Exploring Web 2.0 Tools

I recently set out to find some cool web 2.0 tools to use in the classroom, and I was quite happy with my finds. So, being the nice person that I am, I figured it would only be appropriate that I shared with you my unveiled hidden treasures.

Being an Early Childhood major, I really wanted to find something that was not only engaging for my students, but something that would also go beyond the traditional means of learning. I wanted to break away from a strictly adhered and overused curriculum, all while finding a way to still teach curriculum and state standards, minus the textbook. I looked and looked for some fun, interactive games, before stumbling across readwritethink.org. This website is truly phenomenal. It has everything from teacher resources to interactive games, professional development, and even parent resources. Read, Write, Think is strictly a literacy based website and it incorporates grades from kindergarten to seniors in high school. Did you secondary major catch that?! It has activities for high school students! I played around with some of the games for a few minutes before finding my favorite: Construct-a-Word! My fellow Early Childhood majors, you HAVE to check this game out. The website describes it as follows:

"Construct-a-Word provides a simple, engaging way for students to generate dozens of different words by first choosing an ending (for example -an, -ed, -at, -op) and then adding a beginning letter or blend. When a correct word is created, the word is stored in a Word Bank where students can read and review their words. For each ending, Construct-a-Word prompts students to create between 6 and 14 different possible words, adding an element of fun and discovery. It uses animation and sound to guide students through the steps of creating words, and employs prompts that are clear and easy to master. This interactive tool could be used individually or in small groups, either in one session or across multiple lessons."Click here to see it for yourself!

Construct-a-Word literally builds-on student knowledge of beginning sounds, ending sounds, rhyming words, sight words, and even spelling skills! This game covers a HUGE chunk of the required curriculum and state standards without ever cracking open a book. And the best part? The students don't even realize they are learning!
In my opinion, Read, Write, Think enhances everyday, menial activities and turns them into something exciting and something that students will look forward to. This website is more than just "information seeking." Read, Write, Think promotes high level thinking in ALL of its games and activities. Simply put: check it out!

Another website I found and completely fell in love with is www.schrockguide.net. Ladies and gentlemen, if you have never seen this website, stop what your doing right now and visit it! Holy molly, Kathy Schrock, the founder of the webpage, is the best technology guru in the history of technology gurus! I wish I could tell you to just check out one thing on her website, but I simply can't. That is how much good stuff she has. At the bottom of the home page, she has listed 54 tabs (yes, I counted them) that cover every inch of modern technology that you could probably think of. All you do is click on an area that interests you and it will link you to multiple, separate webpages that correspond to that subject matter. For example, she had a QR code tab that was calling my name. So, I clicked on it and it brought up all of these pages that directed me to tons of QR code generators. Naturally, I created on to share with you. If you don't have a QR code scanner on your phone, then download one, scan the code below, and read my message!


Fancy, right?! I had absolutely no idea that there was so much offered to teachers. I have always shied away from technology in the classroom, not because I don't know how to use it, but because it intimated me. How could I use? What would I use it for? What if it doesn't work? I let all of these questions and fears keep me from growing as a teacher and offering my future students the best I could give them. So, I highly encourage you to set aside 15 minutes of your time to explore these websites. Don't let the fear of the unknown keep you from teaching to your full potential. You never know, you might be surprised by the opportunities that await you!

I want to hear from you! What are some comments, questions, or concerns you might have after reading this post?
Do you want to incorporate web 2.0 tools in your classroom?

Addison Foster

Technology, Conferences, and Encylo-Media! OH MY!

This week I went on an adventure. However, this was not your typical adventure to some warm, sandy beach on some private island in the Caribbean, or even an adventure to brave the elements on top of Everest; instead, this was a learning adventure. On Tuesday, I attended OTA’s Encyclo-Media technology conference. While this may not have the most “exciting” adventure, it definitely took me on an educational journey while I explored the different uses of technology in the classroom! OTA (Oklahoma Technology Association) hosts an annual technology conference to educate teachers on how to effectively incorporate technology into their classrooms. These conferences usually last two days, but unfortunately, I was only able to stay for a few hours. Nonetheless, I would still like to share with you what I learned in hopes that you can learn something too!

Shannon Miller- Keynote

This year, Shannon Miller, a mom, teacher/librarian, blogger, author and a technology genius, was invited to speak at the opening keynote. Can I just stop to praise this woman? She is absolutely incredible! The impact she has left on students, parents, other teachers, and children around the world is inspiring! If you ever get the chance to see her in person, I would highly recommend that you go! She started her keynote by asking a simple, yet thought-provoking question: "What would happen if you listened to your students and let them have a voice?" Miller focused her presentation on giving your students a voice in their education through the use of technology. She explained that several years ago, she conducted a survey among the students at her elementary school, asking them that if they could have a say in how technology was used in school, how would they use it? Ultimately, students wanted to use technology to connect, collaborate, create, experience, access, make a difference, and have a voice. Knowing what students wanted, Miller created a learning environment in her school that incorporated those results. Using these seven points, she shared with the audience innovative, technological activities that she created due to the results of her survey.

The first point Miller discussed was CONNECT. In the survey, students expressed the desire to interact with the world outside of their classroom walls. To meet this need, Miller used what is called “Mystery Skype.” Mystery Skype is an educational game, created by educators, that connects classes across the country through a Skype call. The purpose of the game is for students to guess one another’s location by asking questions. Through this simple use of technology, classrooms have been able to collaborate with each other while learning!

Miller’s second point was COLLABORATE. Students articulated their desire to work alongside others outside of their school. This was accomplished through the use of Twitter and Skype. When children would voice names of people in whom they looked up to, or someone who they would like to meet, Miller would contact that person on Twitter and would ask them to Skype with their school. Amazingly, Miller contacted and Skyped with famous authors, such as Eric Carle and Mercer Mayer, as well as, other celebrities, such as Joseph Staten, who interacted with the students.

The third point in Miller’s presentation was CREATE. Students want to do more than just write projects and papers, they want to create something unique to them through technology. To grant students’ access to more hands-on learning, Miller let her students use creative outlets, such as blogs, YouTube, Minecraft, and Instagram.

The fourth point was EXPERIENCE. Students verbalized that they want to virtually tour the world and experience what the real world looks like from the comfort of their schools. Easily enough, Miller employed apps like Google Maps, and websites that take you to other sides of the world through a computer screen.

Miller’s fifth point was ACCESS. Students want to learn through the access of non-traditional learning tools. Miller explained that often times teachers are so intimidated by technology that they tend to shy away from it. But in this day and age, technology is a part of our society and it is only fair that our students get the opportunity to learn from it! So Miller acknowledged her students thirst for technology and used (and continues to use) everything from educational video games to social media.

Shannon Miller- Keynote

The sixth point discussed in the presentation was MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Students not only want to make a difference in their own learning experience, but they also want to impact the world around them, which is teaching them to think beyond themselves. After Miller’s son came home one afternoon saying the rainbow bands (rubber band bracelets) were going to be banned in school because of misuse, she encouraged him to have a voice and persuade the administration to keep these bracelets. Astonishingly, what started as a little voice pleading to keep rainbow bands in the school, turned into a non-profit organization lead by the school to create rainbow bands for impoverished children across the world! By encouraging students to have a voice, that school has been able to impact thousands of people, and make a difference!

The final point in Miller’s presentation was HAVE A VOICE. Ultimately, the survey showed that above everything else, students want to play a hand in their own learning. Miller encouraged the hundreds of teachers in the audience to let their students fall in love with learning by allowing them to do what they are passionate about, whether that includes technology or not. She said that students feel empowered when they get to make decisions about their education. So she asked again as she concluded her speech, "What would happen if you listened to your students and let them have a voice?"

What were to happen if we gave our students a voice? This question has rattled around in my brain since that keynote Tuesday morning. What would be the results if we as teachers listened to our students? I look forward to finding out the answer to that question in a few short years when I am met face to face with a classroom full of student voices!

What are some comments, questions, or concerns you might have after reading this post?

Did you like Shannon Miller’s seven points? Do you think you would like to incorporate some of her ideas into your classroom?

Addison Foster

Adapted Mind: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

I recently stumbled across the best thing invented since sliced bread: it's a website called Adapted Mind (adaptedmind.com). Adapted Mind is a program that was created in 2013 by a group of graduate students from Harvard, Stanford, and Berkeley, in an attempt to instill in students a love for reading and math. And I'd say that is exactly what they did, because I'm twenty and even I enjoy it!

This program is basically a tutorial and instructional gaming site all in one. It combines great gaming graphics with a wide range of skill levels to engage students in a fun way of learning. Students can easily get on the website, which is completely ad free, and select a Common Core aligned, specified content lesson (such as money, fractions, vocabulary, fluency, etc.) in either math or reading. It includes easy to follow instructions and it even gives the student the option of listening to directions read aloud. As the student plays, the program branches as the student gets better and learns more. Adapted Mind is easy to navigate, enter, and exit and is appropriate for all ages, and not to mention a great resource for teachers!

This program is great because students can always pick up where they left off. It also provides an ongoing assessment, keeping tabs on what the student has mastered and what they have not. It even motivates students by using incentives. So, for every question the student answers correctly, five virtual coins are given to the player to spend on their avatar, which in this case is the monster pictured above. What I really enjoy about this program is if the student answers the question incorrectly, they can watch a tutorial filmed by a real life teacher explaining the correct answer. And if that's not enough, it also includes free worksheets for students to use offline. It accommodates first through sixth grade reading students and first through eighth grade math students and it allows them to play up to three levels for FREE in each content area! Or, for just $195 per year, teachers can regularly use this program in their classrooms: this price includes a free monthly trial so the teacher can make sure that this program will work for their students and it allows the teacher to add up to 35 students on a single account. By buying into this software, teachers can frequently monitor their students' progress, access their grades, customize a unique learning plan for each student based on pretests and receive unlimited practice! Over 60% of United States School Districts have invested in this software for teachers to use in their classrooms. I plan on using Adapted Mind in my classroom as well, (whether it be 1^st- 6^th/8th) by using it as a remediation service for my reading and math students through a direct model. I also plan on using this program as an assessment strategy to see what my students know and don’t know and help them remedially in subject areas in which they are struggling.

I could not dote on this program enough. It is truly wonderful and I think it has great potential in helping students in reading and math. Make sure to check out Adapted Mind to see how you could use it in your classroom. I was highly impressed, and I hope you are too!

Make sure to leave me any questions, comments or concerns down below! 

I’m Interested in hearing your opinions about Adapted Mind.

You can find more information about Adapted Mind here: Adapted Mind

Addison Foster

In the News: Social Media in the Classroom

A frequently asked question by teachers in today’s world of technology is “Should I use social media in my classroom?” While this question is certainly subject to one’s own personal opinion of social media, the article “U.S. K-12 Teachers Reluctant to Integrate Social Media in Classrooms,” written in August of 2016, briefly addresses the issue.

In the article, “U.S. K-12 Teachers Reluctant to Integrate Social Media in Classrooms,” author Richard Chang discusses teachers’ hesitancy to incorporate social media into their classrooms while also discussing some usage tips if a teacher were to include social media in the classroom. Right off the bat, Chang states that “nearly nine in 10 (86%) of American K-12 teachers have not integrated social media into their classrooms, and the majority (62%) indicate that they do not plan to do so” because of all the uncertainties that come along with the usage of social media. However, Kathy Cook, the dean of educational technologies at the University of Phoenix’s College of Education, says that “while there is understandably some hesitancy to incorporate social media into the classroom, there is a wealth of opportunity for teachers to use social media to enhance the student learning experience.” Cook also stated that “the first step to using social media as an educational tool is acknowledging its impact on the lives of today’s students and teaching them about the importance of digital citizenship… [because] it can help set the tone for their future usage.” She then gives five tips for using social media in the classroom: “start small, create boundaries, be channel agnostic, continue learning, and be social.” Although Cook briefly covers a few tips when using social media, she never fully addresses my personal concern and the main concern of teachers, which is the safety of their students, parents, and themselves.

While this article was an interesting read, I was still left with my initial question: “Should I incorporate social media into my classroom?” However, after reading this article, I know that there are other teachers out there wondering the same thing and are reluctant to integrate social media because it is difficult to find answers to this ever challenging question. Reflecting back to classroom discussions about social media, I also see a concern as to how its usage would be monitored. Not only does social media usage need to be monitored, but also the resources used to access social media. This would include monitoring internet access and digital media, such as iPads, computers, or phones used to access the internet. I do believe that if properly monitored, social media could have a positive impact by connecting the classroom together as a community, as well as connecting the classroom with the outside community. However, if used incorrectly, I can see negative outcomes, such as arising ethical issues, privacy threats, and overall safety. When it comes down to it, I believe I will stick with better, safer methods of uniting my classroom until social media can prove itself to be safe and reliable for my myself, my parents, and most of all, my students.

I’m Interested in hearing your opinions about the article?

What did you think and what’s your opinion about incorporating social media into the classroom?

If you would like to read this article for yourself, you can access it at: T|H|E Journal

Addison Foster

Digital Philosophy

After reading the articles "The Many Faces of You" and "In Search of Digital Philosophy," I have a broader understanding of digital philosophy.

In the article "The Many Faces of You," it was brought to my attention that there is a digital wall dividing our lives through what we call social media. We tend to juggle a personal side and a professional side. In a way, technology has changed human nature. At one point in time, our friends and family, colleagues and bosses all saw the same "you." However, with the evolution of technology, human nature has changed to what the article referenced as "segmented and specialized." People now have a different face/mask/facade that they put on for each person in their lives. For example, you act in a different manner with your boyfriend or girlfriend then you do with your parents. The article provides the example of Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner with your family to hit this theme home: "Your mom and boyfriend are rarely in the same room and that's why Christmas and Thanksgiving are such a stressful time for people, because their world's collapse." We try so hard to keep our worlds separated and social media and technology only help us to do so. And unfortunately, as social norms changes, so do we. We adapt to what is the "normal" even if that means losing our ability to be a "single person." And the world will let us live two separate lives while still being the same person, and to me, that is the sad reality of social media. Instead, we need to stop compartmentalizing our lives, and live as we were created to live- as one unique, individual person. YOU.

The article "In Search of a Digital Philosophy," confirmed what I have suspected for several years: we cannot strike a balance between technology and the here and now. This article explains that at the World Cup in 2010, England lost to Germany because the referees did not see what the rest of the world saw- "a goal as clear as day." Criticized by their lack of replay technology, the FIFA, the host of the World Cup, came to its defenses saying that constant replay takes away from the game itself and "the narrative community that defines the sport would all but disappear." One can understand the FIFA's skepticism about technology, however, one can easily see the frustration of the English soccer fans. So here we are with a dilemma: when is it okay to use technology and when is it not? Today, so many people are consumed by technology that they forget to find that balance and put the technology down to enjoy the here and now! "FIFA was making a point that is becoming hard to dispute: To digitize something is not merely to bring efficiency to it. It is also in many cases to change it in a fundamental way, to give it a new essence." To digitize a book means to lose the enjoyment of flipping the pages and smelling the old book smell. To digitize games means to lose the child-like excitement of moving the game pieces across the board. To digitize sports means to lose the sport itself. So I sympathize with the FIFA- technology does have a tendency to take over, but we simply have to find a balance between the digital world and the real world. We mustn't conform to technology, but instead, we must let technology conform to us!

Feel free to read these articles for yourself and share your opinions.
I'm curious to see what you think about these articles and I would love to hear what you have to say!

Addison Foster

Classroom Technology and Issues

Born in 1996, one of the greatest experiences in my lifetime has been growing up in the technological world and watching technology evolve into what it is today. One of my earliest memories of technology was getting a cassette player for my third Christmas. I had many tapes that sang the ABC's, numbers one through ten, and the books of the Bible. I also remember listening to cassette players in kindergarten while sitting in a circle for carpet time. Our teacher would play the songs as we sang along.We also used Leap Frog touch books in first grade as we learned to read. I vividly recall sitting at my desk reading along with the Leap Frog and occasionally taking my Leap Frog pen to touch the words that I didn't know so I could hear them aloud. By the third grade, we used overhead projectors to see our spelling words on the board and to correct grammar. In the seventh grade, my English teacher bought a television set for his classroom so we could watch Obama being sworn into office. And after entering the eighth grade, my school set up a computer lab. By the time I finished high school, my teachers and fellow students used iPads in and out of the classroom.

However, with the pleasure of watching technology grow and find its place in society, I have also seen many issues arise with technology in personal lives and in the classroom. One of these issues is a social issue. With social media at a trending peak, it has become problematic, particularly in the classroom. Along with social media comes the risk of privacy and possible misuse on both the teachers' and the students' behalf.

Another issue with technology is with cultural/equity issues. Technology, while it can be a blessing, can also be a curse. Technology has the ability to unite people from across the world, but unfortunately, it also has the ability to divide people within one another's backyard. With cultural differences lingering among  the technological world, as well as perceived gender biases towards technology and special need students, technology sometimes does more harm than good.

Other problems that arise with technology encompass a wide variety of educational issues. The most common issue within the United States today is the lack of funding for technology. However, even if there was money to fund technology in the classrooms, the question of dependability and accountability would arise: Are teacher too dependent on technology to help them teach? What do the students and teachers do with said technology? How do we measure if technology is good or bad in the classroom? And what technology should teachers and students use?

The last issue that arises from technology is legal/ethical issues. Along with technology comes responsibility. The responsibility to use technology with academic integrity, the responsibility to be safe while online and use good judgement, the responsibility to guard yourself from hackers, and the responsibility to download software and applications the correct and legal way.

Technology is a wonderful thing and I truly believe that it should be incorporated into classrooms. However, these issues should be addressed to keep teachers and students safe!

Addison Foster