Final Reflection

As I wrap up this class, I am excited.  I am a learner and I enjoy when I can learn new things, especially with technology.  This is an area that is constantly changing and I feel you MUST stay ahead of the curve (or at least on top of it) or you will be lost.  This class in particular helped point out all of the resources, tools and programs that are out there to make your life easier. I can honestly say that I think I will use a lot of the things we did.
My thoughts on the assignments:
Interactive blog: LOVE it!  I have been using a blog to communicate with parents (and to other teachers, BRI) but I now feel even more confident in what I can do with it.  I have already talked my PLC team into letting me set up a grade level blog so we can streamline information for our families. I think this will allow us to send a consistent message to them and it will keep them well-informed.
Powtoon, Pear Deck: Glad I know about it, feel like I could use it, not sure I will.  I think this might be something I could see my daughter (4th grade) and I am glad I will be able to introduce it to her.
Google Suite: Can't imagine my life without it.  This keeps everything in one spot.  No matter what device I use or where I am doing it - what I need is there for me.  We are expected to collaborate with our PLCs and this is a powerful tool for keeping us together.  I feel good about know how to use some of the features that are not quite as common.  I can see using branching forms, adjusting sharing options and transferring old docs into Google.  I need to get better at organizing my files.  We have the option to have it all there but if it is not organized then we have a mess on our hands.  That is a goal of mine this year.
Screencasting: I know I will use this. Another goal of mine this year is to reach more families and assist them in helping their children.  At times I get frustrated that they 'don't do enough' but I also know that most of them are trying their best and they don't know what to do.  I think having the ability to do a quick tutorial & record it on how to do things would be so helpful.  It is easy to post the videos and those who need it can access it.  Same would go for students - if they need a bit more information on a topic, they could watch a video and do a little extra practice.  
Apps, Add-ons, Extentions: Again, will most certainly use.  These are the little things that make our lives easier!  I hope to be able to collaborate with others on what they are using so I can stay current on good ones to have.
Google Classroom:  While I won't be doing it this year, I am excited about the new changes to Classroom!  I think they have listened to what teachers need and have made great improvements.  I have got to believe this is a 'must' for teachers that have Chromebooks.  I think Classroom gives teachers a simple and fast way to give feedback, a great way to organize lessons and have them ready to go and a quick way to share information & lessons with their students.  I have thought about having our PLC use this as a way of organizing our lessons and sharing resources.  I need more time to plan that out but I think there is potential in that idea.
Kahoot & Poll Everywhere:  Super interactive for students.  I can see that you could use these to engage students in their learning.  Again, I will not have whole class access to technology but I am glad I know how to use them.  A secret plan I would have is that I can encourage my principal to get me more technology because I know how to use it :)
Google Forms & Flubaroo:  As mentioned many times.....I see great potential in this!  Our PLC/TDAP work is all based on common assessment.  Why not use this to do half the work for us?  I commented that idea on many other Nerd's assignments.  It is easy to use, gives great information and can be easily shared with others.  AWESOME!
Digital Citizenship: This was one of the most powerful lessons for me.  We have a crazy amount of technology that has been given to us.  It is our job to teach students how to use it.  I had honestly never thought of it in the way Google training presented it yet I now see how important it is!  I think it is imperative that this is explicitly taught.  I think of my own kids and hope that their school will teach them these things.  The Internet can be a scary place and kids need to have digital literacy skills.

Side note question......

Why is it that when I copy something and paste it into my post that I get a white background?

Can anyone help with that? Is it my settings?

Help!  My blog looks ugly!

#9 - Digital Citizenship

• Discuss the possible ethical issues involved in two of the scenarios.

I don't think any of the teachers in the scenarios had ethical issues.  It seems to me that their problems came about because they jumped into their technology use with students too quickly.  I think they all had good intentions for potentially good projects or assignments. Incorporating technology into what we are doing is what we need to do to prepare our students to be college and career ready.  Not to mention using technology can be fun and motivating to many students.  With that being said, I think the effect of the teachers not laying the ground work for appropriate tech use led to ethical issues.  Students were given a lot of freedom without the proper training and took advantage of it.  They made poor choices and things quickly got out of hand.  Miss Starbuck, Mr. Kirk and Mr. McFly all had experiences that went in that direction.

• Determine if the safety or well-being of anyone is in jeopardy.

I believe that when bullying is involved then it turns into a safety and well being issue.  I believe the first 3 scenarios lead to bullying.  Students may not come face to face but words can hurt.  If one is being bullied, in or out of class or via cyber-bullying, it will affect how they feel in class.  If one is worrying more about comments that might be posted or others making fun of their work then they are not concentrating on what they need to be, which is their school work.

• What advice, strategy, or policy would you recommend to individuals or schools based on this scenario?

I really liked the Google Digital Citizenship Training.  Students need to understand how the Internet works.  They need to know the importance of safe passwords, communicating with others (especially strangers), how to search safely and to have an overall knowledge base of Digital Literacy.  The training led you into creating many lessons so you are very up-front and straight with students.  They need to know that you are not alone while you are in the 'Google World'.  They need to have an understanding that they are creating their own digital footprint and that is another aspect of themselves personally.  I think many kids feel that they are able to do whatever they want because no one will know it was them.  Kids need to be explicitly taught about passwords, searching safe, how to research using Google, privacy settings and I sure I have not included everything!!  We have great priority standards for our core subjects.....maybe it is time for some priority standards on teaching kids about technology??

• Share any real-life incidents or personal connections related to the scenario.

I was part of 5th grade last year and we didn't get our Chromebooks until mid-October.  I felt like most of the things we did were the 'jump in & hopefully swim' method.  I know we didn't teach anything like I mentioned in the question above.  I feel we were very reactive instead of being proactive!

One particular student I had was very tech savy but that also made him very dangerous!  He was sneaky and it seemed that when he was supposed to be working on his Chromebook he was always off task!  I most definitely thought of him in the Mr. Kirk scenario.

• How can the Mounds View Resources help to implement high quality instructional practices with with technology?

As I mentioned above, I would love to see something similar to priority standards as far as technology.  Maybe a checklist of recommended things to instruct upon before students can use Chromebooks (or other technology).  The site that was shared at the BILT institute that went through many of the popular apps or extensions (can't remember the name of it!!) and their rules/regulations is an excellent resource!  I think this class should be a mandatory class for teachers getting a set of Chromebooks. In my opinion, the district is spending a lot of money on them so they could give a bit more of their time.  I suppose there could be a set of lessons that are premade (maybe screen-casts or presentations) that teachers could use instead of making their own?  I also think it would be helpful to have a student version of the acceptable use policy.  It is very legal-ish and something direct, with less words would be good for students.

• What is 1 procedure that you can implement in your class and what is one that you would like to implement in your whole PLC or whole building?

One thing that I would like to implement is the whole idea of teaching about Digital Literacy and safe Internet use.  It needs to be taught properly and it is extremely important.  Our job is to prepare kids for life after they leave school and technology is everywhere.  This is something I will do and I think all teachers should also do it.  I see no reason that a teacher would not start with these important topics before letting their students loose.  We need technology, it can make our lives a lot easier but we all need to know how to use it so it can continue to be a powerful tool.

#10: Collaboration - Endgame

#8 Assessment, part 2

Intermediate: LOVE Flubaroo!  What an easy way to look at data!  Great way for teams to analyze their TDAP information.  I love it when something else does the work for you!!
One way that you could use Flubaroo to differentiate instruction is through to weight questions differently.  You can use an assessment to test if they know what you have been teaching and the skill that you want to teach next.  You can get the final grade you need and then know where students are at (preassessment) data without messing with your other data.  A branching form can also let you know how kids are feeling about a topic and allow some to get extra help (more review or a video) or move on.
One way you could use it to modify a whole class activity is to do a quick preassessment on the topic you are going to teach.  Wait for the students to take the test and then quickly run it through Flubaroo (it only takes seconds!) and then you would quickly know where the kids are at.  You could even show them what you are seeing (delete or hide names) and then they would know exactly how they are doing and what type of instruction they need to get better.  You could then use the same form or a slightly different assessment at the end of your lesson and show them all they have learned.  Fast feedback.....John Hattie would be proud!

Look at the different analysis tools within Flubaroo and identify 1 way you could use this to differentiate instruction and 1 way you could use this to modify whole class instruction

Beginner: Great assignment!  Way to make me dive deeper into what all Google forms can do for me!  Branching the answers was tricky at first but I knew if I kept trying I could do it!  I love to option for allowing the video only if the students think they need it. (last question - if you answered the 2nd two options you went to a video)  I think building in more of this type of practice would help students take more ownership of their skill level.  They need to know when to ask for help.

Side note: I did have to adjust the width of my layout because the form was overlapping on the right side.