Jayda's+445+Wiki+Workspace

__**Online Professional Identity Follow-Up (Monday, August 22nd, 2016):**__ 2a) Following last week's class, I realized that I have in no one established an online professional identity. I never post anything inappropriate or illegal but simply censoring my social media accounts doesn't provide an online representation of me as an educator. I just made a new twitter account in addition to the one that I created in high school that is used strictly for entertainment. This new account I used to follow our instructors and my cooperating teacher as well as a few news sites' twitters. I still am a little unsure of how to go about expanding my profile because it's just so different from what I'm used to on social media sites. I think a good way to write myself into being online is to join groups online that interest me and that may further enhance my teaching abilities. I'm sure there are plenty of Facebook groups that I could benefit from. I could subscribe to educational accounts on YouTube or even make my own account where I share ideas and get feedback. I also think I need to go ahead and make a LinkedIn. My dad always said, "It's not about what you know; It's about who you know."

I think at least having a neutral online identity is a good start, as you obviously don't want to have anything incriminating online as a teacher. However, I think you're right, that times are changing and not having an online identity in this day and age is pretty strange. So we do have to think about actively creating a positive identity. Have you thought any more on how you want to "write yourself into being" online? What are some sites you could create or groups you could join or things you could share that would create a positive and professional perception of yourself for students, parents, and employers? Please add more detail.

__**Social Media & Education Reading (Monday, August 22nd, 2016):**__ //An Educator's Social Media Guide:// Aaron's social media guide was extremely helpful and insightful. I definitely feel like a wasted many years not thinking of social media as a way to get connected and branch out within the educator community. He described his experience making new friends online and just how fruitful the interaction was with these people compared to the interactions with his usual group of colleagues. I think it is so important to have interactions and discussions with people who have completely different perspectives. This could mean a teacher in another state or even a superintendent, both who would definitely have unique insights they could contribute to the conversation.

I had never heard of Nuzzle or Buffer before this article. Buffer is an app that I don't think that would utilize but I guess I'm not used to keeping thousands of people entertained and informed throughout the day. Scheduling tweets to be released just makes social media sound like a second job. He said that he uses it so he can spend more time doing activities like spending time with his family. However, it's very clear that social media, twitter in particular, is a HUGE part of Aaron's life. I'm not sure if the amount of time he spends on his account is time that would want to give up from my life to spend posting tweets on twitter. I guess that I took from the article is that I definitely need to look into using my twitter and my other social media accounts to grow as an educator, but I know where I want to draw line. I definitely don't want it to consume my life or the little free time that I have.

I love your idea about connecting to people who have different perspectives - especially as these differ across states and even across jobs (administration versus teachers). I think separating your personal and professional life is important and you need to decide where those lines are, but I love your openness to at least being a consumer of online resources, even if you are not a contributor. Have you found any individuals or groups to follow on Twitter that could be a resource during student teaching? Have you participated in any of the chats?

//Social Media Find Place in the Classroom://

The Secret Languages of Girls on Instagram: I thought that this article was pretty absurd. I guess this article is referring to the middle and high schoolers of today because I feel like a old lady reading the crazy subliminal messages that girls are sending to each other using Instagram. Cropping photos to make someone feel alienated was probably the most catty thing that I read about in the article. I think that as a teacher I can't really enforce what girls and guys are posting on their Instagrams on their own time. However, if a profile is brought to me that is offensive or clearly bullying someone, I will take the steps to try and get the photos or profile taken down and the students reprimanded. I guess a good way to prevent this kind of bullying is to just establish some kind of honor policy in my classroom. A statement like "We need to honor and respect one another at all times, inside and outside of the classroom." and have the students sign on. I think just making the students feel as if I would be disappointed in them if they broke the pledge would be enough to deter them or at least make them think twice about what they post. I think in order to bolster student confidence in my classroom I could post pictures of them on MY Instagram with work showcasing work or behavior they should be proud of.

It is really disturbing to learn about the new ways that students are finding to confirm social statuses. I can't say that every generation hasn't found a way to do it, but learning about the innovative ways people find to tear other people down is a little disheartening. I think it is fair to say that you do not have control over what students do and do not post on their own Instagram account, but what are some ways that you can counteract or attempt to prevent some of these negative experiences? Are there direct and subtle ways of addressing it in the classroom? What are some ways to bolster student confidence and self esteem? What are some ways to infiltrate social media to provide positive experiences for students in those realms? Please add more detail.

__**Web Identity Status Report (September 9th, 2016):**__

http://prezi.com/wdsxuobgpqey/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Link to rubric: https://docs.google.com/a/ncsu.edu/document/d/1WodneXZ5RohLzEKRtOJJGOmCy8kbT215JVXME2UIybc/edit?usp=sharing

__**Reading Takeaways for Week 3**__ The editorial on Enhancing English Language Arts Education With Digital Video really opened my eyes to a using film in the classroom. Every single class I've ever been in consists of the "read-the-book-see-the-movie" pattern. Teachers tried to give us video quizzes to help us keep up with the movie but for the most part it was brainless movie-watching time or naptime for me. I genuinely felt like watching films in class was just a filler before reading the article. An interesting point that the article made was that some students find it easier to express themselves or demonstrate their knowledge by using film. Making an iMovie might be more beneficial for a visual learner. I definitely think that digital video implementation can help with differentiation. My CT uses Instagram in her classroom. She posts activities the class is doing and pictures of students with their work. She does the same on her Twitter. Students feel celebrated knowing that their teacher is proud enough to make their efforts public online. I could totally continue the Instagram posts if somehow Emily gave me access to her account. I wouldn't want to post the kids on my Instagram Ican relate to the part of Schoffner's article where she talks about how her preservice teachers aren't opposed to the idea of technology in the classroom but they don't see the point of using it in the ELA classroom. I feel like I'm kind of on that level. I can totally see how it can be beneficial for the Social Studies classroom but when it comes to the ELA classroom, I feel like a lot of the time the integration of technology is just so extra.

I definitely empathize with the way film was used in the classroom when I was a student - and even how most teachers use film today. It's cool to think about teaching students to critically analyze film and identify the strategies directors use to manipulate emotions, etc. If they could transfer those skills to advertisements and propaganda, we'd be sending out a generation of strong, free thinking students. I think it's awesome that your CT is using Instagram in the classroom. Is that something you plan to continue during student teaching? How do you want to go about it? Please add some reflection on the third article (Schoffner).

__**I will be attending the edTPA bootcamp on Saturday, February 4th, 2017.**__

__**Planning for MSL Electronic Portfolio/Teaching Toolkit**__ I have done an electronic portfolio in the past so I'm familiar with how to create one for this course. I think that a Google Site is a great way to showcase my work and plans that I have created over the course of the semester. I'm not entirely sure what a Teaching ToolKit entails. I'm assuming it includes all of the "tools" I deem essential to creating my own personal classroom environment and upholding my classroom philosophy. Categories I might include would be classroom environment, potential lesson plans, and places of inspiration.

The reading by Dr. Young gave me a lot of great ideas for my electronic portfolio. 1. I liked the emphasis that was put on the theme of the portfolio. The theme says a lot of about the preservice teacher and the content of their portfolio. It can even be representative of teacher's classroom philosophy. 2. I liked how much the reading focused on the importance of reflection. I have found myself making up random stuff that sounds good and calling it a reflection (not necessarily in this class) and I think that's problematic. My portfolio needs to INSPIRE reflection not REQUIRE reflection. We should be reflective practitioners. 3. The electronic portfolio is also the perfect way to showcase any technological skills or ideas I may have. The sheer format of my portfolio will show the grasp (or lack thereof) that i have on current technology.d

I feel like my audience for this portfolio would be my peers (the other preservice teachers in my cohort), my professors, potential employers, etc. I think I would allow anyone to see it, especially if it was a culmination of everything that I had been working on for the past 4 years.

I think I would like to do a Google Site or a WikiSpace. I would want to split my website up by a few main categories: an about me, lesson plans, classroom philosophy, and maybe two more (I haven't decided on). I would want a theme to be something that represents a unit working together, so possibly a type of machine. The purpose of my site would be to represent me as a teacher and as a professional.

I think a portfolio would be awesome. I like the category of classroom environment - I've never heard that one before and I'm curious to see what you do with it. What audience are you creating this portfolio for? Who do you want to see it? Please add more detail.

I like the idea of a theme as a machine or pieces that are all necessary to produce a working part. We've also talked about how exhausting/annoying but absolutely necessary reflection is to improving your teaching practice. I think this project gives you a great opportunity to really articulate and put into words who you are as a teacher - to finally put down all the great ideas and strategies and philosophies you've heard and make them yours.

__**EdTPA Digital Video Plan**__ I really liked Bethany's idea to bring the video camera in about a week before to give me a chance to set it up in a good spot with great visibility and good audio. I have to get the permission forms from students that will let me know who can and who can't be on camera. I definitely want to get all of that squared away early. I don't really think that there is an absurd amount of planning that I have to do mainly because I'm literally just filming the videos and no editing is required after that.

__**Integrating Digital Video into My Future Classroom**__ I think that digital video is great for introductions. I could definitely have the students record an "About Me' that I could watch to learn a little bit about them and I could make one so they learn the basics about me. Videos can be so personal---you can add all of the music and photos that you might like-- and they're more fun to create than something written on paper.

__**Language Today**__ I have done three posts but I plan on posting maybe two more after I submit this. I have four more left to do because I think we are supposed to have seven by the end of the semester.

Language Today is great because not only does it utilize Twitter but it also gives students the opportunity to do a little research. In my classroom, I would use Language Today by: 1. Making it kind of like a current event. I would tell my students to find something in the past week and I don't think I would limit it to stuff on the web. They could always take a picture of something that they saw in a newspaper or magazine article and post that on the twitter page. 2. I think depending on what we were learning in class, I would want my students to find something that relates to whatever that is, just to promote cohesiveness.

I think a digital video to introduce yourself to the class and parents would be cool. You could put it on your class website. It sounds like you would like to create your own Language Today account for your class which I think would be a cool idea.

__**Electronic Portfolio Status Reports**__ October 24th, 2016 October 31st, 2016 November 7th, 2016
 * I'm still struggling with trying to get a stable theme going for my website. I know that I want to do a machine type thing but it's hard for me to be creative when I'm still trying to get used to the new Google site format. I looked at some of the Google sites made by last year's MSL's cohort and it's crazy how elaborate and detailed! I think I need to research my theme a little more and the creative juices will flow. I made an "About Me" and tried to elaborate a bit more on my theme, as well as finding a quote that I liked. I also found a picture of gears that I liked for my front page header.
 * I completely changed my theme for my website and the format and theme and everything. Basically I started anew. My theme is now multicultural education with a social justice component. I talked about it a little on my home page but I plan on elaborating more. I added pages that listed my pedagogical and content knowledge and well as other pages that I still have to add on too. I really like the direction that my website is taking now that I have a stable footing and grasp on what I want my final product to be.
 * This week I focused on adding on to my technological tools page. I didn't have a lot of time this week so I just added on resources that I may use in my classroom and also tweaked a few of the other pages to make them a little bit more athletically pleasing. I plan on completing the rest of my website after I get through this next week and break ground on my unit plan. As of right now though, EP progress will be delayed for a week.