EDLD+5364

Hello, Welcome fellow members of ET8012.

Belsa Cantu

Wendy Christensen Diana Cantu Karen Burwell Amanda Ornelas-Flores Belsa Cantu
 * Group Project Members **

Week 1 This week was very interesting, with lots of readings. I guess it’s just what we already know we need more technology to be integrated into our instruction. I say our because I am an educator. The students are asking for it and they want to learn more. They need to learn more to be able to function in the 21st century. We are creating limits for our children by only teaching them what they need to know to master the standardized tests. I am guilty; I was a 3rd grade teacher. There is so much pressure, to get all the students in your class to pass the test. Sometimes there is no time for anything fun, you just have to teach and reteach. The capabilities of the student's are very different. In your class you might have student's that are at grade level, higher or lower. This makes it hard to do the enrichment with the students that are ready.  I enjoyed the book, __Web 2.0 New tools, New Schools__, it is informative and useful. The book tells about how students are connected and about how they are tech savvy. It takes inside as to what they want and what they think. What they need to know and how it will help them. We need to get on the technology train and offer more to the students in our classrooms. We need to find new ways to let them explore and think on their own. In the 21st century it is about how much technology they know and how can they find what hey don't know. This is what will help them in this new world.

Week 2 This was an awkward week, having to log in and spend time with family. It was hectic, I am  glad we had the time off from work. Well I feel that my group and I collaborated and discussed and progress was made. Everyone is a team player and they all have insight and something to add to the brainstorm project. I enjoyed reading about classrooms and setting  objectives. As an educator,  I know the importance of setting goals and how good it feels when you have met a goal. It is encouraging to read about it in a book, and know that others agree with making students responsible for their education. I am glad that the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, provided  a list of websites that may be used to create surveys. Since ,  in our group we have been discussing the possibility of using surveys to assess the learning outcomes of students. In the last class that we <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">took, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> I found creating a rubric difficult, as I did not know <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">what <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> standards I should use. The reading included lots of useful information and websites on rubrics. These were very helpful to me.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Week 3 This week was complicated for me. So much to do, so little time. I had unexpected events and well overwhelmed with difficult situations. I feel that my group finally understands what we are supposed to do. We were still a little confused; we communicated with each other and pulled through. I used the UDL Book Builder and I really like the idea and what can be created with it. I had a difficult time with the connection speed or something. For r some reason it was super slow and I found it very frustrating. I like the the UDL Lesson Builder as well. Being introduced to these two tools opens a door of possibilities. I hope to use them and create lessons that my students will enjoy. I also attended a staff development on Camtasia and I created a Video presentation to go along with my lesson on the Frog Life Cycle. I am excited about all of the new tools that I have learned to use in just one week.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Week 4 This week what caught my eye was the reading about Cooperative Learning. I am always told to group my students by ability. This gives me a top group and a low group and the middle groups. In one of the generalizations by McREL, it says that grouping by ability should be done sparingly and cooperative learning should not be overused. I like the idea of having base groups, because of the feeling of camaraderie and trust. The reading also mentions technology in cooperative learning. Just recently we were studying the life cycle of a frog. I decided to create a video presentation on the different stages. The students had to learn the stages and what occurred in each stage. I created a PowerPoint presentation and then recorded the students reading their parts. Put them together and created a video. They really enjoyed the project and had lots of fun doing it. I can guarantee that they won’t forget the stages after seeing themselves in the video. The reading provided many useful ideas of how to incorporate technology that students may use from their home or school.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Week 5 This week the first reading that I did was about //Reinforcing Effort// in the Web 2.0 book. All of the readings have been familiar to things or sayings or beliefs that we have. I have been able to relate to what the author is saying and have understood the message. It says that effort is the only control over success that an individual has. “You only get what you put in”, we have all heard this at least once or twice. If a student receives immediate feedback after a test, they will come to realize what effort they put in. My son studies all week for his spelling test. I feel that he is pressured by the whole family. My husband and I are both teachers at his school. My sister in law also works their and well his teacher is one of my friends. He takes his test on Thursdays and sometimes the teacher for some reason does not find time throughout the day to grade it. As soon as we see him we ask him how he did. It is a big deal. When he doesn’t have a grade he feels like he studied for nothing, because he doesn’t know if he did well or not. But when he gets his grade even if it is not a hundred, he is anxious to tell us. So using some of the Web 2.0 tools for assessment is a great idea. Since these forms of assessment give feedback really fast.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">1. What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> Well I had no idea of the outcomes of this course in the beginning. After Week 1, the outcomes became clearer. I was supposed to learn about Web 2.0 tools and how to incorporate more technology into the classroom. Basically something we all already know. Everything that was expected was achieved. I learned about many tools that can be utilized to incorporate technology into the classroom. We have been exposed to rubrics since our first class, but now I learned that I can provide rubrics for my students or that they can create them to assess what they have learned. I already try to incorporate videos or PowerPoint presentations into my lessons, but I learned that this is a form of teaching to students with different disabilities. I also learned that collaboration with other teachers at my campus can be useful to providing well planned out lessons for our students. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> 2. To the extent that you achived the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> My outcomes have been achieved and maybe even superseded my expectations. The knowledge that I have gained after this course can be very useful to be utilized in my classroom. The tools that we utilized in this class can be beneficial to all of my colleagues. I just may create a presentation to show others how to use the Universal Design Lesson (UDL) Lesson plan or the book Builder. I may include several examples of surveys and rubrics, so that they also can incorporate them in their classrooms. I feel that I want to show everyone what I have learned. All of the tools are relevant to my line of work. I have students that are eager for immediate feedback, or that need to feel successful. The recommendations are helpful and I plan to take them into account when planning for a lesson. I hope to engage my students and make them eager to try out some of the tools. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> 3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> My expectations for the class were met; therefore I don’t think that I did not achieve any outcomes. I have learned about incorporating technology and why it is important. If I don’t try to learn more I will be hindering the students in my classroom. In order to keep up with their needs I have to become familiar with the tools that were introduced to me in this class. Some of the tools can be very helpful and useful in my classroom. I have learned that there are other methods of assessment that I can utilize. This whole class has been a great learning experience, and everything that I learned can be used in my classroom. I can make responsible decisions related when incorporating technology in teaching and learning. I can now explain to my colleagues and students how to use a Google Doc to work collaboratively with others. I have enough knowledge to feel confident about what I do in my classroom. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> 4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> I was successful in completing the course assignments. Each assignment had an overview that was clearly stated and detailed. All I had to do was follow it. There was also a grading rubric included with every assignment. In one assignment I overlooked the rubric so some points were deducted; overall I was completely satisfied with the overviews. Some of the assignments seemed overwhelming because it was all new to me. I had never utilized Google Docs in the way that was expected for this course. I didn’t let it intimidate me; I knew that the assignments overview would guide me. I had to use my Wik to contact my colleagues and explain to them what the purpose of my wiki was and why I was inviting them to join. At first I was a little apprehensive of working in a group, I didn’t want to let anyone down. Working in a group made me feel more confident in what I was doing. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> 5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;"> In this course I learned that I can achieve whatever I want. It depends on the effort t that I put forth. When it comes to technology, when presented with something new you have to explore and play with it. In technology you can’t be afraid of making a mistake. Any mistake can be corrected and help is available. I need a lttle more practice in feeling confident. In the beginning of the class, I was afraid to become the leader of the group. I now realize that I could have been the leader. My attitude has changed form on spectrum to the other. In this class like in the others I have learned more about technology and how it can be useful in the classroom. I can be a leader and can provide my collegues with the knowledge that I have gained. I feel more at ease in front of the computer.