INTASC Rubric

This is my final post for this portfolio. It is a Google Document that contains a brief review of this portfolio and how it meets the INTASC principles 4.13 and 6.35. I have used a variety of different tools and show a range of technology in this blog folio. It is a culmination of my work in an Education Technology class. It shows my ability to use, implement and consider a variety of multimedia and web tools to enhance learning and technological literacy in a classroom.

View this rubric by clicking on this link.

Multimedia Project - UStream

Natasha and I created an interview to display the use of UStream. The beginning process was relatively simple: we signed up, clicked start broadcast, start recording, recorded, stop recording, stop broadcast. Then we saved the video into the YOUR VIDEOS section. At the bottom was a link to embed. This was where we ran into some trouble. The code wasn't complete and Blogger could not read it. We asked around and finally found some help. A piece of code >/embed was missing, so the program did not know when to stop embedding. So, the recording was easy, embedding not so much. However, this is not indicative of all groups.



UStream is a cool way for students to record presentations, skits or speeches without the added fear of people watching. They can practice until they get it right, and the class still has the opportunity to view the presentation. One note of caution if you decide to use UStream with your students: the site contains age-inappropriate material with seemingly innocent titles, so you will need to teach and emphasize digital citizenship to your students and be ready to defend your decision to parents and administrators. It is an effective tool when used reliably because you don't have to worry about compatibility, students forgetting or not being able to acquire a TV with the right hook-ups, etc.

**It has come to my attention (through a very observant person) that the "hotline" number given is actually 1-555-MATH and NOT 1-800-MATH. I would just like to say, this is one of the not true items in this video. Thank you.

New Tech Standards & Requirements

After reviewing the standards and requirements addressed in NET*S, NET*T, OETS, and the new OR diploma, I believe that the purpose of all of these lies in the recognition that technology is quickly becoming a part of the daily routine. Unless we choose to live in a cave or up in the Alaskan or Yukon wilderness, completely removed from civilization, technology will pervade our lives every day. The standards address this issue, and the overall goal is to prepare students to be able to function competently in this technological world. Since we are teachers, we must provide students the opportunity to grow as technological users and to experience technology as a useful tool for business (work/school) as well as for play (social).

So, as a Spanish (and math) teacher, what are some strategies I can use to help students achieve these standards?

*Creativity and Innovation - students can use tools like UStream to create presentations in Spanish. This eliminates the fear of acting in class in front of an audience and still provides students the opportunity to share presentations and to listen and give feedback to their peers. Students could also upload these presentations to a class blog so that they can view each others'.

*Communication & Collaboration - Presentations are another great use, especially if students develop them using tools like Google presentations. If students are not allowed their own email account, we can have a class email that allows all students access. Also, a class blog or website where students can start forums and discussions emphasizes group learning and teamwork. Students help each other and become more independent learners.

*Research & Information Fluency - Any research project, in either math or Spanish, would support this standard. Students are constantly challenged in foreign language to learn more culture and compare different traditions with their own. In math, research plays a large part in understanding concepts. Also, research and the ability to evaluate the validity of a site's information is a cross-curricular skill that all students need, especially as they turn away from books and toward the internet.

*Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, & Decision Making - This goes hand in hand with research projects. Students who do research on the internet or use technological tools must make decisions regarding the best tool to use for searching, analyzing and presenting information. There are many valuable sites in Spanish, like El Mundo, a Hispanic-world news site. There are also many many interactive tools that help show and explain high-level mathematics. Students can use these to explore projects and answer research questions.

*Digital Citizenship - This is a really important skill, and one that would be taught simultaneously in a class that allowed students to post to a class website or a class blog, access to a class email and/or collaboration on Web2.0 sheets like Google Docs, Google Presentations or Google Sheets. There is always opportunity for unethical behavior in any situation, and students need to understand how to work within those environments as a respectful citizen. Technology is no different, and using it in the classroom would definitely create the opportunity to teach/model this behavior.

*Technology Operations & Concepts - Starting with basic skills is most important, but as students learn more about technology and improve their skills, we have the opportunity to challenge them. For example, students know how to use basic processors like Word or Excel; then they apply that knowledge to Google Docs or Sheets. Students know how to type an email; we teach them to blog or to collaborate. Also, as we use technology, invariably problems will arise. We can take those moments and challenge students to become self-sufficient by trying to solve the problem. If they cannot solve it themselves, we can encourage collaboration with peers, and then help them out.

OTEN Conference

Well, this is my Yodio OTEN review. I went to 3 sessions: the keynote speaker, a class website session, and a Stellarium session. From the keynote speaker, I learned that it will be difficult to change students' preconceived ideas; however the TPaCK (technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge) are essential to good, effective teaching. From the website session, I learned that I do not want a blog for each class' website, but rather a blog to support a class website (on say, perhaps, Google Sites). From the Stellarium session, I learned that it's okay to let students struggle, to make their own conjectures and then discuss, evaluate and refine them. If I do this, though, closure will be key and it will need to be solid, so that students have a clear understanding of what they learned and how they were right/not right in their initial hypotheses. I am supposed to link this too, so either see below for my Yodio or click on this link to get to my Yodio site.



Yodio would be a great way for my math students to call in and record notes and thoughts about math presentations and/or movies that they see. Nearly every student has access to a cell phone, and if they come across something that excites them, it is a simple phone call away to record those thoughts. Then, the entire class can listen and get some ideas for math cultural ideas. Spanish students can call in and practice their audio speeches. this would be a great use in class; since we do a lot of audio activities, it would really enhance learning and participation to use the students own audio recordings for these activities.

Analyzing Student Data in a Spreadsheet

Google spreadsheets are very much like Excel in their usefulness to me. I have to admit, it is nice to have that autosave, so that I don't have to remember to do it. Also, the gadgets are pretty cool, although it does take some time and patience to figure them out and get them to show what you want. I did not find the gadget help page very helpful at all, but I rarely find help pages helpful. It was interesting to play around with this data, and I learned how to squeeze columns together to make them less visible but still there.

As a quick overview, my data showed me that although all the students have improved over the course of the 5 tests, their paths have been very different. Some improved linearly, one showed huge improvement followed by a slight regression and leveling off, and one student was pretty level although slightly improving. Some students improved much more than others overall. Also, the students did not all achieve the same final scoring level. A more detailed analysis is included in my document.

Here is a link to my actual Google sheet.



Spreadsheets would be a great way for students in a Spanish class to create vocabulary lists that they can access from any computer with internet by using the Foreign Language gadget. This would be a great way to do side by side comparisons. It could be used as a personal journal or record of all the things they have learned. In my math classes, Google Sheets is a great tool for students to work on projects in groups or to work on projects individually. Especially over the breaks (Spring break, Fall break and holiday break), when I don't have any meeting times with students, I can assign projects and be available to help them as they work on it. All they would need to do is share it with me.

Skype Experience

I created an account, which went fairly well. To be honest, I am not a big fan of needing a Skype account. For one thing, I have an older computer right now that does not have a microphone or webcam. I will be replacing my computer in the next few years so I am not inclined to go by either one of these devices. This leaves me the ability to chat via IM, and I can do that with many of my same contacts using google chat. However, once I do get a new computer, I can see how this might be of value for my students. If they have Skype, and we are both on our computer, they can call me if they have questions. Now, I am not so sure how I feel about this. To me, it's like giving out my home phone number, and I don't know that I want to be reached all of the time. I like my own personal downtime too, so I think I would need to play with it and set some boundary lines were I to use this. I look forward to seeing how it plays out for me and its usefulness to me during this semester. One major benefit I can see is using it when I travel internationally to keep in touch with family and friends -- it is a much easier and cheaper way to stay in touch rather than trying to buy a cell phone or international phone plan. If I take students abroad, I will bring a computer, and allow students to contact their parents from Skype instead of calling. This will also be much easier and cheaper, especially for the student.

Web2.0 tool demo

For this project, I did a little digging around to see what Google Sites was all about. In fact, in order to see how to use Google Sites, I created a website. My website is a practice site for me until I build a class website. This Web2.0 tool would be of great use in the classroom. It's a one-stop shop for the teacher, the students and the parents. The class website can have announcements, calendars, students' work, lesson plans, homework, updated class information, forums, etc. It can link to a class blog page so that anyone may access see the blog. The best part about this free tool is that no html code is required; everything you need is just the click of a button and the push of some computer keys. *There is a slight disclaimer: a basic design is easy to do, but more sophisticated tasks may take more time and effort.

My Favorite Web2.0 Tools

Web2.0 is the collection of many different tools that all use the internet to create, store, and share items. Any person with access to internet can create, store, and share documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos, audio files, blogs, websites, presentations, slide shows, calendars, etc. Web2.0 tools have eliminated the frustration of compatibility issues and the loss of material due to software or hardware crashes. These tools are very useful in a classroom because they allow ALL students to access the same items (ie document or presentation) from any computer with internet. I will not need to remember my computer every day, nor cross my fingers that all the necessary hookups are available, because all material is already there and waiting. These tools also allow me to give quick feedback to students, allow students to give feedback to each other, and eliminate the "dog ate my homework" and "I lost it in my binder" excuses.

Two tools I found interesting were the audio recording devices like Yodio and UStream and the Google Sites website creator. UStream is a free Web2.0 tool where students can record and broadcast either audio and video or just audio. There is a button where students can link their video to a blog. This would be a great tool for foreign language oral assessments and oral practice. They could upload it to a class blog for me to assess. Google Sites provide a quick and easy (HTML code free) way of designing a class website. This is a great tool for keeping parents informed and to keep students informed in case they forget the assignment or left their notebook at school. It is a one-stop shop for all class information, so information is organized and easily accessible. Also, students may be able to create their own sites and begin a portfolio of their best work and thoughts about the class; this would give them ownership of the content.

What are Blogs good for in MY classroom?

As an instructor, I can use blogs to update my class lessons. I can create a blog for each class, post lesson plans, objectives, links, and calendars on this site. That way, my students have a site to access to find homework and review. I can also use blogs to create class or small group discussions. I can post questions and have students respond to each other.

Students could create small group blogs so that they could quickly discuss group assignments with each other. This allows them to work independently and share information with the group. Students could also use a blog to communicate with me. We could either have a comments blog where students can make suggestions, post questions, or make comments about the class. Students can use blogs as a daily journal where they respond to general classroom feeling, specific questions I ask, or questions they have in general. Finally, I could have students update a blog throughout the year with the work they are most proud of to assemble a portfolio they can easily show their parents and that won't get lost.

Bio

My name is Meagan Potter. I am the oldest of three; my sisters are 21 and 12. I grew up in Great Falls, MT and graduated from Great Falls HS in 2005. I went to Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR where I double majored in math and Spanish. During my junior year, I spent a semester at the Universidad de Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain. I graduated in 2009. I am interested in teaching math, Spanish, or both at either the high school or middle school level. I would love to teach abroad -- both in Spanish speaking countries and some non-Spanish speaking countries.

My major academic interests are EVERYTHING! I have loved school since before I started and I have always loved learning. My biggest passions are language, Math, and speech/debate. I attended 2 major and 1 minor math conferences last year, where I had the opportunity to present my senior research and a classroom research project as well as hear talks by some well-known mathematicians. I love to be challenged. I consider myself a nerd to the fullest extent and am excited to learn new things. I am somewhat skeptical and a (recovering) perfectionist, and these can either be both beneficial and detrimental to my learning. I can be very intense and focused about my work, and thus contribute to the stereotype that mathematicians are antisocial.

My hobbies include reading (mostly fiction - historical, fantasy, psycho-thrillers, etc - and classic lit), being outdoors (hiking, swimming, running, biking, playing, beaches, skiing, rock-climbing, rafting, playing, etc), watching movies, traveling, and playing with my pets. I also really enjoy service projects; I spent a 1.5 weeks in Greensburg, KS last summer with a group of teens. I really enjoy working with youth. I like to try nearly everything once, and I have participated in at least 12 organized athletic activities including gymnastics, hula dancing and tae kwon do. Personally, I am a bit goofy and competition matters to me mostly when it's with myself. Long-term health is really important to me, so I try to maintain a lifestyle that promotes mental, physical and emotional health.

Something interesting about me is that since I started working at 16, I have had 6 jobs and 5 major volunteer positions. I have worked as a babysitter, at an ice cream parlor, as a gymnastics coach, as a lifeguard, as a math tutor, as a math grader, and as an assistant circulation supervisor (in a library). I have held volunteer positions such as a bilingual daycare assistant, translator in a sewing class, Latin girls' club assistant, a second adult for a youth program, and an English conversation teacher in Spain. I enjoy variety in my work, and constantly seek new challenges and opportunities. The new challenges and variety brought by each new class each year is part of the appeal to me as a teacher.