Social Networking Technology

The two networks I chose to use for this assignment are www.edutopia.com because of its ability to use the resources for understanding the common core state standards and http://sigve.iste.wikispaces.net/ which allows practitioners to adhere to the use of transforming the former 20^th century education with the aid of advanced educational technology practices and programmed applications. As a practitioner, I plan to analyze how the two networks are used to bring evolutionary teaching to a rapidly changing classroom in the 21^st century in order to gain distinct and concrete usage for educating students in today’s digital classroom.  The implementation of critical thinking, when it reveals the rationalization of the benefits of using Internet based technologically savvy tools, are found in Edutopia and SIGVE.

The benefits of using both Internet social networks for educating will have logical implications and justifications for the 21^st century educators who are teaching with technology.  This in turn will allow students to be able to have valuable learning instruments as they embark on the evolution of high technological society in the classroom. This has been evident with the converting of campuses into 1:1 iPad classrooms and the embracing of social networking for the implementation of digital literacy in classroom

Social networks can help educators and all who embrace technology infused learning. I will benefit with the use of these tools by collaborating with other educators and exchanging ideas and concepts. With the use of www.edutopia.com, practitioners can not only find information for digital literacy in the classroom, but they are exposed to awesome displays of educational information which can insight useful and creative ways for the student and teacher to be successful in the classroom. 

Another social network that utilizes the learning with the use of a digital classroom is www.edmodo.com, This site is endorse by SIGVE, which is a special interest group for virtual environments in the classroom. SIGVE allows educators a chance to show what they know on a large online media platform for English, language arts and general speaking. I will use both social network sites to create enhancements for digital instructional usage in my weekly lessons for the 21^st century student and my lifelong professional development practice. The use of incorporating such social networking sites in my classroom curricula will tremendously enhance the teaching of technology for my students to be able to understand how the learning process can be educational and fun.

References:

6th, 7th, and 8th Grades
Find Middle School Educational Resources. Connect With Educators.
http://www.edutopia.org/grade-level-6-8

Literacy in a Digital Classroom

Integrating Technology with Reading, Writing and Speaking
http://literacydigitalclassroom.ning.com
http://sigve.iste.wikispaces.net/

Internet Usage Today Compared to 20 Years Ago

In this interview, I am communicating with Rita Coulon, an Educator and current Technology

Liaison for W. R. Smith Middle School.  Ms. Coulon has been a Teacher for 23 years and she has
witness the infusion of the internet, as a learning tool, in the classroom with the use of instructional
software applications. During this interview, Ms. Coulon has informed me on a number of credible
resources for success using Technology and instructional blueprinting data for MOD and SPED
students which creates a viable resource for all students with a learning disability. The use of the
internet, compared to over 20 years ago, has led to a lot of student initiative learning styles in which
Ms. Coulon has had the opportunity to be a somewhat corroborator and eventually an end user for the development of student success in the classroom.

Ms. Coulon has developed reliable teaching practices using proprietary software which was compatible with the Sony PlayStation for ELA, Math, Science and special needs students. She was also able to use this technique with the use of Light Span, an interactive software CD used by students using BYOD or studying at home. This was created by a developer designing in FORTRAN, Pascal, and Cobalt for student success in the classroom.

Some of her past students’ characteristics before and after the internet in the classroom was a sense that the students were eager to learn when the Practitioner was at the center of learning in the classroom compared to students being guided by the Practitioner with technology being used as a tool for overall instruction. This has been done with whole group, 1on1, peer tutor, differentiated instruction and the student being responsible for their on learning with the Teacher as the facilitator with guided instruction.

Major research and learning theories, before verses now, or before computers, were done with the use of dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks and people when used in the classroom for daily usage and instruction; however, being in the 21^st century, with a more technologically driven society of educators, has proven that Internet access for all students in the classroom, with the use of iPads, tablets or BYOD is a needed tool for tech savvy students.

As an advocate for technology in the classroom, I adhere to the LoTi – Levels of Technology implementation framework on the integration of technology in the classroom. Level 6 which states, “Technology is perceived as a process, product, and/or tool for students to find solutions related to a “real-world” problem or issue of significance to them” (Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 36), is the essential function and major thesis of my writing for Informational Systems Management. With this being acknowledged, P-BL – “project-based learning is a constructivist approach that encourages learning in depth by allowing students to use inquiry-based methods to engage with issues and questions that are rich, real, and relevant to their lives” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007, p. 39), and can be used by all students using technology in a purposeful way.

One way in which students can use technology in a purposeful way is with the use of multimedia. “Not only can students create summaries and notes of multimedia content, they can also use multimedia to enhance and present their summaries and notes” (Pitler et al., 2012, p. 156), with the use of a technology based learning activity allowing the student to use their creativity for a personalized instructional lesson summary.

List of References:

 

R. A. Coulon, (personal communication, October 13, 2013)           

(Williamson & Redish, 2009, p. 36)

(Solomon & Schrum, 2007, p. 39)

(Pitler et al., 2012, p. 156)