Spread the Word to End the Word

Powerpoint on Steroids

The final project of the Literacy and Technology class was a Wonders of Web (WOW) presentation.  The topic that I chose to present on was Using Technology as a Remedial Resource for Student Literacy.  I  chose this topic because of the overwhelming impact that literacy has on all aspects of one's life.  Upon beginning the class I did not realize the impact that the right technology can have on one's learning.  This project and class has made that impact clear to me.  I can not wait to be able to use what I have learned.

We had to choose a tool to present with so that all students could see.  This involved posting the presentation link to the final Webex class for all to see.  I had never posted a live presentation to an online class.  It was seamless; what a great tool.

The presentation tool that I used was Prezi.  This is one of a host of tools that could be used.  Prezi is not static.  It makes a presentation come alive with its three-dimensional affect of slides sliding into each other from all different directions.  I was pleased with the effect.  I feel it was engaging.  I was happy with the flow.  Just click the button at the bottom of the presentation window to advance the slides.  Check it out and tell me what you think...

Using Technology as A Remedial Resource to Improve Student Literacy on Prezi

The Journey Continues!

The end of Literacy and Technology is just the beginning!  Here is a quote from one of my first blogs (a whopping 3 weeks ago), The Spin Cycle; "this influx of new information has my brain feeling like it is on the Spin Cycle. These bits of information are spinning around and around aimlessly and not really forming any cohesiveness with what I already know [or thought I knew] about technology".  That was how I felt back then.  How do I feel now?

The influx of new information was very much needed.  I did not know that most of the tools we were exposed to even existed.  These tools make collaboration possible anytime, anywhere, and anyhow.  Tools such as, Wiziq, Googledocs, Glogster, and Webex, make it possible to work as a team, distance-learn, and be creative.  Presentation tools like Prezi and Smilebox have modernized the 'art of the presentation'; giving new life to an otherwise bland presentation.

There is cohesiveness now.  Throughout these five weeks I have been making connections between Web 2.0, Web 1.0, and standard curriculum.  I don't claim to know all there is to know.  I do however feel that this class has provided a solid base for understanding how technology can support learning for our students.  The video of a 7th grader's account of her Personal Learning Environment (The Future of the Classroom on my sidebar) is a glimpse into the [not so distant] future.  The course readings have made me acutely aware of the impact of technology on education.  Stephen Downs' (education and technology guru) website is a must for every educator's Favorites Bar.  In fact, I subscribe to his RSS Feed now.  I have this class to thank for knowing what RSS is and how to use it.

Web 1.0 sites are static.  Web 2.0 sites are dynamic.  They are sites that we can collaborate on, add to, express ourselves, and make an impact.  The video on my sidebar entitled "Digital Media = Happiness" makes this point in a very systematic way.  Students want to make an impact.  Students want to be heard.  Students want to express themselves in creative ways.  This is what drives happiness according to the video.  I couldn't agree more.  As a student, I find it extremely satisfying when peers comment on what I have done, when I see one of my projects in a public forum, and when I get the chance to learn from those that have more knowledge than me.  I now see that technology, specifically Web 2.0, makes all of this possible.

All of this new knowledge would have just passed me by if not for this amazing class. 

Dr Smirnova's contagious enthusium had me on my laptop constantly (both for fun and for work).  Thank you Dr. Smirnova! 

My peers are truly an exceptional group of people.  The entire class was extremely helpful.  We are all thrown into the fire at the same time and everyone helps each other out.  Thank you to the members of the Tech Quad (Veronica Freeman, Susan Gunther, Kelly Lake).  I learned a great deal from all of you and really enjoyed working together.

Collaboration is the key

Web 2.0 tools offer many great and amazing benefits as my peers and I have experienced throughout this Literacy and Technology class.  Examples of these tools can be seen thoughout my blog.  The tools of today's Internet [that we all used for the class] can really enhance what I like to call "The 3 Cs"; Communication, Creation, Collaboration.

Communication is hugely enhanced with tools like Gtalk, Skype. and the standard Email.  Not only do these tools allow us to get things done in a timely manner, they also have the potential to teach our students to be dynamically literate in a digital world.

Creation of new and exciting fnished products is possible with just a few clicks.  Of couse, pre requisites are computer literacy and information literacy.  The developers of today's Web 2.0 tools, however, have made the sites quite user-friendly.  And the best part is the cost...FREE.  Afterall, information should be free...right?

The one constant is Collaboration.  In order to be deemed "Web 2.0", a website needs to have a collaborative quality to it.  Wiziq and Webex are online classrooms.  GoogleDocs is another amazing tool by the people at Google that uses a powerpoint format to be able to build presentations collaboratively.  Glogster is another amazing tool to create images of text and pictures collaboratively.  Here is a school newsletter that my team (Veronica Freeman, Kelly Lake, Susan Gunther, and I) made using Glogster....

Internet Safety, Copyright, and Fair Use

Life is inherently dangerous.  At any given time anything can happen and parents spend a great deal of time teaching their children how to be safe.  Walking safe.  Running safe.  Riding a bike safe.  Crossing the road safely.  Driving safe.  Keeping safe at school by dealing with social issues appropriately.  This is all fairly basic and seems relatively easy to instill in kids.  As a parent I can attest that 'safety' in everything my children do is personal to me.  If they do what they do safely then I know I did my job.

Now parents need to be concerned with another potential hazard;  the Internet.  Being an Education student has made me aware of terms like cyberbullying and digizen.  Cyberbullying is an issue.  It is a fact of life now in schools.  It is basically when someone has used technology (usually the Internet or a mobile phone) to cause unpleasantness for someone else.  Technology has so many great benefits.  But with everything out in the world that serves a positive purpose you can pretty much count on someone to use it for a negative purpose. 

Digizen (a combination of "digital" and "Citizen") is an organization concerned with people building safe communities on the internet that they use to enhance creativity and learning.  I built this widget (below) using digizen.org.  Just roll your mouse over the image to see my wishes.

 

This is a tool that an Internet user could use to express his/her online citizen values and wishes for him/herself, friends and the world.  This could be posted on a site to let others know his/her wishes as an online citizen.

In a world of unlimited resources and an abundant supply of smart, innovative, forward-thinking people it is so important to give credit and use other's material in a respectful manner.  YouTube videos, for instance, are very popular as an enhancement for others work.  If these videos, or any other form of media, are used to get a different point accross or to add to the topic of the video then it is okay to use.  If it is being used for the same reason that it was make then credit needs to be given to the owner.  It's only fair to credit other's efforts that you use yourself.  Afterall, creditting others will keep your online presence safe as well.

I have not noticed if the schools I have substituted at have a Fair Use Policy.  I am sure they do.  I just wasn't in a position to be privvy to that information.

3 Cheers for Engrade!

This Web 2.0 tool is excellent for having students and parents actively engaged in the assessment process.  It is just one more way for parents to be more involved [as thay should be] in children's learning and the outcomes of that learning.  It also serves as a tool for students to keep track of their own progress.  The uploading of files is a nice feature and allows student access to future assignments 27/7.

To the left is a shot of an imaginary class grade book created on Engrade.  The online grade book is is a great way for teachers to be as efficient as possible.  In creating my test class I found it very easy and user-friendly.  I especially liked that I could assign a weight for different assignments to be factored in the final grade automatically.  What a time saver!

Rubrics in the 21st Century

Students learning in more creative ways demands a diverse array of rubrics.  There is a rubric for everything as you can see .  The rubrics of the 21st century have a few common elements; assesssing collaborative elements, aesthetics, imagery, and assessing the use of other resources (links, videos, other multimedia). 

Teachers won't just be assessing rote learning.  They will be assessing higher thinking skills.  The rubrics available are excellent guides for assessing such skills.