This week I have been focusing on my checklist of technology tools that I would like to learn more about in order to “model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information.” So far I have discovered that only a few of the social networking sites are NOT accessible from my school for students to use. For example, Ning, Twitter, and Voice Thread are not available due to them being blocked. However, there are many options that area available, such as Thinkquest, ePals, Moodle, and The Mixxer. In addition, I learned that the school principal can give our educational technologist the authority to unblock websites if the purpose is proven to be educational and safe. For instance, I was able to get my Walden blog unblocked at school, so now I have the opportunity to interact with it from work because it is based on professional development. Finally, I relearned that our school’s educational technologist has his own link to resources for teachers from our school’s Intranet Share Point site. He terms this link to technology resources “How to…” and these resources are tutorials he created about the different software available to faculty and students, such as Captivate, SMART Notebook, PhotoShop, Premiere, Dreamweaver, Excel, Inspiration, Zamzar, and Publisher. I definitely could learn more about a majority of them; especially, Captivate, Premiere, and Dreamweaver. After rediscovering these tutorials, I learned that Captivate is like Screentoaster where you can record a computer screen and talk at the same time while you navigate from this or that on the computer. Right now I am chanting… one at a time…one at a time….
My other NET-S T goal centers on assessment and I have a question about a particular assessment practice or strategy. I am wondering about peer assessment and what other teachers think about it. For the past year, I have been allowing my AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) 8th graders to peer evaluate each other’s binder organization, and the evaluation process is guided by a particular student and teacher created checklist. This occurs every two weeks and after the evaluation, the students reflect on their progress. Recently, our school’s AVID program was evaluated, and I was told by the evaluator in front of my peers and administration that this is an extremely horrible practice!
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Megan,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have made a lot of progress towards your goals - I am glad you have been able to discover so many different resources that you can use.
I am sorry that you had that experience with the evaluator - What did they suggest instead?
Hi Megan,
ReplyDeleteCan you apply for these sites to be opened to you and your students for next year? I am not sure about Twitter, but the others seem educationally beneficial. How do you "prove" it is worthy to your educational technologist?
I have never heard of the programs you mentioned in your post. Thank you for sharing them! One at a time is an excellent mantra. We can get so caught up and have our foot in too many pools.
Talk about a horrible practice, that was very unprofessional of the evaluator. I believe peer evaluation has merit. When students know they will be evaluated by their peers they usually put more effort into their work. As long as the evaluation is not the only one or the most important one, I think it is fine. Did you ask your students if they felt it was a valuable experience?
Hi Lynne,
ReplyDeleteI could apply for these sites to be open to us next year. I think I will talk to the educational technologist first, prior to going to the admin. He can provide great insight, as well as let me know what my chances are.
Thank you for your support on peer evaluating. Yes, I was completely mortified when the evaluator pointed a crooked finger at me. Also, the students benefited from their peers' immediate feedback, as well as their own reflections. After doing more research on peer evaluating, I will more than likely continue the practice next year; however, I will have the research to back my actions. I have already started compiling my research data.
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI think it is encouraging to hear that only a few sites are not accessible. I would definitely work your principal to unblock VoiceThread. This is a tool that students love using and parents can access what the students are doing from any computer with Internet access. That is great that you have access to so many tutorials on tools that you can use in the classroom.
I have not done peer evaluation, but I think it is a wonderful idea for students to evaluate their peers. It gives them the opportunity to see what other students are creating and then reflect on their own work. The program evaluator should never had said that to you in front of your administration and peers, this was very unprofessional. Have you talked to your administrators seperately since this incident? I would definitely speak with them and gain their input on peer evaluation. Good luck!
Thanks for posting the site (sources) that actually work and are not blocked. Thinkquest, ePals, Moodle, and The Mixxer are all sites that I plan to access and study. I believe if you are blocked from those other sites, there is no doubt I will be. You seem to be in focus of your goals and have the will to learn about all your options. Great Work!
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