Final Reflection of the Semester

Brother West asked us to reflect on the following for our last post of the semester:
* What do you feel is the most useful technology (or teaching approach) you have learned this semester?
I think that learning to use the Google resources has been the most effective because I found out that things such as Google Groups, PowerPoints to access online, etc.

* How do you plan to use this or other technologies in your future teaching?
Collaborative writing, presentations, and group projects.

* How can you use technologies (the ones we learned or others) to engage your students in ACTIVE learning?
I think that the best things about using technology in the classroom is that it IS so interactive, is something that the students are usually very familiar with, and allows for collaboration outside of the classroom. It also allows them to learn without a teacher or a library because they have so much information at their fingertips. However, I do need to teach them where to find reliable sources and information, as well as internet safety. But if they can do that, many doors of active inquiry are opportunity are opened up to them!

I am most proud of...

My educational video :) It is posted on March 30's posting, but here is the link to make life easier on you! Video

I posted the link from Google Reader to Jim Burke: The English Teacher's Companion because he is an acclaimed resource and authority on teaching English. I have found his suggestions very practical and useful and even bought one of his books. Here is the link for the class wiki.

Also, I started a page and posted my lesson plan on using Google Groups to teach persuasive writing. Here is the link.

And I also did the class ratings and the survey. Thanks for everything, Brother West and Brother Young! It was such a helpful class!

Copyright assignment

It wouldn't allow me to embed this video, so I am linking to it instead. I watched a video on teachertube that was about how to conjugate present tense verbs in Spanish. It was fun and educational, but not really copyright safe from what I can tell. I highly doubt that they had permission to use Justin Timberlake's song, "Bringing Sexy Back." Not only that, but they changed the words. They did say under the video in a message that it was a take on Justin Timberlake's song, but they didn't use Freeplay music, and they used the whole song. Other than that, it was safe because it was mostly a teacher and a student in the video, and it was their own pictures and flashcards that they used. It is also for educational purposes. So to make it copyright safe, they would need to get permission from the artist to use and change his song, unless they were only using it in the classrooom- then they would probably be safe. But posting it on the internet breaks copyright laws.

The second one is one of my favorite videos that you have seen before on my blog that is about copyright. I thought it would be interesting to analyze how they got around copyright laws when using such a copyright breaker hungry company. Here is the link. The key thing to this video is that it only uses quick clips of each movie, and that it is for educational purposes. And it probably doesn't hurt that it is teaching people how to not break the copyright law :) I think this is a perfect example of doing what it is talking about, and even tells at the beginning that the clips are from Disney, but that it is in no way affiliated with or approved by Disney. Perfectly copyright safe from what I can see with the knowledge I have!

Project finishing touch

Okay, so I didn't enter the competition as planned. I had some family issues come up the week of and when I talked to the main competition employee, he informed me that I had to get the video done by Monday. I couldn't meet the deadline, so I have just done the main assignment according to the class assignment. The lesson plan for the project is on my Monday, February 22 post and here is the link to the artifact that I created from Google Groups as an example of what the student's product might look like.

Internet Safety Videos

I watched this video first, and it scared me, even! It is about stalkers targeting youth on the internet. It is produced by Phoenix library. I liked that at the end, it gave some helpful information that I didn't even know, like don't use a screen name that lets people know if you are a boy or a girl, using a different screen name for all the sites you visit, set your myspace/facebook profiles to private, never ever put your home phone number on the internet, and never post your email address on a site with your identity information.

I also watched a news report about teens on the internet. It was focused on preventing identity theft. Quest polled youth and found that the top ways were students' information was compromised were the following: using too much personal information on social networking sites, talking with and meeting strangers online, giving out their social security numbers on online job applications, failing to recognize phishing scams, and keeping personal information such as passwords and social security numbers in their cell phones.

I think it would be a good idea to have a lesson at the beginning of each school year where we go over this type of information and send things home to ensure the parents that you are being safe and equipping their kids with SAFE internet abilities to use to further and enrich their studies.

I talked with a mother of 3 girls in their 20s. She shared that she has been worried mostly about buying things online. I shared with her these videos with tips, and she didn't realize how easy it was to get information. She was planning on talking to her girls to give them the tips from these videos in order to help them stay safe, as well as keep their identities such as well.

Internet Safety: Elder Bednar's "Things as they Really Are"

What were the most important things I learned from the talk, and how will what I have read influence my actions as a teacher of children and youth?

Elder Bednar talks at the beginning of the importance of the body. Last week, one of my professors was talking about the importance of getting the students up and moving. It got me thinking about the connection between the body and the spirit, which creates the soul. If we learn through the spirit, as we do all good knowledge, there is something important that I am still exploring with the body being involved.

Also, by way of being a parent or teacher, it made me think of how often Satan attacks the body because he does not have one and is jealous of ours. If we look around us, the biggest temptations that face youth have to do with their bodies: many youth fight eating disorders, immorality, and low self-esteem. Rather than shake it off as something that is "typical" of students or youth, I need to recognize how big of a temptation that is for them with their surroundings and help them have all the tools necessary to recognize and combat Satan's temptations. I need to help them see how wonderful they are, who they are, and never be one to look down on them, or allow them to think negatively of themselves or others.

It also made me think of how I need to be really careful with integrating technology in to the classroom. It is a tool, and is helpful-- however, I do not want to be so wrapped up in it that the point of my English class is lost. He said that some are caught in a web of online socializing or gaming. I do not want them to forget the real people in their class, or forget that myself, for that matter. There is an important aspect of being physically present and associating face-to-face that technology cannot do.

However, some students may participate more when there is less to be embarrassed by. For example, they may not feel comfortable talking in class, but they will in a class blog. They are hiding behind a "mask". However, there is a danger in this mask. As Elder Bednar discussed, sometimes that online persona will lead to inappropriate online, contrived relationships. We cannot forget or neglect those real people in front of us.

This talk convinced me to ween off of facebook (while many simply delete theirs, I have communication with many from my mission in Argentina and love remaining in contact with them and other friends.) However, facebook cannot take over my life and I cannot live in it, nor allow it to distract me from my daily responsibilities. I must check it in moderation.

I would like to remember what he said we should remember to ask ourselves: does this technology enrich my life and invite the Spirit? Does it take away or allow me to fulfill my responsibilities and loving relationships?

This generation has a greater capability for righteousness than any other. I hope to always remember how amazing the kids are I am raising and/or teaching and see them "as they really are", despite how frustrated I may be with them some days.