Woo Hoo!

Ok, so I am officially in the program at Cal State San Marcos. I will be in the part time program so I can go to school and work at the same time. This will take a little longer but its the best option for me. I am so excited to
be continuing on this journey.

Web 2.0 Wiki on Wordles- NETS 3 & 5

This wiki was created using Wetpaint, which is a great site that allows you to create and design wikis on a given topic. On my page, I discussed wordles which are word cloudsthat you can create with words of your choice. On my page, I have an example of a wordle for our technology class. I have also added a youtube video that I found that showed how to create the wordles.

Presentation on Character Education- NET 1

This powerpoint presentation was created collaboratively using Google Docs for my foundations of teaching class. It describes character education and some of the applications in schools today. To see some useful links for character education, click on character in my delicious tags to the right.

Character Education in Our Schools

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Copyright Paper- NETS 4

This paper was created collaboratively using Google Docs to discuss the implications of copyright laws in regards to teachers. It is based upon the website, Fair Use Harbor, that is a tutorial for educators regarding copyright rules and laws.

Fair Use Harbor

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iMovie Software Proficiency- Nets 3

This quickTime movie was created using iMovie. This movie is designed to be a public service announcement about Cal State San Marcos. By creating this movie, I learned the editing tools that are needed to create longer videos. I was able to use both video clips that I edited and modified and still frames. I added titles, screen effects, and transitions to the movie.

School Diversity Powerpoint Presentation - Nets 1

This powerpoint presentation was created collaboratively using Google Docs for my diversity class at CSUSM.

School Diversity Project

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Journal 10 Should Your Students be your "Friends"?

To facebook or not to facebook- that is the question. Should teachers use social networking sites such as facebook? If they do use these sites, should they become "friends" with their students on these sites? There are two different thought processes regarding this issue. On one hand, many teachers believe that using facebook sets them up for potential issues with the teacher- student boundaries. By becoming "friends" with their students, these teachers could be creating situations where uncomfortable information about themselves becomes available to their students or conversations with students might cross the line when the line between teachers and students become blurred.
Other teachers feel differently. They feel that by using facebook and being "friends" with their students, teachers can show their students responsible and correct internet usage. These teachers felt that the students benefited from having positive role models online.
I was walking through the library at my son’s school when one of the more popular teachers came walking through. He is one of the fourth grade teachers and is very outgoing and exuberant. All the students enjoy being in his class. He is always telling jokes and giving high fives as he walks through the campus. Another mother and her son were walking through the library at the same time. They stopped this teacher to discuss his facebook page and the new pictures that he had posted of his daughters. This teacher seemed to have the right idea in his usage and posting on these sites. I think at the younger age it is probably easier to be “friends” with the students and still maintain that boundary. With the high school students, I think teachers need to be especially careful since this can be the age when students start to develop crushes on their teachers.

1. Could use of facebook be educationally advantageous?
If a teacher used facebook, they could also use it to allow students to post questions about homework assignments or initiate discussions about topics from class.

2. Would I use facebook with my students?
Right now, I don't think I will interact with my students on social networking sites. I think there are some advantages to them, but I have seen some of the negative effects of these sites in my personal life, so I don't think I will utilize them with my students.


Fingal, Diana (2009, May). Should your students be your "friends?". Learning and Leading, 36, Retrieved April 29, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200905/

Journal 9 The kids are all right

Is all the time that children spend on the internet value added for their lives? According to one study it is. The study argues that students are gaining from the immense amount of time that is spent on social networking sites like myspace and facebook or on surfing the internet on topics of interest. Teachers need to recognize that time and find ways to utilize and incorporate that into the classroom. Many of the students are involved in non traditional groups online that can still add value to classroom settings or by encouraging the student's pursuit of knowledge a teacher can encourage learning, albeit in a non traditional way.
Another thing is that teachers need to recognize and encourage students' knowledge of technology and their ease in its use. Teachers who are not as comfortable with the internet and the technology that is available could set up lesson plans for students to build wikis or blogs that are student run. With the help of another teacher or even a student, these are easy to set up and now the teacher is encouraging learning and knowledge seeking in settings that the students feel more comfortable in. A lot of students would feel more comfortable writing a 2500 word blog instead of a 2500 word paper essay. It is the same thing but in a different format. As a teacher, you may need to set the grammar parameters for the assignment, but allow the students some creativity. By giving students some leeway and allowing them some freedom in a media that they excel in, a teacher might find that more is achieved in the long run.

1. What is an example of how a teacher could incorporate a student's computer usage into the classroom?
Many students today are amazingly well versed in using programs like photo shop or other photo editing and graphic design programs. Allowing the students to embrace this technology instead of a traditional art form for a project would be a great example.

2. If a teacher is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the technology world, what are some of the resources available to them?
Teachers need to become engaged in technology. Students expect their teachers to understand it. When a teacher doesn't, the students may see that teacher as out of touch. There are so many great sites on the internet that make the learning process easy and fun. Search youtube for a video on how to perform a task on the internet and a hundred different videos will probably pop up. Atomic Learning is a great site that provides easy and uncomplicated directions and tutorials on using many of the common computer applications that exist today. Have another faculty member help you learn. You may find that they can help you with technology and you can help them with cool science lessons or art ideas. Every teacher has their strengths. You don't need to become an expert, just become competent and learn how to find the answers when you have a question.

John K. Waters, "The Kids Are All Right," T.H.E. Journal, 3/1/2009, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24104

Animoto sample video for web 2.0 photosharing

Journal 8 Web 2.0 Photosharing- Nets 5

One of the tools that I found the most interesting was photosharing. Photosharing, web 2.0 style, doesn't mean bringing in your copies of the pictures you have taken all year to distribute to your students' parents (Sorry, Erika!). What it does mean is that you can create groups in programs like Flickr and Picassa that allow just you and your students' parents to view, upload and download. So, for instance, in September, I create an account on Flickr and create a new group "Ms. Scirica's Fifth grade class." At Back to school night, I get all the parents email addresses and invite them to join my group. I've set the group up so that only those who I have specifically invited can view the photos so there is no privacy or security issues. Now, we have a group set up where any parent can add pictures from class events, field trips or school events to the group. If I then see one that I like and want to have a print made, I can then download it to my computer and print it using my favorite method (costco.com). The nice thing is that all the parents don't have to buy from the same site in order to get a copy of the picture like you would with some photo-storing sites such as Kodak. One of my pet peeves is when I get an album from someone else and I have to register and order from their picture site.

One site that I found really interesting from the web 2.0 threads is Animoto. Animoto allows you to create free 30 second video clips that look really awesome. You simply upload the photos of your choice, pick a song from one of theirs or upload your own, and then give the site about 5 minutes and it creates this really professional looking video clip. Clips longer than 30 seconds will cost you money, but I was able to get about 15 pictures into my 30 second clip aong with text at the end too. From a non teaching standpoint, I made one of these with pictures from our disneyland trip and my 5 year old son thought I was the coolest mom ever. For a classroom setting, I could see my self using this to create a quick clip of pictures and music to introduce a lesson. There are plenty of sites out there that have copyright free images that could be used and then pick a fun song to jazz it up and away you go. A quick, easy, and visually engaging introduction to a new topic. Another fun way to use it in the classroom would be to create a clip for each student on his or her birthday. You could use fun birthday picurtes as well as pictures of that student. This would take less than 10 minutes to create, and each child would get a special personalized little video that you could then share with their parents for further home viewing.

Inspiration NETS Map- Nets 2

This mind map was created using Inspiration. It showcases the NETS for teachers as defined by ISTE. For each of the 5 NETS, there are 2 corresponding artifacts from our class that meet the needs of the standard.

Journal 7 Mining for Gold

In Leading and Learning, there was an interesting article regarding RSS feeds. This is a topic that is fairly new to me. In the article, Bigenho discusses the basics of RSS feeds as well as how to utilize them in the classroom. By using RSS feeds, you are able to set up your homepage so that the information you follow comes right to you in a convenient form. No more checking 5 different sites every morning to follow your favorite blogs and newspapers. By setting up the RSS feeds, all the sites will present the information at your fingertips. I think Bloglines.com will be a very useful site to use. The notifier on Bloglines makes following a whole class full of blogs a cinch. The site Feed2js.org seems like it is really neat also. You can add an RSS feed to any site. So, if you have a class website and want to add a feed from a site in Washington DC for your US history lessons, you can use Feed2js to make the feed available on your page. It brings the information right to your students, which really is what this is all about.

1. What is the difference between an internet hosted aggregator and a client based aggregator?
An aggregator is the place in which you view all your RSS feeds. Many of the new computer systems like Windows Vista allow you to view the RSS feeds right on your computer desktop. An internet hosted aggregator would be something like igoogle where you can log into your own personalized website online that has all your RSS feeds. I would recommend using the internet hosted aggregator since this can be accessed from any computer with internet access. So, you are on vacation across country. No problem! Just log into your page and you have up to date access to all your feeds.

2. What are some pages that have RSS feeds?
Pretty much everything!!! Almost all pages and blogs have RSS feeds (look for that little orange box). All major sites have this feature which means following information you are interested in is REALLY easy now!










Bigenho, Chris (2009, March/April). Mining for gold. Leading and Learning, 36, Retrieved April 29, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200904/

Journal 6 Personal Learning Networks

A personal learning network or PLN refers to the sources from which you derive your information. This may be family, friends, the Wall Street Journal, the textbook in your backpack, or any other source through which your knowledge is expanded. In today's world, this probably includes sources from the internet. If you are an internet novice, this may just include emails from friends and family and probably a news source online such as cnn.com or maybe just your homepage from your server. As you become more advanced using the internet, your PLN sources from the internet will also grow. You may have a favorite blog or wiki you follow. You might use a social media site such as YouTube or Flickr. This year, I have learned how to use social bookmarking, which is a great PLN tool. One of the best sites that I have found is Delicious.com. On Delicious.com, you post sites that you find relevant and interesting. Other people are able to see your sites. On Delicious, you will use tags to describe the sites which makes it easy to pull up information regarding a certain subject. According to Warlick, you can also set it up so that when another member of the social bookmarking community tags a page with a tag you are following, Delicious will update you so that you can expand your list of pages for that tag.
Another PLN that has dramatically expanded in usage is Twitter. When using twitter, people get instant access to answers and information from other people on the twitter network. As one's knowledge of the internet expands, the PLN opportunities expand dramatically. So, the best thing you can do is get out there and start surfing the net!

1. In keeping with the theme from my recent interview for the multiple subjects program here at Cal State, how do PLNs incorporate into the mission statement of the college of education? =)
One of the big themes of the mission for the College of Education here at CSUSM is lifelong learning for educators. Personal learning networks allow teachers to do this. By using the internet and some of the emerging technology available on the internet, educators can also utilize innovative research which is another idea from the mission statement.

2. How will my PLN help me in the classroom?
PLNs have already been useful to me even prior to getting my own classroom. For my recent presentation, I used Delicious to find relevant sites on the topic of my presentation. I then added them into my delicious account and posted the information for the other students in my class to find when they need the information that I presented. In a couple years, when I need to refresh my memory, then information will still be there at the tip of my fingertips, not in some notebook that I will have to dig through my closet to find.

Warlick, David (2009, March/April). Grow your personal learning network. Leading and Learning, 36, Retrieved April 29, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200904/

Powerpoint on NETS PK-2 Profiles- NETS 2

Check out my presentation on NETS student profiles for grades PK-2. This powerpoint includes my ideas on how students in grades Pre-K to 2 can meet the student NETS Standards from ISTE.

NETS PK-2 Profiles Presentation

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Classroom Newsletter- NETS 1

newsletterLS

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This newsletter was created in Microsoft Word for a 4 year old preschool class at Chaparral Elementary.

Journal # 5 Collaboration in a Web 2.0 Environment

Bull, Glen (2006, April). Collaboration in a web 2.0 environment. Learning and Leading with Technology, 33, Retrieved February 25, 2009, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume_33_2006_2005_/April_No_7_/April_2006.htm

Glen Bull's Article from Leading and Learning with Technology discusses the uses of Web 2.0 tools in a classroom setting. Bull discusses some of the ways educators can utilize these tools to allow students to create collaborative documents, blogs and checklists. The great thing about all these websites is that they are all free and easy to access from anywhere. The days of having to get your parents to drive you across town the night before a group project is due are long gone. Students can collectively edit documents and blogs from their home computers. These sites that Bull suggests all have RSS capabilities which allows the teachers to easily view changes to the student's blogs as they are made. What I found interesting is that this article still holds true today, two years later, when so much on the internet has changed.

1. Could these sites be used in an elementary school setting?
Today, with the amount of technology that young children are accustomed to using, there is no reason why this couldn't be utilized in an elementary classroom. Young students would be able to create blogs to discuss the solar system in the third grade or utilize class discussion pages to post comments about the class reading book. By utilizing these sites, teachers are teaching students to use the internet responsibly and appropriately all the while increasing content knowledge.

2. What are some of the benefits of using these types of programs?
Any student can use these sites and tools since they are free and user friendly. The great thing about them is that all students have access to these tools. There is no user fees or startup costs. Students can access these sites at libraries if they do not have computer access at home.

Journal #4 Create, Collaborate, Communicate

Riedel, Chris (2009, January). Create, collaborate, communicate: empowering students with 21st century skills. THE Journal, Retrieved February 18, 2009, from http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23872_1

In his article, Reidel discusses some innovative ways to add technology to the classroom and school setting. In many of the classrooms that you visit today, the teachers are still very uncomfortable with the use of technology. Beyond maybe a computerized grade book, many of them are still computer dinosaurs. Reidel has some great tips and ideas for teachers to begin the process of demystifying the internet and computer usage in the classroom. Many of these are ideas that are taught in technology classes in the credential programs, but for teachers and administrators who have not been a student in a while, this article is very informative.

1. How would I incorporate these ideas in the school setting?
These would be great ideas to incorporate into a professional growth day at the school. Have a couple teachers collaboratively teach each section. This helps spread the knowledge and also creates experts in certain concepts. If teachers have questions later on about the idea or tools, then they know which teachers to visit. As Reidel says, find a mentor! The fun thing is that most of the tech savvy teachers are now the newer teachers, who may need mentors in the traditional classroom items. It helps to create a partnership between some of the older teachers when information can be shared in both directions.

2. Which tools would I utilize in my classroom?
Some of the tools that I see myself utilizing in my classroom are Google Docs, EPals and Fantastic Contraptions. I love the idea of online pen pals in other countries and cities. Google Docs creates so many opportunities for students to collaboratively work on projects. Fantastic Contraptions has some wonderful physics concepts to inspire students in science.

Social Bookmarking- NETS 5

1. I chose the online exhibit, Charters of Freedom, from the National Archive website. This website shows copies of the declaration of independence, the constitution, and the bill of rights. This site allows you to sign a copy of the declaration alongside our forefathers. What a great class activity! Primary sources are a value in our classrooms because they allow students to view information in an unbiased manner.

2. The three areas that I chose are:

• Build and use a network of "natural helpers" at school and in the community as well as "experts" who have knowledge of the culturally, linguistically, racially, and ethnically diverse groups served by your school.
• Identify and include budgetary expenditures each fiscal year to facilitate personnel development through their participation in conferences, workshops, and seminars on cultural competence.
• Gather and organize resource materials related to culturally diverse groups for use by school staff.

I chose these three for a couple of reasons. I chose the first because I feel this is an important task because it creates a great resource for me as a teacher of people who have a vast amount that I can call upon when needed for my classroom. The second area I chose was related to identifying conferences and workshops that are necessary for educators in our school to attend within budget constraints. I was lucky enough as a student to be able to attend some of these conferences so I see the value added from finding money within the budget to allow educators to attend these. I chose the third area because this creates a great resource at my disposal to use in my classroom.

3. The site I chose was kidsreads.com. This site, geared towards kids age 6-12, has reviews of books and book lists for kids. It seems very kid friendly and encourages kids to pick books that they will enjoy reading.

4. Kathy Schrock's site has some very interesting lesson plans for beginning teachers to utilize to create their own lesson plans. For starting teachers, I think this is a great site for teachers to expand their repertoire of lesson plans. One note, though, is most of the lesson plans use a video or material that you have to them buy from her website. However, while you are building your media library, these are probably useful to own.

5. The theory of multiple intelligence is a great concept for teachers. It really encourages teachers to vary their teaching styles to address multiple learning styles since all children do not learn in the same way. The best idea would be for teachers to teach the same information and try to address as many of the areas as possible. This will expand the students' comprehension and engagement to the lesson plans.

6. Now a days, I think every new teacher has a little anxiety towards the holiday season. Trying to balance all the various religions whild still creating fun learning environment can seem a little overwhelming. This lesson plan from Teaching Tolerance offers tips and activites for the classroom to help teachers teach about Thanksgiving in a non stereotypical way. It also offers information from a variety of other organizations on the best ways to enjoy the holidays the right way in a multicultural classroom.

7. The EdChange Equity and Diversity Quiz was a real eye opener. I knew these discrepencies existed but not to the exent that some of these questions suggest. The question about the percentage of the US budget that goes to welfare was really intriguing to me. The amount of attention that is given to welfare spending is outrageous given that this is only 1% of our budget. As a parent of a young child who had complications at birth, the question about the well being of children in the wealthy countries really struck home. Insurance for families is expensive and all too often families can only afford the basics or the catastrophic policies. Children don't often get the preventive care they need and many mothers do not receive adequate prenatal care.

8. I received a 10 on the netiquette quiz. =^D
Netiquette is important for students to learn at an early age so that they understand the positive and productive ways of using the internet. Teaching kids early how to correctly navigate the internet helps them to understand the connection between the human behind the computer and the technology.

Journal #3 Keep them Chatting

Cole, Jeanie (2009,Feb). Keep them chatting. Learning and Leading, 36, Retrieved February 10, 2009, from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/200902

In this article, Jeanie Cole discusses some of the ways that educators can encourage students to go beyond the required answers to more meaningful and fun discussions on their blogs and wikis. Class blogs and wikis are fun, interactive ways for teachers to combine technology with classroom content knowledge. One issue that some teahcers have had with class blogs or online discussions is a lack of input or use by the students. They will post simply the required minumim. Cole discusses 4 ways to create posts that help get students' creative juices flowing. The 4 ways she suggests are high level open ended questions, the inquiry method, the discrepant event inquiry method, and illogical comparisons. Cole uses open ended question with high level thought process to promote student usage and encourage work that goes farther than cutting and pasting from Wikipedia. By using a blog or wiki for writing assignments versus just students creating individual papers, teachers can encourage collaboration between students. This allows the students to build upon each other's idea by adding comments or collaboratively creating work.

1. Does this have more implications in an elementary or high school setting?
I personally see this being utilized more in a high school setting where students are going to be more comfortable with the internet and higher level concepts. However, I think by 3th grade, students would be comfortable enough with the internet to be able to work on a wiki. Although, with the ease in which my 5 year old gets around on PBS. com, I suspect he might be ready to wiki earlier than 3rd grade.

2. How does peer evaluation aid in student learning?
Once students are comfortable with the standards that they should be writing to, a teacher can begin to institute peer evaluation. Peer evaluation is a great tool for students because it gives them a chance to read others' work and see other methods of writing or ideas that are presented. By commenting or evaluation, students become more familiar with the standards that they are working towards, so it will them in their own writing.

Journal #2 Museums in the Classroom

Reissman, R.. (2009). Museums in the Classroom. Learning and Leading with Technology, 38. Retrieved February 23, 2009 from: http:www.learning and leading-digital.com/learning-leading/200902

This article discusses some of the ways that museums' online sites can be useful to teachers. It has a great web site that lists hundreds of museum. This is a great tool for teachers. Many schools have had to cut back on field trips with budget cuts and growing strains on the PTA purse strings. So, what's the next best thing to visiting a museum? Going virtually! In addition, there is a site that lists great ideas for teachers who are unfamiliar with how to utilize museum sites. Museum exhibits are such a useful tool for students to tour so it is really wonderful that so many museums have such comprehensive websites. There is a museum out there for pretty much subject and genre so these sites can be utilized by a wide range of teachers. I absolutely loved the idea of turning the classroom into a museum exhibit. The students would enjoy this tremendously. It would be a great add on to a visit to a museum in Balboa Park.

What is one way that a teacher could utilize these sites?
Teachers could allow the students to search the sites for an exhibit related to a topic of their choice. Once they find the exhibit, they could write a newspaper article or even make a magazine describing the event. For students who are more science oriented, they could pick a natural history museum or the air and space museum. Other students might pick art exhibits or literature exhibits. The vast amount of options lets students pick something that they find interesting. Depending upon the english curiculum that a teacher was trying to teach, he or she could then gear the assignment to that.

Why would teacher use a virtual museum if there are real museums nearby?
Virtual museums offer a couple of advantages that the real museums do not. First, of course is the cost of visitng. Nothing! secondly, teachers can find exhibits from all over the world that directly relate to the topic of choice.

Journal #1 Passport to Digital Citizenship

Ribble, M (2008, December). Passport to digital citizenship. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved Feb 2, 2009, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/Current_Issue/L_L_November.htm

Mike Ribble's article dicusses the rise in technology use in all aspects of a person's life. We are inundated with technology in ways that were never thought imaginable 30 years ago. With this technology use also comes responsibility to ensure correct and responsible use. For students and their usage, teachers and parents collaboratively need to examine whether they are teaching students to use technology appropriately. Mike discusses 9 points that he feels are necessary to reflect upon to ensure technology's responsible use.
For me, what this article really drove home was the need for a truly collaborative effort between parents and teachers to ensure that students are safe and responsible in their computer and technology usage. Teachers can only teach so much. The next step becomes parent reinforcement at home. Keeping computers in common areas and knowing your childrens' websurfing habits are two ways that parents can reinforce correct technology useage at home. For parents who are not on the cutting edge of technology, this might feel like a daunting task.

Question 1. What are some good ways for teachers to educate students on digital citizenship?
First off, teachers need to role model good behavior and habits in their own personal life and in the classroom. Teachers should be mindful of what they post on the internet where their students might have access to it. Teachers can have lessons that offer students appropriate options for using the internet.

Question 2. How can teachers incorporate parents of all technology levels into the teaching of digital citizenship?
In many households today, children know more about technology than their parents. Teachers should encourage students to teach their parents new technology as this gives them a way to connect at home. Teachers should also make parents aware of resources in many districts that are available to them to learn more about computers. Many districts have evening adult classes or ROP programs during the day where adults can learn everything from turning on a computer to buying and selling on Ebay.

Intro Letter of Lauren

Hi, I'm Lauren Scirica. I'm a single mom of a four year old boy whom I adore. I am begining the process of getting my teaching credential from Cal State San Marcos so that I can eventually teach elementary school. I was born here in San Diego, lived for part of my childhood in Orange County and moved back to San Diego in time to attend Rancho Bernardo High. I attended UC Davis for my undergrad and received my BA from there in International relations. Go Aggies!! I was a tad tired of the political world at that point so I decided to do something different after graduation. I have been working in food service and retail since I graduated first as a assistant manager for Jamba Juice and more recently as a supervisor at Costco. However, the time has come, my friends, to not just talk of many things, but to actually FINALLY get my life back on the right track and to do something meaningful. Who wouldn't love a meaningful job with summers off?
My knowledge of technology is fairly varied but I would say that I qualify as an intermediate level. I am a PC user and can get around on the internet and basic functions of a computer with ease. My computer is not an extension of my life like some. I am not on myspace, don't have a facebook page and this is the first blog I have ever had. On the other hand, I managed the electronics department at Costco for the last year so I can explain the difference in LCD and plasma and help you hook up the wires behind your tv. I use office 2007 in my HP laptop.
Diversity and acceptance are two points that I have really tried to focus on in my life. In high school, I was actively involved in various organizations and activites that stressed this. I was in charge of the human relations conference and multicultural fair at the school. At Davis, I went a little less literal route and focused instead on strengthing a political party that I feel advocates diversity, social justice and letting everyones' voices be heard. The mission statement for the College of Education at Cal State San Marcos really seems to advocate these same ideas. This made my decision to attend CSUSM easy, especially since it's close to home and has a part time program. =)