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. 

Major Project

For my second week working on my handstand/headstand, I made some progress. Although it was not a ton, it was still made. Learning how to do a handstand takes time, practice, and patience. After watching a few VIDEOS on how to do so, I learned so much. This guy in the video gave me so many good pointers on how to get started and little tips about using my fingers and hands. After talking to my yoga instructor (in my other blog) like she said, I started using just my head for balance against the wall instead of just my legs. Using a cool tool review called PicMonkey, I created a picture of my progress, which is just using my head to balance against the wall instead of my legs. This was a little bit harder to do but after practicing for awhile, I could easily do it in a controlled manner.

Week 9 Learning Spaces

• How can space (“learning space”) encourage student engagement and learning?
• What role can Google Apps for Education (GAFE) play in the development of learning spaces?
• What assumptions should we challenge as we design learning spaces for the future? 
• How does The University of Akron's campus currently approach the design and development of informal learning spaces?
• How well do the informal learning spaces on UA campus align with your needs and expectations as a learner? 

Learning spaces, I believe, is just as important, or should be just as important as the content they are learning. A bad learning space can greatly disable a student from learning what they need to be learning. After reading this Article, I have seen just how many design elements that should be incorporated into the 21st century classroom. To begin, the furniture should be able to accommodate numerous learners as well as be repositioned for independent learners. Another thing is that not all students have their iPads or laptops ready, so make sure that the classroom is able to recharge what they need to engage classroom activity. Third, make sure the teacher has access to technology and are smart enough to lecture and teach. Lighting is also important, either dimming or enhancing it is imperative, also to accommodate students in the front of the classroom as well as the back. Another is having physical space beyond just one classroom, and lastly has fewer expansive gatherings. As a future teacher, it is important that make the bet possible classroom setting to engage my students thoroughly. This video, shows just how helpful a classroom setting is to learn. 

Google Apps tremendously help the development of learning spaces. It helps encourage differentiated instruction, especially with more students becoming engaged in online courses and technology in general. On top of that, it helps peers connect with their teachers, as well as each other. It creates more creativity and ideas and helps a classroom develop technologically. 

The biggest assumption  that should be made is that a certain classroom benefits every student. Everyone learns in a different way or setting, so making sure that the teacher knows how each student learns is important. Another assumption is that a physical classroom is the best way to learn. In today's world, especially pertaining to this class, learning is literally everywhere and can happen anywhere and anytime. 

From what I have seen and noticed, The University Of Akron's campus has been making the learning spaces more informal and diverse. No two classrooms are the same. The desks and chairs are always different, the setting is different, and the way my teacher's present their lesson is even different. Even the lounges or hang out places are different. Some have couches, some with high chairs, low chairs, chairs that lean back, etc. The library as an endless amount of learning spaces. They have dividers between desks, small rooms to meet up with groups, couches, individual desks, long and short tables, and in almost every space they have outlets to plug in devices. 

Some classes I learn better in. For example, my one class has just a long row of connected desks with soft chairs, but I have a hard time paying attention and I do not have much room to put my belongings and the desks behind me are so close. It's also hard to communicate with my classmates. The classrooms I learn best in are the ones with a few desks together, so I'm only sitting my two or three other people and I focus so much better and can collaborate with my neighbors more easily. Akron for the most part, has great informal learning spaces because of the many options and really meets my needs as a student. 

Cool Tool 5

My final cool tool is called Explain Everything Interactive Whiteboard. This app is an interactive whiteboard app that uses videos, pictures, audio, and much much more. You can record a presentation  and show everything that happens on the screen and also has a feature that uses user interface, standard or simple, so even my young first or second graders can easily use it themselves. You could instantly access files on iCloud and other streaming services and can easily be exported. Watch this if you want to see how a presentation can be made (Whiteboard example). The only downside is that it cost $3.99 in the iTunes app store, but I do believe it is well worth it. It can also be accessed free through windows microsoft https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/apps/explain-everything-interactive-whiteboard/9nblggh5gcw8 .
This app can..

• Add new or existing photos, videos and PDF files
• Use a variety of tools to edit and annotate
• Record and playback all actions
• EExport MP4 movies, PNG images and editable .explain project files directly from your tablet / PC.
• Import files from Dropbox and OneDrive
• Export projects to Explain Everything™ Discover, a content portal for sharing, publishing, and downloading editable project files

This app is great for any age, especially my young students. They can create a project about a certain subject like planets (pictured below), or animals, etc. After creating a presentation they can show their classmates and share what they've learned. It can challenge students to use their creativity because they have an endless amount of resources due to it easily connecting to the internet. 

Major Project--Yoga Handstand

Growing up, I have always been into sports and super active, and I have always wanted to learn yoga. Last year, I went to a few classes with my brother and absolutely loved it. Although I do not do it daily, it is something I want to get better at. I started following certain accounts on Instagram, and I love watching their videos, especially the ones they are doing controlled handstands/headstands and it really motivated me to try it out myself. I started attempting headstands over Christmas break. After looking up ways to start, I decided I would try out using my arms and head and work my way up to a handstand. I went to Florida over break so I decided to try it out on the beach,

and as you can see, I struggled a bit, but eventually I got it without the help of a wall to lean against. When I got home, I finally could do it without the help of a wall and I could hold it for a while.

( I made these images on Canva)

Last week, I talked to a yoga instructor back home and she gave me some pointers. I will continue to work on my headstands and handstands over the next few weeks, and hopefully when the project is done, I can do a controlled handstand with as little help as possible from a wall. My next step is doing a handstand, without putting my arms on the ground and only using my hands and a wall.

Cool Tool #4

For this weeks Cool Tool Review, I chose Pic Maker. This is another great presentation type tool that anyone could use. It was easy to make, although it took awhile for certain pictures to load. It's simple enough for a first or second grader to use themselves. It's an app from google chrome, or you can just go to the website, which is what I did and made it myself from there. You can add text, backgrounds, pictures, borders/filters, frames, and color.  You can also create collages with it as well by adding multiple pictures to one page. It is a tool that could be used in a classroom, but I have definitely seen better presentation tools. Although, this might be a simple tool if I wanted my students to make a presentation up themselves. It would also keep their attention because there are so many different features as well. It's so easy to resize a picture or add a border in just a few short clicks. This tool would be more beneficial if I had my students make a presentation rather than make one myself, especially because there's other tools out there that better suit teachers and may be too difficult for students to use themselves. (As you can see, I had trouble with pictures loading, so I ended up having to redo one.)

eBooks

• How did/do you see the use of ebooks impacting the writing process? How will that affect students? How will it effect your teaching?
• What benefits do you see to using student created ebooks in the classroom? How do you see them fitting in your future classroom? What main considerations will you need to make to use them effectively?
• What was the most striking thing you took away from Jon's presentation? How will it impact your own learning?

After viewing Jon Smiths video about writing and eBooks, it showed me just how important writing is as well as the how affective eBooks have been in getting students to enjoy writing. I believe it will only positively impact the writing process because it helps allow students to create a book on a personal level and helps with creativity. It is already hard enough to get some students to write about certain ideas, or about things that they do not care or are interested about, so allowing them more range lets them talk about what they care about. eBooks help motivate students and allows them to use their imagination to invent a book the way they want to. As a teacher, it makes it easier to read and grade because my student's are writing about a prompt they want to be writing about and is so much more personal. It also implements technology as well as makes the classroom more exciting and interesting. 

The overall biggest benefit of eBooks is that it helps create students who actually enjoy writing and gives them motivation to do so as well. Another big benefit is that it allows the classroom to be more student lead and gives students opportunities to take charge of their learning experience. After watching his video, I will absolutely implement eBooks into my classroom in some shape or form. His video made it seem like eBooks were so beneficial and only helps students in every aspect of writing. It will allow technology to be implemented as well. First, I want to pick a topic or prompt that majority of my student's want to write about, but also give options to the other students if necessary. 

Like I said earlier, I could not believe how beneficial eBooks were and letting students write about prompts they are interested in is. It was so awesome to see a disabled student working in a normal classroom as well and it was so nice that he made friends with those students. I also never knew how easy it was to publish books to a kindle store and it is so awesome to see students lead a classroom and take charge in their own learning. It creates such a fun and exciting environment for students and it can be used for any subject imaginable. 

Fair Use & Copyrights

• What is your responsibility as a teaher to understand and use images with copyright, public domain, and creative commons licenses?
• What are our responsibilities to use (and teach students) to select images, text, video, and audio with proper citations?
• What are the ethical issues around music and movie downloading? How can this be addressed with your students?

Teachers use outside resources and ideas daily that are not their own. Teachers use images, videos, game ideas, lesson plans, worksheets, etc. almost everyday and a lot of the time, they get them from another teacher or online. It is a teachers responsibility to make sure that the content or information they use are correctly cited and sourced. There are endless amounts of sources available to teachers and educators to make sure everything is cited the way it is supposed to be. As a student myself, I have used Purdue Owl, and that is what my past and present teachers have also told me to use. I have been using that since early high school and even use it today as a college student. Because we are teaching students, it is so important that we show and model to them how to correctly cite sources when using images and media with copyrights, public domains, and creative commons licenses. After watching videos about creative commons and copyrights, I saw how daily we use other people's work and saw how they should get credit for all of the hard work they put into it.  

Downloading music and movies illegally is stealing another person's handwork and dedication. It is so ethically wrong, but so many people do it every single day. People work so hard to create movies and music and it is not fair how easy it is to illegally download it. If I worked months or even years on something and someone stole it from me, I would be pretty upset to say the least. I could address this to my students in so many ways. I could have them work on a project for a month and then at the end just take it from them and tell them that I'm taking full credit for it, so they could see first hand how wrong it is and how it feels. Also, we need to educate our students about what could happen if they get caught downloading music/movies for free. As a college student, the consequences of getting caught is enough for me to not do it. http://it.umd.edu/PlayFair/igotcaught.html

Because we are so advanced in technology and only getting more advanced, it is important to teach our students how to give credit while using others images, content, ideas, music, movies, etc. 

Cool Tool Review 3

Can Design/Weather&Seasons
For my next cool tool review, I made a little presentation about different types of weather and the four seasons using a slide show type tool, called Canva.  This tool allows you to find any picture that you want without having to Google them, and endless amount of different fonts, videos, and so on. It's so easy to use, even a first or second grader could make one up themselves. The link above is a simple presentation that I made. I could make up a fun slideshow for my students or even have them make up one themselves and share it with the class. I liked this tool, not only because of the many features, but it helps with creativity and allows you to personalize it exactly the way you want to. When you first start using it shows you step by step and even gives you different presentation examples. The only downside is that certain pictures or features cost $1. Overall, this tool was very useful and I definitely could see myself using this in the future over PowerPoint.

• What does digital citizenship mean to you in your personal life, professional life?
• Have you ever had your feelings hurt by something shared online? Have you ever hurt anyone else’s feelings? What would you do differently?
• How might adult concerns and fears about the lurking dangers found online prevent digital citizens from capitalizing on the creative and civic potentials of a participatory culture?

Resources

( https://youtu.be/oCkTmZ0bF5Q and video of Garth Holman and
 his resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BzqJHjI-yxHVaJ_jPioc2rlrYwolAlJj3NdYRIRmvEs/edit )

   " Digital citizenship can be defined as the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use.   "

Being a digital citizen means participating in the right manner online or in the virtual world. As a digital citizen I must give my thoughts, opinions, my help, as well as encouragement to others. To be a good citizen online, I must use caution before I post and only motivate or share my ideas to others who may be online as well. I want to leave a positive digital footprint and good digital legacy behind, so even when I may not be around anymore, others can still get online and see my thoughts, ideas, or even receive some educational or even personal motivation. 

After reading this website, http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html I learned just exactly what being a digital citizen was and the nine themes that summarizes it.

I have seen first hand how people's feelings can get hurt, including myself, online, especially in middle and high school. I, personally, try to stay away from saying negative things, or getting into fights online because it never solves anything and has never made me feel better about myself. I saw it mostly in high school after big football or basketball games. I have also seen a lot lately of boys bashing girls and girls bashing girls at my previous high school. Now, I just unfollow or unfired anyone that I see is being negative towards others and that is what I should have done long ago. It is so important to be careful and cautious when posting on social media, especially now because so many people have access to it, like school administration and even future employers.  Check this out to see some statistics about cyberbullying -- Cyberbullying statistics

 

Adults should be concerned due to these awful and scary statistics. Because of this, they may want participation to be very limited and small. What they do need to understand is how rewarding and beneficial a digital citizenship can be. I believe they should always be super cautious and put trust in teachers to teach them about online etiquette and cyberbullying because like Holman said, "once its online, it stays there forever."

Cool Tool Number 2

For this week's cool tool, I picked Bubbl.us. This would be great to use in a younger classroom to help students connect certain words or pictures to a main idea or category. ( here is the link https://bubbl.us/mindmap ). I know that Ohio Standard for Kindergarten, students must read one-syllable and often-heard words by sight. In first grade, they must demonstrate a growing stock of sight words and by grade two they must read regularly spelled multi-syllable words by sight. (http://www.ohiorc.org/standards/ohio/item/englishlanguagearts/gli/34.aspx) This tool makes it easier for students to visually see a main category and its components. I can print one off for reach student to use daily and they can go back to it as a guide if they are ever stuck. It's important that students know their sight words from the beginning and will help them later on. Students could also use this tool, maybe with the help of another student or an adult. They could also use it alone after it was demonstrated to them step by step. It's easy to use because there's only a few buttons to choose from. They could even draw one out instead of using a computer and using this website. As a teacher I could use colors of the rainbow, types of chores, or even types of animals. There are endless possibilities when it comes to Bubble.us.

Cool Tool Review

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/story-creator-easy-story-book/id545369477?mt=8

For my cool tool review, I found an app called Story Creator - Easy Story Book Maker for Kids. First, this had pretty good ratings as well as many features. You can scribble a page, upload a picture, add a video, and even add your own voice.
I made a little story of random pictures from this summer and I found it quite easy to use. I could have my students use their parents phones or tablet and make a little book of either drawings or take pictures or recordings of what they did this weekend. The only downside is that it is only accessible on a tablet or phone. It may be a little difficult for them to use alone, so they would have to get help from someone older, which is fine because it is something they could easily do with a parent or guardian. It just makes class a little more fun and exciting. I can show a number of students' book once every week at the beginning of class and it also helps with creativity. It wouldn't take up a lot of time and it would give a chance for a student to present their book to the class and tell about their weekend or about something new they learned. Students, especially young ones, are always wanting to talk about their weekend or what they did the night before so this gives them time to get it out of the way and be able to implement creativity and new information. As a teacher, I could also use this during the day for a project or lesson. Students can take pictures or talk about what they learned that day and make it into a digital book and take it home with them on a tablet or email it to their parents. Since they have access to it at home they can review and easily go back over it at home.

 

TPACK & Tools

• When introducing new tools into the classroom, what questions should you consider before implementation (technical, administrative, pedagogical, other)?
• What are some of the positive attributes as well as potential barriers regarding the introduction of tools in the classroom?
• How will you choose technologies that enhance the teaching approaches for a lesson when you are in your own classroom?
• After learning about TPACK, what questions do you have and how do you think you can begin to answer them?

 

After watching Dr. Holliday's video and reading articles about TPACK ( https://insidetheclassroomoutsidethebox.wordpress.com/2016/02/14/creating-with-new-web-tools/ )   I have learned just how important introducing tools into the classroom, as well as how enhancing technology is for teaching.

There are many questions to be asked when implementing new tools into the classroom. To begin, I would ask if it's easy enough to understand but still challenging enough? It is easily accessible to every student and is it age appropriate? (especially as an Early Childhood major) Another big question would be how much my students would benefit and take away from it. Is there any other tool/device out there that is better? I would also have to see how well it works because teachers are already offered a limited amount of time, so any malfunctions with the device is less time a student has to learn. There are a ton of questions to ask while introducing new tools and it is so important to make sure that they are all covered in order to have a successful learning environment. 

Answering these questions also help show the positive attributes as well as potential barriers regarding new tools. Adding new tools creates endless possibilities for my students and helps expand their accessibility of knowledge. It allows students to learn using different methods and it can help students who may learn better by doing hands on activities but also can relate to students who are visual learners. There are potential barriers though, for example, it could malfunction at any time and like I said earlier, teachers are only offered a limited amount of time, so any time trying to fix a new tool is time wasted. It could also be hard to relate a new tool to every student, so I believe it is important to make sure that this tool is easily accessed by everyone as well as relates to an individuals learning needs.

First, I will choose a tool that embraces the diversity of my students by recognizing that each student comes with a different background as well as learning style. I will also choose a tool that is time efficient, it won't take too long to set up and my students will get good use out of it. 

The big question I would have to ask about TPACK is how to know which tools are best, especially with how diverse a classroom is. I could go about it by selecting a few of my favorite tools and doing them over and over myself. I could also give options to my students as well by having them pick which ones best fits them. 

Reuse, Redistribute, Revise, Remix

• How do we capture the spirit of open, networked, and participatory communities in our learning environments?
• What does open access look like the classroom?
• What do you see as the future of education in a context where teaching and learning can happen anywhere, anytime, and with anyone?
• How does access to technology impact the use of textbooks in the classroom? Will textbooks in a traditional sense be obsolete?

The majority of people in the U.S. are in some shape or from exposed to the use of technology, especially my generation and the generations below mine. It would be almost impractical to not use it, especially in a classroom setting. I have been using technology in the classroom since I started preschool, and that was almost 15+ years ago, and it has only dramatically increased since then. After watching many videos and reading many blogs and articles about Alec Couros, I have learned an incredible amount about open, networked, and participatory communities, especially in a classroom.  ( http://educationaltechnology.ca/couros/ ) (https://youtu.be/3XaA-ORiveo ) 

There are so many ways teachers can show openness/participatory communities in a classroom. They can have students work on group projects or work in pairs, which allows them to all share their own, unique ideas as well as learn from their peers. They can also work in a group by using google docs if they wanted to incorporate technology as well, which allows both students to work at home, if needed, on the same document together. 

Open, networked, and participatory communities can also help teachers as well. If a teacher is stuck on a lesson and they are not sure the best way to present or teach it, they can easily look up blogs or youtube channels to get a better idea on how to approach it. This also goes for students, if they have a hard time understanding an idea or subject from a certain teacher, they can access a different approach online from another teacher to better understand. Making a classroom open and making it a participatory community, is only beneficial to the students, as well as educators. 

There are also benefits to allowing education and learning to happen anywhere, anytime, and with anyone. Why should learning ever be restricted?? Some people learn better by themselves, some learn better face-to-face, some function better in the morning, some at night; it allows students to do what's best for them and learn the way they want to learn. Personally, I like online classes because it allows me to work at my own pace, but I also like face-to-face for classes that may be harder to do alone, like math or history. With this class, there's really no need to go into a classroom, I have access to everything on my computer and can do it whenever I want. I believe education should have multiple options and should be customized to fit student needs. 

I do not believe textbooks will ever be completely obsolete. I would much rather have hard copies of text in my hands because I always pay more attention and follow along much better. With textbooks you can highlight, make footnotes, circle words or sentences to come back to, and you never have to worry about connecting to wifi or internet.  As for others, many enjoy an online copy not only because it's cheaper, but it's easier to carry (Because as every college student knows, textbooks weigh a lot). One good thing about online textbooks is that students can easily access them at home (if they have a computer) so they never have to worry about forgetting or misplacing them. I do believe with the technology we have today textbooks will definitely be used a lot less, but never be completely gone. 

Week 3- to share or to not share?

•   How should teachers and leaders share their work?

•   How do you decide what to share and what not to share?

•   What needs to be learned "off stage" so that students do not have their failures immortalized more than their successes?

•   Does sharing always have to be online or can face to face sharing be as effective?

•   What is the value of sharing "everything"?

•   As a teacher, how will you cultivate the community engagement you need for helpful and constructive criticism?

•   What are some ways you respond to the perception or belief that public writing (or media) etc should be formal or error-free?

•   How can we begin to create a culture that encourages transparency?

Sharing is something everyone learns at an early age and is a quality that everyone should possess throughout their whole life, even as adults. After watching numerous videos and reading many articles, I have learned so much about the effectiveness of teachings sharing their plans and ideas, not only to their students, but other teachers as well. Sharing their work and ideas will only be beneficial and super effective. After reading, 3 Reasons Why You Should Share and 3 Things You can Do to Start Sharing and watching the video of Dean Shareski, I have seen first hand not just how effective sharing ideas in blogs is, but how EASY it is. Teachers can share their future lessons, past lessons, ideas, and even their teaching skills, like what seems to work and what doesn't, in these blogs. 

Teachers should already know what they should post and to not post. If the teacher has to question whether or not to post something, they probably shouldn't. They should only posts blogs or tweets that are positive, uplifting, or beneficial to other students or teachers. It really all comes down to common sense. Having social media myself, like twitter and Facebook, I know what’s right to post and what’s not right. I know not to use vulgar language or to post things that later I might regret or something that may start unnecessary drama. Teachers should look at it the same way- if it's not uplifting or beneficial to the people who interact with it, then don't post it. (Which also answers the question of "What needs to be learned "off stage" so that students do not have their failures immortalized more than their successes?")

I used to think that face-to-face sharing used to be more effective, but after taking many online courses, I see many benefits. For example, if I learned something in class but did not have time to write it down, I can't really go back to in when I am trying to study in my room, however, online I have everything right in front of me and can re-watch a video or go back and find a slide if I need to. On top of that, online there is an endless amount of information and help, while in person there may be only a limited amount. The down side to online is that it can also be distracting, for example, sometimes while watching a video, I get distracted by twitter or Facebook because it's more easily accessed. Another downside to online is that it lacks the physical learning and 

engagement. I believe using both face-to-face and online courses together would be the most beneficial. 

Sharing "everything" just means there is nothing to hide and whoever is doing so, is bringing and sharing all ideas that they may have to contribute to other teachers or students. It helps their peers come up with new ideas or lessons and in the end is beneficial to someone who is lost or confused. 

As a teacher, I plan to cultivate the community engagement for both helpful and constructive criticism by first forming a trusting and fully engaging relationship with both my coworkers and students. By creating a good relationship, I open the up the doors to be helpful but also constructive when needed. If I am not giving out constructive criticism then I am not doing my best and fulfilling my responsibilities as an effective teacher.

Public writing should definitely be error-free, because who believes and wants to read an article that has numerous errors? It says so many things about the author and their credibility as a teacher or educator. There are so many devices that help catch mistakes, so it should be hard to have misspelled words. Although, mistakes do happen and will happen, I do believe for the MOST part public writing or media needs to be mostly formal and error-free.

To create a culture that encourages transparency, we need to start with the leadership within the school. By connecting through social media or other online platforms only gives an advantage and is very valuable. Teachers can share notes/ with other teachers and be clear with student expectations and girls, so they can also be apart of the transparent culture. (Read this article if you want to know more about transparent communities, I found it very interesting, http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/05/19/how-transparency-can-transform-school-culture/ ).

http://langwitches.org/blog/2014/12/21/3-reasons-why-you-should-share-and-3-things-what-you-can-do-to-share/