Janice's+445+Wiki+Workspace


 * Seminar 1 Prep Reading Response**

“An Educator’s Social Media Guide” Aaron Hogan’s article discusses the ways Twitter can be effectively used as an educator to connect with other educators. Currently, I have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat; I use these social medias for different purposes however I use Twitter the least out of all of them. Even though I made a Twitter about 5 years ago, I didn’t really see the point of it thus I was never active on it besides occasionally checking tweets from the pages I follow and retweeting any relatable tweets I find. But after having read Hogan’s article, I understand better on how the use of Twitter is beneficial for educators. He mentions that “Twitter is a place where educators reject isolation, celebrate together, and continue professional growth” (Hogan 2016). I like how Hogan gives a positive insight to educators and future educators where they can grow and share ideas in addition to finding other educators who challenge, push, encourage, support, and inspire you even though he struggled on how to use Twitter when he first made one. Because technology is continuously on the rise, especially social media, it is essential and useful tool for educators to share great ideas social media and Twitter is one of the tools that benefits educators as they can connect with one another. I now understand and see the point on of Twitter by using a hashtag so other educators can click on the hashtag and interact with each other as they find a common ground to discuss, share, and help each other grow. Aaron Hogan has changed my standpoint of using Twitter that can be beneficial by participating in Twitter chats and starting a conversation among fellow educators.

“Instant Message, Instant Girlfriend” This article was an interesting one about a guy who’s a sophomore in high school who used the Internet to communicate with girls instead of talking to them in person and in addition to get over his social awkwardness and create romantic relationships by instant messaging girls online because he had trouble talking to girls in person. As educators, it is important to know how adolescents interact on Internet especially outside of the classroom and understand time of life they are going through. It is also essential to educate students the pros and cons of using the Internet. Not all but a lot of teenagers go through rough patches during their teen years and teachers need to realize where they are coming from and find ways to educate teens the appropriate use of technology, Internet, and social media. In addition, Internet use causes social isolation (just like this high school boy from this article) that is common among teens. Teens also use the Internet for anonymous identity experimentation. In order to create a safe, inclusive classroom, I plan on creating a website and/or social media so that every student in the classroom feel included, but also to see how they interact through online discussions for educational purposes. By implementing this, I can get a general idea of how they interact in person vs. how they interact online.

Online Professional Identity Follow-Up After Morgan and I looked each other up using pipl, I noticed that there isn’t a professional identity about myself. It showed that I have a Facebook and Pinterest account. It also displayed my current Facebook profile picture. I was confused to why my brother’s username was displayed on my profile, but that wasn’t a concern. Doing this activity made me feel overwhelmed because anyone can search and possibly stalk me. But this activity made me glad that I keep my Facebook profile strictly on private because I don’t feel comfortable sharing personal information about myself because if I publicize my Facebook, I am sure that more information would have been displayed on pipl. However, I realized that once I get into teaching, parents and other professionals will look me up so it is important to represent a professional side of myself apart from my personal life. In the next few months, I will build up a professional identity so when future employees find me, they see the professional side of myself. Also when I apply for jobs, employees will see that I’m a good candidate. I hope that my professors will help me build an online professional before my time ends at NCSU in May, if not sooner.

Great insights from the articles, Janice! Good use of detail in your discussion of specifically how teachers can use Twitter in order to collaborate with each other, as that could be a community you could rely upon during your first year teaching. I also thought you did a good job discussing the ways that teens interact with technology in ways that can both benefit them and exacerbate some of the struggles they are already going through. I think creating a website or social media account for your class is an awesome idea. Like you said, I think it can be a place where everyone is included and I also think it can be a place where you can show students how social media can be used as well as show students how things online can be acted upon and brought to life in the classroom. As far as your online identity, I think you have the right idea of building an online professional identity so that employers can know how awesome you are before you even walk into the interview!


 * Seminar 5 Prep Reading Response **

Response to //Approaching Technology in English Education from a Different Perspective // After reading Shoffner’s article, I agree with her that technology is not a necessary tool to teaching English Language Arts, but it’s a great tool it engages students since a lot of them have their own devices. I also agree that if teachers use it in the classroom and integrate it to their lessons, students will be more likely to be engaged with the content they are learning. It is important for teachers to be familiar with the use of technology and need to interact with it as learners if they want to integrate it in their instruction successfully. Also, if ELA teachers use technology to have students read challenging literature, write original compositions, develop critical thinking, collaborate with peers, etc they are using it more than simple engagement such as the vocabulary tech tools that is more than just simply memorizing the definitions to each word. Even though I am not quite tech savvy, I am always open to new ideas using technology to promote higher order level thinking skills while having a hands-on learning experience for students. It is essential for students to be engaged in what they’re learning when technology is involved because it offers a richer learning experience and teachers need to look at technology as part of their own learning.

Response to //10 Ways to Use Instagram in the Classroom // After reading different ways to use Instagram in the Classroom, I was impressed with the ways that Instagram can be used in the classroom. I never thought that Instagram would be useful until I read this article. All of these are creative, innovative, and even memorable. It displays an online showcase of student’s work, student of the week, student progress, to name a few. Parents can also see what their students are learning in school and it’s a neat way to show that through social media since a lot students do not really like to share what they learned or did in class. I would definitely use it show students work and their bulletin board or poster displaying a historical figure for Social Studies because it is interactive and innovative and gives students a chance show their creativity while discovering and learning something new. The different ways to use Instagram gives parents/guardians a sense of the school community and keeps up with what their students are doing in class.

Response to //Enhancing English Language Arts Education with Digital Video // After reading the article about using Digital Video in ELA, it gave me a different perspective on the use of film in English classes because I’ve always regarded the use of film to entertain students allowing them have a relaxing day. In my 11th grade English class, my teacher would show a movie after we have finished reading the book advocating the visual elements to help students the analysis of a written text but also to show that there are differences between the book and a movie. On the other hand in my US History class, my teacher showed us a film however we had to fill out video questions the teacher gave us to ensure that we are paying attention to the film and not falling asleep when the film is playing. I particularly like how in the article it mentions that students should be proficient in the new literacies inspired by the 21st century that includes the Internet and other forms of information and communication technologies to understand digital literacy and promote enhanced learning. This is important teachers to practice using film adaptations of the literary texts in order for students to read and interpret digital videos while they explore the concepts of literacy. I also like the idea of having students create and design their digital space between the daily texts they of their multimedia lives as it experience material that will enhance their learning and this is also beneficial to visual learners. This is a great way to improve student engagement and to make it meaningful and creative.

Thoughtful responses, Janice! I think a lot of teachers don't feel particularly "tech savvy"; however, one of the coolest things you can do with technology in the classroom is using your students as resources. Talking with them about technology that they use can give you ideas of what to use in your own instruction and also using them as experts to teach you or the class about new tools (like doing your own New Tech Tools presentations) is an awesome way to use students' assets in the classroom. Using technology definitely does not require you to be an expert, just to be an expert in using what is available to you and using the gifts of your students to your advantage. I also like your thought on the idea that Instagram can be used to increase school community and connect to parents about what's going on in schools. I think it's a great way to re-purpose social media to have a more positive impact.


 * Initial Ideas about MSL Electronic Portfolio **


 * 1) <span style="background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0); color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Purpose - I currently have a MSL Electronic Portfolio I've created since ED 204 and included my ED 311/312 assignments on there as well. I would like to use this portfolio to continue to show my College of Education work I completed here at NC State that I can potentially use for job interviews.**This portfolio will also be used to compile assignments, lesson plans, and educational resources. It can also help me to provide ideas of what to include once I have my own classroom as I create my teacher website for parents to see what I've taught that day especially when their kids are absent and get know who I am as a teacher.**
 * 2) <span style="background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0); color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Audience - Future employers, administrators, close friends, and parents.
 * 3) <span style="background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0); color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Possible categories - Lesson plans, resources from my cooperating teachers, work samples, formative assessments, classroom environment philosophy, etc.
 * 4) <span style="background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0); color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Contents - a teaching portfolio that shows my College of Education coursework, field experiences, and different strategies that I have learned and can use in my future classroom.

I think it's great that you're going to add onto a portfolio that you have already started. That way you can expand it and make it even better and more useful to you; however, what exactly is the purpose of this portfolio? You can think about your audience to help answer this question. I like the possible categories you thought of as well. Please add more detail in the purpose section.


 * Initial Ideas about MSL Electronic Portfolio Cont (10/16)**

As I thought about creating my MSL Senior Eportfolio, I want to reorganize my profile that it will be easier to access. Currently, I have resources that I have created resources from previous education courses. I may also want to remove some things I've included previously and add new ideas that will be beneficial and useful for me.

3 takeaways from the reading this week - 1 - Electronic portfolios take time and preparation like any good educational reform or instructional method 2 - Electronic portfolios have the potential to provide preservice teachers with useful and valuable experience of manipulating and integrating technology for an authentic purpose 3 - Electronic portfolios are used to learn about the teacher and the reflective processes that has fostered his or her growth

You mentioned wanting to remove some things and add new ideas to you EP that will be beneficial--what exactly did you have in mind there? I think your takeaways are right on the money. I think you can easily make a mediocre EP pretty quickly, but to make one that is good and effective and beneficial for you and your students, it will take time. I really like that you view the project as a way for you to expand your own understanding and use of technology. This can definitely be a tool you master that you can bring into your classroom and even teach your students to use too. Finally, I appreciate that you focused on the idea of reflection. I know reflection can feel a bit redundant in a teacher education program, but it is by and far the most important thing you can do to become a better teacher, so I feel like having an EP that shows future employers and parents that that is something you are capable of doing is super important. Nice job, Janice!

https://animoto.com/play/2IzidVigEG6IVHBdu1sf1Q
 * A Long Walk to Water Takeaway **

For my EP, I am going to use Weebly. However, I am creating a new Weebly because I don't want to get rid of the things that I included in my previous education courses. In a new Weebly that I have created, I changed my theme to Time. I am going to include About me, philosophy of assessment, pedagogical and content knowledge, and my resume, so far.
 * Status Report 1 -**

My EP is coming along nicely! In my portfolio, you will see About Me, Teaching Philosophy, Knowledge, Experience, Digital Instruction Toolkit, and Resume. It is almost done. I am currently polishing up my Resume before I can put it on my portfolio. It is refreshing to see my previous education works that I have previously created my portfolio. Throughout this process, I have learned so much about myself as an educator by revisiting and reorganizing things.
 * Status Report 2 -**