Barriers to access 3.1.1

Continuing the hopefully thought provoking ramblings... The digital access maps for our area say that the county has 100% coverage. While that may be true I feel that many of our students are still in the dark ages of technology. We have high schoolers that come and don't even know how to check their email. They are not aware of muich more technology other than gaming and texting. I think that due to the area and socioeconomics of our area there are students that are still without Internet access at home. They might ahve data and cell phones but they truly don't have technological access. Parents at times aren't educated in technology and therefore don't see the importance of making technology available in homes. Many of the students come from extremely blue collar working families. That being said, it's not necessarily a negative. It's just the culture of the area. We as teachers fall prey to that culture at times and feel that teaching technology as well as content to be a daunting task.

In these situations students can be resistant to learning the intricacies of how technology can improve their lives. I think that teaching them the advantages of technology can be tricky because we sometimes need to be reminded that technology can't takeover our lives. I think the key is to teach these students the benefits of using technology to make improvements to what they already know.

A major barrier to student access to the web is that many students in our area don't have technology or Internet access to them at home. One way our system is trying to combat that is gradually going to one to one with chromebooks.

Barriers to access 3.1.1

Continuing the hopefully thought provoking ramblings... The digital access maps for our area say that the county has 100% coverage. While that may be true I feel that many of our students are still in the dark ages of technology. We have high schoolers that come and don't even know how to check their email. They are not aware of muich more technology other than gaming and texting. I think that due to the area and socioeconomics of our area there are students that are still without Internet access at home. They might ahve data and cell phones but they truly don't have technological access. Parents at times aren't educated in technology and therefore don't see the importance of making technology available in homes. Many of the students come from extremely blue collar working families. That being said, it's not necessarily a negative. It's just the culture of the area. We as teachers fall prey to that culture at times and feel that teaching technology as well as content to be a daunting task.

In these situations students can be resistant to learning the intricacies of how technology can improve their lives. I think that teaching them the advantages of technology can be tricky because we sometimes need to be reminded that technology can't takeover our lives. I think the key is to teach these students the benefits of using technology to make improvements to what they already know. 

Always a work in progress...web resources 2.1.1

How would we ever create an exhaustive list of web resources? I have decided that Google classrrom and the full spectrum of the google resources are continuously being improved. I have developed a special place in my heart for the people at google that have created these resources that are user friendly for younger students such as high school and middle school.

Piggybacking on my previous blog..."no man is an island." Teachers need collaboration, intra- and inter-departmentally.

The following are annotated websites that I find very useful to use with students and as teaching resources:

Kahoot
     https://getkahoot.com/
     Kahoot is an interactive game for students that is web based. Everyone needs their own form of          technology. It is interactive with the smartboard and a great way to review or introduce topics.  
     Kahoot has a great many topics or it will allow you to create your own.

Emaze
     https://www.emaze.com/
     Emaze is a powerpoint presentation on steroids. More interactive than a powerpoint with a lot              more options and some pretty cool feature.

Readwritethink
       www.readwritethink.org
       This is an excellent source for teachers that warrants exploration. Teachers can find worksheets            and graphic organizers that are excellent for visual learners.

Powtoon
      https://www.powtoon.com/2/
      With Powtoon you are able to create animated presentations as videos. It is a very cool resource           that allows you as well as students to have a creative outlet for otherwise dry topics.

Google docs
Google classroom
Google research
     I feel like the Google resources speak for themselves.  Google docs has changed my life. Never          again do we have "

Jeopardy Lab
     https://jeopardylabs.com/
     This is an excellent way to review that the students love. You can use whatever is already created        or create your own.

Prezi
     https://prezi.com/
     Online version of powerpoint. Easy to use after a small learning curve. Better than the normal              powerpoint.

Evaluating Web Resources
         http:unf.int/essential_background/library/items/1420.php
         This provides a good source for students to learn what makes a web source a reputable source.

Tiny Scanner
         This is an app for android or apple users. Turn your camera into a small scanner that links                    directly to your email. Perfect for sharing documents or whatever you need without a copy                  machine.

Peardeck
       https://www.peardeck.com/
       This allows you to allow students access to your computer screen on their device. Very cool and          helps with note-taking as well as is interactive.


This is by no means an exhaustive list. However, these are some really cool tools that I find myself using in my own classroom the most often.

Always a work in progress...web resources 2.1.1

How would we ever create an exhaustive list of web resources? I have decided that Google classrrom and the full spectrum of the google resources are continuously being improved. I have developed a special place in my heart for the people at google that have created these resources that are user friendly for younger students such as high school and middle school.

Piggybacking on my previous blog..."no man is an island." Teachers need collaboration, intra- and inter-departmentally.

The following are annotated websites that I find very useful to use with students and as teaching resources:

Kahoot
     https://getkahoot.com/
     Kahoot is an interactive game for students that is web based. Everyone needs their own form of          technology. It is interactive with the smartboard and a great way to review or introduce topics.  
     Kahoot has a great many topics or it will allow you to create your own.

Emaze
     https://www.emaze.com/
     Emaze is a powerpoint presentation on steroids. More interactive than a powerpoint with a lot              more options and some pretty cool feature.

Readwritethink
       www.readwritethink.org
       This is an excellent source for teachers that warrants exploration. Teachers can find worksheets            and graphic organizers that are excellent for visual learners.

Powtoon
      https://www.powtoon.com/2/
      With Powtoon you are able to create animated presentations as videos. It is a very cool resource           that allows you as well as students to have a creative outlet for otherwise dry topics.

Google docs
Google classroom
Google research
     I feel like the Google resources speak for themselves.  Google docs has changed my life. Never          again do we have "

Jeopardy Lab
     https://jeopardylabs.com/
     This is an excellent way to review that the students love. You can use whatever is already created        or create your own.

Prezi
     https://prezi.com/
     Online version of powerpoint. Easy to use after a small learning curve. Better than the normal              powerpoint.

Evaluating Web Resources
         http:unf.int/essential_background/library/items/1420.php
         This provides a good source for students to learn what makes a web source a reputable source.

Tiny Scanner
         This is an app for android or apple users. Turn your camera into a small scanner that links                    directly to your email. Perfect for sharing documents or whatever you need without a copy                  machine.

Peardeck
       https://www.peardeck.com/
       This allows you to allow students access to your computer screen on their device. Very cool and          helps with note-taking as well as is interactive.


This is by no means an exhaustive list. However, these are some really cool tools that I find myself using in my own classroom the most often.

The Utopia of Learning Communities 1.1.3

To define the uptopia of learning communities, I think we must define the individual goals and individuals needs within the learning community. In some ways a person's education is furthered by teaching others. Realizations are made by the advaning of another person's knowledge. To me that's what makes the world go around. Differences and ideas and ways of doing things is what has allowed our culture to progress to where it has. Advancements are made through discussion, tag teaming, and many times even failure.

Ideas in education are always cycling. The tried and true whole language versus phoentics are schools of thought that always go through hills and valleys. Just as now the idea of learning communities is the "en vogue" route to take. However, in my mind this is a route that works. This is an idealism that exemplifies the thought that "a chord of three strands is not easily broken." There is strength in numbers and when there are those gathered together to further learning then the natural progression is in fact a great escalation in thought processes and attainment of knowledge.

With that framework I think a utpoia of learning communities can exist in many places. There not any necessarily cut and dry elements other than it meets the criteria of a learning community. It could be in a classroom, school, study group, or any number of digital learning communities. The literal definition of a learning community is a group of people that share academic goals and attitudes. That covers a plethora of things that make for a cohesive community. That covers the responsibilities and respectfulness of the members of the community. The community's purpose is to further and extend the knowledge of those involved. As long as the members feel secure, comfortable, and respected true collaboration can exist.

Finally, what qualities are needed to gain admittance? Easy... learning communites are society's way of "paying it forward." Learning communities are an individuals way to promote the process of lifelong learning. Those shared values and shared needs are the only equalizers. Race, background, age, nationality cease to matter when there is one goal in mind.

The Utopia of Learning Communities 1.1.3

To define the uptopia of learning communities, I think we must define the individual goals and individuals needs within the learning community. In some ways a person's education is furthered by teaching others. Realizations are made by the advaning of another person's knowledge. To me that's what makes the world go around. Differences and ideas and ways of doing things is what has allowed our culture to progress to where it has. Advancements are made through discussion, tag teaming, and many times even failure.

Ideas in education are always cycling. The tried and true whole language versus phoentics are schools of thought that always go through hills and valleys. Just as now the idea of learning communities is the "en vogue" route to take. However, in my mind this is a route that works. This is an idealism that exemplifies the thought that "a chord of three strands is not easily broken." There is strength in numbers and when there are those gathered together to further learning then the natural progression is in fact a great escalation in thought processes and attainment of knowledge.

With that framework I think a utpoia of learning communities can exist in many places. There not any necessarily cut and dry elements other than it meets the criteria of a learning community. It could be in a classroom, school, study group, or any number of digital learning communities. The literal definition of a learning community is a group of people that share academic goals and attitudes. That covers a plethora of things that make for a cohesive community. That covers the responsibilities and respectfulness of the members of the community. The community's purpose is to further and extend the knowledge of those involved. As long as the members feel secure, comfortable, and respected true collaboration can exist.

Finally, what qualities are needed to gain admittance? Easy... learning communites are society's way of "paying it forward." Learning communities are an individuals way to promote the process of lifelong learning. Those shared values and shared needs are the only equalizers. Race, background, age, nationality cease to matter when there is one goal in mind.

Digital Learning Communities...The DL 1.1.2

Why digital learning communities? Why bother; why spend time? Simple. John Donne said it best, "No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main." These famous words written in a devotion provide the basis of all communities and relationships within those communities.

Bottom line is people need people. One basic human need is interaction with others. That's why solitary confinement in prison is supposed to be a punishment. We see how much humans need interaction by Tom Hanks's brilliant portrayal of Chuck Noland (C. Noland...see no land) in Castaway (2000). On the island, Chuck is so starved for interaction that he creates a friend, Wilson. This is just a small example of how we seek out companionship.

To me those are perfect examples of why a digital learning community is so significant. We don't learn in a bubble. We must have interaction and collaboration to further education. Collaboration among collegues in any educational or life setting is the basis for lifelong learning.

Digital learning communities for whatever their purpose, motivational, educational, vocational, or avocational are an outlet to where learning can always take place. These learning communities are just that, virtural "areas" to congregate, discuss, and share ideas, thoughts, and passions. On the limitless web there are as many learning communites are there are topics. I also think that finding a community as such that is going to further your education is much like trying on shoes. ou may have to try on several different sizes and styles before you find one that fits your needs.

Now that the discussion has come full circle, life long learning is the goal. Einstein said it best, "Once you stop learning, you begin dying."

Digital Learning Communities...The DL 1.1.2

Why digital learning communities? Why bother; why spend time? Simple. John Donne said it best, "No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main." These famous words written in a devotion provide the basis of all communities and relationships within those communities.

Bottom line is people need people. One basic human need is interaction with others. That's why solitary confinement in prison is supposed to be a punishment. We see how much humans need interaction by Tom Hanks's brilliant portrayal of Chuck Noland (C. Noland...see no land) in Castaway (2000). On the island, Chuck is so starved for interaction that he creates a friend, Wilson. This is just a small example of how we seek out companionship.

To me those are perfect examples of why a digital learning community is so significant. We don't learn in a bubble. We must have interaction and collaboration to further education. Collaboration among collegues in any educational or life setting is the basis for lifelong learning.

Digital learning communities for whatever their purpose, motivational, educational, vocational, or avocational are an outlet to where learning can always take place. These learning communities are just that, virtural "areas" to congregate, discuss, and share ideas, thoughts, and passions. On the limitless web there are as many learning communites are there are topics. I also think that finding a community as such that is going to further your education is much like trying on shoes. ou may have to try on several different sizes and styles before you find one that fits your needs.

Now that the discussion has come full circle, life long learning is the goal. Einstein said it best, "Once you stop learning, you begin dying."

Disjointed Thoughts on the Dawning of the Digital Community 1.1.1

Twenty two years ago I graduated from high school. I really thought that I was "the stuff" that I had a "car phone", the old bag type. The phone was for dire emergencies only (seeing that it cost about $5 a minute to call someone), since I was traveling over two hours away from home for college. When I got to college the new thing was to be able to do part of our research for papers online through EBSCOhost. I guess the old adage..."if I only knew then what I know now..." applies here.

Wow, how time has completely changed. Now with the infinite amount of information at our fingertips the entire world has been forever changed. We cannot go back to the time before technology. We may can visit a simpler time and vacay without technology present, but the possbility of actually being able to funciton without technology are slim to none. The advances in technology have given society as a whole a sometimes unwanted and maybe unneeded facelift. But, it is what it is. Not only the introduction of the Internet and the research capabilities that it inherently comes with, but also the establishment and rapid expansion of social media have almost at times crippled our culture.

But, that being said, there are positives to the expanding digital universe that we live in. The immeasurable amount of knowledge that is available with the touch of a finger can be described as a doubled edged sword. To quote Voltaire as adapted by Stan Lee, "With great power comes great responsibility." The advancements to technology have made us the omnivores of information, not only consumers, but also producers. Being omnivores has given us, as digital citizens, certain inherent rights as well as reponsibilites just as a "conventional" citizen.

Digital citizenship requires even the person with the most rudimentary understanding of the digital world to be accountable for the information accessed as well as exhibited. A life "off the grid" so to speak is almost impossible in this age of information. So, we, the omnivores, by taking part in the digital world must accept and be fully accountable to the community created by the the new culture. 

Disjointed Thoughts on the Dawning of the Digital Community 1.1.1

Twenty two years ago I graduated from high school. I really thought that I was "the stuff" that I had a "car phone", the old bag type. The phone was for dire emergencies only (seeing that it cost about $5 a minute to call someone), since I was traveling over two hours away from home for college. When I got to college the new thing was to be able to do part of our research for papers online through EBSCOhost. I guess the old adage..."if I only knew then what I know now..." applies here.

Wow, how time has completely changed. Now with the infinite amount of information at our fingertips the entire world has been forever changed. We cannot go back to the time before technology. We may can visit a simpler time and vacay without technology present, but the possbility of actually being able to funciton without technology are slim to none. The advances in technology have given society as a whole a sometimes unwanted and maybe unneeded facelift. But, it is what it is. Not only the introduction of the Internet and the research capabilities that it inherently comes with, but also the establishment and rapid expansion of social media have almost at times crippled our culture.

But, that being said, there are positives to the expanding digital universe that we live in. The immeasurable amount of knowledge that is available with the touch of a finger can be described as a doubled edged sword. To quote Voltaire as adapted by Stan Lee, "With great power comes great responsibility." The advancements to technology have made us the omnivores of information, not only consumers, but also producers. Being omnivores has given us, as digital citizens, certain inherent rights as well as reponsibilites just as a "conventional" citizen.

Digital citizenship requires even the person with the most rudimentary understanding of the digital world to be accountable for the information accessed as well as exhibited. A life "off the grid" so to speak is almost impossible in this age of information. So, we, the omnivores, by taking part in the digital world must accept and be fully accountable to the community created by the the new culture.