Alison+Seitz

**Learning Reflection**
June 28, 2011

Progress towards learning goals:

1. //Learn to use technology to facilitate collaboration between students:// I learned how to use GoogleGroups to facilitate collaborative discussion. I’ve found it difficult to foster //collaborative// discussion—discussion in which students are building on what one another has said--in class orally. Given the slight (or large) lag time that typing builds in for most students, and the fact that everything said is recorded in writing, I believe that a GoogleGroup discussion would foster more accountable talk than a normal oral discussion. Additionally, the written transcript would allow students to reflect on the discussion by referencing what was said. The transcript would also allow teachers to teach lessons on how to have collaborative, accountable conversations using students’ words, rather than hypothetical quotes.

2. //Learn to set up ways for students to drive their own learning through technology:// A GoogleGroup discussion accomplishes this—students drive their own learning using interaction with their classmates. Many of the sites shared this semester also allow students to do research that drives their own learning, like ProjectEarth and Figment. Others allow students to organize their learning, like Evernote and Track Class.

3. //Learn to use at least one new technological tool to collaborate and communicate with my students and their influencers//: This goal is tougher to accomplish. I have learned to use a few tools that could help me communicate and/or collaborate with students and influencers (like Wiggio, Wikispaces or any blogging site), but they'd be difficult to use in practice. Many of my students and their parents do not have internet access at home.

4. //Engage in a cross-cultural exchange facilitated by technology//: I realized after I wrote this goal that (a) I needed to be more specific, and (b) if this involved students, it would be very difficult to do during the semester, which coincided with the last month of school. As written, I’d already accomplished this many times over through email and other communication tools.

5. //Reflect on various technological tools in order to determine which can be used in my classroom:// I’ve been able to figure out which tools would be useful and how.

I’d like to put into practice some of what I’ve learned over the course of this semester. Specifically, if I teach again, I’d like to use GoogleGroups to facilitate online discussions, Figment to share and receive feedback on writing and potentially Wikispaces or Googledocs to collaborate on writing.
 * Goals for the future:**

For personal use, I’d like to find an RSS compiler or an alternative that works better with visual media than Google Reader. I like the idea of RSS, and I like having my feeds in one place, but I’ve found Google Reader to be a little cluttered and small for images. I can see the images, but they are small, and something is lost when there is clutter on the screen rather than the simplicity of a blog that’s meant to display images. A compiler that looks more like Tumblr would be ideal. I’d also like to continue experimenting with making images digitally, which is not something we studied in this course, but still a skill I’d like to develop more.

Interview with a Technology User
Ali: Zooburst [|Technology] book password: techknowledge

[|Personal Use Project]
//This video was made using [|Jing].//

**Initial Reflection**
May 25, 2011

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

I try to promote creativity in my classroom, but rarely use collaborative technology in order to do so. I have taught my students how to use certain technological tools to produce final drafts of writing, but we have not used technological tools to //share// writing. Part of this is a function of having only one computer in my room, but I would still like to learn how to use technology to collaborate in the classroom. I do have access to a laptop cart, which means that, although online collaboration will not be a daily occurrence, we can work it into units.

//Goal: Learn to use technology to facilitate collaboration between students.//

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Again, my students have used Microsoft Word and other programs to write final drafts of their writing, but their other student-driven technological experiences and assessments have been limited.

//Goals: Learn to set up ways for students to drive their own learning through technology.//

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

I am fluent in many common technological systems, and able to use my skills in order to understand new systems. I am also able to “to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.” I fall short in my use of technology to collaborate and communicate with “students, peers, parents, and community members.”

//Goal: Learn to use at least one new technological tool to collaborate and communicate with my students and their influencers.//

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

I model and teach appropriate documentation of sources and respect for intellectual property generally, but only have required students to apply this knowledge to digital information once this year. We have not had an opportunity to practice digital etiquette and social interactions or engage with professionals or students of other cultures this year.

//Goal: Engage in a cross-cultural exchange facilitated by technology.//


 * 5.** **Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership**

I have developed my technological skills as they apply to teaching through various graduate school classes, but have not used them very much in the classroom.

//Goal: Reflect on various technological tools in order to determine which can be used in my classroom.//


 * Personal use project:** Set up a personal RSS feed.