ED 809 Final Blog Post. (To the next 809)

Bringing technology into a classroom isn't complicated and it isn't a substitute for learning, it is a process. The process is a team effort between instructors and students to learn how to communicate with digital information. New technologies can enhance learning and should not be used as a distraction but an encouragement to learn more.

ED809 is a good resource toward learning how to start the integrating process. Technologies that we may take for granted like, Twitter, Facebook, Blogging and even some online games can be used in a way that bridges the gap between traditional teaching and digital learning.
Anytime there is an opportunity to create a virtual classroom or a discussion forum then use it. Navigating through systems like canvas and the student portal are practice for searching online for tools to use in lesson plans.
The overall objective for any classroom is to ensure there is a safe space for learning success therefore the following are important to consider:

1. Keep your online identity professional. In this digital age there is much information that can be gathered from our social media accounts so be sure to conduct yourself online the way that you want to be known in person.
2. Do not be afraid of trying something new. Even if you consider yourself proficient in certain technologies, learning something new or learning a new way to use what you have can be a great enhancement to your classroom.
3. Learning can be fun. A digital classroom opens the door to shared learning around the world. Find lesson plans, that are similar to yours, that use different forms of media to keep the attention of your class.
4. Always ask questions. Answers are available to those who ask and it is always beneficial to look for answers together.

Teaching is a team effort so use this class as a playbook for success.

I found this link helpful: http://www.teachhub.com/12-easy-ways-use-technology-your-classroom-even-technophobic-teachers

5 Things about Me

1.  My daughter is the greatest blessing that I could ever have in my life.  She is a tremendously gifted artist that I will brag about until I see her name in the credits of the next animated movie.  I wouldn't be able to say anything about myself until I give the reason why I am so happy.

2.  I am originally from Waterbury, CT and moved to Maine when I was 18.  I was very good athlete growing up but I allowed the negative influences of the area I grew up in to affect me so I enrolled in the job corps program which gave me the opportunity to refocus and change for the better.  I did get the chance to revisit school sports.  I played college basketball at the age of 33.

3.  I proudly served in the United States Army in defense of our freedom after the attack on our country on 9/11.  I was 29 when I joined so I was considered the "Old Man" of my basic training class.  This was by far one of the most difficult challenges that I have ever faced but I grew as a person and excelled as a soldier.  My time overseas was bittersweet, I missed my family but was proud of the job that I was doing.  I did get injured on deployment and the Army recognized my accomplishments by awarding me leadership honors and granting me a full retirement.  I am currently positioning myself to give back by volunteering for the VA.

4.  Professionally, I have received a 4yr degree from NESCOM and a graduate degree from Husson which has allowed me to work in the community with professionals of various occupations.  I have had the privilege of working as DJ and radio broadcaster, writer for the Bangor Daily News and Chef at the Lucerne Inn.  Because I have so much fun working in those areas I actually don't consider it work.  Who doesn't like getting paid for having fun.

5.  Personally, my passions are cooking and writing.  There are many other things that I consider my hobbies but these two things are my creative escape.  I don't mind hosting small dinner parties or just experimenting in my own kitchen.  I created some nice recipes that others enjoy and are available for purchase online.  Writing for me is therapy.  Since coming home from overseas I have been able to write as a means of decompressing and also as a way to have others see the positive in adverse situations.  I have been fortunate enough to publish a book and am currently responding to requests to write another.

Anytime Blog Post: 3 Blogs

Ms. Cassidy's Classroom Blog
A class of 6 year olds inviting the world into their classroom

A recommend Ms. Cassidy's Blog for any instructor looking for ways to connect technology into the classroom.  Even though this blog is about the activities of younger students, the concepts are ubiquitous and can be adapted for every grade level.  Here is a link to check out for yourself:

http://mscassidysclass.edublogs.org/

Two of my personal favorite blogs appear on Youtube as video blogs.  The first blog belongs to my daughter.  She has been cataloging here progression in art and video production since she was 9 years old.  Not only has her talent improved but she has gained a dedicated fan base and has started her own business.  I am very proud of her.  You can find her videos here:  https://www.youtube.com/user/Gingercat15/videos

The second may not be considered a traditional blog but I approach it like it is.  Fail Army puts out weekly videos that are a compilation of the recorded, often times funny misfortunes of others.  This is my guilty pleasure however, I use this as a muse for comedy writing and commercials and I recommend it with a disclaimer.  If you are easily offended, extremely sympathetic, and have a dry sense of humor then this site is not for you.  But aware that the camera is always somewhere and always rolling.
*Warning, this may contain Graphic Language*

Current Event (tech and the classroom)

"Alexander Barefield, 17, was charged with making terroristic threats on social media Monday night. During his court appearance Wednesday, Barefield was given a $10,000 bond and his case was bound over to superior court. 

During his court appearance, the arresting officer testified that a concerned citizen reported the screenshot of Barefield's social media post. The post was made on Snapchat and Instagram. 

A screenshot of the message was shared that stated: "I'm shooting the [expletive] out of the school tomorrow don't [expletive] come to Northside it won't be the place to be."

http://www.wtvm.com/story/34049193/columbus-teen-claimed-social-media-was-hacked-prior-to-terroristic-threat-arrest

This was the morning news story on Channel 9 in Georgia and highlights an alarming trend among students and their social media habits.  The classroom represents a safe place for learning and new technology such as 3D printers, Virtual Reality, Face Time and even social media help to enhance learning by making it more interactive.  Students can create, explore and network at the push of button and swipe of a screen.  But with all the good this technology introduces, the negative offset is definitely present.

Social media apps are easily accessible and provide an outlet for many, this generation seems to be more online at times than in a line with other human beings.  In the above story, Barefield claims that his account was hacked, which is possible, but what about the probability that it wasn't and he used his app to make this threat.  The questions remain, what steps can be actually taken to supervise these accounts; Where does it start? Where does it end?  How do we teach positive social behavior when students can hide behind an online identity?

As a teacher, it would be my concern that the same tools I can use in my classroom to introduce rural Maine to Frankfort, Germany could be used in hurting a student in the classroom across the hall, as in the following case where a teacher was arrested for using snapchat to engage in inappropriate behavior with a student:

http://www.wtxl.com/news/more-details-on-teacher-accused-of-sexual-assault-in-leon/article_02ee1baa-bd53-11e6-b0ba-7fd318b052f6.html

Institutions of learning need to be safe places. Teachers of this digital age must remain vigilante to protect themselves as well as their students therefore when introducing new tech in the class it is ever important to be mindful of the dangers as well as the benefits.

All Kale is Breaking Loose (a review on Kale)

Meals should taste good and be good for you.  This should be a review about a product and the product that I chose is my favorite ingredient, Kale.

This isn't a bandwagon journey about the leafy green that connects to the next newest superfood phenomenon but more of a brief presentation of the benefits of adding kale to the daily diet.

Kale, high in fiber, low fat, and low calorie can be eaten raw, baked, sauteed, and pulsed into juices to take advantage of some great health benefits.  10 of them can be found here:  10 Health Benefits of Kale.

Other green veggies, like collard greens, spinach, beet greens, and broccoli are great on their own but kale is like all of these in one.  I would usually add it to these other greens to get an extra boost of vitamins.

For some people, eating anything healthy and green means that it might not taste good however here are some ways to include kale that enhances any meal:

Step Outside of the Culinary School Box

Just because you are in school doesn't mean that you can't expand your horizons and get your career started.

For example you can do something as simple as build your portfolio of recipes on sites like:
http://www.zazzle.com/southern_style_soul_food_postcard-239888995505756087

Creating recipe cards is a good way to network and share your passion for culinary.

Or you can take your pallet to the limit by exploring the bizarre:

The point is, there will always be learning to accomplish but using what you already know can help you build the skills necessary to be proficient in your craft right now.

Top Ten Items from the 80's That Never Caught On!

While I was in the army I was in a platoon with soldiers a lot younger than myself.  Because of their age they just didn't understand some of my outdated references.

LONG LIVE THE 80's...I say but time didn't seem to agree with me.  Here is a list of at least 10 things that did not trancend the decades.

1. Larry Bird & Magic Johnson running for president. 
2. Sitcom Trading Cards.
3. Big Hair Band travel sized shampoo.
4. Miami Vice Shaving Kit: (Don Johnson-nothing, Phillip Michael Thomas-mascara, Edward James Olmos-A BLENDER)
5. Skinny Ties R Us. 
6. Tears for Fears Counseling sessions and Anger Management (Shout, Shout, Let it all out) 
7. Quick Start Heavy Metal kit (Booze, Drugs, Spandex)
8. Break Dancing Insurance
9. MILLI VANILLI!
10. Credit Card Management.

Anyone old enough to remember any of these references should get a laugh...mweav

Module 6 Graded Assignment – Twitter Chat

The journey started at https://sites.google.com/site/twittereducationchats/home That lead me through a series of winding stairs of chats and blogs of the educational fashion.
There were many educators who made their chats and blogs available, the most interesting concepts about modern educational practice were offered.

The extremely interesting chat was the #EduGladiators, they inserted great videos in the chat stream and that is what I found myself entrenched in most of the time.

Most of the questions that  were asked was more of my curiosity concerning what are they about.  The literal question  was apparent in the title of the podcasts that were available.  The video that I enjoyed the most can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHwC521NMWzesybqfBw2sqA/videos.

I was amazed at the various educational techniques and norms that I was unfamiliar with.  They answered questions about safe spaces and sanctuaries which is not that uncommon but the fact that students are learning about this because of the current social unrest is.

Marlena Gross Taylor would be someone that I want to follow on twitter. It would benefit me to hear from the perspective of a professional African American woman.

https://twitter.com/mgrosstaylor

 (Links to an external site.)

How To Stop the Bullies: Reflection 

I chose this particular article because it is personal to me.  I grow up poor and didn't know it because my mom always made sure we had enough however the kids at school recognized we were poor and were relentless in bothering me about it.  I got into more fights defending my mom's honor, and was suspended from school for not having proper clothes and had to endure the taunts of bullies from kindergarten to highschool.

Bullying is something that has gone on throughout history but now in the age of social media it has taken on a new form.  Because of the internet the problem may get out of hand before it is even noticeable by others.

" When it became clear which contestant was losing, that girl wrote that she didn’t care: “nt even tryinqq to b funny or smart.” The rival who beat her answered, “juss mad you losss ok ppl voted me ! If you really loooked better they wouldve said you but THEY DIDNT sooo sucks for you.” This exchange nearly led to blows outside of school, other students told me. And they said a fight didbreak out between two boys who were featured on Let’s Start Drama, in dueling photos, above the caption “Who would win in a fight?” They reportedly ended up pummeling each other off school grounds one day after classes."

What surprises me the most about this article is the fact that, even though there is a concentration on the actions of teenagers, there is no true acknowledgement that adults are just as guilty and the youth are, in some way, imitating what they have learned by watching the adults.  Identifying the problem is one thing but identifying the "root problem" would be more beneficial.

This following portion of the article was the best:

"In a better online world, it wouldn’t be up to Anonymous hackers to swoop in on behalf of vulnerable teenagers. But social networks still present tricky terrain for young people, with traps that other kids spring for them. My own view is that, as parents, we should demand more from these sites, by holding them accountable for enforcing their own rules. After all, collectively, we have consumer power here—along with our kids, we’re the site’s customers. And as Henry Lieberman’s work at MIT demonstrates, it is feasible to take stronger action against cyberbullying. If Facebook and Twitter don’t like his solution, surely they have the resources to come up with a few more of their own."

I personally feel that FB and Twitter are taking steps to ensure the safety of their programs but there is always more work to be done. Writing this article is a good step in making these websites accountable as well as making more adults aware of what their youth are involved with.  Awareness is an important key to preventing danger.

The following link highlights the importance of parental responsibility:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-fiorella/cyber-bullying-social-media-and-parental-responsibility_b_4112802.html

How to Julienne and Saute

Creating this how to video was fun.  I have not worked on video production in a few years and this is the first time that I attempted to produce a video, edit it, and publish it from my smart phone.  The challenging part was to unlearn everything that I knew about professional production and scale everything down to something simple, fun and informative.  Trying to hold a phone and cook could be as risky as texting and driving, so I would not recommend doing it unless someone is a professional.  I was definitely surprised at how much can be done with a smartphone and this project has encouraged me to think outside of the box more often.

Module 3 Assignment – Blog Post

The video for this assignment, This American Life, was beyond tremendous.  The prologue and the Mike Phillips portion reflect the title, "Escape," extremely well.  This show takes the viewer on a journey that would be otherwise missed by the distractions of convenience that we all take for granted.  On a personal note, I have a friend who is suffering from ALS and uses the same services identified in this video and I can't help but feel proud that even through adversity life can have value and fulfillment.

(Prt 2) Now, think about accessibility using technology in your own life. What have you seen used around you? What accessibility features have you used, personally, even though you were maybe not the target audience?

I had previously mentioned that I have seen the communication system that is used by Mike and others with similar limitations.  My experience in the military has exposed me to a various array of technology used for simulation and others that are now available for civilian use.  These include, GPS tracking, Drones, 3D viewing, automobile tech, file sharing and social network tech for communicating.

(Prt3) Fishing around on the UDLTechToolkit page was eye opening.  I was not aware that there were so many interactive learning apps available.  The Mulitmedia and Digital Storytelling apps were explored the most.  My profession involves culinary arts and the use of this kind of technology provides the opportunity for students and instructors alike to be more creative with concepts like kitchen design, recipe blending, international cuisine and so much more.  The major limitation that this tech would present is that if the class were to be completely digital then the pictures could never please the palate:

Module 2 Graded Assignment - Blog Post

Photo Credit: ASCBNPP Voile Flickr via Compfight cc

I started following the Bangor Metro and Sea Dog on Twitter.  Both of these are great resources for finding fun things to do in the city.  If you haven't already followed them, here are the links:

https://twitter.com/SeaDogBangor
https://twitter.com/BangorMetro

ED809GI7 M1A1 My Experience With Technology

Personally, I think that my experience is technology is limited.  I have worked in the media field as a Radio Broadcaster, Event DJ, Copywriter/Producer, Video Editor and Online Business owner however, the technology that I used was basic and I did not venture outside of my comfort zone to try new apps or hardware.  My reluctance was due to the thinking that I would not be able to fully learn the new tech to a professional standard so I just used what I knew even if it took more time.