Week 12 Discussion Response

What do you think about iNACOL’s New Learning Models Vision? Are there limitations or disadvantages to such an approach? Is it feasible? Do you find that there are advantages for you as you create your own environments?

After reading the iNACOL's New Learning Models Vision article I believe this is the direction education is intending to go. The article states, " The student is at the center with each element supporting their individual learning." Most of my classroom lessons are geared towards a student centered learning approach. As a state requirement, teachers are being evaluated on the student centered classroom.  

The TPAC approach pairs student centered learning with blended learning. This provides students with an equal platform to learn. TPAC (Technology Platforms, People/Pedagogy, Assessment, and Online Content) aligns schools with a blended learning environment paired with the common core state standards. The model provides students with the following criteria:

• Personalized
• Student Centered
• Accessible to All
• Higher Achievement and Higher Standards
• Technology Enhanced
• Affordable and Sustainable
• Flexible Staffing

Although I see great value in this model, I also see some flaws. Although I believe blended learning is a beneficial component, I do believe it is not the only component. I believe relationships are extremely important to have in the classroom. Another flaw I see in the system is accessible to all. Not all schools and communities have the opportunity to provide the necessary resources to the schools. For example, teachers need to be educated on how to use certain programs as well as the students. Not only is there a lack of education, but the students may not have the resources at home. For example, my classroom consists of many different types of students. Some students are wealthy and some are not. Some of my students have access to more information and resources at home while my other students go to work and/or do not have access at home.

In theory I do believe this model is where education is heading and I do not think it is a bad thing. I do feel we need to be open minded when we look at models such as this one. There can and will be many hardships during the process. The important thing to remember is the ultimate goal, are my students led to learn? If the answer is yes, as a teacher I feel we are doing a good job.

Resources:

• iNACOL’s New Learning Models Vision
• NMC Horizon Project Review

Personal Online Case Study

What elements of your teaching practice would be effective in an online learning environment, and what would need to be adjusted, or modified to allow you to successfully work with students within an online learning environment?  

Looking back at where I started and where I am now, I see two different people. In June of last year, I left University of New Haven, talking to my friend questioning my decision to be a part of the #itdml program.  I felt as though technology was overwhelming and intimidating.

Today, I feel more confident with my technological skills but not as much as I feel I need to be to fully integrate it into my classroom. Some elements I could bring to my practice are evident now. I curate online test using Google Forms and have developed various digital based assignments. I have also tried to stretch my limits and create a flipped classroom lesson.  

I teach at an inner city school but feel privileged because all of my students were given school issued tablets. With all the students acquiring tablets, I feel this has pushed me to use technology more in my classroom than most teachers. The environment is ideal to fully engulf myself in a digital classroom but I still feel there needs to be some changes to not only my teaching, but also my philosophy and learning environment.  

For example, I would change my environment by issuing the same tablet each student has to the teachers. There are many things I would like to do with my students; however, their tablet does not have the same capability as the computer in the classroom. I am unable to see what the students see and they see a different screen then what might be posted on the classroom computer. This not only causes confusion for me but also for my students especially those who are lower level learners.  

 

Some things I would change about my teaching style is confidence. I have a lack of confidence when it comes to technology. Fear is the main feeling I get when I try and integrate technology into my classroom. Fear of the information not saving and fear of monitoring the information when students share online. To ease some of my fears I have slowly started to integrate Google into my classroom. The students share information with me and I am able to make comments and share them back to the students. I am still dragging when it comes to requiring students to share their information online. Unfortunately, my fear is the responsibility of monitoring the online program. What if a student says or posts something inappropriate. Although this may be rare, it is still a fear I feel most teachers have but may not talk about.

     The #itdml program has equipped me with many resources I will be using in my classroom. Some of these resources include Google Classroom, Google Forms, Google Slides, Google Docs, Newsela, Popplet, storify and many more.  The program has also allowed me to entertain ideas of global competency through program such as #walkmyworld and iEarn

     Technology is an ever changing platform to integrate a vast amount of information to an extreme population.  Technology has proved to me, learning can happen anytime, anywhere and at any age.  I feel more comfortable with using digital tools in my classroom and hope to continue my learning with this field. Since starting the #itdml program, I have been placed on the blended learning committee and asked to take charge of the new mastery based learning health class we will provide to our students next year.  The class will include a mixture of MOOC's, digital text and classroom seat time. Overall I do believe technology provides our students with a "level playing field".  Not only can students access a wide variety of information but they can also be in contact with professionals in various subject areas. The most important thing about technology I have learned not only about myself but in general are:

• It will fail at least once
• Not all students know how to properly use technology
• Learning is fun for the students when they are curate online
• I can do this!
• Google classroom and Google+ are great places to share information

     Ultimately, I do feel I have grown as a learner and an educator.  I feel like I have more confidence with technology than when I started teaching.  I still feel there is a long way to go, but that is only one of the limitations of technology, it is always changing so you must be up to date with the information.

Alcohol Unit

Here is a Health Education Unit on alcohol.  This unit showcases the basic alcohol information as well as its affects our overall health and wellness.

Final #walkmyworld Post

Here is my final #walkmyworld blog post. I decided to curate a storify to showcase the journey I have taken through the #walkmyworld learning event. Thank you for an amazing experience!

#walkmyworld Week 9: Story of Us

What do you have a unique perspective on? What have you learned while interacting with this group? What have you learned about learning and participating on the web? How will you use this information moving forward to use and share files in an open, friendly, respectful way?

Since being apart of the #ITDML program I have learned many things about the Internet.  Here are just a couple things I have taken away from the program and the #walkmyworld assignments:

1. Technology is not as scary as it seems

2. When it comes to technology, "playing with it" will get your farther then reading about it

3. You CAN become connected with honest, interesting people and realistic facts

4. Internet in the classroom doesn't mean text messaging

5. Students CAN learn with a device in front of them

6. Snapchat and other applications can be used for educational sharing

7. Not every student knows how to use technology (and properly)

8. It's a lot easier to share in a drive then it is to share paperwork

9. "Google it" isn't a bad saying

10. No matter where you live, technology can make the playing field equal.

Since the program started, I have shared files with my peers in the program. Then I started to share with my colleagues at work. Just recently, I started to share information with my students through Google drive. I learned that I can do this and it isn't that bad! One thing I have learned throughout the process, is most of students are unfamiliar with technology in the classroom as well. Sure they might know to do navigate the web faster then some teachers and know certain technological tricks I may not, but they still have to be taught about digital education etiquette. 

  

Week 10 Storify: Digital Badges

Here is my storify for the week 10 badges!

Digital Badges!!!

What are badges and why are they important? The second reading this week discussed digital badges.  Tech Learning define a badge as, “a digital recognition for accomplishing a skill or acquiring knowledge after completing an activity.”  How can digital badges be used in the educational field?

Badges can be used in many different forms in the educational field.  Most noticeable, the digital badge is similar to a “badge of honor” in the technological world.  It can showcase your skills through a visual resume.

Not only can digital badges be used as a display to showcase your accomplishments but it can also provide feedback during professional development days.  For example, what if the teachers were given a choice when it comes to professional development opportunities.  Teachers would be given an array of programs to choose from and they would be required to earn a badge to showcase their accomplishment of completing the course.  The teachers can then be held accountable for their learning and provide an opportunity for teachers to be involved in their professional development days.  Let’s face it, our teaching professional development days consist of sitting in an oversized room listening to a person for hours at a time talking about information we may or may not be interested in.  Two years ago, our school required all of our teachers to take part in a professional development day consisting of “speed reading”.  The majority of the faculty was became uninterested when the presenter said you need to skip words.  “As long as you get the general concept of what they are saying.” 

Badges can help involve teachers in their education. So how can we start looking at bringing badges into our school systems?  The Tech Learning article discussed a couple points to keep in mind when looking for an opportunity to implement a badge

• ·       Explore existing badges
• ·       Find an objective
• ·       How will you earn the badge? 
• ·       Specific steps
• ·       Assessments
• ·       Further badge opportunities (series of badges)

Both article discussed various systems that already have badge systems.  Not only are these systems already credible, but they are running and allowing people opportunities to earn badges.  Some of these systems include:

• ·       OpenBadges
• ·       Achievery
• ·       P2PU
• ·       Credly
• ·       Mozilla

The articles touched upon a lack of motivation as a potential hardship for implementing badges to not only teachers but also students.  A lack of credibility as well as incentive is a concern.

My first experience with digital badges is through the course I took during the #itdml coursework. Not only did we curate during that course but we also created various tool and shared them with our peers.  I am very proud of the badges I earned but do not know where to take them from there.  I have heard of some school district using digital badges as a way to perform professional development opportunities for their teachers.  I believe teachers will be able to use digital badges more as technology is pushed into the school systems.  Currently, an interview consist of providing the prospective school with a paper resume, recommendations and other elements.  As schools move more towards the digital wave I feel more schools will find badges to be more credible and even expected.  Unfortunately, my school just isn’t there yet.