Online+Book+Club


 * This is the page for Online Book Club... **


 * Online Book Club Week 1 **

Technology can be seen as a default component incorporated in the lives of most individuals today. The idea behind //powering up// and //powering down// focuses on making shifts in education in order to create knowledge and connect to students. In order for educators to make these connections they must appropriately integrate technology into their lessons.

Throughout my educational career I have experienced numerous circumstances in which I have found //powering up// extremely useful in the learning and teaching process. A prime example of this was witnessed at Dr. William Mennies’ Elementary School in Vineland, New Jersey where I was required to perform a forty hour observation of a fourth grade classroom. Several teachers appropriately incorporated technology into their lessons in a number of different ways. One example of this was evident with the use of the smart board in order to visually present the overall concept of the lesson to the students. The smart board also included many interactive components which helped aid in the learning process.

A prime example of a personal learning network would be social online community such as Facebook or twitter where individuals can communicate and gather information about various topics regarding education. These online networks can also serve as a professional learning community in which educators have the potential to collaborate about different educational tasks.

Social media helps me stay connected to the professional world in a number of different ways. Throughout my educational career social media has aided me in a number of online classes in which students are required to participate in discussions regarding the subject matter. The use of social media has helped me stay up to date with various college assignments. The use of technology has also served to help maintain communication via e-mail with professors.

** Online Book Club Week 2 **
Learning can be described as an ongoing personal process in which individuals develop knowledge and acquire a new sense of understanding. The concept of learning can also be defined as an acquisition of necessary skills that enable individuals to construct new ideas and apply them to the construction of knowledge.

In order to make sense of learning, individuals must relearn and construct new knowledge that improves practice. Various concepts of the digital age require unlearning. A prime example of a topic that needs to be unlearned is the idea learning occurs only in school, is limited by time and space, and is an individual pursuit.

The quotation by provided at the beginning of chapter four by Roland Barth presents a concept that is evident throughout the world of education. Barth suggests that congenial relationships are a condition for developing collegial relationships in which conversations focus on practice. Various experiences throughout my educational career have provided evidence for this idea. The relationships between students and teachers should be based solely on a professional level in which personal elements are set aside in order to focus on the students’ best interest. The manner in which educators choose to express themselves and communicate with their students is a significant aspect that can ultimately serve to foster or hinder a student’s overall development.

** Online Book Club Week 3 **
There are a multitude of various tools used for recording data. [|Edublogs] is one such tool that allows educators to communicate with students and parents. It can serve to provide students, teachers, and parents with current information regarding to school events and issues. Edublogs is practical tool for teachers to incorporate into their lessons as it allows them to utilize it in a way that permits students and parents to analyze their practice. Teachers can post regular updates about assignments and offer links to online course materials. Students can also use this tool to post comments and take part in discussions pertaining to a particular subject matter relevant to the course. TeacherTube is an online community similar to youtube in which educators can stay connected by sharing information.

Teachers can share this information in a multitude of different ways. One such way in which teachers can collaborate and share information is by posting their thoughts and comments on blogs and videos. Another way in which teachers can utilize this web tool to stay connected and share information is by uploading educational documents, photos, videos, and audio that can potentially serve to foster educational development for teachers and students. Teachers can use this tool in their classrooms to research new educational topics or add audiovisuals to a presentation, meeting, or lesson plan.

A prime example of an educational blog is [|__http://harveyd.edublogs.org__] /. This blog is utilized by a number of different students in the process of taking an instructional technology class for educators at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Due to the fact that I am currently taking the course it is fair to state that the blog is part of my personal learning network. It provides a copious amount of relevant and helpful information pertaining to the material currently being covered in the class. The blog allows students to view course data and includes various interactive presentations and videos that serve to help students better understand the course material. The blog also includes examples of projects and presentations from previous classes that can help students currently taking the course by providing models and templates for their own assignments. The blog is an easy way for students stay connected with the educator and helps students keep up to date with the course requirements.

** Online Book Club Week 4 ** In order to assist veteran teachers to embrace technology and become comfortable with participating in a connected learning community I would explain to them that technology in a classroom employs versatile learning tools that can support numerous aspects of a child’s development. I would explain that when students are encouraged to work together with technological devices, social skills are employed as children learn to cooperate and negotiate taking turns. I would also indicate that I believe technology should never be used to replace the concrete and real-life experiences that are critical to a young child’s learning. In order to inspire these veteran teachers to employ 21st Century skills I would explain that technology is an element that must be used in balance with everyday lessons and meaningful teacher directed activities. I would say that technology should be utilized to enhance student learning and development during free periods as well as during small-group experiences. Technology can be used on a daily basis for a variety of different functions that assist both students and teachers in education. It can help teachers create and enhance lesson plans as well as prepare presentations that encourage students to engage in interactive activities. It has been proven that technology can be used for all students, especially those with exceptionalities, to achieve their educational goals.

Distributed leadership is a policy that involves the concept of teacher collaboration. Collaboration can be defined as a style for direct interaction between at least two equal parties voluntarily engaged in shared decision making as they work toward a common goal. Some prime examples of collaboration evident in schools today include teams, co-teaching, and consultation. A team in education is two or more interdependent individuals with unique skills and perspectives who interact directly to achieve their mutual goal of providing students with effective educational programs and services. Co-teaching is a service delivery model in which two educators combine their expertise to jointly teach a heterogeneous group of students, some of whom have disabilities or special needs, in a single classroom for part or all of the school day. A third application of collaboration for educators occurs in consultation. Consultation is a voluntary process in which one professional assists another to address a problem concerning a third party.

The Connected Educator has allocated me with sufficient knowledge necessary for becoming comfortable with participating in a connected learning community in the future. The book has helped me understand various concepts concerning the positive outcomes of appropriately incorporating technology in the classroom. I now understand what it means to be a connected educator and have gained the ability to recognize the fundamental aspects behind developing a collaborative culture and a mindset that supports connected learning.