Saturday, April 23, 2016

What GEN 2243 Has Taught Me

     Sadly, GEN 2243 is coming to an end this coming Wednesday. I can honestly say I have learned so much throughout the semester in this class in particular. I have not only become more acquainted with tools such as Prezi but also developed a PLN and tips on making my PLN grow. I now know how important social media is in my future career as an educator. I have to be extremely mindful of what I put on social media and always use social media to my advantage.



     My favorite part about GEN 2243 was definitely the Google Hangout sessions. I really loved being able to hear from a variety of professionals from companies such as Microsoft. These sessions taught me so much and allowed me to ask questions personally which I really appreciated. Also, being able to create my own website that I can take with me into my future is helpful in so many ways. Throughout my college career I can add content to my website and use it as a portfolio for future jobs. What I appreciated most about this class was that it allowed me to take what I learned and created and continue to use it in my future. Overall, I definitely recommend that others take GEN 2243 in order to expand their digital portfolio.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

The Time For Change As Educators

     Yesterday's GEN 2243 class was very fun and exciting for many reasons. Class started off with a Google Hangout session with Robyn Hrivnatz. Robyn works at Microsoft's US Education Division as a curriculum developer for teachers. Before that, she herself worked as a teacher. She made the switch from teacher to Microsoft educator so that she could make a change in the educational community. Robyn believes that social media is crucial and that employees can benefit from the live responsive nature that it allows. Three reasons why Robyn loves social media as a Microsoft employee is because it allows for personal learning, understanding your audience, and understanding the competition. She believes that there is a balance between being yourself and being professional online. Some social media tools Robyn personally recommends are Skype, Google Hangouts, OneNote, and LinkedIn.



     After the talk with Robyn, my class and I were put to the MakeyMakey challenge. MakeyMakey involves turning specific everyday objects, such as a banana, and using it as a computer control device. These crafted devices can be used as a virtual piano or as a controller to play virtual games such as Mario Brothers or Frogger. Although understanding where all the wires belonged was hard at first, the final product was truly remarkable and worth the time. It is perfect for teachers who want to explain circuits to their students in a unique way.


     Chapter 9 of The Connected Educator, focuses on what the future holds in terms of the web and teachers. The web has proven to be not only a great curriculum resource but also a great learning resource. By becoming a learner first and educator second, teachers will serve their students in a better way. Teachers can do this by understanding the four core components of learning 2.0. The first component, knowledge, which involves building classrooms with collective intelligence. Pedagogy, the second component, challenges teachers to focus specifically on the students passions, creativity, and innovation. The third component, connections, involves teaching showing students how to create personal learning networks to increase knowledge. Capacity, the fourth component, encourages us to remain open minded to each other to learn something we may not have known before. All of this will require a change in teaching and learning for educators. This book overall challenges teachers to make a change in the classrooms that will be powerful and life changing.


Sunday, April 3, 2016

Tremendous Tools Incorporated With Social Media

     Last Wednesday in GEN 2243, my class and I learned about tools to integrate with social media platforms. One tool that stood out to me was IFTTT (If This Then That). IFTTT gives users control of the apps and products they love using "recipes". For example, I created a recipe that will send me a SMS whenever I am mentioned on Twitter. Another tool that I recommend is Paper.li. Paper.li is similar to an online newspaper that allows you collect and share content depending on your interests. With this tool, I created "The Education Daily", which focuses on Education based content. Definitely check it out!


     Chapter 4 of Untangling the Web focuses on social networking tools as a whole. Social media has become an extremely valuable tool that students will continue to rely on in their futures. Also, using social media is an important part of providing the best education to students today. Although face to face interaction is beneficial, interacting virtually also enhances their ability to collaborate. One social tool recommended in UTW is TodaysMeet. TodaysMeet allows a teacher to create a private back channel that can be used as a collaborative means for discussing and documenting classroom interactions. Skype in the classroom is also a wonderful tool to use in the classroom. It allows teachers to find other experts/ educators who want to share information and vice versa. Edmodo, which is one of the first social networks designed exclusively for schools, incorporates the concept of learning management systems and social interactions. One last social media tool that many of us know of is Twitter. Twitter is amazing in the classroom because of its quick ability to share small bits of information and share that information with others.



     Many of us may not have the time to create our own recipes. However, using the "35 Super Useful IFTTT Recipes You Might Not Know" article, there are a list of 35 recipes that are already pre-made for your convenience. If you are tagged in a photo on Facebook and want that image immediately sent to your Dropbox, there is a recipe to do that. There are also pre-made recipes for weather. For example, there is a recipe that sends you a text whenever the weather changes to a certain condition. There are also recipes created just for fun. There is even a recipe that emails you when a new title is added to Netflix. One personal recipe that I love involves tracking the days when I go to the gym. This IFTTT recipe simply involves sending a text to IFTTT and a row is added to a spreadsheet.

     If you are a teacher, you should definitely consider using Pinterest in your classroom. Here are some reasons why. If you are unfamiliar with what Pinterest is, think of it as a bulletin board of pictures. Pinterest will allow you to find lesson plans and ideas for any subject. Also, if you are thinking of new ways to decorate and organize your classroom, Pinterest has pins for that too. If you are a student, Pinterest is also useful for you too. With Pinterest, you can find healthy lunch and snack recipes to eat at school. One powerful property of Pinterest is that it allows teachers to share ideas with each other. This is perfect for teachers who want to try something out of their comfort zone.



     If you are considering creating an About.Me page but aren't sure what should be included, here is a guide that you may want to look at. Your page should focus on who you are and what you want to do for your page visitors. Also, your photo is the first thing your visitors will see, so make sure it truly captures your personality and looks professional. You should also think about highlighting great posts, which allows for cross-promotion. This will lead more people to the posts you're proud of.  Lastly, create an indented list for your "About Me" page on Google. An indented listing is when a second page from your website is listed directly under your main website on Google. This will definitely increase traffic on your site.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

The Significance of Online Reputations

     As many of us know, what we put on social media could affect us in many ways. I didn't realize how much this was true until I finished my social media etiquette project. After learning about Stacy Snyder, a college student and student teacher at the time, and her Myspace post, I realized how social media can turn your life upside down. Snyder was in school to get her teaching degree yet she put up a picture "promoting alcohol." Teachers are held to a higher standard and what Snyder did did not meet that standard. Due to the post, Snyder was denied her teaching degree. It is so important to be mindful of what you put on social media because it can reflect badly on you and have serious consequences.
Stacy Snyder's Myspace Post

     In Chapter 5 of The Connected Educator, we learn that there are many tools that support connected learning. These tools are for documenting and archiving learning, connecting and collaborating, and extending student learning. Social bookmarking, which is a useful and fun way to organize info while connecting with friends and colleagues, is one tool for documenting learning. Blogs, websites that are continually updated with journal-like entries or posts, is one tool for connecting and collaborating. A great tool for social networking is Ning. Ning allows anyone to create a specialized online social network for a few dollars a month. A tool for extending learning in the classroom is TeacherTube. TeacherTube is an online community for sharing educational videos made for teachers by teachers. These all come into play with managing your online reputation. Some tips for that include sharing your insights and tracking yourself.



Monday, March 14, 2016

All About Augmented Reality Apps

     This past week in GEN 2243, my class and I participated in our second App Smackdown. The app that I chose was Teacher Kit. Teacher Kit is great for teachers of all grade levels. It is the perfect app for organizing. It allows you to store grades, attendance, and behavior of each child in your class. I definitely recommend it for teachers all over!
   

     In class we also discussed apps that involve an augmented reality. The Space Needle app adds 3D items to a "target" and brings the target to life. ZooKazam puts animals on a target. This app makes it look like a life-size animal is actually in front of you. Here's a tip to keep in mind for these apps... Use a bigger target because the bigger the target, the bigger the animal/ item. Elements 4D allows you to see scientific elements in their raw form. Also, Google Cardboard is great when wanting to travel without actually traveling. Simply put the special cardboard binoculars on and you will be transported to the destination of your dreams!


     So, what is an augmented reality? According to Drew Minock, an augmented reality can be compared to the pictures that hang in the walls of Hogwarts. These pictures are alive and interactive. Another example is The Night at the Museum. During the day the exhibit is normal, but at night everything comes to life! An augmented reality brings education to life. Augmented reality is a game-changing tool and the future of educational technology.

     If you're wondering "How To Use Augmented Reality In Education", check out the following. Project Glass allows kids to do digital scavenger hunts, find classmates, or learn more about their environment using the AR glasses. MITAR Games involves simulations games that combine real world experiences with additional information supplied to them by handheld computers. One of these popular games is Environmental Detectives. Star Walk involves holding your phone up at the night sky and seeing more than 200,000 stars, constellations, and more. There are plenty of more ways besides these, to incorporate augmented reality in education.



     If you're considering incorporating ZooKazam into your classroom, consider the following amazing components of the app. Simply print out the targets, open the app, and an animal will magically appear. Children can take photos and videos of the animal, as well as add weather and lighting affects. There are over 40 animals, including dinosaurs, to choose from. This app is great when teaching about animals or simply to spark creative writing prompts.


   

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Digital Storytelling and Presentation Tools in Action

     This past Wednesday, my class and I were lucky enough to have a Google Hangout session with Abigail Harrison, also known as Astronaut Abby. At the age of 18, Abby hopes to be the first astronaut to Mars. She has accomplished so much already such as writing for publications (NASA) and watching space shuttle launches. She has started a nonprofit called Mars Generation which aims to inspire students to be leaders. Some advice Abby has offered when using social media to develop a career includes minimization and keeping private pages private. She also strongly recommends to use the 24 hour rule which involves contacting a person you meet within 24 hours on social media and reaching out. Abigail's most beneficial social media tools are her website, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.


     In class, we also discussed a variety of presentation tools other than ordinary PowerPoint. One tool that I personally found interesting is Office Mix which is a free add-in for PowerPoint. It allows you to screenshot and even input a video recording of you talking. Sway is also interesting because it allows users to easily build a story board by dragging information. Emaze allows users to create amazing 3D, walk through presentations unlike anything else. Some Digital Storytelling websites include Animoto, Pixton, and GoAnimate. My personal favorite is GoAnimate which has built in templates making presentations extremely easy to create.


     In "5 Reasons to Replace PowerPoint with Google Slides", 5 top reasons to make the switch to Google Slides are discussed. Reason one is that slides is built for collaboration. Slides allows users to easily share and simultaneously edit a presentation. Reason two is that Slides encourages simpler presentations which in turn creates cleaner presentations. The Google Slides app makes it possible for users to access Slides offline. You can even access these presentations from any device. The final selling point of Slides is that you can easily publish and share your slides on the web.

     In "Things I Like about Animoto for Education", likes and dislikes of Animoto are discussed from an educator perspective. Animato offers many free themes and styles to choose from. Animato makes it so easy to create detailed presentations within a short amount of time. It is cloud-based so students can work on their projects at home or in school. The best feature of Animoto is that it forces students be concise with their information and not fill the screen with words. Some problems include the lack of autosaving, how long it takes to preview your video, and there is no way to share video projects with different accounts.


     In "Xtranormal for Education", Scott Little goes in depth about Xtranormal and the components it contains. The tag line states "if you can type, you can make movies" and Little agrees with that. You start by choosing from actors and then either typing or recording what the characters are going to say. Users control gestures, backgrounds, and different angles. The cost is $10 a month for teachers and $.50 a month for students. Teachers then create assignments and control many aspects of the movies. Xtranormal allows students to demonstrate their knowledge in a more creative way.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Creativity in Schools and Presentations

     Previously in GEN 2243, my class and I had a Google Hangout session with Adam Taylor, who currently runs StiStuChat, a twitter chat between students and scientists. SciStuChat is beneficial for students because "Students can hear scientists in their own words and can see scientists as people,"as stated by Taylor. Scientists from over 150 countries have gotten involved thus far and the number is growing. One major chat was with a scientist from the U.S. Department of Energy. In order to expand our networks, Taylor recommends that we make lists and go through lists of people we follow. He also recommends that we connect using the same hashtag on Twitter. Believe it or not, Taylor even agrees that it's not about the followers, it's about the connections you make.
Adam Taylor


     Ken Robinson's uses humor and seriousness in his Ted Talk "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" to address an issue in today's education system. Creativity is very important in education, just as important as literature. Kids are not afraid to be wrong but that changes as they become adults. As we grow up, we become less creative. Robinson believes that the education system is based on academic ability not creativity, which is a huge issue. As of now, children go to school to become professors and not occupations such as dancers. He states that "intelligence is diverse, dynamic, and distinct." So, students should be able to express their intelligence in their own creative, unique ways. Robinson challenges us to rethink the principles of education and to allow creativity into the education system.


     Chapter 3 of Untangling the Web covers presentation tools other than PowerPoint. The book addresses a series of web tools that challenge the status quo and expand presentation genre. With these tools, visuals can now stand on their own with or without audio. They offer new ways to share information. Presenters first have to focus on what content they want to share and then focus on audience and delivery. Chapter 3 addresses four newer web tools. SlideShare is a social hub that allows you to upload and share your presentations with educators around the globe. Poll Everywhere is a simple response system that's intended to be used with mobile devices. VoiceThread allows users to share photos and videos and allows you to comment on them. Prezi uses different motions and layouts to make presentations way more intriguing than the typical PowerPoint.


Friday, February 19, 2016

Evernote is Everlasting

     In #GEN2243, we had our first App Smackdown where we each showed an app that related to our major. Then, we learned about different websites/ apps that are great for storing notes electronically in an organized manor. Evernote and OneNote were two discussed. One that stood out to me in particular was Evernote. Evernote's basic version allows users to write, collect, and share ideas in notes. It is so organized that by simply typing in a word, Evernote will find any notes associated with that word, making it quick and easy to find older notes. You can also add pictures and voice memos to your notes! I'm seriously considering using this throughout my college career.



     In "19 Practical Evernote Ideas", Jordan Collier discusses 19 helpful ways in which students can use Evernote in class. One tip is to snap a picture of the notes on the board and then upload them to Evernote. This is way easier than handwriting all your notes in a notebook. Another tip is to take pictures of homework assignments. This comes in handy for those who tend to lose or misplace their homework. Evernote also has a Web Clipper tool which allows students to keep track of articles they have researched, all accessible in one place. If a student has a busy schedule, they may want to use Evernote for to-do lists. This will allow the student to be more organized and prepared.

     In "OneNote and Google Docs are not Twinsies", six differences between OneNote and Google Docs are discussed. The first difference is that OneNote has an infinite canvas and Google Docs is your typical piece of paper. Another difference is that OneNote is not a file but it can be. For example, you can turn whatever note you're working on into a word document or PDF. OneNote is available offline without planning ahead as opposed to Google Docs. One key difference is that you can write in OneNote with a stylus as opposed to just typing.

     Now, which is better Evernote or OneNote? In "Evernote and OneNote Users Explain Why Their App is Better", users of Evernote and OneNote share their opinions. Those in favor of Evernote say that its easier to use and that its cloud integration is seamless. They also say that Evernote's search capabilities are more sophisticated than OneNote's capabilities. Those in favor of OneNote say that it is easier to use and is more organized. OneNote users also love how sharing notes via OneNote is free. Regardless of user opinions, both of these are worth a try.



     Chapter 2 of The Connected Educator focuses on developing a connected learning model. Connected learning communities build on rich research and foundational concepts of traditional professional learning communities. CLC's are different because they build community offline and online. Educators also collect and collaborate through professional learning communities, personal learning networks, and communities of practice and inquiry. The CLC model touches the local community, global network, and bounded community. Connected learning communities support professional development goals in order to increase growth and achievement for 21st century learners. These learners are thus exposed to different ideas, cultures, and all around diversity.

Friday, February 12, 2016

The Importance of a Positive Digital Footprint

 

     Did you know that what you put online can stay there for all the world to see? This is true even if you are private. People can see pictures of you even if you didn't put them up. The trail you leave online is called your digital footprint. Having a positive digital footprint is very important when developing your career and getting your name out there. Having a negative digital footprint can have many serious consequences such as preventing you from getting a job or getting into the school of your dreams. Jack Vale shows us how easy it is to find out information through Instagram through his Social Media experiment video. So, it is a necessity that we use our social media accounts in an acceptable manor.
     
     In "What's your digital footprint?" by Lisa Nielsen, online identity is discussed and what you can do to keep it positive. Lisa states that your digital footprint is the word used to describe the trail and traces that you leave online. Digital images and emails both give away personal information to others. She reminds us that what we do online is permanent. Also, when establishing an identity online there are three things to consider. These are that at 13 you are legally ready to establish your digital footprint, use your real name, and use a consistent username. Lisa offers statistics on how many colleges and employers are viewing possible students and employees on social media.

     In the Youtube video titled "Digital Baggage" an instance of a negative digital footprint is portrayed. In the video, a woman is interviewing a man named Jared to see if he would be a good hire. While Jared goes on and on about how work oriented and well driven he is, the interviewer is searching his name. She finds many pictures of him drinking and getting into trouble. While Jared is leaving the interview, he is telling his friend on the phone that he nailed it. When in actuality, he has no chance of getting this job because of his poor reputation shown through social media.



     In "12 Things Students Should Never Do on Social Media" by Stephanie Buck, 12 social media mistakes that students make are discussed. Posting illegal activities on social media is a huge mistake because  not only can students get expelled, but also charged with criminal prosecution. Bullying is also something students should avoid online. It has terrible consequences and brings terrible attention to a persons character. Relying on privacy settings is another mistake. It is best to assume that anything you post is fair game because it can possibly be seen by your school, parents, and strangers.

     Previously in class, we had the pleasure of having a Google Hangout session with Cameron Brenchley. Cameron is the Vice President at Collaborative Communications. He also worked at the Office of Digital Strategy and the US Department of Education at the White House. Cameron said his job is very different everyday due to different projects and clients. Also, he told us of the big transition he faced when changing from a government job to a private sector. The pace of his job now is much slower and the hours are shorter. Brenchley recommended Linked In and Twitter for professional networking. Overall, Cameron Brenchley made it very clear that it takes talent and time to have a successful account.

     Chapter 1 of Untangling the Web by Steve Dembo and Adam Bellow focuses on curation tools. Joshua Schechter, who introduced blogs, created a website called Del.icio.us that allowed people to save bookmarks and share them publicly. This eventually allowed users to navigate their resources and gather the rewards of their efforts. Not only did this create intrinsic and extrinsic rewards but also removed technical barriers. "Blogs, podcasts, and wikis dramatically increased the amount of content for people to sift through and social bookmarking tools allowed users to collect, organize, and share out what they found" (Dembo, Bellow 2). Today, curation tools are more advanced, consistent, and diverse. Different curation sites suit different people based on their needs. Three of the best curation sites for educators are Symbaloo, Diigo, and eduClipper.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

The Power of Google

     In our previous GEN 2243 class, we focused mostly on the syllabus, along with other helpful tools that we can use throughout the semester. Included in this discussion was Google and its many valuable components. Google Scholar is a search engine that contains many articles and books that are peer reviewed. This will be extremely helpful when looking for specific articles for classes in the future. By using the Research menu option, you can cite sources and also drag over an image in an instant.  From what we've learned in class and from exploring on my own, Google has proven to be a necessity in my college career and future.

     In the article "16 secrets of Google Drive," David Chartier goes over 16 very useful elements of Google Drive, previously known as Google Docs. Chartier states "Google Drive's many and varied capabilities--from chat with collaborators in a document to the ability to automate your entire Drive--can sometimes be surprising." Many people do not know how advantageous using Google Drive could be. Not only does it allow you to collaborate with multiple people on a document in real time, but also in multiple languages. Also, Google Drive allows you to create surveys and sort data easier than ever. 

     In "Google Drive Cheat Sheet," Alice Keeler has created an easy to follow picture based cheat sheet all on Google Drive. Her cheat sheet shows you how to share files with steps. It also shows ways to move and sort files that you create. Don Crowther focuses on Google Hangouts in his article on how to use google hangouts to broadcast your business. Google Hangouts allow you to broadcast live to an audience of any size. He emphasizes that this will not only publicize your hangout but affect your search engine rankings too. Crowther then goes into all the possibilities that could be reached by using Google Hangout.

     While going through my Twitter feed, I came across a tweet from Professor Kyle Calderwood that involved signing up to help a teacher who is new to Twitter. This is also known as the "Twitter Mentor Project." I thought this was a genius idea. Many teachers are intimidated by today's technology based world that they become scared to try out social media such as Twitter to increase their knowledge. So, by signing up to help a teacher, especially as  a Twitter fanatic myself, we can help these teachers succeed. This was by far my favorite Twitter post that I saw this week due to it's helpfulness towards educators.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Blog 1

     My name is Cathy Truncale. I am a freshman here at Stockton University. My major currently is Liberal Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education. My intended profession at the moment is to become an elementary school teacher. However, I am unsure if this is what I was meant to do. With that being said, there is a chance I change my major.

     Chapter 6 in The Connected Educator focuses on Personal Learning Networks and how they can be used to leverage deeper connections which allows for room for change and growth. PLN's focus on what the individual wants to learn. They learn from the people they connect with. It is a give and take process where you find ideas and bring it to your community. To start your PLN, you need to choose the blog, social media site, etc. that works for what you need to network for. You also need to be careful of who to follow and do background checks for good reputations. Nurturing your PLN involves engaging in conversations in safe and ethical ways. PLN's involve a great deal of attention. You must see yourself as a learner first and a teacher second. The roles involved are Linking, Lurking, Learning, and Leading. Evolving your community is also essential. You must focus on the people involved rather than tools. Passion and purpose is also needed. PLN's can be described as an outboard brain.

     In "10 Blogging Blunders to Avoid," Emily Hill discusses typical blogging construction errors and how to avoid them. The first error is bad spelling and grammar. Modern word processors make this almost impossible to get away with so there is no excuse. Error two is not including visual content which adds dimension and interest. Error three is poor presentation. It should be appealing to the eye which includes color, font, and text size. The fourth error is rehashing other people's articles. Fresh content will make your blog interesting and unique. The fifth error is poor use of anchor text which involves linking key terms to relevant pages on a site. Error six is not linking out. Linking other websites gives credit to other sources and enhances user experience. The seventh error is unclear categorization and tags which makes it easier for readers to access material. Error eight is not using social media. Promoting your piece on social media encourages readers to do the same. Error nine is ignoring comments. Responding to comments show that you respect and care about your readers opinions. Error ten is omitting a call to action which encourages readers to follow through with what they've read.

     In "Get Twitter Followers: Building a Foundation," Stephen Hughes discusses how to increase follower growth. Twitter housekeeping involves the importance of a complete and accurate profile so your readers know about you and can search you. Being active and consistent is very important. It is recommended that you tweet at least 8-10 times a day. The next tip is to follow people that follow people so that you get more followers. You should also follow people that share your interests so that you have something to talk about. Retweeting and mentioning people you follow is essential because it builds rapport with others. When you're added to a list, take action and follow as many of those members as you can. By putting users on a list, you can keep track of which users are important to you. The last tip is to set expectations and have patience because this is a process.

     "Educators New to Twitter" explains Twitter in detail to those who are unfamiliar with this popular social media site. It gives the option to be a mentor or to get a mentor. The blog offers three key tips which are to have a real photo, have a short username, and have an accurate bio. It also goes over key twitter terms such as hashtags, retweets, and mentions. Also, it goes over who to follow and how to use Twitter properly.