Thinking back on this journey and working with two different cohorts Touro’s value system is evident in how they run the program and foster the learning of the participants. I was skeptical about how an online class could foster collaboration and a sense of community but that hasn’t been the case. Because of the high standards of inter-professionalism the I feel the feedback I have gotten from the members of the cohort and the professors has been critical in my research and putting this all together in the Capstone. Being able to research and learn about what we feel is needed for us as teachers and our students really address the values of Intellectual inquiry, discovery, and passion for life-long learning, Student-centered education. This allowed me the freedom to let my driving question evolve as I was doing my research and identified a new need for my students and me as a teacher. I also really appreciate the diversity within the cohorts. There are all grade levels of teachers, different districts, different types of schools and students. We all came in with different levels of technology skills as well. I really think fresh, outside perspectives can really be critical feedback. My focus is on making a change within my classroom, more specifically with me becoming a better teacher for my students. Because of that, I have been sharing what I have learned with my colleagues and principle indirectly. In our PLCs as we develop lessons and units, I share what I am doing with these new tools and strategies for integrating technology. They become curious and want to learn them for their classes as well. It has led to a possible peer tutoring opportunity. My partner teacher likes the idea of building a webpage but is concerned she doesn’t have the tech skills or know how. So, after my kids build and become comfortable with Weebly they are going to go help the other classes get their sites up and running. So the teacher and students are learning together. Also, my principal did come in my science class as they were turning in their link to the Weebly site they are building. As far as formally sharing with my principle and staff my capstone, I don’t think I’ll do that. I think I am sharing by doing.
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I am really struggling with getting this capstone video started. Since we presented our storyboard I have been stuck on an introduction that is catchy. I am probably over thinking it and need to back off a bit and just getting something down on video. Usually, these kinds of ideas will come to me at random times like driving and then an idea came to me this morning (Sunday) watching my daughter's soccer game. In order to play you need a clear understanding of the rules, how to score, and the equipment needed to play but you don’t have to be clear on strategies to play. You just won’t be successful. And watching and hearing the frustration from losing all of their games is evident they aren’t clear on how to be successful. Maybe this can be my intro. Then the wheels start spinning. I am also thinking of using a travel analogy. How we use digital tools to help us get to our destinations. I was in Europe this summer and relied on technology like never before. I am also having a hard time with the overall content of the video. Right now I think I need to put in pictures even if that is to hold the spot of a future video. I think I need to just pick a lane and go with it. I must say this video has been more difficult than I thought. To be honest I haven’t put in the time creating it up to now. I have had so many things going on at work and home these past 2 weeks that I haven’t not only put in the time but the thought. And when I do my I seem to be spinning my wheels getting nowhere. I am hoping on our day off Friday to be able to invest a good chunk of time on the video. My journey began when I realized the future of education needed to keep up with the ever changing world. This meant how we teach and how kids learn. Technology is going to play a huge role in the future of education. The students live in and communicate in a digital world. It would not be fair to the students not to use technology or use it in limited ways. My effectiveness as a teacher would be limited if I wasn’t committed to learning and implementing technology through models like the TPACK. Getting to know the TPACK model has made me realize that there is no substitute for great teaching, getting to know your students or content knowledge. Technology is the piece in the TPACK model that is ever changing. I was using technology in the classroom pretty much every day but this program has shown me how to use it to foster creativity and getting to the "sweet spot on the TPAC". Prior to this program I was using it more as a tool and management system. Now I am blogging and vlogging with the kids not only about what they learned but giving feedback to each other during the learning process. Students are more clear on what the need to learn and how to get help to learn. Taking and trying these new tools with the students has been a good way to model growth mindset and the learning process. We have even created a youtube channel with a tech tips station that the student's screencast tips as we come across new technology. Investigating the videos about the brain, technology to foster 21st-century learning, reading the Flat World and the other studies have given me a deeper understanding of why it isn't a choice to shift education but an immediate need to do so. Since I have never created a storyboard before it seemed overwhelming just thinking of the process. To be honest I never really thought about planning something out that way. Once I took a look at some of the websites on the Icare and the templates I could see the value. Then watching the suggested videos I could see how it really all fit together. It is definitely helping me break it down to manageable pieces.
I am still struggling with my script. I have the overall ideas but trying to put words to it right now isn’t happening. Maybe in the middle of the night, it will come. Trying to tie the journey together since it has not been a straight path but one with some twists and turns has been a bit of a struggle. Putting the webpage together has helped me bring it all together and now to try and sell it in a 2-minute video is a little daunting to me right now. I decided to use iMovie as my main editing tool. I have used it before but wouldn’t call myself an expert by any means so the learning curve will still be a little bit of a struggle. I may also use Adobe Spark, Screencast-o-Matic as well, maybe a combination of the two tools to create my video. I like how I can save those as videos then load them into iMovie to edit, add music, transitions, and other features. Seems pretty seamless in stitching together videos and pictures. I liked how one of the videos I watched had background music and voiceover. One thing I do know how to do on Imovie control the volumes of multiple noises. Always trying to bring things back to the class I could see having my students go through this process as well, for a number of different situations. |
AuthorJeff Albertazzi Archives
November 2018
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