ED714 Reflection: Comparing PLE Diagrams and Plans

Review a plan to curate and create your digital identity from one of your peers in class. What did you learn about yourself when looking at your PLE? How does your PLE compare to other peers in your class?

In reviewing my classmates PLE there are many similarities in that we are all part of each others PLE through the IT&DML program. I particularly liked Joe Depalma’s

post and PLE map. In it, Joe also did two components, one being learning through technology and the other, person to person. I agree with Joe that learning is not and can not be confined within four walls. Most, if not all of us site our fellow students and colleagues as part of the PLE. We must always be open to learning from others and at the same time we must be open to share what we have learned. With school starting right around the corner I look forward to sharing what I have learned thus far not only in the “classroom” but also from my fellow students at UNH.

This is my mind map of my personal learning environment. I mainly have two overall components, one as a science teacher the other as a student in IT&DML. Although the two are separated, the student realm will become more blended with the teacher as I implement and incorporate what I have learned through my coursework. My goal is to continue to develop and grow my digital identity that will expand my PLE.

ED714 Networked Learning Project: A Chocolate Lovers Cake Blog #4

Making a Chocolate Lovers Cake

I have completed my Networked Learning Project, making a Chocolate Lovers Cake from scratch. I planned to make not only the cake but a chocolate buttercream filling with a ganache icing.  The project itself was to use only online resources to teach myself how to do something, for me-baking the cake. Before beginning I had to research which kind of chocolate to use, I decided on Trader Joe’s Belgian Dark Chocolate and Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa. I came to this decision after reading about choosing baking chocolate online.  The recipe used I found through Youtube at Sorted Food.com. This website has a multitude of various foods to cook from appetizers to desserts. I would definitely recommend it! The Recipe and Instructions for baking this cake can be found by clicking the recipe and instructions link. To view the condensed version of my project on youtube just click my Chocolate Lovers Cake. The cake itself tasted awesome!! It was like biting into a rich chocolate bar with every morsel you put into your mouth, yum! The boys loved it!

In doing this project I learned there is an endless supply of information on the internet that I can use in my own personal learning network (PLN). I utilized youtube for everything from how to make the cake to editing my video. The help forums were great in that I could connect with people looking for, or having, answers to the same questions I had. Looking to the upcoming school year I can definitely see the advantages of my students creating their own PLN’s.  

ED710 Foundations in Media Literacy

Online Tutorial using Padlet in the Classroom

Being a science teacher, I have always wanted to do current events on Friday's, some how it always got push aside. When I was given the assignment to do an on line tutorial with digital text and tool that can be used in the classroom I knew I had my topic: SCI-FRI: Friday's Current Events in Science. The reason I believe this lesson plan will work is because it is multimodal. There are three components happening in this lesson. First there is a screen-cast of what a Padlet is and how to use it with your students, secondly there is student searching the internet for content (article of interest) component, then group reading, summarizing and presentation of the materials read and finally a refection piece. There is a nice mix of science, technology and literacy in the lesson.

The first time I do this I imagine it may take three days to complete (as outlined in the lesson plan). As time goes on and we continue doing this I believe we can get it down to two, easily and finally release the project as an at home collaborative assignment, needing only presentation/discussion time in class on Fridays. The use of digital tools such as sharing in google docs allows for student to work collaboratively on  assignments whether they are in class or at home.

For reference, I used (screencast-o-matic) to make my tutorial :-)

ED710 Module 3 Reflection

Have you ever been fooled by information you read online?

I was thinking about this question and thought that I really hadn’t been fooled while on the internet.  I usually used the internet to obtain relevant information based on my content area, get caught up on Facebook, view YouTube videos, etc. However, I have fallen for those phishing postings on Facebook, took online surveys and put my email address out there to get coupons.  That email account now gets hundreds of emails a day. I am now careful not to ”like”  posting that solicit people to like them for some cause or another. You do one and then that’s it you get flooded with more of the same.

As far a credibility of information online you must be careful there too. I see my students doing a search and clicking onto the first website, which usually sends you directly to advertisements and not necessarily credible information. Being in an online search can be like getting off the highway at an exit only to find you’re on another route, which takes you somewhere else, and so on until you finally get yourself back on track.Teachers need to hone their internet searching skills, in doing so they will be better equipped to guide their students when using information obtained online.

ED714: Networked Learning Project- A Chocolate Lovers Dream Cake Blog #3

This is my latest update on what is happening with my Networked Learning Project, as you might remember I am making a chocolate cake from scratch. I went to Trader Joe’s and purchased my chocolate-Trader Joe’s Organic 72% Cacao, Belgian Dark Chocolate. I also purchased organic unbleached flour for the cake and organic powdered sugar for the buttercream filling.  I was excited to find Kerrygold, imported Irish butter, yum!! Irish butter is very creamy. I’ve been to Ireland several times and one of my favorite things to eat (other than chocolate) was fresh baked brown bread with unsalted K

errygold butter!  Now that I have narrowed down my recipe options all that’s left to do is make the cake, do the final video with blog, and done! (Except for eating the cake, of course)

Padlet

Just made my page and wanted to see if I can post it OK Roisin's padlet . Feel free to add on.