Prezi

Issues with New Literacies

Keystone

Reflection of Print & New Literacies
Keystone Lesson Plan 
Implementation Report
Rubric

Glogster Affordances

Features of GlogsterEDU	Affordances
Ability to embed video	A great way to enhance the glog.  It allows the individual to really display their understanding or get individuals really interested in their topic of the glog.
Ability to add text boxes	A great way to share information and explain the topic of your glog.
Ability to add audio	Audio is great feature for keeping the glog interesting.  Students and teachers can even embed their voices into the glogs.
Ability to share the glogs on other social networks and friends	This feature is very useful because it allow the students to display their work and share their learning experience with friends and family.
Ability to comment on each others glogs	This is a great way to have student collaboration.  Students can comment and help each other with their glogs.
Ability to create assignments	This is a great feature for teachers and students.  This allows students the ability to have access to their assignments at anytime. Therefore, they won't fall behind in class.
Graphics	This feature allows the students to get creative with their glogs and make it fun and appealing to look at.
Create classes and make the classes and glogs private	This is a great feature because it allows the students to create their glogs in a safe environment.  The teacher has the ability to monitor all the students’ work and activity on Glogster.
Grade Assignment and E-Portfolio	Overall GlogsterEDU is a great way for teachers to grade student work and for students to keep their work in one place.  It allows students to have an e-portfolio.

Article & VoiceThread

 The article was very interesting and highlighted some important aspects of using Web 2.0 tools and VoiceThread.  I have prior knowledge of VoiceThread so I found the article to be very useful.  I think it is important for teachers to look at the tools based on the two variables - space and learning design- which will help educators really understand and gauge the value of the new technology.  I really believe that if teachers think of the technology in this way it will help them understand whether or not the Web 2.0 tool is working.  Honestly, I agree with article it's important for the teacher "to ask not what the tool can do, but what their students can do with the tool".  In the future when I plan to implement or want to introduce new literacies I will keep that statement in the back of my mind.  I think it will give me a different view and take on the new literacy and introduce the lesson in a way that will allow my students to really understand the value and usefulness in their academic career. 

VoiceThread

https://voicethread.com/share/2163061/

Reflection of Research Paper

The researchers states that blogging is a great tool to use in the classroom.  Blogging is a New Literacy that relates to using multimedia in the classroom.  Blogging is great tool for collaboration, communication and enhancing literacy skills.  I personally like blogging and I think it's a great tool to use in the classroom at any age.  My JHS students love using the blogs in the classroom.   Blogging increases their reading and collaboration skills.  When  I use the blogs in my classroom I see a difference in my students motivation and response.  My students are more motivated and eager to read and respond to the blogs.  They love to see their work on the web.  Therefore, I love blogging and using it with my students. 

Keystone Draft

The link to my Keystone Draft is below

Initial Draft for Keystone Project

Digital Storytelling

My digital story is about The Black Panther Party.  The story is geared to JHS students.  The movie will be used as a part of the Civil Rights unit that is taught in ELA.  It will help the students get a clearer understanding about The Black Panther Party and what they were fighting for.

Article Reflections & Second Life

Theories and Practices of Multimodal Education: The Instructional Dynamics of Picture Books and Primary Classrooms

The article discussed the difference between the print text and multimodal text.  The article basically discusses how teachers need to use mulitmodal text to engage their students.  I agree I feel multimodal text is a need with today's generation.   We are teaching students who are digital natives therefore, they are use to visual stimulation.  Authors need to be able to change with the times. Therefore, authors need to start creating multimodal text.  I think multimodal text is a great way to keep the students engaged in their learning and print text or traditional text can be boring.  I personally like multimodal text I like the ability to engage in books that allow the students to go beyond reading.  I use multimodal text with my daughter on the iPad.  There are a few books that I have downloaded that allows my daughter to go beyond just reading the text.  She has the ability to do puzzles, play games and watch videos that goes beyond just reading the text.  At the end of the day she loves it and it keeps her engaged. 

Using the ADDIE Model to Design Second Life Activities for Online Learners

The article about using Second Life with the ADDIE model was very interesting. I am new to Second Life and I found the article to be very informative.  It actually help me understand Second Life.  Second Life gives the students the ability to walk and communicate in their own worlds.   Teachers have the ability to create content and have the students interact with the content.  Second Life also gives the students the ability to communicate on a variety of levels.  I believe using Second Life can enhance the learning environment tremendously. 

Second Life

ELA teachers can use Second Life in a variety of ways.  They can have students create avatars and give them a life they want.  Teachers can communicate with their students in a virtual world.  Students can create their own worlds and explore other worlds that interest them.  Teachers can create a variety of activities that students can interact with.  The possibilities for using Second lIfe is endless. 

Article Review

Middle School Science Teachers’ Confidence and Pedagogical Practice of New Literacies

The article was interesting but not surprising.   I had read many articles that had similar outcomes and I have spoken with teachers who also had the same sentiments.  I agree their are a lot of teachers who are willing to accept and integrate technology into their classrooms but they get discouraged because of the lack of technology.  These teachers are willing to use technology to help enhance their lessons with a Smartboard or laptop and would love to use more technology but are not able to fully embrace the new literacies. Without having technology and not just any technology but updated technology the teachers can not and will not be able to prepare 21st century learners. 

Social Networking Sites

The article was very interesting about using social networking sites in the classroom.  I remember when Twitter first became popular I had a hard time keeping my students off the site.  Therefore, I started thinking of ways to incorporate Twitter into my classroom.  I had that "if you can't beat them then join them" feeling.  I was tired of fighting with the students about "tweeting" in school. I started researching ways and lessons that dealt with Twitter.  We did do one lesson using Twitter and the news and it was very successful.  Therefore, I enjoyed this article.  I think if teachers incorporate Social Networking sites into their classroom they can see a difference in their learning and their students academic drive.   I think students would want to particiapate more and become more responsible for their learning.  Personally, I know students love being able to publish, communicate and collaborate using these Social Media sites.  My students love when we use sites such as Glogster and Blogger.  They enjoy being able to communicate and collaborate online. In  addition, I believe incorporating social networking into the academic environment woudl give people a different outlook of the social networking sites.   People would begin to see the value of the social networks instead of always looking at the negative.

UDL Book Builder

            

  

     My book "I Want" that was created using UDL Book Builder was created for a 3rd grade Special Needs class.   Before creating the book the teacher and I had a discussion about her students and their reading levels.  The class as a whole is reading below grade level and have learning disabilities.  Some of the students have an issue with verbalizing their needs and wants.  This conversation led me to my book idea.  I decided to call the book "I Want" and give different scenarios of things students might want to do.  I incorporated sound effects, speech from the coaches and a student response feature.   Once the ELA teacher viewed the book she was thrilled with it.   She used the book in a variety of ways.  The ELA teacher indicated that the she will use it mostly with her emergent readers. The book is great tool to help the students practice their reading.  She also indicated that the audio feature was great way for her non-readers to understand what the book was about.  She has a student that cannot read at all who is below a kindergarten level.   Therefore, the audio coach helps him understand what the book is about and keeps him interested.  She also like the response feature because she does have students that can write and recognize certain words.  Therefore, she was happy that the book was mulitmodal.  

     The book is not just meant for a special needs teacher.  As indicated in the description I believe the book can be used from the 1st to the 3rd grade.  With the variety of features  ELA teachers, the ELL teacher and the Speech teacher can use the book to help build their emergent readers.   Therefore, I believe the book is a book that appeals to a variety of learners and their differentiated needs. 

http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view.php?op=view&book=73100&page=1

Edmodo

Edmodo Features

Small Groups:  is a great way to create classroom activities.  It's also a great way to organize differentiated classroom activities.  It allows you to create small groups within your larger group and assign the students a variety of different activities. 

Library:  The library feature allows you to create folders and upload pictures, links, video, worksheets and activities that you can share with your group.  It's a great way to organize resources for a particular lesson.  

Quizzes:  The quiz feature is great because it allows the students to use any device to access the quiz.  They can be in charge of their own learning.  As well the quiz feature allows to give instant feedback and create comments.  The quiz feature also gives you pie charts that gives the question breakdown.  This is a great because it allows you to see what skill you may need to review. 

Progress Report:  is just like having a digital gradebook, it allows you to track your students and their  badges.

Polls:  is a awesome feature.  It is a great and quick way to take a survey and gain students responses to a certain topic in addition students can only vote once and cannot change their  answers. 

    Edmodo can be a valuable tool in the ELA classroom.  ELA teachers have the opportunity to create a their own library of resources for the unit they are working on.  The library is always available and as long as the students have access to Edmodo they will always have access to the resources.   The quiz feature in Edmodo is also very valuable to the ELA classroom because the pie chart feature allows teachers to gauge whether or not the students understood a certain skill or if it needs to be reviewed again.  Edmodo offers a variety of features that can fit any classroom no matter what subject you teach. All the teachers have to do is cater the Edmodo program to fit their class and their needs.  

Technology and Adolescent Article

The article  New Media, New Literacies and the Adolescent Learner is a great article to explore.  The article is a research study about the relationship between new digital media and adolescent students' writing of poetry while using new media.  The article examines eight themes that emerged during the study, including the multimodal, multilinear and collaborative nature of the poems, the role of audience and identity in the creative process, and the shifting views of poetry the students experienced.

Gaming

Gamestar Mechanic

Game Mechanic seems like a good website for teachers to use in the classroom.  From what I observed it seems like the teachers is using it as a good way for students to use their analytical and critical thinking skills.  I enjoyed the the STEM video game challenge.  I think it is a great way to help students get involved and interested in STEM.  I started playing one of the game quest and I saw myself spending a lot of time on the game.   I actually enjoyed it and I like that it was very educational and required you to really use your critical thinking skills.   

Philosophy of Gaming

Not until now did I really think about a philosophy of gaming in the classroom setting.  

But the more I think about it the more I  feel gaming can be an asset in the classroom.  Many people don't realize it but gaming teaches children a lot of different skills depending on the game they are playing.  Games can be valuable with helping children learn critical thinking and analytical skills.  Games can teach children how to be creative and think outside the box.  A lot of games offer what-if scenarios whereas the game changes depending on your move.  That means this type of gaming will lead children to start thinking on a broader spectrum.  They will strategize their next move which in many ways they are creating their own story.  Therefore, I believe gaming can be a benefit in the classroom especially the ELA classroom.  Using games will lead children to think but not just think but become critical thinkers and use higher order thinking skills.   Games such strategy games and word games can be an asset and should used more often in the ELA classroom. 

Game Scenario
Click on the picture below 

Edmodo

I am not new to Edmodo.  I find Edmodo to very good resource not just for students but for teachers. Edmodo can be valuable in the ELA classroom because it promotes literacy and collaboration amongst students and teachers.  Students can blog, share, and communicate in a safe secure environment while enhance their learning.  It is a great resource and can be a powerful tool if used correctly in the classroom.

Range of new literacies

Gaming     
      I’ve always loved playing games, board games, video games and online games.  I like games that challenge me and I have a goal to meet at the end.  I feel the same way about educational games.  The educational games that hold my attention and my student’s attention are the educational games that are challenging.  The ones that are easy get boring very quick.  I play a variety of games on my iPad. I like to play a lot of strategy games and simulation games.  One of my favorite simulation games is Diner Dash.  I’ve played Diner Dash on the computer, Nintendo DS and now on my iPad.  The factors highlighted in the article and video is what keeps my interest in the game.
      The challenge in Diner Dash is to build up a variety of Diner from the bottom up into these most desirable restaurants in town.  Flo is one women shows that don’t have much money but opens a diner.  Each level is a set of new goals and more money to earn which enables you to enhance the diner.   Once you have met the goals of each diner you move on to a bigger and better diners until Flo opens up the last and final grand diner.   Each diner becomes bigger, with more costumers and a demanding shift.  Flo being a one women show has to do it all by herself.  Therefore, the challenge is to meet each customers needs and achieve your goals before time runs out.
     The graphics and whether or not as the game gets harder can I beat it is what draws me in.  I enjoy playing the game on the iPad because the graphics are very crisp and eye catching.  The game also entices my curiosity because I want to see how well I’m going to do once the game gets harder. At the end of the section the game lets you know if you met your goals or you need to repeat the board.  The game have text balloons within the round to let you know if you met a particular goal.  I’m not the type of person that gives up when something gets hard, I like a challenge so that what keeps me playing the game.  The audio is pretty fast paced and keeps you interested.
     Diner Dash gives you control over how you want to upgrade the diner.  You can personalize the diner to fit the type of person you are. In addition, you have the ability to buy the things Flo need to make the restaurant a success.  You can buy anything from new kitchen appliances to lighting, each item have a specialty that will allow the restaurant to run more efficiently. This type of control makes you really take ownership of the game and think of it as your own.
      In the end, its a fabricated scenario design. The storyline makes it interesting.  I like the idea of owning my own restaurant and building an empire from the bottom up.  At the end of the day that is what you are doing in this game.  It’s a fantasy that appeals to my intrinsic, cognitive and emotional fantasy being.  I really enjoy playing the game and building my empire.
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Lesson Plan

Grade:  3rd
Language Skill: writing

Language Focus: sequence connector (first second, third, next, finally)

Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2c Use linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect ideas within categories of information.
Learning outcome(s): by the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Write 3 out of 5 steps involve in taking orders at a restaurant using correct sequence connector.

2. Name 5 out of 7 things that can be found in a restaurant.

Procedures


1. Teacher encourages students to talk about their experience when they dine-in at a restaurant.
2. Teacher asks students to name few things that can be found at a restaurant. 

3. Using the Smartboard teacher plays diner dash online game and demonstrates it to the students.

4. Teacher asks students to focus on the game and identify the steps in taking orders between the waiter and the customers.
5. Teacher then asks the students the steps in taking orders and list down the steps on the board.
6. Teacher emphasizes the use of sequence connector in the steps and explains on how to use each sequence connector for each sentence/step.
7.  Teacher asks few students to come in front to write the next step using sequence connector.
8. Teacher distributes a task sheet to each pupil.

9. Students need to complete the task sheet by writing the steps in taking orders correctly using the sequence connector provided.

10. Teacher facilitates and provides necessary guidance to the students.

11. Teacher discusses the answer with the students.
12. Teacher lets the students explore and play the game.
13. Teacher asks the students to take notes of the steps involved in completing the game.
14.  Teacher provides feedback after the playing session about the steps involved.
15. Teacher and students have a discussion about some moral value on how to behave at a restaurant.

Assessment:  Students will write a story about a special time in their life and they must use the sequence connectors.

Debriefing:  Teacher will use PowerPoint to create scaffolding activities.  Students will design characters and write narration in the game scenario

What cognitive skills do this game help to cultivate:  critical thinking, visual processing, auditiory processing and processing ability. 

What new literacies skills do this game help to cultivate logical thinking: Students have the ability to connect the game to the real world.