Thing #21 Screencasting

When I watch the videos on the flipped classroom I never know whether or not to be excited or frustrated! Kent ISD did a great series of courses on the Common Core Curriculum this summer--I went through two of the sessions. The "pre-class" work was on Moodle--a ton of reading, videos, surveys, etc. to wade through before the course even met. It was my first experience with a (kind-of) flipped class which was good ... because I had been assigned 2 blended learning courses of my own to teach this school year. I have taken baby steps (in my mind) towards a flipped class, but it has been difficult to come together. Towards the end of this course, I decided one of the best things I could do was look at the applications and platforms I've been introduced to and just start making a list--and incorporate something new each unit. Then, in the summer I add more. And next year I add more. I'm not always patient with myself because I want to do best by the kids--but this is my passion, now, and I'm having a blast!

I made a screencast of directions for sharing a Google doc--something my kids really need. Despite projecting my computer screen, printing out step-by-step directions, and posting how-to cards on each computer in my room ... they can never remember 1) my email 2.) to title the doc 3) not to send email. And the list goes on! I'm not 100% satisfied with the way I sound, but this will do for now (link)
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Thing #20 Video Streaming

I looked over a few of the sites--TeacherTube first of all because it sounded like it had so much promise. It was pretty lame, however. I found Photostory-like videos about symbolism and Lord of the Flies (my current unit), but, quite frankly, it wasn't anything I couldn't do. In fact, I was thinking video-videos when I went to the site--the fact the postings in many cases were Photostorys made me reconsider creating a few for my own classroom. For intros or notes I used to think Powerpoint (or if I'm really honest, transparencies!), and now I think Prezi or Voicethread. But why not a video? I have the images from my Powerpoints and the rest is easy as I learned in Thing 19. Sort of.

I also looked at Masher because I've heard mashups mentioned on NPR a couple times in the past few months and didn't really know what it was. It was mentioned in connection with copyright and the fact that mashups are changing copyright law. I think kids would absolutely LOVE this resource--I just don't know if we have the hardware at school to support this. But at least I could offer it for an option. (I did learn that mashups are video collages, not a Thanksgiving potato dish.)

I looked at the podcast information because my teaching colleague and I decided to have kids create a podcast as part of their assessment--we thought, "Oh, Audacity ... we know that from summer CCS work!" Oops--as of early October Audacity was not accepting new accounts. Kids had to take it from there. Most went to YouTube and just uploaded a photo or graphic and a voice over. That was disappointing, but I'd still like to pursue it. I'm not sure kids would need a teacher-created podcast, but I think they liked creating them. 

Thing #19 Digital Storytelling

Well, here is the screen shot of my storyboard--and I'm afraid I will need to update this post with the link to the face of my classroom. I've posted a question on the forum and am waiting for an answer. I can't find any way to upload the video file to Moodle or upload/embed it to my Weebly. *Sigh* I do have Weebly Pro so I dragged the 'upload video' element to my homepage--I made the video as an introduction. Another *sigh*. I've waited and waited after I "click(ed) here to upload video". No luck. Here's the link, anyway--www.larsonslanguage.weebly.com. Welcome to a big black screen.

In terms of using this in my classroom, I can think of many ways. In fact, our first nine week project was a Prezi and this nine weeks it will be a ... Photostory! I was impressed by how easy this was to use and it will leave the kids with a very professional product. The Photostory I made is an intro to moi--kind of a 'getting to know my teacher'.

There are many benefits to students in using Photostory for multiple means of expression. I have students with writing and reading disabilities--in an English class we have traditionally relied on essay writing and they, inevitably, feel as though they fall short of expectations. Using visual representation students can still express the concepts using photos, music, and minimal text. I even had this experience with Prezi this year--I have a student who is repeating my class. He has limited writing skills--but he did the Prezi ... well! ... and he (and me and mom and dad!) are so proud. He could work with ideas without the stress of intense writing.

Thing #18 Virtual Classroom

1.) I am beginning to extend my classroom--I have begun what I feel are baby steps in that direction. I have a Moodle course for my main teaching assignments, ELA 11 and yearbook and a Weebly for my AP kids. Two of my classes are labeled blended learning and, while I am trying, I feel woefully inadequate. I have more knowledge and training now than I did when I was assigned the blended learning classes, but I feel less adequate! Such a conundrum. I have told myself that I am moving in the right direction and I must cut myself some slack while I learn, but I still feel frustrated at times--I want to do so much more.

Since I need a "plan" for this assignment, I'll propose that I add more quizzes and forums to my Moodle course and also add at least one lesson that takes the kids on what used to be called, I think, a web quest.

2.) "The Michigan department of education defines online learning as "A structured learning activity that utilizes technology with intranet/internet-based tools and resources as the delivery method for instruction, research, assessment, and communication."  If a classroom teacher effectively uses their Moodle course to deliver instruction and also incorporates Web 2.0 resources, this component can be met. I think the the operative word here, though, is "effectively". It will be possible for teachers to talk the talk--but not all online learning is created equal. Who will oversee whether or not a particular course meets the online requirements? OR, will students just need to go to sites like Michigan Virtual High School or E2020. I have mixed feelings about both--while they do meet online learning, they are not exactly the most interactive options for kids.

Thing #17 Professional Learning Networks

1.)

I signed up for a Learnport account sometime in the past two years when we had a speaker/presentation from the ISD for some PD or other. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against ISD PD--but the whole staff of us was just instructed to sign up and told it was a great resource for our online learning component. I did nothing with the account after that--and, sad to say, I'm guessing I'm not in the minority! (In fact, I only retrieved my log-in and password by checking a memo I put on my phone.) Now I'm asked to use Learnport again and my first reaction is not a pretty one--cut to eye roll ala a sixteen-year-old. But, truth be told, since I've now taken 3 classes with a significant online component I can "get over it" a lot quicker!

And--I have to say I'm kind of intrigued. I think it would take some digging to find a class I'd be happy with--I also notice that the classes are from ISDs all over the country? The sign up looks a little convoluted; a couple classes asked me to sign up with LEarnport AND the sponsoring organization. But I would gladly do a class or two each year--our Kent ISD has given me the online bug and I think it is SO the way to do PD.

2.) I know a number of teachers who have Facebook pages for their classrooms. Some actually signed up for an account under their classroom identity and have to sign in back and forth between their personal Walls and their classroom Wall. I have created a couple pages (newer FB feature) and groups for other purposes: a church page, a neighborhood association page, a page for my colleagues. So I like the "navigatability" of creating a page. I know teachers like the Facebook idea because kids are always on FB and if you post a link or reminder then kids will get it right away. A great idea--but I know that for the page to be valuable, one has to make it relevant and keep it up-to-date. I have a yearbook page and I got a lot of views at first, but then I think it gets hidden or ignored. I will do a Facebook page when I know I'm committed to it--and right now I'm juggling a Moodle course, a parent blog, and a Weebly for two different classes.

3.) It took me a ton of browsing the Macul site before I found the spaces--I saw the interest group listings, but it wasn't at all clear that this was where one would find the forums. But all is well--I signed up for SIGOL and added the feed to my Diigo library and also set up daily email notifications. This is so out of my comfort zone--but last year, with the advent of Common Core Curriculum, I found myself desperate to know what other schools and ELA departments were doing. I contacted about four area high schools to get the email address of their ELA department chairs, wrote them expressing a desire to know where they were in the CCS process, asked questions about their curriculum,etc. ... and I heard back from only one chairperson! (And he was quite cynical and dismissive of the changes so wasn't much help.) This and my Twitter feed just might provide me with the networking I need. Of course, it will only be as valuable as I make it and getting myself accustomed to checking the site will be my biggest hurdle.

4.) I signed up for Classsroom 2.0 at last Tuesday's Teaching Wired Learners workshop--I love the idea of the idea exchange and networking (see my comments above) and hope to touch base with the site a couple times a week. I'm not sure that this counts for the assignment, but I think it's a valuable site.

In terms of professional organizations, I am most interested in MACUL. I've heard the organization's name tossed around by a teacher friend and a former principal but never really knew the extent of it. Then, after two applications, a team from our school (which include ME!) was awarded a MI Champions grant--and now I am actually going to the MACUL conference and reaping a ton of benefits from the organization. Now I downloaded the membership brochure, looked all OVER the site and can't find any amount for the membership?! I've always assumed it to be quite expensive, so this may be the case since it seems so hidden.


As to what I can contribute? I guess I really never thought of myself as contributing in the area of technology--I'm not sure I know enough and I'm just trying to keep my head above water to incorporate technology into my classroom.