At the Fork on the Trail-Cyber PD #3

Special Thanks to Cathy Mere (July 3), Jill Fisch (July 10) and Laura Komos (July 17)

for hosting the collaborative learning opportunity.
At the Fork on the Trail
Cyber PD #3

 

 

As I finished reading the last two chapters (5&6) of Who Owns the Learning?, I realized that  I've come to the end of the book with a choice of two trails on which to continue. I can head down the safe trail, the sure trail, the one that I've been following for a long time! Or I can follow the new trail. The trail that will not yet be marked, muddy and somewhat unsteady but full of learning adventures and students who are creating, collaborating and communicating with the world. This trail I'm envisioning has more teamwork, choice and opportunities for creating which occur more frequently while using digital tools to make it happen...

After reading Chapter 5 and 6, there is no doubt that the roles of global communicator and collaborator are necessary to foster the "sharing" with others to make the work purposeful and meaningful in the world. In the book, the examples shared from Garth Holman's and Mike Pennington's classes provided evidence that kids owning their learning makes a difference! Learning about teaching students empathy and understanding of other views by doing more detailed command searches for different points of view was also valuable. Thanks to Alan November for sharing how to set the searches to get a different points of view about topics being researched.

 

One of the concepts that I really keyed in on was the idea of the "computer side chats" that Garth and Mike shared from their work together.  I connected with both of them via Twitter to let them know.  I heard back from Mike with this tweet:

@aruddteacher100 Thanks Amy..a parent told me she would listen to them with her son: they would listen, pause, research and then move on
— Mike Pennington (@ProfessorMike1) July 16, 2013

We also shared these tweets:

@ProfessorMike1 that's just so neat! Parent and child learning together...what if more teachers did this...
— Amy Rudd (@aruddteacher100) July 16, 2013
 

@aruddteacher100 I would love to see that! I wish every teacher would find a chat buddy and help change teaching/learning
— Mike Pennington (@ProfessorMike1) July 16, 2013

 

These tweets lead me to consider other times when collaboration grew because of having a buddy to check-in with (Instructional Rounds, Literacy Coaching, Ready Schools) and see how things were going.  I think checking in with a buddy raised the level of accountability and also support for what was to be accomplished.   So how could we as a community of learners (Cyber PD)  support each other so that this learning (so new for many of us) continues to grow?

Additionally, over the course of reading these chapters, some other collaborating took place. I connected with Julie Balen and she used popcorn maker to add a video scribe I made to her creation...totally fun!  We are also hoping to get the Coggle I started up and running-another way to collaborate on a web via the internet.  Also, I connected with Lesa Haney on her S'more.  I love the idea of how it can be linked and shared as well.  Finally, connecting with everyone on Pinterest for our CyberPD board started by Cathy Mere was fun as well!  As I mull over all of the fun ways collaboration happened, I am thinking about what this would look like for the students...
 

Think, think, think...I'm still pondering the solid plans that will need to be in place for the learners traveling on this path...I'm still unsure as to how this looks in the primary grades, but I know I will get there-the GPS is loaded with the destination. I just need to enter a few more details and have some more support in place.  Then, I will hit "start"!

 

What do your plans look like? Which trail will you head for?  How will you seek support to grow your learning?

Further down the trail...Cyber PD #2

Special Thanks to Cathy Mere (July 3), Jill Fisch (July 10) and Laura Komos (July 17)

for hosting the collaborative learning opportunity.

As I moved into reading chapters 3 and 4...I feel like I have put many miles on the trail behind me with lots of learning and still many more miles to go-much learning to do.  Thanks to everyone who's participating in this event with me as you've all touched and inspired me in so many ways...

I am reiterating what I shared in my previous thinking about reading this text digitally.  By reading the book Who Owns the Learning? by Alan November on my Kindle app, I am able to instantly move to the digital links offered within the text.  When I've gone to these links, they've been another resource of information to support the Digital Learning Farm way of thinking.  Two links of think for this section via twitter...1) Why am I not already following @globalearner (Alan November) and 2) Why not connect to Darren Kuropatwa @dkuropatwa since he's got a great handle on what the digital scribe should look like-and I want to know more about how the "digital scribe" looks in the primary classroom.  So, I sent him this tweet:

.@dkuropatwa Do you know of any primary classes who are newbies implementing digital scribe roles defined in Who Owns the Learning? #cyberpd
— Amy Rudd (@aruddteacher100) July 9, 2013

He responded with the following suggestion:

@aruddteacher100 In K-2 classes I suggest using narrated images to create daily scribe posts. For tools see @wfryer's http://t.co/zbBNKsVOB3
— Darren Kuropatwa (@dkuropatwa) July 9, 2013

That led me to the link "Mapping Media to the Common Core" by Wesley Fryer-along with a suggestion as to how it might look in K-2 classes.  When I went  to the link, and you'll probably notice too-go there now if you haven't (I'll wait)... that some of the apps we've read about and discussed as a learning community are found there.  It also took me back to the student as tutorial designer-and at Fryer's site-there are many other options in addition to the video scribe and screen chomp.  The site is chocked full of tons of ideas on how you can take your students and get them creating anything they desire...

A key point that was touched on in chapter 3 is publishing and getting feedback from an audience!  I know first hand how great it feels to get comments and feedback on blogs!  I see this wonderful feedback through two lenses-as a writer (receiving comments on my own blog) and as a teacher (seeing my students connect with other students on their blogs).  An idea that was shared in giving feedback that I connected to was the "star and a wish" idea-which I also follow when conferring-but I call it "two hugs and a push".  Reinforce things done well and add a suggestion for work when next we meet.  Most importantly though-remembering technology growth is not the end point...

This led me to my next link of think...I saw this pin via Pinterest and went in search of the original source:

   

@alicekeeler : Yup. The picture is mine and is licensed CC-A. Here's where you can find it on Flickr: http://t.co/7tMt8omQYe #enjoy
— Bill Ferriter (@plugusin) July 8, 2013

So that led me to think more deeply about what do we want kids doing with technology-which I believe is important in a digital learning age-but the message is clear-it's not just about creating the project as an end to itself-tools should be used to move toward what @plugusin Bill Ferriter is suggesting and what I believe Alan November had in mind when he authored his book...

Technology should move us toward things like raising awareness, joining partners and making a difference. 

As I read chapter 4, student as researcher, the idea of designating one computer as the official research station for the room got me onto another link of think-how many classrooms in the USA-land of the free and home of the brave-have not one computer linked to the internet...I am shocked!

Here is the data via The Institute of Educational Sciences-

In 2009, 97 percent of teachers had one or more computers located in the classroom every day, while 54 percent could bring computers into the classroom. Internet access was available for 93 percent of the computers located in the classroom every day and for 96 percent of the computers that could be brought into the classroom. The ratio of students to computers in the classroom every day was 5.3 to 1.

Teachers reported that they or their students used computers in the classroom during instructional time often (40 percent) or sometimes (29 percent). Teachers reported that they or their students used computers in other locations in the school during instructional time often (29 percent) or sometimes (43 percent).

Teachers reported having the following technology devices either available as needed or in the classroom every day: LCD (liquid crystal display) or DLP (digital light processing) projectors (36 and 48 percent, respectively), interactive whiteboards (28 and 23 percent, respectively), and digital cameras (64 and 14 percent, respectively). Of the teachers with the device available, the percentage that used it sometimes or often for instruction was 72 percent for LCD or DLP projectors, 57 percent for interactive whiteboards, and 49 percent for digital cameras.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2010). Teachers' Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009 (NCES 2010-040).

I thought there was less technology out there than the statistics suggest (these are from 2009).  Leading me to think that we've got to start using technology differently.  Which is why I am glad we are having #cyberPD on this book...

To that end...two routines are popping into my mind as I've recently seen both on blogs or twitter...Wonder Wednesdays and Genius Hour.  I am thinking that these times would serve as opportunities for the roles that are suggested in the book to become regular habits where they could serve to move students forward in the roles suggested from the book (tutorial creator, scribe, and researcher-so far). 

Back to the learning trail...

Let's Hit the Trail-Reflection for Cyber PD

Special Thanks to Cathy Mere (July 3), Jill Fisch (July 10) and Laura Komos (July 17)

for hosting the collaborative learning opportunity.

I am fortunate to be able to find talented educators (like the ladies above) who are forging a digital path into the future.  These educators are trail blazers.  I am working hard to follow in their footsteps and have started down the trail after them...

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail--
Ralph Waldo Emerson

 I am involved with a book study this summer called Cyber PD where we are reading the book, "Who owns the Learning?  Preparing Students for Success in the Digital Age.

For this book study, I decided to get the book for my Kindle App on the ipad.  Since the book is about learning in the digital age, reading it in this manner seemed so appropriate.  I've learned some new tricks through reading this way-I am able to highlight, keep notes and have also linked it with my twitter account so I can tweet out interesting points as I read.

Now for the learning...I am so glad I am reading this book.  I feel like I've been getting my feet wet with the Digital Learning Farm approach for the last few years.  I was first inspired by learning about blogging with students.  You can read posts about this learning here and here.  I then moved on to experience Digi-Camp for teachers.  You can read about that here.  Digi-camp really got me stoked about using technology as a way to grow a learning community and I learned so much through the use of Twitter.  Twitter put me in touch with the trail blazers I mentioned above and as I read Who Owns the Learning I imagine each one of them as people who've walked the walk.  They are getting their students to interact globally, share work and connect 21st century learning through collaboration and publication for authentic purposes.

The book inspires thinking of how it can be done with examples.  Imagine the possibilities...it gives an overview of what sparked the beginning of the Digital Learning Farm concept.  Then, author Alan November shares classrooms where the Digital Learning Farm is happening.  Here's what I loved about reading it digitally, I could just click the hyperlinks and go directly to the sites that were in the book or scan the QR codes with my QR Reader and it would take me there as well.  The first blog the QR reader took me to was Kathy Cassidy's Classroom Blog!  I was so excited to know it was her blog I connected to because I could honestly say that I believe she is a leader in curating the Digital Learning Farm concept.  I exchanged tweets with her about this:

 

After reading the Introduction and Chapter 1, I was encouraged with the way the author suggests that transitioning to the Digital Learning Farm way of thinking and teaching is to imagine students being easily motivated when creating videos, podcasts and other digital media for a purpose.  He gives suggestions as to specific roles students could take on such as tutorial designers, scribes, researchers, and global communicators and collaborators.   He also identifies specific software to use. It's helpful that there are concrete examples that inspire ways to get the digital learning started.

 

The connection I'm making is that I'm inspired by seeing and knowing of educators who are doing just what the book recommends.  These educators are shining examples of where digital learning is happening in classrooms all over the globe.  There are many trail blazers who can inspire through things such as Twitter Chats, #1stchat, for example-check out the list of first chat teachers on the wiki here-and connect with them.  A few who I've connected with this past year are Leka DeGroot, Jenni VanRees, Kristen Wideen and Karen Lirenman.  I want to be like them!  Thanks Ladies!

 

My take aways here-I'm heading in the right direction.  I am hooked up with people who are inspiring me to do the right things and I've been experimenting by beginning blogging with my firsties and hosting a blogging club for students in grades 4, 5, and 6.   I want to work at having them create content and avoid giving them the "$1,000 pencil" when using technology.  I want to continue to experiment and play with screen caster software and other tools like Jing to learn more about ways to make videos.

 

I invite you to make this leap of learning with me.  Move from the old fashioned way of doing things and get on board with the modern way-Let's hit the trail-with a modern horse of course!

 

 

Digitally Sparked!

Tuesday's Slice of Life @ The Two Writing Teachers
Digitally Sparked!-
This past weekend I had an amazing opportunity to participate in "Digi-Camp" for Teachers through the University of Akron!  After getting home from camp and reminiscing a lot about all of the learning that took place, I decided to think through how this "digital camp" was like going to a real camp...the following analysis ensued...

Campers always begin with their camp checklist in mind.  One of the useful tools that the conference planners used was "Guide Book".  This digital guide available through the internet and fully downloadable to a smartphone was extremely helpful.  Guidebook contained the schedule, maps, links to counselors, general info as well as quick links to Twitter and Facebook.  The guide book helped me to "gear up" for the camp!  The camp registration helpers (Tyler and Zach) were so friendly and laid back-they really made the campers feel welcome!

Campers set up in the home base at the Honors College on the University of Akron Campus, which I must say burst forth with style, color and connectivity.  One of the first activities I participated in during the opening hours of camp was an all-campus scavenger hunt using the app Scavenger Hunt with Friends.  It was fun because we had to take pictures of items generated on the list and upload them for points.  I came in 19th out of 100 or so people.  The group I was with hustled around campus and kept us moving at just the right pace (Thanks Lauren and Yu Ling)!  We were also involved in helping Jim and Jon use the Vid Rhythm app and make a video about camp!  It was funny!  My 5 minutes of fame were up after this video was shared with the camp and my line "Akron" was repeatedly embarassing. :)

After the scavenger hunt ended, it was time to pull up a log, circle around the campfire and meet the counselors.  As they introduced themselves, they all shared their favorite digital apps!  The counselors shared the info in a friendly and outgoing way and it was obvious that they were going to be a fabulous group of people!  All through the weekend, they were approachable, knowledgeable and full of creative ideas that made you yearn for more information each time they shared.



Surprise! ("wait for it...") Camp always allows for those surprising moments when someone or something happens that is completely unexpected-our surprise was having former Coach Jim Tressel speak during the Saturday morning breakfast.  He talked about the importance of digital technology interwoven with the art of life.  He gently reminded us, "In the technology boom, don't lose the melody of educating young people"...


During camp, there were many opportunties to hear stories, find treats, and gather advice.  One of the opportunties for treats came my way, when I scanned one of the digital QR codes-and found out that I was eligible to win a bag of books if I submitted an idea for "How to use technology to enhance literacy instruction?"-my idea was to have students use blogs to review books through blogs-kind of like Reading Rainbow used to do...LUCKY ME, I WON THE BAG OF BOOKS!  I also now think I would use either screencasts or podcasts and generate QR codes to include with the books reviewed so students could use a QR reader and scan to hear the review of the book.  There were also other times when the QR codes were scanned and gave information about links for learning via "Prezi", "Glogster" or "Voki"...Ted Talks (TedED), videos on how to integrate iPads in the classroom etc.  I could go on for days about how QR blasts can create opportunities for learning but I will stop...another post for another day.  Also, I have to add learning how to podcast or screencast using Screencastomatic (very easy, check out my first attempt HERE).

QR Code "Quick Response"

Another great part of camp was the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas with other teachers.  I learned a great deal from hearing other happy campers share their thoughts and revelations as we worked on group projects that were presented to all the campers (in the final show, if you will).  All of the campers were sharing thoughts and ideas regularly as part of the learning and working sessions.  The counselors made themselves available for questions and help as needed.  They helped many of us to experience and learn more about Twitter and tweets, which was music to our digital ears!  A million thank yous to our great counselor staff!

Finally, packing up all our tech gear after learning from each other brought moments of tears, laughter and joy!  The lead organizer of our camp, Lori Vargo, pleasantly approached the entire weekend with great patience and a smile.  Her effort in organizing this outstanding learning opportunity is greatly appreciated by all who participated, especially me!  Thanks Lori for all you did!

What a camp!  I learned so much, now it's going to be taking it all into practice that will be the work ahead.  My digital spark is ignited, the flames are burning brightly and I wonder where we'll go from here?