Web 2.0 Tools-Poll Knowledge

Something new that is an instructional tool in the class is web 2.0 tools. IT is something that we can create, work with others, edit, and share it online with others (www.web2014.discoveryeducation.com). One example of this that I came across and captured my attention was Poll Everywhere. The premise of this is using mobile devices in the classroom to take polls to assess and share knowledge in the classroom. I myself, love this idea, both as an instructor and as a learner. As a learner, I like the idea of being engaged with, throughout the class. It can help me learn where my peers are at and if I am learning or not. As an instructor, its a great way to get personal perspectives in a quick way to stimulate conversations in the class, as well as constant assessment to see if learning is happening. On the other hand, it has its fall back in that we as instructors already compete with social media in the classroom as a distraction, and my worry would be we are encouraging that once we ask them to pick up their phones. Also, for people who may not be able to afford a mobile device, it is not a fair tool then. With that said, it all depends on the age of the learners, maturity and level of trust between instructor and the learners, but this something I will try for sure in the future. Below and to the external links page I will attach a link to the tool!
http://www.polleverywhere.com/

Copyright or copyfight?

During my PIDP 3240 discussion in the Copyright discussion forum, my fellow colleagues have raised some great points about copyright and the things that we in this 21st century of digital run world take advantage of. Such as finding resources on line, which includes scholarly articles but also information and links and blogs about any and every topic we can think of. The big questions is how do we cite these appropriately, and do we do it? As instructors, it is important in my perspective to model this behavior for our learners. The only reason I know what | know is because it has been expected of me in my classes from my instructors, but also my colleagues. It is hard to decipher on the internet, what is "cite worthy" due to the vast amount and variety of sources online and what can be simply copied and pasted without having to cite. It ranges from journal articles to Wikipedia, and as my colleagues have pointed out, the younger generations are not able to differentiate what is scholarly and what is not. Although we, in the PIDP program, are learning how to cite these different variations of sources, it is not general knowledge. For me, I will continue to learn and pass on what I learn to my learners. Recently, I ran across a link whereby in Spain and "legislation under which publishers will soon be able to force Internet sites to pay for re-publishing headlines or snippets of news" and Google's response to it. I always think that this will never happen, but it appears it is starting around the world, how long before it happens here. Not to mention the huge impact this will have on may sites that copy and paste news stories on their own sites. In my perspective, this is a hard battle to fight when your audience has a hard time understanding the term copyright and internet itself. The link is attached below and to the external links page. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/adios-google-news-to-shutter-in-spain-over-copyright-row/article22037686/

Technology in the Classroom....good or bad?

With all of this technology these days, it is not a surprise for it to be visible in the classroom. Instructors are receiving training on educational tools and online tools to use in the classroom to keep students engaged, both face to face and/or online classes. There are many benefits to having technology in the classroom, as my colleagues in PIDP 3240 have pointed out; ongoing dialogue, different options of communication, engaging students by using social media...etc. While all of these are great reasons to have technology in the classroom, there are some things to be aware of. The webpage of Teach Thought has provided us with 5 problems with technology in the classroom, and one in particular caught my eye, this was the problem of pace of change. It refers to that as different schools having the ability to afford the technology, and some not. This is visible in the communities that are less priviledged in our school system and something that is very real. By the time these learners combine whether in high school or post secondary, some may have more advantage with experience with certain technology than others. What does that mean for success? I'm not sure about that, but if they didn't start out on equal footing, how does it impact their success. This is something I will carry forward with me, especially as a post secondary instructor and provide that support as needed. I have put the link below for the website, have a peek! http://www.teachthought.com/learning/5-problems-with-technology-in-classrooms/

Technology as Assessment

Something I ran across while looking at UWO's publication of using different instructional technology and its functions and was surprised to read the below about online testing: The article titled "Instructional Technology: Functions and Best Practices, Website Support for Teaching Large Classes, Turnitin.com: A New Plagiarism Checking Tool at Western"states that "If you ask students what feature they find most valuable on a course website, the consistent response is practice tests. Students like to test their knowledge of a chapter or module, both after they have read the chapter and when they are preparing for an exam". Like Bowen states in "Teaching Naked", "the simplest and most basic use of new communication technologies is to create more class time for engaged learning..(Bowen, 2012, p.104. For me, I think it is a great way of incorporating different instructional technologies together, especially in face to face courses, to add that social media element. By doing so, you are broadening your learners use of different instructional strategies as well as using something they are familiar with.I think this can be stretched out to include not just testing, but information about concepts and subject topics that can perhaps we discussed in class (if it is not a testable subject).Something like Bowen's suggestion of the program "Brainshark" can provide students with the opportunities to use technology as assessment from something as easy as their mobiles to complete pre-exam practice (Bowen, 2012). The link is http://www.uwo.ca/tsc/resources/publications/newsletter/selected_articles/instructional_technology_functions.html Text: Bowen, Jose A. "Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology out of Your College Classroom will Improve Student Learning". (2012) San Fransisco: John Wiley & Son.

Fair Dealings in a Fair way?

For the past week, I have been awed by the term "fair dealings". Initially I was under the impression that this was a way to protect the original sources or author(s) of a publication, but the more I read about it, and note my colleagues in my course's feedback and perspectives, I am finding, that sometimes its doing the opposite. I found the following you tube video which made me wonder? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3Oe1GNHrSo So this begs the question for me, how will I interpret this in my classroom for my students/earners. I think for me, it is important that no matter what I use, I need to make that solid effort to recognize others works when sharing it in my classes. But I also have to be mindful of the information I use as well, and ensure that it has been cited properly.

The next part of my Journey: Media

Hi all, I know it's been a while since I have posted, forgive me, everyone needs a break sometimes to refresh! I am now starting the next part of my journey in PIDP, which is Media. I must say I am a bit hesitant, social media is not particularly my comfort zone, but that is exactly why I chose it as my option in the course, I mean that is the point right, challenge yourself and learn new things? Well here is to me and learning how to be comfortable in this context of a virtual community. I definitely agree with Jose Bowen's ideas that social media has changed our students in his book " Teaching Naked". Exactly how? I'm not so sure of this yet as this is new to me, but I will keep you updated in this blog of how that journey goes....

Motivation

I can remember what it was like when i was in a classroom listening to the instructor and comleting fazing out. Why? Now that I think about it, it was probably because I was not motivated, it didn't relate to me. I wonder in the classroom how we can motivate our learners if they are not engaged. I know a few times I have started with ice breaker activities that get us to know each other and our passions and hobbies, things that motivate us. It gets learners at the least, thinking about something that motivates them and gives me knowledge as an instructor, to be able to refer to such things as examples we we continue in the course. Then at the least it peaks their interest at those points they hear something interesting or relvant to them and hopefully can draw them in. Further, we can as instructors always ask them to use their own experiences in assignments or class pastipation as a way to motivate them. I beleive, that if learners can see how the material relates to their life, they are more likely to particpate, because they want to.