My+Life+as+a+Technology+User

Final Portfolio

Hello everyone! My name is Janet Glazier. I'm a first year teacher and Teach for America corps member. Currently I teach sixth grade English and Social Studies at a small middle school in the South Bronx. Before I began teaching I studied English and American Literature at NYU and spent a year living in the Czech Republic (see below). Readjusting to American culture and figuring out how make possessive pronouns interesting to middle schoolers has been a bit of rocky road, but I'm excited to start learning new things from all of you.



My Life as a Technology User:

I think the word "user" is really key in understanding my relationship with technology. I am a user but not in any way literate in the products I use. My technological illiteracy is partially due to my own resistance and as much as ignorance. (I've also spent a year living in a country where fashion and technology are a stunted version of our late 1990's). I had a computer in my home when I was teenager but typed all my papers on a typewriter until I went to college (I think at 16 the exhaustion and inconvenience of a typewriter was outweighed by white out strips and getting to tell people "I use a typewriter"). Since then I've purchased a MacBook that I use constantly (for lessons, skyping family members, Facebook, banking, watching //30 Rock//, etc.) but I couldn't tell you what half my programs do. I still read the newspaper and print out any documents I need for the internet. However, I've realized that whatever my personal preferences might be, I need to become more technologically literate for my students. Once they graduate and begin looking for jobs, the world they live in and their success will almost undoubtedly be connected to a mastery of technology.

Personal Use Project: [|Journal Entry #1]


 * Goals **

1. ** Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity ** Having now seen Voice Thread in action, I believe I have a new appreciation for what a creative and interactive presentation can inspire. My goal for this year is to design a few lessons using Voice Thread and try them out on my class. I anticipate this happening in May, after the state tests occur.


 * 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments **
 * I already use a form of online Jeopardy for test review in class, but I’d like to try using something like Quizlet for quick checks for understanding. Currently, my school is working on getting “clickers” for classrooms where students have to hit a button to answer questions on a screen. I’d like to incorporate that into our monthly Jeopardy games and perhaps find other online programs for assessments. **

This brings me into my personal use project. There are many technologies and forums I am ignorant or not yet comfortable using. By May, I hope to develop a class website where students can participate in discussions, check homework assignments, and communicate with each other in a way that models academic excellency.
 * 3. Model Digital Age Work and Learning **

Our school as whole has embarked on a month long effort to educate our students on the dangers of internet predators, cyber bullying, and the importance of maintaining a scrupulous public profile. I hope to continue this by designing lessons around “interpreting Facebook pages” and having class-wide discussions on Digital Citizenship.
 * 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility **

I feel like this class become my own technological PD. However, I will continue to attend technological PD’s outside and inside my school. I have also reached out to coworkers to help me improve my “Smart Board” usage.
 * 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership **

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