EDSS 530

EDSS 530

FINAL DIGITAL REFLECTION

First of all, I want you to know that I am not an expert in Technology; in other words, I am not a “Technology Person”. However I have been trying so hard in order to keep up with my work. I had a traditional education. I grew up with little use of technology. In my “square world” I thought it was enough sending and receiving e-mails, creating a simple power point presentation, and using Microsoft Word programs to prepare my lesson plans. Now, I realize that there is great world of opportunities to become a more prepare person. I know I am not going to change overnight but I am sure that little by little I will get there.
When I first enrolled into the Credential Program, I thought; “ well this class is part of the requirements so let’s get it done” I never imagine how my perception about technology would change. When I look back, I realized I have lost valuable time in cultivating my personal learning network. My mentality has been changing through this time in this class in addition to my other classes. In each one of them I have found valuable knowledge that I am more than sure is going to be my major support through my journey as teacher. I have to say that at the beginning I was so overwhelmed with all the information. I want to mention that thanks to my Professor Jeff, I have learned how to use some of these valuables tools to accomplish my work for my other classes’ presentations. Some of these tools are the creation of my blog where I have posted all of my assignments, the creation of accounts such as twitter, tweet deck, diigo, Weebly, Google docs, gmail, etc.
After this semester, I am going away with a handful of new ideas, new articles to read that will help me to enrich my knowledge, also with the knowledge of new technology tools that I am planning to use on behalf of my students. As an educator, it’s important to provide students with the best tools to confront this changing society. I am learning how to integrate technology in my content area which is Spanish. My biggest challenge and future goal will be my immersion into technology in a deeper way to enhance my job opportunities but the most important to become a more prepare educator.

Watch the following video: Visitors and Residents by Dr. White and then write a blog post reflecting on where you are in this continuum and how you see your future on the internet. If possible, leave a thoughtful comment of your peers’ blogs.

Watching the video on “Visitors and Residents” I confirm my position on the continuum: Visitor. I like to use the internet as a tool only and as a way to enhance my personal and now my teaching learning. I am very scared of posting personal and family information online where people can see it, because we had a terrible experience years ago. Now I see and understand the importance of technology and I am conscious that we are living a new era and I have to keep up with it. I agree that at some point in my future I have to play both roles: visitor and resident.  In the meantime, I will work hard to get the necessary skills to become a resident for the intent of education.


Reading Reflection: "Learning in New Media Environments"

“Learning in New Media Environments”

This video “Learning in New Media Environments” showed me how unaware we people with the availability of technology can be. Having technology encloses us from the outside world meaning reality. Watching this video taught me that in places where media does not exist the cultures and the people there vary so differently from the people that have access to technology. It taught me to be thankful for all that I am allowed to access to and it taught me to be thankful for knowing how to use media to my best resources. This video opened my eyes and taught me that even although it seems that the only way we humans can survive is with media, it really isn’t. These people in the video continue with their lives every day without any bit of technology and they manage to stay alive. They use all the resources they need from nature and their surroundings and make plenty of use for it. Unlike the people that have access to technology, they act like they cannot live without it only because every culture is different and for those that have grown up with the access to media use it to their fullest. Some people make it seem like they can’t live without technology and all the media use but this video clearly demonstrates that it is possible to live without it. Media controls not just our surroundings and cultures, but ourselves. It limits our ability to learn and our inner want to explore outside influences. I believe that one of our commitments as educators is to help students to be able to analyze, find and create new connections with people around us keeping in mind that using technology tools and a bit of care, we all can make a better life environment.

Chapter 1: Why Schools Struggle to teach Differently When Each Student Learns Differently

1.     Explain the difference between interdependence and modularity. How is education currently organized?

An Interdependence design is when one of its components is designed and made depends on the way other components are designed and made and vice versa. One element can’t work until the other one is finished. Changes can’t be done at the first try until the other part proves that these changes can comply with the specifications or rules in order for the other to work.

In a modular product design there are no interdependencies in the design of the product’s components or stages of the value chain. Modular components can be developed in independent work. They all work together.

According to the book, education is highly interdependence. It is interdependence because there are four types of laces: First interdependence is Temporal, it means if you did not learn something in the current year, you most likely won’t be able to learn it in the upcoming year. Second interdependence is lateral which means that when teaching foreign languages you can’t use other ways because you would have to change the structure that is already structured. Third interdependence is physical which means that students’ achievement depends on how their needs are covered. The last interdependency is hierarchical which means that the department of education, school district, legislators determine everything related to school.

Chapter 2: Making the shift: Schools meet Society’s need.

2.     Explain the disruptive innovation theory. What does this have to do with schools?

The disruptive innovation theory occurs when a simple product appears on the market and eventually becomes very popular. They were good and successful at what they did. In regards of schools disruptive innovation has been noticeable throughout the changes that schools have had over the years. For instance years ago schools offered basic courses and eventually they began to offer other services to expand the needs of new generations

Chapter 3: Crammed Classroom Computer

3.     Why doesn’t cramming computers in school work? Explain this in terms of the lessons from Rachmaninoff (what does it mean to compete against non- consumption?)

Despite the widespread presence of computers in the classrooms, technology by itself is not a solution to secure learning in the classrooms. Teachers should use technology to enhance student learning but not to have it as the main tool to rely on. The goal for computers is to create a student-centric environment. To compete against non-consumption is the same as to compete with technology that has no competitor. In terms of the lesson from Rachmaninoff, the audio recordings were compared to attending a live performance.

Chapter 4: Disruptively Deploying Computers

4.     Explain the Pattern of Disruption.

The disruptive technology is to create something that competes against non-consumption or nothing. This pattern of disruption start growing slowly until the public “discovers it” then it becomes so popular. For example computers have been in schools for a long time and they were used as a supplement but now, computers are so popular that are use to do most of the school assignments, online classes, new applications of the computer appear on the market to address a certain educational needs. The disruptive pattern is like a “S” curve. It begins slowly and then gain dramatic popularity until it hits the maximum top.

5.     Explain the Trap of Monolithic Instruction. How does Student-Centric Learning help this Problem?

The trap of monolithic Instruction tends to instruct all types of students with different levels of learning in the same class and having the same material of instruction. There is no time for independent instruction to individual student. When student-centric is applied, students can gain the information in different ways which enables different learning styles. Through student-centric learning teachers are able to modify activities and teach students in the way they can learn.

Chapter 5: The System for Student-Centric Learning

6.     Explain public education’s commercial system. What does it mean to say it is a value-chain business? How does this affect the student-centric learning?

Public education is a business system that follows the six steps of the value chain business. A value-adding process (VAP) is one of the three dominant models. In the VAP system curriculum experts create everything related to textbooks and material that will be taught. Then state and local administrators make the decision on which books are going to be used to develop the curriculum based on these books.  The public education system is driven by the textbooks companies. This system affect students because there is not enough variation and it is a lot of monolithic teaching style. To benefit the students the system might be modified to meet the students’ needs. For example having teachers input as to what the students need instead of having other types of resources for students to learn content.

EDSS 530
Milagros Hinojosa
I pads in the Classroom
I was talking with some teachers about having I Pads in the classroom and I was very surprised when I heard them saying that they do not think I pads are necessary in the classrooms. Two math teachers said they rather have a traditional teaching method than using this luxury technology. They think having I pads would be the same as having on line classes. We agreed that technology is becoming very important tool in the learning processing.
I want to use it as a valuable tool and keep teaching my content area in a traditional method where interaction takes place. Considering the district I work for, I think it is going to take awhile to get enough funds to buy I pads. Now it is very important to consider that technology is always improving and it is going to be very difficult to keep updating it. I like the idea of equipping the classrooms with high performing technology but I doubt that some districts have money to provide every high school with these fancy tools.

Are Grades Necessary for Learning?
March 8, 2012
During the short presentation, Dan Pink made very important comments about grades and learning. My comment has being made from two different perspectives: as a student and as an educator. I remember when I was a high school student; of course my goal was to get a good grade. I do not even care if I had learned the lesson, my only concern was study hard for the test to get a good grade so my parents would feel proud of me. At that age it is very difficult to set learning goals, we (students) are mostly focus in getting good grades. Before I watch this video clip, I was convinced that grades were important to measure to what extent students had learned the lesson. Now, I realized that grades are at some point a factor to encourage students to keep studying but the most important thing is the understanding of the concepts. I had a discussion with a couple of teachers about this and they agreed by saying that learning is the most important goal but grades are necessary to keep a calculation of the material taught. In my content area participation and concept understanding and the ability to apply such understanding would be the main factors I would consider to give grades.
Dan Pink brought up another important point by stating that grades should be a way of feedback to measure students’ understanding. And again, it is very important to make sure students really understand new material and be able to give examples and in the mean time teachers are able to assess right away their comprehension based on their answers.

“Being a Mom, a student, and having a job”
Before I started the Credential Program my life had been normal: mom of three girls, wife and a part time worker at a high school. It’s been really hard been a student in this situation. Many times I wished I could have had more time to complete my assignments in a normal pace. In a couple of times I was about to give up because there were so many things going on at a time; my work, my classes, my hom”e, my youngest girl health treatment, my other two girls… I was so overwhelmed. Fortunately I have a wonderful husband. He always has been my main support in this journey. He has been mom, dad, chef (by the way he cooks delicious), babysitter, all in one. With out his support I don’t know if I could have finished my classes. I know I didn’t exceed the classes’ expectations but I tried my best in every class and I feel proud of myself. This is my first time enrolled in a University in this country. I got my Bachelors in Mexico and honestly I never picture myself in the program. Time has flied and I still remember the beginning of my classes, there were different feelings at once. I was nervous and excited, worry and encourage. I would like to have had my classes the entire semester and be able to get everything little by little. Fortunately the semester is over and I can come back to my regular life.

“Re teaching or Ignoring”
There are so many questions that come to my mind when being in a classroom. To what extent should teacher re teach something when a concept has not been understood by the students? Should the teacher go over 2, 3 times in order to ensure student understanding or just ignore the question? Ignoring students seems to be a common practice for some educators. Isn’t this a fail to the Mission Statement. I have felt very discouraged when I have seen this kind of practice. However it has also help me to reinforce my passion for teaching. I understand that some students have shown very little respect towards the teacher. It is also up to the teacher to change teaching strategies and classroom management. Sadly, some educators choose the wrong decision: ignoring students and as a consequence classroom environment is not enjoyable. I am glad I have seen this situation before I have my own classroom because it will give more ideas on how to manage my future classroom.

EDSS 530
Milagros Hinojosa
April 30, 2012
Educational Chat: #ELL Chat
I found this educational chat very interesting, especially because I work with students that are mostly ELL. The topic of this chat was focused on getting ELL students to think critically. This approach would be very productive if the students would have a strong foundation in their native language. So far, what I have seen in regards of Spanish speakers is that their basic skills are sort of weak. Many of the students have faced different situations that have impaired their basic education or they have been forced to skip school and as a consequence when they arrive to this country is double difficult to meet certain expectations. The experts gave very interesting strategies to utilize in our classroom. They mention the importance of incorporating Bloom’s Taxonomy to ask higher thinking questions to promote and to motivate students to think critically. I realized that even though I have work with ELL students for many years, there are so many strategies I want to utilize in order to support my students. There is no doubt; educational chats are an invaluable tool to enhance my personal learning.  

EDSS 530
Educational Chat
“How to use Technology to engage and involve parents”
This chat really caught my attention. It is known that when parents get involved in their kids activities they do better. Involvement of parents strength child development and enhance their chances to succeed in their future. Many times, parents make up a lot of excuses that are suppose to be a barrier between them and the activities their kids might have. This chat made me realize that parents do not need to be an expert in technology to get involved in school. As the experts said, even with simple text they can stay connected and find out what is going on. Time ago, I thought that technology would be an obstacle in my development as an educator. Now I realize that there are different levels of technology I can use depend upon the school demographic. When the experts expressed that with simple text, parents and teacher can be in touch and have almost right interaction, I confirmed that no more excuses would be acceptable. Actually, most people know how to reply to a simple text. One of my new goals will be to encourage parents to become more involved in their kids’ activities in school and out of the school. It is up to the parents and educators to raise good citizenships but in order to do it we both have to be in constant communication.