Final Blog on requirements

Antonio Final Assessment

INTASC	Standards (criteria)	Examples & Support	ND / Met
4.13	The candidate knows how to enhance learning through the use of a wide variety of materials as well as human and technological resources (knowledge).	Google Docs Collaborative Application Blog that covers the use of Web 2.0 and other tools to enhance learning.	MET
6.35	The candidate demonstrates proficiency and appropriateness in utilizing a variety of media communication tools to enrich learning opportunities (skill).	Yodio Presentation reflects my use of other methods that I have used in class.	MET

OTEN Conference Wrap-up

This was a very interesting experience, as I mentioned within the yodio audio file. I felt that our ED TECH class had done enough to prepare us for what technology meant to the educational process. This conference was more reinforcement, although I believe that most of Cohort B recognize the importance and plan on implementing this into their lesson plans. My time spent in the class has improved my perspective and I realize that acceptance of these advancements in technology make web based materials very important. Things like smart boards make classroom time very interactive and does a lot to make the jobs of teachers easier. From a social studies perspectives the ability to put slide shows on the smart board software can make lectures much more entertaining. I will post a link to the summary below.

Thanks

OTEN Conference Wrap-up Link

Review of Technology Standards.

Reviewing the new technology standards and requirements for school in the state of Oregon, I strongly agree with what is being stated.  Technology has evolved so much that a strong capacity for these types of medians is very necessary and to not address these formats within the education process would be a travesty.  Using technology to "live learn and work," happens to be the most clear and ambitious goal amongst all the standards.  The use of technology provides learning opportunities to for learners of all intelligences.  Within the classroom I envision many opportunities to use technology to meet these standards.
Within a social studies setting, students should be able to access primary sources that are only present online at times.  These resources help formulate essays and research projects, that without this type of information would not meet my standards.  Other activities would be the use of different social networks to relay class assignments, then having assignments turned in on a specific sight.  This would have a double positive effect, by limiting the use of paper, while developing skills that would meet standard requirements.  Finally, with the appropriate types of technology in the classroom, transitions become quicker making the education process easier for everyone.

Getting more specific in terms of the standards one which stood out to me was #2. Communication and Collaboration.  Specifically the standards speaks on that students need to be able use media to communicate between each other using different venues.  To me this means that students ability to communicate should be expanded past the social networking sites that are so popular.  One example would be running educational blogs like the ones used in our class.  From a social studies perspectives students could use embedding tools to show video presentations.  A debate within a American Government class could be recorded and posted, then students could be required to comment upon. Another goal of mine would be to link with a class from another region of the US, or across the world within the same subject.  It would be interested to see a video debate between two classrooms, the possibility for meeting these standards appear endless to me.  

Spreadsheet Redo...

While reviewing the raw data for test scores 6-10, what became evident was the large group of students that were falling behind the class average.  Approximately 15 students were behind with about half of that group being well below the average.  Through use of the chart option I was able to see that although a certain group of students were not achieving as well as others, those students were showing a slow progression towards the rest of the class.  As a teacher I would question what type of methods that I was using to instruct, more than half of my students being below the average would create a high level of frustration on my part.  Lesson plans leading into test #6 and #7, where this group of below average students had little success might need to be adjusted.  It could be that I was not meeting the needs of these particular students. 
On another note whatever the methods that I used towards the end of the testing cycle was working well, because more than half of this group showed gains.  Almost 5 of these students reached the class average, and this shows many more students exhibiting proficiency in these sections of the class.  Adaptations in lesson plans is only one way that teachers can adjust to raise students success.  In the case of some of these students, their achievement may be dependent on outside circumstances.  Therefore I would look to find out if these students were experiencing problems outside the classroom, and this could explain the lack of success. 

Multi-Media Project part 2

Well, to begin with prior to this exercise I was under the belief that UStream was a venue for media stars to release messages in a viral form. When I did my research I realized that there were millions of people were actively using Ustreams venue. Within the classroom Ustream could easily serve as a method to leave lesson plans for a substitute, this could easily be embedded to a class blog, or left in an email to the covering teacher. Ustream could also be used in a student led website that covers the school and its activities. Athletic events, choir concerts, and other after school activities could be added and looked at by all the student body. This could serve as a good was to increase school spirit/morale. I believe that ustream videos could be accessed by students missing class for an unexpected reason, or a planned family vacation. These Ustream videos take little time to record and even less time to embed. Presentations could be filmed and turned into a teacher quickly and easily, making little use of paper assignments. Overall I found this to be somewhat difficult before finally accomplishing the goal.

Antonio

Multi-Media Project

This project was worthwhile in that it made me come out of my comfort zone in order to complete the task.  Naturally I get frustrated when things do not come naturally, and the act of embedding the video to my blog was difficult.  If you could provide me with feedback to where I went wrong it would be appreciated. 

Antonio


Here is the video......http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9554508

My Favorite Web 2.0 Tools

Say that you find yourself in a foreign land with the need to access past websites, or links that will allow you to return home.  Web 2.0 allows a world traveler to access their online materials all around the world.  With none of these materials being linked to a computer Web 2.0 gives access anywhere, anytime, documents, presentations, videos, can all be yours instantly.  Working alongside the same lines of Web 2.0 is Delicious.com, where Web 2.0 allows us to access personal files, and Delicious.com comprises your personal favorites and bookmarks and provides accessibility anywhere.  To use the world traveler scenario, visiting a internet cafe in Amsterdam the user could easily access their bookmarks and favorites, bringing your home pc or laptop to you thousands of miles away.  Therefore Delicious.com makes students bookmarks accessible, where if student's work, or references can easily be found.  Making research projects easier, if you do not have a personal computers available.  Finally Ustream is a web-based audio/video recorder, easily accessible to anyone with a video recorder.  Teachers have the ability to monitor the approprietness of the material, but the ability to post weekly lesson plans could make students aware of what is to come.  One future interest of mine would be to be involved in a student newspaper, but blogging and Ustream could make a web-based student newspaper an easy and cheap reality.  This would help form a strong community in schools, emphasizing the accomplishments of individuals and groups alike.  Web-based tools are evolving at the pace which makes learning much easier and should be embraced.