Link to my shared Google Reader Folder

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/11730782718147258943

iPads & iPhone and Student Presenations

A Haunting Experience: 2 cents Worth














I give these students a lot of credit! When I was in High School I remember I was terrified when I had to speak in public! This is certainly remarkable to see what students are able to do with technology today. They were able to master the instruments and vocals using iPads and an iPhone and they were confident and successful when they performed in front of their peers. It’s amazing how far we’ve come with incorporating technology into a classroom and how it helps build student confidence. This may be terrifying to us but to the Y generation this task might not be so scary!









After seeing this video i'm trying to brainstorm more ways for my students to incorporate technology like this in my classroom. They've created and posted videos on youtube, but i'd like to learn more about iPads and see what apps are available for Foreign Language instruction.

We may not have enough money in our budget for me to take them on a field trip, but maybe through these technology tools I can take them on a virtual field trip and have them experience a little bit more of culture in a fun modern way!

Here's the link to the students performace in Hong Kong

Srta. Musso's Diigo account

I've posted a link to my Diigo account which has a lot of really good websites and resources about incorporating technology into the classroom. Ideas like:
1) Templates for student projects
2) A N.Y. Times article about Hacking
3) "The Whole Child Blog" about incorporating blogs into the Elementary grades
4) Technology Tips with Elementary students
5) Using an iPad in a classroom
6) Prezi
7) 10 Ways for teachers and students to build websites
8) Wvoices - a really cool world voices resource that incorporates a kind of voice thread into teaching culture and other topics in a foreign language classroom.
9) Everloop and i-Safe launched a school-safe social networking site for students to use in school
10) Student Blogging directions and ideas for the first classroom introduction to blogging

I hope they help!

Social Networking

Alan Levine, Vice President for Community and the C.F.O. for New Media Consortium, made some interesting statements about how to view technology on his video he posted on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzYuFqC9VpA).



Overall he said to "establish networks of colleagues, experiment, play and try new things."

Alan commented on how establishing networks of colleagues in and beyond your field is a great way to have a network of people through which you could ask questions and stay connected about current practices. "We can't know everything," so why not surround ourselves with resources and tools to help us be more efficient and effective?



Alan also commented on how people should keep an open mind when approaching technology. We should put aside things we're comfortable with and try something new. Experiment and play with new things and to constantly try to get something out of what we're trying. It's impossible to become an expert on everything and to constantly be up-to-date with technological advances, but if we're open to dabbling in and trying new things we will continue to grow with technology.



To go along with Alan's encouragement for trying new things I was browsing through the social networking service called "Ning" (http://www.ning.com/ ) and I found a lot of interesting communities of networks I could collaborate with.



1) Teach with Internet: A site used by teachers to share ideas with other teachers, post videos, upload lesson plans, recommend materials, resources and learn from each other.

http://teach-with-internet.ning.com/?xp_search=Spanish+Educators&xp_search_page=3&xp_search_pos=1



2) iPod Teachers: A place for teachers who implement iPod's in the classroom to collaborate.

http://ipodteachers.ning.com/?xp_search=Spanish+Educators&xp_search_page=3&xp_search_pos=3



3) The Interactive Whiteboard Revolution: A place where teachers with whiteboards can collaborate about effective teaching practices.

http://iwbrevolution.ning.com/?xp_search=Spanish+Educators&xp_search_page=1&xp_search_pos=1



4) Hispanic Professional Network: A place where Hispanic Professionals can network about upcoming events, conferences or current events in Hispanic culture or society.

http://network.hispanicpro.com/?xp_search=Spanish+Educators&xp_search_page=1&xp_search_pos=5



5) Dance-tech.net, Interdisciplinary explorations on the performance of motion: A network where the art of dance is discussed, events are posted, and where students can research about different kinds of dances.

http://www.dance-tech.net/?xp_search=Spanish+Educators&xp_search_page=1&xp_search_pos=7



These are just some of the social networks that I found while exploring Ning. There can be tremendous value from establishing a core social community of professionals. The first step to becoming more technology savvy is taking a risk and not being afraid to try something new!

A learner today s like a Scrolling Social News [Media] Ticker

A learner today is like a... Scrolling Social News [Media] Ticker.

"George Siemens’ learning theory of Connectivism is often cited by educators who are using the Internet for purposes of teaching and learning. He and Stephen Downes share a new perspective on learning in today’s world" (Maryanne Burgos, Ph.D., 2011).

"Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age" by George Siemens

http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm

I recently read an interesting article by George Siemens regarding Connectivism and how it effects modern learners. Within his article George Siemens defines learning, the half-life of knowledge, behaviorism and cognitivism, among other things to express the effects of technology on theories of learning.


"The 'half-life of knowledge' is the time span from when knowledge is gained to when it becomes obsolete. Half of what is known today was not known 10 years ago. The amount of knowledge in the world has doubled in the past 10 years and is doubling every 18 months according to the American Society of Training and Documentation (ASTD). To combat the shrinking half-life of knowledge, organizations have been forced to develop new methods of deploying instruction."


As mentioned in previous posts, I believe educators need to implement technology into the curriculum and educate students on how it can be a valuable tool to gain and share knowledge and a rapid pace. I agree with Mr. Siemens, "formal education no longer comprises the majority of our learning. Learning now occurs in a varety of ways - through communies of practice, personal neworks, and through completion of work-related tasks."

Mr. Siemens includes various quotes throughout his article from Driscoll, including Driscoll's concise definition of learning: "a persisting change in human performance potential...[which] must come about as a result of the learner's experience and interaction with the world." I agree with Siemens that Driscoll's definition includes aspects of various theories on learning - behaviorism, cogitivism, and constructivism. Learning is a constantly changing state developed and impacted by the experiences and interactions that a learner is presented. Learners are more likely to retain knowledge if they are able to create a personal connection or if it is something that is meaningful to them. Technology presents educators with a valuable tool inwhich we are able to create more meaningful lessons and through which students are able to express their personal opinions and reflections on global affairs.

George Siemens Video "The Impact of Social Media on Learning" (3:18 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grI_h88vs3g&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=3

I believe a learner today is like a Scrolling Social News [Media] Ticker because learning is and always should be a continual process, lasting for a lifetime. As seen on news channels around the world important updates are connstantly made to the news tickers on the bottom of the television screen. What was new news a few minutes, hours, days, ..etc. ago can be old news in a momment. Also as mentioned through George Siemens' video on "The Impact of Social Media on Learning" "Our learning today is one of forming networks with each other so our tools enable that effortlessly in a way thats is very human to us...most of us enjoy dialogue, conversations, we are social beings." Social media and modern technology gives us as well as our students a way in which we can develop our knowledge and thoughts regarding something we've never encountered with just a click of a mouse.

George Siemans also quoted Vygotski in his video: "Words really give life to our thoughts." Without language you can't have thought. Thoughts a internalzed conversations and you can't have conversations wthout words.

References

Driscoll, M. (2000). Psychology of Learning for Instruction. Needham Heights, MA, Allyn & Bacon.


Siemens, G. (2005, January). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, Retrieved November 20, 2005



Siemens, G. The Impact of Social Media on Learning (3:18 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grI_h88vs3g&feature=PlayList&p=3E43054A8703F57A&index=3
Retrieved January10, 2009. The Network is the Learning (3:14 minutes)

Interesting article from The New York Times

From The New York Times: "Twitter Can’t Save You"

A technology skeptic argues there is nothing inherently liberating about social networking. Indeed, the opposite may be true.

http://nyti.ms/eDymtL

Just another interesting viewpoint on the future of the Internet and Social Media networks.

It's here and right now! Social Media Revolution

At first glance the "Social Media Revolution 2" video is very bright, fast paced, and has funky and energizing music in the background. Who was this advertisement targeted for? Me, you, teenagers, or anyone?

There are very powerful statements made throughout the video regarding social media and its popularity and place in our modern culture.

Here is some food for thought from the statements made throughout the video:

• "Is Social Media a Fad? Or the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?"
• "Social Media has overtaken pornography as the #1 activity on the web."
• "Facebook added over 200 million users in less than a year."
• "U.S. Department of Education study revealed that online students out performed those receiving face to face instruction..."
• "80% of companies use social media for recruitment."

"We don't have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we Do it."

- Erik Qualman

This video (advertisement) effectively shows how our culture is being impacted by social media and how this isn't just a new fad...it will be around for a while! It's a very powerful resource for students, teachers, and anyone out there. Students now have access to a profound amount of knowledge at their fingertips.

But, my question is are they (students) using this technology to access knowledge? Or is this just a way for them to build their social network and talk about their lives?

As an educator, I see the true value behind incorporating technology into curriculum; it can be an amazing tool to link students to the rest of the world and experience other cultures. They can learn ways to communicate with other cultures, to do research, etc. It can also form a way for them to analyze and interpret news articles, translations, cultural topics etc. prior to entering the classroom. They can work on an assignment and form personal opinions while also reading their classmates opinions, which hopefully would lead to powerful classroom discussions. It would be a great tool to help the soft spoken students excel and develop a voice. Students who aren't as outspoken as their peers would take more time to express their opinions prior to posting a blog about an assignment.

On the other hand are students using this new technology as a means to leap onto the band wagon and create a heightened sense of self importance and social networking?

I-pad, I-pod, MySpace, ...etc. it's all about ME! Yes this technology has stimulated a craze in communication and expression of opinions, but opinions aren't facts! Do they know that? Some Internet savvy speakers post about all different kinds of topics, but is there substance and fact behind their statements? Not always. As an educator, when I incorporate technology into my curriculum, I have to educate my students on the positives and negatives behind the information they encounter on the Internet. I would use the Internet as a tool for them to learn how to decipher the creditability of what they are reading or looking at. I would want my students to choose their words wisely and make statements that count, statements that are thoughtful and supported by facts.

"Social Media isn't a fad, it's a fundamental shift in the way we communicate."

It's "our" culture but I feel like it's being run by something bigger, it's being created by modern day technology. Ready or not, here it is!

It's up to us to find a way to use it as an effective professional tool and to find a way to still stimulate thoughtful personal interactions.