# data[].attributes.body
http://edtechtimes.com/2016/02/01/cyber-security-elearning-course-helps-teachers-combat-online-threats/?platform=hootsuite

As teachers its imperative for us to protect our identity online. In the advent of the social media many of the 90's babies like me are having trouble hiding all the skeletons in their closet. Luckily we finally have a class that teaches teachers how to hide their tracks and protect our identity online. Growing up in the late nineties to the early 2000 we often forget that the marketing strategy of many social media outlets had an emphasis on self-expression. Due to this idea of a free space we were encouraged to be open as it was an outlet where really no parent or employers were present. Their was no authority and therefore no fear of discovery. Sadly now this has changed and more than ever it is been difficult to fully erase what was done or said in the past. hopefully this course is the first step to retribution.

# data[].attributes.body
Alongside Laura, Ada and Daniel, we presented a mini lesson that we would do for our Challenge and Change in Society class. It was an interesting process for our group to create a lesson that met the curriculum expectations, was about a relevant current topic, was interactive, and integrated aspects of technology.  We came up with using powerpoint, a 360 degree documentary on vrse.com and poll everywhere.com  The technology tool we used that resonated with me most, was the website vrse.com where we watched a movie called "My Mother's Wing" which is an interactive movie that highlighted the life of a woman named Om Omasa and her family while living on the Gaza strip.  One challenge of introducing world issues to a class is making the learnings real for them.  Conflict and world issues are highlighted in the news daily, yet we often still feel a disconnect to these issues we hear about.  This is a challenge we face with our students in the classroom as well.  How do we make these world issues which are so far removed from life as we know it, and make it something we can empathize and understand?  This is where Vrse came in.  With it's amazing storytelling, it brings the viewer on a journey through the eyes of the storyteller.  It allows you to view your surroundings in 360 degrees and it walks you through the day to day living of someone.  By making the story telling so interactive, it humanizes the experience, and the issues we are learning about.  I loved this website, and will definitely try to find ways to integrate it in my future classroom.

# data[].attributes.body
Vrse- Storytelling for Virtual Reality

When planning our group lesson presentation on the Gaza strip conflict, my fellow social studies colleagues and I were trying to incorporate a form of technology that would really give a hands-on experience to the students in our class, but most importantly the target audiences for our lesson : Gr 12 Academic students taking the social science course on "Challenge and Change in Society." Joanna was the one that introduced us to an app called Vrse, a storytelling app for virtual reality. We were fortunate enough to find a story on this app called “My Mother’s Wing” which complimented and added a new dimension to our lesson plan. We wanted students to know what it feels like living in the Gaza strip, the people that call in home and what the actual grounds look like in this treacherous place. After giving an interactive lesson on the basic facts behind the Gaza Strip conflict, we asked students to download the free app and click on the aforementioned documentary clip. Students were then asked to stand up and move 360 degrees with their smartphones, by doing so they got a 360 degree view of important parts of Gaza. The virtual reality, made possible by this app, allowed for students, for those mere 20 minutes, to feel like they were virtually there, looking at the grounds, the sky and everything else in between. This is an app that I definitely plan on incorporating in my classroom and I only hope that their video selection expands with time, so it can be user friendly for a variety of subjects.

# data[].attributes.headline
Jeopardy Rocks - Group D Lesson Discussion: Laura, Natalya, Natalie, Daniel

# data[].attributes.subject
Jeopardy Rocks - Group D Lesson Discussion: Laura, Natalya, Natalie, Daniel

# data[].attributes.body
Play our interactive Jeopardy game on The Shifting Landscape within technology and teacher training here!
https://www.jeopardy.rocks/christiangroupdpres

# data[].attributes.body
Tonya Barone

# data[].attributes.body
A presentation in today's class was on the topic of the negative cycle happening to the people living in Gaza. Students gave a background of where Gaza is located and the lifestyle of the people living in that area. After watching a video of the life of a woman living in that area, it was clear that the lifestyle is horrible and the population is extremely poor. School and education is not a priority and there is a lot of malnourishment. There are not many resources for food, and there are limits and rules of people to leave the area. People living in Gaza are not allowed to leave more than 3miles outside of Gaza, which causes problems for finishing and getting food since most areas are 8 miles away. The topic of helping the people get out of the vicious cycle was brought up and how it could happen. Unfortunately, this is a system that children are growing up in and do now know any better. This is clearly a topic that needs to be addressed, but finding a solution is the problem. How can the world contribute to breaking this cycle? What can be done to change the lifestyle of the people in Gaza? More research needs to be done on the topic to determine the main priorities of improving the life of people living in Gaza.

# data[].attributes.body
emoji Tonya

# data[].attributes.body
In today's class there was a lesson that was presented. The Great Gatsby and Symbolize was presented to us as a class. This lesson was very interesting because it allowed us to see that in every novel there are deeper meanings. With every detail of the novel there is a different way of looking at it, for example Gatsby's yellow car symbolizes wealth so that Daisy could see that he was rich. This is so interesting that the American Dream was such a huge thing to grasp and the author does a very good job at trying to display this "dream" throughout the novel. With every novel that students read they need to understand that there is a message that the author is trying to get at, and with the proper attention to detail and the overall message. This lesson was really engaging which helped with the overall understanding of the novel especially when some people in the class did not know of the novel. To have activities that were accessible to all of us regardless if we knew the story or not it was a general understanding of the American Dream that helped push forward our understanding of the context.

# data[].attributes.body
Ashley, Tonya, Oksana, Liza

# data[].attributes.body
According to the article, it appears that with the use of technology, we are hindering student’s true ability to gain knowledge and instead are letting them ‘surf’ through school. Students are constantly being distracted by one thing or another and are therefore unengaged. This article places the blame on technology, but what it fails to do is properly address how the pros outweigh the cons (in my opinion). Also it needs to consider, that like most things in the world, technology is good in moderation. The balance needs to be found between technology in the classroom and hands on learning.

I do agree that technology can be distracting, but in what context? If a student is supposed to be listening to a presentation and they have their phone out texting, the student is at fault, not technology. In this context, technology was not being implemented by the teacher, the student would’ve chose to disobey the rules and be on their phone. Here technology is not being used for educational purposes. What about the other side? Let’s say a student is to complete a computer simulation and gets distracted by a really cool feature, and insteads starts messing around opposed to finishing the simulation? Here, I would agree that technology is at fault, because if the topic were lectured in a more socratic style by the teacher the opportunity for distraction wouldn’t exist. However, let me ask you this: if it were a lecture, would the student still become distracted by other personal devices? I think inevitably students would. Regardless of what we do, students will always find a distraction because of their short attention spans, it just so happens to be a technological distraction most of the time. We need to stop fighting technology, and instead embrace it such that we find a balance with technology in the classroom.

I would also just like to comment on the idea of ‘not encouraging the development of wise students because they rely on technology too much’. This is nonsense and contradicts the goal of wanting students to stop memorizing facts, and instead understand the concepts and theories. Trivial facts should be at the tips of students finger tips with the internet, so they can focus on what matters: understanding. Student’s should not be assessed on their ability to memorize a biological, but instead be assessed on their understanding of how that process and its byproducts contribute to other parts of the body, ecosystem etc.We need to develop a synergistic classroom that enhances understanding and critical thinking.

Side note: Wise stands for women in science and engineering, and i’m pretty sure that involves technology… just saying

# data[].attributes.body
With the invention of Internet followed by computers and various computing devices, methods of learning have become extremely diverse. The relationship between learning and education is ever evolving with the help of advancements in technology. Many new ways of learning are now available that are far apart from the traditional classroom methods of learning. Modern education and teaching methods puts a lot of emphasis on incorporating technology with in the classrooms to ensure we meet the learning styles and needs of students in the 20th century. Improved access in eLearning is one of the most important benefits available in the world of education. People of any age, country, and distance can access the same courses through online courses at the comfort of their homes. The freedom and potential provided by online learning allows people from all over the world to experience improved mobility.

On the contrary, the traditional schooling experience requires attendance and socialization with other students on campus. They certainly have more opportunities for students to expand their social circles and gain more experience through joining clubs, associations, and fraternities/sororities all while taking classes on campus. It is all part of a healthy schooling experience that leaves life long lasting memories. Students are the single biggest motivation teachers have to continue teaching; with that gone, they would no longer find it rewarding to be around young people and have the satisfaction of spreading knowledge and wisdom. While there are several more obvious drawbacks to online classrooms, one particular one is the effect of students’ characteristics such as, sex, race/ethnicity, and ability on their social life. These characteristics can moderate the learning outcomes as well. Additional tools and classroom interaction play a huge part in a students’ life and the exclusion of them would be a huge loss for both the teachers and the students in general. All in all, I believe that traditional teaching and technology are both equally important in the world of education. We simply cannot rely on one method or the other.

# data[].attributes.headline
True wisdom in classroom vs. Technology- Marcin, Amina, Oksana, Laura, Natalya

# data[].attributes.subject
True wisdom in classroom vs. Technology- Marcin, Amina, Oksana, Laura, Natalya

# data[].attributes.body
·     Takes away our thinking or ability to crtically think

·     Relying on others ideas on a bigger scale

·     Relaying on machines

·     All genius ideas were produced in time of no tech

·     Lose of human connection

·     Moving away from nature

·     Technology can only provide knowledge but may true wisdom comes from human to human interactions, experiences and learned knowledge.

# data[].attributes.headline
Arguing for Technology vs. True Wisdom in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.subject
Arguing for Technology vs. True Wisdom in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.body
By: Tonya, Natalie, Jillian & Daniel

Opening Statement:
Natural wisdom is not always true fact. Technology gives each student the opportunity to search and find the true facts in the classroom and the chance to fact check

Main Idea:
Technology encourages students to focus on control over inter-personal interactions. Students taking control of their own learning using technology.

Closing Statement:
Technology facilitates the 21st century learner and is the driving force behind the direction teaching is going for years to come.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Future of 21st Century Teaching & Learning 

# data[].attributes.subject
The Future of 21st Century Teaching & Learning 

# data[].attributes.body
Tonya Barone

Have you ever been asked to re-imagine your classroom? Would it still contain all the necessary items (well we think they’re necessary) that classrooms have today? When I re-imagined my classroom, there was still a classroom, or a space where the students and I would meet, but everything else was different. Our ‘meeting space’ was much more colorful and appealing to the eye than classrooms we see today, and students were not using pens and paper, but rather phones and Ipads. As teachers entering the teaching profession, it is important think about what your classroom would be like and your teaching style would be like because we never know what the education system will look like a couple years down the road. If we believe our classroom will different in the future, what about the curriculum and the content I which we deliver to our students? Us teachers know that the curriculum is our guiding document for all lessons but will there even be a curriculum to follow in the future? These questions are so important to answer and think about critically. 21st Century teachers must understand that there is a digital world ahead of us and so the way in which children receive education must be different. Students know how to access and manipulate the Internet from the very young age of 4 and because of this, are already gaining a sense of who they are as they are exposed to so much more than children were 20 years ago. In this sense, not only should classroom settings change, along with the supplies and tools we provide to scaffold learning, but the curriculum must also be one that encourages creativity and expression of students on an individual, personalized level.

# data[].attributes.headline
Blog Post- Chalk.com and technology use in the classroom

# data[].attributes.subject
Blog Post- Chalk.com and technology use in the classroom

# data[].attributes.body
Oksana Falconi

Even though initial integration of different technologies into the classroom may be
difficult and time consuming the benefits of technology definitely outweigh the initial
time investment.  Technology offers tremendous instructional advantages and will
eventually save time and increase efficiency of curriculum delivery in an engaging
way.  Today most of the students have a smartphones and access to internet which  makes feasible implementation of different technologies that foster learning, cooperative learning and student engagement.

I really liked the tech report on chalk.com and see how easy it would be to implement it into the classroom.  Chalk.com lets teachers organize their classroom and streamline the workflow.  It improves the teacher preparation time so the teacher can focus on more important tasks like interacting with students and engage the class in a creative way.  I will definitely consider using it in my future classroom.  I would like to learn more about this site and familiarize myself with navigation of many helpful features.

# data[].attributes.headline
Blog Post- The Need for Reimaging Education

# data[].attributes.subject
Blog Post- The Need for Reimaging Education

# data[].attributes.body
Ashley Eskit

"Schooling is about imparting prescribed curriculum in students"
As future teachers, we are reponsible for assisting students to meet both the specified and overall expectations within the curriculum surrounding all subjects. Education is now playing catch up to the various technological changes that have been made within society. Our world is constantly changing in terms of technology. New advances in technology have helped make jobs easier and provided more resources. Technology is now being used more often in education to improve the learning of students where they are able to comprehend material in a different way. Technology is only improving the learning experiences for students without the changes in curriculum expectations. Technology has resulted in many transformations in the real world and education must undergo the same transformations in order to realize its full potential.

# data[].attributes.body
Intro- Ada Kolli
Chalk.com
What is it?

Chalk.com is a productivity website designed for kindergarten to gr.12 teachers to help with them with their daily work flow such as lesson planning, assessment and attendance

-It is currently being used in 20 000 schools world wide

The history behind it

- Current day education system is designed for the industrial era ; the student factory model where education is distributed from the very top at the exact same pace. Chalk.com asks how can we adapt education into today’s knowledge based economy?

- The answer is to create a personalized education for all learners

- The website supports the teacher not aims of getting rid of the teacher

Main attributes of the chalk.com :

1.Plan board :

-  helped kindergarten to gr.12 teachers to streamline their lessons

- also helps you to track curriculum progress form each class
2. Mark board:

-helps build personalized rubrics and create meaningful feedback

- aids teachers in quickly and effectively generating a class report

*Planboard and Markboard are free however if you would like to find/share resources and collaborate with others, , and have unlimited storage there is a monthly fee of $5.

https://www.planboardapp.com/

# data[].attributes.body
Sustaining Natural Resources

Who- diverse group of students, mixed ages
Where - Outdoor Greenhouse
What:
-Re-planting and giving back to the environment
Why- for students to understand the importance of sustaining Natural Resources

# data[].attributes.body
Environmental Science

Who: Diverse students from 15-18
What: Camping when learning environmental studies in a diverse climate with different organisms
Where: Camping in the Brazilian rain forest
When: May 2016 - 3 weeks
Why: To have hands on experience of natural habitat of many different organisms and species and to be able to build life skills
How: Funded by the government

# data[].attributes.body
Tech Talk - Planboard for teachers reviews & planning :)

# data[].attributes.body
By: Daniel Galanti

# data[].attributes.body
By: Natalya Khouri

Learning about chalk.com - lesson planning and marking - made easy! #planboard #markboard

# data[].attributes.headline
Do Students Learn Better Before 3pm or After 3pm?

# data[].attributes.subject
Do Students Learn Better Before 3pm or After 3pm?

# data[].attributes.body
by Natalie Kondovski

This week we looked at the method of whether students learn better before 3pm in school, or after 3pm at home with the implementation of technological learning. There are many challenges and benefits that stem from both of these concepts. Determining which model is more successful in influening student learning is difficult to say. All student’s learning differently, but it is important to way out the positives and negative of each model. The Before 3pm model provides students with access to technology that is emphasized moreso through curriculum, therefore deciding the way students use technology. I believe that the Before 3pm model is beneficial to guiding students’ focus on content driven technological research as the form of having a teacher in the classroom acts as a motivator to push the education on the students and provide supportive feedback. However, the After 3 pm model can also be very affective towards student learning as students are given more choice to explore their own interests, and are allowed the freedom to explore research on their own time. I know as a student, it may sometimes be too difficult to focus during class time when there is limited control of what you are trying to research or have as technological access to certain advancements, therefore I would rather complete work at home during my own time and pace. The After 3pm model allows students to act as their own “boss” on learning and making decisions about why, what, when, and how to learn through the aid of technology through self-motivation methods that help students develop independent strategies of learning. Challenges with the learning after 3pm model however, may lack in motivation for students to do work at home as there are multiple distractions that influence the students’ ability to complete assignments to their full potential. With this being said, the importance of technological use inside and outside the classroom varies through different individuals. If students we given more access to technology in the classroom without strict limitations, there may be a higher success rate in educational learning as it basically combines both benefits from each model.

# data[].attributes.body
by Daniel Galanti

When reflecting on this week's class discussion on the debate between the Before 3pm model and the After 3pm model, we were all making great points about how there should be more technology being utilized by both teachers and students in the classroom. It is important to expose students from all socio-economic backgrounds to the different pieces of technology that could be available to all students in order for every student to receive an equal opportunity. But this discussion also got me thinking about what types of technology we are exposing our students to in the classroom. Especially at the high school level, utilizing technology in the classroom that properly prepares students for the challenges of post-secondary education should become more important than using technology that simply promotes a more interactive and fun classroom experience. That is not to say that learning based technology pieces like SmartBoards and Promethean boards are not important in the classroom, but for most students entering any type of post-secondary education or workforce, the elementary and high school classrooms will be the only time where they are exposed to these types of technology. Over exposure to these pieces of technology undervalues different technology and programs that students will need once they leave the four walls of the high school classroom. Whether its introducing students to a design program that they will use when entering a trade or programs on their laptops or tablets that help with writing assignments in university, these are the programs and uses of technology that will properly benefit students for their post-secondary careers. SmartBoards are great for us as teachers, but putting the students and their futures first is the ultimate goal.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Wrong Technology Implementation - Natalya Khouri 

# data[].attributes.subject
The Wrong Technology Implementation - Natalya Khouri 

# data[].attributes.body
While reflecting on my days in high school versus my recent practicum days in high schools I have found a majority of differences. That being said – the largest difference I have seen is the use of technology. During my first learn and serve I was in a classroom where technology was used on a daily basis. The smart board was used constantly which was connected to my host teachers’ laptop to show the students her notes on each lesson. I had a very different experience with my second placement, where there were limited smart boards available in the classroom. Reading this chapter I found it difficult to believe that technology is “still disproportionally underused or misused”. I think that the main problem with technology is that it isn’t available to all teachers and students. There are many different aspects of technology that can be used in our students benefit and there are many different workshops that teachers are provided with that will help them learn these aspects. With the fact that technology is such an important part in students’ everyday lives, it is important to incorporate tech so that students will feel like their learning is relevant to their daily lives. As long as technology is being used in a way that progresses students learning and is not being used for surfing the web and doing irrelevant things in the classroom, students should be fortunate enough to have these facilities in the classroom. As future teachers, we need to use the role of technology to motivate our students. We can make learning more appealing to students by aligning it to their interests. When used and implemented in the right way, technology brings an important aspect of the everyday classrooms!

# data[].attributes.body
Laura Cerullo
This debate stems the differentiation between the two models of whether technology is used in an optimal, or optional way. Technology is employed mainly as a contemporary tool to make the existing teaching practice more effective and efficient. In this genre, teaching appears to improve with the movement away from classical terminology and towards more student engaging and enriching criteria. Students are driven by their wants, their desire to learn and acquire knowledge that they find imperative to their personhood. In this, teachers devise plans that will hone in on these talents and enrich the curriculum with student-based education that is both purposeful and enlightening to all learners. In a call towards the classroom, technology has far surpassed our common expectations. It has become a medium for education, a catalyst for learning, and a jumping off point for lesson planning. Students now feel the need to engage in online and gaming activities in classroom settings, in order to feel stimulated and motivated. In these models of education, the power of technology is maximized and placed at the forefront of learning. It is not rare to have students overlook the instructions that teachers have so meticulously prepared in order to feed their growing excitement and thirst for technology. Tech-based activities express student growth, yet the learning tasks are not nearly as intensive as the teachers would have expected. Not all information is now conveniently provided to them, in which they must not search and explore for something memorable and unique. Students need an adaptable education system that helps them to grow in the capacity that their society is moving towards. If we fail our students in this technological aspect of their education, how then can we hope to prepare them for the job market that they will find themselves in tomorrow? Teachers need to provide more emphasis on curriculum, student interests, technology and a growing appreciation for a wildly changing society. Reflecting on student knowledge, developing skills and accessing new information are all imperative forms of education that are now at the forefront of student learning. Education must change and adapt to fit the growing changes of the job market, and so must teachers. Work with technology today for a better tomorrow!

# data[].attributes.body
https://mobile.twitter.com/a_sefra/status/707269464102998017

# data[].attributes.body
Before PM

·     More emphasis on curriculum rather than students’ interest

·     Reflect upon students knowledge and skills that students are suppose to master

·     Curriculum decides the correct way of using technology

·     Students have choice to explore their own interests with technology

After PM

·     Same curriculum and learning objectives as before PM

·     Collaborative approach

·     Students are given the choice to explore their interests

# data[].attributes.headline
The User Reaction: Bypassing the Positives Versus Rationalizing the Negatives

# data[].attributes.subject
The User Reaction: Bypassing the Positives Versus Rationalizing the Negatives

# data[].attributes.body
by Sefra Amaral and Daniel Galanti

-      Before 3pm model, it is not rare to have students overlook the instructions that their teachers have meticulously prepared

o  The excitement that students express about their learning tasks is not nearly                  as intensive as their teachers would have expected.

-      After 3pm model, it is interesting to see students defend the model strongly by not only touting the positives but also rationalizing the negatives

o  Not all information is conveniently provided to them, but they quickly point out   that it is the search and exploration part that is special and memorable, similar to         how one might create a special edition of a music album.

# data[].attributes.headline
Before 3pm vs after 3pm- Laura, Ada, Mark

# data[].attributes.subject
Before 3pm vs after 3pm- Laura, Ada, Mark

# data[].attributes.body
Minimally used vs. optimally used
- The first difference between the two models is whether technology is used in an optimal way
- Technology is employed mainly as a contemporary tool to make the existing teaching practice more effective and efficient
- The power of technology is minimized in this model

# data[].attributes.body
Natalie & Joanna

Before 3pm model:
- More detailed instruction
- Learning material is more accessible
- More emotional support provided
- Conductive feedback
"It is assumed that more is good, and more teacher intervention will automatically make students learn better."

After 3pm model:
- Lack of adult intervention
- No formal learning tasks or objectives that learners will have to do
- More effort spent by students seeking information
- It respects the students' interest
- Freedom to explore
- Faith in students' ability to achieve something meaningful
** These elements were lacking in the Before 3pm model.

# data[].attributes.body
Teacher vs student driven
before 3 pm -
computers in the classroom are only used for typing
students do not have control of how they use their computers
disadv: students are unintenionally trained to be follower rather than leaders
students will feel less of a need to make deisions
students growing up in this environments *sneeze* might end up spending too much time studying

after 3 pm-
students are the BOSS of their own learning
teachers are not around to provide guidance
students take owner ship of learning process by making their own decisions about why, what, when, and how to learn with the aid of technology

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.classtools.net/FB/1856-N5Vrzf
Create a fake profile for anyone!
Great for literary characters and influential scientists

# data[].attributes.body
Pintrest started off as an invite only social media outlet in 2010, fast forward six years later and it is still one of the top used social media sites. So what is it about pintrest that attracts so many people? Well to start off, pintrest is for individuals of all ages – doesn’t matter if you are a teen trying to look up prom dresses or an elderly looking for knitting patters… pintrest is sure to have a board for both! For me pintrest is like my visual Internet organizer with its has a dazzling bulletin boards. One of the other benefits of pintrest is that as a user I have power… I have power to add to pintrest images that I want from my own library or from the Internet by using the user-friendly bookmark option. The aforementioned requires users ( if they want to use this feature) to install a bookmark in the browser and simply pin practically anything on the web. One of my other favorite aspects of Pintrest, as a book lover, is that book stores like Indigo  have created boards to unveil their newest books… and with one click I am on their site. Being in my placements , I also realized how useful this website was for educators. My host teachers were using pintrest as inspiration for their lesson plans, games they could play with students or simply follow other teachers from their teachable to get ideas of strategies they could include in their classroom.

Overall, I am a huge sucker for pintrest and use it as my inspiration board – whether it is for education purposes, fashion, recipes, do it your self projects or the next book I should read. Pintrest allows me to establish my individuality and share it with a community of pintrest lovers world-wide- using my real identity or incognito.

* I was absent last week so my apologies for posting the blog entry later on the week.

# data[].attributes.body
This week we got to explore the wonders of Pinterest.  As a long time user, and admittedly, an addicted one, it has been very interesting to see it used as an educational tool.  My main uses are to find recipes, do it yourself projects, fashion tips and ideas, quotes, and tattoo ideas.  It's my go to when I need to find a how-to blog or website, or ideas for recipes to cook.  However, it can go much further than that.  This past fall, I was placed in a photography class and Pinterest was used quite often! My teacher had created her page with many different boards.  She often got her photography class projects from inspiring pictures and artists she discovered on there.  As part of the culminating assignment where students needed to create a photo journalism piece, she asked the students to create their own vision board.  Instead of the old school ways of find magazines, or printing out pictures to paste on a cardboard stand up, she used Pinterest boards.  Her students were able to follow her account and look at her photo journalism board where she got the initial inspiration.  I for one am someone who is a visual learner, so to having an exemplar is incredibly helpful for a student like me. Students created their vision boards, and the teacher was able to check into their vision boards from her account at any time and see if they were on track.  It's a great way of using a free media tool that is already quite readily used by general public. I will definitely look for ways to integrate Pinterest and other website like that when I am teaching

# data[].attributes.headline
TeckTalk Chapter 4 Synopsis and Chapter Overview 

# data[].attributes.subject
TeckTalk Chapter 4 Synopsis and Chapter Overview 

# data[].attributes.body
Laura, Natalya, Daniel, Natalie

# data[].attributes.body
The tech report discussed in class had to do with Pinterest. Pinterest is a social network that allows people to create pages and 'pin' images or ideas that they find interesting. Once someone creates an account, they are able to select pages they are interested in, for example: weddings, teaching, sports, food, drinks etc., and that allows pictures of these categories to be posted on their feed. Once someone likes a picture they see, they are able to pin it. This means that the person is able to create a board or page of their own that is geared towards a certain category (as listed above) and attach is to their page. These pages can be viewed by the public, or you are able to make your page private. This is a great network to use for teaching because you are able to get different ideas of activities to do with a class, that is geared towards a particular class you are teaching, or topic that is being covered in class. Pinterest can also be used as a media board, art project or just a visual during a presentation because it allows students to pin ideas and tools they have used in their presentation and display it on a social network for peers and teachers to see.

# data[].attributes.body
So diverse!!

# data[].attributes.body
Mark Palinski

# data[].attributes.body
Mark Palinski #damegirl I am #pinning this to my pedagogy.

# data[].attributes.body
Sefra Amaral
In class we discussed how technology is used in class but what we did not see was the dark side of technology. Yes, technology is a great tool and if used properly it can be a great thing to incorporate. However, some people do not know how to use it to make it have a purpose and that is where I think a lot of people fail. To use technology for technology sake or to make a lesson fun is not a good reason for it to be implemented. Technology is a means of production! (qtd by Christian Elia). If it’s not being productive then DON’T USE IT! Also a lot of people do not know what is out there, they are stuck using PowerPoint which gets very dull real quick. Find ways to learn new technology, new apps, and ask around there will be so many people to help you get tech savvy! :) The way the group presented the chapter in the book was a really great and interesting way for us to see that a lot of people may struggle with new technology. So I thought that it was done really well. But I think it really depends on the teacher at the end of the day. If the teacher executes a lesson with flying colors without the use of technology, then keep it that way. But, if another teacher does a phenomenal job with technology then that is great too. So all in all be the teacher that reflects your personality, regardless of what it is if you are enthusiastic about it then it will be received well.

# data[].attributes.body
#the dark sides of tech?! #cyberbulling! #onmycell #what you gonna do about it! Mark Palinski

# data[].attributes.body
Jillian klaus

# data[].attributes.body
Mark Palinski

# data[].attributes.body
by Oksana, Liza, Tonya and Ashley
March 01, 2016
Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.com/
What is Pinterest?   Pinterest is a free social network which allows you to share and comment on visual material, which could be photographs, sketches, videos or web pages. Like a virtual scrapbook, but very public, you can collate the items that you love. There is no copyright in the world of Pinterest: you can attach images from other people’s web pages, or repin content from other people’s boards. In fact sharing content from other people is actively encouraged - this is about the social activity of interaction and sharing and gaining followers, rather than keeping ownership of your work. Users can upload, save, sort, and manage images—known as pins—and other media content (e.g., videos) through collections known as pinboards.  Users can personalize their content and browse the content of others in their feed.

How can we use Pinterest in education?  https://www.pinterest.com/categories/education/
Pinterest can also be a great tool for use in education and pinboards can be used by educators to plan lessons, find ideas, activities, and educational tools. Teachers can pin sites for later referral. Students can pin and organize sources and collaborate on projects.   It is great for organizing vast quantities of information and brainstorming ideas. The visual nature of Pinterest makes it particularly suited to engaging learners. You can use it to:  Compile content, including educational video; Organize and store ideas; Connect and comment on students’ work; Make connections with other teachers and get ideas for future projects;Create group projects: community boards can be perfect for collaborative projects

Advantages of using Pinterest:
1.  Can connect or follow fellow teachers and gain inspiration from them
2.  It is easy to search for educational activities/worksheets  (there is a category for “education”)
3.  You can share pins with others and like their pins (when you like pins, they end up in a category on your file, so you can go back and look at what you liked)
4. You can create an education pin board, where you can pin anything related to education or things you would like to use in your class
5. Pinterest can also be used as collaborative tool or educational tool for students
6. Students can pin inspiration for an art project

Disadvantages of using Pinterest:

1.   Users must abide by copyright. If someone re-pins something on Pinterest that has been copyrighted, pinners are held responsible for the violation
2. Privacy Concerns- you must connect to Pinterest with either a Facebook or Twitter account
3.  All links are connected with Google, therefore it is an easy opportunity to link spam to both your account and computer.
4. Not engaging enough- as there is no opportunity for “conversing”

# data[].attributes.body
by Mark Palinski
This is the article.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/engage-students-with-no-cost-technology-heather-calabro?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
Here is an example of the technology.
https://sketchfab.com/models/2bcb02fab7c346e9957f376ad1dce95a
Ever wanted your students to go on a field trip, but it was just too expensive? Lets say your doing a lecture on WWII and want your students to see and explore some of the iconic equipment and battles. You can't fly them all out to Europe to see some of the WWII museums so why not bring the museums to your classroom with 3D scanning. 3D scanning is able to scan objects using hundreds of lasers to create an image. With this technology several companies and museums have started using this technology so students can experience it all from the classroom.

The implementation of this technology is best seen when students use virtual reality headsets being able to see first hand all which is in front of them and feel like they are in a virtual space.

Now I know what your all thinking how much is a virtual headset?! Well actually students can build one for free: here are the instructions:
https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/get-cardboard/

Students may also create their own virtual realities with the this app:
http://www.123dapp.com/create
If you are a high roller and got the cash their is also the Structure Sensor which clips on to your Ipad http://structure.io/

The Smithsonian has just started to 3-D some of their collections and here is a look at some of them.
http://3d.si.edu/tour-browser

These are fully realised lesson plans that use this 3-D imaging that you can download for free: http://www.cyark.org/education/

See you in virtual space!

# data[].attributes.headline
For assessments- Amina, Laura, Natalya, Oksana, Mark

# data[].attributes.subject
For assessments- Amina, Laura, Natalya, Oksana, Mark

# data[].attributes.body
http://theanswerpad.com

# data[].attributes.body
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
RubiStar is a tool to help the teacher who wants to use rubrics, but does not have the time to develop them from scratch.

# data[].attributes.headline
Forbes: Minecraft meet Education through Microsoft

# data[].attributes.subject
Forbes: Minecraft meet Education through Microsoft

# data[].attributes.body
By: Daniel Galanti & Jillian Klaus

# data[].attributes.headline
Laura Cerullo - Edmodo! Tech Talk

# data[].attributes.subject
Laura Cerullo - Edmodo! Tech Talk

# data[].attributes.body
Edmodo is an online interactive app that allows teachers, students and parents to collaborate and communicate educationally. Students can sign up for an account, where they may post blogs, article submissions, projects and online course material. Teachers can advocate grades, adjust course content, engage students in active discussions and open up free dialogue. Parents are able to log in to view their children’s assessments, ongoing work and observe feedback given. In this Facebook-meets-the-classroom online tool, students feel an instant connection with the app and its recognizable features. This revolutionary website allows students and teachers the flexibility to move beyond the classroom and engage in online forums and personal reflections. Edmodo bring the classroom to the living room as parents and students alike can find purposeful meaning in their education, relating to real-world issues and an active knowledge base. Achievement soars as education places students and their individualized needs at the forefront. In this app, interactive and hands-on participation opens up a huge array of features and opportunities for students to engage, insight, create and learn anywhere, and at any time.

Check it out below and sign up for your free account today!

https://www.edmodo.com/teachers

# data[].attributes.headline
Amna A- Chapter 3: "The hole in the wall" & The wrong expectations  

# data[].attributes.subject
Amna A- Chapter 3: "The hole in the wall" & The wrong expectations  

# data[].attributes.body
Today’s class discussion on chapter 2 was really interesting in several way which made me reflect on some key points focusing on teacher-students interaction and the role technology plays to make it successful. The mini video clip “The hole in the wall” was definitely an interesting observational study. I really believe that teachers should play an active role to encourage curiosity to ensure successful learning. One way to do so is to incorporate technology in ways, which produces curiosity rather than simply introducing apps and expecting students to learn and meet the overall expectations. Teachers should certainly keep themselves actively engaged in the developing world of technology to ensure they meet the needs of all students and their learning styles.

Also, one of the ways teachers can incorporate technology in the classroom is by having students learn and research about a particular app or website and have them later discuss in class. This will develop curiosity amongst students, which will lead to questions hence resulting in an active learning. I strongly believe that true education is derived from the questioning and curiosity that students bring out.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sugata Mitra & The Hole In the Wall - 2013 TED Prize winner

# data[].attributes.headline
Technology for better education - Jillian Klaus

# data[].attributes.subject
Technology for better education - Jillian Klaus

# data[].attributes.body
Today in a different class we were instructed to compile a list of definitions and examples only using social media and we were not allowed to talk to each other. This task had impeccable timing, as it lines up with this week's’ chapter. The use of this technology platform gave us a chance to experience the benefits of using technology  in such an intentional way within the classroom. Not only does it promote student accountability, but it adds choice. This choice will keep students engaged, because they will interested in what they are doing. Why not have students use their own personal media to increase their PLN- after all the curriculum goals state that we should strive to create lifelong learners who can think critically. Each students’ PLN can be further be used to personalize instruction including; finding inspiration for a project, picking mentors and role models, and finding new instructional tools that students have suggested, which will promote inclusivity.

I want to further stress the importance of using technology to do the ‘easy work’ such as a practice game that will adjust difficulty based on performance.This will allow for the personalized instruction that each students craves/needs so they can be set up for success. There are so many resources available to us as teacher, and we need to use them all so we can cater to each class we have. The best part is, programs like this can be monitored by a teacher, which could potentially reduce the amount of testing, and instead evaluate progress, which is far more important in the real-world. Google and Youtube can recall facts for you! Teacher should be teaching, not talking.

This is the goal! To provide better education!

# data[].attributes.headline
Mark, Amna, Laura, Liza, Oksana (Class discussion- Ada, Joanna, Claudine & Sefra)

# data[].attributes.subject
Mark, Amna, Laura, Liza, Oksana (Class discussion- Ada, Joanna, Claudine & Sefra)

# data[].attributes.body
Chapter 3: Classroom20.com

Pros:

·     Keeps everybody connected

·     Great platform for teachers to collaborate

·     Across 200 countries

·     Objective and learning goals are the same for all teachers around the globes

·     Different forms, groups,

·     Multiple opportunities for teachers to learn and grow as educators

·     Can search about any subject/course

·     Great medium to learn about technology while learning teaching strategies
.     Teacher/educators encyclopedia

Cons:

·     Have to be computer literate

·     Loosing a personal touch of discussion

·     Not everyone may have access to technology

·     All techniques/strategies may work for some but not others

·     Have to become a member

·     Some students may not be able to learn via technology
.     Web-based (no app)

# data[].attributes.body
Chapter 3- Class discussion

By: Nat, Daniel, Jill, Ashley, Marcin & Tonya

PROS
-FREE!!!!!
-You can put it on your watch so it is very accessible
-Communicate fast an efficiently
-You can talk to others from anywhere in the world!
-You can share your messages/audio messages/text/images via other social media sites
- Voxer enables PD (professional development)

CONS
-The free version does not have all the features
- Credit card is needed to download the free version
- Its the same as texting or using a phone (everyone now has one)

# data[].attributes.headline
PINTEREST TECH REPORT COMING SOON by Liza, Ashley, Tonya and Oksana

# data[].attributes.subject
PINTEREST TECH REPORT COMING SOON by Liza, Ashley, Tonya and Oksana

# data[].attributes.body
PINTEREST REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED IN CLASS ON MARCH 01, 2016

# data[].attributes.body
Ashley Eskit

# data[].attributes.body
Great tech report Laura, Natalie and Daniel

# data[].attributes.headline
New Genres of Creating & Making- Digital Communication

# data[].attributes.subject
New Genres of Creating & Making- Digital Communication

# data[].attributes.body
Ashley Eskit

Media is a large component of how we communicate our thoughts and feelings. It allows us to reach more people on a daily basis, for longer periods of time and at further distances. Methods of communication has rapidly changed over many years as before even letters, the main source of communication was verbally, face to face. As many thought writing and sent mail was a big advancement in communication, the number of media sources we have today is only growing in how we can reach numerous people. More recently, we can now communicate through radio, telephone, television and film. Overall, the Internet is one of the most largest improvements of how we communicate. Through digital storytelling, Twitter, Facebook, and blogs, young adolescents are able to express feelings and share thoughts, creating new meaning in our lives. Digital story-telling enables students to use various forms of media including voice, pictures and texts to create a story. Blogs allow students to enhance their writing skills without physically being in the classroom. Social Media sources such as Twitter and Facebook allow students to communicate with a larger group of people enhancing their communication skills and are able to reach out to peers for online assistance with homework rather than always relying on the help of the teacher, through group discussions. Social media and digital communication has come a long way where it is easy to use and accessible for students. It is a greatl learning tool for students to enhance writing, communication skills, and digital thinking capabilities and should be further practiced within school classrooms.

# data[].attributes.body
by Oksana Falconi

In the world of technology and instant access to information, Wikipedia plays an important role. Wikipedia gives instant access to millions of information sources and lets many of its users to constantly edit and update the information.   The question arises what are the advantages and disadvantages of using this media outlet.  One of the advantages is that it gives people instant access to the information, and users can update the data so it is always evolving and relevant. It does not matter where in the world you are, you can access the information very easily as long as you have access to the internet.  Information is presented in an easy to read and understand format.  Revision history of the information is kept by Wikipedia so it easy to see what changes and when were made.  Another major advantage is that information is free to everyone.  One of the disadvantages lies in the fact that everyone can edit the information.  Users can never be certain of the accuracy of the information and careful consideration should be given when using this information for research purposes.  Another disadvantage that in some remote areas, where there is no internet, users are not able to get access to Wikipedia database.  So what does this mean to high school and intermediate students in our classroom?  We as teachers should let our students know that is okay to use some the information from Wikipedia, but for their research they should be using scholarly articles. Research should come from evidence based information, written by the experts in the field.   Also, students should know how to effectively dissect the information presented to them and be able to distinguish good research from bad research.

# data[].attributes.headline
JoeZoo - Classroom Teacher Assessment Time Saver! 

# data[].attributes.subject
JoeZoo - Classroom Teacher Assessment Time Saver! 

# data[].attributes.body
Laura Cerullo

# data[].attributes.body
by Mark Palinski

https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/virtual-reality-the-next-big-thing-poised-to-transform-education/?cmp=soc-edit-tw

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Approach Technology in the Classroom: Is there is right or wrong way?

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Approach Technology in the Classroom: Is there is right or wrong way?

# data[].attributes.body
By: Tonya Barone

When it comes to technology, there is the question of how it should be used by students in the classroom. Should it be used merely as a tool for consumption whereby students use it only to gain information OR should it be used in a constructivist sense, whereby students use technology to create and produce their own learning? There are pros and cons to both approaches although is either one of them the right way to approach technology? In a digital age where some much can be done through and with technology, it is no longer plausible for students to only be consumers of technology. Students should be the creators of their own learning and producers of their own knowledge. The possibilities are endless- through blogs, videos and social media outlets, students no longer only have the option of consuming technology, they now have the option to create outlets to share their thoughts, ideas and knowledge with the rest of the world. Going back to the question of whether there is a right or wrong way to use technology- it is not a matter of being right or wrong, it is a matter of changing times and the inevitable reality that technology always changing and always evolving. Maybe 15 years ago technology was mainly used as a tool although this was only because there were no options (or people were not aware of these options) to create and produce with technology from the comfort of ones own home. Today, students should be encouraged to use technology in creative ways that allow for them to showcase their knowledge, interests and personal opinions.

# data[].attributes.headline
Natalya, Oksana & Amna  (Grade 9-12 Science) 

# data[].attributes.subject
Natalya, Oksana & Amna  (Grade 9-12 Science) 

# data[].attributes.body
The three goals of science program are as follows:

1. to relate science to technology, society, and the environment

2. to develop the skills, strategies, and habits of mind required for scientific inquiry

3. to understand the basic concepts of science

An important part of scientific literacy is an understanding of the nature of science, which includes an understanding of the following:

• what scientists, engineers, and technologists do as individuals and as a community

• how scientific knowledge is generated and validated, and what benefits, costs, and

· risks are involved in using this knowledge

• how science interacts with technology, society, and the environment

Scientific investigation skills were also a focus of the elementary science and technology curriculum, but they were embedded in expectations within the content strands.

Application

• making connections between science, technology, society, and the environment (e.g., assessing the impact of science on technology, people and other living things, and the environment)

• proposing courses of practical action to deal with problems relating to science, technology, society, and the environment

THE ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY IN SCIENCE

Information and communications technology (ICT) provides a range of tools that can significantly extend and enrich teachers’ instructional strategies and support students’ learning in science.

Technology also makes it possible to use simulations – for instance, when field studies on a particular topic are not feasible or dis- sections are not acceptable.

# data[].attributes.headline
Jillian & Claudine- General Science (grade 1-8)

# data[].attributes.subject
Jillian & Claudine- General Science (grade 1-8)

# data[].attributes.body
Science and Technology (Grade 1-8)

- Technology involves the development of materials, tools, and processes to accomplish tasks and solve problems.

- Along with the benefits that technology provides, there are also associated risks

- Important part of science is technological literacy which entails how science interacts with society, technology, and the environment and what scientists, engineers and technologists do as a community

- Technology is a form of knowledge and application of the form of knowledge

- To obtain an understanding of technology, one must know what technology is, how it is interrelated with science, and how it can contribute to the industry

- science and technology are closely related through inquiry, problem solving and communication

- big goal of curriculum is to relate STSE

- learn responsible and safe practice with technology – parents, teachers, students responsibility

promote collaboration within the community for STSE projects

-expectations and goals of the program are to relate science and technology to society and the environment, develop skills and habits of mind required for scientific inquiry and problem solving, and understand basic concepts

-use technology in research

# data[].attributes.headline
Drama Curriculum (Grade 9-10, Grade 11-12

# data[].attributes.subject
Drama Curriculum (Grade 9-10, Grade 11-12

# data[].attributes.body
-Technology used in the implementation of course material
-Responsible conduct as tech has a slippery slop in use
-Design Process: "A problem-solving model that involves the concrete manipulation of images, materials, and technology for the purpose of solving a design problem. The technical design process can be open ended when the student designs all the steps, or it can be teacher directed to varying degrees."
-Presentation Techniques and Technologies: use a variety of presentation techniques and technological tools to enhance the impact of drama works and communicate for specific audiences and purposes.
- Drama manifest technology in all the performative elements that are associated and required for most dramatic performances.

# data[].attributes.body
By: Tonya and Ashley

The Role of Technology in the English Curriculum - Grade 7+8

Media Literacy is a strand within the English Curriculum where students are encouraged to explore the impact and influence of mass media and popular cultures by exploring texts including websites. Skills related to high tech media, such as the Internet, film and television are important because of the power and pervasive influence these media have in our lives and society. Within the strand of Media Literacy, students must analyze and discuss a wide variety of media texts and relate them to their own experiences. Students must also have opportunities to use available technologies to create media texts of different types.

Information and communication technologies (ICT) provide a range of tools that can extend and enrich teachers’ instructional strategies and support students’ learning in language. Technologies can be used to connect students to other schools through the global community as well as the local classroom. ICT can be used to support and communicate student learning through the use of computer technology and websites. ICT tools can also be used by teachers to design curriculum that contain approaches to learning in order to meet diverse student needs.

The Role of Technology in the English Curriculum- Grade 9-12

Media Studies in the Intermediate/Senior Curriculum

The main focus within media studies is on the construction of meaning through the combination of several media "languages" (images, sounds, graphics and words). It explores the impact and influence of mass media and popular culture by examining texts such as films, songs, video games, television shows and websites.

These texts abound in our electronic information age, and the messages they convey, can have significant influence on students' lives. It is important for students to evaluate the credibility of media sources and recognize any bias within them. Internet, film, and television are important because of power and pervasive influences these media wield in our lives and society.

# data[].attributes.headline
Social Sciences and Humanities Curriculum, Grades 9-12

# data[].attributes.subject
Social Sciences and Humanities Curriculum, Grades 9-12

# data[].attributes.body
By: Laura Cerullo, Daniel Galanti, Ada Kolli, Joanna Lim

The Role of Information and Communications Technology in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Information and communications technologies (ICT) provide a range of tools that can significantly extend and enrich teachers’ instructional strategies and support students’ learning. ICT tools include multimedia resources, databases, websites, digital cameras, and word-processing programs. Tools such as these can help students to collect, organize, and sort the data they gather, and to write, edit, and present reports on their findings. ICT can also be used to connect students to other schools, at home and abroad, and to bring the global community into the local classroom.

A wide range of technologies can be easily integrated into the social sciences and humanities curriculum. In food and nutrition courses, for example, students’ learning is enhanced through the use of Canadian nutrient databases and nutrition analysis software. In fashion and housing courses, computer assisted design (CAD) software provides opportunities to enrich students’ learning. Statistical analysis software and Statistics Canada databases can be used in all courses, especially when addressing expectations related to research and inquiry.

Whenever appropriate, students should be encouraged to use ICT to support and communicate their learning. For example, students working individually or in groups can use computer technology and/or websites to gain access to museums, galleries, and archives in Canada and around the world. They can also use portable storage devices to store information, as well as CD-ROM and DVD technologies and digital cameras and projectors to organize and present the results of their research and creative endeavors to their classmates and others.

Although the Internet is a powerful learning tool, there are potential risks attached to its use. All students must be made aware of issues related to Internet privacy, safety, and responsible use, as well as of the potential for abuse of this technology, particularly when it is used to promote hatred.

ICT tools are also useful for teachers in their teaching practice, both for whole-class instruction and for the design of curriculum units that contain varied approaches to learning in order to meet diverse student needs. A number of educational software programs to support learning in social sciences and humanities are licensed through the ministry.

Other Uses of Technologies

-      Instructional accommodations

-      Integrated technologies when using the library for independent study

# data[].attributes.body
Technology is a tool for consumption:

1. Our love is demonstrated in the strong advocacy that calls for the use of technology to transform education and lead us "toward a golden age of American education".

2. This fear of technology is one of the driving forces for the first path...technology should not be feared

3. Teachers can be freed from particular teaching responsibilities to focus on tasks that technology cannot achieve by itself

Rebuttal - Technology should be used within boundaries

Closing - Digital experiences have changed not only the way they communicate, socialize, and entertain, bu also how they approach  learning

# data[].attributes.body
Opening Remark: Never send a human to do a machine’s job, instead, help a human develop a partnership with a machine and let each work on the part that they are good at

3 main points

- Students actively create their knowledge- constructive theory

- aims to cultivate learner’s attonomy, creativity and responsibility

- students are actually produces something, not just listening, by creating their own learner-generated content, where learners generate, select, and appropriate the resources around the to create learning ecosystems that meet their individual learning needs

Rebuttle

"To know an object is to act on it. To know is to modify, to transform the object, and to understand the process of this transformation, as as a consequence to understand the way the object is constructed" (Piaget) BAM

Closing Remark
For students to be able to actively and creatively participate in the digital world, their diverse needs as creators and makers must be met.

# data[].attributes.body
Social Media Post
By: Natalya Khouri

# data[].attributes.body
our impact as teachers.

# data[].attributes.body
Joezoo a quick and easy way to minimize marking through googledocs

www.getjoezoo.com

# data[].attributes.body
Instructions: NO TALKING BETWEEN GROUPS
1 opening remark - 1min
3 supporting statements - 5 min
1 rebuttle - 2 min
1 closing remark - 1 min

# data[].attributes.body
By: Daniel Galanti

# data[].attributes.body
By: Natalie Kondovski

Throughout the course of the week, the concept of including technology in the classroom and the importance it plays in adolescent learning, constructed the beginning of the a long examination process that we will be looking at throughout the course of the semester. This week our class participated in many activities of technological use that would be helpful in the classroom, whether it was considering new apps to include throughout instruction, or the use of social media. We looked at the use of an excellent app called "Class DoJo". It's an behavioural management app that creates an online classroom allowing teachers to virtually reward/deduct points for the behaviour of students, has the ability to connect with parents, and allows teachers to provide feedback to students in areas of need. I think this is an excellent app that I would definitely want to consider as a teacher in my future classroom.

Reading Chapter 1 of Never Send a Human to do a Machine's Job, I learned some new and interesting ideas of whether or not multiple sources of technology will eventually replace teachers in the classroom. As we know technology is known as possibly one of the mostsignificant developments that was created throughout society. In my opinion, I do not believe that technology will solely replace teachers in the future, but I do believe that it will act as significant assistive tool teachers will have to learn to incorporate in the classroom as it will provide great assistance toward student learning and the significant role it plays in future education.

# data[].attributes.headline
Where are the Canadian Online Teaching Tools?

# data[].attributes.subject
Where are the Canadian Online Teaching Tools?

# data[].attributes.body
By: Daniel Galanti

Reading Chapter One of Never Send a Human to do a Machine's Job and participating in the in-class activity this week, it opened my eyes to some great teaching tools that can be accessed online. These tools can be vital for any teacher in any subject, especially for those teachers who may not have the greatest background knowledge in a particular subject area. For most of these online tools, they cater towards subject areas like English, Mathematics and Science because these subjects can be taught and the information is the same in most areas around the world, especially in Canada and the United States. A lot of the teaching tool websites that we found in class were American, and because of the sheer volume of teachers and educators in the United States, there is a lot of quality information and tools that can be accessed. But for someone like me who has a teachable in Politics which is very Canadian-centred, these teaching tools may not be the best resource for me because the American Teaching tools cater towards American politics rather than Canadian. Other subject areas like French and Law would have the same results as Politics because of how different these courses are taught in Canada as opposed to how they are taught in the United States. One solution that I think would be a huge benefit for me using these online tools is to have more websites that are provincial curriculum based, so more subjects can have equal access and have a wide variety of resources as well. Opening up these online teaching tools to more Canadian-centred websites can create a bigger and more resourceful network of teaching instruments that would allow for more teachers to contribute and produce more ideas that would make us all better teachers.

# data[].attributes.headline
Can The Use of Technology Replace Teachers?

# data[].attributes.subject
Can The Use of Technology Replace Teachers?

# data[].attributes.body
By: Natalya Khouri

While reading chapter 1 of Never Send a Human to do a Machine’s Job, I came across some interesting questions: Will TV replace teachers? Will computers replace teachers? Will online education replace teachers? Will tablets replace teachers?

These questions really made me stop and reflect on the effects of technology in today’s world and education system. The use of technology has changed dramatically over the years, from the excessive use of smartphones and smart boards, students reading online instead of reading books, and submitting homework online instead of paper copies, technology has begun to be incorporated into today’s classroom tremendously. But does this incline of the use of technology suggest that teachers are not needed anymore? I can’t help but to disagree with this statement and the questions listed above. While technology does have a wide variety of benefits, I do not believe that it can replace the role of a teacher and the need for a classroom. However, I do agree with the fact that there are many different apps and technology uses that can benefit student learning, to a limit. Teachers have a huge role in student education, whether it is proving them with important lessons derived from the curriculum, or using strategies in the every day classroom that benefit student learning. Each student in the classroom learns differently, and it is up to the teacher to use different strategies in their lessons to accommodate to all students. I do not believe that technology can implement these sorts of accommodations. Not only does the teacher and classroom environment allow students success academically, it also helps them socially. If students just learned from their computer at home, there would be no interactions with their peers and classmates, which I believe would be a negative aspect on their daily lives. As the chapter states, “in an effective learning ecosystem, teachers are not replaced by technology. Instead they are empowered by it and they become “tech-powered teachers”.

# data[].attributes.body
PowerMyLearning website

http://powermylearning.org/

Free web based learning website tailored to bring three platforms together: students, teachers and parents

Encompasses wide array of curriculum and resources for any subject from K to Grade 12

Advantages:  low income families, lots of self learning and activities for every subject

Disadvantages: slow, crashed a few times, gathers information from many websites

# data[].attributes.body
VOICETHREAD

https://voicethread.com/about/features/#feature-voicethread

https://voicethread.com/howto/

- a central web-based cloud portal to post, share and discuss all forms of media

- designed for educators to facilitate groups discussions, share presentations, etc.

- similar to texting but instead of typing, SPEAKING

- have everyone on one page

- great for online classes or even posting lectures for students to refer back to with live comments, feedback or questions

- Must purchase license

# data[].attributes.body
Khan Academy
www.khanacademy.org

It is based on Salman Khan’s own work of creating and sharing free video tutorial
greatly empowers teachers.

This is a not-a-profit organization with the mission of providing a free world-class
education to anyone, anywhere.

Khan academy features practice exercises and video tutorials as tools for educators and students.

Content is mainly in English but also available in other languages.

It has overall 2,000 video tutorials and covers thousands of topics.

There is 24 hour access and over 1 million unique students use the website evert
month, and over 30 million lessons have been delivered.

# data[].attributes.body
Engine designed to find websites, mobile apps, desktop programs and electronic products for teaching and learning

- you can customize the type of programs you want based on:

price

platform

subject

age

category

# data[].attributes.body
Advantages

- Supposed to help educators find materials more effectively based on what grade and subject they are teaching

- Research shows that this program helps improve overall student achievement

- They hire experienced educators to review the products

Disadvantages

- American based so many Canadian courses are not found on their search engine ( such as French)

- Another downside is that very few courses are offered and even the ones that are seem to not have any " available products"

# data[].attributes.body
-Found in the App store

-it is an app that showcases the best apps for early childhood, elementary school, middle school, and high school learning

-They are all hand-picked by teacher and experts in the field of education

-"AppoLearning lets parents know which educational apps they should encourage their kids to use, while also detailing the skills that are taught within each recommended application"

-There are more then 150 subjects that are categorized within 4 age groups (early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school)

-Every app review includes a Report Card where apps are evaluated on a scale between 0 and 100.

# data[].attributes.body
Lesson plan sharing - FREE (more or less)

www.graphite.org/lesson-flows

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6ojCWMcIuY&feature=youtu.be

Pro

-FREE

-Saves you time

-wide variety of subjects, and grade level

-very specific search engine that caters to specific curriculum expectations

Cons

- almost not free (pay for imovies etc)

- American