Blog Post #6 PLN's What Are They?

What is a PLN?
PLNs are both people and tools that I, or anyone, can use for the collaboration of information for projects, to help answer questions, research tools, and tools that can help collaborate with other teachers that may blog or tweet information that is of particular interest to you. PLNs are rich in networking tools and collaborative tools and are able to bring, (literally), a whole world of information and make it available at the click of a few buttons. It is overwhelming and exciting all at once to learn about all that is out there and available to anyone willing to access it.
How can PLNs help me as a teacher?
What comes to mind first is PLNs can help me establish a solid network in which to gather information about anything that might concern what we are learning in the classroom as well as the most effective ways to teach it. What teachers once had to learn through years of trial and error is now available to me as a new teacher to be able to benefit from. I feel as if I have just stuck my toe into the very tip of an ocean of information but it is a process that can benefit me from the very start. As a new teacher, I can see using these tools as a way to get insight from teachers who have been in the classroom for long periods of time.
How can I create a PLN?
When I first read this question without having visited the links attached, I was clueless as to who I would incorporate into my PLN and even how to create a PLN. After watching the video by Michael Fawcett , I realize that through browsing Twitter and connecting to other teachers and their blogs, I can find a network of teachers that interest me and that I feel that I can benefit from. It is really just a process of browsing different network sites and also blogs that fellow teachers subscribe to in order to be able to begin the building process of my own PLN.
Who will be the first additions to my PLN?
My first is my EDM310 instructor, Dr. John Strange
The second would be my assigned teacher in for C4T, Andrea Hernandez. Edtechworkshop.com Andrea is a very creative teacher that is not afraid to try new things. I feel that I could learn a lot from her.
These are just the beginning of a long list of PLN’s!

C4T #2

Post #1

My teacher for this week was Pernille Ripp and the name of his blog post is Reading is Bigger Than Us. For this post, Ripp wrote about reading and how it goes beyond just being able to tell about the book or even beyond writing book reports. Ripp believes that reading a book and then being able to discuss it help to develop thinking and conversation skills that students carry through into their adult years. Ripp states that "we ask questions about books because we must learn to ask questions of others. We must learn to adapt to any conversation thrust upon as adults. To engage and be engaging whenever needed". It is basically connecting with the book and developing thoughts to be able to analyze the work.
I commented that I liked her thoughts about how reading helps us to develop thoughts that go beyond the surface and help us to develop thinking skills. Reading has always given an advantage to students and now there seems to be another good reason to read!

Post #2
This teacher's post was titled "The Kid Who Walked Through My Door Last Night", by Pernille Ripp.

This post was a touching story of a middle school child that came back to visit a teacher that they once had before and to ask for help with math. It doesn't take long for the teacher to realize that what this child is looking for is not help with math, but reassurance that everything is going to be okay. They aren't doing the best in their class, they are either tired or laughing out loud too much and at inappropriate times and making their teachers frustrated with them. This child remembers the kindness that their former teacher has shown and the feeling a acceptance that they always felt in that teachers class and this is why they have reached out to this teacher above any other.
I commented that to read a story like this is a reminder of why I have chosen this profession above any other. Teaching is about educating the next generations but it is also about giving the children a place to feel safe and accepted. It is a reminder that in many ways we will be more than educators but also role models and friends. I loved this blog post and it is one that I will visit and read again from time to time as a reminder of why I have chosen teaching as my profession.

Project #8 Book Trailer

My Sentence Videos

My Sentence Is...

My Passion Is...

Blog Post Assignment #5

For this blog assignment, we watched a series of video interviews that Dr. Strange facilitated where he interviewed Anthony Capps. Anthony Capps is a third grade teacher at Gulf Shores Elementary School and uses PBL in his classroom. The first conversation was about "Project Based Learning" or PBL. Anthony believes that PBL is a means in which to learn and also a means in which to show what you have learned. PBL is very much driven by content. Anthony creates a project that is directed at having the students learn the content that Anthony wants them to learn. Dr. Strange adds that PBL is not about being a consumer when it comes to learning but to be a participant and eventually a producer. With PBL, the students are at times even involved in the grading process.
Of course, like most of anything else, this is not a perfect system. Things do not always go well and it is at these times that Anthony uses these imperfections to challenge himself and his students to find real life solutions to these every day challenges. Even these seeming imperfections bring occasion to learn and be creative. Anthony encourages future teachers not limit our students but to allow them to explore within the boundaries of the assigned project and goes on to say that with this type of approach you will often times get more than you expect from the assignment.

The students have responded positively to this learning style but they do find the collaborative part a bit of a challenge. When using PBL, the students are allowed more freedom in their approach to learning the content and this, as you would expect, generates more excitement. PBL has not only earned high marks with the students but from the administrators and principal as well.

Another topic of discussion that was of particular interest to me was about icurio. As a mother and a future educator, I have been somewhat concerned about the safety of the web pages or video content that are often used when applying PBL. These concerns were put at ease when I learned of icurio. So, what is icurio? Icurio is a safe search engine that has web sites that have been carefully pooled for educational purposes. The searches include text, audio and video.

Dr. Strange and Anthony agree that to be a good teacher, is to be a good learner and PBL encourages the learning process which is essentially a lifelong process. A good teacher must also be flexible and prepared for unplanned situations. Take the time for reflection and self-evaluation because this will only make you a better educator.

These conversations were filled with information for teachers that is rich with day to day experience. What a better way to test PBL than in the classroom?
Interview with Anthony Capps part I
Interview with Anthony Capps part II

C4T #1

This is Andrea Henandez

It does not take long when you read Andrea Hernandez's blog, the edtechworkshop, to see that she is full of fresh ideas and is a bit fearless when it comes to trying new things. On this particular post, Andrea shares about a "parent night" of sorts where the students were able to share about their 1:1 ipads and the learning apps with their parents, (or guardians). The students were placed in groups of 3 or 4 and each were assigned a station where the parents would go to learn about the particular app that the kids at that group were demonstrating. This allowed for the parents to see first hand how the apps were used and also generated excited among the students for the apps they were demonstrating. I commented that this was a creative idea. I liked that the kids were facilitating the demonstrations and the parents were given opportunity to witness first hand the use of the ipads and learning apps. Yay for Andrea and the other faculty for thinking outside of the box. This one was a definite home run!

The second post that Andrea Hernandez wrote was entitled "Authentic Literacy". This post is about the importance of reading but also it proposes a new strategy in getting children to read. To make the point of "out with the old and in with the new", Andrea uses a soup analogy. She compares canned soup with hand crafted soup saying "processed, canned food was all the rage and seemed like the answer to all the problems of feeding the people. However, it didn't take long to figure out that an authentic, hand-crafted soup was not only more delicious but was healthier and generally the better all-around option". Andrea is a strong proponent of doing what it takes to make learning its most effective, even when it means changing the way we teach things.
I commented that I loved Andrea's analogy to soup and I love her willingness to try new things in order to keep learning fresh and relevant for her students.

Blog Post Assignment #4

"What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher"?
In Ben Johnson's blog, Mr. Johnson challenges us the rethink why and how we, as teachers, are asking questions. In "The Right way to ask questions in the classroom" he goes on to make the point that when we throw a general question to a general audience such as, "does everyone understand", we are missing the real point in asking the question which would be to make sure that every student understands the concepts being taught. The point is made that some of the students that may have the most questions will be the most quite when the opportunity to answer questions occurs.
So, how do we ask the right questions in order to get "the most bang for the buck"? One approach Mr Johnson suggest is to ask a question, wait three seconds and then call on a child at random. With this approach, during the three second period, the student would then be thinking about the answer in anticipation of their name being called. "Asking Questions to Improve Learning" encourages the teacher to ask direct, clear and specific questions and "use a sequence of questions to build depth and complexity". The point of all of this is the same, making the most of your questions. Use this as a time to cause your students to analyze what is being taught and use their critical thinking skills in order to make the connection between the question being asked and the answer.

Project # 3 Presentation

Blog Post #3

For this weeks blog assignment, we watched videos describing what it means to Peer Edit. We learned that editing is a combination of complementing, making suggestions and offering corrections where they may be needed. Also, it is very important that you stay positive throughout the process of editing your peers' blogs. Remember, someone has spent their time and thought in creating their blog and it is important that we respect that and use this as a time to help make their blog better, not rip them and their blog apart, (that could do more harm than good).
Some things to consider when making our suggestions to the writer are, "word choice, using details, organization- can you understand what the author is trying to say? Sentences- Are the sentences too long or too short? Topic- Does the author stick to the topic...?" (Tutorial Peer Editing). Also, it is important to check for mistakes in the work such as spelling, grammar, punctuation. All of these things are important in making sure that the work has an impact that is positive and sends the message that was intended. It is easy for a reader to become sidetracked with bad grammar or maybe to be confused with what the author is trying to say if the writing is not clear. When these steps are done correctly, peer editing can be a useful and positive experience.
What is Peer Editing?
Peer Edit with Perfection
Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes