Journal 7-PLN

Personal Learning Network also known as a (PLN) is a collection of information and contacts that can be used to expand and help a young teacher’s methods. There are many different ways a PLN can be built. Some of the technology incorporated in my PLN were found on such web sites named; Twitter, Diigo, The Educator's PLN, and Classroom 2.0. As a teacher I will benefit from having a PLN because these tools will allow me to access helpful information from more experienced teaching professionals. My PLN will also allow me to share my work or useful resources that I come across with other teachers.

 1. Twitter

People I follow:

Deaf Action @DeafAction they (are a deaf-led registered charity established in 1835, we provide services to deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing and to those who work with them.) I am following them because I want to incorporate American Sing Langue into my classes.

Special Education @Education_IEP they are(Special Education resources for SPED teachers and parents of special needs children with learning disabilities like ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, Dyslexia etc.) I am following them because I want to be a special ed. teacher and they have good advice and support systems that are easy to follow.

Jeffery Heil @jheil65 (Tech resource teacher for SDCOE & adjunct professor @ CSUSM. I have a passion for technology integration in schools, reflective teaching & educational equity!) I follow him not only because I need to but because he has many great post and information and he sends out tweets on the regular.

 The Good Men Project @GoodMenProject (We're starting a conversation about what it means to be a good man. Want to join us?) I am following this group because they give out great information on many different topics that include technology to teachers.

Teacher Tools @teachtools (We tweet about innovative new teacher tools. Be sure to message us suggestions!) I am following them because I they posted about how teachers can use Pinterest in the classroom. I personally love Pinterest and they come up with fun activities for students.

 ED Chat:

The chat that I followed was for kindergarten teachers. It was called #Kinderchat the topic for April 9, 2012 at 6:00 pm was "Creating Environments that Encourage Imaginative Play". The first 30 minutes of the chat was everyone saying hi and introduced each other and talking about spring break. Once the chat began the topic of how much free times is given in class for free play was discussed. Also, the topic of guns, wrestling and, creativity was discussed. I did not join in the conversations however one teacher shard how in her class no one plays with pretend guns or wrestles because they all know the rules. I found this hard to believe and I was surprised that this did not spark a confection. In fact, it seems that the teachers just ignored the comment and kept on chatting. It was interesting and I think if I was in a better chat this could be a helpful tool in the future.


 2. Diigo 

One -This website not only shows class projects that you can do but also shows research, store locator and, saves your own projects.

Two -This website is great it will even save your own Lesson plans that you make. It also gives you other teachers lesson plans and will give you info about how much the students like or disliked the project or activity. It also has a wide range of age groups so it can be used for all teachers.

Three -This website gives you tools on how to use audio, images, drawing, graphing, mapping and, research tools that will be helpful in the classroom.

Four -This video tells about how schools need to change in the same ways that society has changed.

Five -This is great for all teachers it gives thousands of free lessons plans for all grade leaves and subject areas. It also shows projects and jobs.

 3. Digital Discussion Forums(Ning)

The World Has Change…Have Our Schools? Josh Stumpenhorst @stumpteacher, stumpteacher@gmail.com

In this Video Josh gives not only information to teachers about how to use technology in the classroom he also gives examples of why classrooms need to changes and technology needs to be used. Josh shares what student motivations are and what works for example, video games, smartphones, working together (Hole in the Wall), relationship building and, choice. He also shares how students become unmotivated by punishment, unfair companion in the classroom and, grades. In this video Josh explains how different technologies have helped him forum his class into what it is today. He used examples such as Prize, Smart board, word cloud, Iste, twitter, Skyp, blogging and social media should have a place in the classroom.

Journal 8: Adaptive Technology

Journal 8: Adaptive Technology 

What is AAC?

 Augmentative and alternative communication, known as (AAC), are devices that are used by people that have disabilities related to speaking. These are very effective tools that are used by many people with any severity of disabilities. These devices range from high tech to very basic technology, these devices allow people to communicate what their needs, feelings or ideas are. These devices can be used in everyday life or just in a classroom setting.

Low end AID: carbon paper for note takers. This will help in the classroom for students who have learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, or physical disabilities that lowers ones ability to use their hands. Carbon paper is a cheap and easy way for these students to receive notes in the classroom. This method works because people who take longer to processes things will not have to feel stressed because the teachers are moving too fast or erasing the board with the student not being done. The paper is two colors and one student in the class that does not have a disability and has clear hand writing will take notes and then the student then gets a copy of the notes. This would best be used in middle, high school, and college.

High end AID: Nuance is a company that has a voice recognition program that allows people to be hands free and still type out any words the user says on their phone or computer. Nuance produced the Dragon program which is a speech recognition software tool that is geared for students with learning and physical disabilities. It must be used at a computer and the program can be found in a computer lab or classrooms across the country. Speech recognition software is becoming an  increasingly popular type of tool for students of all disabilities. “Dragon speech recognition software makes it easier for anyone to use a computer. You talk, and it types. Use your voice to create and edit documents or emails, launch applications, open files, control your mouse, and more.”

 

                           What Dragon does

• Improve core skills for students of all abilities
• Provide greater independence for students with physical disabilities
• Level the playing field for students with learning disabilities
• Improve writing fluency for students learning English

What is an input device?

An Input Device is a piece of equipment that is used by a computer that sends commanded signals to the receiving parts of the computer. When people and students have special needs such as a learning disability, physical disabilities, or visual or motor skill deficiencies, alternative input devices can help aid these people.

Switch-Adapted Mouse devices (SAM) – Trackball: is a device that allows people with little hand mobility to control a computer. The mouse is color coordinated with a large rotating ball that is easy to move. With this device you can download programs or simply plug it in to a computer to provide people with special needs with help.

The Intel Reader: allows a person to take a digital picture of text which then processes the texts and reads it out loud. This Intel Reader is a mobile handheld tool that allows people to have independence. This tool is best used for people who have learning disabilities such as dyslexia, or have low vision or blindness, or anyone who struggles with reading standard print. This device could be used for students at home when doing homework or in the classroom when tests are being taken and the child with special needs cannot read the questions.

Other peoples Blogs I looked at:

Jenny Laban

Katherine

Greta

Journal 9

Journal 9: "How to do More with Less, " by Liz Page, Tracy Sheehan, and Colleen Worrell March/April 2012 issue of L&L.

Page, L., Sheehan, T., Worrell, C. (2012). How to do more with less. Learning and Leading with Technology, 39(6), 18-20. Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learningandleading.

      This seemed to be about how to distinguish the way of teaching can be altered in order to incorporate free digital programs into the teaching in order to better educate the students while staying on a very low budget that most schools are accustomed to.

     The two techniques of how these applications are being applied are the blended technique and the flipped technique. The blended technique aims to combine both regular teaching techniques with digital online programs in order to better educate the students and get them familiar with technology, since that is how the world seems to be changing towards. The flipped technique is that instead of homework, you have more of a system where the students learn the material on their own at home, and have active discussions in class and hands on projects to confirm their knowledge.

     The article gave many popular examples of free programs that are used by teachers and can be implemented by any educator.

     Question One) What do you feel is more effective with students, a classroom that focuses on new popular online programs to help learn, or that focuses on normal education techniques?

      Answer One) I feel that technology is becoming more and more common and children are becoming more and more fluent in understanding this technology as time goes on. I think that new technology will engage the students better and keep budgets down since there is no need for any materials other than the internet.

     Question Two) Of the technology available, what type do you feel is more enticing, social media based programs or more traditional educational focused programs?

      Answer Two) I feel that every student use social media on a daily bases such as facebook and twitter.  Therefore, if teachers use these tools that the children already know and love then they can truly get more out of lessons that are thought in school. I think that the best way to use these would be for homework assignments. Parents could even see what their children are doing and if a student has a question other students or the teacher will be able to answer even if its late at night.

Journal 6

Journal 6: "Foster in Creativity and Innovation Through Technology, " by Sheena Vaidyanathan, March/April 2012 issue of L&L.

 

Vaidyanathan, S. (2012). Foster in creativity and innovation through technology. Learning and Leading with Technology, 36(6), 24-27. Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learningandleading.

 

      This article talked about how creativity can be “taught”. It was not talking specifically of the idea of students being creative, but rather how they should use technology to inspire students to be creative. Through the use of art programs and similar graphic design tools, students are easily able to create projects and edit them with ease, being as creative as they can be.

  

      Question One)   Do you feel that simply letting a child loose on a graphics based program would be unproductive at certain ages?

      Answer One)   I do feel that this is the case, however I feel that if they can teach the students what to expect to do in the program and keep them on track, I feel it can be a very effective tool.  As long as there is teachers there to help guide the children.

      Question Two)  Do you feel that this type of graphic design skill building is doing more for the child than just allowing them to be creative?

      Answer Two)    I also feel that this is doing more, not only is it bringing out their creative side, but it is also teaching them valuable skills on the computer, which will be vital in their life as they pursue careers which will inevitably be based on computers.