Module 11

This week we used a numerous amount of tools from the newsletter to the QR code. Personally, I really liked the the newsletter. Being that I am a PC user it was easy to utilize and it wasn't time consuming.  Being that Microsoft Word has many different templates it's easy to be creative and detail with the information added in the newsletter. I see myself using this in the future as a form of communication between parents and I.  The next tool we used this week was signupgenius.com, I was actually already familiar with it so it wasn't a big learning experience but I really like it. It's a great way to get in contact with other teachers and/or parents/guardians. Being that it's online anyone can assess it anytime and anywhere. The third tool we used was the QR code, personally I wasn't the biggest fan of this tool because I don't really use QR readers but it was extremely easy to use. I wouldn't regularly use it but it's also another easy way of access information.The last tool we used was the educreations.com and I LOVE it. I don't know where this tool was all my life but it's amazing. The fact that this tool can be used anywhere with internet access and can reteach/reinforce a wide variety of lessons is ideal. In my future, I definitely would introduce this to my students for them to use regularly.

Social Stories

This week's module consisted of reading articles and watching multiple videos to understand the purpose and importance of social stories. Social stories are a way to "meet the diverse needs of learners by combining visual cues with verbal cues." (Barry & Burlew, 2004) Having Social Stories according to "The Factsheet for Autism Therapy  Social Stories" can help reduce problem behaviors, increase social awareness, and/or teach new skills. But what is a social story? According to Digital Stories Targeting Social Skills for Children With Disabilities: Multidimensional Learning, "social stories are distinguished from other stories by their short length, personalization, and being written from the perspective of the student." In other words, the use of social stories can be designed by multiple people like teachers, students, and parents to explain how to complete a task. Social stories is a creative and technology savvy way to introduce a concept and to reinforce it. With digital social stories students can not only hear what to do but also vividly see actions they need to act out. Social stories helps prepare students especially those with disabilities to see what they are going to see in the real world and gives them an opportunity to display the same actions shown in the social story.

Video: Crossing the Road
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QascJK8dm1Q

Personally I really like this week's activity, it was extremely engaging and creative. It allows the learner an opportunity to experience a different type/way of learning. Although I really like this activity I wouldn't do it regularly because it is time consuming. Especially being that this was my first time working with PhotoStory3 I was a little confused on what I was doing, but once I got the hang of it everything started to move smoothly. I see myself using it with children with disabilities for numerous occasions. I see myself using it for a lesson about time and time management, behavior, and like the topic I choose, everyday activities. 

Google Docs

I think I fell in love with Google Docs. At first I was a bit confused on how this would be used to collaborate with other people, but when I signed on and saw a fellow group member writing on the document the same time I was I was blown away. Personally, after the last few modules I feel like I am already outdated on the technological advances.


In the future, I can see myself using Google Docs mainly for homework in math. I in-vision myself assigning groups and each group would work collectively to answer the question and label their names on where each person completed their work. This would be an opportunity to both test their knowledge and help teach each other different ways of solving a problem.

Module 7: AT and ACC

Personally, for me this week's module was really confusing. I tried to begin it during the weekend and I just couldn't grasp the idea or concept of what I was suppose to do. Eventually, with the help of classmates as well as the professor I was able to get a better insight and complete the task given. When thinking about utilizing this in my future classroom, I don't think I would use it without knowing it's easy to navigate. I think this way for the simple fact that I personally had problems and I can only imagine how confusing it would be for my students. Although, I didn't like this webquest I do love the idea of student's having a safe way to find information on a teacher made guided web search. It helps diminish the idea of students receiving false information as well as abusing the web inappropriately. In my future classroom, I would use it to help contribute technology into the classroom but the process in which and how website are found would be a lot simpler. Especially because I would be dealing with students with special needs who possibly may not grasp the concept immediately, like myself. The webquest would most likely be utilized during group research so if one child doesn't get the process another can help describe and explain how to use it. As well as this enables the students to watch over each other making sure everyone stays on task.



Being that I didn't have a lot of previous knowledge about AAC and Assistive Technology, the websites on this webquest was actually very informative. The webquest really opened my eyes to how many ways we can help students struggling and possible make life-lasting solutions so they won't struggle as much anymore. Accommodations such as the alphabet book and the enabling devices help give a voice and a way of communication that people not disabled take advantage of. With these devices student are able interact, be apart of school clubs, and promote self acceptance and self-worth. The webquest also taught me about the many laws that defend these students, so they will never be misused and taken for granted.

Social Media Use in an Educational Setting

Through facts addressed in the required reading for this weeks module as well as my personal opinion, I believe the use of social media in an educational setting is unnecessary and extremely risky. Although the Internet is a great way to maintain a student's attention, it can also be a way to lose it. Being that the Internet has a broad spectrum of sites, blogs, and videos it easily can be manipulated and used in the wrong context by all types of students. Like Bernie Pool stated in his article, certain "sites are devoted to pornography (however that might be defined), hate groups, and other inappropriate subject matter contain content that's unsuitable for children at various stages of maturity." So when addressing the use of social media it's extremely important to have supervision over the students and the time they spend on these sites at all time.

Sites such as Facebook being used as an instructional tool in my personal opinion shouldn't be a necessity in the classroom for the simple fact that I find it to be a distraction. I feel as though there are many distractions already placed in the classroom, and the distraction that Facebook leads to, is one teachers can easily avoid. Bringing social media in the classroom does not make you a better teacher and doesn't make it easier to teach. "Facebook is not a quick fix for your teaching and learning problems."(Sarah Stewart, 2011) When Sarah Stewart stated in her blog that if "you're having problems engaging and retaining your students, you must have a careful look at your teaching" she was not over exaggerating. It takes a lot of effort and time to teach a curriculum and "teachers who are not well prepared to integrate the Internet into instruction are just creating a waste of time" (Bernie Pool, 2011) Things like Facebook and other social networks don't erase these problems, in fact I believe that it makes it harder. Facebook exposes the idea that it's okay for everything to be done through the Internet. Facebook and other social media sites take physical interaction, face to face conversation, and throws it out the window. 

One thing is for sure though, social media is not going away (Kessler 2010) and being that it isn't going away, as future teachers we have to somehow make it positive for our future students.
When deciding to involve sites such as Facebook into curriculum it's important to "keep students from abusing it, teachers should properly explain what is considered appropriate and inappropriate use of the Internet" according to Bernie Pool. Although I personally am not the biggest fan of the idea of Facebook in the classroom, there are some benefits. According to Kessler, benefits of social media "help diminish the idea of cliques and creates an environment where students have to work together." Other benefits promote the use of advancing technology in the classroom as well as easier connections to one another. 

When thinking of ideas to utilize Facebook into my future classroom I will create a public page visible to all students, so students who are not interested in signing up for Facebook can easily view it. This page will list contact information if any questions or concerns have to be addressed immediately. It will also be used as a tool to post homework, student's attendance, upcoming quizzes, and specials events going on in the classroom as well as the school. These events can be half days, days off, as well as guest speakers. 

Another way to use Facebook in a positive light for my future classroom is by using Facebook as a communication device. Facebook will help promote interaction between students around the world. Like Professor Shannon Budin spoke about in her short video, Facebook is second to Google as the most popular website on the Internet. Which means millions of people use it all over the world. With that said, I will set up a page for communication where each student will be paired with another student outside of the school like a "pen pal." This will be used as peer to peer approach where students from different areas can teach each other about their own personal norms.

Web 2.0: Making Learning Possible for All Students

Flisti.com

Flisti is a fun, easy, tool that will be used by both the teacher and student. Flisti is new application that lets you create a very simple poll. No registration is required, and the link can easily be posted on a teacher/student website/blog, or embed it there. Using Flisti, it will allow students with learning disabilities to vote on things that interest them the most. Wanting to create the most beneficial classroom activities, it can help appeal to the students' interest making them want to be engaged and contribute. This tool will be used in a general education class to help those with disabilities.
All students will feel like they contributed, are doing something they want to do, as well as help develop knowledge about how to use WEB 2.0


My Scenerio:
 Samantha is in 4th grade and finds all independent classroom activities extremely boring. Samantha has ADHD which keeps her constantly moving and enables her from concentrating on material for a long period of time without a sense of engagement or pleasure in the subject. Samantha loves hands on activities, so Language Arts is one of her biggest enemy's.  Two days before the activity is suppose to take place, the teacher will upload the poll on her blog in the classroom and students will independently pick which activity they rather do. It will be done toward the end of the day and it will remain anonymous. Doing it this way students will have the opportunity to pick which on they really want to do without the pressure from other kids as well as get familiar using the teacher's blog.

URL:
http://flisti.com/

My personal Question:
http://flisti.com/56661/vote"><div

What is the Internet, Anway?

Watching The Today Show on "What is the Internet Anyway?" really made me laugh. I couldn't believe the host were having a full discussion on what an "@" sign stands for. It was hilarious that they seemed so puzzled by the idea of saying the URL for their own website.  It was amazing to me to see the host talk about the internet and not knowing how dramatically it would change our lives forever. Being that I was born in the early 90's I have always been exposed to computers and other technological devices but as we get older we are seen less as digital natives and more of a digital immigrant because of the rapid growth in technology. As a teacher we always have to keep up with the changing technology in order to reach and understand our kids perspective.