Melissa's+445+Wiki+Workspace

**Seminar 1 Prep Reading Response (8/29/16)- **
====While reading "An Educator’s Social Media Guide" I realized that reason why I hadn't thought of Twitter as a useful tool in the field of education is because of the way it is being used for social purposes today. I had twitter in high school, and upon graduating got rid of it because I felt that all it did was breed negativity. Day in and day out people posted about how terrible their situations where, or negative things that had gone on during the day- I not wanting to be surrounded by this negativity, erased twitter. When I found out we were going to need it for this class, I wasn't quite sure how we would use it. I had never thought about social media as an educator. Connections amongst educators are essential in keeping new and innovative teaching styles, strategies and ideas circulating, so that we do not become stagnant in our methods. I realize after reading this how Twitter can help me stay connected with those around me, allowing me to utilize them and their resources. Twitter can also be considered an outlet for teachers to reach out to one another and solve difficult problems they may be having. ====

==== I like your connection to your personal use and feelings about Twitter. You also highlighted a lot of the useful purposes of Twitter that I think are really advantageous. How has your experience been with using Twitter this semester? Do you find it as negative? Have you found any good teacher accounts to follow to serve as a resource when you start teaching? ====

====I enjoyed reading "Social Media Find Place in Classroom." I think that we need to embrace the technology given to us. Cell phones, Laptops, iPads, and Facebook pages are all things that students have access to outside of school, and by bringing them into schools we are showing our students that we care about their learning, and want them to learn the way they do best. So many people reject technology and crucify adolescents for embracing their era- but technology is only going to keep advancing, and its better for our students to see we aren't completely rejecting their generation. I plan on using technology within my own classroom whenever possible. I will of course have structured technology use, and guidelines, but I don't want my students to feel like I don't understand where they are coming from. ====

====I was surprised by how not surprised I was while reading"Instant Message, Instant Girlfriend." Young adults tend to think they can hide behind technology, because it has become just that easy for them. Whereas once upon a time.. your only communication with someone was in person, today there are so many other ways to talk to someone, we dread talking in person. Many people, not just adolescents form relationships over social media, or instant message and then it turns out to not be what was intend or who was intended. Theres a whole show dedicated to "catfishing" which is pretending to be someone you are not, online. I do worry about these social aspects of using social media within the classroom. I think I can manage it by giving them specific sites, or creating groups that are restricted solely to our classroom. I also think active teacher involvement will limit the "social" aspect of technology in the classroom. If I as the teacher am on twitter too, or I am the administrator on our class Facebook page- they are more likely to limit the outside of school interactions because I can see it. ====

==== Nice reflection on the article. I liked how you started to come up with ideas of how to address these issues in your classroom. However, kids will always find a way around being visible to adults, especially on social media. What are some things you can do in class that might help students use social media effectively? ====

====Lastly, I find the secret language of girls on Instagram scary. I don't intend on using Instagram in my classroom, its a site that caters towards pictures, and if students need to see a picture I will upload it to twitter. I will however before integrating technology into the classroom, have both students and parents sign a contract. Bullying isn't tolerated in schools already but an official document can make streamlining a problem right to the principal easier. Again, I also think an active teacher involvement will help alleviate some of the social issues involved in using social media. ====

**Online Professional Identity**
====I am really difficult to find when people try to look me up, you need my specific screen names to find my stuff-which I find both a blessing and a curse. A curse in the sense where if an employer is trying to find me its not going to be very easy; and a blessing in the sense that my privacy is protected. When you search my name many other people come up but they are very obviously not me so I think thats okay. I do intend on posting more and maybe updating my privacy settings so people can find me more easily. I might try and make my name more specific to myself, but I do not have a middle name so thats a little hard. In order to present a positive professional identity of myself, I plan on getting more involved on Twitter, and reaching out to other educators. We are required to do a blog for ECI 405, and I am considering making my own blog to reflect on my student teaching experiences. I think these will have a positive impact because, I will be engaging with other people like me, which shows that I am open to suggestions, opinions and aim to adapt and grow from their experiences and my own. As of right now I do not have a negative online identity, its very general,however it is not education specific and doesn't say much about me as an educator. ====

==== I definitely empathize with the desire to protect your privacy online, but it is true that in this day and age it's almost strange to not have an online identity. This definitely puts a burden on us as teachers to create an identity online that is positive. I like your ideas of changing your privacy settings and making your name more specific. What are some other ways you plan to present a positive professional identity (join an organization, create a website, etc.)? Why do you think those will have a positive impact? Please add more detail. ====

**Processing the Reading for Seminar 4**
One takeaway I had from this weeks reading was the different ways to integrate Instagram into the classroom. Instagram is a very popular in todays society, even amongst adults, and I previously didn't think it had a place in the classroom. I myself had planned on not using Instagram in my own classroom because I felt that, that was the social media where you could find the most problems. When students put images on Instagram they are subjecting them to the judgement of others, and thats typically were bullying and hurt feelings are likely to occur. I liked seeing that Instagram can be used in a positive way, such as displaying students work, or picking a student of the week- I think these two in particular are really great ideas, and plan on incorporating them into my classroom. Another takeaway I had was from Shoffner's editorial, the quote that stood out to me the most was, "without an understanding of literacy as multiple, integrated social and intellectual practices for meaning making" (2). I thought this was really interesting, especially when talking about new preservice teachers- as Shoffner is. Typically, the preservice teachers are the ones who have been taught all these new technologies and are trying to use them, and to think that in regards to technology, they are remaining traditional is interesting. I personally think technology is an important part of students everyday life, and rather than reject integrating it into the classroom, we should engage them when possible- not only so they are intrigued by the material but because it shows them we are trying to bring their era into the classroom. Another important takeaway I found from this weeks readings is the idea that technology is another form of literacy. I often say I am technologically literate, and while I'm just trying to get a point across I had never thought of what that meant. Computer and technological literacy is an important factor of everyday life today. By integrating technology into our classrooms we are not only making our students content and technologically literate, but we are allowing them to draw connections between the two, which will prove beneficial to them in the end.

I think the uses for Instagram you highlighted from the article are awesome. And I so wish I had used it while I was teaching. I think it's cool that you are opening to learning from the articles and changing your perspectives. I also love your justification for using technology in that it shows students that you are trying to bring what is relevant in their lives into the classroom. I think showing that effort is important and will be noticed by students (even if they don't explicitly say it, which they're not great at, haha). Finally, I totally agree that technology is a literacy unto itself. I think Dr. Young's editorial highlights that better than anything in the idea of critically analyzing videos as text instead of just vegging out and mindlessly watching them. Well done.

I plan on attending Dr. Cannon's February 4th EdTpa BootCamp Session
 * EdTPA**

I am more familiar withe the format of a portfolio, seeing as though I have used many throughout my time in the College of Ed. That being said, I haven't looked much into what a teaching tool kit is, and am open to the idea of using something I am less familiar with. I am definitely much more comfortable with the idea of an electronic portfolio. I am very excited to use technology within the classroom, and I feel that the structure of a portfolio will allow me to display not only the teaching tool but also examples. I would probably break the categories down by application, where they can be used in the classroom, what curriculum they are aligned with, and also whether they can be used in a group, or individual. The purpose would be to display the tool, and examples but also the different applications of this technology. The audience would be parents, administration and even students who are interested. I would like to be able to take to my Principal a detailed portfolio of the technology I plan to use within the classroom, and how I plan to incorporate it.
 * MSL Electronic Portfolio/Teaching Tool Kit Beginnings:**

I think it's really awesome that you are willing to take on something you are less familiar with. Most people said they were more familiar with the portfolio as well and for that reason decided to do that. The fact that you are willing to try new things is a great indication of how you will approach your teaching as well. Very cool.

I think I am going to go with the Teaching Toolkit, I have seen some great examples in my own research, and feel like that might be the best fit for me. The purpose would be to keep my teaching resources in one localized area for easy access. The audience would be administration, and parents who are interested in the methods I use within the classroom. Possible categories would include: classroom management, closing/opening activities, progress checks, independent practice, group work, games, tech tools, inquiry, and assessments. I'm not sure what is meant by themes, I feel as though my categories would be my themes, I guess when broken down themes could be classroom management, understanding, and interactive learning. If we are talking about more meaningful themes, I liked the journey example used in the reading, because ultimately that is what teaching and learning is.
 * Action Portfolio Entry**
 * 1)** One takeaway was that the goal of the portfolio is to reflect on the practices of the semester, and serve as a reference tool later on.
 * 2)** A portfolio is meaningful to the creator, and should serve as a reflection on who they are.
 * 3)** Not everything should be in a portfolio, it should only be made up of well chosen artifacts that elicit critical reflection.
 * Initial Ideas:**

I really like the takeaway you pulled out that a portfolio should not have every artifact, but well-chosen artifacts. I think it can be tempting sometimes to include everything to impress future employers or showcase all the work you've done, but there are different artifacts that showcase different strengths in better ways than others and making those decisions is part of the process. What exactly do you mean by the "understanding" category? Evidence of Student Learning!


 * Digital Video Follow-Up:**
 * 1)** My tentative plan for digitally recording my edTPA is to have two videos of ten minutes non edited. I think that will allow me to get a broad range of responses from students and demonstrate a variety of learning, and differentiation. I will be using iMovie to upload my videos, and conduct whatever trimming is needed.
 * 2)** I would like to integrate video into my classes by giving them the option to record final projects. They could record and then play it during class presentations, this takes some of the pressure off of the students who don't like presenting. I would also like to incorporate, commercial or talk show options into summative assessments. Some students don't like video recordings, and thats okay but I would like to give those who do the option to do so. I feel giving them the option of using video will make the material more meaningful to them, and engage them in ways standard instruction does not. I am also considering video lectures for students to view at home when they miss class.

I have made **6** posts to Language Today, and need one more to meet the **7** minimum.
 * Language Today**
 * Ideas:**
 * 1)** I think it would be a good idea to use Language Today as a sort of "Current Event" activity, maybe once a week signing on to twitter with the class and pulling out one article and having them discuss it, or respond to it either on twitter or in a journal of sorts.
 * 2)** I posted an article about exposing students to language early on in order to decrease their risk of depression, and I feel that I will utilize this in my classroom whether I am in an SS or ELA class, just giving them some expose to any form of "language" everyday will definitely help.
 * 3)** Language Today gave me the idea of starting one similar to it for my own classes. I want to start a twitter account, have them maintain its posting, and keep the same twitter account throughout the years, so its a generation wide collaboration.

I like the idea of using video for students who might be shyer. This is a good alternative to have them present information in a fun way, but also very methodical. It would also be super cool to use video lectures for students to view at home. I was always interested in doing this but never took the time to execute it. I think it could be really effective though and help a lot of students out - even if they were there in class but just need a refresher.

__** 10/31 **__** : ** I have decided to change the way I am portraying my theme, it will still be "journey" but I am going to make it more personal, and more cohesive. I am deciding whether to include a few of the unit plans I have created throughout my college career, I feel as though they would benefit me if an employer were to see this, but then again, what do I choose? I gave also included a video of Taylor Mali's "What Teachers Make," I find this video really effective and inspiring, and feel it depicts my educational philosophy well. I also think integrating video shows I can effectively incorporate technology. I am also debating incorporating my teaching videos from ED 311/312. __**11/14:**__ I decided against the changing of the theme, it took me a while to figure out what I wanted and I am happy with the way things are. At this point, every page besides digital literacies and the reflection page has something. I added multicultural resources to the resources page, and the mini lesson I taught on 11/7 to the pedagogical knowledge page with the corresponding lesson plan. Under collaborations I have added the last lesson we completed with the outsiders project, which was introducing students to a PSA. I also included student work samples alongside this lesson plan. I will add my I believe statements, with the corresponding Patcha Kutcha from ECI 430 to the portfolio once we are done working with them. I am also going to include my teaching videos from ECI 311/312, along with those lesson plans.
 * Action Portfolio Updates: **
 * __10/24__: ** I have created my portfolio, and added the basic necessary tabs (experience, philosophies, pedagogical content knowledge, technology, resources, and reflection). I will be filling these tabs with the work I have done throughout my time here at NC State, it will be a compilation of the work completed in every ED/ECI class. I have added my experience and work history- I think people would find this important, in order to judge my credibility and dedication. I have also added a collaboration tab- where I have already put in one of the things I collaborated on with a middle school student for the Wolfpack Writing Project, I intend on adding to this tab later on after The Outsiders collaboration is completed.