Journal #9 "Reading Redefined for a Transmedia Universe" by Annette Lamb

Lamb, A. (2011). Reading redefined for a transmedia universe. Learning and Leading With Technology, 39(3), 12-17. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november-2011.aspx


Summary: I found this article very interesting because I am a very avid reader. I will almost always prefer reading a book over watching a movie or participating in activities. I have recently made the change from paper book reading to digital e-book reading and until now have never thought about the effects that this switch is having on the world. I have witnessed in today's classrooms, that reading is slowing becoming digital. Even though it is slightly scary for me to think that one day paper books will become a thing of the past, the advances in the digital reading world are quite impressive. These advances now allow readers to highlight, search for words or phrases, virtually bookmark as well as use dictionaries and take notes. Though some of these tools could be utilized using paper books, such as highlighting, using dictionaries and note taking, digital reading devices make these talks quite a bit easier. Lamb also pointed out that these digital readers make reading more interactive the classroom, or simply at home by providing the young reader with options on how to access the reading material such as "read to me," "play with me" and "read by myself" options. I believe that these features are great for children who are learning to read or even struggling with their reading development. Lamb also shares that many researchers have found that interactive books with high quality navigation has provided support that benefits struggling readers. In addition to support for struggling readers, this new technology is also providing support for visual and hands-on learners. Through Transmedia reading in the classroom, students are able to not just read, but participate in digital activities as well. I believe that this is just great because I myself am a visual and hands-on learner. I envy children today who are given that ability to benefit from this technology. I believe that today's advancing technology is such a positive step in the education world, though I cant help but make a connection to the book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury and feel as though it is a personal responsibility of mine to hoard as many paper books as possible.


Question #1: How is digital book reading helpful in the classroom?


I believe it is helpful in the way that, students are not only excited to use their high-tech devices, but their attentions are held longer because of the level of interaction. I also believe that because of the excitement of these devices, students will be more excited to read. These devices are also more effective when considering the increasing classroom size and space left in the classroom for books and other materials. These devices provide a small space to store many books as well as giving the reader a variety of material. 


Question #2: Can digital readers and electronic devices be a distraction in classrooms rather then a helpful tool?


These electronic devices can definitely be a distraction if not utilized correctly. I think the best way for these devices to retain their helpfulness is to implement struct rules in the classroom, as well as assure that there are no educationally unrelated information, software or material on these devices. If these things are not made available to users, they will not cause a problem. 

Journal #8 Adaptive Technology

Communication:

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) includes all forms of communication (excluding oral speech) that is used to express needs, wants, thoughts, est. The AAC provides these different communication methods to people with significant speech impairments. An AAC aid is a device, electronic or non-electronic, used to communicate by sending out or receiving messages. These devices range from simple communication cards (No/Low-Tech) to speech generating devices (High-Tech). 


No/Low-Tech Tool:


A No/Low-Tech Tool generally means that there are no electronic devices involved. These tools can range anywhere from picture cards to family photos. No/Low tech tools are used to communicate by receiving and sending messages. An example of a No/Low-Tech tools is a communication board. The user uses, depending on their level of physical ability, their eye-gaze direction, a lazer pointer, or a head and mouth stick to select words, phrases, pictures, letters, and/or symbols from the communication board to relay a message. In a classroom, this tool can be utilized to allow the student to communicate to the teacher, as well as other students, if they need anything or if they have a question. This tool would help to fill the communication gap that is present when a student has a communication disability. 


High-Tech Tools:


A High-Tech Tool is an electronic device that stores and retrieves of electronic messages. These devices can also be known as speech generating devices (SGD) or voice output communication aids (VOCA). These devices vary in weight, size and storage ability depending on the physical ability of the user. An example of a High-Tech tool is Springboard Lite. This communication device is ideal for an individual, adult or child, who is just beginning the augmentative communication process. This tool is also ideal for individuals who have shown achievement using No/Low-Tech tools and are ready for a step up! The Springboard Lite is an easy to use, portable communication device whose communication abilities have the ability to grow along with the user's capabilities. Thus  this tool has the ability to serve various individuals with a variety of skill levels and needs. In the classroom, this device can be used to help communication between the teacher and student. 


Accessibility:


Alternative input devices replace traditional devices that an individual who can not physically utilize with an alternative device that they are able to use. These alternative devices allow the user to activate a computer using their mouth, breath, eye movement, head, thumb, a single finger or his/her feet. 


Hardware:


Alternate input hardware are devices that provide physically restricted individuals the means to access computers using various body movements. One example of an alternative input device is the Quick Glance 3. This device is a replacement mouse designed for Windows 98/XP, which allows its user to move the mouse pointer around the screen using their eye movements. The user is also able to "click" a desired location by blinking their eyes, staring, or using the hardware switch. Various options for mimicking mouse functions provides the user with complete accessibility to all Windows features including dragging, double clicking, and right clicking. In the classroom, this hardware will allow a physically impaired student to participate in classroom activites as well as express needs and feelings to the teacher as well as other students. 


Software:


Alternate input software are provides physically restricted individuals the means to access computers in various ways. An example of such a software is the Talking Screen software. This software allows individuals who are non-speaking and non-literate or individuals who prefer to use symbols and pictures to communicate, to communicate what they are feeling and thinking. This is a one of a kind software that offers a easy to use screen that encourages social interaction and promotes literacy. As a result of using this software, many individuals have experienced a dramatic growth in language development. In the classroom, this software will help to stimulate the user's social interaction, buy allowing effective communication. 


Classmate's blogs I commented on:


Ana
Lindsey

Journal #7 PLN

PLN: A PLN (Personal Learning Network) is a custom personal learning environment created, managed and utilized by its owner. A PLN is a virtual place where a learner can interact with people who hold the same views and interests to help develop and contribute to their personal and professional development and knowledge. In my PLN I currently use a social bookmarking site called Diigo, Twitter, Skype, gmail, Google Docs,  and Blogger.com. These learning networks will help me as a teacher by enabling me to access information, expertise and experiences shared by other, more practiced teaching professionals as well as share my own.


Twitter: Though i was apprehensive in joining Twitter at first, this networking tool has proven to be a valuable tool for me as a future educator. I am currently following 9 people, organizations or blogs with some connection to education. I have already leared quite a bit from either reading their tweets or the links that these people have posted. I recently participated (or rather observed) an education chat, #edchat. I found this discussion very interesting to say the least. I was most interested in the subject of professional development (PD). One participant in the chat wrote, "If we view teachers as professionals, then PD should be focused on what they think they need, not state, fed and district mandates." I believe this is a very important statement, because teachers know better then anyone else what is needed in the classroom. This directly correlates with what another participant stated, "The best educators do not wait for PD days. They know their weaknesses and have the drive to improve on those weaknesses everyday!" I agree with this who heartedly. A good educator reflects on thier classroom experience everyday and alters their lesson plans, approach, est. to better their students' experience in the classroom. I do believe that is important for teachers' voices to be heard, because not only do they understand better then anyone what their classrooms and schools need, but they have a responsiblility and direct connection to the students to follow through. I have also learned, thanks to my participation in this chat, that there are resources, such as http://cybraryman.com/profdevelop.html, where one can find blogs directly related to professional development. Overall this experiece has graced me with valuable knowledge.


Diigo: Diigo is a social bookmarking website that allows a user to bookmark and tag web pages that interest the user either on a personal or professional level. Diigo also allows you to highlight and or attach comments to any part of the bookmarked page. All bookmarked pages can be shared with your Diigo network, shared with specific people or kept private. I currently follow 8 people and am followed by 2 and I plan on continuing to expand those numbers! I decided to follow Jonathan Tepper, Phil Taylor, Karen Richardson, and others, because they bookmark great resources for teachers, technological websites as well as great informational websites. I believe that I will benefit greatly from these educators' bookmarks, comments and highlights! I have also bookmarked 3 websites using Diigo and used the tag feature to label them PLN. I bookmarked a blog called Eduwonk because it focuses on the current educational policies and news. As a future teacher, I believe that it is important to be aware of the ongoing education problems and successes. I also bookmarked the blog Moving at the Speed of Creativity because it houses really great technological projects for classrooms as well as educational news, est. Finally i decided to bookmark TeachingSagittarian (Living to Learn) it contains a lot of technological ideas for the classroom as well as the blogger's own feedback on using these ideas. I am very interested in technology in the classroom as well as current educational policies, so these blogs have great promise in being great learning resources for me. 


Digital Discussion Forums(Ning): For my Digital Discussion Forum I chose to join the Educators PLN. The Educators PLN is a Ning site dedicated to the support of Personal Learning Networks for Educators. After adding the Educators PLN badge to my Blog, I hand picked the blog entry titled, "What's Love Got to do With It?" from the Educators PLN website. I found this blog very touching because it relates directly to the inspiration that drove me to enter the teaching profession. This blog is about a young boy who's home life was loveless which lead to behavioral problems at school. Most teachers and administrators made no effort to help this child, instead they began to take action to remove him from their school to rid themselves of this "problem" child. One teacher saw this child for what he was, an innocent child in desperate need of love and care. This teacher took the boy under her wing and because of her love and care, he began to improve behaviorally. This blog entry inspired me further and reaffirmed my personal reasons for entering the teaching profession. I believe that it is not only a teacher's job to teach their students, but it is also their job to provide a positive environment for their students. This story was very refreshing to me, because not only did this teacher create a positive environment for this child, but she got to know him and recognized his problems for what they were, but took the time to change his life. 

Journal #6 "Google+: The Complete Guide" by Ben Parr & "Educators - Google+ is for You" by Chris Brogan

Google+: The Complete Guide 
by Ben Parr

Parr, B. (2011, July 16). Google+: The complete guide. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2011/07/16/google-plus-guide/

Summary: This article by Ben Parr is meant to thoroughly explain Google+, which is a social network created to rival Facebook. This article is meant to answer the simple question "Why should someone use Google+?" The answer to this is a bit more complicated. Parr goes on to explain features of Google+ including, profiles, circles, stream and sharing content, sparks, and hangouts. I believe that the two most impressive aspects of Google+ are circles and hangouts. Using the circles feature, one is easily able to organize and separate family  friends and business (or really whatever categories you would like). Ultimately combining the elements of twitter and Facebook, one is able to more effectively filter their shared information, giving one more control over their content. Hangouts are advanced video chats. Using this feature, one is able to participate in a group chat facilitating up to 10 members. This article holds a lot of detailed information and would be very useful to anyone thinking about joining Google+.

Question #1: How is Google+ a educational tool??

Educators can utilize many features, such as circles, group chats as well as it's streaming and sharing features to enhance communication, regardless of ones location. Even though Google+ is not specifically formulated to facilitate educational practices, there are many features that and educator can utilize the bring technology into the classroom and easier relay information, updates and data to students. 

Educators - Google Plus is For You 
by Chris Brogan

Brogan, C. (2011, Sept 30). Educators – Google Plus is for you. Retrieved from http://www.chrisbrogan.com/gpluseducators/

Summary: Chris Brogan's blog advocates and explains the benefits of using Google+ specifically for educators. He explains how utilizing the circles feature, an educator can organize groups for accessible instruction. By utilizing the circles feature, one can easily share lesson plans, videos, pictures, links est. with specific circles. Discussions can also be held using the comment feature as well as the hangout feature. Brogan's entire article is a exciting, positive review of Google+. 

Question #2: Is this internet social networking tool safe for adolescents to use in an educational way?

I think that Google+ has potential to become a very valuable tool for educators, but this is only  possible if students are responsible with their social networking privileges. I think that for this to work, the student's parents would have to be actively involved in their child's use of this tool by monitoring their Google+ accounts. I also believe that a lesson on cybersafety  would have to be mandatory.