Final Reflection

Summer Tech Camp was A LOT! A lot of work, a lot of frustration, and mainly, a lot of learning! The independent assignments were a great way to learn at my own pace around the other demands of life and gave me time to process each activity. It usually took me awhile to decide on an authentic topic that I could use with my class, and find the information or images to utilize. Then it usually took awhile to figure out how to use the web site tools so they would work. Often, embedding each finished product into my blog was time-consuming and frustrating. It was fulfilling once an activity was completed, and a lot of fun to see what other campers were doing to share ideas and comment on their blogs.

I definitely learned a lot of new possibilities to use in my teaching. At this point I will probably utilize some of them as fun, new ways to present lessons. Perhaps as I become more confident using them and am more familiar with the technology use guidelines I will have students try some of them as a way to "show what you know." I've already used a couple of these, such as Tagxedo with my class last year. I am thrilled to have a YouTube channel since I like to share YouTube videos daily with my class on a wide range of topics. I would like to do more screen casting, and use Popplets again. I need more practice using Google Docs; I still much prefer Word and attaching it to emails for peers. The Google Forms and PollEverywhere would also be great to use again. I was disappointed in some of the web programs that din't work well or were expensive to use, such as Museum Box and TimeToast. They would have been great if they were accessible. Most importantly, I gained enough new skills to create a classroom webpage. This is something that I've wanted to do for years, and I am so pleased to finally have one! It was easier than I thought, and I hope that I can stay on top of it throughout the coming school year. Thank you Tech Camp!

Activity 10: Free Choice

I have been working to create a class website that I can use with my class this year. After checking out different options I decided to go with Weebly and I really like it! It provides tutorials, and has simple drag and drop features. There are lots of other features that I can use as I get more comfortable, such as weekly blogs to share our class progress, built in polls, and easy links to connect with other websites. Of course, first I have to finish the site, learn how it can be used, and ask the webmaster to connect it. I think I will be the only one posting, rather than inviting feedback. Please take a look and let me know what you think I can do to make improvements. Thanks!

Mrs. Lundeen's Class Website

Activity 9: Fitness Assessment

These scenarios were good to read as I think about using a class webpage and blog. There's so much to be aware of, and a lot of it is new, unfamiliar turf.

Scenario 1: Collaboration = Harassment
There are definitely ethical and safety/well-being issues involved whenever name calling and racial slurs are involved! It's not clear whether both boys had their accounts suspended, or for how long, yet there obviously need to be consequences. Jeremy's mother objects to his consequences, which complicates, but shouldn't change things. It sounds like there needs to be a meeting with Jeremy, his mother, the teacher, and the principal. They should review the technology use policy form that both student and parent should have signed to reinforce the idea that they understood and agreed to the rules of technology use and the consequences for misuse. Hopefully the principal will stand firm with the suspended account for a set period of time. Then they can all agree on a time for reinstating privileges, as well as predetermining more permanent consequences if there is any further misuse of the tech privileges. This is an excellent reminder to me about making sure that each student completes the technology use agreement before participating, as well as knowing what my end of the agreement includes.

Scenario 6: Course Management Overload
I don't believe that there are ethical or safety/well-being issues caused by the fact that each teacher uses a different class site. I'm also not sure that the parent really has a complaint as much as a concern. I always appreciate parents sharing concerns, even when they seem upset, because it means that they care and are willing to discuss it. I think this is an excellent opportunity for the staff to take this parent's concern and discuss the issue. Perhaps it would be better if the staff did agree on one particular format to use. Perhaps they discuss the options and decide to continue using whichever format works best for them. If that is the case, then I think that it should be clearly stated up front, perhaps at a parent information evening. Teachers could share the reasons for their choice and show parents how it works. I suspect that our tech savvy students can handle multiple formats with different log-ins, and parents can probably adjust with some coaching. This scenario reminds me that I must be aware of the technology use available and in use around me, as well as being sensitive to the ramifications that my technology choices have for students and their families. For now, I would just be happy to know how many of our students even have access to computers and the internet so they can access our school website and on-line grade book.

Activity 8: Polling and Data Gathering

These two forms of polling were fun and easy to use! I did a simple three question google form poll to my third grade team via email about our field trip plans for this year. Hopefully by emailing them directly I will get prompt responses and can see my spread sheet of answers. For my PollEverywhere I did much broader questions about the end of summer, since fall seems to be suddenly hurtling at us. It would be great to use either of these with my class or their parents somehow; perhaps as part of a classroom blog. Please click on the link to take my polls: http://www.polleverywhere.com/survey/BuVADp3xh

Activity 7 : Cloud Computing

Creating a Google Doc was not as easy as I had hoped. My tool bar disappeared and then my doc shrunk so that it practically disappeared. Of course, in the process of getting it to work I learned a lot along the way. I created a field trip permission form for the third grade trip to the Wildlife Science Center that I just scheduled, and shared it with my team for review. I think this is the perfect format for something like our grade level CPMs, but am not yet convinced that this is a better way to do a simple form. I really missed the ease of Word formatting, although it did make more sense as I kept going. Now let's see if I can connect the link to share my efforts.

Wolf Field Trip

Activity 6: Study Tools

I've used Tagxedo with my class this year, so I tried Quizlet and TimeToast instead. I remember working with Quizlet before, but haven't used it with my class. Now that I've played the Quizlet a few times, I think I will go back and redo the word lists into groups of 10 so they are easier for students to work with and master. It's nearly impossible to type in onomatopeia quickly enough on Quizlet. TimeToast and I are having difficulty getting it together right now, so I'll share that once I get it working correctly. I was pretty excited to create a timeline of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life a a tool to discuss his accomplishments and their affect on our country. Still hoping I can make it work, but we shall see... Let the learning continue!

Lenka Comment

I heard the Lenka song on TV last night as an ad for Disney Movies - WOW! Google says that she is Australian singer Lenka Kripac and her "Everything at Once" song that I highlighted on my YouTube channel is being used by both Disney and Windows 8. She must be one very rich and happy singer these days!