Education on the Blog

I have come to think how virtual reality can contribute in learning. I haven’t seen an example in real life or seen videos about people using it for other things besides entertainment, so it was hard for me to think how VR can help classrooms, and I started to do research and found multiple articles on how virtual reality is being use in the classroom.

I have found an article that explains 10 ways how virtual reality is being use in classrooms nowadays written by Marianne Stenger. The article explained in detail how virtual reality is helping students to learn new and interesting things. Without doubt I would use VR when I become a teacher. The article describe the 10 ways in this manner:

See complete article here: https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/edtech-integration/10-ways-virtual-reality-already-used-education/

1. Virtual field trips: many schools have begun using Google Expeditions to transport students to faraway and even inaccessible parts of the planet. The Google Expedition app is free to download on IOS or Android and teachers can invest in some of the low-cost cardboard headsets that can be attached to a smartphone. With these simple headsets, students can actively explore anything from Machu Picchu to outer space or the deep sea.
2. Language immersion: Virtual reality simulations can trick the brain into thinking the experiences are real, and a number of new language learning apps that use VR are now being developed. One such app is Unimersiv, which can be used together with the Oculus Rift headset. The app allows learners to connect with people from all over the world and practice their language skills while playing games and interacting with other students in a virtual world.
3. Skills training: Virtual reality simulations can also help students learn practical skills, and one of the biggest benefits to training people in this way is that students can learn from realistic scenarios without the risk of practicing an unfamiliar skill in an uncontrolled real-life situation.
4. Philosophical theories: The Sevenoaks School in the United Kingdom recently started using VR headsets in its philosophy lessons as a way to introduce students to French philosopher Rene Descartes’ dream argument. Meditations on First Philosophy is one of the most influential philosophical texts ever written, and begins with the claim that dreams and waking life can have the same content. Thanks to the VR headsets, students are able to see just how immersive a simulation can feel and experience firsthand the possibility that life is nothing more than a simulation.
5. Architecture and design: For the last three years, David Beach, assistant professor at the Drury University Hammons School of Architecture, has been researching ways to apply VR technology in his field and believes it opens up countless possibilities in architectural design. The Oculus Rift hardware makes it possible for architects to take computer-generated 3D models and place viewers into those 3D models in order to bring their plans to life. At a primary school in Ireland, students have even been using VR to construct 3D models of historical Irish sites and then visit them virtually.
6. Special education: The Jackson School for special needs students in Victoria, Australia has been using the Oculus Rift headset with students in the classroom. Technology and special education instructor Mathieu Marunczyn explains that the Oculus Rift has helped spark his students’ imagination and gives them a visual insight they wouldn’t otherwise have. For instance, students can take a peek inside an Egyptian temple or view a jet engine to gain an understanding of how it all fits together, which makes lessons a lot more hands on.
7. Distance learning: Stanford School of Business is already offering a certificate program delivered entirely through VR, and at the University the University of British Columbia Law School, students are enjoying virtual reality lectures using a VR social application called VR Chat. The application provides virtual online chat spaces where students with a VR headset can project themselves and interact with lecturers and other students.
8. Improved collaboration: Virtual reality technology has the potential to greatly enhance collaboration between teachers and students, both in distance learning and classroom-based teaching. Research shows that virtual and augmented reality simulations increase student motivation and improve collaboration and knowledge construction. One study conducted in a virtual world called Second Life allowed teachers to design, create and use collaborative activities to introduce exchange students to Chinese language and culture before they went abroad. 
9. Game-based learning: Virtual reality will likely completely change the way games can be used for learning. Game-based learning works because in increases engagement and motivation, and virtual reality can take this to the next level. Jane Wilde, an instructor at Marlboro College in Vermont who has been using games and simulations in her lessons for some time now, notes that although virtual reality games are not the only source of fun and engagement in class, they can make a substantial difference.
10. Virtual campus visits: Technology is changing the way students select universities and many schools have now started virtual reality campus tours as a way to connect with applicants on a wider scale. These campus ‘visits’ allow students to see what it would be like to attend universities in other cities and countries even if they can’t visit in person. The virtual reality tours use photos and videos of campuses and their surroundings that enable students to explore the campuses at 360-degree angles.

Thanks for reading!

I have learned this past week how to use an amazing tool call Exposure. In this tool people can share stories, any type of story. People can add images, text, places, etc. to their story. And the most incredible thing is that it has an aesthetic look so your stories can look very beautiful made.

You can see my Exposure story here: https://margelline.exposure.co/when-i-went-back-to-my-country

I find this website amazing since people can tell their stories with images, and if they want to add words it is possible too. It makes the stories look very beautiful.

Thanks for reading!

The Norms of Online Global Collaboration are a great method to organized ourselves when we are planning to collaborate online. The norms are eight, but I want to talk about the first two norms; Be prepared and Have a purpose.

Be prepared, as the title says, we have to be really prepared if we want to collaborate online, this is the most important part to collaborate, we need tools like blogs, twitter, google docs, articles about the information we want to share, we have to decide where we want to share (ex.: Twitter, Facebook, our blog, etc.). It’s good to plan an outline for this, or even set a time when we can be online; let’s say once a week, daily, or even twice a month it’s good to start collaborating.

Have a Purpose. What would I like to share? Do I think it can help others? It is important to share? These are questions we have to ask ourselves every time we want to share something. We need to remind ourselves to make our information understandable and summarize it, so it doesn’t become tiresome to read. We also have to make sure people would like the content and want to share their own thoughts about the things we share, so I will also recommend to make it a little fun for the viewers.

If you would like to know about the other norms of Online Global Collaboration, I have attached a YouTube video made by Julie Lindsay here: https://youtu.be/G9Kk6n6WU8A

Thanks for reading!

This past week I learned how to used Google My Maps. This is a great tool if you want to organized a trip to any part of the world. In my assignment that I get to used Google My Maps, I did it based on the great places the state of Maine has to offer for the tourists. These places were museums, gallery, parks, and a Whale watch located in Bar Harbor, Maine.

If you would like to know how to use Google My Maps here it’s a video: <a href="http://<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LdLx-fn_Ntw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen>http://<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/LdLx-fn_Ntw” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>

In the Google Maps tool you can add any places you want, you can add images, directions, change icons; and other things, etc. In my opinion this tool is amazing since it helps a lot finding places in a city, country people might not know anything about, it can also help organized trips to a new city or the city people already live, but don’t know about the good places they can find interesting.

Thanks for reading!

Global Education is a great tool to communicate with educators, and other people in the education field online. I have learned good things about it while using online resources and tools to learn more about how I can contribute to education.

Before my Web Tools course I didn’t know anything about the Global Goals, or that there is a wonderful community of people that want to change the way of education for something better; they are giving their best to improve education.

Using Microsoft courses I have about the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, and Dyslexia Awareness. These two courses are very important because they are necessary to make this world better, so I totally recommend to get to know these topics, and commenting about them to others so we can contribute to the wellness of the world. The Global Goals are about making sure everyone has the same opportunities, ending poverty and hunger, making sure everyone has clean water, electricity, good health, education, etc. Dyslexia Awareness is about giving information, real facts about what a person with Dyslexia it’s really about, it also teach how a person with Dyslexia could be a great asset anywhere.

I have also learned in Web Tools about what is a global education leader, someone who is willing to share, contribute, help others in learning about how important education is to everyone. I realized that anyone who wants to be an education leader can be one, it just takes to be responsible, kind, being helpful to others that want to learn, and are willing to change the world to make it better for generations to come.

Thanks for reading!

“A Separation” is an Iranian film that you can find on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, or pay for it on YouTube for only $3.99. The movie focus on Simin and Nader, a married couple that it’s facing an opportunity to leave the country a better life, but Nader doesn’t want to leave because of his ill father. That is when Simin asks him for a divorce, she is angry at him because he rather think only about his father, and not their 11-year-old daughter; Termeh. Simin takes Nader to a jury to ask permission for the divorce and the child’s custody. The jury neglects the custody of the child and the divorce since both have to agree. This means that they are not leaving the country.

When Simin is leaving to her parents’ house, her father-in-law doesn’t want to let go her hand. She doesn’t even says goodbye to her daughter or her husband. When she is in her car, tears are coming down her face. Throughout the movie there are a lot of difficulties that the family face. One of them is that the woman that worked taking care of the Nader’s father has a dispute with Nader that ends by him pushing her, and this caused a miscarriage.

The cultural differences that I found are a lot, between Iran and my native country; Dominican Republic. The firsts differences were the way of dressing and the language. In Iran, the women wear a hijab because it’s the law, and men should always were long pants, and shirts with long sleeves. In my country the clothes doesn’t matter, we are allow to wear either long or short clothes. In Iran they speak Persian, in my country we speak Spanish.

The similarities that I found were; the weather at least in the summer, is very hot just like in my country. The hot temperature, in both countries, can go up to 97 degrees, rarely in the hundreds. Also, as I saw in the film, Iranians are religious people, most of them practice the Shi’i Islam. One example is when the woman that took care of Nader’s father called a number and asked if she changed the clothes from a sick and elderly man was considered a sin. In my country, most of the people, are catholic.

The characters in the movie have different values. Simin would have appreciate if Nader accepted the opportunity of going to another country, she was disappointed in him by choosing staying with his father instead of having better opportunities in another country, and not thinking about his daughter’s future. Nader care a lot about his father. When Simin asked him if his father knew he was his son (the father has Alzheimer), Nader responded that he knew he was his father’s son. The daughter was a little mad at them because she saw them as selfish people by only thinking about them.

This movie was a little hard to watch since I didn’t like how women were treated. They couldn’t do some things without their husband’s consent. I also felt sad about Nader’s father; how he couldn’t do almost anything by himself because of his illness.

Thanks for reading! I hope you watch the movie.

My Twitter experiences so far have been really good. I have learned so much about being connected to people that have the passion to teach and other ways of learning.

My thoughts about Twitter is that it’s an amazing social media to connect with people that share and can contribute to my ideas. I have connected with good people that care a lot about learners and their education. Talking with people on Twitter have affected my way of thinking a little in a good way. I have realized and learn things I didn’t know before. There is a lot of kind and good people on this platform. I have come across with great post about remaining people to be patience and kind with those that struggle a little to understand some things.

I have realized that a lot of people in Twitter, share helpful tips of how to deal with circumstances that some educators may see them as difficult, people on there validated educators and most especially students/learners for the efforts these commit in their lives and the lives of others. This type of environment it’s refreshing and welcoming for me. Even if I don’t connect everyday on Twitter like I would like to, I seem great tweets that reflects the awesome ideas that people want to share with the world.

Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter: @MargellineN

Global Learning has become a wonderful and helpful tool for teachers and students. But does Global Learning cause impact on the community too? Well, the answer it’s yes.

In the book “The Global Educator”, in chapter 4, pages 56-57, there are two testimonies of educators; Theresa Allen and Attilio Galimberti, that talk about how parents and students are getting more involve in the learning community.

Theresa Allen, an educator from USA says; “Today we had our Open House where potential families come and visit our school. The hosts who walk the parents around visit my room and compliment on the great things we do in the lab and classrooms. They love hearing about how we connected with a school from Germany or they shared what their daily lives are like at their schools. Parents see the value and tell other parents about the things that are done in our school.”

Attilio Galimberti, a teacher and teacher trainer in Italy talks about global collaboration; “broadens their [students’] perspectives, and provides a means for them to connect with learning within and beyond the classroom. Students and their families understand the importance of living in a globalized world and how the new learning technologies can help them connect to other schools in the world.”

This means that parents are getting more involve in how their children are educated and want to make sure it’s in a good way, they also want to be part of their children’s learning and let them know they care about their education. Parents also want their children to learn about other people’s ways of education and stay connected with others of the same field. This proves that education is getting more and more important, that is one of the top priorities parents want for their children, and they are making sure their children are learning and getting better everyday.

Thanks for reading!

References: The Global Educator by Julie Lindsay

A tool that I recommend to use in classroom is Google Hangouts. This magnificent tool is use to communicate everyone in the classroom; teacher(s) and students. There is a lot of ways in which Google Hangout can be use in the professional and education world. It’s like having Skype, SMS, Microsoft Office, etc. all in one place.

Here there are a few ways in which Google Hangouts can be use provided by the article “7 Ways to Use Google Hangouts in the Classroom” by Alice Chen.

Article can be found here: https://www.weareteachers.com/7-ways-to-use-google-hangouts-in-the-classroom/

1. Form a virtual book club; people can share with each other books to read, and discuss the books they are reading at the same time.
2. Participate in a mystery hangout; two classrooms set an online meeting to try to figure out in which place the opposite classroom is located, they have to give clues and questions can only be answered by ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
3. Rethink project presentations; this tool give students and teachers different ideas that they can do to make the presentation more interested by putting out there how a presentation can be fun and creative.
4. Work on projects together; classes that are studying the same class subject or topic can share and give ideas to make a project together that can help them and even the school.
5. Invite guest speaker; if the teacher or students want to the class to learn more about a topic, they can invite someone that is dedicated to that topic.
6. Go on a virtual field trip; people can connect to a live streaming of an event, and even can be watch afterwards whenever the person wants to see it again.
7. Collaborate with your PLN; Google Hangouts can help educators that use social media like Twitter by providing a way to share ideas and learn from each other.

Here is also a Youtube video on how Google Hangouts can be use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkgdc92KMnQ

Every professional has ever ask to himself/herself. Can a post on the Internet can be that serious to get me fired? And the answer it’s “Yes, absolutely!” I search online the ways in how an Educator can get fired if they post something wrong online.

The articles that I used for this post can be found in these links: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/facebook-firing-teacher-loses-job-commenting-students-parents/story?id=11437248 https://www.businessinsider.com/17-people-who-were-fired-for-using-facebook-2014-7#a-waitress-cant-deal-with-a-bad-tip-1

There are a lot of ways in which an Educator’s career can end because of what they post online. For example; commenting awful things online about students, parents, or anyone in general. If the school, parents, and even the students did not like about what a teacher post online, this could be enough for firing them.

Teachers and other members of the school should always be careful of the material they share and post. There had been a lot of cases in where teachers, and others business workers, had gone fired because of this issue.

Like Dylan Love wrote in his article “17 People Who Were Fired For Using Facebook”, people should know that everything they post online, eventually, it’s going to be seen and cost them something. “With the prevalence of social media, it’s getting harder and harder to separate our personal and professional lives. It’s to the point that we need to assume that almost everything we share online, even privately, will be public.”

There were a few cases in this article that might seen a little bit surprising and others disrespectful to see as the reasons they got fired. Some of them are: accused of being racist, stalking students on Facebook, posting pictures showing alcohol beverages, wanting for their students to die, etc.

This article it’s about people that got fired because of their comments on Facebook about something that bothered them, so they posted it thinking that it wouldn’t get them in trouble.

A perfect example is this case I found on an article called “Teacher Loses Job After Commenting About Students, Parents on Facebook” wrote by Ki Mae Heussner and Dalia Fahmy. In this article there is a case in which a teacher from Massachusetts.

Heussner and Fahmy started the article by giving a really good advice; “Facebook users take note: If you want to keep your job, you’re better off doing your job-related gripping offline.  Massachusetts high school teacher June Talvitie-Siple learned the hard way that a Facebook wall is probably not the best place to spout off about the students and parents in her community.”

“Talvitie-Siple, a supervisor of the high school math and science program in Cohasset, Mass., was forced to resign this week after parents spotted Facebook comments she wrote describing students as “germ bags” and parents as “snobby” and “arrogant.” Two parents in the community alerted the school superintendent after noticing the posts on her Facebook wall, Talvitie-Siple said. The superintendent, who was on vacation overseas, sent an e-mailing asking her to resign.”

Clearly, this teacher should have been more careful about the stuff she says online, especially these ones that were hurtful for the parents and students involved. I think this would be good for people to know about and see the consequences of putting everything online.