Comic Life - I LOVE IT!

In reflecting on using Comic Life, I want to say that I am thrilled to have been introduced to this software. It is fun and exciting as an adult to use, so it must be fun and exciting for students to use. The software itself is very easy to manipulate. I thought I could start building my comic strip without laying out the comic strips first. I quickly realized that it would be much easier to lay out the story, take my pictures and then begin using the software. This helped me know which pictures I needed to take and it also helped me understand that I could not include every part of my story.

I can certainly see how using this software in the classroom or other educational setting would benefit students’ learning. It is an incredible tool for students to “show off” their imagination. Since beginning this project, I have been brainstorming ways to implement this software into my curriculum as a media specialist. I can envision how the students will be excited to take part in using this software. This software emphasizes individuality. The creativity that comes from using this software is endless. I look forward to the great things that can be accomplished while using Comic Life with my students.

Problem Based Learning - Technology Integration - Web 2.0....All Intertwined!

Problem Based Learning, Technology Integration and Web 2.0 Applications are certainly, or should be, intertwined. According to Egbert, the definition of Problem Based Learning involves critical thinking, problem-solving skills and inquiry as students explore real life problems. With the digital natives we are dealing with today, technology integration must play an important role in order for the students to relate to real world problems. With this comes Web 2.0 Applications. These are simply the tools that can be used to draw the students into the learning process by allowing them to use the resources that are interesting and familiar.


There is certainly an added value to use PBL to support technology integration in the classroom. In Problem Based Learning, students must ask questions and find the answers in order to solve the problems. Technology integration offers these students avenues to develop the questions and locate the information necessary to solving the problems. There are so many resources available to teachers and students that involve creative technologies.


Obviously, Web 2.0 Applications support technology integration in the classroom. If these applications are being used, technology is being integrated. Blogging, Wikis and social networks are just a few of the Web 2.0 applications that are available for students to use their inquiry skills to develop questions and locate information in order to evaluate it. Egbert states, “The traditional role of teaches as information givers is changing.”


Web 2.0 Applications can be used to support Problem Based Learning. It moves us from traditional learning goals to more creative goals that assess critical thinking skills. According to Egbert, there are 7 steps to plan a PBL task. These are: Contextualize the question, develop objectives, review background, write the problem, develop scaffolds, evaluate student needs and implement. Web 2.0 Applications can be used in many of these steps.

Egbert, Joy. (2009). Supporting Learning with Technology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Reflection on Blogging

I learned a great deal of things I should do differently after the readings and looking at the other blogs from our fabulous blog creators!

Knoebel & Lankshear say that we should "pay close attention to text, design and communication." I chose a black background because it looked neat and appealing to me. I thought I should use bright colors for the text, but I learned that it is difficult for color blind folks to read those bright colors. The blogs I reviewed all used subdued colors that were neat and clean.

At first, creating a blog was just an assignment to me. But, I now want to get in a make my blog meaningful. Knoebel & Lankshear tell us that "reading a blog includes much more than simply reading the printed text of each blog post, but paying attention to layout, colors, images, and even sound." Although none of the blogs I reviewed used sound, they did appear to follow these guidelines.

One of the blogs I reviewed had great hyperlinks embedded within the text. Initially, I simply typed the URLs in the text, but I think using hyperlinks in the text looks so much better. Knoebel & Lankshear tell us, "The feature of any hypertext which most obviously distinguishes it from other kinds of text is the hyperlink: it gives the onscreen text a kind of "depth," a richer texture than a printed page generally has."

Richardson tells us that "the first step is to find out as much as you can about the author." Two of the blogs I reviewed had this, but one of the blogs did not as far as I could see. I find it interesting to know as much about the creator of the blog as possible.

Knobel & Lankshear. (2007). Looking from the inside out: Academic blogging as new literacy.

Richardson, W. (2006). Weblogs: Pedagogy and practice. Blogs, wikis, podcasts, & other powerful web tools for classrooms.

Web 2.0 for Media Specialists

I read a fabulous article about how Web 2.0 Tools can help Media Specialist. Since I am in my first year of being a media specialist, this article is beneficial for my planning. The article lists many reasons why using these tools would be important: “move students beyond searching for information to using it and creating it, get better results from student projects and research, provide more equitable access to digital tools and resources, integrate 21st century skills into the curriculum, foster more collaboration with the teachers to benefit student achievement, share information with colleagues online, showcase library media center activities, and make your budget go much further than you-or anyone else-thought you could.” ( 13) The article makes a point to tell the reader that the previous items should be desired to accomplish and if they are not, the reader may be in the “wrong profession.” (13)

We have moved from using the traditional resources such as paper, pencil, glue, scissors, etc. Students now have “computers, social bookmarks, RSS feeds, blogs, wikis, photo editing and photo sharing sites, digital video and video editing tools, social networks, podcasts, and other new resources.” (13) It is very important for today’s library media specialists to embrace these resources and learn how to use them in order to implement them into our programs. These tools will draw in the digital natives we see on a daily basis in the classroom and media center.

Although we understand the need for implementing these 21st Century Web 2.0 tools, there are barriers that may interfere. After completing a survey, Baumbach lists four major barriers in school library media centers. These are: Tools inaccessible at school, Erosion of informal professional development time, Lack of relevant training opportunities, and Lack of knowledge. I know from experience that our school system does not allow many of the Web 2.0 Tools to be accessed from our school. Of course, there is the issue with the lack of professional development and training opportunities for teachers to learn about these tools. For many, there is a simple lack of knowledge. Many teachers have no idea that these tools even exist.

Regardless of the barriers, school library media specialists can take a step in the right direction toward using Web 2.O tools. We can be the example for the rest of the teachers. If we can show how these tools can benefit student learning, more teachers will likely want to join. We can take the initiative to encourage this creative integration.

Click here for the PDF of this article.

Reference:


Baumbach, D. (2009). Web 2.0 and You. Knowledge Quest, 37(4), 12-19. Retrieved from ERIC database. 

Fabulous Ideas for Integrating Technology

Fabulous Ideas for Integrating Technology

Although this is not an article, I felt it was a great resource to share with my peers. Often, teachers struggle with ways to integrate technology. This link has fabulous ideas on doing just that, integrating technology. I hope that my peers will find this wealth of information useful for all grade levels and all disciplines.

Integrating Technology Websites

• Integrating Technology into the Classroom - http://www.wtvi.com/teks/
• Technology Tips for Classroom Teachers - http://www.edzone.net/~mwestern/stuff.html
• Discovery Education - http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/
• Georgia Educational Technology Conference - http://www.gaetc.org/
• Ga DOE Educational Technology Center -http://www.ettcnsc.org/Instructional_resources/other/interactive_whiteboard_links.htm