CED0555 - Blog Post 1

It seems hard to believe that we're in the home stretch of our MEIT program - but here we are. I was looking back at some of the earliest blogs and I smile thinking of how little I knew at the time. Funny thing is that I feel like there is so much more to learn about the application of technology to my classroom. After our class Tuesday night, I starting giving some serious consideration to what I want to accomplish for my culminating experience. Here are some of the ideas... let me know what you think!
1. I would like to update all of my presentations to "Presentation Zen" status. This would require taking my own stock photos or using creative commons photos - a little tricky with some of the science content - and creating all of the supporting materials. In addition, I would have to pull more stories to illustrate concepts instead of just lecturing the "material". This task would be a major overhaul but I fear I'd get burned out taking on all of my presentations and that this venture would be best undertaken a bit at a time...
2. I want to expand the Ning I created for our science department and create opportunities for my department to get involved in it's evolution by contributing to it. We currently email each other links, notes, etc. that may be appropriate for each others' classes. I envision taking those items and "training" my science colleagues to post them in our Ning, so that no matter who teaches what, we all have the same access to these resources.
3. As part of my district initiated professional development, I have been working with a small team to investigate the use of portfolios and exit interviews for seniors. At our last meeting, we gained approval from the principal to plan to implement the portfolios over the next two years. 2010-2011 would be a year of training and providing resources to the staff of the high school and we would begin implementation and creation of the portfolios in 2011-2012. For my culminating experience, I could plan the training sessions (f2f and online tutorials) to familiarize the staff with a number of technology tools that are available.
4. Finally, our district utilizes our distance learning lab for both inbound and outbound classes as well as software like Odyssey Ware for some of our students who need courses not offered or to fill holes in their schedules. We do also offer summer school on a limited basis but I'd like to start building an online option for biology in our district. Currently, students taking classes in one of these three venues lack the laboratory component. I'd like to build a class that utilizes models and demonstrations online as well as providing material "kits" for students to check out to complete labs at home. This may be in addition to offering lab days in a face to face environment as well.

Any ideas?

CED0550 - Week Six

Final Reflections...

I will use what I learned in this course over the next 30 days by using Elluminate (Three for Free) to correspond with students that are taking extended spring vacations and will be missing class. I plan on offering opportunities a few times to take the alternative online classes.

I will use what I learned in over the next year by hopefully being the first to incorporate at least some blended online offerings in conjunction with our Personal Learning Plan Coordinator.

After completing this course I would like to learn more about getting my school district to purchase a subscription to Elluminate to facilitate the use of online curriculum in our schools.

CED0550 - Week Five

My experience with online communities has been limited to the experiences I've had in the MEIT program. And even as I write the word "limited" I chuckle thinking back to recent conversations I've had with colleagues who can barely fathom what we've accomplished so far. These experiences have been so eye opening and have really challenged my perceptions and views of technology in the classroom and online learning.

I believe the biggest benefit of collaborative groups is learning from peers that may have different perspectives and insights as well as varied strengths.

I believe the greatest challenge of collaborative groups is/would be creating opportunities in which all members of the group participate and contribute equally in a timely manner.

My thoughts regarding the social development and socialization issues are changing on a daily basis. I can remember early on in this course thinking that full time online students are missing out on so much as far as socialization and there are things that can't possibly translate from the traditional classroom to the online one. Now I'm developing new attitudes and insights that the reverse is also true. There are things that can be accomplished and done online that can't be replicated in the classroom and because of this, it will be so important for our students to experience both whenever possible.