Are Online Learning Experiences For You?

I started high school in the Fall of 1997 and graduated in the spring of 2001.  After high school I continued my education at UNCW from 2001 to 2005.  During my education, I was never enrolled in an online class.  I thought that online classes where for slackers who didn't want to go to real class.  I didn't think I would learn much from enrolling in an online class. 

Fast forward to the year 2010, when I enrolled in CMU's online master's program in educational technology.   After a lot of research, I decided I would take the chance with online classes.  I had nothing to lose.  It was definitely more convenient than face to face classes.   I am happy to say my experience has been a positive and my opinion has definitely changed about online classes. 

Just like face to face classes, the possibility of having a negative experience with online classes does exist.   Edutopia blogger, Heather Wolpert-Gowran, discusses importance of the teacher in the online learning experience.  To sum up her main ideas Wolpert- Gowran created a checklist, of sorts, for the 5 most important components needed for a blended learning environment.

Checklist for Making a Successful Blended Learning Environment

1.  The first meeting of the class should be face to face or, at least, real time. Use software such as Wimba, or Skype to hold virtual class.

2. Assessments should be real time with a choice of face to face.

3. There should be multiple meetings throughout the course that are synchronously conducted.

4.  Differentiate your content delivery and discussion methods.

5. Keep class size limited (Wolpert-Gowran, 2011).

All of the components do make sense and seem logical.  However, some of them may not work in every type of program, especially ones that serve students from across a large area.  Many, if not all of this components, have been incorporated into almost all of my online learning experiences.

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Works Cited

Wolpert-Gowran, H.  Blended Learning: Combining Face to Face and Online Education. Edutopia. Retrieved July 28, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-online-learning-heather-wolpert-gawron.

5 Years of High School?

Who in the world would want to extend some of the most agonizing and jaded years of their lives from 4 to 5?  To another year of hall passes, tardies, homework and dress codes.  My brother did! He has always been the type that likes school (aka nerd), but this much, geez?!

Disclaimer: My brother knows very well is is a nerd, and that his oldest sister writing this blog is one as well.

5 years ago my younger brother told me he would be going to high school for 5 years instead of 4. 

"Wait, why," I asked?  My brother was already a year older than most in his grade because he started kindergarten a year later than most. "You will graduate when you are almost 20 years old." I said back concerned. 

"But, I will have an associates degree when I graduate and a diploma," answered my brother.

I have to admit at the time I was skeptical.  My brother graduated from high school this year with 116 hours of college credit, almost a bachelors degree.  He will be transferring in to University of North Carolina -Chapel Hill to be a Tarheel this fall to major in linguistics.  I couldn't be prouder and very glad he had the foresight (and my Dad to make him) choose this path.

Education Week recently posted an article about Maine moving to a five year high school plan to ease the transition from high school to college.  They are modeling their plan off observations of North Carolina's plan.  I can say from my own personal skepticism and worries, it is worth it.   I do have to say though Maine's plan seems to provide free college credits and I know my Dad did pay for my brother's. I think Maine is on to something here.  For most students that have a hard time transitioning from high school to college, financing is often one of the more intimidating factors.
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Works Cited

Associated Press.  Maine Gov. Wants 5 Year High School.  Education Week.  Published July 26, 2011 online.  Retrieved July 26, 2011 from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/07/26/444373me5yearhighschool_ap.html

Wetoku?

What is Wetoku?  No, it's not a made up word for some type of animated character (think Pikachu).   It's a web tool used to do interviews (Dabbs, 2011).  It is also the topic of "Summer PD:  New Teacher Boot Camp Week 4 - Using Wetoku."  This tool seems really useful and practical.   It works "sorta" like Skype, but doesn't require any extra software to be downloaded.  It is all web based (Dabbs, 2011), an advantage for using it on school computers.

After reading Dabbs' blog and watching her screencast (see below) I could think of many useful ways to use this web tool in science.  It could be used to interview someone from a country that uses the metric system (our students are really bad with metric measurements).  It could be used to interview a scientist or professor in another town, city, state, or country for research projects.  It could be used to make mock interviews where the students pretend to be an expert on a topic we studied (especially using the one way interview mode).  

I could really see using this tool to a greater extent in a social studies class.  It could be used to connect with people all around the world.   The possibilities are seem pretty limitless.




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Works Cited

Dabbs, L.  Summer PD: New Teacher Boot Camp Week 4 - Using Wetoku.  Edutopia. Retrieved July 26, 2011 from <iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ozYtZafwDwE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Bigger Dreams With Technology

When was the last time you used technology to do something faster and more efficient?  I know I use it everyday and what seems like all the time.   As much as technology has made the average person's life easier it has done even more for people that have special needs.  

Diane Curtis, an Edutopia blogger, explored this topic in a recent blog entry.  The use of assistive technology opened opportunities for students in numerous ways.  Some of the students literally used it as their only means of communication with others.  Others used it to complete written school work in college.  One student's story explained how he used it to overcome the odds and play a musical instrument.  Just as to me, he was an inspiration for his whole community that stepped up and helped him replace his stolen instrument. 

Most people seem to take the advancements in technology for granted.  Without technology most people can still write, talk, use their hands, hear, and communicate.  However, technology is growing to become a very important and essential piece to providing all students a chance to reach their potential.

Watch the video blog from Diane Curtis and Edutopia below.





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Works Cited

Curtis, D. How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams. Edutopia. Retrieved July 23, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video

Where's Your Humanity?

With the ever growing focus on STEM education, where do the humanities fit in?  Will they or should they just be ignored or overlooked? 

This was the topic of Edutopia blogger, Bill Smoot, in his latest entry "Humanities in the 21st Century."  Smoot, English teacher, voices his concern that humanities will be over looked and become unfortunately irrelevant in our fast paced technology enhance cultures.  I too, even as a science teacher, wonder this often. 

I personally think important life lessons are learned by studying the humanities. Our history, who we are, how we got here is all intertwined in this important sector of curriculum.  How can we be sure of where we are headed without knowing where we came from? 

With technology advancements making our world smaller each day and connecting with people from all around the world easier, its important that our students know who they are and what they stand for and believe.  To me it seems that the humanities are becoming even more important in the 21st century; they are the threads keeping us together in a increasingly virtual world.

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Works Cited
Smoot, B.  Humanities in the 21st Century.  Edutopia. Retrieved July 21, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/humanities-twenty-first-century-bill-smoot?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

A Student's Bill of Rights

Edutopia blogger, Nichalos Provenzano, shared his experiences teaching the founding documents of our country in his recent blog entry "Creating Classroom Rules with a Bill of Student Rights."  He explains that he lets the class come up with their own founding documents after students study our nation's and the history behind them.  He mentions in return the students learn US history and  help create a cooperative classroom environment. 

I like this idea, however, I don't have the pleasure of teaching US history and the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution.  Hmmm, maybe I could incorporate this type of deciding rules as a class to our lab group contracts.  This seems to be where my middle school students struggle the most.  As a class, they do okay with respect and safe learning environment, probably because I'm there to make sure it all works out.  It is in their own individual lab groups where the discontent begins.   Maybe at the beginning of the year we could come up with "Bill of Lab Team Member Rights."  It may take a little time to organize and explain but in the long run, I think this would solve, maybe, some of the squabbles I have to deal with as middle school teacher. 

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Works Cited
Provenzano, N.  Creating Classroom Rules with a Bill of Student's Right. Edutopia.  Retrieved July 21, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/bill-student-rights-classroom-rules-nicholas-provenzano?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

A Science Podcast

Okay. . .so I normally don't assign extra credit projects, but I think I just had a "light bulb" moment.  I stumbled across this blog about using Web 2.0 tools in science class.  Perfect for me to find some inspiration for a blog tonight.   This teacher, like me, is taking a class on Web 2.0 tools.  She also teaches science and lives in my home state of NC.   She has many blog entries on a whole "slew" of Web 2.0 tools and that's where I came across her entry on podcasts in science. 

Some of her ideas include

• interviewing a famous scientist
• making a radio commercial for a new science discovery
• interviewing a Nobel Prize winner
• making and singing a science song

The list goes on with a few more that are equally exciting.    This could be a good opportunity for me to test out these ideas.  Give them as extra credit the first go around.   After using Audacity this week to make my own podcast, I know with a little guidance the students could do it also.  She also mentions a podcast hosting website called PodBean.  I haven't investigated it yet but it sounds promising. 

Now once September rolls around, I'll have to pick and choose which of these cool new Web 2.0 tools I want to try first.  Right now I'm kinda feeling like a kid on Christmas morning trying to decide which present to open first!

Link to Web 2.0 Tips for Science Teachers: http://mtoran.blogspot.com/


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Works Cited

Toran, M.  Podcast in the Science Classroom.  Web 2.o Tips for Science Teachers. Retrieved July 16, 2011 from http://mtoran.blogspot.com/2009/08/podcasts-in-science-classroom.html

Everday Technology Used in the Classroom

Edutopia posted the following series of short video clips of teachers explaining how they use certain technologies in their classrooms.  Some of the technologies are those you wouldn't typically think of using in the classroom.



I liked and thought most of these ideas were interesting.  Most of these videos show teachers using technology I already know how to use or even have at my own home.  My comfort level with these tools are right on. I even have a Wii that I never play myself anymore.   This has inspired me to brainstorm more ways to use my Wii. Hmmmmm? Any ideas?

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Works Cited

Borovoy, A.  How to Use New-Media Tools in Your Classroom. Edutopia. Retrieved July 16, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-new-media-classroom-tips-video?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

A New Way For Students To Use Their Voices

Have you ever assigned a presentation for a project, rubric and all? Have you ever had to try and remember if the group said this or that in their presentation even though you could have swore you were paying attention during the thirty presentations that you listened to that day?

VoiceThread is an online tool that could solve this problem.  No more death by the same presentation over and over again!  With VoiceThread students can upload a photo/image and add comments to it.  The comments can be in the form of video, audio, or text.  It provides a wide range of opportunities for all students to participate.  Even those whose don't feel comfortable talking in front of the class. 

This is Week 2 of New Teacher Boot Camp in Lisa Dabbs Edutopia blog.  She even invited a teacher who regularly uses VoiceThread to help explain how it can be used practically in the classroom.  I have to say I was very intrigued and that's where my idea about presenations came up.  With VoiceThread my students can create their presentations and add in their comments for me.  I then have the ability to go back and reference and grade the projects anytime and anywhere that I can log on to Voice Thread.  Now this isn't the only way to use VoiceThread in classroom instruction.  There are plenty of other applications mention in Dabb's blog.  She provides a variety of resources for tips on how to integretate this Web 2.0 tool into your classroom!

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Works Cited
Dabbs, L.  Summer PD: New Teacher Boot Camp: Using VoiceThread. Edutopia. Retrieved July 12, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/voicethread-new-teacher-boot-camp?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Twitter in Science?

Okay. . . so lets dream of a world where we could trust our students to bring their cell phones,iPads,or iPods to class to use only for tweeting about science.  I really like the idea of using Twitter to keep students engaged.  In the last year I have been apart of a team called "TLT" or Teachers Learning Together.  Our main focus has been getting and keeping the students engaged in class.  In a perfect world I would use Twitter.  This could work on so many levels.

1.  Most would be motivated by the use of this "hip/trendy" use of technology in class.

2.  I could get students to summarize their learning in snippets of 140 characters or less, therefore, getting my students to get down to the most important ideas.

3.  Its a great way to brainstorm together with all the ideas posting to the board as the students come up with them.

4.  It could be used as a great tool to review with by having students post their own questions and their classmates answering each others' questions.

5. Oh, and I did I mention the motivation factor here! Huge!

Man, I want a Twitter account now! Maybe I can figure out how to get this started and then take it back to my TLT group next school year.

Here's a link to a blog entry by Chris O'Neal about using Twitter in the classroom.  It's a few years old but gives "rookies," like myself, good tips about getting started with and using Twitter in the classroom.

Tweet Spot: Web 2.0 Educators are ATwitter about Twitter

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Works Cited

O'Neal, C. Tweet Spot: Web 2.0 Educators Are ATwitter About Twitter. Edutopia. Retrieved July 9, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/twitter-social-networking-tool

The Teacher That Could!

So, my middle school was chosen to participate in a program called STEM Champions.   Its basically a program for teachers to develop problem based learning projects and implement them in their classroom.  The program consist of going to the MACUL conference every year, summer workshops, and online interaction with our coaches.  So far the project seems interesting and challenging at the same time, which is where I am at now.  Along with doing the required work for my graduate classes, I know have to turn in a calendar of lesson plans for my project I developed back in June.  To say the least, I'm procrastinating and oddly enough homework is helping me! Ha.  Well as if it was a sign from somewhere above, I stumbled across this video blog in my Google Reader!  Okay, Okay I will get started.  This video "kinda" reminded me that I can do it!   In times like this when I feel intimidated and challenge by what lies ahead, I just remember what a teacher once told me, "Changing is easy, it's improving that's hard!"

"Wordle Up" in Summer Boot Camp

Edutopia blogger, Lisa Dabbs, is running a "New Teacher Boot Camp" through her blog enhanced with videos.  She updates this blog weekly by explaining and demonstrating a free online tool each week.  This week was the Wordle week.

Granted, I am not a new teacher, but I, myself, have found her "Boot Camp" useful this week. I had never heard of Wordle before this blog entry.  So what exactly is Wordle?

According to Dabbs, Wordle can be described as an online tool used to create word maps of the words found in a passage (2011).  You type the passage into Wordle and a word cloud of the most used and repeated words in the passage is created.  The more times a word is repeated the larger it appears in the word map.  The font and color of each word can be changed to fit your artistic flair.

She then goes on to give uses of Wordle in the classroom ranging from typing assessments to book reports.  She also gives links to more resources for using Wordle.  I particularly like the "Never Ending Journey Blog" by History Geek, as a resource.

Now my brain is reeling trying to fin ways to use Wordle in science class!! Any ideas?


Example of a Wordle using my blog entries as the passages:

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Works Cited:
Dabbs, L.  Summer PD: New Teacher Boot Camp Week 1- Using Wordle. Retrieved July 6, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/new-teacher-boot-camp-wordle-lisa-dabbs?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Training Wheels

My 5 year old nephew is spending the summer with me. . . I know you probably are thinking I'm crazy, but I'm actually enjoying it immensely.  This week my nephew learned how to ride his bike without training wheels with guidance and patience from my wonderful husband (Uncle Dan).  At first my nephew was a bit overwhelmed.  "Push off with this foot, now keep your balance, pedal faster." There was a lot for his little mind to coordinate.  With this being said, there aren't words to explain the feeling of independence you feel when riding off into the sunset down the sidewalk for the first time! 

I felt the same "whooaaa" feeling when I heard about Google Plus.  I was just getting a handle on all the Web 2.0 tools. In other words, in bike riding terms, I had just gotten comfortable with my "Web 2.0 training wheels."  Now there is the whole Google Plus thing.  What is Google Plus? Why do I have to have an invitation?  Who hands out invitations?  How can I get one?  Is it work the trouble?   I'm starting to feel like someone just gave me a Google Plus 10 speed bicycle for birthday!  I'm really excited about trying it out, but a little nervous and overwhelmed at the same time.  I just can't wait for that feeling indescribable feeling of independence from using Google Plus all by myself!

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References

Watters, A. Is This the Social Tool Schools Have Been Waiting For?.  Retrieved July 2, 2011 fromhttp://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_plus_education.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+readwriteweb+%28ReadWriteWeb%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Defective Binders: A Play by A Frustrated Teacher

A typical day in a 7th grade science class.  The students are working at their desk on a reccently assigned research project.  Mrs. Butcher is helping one particular student at his desk that is covered in crumpled papers.

Mrs. Butcher:  Messy Middle Schooler, I think you should take that binder there back to the store!

Messy Middle Schooler: Why?

Mrs. Butcher:  Because, it's the only binder that I have ever seen that crumples the papers that gets put in instead of keeping them nice and neat!

Messy Middle Schooler: Oh, (laughs) I guess that's true.

Mrs. Butcher:  Everyone knows this student!  Finally a binder that may work for them.  A binder that actually may motivate Messy Middle Schooler to say organized. 

(LiveBinders enter stage left with drum roll)

Mrs. Butcher: LiveBinders is a virtual binder online that is customizable for everyone.  Students can collect information in the form of websites, blogs, video clips, well almost anything on the Internet to put and organize into their binders.

Messy Middle Schooler: So, like, I can put in all the important info. and stuff for class in a binder online so I don't lose it.

Mrs. Butcher: Yep, you got it.  Now, I need you to research and collect information about the latest tsunami and earthquake in Japan.  Make sure you organize your information in easy to understand sections.

Messy Middle Schooler: Sweet! With LiveBinders even the biggest earthquake and tsunami won't mess up my papers!
. . . .
Okay so maybe this is how it would work in a perfect world, but hey can't a teacher dream.  I like the idea of using LiveBinders as an organization tool for middle schoolers during research projects.  LiveBinders could serve as a formative assessment on how the project is going for each student.  No more printing off a ton of copies for the students and since LiveBinders is accessible anywhere there is an Internet connection, no more excuse about leaving those papers in their locker!


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References

Hertz, M.B.  Summer PD: A Primer on Compiling Digital Resources.  Retrieved July 1, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tools-manage-digital-resources-mary-beth-hertz?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Flipped Classrooms?

Until following the Edutopia blog on my new google reader account, I had never heard of a "flipped" classroom.  I have heard of Flip Cameras, ones that plup into a computer, so I could only assume a "flipped" classroom  had something to do with a computer.  According to the Betty Ray, author of Report from EduBloggerCon ISTE 2011: Trends and Tools, a flipped classroom is  a class where most or all of the instruction happens via podcast or online videos, and the classroom time is reserved for dicussion with classmates and solving real life problems applying the instruction delivered online. 

I like this idea of a flipped classroom.  The blog also states that flipped classrooms work better with older students that need less direction.  It also mentions how this may change the role of the classroom teacher.  I don't completely agree with because even though the role of the teacher may change during the face to face time, for the online instruction the teacher still has to do the planning, designing, and implementing that a traditional teacher does.  It just happens to be all online, in a different medium.  

Even though I teach middle schoolers, I think I can implement this idea of a flipped classroom in small increments.  Flip one lesson at a time, move to flipping a whole unit, and so on.  Of course, there will be some middle schoolers that need more direction.  That is why I think I would reserve class time to do the flipped part too, and then reserve time after the flipped session for class discussion.  So even though the class isn't totally flipped and independent, the students are getting use to the idea.
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Works Cited

Ray,B. Report from EduBloggerCon at ISTE 2011: Trends and Tools. Retreived July1, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/edubloggercon11-iste11?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader