407 Matching Annotations
  1. Apr 2016
    1. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, is a very informative and objective website. It has no means of being biased. It's purpose is to purely inform people of different services available to them and the details about the devices. It has helped me realize how much assistive technology there is out there for people who need speech services. I'm sure I'll use it in the future other than just for research on this inquiry project.

    2. This website allows readers to understand how assistive technology is used with speech impairment people from all types of backgrounds. It gives us of what assistive devices are and it then gives examples of the devices and the services available.

    1. Connect and Collaborate

      Relates back to article discussing the "pen pals" and includes ways of digitally collaborating.

    2. Model Good Citizenship by Setting Age-Appropriate Expectations

      Discussing the forms of social media that should and should not be practiced in elementary school.

    3. Furthermore, they fail to understand that who we are online should be who we are in person.

      An important statement for student to learn early on. This is important because it is a way of introducing social media to students in the correct way so they know how to interact with it in the future.

    4. By: Teach on the Edge

      This links us to another page that will include the author and a little background about her.

    1. video

      Multiple videos through the article with reliable sources due to the fact that the people are the ones having the first hand experience with 21st century learning.

    2. 21st Century Elementary Schools

      Article title. Above in the website are various tabs one in specific leading to an about page of the author of the website/article.

    1. n 2010, State College Area School District (SCASD) in Pennsylvania, USA, agreed to help develop a virtual international classroom exchange called the Schoolwires Greenleaf program. The program’s project-based curricu-lum paired U.S. students with Chinese learners to collabo-rate, foster global citizenship, and prepare students for the digital work environment.

      This is important to know because it provides the readers with some trust since they are able to get an understanding of the background that this article came from. This paragraph is also an initial into to the article and the study that was conducted.

    2. By Sue Anderson

      Author of article.

    1. SAFE

      What are you learning about this organization? Who are their investors? Who owns the data collected from these wearables?

    2. cost $175

      While this price may seem high, I think it is a reasonable amount for the features that this band has.

    3. Features

      Some of the features that I think are amazing is the activity tracker, heart rate monitor, and the ambient temperature. Living in Texas the heat here can get dangerous if exposed for too long without proper hydration. Having parents informed to the kind of temperature their kid is exposed to can be very helpful in making sure they are safe.

    4. “My mission in creating this wearable was to come up with a device that would be fashionable and fun for children while allowing their parents to keep a pulse on their safety while they are apart. The Paxie band also tracks activity to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.”

      Not only can wearables be used to tracking fitness and encouraging physical activity, parents can use them to help monitor where their kid is and making sure that are safe and out of harms way. However, making sure that the kids keep these devices on is an obstacle that the parents will have to hurdle.

    1. They identified nine components of digital citizenship, which are core to professional development activities for teachers in our project and for students and parents in terms of signing “admirable” user guidelines for school and home use of district devices (Richardson, 2009).

      The nine components of digital citizenship are broken down here a little more technically.

    2. Now, almost two decades later our research suggests personal, wireless devices might be those nimble, shape shifters, capable of putting opportunity and access into the hands of learners, significantly changing teaching and learning

      Interesting way of describing personal devices.

    3. The purpose of the study was to gain an understanding of the infrastructure required to support handheld devices in classrooms; the opportunities and challenges teachers face as they begin to use handheld devices for teaching and learning; and the opportunities, challenges and temptations students face when gaining access to handheld devices and wireless networks in K – 12 schools.

      This statement is like the thesis of the paper, which is exactly the kind of research we could use to have as evidence for our project. This source will be discussing the use of devices in the classroom-- specifically personal devices and the limitations and strengths it provides for teachers and students.

    4. The majority of the classrooms in the school board have interactive whiteboards in addition to a variety of other technologies

      Important to consider that there are no limitations with the word technology and that we need to consider the way we use it. In our case we are simplifying it down to just personal devices such as iPhone, iPad, ect.

    1. tools typically include speech-generation functionality, eye tracking, and other advanced features, such as those shown in the DynaVox suite of devices.2 In other cases, these artifacts represent activities that will take place (or have taken place) arranged in temporal order to augment understanding of time, events, and places, a tool known as a visual schedule

      What types of tools are used; visual schedule

    2. In these cases, visual supports are used to augment communication, in much the same way that sign language can be a visual representation of language for someone with a hearing impairment. High-tech devices for augmentative and alternative communication can also help children with special needs build language skills over time

      VI used as a means of communication for individuals with autism; similar to sign language

    3. wide variety of visual tools. These artifacts draw on words, images, and tangible objects to represent both concrete and abstract real-world concepts. Use of these visual artifacts has been shown to reduce the symptoms associated with cognitive, communication, and social disabilities, in particular for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [9].

      Question: Why is it important to integrate the use these visual tools/supports into the classroom for children with autism?

    4. The inherent communicative nature of educational settings makes learning challenging with limited verbal communication

      Some children with autism experience difficulty with communication, and this often makes learning challenging

    5. Visual supports are “those things we see that enhance the communication process” [22] and can be an incredible aid for children learning about the world around them

      One reason why visual supports are important both in and out of the classroom

      Specifically classroom setting?

    6. Visual supports can be the kinds of things that we see in everyday life to support communication, such as body language or natural cues within the environment [22]. They can also be tools explicitly created to support individuals who may have trouble interpreting naturally occurring visual cues (Fig. 1). These constructed artifacts sometimes use images or tangible objects to represent simple everyday needs and elements of basic communication

      Question: What are visual supports and what do they consist of?

    7. visual supports, which are cognitive tools to enable learning and the production of language.

      Could use for a definition

    1. Responding to Current Events News: Why is it important for young children to learn about and discuss their emotional responses to news and current events?    

      This is important foundation building discussions that should be held with students.

    2. persuasive appeal

      I would want to do more research on how to teach students this concept because it is important to creating a public service announcement.

    3. PSA's can be a simple and effective way to get young students involved in civic action

      The way that PSA's are addressed here gives a possible outlet for students to make their voices heard.

    1. Creating a PSA using iMovie

      We found this page useful because it gives details how-to information that teachers and students should work with before bringing their research together to make a final product. Teachers and students should understand how the different elements of the iMovie program can make the information they want to share more effective.

    1. Conduct researchWrite informative/explanatory textParticipate in collaborative discussionsCreate artwork to support a concept

      I think that when creating a PSA with our students about floods, it was challenging because our students weren't personally impacted by flooding, so we had to think through skills carefully. It's important that students find purpose in all that you are asking them to do.

    2. Introduce students to the idea of a PSA. A PSA is designed to reach a specific group with a message that will change the group's behavior. Then ask the overarching question: How much impact can a PSA have on our behavior? 

      I know that when working on a PSA with our St. Elmo students, we didn't focus on the behavior as part of our explanation of the purpose of PSAs. If we were to create another PSA project, we might take more time into looking at impact on behavior.

    1. The opportunities are boundless,

      Wearable are something that I think are huge for the future. This article does an excellent job in showing what some of the features that can be sued with them are. It goes into the health industry and analyzes some of the pros and cons that come with wearables. This will help me in evaluating wearable technology in the more general term other than physical fitness.

    1. f our educational village does not address these issues, the digital culture establishes its own direction, potentially pushing a productive, long-term solution further out of reach.

      I think it's very important that boundaries must be set and it should be a requirement to address certain issues so that we can prevent further coming issues.

    2. Vicki Davis, co-founder of Digiteen.org states, “digital citizenship has just come on the radar and it changes rapidly” (personal communication, July 19, 2010). Davis further denotes that digital citizenship will have to be less of an educational program and more of a social action, a student centered approach that becomes part of what students believe (personal communication). In reference to the negative events associated with the K-12 digital usage, Davis states, “this is an opportunity to empower a new generation of students who will stand up and speak out when they see these things happening” (personal communication).
    1. sports teams such as the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins are supporting the initiative.

      The support of big sports teams in huge in getting the kids motivated and others aware of how effective this program is and in turn maybe getting more youth involved.

    2. will use UNICEF Kid Power fitness bands—which display how many steps they’ve taken and points earned—to monitor their physical activity. Program supporters are then converting the points they accrue into monetary donations toward the purchase of packets of therapeutic food, a specially-designed protein and vitamin-rich peanut paste—for kids in malnourished communities.

      This is what I love about this initiative. Not only is it encouraging youth to participate in more physical activity, it is going to provide malnourished kids with food.

    3. study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that just one-quarter of American youths currently engage in the recommended amount of daily physical activity.

      Having only a quarter of the youth in the nation participating in the recommended amount of physical activity is a reason that I am doing this topic how wearable technology. This should be a much higher percentage.

    1. Eliminate boredom by minimizing repetition for students • Increase students’ independence, motivation and class participation

      I think these two go hand in hand and are important because if a student is "bored" of the content that the teacher is trying to convey then the students will give minimal participation and feedback when the teachers asks.

    2. Learning Contracts are written agreements between students and teachers that grant the student certain freedoms and choices about completing tasks yet require the student to meet certain specifications

      I like the idea of Learning Contracts because while they give students the opportunity to complete tasks in their own unique ways, they also hold students accountable for their actions while completing assignments. With learning contracts, both the teacher and the student have an equal understanding of what material is being learned, as well as the steps that will be taken/met in the process.

    3. Examples

      Which one seems the clearest to you? Which one seems the most challenging? Why?

    4. expect all students to like contracts.

      What experience do you have with them? What do you think of them?

    5. Components of Learning Contracts

      How does our class statement of inquiry assignment include, neglect or extend these components?

    6. Select specific tasks to be evaluated; it is not necessary to evaluate every task.

      What might you accomplish independently, and responsibly? What might require evaluation along the way? How might peers evaluate your work? How might the professor?

    1. laborators be geographically distant, but they can also participate in a discussion when it works best for their schedules, regardless of time zones or office hours.

      All the new gadgets that we have today are so convenient to us. We can access information at literally whatever time we desire with our smartphones. Workplaces, schools, etc. are all stay connected so easily now-adays. I think sometimes we take these things for granted and don't realize how much easier we have it than other generations.

    1. I think the third trend is not to be looked over. Making sure you have someone there to both support and encourage you can have a huge boost in finding ways to learn and succeed.

    2. I like the Learning Environment section that includes the ideas of flexible learning spaces and multi-age co- teaching. I think it is important for people of all ages to collaborate and provide input about different ways to personalize and utilize a functioning PLE because each age group or individual is going to have a different point of view about how to create an effective learning environment, and it's important to share ideas because you never know what may work for you.

    1. use it as is or modify to suit your needs. Or create your own

      Adding or modifying someone else's PLE would be easiest for me in identifying what learning environment I best work in. Either way, creating something that fits your PLE is what will make it personal and unique.

    2. The Four C’s Model

      Not only do I like this model because the Four C's are easy to remember, but also because it encourages a person to work independently (i.e. gathering information, data, etc.) as well as collaboratively with others, such as sharing and discussing thoughts and ideas.

    3. is this: a self-directed and evolving environment of tools, services and resources organized by a person seeking a way to accomplish lifetime learning, to create, and to connect with others of similar interests.

      I like how this definition uses the terms 'self-directed' and 'evolving' when referring to what type of environment a PLE is. As we continue to grow as individuals, our needs are constantly changing, and thus we must change things around in order to meet those needs. The words 'self-directed' highlight the fact that we are in control of our own unique personal learning environment and we can change it any time we want to in order to meet our changing/'evolving' needs.

  2. Feb 2016
  3. specialedwitheva.weebly.com specialedwitheva.weebly.com
    1. I HOPE I CAN KEEP ON LEARNING AND BECOME THE BEST SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER I CAN BECOME!

      I can feel your excitement here, but think you might convey that with an exclamation point in lieu of all caps. All caps seems REALLY LOUD :)

    2. Currently a Special Education major with hopes of becoming a down syndrome specialist. 

      Long term plans convey your seriousness and vision for yourself.

  4. jackymumford.wordpress.com jackymumford.wordpress.com
    1. education

      If you can, you might share some of your pre-ed work experience. This often conveys seriousness and valuable experience coming into the classroom.

    2. Family, friends, coworkers, parents, & anyone else

      big audience! may shape the tags you use to categorize posts as they accumulate. maybe some are more for some folks than others?

  5. sharigulam.weebly.com sharigulam.weebly.com
    1. Experience

      You have had a lot of experience for a sophomore! For all the different age groups you've worked in and block experiences under your belt you might share a focused detail about each one or link to the schools where you've interned to give more depth to these "references."

    2. helping her out

      This connection to your mother is instant credibility! You might list some of the ways you helped her out here (perhaps err on the unexpected or concrete side of things to keep our attention) to make this story stick and begin to establish your authority from a very young age.

  6. jacqgonzalez.wordpress.com jacqgonzalez.wordpress.com
    1. This is a great start. I hear your hopes, your credibility and authority (long past and present line of ELA eds), and your love (quote). Be sure to use the visual affordances of the webtext and consider hyperlinking, even if it's to your favorite author's open online collection or your goodreads feed (just a shot in the dark, but brainstorming here with you).

    1. I instantly knew it was something I wanted to do

      I love your story and want you to continue to sharpen it. I think it speaks volumes. Explaining what you felt in this moment, what appealed to you, how it shaped your vision might take this story one step closer to really helping your reader get a sense of your motivations from this moment.

    2. speech pathology

      Clear, long-term, multi-tiered goals demonstrate your level of focus, intensity, and vision for yourself.

    3. I am a double major in spanish and special education

      This detail conveys your seriousness as a student and your marketability in a city full of bilingual folks.

  7. arianarvillegas.weebly.com arianarvillegas.weebly.com
    1. South Austin native

      I like this mention of your home alongside a pic of yourself in Chicago (for those who recognize the bean :) ). Inserting a caption or referencing this juxtaposition might clarify the selection for outside audiences. They seem to convey your love for cities and your movement beyond Austin.

    2. actively involved

      Show this a bit more, if you keep it here. I feel like there is a one sentence story possible (see Ruben's page for an example)

    1. I feel like I have a cultural connection in these classrooms

      Worth another sentence, I think, to establish your cultural connection.

    2. I have been working with students on understanding how to graph information, aspects of 3-Dimensional shapes, and we are now moving on to fractions beginning with halves.

      These images and this caption speak volumes about experience you are getting in the field. They go above and beyond the about page assignment.

  8. rubenaf.weebly.com rubenaf.weebly.com
    1. purpose

      I get a sense of your purpose. I wonder if you might define your audience just a bit more, for your writerly sake :)

    2. Living in such a small town there is really not much to do, so to pass time, me and my siblings would play basketball at the one court that my town had just about every night (the days were too hot).

      I have an instant image of this routine in my mind. This is such a quick story and it contributes to your credibility and authority as a physical educator. You've got to display your lifelong learning and identity as a physically active person and you're doing it, concretely and credibly.

    3. It is surrounded by farms and windmills!

      I love the pics and the captions help us understand their connection to the messages above and how they take use even closer to you. I am wondering about their placement on the page. Is there a way to break up the text or move beyond the centered alignment for the whole page? It feels awkward.

  9. meganewills.weebly.com meganewills.weebly.com
    1. CJ

      Obligatory dog pic, please!Image Description

    2. I am eager to enter the field of education with the same passion for kids that I have as a coach. 

      Immediate credibility and a rationale for sharing this in relation to your future as an educator. Well-stated.

  10. sammiecurtin.weebly.com sammiecurtin.weebly.com
    1. :)

      This gives me a feel for the casual tone you're working to strike, but I'm wondering if given the initial clause about letting us in on a secret, you might end the sentence with a ... for drama instead and to fend off some of the more conservative audience members who might judge you for using emoticons as a teacher (I don't, but have their imaginary lenses on my shoulder as I read).

    2. About me

      I love the pallette of the whitewashed fence and your image below. They're aligned, so to speak. That being said, the mint green of the title of the page gets a little lost. I wonder if you might bump it up and provide a bit more contrast.

    3. I will keep y'all posted while working with these kiddos.

      I appreciate that you're speaking to me as an audience. This is also giving me a sense of how you will use this site right now (purpose), to check in and consider the road to your first position as you move through the st. ed's program.

    4. I even saved up my money to buy an overhead projector

      Unexpected fun fact is concrete, credible, and story-like.

    1. She is the reason I want to work with students.

      Sounds like a real inspiration. I wonder if you might quote her? I am also looking at this and wondering about balance. How can we fit you and your strengths back into this page before we leave it, as readers? Is there a way to bring us back to you through a moment mentioning the image or the metaphor it might illustrate, experience it conveys about you and who you are as an educator? (just brainstorming)

    2. The next step I am planning to get my masters in Speech Pathology in hopes of someday working with the deaf who are hoping to become vocal. For now, I plan on focusing in the field of Special Education.

      Having a multi-tiered, detailed plan really establishes your credibility as a serious student of special education.

  11. shaheenmaknojia.weebly.com shaheenmaknojia.weebly.com
    1. And thats the kind of educator I want to be!

      I agree with Brooke and Christen that you've got a nice framework here to develop. The picture tells a story, invites us into your family (I'm guessing, but a caption would clarify that) and your final line referencing your role in the family helps us learn about this familial role and the connection you see between it and your future as an educator. Now it's time to take things to the next level and share some of those specifics like your certificate level, perhaps an inspiration, a mentor, a quote, something about what you hope this site might do for your future students or their families. All these potential details will establish your credibility and begin to convey your authority.

    1. what are your views on education?- students from Alta Vista charter HIgh school KC

      Nice to see youth reaching out, BUT thinking his views are explicitly stated all over the site. Strange question to ask. Must be part of the assignment, to reach out. It's recent.

    2. Thanks, John. I honestly appreciate it. Hope to be in contact with you soon.

      I liked hearing his voice here. Sounds like someone who's easy to relate to and available. Also shows he's "contact-able" through the site (in 2010).

    3. 100

      After such a list, thinking a few hyperlinks might have enhanced the webtext, BUT that's also another area of the site to "maintain" and he's writing often, so...probably a wise authorial choice.

    4. TEDxNYED

      Internationally renowned context for public speaking listed first.

    5. named

      Lots of recent honors (past 2-3 years).

    6. writes

      LOTS of popular, widely circulating blogs and online news sites listed here.

    7. serves

      Invited service on a board

    8. click here.

      Communication line established. One sign of a credible site, according to the University of Maryland Libraries' criteria for establishing web site credibility

    9. He’s also a committed writer, activist, web designer, and father.

      Lots of education related and enhancing identities here, e.g., parenting, web design (ed tech!), social action, etc.. He establishes a lot of authority in and beyond the classroom.

    10. This Is Me

      Clear, to the point, no frills, no fear.

  12. Nov 2015
    1. Sometimes participants slip into a social-network mode of communicat-ing. They may use textspeak or even inappropriate language, or they might upload pictures that are not acceptable in all global classrooms. This is where teachers must monitor in an engaged manner.

      Elsie and I think that when moments like these arise, educators must teach students about being responsible digital citizens.

    2. “flatten,” or lower, the classroom walls so that instead of each class working alone, two or more classes join virtually to become one large classroom.

      Here is where the authors actually define what it means to "flatten" a classroom. Basically, it's creating a connection between two distinct classrooms and merging them into one. Later on in the text, the authors state that the two classrooms share a curricular perspective...what exactly does that entail?

    3. Will encouraging students to engage in global collabora-tive environments land teachers in hot water?

      What sorts of environments would be problematic?

    4. They need to develop their own personal learning networks and have some understanding of what con-nected learning looks like and how to harness its power

      We have to create our digital environment to take part and think you take part in technologies

    5. This allows them to custom-ize and personalize digital tools and set up individualized learning environ-ments on their mobile computers. When students graduate from high school, they should have a positive digital footprint with academic mate-rial included
    6. avoid the fear factor that can easily paralyze you

      I think there are rational concerns over PEOPLE (not just kids, although Louis CK focuses on kids here) interacting away from face to face interactions.

    7. Navigate

      What experiences do you have with formal digital citizenship curriculum? Informal? A long time ago, one of my roommates wrote me a long, angry, distressing email. This was before people (or I) checked email multiple times a day (2000). I went home, hung out, returned to work, and went home and hung out and returned to work before I read the email. To this day, I remember the feeling I had reading that email at work, knowing my roommate had been around me with full knowledge that the email was out circulating in cyberspace. To this day, I remember thinking emails of that sort were for cowards and people fearful of face to face social interactions. I'm not sure if this is the same today, but I believe the concerns over how people treat each other on the Internet and the importance of keeping the PERSON you are communicating with in mind remain. I'm not sure my roommate/friend was thinking much about me while drafting that email, even though it was sent to me and would have lasting ramifications on my life and our friendship.

    8. How can we teach proper online social interactions when the students are outside our classroom and thus outside our control?

      This seems to be the case with any curricular concept.

    1. we will stop making excuses and dangerous assumptions about what they do and don't know about using technology.

      As educators we should not be making excuses and assumptions to begin with. Changing a label isn't going to educate students, that's the teacher's job. We should all help our native students learn to be citizens regardless.

    2. The minute that we place a device in the hands of a child, it does not make them a digital native.

      We think that digital native refers to someone who is intuitive with technology and we disagree that it is a negative stereotype. We understand the importance of being a digital citizen and also agree that everyone should be a citizen, but being a native is simply a part of being born in a technological era.

    3. It is dangerous for us to assume that there is such a thing as a "digital native.

      Elizabeth and I discussed the difference between being a native and being a citizen and we disagreed that it is dangerous to assume that younger people are natives. This just means that someone is comfortable with technology and is used to working with it on a regular basis. If we start to label everyone as a citizen instead of a native, we are only changing the title because there will still be those that don't understand what being a citizen is. On the other hand, if we have both terms, we can teach the natives that it is important to also be a citizen.

    4. Being a digital citizen is complex

      There is a lot of rules, laws and appropriate behaviors have to be respected, it's not cause you have hugely access to information you can do what you want.

    5. There are many people I come in contact with on a regular basis who assume that any child under the age of 18, were they given a computer, would automatically know how to use it

      To know how to use it you have to be teaching by someone else or seeing someone else use it.

    6. digital native

      We tend to confuse terms. Be able to use a computer doesn't mean we are experts. We all have different abilities with technologies just like students have special needs.

    7. represented by the stereotype

      It may influence the way of being with students in classroom only if we camp on those stereotypes

    8. dangerous stereotypes

      Stereotypes are usually based a "general cases" but it is not for everyone. Also, it doesn't concerns everyone.

    9. Digital Native vs Digital Citizen? Examining a Dangerous Stereotype

      this picture evokes a lot of emotion and prompts me to think of the digital divide, access, and a globalizing world. I'm wondering if the author wants me to feel sorry for this little kid. I'm wondering if this little kid is a wiz. I wonder if we'll learn anything about this kid beyond this image. If we don't, this feels a bit manipulative to me. Reading on.

    10. Are they both dangerous? I'm curious and wondering about the constraints of defining citizenship. I've already thought a good deal about the problems with the notion of "digital natives." I'm reminded of generation like] and the ways youth are portrayed as natives, but as a result, positioned as un-savvy, duped by the media, slaves to corporate marketing and social network likes.

  13. www.digitalcitizenship.net www.digitalcitizenship.net
    1. Digital Health & Wellness:

      Elizabeth and I discussed what we thought is digital citizenship, and we covered many of the topics listed here, but we both agreed that Health & Wellness didn't cross our minds. This is an interesting incite that gives us a new dimension of digital citizenship.

    2. A renewed focus must be made on what technologies must be taught as well as how it should be used.

      This is something that educators need to take account when using technology in the classroom. It's important to know what is right to use and what you can leave out.

    3. everyone would understand the basic ideas of digital citizenship
    4. we must protect our information from outside forces that might cause disruption or harm
    5. Users need to be taught that there are inherent dangers of technology
    6. In a digital society these two areas must work together for everyone to be productive.
    7. Digital law deals with the ethics of technology within a society
    8. we must teach everyone to become responsible digital citizens in this new society
    9. Digital Citizenship involves educating people in a new way
    10. The expanding digital communication options have changed everything because people are able to keep in constant communication with anyone else
    11. Legitimate and legal exchanges are occurring, but the buyer or seller needs to be aware of the issues associated with it.
    12. Technology users need to be aware that not everyone has the same opportunities when it comes to technology. 
    1. Reflection: This was the last piece of the puzzle that i needed. This source is going to really help me get the point across by making this the base of my research. This definitely ties in all the points that i am trying to make about LMS's.

    2. Assessment: This source is useful to me because this will help set a base for my research and will help ground the conversation around LMS'. This source is not a review and it makes it stand out from the rest. It being so different makes it a necessity to have in my final project. This source is meant to inform people about this new software and this new generation.

    3. Analytical Summary: This article talks about what Learning Management Systems are. It talks about the components, advantages, the future of LMS'' and those who use them. The text is very informative but not the overwhelming type.

    1. Reflection: This source is helpful to me because it is geared towards younger kids which is my focus area. Compared to Moodle, this looks so much for kid and user friendly which could be it's own category when i review all of these in comparison with one another.

    2. Assessment: This is a useful source for me and can be very useful for teachers that are trying to figure out what would work best for them and their students. This ties in to the first article that compares all of these. It also goes hand in hand with the Moodle reviews as they are reviews done by people who have worked with the program. This information is reliable but maybe i could find a source that was a little more reliable. The goal of this source is to give people the information they need to know about the software.

    3. Analytical Summary: This source provides a review for Edmodo. This source describes the program, shares a video and creates space for people to comment and review the program. This is definitely intended towards teachers as it provides information needed to decide whether or not this is a good program to be used in the classroom. This is a very informational source for someone who is comparing different programs to one another.

    1. Reflection: This source is very helpful to my project and it will definitely help me take into account the cons about this website from people that use it. Since i cant use Moodle myself, i have to rely on people and their experience with it. This article made me realize that Moodle might be hard to incorporate with younger kids because of how complicated it is.

    2. Assessment: This source is very useful although it might not come form a professional himself. This source is very different from the "20 best learning materials.." due to the fact that this is written by everyday people. I think this source is more objective than it is bias because these people don't have anything to lose by being honest. I think people would like the honesty from other people rather than just hearing about all the great things Moodle offers according to it's website.

    3. Analytic Summary: This is a question and answer kind of deal. This is a forum that dicusess Moodle. I chose this because i wanted to get reviews and opinions from people who actually use this website from a day to day basis. There are other websites that have reviews done by the company itself which are extremely bias. This was very entertaining and informational. Its nice to hear feedback from people that are not getting paid to make a program sound good.

    1. Reflection: This will be the base of my research. I will take the top 4 websites and compare them to each other. 1. Moodle, 2.Edmodo, 3.ConnectEDU and 4.Blackboard.

      This article really broke things up for me by having different categories for each website or software.

    2. Analytic Summary: This article talks about the new LMS software that is out there. It is ranked in different categories such as # of users and top social media followers. This entry seems to be somewhat of a blog or an article. It is published on a website that focuses on LMS's. This seems to be targeted towards teachers and corporations that would like to use/invest in these websites. This is a very visual article as it does a great job at putting information in the form of graphs. This article is meant to educate people on these new trends and these new websites.

    3. About the author: "Christopher Pappas is founder of The eLearning Industry’s Network, which is the largest online community of professionals involved in the eLearning Industry. Christopher holds an MBA, and an MEd (Learning Design) from BGSU. eLearning Blogger | EduTechpreneur | eLearning Analyst | Speaker | Social Media Addict If I can be valuable to you do not hesitate to contact me!"

      Assessment: By taking a look at the authors bio, we can come to the conclusion that he knows what he is talking about. This also means that he might be bias about LMS'. Definitely something to look out for. This source and the author are trying to sell the idea of LMS'. I want to use this source because of the graphs it has. I am a very visual person and this is a great way to put into perspective a lot of information. I think that this article will be viewed very positively when used in my research because of the visuals. (they are more important than we think)

    1. I think Sarigianides, Petrone, Lewis and ultimately Nancy Lesko's work on the constructedness of youth and all the adult investments in maintaining particular positions for youth deepen the conversation about WHY this happens and continues to happen throughout history.

    1. Ultimately it's not about how many apps we integrate, but about providing our students with the best access and opportunities to contemporary learning resources. As educators, we must prepare our students for their future, not ours.

      I find this very interesting; this is how (as a future teacher) I want to think. Being teacher is first for children and their well-being.

      Like the teacher says; this is not about using many tools but few ones in a way of which students are successful at it.

    2. Find applications that promote and strengthen a variety of skill sets for students, not just one or two

      I think the main difficulty remains this : find something that match for everyone because every child has specific needs, a different way of learn. Also, find an app for a whole class may sometimes be complicated.

    3. it's still vital that we promote and encourage a love of reading across all formats

      This value is interesting because as student, I love read but I wouldn't read a book on a screen. Read is with a book; we turn page after page.

    4. Teaching students how to balance technology usage along with offline socializing and interpersonal skills is essential

      I totally agree with that. Technologies must not be too present in students' schooling. This is important to find a balance.

    5. We have to multitask, connect beyond the workday, and collaborate and connect both locally and globally

      Even if the integration of technologies has made its proofs, it's still true that this is something really which is "time consuming", especially for teachers who try to adapt their class to these new literacies.

    6. technology is already integrated in nearly everything we do and nearly every job our students will encounter

      I think this is important to integrate technologies in schools because in a way or another one students will discover technologies. Also, the point is to educate them to use technologies intelligently : how to improve their skills, the possible dangers for example.

    1. 13 September 2013

      This article has been written in 2013, 2 years ago. Also, we can say technologies had time since 2013 to improve students' skills. More teachers may had the chance to introduce technologies in their classroom too.

      Another important point is that 2 years ago, this new way of learning was already a success for lots of teachers and parents.

    2. how teachers and parents feel about technology in the classroom

      Right after we can see few numbers about teachers and parents feel about it.

    3. increase their creativity as well as technical skills

      I think this is interesting because it push students to go further the class' content ; learn something on their own and also develop their Learning Environment.

    1. Since this website is a compilation of different users videos it would be important for me as a teacher to check if the video source is credible for my students before linking it to my own website. But the videos that HippoCampus has retrieved are from good sources such as Khan Academy or Phoenix College Collection.

    2. The only thing that i feel this site lacks is written instruction. It has all the video and audio components, so it would be a beneficial resource for my website, but I feel like it can only be an additional site. This is not the type of site than can stand on its own to power a curriculum or entire lesson. It definitely is beneficial to boost a lesson and give it a new perspective and additional instruction on.

    3. Algebra I--An Open Course (2011)

      This table takes you step by step through each lesson through out the course of the year. So it would definitely be a useful for resource for multiple lessons.

    4. Khan Academy Collection

      The interesting thing about this website is that it takes a collection of different videos and combines them into this table of contents.

    5. Algebra I--An Open Course (2011) Developmental Math - Beginning Algebra Developmental Math - Intermediate Algebra Developmental Math - Geometry

      This a fantastic resource to have a link to within my website for my students. Not only can i link my students to the specific video that they can add to the lesson, they can also use this website for future math courses. This is a great resource to have for any students that struggle with math throughout their time in high school or beyond.

    1. This website is a credible source and is valid information that can be cross referenced with any algebra 1 textbook.

    2. Discovering expressions, equations and functions > Expressions and variables > Operations in the right order > Composing expressions > Composing equations and inequalities > Representing functions as rules and graphs Exploring real numbers > Integers and rational numbers > Calculating with real numbers > The Distributive property > Square roots How to solve linear equations > Properties of equalities > Fundamentals in solving equations in one or more steps > Ratios and proportions and how to solve them > Similar figures > Calculating with percents Visualizing linear functions > The coordinate plane > Linear equations in the coordinate plane > The slope of a linear function > The slope-intercept form of a linear equation Formulating linear equations > Writing linear equations using the slope-intercept form > Writing linear equations using the point-slope form and the standard form > Parallel and perpendicular lines > Scatter plots and linear models Linear inequalitites > Solving linear inequalities > Solving compound inequalities > Solving absolute value equations and inequalities > Linear inequalities in two variables Systems of linear equations and inequalities > Graphing linear systems > The substitution method for solving linear systems > The elimination method for solving linear systems > Systems of linear inequalities Exponents and exponential functions > Properties of exponents > Scientific notation > Exponential growth functions Factoring and polynomials > Monomials and polynomials > Special products of polynomials > Polynomial equations in factored form > Factor polynomials on the form of x^2 + bx + c > Factor polynomials on the form of ax^2 + bx +c Quadratic equations > The graph of y = ax^2 + bx + c > Use graphing to solve quadratic equations > Completing the square > The quadratic formula Radical expressions > The graph of a radical function > Simplify radical expressions > Radical equations > The Pythagorean Theorem > The distance and midpoint formulas Rational expressions

      Having the organization of this side bar is something that i want to apply to my own site because it allows the students to know where each additional lesson is without to much of a hassle.

    3. Having a video tutorial is extremely helpful because it allows for visual learners to be able to see the problem be worked out step by step and listen to the instruction.

    4. Math Planet is a good resource because it gives multiple examples on the given topic. This allows for students to see more examples than just in class lectures.

    5. Home FAQ Courses News About

      Unlike Mr. Marcos page, Math Planet is much easier to read and find helpful information. It is helpful to note that Math Planet is for multiple subjects instead of just one classroom. But the tabs at the top of the page are something that I would implement in my website to help the look of the site so that students would not be turned off by it and not use the website because of the clutter.

    1. new cultural battleground in public schools

      it's one of those basic human rights, like marriage equality, that become incredible sticking points to move the law.

    2. CHICAGO — Federal education authorities, staking out their firmest position yet on an increasingly contentious issue, found Monday that an Illinois school district violated anti-discrimination laws when it did not allow a transgender student who identifies as a girl and participates on a girls’ sports team to change and shower in the girls’ locker room without restrictions. 

      Summary of this piece is likely here in the start because it's a newspaper article. Looks like it's reporting on this law suit about a transgender student's rights being violated.

    1. Also, when introducing new things to the classroom, the most important thing to keep in mind are the students!

      I totally agree with that because it should be in mind of every teacher.

    2. ethics and safety

      Using technologies is a good idea to improve class and students' learning but we can't forget the dangers we can find on Internet.

    3. Education

      At the beginning of the article, we learn in which category this article can be found.

    4. ICT

      ICT stands for "Information and Communication and Technologies" and it is defined as “diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store, and manage information.” (definition from wikibook)

    5. she’s spent years tweaking and re-purposing technology to create innovative, constructive and fun learning environments for her pupils.

      I found this sentence really interesting, because I think this is the aim for a teacher : enhance class, help students just like it described.

    6. Teaching is refocusing on skills

      I totally agree with that ! Be a teacher is reinventing yourself every year to be in agreement children's needs.

    7. It is important to remember though that there are still students who do not like engaging with technology

      I think the point here is to know why they don't like work with technology : is it inconvenient ? is it too expensive ? The why matters, especially because schools are going toward a classroom with more technologies and it is important that every student feels comfortable with it.

    8. they are able to make with the outside world

      This is an important point. Using technologies at school is not "just for fun". It push students to go further : make connections, learn more, find more information.

    9. enhance learning

      I think it should be what really matters. Be teacher is for kids, not for ourselves. We have to be present and helpful for them, to help our students.

      It should not be a question of time.

    10. it should complement and grow your practice

      The way of teaching can't be different from a day to another one. It has already evolve. Teachers need time to adapt their class with technologies pratices.

    11. then they usually get excited about it

      Also, the all point point would be to iniate teachers to different technologies, not only one.

    12. ‘another thing to learn’

      I think something may be a problem is that lots of teachers never learn to teach with technologies but only the traditional way : books and pen. Also, I think it would be judicious for teachers who are not comfortable with technologies a kind of training.

      How could they help children with technologies if they also are struggling with it ?

    1. In the past, I used this sheet as a template and placed it in a clear plastic sleeve, so students could use a dry-erase marker and re-use the “mat” for various relations, erasing and starting fresh each time. I now have iPads for every student, so I have used the PDF file in apps that allow students to annotate the “mat” and save each relation we walk through. A simple way to address multiple representations and reinforce key vocabulary!

      With one to one ipads for every student it allows the economically friendly use of graphs to be taken to a new level. Filling in graphs and charts with while still using your fingers to draw in the information I think is in important thing to have to benefit different types of learners(visual, kinesthetic...)

    2. These have always been a big hit with students!  Allow students to work in pairs or small groups to encourage math conversation as well as fluency for these basic skills.  Consider laminating and making an interactive bulletin board.  Fun with adult learners too!  The goal is a BIG HUGE 4-by-4 puzzle such that every edge is touching an equivalent value.

      Not only bring technology in the classroom, Yenca is coming up with other ideas for hands on activities that can help get the students more involved in the lesson for the day.

    3. Brain research supports that students benefit from being taught differences. “Focusing on and practicing differences gives learners the warnings and cues they need to identify them correctly in the future,” stated Carolyn Williamson in her session on the brain at a recent NCTM conference.

      This quote definitely gives Cathy Yenca credibility because she is quoting a fairy important speaker and she is using her to back up her own teaching style.

    4. am excited to say that I teach in a one-to-one iPad classroom, and have committed to blog about my experiences.  Here is one of my first attempts to use QR codes in my classroom!  This free “apptivity” guides students through various apps on the iPad while engaging them in a problem-solving situation.  QR codes, directions, and teacher notes are included.  Students first scan one of five QR codes, and are guided to annotate a PDF file linked to the code, which helps structure the process of setting up and solving a simple equation.  

      Since technology is becoming more and more advanced it is important to keep up to date with not only the technology itself but to keep tabs on other educators who have tried different techniques in the classroom so that we as educators are not making mistakes that someone else has already made. By checking other teacher's blogs i can benefit my own classroom by understanding what has worked for other students across the nation.

    5. This is another teacher blog that can be a hge resource for me as an educator. By being able to take Cathy Yenca's ideas and implement them into my own classroom I can help beneift my students. She has a lot of resources that I can use as a boost to help my students get through some of the more difficult curriculum.

    1. math interactives

      This math interactive tab is something that I could use in the classroom easily. It allows for the student to be able to interact wth difficult math problems that a teacher can not simply do with only a textbook and a chalkboard. It gives the student a chance to play with graphs and numbers to create what they need to help them understand the solution to a problem, or to help them prove a solution to a problem.

    2. When clicking on the links to take you into specific math courses it is extremely helpful. This website has many examples of the lesson and then it gives the user step by step information on how the problem should be solved.

    3. Latest articles

      Also it has updating articles on difficult math problems that could be fun to discuss in the classroom so that the students could understand more difficult equations without it just being in the textbook.

    4. Higher Calculus

      This is also a site that can not only be used for lower math classes in High school, it is a site that can be used as a resource as students graduate and go to college because it has helpful tools to help with higher math courses such as calculus.

    5. Explore math Use interactive apps to explore math and get a better understanding of what it all means. Go ahead - play and learn!

      This is definitely a site that can help boost my classroom and make math more interactive. So i could easily use this site in or out of the classroom to help my students better understand the use of algebra techniques. Different examples of graphs can be used to help explain a lesson or they can be used to help understand the homework more fully.

    1. Seph can focus on his schoolwork because he isn’t scoping out the rest of his class when he should be concentrating, she says. He isn’t anxious about being called on by the teacher and looking dumb in class. Now when he answers a question during a live virtual class, only the teacher sees what he says.

      I believe that this is a strong piece of information that convinces me that an e-learning environment or that extra online help for students shows a positive outcome. I would like to use this source as part of my project because I feel it fits it great with it. It shows good examples of real life people who have used this type of learning and it has been a huge benefit. Students are able to get that extra help without being overwhelmed to ask in class if that is the situation as well as being able to interact with their peers online. Even though social skills are extremely important, this gives them reassurance that what they want to say or what they are doing makes sense.

    1. I really like the structure and organization of this teacher's page. She includes other aspects of what I want to include in my blog. She shows everyone how her classroom looks like and things she sets up. She also includes the current activities she is doing with her students. This is also what I would like to add because that is where the parents come in and get involved in their child's schooling. Because her page is well organized, it is easy to go through and access different tabs at the top. It really is a resource room where you can learn about all different kinds of things. It is useful for a regular classroom as well but can also be applied to a special needs classroom.

    1. I really like this website as a resource for my project because it lists iPad Apps for children with special needs. This is something I would also like to incorporate into my website. This will help students access these at home for extra help or fun learning. Parents will be able to see these apps and can try them out to see if they can suite their child. I feel that the parent, student, and teacher interaction is very important for the success of students. These apps will not only aid them but also expand their learning outside of the classroom if possible.

    1. * Students benefit from the availability of instructional resources. Having instructional PowerPoints, wikis, and other resources available just-in-time was one of the primary reported benefits of virtual instruction.

      I really love that this page mentions this because it is exactly what I would like to have on my website. This page not only tells you what is beneficial but also includes the external sources where you can go and learn more about. It tells me exactly what I had planned to find. It says how useful these types of learnings can be for students with special needs. This will be useful for me because if I need more sources or more information for my webpage once I start to build it, it will benefit me. It is like having one sources with many more within them. I will continue to look into these sources that are available and see what else I can use.

    1. I feel that she will be very beneficial to my project because her website is somewhat of a model of what I would like to do for my students. She includes a "Common Core Resources" tab that she organizes very neatly and includes different website where students can go to get more practice for state exams. I would like to do this as well but also include extra homework help and materials to assist them even further.

    1. Unlike Mr. Marcos page, Math Planet is much easier to read and find helpful information. It is helpful to note that Math Planet is for multiple subjects instead of just one classroom. But the tabs at the top of the page are something that I would implement in my website to help the look of the site so that students would not be turned off by it and not use the website because of the clutter.

  14. Oct 2015
    1. About me: It is clear to see that she has had experience with both 5th and 6th graders. Definitely someone i want to come in contact with!

    2. Math: Technology and Manipulatives!!!!

      She managed to use pen and paper, models and technology to get through a lesson. TALENT

    3. Using iPads with a science lesson

      It is fun to see her incorporating technology into her classroom by using ipads. This gives makes me feel like she would be a good person to turn to as she has had experience with different types of technology in her classroom.

    1. I specifically like this page because this is where she includes extra help for MAP assessments.

    1. I'm not sure where this teacher is from or more information about her, but she does include a contact button that could be useful to find out more information or ask her questions about her blog.

    2. This blog is somewhat of what I want to create. She does a great job in organizing her website into something that a teacher, student, or parent could be able to access.

    1. This does however have many useful things that I want to be able to apply to my own site. For instance this tab is specifically for students and parents to find various links.

    2. This seems extremely cluttered to me. As a user it turns me off to the idea of trying to find what information I need from this website.

    3. Mr. Marcos seems like a credible source and through some digging you can find where he teaches and some of his research opportunities.

    4. His page is something i would like to base mine off of but I want mine to be more organized. I think that he is lacking a professional view. Everything is very scattered and it is difficult to find information.

    5. Presented a Ted Talk which is impressive.

    1. Printed text is a default form of communication in the developed world.

      I think that this site is pretty credible. The article provides background knowledge about the authors and it clearly states the date that this article was published. The content is fairly easy to read for a student in high school or above. I felt like this site was very purposeful in connecting learning disabilities and technology.

    2. This is not a good research site for younger students but it could be useful to teachers. I think it should be updated though because as far as I can tell, the last post or edit was done in 2009 and in terms of technology, 6 years is a long time and many things could be outdated.

    3. This article and more on similar subjects may be found in the Intel Technology Journal, September 2009 Edition, "Enabling Healthcare in the Home". More information can be found at http://intel.com/technology/itj.

      Reference Author's name Edition Title WebSite

    4. Authors' names are present and contact info is left for each of them. Their credentials are also left. This site seems geared towards educators so there is a chance I will find something useful here. The site was revised in the last 6 months and all links work. I think this is a good resource for everyone.

    5. By Selena Chan,

      The author was really easy to find. She had no spelling error. The author can be easily contacted by an email icon right above the title of the article.

    6. Selena Chan is a Principal Engineer at Intel. She can be contacted at selena.chan@intel.com.

      Author can be trusted because information about her is included, and also includes contact information.

    1. Back-to-School Guide for Students with Dyslexia: Apps and More

      The date and title are the first things I noticed, but where is the author's name and credentials?

    2. Apps are useful for students with disabilities in order to be successful in the classroom.

    3. The synchronized audio and written notes help students to review and fill in gaps of information that they may have missed while trying to quickly record information.

      Help to studying

    4. Thursday, August 29, 2013

      date was easy to find and it was revised more than 6 months ago. Although it is good to note that the last post on the website was within the past month.

    5. I think that all of these apps are very purposeful and structured around helping students with learning disabilities.

    1. geared for elementary school children and range from an “all about me” web to sorting and matching activities. If no template is applicable there

      Sample comment