Activity #5

 

Presentation Tools for my 2.0 Classroom!!

 

This week's assignment has focused on 3 presentation tools, 2 I've never even heard of, so this has been fun!! PowerPoint, Prezi and Glogster ohmi!! Again my focus has not been entirely what I am comfortable with, but what my student's would be comfortable with and what uses these tools would serve in my classrooms per se.

 

 

 

PowerPoint

 



 I battled my demons with PowerPoint considering I am still amazed with what it actually can do! It's far removed from the boring PowerPoint of the 90's and I feel my students would be equally impressed with it's features.  

 

As many people have experienced PowerPoint in their lives, for me it's never been a tool I've been particularly fond of. I know it has it's place, for me it's generally been in a board room on a snowy Monday Morning, listening to my manager drone on about Sales figures and why we're not meeting quarterly budgets. I have go admit my attitude has indeed been adjusted with this exercise. My students could definitely use this tool for their presentations, and reports. Each student could perhaps work on slides and collaborate them together. Inputting graphics, neat slide changes, images etc., makes this ideal for my vision of my future classroom. Students can do book reports, biographies or play reviews with these tools. It makes their learning interesting, meaningful but also incorporates new technology with perhaps their old texts they are studying. I have attempted to make a basic presentation but trust me, I am still updating my learning curve with the great exciting tool.

 

http://canusa23.wikispaces.com/file/detail/Powerful+PowerPoint.pptx

 

 

 

Prezi

 

Well just as I got my head around the wonderment of PowerPoint and all it can offer myself and my students, I was presented with Prezi. This is a tool that creates a pathway for presentations. Now although the graphics are interesting, and the tutorial (that I watched 3 times mind you) did show all the wonderful things Prezi can do, I sadly to not see how this tool will benefit my students or myself. That is bare honesty but I struggle to see how this tool sincerely offers benefit to students or a classroom as a whole. I did create a very basic Prezi just to see where I went with it, it was confusing and frustrating I am sorry say.

  http://canusa23.wikispaces.com/file/detail/PreziMShelly.pez

 

 



Glogster

 

Glogster has been the most exciting discovery and it's uses in my classroom and with my students are seemingly endless. This great scrapbooking style tool uses all sorts of medium and I believe my students really will get excited when using it. Glogster incorporates images, text, video, creative backgrounds and all sorts of amazing tools that I'm still discovering. I believe for both my English and Drama classes, students will find many uses for projects, presentations or even planning. Glogster engages the student's creativity and I love that! My Glogster is basic but I did have fun, challenging at times (but what isn't these days haha), but a great discovery and will be definitely used in my future classroom.

http://canusa23.edu.glogster.com/george-bernard-shaw/


 

 Photographs

Week #4 Assignment #3

 

 

 

  Image resizing

 This was an interesting task simply because I am That Person who used to just collapse the picture by shrinking the sides thinking I was clever. Uploading my images to Flickr was quite fun as was exploring that site. Following the Technical Manual as to the ins and outs of resizing was of course integral and the finished product is below for your viewing pleasure. The use of Digital Images in my future classroom will serve many purposes. First, when introducing a new text, play or general idea, having an image that supports that up on the IWB can set the tone of the lesson and what you are trying to achieve. In addition, showing my students -for example- the Theatre on the Round and examining what Shakespeare was thinking when devising that theatre, they can see the benefits of his genius. On a less specific vein, images are used to set tone, the bring out emotion in people (as so demonstrated by the Vietnam photo in Wednesday's class) and gauge your learners perhaps. All of this is made easier with the ability to shrink the megapixels of images reduce their downloading time. Making better use of time in the classroom is always key because when things take too long (even exciting downloads!!) you can lose your audience!

 

 please note all images are used with the permission of this user and her family

https://www.flickr.com/photos/albrunelli/8405984023/
This is a photo of my best friend and my daughter but it's also on Flickr so I've given credit where it's due

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Image Manipulation


Playing around on my newly created Flickr account was also fun. It is just amazing to me what one can achieve with a few clicks of a mouse! In addition to the reduction of megapixels now having the ability to play with colour, age and even alter the images is just so cool!! Classroom activities, reporting and projects can all be enhanced by the usage of these new tools!
 The images used on this site are of my children and I have approved their usage.
 

 Flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/120690202@N04/  

 

   

 

   Podcasting


The idea of Podcasting in my future classroom definitely has a spot. It was fun and a cool form of self expression that students would really enjoy especially when prepping for a play, or performance.

 



http://canusa23.podomatic.com/entry/2014-03-19T19_13_08-07_00


Digital Video

 

 

  This has been an enjoyable and hard week but I can honestly say I did give all the tasks a go, but some did not work so I have not included them. I wanted to be complete but I also want to be on time.
Enjoy Cheers Marsha

 

 







 

 

Week 3 Blog 2

 

http://misslwholebrainteaching.blogspot.ca/2013/08/proud-canadian-blog-award.html

I've been motoring through this weeks assignment trying to see how on earth this would all fit into My classroom, I've also discovered a little about myself. The most startling realisation is (drum roll please).. I can do this. Yes me a 43 year old single mother of two, and self confessed "techno-tard"can create Blogs, Wikis and Weeblys oh mi!! It was a hard slog, I was second and third guessing myself, but I persevered.

I did ask my trusted Professor to bare witness to this feat and here's what she sent me.


So the Dark Side here I come!!

My focus this week will be entirely on Blogging and where I see that fitting into my future classroom. One thing I must be cognitively aware of is that it's not all about me! It's not about my comfort zone or what I'm comfortable with, that is reserved for my students. My task is to guide them and support them but not to dictate what is useful and beneficial for their purposes. The only way that I can be a supportive guide is to experience these spaces myself. There is little doubt that my students will be very schooled in many technologies I am not. I just need to immerse myself and show confidence rather than blind fear!

When I Googled the Question of "Blogging in the Classroom" I was surprised what I found and the number of articles supporting this method.

Reading and writing texts on line are basic skills that students need to be literate citizens in the 21st century. Teaching with blogs provides the opportunity to engage students in both of these literacy activities, and the strategy has the additional benefit of enabling students to publish their writing easily and to share their writing with an authentic audience.
http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/teaching-with-blogs-30108.html

This idea of using Blogs supports the idea of engaging students and making their learning almost serves a dual purpose. The subject matter is taught and learnt but also the ideas and skills involved in creating an engaging Blog are taught and explored but both student and teacher.

In my fantasy classroom (that being Senior English) I'm seeing Blogs used to enhance my students' learning of the material. The students will be encouraged to write about their learning topics, what they are wanting to learn or perhaps projects they'd like to do. They would write their blogs not just for my viewing, but for the viewing of their classmates. They can support, comment on each others ideas by commenting and we could review blogs in class. This would also command that students be aware of their tone, language used and topics being discussed. They need to understand Code of Conduct in Blogging and remember to respect one and other in their comments and ideas.

http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/teaching-with-blogs-30108.html


http://www.ewebmarketing.com.au/blog/ceo-blogging-for-the-first-time/


I am beginning to believe technology 2.0 does have a greater purpose in my future classroom. One of my greatest fears is that the Old Masters would have no place in this modern society. That is just my fear and ignorance rearing its ugly head. As I delve further into this modern world of blogging, my fears are quashed and my curiosity is heightened.

I have found an amazing blog discussing just this idea. Old Masters in a new world. Blogger Sally Law writes

From the linguistic perspective, studying classic literature from the Western canon (Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell and so on) affords students of English the opportunity to understand, analyse and evaluate language quite different from their own.
http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2012/dec/11/teaching-classic-literature-schools

If my students learn about the past, and blog about it. It's encompassing two very important aspects of learning. First, learning where we've come from -literally speaking- could give my students a great respect and understanding for the importance of these texts. Second, Blogging about what they're learning, sharing with classmates and expressing how they feel through their blogs, keeps them relevant in the 2.0 world.

My plan is to explore this idea in greater depth in weeks to come.

Thank you ...yours in Blogging
Marsha

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Assessment 1 Week 2

Assessment #1 Week # 2

Rewrite

 

After some feedback and some self reflection regarding this assessment, it is apparent that my initial interpretation of this was wrong. I am taking the opportunity now to rethink what I wrote and edit my thoughts.

This activity of working in a completely new medium (Wikis) and discussing the use of mobile phones under the DeBono's hats scaffold was very eye opening and an interesting process.

First, working in a new medium - that being the Wiki- and navigating through the labyrinth that is a Wiki was an exercise in frustration and patience. Frustration simply because the Wiki idea was completely new to myself and patience because I was not going to let this beat me.

Second and most importantly was the discussion topic of Mobile Phones in the Classroom. What purpose to they serve (if any) and if they have a purpose where would they then fit into my future classroom? The DeBono method forced me to really look at all sides of the argument and consider another opinion. I can openly admit that initially, all I saw was the negative. Black and white (two of the hats incidentally) but amongst that were all the other arguments and considerations.

I believe -in general- humans are averse to change. Change is unsettling and the fear of the unknown really can play mind games. This applies to the idea of Technology (including mobile phones) in the classroom. I admit one of my initial fears is that of redundancy. Will my purpose as a teacher be superfluous? Can a machine, or a avatar do a better job than a living breathing teacher? People may scoff at this as being silly but think about it for a second? Is this possible?

 

 technology can only do so much. It can be transient and can become obsolete very quickly. What is a constant though, is the teacher in the classroom who across the world at this very moment and tomorrow morning will be putting the needs of their young people first, finding the best fit to ensure that everyone achieves more than they ever dreamed possible.
http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jun/20/technology-not-replace-teaching-learning

I find this sort of article comforting and reassuring. My future classroom will encompass technology as it benefits and augments my students' learning. That may even include mobile phones (but I'll take some serious convincing!!) This weeks activity challenged my original bias' and for that I am grateful. I don't know it all, and I am here to learn and develop a new deeper understanding and respect for Technology and how it may assist me with my future as a teacher.

 

 

Wednesday March 5th 2014

 

Week #2 Blog #1

 

 

Well I did it...I really created this Blog space...(wait I have to thank Wendy and her tireless patience with me) but ok...WE did it!! I am swimming around this world of Technology, not completely drowning because I've got my cyber "floaties"on. So I'm here..having fun and feeling quite smug to say the least!!

So what have I learned this week? Wowzers it's been a great week for a tempestuous topic like Mobile Phones in the classroom ...Way to go Wendy ..can open, worms everywhere.....

I am a girl who grew up in a household with 2 academics for parents (PHD Chemistry and English teacher..so there was no hope for me!) and we had no television. In fact I bought my first Television when I was 25. Technology has not been a major part of my life but I'm also aware that I am a mother of 2 and I don't want to be out of date, and boring...!! I now have a Smart phone (but I'm wondering why they act so dumb), a computer (of course) and my latest addition is a Tablet..(I'm still wondering why my partner decided I needed it but bless him)!! So I'm all kitted up, and yet still I write my notes on paper. I still use my handy dandy highlighter and I take pride in my personal library of actual books!

I've done lots of reading on arguments for and against this idea of mobiles in the classroom and I'm still not swayed to the Yes team.

So I Googled "Should mobile phones be banned from classrooms?" and found that there are many and varied opinions on this topic out there.

 

I read and article http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/nov/27/should-mobiles-be-banned-schools

and found some very interesting arguments that I had not even considered. One that was alarming is that "Pupils come to school without a coat or without having had any breakfast, but they always have a phone,’ These are lifelines to many people and I find that rather sad rather than empowering. Safety and social standing aside, these bits of plastic and metal cannot be part of your entire self and yet sadly they (for many) are.
As I'm having issues with my technology today I'm going to post this just to see if indeed I can get it out there.
Happy Thursday folks...
Cheers Marsha (-:



 



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