Dig Deeper into the Mainstays (u02a2)

When I was looking into this blog post assignment, I was excited to see there were a few websites in the 3 categories that I had not had the opportunity to use or haven't used in a very long time. Finding time to look through new tools is hard, but important.

Social - Edmodo

From the first category, Social, I already widely use Twitter for my own PLN but not for student learning. Since I teach K-5 students, I don't feel Facebook is an appropriate route to take since you must be 13 or older to use Facebook. Eight years ago I utilized Edmodo in my middle school language arts class, but I haven't since. This is a good opportunity for me to re-evaluate Edmodo, see what is new, and determine if it would be beneficial to my students.

The first thing that jumps out at me when on Edmodo is how much it looks and feels like Facebook. This is a positive thing, I believe, because social media is prominent in the lives of my upper elementary students, thus giving them a feeling they are using a social media website. Everything being in one place is of importance as well. I can easily post an assignment, quiz, or a note right from the first screen. This also pops up in chronological order on student's accounts, which helps them stay organized. When assigning, I can also attach a link, file, or bring something up from my Library of items. Having these options are great because it gives me various options for assignments. Another great aspect of Edmodo is the creation of groups. I can assign different work to different groups and groups can converse with each other on the platform without others interfering.

While I was researching how other teachers engage students with Edmodo, I came across an idea from Jennifer Lewis, a high school teacher. She pointed out that with Edmodo, you can add apps to your student's accounts. For example, students can access Office365 or NoRedInk app without ever having to log into another account. This is a great way to app smash without students having to remember various account information or website/app names. Another great idea Jennifer Lewis had was to use Edmodo for literature circle groups. Though I don't teach lit circles anymore since my role is now technology integrationist, I could see how Edmodo would be a terrific platform for sharing lit circle information related to student roles.

In general, the social category can enhance student learning because it can be utilized as a way for students to share information, ideas, and check each other's progress. Having work posted on a social platform is a great way to initiate collaboration between team members and have a place to post work for others to view and comment. Online etiquette and online safety can be part of the learning taking place when on social websites.

Creative - WeVideo

Since I already have experience with VoiceThread and Prezi, I evaluated WeVideo. Though I've watched videos that have been posted on WeVideo, I've never had the chance to dive into all that WeVideo is capable of until today. When reading the first page on the login screen, I noticed all videos are housed online in the cloud. This immediately got me thinking about how wonderful it will be not to have to worry about which computer a project is saved on. What also stood out to me is that WeVideo can be used on my iPad as well, giving me more options for video recording then just using a video camera.

Unfortunately I found two downfalls right away. The first being I had to really dig to find a place to sign up for a free account. With how robust the editing software is, I can see how beneficial it would be to have a paid account, however, I just wanted to test-drive the site. The second downfalls was in the user agreement. I found that WeVideo is intended for students over the age of 13, at least in the free version. If I wanted to use a paid version specifically for school, I would have to see if the user agreement is different for those accounts.

Like many editing software available, it has drag and drop that allows the user to move around various pieces. I also like how the menus at the top use pictures instead of words, this is helpful for my low readers or ELL students. Being able to video record straight from the web browser aids in cutting down confusion from having to go from a website to the desktop. Lastly, even though there are various options for enhancing a video, such as transitions and music, it does not cause the user to get "lost" in that is available. For instance, there are a limited number of transitions and themes, allowing the student to have creativity without loosing the goal of the project.

The creative category can really enhance and engage students in the learning process. When utilizing any creative software, students are in the trenches of learning because they are put in the driver seat instead of the teacher. Students are the ones coming up with ideas of how to showcase their learning and understanding. The depth of knowledge can also be deeper because of having to apply their knowledge and synthesize it into their project.

As I was researching how teachers use WeVideo in the classroom, it seemed many were using it as a way to explain a process. One example that I found interesting included students explaining how to perform a skill in gym class. The gymnasium can be one place where it is hard to incorporate technology into student learning, but this is a great example of doing just that. I do believe students will remember the skill as well as be able to apply the skill after creating their video. Also, other students may learn better from a peer then from an adult.

Curation - BlendSpace

Since I already extensively use Symbaloo for school and Pintrest for personal use,I decided to try out Blendspace instead. I've already created content in EduClipper for another class. Though I've not yet used Blendspace in my own classroom, I just researched and presented about Blendspace for a technology conference and thus I'm applying what I learned to this blog post.

One of the fantastic features of Blendspace is that it is all drag and drop. For my younger students, there is no worrying about copy and pasting. The second great feature is that all that you need to build your Blendspace is found right beside the work space. If a student wants to add a video, quiz, or information, you can search sources such as Google, YouTube, Google Drive, and the computer straight from the same space where the item will be dropped. There is no flip-floping between screens, websites, or devices. Students will have less of a chance getting lost in the creation process. 

Unlike some of the other curation sites, you can create a quiz in Blendspace, instead of needing another website, copying the link, and pasting it in. Also, unlike other curation websites, all of the content is house within Blendspace. So, instead of clicking on a link and it opening another browser or tab, all the content stays on the Blendspace website. I can also shuffle through each resource by using an arrow instead of needing to go back to the original work space. Lastly, there are 198 ways to share one's work on Blendspace, making it easier for students to compile a digital profile.

Curation websites in general are exceptional at providing a place to put work. For example, Blendspace provides a place for a user to place their information during research. It does little to offer any creativity with the content, but does provide a great starting point for finding out more information about a particular topic. Curation websites can also give students a place to collaborate on projects, especially if all students are researching at the same time. When utilizing a curation website, a teacher could easily tie in how to find reputable websites and how to analyze information before using it.