Professional Growth Plan

For my professional growth plan I have decided to use Prezi as my presentation platform. The first time I created a Prezi was for this course. I really liked using Prezi and I'd like to become more familiar with it, so I decided that this would be a good time to test it out.  

Website List

https://www.jisc.ac.uk/full-guide/enhancing-the-digital-student-experience

http://futureofchildren.org/futureofchildren/publications/docs/22_02_08.pdf

http://www.emergingedtech.com/2015/07/technology-for-helping-struggling-readers/

http://www.uvm.edu/~cdci/tripscy/files/Reading_Tech_links10-17-06_FINAL.pdf

http://www.bestevidence.org/word/tech_strug_read_Jul_18_2012.pdf

http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction

https://at4education.wordpress.com/tag/at-for-reading/

I found this diagram on a website : https://www.jisc.ac.uk/full-guide/enhancing-the-digital-student-experience . I thought it was fitting to describe the connection between technology and reading and the other components of language arts that intertwine. 

Website Created

My website is now up and running. I have decided to create 6 pages: Home, Changes Over Time, Technology Resources to Support Readers, Professional Dialogue (with a subpage for the outcome), Summary and References. For me, I needed to plan out the layout before building each page. I plan to use part of a table that Maureen and I created for a previous assignment that focused on Apps and website to support readers. This table contained a to of valuable information that would save teachers and parents time as they would not need to do extensive research.

Researching

While I was researching my topic: Using Technology to Support Readers, I came across this picture that had a very fitting quote. Technology really is the new way of life. As we advance in the 21st century, every aspect of our like becomes more technologically advanced. 

Website Complete

After a lot of adding and tweaking I think my website may finally be done. I am satisfied with the information that I have gathered and conclusions that have come together from my research and my professional dialogue. This was a great learning experience and information that I can certainly use in my classroom. I have tried to create a website on several occasions over the past few years; however, I have never actually completed any. This website will be a great resource for students, parents and even teachers who are looking for technology resources to support their students.

Curriculum Integration Progress Report

I've decided that I will create a website to present the information that I have gathered around my topic. I liked the format of the website when I created one for a previous assignment. I thought this would be an organized way to present the information using different pages for each topic.

Website Work

Today I decided to add a page to my website "Links for Students". This is a page where students can go to access websites related to Math and Literacy. These websites contain reinforcement games and activities that the students can practice at home or even during a math or literacy centre at school. I though this would be a good addition to my page since I will most likely use this page for my classroom and communication for parents. The parents can access all of the resources to support reading and writing and they can decide if there are any that would best support their child. I know I still have a lot of information to learn about websites, but I am very happy with what I have created.

Learning about GAFE

So after having some discussions at recess and lunch time today at school, it kooks like my school is trying to purchase some new up to date technology. I also had a discussion with one of my colleagues about GAFE and I never realized it's potential with students. I think it is amazing that the whole class can work on a class project through Google Slides for example and there are no flash drives required, no saving information and trying to combine it later and no hassle! There are always students in my class who ask if they can bring their writer's notebooks home. I never allow them because I know that the majority will never be returned. If I were using Google Docs with my students, I wouldn't have to worry about them leaving it at home because everything is available online. Students could work on their writing at school and at home and always have access to it. It could be a virtual writer's notebook. If we are lucky enough to invest in more technology at my school, I can definitely see me using this app with my students.

Maureen's Online Discussion

Well, I personally don't have a lot of experience using GAFE with my students. I have been using it myself for the past two years; however, due to the lack f technology at my school I have been some what nervous about trying to incorporate it into my classroom. I really don't have a lot to contribute to  this discussion but I am interested to learn more about it and hear what other people have to share. I'm looking forward to learning some new stuff!

Discussion Wrapped Up

Well....my discussion is wrapped up. I have a few new resources that I will be testing out as a result of my colleagues sharing a few of their favourites. I will incorporate these into my final report. It was great to hear personal ad professional experiences from a variety of people. Conducting a professional dialogue can be very beneficial if you have a group of participants who contribute and make the discussion meaningful.  I certainly did! My colleagues were very eager to jump in to keep the discussion flowing. They checked back and responded to any further questions that were posted to their responses that in turn triggered more discussion. This dialogue was an opportunity to bring together educators from a variety of backgrounds that have very different experiences. When having these discussions with colleagues at my own school, typically we have all been exposed to the same resources. It is nice to hear what other people are using to engage students and further develop their learning.

Conducting a Professional Dialogue Day 2

So far, so good! I am really enjoying the dialogue that is evolving from the questions I posed. It certainly gives me lots to think about when researching for my project. It has also generated some ideas of different approaches that I would like to try with my students and my colleagues. During our discussion Starr mentioned the idea of multiage groupings. This got me thinking about a video that circulated from a school I previously worked at and their experience with multiage groupings for math. This is something that I would really like to try with literacy while integrating technology as well.

Multi Level Math Instruction at Bell Park

Researching

I have been doing some research surrounding my curriculum identification issue: Supporting Struggling Reader's Using Technology. I have added a few resources to my sidebar that I will investigate further for my project. This is a great gadget to organize websites and articles that I would like to further reference.

Conducting a Professional Dialogue

Well my discussion has started and I am so thrilled that everyone is jumping in and sharing their thoughts and experiences. I was a little nervous at first that I would really need to prompt the discuss, but I think it's safe to say that I have a great group of colleagues who are willing to make my discussion rich and meaningful. I am looking forward to what tomorrows discussion will bring. I am always looking to broaden my list of resources and so far I already have a few new additions. Tomorrow questions will bring more! So exciting.

Today's discussion starter:

Reading and viewing is an area within the curriculum where many students require extra support. There are specialist teachers beyond the classroom who focus on providing extra support for students. These positions include resource, early literacy and reading recovery teachers. Throughout my teaching career I have worked with several students who have struggled with reading. Some received one on one specialist support and others did not. When frequent one on one support was provided, gains were evident. However, resource and ELT caseloads are overflowing and not all students who struggle are able to receive support. In grade three French Immersion classrooms, teachers are required to teach both English and French Language Arts. This can be very demanding for some students.

Day 1

1. Do you think technology is a viable support for readers? Especially those with challenges.

2. Have you used technology to support struggling readers? If not, please tell us why.

Apps! Apps! Apps!

Maureen and I have been working our way through our Resource Depot. We have discovered and tried out a lot of cool new apps that could be very beneficial for our students. Many of these apps are animated which increases student engagement. We decided to categorize our apps based on reading, writing, fine motor and phonemic and phonetic awareness. By categorizing these apps, teachers can easily glance though the categories and take note of anything that may be useful to them. This assignment encouraged me to seek out some new supports that I can integrate into my lessons.

Collaborating is Key!

Since Maureen and I work together at the same school, we thought it would be beneficial if we compiled a resource depot together. She provides Early literacy Support for students in my class as well as resource support for reading and writing. We are always trying to engage our struggling students and ensure that we are meeting their needs but often times there just aren't enough hours in the day to research and try out new apps and websites. This project was certainly one that we will be able to use in our classrooms.

Learning Process

I've learned something new last night and this morning.....how to share a Prezi and a Google Doc so that it can be viewed publicly. When I created my Prezi, this was the first time I ever used this program so everything was new to me. This is definitely something that I will be able to carry forward and use. I have created a Google Doc before, but I've only ever shared the doc with one or two people. I had never made a doc public. This was a first for me. When I went into the advanced settings, I had the option to make it public with editing capabilities or view only capabilities. I thought this was pretty neat.

Artifact #3

The third artifact that I created is a Google Doc. The document is a list of French Apps that can be used to support French Immersion students at the elementary level. Teachers that I have shared this document with can add to the list since editing capabilities have been activated. This makes a great resource for French Immersion teachers.

https://docs.google.com/a/gnspes.ca/document/d/1ZVYGKJGZUzJ__78g9nBQYJyNoEeIrrf5T9McHLDtj88/edit?usp=sharing

Wordle Artifact #2

This is my second artifact. I decided to experiment with the website Wordle, www.wordle.com

Prezi Artifact #1

I've found an alternative to PowerPoint! This is the first time that I have created a Prezi and I loved using the online program. I found this to be very user friendly and straightforward.  I decided to focus on iPad apps that support Readers. These apps can be useful for struggling readers and can also be incorporated into my curriculum identification issue.

Click the link below to view my first Prezi creation.

http://prezi.com/jlqi3b1n-8f8/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Module 2 Assignment 2-Use Your Presence

I also explored the digital documents library know as Scribed. This is a pretty neat option that I've enjoyed exploring.

Reading & Writing Apps 

Module 2-Building a Website

Well my website is underway. At first I was uncertain if I wanted to use Google Sites or Weebly. After watching the tutorial on Google Sites I decided that this would probably be the best option since I am trying to use Google Apps for Education more frequently. I have had to watch a few tutorials on YouTube when trying to manage specific parts of my website, but it's coming along. I'm sure I still have so much to learn, but this is certainly a start.

Curriculum Identification Issue

The topic that I will be focusing on as an issue within the curriculum is supporting struggling readers using technology. From year to year I am searching for ways to support struggling readers in my class. There is very limited resource support for children in French Immersion who struggle in both languages. Researching and having discussions with my colleagues will provide me with more resources that I can integrate into my class in order to help my students be more successful. I look forward to researching this topic and utilizing the information that comes to light.

Neil's Online Discussion

This weekend past I participated in Neil's discussion that focused on digital citizenship. His questions opened up some interesting discussions. For me, I think the most important points that I took away from the session was that it is very important to start discussing digital citizenship with children even at a young age. It is typically most effective if parents, teachers and community members are working together to educate students about this topic.

Module 1

While viewing the video Pay Attention, I initially felt a huge sense of guilt. I know that my students are digital learners. On a daily basis they share stories about using technology to talk with their family and friends, make videos, practice reading and writing, play games, watch movies and do so many other things that help them develop their digital literacy skills. I would love to use their prior knowledge, build on it and allow them to explore using devices that engage them in their learning. However, I feel as though when they come through the school doors, they have to "power down". They can no longer use their digital literacy skills because our school is lacking technology. We currently have 21 working netbooks (many of those have keys and buttons missing, don't connect to the internet or cannot hold a charge) and 8 iPads. Being in a very large school with 500 students and 21 classes, our scheduled computer time is very limited to one hour per week. One hour per week with devices that don't function properly makes for a very chaotic afternoon.

Key points for me in the article:

• Education standards have changed
• 21st century learning lacks professional development 
• Collaborative learning is key
• Standardized testing does not support 21st century learning

Pay Attention

The article Comparing Frameworks for "21st Century Skills" written by Chris Dede focuses on the idea that learning has evolved tremendously from the 20th to the 21st century. While reading the article, the first thing that came to mind for me was the constructivist approach. Within our schools, the most recent explorations and student-centered teaching practices that are being promoted with regards to reconstructing education relate back to theories that were created over one hundred years ago. These practices reflect the work of theorists such as John Dewey and Paulo Freire. Dewey and Freire focused on student-centered learning in hands on learning environments. Teachers are taking on the role of a facilitator, allowing students to use an inquiry-based approach to explore and think critically. This model focuses on developing literacy among our students. Using the constructivist approach and integrating technology as referred to by Dede would allow students to take their learning to the next level. 

  

This article made me think back to a video I had seen previously by Chris Dede called Mindshift: Chris Dede on Cyberlearning and Games. Personally, I think the most valuable message within this video is that a virtual world combined with a skilled teacher can provide a very enriched learning experience for students.