Summary Of Learning

MY SUMMARY OF LEARNING using Google Slides

Major Project last post

I learned so much about yoga during this semester because of my final project. I talked to numerous yoga instructors, yoga doers and watched so many helpful videos. Although I did not completely meet my end goal because I learned it would be almost impossible to do it in this short amount time because it is something that takes more than just a few weeks. Like I stated in my previous major project post, it takes awhile to build core muscles and awhile to be able to balance on your hands. If you have instagram, you should definitely consider following these people-- @kjyoga14, @jessicaolie,  and @the_southern_yogi
I learned so much from watching their videos and reading their posts and I definitely want to be able to do (some) of the poses they can do. This is definitely something I will continue to do and work on! So to end my final major project post, I will post my favorite pictures I got while doing it. Hope you guys enjoy!
 

(Used picmaker for my cool tool review)

Final Major Project

For my final week, I was able to finally hold my handstand (still with the help of a wall) but I could hold it a lot longer - 4-5 sec. (YAY! :)) It is still not my end goal, but yoga handstands, like I said before, takes a lot of time and patience to build your core muscles, it is not something that can happen overnight. This project taught me a lot and I am so glad I got to experience it and find something challenging but fun at the same time! Even though it was a little more difficult than originally planned.
I used YouTube this week to show some videos for my cool tool. (They aren't the greatest but it's a start)

https://youtu.be/oQmqikLt_UM

PLN 12, Educational Duct Tape

• In what ways have can technology help you become a more productive teacher? In what ways can technology help you solve problems? How does this benefit you personally? How does it benefit your students? Parents?
• What types of productiviety tools do you see yourself using in your classroom and specifically, how will you use them? 
• What was the most striking thing you took away from Jake's presentation? How will it impact your own learning?

Like Jake Miller said in this weeks presentation, educational technology is most useful when it is NOT the goal of the lesson, but as a tool used to solve a particular problem or to meet a goal. Technology can help me become a more productive teacher in almost every aspect. It opens up a variety of teaching tools and creativity.  Educational technology should be something naturally incorporated into a classroom, not the main goal. As a teacher, you should not have to change every lesson plan or idea to involve technology. If it is beneficial and works, then go ahead and use it. Technology should just help and aide in learning, not completely take over. We still have to teach and instruct, technology cannot and should not do everything for us because everyone is so unique and learns differently. There is literally an endless amount of tools that help teachers complete tasks quicker and easier, but it cannot ever completely take over. It benefits students as well, for example, they are able to complete projects at home with a group on Google Docs. (thats just one example out of a million) Technology can also help with immediate feedback so parents know where their kids are academic wise, and can easily communicate with the teacher. One productivity tool I can see myself using is Google Docs. I can access my students documents whenever and provide immediate feedback as well as highlight certain words, add in footnotes/sidenotes, and etc. I want to use tools that can be accessed from home and from school so they have minimal excuses for getting them done. Audioboo is also another tool that allows me to record messages and send to my students whenever. Like I just stated, there is an endless amount of tools, and I am sure I will use many of them throughout my career. 

I learned so much during Jake's presentation. Technology in education can benefit anyone involved in the learning process, (which is like everyone) teachers, students, parents, etc. Technology simply makes education easier by allowing teachers and students to be more connected, productive, organized, and even more enjoyable. There is a solution to every problem if you want there to be, all you have to do is find one and make it happen, like Jake did. 

Week 11. Blended Learning

• In what ways have we used blended learning effectively in THIS CLASS? In what ways has our blended learning approach been ineffective in THIS CLASS?
• What is your philosophy on blended learning? 
• What was the most striking thing you took away from Stacy's presentation? How will it impact your own learning?
• Self-selected topic related to Stacy's presentation.

I would completely agree that we have used blended learning effectively throughout this course. I learned about the endless amount of technology, apps, cool tools, and etc. Before this class, I never knew technology could be integrated this much and  be this effective. This class also showed me how to relate material I have learned to my future classroom. This class allows for flexibility as well and it is easy to review or go back and read or re-watch a video if necessary.

I have taken a few online courses so I knew somewhat what to expect and how to do it. I can see why some student could have the potential to struggle though if they have never taken an online course. It takes time to learn and remember to log on and complete assignments. 

I think blended learning, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to teach and integrate into a classroom. It meets the needs of different types of students with differentiated instruction. If you're more of a face-to-face student, you have the option. Like stated above, I love the fact that I can go back and reread or rewind a video if I have to. Everything I have is right in from of me and is easy accessed. Like I've mentioned in previous blogs, it is so important to meet the needs of many students and I believe blended learning offers that. 

I never knew how many students actually used online classes only. She showed us pictures of states and which states have what pertaining to online and it really surprised me. I was also surprised to see that Ohio had a high number of online schools. 

Stacy Hawthorne talked about how a lot of teachers lean towards a station rotation model for their own classrooms. The model she used was so useful and talked about all the different types/models of classroom. I never knew there was much more than traditional or online. For example there is rotation, flex, self-blend, and enriched-virtual. 

Major Project

This week for my yoga handstand, I decided to try two different methods. The first method, instead of using my feet to balance against the wall I used my head. This way was a little bit more complicated and I had to use my core a lot more but it was a big step. In last weeks blog post, I posted a video where a guy demonstrated these two methods.
 


The second method that I tested out was even harder. I faced the wall and would keep one foot against the wall while I straightened the second leg above me. I was further away from the wall so it was harder to balance and I could only keep both legs up for a few seconds.

Again, I used Canv, as my cool tool review.

Assessments

• What is your philosophy on assessment? 
• What are your impressions about the 2 formative assessment technologies (PearDeck & EduCanon) Scott shared?
• What was the most striking thing you took away from Scott's presentation? How will it impact your own learning?

Assessments are essential to the classroom and is part of becoming an effective teacher. Without assessments, how can you, as a teacher, know and understand where your students are at? It can be as simple as an exit slip, or nodding your head if you understand, to  a final exam at the end of a semester. The assessments that the students take show teachers as well as the district (etc.) what they have learned and retained over the course of the day/semester/year, so on. School and teaching would almost be pointless without any type of assessment. There are so many different types of assessments, specifically formative and assessments. I learned the important difference between the two during the weekly video and many websites we had to visit to read about.

Formative Assessments	Summative Assessments
Anecdotal records	Final exams
Quizzes and essays	Statewide tests (FCAT)
Diagnostic tests	National tests
Lab reports	Entrance exams (SAT and ACT)

In my opinion, both are super critical and important, but formative assessments help out both the student and teacher a tremendous amount during the year. It's more relaxed and only shows where each student is during their learning experience. Summative assessments create more pressure, especially for students who have test anxiety or get nervous. 

Peardeck is so beneficial and useful in a classroom. After watching the weekly video, I saw firsthand how it worked and how it showed where the students were during the lesson, what they understand and what they did not know. It's easy to use, even as an early education teacher. It shows how many students understand and how many are still lost. I will definitely use Peardeck as a future educator.

 I will also use PearDeck during my lessons as well. It is a great for formative assessments. It shows how students learn and move at different paces and what I need to do as a teacher to help the students who are behind or confused. 

I was so surprised during Scott's presentation with how many different types of assessments there were, especially for formative assessments, as well as technology available for assessments. I've only ever had face-to-face, pencil and paper tests until I got to college, so it is still new to me. As a future educator, I will absolutely use the technologies available for both formative and summative assessments.