Liuzzo_Nicole_SU2012

I am originally from upstate New York (I took this picture on my last visit home) and moved to Queens last year. I received my bachelor’s degree in English from the University at Albany in May 2011 with a minor in technical theater, and I am in my last semester at Fordham. This August, I will receive my Master of Science in Teaching Adolescence English. I recently finished the last phase of my student teaching experience at a middle school in the Bronx, and I already miss my students. In the fall, I am planning to teach at a middle school in Harlem, and I cannot wait to begin! In my spare time I enjoy reading as often as possible and playing the keyboard.
 * Introduction **

I grew up in a rural area in upstate New York where most people did not have internet or cellphones. Up until three years ago, there were areas of my neighborhood that did not have cellphone service and there are still a few places where my mom looses services while we are talking on the phone. Because my dad works in the computer technology world, he currently works for HP, we have had a computer for as long as I can remember in our house. I remember playing a lot of games on the computer (Museum Madness, Oregon Trail, and Yukon Trail), discovering MySpace, and then using Facebook. In school, there was a computer lab where teachers could sign up to use the computers, and we had typing class once a week in elementary school. There was very little use of technology (outside of a overheard projector) in many of my classrooms. We rarely had homework assignments that required the use of the internet, and the extent of technology we were expected to use was to create a power point presentation. Other than my senior year of high school, I had viewed my computer as more of a toy rather than a vehicle for learning.
 * My Life as a Technology User **

Upon entering college five years ago, I bought my own lap top and cell phone. Many of my classes required me to post on Blackboard even though they were not online classes and I quickly became accustomed to using my lap top for everything from doing my homework to ordering dinner. Although I did not have a smart phone, I used texting to keep in touch with my friends from high school. I rarely walked around campus without calling my family members. I found that I used technology (phone, email, and Facebook) to keep in touch with my family who I have moved away from. Over the past year, I have expanded my use of technology while taking part in multiple online discussions for Fordham courses as well as incorporating technology into my lesson plans. I now take my lap top with me to school (both Fordham and while teaching) because it has everything I need on it (class notes, lesson plans, etc.). My friend has a kindle, and I tried to use it once, but it can never compare to holding an actual book in my hand which is why, at a personal level, I do not use a kindle. A few months ago I finally bought an iPhone. I had no interest in having a smart phone until this past year when I realized I was missing important emails from professors and my cooperating teachers. Now I use my iPhone for everything. I have experimented with wikis, but do not really use anything else which is why I am looking forward to learn more about new ways to use technology to learn and teach.

Goal: Learn how to use different technological resources (such as Glogster, which I have heard of, but have not used) that will encourage and inspire students’ creativity and learning.
 * NETS Goals **
 * Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity**

Goal: Explore and create accounts on programs that can be used for students to digitally monitor their own learning (Class Dojo or something similar).
 * Design and Develop Digital-Age LEarning Experiences and Assessments**

Goal: Create a wiki page, blog, or twitter that could be used in my future classroom to communicate with students, parents, and other teachers.
 * Model Digital-Age Work and Learning**

Goal: Learn about copyright laws regarding the Internet and create a lesson plan or activity that will teach students about copyright laws as well as future implications (college applications and future job prospects) of posting questionable material on the Internet.
 * Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility**

Goal: Explore other class blogs, wikis, and twitter accounts to get ideas and inspirations for my own class blog.
 * Engage in Professtional Growth and Leadership**


 * Personal Use Project Goal:** Use a [|Twitter account] to connect and share ideas with friends, family, and other educators.

[|Copyright and Fair Use Glog]



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