PART A - Brainstorm Session

1. What web conferencing tool did your group use?

A:  Our Group used Google Hangout and I recorded our session using Camtasia.

2. What were the advantages to using the web conferencing tool to discuss this project?

A:  Advantages to using a web conferencing tool to discuss this project included having all members present at the same time and being able to make decisions at the time of discussion.  It was also nice to put a face and voice with the name and get a little bit of personality from the experience than from just words in an email.  Overall, it was a good experience to have and I am sure I will use it again.

3. What were the disadvantages to using the web conferencing tool to discuss this project? 

A:  Disadvantages include finding a time when all of us could meet.  With different schedules and family situations, it made it difficult for us to come together at convenient times for members of the group.  There was also so much focus on the technology of making the web conferencing tool work, that some of the focus was taken away from the project.  There was also the part of getting this tool set up and keeping us all together.  Members would get dropped by computer malfunction, internet slowness or just plain hitting the wrong buttons at the wrong time! 

Here is the actual web conference brainstorm session recording:

 

Web-Conferencing

For our group project, we met utilizing a video conferencing tool.  A benefit to using a video conferencing tool is that you can see the people you are talking to and can take facial expressions into consideration when talking.  It was nice to be able to take care of the project in such a short time frame once we all got together; however, a pitfall to video conferencing is setting up a time that everyone can join the conference.  Our group had difficulty finding a time that worked for everyone.  We could have had our information exchanged in much less time by utilizing another resource, such as email or a collaborative document than waiting for a time that fit into everyone’s schedule.  As with any technology, there are pros and cons.

I have only used video conferencing a couple times, but this was the first time I used Google Hangout as a video conferencing tool.  I was impressed with the technology as I have never talked with multiple people with a video conferencing tool before.  We all had to set up Google+ accounts and activate a few plug-ins to make the system work, but once we did, it worked well.  We also used some features such as “Chat”, “Posts in our Stream” and utilizing desktop images.

We were able to cover a lot of information in a short amount of time; however, there were some things that probably should have been covered during the conference.  Not all of us seemed to know what the project was about or what was expected.  I believe that if all of us looked over the information before we started, and possibly shared a document with things to cover during the chat, we might have been more productive during the actual conference.

In the classroom, this might be a great tool to interview others for a report, such as professors, doctors, or other professionals in the field researching.  This might also be a great tool to communicate with sister schools – like connecting a foreign language class with another school in the world with that native language.  Another idea would be to share projects with other schools via this technology.  I was able to record our conversation utilizing Camtasia - which can be viewed below.  I am excited for the possibilities!

Technology Use

As part of our Survey lab, we created and distributed a survey on Technology Use.  You can look at and take the survey here.

Wicked Problem Project - Part A: Description of Need or Opportunity

Since I am not currently in a classroom setting, I have opted to help my wife in her 6^th & 7^th Grade Science classrooms.  Over the years, I have helped my wife, Carrie, with classroom dissections (with that age group and with sharp objects, it is always wise to have a helper in the classroom).  I have noted several issues with these dissections that I believe technology can assist with. 

First, there is the issue of having enough supplies for all students to perform their own dissection, including for the teacher to demonstrate on.  There is also the issue of students being able to see the teacher demonstration before the students try the lab on their own.  There are always some absences that occur during the labs which are then very difficult to make up.  And finally, students are sometimes sensitive to the odors that may accompany the lab.

So, how does technology save the day?  A video cast of the teacher performing the dissections would be a great asset in the lab.  A video of the dissection would use fewer supplies once the video is being utilized since the teacher would no longer have to perform the dissection for each class.  All students would have a better view of the procedure since the camera can get in close and zoom into areas of discussion.  With large groups, students are often looking over each other and not able to see detail.  A video of the lab also allows students who are missing or unable to do the lab because of the smells involved can view the dissection when appropriate instead of missing the assignment. 

While it can be argued that real dissections are no longer needed in education due to the virtual labs available, they are still part of the curriculum.  There are also videos already created and available online, but students would take the lab more seriously when they see their own teacher perform the dissection themselves.  This proves that the teacher, in fact, will still do the procedure and that he or she is not showing a video because they don’t want to do the procedure themselves.  I have personally heard student’s comments regarding their own willingness to do the lab because the teacher did it herself.

For this project, I would like to actually video my wife doing a dissection to be used in her classroom.  It may be a while before I get actual feedback due to the scheduling of curriculum, but I am already assured it will be a success for those students who missed the lab due to illness.

A Funny Thing Happened With Technology

Click here for my MP3

My Video Cast Bio

My Educational Technology Growth and Goals

1.     What are some things that you have learned about effective teaching strategies when integrating technology?

Just like anything, the more “features” you can build into your product to help one person, the more accessible your product becomes for everyone.  This holds true for curb ramps, car features, and teaching strategies.  But just like curb ramps and car features, these things take extra time to build and cost a little more.  They are worth it in the long run though because it makes life easier for everyone – even if the feature was not designed for that particular person.

2.     How did integrating web-based technologies help you think about and evaluate uses of technology?

All of this web-based technology is nice, but is it necessary?  My wife and I created our own personal web site for our personal and classroom use.  We spent countless hours and were just getting it to where we wanted it when my wife was moved into a totally new subject and I was laid off.  My wife eventually got back to the grade and subject she used to teach, but all of the state requirements had changed the subject into something totally different.  All of the hard work we put into the web site was lost and we had to start over.  So we started, but time was spent with curriculum and not with the “extras” we so desired to do.  Just when she was getting a grip on the new requirements, things changed again.  How can anyone do a good job when they are always scrambling for material and curriculum?  We both love integrating technology into our classrooms, but there is not enough time in the day to do a great job at it when curriculum is constantly changing and teachers are being bumped around from grade to grade and subject to subject.  Sharing resources, like from MERLOT helps, but you still need the time to search for these items and make sure they fit into what you are teaching.

3.      How have you met your own personal goals for learning about technology integration?

My personal goals change as my job changes.  Technology excites me, and I love to teach technology, but my life just does not have room for the time I need to invest in Educational Technology right now.  Even though we are finally in our new home, we are still dealing with insurance claims, warranty issues and trying to get our life back together after the house fire and theft a year ago.  Added to the mix are our two little kids, (2 & 5 years old) who need non-stop attention, new jobs, promotions, etc., etc.  I just can’t seem to keep my head above water lately and sometimes I feel like I am losing my mind.  I am still learning, and that is the key; but not like I would like to.  It is frustrating to me not to be able to give it “my all” when learning new things.

4.      Do you have any new goals? What are your plans for reaching your new goals and your long-term goals after this course is over?

My goals are in the process of changing as my job is changing.  At the start of the school year, I started a new job in a new district as Technology Integration Assistant in the Instruction Department.  My job was to help teachers in my building integrate technology into their classroom(s) – and I LOVED that job!  My goal at that time was to learn as much as I could about everything “Educational Technology” so that I could share, promote and help teachers with it.  At the end of January, I was promoted into the Technology Department doing more of the technical stuff behind the scenes.  This means I am no longer in the classroom, nor have much interaction with students or staff.  Though I love working with kids, I am wondering if my place really is in the technology department and out of the classroom.  I am very frustrated with where education has gone during these past ten years and I am not sure I even want to teach anymore.  I will have to see where this job takes me in the next few months and re-evaluate then.  As of right now, I am helping my wife with projects for her classroom so at least what I learn is not going to waste.