The issue was was in need of a solution was that a course needed to have an online platform on which students could work in teams and publish their research project.
The bigger issue was that these groups would swap every four weeks and their projects needed to be archived and the site needed to be made available for the next rotation.
This site needed to provide students a way to collaborate online as well as practice other 21st century skills.
The solution to this issue came in the form of Google Apps for Education, primarily the Google Sites feature. Google sites allowed me to manage a site on which students could work together and provide a creative way to publish their research findings. Google sites enabled both the students and teachers to engage in an online environment that could be available at any time, from any computer, home or school.
From a TPACK stanpoint, the technology made itself readily available to the teachers' pedagogy, as they were able to practice modeling and scaffold their content, and measured the students' understanding by the quality of work they published on their site as a team. It also lent itself to help teachers encourage collaboration with a dynamic group of students that would swap every four weeks.
The content and technology played very well together as students were able to use the web to research their topics. This made it very easy for the students to go by the questionnaire they were given and research from home or in the classroom. Since the topics covered varied, students had the freedom to use multiple media outlets, online and offline to compile what they found to be the best overview of their topic.
Teachers were able to put into play their pedagogy with the content as they asked questions while the students were working, such as "how is what you're doing right now possible for someone that would have the disability you are researching?" These questions re-enforced the content the students had been exposed to, and were able to create a relationship with the research.
Here is my presentation, it is an overview of the issue, the solution, what it took to put it into practice, and some of the things I learned along the way.
Thank you.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Group Leadership Project
The two major projects proposed to us in CEP812 have been wonderful learning experiences. The group leadership project was an incredible challenge that not only allowed me to think outside the box, but also work completely online, and across the world! My group consisted of Angelica Rocha in Guatemala, and myself in San Diego CA. This presented a whole new dimension in collaboration and group work. Our work together in this project is proof that with the help of video conferencing and other web technologies, it is possible to engage in great work no matter where in the world we are.
Our project was based on delivering information about Google Apps Scripts through a video medium. While we knew how we wanted to make our video available, we needed to work out what supporting technologies would make it possible. We used Skype, Google Chat, Vyew and email to communicate, PowerPoint to create slides and graphics, internet browsers to do our research and collect both static and dynamic images, Jing and ScreenFlow to create our screen capturing video walk through, and Vimeo to publish on the web. With the help of these technologies, we were able to assemble a creative and informative video.
Throughout this project I was able to learn much about team work through trial and error. While we kept in constant communication, Skype's audio, video, and screen sharing abilities proved to be the most efficient way to communicate and get much of our work done. Email, Google Docs and Sites allowed us to share slides and create our script and outline what we envisioned our video would look like, but it didn't match the level of communication and understanding that we could achieve through video conferencing.
It was challenging engaging a subject that I was not familiar with, but I am glad that I was able to be a part of it. It helped me put into practice my research and critical thinking skills. If I were to take on another project like this, I would probably like to do a series of videos. I'm proud of the video that we put together, but I think that dissecting it further and labeling it accordingly in shorter clips might be of more help to those interested in the subject. Perhaps having shorter clips could help those that are looking for specific information jump right to their section of interest. I did enjoy working on the website and having using it as a reference for our storyboard, but I would also like to develop it further and modify it so that it could be of more use to those outside of the project, and not just as reference text for those of us working on the project. It makes sense to us, because we know what direction and context we're interested in, but stray visitors might not catch on to the site right away.
Here is our video, enjoy.
Our project was based on delivering information about Google Apps Scripts through a video medium. While we knew how we wanted to make our video available, we needed to work out what supporting technologies would make it possible. We used Skype, Google Chat, Vyew and email to communicate, PowerPoint to create slides and graphics, internet browsers to do our research and collect both static and dynamic images, Jing and ScreenFlow to create our screen capturing video walk through, and Vimeo to publish on the web. With the help of these technologies, we were able to assemble a creative and informative video.
Throughout this project I was able to learn much about team work through trial and error. While we kept in constant communication, Skype's audio, video, and screen sharing abilities proved to be the most efficient way to communicate and get much of our work done. Email, Google Docs and Sites allowed us to share slides and create our script and outline what we envisioned our video would look like, but it didn't match the level of communication and understanding that we could achieve through video conferencing.
It was challenging engaging a subject that I was not familiar with, but I am glad that I was able to be a part of it. It helped me put into practice my research and critical thinking skills. If I were to take on another project like this, I would probably like to do a series of videos. I'm proud of the video that we put together, but I think that dissecting it further and labeling it accordingly in shorter clips might be of more help to those interested in the subject. Perhaps having shorter clips could help those that are looking for specific information jump right to their section of interest. I did enjoy working on the website and having using it as a reference for our storyboard, but I would also like to develop it further and modify it so that it could be of more use to those outside of the project, and not just as reference text for those of us working on the project. It makes sense to us, because we know what direction and context we're interested in, but stray visitors might not catch on to the site right away.
Here is our video, enjoy.
GLP Google Scripts Presentation from Alex Gonzalez on Vimeo.
Professional Learning Plan
Reflecting on what I have accomplished through the knowledge acquired in these initial courses, and the experience I have gained by applying such principles at my work, is an incredible tale. I have been able to become more knowledgeable about what technologies are available and when or where they are appropriate for use in the classroom.
At the beginning of my learning at MSU, I was starting to implement Google Apps for Education at my school. In the previous months, after projects, lessons, and lectures, I have become much more comfortable and knowledgeable in the ways that these services can be better used in the classroom.
Along with that, implementing them with mobile technology has been a goal of mine. I have used some of these services on mobile devices in some classrooms, but not all. I would like to expand these practices to more classrooms, so teachers can take advantage of the technology that is already in the palms of their students.
As part my future plans in learning, I want to further explore the practices of TPACK. I found this to be one the most important aspects of merging technology and learning. I am very interested in putting these ideals into practice on the projects I take on with teachers. By doing so I hope to gain a better understanding of what works, and what doesn't work in the dynamic classrooms at my school. We have a very diverse population, and the students' needs differ from one another. With TPACK in mind at the planning stages, I hope to help suggest better technologies when teachers are planning their lessons. More research and practicing is needed on my part to achieve this. There are plenty of resources online that can help me understand this topic, but I think that most of my learning will come from in-classroom implementation.
With the state of budgeting for schools these days, I find it that I will be challenged further in accomplishing more with less. Thankfully, with the tools and knowledge I have been equipped with from taking these courses, I am confident that along with the teachers I support, will be able to provide incredible learning environments infused with varying technologies.
At the beginning of my learning at MSU, I was starting to implement Google Apps for Education at my school. In the previous months, after projects, lessons, and lectures, I have become much more comfortable and knowledgeable in the ways that these services can be better used in the classroom.
Along with that, implementing them with mobile technology has been a goal of mine. I have used some of these services on mobile devices in some classrooms, but not all. I would like to expand these practices to more classrooms, so teachers can take advantage of the technology that is already in the palms of their students.
As part my future plans in learning, I want to further explore the practices of TPACK. I found this to be one the most important aspects of merging technology and learning. I am very interested in putting these ideals into practice on the projects I take on with teachers. By doing so I hope to gain a better understanding of what works, and what doesn't work in the dynamic classrooms at my school. We have a very diverse population, and the students' needs differ from one another. With TPACK in mind at the planning stages, I hope to help suggest better technologies when teachers are planning their lessons. More research and practicing is needed on my part to achieve this. There are plenty of resources online that can help me understand this topic, but I think that most of my learning will come from in-classroom implementation.
With the state of budgeting for schools these days, I find it that I will be challenged further in accomplishing more with less. Thankfully, with the tools and knowledge I have been equipped with from taking these courses, I am confident that along with the teachers I support, will be able to provide incredible learning environments infused with varying technologies.
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