The end of another term, and a final "I4Ed" post

The end of another term is upon us, and that means the end of "Internet for Educators," blog posts. But I plan to continue blogging as I have found that I really enjoy it. It's a great way to track my learning and share it with others. So as I am inspired with new knowledge, I plan to keep up with this blog in the future. :) I have really enjoyed the I4Ed course and am thankful for all the connections I have made. It felt great to be pushed out of my comfort zone in the world of technology. Although it was difficult figuring out some things in the beginning, I now see the benefits of all that was accomplished in this course.

Thank you Mike Nantais, guest speakers, and fellow classmates for a being a part of this great learning experience. I have attached my final project for the term in the link below. It is a review of some of the many things I have learned in this course. ~T

Summative Project

Infographics....Information visually displayed using graphics?

6 Emerging Technologies in Education Infographic

After researching and looking at infographics, I found this one on the 6 Emerging Technologies in Education. <--- My last post happened to be on this topic and I must say that the same information presented in this way is so much more visually appealing than the super long blog I wrote about it. There in-lies the purpose of infographs: To provide a visual representation of information in a quick, clear and visually appealing manner.

Infographics could be very useful in the classroom. When teaching information that may be difficult to understand, infographics provide a visual component to make understanding easier. Although infographics are time consuming to make, once you have made them you have them forever and can share them with others.

The infographic that I made was on "The life of a hashtag." The hashtag I chose to use is the one that we have been using in this course: I4Ed. --->

Conclusion: +Tyler Letkeman wooped us. Thanks for tweeting Tyler! ~T

What's next? What does the future hold for education?

The field of education is one that is continuously evolving, growing, changing, moving forward etc.,... Bottom line: It is very dynamic! When looking ahead to the future of education, we should continue to expect change. This is one of the things I love about my future career! I love learning new things and know that I will always be challenged to learn and grow as an educator in this field. I could not be more excited about the knowledge I will obtain in my teaching years and pass on to my students.

Education has been a dynamic field before the introduction of technology in the classroom. However, technology has expanded education and created a great deal of change in the classroom in a short period of time.  Allow me to use my K-12 education as an example. When I first started school, teachers used blackboards, then upgraded to white boards, and now it is rare to find a classroom that does not have an interactive Smart Board.  I should also mention that there was no access to computers in my early years classroom, which then gave way to having a few of the huge dinosaur (and very slow) computers in my middle years classroom (which we used for the sole purpose of improving our typing skills). Flash forward to classrooms today and you will find IPads, IPhones, IPods, netbooks and laptops available for students use. Does anyone else remember those awful overhead projection machines that were impossible to see around, or the sound of the TV stand wheels coming down the hallway to enter your class so you could watch a video? I’m not sad at all that those days are gone. 

It is clear that with technology education has already come very far. But what is next? What does the future hold for education? After reading the K-12 Horizon Report, I think it is safe to say that emerging technologies will continue to have a great impact on the education field. So what can we expect for the future? The K-12 Horizon Report names 6 technologies to watch for.

The first is Cloud Computing: “The emergence of very large “data farms” — specialized data centers that host thousands of servers — has created a surplus of computing resources that has come to be called the cloud. Growing out of research in grid computing, cloud computing transforms once-expensive resources like disk storage and processing cycles into a readily available, cheap commodity. Development platforms layered onto the cloud infrastructure enable thin client, web-based applications for image editing, word processing, social networking, and media creation” (Johnson, L.,Adams,S.,and Haywood,K., p.10).

The second is Mobiles. “It is no arbitrary decision that the statistical point of comparison is between new lives and mobiles; the next generation of students will inevitably be armed with smarter mobiles at younger ages. Perhaps even more important for education is that Gartner Research projects Internet-capable mobile devices will outnumber PCs by 2013. In Japan, over 75% of Internet users already use a mobile as their first choice for access. This shift in the means of connecting to the Internet is being enabled by the convergence of three trends: the growing number of Internet-capable mobile devices, increasingly flexible web content, and continued development of the networks that support connectivity” (Johnson, L., Adams, S., and Haywood, K., p. 14).

The third is Game-Based Learning. “Developers and researchers are working in every area of game-based learning, including games that are goal-oriented; social game environments; non-digital games that are easy to construct and play; games developed expressly for education; and commercial games that lend themselves to refining team and group skills. Role-playing, collaborative problem solving, and other forms of simulated experiences are recognized for having broad applicability across a wide range of disciplines” (Johnson, L., Adams, S., and Haywood, K., p. 18).

The fourth is Open Content. “The movement toward open content reflects a growing shift in the way academics in many parts of the world are conceptualizing education to a view that is more about the process of learning than the information conveyed in their courses. Information is everywhere; the challenge is to make effective use of it. Open content embraces not only the sharing of information, but the sharing of instructional practice and experiences as well. Part of the appeal of open content is that it is also a response to both the rising costs of traditionally published resources and the lack of educational resources in some regions. It presents a cost-effective alternative to textbooks and other materials” (Johnson, L., Adams, S., and Haywood, K., p.22).

The fifth is Learning Analytics. “Learning analytics refers to the interpretation of a wide range of data produced by and gathered on behalf of students in order to assess academic progress, predict future performance, and spot potential issues. Data are collected from explicit student actions, such as completing assignments and taking exams, and from tacit actions, including online social interactions, extracurricular activities, posts on discussion forums, and other activities that are not directly assessed as part of the student’s educational progress. The goal of learning analytics is to enable teachers and schools to tailor educational opportunities to each student’s level of need and ability. Learning analytics promises to harness the power of advances in data mining, interpretation, and modeling to improve understandings of teaching and learning, and to tailor education to individual students more effectively” (Johnson, L., Adams, S., and Haywood, K., p. 26).

The sixth is Personal Learning Environments. “Personal learning environments (PLEs) are often described as systems for enabling self-directed and group-based learning, designed around each user’s goals, with great capacity for flexibility and customization. PLEs are conceived as drawing on a variety of discrete tools, chosen by the learner, which can be connected or used in concert in a transparent way. While the concept of PLEs is still quite fluid, it does seem to be clear that a PLE is not simply a technology but an approach or process that is individualized by design, and thus different from person to person”(Johnson, L., Adams, S., and Haywood, K., p. 30).

These six technologies to watch for are listed in order of expected chronological emergence. Some schools are already embracing cloud computing and mobiles. Schools are moving in the direction of having a “Bring your own device,” policy for their classrooms. I found reading the K-12 Horizon Report to be very beneficial. The more knowledge you have about upcoming changes, the more you can prepare yourself to be ready for them. If you are interested in reading this report and learning more about these six emerging technologies and the future of education, you can find it here: K-12 Horizon Report. Happy Reading! ~T

Johnson, L.,Adams,S.,andHaywood,K.,(2011).TheNMC Horizon Report: 2011 K-12 Edition.Austin,Texas:TheNew MediaConsortium.

Our turn to speak: Group Presentation Week!

This past week in I4Ed we did not have a speaker. Instead, we were given the opportunity to work in groups and research a current internet topic in education, and present our findings to the class. First, I must say that I really enjoyed each of the presentations. They were all informative and everyone did a great job!

My group was the first to present. Our topic was on “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD). Schools are starting to movie in this direction and we were interested in learning more about it. We researched the different devices available for student use (there are many), the statistics around BYOD, the variety of available apps that could be used in a BYOD classroom (again...there are many), the policies for BYOD and the benefits and risks of BYOD. To view all of the information we found, please see our presentation!

The second group to present talked about, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the internet." The Good: The internet provides students and teachers with quick access to information, and the ability to contact and network with people all over the world. The internet allows teachers to bring the world into their classrooms, and not to mention the millions of resources available to teachers and students online. The Bad: The internet is a great tool... unless it used inappropriately. It is much easier for students to plagiarize today with a simple “copy and paste,” off the internet. Teachers need to be extra cautious of this. The internet also provides students with the opportunity to post any words or pictures online. Young people do not always use their discretion when posting and do not realize the consequences of their online actions. This can get them into trouble. The internet has also formed a new and easy way for bullying to take place. Cyber bullying is another issue  teachers should be aware of and on the lookout for. Lastly, there is credible and non-credible information available on the internet. Teachers need to warn students about non-credible information and teach them how to distinguish it from credible information. The Ugly: The ugly side of the internet includes things like cyber harassment/ bullying, black mailers/predators, and job losses due to inappropriate digital footprints. This last point is so important. As educators, we need to inform our students that their online actions can stay with them for life. Future employers are likely to Google candidates to see if they are right for the job. It’s important to think before your post. To see this groups presentation: click here.

The third groups presentation was called, “How not to steal from the internet.” This was a very informative presentation. I realized how I unknowingly have been guilty of stealing from the internet by not attributing a picture that I used to its owner, or the same with videos, etc. Although I have been lucky so far, the consequences for these actions could be great. So as a teacher, we need to warn and educate our students about how not to steal from the internet. One of the best ways to do this is through modelling. Attribute all of your pictures and videos etc., in your presentations to the class, and educate and expect the same from your students.  To see the website that this group made, visit this website.

The fourth group also had an interesting topic on “Internet Filters.” Internet filters serve a great purpose. They prevent inappropriate online behavior, and monitor and protect students from inappropriate content. However, this group brought up the point that sites that can be a great learning resource are unfortunately also blocked to meet these goals. For example, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest, just to name a few, are often blocked from both student and teachers use. The connections and resources available from these sites are endless and it’s a shame that students and teachers are unable to access them. For more information about internet filters,check out this website.

The last group had a very entertaining and unique presentation on "Cyber Bullying." This group made their own video to portray the way that the media blows up the issue of cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is a serious issue, however research shows that it is the least common form of bullying. So why does it get so much attention? The media! It’s important for educators and everyone to look at the facts. If cyber bullying is the least common form of bullying, let’s find out what the most common form is and focus on that. To check out this video, visit this link.

With one week of class remaining, I have learned so much from our presenters outside of BU, and the presenters’ right inside our classroom. Great job everyone! ~T

App Show and Tell!

Did you know that there is an App for Edmodo?!!

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If you aren't familiar with Edmodo, it is a free website that provides an easy and safe way for teachers to connect with students and students to connect with each other. The layout of the website is very user friendly and resembles the layout of Facebook. Edmodo provides teachers with a way to engage students, connect to resources, measure student progress, and personalize with apps. To learn more about Edmodo or sign-up, click on this link.

Edmodo is a communication tool that I really like and plan to use with students when I have my own class. It is an even more attractive communication tool now that I know that there is an app for it, which makes communicating with students and teachers easier than ever!  Have fun exploring Edmodo! ~T

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Online Video in the Classroom!

Watching videos in class has changed drastically over the years. Gone are the days when students anticipated the sound of the squeaky TV stand wheels entering their classroom. Those big, fat, and heavy TV's seem like dinosaurs compared to the new slim and sleek ones that entertain and educate us today. However, students often don't even watch videos on TV's anymore period. Instead, videos are uploaded online for students to watch and are displayed by projectors onto white boards. Projectors and white boards... terms that were never even heard of in the day of the dinosaur TV.

As educators, we are extremely lucky that technology advances have provided us with endless viewing opportunities to supplement our teaching in the classroom. Videos provide a great way to engage students in what they're learning, and help aid visual learners. Before taking the I4Ed course, I assumed the only source of videos for teachers was YouTube, a sight that some schools have banned due to inappropriate use by students, and inappropriate commercials and adds. Luckily, teachers can also access videos through TEDEd,Vimeo, and iTunesU... sites that I just checked out for the first time and am certain to get a lot of  use of in the future.

The first video I found is on Vimeo, and it provides a comical way to introduce "Oxygen," and how this element interacts with other elements. I really enjoyed watching it and have no doubt that students will enjoy it to. This video could be used by educators who teach science or chemistry. Oxygen Video

The second video I found is on TEDEd and is called, "How we see colour." This informational video could be used by educators who teach health, science or biology to help students visually understand how we see colour... something that would be hard to do without a video.

I wish that I had known about these online video resources in my first student teaching placement. However, I look forward to utilizing them in my second placement, coming up soon (March 11th)!  I also think that having student create a video about a topic that they have learned is a great way to bring technology into the classroom. We could then share our video online so that other students could learn from it. As I have said, the possibilities with technology are endless. :)~T

K-12 Greatest Hits... A Great Podcast for educators!

Podcasts Galore!
Wow! I have to say I am shocked at the endless amount of educational podcasts that are available and free for teachers to listen to! I am so excited about discovering this new way to learn and grow as a future educator. I like to read, but as a University student I certainly get my fill of books and articles etc., so listening to educational information and ideas is very refreshing! I love how you can choose topics that interest you and within a span of 5 to 10 minutes you gain a great deal of new knowledge about that topic. Educational podcasts provide a quick and easy way for teachers to stay informed about current issues in their field. I came across the K-12 Greatest hits podcast and listened to the segments, "Is homework dead?" and "Keeping up with the pace of education technology."

Is homework dead?
The first podcast, "Is homework dead," interested me because teachers have ALWAYS handed out homework. That's just the way it has always been, so it interested me that this podcast would address this topic. I was surprised to find out that research and studies have proven that homework does not contribute to student learning. A point that was brought up about math homework comes to mind. Personally, I have found that repetition of questions helped me understand math when I was a student. So, when I was out student teaching for the first time I had a tendency to give my students extra math questions that they could take home to work on after teaching a new lesson. However, the point that was made addressed the issue that when students are at home doing homework they do not always have someone to correct them when they are answering questions incorrectly. Students end up practicing their math problems the wrong way and it can be difficult for teachers to get them back on track. I hadn't thought of it this way before. In the future I will adjust this by still offering students practice sheets, but I will not make them mandatory. Another problem with homework is students copying from one another. When homework is made mandatory this can happen quite often and is very counterproductive. When this is happening what are we ultimately teaching students? As a current student and future teacher I am quite aware of the time constraints on students and so I am conscious about  not giving out a ton of homework. I will continue to be conscious of this and only give it out when it is absolutely necessary and after I have given students time to complete their work in class. By cutting out homework, students will have time at home to learn about things that they are interested in and have some much needed downtime. It is important for schools to talk about their homework policies. Just because teachers have always given homework in the past does not mean that we should continue to do so...especially if research does not support it.

Keeping up with the pace of education technology
The second podcast, "Keeping up with the pace of education technology," was also very informative and related well with our I4Ed class. This podcast started off stating that many teachers feel scared and overwhelmed by the fast pace of technology. I sometimes feel this way and am grateful to be a part of a course (I4Ed) that pushes me to use and explore technology in a variety of ways that I'm not sure I would have otherwise (like using podcasts for example). I realize the importance of staying current with technology as it can provide so many benefits to teaching and learning. This podcast offered some tips for teachers with regards to using technology. The first tip which I really like and agree with is to ask yourself, "Is it necessary to keep up with and use everything?" There are so many options for teachers through social networking, bookmarking, blogs and podcasts to follow, etc. Teachers already have many time constraints so it is important for us to determine what works best for us and our students. We don't have to be a part of EVERY bookmarking and social networking site. Another tip offered  was to find a partner that you can explore technology with and work together. It's important for teachers to support each other to keep up with technology. Other tips included setting up a blog (check), joining twitter and following other educators (check) and utilizing this information packed website: www.edutopia.org.

It is obvious by the length of this post that I have already learned a great deal from listening to only two podcasts. I look forward to continue my learning in this way and encourage you to check out the K-12 Greatest Hits podcast! ~T

Web-based courses with Donald Girouard and Sophia Palahicky

In class today we were visited by two presenters, Donald Girouard and Sophia Palahicky. Donald and Sophia came to share information with us about Web-based courses offered in the Manitoba educational system. Previous to their presentation, I thought of web-based learning as simply taking an online course. However, Donald and Sophia shared that there are actually 4 ways to use web-based learning, which include: 1) As a teacher resource 2) With a face-to-face class, 3) With actual distance learners, 4) As part of blended learning environments. The last one, a blended learning environment, involves using a variety of instructional approaches, which can include face-to-face teaching, HTV or Web Conferencing, Web-Based course options, teacher mediated options, and independent study options. Donald and Sophia suggest that the best instructional models use blended approaches.

So what are the reasons for taking courses online? One of the biggest reasons we talked about was the limited variety of course option available in rural school divisions. In a small town where only 2 students wish to take Physics, the course is likely to be cut. Web-based courses solve this problem and helps small town’s support their students’ educational goals.  Another reason we discussed which I think would be very beneficial for high school students is Credit Recovery.  Students who fail a course are given the option of credit recovery through web-based courses, whereby the student completes units/topics that they struggled with and does not have to re-do units that they were already successful in. Web-based courses also benefit students by offering them alternative methods of learning and earning credits, resolving timetable issues and preparing students for lifelong learning.

A question/concern that Sophia and Donald have heard from teachers about Manitoba’s web-based courses is that online learning will take away teachers jobs. Sophia and Donald assured us that this will not happen. Manitoba Education developed web-based courses to be mediated by teachers, to support teachers and school, to support learners, to assure congruence with the curriculum, and to model good pedagogy for e-Learning and in assessment strategies. So we future teachers need not worry.  With 46 web-based courses currently available, this is sure to be a great resource for educators and students. To see the list of Web-based courses available, click on this link. A big thank you to Donald and Sophia for visiting our class today. ~T

Digital Footprint...

In social media, a digital footprint is the size of a person's "online presence" measured by the number of individuals with whom they interact. -Definition Link

Before I4Ed, I never really thought too much about my digital footprint. However, I've always been conscious about portraying a positive message/image when posting online. I am a fairly private person and only share things about myself that I think my friends and family would be interested in hearing about.

So, when I Google searched myself to check what my digital footprint says about me, I was not surprised when little came up. If you Google search my name (with Brandon, MB beside it), you will be able to find out that I graduated from Elton Collegiate in 2008, and am a Brandon University student. You will see that I have a Facebook account which you will not be able to access because of my privacy settings. You will also see that I have a personal and professional Twitter account. My personal account followers must be approved, however my professional account is open for anyone to see. Lastly, you will be able to read my limited profile on Google+ and there is an image of me that will take you to this blog if you click on it.

After searching myself I am reminded of George Couros telling our class that employers will be searching us to. Although they will not find any "skeletons in my closet," I would like them to find more of my professional ideas and contributions.  Luckily I still have a year to add to my digital footprint! ~T

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Extra thought: The task of exploring digital footprints would also be very beneficial for our students, who often do not realize the lasting impacts of their online actions.

The internet provides everyone with a voice

In class yesterday, Mike Nantais asked us to address two questions. The first question he asked was whether we thought that the internet gives everyone a voice or whether it oppresses peoples' voice. The second question he asked was whether or not we would incorporate social media into our classroom.

Although there was some debate among classmates, my answer to the first question is a firm yes! I agree with arguments that there are certain cases when videos or posts or removed from the internet, or people are denied access to the internet. Unfortunately in these cases, voices are definitely oppressed.  However these cases do not compare to the amount of people who are freely able to express themselves online each and every day. Everyone has the opportunity to share with the world. We can use so many avenues to share our voice. We can share photos through Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr,  and Tumblr, we can share videos through YouTube and Vimeo, we can write our thoughts on blogs and personal websites,  and we can connect with others through facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. These are only a few of the ways that we can express our voices with the world. The internet not only provides people with a voice, but it can provide animals and our environment with a voice to, who otherwise would never be heard.. This video is a great (but also disturbing) example of how we can use the internet to raise awareness about the effects of pollution to both animals and our world:

In response to the second question, yes I would absolutely incorporate social media into my classroom. It's important for teachers to stay current and part of that is accepting that social media is a huge part of our students lives. Teachers have the opportunity to show students how to engage in social media in a safe way. In class it was discussed that many students are not even aware that they can modify their privacy options for their accounts, in order to stay safe online. By incorporating social media into the classroom you can help students to build safe learning networks and make connections outside of their class which will only enhance their education.

I look forward to helping my students discover and share their voice with their classmates and the world when I begin my teaching career.

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"WHY are you using technology in your classroom?" ~ Clarence Fisher

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Last week our I4Ed class was able to have a quick Skype visit with Clarence Fisher, a teacher who works in the small northern community of Snow Lake. Clarence posed many great points in a small amount of time, however, what struck me the most was this question: "Why are you using technology in your classroom?"

Clarence told us that it is not enough to simply bring technology into the classroom because it can liven up our lesson plans and make our classes more interesting...although these are still great uses. However, we have once again been hit with the idea that there is so much more that we can do with technology through sharing. Through sharing, Clarence has given his students the opportunity to make global connections and build networks with students all over the world.

"Our job as teachers is to help kids have a network of their own that they work within, whether that’s kids in their classroom, or kids on the other side of the world. The learning that occurs in the classroom is only as strong as the network it learns within." ~ Clarence Fisher

In order for teachers to help their students build connections and networks, teachers must be well connected. Infusing students with global perspectives from classrooms around the world is a much better purpose for technology in the classroom than just "making it interesting." How will you make sure that you are using the internet to its fullest potential in your classroom? ~ T

To learn more from Clarene, follow him on Twitter: @glassbeed

 Or Check out his blog

Grading Girl

A task for my Internet for Educators course is to follow an edublogger. After searching various edubloggers, I came across  Grading Girl. I have been following her for a few weeks now and have enjoyed reading her blog and following her on twitter and pinterest. I chose to follow grading girl after  realizing our many educational and personal similarities. 

Grading girl is passionate about reading and literacy, which is something I am also very passionate about. She is a high school National Board Certified English teacher in Chicago, IL. She has a Masters in Secondary Education and Educational Leadership along with endorsements in speech and reading. She also serves as a coordinator for her school's Literacy Coach Mentor Program. I admire her accomplishments and am confident that I can learn a lot from her with regards to literacy.

Grading girl is also passionate about fitness and nutrition. She hopes to pursue a career in personal training when she retires from teaching. Fitness and nutrition is also a passion of mine. Before I started my education degree I was a personal trainer for 3 years. I really enjoyed working with clients on achieving their fitness goals, but aspired to also help students reach their educational goals. Grading girl and I have similar passions, we are simply accomplishing them in a different order.

Grading girl's blog is full of useful resources, which include a variety of lessons, mini-lessons, essays and extra-credit assignments. The resources on her blog do not even compare to the 2,955 resources she has saved on pinterest. It would take me a solid day just to look through them all. However, they are sorted into specific categories, which makes it easy for me to access resources on the topics I need. Grading girl also has many personal reviews on her blog. You can find her "grade" on a number of things from restaurants, to movies, to educational resources and fashion. Another part of grading girl's blog that I really enjoy is her "School's Out" section. This section includes a great variety of exercise and nutrition tips, and includes some great healthy recipes.

I am super excited to have found an edublogger who shares the same interests as me and hope to connect and share with her in the future. If you are also interested in following Grading girl, you can find her blog on the link posted above, follow her on twitter: @GradingGirl, or follow her on pinterest (I highly recommend this): Grading Girl. Until next time! - T

"It's not about impacting your classroom; it's about impacting your school."-George Couros

Our “Internet for Educators,” class was fortunate to be able to Skype with George Couros yesterday afternoon. George made many valuable points, through which I saw a main theme emerge....care. After reflecting on his words, I think his message boils down to how much teachers care about their school and their students. I have no question that he truly cares about his. Teacher’s who truly care about their students, will have no problem taking the following tips from George and putting them into practice.

Tips from George Couros:

1

           Use the internet to build relationships with students.

George is the first speaker that we have had who has addressed not only how we can use technology for educational purposes, but also for enhancing our relationships with students. There are so many ways that we can use the internet to show our students that we care about them individually.

 Connect with students first, teach content second.

How can we expect to meet the needs of our students without first getting to know them? Spending time to get to know our students interests, strengths and weaknesses, and telling them about some of ours is a great way to connect with students. Once you have built a trusting and respectful relationship with your students, teaching them becomes so much easier and effective.

 Have a growth mindset.

I love the education field because I know that I will never stop growing and learning as a teacher. George reminded us to always look for ways in which we can improve. Teachers have the opportunity to attend many professional development sessions throughout their careers to help them in this area. However, the internet and the connections and conversations we have with fellow educators also provide great opportunities to grow and learn, so long as we seek out these opportunities. To quote George, “You do not need to be an expert teacher, but an expert learner.”

 Focus on character education.

An educator’s role involves much more than teaching the curriculum. George challenged us, saying, “How are you working with students to make them better people?” I think that this is so important. As teacher’s we have many opportunities to instill good morals and values into our students through every day trials and triumphs. The best way that we can build good character into our students is by modelling it for them every day. We must be aware that as teacher’s we are also role models and our students are always watching.

  Remember that passion is infectious.

George told us that, “The trick for teachers is to get kids passionate about what they’re teaching...to go above and beyond.” The best way to get students passionate about what you’re teaching them is if YOU are passionate about what you’re teaching them. Students can tell when teachers really believe in the importance of what they’re teaching. If teachers believe this, so will students. Passion is infectious.

Engage your students.

Engaging your students means catching their attention and interest in what you’re about to teach. If you plan on teaching a lesson about frogs, show them an intriguing video, tell them a funny story, or bring a guest frog into your class for the day. These are ways to get your student to want to learn what you’re about to teach and be engaged throughout your lesson. George challenged us yet again, asking, “Would you want to sit in your classroom?” This is a great question to keep in mind when lesson planning. I think the bets learning takes place when learning is fun.

 Have strong communication skills.

George also talked to us about the importance of having strong communication skills, with regard to parents. For example, there are times when it is appropriate to e-mail a parent and times when a phone call is a better option. He told us to NEVER e-mail a parent when there is a problem with their child at school, as e-mails can be easily misconstrued.

When George has a problem with a student, he first asks them: “Why are you here?” He said if you tell them why they are in trouble, they will likely just tune you out.  He then asks the child, “What would you do if you were me?” The child will usually respond with a consequence that is much worse than he himself would. After that, he and the child call home together to tell the parents about the situation, to ensure that the truth goes home from both the teacher and child at the same time. He also makes sure that he builds the child up and lets the parent know that he cares about their child.

After our skype session with George yesterday, I went to my Lighthouse after-school program and ended up having a problem with a student. The student continuously had trouble keeping his hands to himself. I used the strategy that George told us about and it worked great! The child thought his consequence should be to get kicked out of the program! I let the child know that we enjoyed having him at Lighthouse and he agreed to keep his hands to himself for the rest of our time together. I will definitely keep using this strategy at Lighthouse and in my teaching. I will also keep in mind this quote from George: “Our job is not to give consequences, but to help students do better in the future.”

 Be a SCHOOL teacher, not just a CLASSROOM teacher.

George also talked to us about the difference between being a “school” teacher, vs. a “classroom,” teacher. The best teacher’s are the ones that enrich their entire school, not just their classrooms. It is our job to build relationships with all of the kids at our school. Some ways that we can do this is by coaching other grades in sports, playing intramurals with other grades, making a point of getting to know other students when you are out on duty or simply walking through the halls. I think this is such an important concept. If all teachers thought this way, it would improve so many schools. I like the idea of already knowing all my students names before they enter my class on the first day of school, because I have already been working to build relationships with them. Although all of George’s tips were greatly appreciated, this one was my favorite and something I had not thought of before.

I look forward to putting these principles into practice when I am teaching.

You can follow George on twitter: @gcourous

Twitter

A requirement for our "Internet for educator," class is to set up a twitter account. I already had a personal account (@AgiusTiffany), but I thought this would be a good time to start a professional account (@missTA24). After having my professional account for about 2 weeks I am already making connections with many fellow classmates and educators. I am also realizing more the importance of the #hashtag as a great professional  search tool. -T

Coffee and Conversation with John Finch

This afternoon, our "Internet for Educators," class was able to have a sit down chat with John Finch in the flesh! Up until now, we have only been able to see or hear our presenters through our computer screens, so John's visit to Brandon University was really nice. John's presentation also differed from others, in that he did not talk as much about the many uses educators have for the internet. Instead, he talked about some of the current "hot topics" in the education field, that involve the use of the internet.

The first topic he addressed was cyber-bullying  He said if you were to ask most educators, or even just people, they would tell you that this is a huge issue right now. If you were to ask me, I would probably agree with that. The reason for this is the media. Cyber-bullying gets a tone of media attention. Unfortunately, most everyone recognizes the name, "Amanda Todd," as the girl who lost her life due to cyber-bullying  which John pointed out was not actually a case of cyber-bullying  but blackmail. Soon people will recognize "Brandon," as a community where students have been arrested for cyber-bullying  It is easy to see why people's perceptions of cyber-bullying are that it is rampant and must be stopped. However, data collected from a student survey called the "Tell them for me survey," shows that cyber-bullying is not rampant at all. This survey measured 4 different types of bullying, and the results showed that cyber-bullying had the smallest percentage (8-12%). The reality is that bullying takes place every day, in many forms... all of which need to be stopped. Physical bullying came in at 25%. Should we not then spend more of our efforts on physical bullying then on cyber-bullying? This survey just shows the importance of collecting data so that as educators, we know where to focus our efforts and where our big problems (or strengths) lye.

John also talked to our class about the importance of having conformed consent from parents before publishing student's work or pictures online. This went without saying for me, but John brought up another point about this that I hadn't realized. He told us that the moment our students create something, they own the copyright. It is against the law to share their work without conformed consent from not only the student, but also from the parents. He also mentioned that even with this consent, it is always a good idea to cover your bases and let parents and school administration know ahead of time about your online activities, to avoid any unnecessary problems.

The last few presenters have left us with the message to "share, share, share." I think it was really important for us to hear John's message about how to share safely. Before we click the "share" button it is important to know what we are getting into, involving the rights and agreements with the sites we are using, and making sure that we are protecting our students before publishing anything online. If teachers are not careful about this, the results could be devastating for them and their students. - T

21st Century Connected Students

21st century students have more connections than any previous generation. With devices such as laptops, smartphones, IPad's etc., students can retrieve data and connect with family, peers and anyone in the world at anytime and anywhere. The world is literally at their fingertips. There's a great difference between today's generation of young students compared to when I was in school. When I was in elementary school, a typical classroom did not have devices such as laptops, netbooks, SmartBoards and IPad's for use of research projects etc. We simply used the good old dictionary, encyclopedias and books... we made sure the librarian was our best friend. Students and teachers are very fortunate to have such quick access to information today. Above is a display of my interpretation of a 21st century connected learner.

My PLN... On my way to becoming a well connected educator!

After creating my PLN, I realize the many different uses I have for the internet and feel that I have made a good start at being a well connected educator. However, I know that there is still a lot of room for growth in this area. I look forward to making more connections and adding to my PLN with fellow classmates in our, "Internet for Educators," course. To create my PLN I used: http://www.bubbl.us

Thoughts from Dr. Alec Couros's Presentation

"The world doesn't care about what you know, it cares about what you can do with what you know."

-Tony Wagner

Dr. Alec Couros shared this Tony Wagner quote with us yesterday, during his skype visit to our "internet for educators" class.  He shared many great quotes with us, but this one struck me the most. I guess I always thought that it was enough just to know the subject material which you teach, and present it in a way that students will understand and be interested in learning about. 

I still think its important for teachers to do that, but Alec's presentation made me realize that there is so much more we can do with "what we know" through the internet. With a simple click of the "share" button, teachers and students can reap benefits of sharing their knowledge and experiences with the world. These benefits may not just come from outside influences. Dr. Alec talked to us about the difference in motivation of publishing for your class and publishing for the world. Through this increase in motivation, teacher's start to see their students' best work and students' can realize their full potential. 

It is no longer enough to do powerful work if no one sees it."

-Chris Lehmann

This quote by Chris Lehmann is another powerful one that Alec shared with us. After hearing his presentation, I can say that he has given me a fresh perspective about using technology in the classroom. I used to think about what I could get from the internet, but now I realize that by sharing on the internet, you can reap so much more. Like the old saying, "You reap what you sow."- This is my new motto for technology in the classroom and I'm really excited about it. 

Reinventing the wheel....

Teachers have a long list of tasks, from classroom management, formative and summative grading, communicating with staff and parents, attending meetings, coaching a team or two, and the list continues. So it is safe to say that our time is extremely valuable. Why spend it reinventing the wheel? 

When it comes to lesson planning, reinventing the wheel is something that teachers luckily do not always have to do. This is one of the main points I took from Dean Shareskie’s skype lecture to our “Internet for Educators,” class. As teachers, we can work collaboratively through the sharing of resources and ideas so that we don’t always have to reinvent the wheel. 

Thanks to the internet, we can work with teachers not only in our school, but in our division, province, country and our world. The internet is a great tool to connect with people and resources, if you know how to use it and are willing to put yourself out there. This is especially helpful for new teachers who without the internet, would likely have to start everything brand new. I enjoyed learning from Dean and look forward to learning more in class about using the internet to improve my teaching and my students’ learning. -T

About this Rookie Blogger:

Hello everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog. I have to admit that this page did not come about voluntarily, but is a requirement for a course I’m in called “Internet for Educators.” If it weren't for this course my blogging experience would likely entail “creeping” on others pages and admiring their insightful words, resources and experiences. That part I’m good at, but now that I have joined the world of bloggers, I hope that some of my words, resources and experiences will be of use to others as well. My intention for this blog is to share my learning and experiences with you as I complete my education degree and start my teaching career.

I guess I should have started by telling you a little about myself (rookie blogger mistake). My name is Tiffany, and I am a first year education student at Brandon University. I have always been passionate about sharing my knowledge with others. I realized this passion when I started working as a personal trainer. During my grade 12 year I became a certified personal trainer, and enjoyed improving clients’ lifestyles through exercise and nutrition plans for the next 3 years. After taking a year off from school to train full time I enrolled in BU’s Physical Education program. I was excited about the idea of being a gym teacher and having the opportunity to teach kids at a young age how to live healthy lifestyles and the importance of staying active beyond their school years. Now that I am in the education faculty, I have become excited about teaching not only physical education, but all subjects. Although I may have a sweet spot for physical education, I truly think that I will be happy teaching any subject because they are all so important.

In preparation for a career in education, I changed roles from personal trainer after my second year at BU. Now, during the school year I work at an after-school program called “Lighthouse,” where my role is to provide supervision for students and participate in fun activities with them. This has allowed me to develop some mad dodgeball skills! During the summer, I work as a youth activity coordinator for the cities “YAC” summer camps. Both of these jobs have provided me with valuable experience interacting with youth as a leader and mentor, much like I will when I am a teacher.

Outside of education, I enjoy travelling, playing sports (mostly baseball, tennis and soccer), curling up with a good book, playing and cuddling with my chocolate lab Gracie, and spending time with family and friends. Thank you for reading!