Final Blog Reflection on Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0 Tools

When I registered for this class in December, I was not really so sure that I could learn so many new things. This class definitely helped me a lot. To me, it was a kind of life-changing experience. This class is different than other ETEC classes. As I explored some web 2.0 tools in this seven weeks, I can list following advantages of using web 2.0 tools in learning environments

• Web 2.0 tools support collaboration.

• Web 2.0 tools are easily accessible and easy to use.

• Many students and teachers have a comfort level using them.

• Tools are low-cost (most of the times free).

• Tools do not require much maintenance support.

• Web 2.0 tools have very little “downtime."

However, before using these tools in the classroom, training the teachers is essential. Alo teachers need to step out of their comfort zone, and strive to learn more about these tools. The biggest concern with web 2.0 tools are privacy and security issues. There are plenty of resources out there about how to use these tools securely in the classroom.Overall, I feel like I am very fortunate to take this class this year. As a class, I think we did great job developing one of the best(my opinion) evaluation rubric that assessing web 2.0 tools. I used the rubric for my final project, and in the future I would like to use this rubric to evaluate other web 2.0 tools.

Unleashing the Power of Web 2.0 Tools

End of Course Vanity Search

When I conduct my final vanity search, I see that my digital footprint has grown significantly last seven weeks. When I search as "Muammer Aktas", same prosecutor is still popular on search results, but on Google Images, I finally got some pictures displayed.

On the web results, my name appears two times on the first page. I just setup my LinkedIn account, and it appeared on the first page.

On the Google Videos search results, my youtube channel got the first place, and surprisingly the video I created and uploaded to youtube for my final project for this class displayed on the first page.

When I search my name as " Muammer Aktas TAMUC" I have noticed significant change on search results, most of the results related to this class (ETEC 527). I feel lucky taking this class, it definitely helped me to expand my digital footprint about my academic and professional life. I will keep continue to explore more tools, and keep enlarging my footprint across to web.

Adventure in Social Bookmarking- Diigo

I have used Social Bookmarking sites before to get traffic to our school website. I have used Reddit, Digg, Delicious (formerly del.icio.us),StumbleUpon websites to get our school website's content seen and shared. I think it is great way to generate engagement with community. These websites are like bookmarks or favorites, public, online, sharable and accessible from anywhere. I never used Social Bookmarking sites for my personal use. This week's task allow me to understand that it is beneficial to use it even for personal use. Instead of bookmarking websites that

I like on computer browser, it is easy to store on Diigo or other social bookmarking sites, and it is easy to access my bookmarks anywhere from any platform like desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile phones. I especially like tagging feature of social bookmarking sites, so I can easily categorize my bookmarks, and search through bookmarks to quickly find desired information.

Diigo is a great tool provides premium features to teachers for free. I requested my account for education upgrade, and still waiting for approval. With Diigo education features, I can create student accounts for an entire class with just a few clicks. Diigo pre-set privacy settings for students, so students will communicate only with teacher and classmates. In education version, Diigo only show education-related ads to student accounts. Diigo also allows me to collaborate with other teachers. For our ETEC class group, we've used Diigo to bookmark resources we found related to educational technology.

Oncemy account is upgraded to Education version, I will post more reflections about Diigo.

Aggregating Pages Adventure

This week my task was to play and explore a tool that I've never heard, but used alternative version named "iGoogle"(retired on November 2013) before. I was asked to make a Protopage or Netvibes aggregation pages...

This week's adventure was interesting. I really like it. I played with Protopage and Netvibes, and I choose to use Protopage for aggregation. Protopage is user friendly tool, that help you organize your information with widgets. Protopage supports dragging and resizing the widgets. Unfortunately Netvibe doesn't support this. Netvibe seemed less flexible to me.

I believe it will be beneficial for me using these tools to communicate with parents, share my ideas, share useful resources with my students.

Youtube Adventure 1

This week our tasks were to setup a Youtube account and activate our channel. And also we searched Youtube for videos and setup playlists for each category listed below;

• Videos on using Twitter and Twitter tools
• Videos on using Wiki’ specifically Wikispaces
• Videos that speak to the use of web 2.0 tools for learning
• Videos related to one area that you currently teach or might teach when you do get to the classroom.
• Play list of your choice

Youtube is a great Web 2.0 tool. My adventure with Youtube has been going for many years. I still remember its old simple grayish design. This week for our assignment, I searched different videos on Youtube. Then I created playlist for each category above. It was interesting and I enjoyed it. I learned some cool Twitter tips and tricks, I learned how to perform advanced search on Twitter. I learned how to create wiki pages, and how can it be used in the classroom. 

I usually look at Youtube for basic maintenance, like fixing the car, fixing network problems in the school, learning foreign language, learning a new programming language, looking at good Robot designs of other teams around the world for Robotics, how-to videos like how to make homemade yogurt, cheese etc :)

As a result, I see great potential in Youtube, and I have to find ways to incorporate it more in my classes. Youtube is a great way to extend my and my students' digital footprints on the internet world. I will play and explore it more, and integrate it in my curriculum, like uploading some videos created by my students. 

Twitter Adventure Continued

I go ahead and downloaded Hootsuite app to my iPhone this week.  I am still playing with it. It is great app to manage my twitter account along my facebook and linkedin accounts. It is easy to navigate, and they have a nice customizable dashboard.

This week I read and sent some tweets to #etec527 group. It is easy way to share ideas and communicate with our classmates. Other than that, I read tweets from #txeduchat. Dr. Bigenho provided a great website link which listed all the educational hash tags. The link is http://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html I read some tweets from #edutech, #edtech and #technology groups.

I will keep exploring more on twitter.

Twitter Adventure

To be honest, I've been waiting long time for this adventure. I was too lazy to explore Twitter by myself. Thanks Dr. Bigenho & classmates for this privilege. I really enjoyed learning more about Twitter. It is a great tool if you have a complaint about a company, or anything, you can contact them right away, and they really care. It is an effective way to directly contact community leaders, professionals, educators around the world. You even get breaking news from Twitter before TVs, news agencies. As playing with it more, I become more comfortable.


I really liked Hootsuite. I set my account up in less than one minute. I like its dashboard, I can see everything like home feeds, mentions, scheduled tweets etc. ( customizable) in one place without a single click. It also allows me to add/manage my Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn accounts. Now its time to explore more about this wonderful suite and TweetDeck.

Week 2: Rubric Discussion

Technology Evaluation and Rubric

There are many different models and theories on how to evaluate technology for use in education. Please find two articles about evaluating technology that are related to your field or subject matter/grade level. Post the links to the articles and a brief summary of each article. In your summary, please include your impressions of the article including how practical you feel the models or theories presented are for a practitioner in your field.

Additionally, you must reply to at least two of your classmates' posts. Your replies must be more substantive than simple agreement or disagreement with the post. I want to encourage active discussion and respectful debate on this topic.

Article 1: Evaluating Technology Use in the Classroom

http://www.thethinkingstick.com/evaluating-technology-use-in-the-classroom/

In this article author focused on some steps administrators may use to evaluate the use of technology in a classroom environment. The author improves Marc Prensky's four typical process of technology adoption in the classroom. Marc Prensky's typical steps are Dabbling with technology, Doing Old things in Old Ways. Doing Old things in New Ways, Doing New things in New Ways.

Jeff Utecht turns these stages of technology adoption into questions that an evaluator could use during the evaluation process. The questions he added are Is the technology being used “Just because it’s there”?, Is the technology allowing the teacher/students to do Old things in Old ways?, Is the technology allowing the teacher/students to do Old things in New ways?, Is the technology creating new and different learning experiences for the students?

Jeff Utecht provides a great checklist of what to do when evaluating the use of technology in classroom, also he gives us an opportunity to closely follow this checklish on our classes to improve learning with effective use of technology. I believe my teaching will be more meaningful and productive if I ask this questions to myself frequently.

Article 2: Assessing Classroom Technology Integration

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech243.shtml

In this article, the author focuses on how to assess technology integration in classrooms. Many school districts have a technology integration policy, but many of them do not have policy that explain the meaning of appropriate technology. Author asks questions to a group of teachers and administrators about what kind of activities, lesson, resources, and so on should an admins, parent, students expect to see in a classroom which technology is being appropriately integrated. And then author generated a list of their response for better technology integration.

I really liked the responses, especially with examples ones. Using a random technology tool is not enough for effective technology integration, but it should be used because the tool enhances the learning and existing curriculum. Eleanor Doan put it so well:”Good tools do not make a good teacher, but a good teacher makes good use of tools.”

Week 2: Reading/Video Reflections

Readings
A Conceptual Framework for Using and Evaluating Web-Based Learning Resources in School Education Here is another link for the article above:
 http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol9/JITEv9p053-079Hadjerrouit743.pdf 
Videos
Web 2.0 Tool Evaluation Criteria

My Video Reflection

The video was short but very fun and informative. It talks about important ideas when choosing a web 2.0 resource for classroom. Choosing a web resource is fun but challenging. There are some important steps need to be taken when choosing a web resource/tool. As far as I understand, after following these steps when evaluation the resource, at the end it increases students motivation, and enhance learning. 

1. Critical Thinking: Students must to be able to analyze, synthesis, and evaluate information, just accessing the information is not enough.
2. Easy to use: Students need to be able to use the tool easily, with minimal help from teacher. Directions, instructions shouldn't be complex.
3. Generalizable: The tool must be used with all subject levels, and easily adaptable with different ages and competency levels.
4. Learner Controlled: Giving students opportunity to have the tool in hand allows them to control their own learning. Letting your students to choose the tool they like to use to achieve the goal.
5. A Finished Product: A finished product is important, it represents that students are learning.
6. Appropriate Content: Teachers need to make sure that content and advertisements on the tool must be appropriate for their students.

I just added this video to my favorites, I think the video well explained the steps needed to evaluate a web tool/resource for effective technology integration.

My Reading Reflection

I really enjoyed reading this Mr. Hadjerrouit's article this week. I was introduced TPACK model last semester in Intro to Ed Tech class. To be honest, thanks to this article, I feel like I finally understand the TPACK model now. I believe most of the schools are slow adapting technologies into the curriculum. As author mentioned in the article, most of the web resources are still designed, developed by software experts rather than teachers, educators, and learners. So that they mainly focus on technical details, and according to author this doesn't really measure its educational quality. Many researchers believe that the tool must also meet the learners' need. I think it is important for developers to get feedback from teachers, learners, and re-design, and re-develop tool to meet learners' need.
According to some researchers, a correct integration requires that teachers consider technology, content, and pedagogy in complex relationships. Teachers must have knowledge of the pedagogy that is applicable to the specific content, have knowledge of how technology can support pedagogical goals, and have knowledge of how the subject matter is transformed by the application of the technology. Teachers' technical knowledge is not just enough. 
The framework was detailed, and very informative. I like how he categorized his framework for an effective evaluations of the WBLRs. Case studies and findings were very interesting to read.
I never thought designing and evaluating a web resource was very challenging like this.

Week 1: Reading/Videos Reflection

Readings

Please read the two articles listed below and view the videos. You should post your thoughts and reflections AS YOU READ in the W1 Reading Forum. This is the heart of the interactive portion of the course and you need to be very active in this section. You do not need to wait until you have completed all of the reading to post. Post frequently as you read and engage with all of your peers throughout the week. AT A MINUMUM, you must post one original post and respond to four posts over four different days. You are encouraged to write single posts that synthesize ideas from multiple peer posts and your own thoughts. This will make this easier for everyone to read as the posts will be more meaningful and reflect deeper thought. Below are the readings and videos for week 1.

Alexander, B. (2006). Web 2.0: A new wave of innovation for teaching and learning?
https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERM0621.pdf
Hew, K. & Cheung, W. (2012). Use of web 2.0 technologies in K-12 and higher education: The search for evidence-based practice. Educational Research Review: 9, 47-64.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2012.08.001

Library Tip

A digital object identifier (DOI) can be used to cite and link to electronic documents. A DOI is guaranteed never to change, so you can use it to link permanently to electronic documents.

1.         To find a document using a DOI
2.         Copy the DOI of the document you want to open. For example, 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.03.031.
3.      Open the following DOI site in your browser:
4.      http://proxy.tamuc.edu:8446
5.      Enter the entire DOI in the text box provided, and then click Go.

Videos

Web 2.0…The Machine is Us/ing Us: http://youtu.be/6gmP4nk0EOE
Not on the Test: http://youtu.be/8dAujuqCo7s
Did You Know?: http://youtu.be/6ILQrUrEWe8
A Vision of K-12 Students Today: http://youtu.be/_A-ZVCjfWf8

Academia 2.0: http://youtu.be/vZ1jFaXgTnw

My Video Reflection

Very infromative videos! What makes me sad is that these videos were out there for almost a decade, and I just watched them :(

Web 2.0…The Machine is Us/ing Us: I would say this was the most inspirational video I've ever seen on Youtube so far. The Machine is Us video briefly tells the transformation of the web overtime. Web 2.0 is all about people sharing and collaborating, and this helps web evolving even faster. This video clearly illustrates the differences between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. As far as I understand, Web 1.0 was more read-only format, while Web 2.0 is read-write, and focus on communities, and has user generated content. I especially liked its closing, what is next? Actually its been almost eight years that this video was uploaded, where actually are we now?

Not on the Test:This song describes how I feel about testing. Luckily none of the classes I teach have state's standardized tests, but its not right when I see teachers are encouraged(forced) to prepare students for state testings. I know its not teachers' fault, a lot of time teachers are not allowed to teach anything else but standards for testing, even teachers have to spend their after schools ( and sometime Saturdays) for tutorials. I do not think this helps students to gain 21st century learning skills. Educational system needs serious change about state testings. I wish it will not take decades for this change.

Did You Know?: This video gives message to us that we are depending to the internet and technology more than before. Mobile technology will rule in next decades. Day after day, new technologies are being introduced, mobile phones become better and smarter, and with the rapid advancement of technology the possibilities are endless. Honestly this technology/digital age is pretty astounding, but scary for some reasons like data and identity security etc.

A Vision of K-12 Students Today: I really like this video. It was posted back in 2007, we are in now 2015, and most of our classrooms haven't changed that much. Studies show that using technology tools in classrooms can engage and motivate students more profoundly. Because of technology, we live in a global village now, people from different parts of the world are interconnected through the use of technology. We have to prepare our kids for a more competitive world. There are some teachers do not want to step out of their comfort zone and incorporate technology into their classes, however some teachers are pushed to use technology into instruction without receiving adequate training.

Academia 2.0:I completely agree that our Education System, especially elementary and secondary sections is slow to adapt new technologies into classrooms. For many teachers, lack of their experiences with new technology give them challenge. In order to incorporate technology into instruction successfully, at the beginning, teachers must be given time to learn and understand the tool, and should be able to teach/train their students.

My Reading Reflection

After reading the two articles, I realized that I had very little information about web 2.0 tools and its importance in learning. Very informative articles. I never heard the term "folksonomy" before, and author explained it very well in the article. I see now collaborating, tagging, folksonomy and social bookmarking can be a good tool in my education. I need to find ways to use these technologies in my classes.
I really enjoyed reading Hew and Cheung's research. They included research finding results of different web 2.0 tools researches. This article made me realized that I need to focus more on these wonderful tools. I would like to incorporate twitter, blogs, and virtual worlds more in my instructions.