Blog 7: PLN

For my professional development network, I utilized Digg Reader as a source to collect information via RSS Feed. The main site that I received headlines from was Edudemic. The tagline or motto for the site is connecting education and technology. This is exactly what my professional circle of influence resides and I have learned some fascinating concepts with this reader. A recent article from edudemic talked about the advantages of utilizing Mac OSX Mavericks. This new update is free and my classroom is 100% Mac! iLife and iWork software updates are also free on contingency. The district techs updated all my computers automatically. Here is the direct link to the article.

I spent most of my time using the Digg Reader and Edudemic. I performed a trial with the affinity group Classroom 2.0. This was a group I found out I happened to be apart of about 4 years back. I revisited the group and I came to the same conclusion. I just do not have the time to sift through information and I lost interest. Same with Twitter; I am just not a big fan.

Through using my PLN, I came to the conclusion that I like the convenience of the Digg reader and how it brings headlines in my field directly to me. I am a creature of convenience as all my time is accounted for as a high school teacher!

Journal 6: Self Reflection

I feel very confident in this course and how I can apply the content to make my work more rich and compelling. HTML are the building blocks of a site and CSS is how you style your content. They work together in tandem to help users navigate a site. It is a good idea to separate HTML and CSS as much as possible so they can be used to make future sites with less work. Tables with invisible borders were originally used to organize content on a site before CSS became the mainstay.

The tables exercise in class was one of the more challenging class labs. I had never used tables in a design and to format them using code had a learning curve. Even though using tables to create a site are a thing of the past, it was good to get a feel of how to use them to organize information. Creating multiple columns and rows is not the easiest. Also, using spans required more intricate code. Here is my link to the assignment: Tables.

Since this is my class I am taking before I start my thesis project, I am trying to soak up as much tools and tactics as possible. I need to be able to create a compelling culminating project and I look forward to the challenge with my new skills!

Journal #5 - Twitter

My first experience with Twitter was back in 2009 as part of a summer technology training for candidates of the Clovis Online School. I was running for a part-time technology teacher position. I was learning new educational applications of technology including Moodle, wikis, RSS feeds, etc. Twitter was the prime social media that we needed to learn and connect to almost instantly. I was motivated to learn something new and how it could be used for educational purposes. I was widely impressed with how Twitter worked and how simple it was to use. I signed up and created a profile: http://twitter.com/coolhanddesigns. I have not done too much with it since then and I have barely updated it. I have lost interest and I just have found it to be boring!

Journal Post 4: Project Plan

• Site title - ROP Graphic Design
• Developer - Luke Shubin
• Rational or focus - The content of this site will include lessons and resources as well as an assignment submission link to teach graphic design. The purpose of this site is to "beautify" a class wiki site and make it for more user friendly. The main objectives would include a main hub where students can go to pull lessons, resources and allow for assignment submission as an "all-in-one" site.
• Main features outline - The main features are an about me/home page, lessons page, resources page and assignment submission.
• Content - There will be four web pages that will flow together to create an educational environment that is straightforward, but rich in information for the user.
• Target audience - The target audience for the site is 10-12 grade high school graphic design students.
• Design considerations. The design goals are to use HTML5 and CSS to create a cohesive and imaginative website where students will make countless return visits.
• Limiting factors - Without the use of JavaScript programming, this site may have issues with how users will attain information and process it.

 

Journal 3: The Case for Social Media in Schools

Kessler, S. (2010, September 29). The case for social media in schools. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school/

 Teenage students like to go against the grain of what adults expect of them. In my recent years as a teacher, the use of sites such as facebook has dwindled making room for more trendier sites. Students wanted to use Facebook more as schools told them not as it was a distraction to learning. The usage of cell phones inside the classroom has gone up as teachers have embraced the technology. As students feel more comfortable using social media in the classroom, they may not want to use it because it would be "not cool" to actually use it for an educational purpose.

Edmodo is one of those sites that can be very useful but getting over the resistance of students thinking it is just a facebook rip-off (that is nerdy), can be an uphill battle. Students want to have their own space and not have to be monitored by a teacher or school. They feel restricted and they do not really get to express their true feelings. I have personally used Edmodo for a brief stint of time and found it to be very resourceful, but getting the students on board was quite a challenge. I even found myself to lose interest because of their lack of participation. I think if Edmodo was used as a required part of course where credit was given, it may have a more effective impact. Edmodo as an optional resource may not be strong enough to live on its own.

1. What alternatives to social media exist in the classroom?
I personally use wikis to deliver content and also as a classroom collaboration tool. The learning curve for using wikis is not steep and the popularity of Wikipedia.

2. What new types of social media can be used in the classroom?
Instagram and the use of cell phones with it can be a powerful tool. Students are begging for simpler applications with action photos doing the talking. Less words and more images is the trend. Using Instagram with Photography would be a strong pathway to travel.

Blog Post 2: Affinity Group and Digg Stream

I took Dr. McGarvey's recommendation and I joined Classroom 2.0!  I decided to join it so I can stay on top of educational technology trends and innovative ways to use computers in the classroom. I teach in a hybrid format, meeting face-to-face with students every day. I use an educational wiki to teach my graphic design class here: ropgraphicdesign.pbworks.com. I have used the wiki format for a years now, I learned the format at my first faculty position at the Clovis Online School. I hope to share my strategies for releasing content for students also as I feel giving can be better than receiving.

Here is a link to my Classroom 2.0 Page:

http://www.classroom20.com/profile/LukeShubin

In my Digg reader, I signed up to Edudemic and Graphic Design Education for now. Edudemic's motto is connecting education and technology. This right up my alley! I learned 6 ways why teachers should try mobile devices in the classroom. I have always been a fan of this.In my classroom we have Mac Desktops, but I still allow students to use smartphones if they prefer for certain assignments. I have rediscovered blog readers in GED 512 and I hope to continue benefiting from them.

Question 1: What are the benefits of using Blog Readers?
The number one benefit for me is the convenience. Blog readers send you links to blog posts as they happen so you are not wasting precious time searching for content.

Question 2: How can using Nings influence teaching?
Since there are multiple users on Nings, there is a wealth of knowledge and experience just waiting to be shared. I have an open mind to different ways to pass on knowledge actively and the various users can aid my professional learning.

Journal 1- Part 1: Getting Started

 

Robbins, J. (2012). Learning web design : a beginner's guide to HTML, CSS, Javascript, and web graphics. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly.

 Summary Reflection: 

After reading the first three chapters of this book, I have attained the knowledge of the difference between the internet and the web, the uses of HTML and CSS and abundance more of information.
  The first chapter gave me a summary of what to expect in this book and also what a web designer actually does and definition of many important topics in web design. I learned something new with the term "UI" design which stands for User Interface. UI design delves in the how the user will use the site and navigate and not just how the site will look. It is important to pay attention to the functioning of the site.
  The second chapter explains how we get files "served" to us by servers. Also, a brief intro into HTML. The internet is a network of connected computers while the web is a way to share information over the internet. This needs to be clarified as many people have thought they were exactly the same thing.
  The third chapter talks about the multitude of devices that can access the web. When the web first existed, we used desktops, but now the types of devices that can access the web are growing. We have to use responsive web design which correlates with a quality experience for the user no matter what the device they use. 

Question 1:  What are servers and how do they work? 
 The server is the software that allows the computer to communicate with other computers. It serves up documents when a client requests them. The client provides the documents to the user.
 
 Question 2:  Are sites created for mobile devices particularly better than using one responsive design for all?
A dedicated mobile site may be the best way to make complex tasks easier for users on smartphones but there is twice the work. Mobile sites are usually stripped down and to the point. Responsive design is not a universal solution, but can be less time consuming.