If there is one area of my career that I am considered an innovator it is technology. I enjoy learning about new instructional technology tools that I can incorporate into my daily lessons. Although my school has a shortcoming when it comes to available technology for students, that does not stop me from trying something new. I have enjoyed many of the Web 2.0 tools learned throughout this class. I have incorporated some into my lesson plans this year with great success, and some that did not go my way. I have really taken a shine to Flipgrid. The activity that I shared in my previous blog post about students completing a homework assignment using Flipgrid, this really set the parents up for wanting more. A week after I sent that assignment home, parents were contacting me and asking if I was planning on another assignment where their children will make another video. Flipgrid not only engaged my students but engaged my parents into wanting to do homework with their children. My one problem is that I want to try all of the new information that I learned, sometimes I do not realize that I am overwhelming my students by continuing to throw new technology at them.
One thing that was a challenge for me was the Google Chrome Extensions. As a teacher, I am able to download most of them without permission, but students are unable to download any and I do not have permission to allow them to. For example, if I want a student to add VoiceIn voice typing or a text to speech extension, they do not have permission to do so. The only way around it is if I logged into the computer, added the extension, and had students work under my login. This is something I do not like to do for safety reasons, but I was with the students the whole time and they were not able to do anything inappropriate on the computers.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this class. I have used Twitter more this semester and I have stayed engaged with many organizations and individuals in the teaching field. My PLN has grown to others in my county, state, country, and world. I have also used suggestions on how to use Twitter with my fifth graders, which I plan to start next school year. My knowledge and understanding of Web 2.0 tools and developing technology-rich lesson plans has grown thanks to this course. I look forward to using many of the tools I have not had a chance to use this school year in the next.
One thing that was a challenge for me was the Google Chrome Extensions. As a teacher, I am able to download most of them without permission, but students are unable to download any and I do not have permission to allow them to. For example, if I want a student to add VoiceIn voice typing or a text to speech extension, they do not have permission to do so. The only way around it is if I logged into the computer, added the extension, and had students work under my login. This is something I do not like to do for safety reasons, but I was with the students the whole time and they were not able to do anything inappropriate on the computers.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this class. I have used Twitter more this semester and I have stayed engaged with many organizations and individuals in the teaching field. My PLN has grown to others in my county, state, country, and world. I have also used suggestions on how to use Twitter with my fifth graders, which I plan to start next school year. My knowledge and understanding of Web 2.0 tools and developing technology-rich lesson plans has grown thanks to this course. I look forward to using many of the tools I have not had a chance to use this school year in the next.