Online Learning / Andrew Flexman

 Building Online Collaborative Environments

A Look at the Past, Present, and Future.

Where I was, where I am, and where I might end up in the world of technology.

Jogging my memory back to about tenth grade in brings to mind my first real encounter with technology and the computer. Sitting in a study hall, probably very bored, I recall the teacher asking me if I would like to try out a “Lemonade Stand” game on the computer. There was a floppy diskette that somewhat looked like a 45 record encased in a plastic sleeve that he inserted into the front of the computer. A loud spinning hum followed with a beep came from the machine. The program was up and running and I was estimating how much lemonade to make according to the weather forecast. It was pretty cool but I don’t recall getting overly excited about it, due to the simple colors, graphics and wait time in between each step. A few years later, I recall my parents buying a similar computer and a college professor telling me that I should talk them into getting it connected to the internet. These were rather clueless years and memories for me.

This brings us to December 2007 and a final submission for my online class, Building Online Collaborative Environments, a look at the present. Over the past few months, I have taken an extensive look at what technology has to offer for educators.

This has been an overwhelming experience, but valuable learning experience. Being introduced to new terms and technologies such as WIKI, RSS, WEB 2.0, BLOG, FOLKSONOMY, PODCAST, SCREENCAST, SOCIAL BOOKMARKING, TAG, MYSPACE, YOU TUBE, TEACHER TUBE, FLICKR, WIKIPEDIA, CONNECTIVISM, DEL.ICIO.US, SKYPE, STUDENT SAFETY, GOOGLE READER, BLOGICAL DISCSSION and MOODLE. A large percentage of these terms were all new to my thinking. Some were very user friendly and some were hair pulling experiences. Like all new things in life, one must be willing to accept a change and work with a change for it to become proficient and a daily event within your life.

Certain terms already have been adapted into my world of education on a daily basis. Teacher Tube has brought some creative excitement into my classroom lessons. Just the other day, my math class was studying greatest common factor. Towards the end of the lesson I showed a teacher tube video of another teacher explaining the same the concept. The kids were marveled by the three minute clip and expressed that they clearly understood the concept now. It was almost like team teaching with out another human body in the room. That experience shows me that there is an added value with short videos that reinforce lessons previously taught. This is a great way of reaching more than one learning style within the classroom. Using a Teacher Tube clip to introduce a lesson often provides the opening and hook that makes a lesson so more interesting than that old standard frontal presentation. An added perk to Teacher Tube site is that the videos are very well policed by professionals. Although, I still would recommend previewing any material before presenting it into the classroom.

In my teaching days prior to this class, I often created word documents to coincide with my lessons. Thinking back about them, their appearance must have been somewhat drab, with little or no excitement. On occasion, I would insert a clip art picture to try to spice the lesson up. Then I was introduced to the world of FLICKR just a month ago. My documents have come alive with pictures that really relate to our topic. In my reading class, we read a story about the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Our skill lesson for the week was persuasive thinking. The document I had created was for the kids to persuade the reader to demand newer and tougher laws protecting our environment from oil spill mishaps. All I had to do was insert a picture of oily, dirty penguins into the top of the assignment to get them to produce quality work. With that picture to remind them about their task, I did not get any off task responses. The kids really seemed to be focused on the assignment. Flickr is an amazing site for educators to use when wanting to put some reality into a lesson. I’ve yet to be stumped on a quest for a picture that relates to a current lesson. Using Fickr is like looking through the world’s photo albums and with a click of a button they can be shared.

As an elementary teacher, I often have kids asking what certain words mean, basically wanting a definition. In the past we would go paging through a dictionary to come up with a meaning, never a fun task to do with kids. Now with my knowledge of WIKIPEDIA, it has opened a new and exciting way to find definitions. I even enjoy looking at the definitions just to see how the world views that word. Kids can look up words with ease where ever they can find internet access. I’m finding that school tasks given that deal with the technology of a computer tend to be better received than ones given with paper, pencil and book.

There are new concepts that we were introduced to within the online class that I intend on using in the near future. I would really like to try my hand at classroom BLOGGING or even creating a classroom WIKI. These are basically online tools that allow for interaction of comments and information by students of your classroom. There is also the possibility of interaction with the world. Many teachers are using these tools for expanding the writing curriculum and seem to be rather successful with them. A teacher can write a post on to his or her blog site. Then students can log into the site and read the post and then comment back to it. With the world of technology expanding, this is just another way that teachers can adapt to the ever changing ways and learning habits of their students. Recently I just attended a workshop on MOODLE which is basically using a WIKI in educational format. Within the next few weeks, I hope to have some quality time to explore these concepts further and put them to great use in my classroom.

I have a new outlook or appreciation for STUDENT SAFETY and working with Web 2.0. There always was a big scare about the internet and all the trouble and dangers that could come from it. Well, from this class, I understand those troubles and dangers and how to avoid them. The first step is to educate your students on the proper uses of WEB 2.0 and show them how to be aware of any potential dangers. I am seeing that the use of WEB 2.0 and its valuable additions to the classroom are an important link to children and their futures.

The year 2020 is thirteen years away from now, the ironic thing about this vision is my youngest child will graduate from high school in that same year. What will technology look like and where will I be in terms of using it? Schools will undergo incredible technology advancements by the year 2020. One of the biggest changes will be the direct links from the classroom to the home. Snow and weather cancellations will not be a big ordeal anymore due to the technology of connecting to the students online. In fact, the five day school week will be shortened due to increased online interaction. Grade levels will take on a merge and students will progress due to their ability. All this will be due to electronic portfolios and tracking. Colleges will offer a new type of teaching degree that deals with futuristic concepts and education of the world. Teachers will be working with students across the United States, just not students within district lines anymore. School will be less personal and more independent when it comes to learning. A plethora of new terms and ideas will be the focus of educators, and current technology practices will be will be set aside to allow for the advancement into the future.

Where will I be? In the year 2020 I will be on the down slide of my career. I hope to be still at the top of my game when it comes to education. I see many classes between now and then to keep me current. I intend to be a teacher who can meet the future needs of our technology changing students. My mind and my attitude will be ever changing with these demands.

Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/supivas/463891646/-

ZOHO WRITER
I chose ZOHO WRITER as a web application to describe and recommend. ZOHO WRITER is an online word processing site that can be accessed anywhere. One does not have to be on the same computer to access a working document. That is what is impressive about this web application. It is somewhat a network that is available anywhere you go. It seems to be very user friendly and could be very beneficial. ZOHO WRITER would very easily fit the student who does not have the expensive computer set up. One could use ZOHO WRITER in a multitude of places, such as a library, computer lab, or a personal computer. As a college student, this learning tool could be very helpful. A document could be started and then resumed most generally any place. I think it would eliminate the need to remember flash drives and hoping certain computers have the needed software. I think this could warm up to many different learning styles among students. I can think back on my college days and name assignments where ZOHO WRITER would have been a life saver. Check it out at ZOHOWRITER.com, as versatile as this program is, anyone could find some type of use for it.

Where would this fit in as matching up to a learning style? I’m guessing that someone who is global would like the options ZOHO has to offer.

PAPERLESS CLASS? A WALK THROGH MY DAY…….

How would a paperless class change the role as a teacher?
To begin the day, I must take attendance and conduct a lunch count. The attendance is over the computer, but the lunch count is a form. I believe that form could change itself into some electronic configuration. With the morning homeroom business out of the way, I would move into teaching math. Generally, class begins with a warm up of some fast facts on a worksheet. That could change into fast facts on the laptop. We then open our books and dive into the days lesson. My lessons usually are a combination of book material and reinforcement with the laptop/smartboard combination. It would be tough giving up the math book due to the structure and scope and sequence that it provides. It probably could be accomplished, but not without a great deal of forethought on the computer. We do have math programs, like Study Island, which is a PSSA based program.
Next you will find me moving from math to teaching health. My health book is so old, that I have aligned my teaching to the standards and pulled almost everything from the internet. Not really thinking about it until now, but my health classes are basically already paperless, or at least bookless. I then teach a quick spelling lesson that could e easily done without paper. From there we move into the beginning of our reading block. I generally allow my students time to silent read. This could be done, but the freedom of their reading would be limited. We do have a reading book that is a valuable tool. I’m not sure if it would be easily given up and replaced by a computer. I do try to integrate as much technology into my reading lesson as possible. With my sixth graders being of this new generation passing through, I’m not sure how long they would stare at a computer screen and read an article. I’m guessing they would briefly scan it and then click on to something further. I’m not sure if I could go totally paperless, but I know that I could move in that direction further than I am doing right now. I think a totally paperless classroom would be in the future form a teacher who has grown and learned from the technology of today.

TEACHING IS CONVERSATION, NOT LECTURE

I believe a big shift within my teaching is the style in which I present material to the students. Just today, I was having a conversation with a fellow teacher about our changes within teaching over the past few years. I have slowly evolved from a total frontal lecture of information into more of a facilitator’s role. I now seem to guide the students more and they tend to take a leading role in finding, exploring and learning of information. A recent math lesson in my room was me merely giving the students a directive to when it was their turn, rather than actually teaching the lesson. The kids were learning about mixed numbers and improper fractions by way of smart board. The lesson was awesome, and I really did not do much. The lesson was set up to advance each slide as the students mastered a given step. It was actually hard to keep myself from interjecting; the program led the students right through the lesson. In the end I reinforced the lesson with a couple key points. So yes, I believe I am making a SHIFT within my teaching style to more of a conversation led lesson rather than a full blown lecture. By the use of technology, (Laptops, Smartboards) my style of teaching is changing.

Here is a site with some old quotes about computers and technology that I found to be somewhat funny!
http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/tnc.html

What is all the Hype about Skype?

Well, skype is an online phone service. Yes, you can dial right from your computer and do a little conference call. Skype is really neat. When you download it, the program give you one free phone call. I used my phone call to call my Aunt Alice who is ninety some years old. She was totally amazed we could call her over the computer!! My wife and kids all got to talk to her like a mini-conference call. We really made her day by doing that.

Go to skype.com and check it out!

As a teacher, how could this be helpful in the classroom.
You could do a number of things.
Talk classroom to classroom.
Talk state to state.
Talk country to country.
Skype is defently something I plan on exploring further within the classroom.

As the critics say “Two Thumbs Up”

What is Connectivism?

“A learning theory for the digital age?”
This site from wikipedia explains things better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectivism

Probably a pioneer inthe whole theory is George Siemens.
George Siemens is a well-known theorist on the changing nature of learning in a digitally-based society.

This is a site to further your knowledge upon Siemens:

http://www.learningcircuits.org/2005/nov2005/seimens.htm

Within our online class we had to break into groups and disscuss either the pros or cons of connectivism. My group had to organize data on on the con side of things.
This was a difficult task to do, seeing that there doesn’t seem to be a large amount of material on the web against the theory.

This is a link to our wiki page that we worked together on: http://bcefall0710pls.wikispaces.com/Con+Connect

The other group had to write about the pro side of connectivism. This is a link to their site.
http://bcefall0710pls.wikispaces.com/Pro+Connect

I like how they broke the definition of connectivism down and made it a little more understandable. I do agree with their thoughts about connectivism and how it can be considered a learning thoery.

After searching and listening to a great deal of podcasts, I came across on that seemed to intrest me. This is a podcast and a website that tries to generate more reading among kids during the summer time. I know statistics show that kids drop back academically during summer vacation. This combination web site / podcast addresses the issues and gives ways to keep kids reading. I this that is a valuable idea and would like to try some ideas within my classroom.

http://ednewsparentscanuse.blogspot.com/2007/06/summer-programs-keeping-students.html

Uploaded on April 9, 2007
by Mark Sardella http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_television/453468029/

Teaching Persuasive Writing 

I recently used a picture of a TURKEY with my students to teach the concept of persuasive writing.  I gave the students a picture of a turkey with a talk bubble above it stating “Eat Pig.”  After all the laughter, we went over the assignment. The assignment was to write a persuasive paragraph convincing your reader to eat something else, rather than the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  I reminded the students that a paragraph contains a well thought out beginning, middle and ending. The students were to take on the role of the turkey and convince us not to eat him. I also reminded the kids that their writing could have a chance of being published in our 6th grade newspaper, THE 6th GRADE CHATTER. This tends to bring out the best writing possible from kids when they realize there is a chance of being published.  Laugh as you may, but the next day they recieved a picture of a PIG that countered the turkey.  As an additional assignment, they had to persuade the readers to leave the pig alone and eat a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal. The kids had a great deal of fun with this assignment. It was something on the lighter side to do with my students that still carried meaning.

WIKI
Within a workshop of our PLS Class, we explored WIKI or WIKIPEDIA. This is all new to me and I found it quite interesting for many reasons. I like the collaboration that makes up each topic. It is really neat how everybody comes together to compile information on a certain topic. The information seems to be quite accurate and reliable. Yes, there are reservations and cautions to consider, but for the most part, most information is reliable. This site contains up to date information also. That keeps us current!
Part of the workshop activities deals with making a wiki site of our own. We were put into groups to accomplish this task. I am really thankful for the group setting, because I was not sure how to start, and my partner was able to take the lead and get us rolling in a great direction. As I worked within the site building our project, things became easier and it is a really user friendly. I look back at our page and smile with delight, thinking I was a part of that!
Like other workshops in this course, I find great value to the educational classroom from the use of WIKI. Any way to inspire the kids to write is a valued tool. This is just another writing tool to put in your educator toolbox to use as a resource within your classroom. In today’s world of education, one needs to have a variety of ways to inspire the students to learn. What I like about WIKI is that it can be developed to be an ongoing project throughout the year. Kids ate on the move in the technological world, moving at a rate that is passing the teachers, so if one does not keep updating themselves with the times; one will soon be compared to the dinosaurs of our past.

Here is a link to my project I have started within WIKI:

http://bcefall0710pls.wikispaces.com/Blogs+in+the+Classroom

Outline a plan for using social bookmarking as a professional tool yourself, either for your own continuing professional development or to collaborate with colleagues.

Social Bookmarking is a really great tool to use to gather and share information on a related topic. With this being absolutely new to me, I find it a bit overwhelming. To make it work in a useful way, one must be very fluent with it and use its resources on a regular basis. To use here and there, I don’t think it would be that beneficial.
I have to believe it would fit in better with an older, more advanced student that what I am presently working with. In sixth grade, these kids just have not had the exposure with technology to create searches and be able to use them to their benefit. Again, I’m glad I have been exposed to this concept, but I’m not sure whre it will come to play in my near future of education.