Reflections on Final Project Draft

I know that my paper needs more work when it comes to writing objectives. I think I have a handicap with writing them as they pertain to online learning and teaching. As far as the paper is concerned, I enjoyed sharing my subject and combining the teaching of it online and onsite. That was a treat. Also, I learned how to use Google Docs for the first time. It has its purpose and lie anything else sweetness and bitterness so I halfway like it. I like that it can be shared by inviting others to join, those others can edit and I can email from it. Downside: when I go to change the font, it won't let me. It switches back and forth. I cannot change the page layout. There are some other issues as I think Google Docs tries to act like MWord but it doesn't act user friendly like Word does. Like I said, plusses and minuses.

Using Survey Monkey.com as a Precourse Assessment

I liked using all of the features of Survey Monkey.com because it was user friendly. If I made a mistake, I was able to correct it. It gave me an example of what some of the questions looked like before I decided to make them so that helped too. When I was finished I then emailed it to my instructor and placed the other version into my eportfolio.

The next thing we had to do was to look at the way our instructor used cybercoaching in her journalism online class. She used feedback, virtual chat, made sure students had access to materials, assisted them when they needed it. Virtually everything that she does with us.

She has encouraged me to googledocs my final project so that I will learn how to use the technology. I will admit this about Google, it provides everything that I need for my course such as blogging, surveymonkey (all I needed was my google account). So far so good. So, I am up for the challenge. Wish me luck.

Reflection on Blooms Assessment Table Update on Final Project

I enjoyed reading Casey's Journalism class unit/lesson plan because she made her lessons accessible to all of her students and provided opportunities for collaboration, sharing, demonstration, analysis, and application.

It really opened my eyes that with practice, one can turn an onsite class into an online class with online assessment tools. So I can say that I liked that application.

When it was time to read through Casey's assignments and place them into the appropriate box that was a little difficult to do because I had not used Blooms in a while as my lesson plans are already written for me. All I have to do is implement them. I think that from now on, I will not only analyze the objectives a bit more but turn them into online applications. How can this onsite application be turned into an online application (objective) will be my thought as I go along in my teaching.

My final project is beginning now. I have to place everything into a word document. Ratts!! I had hoped to place it into a PowerPoint. Oh well.

Reflecting on working with My Technologically Brave Classmate

I enjoyed the collaborative process in working with Carolyn and learned a few things about her:

She's willing to take chances with the technology (it was her decision to place our dcoumentation into Google Docs). We both had access to it (good thing I had my google account open), we were able to edit and save just as you would in a Word document. My problem was getting around the headers in the documents because I found that when I was typing something into the document, this line would end up in my words so I don't know. I would still cut copy and paste from Word rather than going immediately to Google Docs to begin a document.
Then she uploaded us onto her wiki where I have been invited to join to chat Again, if it were me, I would have posted the paper but as Carolyn is adventurous, it creates a positive step toward engaging in the collaborative process, plus I have a preview of what I need to do when and if I decide to use wikispaces as an assessment tool. She suggested that I use WebEx as a part of my final-see how it performs, works, etc. I may take her advice.
Finally, Carolyn placed our document in pdf format which the link has been cut, copied, and pasted below. She has demonstrated proficiency in areas that I am still lacking as I was just as happy to have had my paper finished, emailed it Carolyn while she worked on her part added it to the document, and then added all of the technological extras. I was able to follow her lead and benefit. Carolyn has demonstrated what she has learned in our class thus far. I think I need to play catch up.
Carolyn and I researched two collaboration tools that can be used in the classroom to design instruction with both formative and summative assessment in mind.

http://assessment-toolbox-edu-762-930.wikispaces.com/file/view/Midterm_assessment_for_EDU762930FEB_5_2010.pdf

Using Concept Maps, Determining Objectives for Assessments and Researching and Collaborating on Assessments

This week we were instructed to design a concept map, create objectives with assessments in mind and collaborate with several team members to research a particular assessment tool and post all.

I designed the concept map using the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird that I am teaching my 9th grade English class. I basically set up the map with the relationships of the characters in mind on one side and the story info on the left. Concept mapping is a new form of technology for me and as such comes with a learning curve but I suspect if I find time to play with it, I'll get it. Whether I will use it in teaching my online classes remains to be seen.

Then we had to create objectives for the assessments that we are learning how to integrate with technology. These are the objectives I came up with, I basically used the ones that I use everyday in my onsite classes. They are: 1. Students will apply before, during, and after reading strategies in order to respond to print texts assessment:blog, wiki 2. Students will collaborate on a topic of choice by using appropriate texts in order to demonstrate analysis of texts.assessment: jigsaw 3. Students will compose oral, written, and visual presentations in order to inform, persuade, or express ideas.assessment: concept map for essay 4. Students will use suitable electronic and traditional resources and refine presentations and edit texts for appropriate and effective use of language and conventions. assessment: blog, wiki, concept map

Our final task is to prepare for our midterm exam by researching a particular assessment tool. We were placed into groups of 3/4, and each person assigned themself what assessment tool they would research. I chose WebEx; it is a collaboration tool that anyne can use to submit projects, papers, what have you, through your phone line. Unfortunately, there is a fee.

I like the collaborative process; unfortunately, I find that perhaps maybe I get the work done too quickly so while I may finished, my partner may not. I don't know how to deal with this issue and haven't found a way to, yet. We will see in the next post how the midterm turned out.

Reflective Comments week one

I like blogging for the purposes of sharing educational ideas and resources not only with fellow students but with teachers as well.
I don't blog on a regular basis as I feel like I have to have a reason to use the blogs in a way that is efficient to the students and can be sustained as a regular tool of classroom use. My issue is the lack of available technology and the hassel of having to share it in a classroom space that may not have it for use for all at the same time.
Unfortunately, computer rooms are being used for testing as well as for research and the teacher does not always have the time to get to the computers for students to use. Also the computers are overloaded due to to overuse on the internet or for other reasons when the students say, "I don't have a computer."
I just want to know how to get around this issue and am interested in any ideas.


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Interviewing Keiva

Elizabeth Hansen-Clay Jan 16, 2010 12:16 PM



I am introducing Keiva Jones. I am looking forward to learning and working with all of you.
Elizabeth / Antigo, WI



Why have you chosen this course, this university and/or this program?

I have chosen this course and this university/program because I want to enhance my skills as a teacher, earn more money and become more technically proficient and use that expertise to help my students become more fully involved and active in their education. I wanted to earn more professional development credits, receive my certificate from UW-Stout and I felt that UW-Stout was the university to turn to because I don't have the proficiency yet, nor the expertise but I'm getting there.

Tell me about your background, experiences, and/or skills.

I have been teaching ELA for the past four years (three in sped) and while I initially took to the challenge of teaching to the special population I find that there are limitations and less time teaching, unfortunately, more time doing paperwork which I don't enjoy so it is my wish to return to teaching Gen. Ed English using the skills that I came into this profession with.

What do you expect from this course?

I expect to find out the different modes of assessment, how to make assessments mean more than taking tests, quizzes, and how to use them to inform my teaching and to become more reflective in my teaching.

What is one thing we might never have guessed about you?

One thing about me that you would not have guessed is that I am not as technically (sp?)proficient as my kids whom I teach. I am single, no kids, no man (looking though), just starting out in life trying to make sense of it all everyday.

Who is that special someone, thing or event that you cherish and would never want to give up?

I cherish my life and my health because I could be as wealthy $ as I want to be but if I have to spend money to hang on to my life rather than enjoy it sickness, pain free, well then, to me, I am not wealthy and I would trade that money for my health.

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As part of our course, I was asked to take a test in which I was assessed on what cooperative teaching was and wasn't. I liked the experience of the test because it allowed one several chances to get it right and studt the test at the same time. In addition, the test asked the test taker to write a short essay response which made one reflect on the test and the content. So I would say that the test was a good experience.