Last Blog......

The three things that I was introduced to during this course:
1)  Digital Citizenship.  With Huntsville City Schools implementing the digital 1:1 initiative, educating students about Digital Citizenship is SO IMPORTANT!  Digital Citizenship should be taught at every grade level from day 1.

2)  NETS standards.  I really enjoyed learning about the NETS standards because technology is so important to the future of education.  Being able to use technology is one thing, but understanding the reasoning and objectives of the NETS standards is something that every teacher should understand and implement in their classroom.

3)  Aurasma- which Stephanie and Amanda showed me tonight.  That is totally cool!  Cannot wait to show my kids when I get home tonight.


Two questions that peaked my interest are:
1)  Learning about different ways to communicate with faculty members using a blog and/or wiki.  I think it's a great way to model technology use with faculty members.  I already use an Edmodo page to communicate with faculty members, and specifically math teachers to use to turn in their lesson plans to me every Friday.

2)  Promoting Digital Citizenship at the beginning of the school year in a way that educates and involves students at all levels.  Digital Citizenship is so important and with proper education, discipline issues can be averted and even avoided.


One thing I will incorporate as a TOSA and future administrator is:
the use of the iPad.  I am getting in the habit of carrying my iPad with me where ever I go in the building.  I am such a note-taker, that it's been a difficult transition from a clipboard to iPad, but I am adjusting slowly but surely.  I love technology and its advantages, and I always look forward to the next big "tech toy" to come on the market.

#29: Last student choice

In addition to going to Florida for Thanksgiving, we also drive down for about 5-6 days for Christmas.  My dad lives on about 200 acres in north Florida about 25 miles west of Tallahassee.  The benefit of him living out in the country allows us to celebrate Christmas in a special way.  After eating supper and exchanging gifts, my family has a huge Christmas tradition of having a big bonfire that is about 12 feet high and about 30 feet wide, and after lighting the bonfire we light about $1000 worth of fireworks that we all chip in to buy.  What's so wonderful about this tradition is when we leave my dad's house and head to the "bonfire field"; there will be about 50-60 cousins and friends who come to enjoy the bonfire and fireworks.
This tradition begin many, many, many years ago with me, my brother, sister and cousins having bottle rocket wars as children.  Then, as we got "too old" for bottle rocket wars, we began having a bonfire which just got bigger and bigger and bigger each year.  The bonfire and fireworks are a tradition that we all enjoy.  Luckily, my husband (Jeff), Jake, Hannah and I get the luxury and fun of buying the fireworks and we always enjoy going to Fireworks World.  It's like a kid in a candy store, and then we get home and pack them up for our trip south.

#28: Football and Thanksgiving

HHS plays this Friday night, and if they win, that means our trip to Florida for Thanksgiving will begin immediately after the football game.  I really hope the Panthers can pull out another playoff win, and then we can leave for Florida to see my family.  Thanksgiving with my family in Florida is always a blast.  Between eating so much food and watching our Florida Gators play their in-state rival Florida State Seminoles; we all enjoy being together for the weekend.  It seems like yesterday Jake (16) and Hannah (13) were just babies in their car seats as we drove down, now Jake can drive us.....Scary!! 
I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.  I know that we will enjoy our long weekend in Florida with my family.

#27: BYOD and mobile learning

Huntsville City Schools implemented the digital 1:1 initiative where every student grades 3 through 12 received a laptop computer, and grades K through 2 received iPads.  While it is an exciting feeling to see students who did not have laptops now have technology in their hands, there have been some frustrations.  Students need to be taught the responsibility that comes with technology and that responsibility ranges from how to take care of a laptop to the importance of digital citizenship.
Students may can work around the firewall, yet they do not know how to operate in Word or PowerPoint, let alone, how to properly shut down the computer.  These areas are where teachers have to step up and teach students the responsibility that comes with laptops.  They must realize there is more to a laptop than social media and the internet, but instead, there are programs that students can use to improve their academic success in the classroom.

#26: Thanksgiving

HHS won their playoff games this Friday night and they play Vestavia Hills this Friday.  I'm hoping the Panthers can get another big playoff win.  My son, Jake, is the starting corner back and I cannot believe that his junior season in football is almost over.
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving.  We always leave after lunch on Thanksgiving Day to drive to my dad's house in Florida.  It will be the first time we have been home to Florida since before school started back in August.  Jake and Hannah are excited to go and Hannah would leave today and stay until the end of the holidays.  There's nothing like being around friends and family during the holiday season.

#25: Digital Citizenship

With more and more schools implementing technology in the classroom, especially those implementing the 1:1 initiatives or BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), educators must teach the importance of digital citizenship.  Students today are indeed digital natives and know more about how to use technology than many adults.  However, with the "know how", students need to be taught how to use technology responsibly.  With the implementation of a 1:1 initiative, students who did not have access to the internet now have access and not all students use the technology in a responsible manner.  Instead, cyber-bullying has increased because it's easier to be a bully behind the screen of a computer rather than to a person face to face.
As educators, we realize the importance of technology and the successes it can bring to the classroom; however we must teach students the importance of digital citizenship.

#24: iPads and their role in special education

iPads are very beneficial in the classroom, and that is especially true in the special education classroom.  Of course, the implementation must be done efficiently and effectively in order for students to be succesful.  iPads offer so many opportunities for students with special needs, whether it's educational applications such as games and hand-on learning opportunities or interactive books, the iPad can be such a wonderful educational tool for all students, not just special education students.  iPads could also be beneficial for special education students because they can store all their documents and work on the iPad, and not have to rely on folders or binders.  Instead, special education students can use the iPad as a means to organize school work and upcoming events using productivity tools such as the calendar and Pages.