ILP “Design” – Prezi

ILP #2 - DESIGN

       For the design aspect of my ILP #2, I decided to create a Prezi power point to practice creating educational content. To attempt something different from English related topics, I chose a social science (Psychology) to branch out. A psychologist who I found influential and inspiring that I remember learning about was Kurt Lewin. Therefore, I wanted to experiment in Prezi to make a mock-presentation for a class!



Prezi on Kurt Lewin

Blog Post #10

Blog Post #10

      Surveys for data collecting and reporting are spectacular resources for an educator. This means I can utilize Qualitrics at the beginning of the school year to gather data. In the future, I want to be a high school English teacher for grades 11th and 12th. I can create a Qualitrics to survey my class on which books they would prefer to read, and which genres interest them more. For example, I can have a multiple choice question that asks, "Which horror book would you rather read this October?"

A. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

OR

B. Pet Semetary by Stephen King

      Data from questions like these can them be compiled onto Excel for me to analyze. When looking over their responses, Excel can organize my information so I can interpret the data and average answers. In addition, these two programs can help me get my students more engaged in the classroom by reading books that they like more. This helps me get to know them and their interests before the year lifts off!

      I had an amazing time reviewing my classmates' blogs on Blogger! I thought it was insightful to read their opinions on educational technology. As a future English teacher, I had the privilege of viewing the various other subjects that my classmates wanted to instruct. To also witness their progress and snippets of their projects were interesting. When I saw how the other websites, presentations, and ILP's were laid out, I compared them to mine. The different use of color, information, and layouts were beneficial to analyze the differences in teaching styles. One additional aspect that I loved seeing was the blog on the Tech Sandbox. To see which devices people loved in contrast to mine helped me get to know their interests more as teachers.

      There are so many technological skills that I can learn to better myself as an educator. A particular skill that catches my eye is how to create a podcast or educational talk show. This skill has always interested me because I love listening to them when driving or walking around the Florida State campus. In addition, I believe that discussion and expression of thoughts with other people is extremely vital for educators. To achieve this, I plan to watch YouTube videos and other tutorials on how to start one up. I will get the help of friends who are also educators to be on the show with me. In time and practice, I know that I can create an engaging podcast for discussing educational technology for my school and other teachers across the nation.

Survey Practice

Please take my survey!

https://fsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NPtmDX4ewZresZ

Blog Post #9

Blog Post #9

      The "Flipped Classroom" is a new phenomenon that has turned the original conceptions of education upside down. This is a term that describes the newer method of teaching and instruction in America. Online discussions and activities exist for students to learn at home, while assignments that would usually be done at home get worked on in class with the teacher. This is beneficial because students come to class more prepared and aware of the knowledge they need to know, and can follow up with questions for the teacher in class. Another benefit is that since the "traditional homework assignments" are done in class, the student can utilize their peers and their teacher for immediate assistance. In my eyes, this instructional design is exceptional and I envision using this model for my future classroom.

      Open educational resources (OERs) are various tools that are free to use, modify, redistribute, and so on for the purpose of education. These resources all contain property rights, that can be memorized as the five R's. These include the rights to retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute. An OER can be a document, a lesson plan, and even a video. A OER site that I found fascinating was the Open Education Consortium. This is a website that aims to connect the world through the goal of open education, as it compiles information from over 240 schools. All of this information is free to use the five R's with, as there are open textbooks, webinars, and digital media for anyone to learn with.

Open Education Consortium

      My time creating the two separate PowerPoints has been quite a challenge. I have learned how to edit slide details in the slide master, where I can create multiple slides and customize the layout. I also have learned how to make it where you can disable the "next slide" option so you must click specific buttons to progress. I even learned how to record a voice presentation for the first assignment, as I always wondered how I could do that. Following that, I have discovered how to format pictures with text to make the slides easy on the eyes for an audience to read and follow along. I loved creating the content for both projects, but dislike how long it took me to do them. These assignments were interesting to play with, but for next time I must learn how to work faster instead of spending hours trying to adjust options. Another positive aspect was that I felt as if I was really an educator making these power points for my students. This put me in the role of a teacher wanting to make an exciting game for his class. In addition, next time around I can include more images to make the content more engaging!

Blog Post #8

Blog Post #8

      While working with the application named "Diigo" I picked up various skills that will benefit me down the line. Using the tool has made me conscious of the CRAAP guidelines, as they make me recall whether a source is valid. The tool also helped me grow in my personal learning network, as I interacted with others online through sharing and commenting. By reading tons of other sources and articles, it helped me analyze which pieces of information that I found beneficial. Since I highlighted and left comments for the author, I was growing my own learning by sorting through the articles' data. Diigo can be used for my classroom, team members, and beyond to teach us how to better connect with others when sharing or discussing information on line. I can use it to teach us the CRAAP guidelines and to practice remembering them. Following that, we can use it for group projects or other efforts to compile data quickly and store it on the Diigo database for easy access!

      PowerPoint by Microsoft can be a splendid tool to help students develop at every level of Bloom's Taxonomy. I can imagine a scenario where I would have my students make a PowerPoint to teach the class on a book that they read. This interactive book report would go through every level of the Taxonomy. They would have to create a new work (their PP) based off of a preexisting work (the book itself). Second, they would have to evaluate the book, as they can argue its meaning, defend the author's purpose, and/or support their interpretation of the source if it's vague. Then, they would analyze the book in regards to other sources. This can be done by linking it to other written works through comparing and contrasting elements like characters, setting, tone, plot, and more. Next, they would apply the book's information to outside situations. This is where they would demonstrate the information that they learned in new ways, such as teaching how they analyzed the book's meanings through context clues. Stemming from that, they would express how they understand the material, showing the class through discussion and dialogue that they know what they're talking about. Lastly, they would demonstrate how they remember their book, as they must present to the class by just using slides containing little information, as they must rely on memory to present their book. All in all, this lesson would highlight all the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy as they present to the class their learning and growth in the process of discovering new literature.
      Technology is a phenomenon that assists in driving a teacher's professional development. By staying updated on the current trends and adaptations give teachers an edge in developing not only themselves, but their students. How can we expect students to grow and advance their learning if their educators are not up to the standards and rates that our society is moving at? EdX is a website that specializes in bringing teachers up to speed on our modern world of educational technology. The site offers courses on personal development that come from the world's highest echelon of schools and institutions. On EdX you can find "How To" videos on making presentations, learning new lesson plans or materials, and detailed videos/articles on advancements in educational technology! Websites like this one are an amazing resource for educators who recognize the importance of staying up to date and informed on the ever changing world around us!

EdX Website

Blog Post #7

Blog Post #7

      My Twitter experience has been very engaging up to this point! I would not have been able to connect with fellow students, teachers, and organizations without it. By following accounts such as Edutopia, Pearson, and Education Week, I am able to see the modern developments of educational technology. Interesting articles provide examples on trends in education, how to better teach students, and includes beneficial tips on how to be the best educator possible. I have grown in the way that I connect with others, as I now share tweets with classmates and comment on their shared tweets everyday. This has kept me accountable and constantly checking Twitter for more engaging articles and peer commentary. As previously mentioned, Twitter is phenomenal for connecting across the globe, discovering intriguing news and information about our world, and to express your personal learning network through social media. The only issue that I have experienced is that I often spend too much time on the site, as I find it entertaining, but also very distracting!

      The Web Design assignment has inspired me to flex my creativity with designing the page. Furthermore, I learned how to determine what information students would need, such as links to helpful websites such as Owl Purdue. Another skill that I acquired was learning how to format a website, which is something I have never done before. Now for my future, I can have a slightly easier time building my own website for a class since I have prior experience. Overall, I heavily struggle with graphic designing and assignments such as these, so I have not particularly loved this assignment. I do not design things quickly or efficiently, so I spend many hours doing these tasks. Next time, I can include more color or interesting images for my class, or maybe even a real life picture of our class when I have one. I can also include more information about me, so parents and students can feel like they know who I am in a better sense. In regard to my future, I have activated my imagination to anticipate what future me would want to say to students and parents. I have even learned how to research and compile a page of links that can assist my students, which I'll aim to remember down the line.

Mr. Curth's Website

      Assistive and adaptive technologies are devices or tools that benefit people with disabilities and learning difficulties. They are basically designed to ensure that everyone can learn as effectively as they can, and not be left behind in the classroom. The goal is to maximize their opportunities in a way that considers their needs. My friend had to use a keyboard that made it easier to type when he was in a wheelchair after a car accident. His main writing/typing hand was broken, so the keyboard was able to be in reach and could be raised, lowered, or extended for his non-broken hand to type. In my future classroom, I see challenges with the technology. I worry that I will not be able to properly accommodate for a student with a disability as of now, since I do not have much experience with the technology and need training with it. Another glaring issue is the affordability of the technology, as the student, school, or even myself may not be able to purchase or provide the technology that a student may need to have a quality education.

Blog Post #6

Blog Post #6: Teacher Responsibilities

      A school website can be a wonderful resource to connect with students, parents, and fellow teachers. To analyze with a real-life example, I took a quick glance at a random school that I searched from Google called Osbourn Park High. The school houses students from grades 9th to 12th, and includes information such as an academic calendar that discusses important testing dates and days off. Following that, there is a faculty and staff list with emails provided to contact every member, along with an extensive list of courses that the school provides for students (AP, Honors, Remedial, etc.). Detailed information about specific classes was hidden from me, as the site provided a private Canvas login for students and parents only. However, I found a specific 12th grade Language Arts teacher named Matthew Hoffman, with a class page for his seniors. His page listed out the days which his classes are on, his contact information (email and phone number), and he displayed his office hours. The educator included two tabs titled "Useful Links" and "Files and Documents." Unfortunately, Hoffman's links are not active or working, and the only file I could view was his class syllabus. Out of curiosity, I checked the other Language Arts teachers' pages, and found similar results. Most only contained the class syllabus, course times, and the teacher's contact information.

Osbourn Park High Class Page

      With all the responsibilities that educators have, technology is an important ally for us. In the near future, I envision myself utilizing an online grade-book database such as Canvas. This system would help me distribute assignments and announcements, record student grades, and be able to directly contact students or parents wherever they are. Being able to prevent the consumption and the clutter of paper, along with the mobile access seems immensely beneficial. Another way that technology can assist me in effectively teaching is with a blog on Blogger or with a monthly class newsletter. I would distribute it online (and in person if needed) so parents can be aware of upcoming dates, testing schedule, and other information for their child. By designing a website for the class, I can address concerns before parents have to contact me and ask. This will save time for myself and the families, as loads of information can be distributed on the go. Having parents up to date is vital, and this allows me to appear professional and to communicate with them effectively. 

      When my group visited the Technology Sandbox, the augmented reality device stuck was the most distinct. While wearing the headset, users can be transported to a whole new dimension where everything they see feels realistic and engaging. This device seems phenomenal for a classroom, as you can simulate virtually any scenario. For my future English classroom, I could use the AR to show students the time era or setting that the literary work takes place in. For example, when teaching Romeo and Juliet, I would show 16th-17th century Verona, Italy to assist the students in imagining where the characters and story lines are interacting. The AR can also be utilized for students who are having a rough day and need a quick break to recharge themselves. By entering this calm and separate world, they can hopefully ease their minds for a couple of minutes and then return to class focused.

ILP “Participation” – Lynda: Educational Technology for Student Success

Lynda: Educational Technology for Student Success

      For the Participation option on my Independent Learning Project, I chose to be a part of a Lynda tutorial course pertaining to Educational Technology. The tutorial was titled "Educational Technology for Student Success" and was taught by a professional speaker/educator named Renaldo Lawrence. His course was designed to instruct fellow educators on how to implement technology in classrooms effectively and make the lessons engaging for students in a modern society that requires computer fluency. Throughout the course, I was shown how to create educational content for a classroom, teaching students how to properly navigate the internet, and was shown a sample of applications and software to use. Among these, I learned how to make comps, presentations, videos, and public documents for my future classroom. The critical goal is to teach our nation's students on how to be independent learners with the ever-growing world of educational technology. I think the course was extremely beneficial for me, as I was able to take good notes and listen to educational strategies from a fellow educator. His insight showed me why it is vital to capture a classroom's attention, and his creativity was memorable as I saw the various forms of media he uses for his students. I fully recommend this course to any educator who wants to prepare for their future classroom, and also for any educator who wants to improve their curriculum and class structure.

     
      Notes:

Unit 1: The Educational Technology Landscape 

- Focus on what subject I want to teach and how this can relate to that
- Re-watch the course to focus on how this media can apply to other subjects

- Inform students of licensing/copyright when using images and videos online
- Know the goals of my multimedia = Provide interactive media (Images/colors/video clips) and hone in on what skills they should learn

- Provide materials for parents that are both online and offline
- Provide instruction for parents to teach your lesson to student (if student did not grasp this in lesson in class)
- Unrestricted access for parents is more beneficial than a parent-teacher conference
- This allows your materials to be helpful for multiple learning styles

- Make students/parents aware of legal limits of online use (fair use/copyright)
- Teach and display the Data Protection Act
- Show the search tools on Google/search engine to filter copyrighted materials
- Teach students how to write an email/reach out to content owners to ask permission for using works (Images, music rights, clips, etc.)

-Keep content organized (Make a folder, make sub-folders, put similar files like PP's together)
- Format all pages/files similarly so students know where to go and find them
- Include both video and audio to make your lessons have media-rich content

- Be aware of what content will go in your materials
- Have students consume the content, have them think about what they are doing,
- Also have them make firm decisions based off of what they read/write
- Check student progress/understanding through simple quizzes
-Ex. iBook Author, Adobe Presenter, Storyline, Google Forms

- Don't overload with content, focus on what you need them to grasp
- Capture content with cameras, screen recordings, film, phones, etc.
- Upload content so students/parents can watch, re-watch to learn, and refer back to
- Email the content, post to social media, put in drop box



Unit 2: Practice Educational Technology Tips

- Create a list of links for students/parents/other teachers
- Use MW, PP, Keynote, Flipsnack, Dropbox, Animato, Edmodo, Padlet
- Split content by subject area or chronological time order
- Choose whether people can view, edit, or comment on the document
- Share links with students to help them complete their work
- Do not forget to share with parents/other teachers
-Make sure your audience knows how to find and utilize the document

- Allow students to use their devices in class to take advantage
- Let students take photos of what they are studying
- Allow students to annotate documents on MS Word
- Post/share creations and class activities on Dropbox so students can review

- Allow students to take videos of their teacher in class
- Upload videos of your lessons to Youtube for them to watch
- Include information so students can find these videos quickly

- Use Microsoft PP to make video-based presentations
- Create your own QR Codes for students to roam around and scan their phones at them to view files/videos
-Use QR-code-generator.com
- Place these QR Codes either around your room, or around the school to share your desired information

- Use the free Pro version of Google Earth to teach
- Can be used for historical locations, geography, travel, English, etc.
- Use it to create a Welcome Pack to show new teachers/students/parents around the school and area

- Use Google Search by filtering content on the menu under the search bar
- Can use audio vocals to speak into the microphone
-Google Scholar can be great for older students to search for mature articles, instead of general searches
-Can search for documents, citations, scholarly articles, etc.

- Publish student work on the app called Book Creator
- Can customize the layout, color, text, type of book, title, etc.
- Transfer book to iBooks and share with parents/students/teachers/world

- Adobe Comp CC is free to make usable and mobile comps such as artwork
- Draw your own shapes, or use the custom made options
- Can transfer your comp to Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.

- Explain Everything is an whiteboard tool app to show students what you want them to learn
- Draw/organize slides into either a video or a PDF for students to consume
- Export creation to your photo library where you can then share
- You can annotate, narrate, share, download almost anything

- Use Lynda or YouTube to review content and have instructions with technology
- Utilize the free tools/apps available for your classroom
- Ask students what platforms/apps would they like to use or learn with
- Ask other teachers what they use in their classrooms

Lynda: Educational Technology for Student Success

Blog Journal #5

      Using Diigo for the first time was a very enlightening experience. The concept of bookmarking was familiar to me since I have used computers for years, but social bookmarking was a unique entity. Finding articles/web pages, and then tagging it to our class group was something that I could see myself implementing in my future classroom. I particularly loved how we could comment and analyze the bookmarks shared by classmates. Another aspect I enjoyed was how we could catalog or differentiate pages with tags that we created ourselves. However, I do think the layout could be more colorful and less of a cluttered feed of tagged pages. I also dislike how there are some features limited since we are only utilizing the free version, as the entire educational source should be more available to all.  
      Before this semester, I never blogged consistently in my life. By posting every week, I realize that I am reflecting more critically than ever before on my thoughts with educational technology. Since I write paragraphs on what I am learning and feeling, I am becoming more aware of what I love with teaching. I further recognize my strengths and passions with English materials, and am challenged with the assignments and readings. A downside that I noticed is that I have become too critical of myself when writing the blogs. I am more aware of my weaknesses when doing assignments and tasks, such as designing a newsletter or anything visually creative. I often enjoy writing the blogs since I am a gifted writer, but I dislike writing that is for a grade. Furthermore, I discovered that I find it fascinating how my thoughts are out there for others to comment or critique. This feeling is unusual because I commonly keep my writings to myself, and do not share them with others. The blogging experience has forced me out of my comfort zone and deeper into the world of educational technology.
      Ted Talks (TED Conferences LLC) are a phenomenal type of Web 2.0 tool to introduce to a classroom. Ted Talks are inspirational and educational discussions from renowned guest speakers of our modern era. They extend over multiple fields such as technology, philosophy, business, science, and education. These brief speeches are available online for people to stream and learn from whenever they desire. Ted Talks are a Web 2.0 tool because it counts as a shareable content. The tool can be listened to as an interactive resource, people can tag others to the source, and the possibility of reaching billions of people exists. I would include these in my class curriculum because they can spark critical thinking from my students on a variety of issues, specifically literature for my future English class. CK Williams has a beautiful speech on "Poetry of Youth and Age" that I would introduce to my class to inspire their writing and mindset on creating literary art. All in all, Ted Talks are an incredible way to reach or motivate students and educators to achieve their full potential, and to learn something new about the world and themselves in the process.

Ted Talks

Blog Journal #4

Blog Journal #4

      My time that has been spent experiencing Twitter through an educational lens has been incredibly beneficial. I have been sharing and commenting on tweets to several EME 2040 classmates like Avery and Noah. The educational sources and articles they share have given me insight into new developments in the technology world that aid in education. I have also been retweeting and sharing posts from education-based accounts such as "Education Week" and "edutopia" that provide educational studies and updates about classroom technology. Twitter can be an amazing tool to utilize in my career, as it is a commonly adored social media to get students to participate in, and has access to endless supply of news and information. Similar to our course, I could have students create an educational twitter account for my class in order to connect and share information online that pertains to our English classroom! 
      The phrase "digital divide" refers to the modern dilemma describing the gap between people who do not have access to technology and those who do. The ones who have access to this technology at home (or at school) contain a major advantage over students who do not, making educational opportunities unequal. The students who lack the technology will have to go out of their way to reach it, either having to go to a library, a friend's house, or to school when not in class. They will learn with more difficulty since the shortcuts and tools are not at their disposal (Ex. Having to read an entire book and search for answers instead of using a summary online). The digital divide can be attributed to economic inequality (the class system), location (rural vs suburb vs urban city setting) and poor funding for many public schools. As a teacher, some of my students may not have sufficient access to technology. To combat this, I have to allot extra time for them to complete assignments and I can give them access before or after school in my classroom. Additionally, I could attempt to limit technological use in my curriculum by mostly using the equipment in school, or I can offer fewer/alternative assignments.
      As technology progresses, more and more teachers are bringing apps and academic software into the classroom. When I become a teacher, I would love to use BrainPOP and Quizlet for my high school English class. BrainPOP is a website that houses a massive collection of animated videos that summarize multiple topics. There are videos on historical events such as World War Two, science lessons on Biology, and even videos covering famous books or authors. I would love to show my class these videos before we dive into a new lesson or topic, as the animated and quirky clips present engaging background information in a digital format. Quizlet is a website that allows users to create and share study guides or notes about anything related to academics. In my classroom, I would create a virtual study guide off of the app/website in order for my students to prepare for the exams I give. This would encourage them to study and prepare to memorize important lessons about literature in the curriculum!

Blog Journal #3

Blog Journal #3

      For teaching upper level high school English (grades 11-12), I need to abide by the ELA technology standards that have been set. I know I can excel at using digital media in clever ways for presentations, as I am proficient at Power Points, Prezis, and other forms of visual instruction. Following that, I am confident in my abilities to clarify the meanings of complex words and to evaluate new sources of information. I am efficient at utilizing context clues and can browse the internet for sites like Dictionary.com or Politifact, which assist me in determining the validity of sources and definitions. I am hesitant about integrating various sources of media in my curriculum, such as anything quantitative or number heavy since mathematics and programs like MS Excel are a weak point for me. Another standard that I need to work on is the last standard of gathering relevant information, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the source, and not relying too heavily on a single source. This appears to be a challenge because I get disinterested researching multiple sources and having to meticulously cite them all. I have had previous issues with leaning on one source too much, so this is something for me to monitor. 

      On the CPALMS website, they have multiple engaging resources for educators to use for their classes. Since I wish to be an upper level Language Arts teacher, I found a resource called "Complex Usage: Which Word Will Win?" This resource is an interactive experience that shows pairs of words that are misused often and displays the definitions of each word. This assists us in making sure we are speaking and writing cleanly, instead of using the wrong word or phrase in our vocabulary. I believe this resource is excellent for an English class because even adults mispronounce or misuse similar sounding words (Ex. accept vs except). The current state of technology allows all with internet access to be more informed and to take steps toward correcting our speech. This interactive resource is perfect for young adults who are about to enter the adult world and can benefit from speaking efficiently.

      Throughout my time working on the newsletter assignment, I have enhanced many of my creative skills. The task has challenged me to being more organized and orderly in designing a page that is filled to the brim with information that needs to be communicated to students and parents. I enjoyed placing my mind in the role of a teacher crafting the newsletter, as it made me critically think about the info I needed to discuss. Topics like a grading scale, upcoming readings, class projects and more came to mind when brainstorming articles to include. Visualizing myself in this scenario is vital due to the fact that I will be creating a similar document down the line for my own classroom. A newsletter is especially necessary for an English course since there are a lot of readings, essays and state tests to cover with the subject. When doing an assignment like this in the future, I could improve it by spicing up the color and font styles a bit more. I had difficulty in formatting the entire thing since it was my first time making a newsletter, but next time I will be more familiar with aligning columns and making the articles flow more. Another aspect I will improve upon is including more images or Word Art in order to make the newsletter more visually appealing to my readers. The goal is to draw families in and to keep them engaged in what my class will learn.

file:///C:/Users/emk16b/Downloads/EricKurdak_Assignment1_Newsletter.pdf

ELA/CPALMS link to slides

Our ELA/CPALMS slides

Blog Journal #2:

Blog Journal #2: What's the Word?

   

      Throughout my academic career, I have frequently had the luxury of using Microsoft Word (MS) for my education. As a person who adores literature and writing stories, I have used the program to explore multiple different tales full of complex characters, passionate poetry, along with other detailed expressions. In my four years of television production in high school I used MS Word to form scripts and story boards for my video projects. A handful of the scripts evolved into videos that have gone on to win regional awards in the state of Florida. Unfortunately, my teachers have not used Word the same way as I have. Commonly, Word is pulled up in class to illustrate our various assignments or guidelines for the curriculum. The syllabus, classroom rules, and short excerpts from readings were often displayed on a projector for the class to stare blankly at. The creative and exploratory use of MS Word was extremely limited with the educators I had.

      

      My experience with copyright and fair use guidelines was also introduced to me during my years in television production. The first year I was in the program, we had to learn the history of copyright laws and what intellectual property was in film and media. Since I had to create videos for class using popular songs and images, I was taught how to obtain permission from the creators of the media. My teacher, Mr. Carmody, instructed me on how to write an email to a company, music label, and/or an agent in order to use a song for educational purposes only under fair use. As a teacher, I would follow the same pathway by first educating the class on what copyright/fair use is, along with the history of the rules, and how to clearly implement the fair use strategies. My Power Points and curriculum would give credit to the author for every instance where an idea was not originally my own. I would include watermarks, quotations that included the author-year-page details, and a works cited page at the end. When students create their own works I would have them use some sort of plagiarism checker such as Turnitin.com, or other sources to verify that they are creating original content while citing outside information.

      As technology becomes more implemented in classrooms, issues such as copyright, privacy, and cyber-bullying arise. Copyright is problematic when a teacher posts entire chapters of textbooks or other forms of media online, without being licensed or authorized to do so. To combat this, educators can refrain from posting large quantities of copyrighted information (if without authorization), and only share a miniature amount that gives credit to the source (posting 1-2 pages from the textbook instead of the whole Unit). Privacy becomes an issue when students and teachers have concerns on their information and intellectual properties being distributed online without limits. An effective solution would be to make sure you and your students are aware of where/what is being posted. Teachers must present the options for personal privacy, as private/hidden accounts and information options exist, such as how I was allowed to use a pseudonym for this blog to protect my own privacy. Lastly, cyber-bullying is immensely harmful to classroom settings as students and teachers can be harassed repeatedly anywhere and anytime. Educators must teach their class on the consequences of these actions and provide resources or guidance for students who may experience these issues. An anonymous tip-line to the teacher can be created online for students to express concerns or incidents without feeling embarrassed or alone.

ISTE Standards Reflection

ISTE Reflection

      Working with my group of three was a bit of a challenge. Since there was an extra person, there was more chatter and ideas to go across. Starting up communication was difficult since we had to gather email and contact info for three instead of two. I prefer to use my voice to get ideas across, so typing on a computer to express ideas felt like it took more time and effort.

      When working with my group I had to exemplify the "Collaborator" standard for the assignment. We all had to share the information and resources to create our PowerPoint, and relied upon each other to solve our communication problems. Following that, I had to take on the "Designer" standard to form our PowerPoint and organize the information effectively for the presentation.

Blog Journal #1

Technology and Teaching: The Development of the Classroom

     Since the world is constantly updating and inventing new technology, teachers are encouraged to do the same with their classrooms. Technology in 2018 is inescapable, so applying it to learning is an engaging way to reach students. The current generation has been raised on technological devices their entire lives. Technology allows teachers to explore exciting new ways of learning, where students can participate as if they were playing a game. Additionally, students and teachers are pushed to use technology because of the advantages they offer regarding distance, sickness, disabilities, and so on. Instructors can reach students without both of them being in the same room!

     The ISTE provides multiple important standards to aim for when teaching students. A standard that I greatly connect with is the "Leader" standard. As a educator, you need to be confident, in control, and compassionate towards all of your students. It is a primary responsibility to empower students, ensure that all have equity when learning, and to be a role model for the youth and colleagues alike. A standard that seems challenging to me is the "Collaborator" standard. I struggle with working on teams because I am fiercely independent and like to take charge on projects with my own vision. Adding other thoughts and ideas into the mix can be beneficial, but facilitating multiple voices and minds is no easy task.

     The phrase "digital native" refers to those fluent in technological practices and are more comfortable with the use of it then other groups (generally older generations). The assumptions of being a "digital native" appear to be accurate, as younger people are often born and raised interacting with technology, and are much more adept than digital immigrants. The differences between digital immigrants and natives are evident, as the teachers I've had often need IT assistance or a student to troubleshoot any problems with technology. In high school, a teacher in his late 50's could not figure out how to get the sound working for an educational video, and a student was able to make the fix within a minute. Other instances include teachers only using an uninteresting power point or Microsoft Word to teach, instead of using creative games or websites to teach lessons. As a digital native myself, I do have a short attention span, thrive in technological environments, and prefer to learn via games/apps. In the future, I expect my students to be more proficient than myself with technology, as young minds will be formed around the new devices while my aging brain may struggle to keep up. However, since my generation was raised around technology, I expect us to be more competent teaching with it than the generation before me.

Blog Journal #0: Who Am I? (Introduction)

About Me

     My name is Eric Curth, and I am a Junior at Florida State University. I am studying Criminology/Criminal Justice and aim to be in the United States military after graduation. I have a five-year-old Terrier named Jax who is the greatest dog I could ask for. My hobbies include exercising, going to football games, Netflix binge watching, and eating out with friends. Another quick thing about me is that I work at the school gym as a facility supervisor.

     My prior experiences with technology are extensive throughout my academic career. In elementary school we watched Bill Nye episodes in science class. Throughout middle school we utilized screen projectors to take notes and learn new topics. In high school, we were able to use our smartphones to play games like Kahoot, and research information for in class assignments. Lastly, in college we often use our laptops to read materials for class and complete practice quizzes.

     In this class I hope to learn how to be a more experienced educator. By discovering the different uses and applications of technology in a classroom I hope to engage students more proficiently. I believe in using technology and advanced tools in schools, as the devices have become such a massive part of our society. My hope is that this course will open my eyes to the newest strategies and instructions on delivering the best uses of technology to my future students.