Reflection #10 - EVOKE, "a crash course in changing the world"

What is an EVOKE? from Alchemy on Vimeo.

What?:

Well, watch the above video. But the basic gist (as far as I can gather) is that EVOKE is "a crash course in changing the world." In my own words though, it is an online game created for persons 13 years and older that is challenge-based. It is a learning project that nearly 19,000 currently take part in. Each week a new challenge (a global issue) is posed and participants must understand and research the problem, find a solution, resolve the problem, and post to their EVOKE blogs about it. Ah... there's no use in me explaining it, here's a bit of info from the site:

EVOKE is a ten-week crash course in changing the world.

It is free to play and open to anyone, anywhere.

The goal of the social network game is to help empower young people all over the world, and especially young people in Africa, to come up with creative solutions to our most urgent social problems.

The game begins on March 3, 2010. Players can join the game at any time.

On May 12th, 2010 the first season of the game will end, and successful participants will form the first graduating class of the EVOKE network.

Players who successfully complete 10 game challenges will be able to claim their honors: Certified EVOKE Social Innovator – Class of 2010.

Top players will also earn online mentorships with experienced social innovators and business leaders from around the world,seed funding for new ventures, and travel scholarships to share their vision for the future at the EVOKE Summit in Washington DC. (Learn more about these rewards.)

EVOKE was developed by the World Bank Institute, the learning and knowledge arm of the World Bank Group, and directed by alternate reality game master Jane McGonigal.

EVOKE is for all ages; recommended age 13 and up.

So What?:

So this online game is amazing. It's fantastic. It helps raise awareness, create unity, and expand minds. Imagine having your entire class participate and each week the students give a presentation on what they learned and the resolution they came up with. Imagine the possibilities. I think a game like this has the opportunity to not only expand and enrich minds, but stir up goals and inspire dreams. Obviously, it would be difficult to get all students into the game. So I'm not really sure how it would work. Sometimes it's hard to get students excited about this kind of stuff - but with the game format and possible classroom time to work on it, I think the game could be a real hit. Also, if you read the above blurb from the site, you might have noticed that there are online mentorships, seed funding, and travel scholarships for players who receive the most points. Imagine one of your students attaining that level. How fabulous.

Now What?:

I think we should take this innovative idea and run with it. Even if you try it once and it falls flat on its face (which is entirely possible), at least you gave it a try and you set a high bar. I think it's important to present this kind of information and opportunity to students - even if you do it as extra credit and not a whole-class project. Getting students involved in the bigger picture helps them grow more than any amount of time in the classroom.

This is a screen image capture that I took of the page "Agents" on the site. It was amazing to me to see how many students/people were from so many different places. This is a great way to connect with other students around the world as well.

Until next time.

Reflection #9 - Del.icio.us vs. Diigo

What?:

Well... when we, the students in Ed. Tech, were supposed to make a toolbox online, I used Diigo.com and completed my toolbox successfully that way. I wanted to try something different from del.icio.us because everyone else was using that and I wanted to see if there was a better site. Well, if there is a better site, Diigo isn't it. At least not for me. It displayed the links with too much or too little information. There was the option to create sticky notes and highlight certain parts of the pages - which was a great feature, but I just could not get the hang of it. It was supremely hard and frustrating to get exactly what I wanted to show and then get it all organized after that.

So when I started creating a toolbox for my final project, I decided to switch over to del.icio.us and give it a try. Definitely better - way, way, way better. It displays it more clearly and allows you to group things with more ease. Although it doesn't have the fancy tools like highlighting and sticky notes, I feel like the simplicity and ease of understanding totally makes up for it - like, 10-fold. :)

So What?:

So what, I challenge you, if you have not yet tried del.icio.us, I urge you, implore you, give it a try. The page is laid out nicely and it's easy to tag and bag pages (yes, that was a CSI reference). But definitely don't disregard Diigo based on my difficulties - I just prefer simplicity (hence my love for Macs).

Now What?:

I feel like this last piece will be like my post on "Weebly vs. Webs," but again I say, don't be afraid so swap programs or try different things. So far for me, the switch has been increasingly beneficial. And also, don't judge a website or program based on its cover - that's what I did and I ended up switching twice! :)

Until next time.

Reflection #8 - Ahhhhh, the iPad

What?:

The iPad. Made by Mac (amen) and blessed by the words of Dr. Kowalski. I was so stoked to hear Dr. Kowalski talk about his iPad and bring it into class - he is a man of many technologies and I knew that he'd be able to impress me. And he did. :)

I love how easy it is to upload files and store documents. It's fast and accessible. As a teacher, fast and accessible creates flexibility; flexibility is absolutely essential. I was intimidated by the amount of information and the variation in Apps - only because I wanted to be able to take it all in and remember everything, but that just wasn't possible.

So What?:

In the classroom, I can see the iPad's use and aid. I can see students taking notes on it - the teacher can see the screen but the students can still write on it like a computer or a notebook. A teacher can use it to pull up information, assignments, videos, etc., and have it plugged into a projector. I can see how incredibly useful it would be for the teacher to have just one of these within a low-income school/classroom. That classroom might not have a projector or a computer or a SMARTBoard, etc, but if the teacher can bring in an iPad, the class's attention will be wrapped around that 9.5"x7.5" chunk of technological genius in a matter of seconds. Imagine the excitement for a low SES student to be able to work with, come in contact with, and learn from an iPad.

Anyways, that was a tangent. Regardless, I think the use and capabilities of the iPad would make it completely helpful in the classroom - perhaps not for every student in the classroom to have one, but definitely for the teacher.

Now What?:

Now, when I graduate, I'm going to create Digital Wish account and get me one of these for my classroom. Yes, that's right. I'm going to do it. :)

Also, I think it's important for educators to take a look at a new piece of technology like this - analyze and evaluate it, see if it can help improve the classroom. After all, what's the use of the technology if isn't not going to better a student's education.

Until next time.

Reflection #7 - Weebly vs. Webs

What?:

So I originally was going to create my final project website using Weebly.com, but I was struggling with the format. Although there were a lot of options and room for personalization, the options weren't really what I was looking for. I switched to Webs.com.

So What?:

So... after I switched I found it way easier to format the pages and keep myself organized. On Weebly each entry on a page had to fit a certain format within their options - this made it difficult to manipulate things and adjust items to fit your own needs. Also, there was no true organization and it made it difficult to remember what I had and hadn't done. It also made it hard to know what to place where and keep it all straight in my head. Webs.com was super organized and had "pages" already created for within your entire site. This made it easy to decide what to put where and to have it place and formatted just like I wanted it to be.

Now What?:

I think the most applicable lesson I learned from this experience is that it's definitely okay to swap formats, but also that in the first place, check out the software or program you're going to use. Make sure you like it and check your options before you put too much time into it. Having website-building.

Until next time.

Week 14 - A FINAL Post Vomiting All This Info Back Out of Me

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, technology. My friend and rival. My buddy and my adversary. Mi amigo y mi sustantivo.

Oh to be a teacher in the 21st century. Glorious. The future - who really knows what it holds. I know that the information that spews out of the mouth, minds, fingers, screens, wires, and projectors these days blows my mind. It makes me feel sick to my stomach with excitement.

Moogpal.

urgentevoke.com

iPad.

Windows 7 (bleh).

etc. etc. etc.

Did You Know 4.0:

The future of technology and education. It just goes up, up, up, up. You have to be on your toes. Be informed. Be aware. Be seeking the new and the improved. Because that's what your class is going to need. Your students are going to need. They need stimulation their way. The tech way.

The future of technology and education. Everything is changing as I write. Advancements are put into place. Ideas are formed. Concepts pitched. Stats collected. Tests run. Etc. Etc. Etc.

The future of technology and education is bright - we just have to be willing to jump on the band-wagon and put in the time. It will be rewarding. Completely. Significantly. Unbelievably. Irrevocably. Undeniably. Presently rewarding.

Until next time.... oh, wait, that's my last post like this. Until my next reflection post... :)

Week 13 - A Post Converting PC Users

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA. My evil plan.

No, I'm pretty sure there will be no converts - you just have to like Mac.

A little background on me - I grew up a PC, but always knew I wanted a Mac. Sleek body, cool symbol, simple complexity, sweet name, rad programs, built-in webcam; they were the Swarovski Gems of computers. Although I grew up obsessed with right click and "alt-tab," I knew the grass was greener on the other side.

And it was.

I got my MacBook last August. It was a gift (of sorts) for free, from my boyfriend's dad. Praise Jesus I didn't have to buy my own! I have since learned the general ins and outs of my beloved Mac (aka MacDaddy). P.S. you don't need a mouse to right-click on a Mac - just hold "ctrl" and click. "Alt-Tab" (to toggle windows) has been exchanged with "apple symbol-tab" and "apple symbol-tilde" (apple symbol = command key). It took me a month to readjust to my new key-commands, but it was worth it. My Mac was 4 years old when I got it and still works PERFECT. Yes. Perfect. I only had to get my battery replaced - which, by the way, the Mac Store did for free: free battery and installment. Amazing.

Ok. Awesome customer service is something else to add to my list of "likes" about Macs. The "Genius Bar" at the Apple store really know their stuff. Amen.

Three programs I love on my Mac:

1. Photo Booth: Pshhhht. Anyone that has a friend that has a Mac understands the joy that Photo Booth brings. 16 different effects and an unlimited amount of fun. For school, it could be useful for documenting projects, self-portraits for assignments or journals, and overall classroom enjoyment - "Best Photo Booth Picture of the Week" (that'd be a sweet contest).
2. DASHBOARD:

I freaking love my dashboard: calculator, Michael Scott quotes, games, calendar, STICKY NOTES, Sudoku, weather, dictionary, clock (currently at Sydney, Australia where my friend is). I have dozens of other "widgets" downloaded for my dashboard but those are the ones I currently have up. Endless hours of fun and convenience, all you have to do is click "F12." Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

3. Okay, some little simple things that I appreciate: the "dock" - yes, Windows 7 now has this, but know, understand, and be in awe, Mac had it first; don't be surprised, Mac has everything first. I can personalize my "dock" and put whatever programs I use the most in it. Love it's simplicity. Next, "system preferences": everything you need to personalize, configure, change, update, destroy, and otherwise control your MacBaby is in ONE place. That's right people, ONE place - bahahaha! Last, convenience and cohesiveness: yes, iTunes is an Apple manufactured program; yes, iPhoto is an Apple manufactured program; yes, your iPod and iPhone are Apple manufactured; yes, Mac's are Apple manufactured. My point: all these are so easily configured and combined that it blows my mind! They are so intricately woven that everything is easier! Gosh, if only all of you could experience the joy that my Mac brings me.

Side note: don't be confused, Mac had all the ideas first. PC/Windows 7 is a far cry from Mac and is still lagging behind even after its near identical changes to its programming. A comic to make my point - bahahahahaha.

P.S. I'm the only Mac user at my house - it's okay to set yourself apart, people will still love and accept you, even if your laptop is a MacBook and therefore infinitely better than anything they have. HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, I am that proud of my Mac and yes, I am that ridiculously and illogically immovable and un-persuadable as to any inkling of "better" that the PC MIGHT, hypothetically have. I'm a Mac lover and I'm proud of it.

P.P.S. if God had a laptop, it'd be a MacBookPro.

Mac, FTW.

Week 12 - A Post Re-digesting "Moogpal in Action"

"Moogpal in Action"

Welcome to Moogpal - Moodle + Google Apps + Drupal.

I was unbelievably confused when I watched this video, not to mention that I found myself bored for a while. But then Chris Fitzgerald Walsh started talking about it with the direction of education. It was AMAZING.

Moogpal is still in developmental stages and will be a free, open source internet program for teachers and students. The home page will be similar to the Facebook home page, in that it will provide a "News Feed" that announces assignments, test dates, notices, reminders, etc. from each class that the student/teacher is a part of. It's single-sign-on and connects to each class and teacher. There will be multiple apps available just like in Google Apps. It won't be an open community, meaning that people who aren't registered for the program and such won't be able to view things.

OKAY, OKAY - I know you're like, "Jordan, I don't really care, what you're saying doesn't really make sense, and it seems really lame." WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Haha.

GRADE PORTAL - yes, "oooooo" and "ahhhhhh". Grades by course, grades by SKILLS, recent activity, colored grades, feed of activity. Yes, that's right - Grades by SKILLS. So not only do you tell the student their grade, but you then grade them according to more specific behaviors, work, techniques, etc. So cool. What brilliance!!!

Watch the video. DO IT!

What I learned??? I DON'T KNOW. I didn't even know there was such a thing as Drupal or Moodle - so I learned that. I learned that developers could combine programs! And I learned that those developers love me, because they're taking care of my needs as a teacher; future teacher. Yes, they love me. And I love them. :)

Anyways, the screen shots that they've developed make Moogpal look fairly simple and easy to use. Which is good. I'm excited to see where this all leads. I'm especially excited about the Home Page and the Grade Portal.

Until next time.