Course Reflection

As I look back on the past few weeks, I discover that this class has offered a wealth of knowledge. Throughout the class, new web 2.0 technologies were introduced and ways to implement them into the class were offered. I found that I prefer to use a deductive approach to using some of this technology. However, it depends on the application that is used. Blogs for example work very well with problem solving and simulation exercises. The interaction amongst peers that the blog offers allows students to bounce ideas and possible solutions of of each other. Overall, the constructivist approach, while it may seem like organized chaos, seems to fit well with the idea of implementing web 2.0 tools.

Web-based tools offer a whole new dimension to teaching. The instructor is able to take the students outside of the classroom to gain knowledge. Web 2.0 tools like Zoho or Google Docs, allow students to collaborate on projects. Other tools such as Evernote allow the student to take notes on the computer and incorporate captured images from the net to back up what they are studying. It helps to establish a connection to the material.

I feel that this class helped me discover new ways to bring technology to the class. I would say that it did help me to achieve my goal of using Web 2.0 programs in my class. I have to admit that I had to look up the term "Web 2.0" so I could get a concise definition of the word. Now after working in this class, I feel more up to date with technology I can adapt for use in all of my classes.

A major new goal that I have is to take class room management systems like MOODLE and incorporate it more into my class. Up to this point, it has been used in a limited fashion. I would like to broaden the horizon and make it a more integral part of my classes. I would also like to slowly introduce new technology to my students as the year progresses. Tools like Zoho would benefit my class immensely when we reach our Science Fair. (There is a lot of group work.) I would also like to take the leap and offer another avenue to completing the Science Fair in the spring. I would like to offer avenues that utilize Web 2.0 tools to present a project instead of the tried and true science fair board.

Online Instruction in Schools

Michigan is getting ready to for students to graduate with more technology requirements that have to be met. There are teachers out there who will say this is unnecessary; however, it is very much needed. The students who are in grade schools right now will be faced with a tremendous amount of technology that will be wired into their life. (Pun intended.) Technology is becoming cheaper and more available to the average Joe. It is becoming an integral part of our life. Just look at the number of "smart phones" that the public uses. Due to this integration, it is very important that our youth learn to handle this technology appropriately.

One tool that I have begun to use in my class is MOODLE. This is a course management system or learning management system (depends who you ask) that has been integrated into my class. I have to admit that this is very much a trial by fire implementation. Essentially, my class has become a "hybrid" class where the buzz word/phrase is "blended instruction." The students experience the normal class which has a mix of lecture and lab activities (I teach science), but it also not has an online component.

MOODLE serves as a launching point for many different projects in my class. Supplemental activities like the STAIR that was developed for my CEP 811 class are hosted on this site. This allows the students who are having a hard time keeping up a chance to better understand what is covered in class. MOODLE also gives the students a place to upload their assignments. In doing this, the paper used in the class is reduced. Many assignments are done online.

One benefit that MOODLE and other CMS/LMS components have is that they can cover several of the requirements set up by the Michigan Merit Curriculum Guidelines. MOODLE and its siblings are capable of hosting wikis, discussion forums, and word processing tools. All three are able to help the student become familiar with lifelong skills that involve technology. Students also are able to interact with other students from different classes as well as different schools through the discussion forums. Another teacher in my school had her class discuss a novel they were reading with another school in our ISD. The kids had n excellent time doing this.

A constructivist model of education can work well with a tool like MOODLE. A WebQuest can be posted on this system and the students are then responsible for completing the quest. In doing this, the student then embarks on a project that is inquiry-based. The student must search out the answer to the problem that is given using websites that the instructor may provide, or ones they find on their own.

One type of technology that I think would be somewhat hard to do with middle school students would be online interactive discussion. From what I've noticed with my students, this would be an excellent tool if it was in the format of a chat room. In this area, middle schoolers excel! I see a video conference with other students being somewhat awkward for many of the students.

In the next couple of years, it will be interesting to see how schools adjust to the new requirements in implementing technology into the classroom/school environment. I noticed last year that our ISD really pushed for teachers to have training in MOODLE. Now after reading this week's articles, I wonder if this is happening to help the schools handle this tech. requirement. Hmmm.

Zoho Writer Review

Zoho Writer is another online word processing program that is loaded with features. The format of the toolbar is very user friendly with many common editing tools out in the open. These tools are easily accessible, making this Writer a very efficient word processor from which to work. There are some pull down menus which include many useful features, but not always ones that would be used upfront.

Like most online word processors, Writer has a collaboration tool which is simply labeled as "share." I've used Google Docs in the past and I have to say that Google's method of sharing, to me, is a little easier to use. In Zoho, sharing involves entering Zoho ID's or the individual's email that you want to invite to work on your document. Initially, it was not clear if this individual had to be a Zoho member or if any email (from a nonmember) would work.

Another nice feature of the collaborative software is that you can view the different versions of the document. In Writer, you have to search a little for this feature. It is hidden in a pull down menu. You have to go to "Review" where you will find "History," from there you can view who changed the document and when it happened. You can also revert to a previous version, and view the differences between two versions. This helps make it a valuable asset for group assignments.

While this is a nice program, there are some downsides to it. Probably due to it being a free program, it is not capable of handling some of the nice graphical features found in Office. I uploaded my WebQuest review and found many formatting errors. While these can be fixed, it is a little irritating to have to spend time doing this. Paragraphs shifted, pictures moved, borders on screenshots didn't transfer, and callouts weren't formatted correctly. To be fair, this problem is not limited to Zoho. I tried the same test in Google Docs and found formatting errors there as well. While this can be frustrating, one has to remember that "you get what you pay for."

One major benefit of a program like this is that students can utilize it to develop a collaborative project. Multiple students can work on the same document at the same time from different computers. I have to imagine that they will get a kick out of watching other members type on the document. While members work on a shared document, there is a chat feature that allows them to communicate while they develop the document. This can be a huge advantage when trying to figure out how to format the document. It allows for every group member to have input into the assignment. It will also allow the students to work collaboratively at home as well as school. By using the internet instead of a hard drive to store the document, the students are able to access the document wherever there is an internet connection.

The benefits of Writer are many; however, there are some techniques the teacher will have to model to the class. If students were just turned loose in Writer, the teacher would be swamped with questions and student frustrations would be high. Zoho, as a whole, is a fairly large site. There are many different applications and some students would get lost. This is a program that requires the teacher to spend a couple of periods modeling how to properly use the site. Having the students perform some "warm-up" activities using key features (formatting, history, sharing, etc…) would greatly benefit the teacher and the students. Coming into a collaborative program like this, as student can get by with a basic knowledge of any word processing program; most have very similar features and layouts. However, having a teacher walk the class through how to share and view the document's history is very important.

In organizing a class for a project like this, the teacher must consider the abilities of the students. Most classes are very diverse when it comes to knowledge of technology. The teacher must consider this when forming the groups. Merging students who understand little of a word processor with a student who has vast knowledge in this area can create teaching moments for some of the students. In working with both the teacher and fellow students, those who have limited knowledge will grow through experience and eventually feel comfortable with the word processor.

To recap, Zoho Writer is a very nice, feature packed online word processor that incorporates collaboration skills into the student's work. Through use in the school setting, the students can experience a work environment that is similar to the real world. The students experience how many workplaces share ideas and develop documents. This will help prepare them for the world outside of school. The flexibility of online file sharing allows the students to be more efficient with their work. It extends the classroom outside of the school's walls. Students can work with other students at home via internet connections and the program's "share" feature. If this trend continues to develop, you may see storage disks/jump drives become a thing of the past as internet file sharing takes over.

Blogs in The Classroom

Blogs can be a very useful tool in the classroom. When given the chance, many students who are too shy to contribute to a class discussion will post their thought out in cyberspace for people to read. This faceless environment can be less intimidating to some students and may spur them to produce some thought provoking comments.

Initially, I would say that blogs would be great for simulation and problem solving. The students could use their blogs to post their solutions. Then the class could comment on the solutions. This would help students develop analysis skills.

Another strategy I think would work well would be the use of metaphors. Students could be given the task of creating new metaphors for concepts covered in class. An example would be the flow of electricity being compared to the flow of water. What would be a better metaphor that would project the same meaning? Blog posts and comments could help a student (or even better, a group) develop a metaphor that accurately depicts the flow of electrons from one point to another.

While I think these strategies would work well with a blog, I find scaffolding a little harder to work with. I admit I am learning about blogs, but I tend to view them as the end product. Since it is the end product, I think it would be pretty difficult to guild the learner through the blog.

I see blogs being used in my class to further explore the concepts that we are covering. I'd like the students to use blogs to go beyond what the book is covering. Instead of looking at what magnets are, have students blog about different ways that magnets are used in medicine. To further add credit, have them refer to sites where they have found additional information for their blog.

As for the bonus question: Using YouTube to solve a problem. I recently watched a video at a conference of a kid asking the world for help in starting a fire with a bow drill. In using a web 2.0 element like YouTube, the student's audience is literally now the world. The conference mentioned that the student had over 300 hits from all over the globe. If used properly a tool like this could greatly benefit the student...and the teacher.

Wikis

On this last assignment, I searched wikipedia for a page related to the building where I teach. I was able to find our high school, but not the middle school. So, I logged in and tried to create a page for the Kalkaska Middle School. It was a little strange as the editing format took some getting used to. After a short time, I had created the site shown above. As you can see, the site needs some revisions. I pulled much of the stats from school documents. When I awoke the next morning, it appeared that I needed third party references. So I spent the morning scouring the internet to find other sites not associated with the KMS to back up what was displayed on the page.

I realize that you probably cannot read the picture too well, but it should be noted that we met AYP this year and received our first ever "A" on the state's report card! This was a cause for celebration amongst the staff. We have a close knit group of educators working in the building. Many put time in above and beyond what is expected. It looks as if it may be paying off for us. Our reading scores have improved dramatically (on the 07-08 MEAP we were the highest in our ISD), and the staff is continuously working to implement new strategies for instruction and intervention.

Other additions the the KMS Wikipedia page included our count (approximately 330 students), major field trips per grade, and the location of the town.

The wiki page that I have created is geared for my 8th grade science class. It is titled moorescience8 and I've come to realize that it might be a great way for the 8th grade teachers to collaborate our curriculum. (Picked that up from the Warlick article.) I have to admit that at this point, the wiki seems very similar to a blog. Comments on how the two are different and how you would best use a wiki would be appreciated.

Courage

An observation:

I coach 8th grade boys basketball. I've been coaching ever since I started student teaching (Fall of 1999). I've coached boys at the Freshmen and 8th grade levels. Girls I've coached from 7th grade to the JV level. Today I saw something that really impressed me.

I had a staff meeting today, so practice was only for an hour after school (4-5). Along with this, we had about 60 kids out of school (flu, strep, you name it). So, I only had 5 kids at practice. Four of the five are good friends and get a long great. The 5th is a kid that doesn't hang with the others. Doesn't have the nice clothes, comes from a poorer family, you know the individual. Anyhow, with 5 kids, I figured it would be a great day to work on half court offense.

As practice moves on, it is obvious that the 5th kid is no where near the skill level of the other 4. Instead of hanging his head, as often kids will do, he worked his behind off to learn the plays. Never once did he complain or give up. If he didn't know how to throw a pass, he listened and tried his best. He improved. As this student worked and worked and struggled to be a part of this group, the group helped him. They encouraged him, showing him how to throw a lob pass. They helped show him how to curl off of a screen. They wanted him to succeed. As a coach, this made me very proud of my 5 dedicated players. It goes to show you that when the world looks dark and gloomy, and kindness seems to be on the brink of disappearing - you have 5 kids out there from different backgrounds that are working together to help each other succeed. Might sound sappy, but it made me very proud of the 5th boy to show such courage.

WebQuests - Middle School Science

Here are some interesting WebQuests that I found useful for my 8th Grade Science class:

Intrusion Stopper - http://coe.nevada.edu/bjohannessohn/intrusionstopper/WEBQuest/

• Focuses on creating an alarm for your bedroom (to keep your pesky little brother out of your room). An interesting site that provides a lot of activities for the students to study circuits and electricity. This is a fun site that keeps the students actively engaged. It is also written in a format that is entertaining, allowing the students to have fun while learning.

WebQuest 6: Light - http://www.webquest.hawaii.edu/webquests/webquest6/steps.html

• While this starts out somewhat slow, it picks up when the students get into the activities. I think the mirror activities would be a lot of fun for my middle school students. It makes them have to think about what they are learning. It really enforces why shaped mirrors display odd images (focusing on the angle the light enters the eye). This particular activity has the students "creating" a shaped mirror using convex and concave panels. The goal is to reproduce the reflected image that is given on the page. Through trial and error, the students

Computer-Based Instructional Objects

One way of actively engaging the student in the curriculum is to develop a computer-based instructional object. This is a device that allows the student to study the curriculum independently, either in class or outside of the class period. While this is an excellent way to add further enrichment to the subject matter, there are a few problems that can develop.

Internet availability: Some districts (like my own) have a large number of families who do not have access to the internet. Either they do not have a computer, or cannot obtain service at their home. While this type of instruction does not require the internet, it is a handy method of accessibility for the teacher to employ. What I've found is that assignments given in this manner must have extra time attached, so the student will have time to use the school computers.

Computer Accessibility: Utilizing the computer lab at school can be a constant battle. Many times, you have to sign up for the lab weeks in advance. This can limit the time that the students are able to complete the assignment. Aside from this, there are classes that must use the lab (computers, typing, career cruising, etc...); this creates scheduling conflicts with some classes and not others. For example, I am usually able to get my morning classes into the lab, but the afternoon classes suffer because the lab is required for two afternoon classes.

Time Frame: For the student to complete an assignment of this nature, a time frame must be established. Establishing a time frame sets parameters that the student must follow. It also forces the student to develop time management skills. How long should the student have to finish the assignment? That depends on computer accessibility, lab time, and what computer resources the student has at home. I've found, through using MOODLE, that 5-7 days is often plenty for the student to complete the average assignment

While technology allows us to present the curriculum to our students in new and exciting ways, it does present us with unique problems. Through creative time management, flexibility, and the desire to incorporate technology into the classroom, these obstacles can be over come. In overcoming these obstacles, we can make our classes a stronger learning environment for our students.

Web Pages vs. Blogs

Web pages and blogs are two prevalent technologies used in cyberspace to grab the reader's attention. While both are effective methods for presenting information, they seem to differ in design. A traditional web page is a more formal device for presenting information. Like an advertisement/commercial, most will grab your attention with the hope that you will possibly explore the site to research, shop, or utilize for financial needs (pay bills, monitor accounts, etc...).

The other side of the coin is the blog. This is device used to present information in a non-traditional method. Information is posted in a less formal manner. The author is given the chance to have his or her voice heard. While some may use this as a chance for personal exchange/debate, others may use it to present news, reviews, or opinions to the rest of the world. The blog puts a more modern twist on the traditional website by allowing it to become more personal.

Here I am, testing out my new blog. The online session from tonight was nice, as I was able to get a few ideas for the STAIR project.

• A PowerPoint focusing on electromagnetic radiation (waves) - would be a nice setup for a tutorial for some of the special needs students that I have.