PLN

When looking through twitter there was many conversations and links going around. One resource that really stood out to me was interactive lesson plans from Discovery Education http://www.fit4theclassroom.com/. I found this to be a great resource for teachers who want to wake their students up during the long winter months. When looking through the website it provides four sections for the teacher to pick which then breaks down to different activities that also have another learning aspect tied in as well, for example a math lesson.

My Opinion
To begin I have a personal twitter but I barely ever use it. I felt that trying to keep up with the twitter that I created for class would be the exact same thing. One thing that I really did like about having the chance to create a new twitter was the ability to focus on one topic which would help when I needed to participate in an edchat or ntchat. The chats seemed to be slow but like to have the chance to put in my own opinion without there being an extreme amount of comments like on Facebook. I also like having the chance to apply my own opinion without being judged because I don't know the people who host the chat. This is also a great way to learn from others. By this I mean they can post lesson plans but share what went right or wrong and how it could be changed. The link to my personal twitter is https://twitter.com/kintnerm73

#Edchat Personal Twitter Feed https://twitter.com/kintnerm73

Webinar

SAMR

SAMR is four stages of technology integration. During the webinar the speaker for the night, Susan Oxevad, broke down each low of the SAMR chart. The chart provided shows the different steps and what they are used for. I would like to share some information that i learned from the webinar that Susan provided about each step.
          1. Substitution is the step when tech is acts as a direct tool, with no functional change. This task is the same whether technology is used or not. There is no learning gained. Some examples are typing a paper instead of handwriting it or using an ipad or ereader when it comes time to do readings.
          2. Augmentation is the step when tech acts as a direct tool substitute, with functional improvement. This task is the same whether technology is used or not. There is no learning gained. Some examples include using spell check on word instead of using a dictionary and using the copy and paste option. 
          3. Modification is the step where tech allows for significant task redesign. This task could not be completed without the technology. Some examples include teachers can design lessons with new tasks due to capabilities of technology and multimedia also plays an important role. 
        4. Redefinition is the step where tech allows for the creation of new tasks, previously inconceivable. This task could not be completed without the technology. Examples include the possibility to Skype with an astronaut and having the chance to work together on a wiki page.

Samr Chart provided by Google Images

Personal Opinion
When finishing the webinar there was a lot of interesting information that was available. In my personal opinion the webinar was really cool especially when this is my first experience with one. Sadly I wasn't able to see it on the opening night to see what the group chat was like. This is a great source for teachers and students to use to help teach a topic or share information within the classroom. This feature could be extremely helpful to students that are absent from class one day and they could have the chance to log on and see what was taught during the day so they do not fall behind.

With my over all experience with this webinar i did find it very helpful to use. Susan did a good job with breaking down the information and going over anything that a member had a question about. The format was very easy to follow and simple to use since I had the chance to sit back and listen to what Susan had to share. If this was used within the classroom, like i mentioned before, teachers could easily set this up to record their lessons and make any modifications that they felt they didn't teach well enough along with the chance for students to access the webinar at home if they missed something during class. 

I really enjoyed this and how simple everything was !

Technology in Education

There is so much technology that is available for everyday use. Sometimes it might even seem to be a bit overwhelming. I know that i personally feel overwhelmed at times especially when it is a new concept or application that I haven't had any experience with. When looking at technology within the classroom I personally believe that this is an amazing thing for children in today's society. Understanding technology allows students to be modern with society and when necessary able to enter into the work force with a greater understanding of all the information available and how to retrieve that information.When reading through research about technology and education on piece stood out to me and its called Project Tomorrow.

Project Tomorrow: Speak Up

When reading about Project Tomorrow there was one piece of information that really stood out to me was the fact to more and more students are preferring to do their class readings digitally instead of using hard copies. I believe that is a great idea because with all the different type of tablets and computer upgrades this allows for students to access and read the required work more easily. I personally know from experience that eBooks were easier for me to read because I had the chance to make notes on the sides of the pages or highlight any information that i thought was possible. That feature was awesome because if that was done in on a hard copy text book then the next person to receive the book would have to see the marks and notes made which may or may not help them.

When looking at the research and what it offers

It sometimes can be hard to see if the information gathered and provided for the public is very accurate. But it can provide a teacher with the chance to create his or her own experiment to see how the information affects their students. The information can also provide teachers with a better understanding and possibly having new ways of teaching/helping their students to achieve something greater.

Personal Feelings.....
When looking at all the information that Project Tomorrow offer I personally believe they are providing a stronger and more informed future for both students and teachers. Students are able to speak their minds when polls are filled out and teachers are able to use the provided information to see how they can better their classroom and further help their students. In the end technology will provide not only students but everyone in general a more informed future.  

http://projecttomorrowblog.blogspot.com/