Takeaways from the Course

I am glad I jumped on board to take this course. I really had no idea of what to expect.  I have had both good luck and bad with online courses.  I hoped it would be worthwhile and I would take away something :).  It was an extremely busy time in my professional life and my personal life, but it was so very worth it.  I feel the course forced me to look at and explore various topics and then really think about them,and then share those thoughts! It sure gave me a lot to think about.  We are preparing to go 1:1 and I feel this was a wonderful prep for what is to come.  Everything everyone shared I think I will utilize--your experiences and suggestions and trials and tribulations.  I have always felt I was very techie, and I still feel that way, but I also realize there is so much out there that I haven't even scratched the surface of yet, and I can't wait to try them.  Every time I would read about something someone tried, or something they had in their Symbaloo, etc., I was excited and thinking of how I could utilize it as well.  This course put many things right up front-things that have practical uses that I can use and share quickly and confidently.  I love quick!  It encouraged me to try new things :), and feel good about my successes and okay about the things that didn't work as well as I expected and just try it again.  I will take away all the resources (WOW), and camaraderie.  I enjoyed the discussions and blogs and sharing--I learned a great deal.  Thanks!

Module 8- Using social media in the classroom

I don't know if I have an opinion on that yet.  I haven't had time to actually study and figure out how I'd use them effectively.  I  currently teach 6th grade and it amazes me how many students have Facebook accounts already at that age as almost all of them aren't yet 13.  If you want to reach someone, share news, etc. Facebook is the way to go, so I can see that aspect.  People are always connected.  I am not sure about crossing the line into Facebook "educationally" when kids are still in our guardianship of public/private school.  It is a "social" media and it seems maybe, I don't know, a bit furry/gray.  I know that as technology evolves, more and more lines are going to be furry and gray.  There is so much to consider.  I am not sure kids could keep their social world and their educational world separate.  I will have to do some research and perhaps survey some students to see how they'd react to this possible use and how they could see it being used.  Kids are often very insightful!  I am looking forward to reading the blogs of classmates on this topic, as I am sure those that interact daily with older students will perhaps have definitive opinions. 
My alternative to Facebook for my 6th grade class is My Big Campus.  I can't say enough about it.  It is fantastic and offers so much in a "safer" monitored setting.  The kids can chat/discuss/post and we can monitor their comments and these are quite often "teachable" moments as to what is appropriate or not.  We use it "educationally" and the added bonus for the kids is they also "get to" post/chat/etc., so they get a "social" experience as well.  
I think sometimes cosmic karma kicks in.  I was trying to think through what my thoughts really are so I stepped away for a bit.  I flipped open our daily newspaper, and an article catches my eye:  Mother is now your "friend".  "Interesting," I thought. It discusses the fact that kids don't always want their parents knowing things about their personal lives, and by being their friend, they do.  And that kids are trying to develop their own identities and having their parents, "hovering" may hinder that process. What about: Teacher is now your "friend". Would we be crossing that line also?  Is our role also parentis absentia? Or not?  This will require some thought and insight on our parts as well.
On, another note, I just recently set up a Twitter account and am "practicing" in the hopes of using that. :)

Module 7-New tool to try

Looking over everyone's curated material was quite fascinating!  There is so much out there.  I had a hard time deciding on just one new tool to try out.   I think Blubbr will be fun for students.  It is a blend of short video and then trivia questions.  It didn't look too hard to try-I did not have time to actually play with it. I can imagine it being useful in Social Studies when we study various ancient civilizations.  Students can pull info they discover and share it and then see if others in the class can answer the questions.  They would be in charge of the info.  It could be a great review.  To go with that, Shmoop had a great section on Greek gods! This section had a modern twist with a "wall" where the gods chatted, and their "cliques" and easy to understand info because of the contemporary look.  I wish we would have had that when we did our Greek studies!  Next year!  I also think Jing has a lot of potential.  They kids love sharing and this way they can narrate what they have discovered and we can post it within My Big Campus so the rest of the class can share.  Wonderful!

Module 6-Which concepts from the course seem most applicable?

I have learned a LOT from this course thus far.  Even though I am always late with my submissions because I have a zillion other things going on in my life, I look forward to finally catching up, going over the content, thinking, reflecting, and reading others' discussion points and blogs.  It reaffirms that I am doing some things right, but there is still so much more out there, and I get many "Ahhh" moments every time.  I consider myself pretty techie, but there is always more to learn and share.  So that is one one thing I have learned from this course:  there is always more out there to learn, and courses such as this, and other forums can provide something that is right for anyone, a novice or the most experienced.  There is reaffirmation and enlightenment!
Another thing I have gleaned is interpreting the SAMR model and the Technology Matrix and what they mean for me and my growth as a professional.  They are something solid to look at, my rubric, and keep me thinking head, evaluating what I am planning, and focused.  They will help me set goals for next year and beyond and guide me, and hopefully others I encounter along the way, toward more rewarding experiences for my students and myself.
My final concept is actually not a concept, but I guess a "Thank you" for all of the marvelous resources this course has put out front for each of us.  The course itself is providing sources, but through discussions, blogs, etc, we each get to share even more. Wow!  Each week there is something else that I have not heard of, and I can't wait to try it out; or I have heard of it, downloaded the app, and not quite known what to do with it, and now I have a solid idea (for next year, of course); or, as I stated above, reaffirmation that I am doing some things right with the tools I have found and utilize.

Technology Integration Matrix

What an interesting rubric. I feel I am in different places in different subjects.  I am not completely utilizing all the technological tools I could just because I don't have time to sit down and think it through completely so the kids have some guide on what I expect.  There is just so much out there!  I know what I will add for next year, so that I feel is a great thing.  :) If I can change a little this year (and share with a co-worker!) and then add more next year, and then again, (as learning is always evolutionary), then I will feel good and successful. 
For discussion, I will share some things I have done recently with a Reading novel lesson.  We read the book Flipped by Wendelyn Van Draanen.   I took a unit that I had created that was mostly paper/pencil and expanded it to include more tools.  Part of the daily journaling was done paper/pencil as I wanted them to draw "comic" style summaries/main ideas-for next  year, I found some great apps that will allow them to comic online and share that way.  They also had to answer some questions for me using the My Big Campus (MBC) platform.  This I enjoyed as they had specific time frames and it was easier for me to actually look how they were making their inferences and drawing conclusions on what they were reading.  I also had their final exam built into MBC so they could get immediate feedback on some of their exam.  Some were essay so they still had to wait.  They created crossword puzzles using an online creator for one of their vocab assignments so they to think a little deeper on what clues they'd be using.  For their final project they had to create a movie trailer with the iPads and iMovie with a group.  It showed true collaboration and thought as they had to think about what was really important enough to include and then how to portray that without speaking (the trailer utilized background music!).  Some I had to get back on track as they got  lost in the "fun" of it vs what their end goal was, but they were back online quickly enough. For next year, I'd like to add a discussion/chat on their thoughts on what they read each day, perhaps add how it is similar to their lives.  I'd also like to tie in some more background on what is discussed in this book (mental retardation, the development of chicks, etc.) so they learn "more" and develop more background knowledge, which makes them better all around! I didn't do this for other novels we read.  I will hopefully take what I did with this, since I feel it was successful, and expand it to others. Perhaps ask the kids to design something that would make learning about a novel more interesting-have them research relevant topics within the novel.  It is a process!
Where would I rate myself in each area?  I am definitely beyond basic but definitely not transformed.  I switch back and forth in the three middle, probably mostly adoption and adaption. I feel the kids are active, collaborative, and a little constructive.  With the plans for next year, that could be more evident.
Where do you think you could reasonably be by the end of the year?  If this year's growth is any indication, I hope to be closer to transformation, possibly infusion.  It is a process that takes time, of which I already don't have, but hope to find.
What steps will you need to take in order to make the growth happen? Professional development/coursework. find more time!  Collaborate more with others to learn and glean what they have accomplished and how.

Reflections on blogging.  I haven't blogged in awhile.  I have been thinking about it, and this course forced my hand and so I am ready to blog again.