student. I collaborated with the teacher I am going to replace and we put together a "Meet and Greet" where my students could meet the students I am going to have next year and my future students could meet me. Technology is awesome! Click the link below to read all about our experience. 

Class MEET AND GREET!

Experimenting with Google Apps

This past year has been the most that I have integrated Google Apps in my classroom. I have been teaching first grade for 4 years and at first I thought that it would be intimidating trying to teach students how to use these tools, but it they caught on very easily. I found that Google Docs is what I used a lot of this year. I had them "publish" their written pieces in Google Docs and it was very easy for me to read and edit their written pieces. I also used Google Forms and Google Sheets with the parents of the students in my class. I used Google forms for my end of the year survey of their experience with me as their child's teacher. I loved seeing the results! I also used Google Sheets for parents to sign-up for different events (Conferences, volunteering, and for supplies to donate for events in the classroom). The parents loved these tools. 

My experiences with Google Apps has been nothing but positive. I like how they are free and everything is automatically saved and the best thing, it is live! Results come through quickly and they are easy to access.

The survey below was created for classroom teachers to survey on their classroom experiences and interests.

Teacher Experience Survey

Click the link below for my survey results: 
Survey Results

Social Networking in Schools

In today’s classroom, technology is used to engage learners, inspire students to think independently and critically. Students of today, have grown-up alongside technology and social media. It has become a natural part of their everyday life. Technology is ever evolving and changing and will not ever go away. To properly prepare students for the real life skills they will need to have when entering the world outside of the classroom walls, technology has to be a part of their educational journey. The 21^st century student is defined using the word “technology”.

With technology comes social media. More and more classrooms are beginning to incorporate social media into their classrooms. It is a way to continue school outside the classroom walls. But, when it comes to social networking in schools there are some pros and cons associated with it.

Challenges with Social Media in schools:

1.     Lack of Knowledge: social media sites need to be managed and used by professionals that understand social media in order to maintain an authentic and safe experience.

2.     Initial Experiences: upon initial viewing of the social media site, if it does not interest the person viewing it they will not be interested in using it.

3.     Lack of Features: lack of experiences for students due to security settings or just minimal features included on the social media site. Students may become bored or uninterested if there are minimal features.

Successes with Social Media in schools:

1.     Safe communities: many social media sites allow teachers to control the security settings making for a safer environment to learn.  

2.     Collaboration in encouraged: social media encourages collaboration among students, teachers and parents.

3.     Accessibility: social media can allow anyone to access anything that you publish online if you allow it.

References

Gleen, D. (2012, February 7). How Well Are Schools Using Social Media? [Infographic]
SocialTimes. Retrieved from http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/how-well-are-schools-using-social-media-infographic/90209?red=st

Digital Footprint

When it comes to my digital footprint, I leave very few trails. I have a Facebook account that is completely private. I make sure that I use a name that is not my exact first and last name where I am easily identified. I have a website that is connected through the school I work at. With my Google account I do not let just anyone into my Google+ Circle. I also have an account on Pinterest and Instagram that family and friends follow. I make sure that I do not share too much private information about my life on Facebook or on any online account. Pictures that I post onto my accounts I always make sure or appropriate and professional.

Personally, I feel that today’s generations of kids are very liberal when it comes to digital media. They are very eager to post pictures and statuses of their every move throughout the day. It makes it very easy for anyone to follow these particular students online. It can become a great fear of parents when their child is posting everything over the internet. I think that it is important for schools, especially 1:1 schools or B.Y.O.D. schools to offer a night where the students and parents learn about digital citizenship. Inform the students AND the parents on the dangers of your digital footprint. 

As an educator I feel that it is important to students at an early age about their digital footprint. Today, students are starting to use a variety of devices as soon as they can walk (and sometimes sooner). It is crucial to help them understand the importance of their digital footprint. When teaching students about this topic ask them the following questions…

·         If we were to look you up online what would we learn about you? 

·         What are your digital footprints? 

·         Is there anything online that you wouldn't want your teacher or parent to know about you? 

(EdTech Team, 2015)

Below are some videos that teachers could show their students to help introduce the topic of the impact of their digital footprint.

References

Common Sense Media - Digital Footprint Intro [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuepKmROKzQ

EdTech Team. (2015). A Great Guide on Teaching Students about Digital Footprint ~ Educational   Technology and Mobile Learning. Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/04/a-great-guide-on-teaching-students.html

Oversharing: Think Before You Post [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyjd73tUXig

Technology's Role in Schools Today

By definition a “Technology integration specialists are necessary for creating and implementing sound pedagogical curriculum as well as providing professional development, going as far as “coaching” teachers within schools.” (SNHU, 2015). 

Throughout my courses at SNHU I have been able to pull together thoughts around what my idea of a technology integration specialist and it is as follows: 

-Work closely with teachers planning curriculum that is technology rich. 

-Deliver professional development throughout the year on various technology tools and how to enhance the learning process using technology.

-Model and mentor teachers on how to properly implement technology in the classroom.

-Work closely with students and teachers to facilitate instruction on how to use technology effectively. 

-Educate families and community members on the importance of technology in our schools.

-Collaborate with administration and office staff on cost effective ways to integrate technology. As well as, communicate your ideas and strategies to them. 

-Organize technology nights and other programs to get the families and communities involved with exciting technology things that are happening on campus.

As teachers in the 21st-century, you are providing students with access to digital technologies that will enhance the students learning experiences. Providing students will opportunities to access the Core Standards in a more creative and collaborative way through technology. “21st Century learning is about the experiences, not about the tools you are using.” (Warlick, D., 2010, para. 3). When developing and planning a curriculum you must always as yourself as an educator, what do I want my students to gain from this experience? What are the desired results? Once you have established the desired result(s) then you can begin planning the learning experiences to reach these desired results. It is here in this step that you should, as a 21st Century teacher, begin asking yourself, “Which ICT (information and communication technologies) best channels these experiences?” (Warlick, D., 2010, para. 7). 

Students in the 21st-century are more engaged and motivated to learn through the use of technology. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE standards) have provided a framework for students that clearly defines how technology can be an effective tool to enhance the students learning experiences. The ISTE standards for students are measured as follows (ISTE, 2007):

1. Creativity and innovation
2. Communication and collaboration
3. Research and information fluency
4. Critical thinking, problem solving and decision making
5. Digital citizenship
6. Technology operations and concepts 

Students are now taking control of their learning experiences and the teachers are becoming facilitators to their learning. “Technology is students’ connection to the world.” (SNHU, 2015). Students are now able to virtually explore other parts of the world without leaving their classroom. They are collaborating with students all over the world as well--becoming global citizens. With the introduction of technology integration in the classroom the educational world has made huge gains when it comes to opportunities and experiences for students. 

References

International Society for Technology in Education. (2007). ISTE Standards Students. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf

SNHU. (2015, April). Module One: Reviewing the Role of the Technology Integration Specialist (State/National Standards) [PDF]. Retrieved from https://bb.snhu.edu

Warlick, D. (2010, August 16). Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 1 : 2¢ Worth [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://2cents.onlearning.us/?p=2712