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by Beth McEwen

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This video is about Carpool Karaoke Edu 1

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Wow! As the course comes to an end, I have some time to reflect on all the things that have happened so far. When we started this journey, I felt uncomfortable about using technology in my classroom. As the weeks went on, I had time to experiment and implement some new forms of technology in my current grade 2 classroom. I've been exposed to many new ideas and resources in which I intend to use in my future classrooms. I have also learned many new tips and tricks to using my Macbook (I was a PC girl until last year). As a current classroom teacher, I have never truly thought about copyright and the legalities of using other people's work. As I reflect on the course, I am more knowledgeable about infringements and legalities of copyright materials. I am aware of the global competencies and how to make students aware as well. After taking this course (Part 1) I feel as if I have grown as an educator and a student of technology.

Part 1 Reflection of Overall Learning Objectives

applying the theoretical understanding to implement and assess programs and/or practices related to Integration of Information and Computer Technology in Instruction

understanding the legal considerations related to working with digital resources

creating and sustaining safe, healthy, equitable and inclusive learning environments that honour and respect diversity

exploring and understanding the impact of a variety of appropriate resources, including technological and communication resources, to enhance professional knowledge in support of student learning

exploring and generating instructional strategies to integrate information and computer technology tools through reflection, active engagement and collaboration

recognizing varying comfort levels in the use of technologies to support instruction

June 17, 2017 - F2F Session
On Saturday, we had our final face to face session of the semester. This was my favourite session of all because it was mainly student-led. Once again, I learned about the importance of a professional learning network. I was able to add to my own PLN through my own personal Twitter account on Saturday. Beth and Kendra did a really great job of teaching many of us about assessment and some cool apps to introduce to students. My favourite app was definitely the explain everything app. Kendra brought her own personal Ipad (stylus included) that really made learning more fun. I also liked that Kendra was able to get a grant for all of the tech equipment she has in her class and has definitely inspired something to keep in mind of for the future. I enjoyed taking this course because I had an opportunity to learn from Part 2 & 3 colleagues. Being grouped together allowed me to learn from others and build on my own knowledge of technology in the classroom.

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by Leigh Cassell

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Module 6 & 7 Six Questions for Transformed Learning

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Module 6 & 7 Six Questions for Transformed Learning

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1. Did the assignment build capacity for critical thinking on the web?

2. Did the assignment develop new lines of inquiry?

3. Are there opportunities for students to make their thinking visible?

4. Are there opportunities to broaden the perspective of the conversation with authentic audiences from around the world?

5. Is there an opportunity for students to create a contribution (purposeful work)?

6. Does the assignment demo “best in the world” examples of content and skill?

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Module 6/7/8 Research, Critical Literacy and Assistive Technology

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Module 6/7/8 Research, Critical Literacy and Assistive Technology

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This week has been a very exciting, but busy week! This week, I was able to get some of the students in my class registered with Kidsblog. I was able to experiment with Kidsblog by making posts on blogging and even simple machines for students to comment and reflect on. It was a great experience for me as a teacher and as a student learner. It was exciting to see how excited the students were to create their own posts. The unknown experience that awaited these students was engaging and spread like wildfire amongst students. Another new program I tried this week was Google forms. At first, I felt frustrated, but with the help of my coach, Kelly Walton, I was able to get the app loaded on my phone, so that I could have authentic recordings of student results for my research project. I've really realized the importance of collecting data to show student growth over time.

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Module 5 - 21st Century Professional Learning 

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Module 5 - 21st Century Professional Learning 

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Big Ideas for Module 5: Explore and understand the impact of a variety of appropriate resources, including technological and communication resources, to enhance professional knowledge in support of student learning (Part 1)

This week, we looked at the OTFs virtual learning experiences. Whats truly great about these experiences is that they help provide professional learning to fit your own personal schedule. This was a positive experience for me because I choose a topic that interested me. I decided to research blogging as I am new to blogging and hope to use it for my research project. I wanted to look deeper at the benefits of blogging as I prepare my grade 2 students for their first blog opportunity. Another reason for choosing this topic was because Leigh Cassell was the presenter. I love her energy and the experience she shares with her audience. I loved this webinar and would say it was positive because I am truly aware of the benefits of blogging in my class. Blogging is great because it can be used to make learning visible. It can also be used for communication, collaboration and reflection purposes. We can use blogs to gain feedback from people around the world and lastly, blogging lets students share their thinking. Blogs are records of student learning over time. Blogging can be used for assessment because it allows the teacher and student to visually see progress from September until June. The teacher can use the blog for accountability within students.

Pros: The links in the webinar were readily available to the viewer. I liked that the presentation could be stopped and paused incase I needed to go back and listen to key information.
Cons: It was difficult at first to get blackboard collaborate to run. Some of the links had been deleted, so when Leigh asked Ts to respond to videos, it was hard to know what what they were commenting on.

Another resource provided by the OTF is planboard. Planboard is used to simplify lesson planning and scheduling for teachers. Teachers can create, edit and share in one seamless experience. Previous to this week, I was unfamiliar with planboard, but as I got to navigate this resource, I can see how and why teachers would use this program.

June 3, 2017 Digital Literacies Webinar with Leigh Cassell

Yet again, another amazing video conference with Leigh! The hour session was focused on discussing new literacies. (Of course, it was much more than that!) What I can take away from our video conference is that literacy has always been defined by technology. As times change, new forms of literacy are made possible with technology. It's important to be mindful of the technology that we use in our class. Why are we doing what we're doing is something to always consider. Leigh continues to reinforce the idea that with the 21st digital competencies, we as teachers are able to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

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Module 3 - Technology and Your Environment 

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Module 3 - Technology and Your Environment 

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This weeks module focused on applying the theoretical understanding to implement and assess programs and practices related to the Integration of Information and Computer Technology in Instruction. This module also focuses on exploring and understanding the impact of a variety of appropriate resources, including technological and communication resources, to enhance professional knowledge in support of student learning and lastly, it explores and generates instructional strategies to integrate information and computer technology tools through reflection, active engagement and collaboration.

May 20, 2017 - On the weekend, I had the chance to listen to Leigh Cassell speak on Zoom. It was an amazing opportunity in which I learned many new things. She introduced me to the digital human library. The digital human library takes learning to a whole new level. The ability to bring field trips to the classroom can be cost effective and beneficial to student learning. She also discussed the idea of students being global citizens. The digital human library helps connect students with real people and real ideas.Using the connection to students in different parts of the world to deepen overall student learning. Teachers should encourage students to think big. What if the world is bigger than your backyard? Leigh explains that learning is all about making relationships (no matter what age you are).  After listening to Leigh speak, I have decided to follow her for my follow an educator assignment. I hope to learn more about the digital human library and its benefits and connection based learning.

What is deeper understanding?
Deep understanding must involve a well-developed, rich base of knowledge that has relative complexity based upon developmental level. Deep understanding is not often treated as an endpoint, but more often encourages continued growth and the desire to know more.  Learning is seldom done, finished or complete, but rather leads us in a new path. Deep understanding also involves understanding that is flexible and useful in solving real problems. Technology fits quite naturally as one of the tools a teacher might use to support the quest for deeper learning.

Research Project Ideas
Follow me on Twitter

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Replacement, Amplification, Transformation

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with K. Walton and her Grade 6 Class

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Using Social Media in a Lesson Plan (Week 2) 

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Using Social Media in a Lesson Plan (Week 2) 

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Important tips from Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach:

1. Anticipate barriers to implementing a new technology - This tip stands out to me most because it is important to use class time effectively. Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach recommends having a plan B option incase your original plan doesn’t work out for unexpected reasons. For example, I know the board I am currently working with is struggling to have enough bandwidth to supply the entire school board. This temporary setback means that teachers that rely on Razkids and Tumblebooks can no longer use the online resource, and that many teachers have resorted back to independent reading strategies.

2. Try new technologies before using them in the classroom - Just as you would with any educational tool, it is important to have a basic understanding of the program. Of course, it is also important to realize that some students will succeed your expectations and ultimately be able to manipulate the program better than the teacher.

3. First, design the lesson objectives and then select an appropriate technology -  Before planning for any lesson, it is crucial to understand what exactly we want our students to take away from the lesson. What do we want them to know at the end of the lesson that they didn’t know already know at the beginning is something to consider when planning lesson objectives.

4. Discuss how the technology worked - Student feedback is a great resource to have when reflecting on the success of a lesson. Through discussion we are able to reflect on the things that went well and the things that would be done differently next time.

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Module 2 - Frameworks for Technology Integration 

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Module 2 - Frameworks for Technology Integration 

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Big Ideas for the Week 2: Exploring and generating instructional strategies to integrate information and computer technology tools through reflection, active engagement and collaboration

This weeks module focused on exploring different technological tools during instruction. Earlier in the week, I had the chance to meet with Kelly Walton at Westwood Public School to discuss some ideas that I wanted to explore. We brainstormed some tech tools that would engage students and improve learning at the same time. After meeting, I became interested in using Recap with students but wasn't sure how to go about implementing this resource. Since I am currently supply teaching, she suggested I practice using recap with her Grade 6 students (which I thought was awesome!) On the day I arrived, a few students and I got together to test out the tool. It was a really cool experience because right away I could tell the students were engaged. They loved the idea of being able to present information to their peers in such an interactive way. It was a new and different learning experience - in which the students bought into. Students were creative in their responses, and strived to make their video presentable to their peers and classmates. I noticed Moving forward, I would like to explore more with Recap - potentially exploring it with a grade 2/3 class, so that I am able to use this tool again in my future classes.

This week, I also had the opportunity to experiment and explore with Prezi. I loved using Prezi because it was another first time for me! Growing up, whenever I had to give a presentation,  I would use microsoft powepoint. I found all the presentations to be the same, boring stuff. Prezi makes the learning experience more interactive. For the most part, I found it easy to use, and I think with enough exposure, students will enjoy using as well.

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Recap, May 2 shared by Kelly Walton! Click to watch the video!

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What an inspiring video! Her passion for teaching is uplifting to other educators! I love how she adapted her teaching to meet the needs of the student learners to give them an authentic, meaningful, learning experience. I noticed that she is using technology in a realistic and meaningful way to reinforce challenge based learning. She discusses the idea, that in order for a community of learners to work, they must have a growth mindset.
I was impressed at how Jennifer could impact her community. Kranenburg was able to use so many different areas of the curriculum to address a real-life problem! Way to go Jennifer!

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Engaging Education | Jennifer Kranenburg | TEDxChathamKent

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Teachers are faced with the task of preparing students for a world that does not yet exist. Through Challenge Based Learning, my students have become social activists, seeking to eliminate stigma around the use of food banks. In the process, we have covered curriculum expectations, strengthened community connections and become proponents of sustainable food systems. Bio pending.

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As the first week of the course comes to a close, I have an opportunity to reflect on the things I've accomplished this week. To start, this is my very first Padlet ever! I hope as the weeks go on, I will continue to have the opportunity to explore and implement new technology into my lessons and classroom.

As a long term occasional teacher, I can honestly say, I haven't used a lot of technology to support student learning in my classroom. I am fearful to use technology in my class, simply because of all the other things found online. As I take this course, I am beginning to realize that technology can be an effective teaching tool in my classroom. If used properly, students can create and explore just as I am right now on Padlet! (It is an exciting process, but challenging to say the least!) I love the idea of challenge based learning in my class. Engaging students with authentic and meaningful learning experiences in hopes of promoting life-long learning in my students. As I continue my journey as an educator, I know that reflecting on my practise can be my greatest asset to developing a great program for students.

Moving forward:

As a Part 1 student, I find it very meaningful to be able to communicate with other colleagues. Earlier in the week, I was able to chat with one of the specialist students. We discussed my fears about taking the course, and what goals I'd hope to achieve by obtaining my Part 1 status. This summer, I have been asked to teach a literacy camp for kindergarten and Grade 1 students. I am excited to use my new tools in technology to augment student learning in literacy.