Thing 16: Photo-peach and the Final Evaluation

Photopeach, a free tool for making slide shows, can easily fit into any classroom environment.  The easy-to-use interface was refreshing.  Students can enjoy having the opportunity to create a visual illustration of the content learned.  If time permitted, I would create another slide show!

Friends&Fun on PhotoPeach

Final Evaluation:
1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

I enjoyed searching for new tools to use in the learning environment.  One of my favorite tools is using YouTube and being able to create new educational videos to share.  I want to teach my students how to create YouTube videos to use as they study different genres of Literature.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

This program has affected my lifelong learning goals by providing resources and ideas for independent learning and ongoing tools for students to use in the classroom.  I have become even more keenly aware of the need to continually evaluate the newest avenues of digital communications for any possible enhancements to the total education process.  I walk away from this experience filled with new and innovative ideas to better facilitate student learning.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

This course has been well worth the demands of time and creative thinking.  Surprisingly enjoyably, this program has created a stronger desire to continue learning and developing new and inventive ways to use technology.  It has been well emphasized that only through the most effective forms of communication and engagement can we expect to have the necessary positive effect in helping students meet the stringent demands of the ever-changing world that faces them.

4. What could I do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

Early on, I became tired of using the blog to display what I had learned but now I understand how it can be used in other environments.  If I can reasonably anticipate that my own students may experience similar anxieties, I will want to find ways to help them look forward to the benefits they can expect after mastering each technique.

Thing 15.5: Twitter

Honestly, I seldom use my Twitter account.  I have not yet taken time to learn all of the lingo and it can be confusing.  However, since Facebook started allowing Twitter users to update their news feed comments, I have been forced to learn more about using Twitter correctly.  I would like to incorporate educational tweets into my class to encourage student participation and heighten their engagement.  Students also could post assignments and share personal Twitter texts by connecting with their peers.  For security, awareness, and interactions, parents can access the same accounts and stay connected with what their child(ren) is/are sharing and learning.

Thing 15: Things like Skype

A friend introduced me to using Skype before its popularity soared a few years ago.  I still use Skype to communicate easily and economically with friends and family.  The only downfall of Skype is it is limited to internet connections.  Skype uses a lot of memory, too much for smaller hard drives.  If monitored appropriately, students can use Skype to communicate with students all over the world.  They can transfer files and hold video conferences globally.  Comparingly, Live Mind also provides a marketplace where individuals can share their ideas during live learning events.

Thing 14: Pod-casting and Bookmarking

Pinterest is a content sharing service that allows members to "pin" images, videos and other objects to their pinboard.  As the website increased its popularity last year, I joined the Pinterest bandwagon.  Primarily, I used the site to find new healthy recipe options and house warming gift ideas for friends.  However, I then began exploring for classroom instructional ideas.  One thing that attracts me to Pinterest is the visualization or end results of items.

Similarly, Etsy is an e-commerce website used to buy and sell vintage items or arts and crafts.  Several of my friends have been using this website.  Now, I am eagerly exploring the site for myself.  Therefore, this assignment gave me the long awaited opportunity to do so.

Thing 13: Using YouTube

A college friend, Kalin Gernand and I created a stop motion video to enhance instruction and engage student participation in lessons that emphasized the writing process.  We used YouTube as our presentation tool.  After completing the assignment, we discussed several new ideas for incorporating YouTube into instruction were discussed.  In this setting, students can display their work using video production either individually or in small groups.  Students can be formally assessed on their demonstrated class ideas and understanding of lesson content.

Thing 12: Discovering YouTube

YouTube, a video-sharing website, is most definitely one of my all-time favorite sites.  I enjoy the versatility and ease of using YouTube.  However, using mobile devices to access YouTube can sometimes become a hassle if online features and videos cannot be viewed.  Most school districts block the use of YouTube due to explicit content in many shared videos.  There are, however, some legal ways to continue using YouTube in classrooms.  Other sites made specifically for use in classrooms are TeacherTube and SchoolTube.

The embedded video is a song that reminds me of life's many battles.  As we yearn to resist struggles, our smiles may be masked by internal feelings of failure, pain, and fears.  These obstacles can be overcome in the stillness of our hearts.

¹¹ “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Thing 11: Web 2.0 Tools

I chose to explore Google Earth to determine firsthand the excitement others express.  This tool creates an awesome experience and is easily versatile for students of any age.  Visual learners will enjoy bringing text to life in a virtual world to portray different elements of the real world.  Google Earth brings new ideas of how to instruct students in understanding the elements of settings.  When used as a classroom teaching tool, Google Earth can help integrate different content areas.  The world's geographic information is at our fingertips.

Another Web 2.0 tool that I explored last year was Socrative.

“I know one thing, that I know nothing.”

The philosopher Socrates believed that we cannot know anything with absolute certainty, but we can feel confident in certain things.  Many of his traditions are still evident in our world and classrooms today.  A recent technological trend in the learning environment is the use of digital response systems.  Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their students through a series of grade-appropriate educational exercises and games via a web browser.  It can be downloaded as free "app" (application).  With this software program, teachers can engage students in fun exercises that track individual of group performance.  Teachers can enjoy the energy of the moment and view the results online or have it emailed to them by the program.  The teacher device web access address is http://t.socrative.com.  Student access http://m.socrative.com.

Thing 10: Online Productivity Tools

The ease of using Zoho Writer was refreshing compared to other software.  The following information is linked directly from my document on ZohoWriter's word processing tool:

Thing 9: Play with Wiki's

Learning to "play" via Dr. Wilson's Technology Poppers Wiki gave me new insights into how to continue teaching through the use of differentiated instruction.  Wiki's could be used to assist absentees or provide individual peer-to-peer accountability.  I plan to incorporate a grade level Wiki for students who attend after school reading tutorials.  Per Dr. Wilson's request, I posted the following information on the Technology Poppers' page:

Teaching visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles is imperative to assure student educational achievements. Software such as Camtasia or CamStudio are excellent options for creating effective video clips. The Pick Me app's impersonal student selection eliminates any misperception of teacher preferential treatment and encourages student participation.

Thing 8: Wiki's

A wiki is an online collaboration tool for anyone and everyone. It allows users to update or add information. In the educational setting, wiki's are frequently being used as a means of openly disseminating information. In all of my formal education, I have been taught that, because wiki is reader-editable, it is not formally recognized as a credible source.  Therefore, my initial reaction to this posting was hesitancy.  However, after further research, I have a better understanding of the hype of Wiki's.  One benefit for teachers is using a Wiki to effectively communicate with parents and students.  Using Wiki's reminds me of the generally accepted think-pair-share strategy used in some classrooms.

Thing 7: Image Generators

Wordle is a program designed to generate "word clouds."  Each cloud can be modified and personalized to the personality of the user.  I created a wordle to emphasis the importance of figurative language.  As an educator, my students can create word clouds to show characterization and symbolism pertaining to specific characters.  It provides a fun and spontaneous way for students to reflect on their thinking.  It also allows for easy informal assessments of comprehension.

Voki is a tool used in some classrooms to provide learning or reteaching in a variety of innovative ways.  In my professional opinion, Voki could be used to assist students in tutorials working on different TEKS or standards.

Thing 6: RSS and Newsreaders

A Rich Site Summary, or RSS feed, is an internet format designed to deliver regularly changing internet content.  Watching the online tutorial and YouTube video prepared me to know how to begin adding news feeds.  Per Dr. Wilson's post, I accepted her challenge and created a Bloglines account.  Customizing my dashboard and tracking my favorite websites was time consuming.  Nevertheless, once personalized, the most recent information is readily available for news, local blogs, and events.  I believe that anyone can benefit from using RSS and newsreaders so as to have a quick go-to place for special interests and current news.  However, I still occasionally forget about the Bloglines account and use Google to research a variety of topics.

Check out my personalized Bloglines account.

Thing 5: Exploring Flickr

I am just showing off my creative side with the use of Spell with Flickr, a third party application used in conjunction with Flickr.  This application finds letters on Flickr to create images using a combination of pictures and words.

Sometimes my creativity is limited, but this site offers endless possibilities.  My favorite part was being able to search and change individual letters to add balance.

Thing 4: Flickr

colburnsw's photostream on Flickr.

The newest addition to my life.

Flickr is an online source for sharing images in a quick, convenient online format.  I am familiar with viewing images and sharing photos on Flickr, but I never created an account until now.  Photography is one of my favorite hobbies and this site provides a way to share my pictures with friends and family.  I may definitely be hooked after this assignment.

I chose to upload a picture of my car, a 2012 Infiniti G37s.  It looks almost identical to my previous car, but it is an upgrade from my 2010 G37.  Most people choose to buy cars, but the leasing alternative has proven most beneficial for me.  Since my first Infiniti in 2006, many people have questioned my reasoning for buying such a nice car.  Infiniti liked my credit score so much that they ignored the fact that I was young and they did not require a cosigner.  Leasing offers a more affordable monthly note that includes maintenance and I never worry about expensive car problems.

Thing 3: Uploading Photos

Sjerrie and Jessica, 2012

Jess, my best friend, and I enjoyed a summer trip to Galveston Island.  I took this picture because it was our first trip to the newly renovated Pleasure Pier. Look at our view from the top of the Ferris wheel.

Skeeters Game, 1st Visit

This picture was taken at Constellation Field during the inaugural season of the Sugar Land Skeeters.  The field is absolutely gorgeous and the stadium provides a rich, welcoming feeling for all patrons.  For me, baseball brings back childhood memories of playing second base for Kyle Chapman Little League.

Thing 2: Blogging

I remember when blogging became popular among my friends.  It was then that I created my first blog using Xanga.  With only a few personal posts, blogging made staying in touch with my out of town friends easier.  When social media websites, such as Myspace and Facebook, became increasingly popular is when our excitement for writing blogs and posting comments dwindled.  However, now that social media poses such a heightened risk for educational settings, the use of blogging seems to be making a comeback.

This tool can be set up in three steps by signing up, personalizing, and writing.  While creating the account for this class, I thought of several ways students can benefit from blogging.  As an  English Language Arts and Reading teacher, I want my students to have access to a variety of formal and informal writings, including an interactive class blog account.  Students would learn that reading is more than just text from a novel.  I would be able to encourage reading and free writes.  One major goal would be to maximize their written communication skills.

Thing 1: Lifelong Learning

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner. I enjoy reading and researching topics that interest me.  Formal studies prove that highly successful people commonly share 7 1/2 habits.  These habits include:

1. Begin with end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for you own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent, lifelong learner
5. Create your own learning toolkit
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach and monitor others

And... most importantly 7 ½.  Play!

For me, the easiest habit is to "view problems as a challenge."  My mindset  is highly competitive.  Therefore, I enjoy finding new ways to excel and make it to the top.  If someone tells me something cannot be done, that drives my competitive spirit to find a way to accomplish any worthwhile task.

On the other hand, the hardest habit for me to accomplish is finding enough time to "play."  Sometimes it seems I take on too many roles (teacher, coach, student, mentor, bookkeeper, friend).  I am definitely the perfectionist, but sometimes my involvement in so many activities stretches my schedule a bit too thin.

As an educator, I strive to model my passion for lifelong learning.  I want to instill that same internal desire and passion for independent learning within my students.  One step toward that goal is a Learning Contract.