Week 8

Online communication tools are important in a variety of different ways.  There are many benefits to using online communication tools.  For example, many people can communicate with each other in different countries around the world, have conferences, and participate in group discussions.  Online communication platforms are set up to communicate not only through text but also through video, and other interactive forms as well.  For example, some online communication tools allow groups to log in and share information and brainstorm ideas by writing or drawing on the same type of virtual whiteboard.

I think online communcation tools are also beneficial because it allows people to connect with each other in real-time when they cannot interact in the same physical space.  Many mobile devices and programs allow video communication with each other.  Probably one of the most popular communication tools used is Facebook. Edmodo is an educational tool that is similar to Facebook, the popular social networking site.  These communication sites allow people to access information and read collections of discussions on their own time, and postings are saved in chronological order.  From these, the user can access photos, see updates to the site, add classmates or friends, and share information on discussion boards. 

Comprehensive Assignment:

Look carefully at your classroom’s computers, or think of a classroom computer lab that you have interacted with in the past. Discuss the types of security you have in place to prevent malicious software and/or hackers and cite any areas of concern

I have 4 student computers in my classroom. They are set up on the school's network and managed by our school's technology director.  Once a week all computers are updated, scanned, and checked for malicious software and viruses.  Since I have been teaching, we have had very few issues with viruses.  I believe this is because the district technology department monitors our computers closely and is quick to find and remedy any issues before they become critical to our network. As far as hackers, we haven't had many in the past 5 years to my knowledge.  Some students have mentioned their hacking abilities in conversations I've overheard, but it is usually something they've seen before in an online tutorial.  Our district monitors closely and are able to see foreign computers on the network and alert or stop any activity before it is detrimental.

There are search filters in place on the computers as well.  Those were not as tightly controlled last year as they are this year, but they have restricted anything that may lead students onto a questionable site.  For example, Flikr is restricted because students can navigate through photos that may not be managed well enough, and stumble onto inappropriate images. 

Blog Assignment 7

Comprehensive Assignment:

During this lesson, you have learned about academic software and gaming. For your comprehensive assignment, you will add a new posting (between 400 and 500 words) to your blog in which you will reflect on your learning this week.

This week I ready about educational software and gaming.  I have mixed opinions about using games to enhance learning.  One of the articles discussed the Sims as a game in strategy that could be educational and have real life connections, but I've been familiar with the Sims for over 10 years and I have never considered it educational.  Most people that play strategy games have already researched the cheat codes to unlock areas or manipulate the game in some way, so I think that is hardly educational.  The sites also mentioned shooting games not being educational.  I agree and would even believe that shooting games and other gaming, not only creates aggression in those who play them, but also desensitizes people and breaks down social skills.

When looking at Web 2.0 tools, I was increasingly more aware of how much technology has changed since I began teaching, and also how rapidly it has grown.  I remember feeling like I was on the forefront of technology having and Interwrite and Mobi pad for my classroom.  Now, I'm writing letters and trying to find funding to buy iPads for each student in my class to use with an Apple tv! Not only is it a better educational tool than the Mobi, it is also ten times more expensive. 

One of the tools I looked at and really played around with most was Edmodo.  I have an Edmodo account, and have created groups before, but I really didn't have enough experience playing around with it to be able to know HOW to use it in my classroom to be an effective tool.  What I learned as I played around with it this week was how I could share safe, screened websites with students via the Online Resource Library, and how to create quizzes on Edmodo.  One of the things I'm interested in is taking the graded quizzes and seeing if I can export them as a .csv file and import them into infinite campus.  I will need more information for that!

I feel like with all the Web 2.0 tools, and all the technology available in general it is easy to get overwhelmed, not knowing how to use them or which ones are best for your class.  I have a tendency to want to try everything all at once and see which one sticks, allowing the students to give input, but sometimes that becomes a distraction from the actual content of the class.  Now, I manage to look around at the tools, find a few I like, then try one of them out on each class, and use their feedback to see if I need to keep it or move to something different.  So far, Edmodo is something students are able to use, but it seems as facebook starts to become a little less used by young students, it is harder to get them to 'buy in' to Edmodo.  I have recently begun looking at Evernote and their products because of this.  They also have apps available on multiple platforms, like Android and Apple, so students can use their own devices to access them, collect and store information at their fingertips.

Overall, I think teachers need more professional development focusing on how to use new technology and how to adapt to the rapid changes in it.