Looking Back and Ahead

As I look back at my first day of class, it is funny to think of how much I have learned from then to now. I have learned so much from this class and I truly feel that I am more prepared to teach 21^st century learners. Before I took this class, I simply thought that integrating technology in the classroom would mean bringing in IPads or laptops. However, I have learned that there is so much more to it. There are so many new and creative ways to employ tech into education that will allow students to grow in the 21^st century. For example, I believe that the Tick Tack Toe project will be very helpful for me when I am trying to create unique and fun lesson plans for my future students. I have the tools to create assignments that employ Smore, Blabberize, Popplet, Wordle, interactive images, and much more that will make my class interesting.

            I also think that the Trends in Ed Tech presentations were very helpful and will be useful when I am a student teacher and educator. These presentations were a great way to demonstrate new ways to integrate tech into the classroom that will be interesting and educational for the students. I am also very happy to say that this class will not only help my future students, but me as well. I now know how to make my own professional website, blog, and how to use Twitter to my advantage.  All of the assignments, lessons, and presentations have and will aid in my professional educator career.

            My opinion of technology in education really has changed. I now believe that it is extremely important for students to be submersed in a classroom that employs technology and popular tech tools. Students need to know how to use technology in their daily lives for it is so prevalent in today’s society. As I look ahead and into my career, I know that I will provide my students with the gift of technology, so both my students and I can become successful and effective 21^st century citizens. 

Digital Tattoo/ Data-mine

This weeks digital tattoo lesson really opened my eyes to how our information is “tattooed” on the digital world. Throughout my life I have seen many displays of digital tattoos while browsing social media, however I never knew that they could be defined as tattoos. For instance, I have seen many exhibitions of tribute on Facebook once somebody passes away or displays of love on all forms of social media such as statuses and pictures. It was fascinating to consider that these simple displays of pride, love, religion, status, etc. are essentially tattooed onto you as it is a presentation of yourself that will stick with you forever.

            This idea correlates with the data-mine activity as well. Our online presence is not temporary. Our digital tattoos become our digital image that says something about ourselves. The stranger data-mine activity truly showed how you do not even need to physically meet a person to know very personal information about them. Thus, we must be concerned about what we are throwing out into the Internet for all to see. We want to have a positive digital image that shows we are good, marketable, and significant people. There are so many sites that allow anyone to access your information, thus we must be careful. After participating in the activity, it was scary to see how much information is out there on people, therefore it is important to use the Internet wisely. I really enjoyed this lesson for it carried an important message along with it; our digital tattoos are our digital image, so lets make it a positive one!

Smore

In this sample I have created a Smore news bulletin about a current event. Within this assignment I asked the students to “create a news bulletin by making an online flyer via Smore.com. First you must research a current event and then use that research and include it in your news bulletin. You will then present your bulletin and inform your classmates about this event. Please include the following: An introduction/background of this event, where this event is most prevalent, 3 important facts that include detail, and any other aspects of this event that you find important.” I made a bulletin about the Ebola virus outbreak and included facts about symptoms, U.S contact, new medicines, origins, etc.

This tool was very easy to use. After you choose your flyer theme, it allows you to add titles, pictures, text, and more simply by typing a dragging. I can definitely see this tool helping with student instruction. It is a great way for students to organize ideas and create a clear presentation. The teacher can also use this if they wish to create a flyer or organize their instruction or lessons. I could see myself using Smore in my classroom because it is a new and easy way to display ideas through technology. These flyers and bulletins are clean, organized, and will provoke higher-level thinking for the students. 

My Smore

ThingLink

In this sample assignment I have created a ThingLink about William Shakespeare. Within this assignment I have asked to students to “Create an interactive image using ThingLink about an author of your choice. Include links, images, videos, resources, etc. that you consider useful to the research of this author.” In my ThingLink I have included a YouTube video bio, a link to absoluteshakespeare.com, a link to all of Shakespeare’s works, a link to Amazon’s Shakespeare page, a link to a lexicon dictionary, a link to his birthplace page, a mock Shakespeare Twitter, and a link to a list of some of the best Shakespeare movie adaptions.

This tool was very easy to use. You simply find an image and create tags in which you copy and paste the links into. I can really see this tool helping student instruction. It is a great way to provide resources in a new way for the students; and it is also a unique way for students to create an interactive project to present to the class so they can learn off of each other. I would certainly use this tool in my classroom; students will love this interactive method of viewing important resources and to creating a visually appealing display. ThingLink is an excellent use of technology in the classroom as it allows students to view the subject in an attractive and organized fashion. 

My ThingLink

Blabberize

Within this sample I have created a Blabber of Robert Frost explaining upcoming assignment to the students. The assignment is “Create a Blabber by using Blabberize of any of the authors from the pieces you have read this year. Create a speech that you think they would present about the piece you have read.”

Using Blabberize was fairly easy. The only trouble I had was cutting out the mouth to make the image look like it was actually speaking. I had to redo it many times before it started to look right. It was very easy to record my voice off of the microphone on my laptop. Blabberize leads you through an easy step-by-step process to create your Blabber.

I think that this is a great tool to use with students. It is great for introducing topics or allowing the Blabber to explain an idea and speak for you.  It can also be used for an actual assignment, as the students would create their own blabber to present an idea. I can truly see this tool helping with student instruction because it grabs their attention in a unique way. Students will enjoy a new “character” presenting the teacher’s ideas and assignments for them. It is also a good tool for the students to use because they will get a chance to use technology in the classroom and speak from the perspective of their Blabber character. I would definitely use this tool in my classroom; it is a fun and new way to instruct and allow students to integrate technology. 
My Blabberize

Media Literacy

Media Literacy Discussion

I really enjoyed the media literacy discussion that we had today. It was very interesting to see how the media works to persuade and impact us through their advertisements and other various forms of media. This discussion was a great way to display how the media controls the message and the different tools that advertisers use that allow us to have a reaction to that message that they wish to give off.

The Media and Students

I believe that media literacy is something that students need to be taught throughout their education. People (and children especially) are very impressionable and can be easily persuaded. I believe that we must demonstrate how and why the media works to influence our society to do, buy, and believe something. If we are aware of how the media does this, we will then be prepared for what the media presents us and we can strive away from giving into ideas that are simply trying to convince us to side with them. Teaching media literacy will also allow for students to be able to question the media, and choose how they will react to it.

Shocking Ideas

I am very much aware that the media does attempt to persuade us to do, buy, or believe something, however; some concepts in today’s presentation surprised me. For example, I did not know about the Boston Marathon bomber who appeared on the Rolling Stones cover controversy. It is truly shocking that the media would allow him to be perceived as a rock star after the tragedy that he had caused. I also was shocked to hear about the Dove commercials and how they are essentially being hypocrites when considering the media. Dove has made many advertisements that provide the idea that the media gives off a skewed perception of women through their ads, however they are also owned by the same company who supplies AXE commercials that state that if men wear AXE women will chase after them. This shows how the media provides ideas that can be ultimately false or made just to influence you into giving in to the product or idea. Media literacy is a very important topic to discuss and teach all students. 

Google Images