Final Blog: Case Studies

Case Studies!!

The Final Blog Post 2019

Welcome to my final blog post of the 2019 campaign. In our final chapter it discuss many different case studies and how they relate to the global collaborative world. Case studies are a great way to understand a situation or topic by personal experiences. I learned a ton of information from these case studies and would like to share what I found. Check them out below!

Case Study 4.1 – Lucy Gray and Steve Haradon: The Global Education Conference

This case study pointed out some key points especially in relation to the development of global collaboration. In order to have global collaboration you need to have the tools in order to do so. Throughout this course I have learned that in order to progress something such as the tools for global collaboration, there needs to be a gathering such as this conference to brainstorm ideas with other educators on how to do so. I plan to have the same type of conference with my coworkers and administrators at my future school of employment. Just like in this case study, I plan to have this meeting so we can discuss ways of making global collaboration better at my future school. If we do not come together there will most likely be no change and the students will not benefit from it. I would also recommend to my administrator that I would attend a conference such as this so I can learn about new tools and ideas that other schools are using around the country. I agree that we as educators need to share global objectives with on another more often. This allows classrooms from around the world to unite together more closely and come to a closer goal of having global collaboration. My only criticism would be that it might not be as easy for some educators to access such a conference as this. This case study makes it appear easy to access technologies, but in most cases schools do not have the budget or resources to do so.

Case Study 4.4 – Peggy George and Wesley Fryer: The K12 Online Conference

The first important take away about this case study is that the conference is offered online, which makes in accessible for almost any educator around the world. Participating in an event that is ran totally by educators will provide the experience needed first hand rather than by an outside party. First time educators who are trying to become globally collaborative need to learn first hand from educators who have already experienced this type of communication. I will plan to use these types of presentations into my future teacher meetings as a great way to start it. I can also use these as a form of starting lectures or introducing students into the world of global collaboration. The one concern I have on this case study almost contradicts my first thought on the availability of this conference being offered online. The teachers that are trying to become global educators might not have the ability to go online to participate in this conference. I would recommend to offer having a central location with an online video conference screen, so educators in a certain region can attend to witness the online conference.

Thank you!

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Virtual Reality In Education

Virtual Reality

The classroom is an evolving environment where educators and administrators are constantly seeking new ways of advancing learning for students. I have discussed in a recent research paper on the development of virtual reality and it’s involvement in classrooms. Classrooms need to stay up to date with the technology, or students will fall behind in the real world. Check out the video below to give a quick introduction to what virtual reality is all about.

How Does Virtual Reality Fit Into The Classroom Environment?

There are many different types of Virtual Reality (VR) that can be incorporated into the classroom. One of the most interesting forms of Virtual Reality is called AltspaceVR. This is a new type of VR, to which I believe will make it’s way into classrooms as a form of global collaboration with other classrooms around the world. It enables users to create their own avatar as a method of communication to interact with other user’s avatars. This allows for students who are shy to have face-to-face interaction to still be able to globally collaborate with others. Check out this video below, that shows how AltspaceVR is performed.

Another form of Virtual Reality in the classroom is Google Earth Virtual Tours. This program of VR is a great way to teach geography to students, so they can see a satellite view of any geographic location in the entire world. The days of educators showing a round globe are over with the use of Google Earth Virtual Tours. This program is also a great for global collaboration as it allows for classrooms to see the locations of other classrooms from around the world. For example if a class is globally collaborating with another class located in Australia, Google Earth Virtual Tours can allow each of these classrooms to see satellite images of their geographic locations. The possibilities are endless as it can introduce different cultures and national landmarks for student to learn rather than in a text book. Check out the video below on Google Earth Virtual Tours.

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Animoto: Video Maker

Animoto: Video Maker (Tell Your Story Through Video and Pictures!)

Animoto is a great way to tell a story about an event, social gathering, or someone’s life through videos and pictures. The videos and pictures that are chosen by the user, will end up in a slideshow presentation for the public to see. The user can change the presentation style to their own style and liking. This is a much different approach of telling the story of someone than that of Facebook or Instagram.

Check out the video below of a quick look of what Animoto is all about.

Why Should You Use Animoto?

Animoto is a great tool to use in the classroom, as educators can monitor what students are doing and it stays away from the problems that are caused with Facebook or other social media websites. It’s an alternative to using PowerPoint, and it is more fun and creative for the students to use. I am glad that I have discovered this program, as it is something that I will use as a future educator in the classroom.

Check out the Animoto example below that I created on my hometown of the Wildwoods!

https://animoto.com/play/TQlGnHLL16IoN6XrghN8DA

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Thanks for Reading!

Out of Eden Walk

Out Of Eden Walk!

“Walking is falling forward. Each step we take is an arrested plunge, a collapse averted, a disaster braked. In this way, to walk becomes an act of faith.” – Paul Salopek

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What is the Out Of Eden Walk?

A 21,000 mile journey that occurred more than 60,000 years ago, where our ancestors migrated out of Africa into the new world.
Paul Salopek, born in 1962, was raised in central Mexico. He is a writer and journalist who has traveled the world and has won several awards for his writings.
In 2013, Salopek set out on the 21,000 journey to report to the world on his findings as he travels the same journey as our ancestors.
Salopek’s journey is being documented on National Geographic, so all of his findings can be shown to the rest of the world.

We will explore some of the stops that Paul discovers on his journey below!

Click on the link below to see his Journey!!

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/the-journey/chapters/5-riverlands/?sort_dir=desc

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Milestone 62: It’s Not Pretty

Near Saipur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Day 2116 Paul visits this beautiful landscape and meets a farmer named Mahendra Yadav. His family has been on the land for generations who says will never leave the land. When Paul tells him about his land he replies by saying, “Really? You think it’s pretty? It’s not pretty. You stay here in my village for two weeks, and I bet you wouldn’t think it’s pretty.”

Milestone 63: Where’s The Rain?

Near VARANASI, Uttar PRADESH, INDIA. Day 2160. Paul visits a beautiful landscape with many pastures. He meets a woman named Phoolwanti Samayamu, who frequently takes her cows out to graze. She complains that the rain has not come for a long time, and the people in the area are suffering from it. It makes us realize on how something we get so easily here, is something so difficult over in another land.

Check out this video below to see a day in the life of Paul’s journey!

Thanks for reading and be sure to follow Paul’s journey until he’s finished!!

@Coachktech1

Norms

Hello!

I will be discussing the two main norms of Online Global Collaboration. These norms will really show how important they can be for the future of a teacher’s success in the classroom. Listen closely to these norms, because if they are followed correctly they will really help you in having a successful and controlled classroom environment.

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Norm 1: Be Prepared

“So many potentially excellent global collaborations fail because educators are not prepared, largely because they do not know what to prepare for.”

There are two main objectives for this norm.

Have a plan for connecting
1. Use your PLN and PLC to find like-minded partners for global collaboration
2. Determine what common tools you will use to connect and collaborate
3. Test all your tools beforehand
4. Work out time zone differences
Determine how you will communicate
1. Work out how teachers will communicate during the collaboration and test this well before students come together
2. Decide what communication activities will take place between teachers and then between students
3. Work out student communication protocols and make sure all participants agree on these
4. Determine the expectations for communication during the collaboration
5. Agree on the read, receive and respond systems and protocols for all participants

Norm 2: Have a Purpose

“Every connection, communication, and eventual collaboration must have a purpose. Planning is the key to success.”

Cultural exchange: Is the purpose of the project clear?
Inquiry and exploration into a topic(s): Is the length of the collaboration clear?
Global project, short or long, curriculum-based: What are the shared inputs from participants?
Shared outcomes, student summit: What are the shared outcomes?
Artifact exchange and/or co-creation: Will there be artifact exchange?

Below is a video that describes a teacher having a purpose in the classroom although it is being in a physical classroom setting

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The World of Quizlet & Edpuzzle

Quizlet & Edpuzzle

It is amazing on technology continues to grow and grow, to which many people do not even know what we have on this Earth. This is especially true when it comes to technology, and I am in particularly guilty with this. Before I took this class I did know what Quizlet and Edpuzzle were, but I had not idea what they were capable of. Over the course of the semester I’ve been taught what these programs can do, and which in most cases the possbilities are endless. These tools are excellent for teachers and something that I plan to use once I’m in charge of a classroom. Lets dive deeper into each of these tools and review what they can each do.

Quizlet

Quizlet is a great tool that can be used for students with studying. A student can log on to make a free account, create a set of study “Online” flash cards to prepare for a test. Then a student can also make their own version of a practice test for whatever they are studying for in the classroom. This tool is also great for teachers who wish to make a quick practice test for their students so they can prepare for what they will experience in the actual classroom. It can also be used for students to make practice tests for each other, and then they can send these tests by sharing a link so the possibilities are almost endless. Below is a quick video that describes what Quizlet is all about.

Edpuzzle

For those that have seen Edpuzzle, especially teachers are missing out on a great instructional teaching tool. The days of having students watch a film and take notes on a paper are slowly coming to an end. I find that Edpuzzle is a great tool that forces students to watch an film or video that the teacher chooses while the students answer questions about it in order to progress through it. In today’s world with technology growing so fast, the kids are becoming use to it. The old ways of how teachers have taught classes are not keeping the kids engaged and excited about learning. Edpuzzle is bringing these kids up to standard with the technology that is so rapidly growing. One of the great features that I enjoy about Edpuzzle for when I become a teacher, is that I will use it as homework and I can monitor what the students are doing from home. Check out this video below on how cool Edpuzzle can be.

Thanks for reading! Check me out on Twitter @Coachktech1

The Things I have Learned…..

What I’ve Learned….

It’s amazing how much a student can learn in a two month period especially from an online course. That is my first point I want to get across, which is don’t be afraid to take an online course. I know many students are afraid to sign up for one, because it is something they have never experienced before. It is much more simple than many people put online course out to be. DON’T BE AFRAID, that is extremely important to know when going into your first online course. I have taken about 7 online courses throughout my life, and the more you do them the easier they become. In my newest class this year, “Web Tools: Global Learning”, I explored many new things that I never knew or had very little experience with. Below are a few of those things…

Twitter

Twitter was the first thing I came across in this class, for which I had very little experience working with. This is a platform that we use weekly and I have become stronger in it everyday. I never knew how easy it can be to communicate with so many different people from around the world. I entered my first “Twitter Chat” which connected me with other teaching professionals and inspiring teachers from all over the country. You can use Twitter to form groups with as many members as possible, which I only thought was possible in Facebook. You can share thoughts, posts and articles with so many people. The use of a hashtag (#), was something I knew nothing about and how easy it is to ask a question using a (#) and how easy it is to receive a response.

Flipgrid

See the video below for what Flipgrid is….

Flipgrid is a great tool for making students come out of their shell. I found that this will be a great tool for me to use in my future classroom no matter what age I am teaching. I need to keep up with the times, and technology is growing at a very fast rate which is something else that I learned in this class. It’s such an easy way for students to send educational videos to one another with face to face responses that also allows them to do so without the person actually being there.

Edpuzzle

Check out this short video below as an intro to what Edpuzzle is….

Edpuzzle is actually one of my favorite things that I have learned in this class so far this year from an educational standpoint. I think it is a great way for teachers to teach a lesson via a video, forcing the student to watch the entire video while making them answer questions in order to progress through it. It keeps the student engaged in what the video is teaching, while also allowing them to be reflective on what is going on. The possibilities are endless with it since you can use it for math review or even language arts. Both of my parents are teachers and they each had never heard of Edpuzzle. I showed them how it works and they both now use it in their classroom. If you are an educator and do not use Edpuzzle, you are missing out!

Blogging

Blogging is a great way to express your thoughts or concerns for many people to see. I found it’s a great way to learn from others in a very quick period of time, especially if you want to know something about a particular topic. I learned from this class that blogging is a great way to reflect upon a particular topic or subject so others can learn from your findings. It is a great way for students to learn from each other, especially if they are in the same classroom. I will for sure place blogging in my future classroom so it can be a way for students to share thoughts with one another and a way for me to see what students are thinking as well.

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Grotesco (Swedish Show)

Please watch Grotesco below before diving into this blog.

There are many shows out there, especially on youtube from a foreign country that you can watch in English subtitles. As I searched for a show to watch, I found this Swedish show called Grotesco to be very interesting. I am a fan of the horror genre, and although this show is listed as a comedy it has a horror aspect to it. Overall I found this show to be very strange and interesting at the same time. Here are some self questions on the show, that I will express my thoughts on the show…

Here is a pic of the cast…

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What you noticed about the cultural aspects of the characters and the settings?

The first thing I noticed was that the show is very strange. I think this is the culture of many European shows, to have unique and plot twisting storylines. My other first thought is the show was extremely hard to follow even with the English subtitles. The Villain in this show appeared to be a zombie like unknown force, that was taking over the town through a portal. I found it very interesting that the show was made in Sweden but there were American soldiers that could speak English for one scene of the show. The clothes and budget of the show actually appeared to be not poor budget. It had a set that was of a city environment, and also some of the show was underground in a tunnel. The rating for the show was a 8.0 on IMDB, which is considered very high for a tv show.

What was similar to your culture and what was different. How did they travel? What did they eat as staple foods? What was the weather like? Where do they go for fun? What did the characters value?

There honestly was not much of a difference in the culture aspect of the show and with the culture in my life. The characters in the show where the same types of clothes as I do and use the same type of technology as I do. The only difference was the language they spoke and the Syfy effect of the show with the portal. There were parts of the show that showed supernatural effects and weather, but that was to the comedy of the show. The comedy of the show was something that I did not find particularly funny, but that is something that I think our cultures are also different in. All the characters in the show displayed and valued the importance of communication. I do not think that this show has the technology for amazing special effects as in the culture here, so they value the importance of interaction and communication amongst characters.

I noticed that the surroundings of the show were in the city and also in the mountain range. That is the natural environment of Sweden so it makes perfect sense to have this cultural surrounding in the show. There was also a musical at the end of the show, which provided some laughter but how they presented it displayed a difference in culture. During this scene there were many characters with pretty much only one camera angle. The characters all wore crazy outfits, which to me made no sense to what the scene was showing, so this is something that I found that other cultures find funny other than my own. The show also shows democratic situations as within their politics which is very similar to what we experience here.

Thanks for reading!

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Twitter: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

TWITTER: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

The year is 2019, just 10 years ago the majority of social media platforms that we currently have did not exist or just became into existence. It’s crazy to think that it was not that long ago. Now in the palm of our hand we can access Facebook, Instagram, Myspace and especially Twitter. To start of our talk about Twitter we must first understand what it is. Below is a video from 2008 that explains what Twitter is, and gives a cool prospective since it was near the time of it’s birth. check it out…

Now that we know what Twitter is, lets go over some questions that I will answer, which provides my point of view of becoming a new Twitter user.

1. What are your thoughts?

Twitter opens up a whole new landscape for your career field, where you will meet people from all over the world. These people you can meet are in your career field, and they can provide you with new ideas that you never knew could have existed. For example a teacher from Texas proposed an idea of having meetings during a teachers lunch period while they eat, especially when you have a teachers workshop. This is such a simple solution but you would be surprised how many people do not think of it. Twitter expands your PLN (Personal Learning Network), it is different than Facebook or Instagram because you can interact with people from all over much easier and faster than other social media platforms. A simple # search can lead to so many doors opening, with meeting and sharing information with others. It’s also great for teachers or professors for classmates to interact with each other in a very simple platform.

2) How have those social media space conversations affected the way you think about learning?

These conversations have changed the way that I think about learning. It really opened my eyes that you can communicate with others from all over the world in a matter of seconds. For example if I were to have a question about how to use a specific classroom technology platform, I can ask it on Twitter using a # and within moments I would have an answer. Its a powerful tool to share and spread ideas or methods of teaching that can be seen by anyone to learn.

3) Have you learned anything significant?

The first significant thing that Twitter has taught me, which I have already mentioned is the ability to connect with so many from around the world. I had never heard of a PLN and even how to create one. I didn’t realize how easy it is to create this network, which in some cases can lead to employment for certain individuals. Below is a video on how you can start a PLN with your Twitter account.

Twitter is also very valuable displaying information over a wide range of audience. You can create a group and share information just inside of only your group to see. This was something that I thought only was possible on Facebook with creating a group. The video attached below shows exactly how to add members to a “List”, and how useful this feature his.

4. Reflect on your own Twitter chats

I’m going to be honest, at first before I began my first Twitter chat I thought it was going to be dumb and confusing. It does become nerve wracking trying to find an active chat, but once you enter the chat, it actually is a pretty cool experience. Before I describe the experience, let me start by saying that I didn’t even know Twitter chats existed. When I first heard of a Twitter chat, I thought I was going to be entering a messenger room just chatting with one person. I soon then realized that you communicate with others in a chat by responding to questions Tweeted by an admin. These chats have expanded my PLN and have provided me with information from people in my future career that I never knew existed. Below is a great video that explains the Twitter chat experience.

I have enjoyed Twitter, I was never really a fan of it until now and plan to continue using it in the future.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @CoachKTech1

Technology Issues-Closing the Gap

Welcome Back Everyone!

One of the largest problems we see today especially when it comes to global learning is the technology issues that come inside the classroom. This is not only a problem that is happening in classrooms around the world, but also right here in our own country. Below is a link to an article by Janelle Cox to give a quick background of the technology issues faced here in the United States and also around the world.

Read the Cox article here: http://www.teachhub.com/overcoming-barriers-technology-classroom

BUDGET PROBLEMS

Cox describes in her article that technology is rapidly growing to where most schools can’t keep up with it. This is mainly due to budget restraints, which is the largest reason to why 3rd world countries can’t have technology in their classrooms. If these schools no matter where they are located, do not have the budget to have technology in the classroom they will remain behind as being a global educator. Time does not stop, neither does the world especially with the progress of man in technology. Schools are always in a race to keep on pace with each other, especially when it comes to technology. The schools that have the budget to spend on technology, they will continue to progress and become greater global educators. Technology is one of the main power sources behind global learning, without it especially in today’s world it becomes very difficult to connect with the rest of the world. Technology is what keeps the world and man moving forward in a positive direction.

Closing The Gap

Although a school’s budget might be seen as the biggest culprit to why a teacher can’t have the proper technology needed in a classroom, there is actually other reasons to this problem. In Julie Lindsay’s book The Global Educator, she quotes a speaker named Julio Rojas that states, “In our country Venezuela, we face great difficulties, one of which is precisely the technology gap. My society still sees with the skepticism the use of technology. My challenge is to demonstrate that technology can open up large and very important experiences” (Lindsay, 2016). Rojas is speaking on not budget issues to the downfall of technology in classrooms, but the simple fact that some communities do not believe in the use of technology in education. This is why global learning is so important because we can learn from each other around the world, to see what works in education and what does not work.

Making Everyone A Technology Believer

Examining the research and evidence that has been provided about technology in classrooms around the world we mark several notes.

We need to understand technology first.
We need to educate the teachers on how to use it properly
How technology can advance our students and the future that lies ahead
How technology can make our students be the best they can be

Below is a Ted-Talk Video presented by Jesse Woolley-Wilson who is an eLearning Leader who discusses the importance of education in the classroom. We need to spread this information to many schools, so they can understand the importance of technology in the classroom. Educate the schools first before we can educate the students.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @CoachKTech1