What I Learned from Your Blog Posts #6-10

Hi, everyone

Time flies! We are in Week 12 now. Just let you know, it's snow day where I live. It's code but nice. :)

It's time to summarize what I have learned from your blog posts #6-10. I have enjoyed reading your thought-provoking posts. I liked or commented on some of your posts.
As I did in my last post, I am about to mention you and your blog posts in different weeks. I hope you would read my post first, and then check the blog posts I am about to mention later.

Something about Post # 6

Thanks for sharing your school website or class page in your post # 6, I learned different kinds of information were shared publically on different school websites or class pages. I am glad to see most of you found Twitter a useful tool to build your personal learning network and communicate with your peers, future students, and parents.

• Haley shared her high school website, and one class page maintained by her Anatomy teacher. The teacher shared videos, worksheets, and powerpoint per chapter on the class page. You can check the website and interesting class page.
• Jordan shared the Warren Township school website, and one class page maintained by Miss Haydu. She provided the web link and two clear screenshots. Regarding the twitter assignment, she talked about how she used Twitter as a platform to ask questions which were ones that you would be able to relate to as well as questions geared towards me for me to answer.

My note:

• Two questions for you, have you checked Jordan's tweets and those questions geared towards me? Would you consider using Twitter as a platform to ask questions specifically in the future?

• Sheighlin shared Charlotte High School's website and provided a brief description of two old teachers' pages. She mentioned a short bio, class info, syllabus, all that good stuff on a class page.

Something about Post # 7

You all did a great job in explaining why (or why not) you would like to maintain a course website as a teacher and reflecting on your Web Evaluation assignment. Some of you would like to maintain one, while others would like not to do that. I am glad to know most of you learned something from the Web Evaluation assignment and found it beneficial.
You provided a list of interesting software tools, including, but not limited to:

• XMind was mentioned by Ben.
• Socrative was mentioned by Carly and Sheighlin. Carly stated, "Socrative is a system that allows teachers to create exercises or educational games which students can solve using devices ".
• Grammarly was mentioned by Hale.
• Edmodo was mentioned by Jordan. I have explored the tool before. It was one of the good class management platforms where teachers can publish assignments, polls, discussions, and other important things.
• Kahoot was mentioned by Morgan, which is a tool for creating game-like learning environments.
• ClassDojo was mentioned by Megan, which is widely used in elementary schools.
• Visme.com, one concept mapping too, was mentioned by Mycah.

My note:

• I encourage you to explore the above-mentioned tools. Here are two questions for you to think about: have you used some or all of the above tools? What do you think of these tools? 

Something about Post # 8

Most of you did a great job in talking about adaptive technologies and new skills you acquired from working on the WebQuest assignment! Some of you talked about your experience of using adaptive technologies, while some talked about your observations of how others use adaptive technologies. I am glad to know most of you enjoyed working on the WebQuest assignment by using Wix.com and developing a new skill in creating a website. I really like exploring those creative websites created by you.

• Megan's journal 8 talked about examples of adaptive technologies are audio players, seat cushions, phonetic spelling software, talking calculators, smartpens.
• Sheighlin shared how a little girl used Tablet to communicate with others since she could speak.
• Abraham talked about how to remedy one challenge when using adaptive technologies in class: learning curve that initially comes with it.
• Morgan, Jordan, and Sheridan talked about various types of adaptive technologies including braille printers, voice recognition help, magnifying screen, large print textbooks, computers with voice in or voice out outputs, and alternative types of mouses and keyboards, in the Canvas discussion forum: https://canvas.fsu.edu/courses/105609/discussion_topics/582038 

 My note

• One question for you, what do you think of the learning curve when it comes to using adaptive technologies? 

Something about Post # 9

You did a great job in discussing technology advancement that holds the biggest promise for education and Digital Divide! Most of you agreed that the Digital Divide affected student success in schools. To overcome the challenge, some of you would like to provide enough time for students to complete assignments in a computer lab at school, implement paper and pencil assignments, or choose not to heavily rely on technology.
You provided technology advancement that holds the biggest promise including, but not limited to:

• Most of you including Jessica, Jennifer, Katie, agreed that Cloud computing held the biggest promise. Jessica provided a good example of Google Doc. Katie talked about how students could access class information on the cloud anytime and anywhere. It is especially helpful during snow days. Megan mentioned an online virtual world known as Second Life used at FSU. This program allows students to interact with their classmates in a virtual world. I encourage you to explore Second Life.
• Abraham, Morgan, Taylor, and Carly agreed augmented reality has great potentials by integrating one's mobile device and computer-generated data to it. It could be used for creating an educational game for students and used for promoting mobile learning anytime and anywhere. Morgan shared her post # 9 via the Canvas discussion forum.
• Ben talked about makerspaces, where you could access technologies including 3D printers.
• Like Morgan, Sheridan and Jordan shared their post via the discussion forum https://canvas.fsu.edu/courses/105609/discussion_topics/582055. Both of them agreed on Gamification that holds great potentials. If you are interested, I encourage you to check this document about gamification elements to use for learning: achievements rewards, story, time, personalization, and microinteractions. https://trainingindustry.com/content/uploads/2017/07/enspire_cs_gamification_2016.pdf

My note: two questions for you to think about

• After reading your posts, do you agree with them on the potentials of the above-mentioned technology advancement? Do you agree with them on the causes of Digital Divide? 

Something about Post # 10

You did a great job in discussing "The Flipped Classroom" and sharing a link to a source of educational videos. I think most of developed a thorough understanding of this instructional design. It asks students to watch lecture videos outside of the class and come to the next class with the knowledge and lots of questions. Practices and activities are often facilltated in class to reinforce students' knowledge and skills.
I encourage you to check those links shared by your classmates.
I am glad to know that you learned a lot from your PowerPoint assignments. I am sorry to hear that some of you were struggling with action buttons. But you figured it out and created attractive and interesting slides.

• Katie considered the model an outgrowth of educational vodcasting, educational videocasts. She shared nice screenshots of her PowerPoint assignments.
• Carly, Jennifer, and Ben talked about why she had mixed thoughts of the instructional design model. I agree it might not be an effective way for some teachers and some students with different learning styles.
• Morgan, Megan, Jordan, submitted your post via the discussion forum: https://canvas.fsu.edu/courses/105609/discussion_topics/582057. Three of them and Katie engaged in inspiring and in-depth dialogue. I encourage you to check their posts and comments in the discussion forum. 

My note:

• A question for you, after reading the chapter and your peers' posts, would you consider using this instructional design in your future class? Why or why not?

This is the end! Thanks for reading it through!
Good luck with your blog post # 11. Please let me know if you have any questions.