Learning Unit Reflections

Making each unit was a unique experience. Since I have no previous experience with being a K-12 educator, it was a bit difficult for me to start at first. I wasn't sure what each unit will represent, but after some research I have found each topic and it ended up being a fun way to learn more about new web 2.0 tools that I have never used before. I will reflect on each unit and share with you some of my favorite tools used.

Learning Unit 1.

This one was the hardest for me, because it was the first one and I wasn't sure what I was going to create.  The topic of the first unit was Inventors and Inventions. My favorite part about this unit was earning about Glogster, a digital poster-making website. I will definitely keep this one in mind because it was such a fun way for students to learn new things while also being able to express themselves and be as creative as they can be. I loved that students can choose a layout, add pictures, add text and move it around on the poster. It's also a great way to share the posters with all their classmates by using the link. I also enjoyed learning about Poll Everywhere. Students can join a poll and answer the question, and the teacher can see what the results were. This is a great way to get everyone involved and see what the class wants.

Learning Unit 2. 

The second learning unit was about cultural differences. I think it is so important for teachers to talk about cultural differences with their students and teach them about every culture, especially now. My favorite part about this unit was the brainstorming part, when students were to brainstorms three reasons why it is important to learn about different cultures. This activity would make students think and research for themselves and really consider why we are doing this unit. I also enjoyed using ZohoShow to create a slideshow about a culture because it will get students familiarized with other cultures and people that are different from them. Overall, this was my favorite topic to write about.

Learning Unit 3. 

This unit was about endangered species. I thought this was a great topic because so many species are on the endangered list and it is because of the things we as humans do (deforestation etc). I liked using FloorPlanner because it was an interactive and creative way to learn about a new species without it seeming like a chore. In order for the students to create a floorplan of the ideal living condition for a species, they had to research into it and then draw it out. I thought this tool was really fun. I also liked using VoiceThread. Teachers can share a powerpoint with their students and also add comments like voicenotes in the powerpoint. This was a cool way of adding additional information that might not necessarily be needed in the powerpoint.

Making an educational portfolio is a great way to incorporate technology into the classroom. I think a lot of these tools I have used are a great way to make learning fun and interactive for everyone. Digital posters and floorplans are something new that students can use and be creative with while also learning and researching new information.

My Personal Learning Network

A Personal Learning Network is a collection of resources and people you can refer to when needed. It is a great way to have something to refer to when you need to learn something new. This is my personal learning network that I created over this semester. Everyone's personal learning network will grow over the years, with each job and new job position. The more it grows, the better.

Web 2.0 Tools

An interesting new Web 2.0 Tools for teachers to use is an online bookmarking and collaboration website called Delicious. This tools allows teachers and students to access bookmarks from any computer for free. I think this is such a cool concept, especially now since most of our work is done on the computer or with the help of technology. There are so many great websites available and being able to share bookmarks with the class and with your classmates would make studying and learning a lot easier and hassle free. The best way to use this tool is to sign up (it's free) and share it with the class.