Week 5 - Part 8 Christmas Party, Anyone?

EDLD 5352 - EA 1151

• How can you use blogging to communicate with school stakeholders?

Blogs can be utilized as pre- and post-staff development information sources. A teacher, parent, school board member, administrator, etc., can easily obtain pertinent information without cutting down rain forests in South America. Specific information can be printed by individuals rather than whole packets being wasted with no need for extras or reprints.

Extensions or intermission uses of the staff development can be reminders of events, posting of requested information, time and date amendments, continued and extended discussions or question and answer sessions, etc. The imagination is the only limiting factor with the usages of a blog.

Teachers and parents or PTO groups can easily communicate. Christmas parties could easily be planned... Like the current reference?

Week 5 - Post 7 Blog Concerns

EDLD 5352 - EA 1151

• What are the concerns of blogs and blogging in education?

Personal information being communicated due to a classroom project will compromise a school's legal stance. Students need to be protected from outside sources in reference to identity.

Another point of view is that students also will have access to unlimited information, both good and bad. They need to learn blog and internet etiquette and ethics. Students will learn accountability with user agreements in order to successfully access blogs.

Week 5 - Part 6 Educational Blogs

EDLD 5352 - EA 1151

• What is the educational value of blogs and blogging to the 21^st century learner?

Blogs, which is an odd word for me, are a new source of communication for me, personally and professionally. I guess Facebook would be considered a blog, or discussion forums with my online friends could count as a weblog.

Blogs are useful for many reasons. Personally, you could keep up with friends and family. Professionally, a public and easy to access information source can be utilized in many educational settings and ways. Students can post works of art or poems, search for information, or receive classroom updates.

Plus, with the ease of use, many technology immigrants can use a blog.

Week 5 - Part 5 Course Lessons

EDLD 5352 - EA 1151

• What did you learn from this course…about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?

I learned that I am in a good place to move the school forward into the 21st century through teacher influence and education to new and innovative uses of technology in the classroom and curriculum. Being a leader in the area has opened up funding for pertinent technology for my classroom.

Today (December 16th, 2009) I was nominated for innovative technology in the classroom with the One to One Initiative with ESC-14. This confirms my position. This course has progressed my experience with education by self-analysis of my current position. I have learned aspects of education and possible technology usage from readings and discussions.

Leadership skills have been learned like starting with classroom teacher and student benefit from certain technologies. I have learned steps to take with implementing new technology applications. My personal attitude about technology in the classroom has not changed, but my excitement has increased. A classroom blog with lessons and activities will be up and running in the spring.

Week 5 - Part 4 Obstacles

EDLD 5352 - EA 1151

• Were you successful in carrying out the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?

I was successful in carrying out the course assignments. The video web conferences aided with immediate question and answer sessions (with extention) to clarify and improve upon assignments.

My coach, Shenequa, also responded to emails promptly to answer questions and rectify situations. Communication with school directors is a must for this course, one for student learning and achievement, and two for necessary information. Not quite the required one hundred words.

Week 5 - Part 3 Why Not?!?

EDLD 5352 - EA 1151

• What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?

Time. The course hit around Thanksgiving with travel and other family requirements, plus with a hint of Christmas shopping. Final exam preparation for the classroom with end of the semester projects and other issues. Other whining areas are football playoffs and bathroom renovations.

When the spring semester starts and is up and running, a review of the list of website and sources will span new ideas in utilizing technology. By then, the next course will have started, and time will be limited again.

Maybe that Kindle that I wish for with Santa will help my backed up reading log... The course did sufficiently cover integrating technology into education on many levels.

Week 5 - Part 2 Extent of Outcomes

EDLD 5352 - EA 1151

• To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?

This course contained so much information with extended online resources that I will be filtering through useful information to my current teaching position, as well as, a future administrative position. I have had many discussions this past month with my technology director, librarian, and curriculum directors about topics and ideas embedded in the articles and board discussions. There is no use re-inventing the wheel, so focusing on issues that are important with our local school district with reference to what other schools are already doing provides a good start.

Many technology applications may not be relevant to my mathematics courses I teach, but then again, we are only limited by our imagination. Technology uses with other teachers already being utilized helps get the mind working on how to incorporate technology to better serve students.