Teaching with Technology

Moodle

Moodle is an online hybrid that allows educators to create lesson plans, upload class assignments/syllabus, and schedule future events. It severs as an open-source where students and educators can download digital documents from their electronic devices. Also, teachers can also create deadlines for exams and assignments.  

Rating: 5 out of 5

Pros: As a student, moodle gives me the opportunity to review grades, interact with my professors/classmates, and register for class courses upon the moodle key given by the professor. In addition, Moodle is "FREE" for register students attending the University of Guam.

Cons: I found Moodle difficult to navigate. For example, when I submit an assignment for my ED110 class. I wasn't aware to enter submit again for one last confirmation.

Google Apps

One feature of Google apps is that it is an extensive search engine.  It also contains advanced search preferences as well. You can use the map feature to share location with family or friends. Along with Translate words and phrases in numerous languages with Google Translate. Google apps allow users to use sources like Gmail to send emails, create surveys or worksheets on forums, and create presentations with Google Slides. 





Rating: 5 out of 5

Pros: As a student, I found this tool easy to use because it automatically saves my work as a draft on Google docs, slides, and sheets. You can use extensive apps for free without having to pay a fee. Lets me share/edit documents to my friends online. If you like to explore more Google apps.  https://about.google/intl/en/products/
Cons: You can't use more than one account at a time.

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LiveBinders 

Livebinders is a useful tool that you share information by which inserting a URL. Teachers can use this resource to organize neatly and collect relative research. It replaces a real-life binder to the web software that allows users to share with their peers. It simply bookmarks websites that you feel are appropriate for an individual educator. Here is an example of my Livebinder

Rating: 4 out of 5
Pros: As a student, LiveBinders gives me options to provide links for my students to go and view the work from websites I just bookmark. It lets me organize my information into shelves and binders for people to have easy access.
Cons: Having many sub-tabs can be distracting for a person who is viewing your Livebinder. My suggestion is to keep it to a minimum.

Google Chrome

One difference between Google and Google Chrome is that the web browser is much faster than Google itself. Chrome is not like any other browser, here it allows you to bookmark from your Google account. This gives easy access for educators to use because it syncs everything that you previously searched for to come back to it on another device instead of looking through your history.


Ratings: 4 out of 5
Pros: As a student, I never used Google Chrome before, but using my nine hours of browsing through this wonderful tool I would say "Its really helpful." One thing that I found great about it is fast, easy, and simple to use.

Cons: The only con using this application is takes a lot of Ram memory running Google Chrome.

Prezi

Prezi is an application to create fun and creative presentations. This application gives you the opportunity to apply your thoughts, ideas, and graphic media onto a large canvas. Prezi is a tool that can be used as an alternative traditions slide making programs such as Powerpoints.






Ratings: 4 out of 5
Pros: As a student, I found using Prezi as a way of capturing my audience's attention. This tool serves to present your project with creativity. Here is an example of my Prezi project .https://prezi.com/m/lroflwetqyni/cash-out/
Cons: You are only limited to some templates. If you like using Prezi often then you have to pay a membership fee.

Weebly

Weebly is a website builder for small businesses. You can create portfolios, business sites,  blogs, and online stores. Users can choose from cool customizable templates to build an attractive eye-catching website. Weebly provides a guide on how to use for beginners and provides an option menu if you have any questions about your Weebly.


Rating: 3 out of 5
Pros: As a student, It is a customizable website that you can choose from templates. I prefer is mainly for business majors who want to start their online store.
Cons: Drag and drop customization is limited, I find Weebly frustrating to use because it's my first time using this tool.

Twitter

Twitter is another form of a blogging tool. Users are only allowed to type up to 140 characters for each tweet. Tweets can include pictures, short 45 secs videos, and attach website links. You can also retweet someone's tweet which means that it can be shared on your wall. Followers that you followed can also see what you post if they consider putting you on their favorite notification. Twitter has become increasingly popular with teenage students and young adults. I feel that this technology tool is one of the best to connect with modern people nowadays.


Ratings: 5 out of 5
Pros: As a student, twitter lets me reach new audiences such as tweeting and retweeting posts, It expresses me as a person of who I am, and keep up-to-date with the latest news/developments. Twitter gives each user an opportunity to upload a profile picture and cover photo.
Cons: One thing about Twitter, It can be used for Cyberbullying. I wished they worked on uploading at least 5 min videos instead of 45 seconds.

Quizlet

Quizlet is a free website that provides learning tools for students to use to study. Teachers and students can create study guides to help memorize for upcoming tests. Quizlet lets others share what they create and allow others to connect as well. It also lets you add images to build knowledge and easy memorization to the mind.



Ratings: 5 out of 5
Pros:  As a student, Quizlet enhances audio to read aloud each flashcard back to you, lets you add images, and helps keep track of what you answer correct/incorrect. Here is an example of a Quizlet https://quizlet.com/32982899/world-history-flash-cards/
Cons: Students can get distracted by the side ads showing up on Quizlet. It can use a form of cheating on a test while using Quizlet. Quizlet can be false information if posted public.

The Better Picture

Junior year: 2016

       When I was a junior at Okkodo High School. Many of my classmates made fun of my learning disability outside of school. The learning disability that I struggled with is known as "Dysgraphia." Dysgraphia is a "learning disability that affects writing abilities such as spelling, poor handwriting, and trouble putting thoughts on paper" (Understood Team 2014). because of this, my parents enrolled me in a special education program where I found other teenagers with the same disability. My teacher Mrs. Joy Opinion helped me improve my writing  capabilities through an app called "Inspiration Maps." As a student, this app aided me through difficult times in high school. 

       In the Assertive Technology video, Susanna Martini mentions "Assistive technology is the major foundation of my life. Without it, I could not exist as I am today" (George Lucas Foundation, 2005). This direct quote from her shows a comparison where kids with a disability use technology as a productive resource than a regular student utilizing a computer. Some kids may think that having a learning disability may hold them back from their studies, but Susanna did not let this problem stop her from learning. I do admire the effort of one to one aides because they deal with these kinds of issues in a school environment. When I was doing student observations, I noticed one student had trouble hearing the lectures. The teacher provided an alternative assignment where she had him write three paragraphs of what he had just read from the book. I found it as a good teaching strategy in order for students to learn. 

         As a future teacher, one way to accompany a student's learning disability is by introducing a technology tool called "Text to Speech." According to alvernia.edu, "The technology tool works by scanning and then reading the words to the student in a synthesized voice, using a large number of speech sounds that make up in a given context" (Alvernia 2019). This benefits students that have autism, dyslexia, and visual impairment. The primary goal of this is having my students become successful in their careers. Each of my students would be provided with a headset with a microphone and a school laptop. The teacher will then open up the documents for students to listen too in regards to the lesson. Students are to be able to reach common GDOE standards such as 4.0 being the highest. 

Guam Department of Education: Grading Standards 2019

    The Guam Department of Education abuse school funding by purchasing equipment such as drones. Joy Schwartz mentions, "We are preparing our students for jobs that may not even exist right now, so we want to make sure that we’re staying on top of all the new technology and bringing that into the classroom"(Dedicatoria 2019). I can agree on the fact that "staying on top of all the new technology," but how is this helping our learning system here on Guam? As an educator, my opinion is that school funding should be used for purchasing new equipment that students with or without a disability to learn better in a classroom. For example, GDOE should teach special education teachers about Assertive Technology rather than drones here on Guam.

    As a result, watching the video had taught me that assistive technology is essential to countless disabilities. Kids utilizing these resources become proactive in their studies to complete tasks such as reading, writing, and listening skills. Assistive technology not just serves as a foundation for everyday life for Susanna Martini, but another individual like Lukas Bratcher mentions "School technology is the key to pursuing his passion for music" (George Lucas Foundation, 2019). As a future teacher, I would like to start to incorporate assistive technology in my classroom.


                                                                 

Future Teacher: Mr. Ando

                                                        References

Edutopia. (February 2, 2005). How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams. Copyright 2019. https://www.edutopia.org/video/how-assistive-technology-enables-dreams

Amanda, Dedicatoria. (October 18, 2019). GDOE teachers learn about robotics. PDN News First: Copyright 2019. https://pncguam.com/gdoe-teachers-learn-about-robotics/#


Alvernia, Online. (March 8, 2019). 5 Assistive Technology Tools That Are Making a Difference. Copyright 2019. https://online.alvernia.edu/articles/5-assistive-technology-tools-that-are-making-a-difference/

Create No Hate

Be a Friend, Not a Stranger 

          During this project, the class was asked to design a presentation on digital safety. My group was assigned to create a powerpoint about cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is the "use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature."(Cyberbullying 2019) Everyone including myself came up with brilliant ideas for this assignment because most of us experienced cyberbullying as teenagers. One idea that we all agreed upon is using Microsoft teams to document our information findings along with Kahoot to create a quiz for our project. Within our group, each of us contributes individually to this assignment. For example, Lace and Cauline were in charged to search up different forms of cyberbullying, whereas, Chelsey and I were in charged to create the questions for our Kahoot game. Although, I found other presentations appealing to me as an educator that I wished to used when I started my project.

          The presentation that I found appealing to me is the "Copyright and Fair User Practices" project from Group C. The group handed out printed guidelines to the class for us teachers to use as a reference as we go along with their presentation. These guidelines are to inform all educators of what they can do under the law of copyright. They also stated issues on ownership, exceptions, and plagiarism. On the other hand, plagiarism is an important factor for students to be familiarized with when writing an academic assignment. According to plagiarism.org, "It is given as taking ideas from someone else and claiming them to be their own." (Plagiarism 2017) Personally, I believe this information is correct because all academic writers should give credibility to borrowed sources from publishers and websites. In Group B presentation, I feel that "Pharming and Phishing" is meant for high school students who are enrolled in a computer class. This group presented an amazing explanation of why pharming and phishing is a crucial component to your private information.

           In our cyberbullying presentation, our main focus was to gather statistic data and different forms of cyberbullying. As I mentioned earlier, I wished to add forums and guidelines like other groups in our project. The benefit of using forums is to allow users to enable collaboration, give feedback, and share opinions with one another. Many of my classmates would choose to create a forum than Quora because some of them say its easier and accessible. Another thing that I wished to add is guidelines because it sets boundaries for users to make intentional decisions. As a group, we feel that "Warning Signs" should be taken out and replaced with forums.

           I would definitely incorporate cyberbullying into my lesson plan by making a classroom activity. First, I would start off by having my students watch a couple of scenarios of bullying. Then, I'll assign my sixth graders into groups of four. Within their groups, they are to create two bullies, one victim, and one friend. The objective of this activity is to create a skit that is three to five minutes long on examples of cyberbullying from videos they have just watched. Students are free to use any props of their choice along with personal electronic devices they wished to choose as they plan their mini skit. This project would only take sixty minutes and should be ready to present to the class. "In order to increase student motivation and engagement, students should be given meaningful choices in their learning, and tasks should be relevant, using real-world experiences and examples.(Dabrowski& Marshall 2018) 

           This project taught me many things about digital safety. I learned the importance of how "Copyright and Fair User Practices" plays a significant role in the community and education. I also did appreciate working with my group members for once in my life because they all contribute to this project. One thing that made me proud as a member of the group is creating a short video to prevent cyberbullying. Furthermore, the tools we used for our project to collaborate with one another is Microsoft Teams. In addition, another tool that I do recommend is "Asana." This collaboration tool allows users to assign tasks to other members, create due dates, and add followers to critic our work.   As a future educator, I'll be mindful to use these resources that were introduced to me in my teaching lessons. 

                                                                     References 

Joan Dabrowski & Tanji Reed Marshall, (Nov 1, 2018). The Education Trust. Copyright 2019. https://edtrust.org/resource/motivation-and-engagement-in-student-assignments/

Plagiarism, (June 7, 2017). Plagiarism: Facts & Stats. Copyright 2017.
https://www.plagiarism.org/article/plagiarism-facts-and-stats   


Cyberbullying: Definition of Cyberbullying by Lexico. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/cyberbullying

Aspects Of Educational Technology

Technology Educating Younger Minds

      According to Karehka Ramey (2017), "we use technology in education to improve on the way we learn in our classrooms."As some people might say that technology is becoming more advanced in our daily lives. It has become an essential aspect that accomplishes our tasks with ease. One advantage of this is through the use of an online educational game that gives students the opportunity to engage in learning activities such as Math, English, and Science. furthermore, as a group, each of us started to find a game that best suited our major "Elementary Education."From my experience, I found it time-consuming looking for the best game that would captivate our audience. 
      As time went by, we all came to an agreement upon using Mr. Nussbaum's "Cash Out."This game serves to test an individual's knowledge of mathematics. The objective of the game was to figure out the correct change back to a valued customer that comes in and out of your store to buy groceries. During the process of examining this game, we've determined "Cash-Out" was fairly simple enough to understand basic options such as selecting the difficulty level, displaying hints, and showing change amount. We recommended that second and sixth graders can play this game; we also noticed that adults can try too. This website https://mrn365.com of Mr.Nussbaum leads to other teaching materials that educators can use in their classrooms. 
      One factor that we found most challenging in this project is creating the presentation. Our first choice of a presentation tool was Wix. Although, we found Prezi as a better presentation tool than Wix that lets students organize their ideas into various creative templates. We also used Google Keep as a form of communication for our classmates to access our links like Prezi and Cash-Out. At the end of our presentation, We gave our classmates the chance to do our “Google Survey” to evaluate our progress. In creating our presentation, we try to best target our main audience. 
         As an educator, I recommend using Cash-out as a learning activity that students can use to hone their mathematical and monetary skills. In general, Math has become a major struggle amongst students who lack the skills of counting money mentally or physically. "Many people don't experience sufficient time to get math lessons, and they fall behind as the teacher moves on" (Fleming, 2018). During my time in elementary school, I've struggled with learning concepts of Multiplication and Division. In the future, I want to see my students use "Cash-Out" as an activity if they ever chose to buy items at a store.  
         In conclusion, technology is constantly evolving in our education culture where we depend on computerized tests. In this project, we were able to utilize materials such as Google Keep to our advantage because it gave us the opportunity to send links to our audience in our class. On the other hand, most argue that online educational games don't improve on student's ability to learn. According to the website article; Game Learning (2018) "Learning and technology shouldn't be viewed as two competing things, but rather as partners in the fight to help educate children." I believe that this fact is true because I witness kids every day enhancing technology at a young age. 

First Day in ED271

Today I started my first day at ED271-02 at the University of Guam.  When I met Dr. Cyrus the first impressions I had of her was intimidating. Although, I hope to obtain strategies that I'll use in my upper-division courses. I am the future elementary school teacher that's going to make a difference in Guam's Department of Education. Later at the end of the semester, One short-term goal I want to achieve is "Connecting with my professors." The more we connect in the classroom. The better would lead to communicating proficiently to each other "Professor & Student."