iMovie

NETS-T 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

I used IMovie to create a public service announcement of California State Universit San Marcos.

Journal 7: "My Personal Learning Network"

Journal 7

1. My personal learning network is the use of Twitter, Diigo and Blogger. These three internet resources are of great help to me because they share tremendous amount of new information regarding education that I was unaware of. It is an easy way of having communication with people around the world who share the same interest as you do. These websites will help me in the classroom because I will be able to share information with students and parents after school and even during school. This will keep students and teachers in communication and it will also be of great help when students are having trouble. Diigo in this case, will be of most help to the students. I will be able to bookmark different website that I find of great resource for students, and students (after showing them how to create their Diigo account) will be able to log in and see what I have bookmarked. After a while, they will be able to bookmark the different websites that they find are relevant to the classroom learning. In twitter I am following Mucio Vidales, EdChat, NTCHAT, ED422 (young chat) and owenthomas20. I chose to follow this twits because they all can bring a great amount of information for me. We all have something in common, the interest in Education. This is why I chose to follow each of them and see what new information they can bring.

2. The use of Twitter is something new to me. I heard when it first came out, but it was nothing of my interest. Once I realized of the different use Twitter can bring, I then (because of class) created an account. I followed #ntchat on April 20, 2011 at 5pm. The topic was about Classroom Libraries and to see how teachers managed to keep one. The discussion going on is very interesting. Almost everyone in the #nchat works in school settings, teachers, principals, and they each have mentioned that they have a small library in their classroom. Most of them keep the books organized by nonfiction (topics) and fiction (author) while others just let the students organize them as they please. Most of the teachers in the chat, acquire the books for their classroom via donations, out of pocket and others get them via library book sells. 

Been part of this chat was of great experience. It took me quite a while to understand how the process worked. I send out a #ntchat request and asked when the discussion was and what the topic was as well. I am sure they wrote back but I was never able to find it. When I did, I noticed how many people are involved in childrens' lives and how many of them try their hardest for their students to succeed. Although the chat was happening quite fast, it was at times hard to keep track of what everyone was talking about, but in the end it payed off. Because I am now more aware of how teachers around the world set up their classroom and how they try to incorporate reading in their classroom as much as they can. 

3. Diigo is a great networking tool, in the sense that you are able to bookmark internet pages and be able to go back to them in later time to look at new information without having to search for it on the google web. Also there is to be done is log into your diigo account and click on the name of the website and it will take you directly to it. It is great, even for high school students, who research information and will like to share it with friends and family. In Diigo you are able to find people who have tag similar things as you have and it is great when it comes to finding new information. I like it, I think it is a great web tool and it helps a lot when it comes down to finding information from others around the world who think that a particular web page is important as well. I decided to tag Educator's PLN as well as Classroom 2.0 because this two webpages are great for information in regards to teachers and students and lesson plans. Believe it or not, most of the information in the webpage includes forums, chats, where you are free to join and ask questions in regards to education. It is specifically for teachers, specially those seeking extra information about classroom management, etc. I chose to network with Diigo simply because it is a great tool to use with students and it stores information that one bookmarks on the web. Also because it is easy to access and go back to any page used before. Why else use it? Well for classroom students it is great because they can go in the bookmarked pages and highlight them. A great tool that I find completely helpful.

4. I chose to watch a video in the Classroom 2.0 called The European Children's Traveling Language Library. I found this video and its website very interesting because it is target towards children who are learning a new second language. They provide books in different languages and children are able to check them out and be able to read through them. This website motivates children to learn the language, for them to feel reinforced in learning a second language. Now, the store is only available in some countries, but they target students who are in their first year of learning a second language. This program is done by senior expertise in language acquisition.

Journal 10 "Find free tools and more"

Journal 10

Ribera, M. (2011). Learning & leading. Find free tools and more, 2011(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Learning_Connections_Find_Free_Tools_and_More.aspx

This particular article is of much interest for teachers in particular. It talks about this new website called EDUTECHER that has about 1,000 links and BELLOW adds new sites daily. This site is of great ed tech resources for teachers. It contains concise explanation of how each tool in the web works and how it can be implemented in the classroom. This website also includes a EduTecherTV webisodes that includes audio where it provides basic training about any of the links/programs that are in the website. This is also great for teachers who find it easier to learn by seen how it is done. 

This is a great resource for teachers all over the world. 

Q1: Is this website free?

A1: Yes, it is. It is completely free of charge, ad-free site. You will need to become a member of this webpage in order to have access to all of their links, but there is no charge for becoming a member either. 

Q2: Why might this webpage be helpful in the classroom?

A2: There are many reasons why this website might be helpful for teachers in the classroom.  In the website, one is able to have conferences, to explore the library, to get information in their daily newsletter and be informed of anything new that is happening in the educational world. 

Journal 9 "Teaching Green"

Journal 9

Waters, J.K. (2011). The journal. Teaching Green, Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/04/06/teaching-green.aspx?sc_lang=en

This article is very interesting because it talks about the importance there is when it comes to teaching and learning about our environment. It shows that there are different resources for students and teachers in order to learn about the environment. There are daily lesson plans that can be included daily in the classroom in order for students to learn the importance of the environment. One of the things that interested me the most is the program that is offered for students who go to school mainly in the city and do not interact daily with the environment. The fact that teachers takes the time to take their students into the environment and show them get a more advanced education about the environment. Though this program is mainly focused for students between 3-5 grades, it can also be implemented in higher grades.
Teaching students and teachers as well about the importance of the environment is a great step in helping the world with its environmental hazards.

Q1: Why is it so important to teach students the importance of the environment?
A1: The importance of teaching our students about the environment is that from an early age we can implement in them the different responsibilities there are about taking care of the world.

Q2: Is there a benefit in implementing environmental lesson into the daily plans of class?
A2:  Yes there is. I think that it is very important to implement the environmental issues in daily lesson plans so that students, and teachers as well have a better understanding and an idea of what is going on in the world. And what better way than teach it to students everyday.

Jounal 8 "Point/Counterpoint: Should schools be held responsible for cyberbullying?"

Journal 8

Bogacz, R, & Gordillo, M.G. (2011). Point/counterpoint:should schools be held responsible for cyberbullying?. Learning & Leading, 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_Schools_Be_Held_Responsible_for_Cyberbullying.aspx

 I find this article very interesting for many reasons, and my reasons are not particularly related to what parents, teachers or peers might think. I think that cyberbullying happens because the child has psychological problems. It is not, but it might be, because the parents are not giving the child enough love and they are not taking into consideration what their child is doing. Most parents do not care about what their children are doing on the internet, or while they are on their cell phones, when in fact they should. The article mentioned that parents should be more attentive to their children's behavior. Well that is quite hard when half of the time children are in school or out with their friends. 
There are so many ways in which a child can cyberbully someone else. It can either be through cell phone text messages, MSN, AIM, Facebook, Myspace, etc. These are all sites that students frequent on their daily lives, and mostly when they are home. There is not much that school can do about it, if this cyberbully is happening outside of school, but parents can certainly do a lot in order to help. We have heard of so many cases of cyberbullying and of children who have taken their lives because they cannot take the pressure, and still this is still happening. 
Schools can have classes that talk about these different issues to students and for them to see that it is not okay for them to bully their classmates simply because they find it funny. Because of this, there have been so many deaths in the US that it seems impossible to ever do something about it. And I think that the first that can do something about it are the students. They can come together and realize that what they are doing is not right, and that they can help change the way young teens view cyberbullying.

Q1: What are some solutions that schools, parents can come up with in order to stop cyberbullying?
A1: I think that there are many solutions that parents and teachers in general can come up with in order to help their students. The first one is to have classes that are primarily target the cyberbully issue. Simple PPT lessons or talks about it won't do. They need to be very specific about the problem, show facts, numbers, cases, in order for the students to get the idea. Parents, may I suggest, need to be more involved in the lives of their children. Simply believing that they are good kids and will never do, or go through such a problem will not due. They need to be able to have an open relationship with them and feel comfortable talking about anything. Most of the times, parents seems afraid of asking their children what is going on in their lives and that is completely wrong. Second, I think that the schools should prohibit students from having cell phones in the classroom, and/or bringing computers in. I think that this will simply bring down the percentages of bullying in schools and outside of school as well. 

Q2: What is the reason that students feel the need to cyberbully other classmates?
A2: That is something that it is hard to figure out. But maybe they feel that by doing so they have more power than their classmates and feel respected. But I think that instead of having respect, their fellow peers just have fear for them. Most of these kids that bully go through a psychological issue that makes them unsure of who they truly are. They might do such damage because they feel that it is the only way for them to get attention that they are seeking. Most of the time, these kids are in tremendous need of attention and support from their parents. Cyberbullying is the closes thing they find to get attention with.

Journal 6 "Grow your Personal Learning Network"

Journal 6 "Grow your Personal Learning Network"

 

Warlick, D. (2009). Grow your personal learning network. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-march-april-2009.aspx

There are a lot of different ways in which one can learn to find their PLN (Personal Learning Network). Before reading this article, I was not sure what PLN meant and whether or not I had ever used PLN before. It turns out that I have, Twitter, Facebook, Google, Hootsuite, etc. The article talks about different PLN sources out there and how teachers/students use them for their learning experience. For a long time, we have relied on our families, friends, and colleagues to supplement our knowledge of the world. But with new technology, PLN has given us different resources which one can use in order to find information and be informative. With the different PLN's out there, educators can choose the time and place where to have conversations with one another, via web of course, and they can talk about anything and everything that is of interest to them regarding education. The article mentioned that one of the most useful tools in PLN are social bookmarking and Delicious (now known as Diigo). The interesting thing about such PLNs' is that what you bookmark or research and make add it to your profile, will be viewable by the entire world. It is like having a small community within your computer with people who share the same interest as you do. Since there is new technology and different ways for society to communicate, besides face to face interactions, one needs to learn about the different applications as well as gain and develop skills not only for the use of these tools but also for future references. PLN is merely a destination for information.

For me now, my PLN is Twitter. Now that I have a more basic understanding of how this tool works, I can see that one can find a lot of interesting information regarding school, different technologies, and just important information that one might find of interest.  I think that it is a great way of staying in contact with the outside world and finding out all of their different thoughts and their new ideas.

Q: What is there to do in order to become part of one of these PLN?

A: First of all, as a teacher or student, one needs to have an understanding of what PLNs' are out there. There are so many, such as, Twitter, Facebook, HootSuite, Google, Ning, Second Life. One needs to understand and search what might be the different benefits that such websites can bring to us. If used correctly, one can gain enough information about a certain topic of interest. Each of these different websites require you to become a member of their site in order to obtain access to their different tools. Some may require you to pay in order to become a member, but for most of these web pages, they are free and only require a name and email to subscribe to it.

Q: Should teachers use these networks as part of their lesson plans in their classroom?

A: Absolutely yes. These are great tools for teachers to be informed of outside information that might be relevant to their lesson plans. For teachers, navigating this different web tools opens their minds into new resources and different ways in which they can gather information from outside resource that are interested in the same topic as they might be. Besides, showing students that one has knowledge of these tools can also encourage those students to learn all this new information and for them to want and research as well. It is always a good idea for students to have a basic understanding of where the information the teacher is teaching them comes from.

Journal 5 "Not your grandmother's library"

Journal 5

Perez, L. (2011). Not your grandmother's library. Learning & Leading with Technology, 38(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Feature_Article_Not_Your_Grandmother_s_Library.aspx 


This article is quite interesting to me. As we all know, schools have libraries were students can go and gather information that might be useful for them, in any form other than just academically. However, there are students who don't like the library. Well thanks to out technology geniuses out there, we now have libraries through the internet. There is no need of actually going to the library, all you have to do is sit in front of your computer and google the name of the library and either become a member of the library and start searching for what they are looking for. This is way easier even for teachers. Who now know that their students will have access to anything through a library website. Of course, there are those that still prefer printed books, but it always comes in handy to have other resources out there. Great article. Teacher should definitely read it and have a better understanding about such new access to the library.


Q: How does having online library affect our students:
A: I honestly think that it does not have much affect on them. It is just an easier and faster way for them to get access to any resources that they might need for school or any other based information that they might need. It is not always a bad idea to have them learn about online resources, and not just have them sitting in the library reading a book for hours, when we all know that they much rather do it in front of their computer. 


Q: Are teachers aware of the new library access that their students now have?
A: I believe they are. However, there are those teachers who are not aware that their students can research information through the internet, on the library based website and pretty much do everything in front of their computer and not in the library. Though, I am sure they much rather have their students sitting in the library and learning how to find books via Call #s, but there are also those teachers who much rather teach their students all of the new resources that they have, so that they also advance with technology. Good idea, right?!?

Journal 4 "It's Time To Trust Teachers with the Internet: A Conversation with Meg Ormiston"

 Journal 4

 Schaffhauser, D. (2010, 12 1). It's time to trust teachers with the internet: a conversation with meg ormiston. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/12/01/its-time-to-trust-teachers-with-the-internet-a-conversation-with-meg-ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en

I think that I completely agree with this conversation. I am also amazed at how some teacher now, are not giving up on our students. Most of the time, we see teacher struggling to just keep up with the new technology that is out there and with all of the different wording that our students are now using to communicate with one another. Throughout most of the interview, I could see the main points that were been talked about. One of the main things that I found most interesting is how "teachers are not able to find a safe WEB page for their students, then how can they be trustworthy teachers". This is so true, because as a teacher, one must always be aware of what is out there, and of all the different websites that our students might be able to navigate into. In order for us, as teacher to do so, we must have a good knowledge of what is out there, the new technological features that have recently come out, and of the different ways that we can teach students to be safe and still have fun surfing the net. Great Interview.

Q: What are some of the benefits about teachers learning new technology?

A: I think that there are a lot of new benefits out there for teachers learning technology. It is not just about learning what is new out there and having fun surfing the Web, but it is about learning how to use the new tools and incorporating those into the classroom. This will help teachers have a better understanding of how their students are now learning in this new Century and how they are able to help them. 

Q: Should teachers have background knowledge of WEB surfing and safe websites students can use?

A: Yes, teachers should definitely have some knowledge of websites out there and whether or not they are safe for students. We often think that we know how to surf the web and whether or not a web page is safe, but unless we surf that web page and do some research on it, we will not know if it is correct for our students to use. It should be prohibited for teachers to say that they do not know if a certain web page is appropriate for students, then how are they capable of teaching their students what is right and wrong. Teachers should take some technology classes where they learn how to surf the web and have a wider understanding of technology.

Technology Self-Assessment: School 2.0

NETS I, III

I chose to investigate NETS-I: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. Classroom 2.0 Ning seemed like an interesting website and it is for those who are interested in education and in networking for their classroom. This website is free for the community and is for those who are interested in learning about networking. I find this website helpful because you are able to surf around and find different topics that you are interested in. I also think that it is a great website for children. Now days, children are getting the hang of technology faster then adults and even teachers. So it is a great tool for them to use and start understanding how to surf around the net. There are people who have posted blogs where you can click their link and go into their blog and be able to check out other information. You can also check the different forums and the members of the site. When you click on media it does not let you open the videos or the pictures, but you can get a sense of what they will be showing you. Though it be nice for them to open up and be able to see what they are trying to teach you by this pictures. 

I used the School 2.0/Tech Self-Assessment to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity and also to model digital-age work and learning.

Journal 3 "100 things that make me happy"

Journal 3 "100 things that make me happy"

1. sleep
2. eating
3. running
4. reading
5. hot showers
6. driving
7. tanning
8. hicking
9. NASCAR RACING
10. baking
11. school
12. teaching
13. working
14. biking
15. swimming
16. volley ball
17. soccer
18. baseball
19. boxing
20. tattoos
21. computers
22. rainy days
23. wiwishie - my puppy
24. shopping
25. makeup
26. horses
27. wearing sweatpants
28. walking bare foot
29. long walks
30. dancing
31. singing in the shower
32. lemons
33. pineapples
34. fixing stuff
35. horror/drama/suspense/action movies
36. smiling
37. my best friends
38. family
39. ice cream/strawberry, chocolate,vanilla
40. chocolate
41. juicy couture
42. sunny days
43. pink
44. hot chocolates
45. technology
46. children
47. ballet
48. myself
49. when classes get cancelled
50. snow
51. waking up late
52. working out
53. talking
54. xmas/new years
55. skating
56. the mountains
57. yoga
58. hanging
59. skydiving 
60. honey
61. venti iced mocha
62. brownies
63. creps 
64. sweet honey mustard
65. french friends with cheese
66. coca cola
67. walking in the rain
68. "P.S." I love you
69. driving
70. traveling
71. meeting new people
72. learning new stuff
73. dolphins
74. surfing/though Im horrible at it..I AM.
75. cuddling
76. soap operas
77. passing an exam
78. TV
79. radio talk shows
80. reality tv shows
81. butterflies
82. hot dogs
83. fried banana with ice cream
84. halloween
85. valentines' day
86. winning
87.  diving
88. acrilic nails
89. changing hair color
90. changing my daily looks
91. paint
92. drawing
93. dirt bikes
94. camping
95. gymnastics
96. acrobatics
97. gambling
98. be independent
99. that there be no mathematics in the world..haha
100. have my own rock clothes and ride a Harley Davidson

Journal 2 "Join the flock" & "Enhance your twitter experience"

Journal 2: "Join the flock" & "Enhance your twitter experience"

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved from http://docs.google.com/viewer

Miller, S.M. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved from Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved from http://docs.google.com/viewer

Summary: Twitter is the virtual meeting place, where your PLN (Professional learning network)Twitter also brings the strangers together, people that don't know each other but that have things in common regarding education or any other topic. It is very necessary for those that are new in Twitter to spend some time working on their PLN or else they will not be able to learn and develop their PLN correctly. There are several steps that you can follow in order to create your account and be able to work with your PLN. You are able to search for people in Twitter, you do not need to know them. They can be either educators, history teachers, middle school teachers, etc, you just need to know who you are searching for. One great thing about this website is that you are able to check the lists that other people create and you do not have the need to create a list. Another great thing is that you can follow people on twitter without saying a word. Easy as that! You literary need to become addicted to twitter to be able to learn a lot. comes together. 

Q1: What are the benefits of twitter for teachers and students? 

A: There are a lot of benefits that I see that twitter has to offer students and teachers as well. Some of the benefits that I think it brings is the ability to gather information from other sources around the world and having a wide variety of individuals who might provide the same source but with different insights. Another great benefit that brings is that it is easy to use and does not cost a thing. Of course, it takes some time to get used to it and be able to navigate around it, but after that,it is easy to manage and understand the great ideas it brings to teachers and students.

Q2: Is twitter for anybody?

A: I believe that twitter is for anyone that is interested in finding information regarding a certain area of interest. Of course, we know that there are some people that use is as a mean of just updating their daily activities and not for any other particular reason. However, there are those that use twitter as a means of communicating with people who share the same interest as they do. For those people, twitter is a great means of communication.

Journal 1 "Do WEB 2.0 Right"

 Journal #1 "Do WEB 2.0 Right"

Light, D. (2011). Do web 2.0 right. 38(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Feature_Article_Do_Web_2_0_Right.aspx




Summary: It is important to notice that technology is taking over how teachers and students are communicating now. Before, teachers were able to talk to their students and explain face to face the material that was necessary for them to learn, not thanks to technology, a lot of the material and exams as well are distributed online. Whether or not we want to believe it, some classes are now taught via online. Been able to have a blog for students, where they can go and check what is new with their classes and what are the new assignments, or even make comments on what they think should be changed or not, gives not only the student but the teacher as well a more precise way of understanding towards one another. Of course, like in any other cases, there will be students who will be somewhat shy in publishing their work for everyone else to see, but at the same time, it gives them the opportunity of having having others critique their work and learn from those mistakes they have made. 


Q1: What impact does having blogs in classroom have towards students and teachers?
A: First I think that it all depends on how teachers want to look at it. For students, it might be something new and a way of exploring new technology. A way of learning how to do new things online and have friends and family as well experience their work. For teachers, I guess its more of like an obligation to work with this new technology. Some of them I must say (including my own dad) think that technology and teaching students how to make their own blog, navigate the system is a waste of time. That we are only making our future generations dumber because now a machine is doing almost all of the thinking for them. Which I completely think is not true. 


Q2: Is technology something that we should worry about in classrooms?
A: I personally think that incorporating technology in the classroom will certainly help teachers have a more wider perception of what they are talking and for students to have a better understanding. Of course, there might be times that technology might be a distraction for both students and teachers but there are always ways to minimize that risk. 

A little bit about me...

Hi everyone :)

My name is Kirsley Dalay Ryfkogel, and I was born in Panama. I lived in a small town called David, Chiriqui until I was 11 years old and then moved to San Diego California when I turned 12 years old. I speak Spanish and English (knew how to speak German when I was little but forgot how to speak it since the only person that spoke German was my grandfather and he passed away when I was about 5 or 6 years old. Since then I never spoke German again), but I find it easier for me to communicate in English since I only talk in Spanish to my mom. After moving to SD, I started middle school and that is where I learned most of my English. After that, around my last year in middle school, my dad got stationed (he was in the Navy back then, now he is retired) in Guam for two years, so I finished middle school there and started high school. After my freshman year of high school, we moved back to San Diego and I started my sophomore year of high school in San Ysidro High School and graduate it from there in 2006. I then started my College experience that same year around September. Believe it or not, I think I have changed my major quite a few times until I could find one that truly spoke of who I was. And that is when I chose Human Development in Child Services. I know you would think is so out of the road from Teaching but I think teaching what I know to youths in our society just defines who I am more. I want to start my teaching credential next semester and I am taking both the CSET and CBEST before I start so I can get into the program. Sounds like a lot, well it is..

I have somewhat experience with technology. While I was in middle school I took some computer classes and some CAD classes that truly helped me a lot in understanding technology a lot better. I am quite good at adjusting myself into whatever new technology comes out, and it only takes me a few minutes to be able to understand it. Though I did not major in anything to do with computers, I think I be quite good at it. So, maybe once I start my teaching career, it be a good idea to go back to school and get a degree in computer management, since I said, it is good to have computer skills when in a classroom.

As I read the mission statement of the CSUSM/COE I realized that, that was not necessarily what pushed me to be a teacher. My grandfather was a Music Teacher and my father is a NJROTC teacher, and I found in me that I have a passion for teaching youths in society what I have learned throughout my years of schooling. That was mainly what drove me the most to wanting to enter the COE at CSUSM to try and teach and to learn more of course. Like Doctors, Teachers never stop learning. That is one thing I have come to realize the past couple of years.