EDUC 584 Overview

Without question, this course has forever changed me as an educator! In this post, you will read about my thoughts using different tools over the past eight weeks. I am also including a sample of two new resources that I experimented with this weekend - Wordle and GoAnimate (above).

Google Docs has made me much more efficient!  I love how easy it is to collaborate and share information with others in a “live” document.  I use them mostly with my school librarian at this point.  We are working on Edmodo together and we use Google Docs to create rubrics, quizzes, and comprehension questions from home.  I find that I save time using Google Docs because I do not have to set aside time to meet with her or make copies.  We leave each other comments and simply get to work on our own time.  I have also shared Google Docs with my husband for our business.  We can connect much easier with our main employee who lives in Kentucky.  She shares proposals with us and I can immediately edit her work and leave comments about my changes.  I will certainly continue to use Google Docs in the future!

Blogging has also been a highlight of this course.  I find myself wanted to post articles and video clips all the time.  I wish I had more time to dedicate to my personal blog, but I will continue to update it regularly after this course.  My most exciting moment was when one of my Twitter followers left a comment on my digital storytelling post.  I was thrilled!  I also love how simple it is to create posts.  I find that many sites have the option to add straight to Twitter or Blogger.  My students like seeing my blog because it gives them purpose for working on theirs.  They love seeing how easy it is to showcase their learning and thoughts for others to see and comment on periodically.  When I created a blog as undergraduate, I enjoyed the project but did not continue with it because it was not as meaningful.  Being a teacher now, I see the value in maintaining a blog and look forward to doing so.

Of all the projects and experiences, the wiki was my least favorite.  I am drawn to gadgets, fonts, styles, etc., so the wiki was not as glamorous as I would have liked.  I understand its purpose is to be a vehicle for information and resources, but I had trouble getting into the project itself I see the value of creating wikis and I am sure I will at some point in the future, but I am less likely to use it compared to the other resources I have learned about and experimented with in this course.

With my students, I absolutely love using KidBlog.  We are using it regularly in and out of the classroom.  I have students begging me to update their post drafts and to comment from home, which is a teacher’s dream.  My students are 100% actively engaged and they are truly enjoying collaborating with others in our classroom and beyond.  Their parents are starting to get into it as well and have left a few comments for their child’s posts.  I hope to use this as a tool to regularly update parents about what is happening in our classroom as well.  For example, we won a pizza party for returning the most summer reading logs, so I will be posting information about the party on KidBlog.  My hope is that parents will comment and share what they would like to contribute (napkins, plates, etc.).  Each person will be able to see what others have signed up for, which will ensure that I do not receive duplicates of anything.  I love the immediate classroom-home connection that KidBlog fosters.

Another tool that I love and will continue to use with my students is Edmodo.  As mentioned earlier, I have collaborated with my librarian and we will be using Edmodo to connect all of the fourth grade teachers on my team.  I have been meeting with them to help them better understand how to use Edmodo.  I think it is important to share my new knowledge with others.  My principal has asked me to teach her how to use it as well because she has wanted to learn for some time now.  Also, using KidBlog and Edmodo is a great way for me to collect data for my students in the RTI process.  The special education teacher at my school likes to read what her students post as well.  I have showed her how to use these resources since technology should be used as a modification for students with special needs.

One other tool that I will continue to use without question is Skype.  My class is obsessed with Mystery Skypes now that we have successfully completed one.  They are constantly begging me to schedule more; I have three more on the calendar and I am working to connect with other teachers to schedule more dates.

Finally, Twitter has been an invaluable resource.  I am adding more and more wonderful professionals that I am learning from daily.  There are so many ideas, websites, links, etc. shared every minute and I cannot get enough!  I love connecting with others and I find this is the quickest, easiest way to find people for Mystery Skypes.  I like the direct message feature the most.  Twitter has opened many doors for me and my students love hearing updates.