Post #3 - Web 2.0 Tool

For this blogging assignment, my class was asked to find a web 2.0 tool that could be used in a classroom. We have not only talked about a lot of tools in the classroom, but we have also used many different tools. Each student keeps their own blogs, we respond to discussions on Ning, and we have had multiple interactions with authors and teachers via Skype. Before this class I was not aware of the multitude of programs on the Web. Many of these programs are meant for person or social uses, but most are great tools that can be put into use in the classroom. In order to find a web 2.0 tool that we have not discussed in class, I decided to use Google. I found my Web 2.0 tool choice on a blog where a teacher recommended it. The tool I have chosen is “Gradefix”.
According to gradefix, “Gradefix intelligently organizes and prioritizes all of your homework so you are always on top of it.” On the blog, it was written that, “Students that use Gradefix create a study schedule used to best spread out and prioritize homework throughout the week in hopes to decrease stress and improve grades.” When I read this, I was immediately hooked. But before I could really write about it, I had to check it out for myself. I logged onto the site and looked to the right side where it listed five great reasons for using Gradefix. These were:
1. Better Grades
2. Higher Retention
3. Easy to Use
4. Procrastinator’s Paradise
5. Use Online, Use Anywhere
These grasped my attention because they are all things that I look for when thinking about my grades and being organized. I took the 60seconds that it required to sign up. I figured the best way to see if it was a useful tool was to use it myself. I looked at my planner and filled in the applicable spots on the web page regarding my classes and homework needs. I was also able to incorporate my work schedule into my class schedule. Gradefix immediately created a schedule for me to follow for studying and getting my work done. The schedule gave specific times and ranked my most important assignments depending on when they were due. There are also alarms that are sent to your email reminding you what there is to be done and when assignments are due. I can most definitely see myself using this in the future to stay organized.
In regards to bringing this web 2.0 tool into the classroom, I think it would be helpful for keeping kids on track. There are so many students out there who need help getting their work finished. A daily planner is not always a tool that works, but this application may. It is a free web tool that takes only 60 seconds to sign up for. It can keep any student on track, even the teacher.

Post #2 - Blogging

First off, I would like to say that I thought our Skype Chat with Will Richardson was very helpful. It is always nice to be able to ask questions to someone who has had enough experience to answer them. I think he had some really great ideas and some very interesting things to say about blogging and incorporating blogging into the classroom. Blogs are a great concept to include in your classroom settings. One use for a blog that I plan on using in my own classroom later in life is for journaling. Each day, maybe for homework or even during the classroom time, there will be a topic or a question of the day that the students will be required to answer in their own personal blog. These blogs will be connected together so that students can read each other’s entries and so that I can review them as well. This will not only improve their writing and reading skills, but it will help them connect and learn more about each other. The topics can vary from questions regarding their personal lives outside of school or to questions regarding lessons being taught in the classroom.

Another great idea that was brought up during our discussion with Will Richardson dealt with connecting with other students both around the country and around the world. The Internet is a huge open door and classrooms should always be taking advantage of this. When I was in second grade, each student in my class had a pen pal. We would write letters to other students across the country once a month. The only problem was, we had to wait about a month or so to receive their responses. With the Internet at hand, students can receive responses in minutes instead of weeks.

There is so much information our there that can be used in the classroom ranging everywhere from researching for papers to staying in contact with the outside world. For every lesson that is to be taught in school, there is sure to be an accompanying technological concept that can be taught or utilized as well.

Post #1 - NETs

Although I was not able to make it to class last week, I was able to read over the handouts posted on the Wiki Spaces page. The first thing I noticed was the cast difference in the standards between 2007, 2008, and 2009. A year seems like a small amount of time in the long run, but when it comes to technology a year can seem like a century. Each set of standards was given to a different set of people; students, teachers, and administration.

One of the questions posed to us was, “If you were to rank or re-rank the NETS for students, how would you rank them and why? Which would be the most important and why?” In my opinion I would rank Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making as my most important standard. This is because these three skills are not only important and useful in the area of technology, but they are great tools to use in everyday life. These skills are difficult to grasp and are constantly growing within a person. The next student standard I would rank is Communication and Collaboration. The most significant concept of this standard for me is, “…to support individual learning and contribute to learning of others.” Students are always able to gain more information from one another and encouraging that is a huge part of being a great teacher. The next standard on my list is, Creativity and Innovation. This standard expresses how important it is for students to not only use their existing knowledge in the classroom when it comes to technology, but it encourages the students to also generate new concepts and ideas. These new concepts and ideas and be incorporated into the Communication and Collaboration standard where the students can teach other what they have learned. The fourth standard for my list is, Research and Information Fluency. Since these are technology-based standards, students will not be able to gain a true appreciation for learning if they are not ‘fluent’ in technology concepts and lingo. I believe that the last two standards listed, Digital Citizenship and Technology Operations and Concepts are in the correct order, and therefore I would not change them in my rank of the standards.

Another question that was brought to our attention was, “Why are the NETs important to use as a planning springboard?” The reason that these NETs are important to use as a planning springboard is because they are the standards of teaching technology in the classroom. They guide the administration to inspire and help out the teachers who need to guide and inspire the students who in turn guide and inspire themselves in the classroom. Each concept provided in the NETs standards is thoroughly explained so as the teacher is able to plan a lesson to teach the students. These standards allow lessons to be taught and lesson plans to be made in a way that is productive in teaching and learning.