Classroom Newsletter with Technology

This week I experimented with creating a classroom newsletter in Microsoft Publisher, creating QR codes, using Sign-Up Genius, and using Dropbox.  It was a lot of little applications that went into one big production, so let me explain. 

I began in Microsoft Publisher.  This is a program that I have never used before and I was excited to learn how it could be useful in the classroom.  Unfortunately, it did not come with the Microsoft Suite that I purchased recently, so I signed up online for a subscription in which this program was included for $9.99/month.  Not a bad price to try it out (I already used up my 1 month free trial in January), considering buying the program alone is $109.99.  I began by choosing a template.  I searched “newsletter” and a couple came up.  I liked the option of starting with a template because I was able to just fill in the boxes and didn’t need to worry about formatting.  I changed the colors around to customize it a bit too.  I created a fake school name, mascot, and 5^th grade class to serve as the basis of my newsletter, “Eagle Eye News.”  One of the stories in my newsletter was to inform families of the upcoming graduation ceremony and celebration.  Like any school does, I asked for volunteers to sign up online.

This brings me to the next application I tried out:  Sign-Up Genius.  I had to create an account and then click on the tab to “build a sign-up” where I was then prompted to choose a theme for my page.  The themes are whimsical and fun.  This is the one I chose:

I was prompted to fill in a title, description, dates & times, customize the sign-up slots, and then enter the email addresses of all those I want to invite to sign up.  Once the invites are sent out, the guests are sent a link to click on that leads right to my page.  I opted to receive notifications every time one of my invitees responds.  But wait, there’s more!

            To make my sign-up even more convenient and accessible I decided to create a QR code to add to my newsletter.  If you are unfamiliar with QR codes, I have a feeling that once you see one you will know what I’m talking about.  Here’s an example:

          Ahhhhhh!  Yes!  THAT’S what those things are!  QR codes are simply coded boxes that, when scanned by a special QR scanner (download the app on your smartphone!), will take you to a website.  I visited http://www.qrstuff.com/ to create mine.  It was free (I didn’t even need to create an account!) and all I did was copy and paste my url for my sign-up sheet and clicked “download” and it popped up in a document for me to cut and paste right into my newsletter.  The advantage to using one of these is that it makes it easy to find a site from a smartphone.  No typing needed!  It’s all about making information accessible.

            Below, you will find my completed mock newsletter below so you can check it out.  Let me know what you think!  What would you change?  

Google Drive: Forms

          I’m fairly new with utilizing all that Google Drive has to offer.  This week I spent time playing around with the features available.  I became inundated with ideas of how I could use these features in the classroom!  Google Drive has so much to offer!

          For today’s post I’m going to focus mainly on the “Forms” option.  You are prompted to select a “title and theme.”  There are a few themes, not many though.  If there are more available I haven’t yet figured out how to get them.  Then comes the fun part!  You create questions using the many formats available.  They can be simple text box answers, multiple choice, or even drop boxes for selecting dates.  When you are satisfied with the form you created you can send it out via email.  The recipients receive the email, complete it, and send it back to you.  You have the choice of sifting through the forms yourself OR Google will sort the responses into a nice little spread sheet for you.  Wow!  I tested it out on a few friends and I have to say, this is a Godsend for busy teachers! 

          When you receive the results back on your spreadsheet, you can then convert that info into graphs and charts!  Teachers can see which questions were challenging for students and which concepts maybe need another lesson to clarify things.  Oh how we love our data in the educational field!

          Also, there is a way to send out quizzes made in this app that are self-graded.  I haven’t figured out how to do this yet, I’m afraid that this part is not very user-friendly.  BUT, when I do find out how to do it, you can be sure that I’ll post a how-to and I will be using it as often as I can.  Teachers, keep in mind that if you do send out quizzes through this app that your students will most certainly have an open book in front of them to help find answers.  With that said, I would make it more of a practice exercise rather than a quiz.  A great option for this would be to have students broken into groups and each member must create a quiz on recent material and send it to each other to complete.  It’ll really drive home the principle of repetition!  Another option is to test on content that isn't necessarily found in their textbooks.  I’m talking about putting their brains to work with a practical application (math)! 

          So, that sums it up for Google Forms!  Have you used Forms in your classroom?  How? 

Facebook in education?

           There is a debate amongst parents, teachers, students, and anyone else with an opinion about whether Facebook should be a part of students’ education.  Should it be used in the classroom?  Does it fill a need that can only be fulfilled in this way?  I am going to attempt to see both sides of the argument, starting with the cons first (I like to end on a positive note).  To do so I have enlisted the help of several sources which can be found at the end.

            First, what are the negatives of using Facebook in education?  Well, for starters there is the argument that anything that will be accomplished on Facebook can be done through other mediums.  Some say that it isn’t necessary for our students to do school work on Facebook because it is a SOCIAL network and not meant for academics.  Other sites are devoted to educational things and there should be a separation between the two.

            Bernie Poole mentions the risk of exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material (2011).  Children, especially those in the early primary grades, should not be exposed to questionable content.  Facebook presents the risk of exposing our kids to inappropriate ads, links, people, and comments.  A valid concern. 

Poole also presents the idea that cyberbullying is an issue (2011).  Unfortunately, these days bullying doesn’t end when a child gets off the bus to go home for the day.  Children are exposed to the cruelty of others electronically; however the bully can make contact.  I’m not going to lie, this is a big one for me.  The beauty of being a child, ideally, is that you don’t have to deal with that kind of thing.  Why would parents want to provide another avenue for the bully?

Now on to the pros of using Facebook in education.  The biggest one: it’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s not going anywhere (sorry for the cliché).  Next to Google, Facebook is the most used website (“Alexa Top 500 Global Sites”).  Considered “social media,” Facebook’s main purpose is to communicate information.  Why not educational information?

Second, the use of Facebook utilizes the lifestyle of our “digital native” students.  This is not a fad.  It is a part of life in today’s world.  I can remember being so excited to turn 13 because it meant that I could get my ears pierced.  Today, turning 13 means being inaugurated into the digital world with your very own Facebook page.  It’s like joining a not-so-exclusive club.  For the 2 or 3 adults out there who do not have a Facebook account, you’re just out of the loop (not my opinion, but it’s the reaction of most when you tell them you don’t have one).

Last, Facebook has the power to quickly and efficiently communicate information.  I already talked about the negatives of this, but there are lots of positives too.  Information becomes available as soon as it happens.  You can talk to someone on the other side of the world without ever leaving your desk.  It’s a lot like that dilemma that superheroes face: do they use their powers for good or evil?  You just have to make the choice of using it for good and positive things.

Now that I have mentioned a few (not all) of the pros and cons of using Facebook in education, I’m going to tell you where I stand on all of this.  I like the idea of utilizing social media in the classroom, but it must be done carefully.  As you have read, there are some pretty serious risks that go with children using Facebook for educational purposes.  Not every teacher fits the bill for using it the right way.  This doesn’t mean that it can’t be done.  Let me share a couple of ways that using Facebook in education can be beneficial.

You want Facebook to serve a purpose.  It must be beneficial to the users in a way that no other site can be.  The first thing that comes to mind is something like a “homework hotline.”  It can be a forum for help in anything that students are currently working on.  Not only can you see who’s online, but you can also get instant feedback.  All those parents of students learning calculus just did a little happy dance!  No more nights of frustration followed by late or incomplete homework assignments.  Not only can the teacher set up times that he/she will be on to help whoever needs it, but learning from peers who understand the topic of the day can prove to be invaluable.  Perhaps the teacher can “sweeten the deal” by awarding points to those who are utilizing the page.  It does, after all, help in building a sense of community in the classroom.

My second idea for using Facebook in education includes a more narrow set of objectives.  It can serve as a way to collaborate with students around the world on a given project.  Something as simple as graphing class data (likes/dislikes, birthdays, etc.) becomes much more interesting when you can survey a class in the U.K. and then compare and contrast the results.  Not only that, but also students become more motivated and engaged in what they are doing because all of a sudden it’s relevant.  Sure, this can be done on other sites, but with Facebook being the #2 website, you and your class will be able to reach anyone you want!

You know how I feel about using Facebook for educational purposes, now I want to hear what you think!  Does Facebook have a place in the classroom?  Why or why not?

References

Alexa Top 500 Global Sites. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.alexa.com/topsites

Facebook in Education. (2009). Retrieved March 8, 2014, from https://www.facebook.com/education

Kessler, S. (2011, December 5). 5 Best Practices For Educators On Facebook. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2011/12/05/educators-on-facebook/

Phillips, L., Baird, D., & Fogg, Ph.D., B. J. (n.d.). Facebook for Educators (English). Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/55599781/Facebook-for-Educators-English

Poole, B. (2011, September 12). Education World: Integrating the Internet: Risks and Solutions. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/poole/poole018.shtml

Site Administrator (2009, October 20). 100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in Your Classroom - OnlineCollege.org. Retrieved from http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/

Web 2.0: A Practical Application

           Zooburst is a tool can be used specifically to help students with disabilities improve their reading skills.  Not only is it fun and interactive, but it can be helpful to have visual cues.  The great thing about this tool is that it can be adjusted for any ability and any reading level.  The free version limits you to 10-page books, but a lot can be done with 10 pages.  Plus, the amount of content per page can easily be adjusted.  Since this is a customizable tool, teachers of all settings can use it.  If you are teaching in an inclusive setting, this tool can be modified to suit any ability level as well as any goals your student is currently working on.  If you are teaching in a general education classroom, there is still a need for differentiation.  This can easily be done through the requirements you give your students. 

            Finally, I think the greatest thing about this tool is that it is fun!  Motivating students can be challenging no matter what setting you are in, but to allow them to share their finished product with their peers can be the motivation they need to create a refined product. 

Here is a link to an example I created.  Of course, for a small fee you can add features like character sound effects, voice-over recording, printability, and individual accounts for your students.  Zooburst is available as an app too!

"Web 2.0"

            These days technology is everywhere.  Without it, most of us would be lost.  I, for one, feel incredibly out of sync on those rare occasions that I forget to put my smart phone in my purse. 

            Let’s start at the beginning.  I watched this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUs7iG1mNjI&feature=player_embedded.  Basically, Katie Couric, Bryant Gumbel, and another “Today Show” host are discussing the brand new idea of the internet.  It cracks me up to hear Katie Couric say “Allison, can you explain what the internet is?”  Of course, back then it was new and people didn’t rely on it the way we do today.  Now, for most, it is the main source of communication.  It is the reason we can get more things done in an 8 hour shift today than in 2 work weeks in the early 90’s.  The world is quite literally at our fingertips.  So what does this have to do with education?  Everything.

            Rosen and Nelson mention in their article, “Web 2.0:  A New Generation of Learners and Education,” the idea of digital natives and digital immigrants.  Those of us, myself included, who did not grow up fully immersed in the internet and technology we have today are the digital immigrants.  So, those who did are digital natives.  Elementary school for me was quite different from what it is today.  Many times a picture in a textbook would be as interactive as it got.  If we were lucky, a VHS documentary would be shown occasionally.  What a difference from what is available today!  Classrooms can now Skype with other classes from around the world or have in-depth discussions with authors.  The possibility of interactive textbooks is real and right around the corner!  What’s more is that students, digital natives, are coming to school already “loaded” with working knowledge of how to use the tech that is available.  Check out this very short write-up about an interactive desk: http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/18/classrooms-of-the-future-to-have-multitouch-desks-probably-a-fe/.  What will be next?!

            I recently acquired a new term-Web 2.0.  Many of you will know what this is, but for those who do not, let me explain.  “Web 2.0 is the next phase of Internet usage. The first phase, Web 1.0, focused on presenting information. The next phase, Web 2.0, enables both presentation and participation.”(Rosen & Nelson)  In their article titled “Web 2.0:  A New Generation of Learners and Education,” Dina Rosen and Charles Nelson state that “two key characteristics of collaborative technologies prominent in the Web 2.0 revolution are ease of use and social sharing.”  This sums up much of the general population’s internet use, right?  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Diigo, Instagram,Tumblr…it’s all relative. 

            Educators have to be cautious about assuming that all of their students have internet access, though.  Technology costs money and many times students don’t come from families that can afford things like computers and a monthly internet bill.  When incorporating the use of the internet into your classroom, you will need to take an inventory of your students first.  Who has access to a computer/internet outside of the classroom?  How much in-class time will you allow?  What will you do to accommodate everyone’s needs?  Your answers to these questions are crucial to the success of utilizing technology.  Not only that, but there are some rules you should have in place too for internet usage.  For example, citing your work and choosing reliable sources.  No, not everything you read on the internet is true. 

            Web 2.0 fits nicely into the concept of UDL (universal design for learning).  For students with disabilities, computers and the internet are just another option to create access to learning.  For those with significant obstacles, touch screen devices can be beneficial.  For students with processing disorders, it can be helpful to wear headphones and have things read to them as well as see them on a screen.  The internet really creates another dimension to learning.  With that said, we (special educators) do not want to create a full dependency on technology.  It’s great and really useful, but the more a student can do on their own, the better.  Like I said earlier, not everyone has access to technology at home.  So, when a student leaves your classroom for the day they should be able to get along without it, granted it isn’t a necessity for them to have at home.  They should know that if all of the computers are taken at the library, it is okay to find some old-school encyclopedias to help with research.

References

Dina Rosen & Charles Nelson (2008) Web 2.0: A New Generation of Learners and Education, Computers 

                    in the Schools, 25:3-4, 211-225, DOI:10.1080/07380560802370997

Flatley.  J.L.  (2008 Sept 18).  Engadget.  Classroom future to have multitouch desks. probably a few 

                   terminators.  http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/18/classrooms-of-the-future-to-have-

                   multitouch-desks-probably-a-fe/

VortexTech.  (2008 Jan 8).  1994:  "Today":  "What is the internet anyway?" [Video File].  Retrieved 

                   from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUs7iG1mNjI#t=56

Off to the races!!

     The purpose of a blog is to communicate information to an audience.  This blog is no different.  As a future teacher, I hope to create a community for my peers, students, and families of students where we can exchange and share resources, ideas, and stories that all pertain to school and learning. 

     A blog can be so useful for all involved.  JBlack, who maintains the blog “Web 2.0 in the Classroom” (http://web20intheclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/10/ways-to-use-blogs-in-your-classroom-and.html), wrote a post dedicated to all the ways a blog can be useful in the classroom.  Given the chance, I would love to try them all!  I especially love her idea of creating a blog for students’ book reviews.  What a wonderful way to include technology!  Knowing that they will have the chance to post their book review to the class blog is just another reason to read a book!  Even if it was a book the student did not particularly like, they are more motivated to stick with it and finish it so that they can post their review about it.  This type of activity could even evolve into a book club! 

     Even though I do not yet have my own class, I have know that teachers commonly gripe about the times students miss class because of family vacations.  It happens.  For a teacher who maintains a class blog, it doesn’t have to mean that the student will be behind when they return.  Students who are away from class, for whatever reason, can have access to lessons and class work from wherever they are.  When they return to class, they will be able to “jump right in.”

     I love all of the different ways blogging can be incorporated into the classroom!  As a future teacher, I can see the other ways that blogging can be beneficial for me too.  Not only can it become a place to share ideas with other teachers and parents, but it can also be a place of reflection.  For instance, if a lesson did not go so well I could blog about it and receive feedback from other teachers.  Maybe they could suggest ways to make it better or they could share their similar experiences and what they did afterwards. 

     As long as all involved respect some rules, I think this could be a REMARKABLE experience!  So, without further ado, here are a few ground rules (subject to change at a moment’s notice):

1.       No complaining.  It’s not productive.

2.      No swearing or inappropriate language.  Let’s keep it professional, please.

3.      Give credit where credit is due.  If you borrowed words or an idea, make sure you attempt to cite the information.

4.      Be respectful of all who post.  Let’s be civil and courteous.

5.      Happy reading and happy blogging!!