I have learned a lot from this course.  Actually, I THOUGHT I did a lot of digital learning, but found I have a long way to go!!!  We do several projects, and will continue to, but I want to take digital learning to another level.  I want my students to be motivated and excited about learning digitally!!!  We have gone 1:1, and we're taking baby steps.  I hope those baby steps soon become giant steps!!  I'm starting by posting assignments and letting them submit their assignments to me.  We will very soon pick it up and take our digital learning to the next step!  I'll probably start with our regular assignments and knock them up a notch!!  I've enjoyed learning from my peers, who are ahead of me, but who are very willing to help!  Thanks!!!    Even after 26 years of teaching, I'm excited to learn and teach in a new way!!

My own digital footprint is pretty clean.  I never post anything that I wouldn't want my boss or grandmother to see!  Apparently, I'm boring!! Haha!!  As a teacher in a very small town, I am VERY careful about what I post, and what I do!  I try not to put myself in situations that could put my positive digital footprint in jeopardy.  I love the term "digital tattoo" and will remind my students of this when they are posting pictures and statuses.   Digital media should be used in a positive way to promote people, not in a negative way.  Students need to be reminded that pictures posted on digital media are there FOREVER!!  Do they want to Google themselves in 10 years and see things they wish they hadn't posted??  Everyone goes through "growing pains", but we don't want the whole world to see that!!  I'll remind my students that when they post their status, it should be positive, and they shouldn't trash others.  If they have a beef with someone, they should personally address that person, NOT post it on Facebook!    I hope parents keep a tight rein on their children, and watch what they're doing on digital media.  They should know who they are friends with on Facebook, who they are chatting with on Snapchat, and who sees their Instagram pictures.  As their teacher, I hope I can help students decide that what they post should be in a positive light, and NOT too personal!..

I can so see myself doing exactly what Susie did!!  I've have actually done that kind of thing before!!  One year I have a great idea to supplement my lesson, and the next year I completely forget that resource!!!  There's just so much to keep track of!!    To remember that I have great resources, I would make a notation in my plan book.  I use an online plan book, so when I look at it from last year, there will be a notation in it.  I always use the previous year's plan book as a guide for this year.

I'm excited to get started with the ideas I've learned from this class.  Several of you are much more advanced at using the technology than I seem to be, and I love learning from you!  Your suggestions are valuable!!!  Thanks!!!

Daniel Pink's video DEFINITELY applies to education in the form of merit pay.  The higher ups feel it motivates teachers and improves education when we KNOW that isn't true!  Telling a teacher they will only earn a raise if their test scores are in a certain range is not right.  We can't judge a teacher by whether their students perform or not!  Children are NOT robots who perform when taught a certain way.  There are so many other aspects to how a child does in school besides their teacher! Are they loved, fed, nurtured??  What is their brain wired to learn?  Not everyone learns in the same way, and our students are no different!  I wish our government and state boards of education would watch this video and learn from it!

I want to motivate my students intrinsically NOT extrinsically....especially after viewing this video.  All of us have given stickers/candy, etc...to motivate our students.  Maybe it works for a little bit, but it isn't a long term solution.  Giving students Autonomy will motivate students to "be in charge of their own education".  THEY will decide how THEY want to learn.    To do this, I must give FLEXIBLE assignments and differentiate according to abilities.  I can't grade two different students who have done the assignment in two different ways EXACTLY the same way.  These two students may have very different abilities.  The key to this, is that I have to let go of all the control.  THIS is the tough part for me!    Students who choose the way they wish to complete an assignment will be able to master the information. They will WANT to do a good job because it is what they WANT to do.  (Mastery)  THEY have the control!!!  They will find out they have a purpose in this project.  Not only do they have to complete it, but they'll figure out it has meaning to the greater picture of what they are supposed to learn!!  (Purpose)
By motivating them intrinsically, they will WANT to do their best, and in turn will learn what I wanted them to learn in the first place!

To do this, I will start with a regular Social Studies assignment I give during our Culture Week.  Usually, I have students do a travel brochure in groups then do a presentation on that information.  I will simply give my students guidelines about the information that should be presented and let them choose the way they wish to convey this information.  They could do a PowerPoint, brochure, blog, pic collage, etc...  I'll let them choose the media they wish to use.  This is an end of the year project, so they would be familiar with these programs.  Since we will be a 1:1 classroom, ALL students will have access to the same info and programs.  I can't wait to see what they can do!  The students who need more support will get it, and those who are able to work independently, will be able to do that!!  

Prior to reading the information in this module, I thought I integrated technology in my classroom pretty well.  After reading the information, I've decided I have a long way to go!

In the Levels of Technology Integration Model, I am at the Adaptation level.  In my classroom, students have access to technology tools, and use them on a daily basis.

In the SAMR Model, this puts my class at the Augmentation step, although in some assignments they are moving to the Modification step.  One of my big assignments using technology is to assign a travel brochure and then take that information and put it into Keynote, and develop a presentation.  I guide them by telling them which information they must include, such as pictures, animations, music, etc.  At the end students share their brochures with other students and make their presentations to the other classes.  Because most of this is teacher directed, this places me in the Adaptation level.  According to the article Technology Integration Matrix Introduction presentation transcript "at the Adaptation level, the teacher integrates technology as integral part of the lesson."

I do, however, believe I am moving to the Infusion level because I do allow students to make decisions about the use of the technology.  My goal by the end of the first semester would be to move completely to the Infusion level.  At the same time I want to move to the Modification level in the SAMR Model.  It is time for me to take that huge leap of faith into TRULY integrating technology in my classroom.  It's time for me to "let go of some control" and let the students take ownership of their learning!!!.

1:1 !!!! What should I think????

This is my first attempt at a blog!  I have been teaching for 26 years now, and am nervous about starting  a 1:1 iPad initiative.  Our corporation is purchasing iPads for grades 6-9 that will follow the child throughout those years.  My niece, a sixth grader, is pumped about it, but I'm not sure!!
I'm excited, but really nervous!!  I want to meet the challenge and not seem like the "old dog" in the process!  We will be using Schoology with this process, and I've been assured this will make my life easier!!!  Have any of you used this program to post assignments??  I teach in a 6th grade self contained classroom, so I teach ALL subjects.  Should I jump right into using Schoology and iPads, or ease into it one subject at a time????  And....do I start on day one with ALL subjects posted on Schoology, or one class at a time??

Ready to Learn?? Stifling Their Learning????

In the video by Jason Roseberry, the question is posed...Do we hold students back because we think they aren't ready to learn a concept???   It seems as if we, as adults, think we always need to be in charge of a student's learning instead of letting the child be in charge of their own learning.   I am definitely changing my mindset about this!  If a student expresses interest in learning a concept, I want to let them go with it!!  I don't want kids to think they have to learn at the same rate as everyone else, or on MY schedule!  I think that stifles their learning!!!  We need to turn kids loose on certain projects, and  let them guide themselves through the learning process.  They learn as they are ready!!!  As a teacher I need to learn to guide them NOT micromanage!!!   Students have access to learn so many new concepts at the click of a finger!!!  They don't have to wait on their teacher  to give them assignments, they can choose what they want to learn.  Isn't this the goal to make them lifelong learners????!!!!    This will be a personal goal of mine this school year...to let them spread their wings and fly!!