Elana Kline's Posts - Classroom 2.02024-03-28T14:39:35ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKlinehttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1950553601?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://www.classroom20.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=22s2tc6nd67a2&xn_auth=noBest Practices In Educational Bloggingtag:www.classroom20.com,2013-03-25:649749:BlogPost:9215382013-03-25T17:15:45.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
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<li><strong> Establishing norms/guidelines for student blogging (student blogging contracts, parental involvement, inclusion of district AUPs or "acceptable use policies," etc.)</strong></li>
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<p> Before students begin blogging independently, they need to be given a tutorial by their teacher about the responsibilities associated with using social media, and the ethical and safety concerns social media can present. They should become familiar with the school’s…</p>
<ul>
<li><strong> Establishing norms/guidelines for student blogging (student blogging contracts, parental involvement, inclusion of district AUPs or "acceptable use policies," etc.)</strong></li>
</ul>
<p> Before students begin blogging independently, they need to be given a tutorial by their teacher about the responsibilities associated with using social media, and the ethical and safety concerns social media can present. They should become familiar with the school’s acceptable use policies, and their first blog should be about how they plan to be a responsible blogger, so there will be a written record of their understanding. The class should then create a class blogging contract outlining their rights and responsibilities as a blogger, and the students, parents, and teacher should all sign it. <br/> </p>
<p> • <strong>Safety issues educators should be aware of when blogging with students.</strong></p>
<p> When blogging with students, educators should make students aware that other people can search and locate the content that they are posting to the internet. Therefore, students need to be very careful what they post, since it is out for the world to see, and they can not take it back. Educators also need to be aware of advertisements that pop up on free blogging sites, and whether these are appropriate. Additionally, educators should be aware that students are not copy-writing work, and are not giving personal information that others can locate. Through active monitoring of students while they are blogging, and preventative preparation measures (such as tutorials on responsible blogging) teachers can make sure that their students are blogging as safely as possible. </p>
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<p>Resources about Best Practices In Responsible Blogging: </p>
<p> EDUBlogs- <a href="http://edublogs.org/curriculum-corner-using-a-blog-with-students/" target="_blank">Using Blogs With Students</a></p>
<p> Fairfax County Public Schools- <a href="http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/internetsafety/teachers.shtml" target="_blank">Internet Safety</a></p>
<p> Edudemic- <a href="http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/internetsafety/teachers.shtml" target="_blank">Blogging In The Classroom</a></p>
<p><img style="margin-top: 56px;" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.kidslearntoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Finding-Safe-Blogs-for-Kids.jpg" height="252" width="373" name="irc_mi"/> <img style="margin-top: 47px;" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGUuxSnoS8yzGSQVVdHP_5BduVt1fvAcU-9EcpfTcBNR8YyEKh" id="irc_mi" height="252" width="207" name="irc_mi"/></p>10 More Ways To Use Blogs In Your Classroomtag:www.classroom20.com,2013-03-25:649749:BlogPost:9214952013-03-25T04:19:59.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> 10 More Ways To Use Blogs In Your Classroom</strong></p>
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<p>1. Quote of the day discussion blog. I will post a quote of the day and students can analyze the quote and discuss what it means and lessons they can apply from the quote.<br></br> <em>Place to find a quote of the day on every topic: …</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong> 10 More Ways To Use Blogs In Your Classroom</strong></p>
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<p>1. Quote of the day discussion blog. I will post a quote of the day and students can analyze the quote and discuss what it means and lessons they can apply from the quote.<br/> <em>Place to find a quote of the day on every topic: <a href="http://www.quoteland.com" target="_blank">www.quoteland.com</a></em></p>
<p>2. Students create a reflection blog and post after each unit. This will serve as a running reflection of what students are learning, and where they are struggling. Reflection is important for improvement, and this will allow students to regularly reflect on their practices and knowledge.</p>
<p>3. I would like to create an “I am awesome because” blog where student post messages, pictures, and videos of themselves doing activities in and out of school that they are proud of. This highlights students strengths and helps build community.</p>
<p>4. Students create reading blog to reflect on books. Students update their blog with questions, thoughts, comparisons and insights about their book, then they post and respond to one another to think critically as they read.<br/> <em>My student’s reading reflections blogs:</em> <a href="http://kidblog.org/MsKlinesPeriod2/" target="_blank">http://kidblog.org/MsKlinesPeriod2/</a></p>
<p>5. Teachers blog to share new strategies and ideas amongst the staff. The department can have a blog and share lessons that are successful, or need improvement, and questions for one another to improve their practice.</p>
<p>6. Administrators create a “What’s Happening at Shaw” blog to keep staff and families informed about school and community events, and to help with community building.</p>
<p>7. A book share blog where students can write about their favorite books, post book trailers, and suggest them to others as well as ask for suggestions of books from their peers.</p>
<p>8. A Multi-cultural committee blog to discuss events and plan for future functions. This could help get grants for our great projects, by displaying their success through pictures and videos and appearing organized to donors.</p>
<p>9. A “Parents of Shaw Heights” blog for parents to discuss with one another questions, concerns, and event plans.</p>
<p>10. Group work blogs for students to work together, create, and discuss projects remotely and at school.</p>
<p><em> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OVK4dGNRdQY?rel=0&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"><br/></iframe>
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<p><em> Resource with examples of great teacher/school blogs:</em><br/><em><a href="http://http://www.onlineclasses.org/2010/12/08/100-seriously-cool-classroom-blogs-for-teaching-ideas-inspiration/" target="_blank">http://www.onlineclasses.org/2010/12/08/100-seriously-cool-classroom-blogs-for-teaching-ideas-inspiration/</a><br/></em></p>Blogging as a Tool to Create 21st Century Classroomstag:www.classroom20.com,2013-03-24:649749:BlogPost:9214992013-03-24T18:00:00.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p> According to Education Week (2010), “The term ‘21st-century skills’ is generally used to refer to certain core competencies such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that advocates believe schools need to teach to help students thrive in today's world.” While the exact skills and resources can be debated, all educator’s agree that 21st century classrooms provide students with the resources and knowledge that they need in order to be…</p>
<p> According to Education Week (2010), “The term ‘21st-century skills’ is generally used to refer to certain core competencies such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that advocates believe schools need to teach to help students thrive in today's world.” While the exact skills and resources can be debated, all educator’s agree that 21st century classrooms provide students with the resources and knowledge that they need in order to be successful adults in our current society. <br/> Technology is probably the most important component of 21st century learning. Jeff Dunn reminds us that 91 percent of classrooms have computers, and 80 percent of college professors use social media. With technology and social media being so prevalent in our society, these are important skills for our students to have.<br/> Blogging is a great tool for 21st century classrooms because it allows students to practice using technology and social networking skills, while thinking critically about new ideas and content, writing their thoughts, and responding to one another. Blogs let students create a digital record of their work so they can see their improvement over time and continue to learn and grow. If we define the key skills of 21st century learning as Education Week has (collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving) then blogs are a great medium to allow students to practice all four of these skills at once through thoughtful blog topics, posts, and discussions. <br/></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Student input on blogging:</strong></p>
<p><img class="align-center" src="http://www.wvcpd.org/PLAJournal/ActionResearch-BloggingProject/ActionResearch-BloggingProject/images/BloggingProject-Figure1.gif" alt="Figure 1 - How Much Students Liked Using the Class Blog Site (42% Love It, 46% Like It, 12% Somewhat)" border="0" height="249" width="526"/></p>
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<p><br/> Resources about Blogging and 21st Century Classrooms</p>
<p> Education Week- <a href="http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2010/10/12/01panel.h04.html" target="_blank">How Do You Define 21st Century Learning?</a><br/> <br/> Edudemic- <a href="http://edudemic.com/2012/07/classroom-pieces/" target="_blank">20 Must See Facts About The 21st Century</a><br/> </p>
<p> Integrating 21st Century Skills- <a href="http://www.wvcpd.org/PLAJournal/ActionResearch-BloggingProject/ActionResearch-BloggingProject/BloggingProject.htm" target="_blank">Class Blogging Project</a></p>Google Appstag:www.classroom20.com,2012-08-23:649749:BlogPost:8668762012-08-23T00:13:37.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p>How could Google Apps help you to be more efficient as an educator?<br></br> Google Apps will be extremely useful to me as an educator. My school just got an education account to Google Apps this week and is encouraging all of us to use it in our teaching on a regular basis. As a literacy department, we have decided that all of our students are going to use Google to create blogs where they will reflect on what they have read every other week. They will also post to one another on their blogs,…</p>
<p>How could Google Apps help you to be more efficient as an educator?<br/> Google Apps will be extremely useful to me as an educator. My school just got an education account to Google Apps this week and is encouraging all of us to use it in our teaching on a regular basis. As a literacy department, we have decided that all of our students are going to use Google to create blogs where they will reflect on what they have read every other week. They will also post to one another on their blogs, and we can check their reading comprehension and discussions easily. <br/>
I am using Google’s calendar to help plan out the lessons and activities for this year, and can use various other apps to create documents, presentations, surveys, and quizzes. Overall, Google has a lot of features that are helpful to educators and that I can use in my classroom daily.</p>
<p>How could Google Apps enhance collaboration between you, parents, and students?<br/> Google Apps can enhance collaboration in many ways. One way is that students can communicate with one another, and with teachers, through their Google blogs. Also, I can create surveys for parents and students and receive feedback on lessons and the class. Parents can also see what their students are working on by accessing their Google documents, and they can easily communicate with me through gmail and other google formats.</p>
<p>Did you learn something about Google or yourself that you didn't know before?<br/> I learned that Google has a lot more features than I realized. I knew about gmail, the search engine, and Google Docs, but I did not realize all of the other features google has to offer. It is amazing to me that this is a free resource for the public, that has the potential to really change the world of education. The first time I used any feature of google plus was in this masters program, and I am surprised how user-friendly it is. <br/>
I also realized that I am more technology-savvy than I give myself credit for, and that if I am patient I can figure out a lot of new and exciting resources to use. Overall, I am extremely glad I learned about the features Google has to offer, and I plan to continue to use them in my personal and professional life.</p>Experiencing Free/Open Source Coursestag:www.classroom20.com,2012-08-14:649749:BlogPost:8615522012-08-14T16:46:54.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p> I participated in an open source course on recognizing and employing different parts of a sentence. This lesson discussed how to identify independent and dependent clauses, how to spot prepositions and prepositional phrases, how to find infinitives and infinitive phrases, and how to distinguish between participle phrases and gerund phrases. <br></br> This course had a definition of each general term (for example, clauses) followed by a definition of the types of clauses (independent…</p>
<p> I participated in an open source course on recognizing and employing different parts of a sentence. This lesson discussed how to identify independent and dependent clauses, how to spot prepositions and prepositional phrases, how to find infinitives and infinitive phrases, and how to distinguish between participle phrases and gerund phrases. <br/> This course had a definition of each general term (for example, clauses) followed by a definition of the types of clauses (independent and dependent), with multiple examples of each type, and explanations of why they fall into that category. There is also a list of common words that represent that part of a sentence. After the explanation, examples, and word list, there is a review section for students to practice identifying independent and dependent clauses. Based on the results of the review questions, they can move on to the next term in the lesson, or go back and reread the lesson content. <br/> This is different from face to face learning because all of the material is read and practiced independently. There is no discussion on learning and no place to ask questions about confusing content. Students are responsible for reading the content and understanding it on their own. They are responsible for answering the practice questions, and for going back and reviewing the content that they do not understand. <br/> I would not say that this course offers an incredibly rich learning experience, but there are aspects that are useful for learning. The definitions and examples with explanations allow students to see the terms in practice, and understand how they are used to form a sentence. Also, the list of key terms gives students a guide of where to find each part of a sentence in their own reading and writing. Practice questions provide immediate feedback on whether or not students understand the material.<br/> There are clear components of educational theories found in this lesson. Marzano, behaviorism, constructivism, cognitivism, repetition, and drill and practice are theories of learning and education that are present in this lesson. <br/> There are a number of benefits and challenges to online learning in K-12 education. Some of the benefits include a flexible schedule for students, the ability to take courses not offered through their school, the ability to learn at their own pace, a more-efficient form of learning, and the idea that students are more in control of their own learning. Some of the challenges to online learning include the lack of face to face connections and the reliance on students to be relatively independent and self-sufficient.<br/> In general, open source courses and online learning are not for everyone, but they are a great option for some students. It is important that families, students, and teachers know about these options, and are aware of all of the learning opportunities available to them. <br/><br/></p>Virtual Reality Reflectiontag:www.classroom20.com,2012-08-04:649749:BlogPost:8574542012-08-04T18:55:39.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p> Virtual reality is a great way for students to gain experiences that they are not able to have in the real world, and to get a better understanding of content in order to enhance their education. Virtual reality can give students practice with real-world jobs without the consequences or cost needed for the experience. It can teach students about the ocean by giving them a close up view and a realistic depiction of what it might be like to be there.<br></br> However, a virtual…</p>
<p> Virtual reality is a great way for students to gain experiences that they are not able to have in the real world, and to get a better understanding of content in order to enhance their education. Virtual reality can give students practice with real-world jobs without the consequences or cost needed for the experience. It can teach students about the ocean by giving them a close up view and a realistic depiction of what it might be like to be there.<br/> However, a virtual experience is not the same as a real experience, and it is important that teachers and students understand this. While students can see and hear what the ocean looks like through virtual experience, they can not smell it, or have the salty air around them. This is the same with dissecting a frog. While a simulation might be cheaper and less messy, it is not as memorable for the students and the learning is not as great. Students need to have the smell that comes with dissections, the slimy feel of the skin and tendons, and the gag reflex that threatens to go off. That is what makes this experience memorable, not seeing what the different parts of the frog are on a monitor. Therefore simulations might be close, but they are not the same. <br/> Another flaw in virtual reality is the impact and consequences of actions. In a simulation, if your careless construction work makes a bridge fall and kill fifty people, you shrug it off as a disappointment and don’t think about it past the next period. In the real world, this would have a far greater impact. I am not saying we need to teach students through putting them in real, potentially harmful situations, but it is important to understand the benefits and consequences that come with real life experiences, and I do not think virtual reality can simulate this. <br/> Similarly, people need to learn how to act and react in real life, face to face contact. Too much virtual reality can overshadow authentic communication, and students can miss out on these valuable experiences. They can get caught up in their virtual reality, and forget that there is a real world out there as well. We all know those people who play video games all day with their Sims characters, but have very few friends and hardly ever leave their house. They begin to think that Sims is a reality, and they get caught up with inauthentic actions that deplete their real-world skills and social abilities. Therefore, while virtual reality can be useful for education, it can not (and should not) take the place of real world experiences. <br/> </p>Social Networking and Digital Citizenshiptag:www.classroom20.com,2012-08-02:649749:BlogPost:8568882012-08-02T06:19:42.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p> Social networks are an important part of education, and life, in today’s world. Everyone has heard of Facebook and Twitter, but many people are not aware of the thousands of other networks out there. Through this weeks assignments on social networks, I have discovered a number of useful resources for myself and my students. <br></br> I have furthered my interest in having students create blogs to share their learning and collaborate with one another this upcoming school year. I have…</p>
<p> Social networks are an important part of education, and life, in today’s world. Everyone has heard of Facebook and Twitter, but many people are not aware of the thousands of other networks out there. Through this weeks assignments on social networks, I have discovered a number of useful resources for myself and my students. <br/> I have furthered my interest in having students create blogs to share their learning and collaborate with one another this upcoming school year. I have found two blogging sites (EDUblogs and Kidblogs) that are student friendly and plausible to bring into my teaching. There are secure sites where students can connect with others around the world, chat, and work on projects together. Students can use social networking to hold book discussions, to research and debate topics, and to learn from one another in and out of school. I have also found many resources for teachers to post and discuss teaching strategies with one another. Through these sites, I have expanded my strategies and lessons. <br/> An important component of using social networks, and having students use social networks, is digital citizenship. Students need to be aware of safety, etiquette, and laws when it comes to being part of a social network. So many students are on Facebook, and they need to be taught how to use this site appropriately. Cyber bullying and predators are problems for students on social networking sites, and students should be taught about these dangers, and the steps they should take to avoid them. <br/> By etiquette, I mean that students need to understand the steps and regulations to being a digital citizen. Through presenting students with a kid-friendly digital citizenship policy that they can discuss and understand, kids will be able to participate in these networks more safely. Our digital citizenship policy we created as a class outlines the important components students need to know in order to be optimal digital citizens. They also need to know the school rules, and the government regulations regarding social media, in order to avoid any conflict or unnecessary hardships. <br/> Overall, I have discovered that digital citizenship is a privilege and responsibility that needs to be taken seriously by teachers and students. There are a lot of advantages, and learning, that can take place through social networking, as long as all parties act responsibly. This week, I have learned of a number of resources, and evaluated my own role as a digital citizen. </p>Acceptable Use Policiestag:www.classroom20.com,2012-07-16:649749:BlogPost:8517412012-07-16T16:46:45.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p><br></br> The Adams50 Acceptable Use Policy has a preamble that explains why a policy is needed, the importance of having a policy in place, and how the district’s code of conduct fits into the AUP. While a definition section is seen as an important component of an Acceptable Use Policy, Adams50 does not have this section, and I believe it would benefit students if they included this. The district does have a policy statement that explains appropriate uses of computers and the district’s…</p>
<p><br/> The Adams50 Acceptable Use Policy has a preamble that explains why a policy is needed, the importance of having a policy in place, and how the district’s code of conduct fits into the AUP. While a definition section is seen as an important component of an Acceptable Use Policy, Adams50 does not have this section, and I believe it would benefit students if they included this. The district does have a policy statement that explains appropriate uses of computers and the district’s network for students and staff, and how students gain and lose access to this network. The district explains acceptable uses of their network, and has an in-depth section on inappropriate uses as well. There is also a violation/sanctions area that tells students how and where to report violations, and consequences for violating the AUP. Overall, Adams50 has a relatively thorough Acceptable Use Policy for using computers on the district’s network. The only recommendations I would make are to include a section for definitions, and to make the language and structure of the AUP more kid friendly for elementary and middle school students. The policy appears to cater to high school students and parents, and it would benefit students to have this policy accessible to all students. <br/><br/></p>
<p>Here is the link to a Wordle emphasizing the key words in the Adams50 AUP:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5504858/Adams50_AUP">http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5504858/Adams50_AUP</a></p>Using The Ideas Of Bloom And Marzano In My Teachingtag:www.classroom20.com,2012-07-14:649749:BlogPost:8513362012-07-14T16:29:17.000ZElana Klinehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ElanaKline
<p> In the next year of teaching, I plan to use my knowledge of Bloom’s taxonomy and Marzano’s research to facilitate my lesson planning. In every lesson, I will make sure to include (or build up to) higher level Bloom ideas, and to incorporate at least one of Marzano’s strategies. I found that, while coming up with strategies for each level of Blooms while incorporating Marzano in the last activity, I often had to modify and add to my ideas to include both, and the outcome was a much…</p>
<p> In the next year of teaching, I plan to use my knowledge of Bloom’s taxonomy and Marzano’s research to facilitate my lesson planning. In every lesson, I will make sure to include (or build up to) higher level Bloom ideas, and to incorporate at least one of Marzano’s strategies. I found that, while coming up with strategies for each level of Blooms while incorporating Marzano in the last activity, I often had to modify and add to my ideas to include both, and the outcome was a much stronger lesson than the original idea. Therefore, using these ideas in my planning will strengthen the lessons I create. <br/> I am currently implementing some of these concepts, but I am not doing it purposefully and thoughtfully. I work on most of Marzano’s strategies in my classroom, but do not think about which strategy I am using and how it fits into the overall research of Marzano on best classroom practices. I also have students use the different levels of Blooms, but not consciously, and I do not always use the levels of Blooms in order. In the next year, I want to make a conscious effort to include these strategies into my everyday teaching by posting a copy of each next to my desk, and referencing it as I plan to make sure I include the vocabulary and concepts. I also want to focus on including more technology, and therefore using the stages of digital Blooms. <br/> I can share my information with my colleagues by giving them copies of Bloom’s taxonomy and Marzano’s research strategies, and walking them through the different parts of both. We can then discuss lesson ideas and strategies for each one, and take a current lesson and look at how it already includes the strategies, and what can be adjusted to incorporate Bloom and Marzano further. For digital Bloooms, I can then show them my examples of lessons that involve each stage of digital Blooms and include Marzano strategies, and we can then discuss how to adjust a current lesson of theirs to include digital Blooms. I believe the most important information to share with colleagues is how to use this information in their own lessons. It is important that they understand Marzano and Bloom, but they need to know why it is relevant to their teaching, and how they can painlessly incorporate these strategies into their lessons. That is why the majority of my conversation would focus on strategies for the classroom. </p>