Part A - Brainstorm Session

            After some last minute glitches, our group managed to get into the Vyew room for our web-conference and brainstorm session.  We used the chat feature because the microphones were not working and the feedback was too much.  Regardless, we managed to accomplish all of our preliminary goals.

            For our Group Leadership Project, we have chosen to create a PowerPoint presentation that will teach educators within our districts about wikis.  We chose this topic because we each have a basic, limited knowledge of wikis and want to learn more.  We feel that by immersing ourselves into this material, we will be able to craft a presentation that will benefit not only our learning experience, but for those with whom we share our knowledge, they too will benefit.  Also, by learning about, creating, and understanding the nature of wikis, we will be able to guide students in their learning, thus enabling them to become contributors to the global content of the Internet. 

            To facilitate the learning about wikis, we debated the pros and cons of several tools.  We like Jing, but since the typical account only allows for up to a five-minute recording, it would not serve our needs because we need ten minutes.  Therefore, we have decided to use PowerPoint. 

            Tai Kimmerly and I will work on the script.  We are collaborating through a document setup in Google Docs, therefore, we anticipate finishing by the 27^th of July in order to edit and receive input from our group before we submit our final product.  This will enable each member of the group to voice their concerns or provide input is a technical detail was missed or misconstrued.  Nichole Humitz will create the wiki using Wikispaces.com.  Not only will she create one, but we, as a group, have decided to each explore the technology in order to become familiar with it and fully understand its capabilities and benefits so we will feel comfortable sharing our knowledge with our colleagues.  Karen Delaney will construct the PowerPoint based on our script before exporting the file to Julie Gill who will narrate our project.  Once it is complete, the file can be exported as a movie file, which can then be distributed and posted among the group.  Additionally, we will all work on the storyboard aspect of this project to ensure that the important criteria for understanding a wiki are present.

            For our Brainstorm Session, we used Vyew.com.  While it seems to have many promises, it was difficult to get the meeting started.  First our room was not open, and then it would not let all of the users enter.  I finally managed to send a link to our group members and we were all successful.  We tried the voice chat, but a microphone was not working and then the feedback we were getting was unbearable.  We finally opted out of sound and typed our questions and answers in the chat window.  This was a suitable solution because we were able to keep a document of what was said.  You can read our chat notes on our Google Doc at this link. 

            Some advantages for using this tool to discuss our project were immediate feedback, voice and text chat options (unfortunately, voice would not cooperate), the ability to download a transcript of what was said, and the fact that it is a web-based application, meaning: we did not have to download any software in order to use this service.  These all helped us to collaborate, especially the transcript because we can easily refer back to that document for guidance as we work through this project.

            Some disadvantages to this tool were difficulties in entering the meeting room, voice chat was less than ideal, and I did not quite get a full transcript of what we discussed.  However, I did get the most important parts, which took place near the last part of our session.  Due to these factors, especially when dealing with deadlines, I doubt I would use Vyew.com again.

            However, due to Tai missing our meeting, I met with her this week on Skype.  I am a new Skype user, but it was very easy to use.  Our video connection was instant.  We could see each other and share our work with ease.  We had not been on each other’s contact lists, but immediately found each other.  This made our meeting go fast and easy.

            I did not have any disadvantages with Skype.  Like I said, it was an easy application to use.  The only thing about it that I do not like, but will go over, is the fact that it is an application that must be downloaded in order to be used.  But that is a minor issue when compared to how difficult it was to use Vyew.

            Here is a link to our meeting, which is posted on YouTube.

Personal Learning Reflection

            Based on the past eight weeks, I have learned a tremendous amount of new, relevant information regarding Web 2.0 technologies.  I am excited over the prospect of what I can do with these tools in my school setting.  Initially, I wanted to focus on learning more about blogs, RSS feeds, and web-based applications.  However, after learning more about the bigger picture of social networking and “the cloud,” I want to work at learning how to integrate these tools into my learning network as well.  Utilizing free applications in our budget-uncertain times will only serve to aide our students in understanding the vast resource of the Internet that will be gained through contributing content and collaborating with our peers, near and far.

            I experienced growth in my learning, particularly in collaborating with others.  This was accomplished through several different avenues, but all equally important.  First, working with my SIG forced me to consider four other people and their thoughts and ideas as we worked together to complete a project.  Not only did we collaborate on our final project, but also we created a proposal in Google Docs, researched in Diigo, and presented in Prezi.  It was a positive experience, and even though I was skeptical, I am glad I had the opportunity to work and learn in this manner.

            One area where I would have liked to learn more is “cloud computing.”  I have a basic understanding of it through the information presented in session 7, but I would have liked to learn more about it.  I have a better understanding now, but at the same time, I want to know more.  The only thing that perhaps sometimes limited my learning and growth was the time factor.  When I learn a new application or register on a new website, I need to know what it’s about and understand how it works before I can fully immerse myself into working with it.  This is not a bad thing it is simply how I work to learn.  Unfortunately, with the time factor, this is something that is beyond our control.  I learned how to better budget my time and work on multiple assignments in order to complete my assigned tasks.

            When integrating technology, I have learned that since all students enter the school with various levels of technology skills, I need to be ready to instantly modify my lesson to meet their learning needs.  This is something that needs to be anticipated because I will never have students who all have the same understanding.  It is a fact.  But by being prepared and ready for multiple scenarios, I will have a quality lesson ready for students to learn with outcomes they can use in further studies and projects.  Aside from skills, I also need to anticipate cognitive abilities.  This strategy will enable all students to be engaged learners from day one without hesitation.  Understanding the different learning styles will further enable me to guide my students toward success rather than frustration.

            Integrating the Internet helped me to actually consider it as a tool.  I have a firmer grasp of what it means to contribute to the Internet rather than simply taking.  I want to instill the idea of becoming a producer to my students so they can see the benefit of belonging to this global society that will only become more intertwined as they progress through school and into higher education.   

            Even though I was reluctant to be a part of a group for our SIG, I found that I liked working in a collaborative environment.  I may never meet my group members face to face, but I know a lot about them already.  They are passionate about what they do and for doing their best work.  This assignment was an outstanding example of good teaching with technology because it required our group of five people, spread throughout the world, to coordinate schedules and produce content.  It never felt like one person was taking over or had to work harder than the others.  There was a tangible, mutual respect for each other and our ideas.  It demonstrated how technology could be used with students to formulate an idea and create meaningful content.

            One of my goals for this course was to gain a better understanding of Web 2.0 technologies so that I would have the confidence to teach my students about these tools.  To reach this goal, research was my main objective.  Inadvertently, through my SIG, other projects, and an additional class, I have gained the confidence and understanding to teach students about these new skills.  Research did play a big role, but it was only part of the picture.  I have increased my knowledge base, but through continued learning and exploring, I will discover new methods to teach students about the potential of these tools.  Through teaching them, I anticipate being taught as well.  My other goal involved finding mentors to assist me as I work toward understanding.  Once again, my SIG, although students as well, they taught me great skills about working with others and sharing information for the greater good.  Our projects never felt like one person was in charge, but as previously stated, we all had the same common goals and a mutual respect.

            I have no new goals per se, but rather an expansion of what I have already stated.  I want to learn more about Web 2.0 technologies, but now I want to begin the integration process.  This will certainly be a challenge and may take me most of the upcoming school year, but as I use these ideas and tools and introduce them to my students, I anticipate a deeper appreciation and understanding that will form.  Winning over the students will not be the true challenge however.  Demonstrating to our staff and administration the value of Web 2.0 technologies and how they can ultimately only benefit our students and their future learning will be the true issue.  It would be nice (and ideal), if I simply stated that I was going to do this.  Unfortunately, since I do not have my own class and must rely on other teachers and their needs, it may be quite difficult to implement any immediate change.  However, to start our staff and students in a Web 2.0 direction, I am considering working with students involved in our Gifted and Talented program.  This will spark an interest among our higher learners, and by doing so, we will gain the (positive) attention of our administration, which, in turn, may lead to a much larger implementation of these tools within our K – 8 district.  It is a long road, but one that we need to travel because many of our students are already running ahead in the distance.