Here is the presentation I will use for staff development on Monday. I hope it works!
Monday, August 26, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Final Reflection!!
I absolutely loved doing this class! It was very challenging at times, but well worth it. My biggest frustrations were related to issues with my own home PC and laptop. They are old and need much work and updating. For each activity, I explored all of the tools listed before picking one. My favorite activities were Storybird and Screencasting with You Tube. The two I think I will most readily use will be Prezi and Google drive though. I plan to use these to share the LC data and info with staff to start. I will be using the Spicynodes to help reteach schools rules for sure. I plan to then use some of the other presentation tools on my website. I am hoping to dive more thoroughly into the tools I did not use for the class as well.
Some of my challenges involved the actually embedding of the tool into the blog. I would be feeling proud that I actually was able to master the technology and then quickly humbled again when struggling to effectively embed! Also, I was not always sure how to use the tools in my non-traditional setting. I was able to come up with good ideas after some time and looking at others' blogs. Input/feedback from Jenna also helped with this. I felt the blog was an effective way for me to learn as the activities were so well organized by our counselors and so I could easily access other ideas. However, I received limited feedback on my activities (except for from the wonderful Jenna!). This may be because I started my activities so late though...
Overall, I feel that taking this class has given me not only knowledge of several tools, but also the confidence to really try new ideas. I am actually rather proud of myself! My problem solving and creativity skills were well used! In addition, I had never really thought about of my role as a "digital citizen." I now realize the importance of being a responsible web user, especially when working with others. Thank you counselors!
Some of my challenges involved the actually embedding of the tool into the blog. I would be feeling proud that I actually was able to master the technology and then quickly humbled again when struggling to effectively embed! Also, I was not always sure how to use the tools in my non-traditional setting. I was able to come up with good ideas after some time and looking at others' blogs. Input/feedback from Jenna also helped with this. I felt the blog was an effective way for me to learn as the activities were so well organized by our counselors and so I could easily access other ideas. However, I received limited feedback on my activities (except for from the wonderful Jenna!). This may be because I started my activities so late though...
Overall, I feel that taking this class has given me not only knowledge of several tools, but also the confidence to really try new ideas. I am actually rather proud of myself! My problem solving and creativity skills were well used! In addition, I had never really thought about of my role as a "digital citizen." I now realize the importance of being a responsible web user, especially when working with others. Thank you counselors!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Activity Ten
Here is the link for some photos of my puppy, Copper!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/100687072@N03/
I was really excited to try this tool. It was fun to mess around on (which I did for WAY too long!). There is amazing pictures of just about anything you would want to see. I toured Ireland and Australia to name two! I also looked up some of my favorite animals and topics (like family, sports, lakes etc.). What an amazing world we live in!! Another feature I found interesting was the Camera section. Cameras were reviewed and compared. As I am looking to buy a camera, it was perfect for me! Uploading the photos was relatively easy and intuitive. However, I did not put descriptions on initially and could not figure out how to go back and edit them. I plan to try to use this to share photos with my family initially. Once comfortable, I was thinking that maybe I could make photo sets of students doing well, following rules, etc. with appropriate restrictions and permission first of course (from parents and principal). This will be future endeavor though.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/100687072@N03/
I was really excited to try this tool. It was fun to mess around on (which I did for WAY too long!). There is amazing pictures of just about anything you would want to see. I toured Ireland and Australia to name two! I also looked up some of my favorite animals and topics (like family, sports, lakes etc.). What an amazing world we live in!! Another feature I found interesting was the Camera section. Cameras were reviewed and compared. As I am looking to buy a camera, it was perfect for me! Uploading the photos was relatively easy and intuitive. However, I did not put descriptions on initially and could not figure out how to go back and edit them. I plan to try to use this to share photos with my family initially. Once comfortable, I was thinking that maybe I could make photo sets of students doing well, following rules, etc. with appropriate restrictions and permission first of course (from parents and principal). This will be future endeavor though.
Activity Nine
Scenario 1: Collaboration = Harassment?
A student is using Google Drive as a writing and collaborative tool for peer reviewing. Juan and Jeremy have used the platform instead to exchange comments that involve name-calling and racial slurs. Jeremy’s parents object when his account is suspended claiming it will negatively impact his academic progress.
Reflection:
I would be surprised the only thing negative that came out of this scenario was parents being upset about a consequence! This could have easily become a significant bullying and harassment case where students were emotionally and socially hurt. If not addressed, it could have even escalated to physical harm. The students clearly misused the technology learning tool (against “Acceptable Use” as defined for Mounds View students). As with any broken rule or unfollowed expectation, consequences are put in place. The intent being, of course, to teach what is acceptable instead. In order to do so in this case, the boys would have to have restrictions and be monitored to assure they have learned the correct way to use technology and to assure they understand the power it truly has. Bullying/harassment is a BIG deal no matter what format is used!! You know… zero tolerance!!
The teacher should make sure both the students and parents understand the policy before using Google Drive (or any technology). Having them sign off would be a great plan. Also, it would be especially important that the teacher clearly explain what the assignment requirements are and what can and cannot be done collaboratively. The consequences for not following the policy/assignment requirements should also be clearly delineated. Parents should be made aware also… before doing the assignment! In addition, consistent monitoring by the teacher as a commentator would hopefully keep the students on track, or least catch any problems before they become harmful.
Last year, the Learning Center had some issues with 5th grade students logging onto each other’s accounts. It ended up being a situation where the students were not hurt as much as they could have been. However, staff was never fully able to determine who was responsible for what! It was unnerving to feel so helpless!
Scenario 7: Chernobyl Meltdown…
Ms. Jansen, a special ed. teacher, has been using screencasting in her class to post review screencasts of her lessons and study materials. These screencasts have been heavily used by students and she has received glowing emails from parents thanking her for going this extra distance. Ms. Jansen decides it’s time to have her students create their own screencasts. She struggles with how best to post and share their screencasts and decides to use a class YouTube account/channel. Because some students want to do screencasting from home, she provides students with the class YouTube username and password so they can upload their videos from home. Two disasters ensue: 1.) Students post more than just their screencasts including inappropriate random YouTube videos as well as change the privacy settings of the account. 2.) Students post video content of themselves and their peers and the teacher discovers that some of these students have “no photo” stipulations on file in the office. Before Ms. Jansen can even blink, these videos have been shared/linked to Facebook pages and have an assortment of inappropriate comments posted from outside users.
Reflection:
Yikes! This is a meltdown situation!! Safety is a HUGE issue here! Once something is on Facebook, it could go anywhere and be there indefinitely! Also, it is unfortunate, but not surprising, that the students were not able to be trusted to use the account as intended. These may be in part because it is so easy to post (as I have now learned!!) and everything seems to make it onto You Tube. Kids honestly may have a misguided view of what is truly appropriate. There is a lack of knowledge and desensitization to what could really happen from photos and videos being displayed. Before allowing any students to screencast, the teacher should have a good sense of how trustworthy the students are and be able to monitor their input. She should also make sure students and parents understand the technology use policy and consequences of misuse before doing the activity. A simple solution may be to have the students send the casts to the teacher first. She could then post them or monitor while the students post them at school. Another option is to have the students have their own accounts (parents permission first). This would be harder to monitor though. In this situation, obviously, the You Tube account should be immediately closed. The teacher should get support for the repercussions that will surely come her way from the photos being posted as well.
Although my personal experience is not via computer, it was still a misuse of technology with disastrous outcomes. A student I worked with (8th grader), received a text with a photo of girl in a compromising pose. She had sent it to her boyfriend… who later became her ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend then sent the picture to one of his friends who sent it to a couple of his… and so on. The photo spread like wildfire. The student I worked with was one of many who received the photo and passed it on as well. My student ended up having his phone confiscated for using it in a classroom when this was all coming out. As a result, his phone was checked (by police… not sure how that really works with privacy stuff??). He was added to the list to be possibly criminally charged. It was a HUGE ordeal for the school, parents, and students involved. In the end, the ex-boyfriend was the only one charged. The others were given stern warnings and phones were taken by some parents… but not others. The girl ended up moving to another school. It was very sad all the way around.
A student is using Google Drive as a writing and collaborative tool for peer reviewing. Juan and Jeremy have used the platform instead to exchange comments that involve name-calling and racial slurs. Jeremy’s parents object when his account is suspended claiming it will negatively impact his academic progress.
Reflection:
I would be surprised the only thing negative that came out of this scenario was parents being upset about a consequence! This could have easily become a significant bullying and harassment case where students were emotionally and socially hurt. If not addressed, it could have even escalated to physical harm. The students clearly misused the technology learning tool (against “Acceptable Use” as defined for Mounds View students). As with any broken rule or unfollowed expectation, consequences are put in place. The intent being, of course, to teach what is acceptable instead. In order to do so in this case, the boys would have to have restrictions and be monitored to assure they have learned the correct way to use technology and to assure they understand the power it truly has. Bullying/harassment is a BIG deal no matter what format is used!! You know… zero tolerance!!
The teacher should make sure both the students and parents understand the policy before using Google Drive (or any technology). Having them sign off would be a great plan. Also, it would be especially important that the teacher clearly explain what the assignment requirements are and what can and cannot be done collaboratively. The consequences for not following the policy/assignment requirements should also be clearly delineated. Parents should be made aware also… before doing the assignment! In addition, consistent monitoring by the teacher as a commentator would hopefully keep the students on track, or least catch any problems before they become harmful.
Last year, the Learning Center had some issues with 5th grade students logging onto each other’s accounts. It ended up being a situation where the students were not hurt as much as they could have been. However, staff was never fully able to determine who was responsible for what! It was unnerving to feel so helpless!
Scenario 7: Chernobyl Meltdown…
Ms. Jansen, a special ed. teacher, has been using screencasting in her class to post review screencasts of her lessons and study materials. These screencasts have been heavily used by students and she has received glowing emails from parents thanking her for going this extra distance. Ms. Jansen decides it’s time to have her students create their own screencasts. She struggles with how best to post and share their screencasts and decides to use a class YouTube account/channel. Because some students want to do screencasting from home, she provides students with the class YouTube username and password so they can upload their videos from home. Two disasters ensue: 1.) Students post more than just their screencasts including inappropriate random YouTube videos as well as change the privacy settings of the account. 2.) Students post video content of themselves and their peers and the teacher discovers that some of these students have “no photo” stipulations on file in the office. Before Ms. Jansen can even blink, these videos have been shared/linked to Facebook pages and have an assortment of inappropriate comments posted from outside users.
Reflection:
Yikes! This is a meltdown situation!! Safety is a HUGE issue here! Once something is on Facebook, it could go anywhere and be there indefinitely! Also, it is unfortunate, but not surprising, that the students were not able to be trusted to use the account as intended. These may be in part because it is so easy to post (as I have now learned!!) and everything seems to make it onto You Tube. Kids honestly may have a misguided view of what is truly appropriate. There is a lack of knowledge and desensitization to what could really happen from photos and videos being displayed. Before allowing any students to screencast, the teacher should have a good sense of how trustworthy the students are and be able to monitor their input. She should also make sure students and parents understand the technology use policy and consequences of misuse before doing the activity. A simple solution may be to have the students send the casts to the teacher first. She could then post them or monitor while the students post them at school. Another option is to have the students have their own accounts (parents permission first). This would be harder to monitor though. In this situation, obviously, the You Tube account should be immediately closed. The teacher should get support for the repercussions that will surely come her way from the photos being posted as well.
Although my personal experience is not via computer, it was still a misuse of technology with disastrous outcomes. A student I worked with (8th grader), received a text with a photo of girl in a compromising pose. She had sent it to her boyfriend… who later became her ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend then sent the picture to one of his friends who sent it to a couple of his… and so on. The photo spread like wildfire. The student I worked with was one of many who received the photo and passed it on as well. My student ended up having his phone confiscated for using it in a classroom when this was all coming out. As a result, his phone was checked (by police… not sure how that really works with privacy stuff??). He was added to the list to be possibly criminally charged. It was a HUGE ordeal for the school, parents, and students involved. In the end, the ex-boyfriend was the only one charged. The others were given stern warnings and phones were taken by some parents… but not others. The girl ended up moving to another school. It was very sad all the way around.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Activity #8 Form
Or... here is the link (just practicing!):
Behavior Referral Format Survey
At first, I thought this activity would be overwhelming. It was actually rather fun! I kept my first go a bit simple. I was impressed with the quantity of response formats. It made this much easier! I can see how this could be used very consistently in the classroom. I am hoping to work with my other CICO colleagues to see if we can make a form to easily track daily behavior points from the CICO sheets.
Activity #8 Poll
Here is a link to my poll. I had trouble embedding it. I will add a new post when I can get it figured out.
http://www.polleverywhere.com/
If you want to see your personality type based on what your choice was, please use the following link to Google Drive.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5o-dwfR9j4xeThvSjV2Y1hBVWM/edit?usp=sharing
I found this activity simple, yet very frustrating when I could not embed! I think this would be very applicable in the classroom, especially in upper grades. Data could be collected and used to make changes. It could also be used as a quick check on understanding and/or of interest. I am not sure yet how I will use this in the LC specifically... but will keep on thinking on it!
http://www.polleverywhere.com/
If you want to see your personality type based on what your choice was, please use the following link to Google Drive.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5o-dwfR9j4xeThvSjV2Y1hBVWM/edit?usp=sharing
I found this activity simple, yet very frustrating when I could not embed! I think this would be very applicable in the classroom, especially in upper grades. Data could be collected and used to make changes. It could also be used as a quick check on understanding and/or of interest. I am not sure yet how I will use this in the LC specifically... but will keep on thinking on it!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Activity Seven
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5o-dwfR9j4xbmNxTDFoVFdQVVE/edit?usp=sharing
I have given those interested a link to a Special Education Info Form that can be used to communicate with staff working with the student. I have changed it from its original form somewhat and am open to ideas for improvement! I initially found Google Drive a bit confusing ... I did not trust it was doing what it said (like sharing...). I have used it some this past year and have really begun to see the value. I actually redid some other forms and sent them to colleagues who may use them as well! I would like to be able to use the comment feature more. It works well for the SPED team to share agendas for our MANY meetings!!
I have given those interested a link to a Special Education Info Form that can be used to communicate with staff working with the student. I have changed it from its original form somewhat and am open to ideas for improvement! I initially found Google Drive a bit confusing ... I did not trust it was doing what it said (like sharing...). I have used it some this past year and have really begun to see the value. I actually redid some other forms and sent them to colleagues who may use them as well! I would like to be able to use the comment feature more. It works well for the SPED team to share agendas for our MANY meetings!!
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