Beth+Ellen+Nash

Beth Ellen Nash 1. List the name of your favorite Web 2.0 tool from today's class. Describe why you liked the tool and how you would use it in your class. I think that Doctopus will probably be the most useful to me so I can share out different versions of an assignment in Google Docs since all of our courses are multi-level. I love that a link to each kid's assignment will show up on one page so I can see everyone's assignment at once. Not having to have each kid make a copy of the master document will be much more streamlined. I like that it will all be in one spot for each class and then I can just use different tabs for each lesson. I haven't gotten to explore Goobric yet, but that sounds like a good addition. 2. Regarding technology in your classroom, school and/or district, do you feel like you are keeping up? Even though I do online education full-time, I still feel like there is SO much I don't know. I'd like to pursue my master's in Instructional Media through Wilkes University to help me learn how to use technology more effectively. I plan to infuse reading and language arts, technology, and 21st century skills into our science and history courses very intentionally. Is it important? Yes, it is important, however, it's okay that I don't know all the options yet. I just have to keep on a growth trajectory. Even if I do my masters in Instructional Media, I will still not be able to keep up because there is SO much out there. What do you think your students are thinking about technology at home/at school? What are your thoughts? I think most of my students see computers as places to play games. Unfortunately, I think you are right about kids and their appreciation for the technology! I think most of my families are not all that technologically literate. So I will need to make sure to provide lots of support and not introduce too much all at once. I need to learn the Screen-cast-o-matic tools so I can create walk-throughs so I don't have to keep reexplaining everything but still provide the needed support. I think you will really like using Screencast-o-matic! It really is so easy to make tutorials and have them available to the students 24/7. I think it is such a great tool! 3. Do you have any questions about anything we did today? Please list them and/or bring them up in class. I'd like to work with Doctopus and Goobric more while the person who knows how to use them is around to ask questions. I'd really love to have her walk me (us) through actually doing the steps of setting up a template for creating future assignments. What do you want to be sure to learn during the rest of the course? I need to learn how to create videos and from what was mentioned yesterday about Screen-cast-o-matic, I think it will be a great tool for me. I also need to learn how to create my own You Tubes EDU channel(s). Post-class reflection: After taking this class, please reflect on what you, as the teacher, need to do to make sure that you and your students can successfully use the tools that you have chosen to incorporate into your class. Think about hardware, software, network, student skill set, teacher skill set, time, etc. I need to have all of the families use [|Ninite installer] (I'm not familiar with this one but sounds like a very useful tool, especially in your type of school!) to install / update all of the key plug-ins they're going to need to successfully use the programs we're using in my classes. I also should Screencast-o-matic step-by-step guidance on how to do this. I need to create Screencast-o-matic step-by-step guidance for each of the resources I plan to have my students use, both Web 2.0 tools and all of my subscription resources I use with my students. Although this will take a fair amount of time to start, it will save a LOT of time in the long term. I need to start with a Screencast-o-matic walk through for my [|Symbaloo Webmix]. I also need to invest the time to get to know and use Doctopus and Goobric. I need to think through all of the resources I've learned in this course and in the Personalized Learning with Mobile Technology in June and prioritize which tools to use where in my curriculum I want to introduce each resource. So this will be my August project. I've shared my directory with you and here's the link: [|Technology Tools for the 21st Century--Elmbrook Academy]. If I need to do more to meet the expectations for this course, please tell me and I'll do what needs to be done. I think it serves my need at this point and I will be exploring much further throughout the rest of August as I plan how to integrate most of the tools we learned into my online courses at the most effective point. I think this is ready to be graded. I hope you've found lots of tools that you will find valuable in your work! You were a wonderful addition to our class and had so much great information to share with me and the other students! Thanks so much! Best wishes for a great school year! Chris