Emerging Tech Day 3 Reflection

Three features that I want to add to my blog:
1. Shelfari Link
2. Links to other teachers
3. More gadgets

Two new ways I want to use my blog in the classroom:
1. I want set up a classroom or unit blog to reflect on daily lessons.
2. I want the students to generate the reflections as a class and to occasionally use the COWs for students to write personal reflections that I can upload for them.

One commitment I want to make in using new technology in my classroom:
1. With limited internet access in the juvenile detention facilities, I want to plan lesson using the tools through the teacher computer to expose students to the technology.

Daniel Pink

Jeff Heil just shared a great video with us by Daniel Pink; he is an American Writer who focuses on changing the world of work. This is related to our SAGE project which is being developed as an RtI model in the juvenile detention facilites. The video and SAGE are based on Motivation. Many people are extrinsically motivated by money, whereas many successful companies hve been motivated by purpose, mastery, and meaning.
Check it out...

Classroom Blog Idea

As I'm sitting in the 3rd day of the Technology Training, I just thought of a fun way to use a blog and review/reflect on the day's lesson. I need to talk with my co-teachers, Dan and Steve, about creating a classroom or unit blog for each of the school groups. The students can use the Smart Board or the teacher can type in as the students collaboratively generate a summary about what they learned in class...they can summarize a math or English lesson and include areas that need additional clarification.  Before each class, we can review the previos blog post. There are some amazing web-based applications shared in the Live Binder; however, internet access is limited in the juvenile detention setting. My goal is to utilize the tools in the classroom to give the students exposure to the applications.

Hooray!

I just finished my Master's Thesis! It took me a while but I am quite happy with the final product! Thank you to everyone who has helped me through this whole process!

Aesop

Learned about AESOP today...it is an automated system to assign subs for teachers and other positions. As teachers, we tend to forget that there is a whole world outside of our classrooms and that there is A LOT of support staff and administrators out there who also want what is best for students. To all the paraprofessionals, teacher's assistants, office staff, administrators, janitors, and any other position that exists within a school system...Thank You! When a request comes from the office, it may seem insignificant in the classroom...but it ends up being a big deal somewhere else. Just like our days go by better when students listen, pay attention, and follow directions...we should do the same:)

Today would be a success if...

I am at the 2nd day of the Emerging Technology Training.  The tech guys are doing a fabulous job of sharing various tech tools that are beneficial for teachers to build PLNs through Twitter, Blogger, and Delicious.  I am excited to learn about other ideas such as Prezi, Comic Life, Wall Wisher, and other tools that I can use in my classroom with my students.  Today would be a success if I can share this information with my co-teachers and include more technology in our lesson designs.

Alan November-Myths & Opportunities Video

This was an interesting video!  Mr. November talked about how technology has changed education; it has changed from a comprehensive classroom with the teacher being the presenter of knowledge to the classroom being a community of learners where students learn from each other.  This has been a difficult change to accept for some teachers because it shifts control away from the teacher.  The internet and technology has resulted in a loss of critical thinking because so much knowledge is available to students who are able to cut and copy what they need.  Mr. November is proposing that teachers change their thinking and ways in the classroom to utilize emerging technology to teach research skills and enforce critical thinking.  This shift will make students analyze information they find and reflect on their personal learning.  Students can direct their own learning through assignment design.  Mr. November also says that learning this way will teach students skills that are essential in the work place; it is teaching students to work as a collaborative team.  One idea that I would like to try is the idea of a scribe.  One student takes class notes while other students participate in the lesson.  After the lesson, all the students review the notes together and edit information for accurateness, which again makes students reflect and review.