Poll Everywhere

For this activity, I used the Poll Everywhere website and technology to create a poll. Poll Everywhere is another easy to use tool that allows users to create and share a poll with whomever they choose. A poll can even be left open to the public to record responses. The site also allows you to view your results in a bar graph-like chart and a table response. I shared this poll with my class using the copied link within an email, but you can also have people respond to polls via Twitter or text messages. 

Take my poll! Tell me where you'd rather be living by choosing an image. I chose to use pictures to incorporate what we learned with our PowerPoint assignments. Speaking of PowerPoint, it's extremely easy to create a live poll slide using PollEv.com.

This activity addresses ISTE-NETS Standard 2 and 3. It allows teachers to create digital forms of assessments for students. Students and teachers are also able to view the results immediately and evaluate responses. It shows digital age teaching and models technology for students. 

Google Forms-The Results

Here are the results to my survey on the value of PLCs in our schools. These teachers are from three different schools, so results will vary. Administering this survey to an entire school staff should provide a general feeling towards PLCs and perhaps ways to improve them in the future.

                                Findings: 

                                -100% of the teachers surveyed participate in a PLC with 

                                administration

                                -100% of the teachers surveyed believe that conflict is
                                accepted 

                                and part of the PLC process only when it is constructive.

                               -All of the teachers surveyed reflected neutral on the value of 

                               PLCs and the positive support atmosphere within their PLCs.

As a part of the research process, it is then the researchers duty to reflect on the findings, analyze the results, and essentially "interpret/find meaning" within them.  I really think the ease of Google forms could provide a lot of information on numerous topics. It is then the responsibility of teachers, parents, administrators, etc. to do something with the data.

Google Form

This week I worked with Google Forms to create online survey tools that are paper-free, easy to share, and easier to analyze. I chose to create a document that my administrators might find useful, considering our difficult PLC today. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are a valuable tool that often get a bad rap for being unproductive and pointless. I wanted to isolate people's opinions of PLCs and their usage in our school and other communities. While I am unable to share my results (yet) because I created this form as a direct result of my PLC today, I am able to share the link to my form. If you'd like to consider your own opinions on PLCs, feel free to click on the linked picture to begin.

While creating this form, I found Google's set up to be very user friendly. To begin, I selected a template from the given list. I then began creating different types of questions to hopefully achieve my intended results. It is valuable to a test/survey creator to spend time thinking about what they want to know and the best way to find it out. Careful question creation and selection make a successful survey. Not to mention, a number of survey participants. The more participants, the more accurate picture you can paint. I used the following question types to differ my form: multiple choice, check boxes, scale, and a longer paragraph response. Depending on what type of question you choose, you'll either get qualitative or quantitative data. Again, question selection is key! There are three ways to share my form with others: by sharing the link via email, sharing the link via Blog Post, or embedding the form within a post. I am still trying to figure out embedding. I made sure the form was accessible to all public when sharing as well.

This activity addressed NETS Standards two, three, and five. I designed a technology rich experience to provide alternate forms of assessments for my "students", in this case teachers. It's hard to find the best way to survey a teacher because the paper form might get lost in the shuffle or the electronic form may be in an email that never gets opened-you roll the dice. I also showed competence in using Google forms to fulfill a need within my school community. This is a great way to communicate information to students, parents, and other peers. I also feel I developed professionally because I selected what I see as a 'problem area' at my school. I feel by creating this form, I too addressed my opinions on PLCs and hopefully created a valuable tool that will encourage my school to improve upon.

Please expect a follow-up post discussing my results.

Jeopardy Labs

This week was one of the most valuable assignments yet. Especially with SOLs just around the corner, Jeopardy Labs is a wonderful tool for teachers to use in their classroom for review. The website provides a free service with templates to build a jeopardy game for whatever you need. The template could not be more simple to use, even for the technophobic. I chose to create a Math SOL review game for my classroom. I did not use the typical provide an answer and have the students ask the questions(with math it seemed too difficult). Check out my lab by clicking the link. Feel free to use it within your classroom or share with a coworker or anyone who wants a little math review! This tool is a classic

.

Using Jeopardy Labs allows me to to communicate my ideas effectively to students in an engaging format that also allows me to collaborate with peers in its creation or use in our classrooms (ISTE 3b,c). I constantly talk about my new learning with my students as well and I think this models lifelong learning (ISTE 5). I'd love to see my students create a Jeopardy lab to show their knowledge of a subject, maybe as an alternate assignment? (ISTE 2b)

Prezi

Working with Prezi has become like second nature to me-and it's only my second time using the tool! This speaks volume to the user-friendly online tool that provides creative templates with which to present information. The website's homepage allows you to create a free account with the option to upgrade with a paid subscription. The template search engine is valuable to a new user because it provides you with templates that other users have designed, which allows you to focus on the information presented. 

I selected the tree template to present my project information for another class. I'd like to continue updating this prezi after the project is completed to present it to my administration. My principal has been very supportive of my efforts to include this project into my curriculum. I think using Prezi is a fabulous and creative way to present to a professional crowd. Initially, I felt this Prezi had too many words, considering our discussion about PowerPoint previously, but the intended audience is adults who seek specific information.

If you click on the picture above, you'll be directed to my Group Leadership Program SU/RBR Cohort Prezi. I followed each "embedding" tutorial on Prezi's website, but was unable to have it play within my blog post. I was able to copy code to a clipboard, but could not repost the code within my blog successfully. You can also click on this link.

And now, for a Power Point versus Prezi discussion. Prezi is a creative and engaging tool to present information to any audience. However seemingly creative, the templates provided do limit the user while designing initial set-up. This is not to say one cannot edit to the extreme within the template or even chose to start a blank template. In the same way a template is limiting, it also provides an excellent place to start. Power Point also provides templates, but on a more basic level, still addressing both sides of the coin. Prezi at times can be too busy, creating an almost nauseous feeling when switching each point. I'm curious if there is a tool to adjust the movement speed within the Prezi. Power Point can be set on a timer or navigated on presenter's cue.  Overall, I think Prezi is the future and seems to immediately capture the audience. That is, if the presenter has taken serious consideration to the wordiness and image choice in the first place.

This activity addresses ISTE-NETS Standard 2 because it provides students with an activity that develops and fosters digital learning experiences. I have 3rd grade students who are very capable of using Prezi with careful guidance. What a fantastic way to have students present their research projects. Standard 3 continues to be addressed by requiring me to push the limits of my understanding and use of digital age technology to represent myself as a innovative professional. Standard 5b is fulfilled because I am taking this tool and leading others in my professional community to develop their skills, share information, and collaborate on new projects.

Prezume

This week I worked with Prezume, an online tool that allows you to create an interactive resume. This tool is a great opportunity to stand out from the stacks of paper resumes, as well as showcase some of your technological skills. As I was creating my resume, I struggled identifying what "skills" meant in a a resume sense. Does this mean I list what I can do? Do I list my programs? My professional developments? Do I instead list my qualities that I see as skills in my classroom? After debating for a while, I settled with listing skills used within a professional setting. Here is the link to my Presume. 

The website is very easy to navigate. The home screen provides 3 pre-made templates to enter your information into. You can login using your Facebook information or create a new account. I chose the Whiteboard prezume because it felt clean, organized, colorful, yet professional. I thought it was a perfect Prezi for an elementary school teacher.

This activity addressed NETS Standard 3 by giving me the opportunity to model digital age learning with an activity that relates to my profession and future profession. This also allows me to grow professionally by encouraging me to reinvent myself to potential jobs, addressing Standard 5.

Power Points

This week I explored ways to redefine or refine my views and skills on Microsoft's Power Point. I explored a few examples, read some articles, and reflected on my own experiences in Power Point. I thought the article in the New York Times was so interesting. We've all been there. Sitting, yawning, zoning out...on someone's presentation (that they've clearly worked very hard on). And why do they insist on putting you in the most uncomfortable chairs? How does it happen? Are we too focused on getting all the information in an organized, concise, but still able to communicate the important? 

I took these questions and more to heart while creating my power point for my third graders. (eight year olds in case anyone forgot) I wanted to keep the images large and the text small for two reasons-visual cues are great ways to help students remember information/make sense of information and limited text is helpful for my low readers. I did have a hard time with one image from ToonClips(which had overwritten text on the image), but I did not want to purchase the image...and it was just what I wanted. Take a look below:

This was the only image I wasn't completely happy with. Another strategy I tried to use was the idea of contrast. I split a few of my pages in half to draw focus on the text and image for isolated absorption.

The final project is located at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ozgvjcfv5hj5lag/ExplorerPPT14.pptx

This project addressed the NETS Standard 2 by requiring me to design and develop a digital age learning experience for my students. Using images opens the curriculum up to learners of all ages and ability levels.