Technology Transformed Learning Environments

As I read David Warlick's "Technology Transformed Learning Environments" I took notice of the statement, "The achievement of one to one (computer to student) learning environments is now close to being a universal desire." I thoroughly agree with Mr. Warlick, but also wonder, who wouldn't want this to be a reality. It is extremely difficult to find a job/profession that doesn't require basic computer/technology awareness, yet there are many schools that don't have adequate technology available for their students. Something is wrong with that picture.

I've made many comments about the difficulty of breaking through the fire wall at my school, it is literally like me jumping through a wall of fire, especially this week. My school has a computer lab and several laptop labs and desktops in every classroom. Physical availability of a computer is not the problem. I couldn't access googleearth from school this week, I used to be able to, but now I (we) can't. Again, this class has brought some great tools to my awareness, however, I have no where to use them with my students.

My school does not have Smartboard Technology, we do have a tool called a mimio. Mimio allows any white board to become interactive. Lessons and discussions can be created and saved in the mimio notebook. Mimio use is very motivating for our students and I feel our school has done well in professional development planning for mimio and implementation of mimio use. We have had workshops available, on site training, and one teacher is being fully trained by mimio to be a trainer. As I think of Mr. Warlick's five suggestions of what a learning experience looks like involving mimio use, I think it is a step in the right direction.

Mimio lesson/websites that are interactive can be created/found based on interests and questions that students have. Mimio uses both a stylus to select items/write on the board and a notepad that can be passed around in class. The actions/additions given during discussion in a mimio lesson, provoke conversations. Mimio use is responsive to the learners actions. Lesson are created and followed through by selections made by students and can be created by students as well. If a mimio lesson were to compel a personal investment it would be a new skill taught. I often use mimio activities to introduce new concepts in math. Students are motivated to try on their own with mimio versus the whiteboard. Mimio lessons are correctable and are taught in a safe environment. It's OK to make mistakes and try something else.

Use mimio lessons to teach rather than lecture involves hands on learning which is important for all students. Students will generalize the activity and use what they have learned.

del.icio.us ????

At this point I truly feel that del.icio.us bookmarks is a useful web 2.0 tool with endless personal and professional possibilities. I'm not able to completely reap the benefits in both aspects of my life, however, because I can't set the toolbar on my school computer. I have realized how to bookmark with the toolbar, and
I think it's great. I have share this great tool with my teaching team and one of them has signed up as well, that's progress.

Diigo vs. del.icio.us

I've come to discover that I need to make a few changes if I want to access the web 2.0 tools that we have been learning about in this class. I worked at school today through my son's track practice and baseball scrimmage and got very little done. I couldn't access blogspot through the school filter (one of many sites I have not been able to navigate this week). I'm wondering how we are supposed be innovative and motivate our students to learn about and be accomplished users of various technological tools when they are inaccessible, but I digress...

From what I can tell, Diigo and del.icio.us have many similarities. Both are social bookmarking tools. You can add tags to identify bookmarks with both tools. Both give the user the ability to build a Personal Learning Network and share bookmarks with others. Both toolbars, by the way, are also inaccessible from my school computer.

Diigo seems to have a few more bells and whistles than del.icio.us. The user can highlight and ads "sticky notes" to the bookmarked sites in Diigo. Diigo also appears to have capability beyond simply building a network. Diigo allows the user to create collaborative groups. The user can share specific bookmarks with users from their particular company, class, or team.

I can see the usefulness of both tools in the school setting. Teachers could easily share online resources with one another if they were in the same network on either Diigo or del.icio.us. Using Diigo, a teacher could set up capability for students to share resources for research projects, science fairs, presentations, etc. A teacher could bookmark sites used from year to year and not worry about which computer favorites they were saved to. The possibilities are immense.

GoogleDocs are cool!

I'm very impressed with GoogleDocs for a variety of reasons. The most important reasons that I love this new found technology is that it is simple to navigate, operate, and share. Very simple! I think the possibilities for usage of Google Docs from an educator's stand point are endless.

I look forward to returning to school next week to upload a document into GoogleDocs and share with my class. I briefly looked at the calendar feature. I'm impressed and I was able to access the feature from my phone as well. If it can be viewed through my school filter, I will be sold on it. As an educator, the forms function could be used as a preassessment for students when changing themes. I know there is capability in GoogleDocs to set up eportfolios for students. In addition the presentations functions could be used for professional development to share what was learned from a class or workshop. Our negotiations team often sends out surveys to the staff at my school. The spreadsheet function will easily culminate their results.

GoogleDocs for students are a valuable way for students to collaborate with those in their own school, or globally with students in another country. We have a pen pal project at my school between 7th grade students and students at an urban school in Japan. GoogleDocs would help create global knowledge and awareness for all students involved instantly rather than waiting several months for a reply letter.

GoogleDocs would be helpful for students learning about persuasive writing or those in debate club. Students could get mass feedback very easily about the topics they are trying to persuade others to change/agree with.

GoogleDocs are invaluable for schools. If I'm unable to access GoogleDocs from my school computer I will investigate further to find the rationale for not sharing this great technology that will lead our students in polishing and practicing their 21st Century Skills.

Wikis vs. RSS feeds and blogs

Wikis i.e. Wikispaces, are similar to RSS feeds in that lots of interesting information that people are willing to share can be received at one site. The RSS feeds and blogs can be received in google reader/igoogle in the same way. The wikis I have asked to join can all be viewed from my wikispaces account.

Wikis and blogs are different because blogs allow people to voice their opinion freely. Of course, followers can comment and share there opinion as well, in addition to likes, dislikes, etc. Wikis give other subscribers the right to change an individual opinion to possible group consensus, or change an opinion to the liking of the next subscriber.

I personally find blogs of more value. In my opinion, if someone is taking the time to comment on an article, activity, event, etc., then everyone has the right to view that blog post and comment on it. It seems unfair that someone with a differing opinion can change the thoughts of one for all to see in a wiki. I also dislike wikis for the simple reason that the "stolen key" makes a wiki somewhat difficult to work with. With limited time in every one's busy lives, wikis aren't always time friendly.

Wiki - what could I use one for?

This class has been a whirlwind of new knowledge for me. I truly am enjoying gaining a knowledge base of a few Web 2.0 tools.

I researched several wikis to find how other teachers are using wikis in their global classrooms. I've been trying to keep in mind that investigation and asking for permission to edit doesn't always mean a long term commitment. Wikispaces contains a fountain of information for educators and a variety of other professions.

I found a second grade class wiki. It is inspiring. All the students have links to a page about them with artwork and a narrative. The different subject areas have links and a list from a to z. Whenever the class accomplishes/learns something throughout the year, they add it by the letter under the subject. For example, under the writing link, p = persuasive writing. The wiki also contains tools that can be used with homework such as story mapping. This is a great example of how we as educators can build a familiarity with technology with students and parents. The link is: https://mrsibrahim.wikispaces.com/Thinking+Maps

Some other ideas I found for uses of wikis with young children are:
book reviews or commentary on a specific book

"encyclopedia" of a topic that can be added to each year (the example I saw involved state history)

a non-field trip (students add what they saw/learned on a "trip" to a specific place that is to be learned about)

field trip log/what did we learn

Where in the World is Wanda wiki. Wanda visit places in the world. Highlights and pictures of her trip are added by those she visits.

They all sound like worthwhile learning experiences.

RSS Feeds

RSS feeds are new to me. I've never heard of them before this week. Now that I have a basic understanding of the convenience, I have shared the importance of this great tool with the fellow teachers on my team. At times, I find the amount of information entering my reader overwhelming. I do feel that I am doing the best I can as an educator with being informed about laws, technology, and the experiences of other teachers by following the blogs I've discovered. I found a great link to the "Top 50 Education Blogs." I've added a few to my reader. This week has definitely opened my eyes to the amount of technology other teachers are integrating daily in their classes. I need to catch up, in small comfortable steps.