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=Welcome to my ED519 Wiki!=

My PLP
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media type="file" key="ED519 Tool Assignment.wmv" width="300" height="300" === This is a story I created using PhotoStory3.This was for the "Software Programs and Apps to learn and use" assignment. It was one of the Digital Storytelling tools. It was a free and easy download. The interface is intuitive and leads the user through the process. The story can be as short as one picture or up to 300. The video can be as simple as a slide show or more advanced with picture editing, transition, voice narration, adding or creating music to go with the story. That was the biggest challenge for my video. Finding the appropriate mood for the topic is hard. I think it will make me pay more attention to the background music I hear in movies and shows (other than crescendos) to learn how to choose the music. === === This tool could be used from kindergarten through adulthood. The only tricky part for younger students would be browsing for photos or music to add. It would be a create tool to use for collaboration. Team members could take different roles such as photographer, recorder, script writers, picture transition master, or they can create the a storyboard and work together to create a video to share reflections from field trips, representations of concept application, timelines, summaries of readings, and it appeals to visual learners. ===

The tool can be used offline, and is sharable by email or posting on websites, wikis, and blogs. There are versions for PC or MAC.
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Thinking Points Assignment
Thinking Point 1 I agree with most of Lowther's assertions, particularly the first two. I would assert that there is a fourth, that being using technology as a sophisticated fact drilling tool. The opinion I don't completely agree with is "Technology as a learning tool is based on students using technology to __further their learning through problem-solving applications".__ Technology can be used for more than problem solving applications. Global communication and connections, creative demonstrations of the student's achievement level on learning goals as well as collaboration are much more than problem solving.

Lowther's statements directly reflect on current position as I was hired to help educators in the region develop their capacity to integrate and leverage technology to create authentic learning opportunities for students. Teachers and students need access to a variety of technology tools and support to make the shift from didactic instruction to a learner center education. The research has supported learner centered schooling, and now the technology has arrived to manage and enable this approach.

Thinking Point 2

I first learned about constructivist teaching in 1993. Since then I have had many opportunities to use this approach in my classrooms. The districts I have worked in have always had over 65% free and reduced lunch student populations. One thing I learned is that when you are using the constructivist approach in that type of environment there is a wide range of background knowledge upon which students can construct new knowledge. Technology is huge asset for assessing what background knowledge a student has and increasing it, growing academic vocabulary, and differentiating. I would agree with Grabinger, & Duffield's assertions about how teachers used technology based on pedagogy they are grounded in, I'm not sure I like the term "learning tool", because textbooks, notebooks and pencils where all considered tools of learning. Technology is about connections to information, experts, distant collaborators, and virtual experiences which grow cultural and societal experiences. For me technology breaks down classrooms walls and allows students to interact with the world.

Again the author's statements reflect on my situation as I share methods with educators to help them develop their understanding of constructivist and student centered learning through technology.

This is the Mindmap I created using Mindomo. Click the full screen icon for a better view. Grab the image to move and explore.
In this map I have summarized the evolution of the web from the first read only version to the dynamic 3.0. I welcome 3.0 but I believe in being proactive and prepared for unintended consequences from the increased power of technology. I'm old enough to have read Orwell's 1984 before 1984 and I know who HAL is and the challenges presented in that situation. We have to remember that all of the modern technology developments; automatic washers, electric stoves and ovens, water wells with electric pumps, and on and on have had untended consequences which effect general and health and fitness. media type="custom" key="23733594"