Thing 19: Online Learning & DIY PD

Personal Learning Plan

I'd like to look more at webinars and edcamp to explore more technology topics.  We have been consistently using glogster, voicethread and animoto and it would be exciting to find new tools that teachers and students could use.  

I have had a twitter account for several years, but rarely use it.  I like the idea of keeping social media for work separate from social media for my personal life.  While reading one of the edutopia articles you posted which included tips on how to use twitter, I realized I should use it for my work life.  Even though I follow celebrities like Steve Martin, what if say, 90% of my twitter could be for my professional life?  I think this is a goal I will be working towards.

I looked at many of the website articles you posted for this topic.  Reading more about edcamp, and not being familiar with the concept, I decided to watch an edcamp video.  I went to the edcamp website and listened to part of a session on Google Hangout, which I have used before to chat with a family member.  It was interesting to see how it worked, and the group of people who set it up and make it happen, as well as how it is set up.  It seemed like it takes quite a bit of time to set one up, but I enjoyed the smackdown at the end, where moderators shared the tools they shared with the participants, (who we could not see).   It makes sense that someone came up with the idea of edcamp: it's free and all you need is a computer and a connection!  Real time conferences do limit us, due to cost, travel, the needs of our families and schedules.  I'm glad to live in a time where we have so many options.  What do you have to lose by participating in an online edcamp?  I love that as I fold laundry or eat lunch at home, I can also be learning something!  I even passed on Haiku Deck, a presentation tool a mod shared during the smackdown, to my principal, who had mentioned to me that he wanted to try out a new way to present.  

Through one of the links, I found an "in person" edcamp to attend.  It is on Saturday, October 25th in Queensbury, NY.  I would drive one hour to attend a special event like this.  I have never been to one before.  I also was glad to see it is on a Saturday.  There have been several conferences I couldn't attend this year because teachers were bringing their classes to me for specific instruction.  

Something not included in this idea to explore, but I have been thinking about accountability with online PD.  To make sure that educators have viewed said webinar, maybe they need to write a summary of the webinar, (at the least).  Perhaps they could also take a brief quiz to "prove" they were there?  I'm guessing this area is still under development where proving you've completed something is concerned, and there isn't a way to get a certificate.

We have an online system, (PDExpress), where you propose to receive PD credit for a conference, online course, etc.  I think if part of my learning plan were to attend conferences, my school would most likely give credit for that time spent.  Luckily, yes, I think my school does support and encourage the idea of personal learning plans. 

I also sent my principal the link to the edutopia video about 20%/Genius Hour.  It would be great if it was something we could incorporate in our school-or at least if a few teachers embraced this concept and gave kids this time.  He may have heard of the idea before, as he does keep up with current trends, but if he sent it out to the faculty, it may encourage others to try this concept.  

Thank you Polly for one of the best  and most useful "Things" yet!

Thing 18: Digital Citizenship

Thing 18: Digital Citizenship

 "Kids are growing up on a digital playground and no one is on recess duty." ~ Kevin Honeycutt on Twitter

This is a timely topic, as I have a course called LEAD, (Library Exploration and Digital Citizenship).  I have been wanting to inject more digital citizenship into the course, and we are not yet at that part of the class, so I hope to gather more ideas from Thing 18.  In LEAD, we already talked about cyberbullying and internet safety, which all lead back in one way or another to digital citizenship.  

In my class, I would like to have students Google themselves, as a quick and easy exercise.  I can even use myself as an example.  When Sara Kelly Johns wrote an SLJ piece that included the animoto videos I use to show what is happening in the library each quarter, I didn't realize that I'd find my name on a handful of blogs, and being quoted as well.  It was a pleasant surprise!  I don't make a habit of googling myself; it had been quite a long time, but I'm glad I did it.  I can show students how one small mention online can spread, (positive or negative). 

I love to take (and post) photos.  Photos, photos and more photos.  Naturally, I wanted to try The Museum of Me.  It was very interesting to see the video, but I could tell it pulled random photos of friends and probably used a similar algorithm to the facebook "Look Back" videos.

I read several of the articles, many of which bring up the fact that college admission officers are Googling students to find out what sort of web presence they have.  I think this is one facet of a person's character, and something colleges should be able to use a part of their college application/assessment.  I don't know that prospective college students would agree with me.

What we post online becomes public information.  I wish more students would realize that it is inevitable and unavoidable that, like it or not, they may be judged based on their digital footprint.  I agree that scaring students is counterproductive.  We need to help them build a positive digital footprint, as unique as they are, and to understand what a powerful thing the Internet is.  I hope to be able to impress this upon them in my class so that they can not only be safe online but also build a positive presence.

Here are two other resources that might be helpful for others:

This website article from NEA will give insight to adults on how teens see their own web presence:

http://neatoday.org/2013/11/18/how-students-view-their-digital-lives/
 

This article stresses the need for education around digital citizenship:

http://www.kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/the-making-of-a-digital-citizen/?mc_cid=1927a1c233&mc_eid=505d8ce252

  

Thing 17: Coding

Thing 17: Coding

I think the two videos you posted were great b/c they really put my mind at ease about coding.  It reassured me it would be fun and that I could do it.  I recall making a website from scratch in college and grad school, so I wasn't too intimidated.

Here is my first attempt at coding made with mozilla Thimble:

I also made a KEEP CALM poster, but I had a hard time being able to save it.

I went to CodeAcademy and did the 30 minute lesson to animate my name.  Here is the result:

http://www.codecademy.com/goals/animate-your-name?done#.UzoHJShRY20

It was an easy, fun beginner project and I could see middle school kids enjoying it.

I also completed One Hour of Code:

I think kids would love coding and the idea that they're creating something while learning, (and not even knowing it), is as good as it gets!  I wish I had more time with my 6th graders-we could do something with coding.  I will think about a way I can work that in.  I am thinking of sharing these sites with the Technology Teachers, esp. the one who does robotics and must teach coding.