#24: SAMR and LMS

     SAMR stands for Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition Model. It is a method for seeing how computer technology might impact teaching and learning. I think that teachers need to be educated on the many different types of computer technology so that we can implement them into our classrooms and teach our students how to use computer technology appropriately and efficiently. But as teachers teach students, in turn teachers need to be taught from other professionals on how to best have their work fit into the SAMR model. As for LMS, which stands for Learning Management System, teachers have to be educated on this as well. They must learn how to organize, operate and teach in an LMS environment. Too many classes, especially in college, are being taught through on online course setting. Online classes are only going to continue to be more popular and teachers and other administrators will have to know the ends and outs about LMS environments in order to better the teaching and learning of their students. Educators have to face the fact that times are changing and we, as teachers, have to change and keep up with the technological society we live in.

#26: "A Conversation With A Bad Teacher"

     The article begins with a brief story of John Owens, a magazine publisher, who decided to go back to school to be hired as a writing teacher. His experience was not what he expected and he only lasted a year teaching. The experiences Owens faced led him to publish a book called "Confessions of a Bad Teacher: The Shocking Truth From the Front Lines of American Public Education." Owens said in his interview that the school he was teaching at in South Bronx in New York City was run by data, making the kids look like they were learning. He said that the school was adding up bogus points to make it look like the kids were passing so that they would graduate. In Owens book, he called himself a bad teacher because the school administrators said that only good teachers could solve all the problems that their students face. Owens said that he got criticized for trying to bring consistency to his classroom and believing that some of the stories his students were writing were their real life stories and when he would try to approach his student's stories to the social workers, they wouldn't listen. Owens mentions that he wrote this book to help parents understand what the teachers in their communities face and how their children are being taught at school.
     I am glad Owens stood up and did something about his experience teaching instead of continually letting the school administration run him over. I agree with him in that not everyone knows what school teachers go through on a daily basis. I really liked where he mentioned in his interview that kids just want someone to talk to and listen to them. Kids say a lot of things about their home/personal life that teachers need to be aware of and when Owens tried to bring this to the school's social workers attention, he got shot down. These kind of things should never happen in a school. Teachers are their to teacher their students the things they will need to know and students are there to learn what they need to know and the administration defiantly does not need to be adding in bogus numbers to their system to make it look like their students are learning and passing just to get a better graduation rate. That's just wrong.

#25: Kid's Can't Compute - And That's A Problem

    Mike Elgan, author of "Kids Can't Compute - And That's A Problem," says that kids are not as "tech savvy" as older people. He says that as more young people enter the workforce they know less about computers and the Internet. The "tech savvy" generation ranges between the ages 25-55, Elgan states. The older generation knows about the basic facts of computers, while the younger generation does not have the knowledge, awareness or skill about computers today. The younger generation understands and focuses on applications that the older generation has never heard of. Younger generations turn to an app or Internet-based service to fix any problems. Elgan says that "this is just a cause-and-effect reality. The cause is that computers are now super-easy to use and getting easier all the time. The effect is that newer computers don't require skills or knowledge about how computers and networks function." The article ends by suggesting a solution and that solution is to help the younger generation become educated on the basic skills of computers.
    Mike Elgan has a great point to his article. I defiantly agree that they younger generation, which includes me, does not know the basic skills of computers. I have no idea how to build a PC or troubleshoot networking issues, much less build a complex Web site. My generation has been handed the easy way around the basics of computers. We have everything we need to look up something literally at our finger prints. I think that the more technology grows the harder it is going to be to educate kids on the proper skills of computers. Educating the younger generation is a good solution, but I think if it is not implemented in the right way now then it will never fix the problem of the younger generation and their knowledge about computers and the Internet.

#23: Web 2.0 Sites

*Mindmeister: (not free- demo only)
The benefits of mindmeister is being able to make a concept map. You can also make a slide show of your concept map so that not so much information is being displayed to students at one time.

Spiderscribe.net: (free)
The benefits of spiderscribe is being able to create a concept map. You can insert images, dates, word document, and location. This is helpful for business purposes for planning out events. This has very limited visual aspects. This could be beneficial for the teacher when planning a lesson plan.

Bubbl.us: (free)
The benefits of bubbl.us is being able to create a concept map. You can make sub-topics and import pictures. This is very useful for younger aged children.

lionit.com: (free)
The benefits for lino are you can create boards with post notes, calendars, due dates, word documents, etc. There is an app for this site. More useful for the teacher than students. Can be useful for students to put group work on a board.

Photobucket: (free to upload a certain amount)
The benefits of photobucket are uploading photos and videos. Similar to pinterest and instagram. You can make it private.

Quintura kids:
The benefits of this site is a search engine. It would limit kids from finding information that they my not need to find.

Duckduckgo:
The benefits of this site is a search engine. It has a filter bubble. Helps students search the internet with reliable resources.

Gogooligans.com:
The benefit is a search engine for kids and teens.

Padlet:
teacher and students can post comments

Stormboard:
The benefits are students can share questions and comments or the teacher can post questions and comments for the teacher to see. Students can like comments. This site is good for older students.

Kidtopia:
It has different subjects to search for. Like a google search but safe for kids with reliable information.

Instagrok:
concept map and search engine. shows key facts, web sites, videos, pictures about a certain topic you search. You can develop quizzes and have a journal

Kidsclick.org:
User friendly search engine

*Wikisummarizer:
a good summary of articles in Wiki. Very organized site of information you want to search

Pearltrees:
combination of pinterest and conept map. It can connect you straight to the home page site of whatever you are looking for

Netvibes:
search engine

*Glogster.com:
online posterboards; timelines, class projects;

Audacity:
can record and edit music, speeches, etc. is free when you download

Vimeo:
create and share videos; can search videos like youtube; it is a free website with an optional upgrade

Wordpress.com:
can follow blogs, search a topic for blogs about that topic; has a lot more aspects than Blogger

Evernote:
can take notes while in class; can search within any document that you have to bring up similar documents

*Compfight:
like google images, free to download, can download different sizes of images; search engine for pictures; anybody can use these pictures and are okay to use

Diigo.com:
can share information with others, like teachers; you can create groups

Blabberize:
can insert images and cut out the mout to record something you want to be said. Teachers can use it for their classroom or school projects.

easelly:
can make charts or concept maps

Animoto:
can upload pictures and videos; like a collage; can change the different styles of pictures and videos; can make a presentation

Book Builder:
can create your own books, can change book langauge or grade level, can insert text and images and illustrations

*Weebly:
can make own websites and blogs; free; can put in audio and videos; also has a slideshow figure

ACMI: Storyboard Generator:
provides videos and personal stories about events;

*Tagul Clouds:
free; like Wordle but not as limited; there are different kinds of shapes and you can make them themed

*Edmodo:
basically a Facebook for teachers; did communities you can click on pertaining to different subjects

*Socrative:
free website; can create quizzes, test, and games for students and you can create your own class and the students can get on

Podbean.com:
just like iTunes podcast; can post lectures; audio and video

Pixton:
can make comic strips;

*infogr.am:
free; can create charts

#22: Educause Sprint 2013

     The article about the EDUCAUSE Sprint 2013 sums up Webinar presenters and other participates ideas regarding MOOC's (massive open online courses). Higher education has been pressured for years to change some of its costs, its services, adapt new technologies, become more diverse, etc. Some of the most significant challenges higher education faces is today's students area different generation of learners and technology is expected anytime and anywhere because it is almost the new form of communication. According to some, the past year has been "the Year of the MOOC." The article says that about half of the participates believe that MOOCs are significant for higher education, while the other half are not sure. The uprising of MOOCs have the potential to change higher education's pedagogical model by creating new types of connected, interactive learning experiences. Also, it has been mentioned that MOOCs may have to start charging to generate revenue.  The entire atmosphere of a university community will change due to the implications of the MOOCs and institutions will need to rethink their IT infrastructure and IT services. The article ended with presenters strongly encouraging institutions to begin taking action to understand MOOCs.
     This article was very interesting but also a little scary to think about how much technology is taking over the higher educational system. There has already been a small shift of change of putting a lot of education resources online, but I can't imagine what it will be like in a few years. The article was so true when it said that today's students are a different generation because we have been raised on so much technology and that is the way we have learned to communicate to others. This article defiantly showed how education is moving from an information age to a connected age, and probably a lot faster than some expected.

#21: Online Safety Matters

https://sites.google.com/site/onlinesafetymatters/

#20: How Common Core in Action: How Two Science Teachers are Implementing Common Core

     The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are primarily focused around English Language Arts and Mathematics, but more science and art teachers are incorporating the CCSS into their lessons. The article explains in detail how two science teachers used different reading and writing skills in their science lessons. Both teachers wanted their students to write an argumentative report on a certain science topic, but reading and writing the report had English Language Art standards from the CCSS. The students were able to be engaged in their science topic but also work on their reading and writing skills.
     I think it is very important for science and art teachers to incorporate some of the skills mentioned in the CCSS into their lessons. If you think about it, language arts and math can easily be used in science topics and language arts can easily be used in art topics. Just because a certain subject is not mentioned in the CCSS does not mean teachers of all subjects can't incorporate what is already written for students in each grade to learn. Teachers need to be educated on how they can properly use the CCSS in all subjects. Reading and writing is used in everything, as well as math, so it wouldn't hurt students to get more practice in each of those areas.