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1 Observation: Students seem to be more engaged when they have different tools to use in completing their work.  They have the ability to express themselves differently than they would if they were just writing with pen and paper.

1 Connection: I’ve seen this type of excitement in my own placements.  Students are ALWAYS eager to get their hands on the iPads or Chromebooks when doing work.  The only issue I had with my students was keeping all of them on task. Most of them would stay on task but there were always a handful that wouldn’t.

1 Question: How can I make sure all students are staying on task?
Alexandra Andreacola

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Question: While using technology has benefits, how do we ensure students stay on task when using it?

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Question: While using technology has benefits, how do we ensure students stay on task when using it?

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Observation: Student engagement I found increased when some form of technology/tool was used in the classroom and participation increased, especially with students who were not normally comfortable participating without technology

-Chris Quartermain

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Observation: SNS can boost confidence to participate more and be socially engaged.Connection: I only observed iPads being used in the classroom with ELL but it was manly for gamesSurprise: I was surprised that fanfiction sites were instrumental in supporting language learning in students with ELL and provided a sense of community and support Question: AM

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Observation: SNS can boost confidence to participate more and be socially engaged.Connection: I only observed iPads being used in the classroom with ELL but it was manly for gamesSurprise: I was surprised that fanfiction sites were instrumental in supporting language learning in students with ELL and provided a sense of community and support Question: AM

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Observation: I love how students can express themselves in a different means. If students are not comfortable participating in class (in fear of making a mistake), they can comfortably do this online.
Surprise: I know technology is used a lot in elementary school classrooms,and SNS are used in university a lot. However, I was surprised to see that SNS are used in elementary schools as well.
Connection: Just like an ELL student, students in a classroom who have disabilities can learn through technology. They can progress their reading and writing skills through different applications/ technology tools (I.e WordQ).
Question: What if a school can't afford the technology? could the parents provide the technology for their child to use in class?

-Alana Principe

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I was not surprised with the findings, but was intrigued by how multiliteracies pedagogy transforms practice. One observation I noticed from the reading in play in my former placement was that English language learners were far more comfortable using technology to communicate their ideas in a social, online networking system with their peers than speaking in class. I found these students were keen to engage and offer their opinions on our Google Classroom forum, and would connect lessons from class to their posts, but would rarely speak in class. Their online presence allowed them to offer their ideas and connections in a safe space, allowing them to build confidence to repeat those answers in class when called upon. This rehearsal, if you will, allowed them to be successful contributors to the classroom environment.

I really like the Ning platform, and spent some time poking around it — how might a similar platform allow for UDL in the classroom? How is this platform introduced as a learning tool?

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Observation: using technology helped students who were ELL express themselves through the multiliteracies pedagogy. They can gain a deeper understanding of their learning when they go back to reflect.

Connection: In my second placement, I was in the library learning commons and I ran lessons for different classes. Technology definitely made a difference for student with learning disabilities or language barriers. These students were more engaged

Surprise:

Question:  How can we modify this so students that don't have access to a lot of technology can benefit?

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Observation: SNS can be extremely beneficial and useful to ELL students.

Connection: When I volunteered in a grade 4/5 classroom, we had a refugee student use SNS as a way to help him learn our language and become comfortable with it.

Surprise:

Question: How can we make this technology more accessible to ALL students and ALL schools?

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Observation: The use of assistive technologies can help boost a students confidence. In terms of a student who is ELL, without the use of technology, they may not be able to participate to the full extend that they can.

Connection:

Surprise:

Question: What happens if a school can't afford the technology but the student needs it to be successful? Where does the school get the funding for the technology? How is it distributed among the students? Does it need to be in the IEP that the students need it?
-Angela

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Observation:  incorporating multimodal tools and an SNS allowed the students to more freely express themselves; to share their work and their personalities with peers

Connection: .......

Surprise: People are always saying that SNS have ruined kids social skills, but in this case, it has helped ELL students become more sociable

Question: What if a parent refuses to allow a student SNS access due to safety? How could you convince a parent otherwise?

- Filipe

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Observation: When we include social networking sites and multimodal communication tools in our classroom, students are able to not only learn course content, but also can communicate their identities and feel like they're part of a community.
Connection: I have actually worked with an ELL student who needed Google translate as a part of their daily routine, and sometimes I would help them try to translate it if there's Canadian 'lingo' that Google may not understand.
Surprise: I am surprised at how much of an impact an SNS has on the classroom
Question: How can we prevent students from taking advantage of their smartphones to play games, or other non-classroom related activities?

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Observation: SNS  can help students build confidence in the classroom who may not feel confidence through a normal classroom.

Connection: In my placement I saw students who really benefitted from use of online tools.

Question: How to ensure safety for all students?

NH

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Observation:
With the such of social networks, and other technology ELL students are able to gain ownership of their learning in a way in which they are comfortable. They become able to create connections and contribute to the class in a low stress environment.

Connection:
I find there is a big connection here for all types of learners. This technology is a means for ELL students to become comfortable, and involved. Other students would benefit for this as well. This type of learning can help multiple learning styles or persons with disabilities.

Question:
What if a school cannot afford the technology in order to help these students due to budget cuts, or other issues etc?

- Michelle

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Connection- Throughout my time in a SERT placement I saw many different inclusive technologies being used in the classroom very effectively. There are many apps, and devices that can be used to foster children's learning. It is interesting to realize that we as teachers are continuously learning from our students.

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Observation: SNS was a successful tool in helping ELL students find their "voice" when writing.It helped with the development of identity within the classroom, and even helped them build positive relationships with their peers

Surprise: Social media can be a be a place where bullying and intimidation takes places. I don't know if this exactly surprised me, but it was nice to see it being used as a positive space where students could develop good relationships with the rest of their classmates.

Connection: This is a little bit different, but I learned to type quickly as a teenager because of playing online computer games where communication with teammates was paramount to success. The article reminded me of this because it shows that the best learning takes places when it is related to something that students can really connect to. Social media is a very important part of popular and youth culture, so if it is used properly, it can be a very powerful tool to facilitate growth and learning.

Questions: The article mentioned that in some cases there were issues with the development of proper writing conventions because of the nature of language used on SNS. How can we use SNS to the end it was used here while teaching proper conventions?

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Observation: The importance and impact of AT in the classroom
Connection: In both my placements, there have been several students who have had access to AT. It definitely made a difference in their ability to communicate thus allowing them to get their learning across more clearly
Surprise: The use of SNS in the classroom. I still feel that there are some limitations (due to distractions, privacy, etc)
Question: How do we keep kids (as much as possible) from getting distracted while using technology?

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Observation

I observed this week how interesting it is that students and teachers have the innate ability to continuously learn. I found this both existential and interesting as we see this as we have had our experience in the classroom whilst learning as students, too.

Connection:
I noticed this more specifically when I was in my second placement. Working with an irreverent stream of students, I was made privy to different learning styles. By which virtue, I was continuing to learn while my students were.  Overall it made for an interesting experience while I was able to teach curriculum and learn how to make my teaching more versatile in the process.

Question:
I wonder why we continuously keep narrow mindsets as teachers, when its evident we are continuously learning. Why do we keep any preconceived notions in the classroom? What creates this?

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Observation: SNS sites built community for ELL students, they can gain support from their online peers while working on their "writer identity"
Connection: There were several ELL students at my last placement who benefited from technology while learning English
Surprise: How you could use something as familiar as SNS to help all students succeed
Question:

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Observation – One’s sense of belonging can help English Language Learners (ELL) feel they have ownership over the language they are learning and this appears to increase the likelihood that they will use the language.  Social media seemed to be a strong facilitator of this process.

Connection – I can most certainly connect with the fact that ELL’s were more willing and likely to communicate with their peers when given the chance to talk about things that are relevant to them.  Particularly in new situations, I find it much easier to communicate with people I’m meeting if I can fall back on things I know or feel comfortable with.  During practicum, I saw this with one of my students whose first language was not English.  He was much more forthcoming with information (and was smiling) when he got to talk about badminton.

Surprise – Classrooms can use social media with their students outside of classroom hours.  I’ll admit I didn’t know this was a realistic possibility.

Question – What steps can and need to be taken when using a social media site/service with youth to ensure student safety?

Elizabeth

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Observation – One’s sense of belonging can help English Language Learners (ELL) feel they have ownership over the language they are learning and this appears to increase the likelihood that they will use the language.  Social media seemed to be a strong facilitator of this process.

Connection – I can most certainly connect with the fact that ELL’s were more willing and likely to communicate with their peers when given the chance to talk about things that are relevant to them.  Particularly in new situations, I find it much easier to communicate with people I’m meeting if I can fall back on things I know or feel comfortable with.  During practicum, I saw this with one of my students whose first language was not English.  He was much more forthcoming with information (and was smiling) when he got to talk about badminton.

Surprise – Classrooms can use social media with their students outside of classroom hours.  I’ll admit I didn’t know this was a realistic possibility.

Question – What steps can and need to be taken when using a social media site/service with youth to ensure student safety?

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Observation: Using social networking as a means to professionally develop
connection:

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Bailey

Observation: ELL who feel marginalized in the classroom can continue to feel this throughout their lives as a result, through economic success and participation in society
Surprise: Students learn content and communicate their identity simultaneously
Connection: In my last placement I had 2 ELL students in my grade 9 English class and I often struggled with ways to get them engaged and wish I had more time to develop tech resources
Question: What other platforms can we use outside of Ning to engage and create an inclusive classroom for ELL students?

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Observation: Removing pressure of taking in class is helpful for increasing involvement, and this practice helped students participate more in person down the road
Connection: In my placement, students used Reflex and Prodigy for math both in class and at home. They started working together and also improving!
Surprise: Students were using the program on weekends.
Question: I would like to learn more about how to balance time between the site and face-to-face interaction in the classroom, as being on the site in class seems great, but unfamiliar!

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technology applications can create a more engaging environment where students want to learn. New technologies are being presented all the time, must stay on informed and know your students and which ones will be beneficial for them. I wonder how many different sns sites can be used and which ones students would find the most comfortable. 

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technology applications can create a more engaging environment where students want to learn. New technologies are being presented all the time, must stay on informed and know your students and which ones will be beneficial for them. I wonder how many different sns sites can be used and which ones students would find the most comfortable. 

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Jensen

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observation:
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surprise:
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Dimitiz Rahimi
Observation: The use of technology and social networking sites have the ability to increase student confidence and language.
--> creates meaningful education experiences
- Ning emphasized the positive impacts in relation to using a multiliteracies pedagogy
Surprise: Many teachers lack skills needed to teach ELL'S
--> Can cause various implications for ELL's (won't want to participate)
Connection: Many useful Apps exist (Clicker 6, Kurzweil) that may be used to strengthen their skills
Question: How can I ensure safety amongst my students when they are using social media?

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Emily Smith

Observation: Using technology, especially in relation to something that acts as a SNS (social networking site) is beneficial to ELL's a they become more comfortable with using the English language and overall become more comfortable with peers and their physical learning environments.

Connection: This could be used with many learners and all learners as a way to communicate by different means to strengthen language skills and social skills

Surprise: I was surprised by the fact that it wasn't previously thought of to establish ground rules or netiquette terms prior to use-but we experiment and learn :)

Question: How can I employ the use of a SNS like Ning in my own classroom effectively? How do parents react to its use in an educational format both in class and at home?

--Emily Smith