Foundations

Where would you rate yourself in each area?
Where do you think you could reasonably be at the end of the next grading period?
What steps will you need to take in order to make the growth happen?

After this weeks lesson, combined with my first lesson for My Big Campus class, and the awesome help from Alicia Clark on Symbaloo, I feel renewed and ready to tackle anything.  Of course no one knows how long that feeling may last, but it sure feels good right now. 

Sadly i must admit that I believe i fit into the Entry and Adoption categories at this point, but, mostly into the Entry category.   I want to push myself and my students into the Adaptation category and I believe this will be a tremendous challenge.

Teaching in a moderate special needs classroom presents its own set of problems.  My students enjoy using the computer, but the biggest problem I have is keeping them on the directed site.  They all know how to surf and I don't mean in the water!  

When they are given assignments behaviors often occur because they are redirected back to the original site time and time again.  If it happens today it will happen again tomorrow.  Most of my students do not have access to the internet at home and feel like it should be a toy when they are allowed to use it.   I don't see this as being any different than regular education students, the problem is my students may be a bit more stubborn (to borrow Mrs. Brewster's word) about follow directions.  Their desire to do something for the good of learning, or earning a grade is just not there.  By the way, I do remove students from the computers after they are redirected two times.  It is not a pretty site to see their fits.  i also have tried letting students use the computers before school and during break times.  This activity has shown very poor results and has caused many extreme behaviors. 

I feel with the empowerment I am getting from this class I will be able to present more meaningful lessons that include the use of technology.  Currently I use a Smart Board in my classroom and I am proficient in doing so.  However, the whole group instruction is usually not ideal because students choose not to pay attention, stare off into space or bug each other.  Typically I will have one and maybe two students who really enjoy the Smart Board presentations and are able to answer questions about materials covered.

I have also used the Smart Board in small group settings letting the students do learning activities.  This has worked better, but often times leads to someone getting upset and having a meltdown.

I feel that the main thing I can do to engage my student with technology is to prepare more lessons that meet their personal interests.  With my new Symballo site and quizlet, along with some "read to me" sites I am armed with much more appropriate options to present.  i am excited to see just how far i can push myself and my students.  

if you hear someone screaming in room 207 don;t assume it is the students!  :)  

Moving Mindset

Well, week two is completed and I feel defeated.  I have reviewed each video and written assignment multiple times to make sure I was doing the assignment correctly.  I have been so stressed, wanting to get it "right" that I believe I have made it ten times harder than it should have been.  I am beginning to see a bit of OCD creeping into my character.  It may have actually been there all the time, but I believe I can control it most of the time.  

I have found that the characteristic of e-learning I both love and hate is the fact that I can review each article as many times as I need to do so.  I have found this to be a blessing and an obstacle.  I find myself reading into the assignments things that may or may not be there.    

I enjoyed Will Richardson's video "Waiting for Superman" and especially his story of his daughter using technology to advance her piano skills.  It seems that she was bored with her current assignments and took the initiative to teach herself.   That is what we can do with technology.  The information is available and we as teachers are not the only people who  hold the keys to knowledge.  Sadly, out students hold the key to technology.  The video "Engaging Digital Natives" was a great analogy of who is comfortable with technology.  I remember seeing my 1 year old grandson sit in my hallway with the I-Pad.  I didn't even own an I-Pad at that time, but I sure received a lesson from him.  He turned it on, scrolled through the pages to find the icon he wanted, PBS Kids, pressed the icon, waited for it to load and then selected the show he wanted to watch, Sesame Street.  I was amazed and quite intimidated by this little ones knowledge of technology.

I feel that I am learning a great deal through this e-learning class, but I still feel like I have a long way to go.   Last week I thought I was at the low end of effective.  This week I see myself at the low end of evolving in all areas.  The old saying " The more you know, the more you realize you don't know" surely applies to me.  I am, however, excited to be learning more about the use of technology in the classroom.

As I prepare for the coming school year I see myself having a "moving mindset" in allowing my students to access the computers more in their assignments.  Instead of having students make flashcards by cutting out pictures from magazines and glueing them to the back of the word card I plan to allow students to make their own flash cards using Quizlet and having them copy and paste their pictures to their cards.  It maybe a small step, but one I am very excited to start.

Reflections on Module 1: Introduction to Blended & Online Teaching

I believe I fall into the low end of the effective category in all areas of the rubric.  My goal for this class is to become highly effective in all areas on the discussion rubric for technology use.  I have not had any experience in blogging, but I do read several blogs of educational and personal interest.

Collaborating is one of my favorite things to do in the educational field.  I feel like I am an "ideas" person and always want to share with others.  I may however need to make my ideas more focused on the topic.