EDUC 578 Digital Reflection

Rhizomatic Learning

Rhizomatic Learning what is it?

As I listened to Dave Cormier and the Blackboard collaborate EC&I session taken on October 25,2011 it became clearer. Cormier is the manager of web communications and innovations at University of Prince Edward Island and is also part of edtechtalk, an open collaborative webcasting community. his focus is on the structure and why of education. In the collaborate session we spoke towards the concept of Rhizomatic learning: Why do we educate our systems? What is the purpose schools set out for?

The timeline of school system structure initially brought up fits in with Dan Pink's a whole new mind and the right brained society instead of the past industrial society. Cormier stated that

He thinks there are three different outcomes for the education system
- workers,soldiers and nomads metaphors

1. The worker
This was the original goal of public education system.This is about creating a workforce who will show up on time,accept tasks and complete them. School is to create citizens who will understand and obey the system. Very industrial.

2.Soldiers
These people figure out what people need to know. They are defenders of the status quo, experts inside the system on how it works. Good SAT scores, gets you into a good college, etc..

3. Nomad
A nomad is a creative thinker that carves his/her own path.They do not follow status quo but learn things because they need them.

Cormier brings up a great question"Should we be encouraging nomads?
Some of the students of the EC&I class stated: :they frighten me, we can try and encourage it, we will need to prepare them for the hardships of being a nomad. I however think we should encourage nomads with restrictions. As Cormier explains

     Rhizomatic learning comes from rhizomes:japanese weeds that spreads and is difficult to contain and follow.  To promote nomads we need to create restrictions or a garden for these rhizomes so they become structured. As educators I agree with Cormier that we should become gardeners who are "creativity tenders." Allow learning to be a process of inquiry from the student and allow the moments of becoming to happen. Project based learning has started this rhizomatic learning and I can not wait to see what happens in the future.

Paul Ecke Central Visit

On Monday I visited Paul Ecke Central Elementary in Encinitas to see how a classroom is integrating technology. What I observed was astonishing.The lesson observed was taught by Mrs. Perrazini's student teacher about the spaceshuttle. The students scanned a QR code, watched a video, and then wrote a summary of the video, organized by a template on the board, using pages. A screenshot was taken of the completed document and uploaded on the classes science Edmodo page.The iPad allowed children to stay on task, work with others with an educational focus, brought excitement to learning and created what it seemed like to be an intrinsic motivation to do science.This was very unique to me because science can be complex and boring to children. What was nice was that each child has his/her own iPad provided by the school and they felt completely comfortable with it.

Not only do the students use the iPad for science but other subjects as well. IXL is used in math to help differentiate and scaffold instruction for various math levels. This site provides great computation practice and allows students to work on math independently.It also creates a data chart and allows the teacher to see how well or poorly a student is doing on a specific subject. "IXL allows me to become an active learner in my learning process," explained one girl about using this online program and the iPad. Along with independence, the iPad engages students in this class to become better readers. Mrs. Perrazini's class also uses MYon to read from. This program allows the children to pick out books in their Lexile range to read. The cool feature about it was that books can be read in english and spanish and for ELL the books can be read to them. The quote I liked best from one girl in the class about the iPad integration was,"I like the iPAd because I don't have to run out of lined paper or pencils, you never run out of document space." So if iPad is the answer, the question I believe is How can we, as educators, bring material to life and motivate our students to learn? This technology observation opened my eyes to all the pluses of integrating technology, especially the iPad, into the classroom. It is not only a tool for games and surfing the web, but more so to help educate and be a tool for active learning to occur.Students in Mrs. Perrazini's class become experts in their own learning and teach others through their Explain Everything videos. It is not just the teacher instruction but more student centered. :)I ho[pe to integrate more technology into my classroom very soon because I loved what I saw.It seemed very effective,helpful and interesting to the students.

Educational Chat

Today I joined a educational chat for the first time. It happened to be on an aspect of literature called emotional nuance. The chat was called yalitchat and I gained a lot of new knowledge about literature. Although I was not an english major, or even teach literacy, I believe it is still important to be able to know some of the writing techniques writers use in their books. I found the chat to be awkward at first because I was not sure if I should speak my mind or not. however, i started feeling more comfortable with more and more examples from others in the chat and was able to participate a lot, not just be a lurker. I learned a new element of literature and the other twitter users in he chat helped become online residents who have expanded my knowledge depth about literature. Below is a brief storify of the yalitchat.

20 Percent project completion

Over the past few weeks, I have taken an interest of mine,sign language, and started to learn it more in depth. More importantly, some of these words,phrases,numbers and letters may be used in a classroom to help with communication. I have had fun learning sign language and have found it at times difficult. It is not an easy language to learn but I can now say I can speak three languages:English, Spanish and ASL( not fluently though). The Marlee Signs app for my Ipad is what I used mostly. This app became very helpful because it allowed me to see the signs in mini videos in which I could put on slow motion. I also found Pinterest very helpful because it gave me a plethora of resources to look and and help me. The ASL online dictionary provided a way for me to type in any word and see how it is signed. The hardest part about learning sign language was the  the amount of time i spent trying to learn how to sign different words. There are so many different and gestures which altered in the smallest way can mean a whole new word. I also found it awkward at first to video myself because I was not sure which way to face my hand so that the viewer would best be able to see my signs. All in all, learning sign language is very fun and will become useful in my teaching. I have already taught my class the numbers, the sign for drink,bathroom and help me. We use these signs all the time as a way of communicating without being disruptive or calling out. I am planning on continuing to learn more sign language and continue with this new found passion of mine :)I hope you like the videos!

Here is the link to the youtube channel in which I put my videos up on. At the end is my final 20 Percent ASL video.

Youtube Channel

Creating a Culture of Can

Culture of Can Article


As I was looking through tweetdeck this morning, I found an interesting tweet that lead me to an article titled "Creating a Culture of Can." This article explains that we should not only teach to learners but these learners should be" enabled" learners. As expressed in the article, "An enabled learner can grasp macro views, uncover micro details, ask questions, plan for new knowledge and transfer thinking across divergent circumstances." I think this is an interesting concept and believe it to be true. Instead of hearing I can't do this from my students, I always tell them to say I will try.Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'm possible :). But how do we create this culture of can in our classrooms, at home and in society? This is the big question.the article states three ways .

The three ways to create" can"
1. Using a gradual release of responsibility method: I think this has been effective for me because it at the beginning shows the learner how to do things, give guidance and then let's him/her try it on their own. One of the tools that helps me create this gradual release is using graphic organizers to help differentiate and organize information. This serves as a guide at first and then eventually my learners become independent and responsible for the concept. I really think allowing a student to be responsible for his/ her learning is one of the most important things to value In Order to create curiosity and a culture of can.

2. Using the individual student as a culture maker: Learning about your students,and getting to know their habits leads to a positive classroom environment. Creating a culture or classroom community can help other children want to learn and say I can.

3.Diverse and authentic terms for success:Allowing the students choice and self published and designed projects is important for a culture of can. It makes learning more student centered rather than teacher directed.

Gradual release is what I am trying to work on in my classroom to create this culture of can. I hope to achieve positive results.

What do you think of this? How have you creating enabled learners or students who say I can or I will try instead of I can't?

Making math relevant

Growing up I was never interested in math, but rather scarred of it. I thought math was just numbers,equations, graphs and an array of complexity. I always just memorized multiplication facts or different ways of doing problems to get a "certain correct answer." I did not know how it related to my everyday life and thus this for a while, disinterested me in math. However, in 5th grade, my teacher made math relevant. Math is used everyday in a variety of ways.Whether it is in recipes, measurements, at restaurants,money or even counting to a certain number in games, math is important and should not be forgotten. Yummy Math is an incredible site that brings relevance to math.It has helped me bring real life into my math instruction. My young children are now more interested,confident and less scared of doing math because they know the relevance of it. Instead of asking,"Why do I have to learn this?," my students are excited to become engaged with the new math concepts that they see every day.This I believe is very important and should not be overlooked. Math should be taught as something children can relate to, not just complex numbers and equations.

Yummy Math Website




 What do you think? How have you seen math taught in schools? Is it taught in a relevant way or just as a set or numbers,processes and equations?

Twenty Percent Project Update

I have gathered a plethora of resources on sign language I have found online as well as iphone apps. I made a pinterest board with my resources.I also discovered a pretty cool online photo editing site lunapic and made my video cover. From these resources I have made a video of myself signing the ABC's. Below is what I have so far.

Video Cover Picture:

Pinterest board:
Sign Language Pinterest

My ABC signing video

 Next,I hope to put my video to music, as well as include subtitles for each letter. My next step will also include signing simple words and phrases that that can be used in the classroom such as please, bathroom,water,etc.

Whole Brain teaching

As I was looking through pinterest, I came upon this video about Whole brain teaching. I was intrigued so i watched it. Whole brain teaching is a radical new teaching system based on three principles:  the system should be brain based, fun and free. I think whole brain teaching could be very useful for elementary school grades. It stresses a student centered ideology and gives students an opportunity to be leaders and teachers. I love the mirror element where a teacher says something and the students repeat back to the teacher exactly what they were taught. I also think using hand gestures could help younger students remember concepts.Singing is a great way for younger children to learn concepts as well. There is even a classroom management tool involved in this teaching system: the class yes and hands and eyes. I think both of these could be another way of getting children;s attention and keeping them on task. I may try this Whole brain teaching in my prekindergarten classroom because it seems so much fun and engaging for the teacher and students

. What do you think of this?Has anyone seen this teaching model in action? if so, has it been effective?

How I am using technology to foster my learning

Steps for Cultivating my PLN

1. Check tweetdeck for new ideas I am interested in( I check this daily on my iPhone)

2. Check Pinterest and pin things to my board that I like in the education section

2. Retweet or tweet 5 or 6 things a week to  #usdedu

3. Pick interesting ideas,concepts,activities from my hashtag groups on tweetdeck and create a blog post about it

4. Comment on Other Peoples blogs

5. Check Edmodo for class assignments

6. Create blog posts for class assignments

These are just a few steps I take to cultivate my PLN. Hopefully this is helpful for you !

My Learning so far

Although the course is not over yet, I feel like I have learned so much about how technology can enhance ones career and personal use of the internet.

As an educator, I have found that it is very helpful to hear others perspectives,ideas,activities, thinking,etc. Before, I would attend school mettings and PD days to get that wonderful teacher to teacher advice,suggestions,feedback. Now, I have learned that through social media sites such as Twitter, Pinterest,blogging and Scoop it, I have access to a plethora of resources. I now can use twitter effectively, instead of seeing it as a "this is what I did today"app. I have come to  use Tweetdeck everyday to connect with other educators and expand my teaching practices. I have also learned how to cultivate my own PLN and what a PLN is. Creating my own blog puts my thoughts and ideas about certain concepts on paper and i am able to hear other peoples comments and perspectives on the issues. I am now more connected than I was before.
I am starting to become more of a risk taker with my ideas and I am learning that this is okay and actually quite helpful on my blog. I can not express how excited I am witha ll this social media and can not wait to bring it into my classroom and share all of the wonderful things I am learning.

Organized tweets are very beneficial.Tweetdeck has been amazing!

Math Matters

Math Matters Article

"Why do I need to learn this?"

When it comes to math, I have heard this so many times from many students in the upper elementary to high school level. I admit, I even asked this question when I was growing up as well.What happens sometime sis that students are not taught the reasons why math helps them thus children do not see the significance of learning math. They just see math as equations, and problems to solve and outcomes are the things that educators mainly focus on. This is how I saw math growing up.  However, as the article by Cindy Donladson above states, it is much more.It was not until I began studying math more and teaching it that I realized how important and valuable it is.Donaldson's answer to this common question is "“Because knowing math will keep as many doors as possible open in your future.” She is right! She discusses that math is very important and it matters in three ways :personal,patriotic and patriotic ways. Personal and Practical ways why math matters resonated with me the most.

The Personal way that resonated with me the most was that math helps develop our problem solving skills. There is a process to solving equations an this process is very similar to how we solve everyday problems in our lives. Math is important because it helps our brains think logically. It "helps us define the problem solving steps". 

Practically math is everywhere. Without it, life would be chaotic. I use math when buying things, cooking, at restaurants, making clothes, and even buying houses. When do you use math during the day?? It is hard for me to think of sometime when math is not used.

Math matters a lot to me. As educators,parents,and friends  i believe there should not be a fear or boredom of math but many ways to celebrate its importance and this importance and value should start by teachers explaining why math matters. No more "why do I need to learn this?" but rather "Math helps me and I enjoy it!."Lets change our view on math to one of importance and excitement.

What do you think about this? Agree/disagree? What does math mean to you?

Does early education matter?

Infographic on Early Education

Working as a Pre-kindergarten educator has shown me how critical learning is at an early age in a child. These children are capable of learning so many different things. Children not only learn social skills at this age but ,as the infographic says, by age five 90% of their brain development has taken place. It is remarkable to see first hand how learning occurs whether it is teacher directed or even student centered learning that is taking place.  Our brains are able to take in and process a lot of information at a young age. This is why  I believe early  education does matter!

If this critical period of development is undervalued or seen as unimportant, the effects are, as shown above, detrimental:high school dropouts, crime, and even teen parents. Disappointment is the one word that came to my mind when I read the fact that : 35-40 % of children are not ready for kindergarten. I think that more public educational institutions should provide a pre-kindergarten and preschool that can emphasize learning,play, and value high quality early childhood education.

As the infograph states: Every child should be able to thrive. I think this should be the goal .

Here is an example from my classroom of just one learning experience that has occurred in the Junior Kindergarten classroom I work in.The children learn how to count  in english,spanish,korean,Japanese and german during morning circle time.They are only 4 and a half to 5 years old.This is one way of allowing  childrens minds to grow and develeop and promotoe this ealry learning.We are now in the second month of school and out of the 16 students in my class, teh majority can count in these 5 different languages. The brain is remarkable. Imagine how much more children are able to learn if placed in a high quality early education setting. So far i have seen that songs, hands on activities, Ipad, and videos are helpful tools that promote early education and am excited to see the learning process expand as the year goes on.

  

Here are just a few question to ponder about. Let me know what you think :)

What do you think about early education?What does high quality early education mean to you? How can early education be valued more in our society?

Connected Learning

How do we teach students how to learn instead of just being students? This is one of the main questions the video "The Essence of Connected Learning" highlights. I agree with the video that our learning institutions should be environments of passion,interest and engagement. I think it brings up some interesting points that hopefully will lead to a more engaged,passionate, and networked society of learners instead of students.

The Essence of Connected Learning from DML Research Hub on Vimeo.

One of the key concepts in the video that resonated with me was individualizing learning experiences. It is so important to get to know each and every one of your students in your classroom and then teach to with their interest in mind. Oftentimes and in the past, as educators, we have taught to assessments and only facts. This has not lead to mastery or engagement but rather short term memory and uninterested students. For learning to occur, allow the children to be curious,discover, explore and inquire. Project based learning is a great way of allowing for exploration and inquiry to occur so that learning and understanding is taught. PBL also relates learning experiences to real world application. This year the class I am working in is doing a PBL on maps. i am very excited to see how this goes and will definitely keep everyone updated.

The second point that resonated with me is that learners do not need to be taught to learn the same way. I believe that there is more than one right answer. Emphasizing the one right answer concept, to me, limits peoples creativity, their want to explore more and can decrease confidence levels in people. Offering choices, allowing for group collaboration, and the use of authentic and alternative assessments such as interviews, portfolios, readers theaters, monologues,etc can help teach students to learn.

Connectedness has allowed learners to share their ideas with each other and really become passionate. I know that helping someone else get better at something feels great. Hopefully out students and educators will embrace this idea of connected learning because I believe it can be very effective.

"Connected Educators"

Connected Educators
Education has shifted from an age of paper and pencil to one where digital is becoming the new classroom. Schools are using the Internet, Ipads, document cameras and other technology to teach from and engage their students.As Will Richardson discusses in his article Three Starting points for Thinking differently about learning, the Web has greatly influenced us as educators and learners. With the web, we have "access to more information, more knowledge and more people." I do agree that this new shift is challenging and kind of scary for educators. As a connected society the fact that  "our students can access most of the traditional school curriculum without us requires us to rethink almost everything about our role as teachers and our value in schools." Has the importance of teaching in the classroom become undervalued? Is our role as educators now more of  just a guide or supplement to the Web and all its tools? I tend to  think that the up and coming age of technology allows our roles to become those of "connected educators" and to enhance teaching and learning in students rather than undervalued educators.

Richardson mentions three ways in which we can think differently about learning in the digital age that I mostly agree with(thining the walls of the classroom, taking to strangers and being transparent)

The one I agree with and resonate most is :
1. Thin the Walls of Your Classroom
Using the Web as a tool is a great way for students and educators to connect to others as well as share their own work  for "real audiences" all over the world. In one of my classrooms in the past,my students have had pen pals from africa who they connected with through email and talked to. They loved to share all about themselves and their passions. We made videos and wrote poems for them. My kids became "connected" with others in a fun,passionate and engaging way. 

This article provided a different way of looking at the new shift in our society and gave great advice on how we can start to shift into the new society of globalization, technology and connectivity in education. Let me know what you think about this !

Update on 20% Project

Sign Language for educational purposes it is! After last weeks blog post on possible topics, I have chosen to focus on learning sign language. I think it can be very useful for educating young children and could be used as a way of expression and communication. I am very excited to start. I was thining about making my own videos and maybe even signing an entire eductational sign, if I am able to get it down quickly!

Heres one website I have found to help me start signing. ABC, it is easy as 1,2,3, right??

Culture of Generosity

What is a culture of generosity and how can it be used to improve education?

A culture of generosity focuses on people’s intrinsic motivations and interests to help society as a whole. It is a society that encourages the world’s population to contribute and collaborate on large, sometimes global projects. In this culture creativity is shared in a communal or civic way. Both allow people to share their creativity with others without constraints or limitations.

In education, I think a culture of generosity could provide so many opportunities to enhance children’s abilities to grow and develop. Focusing more on creativity, experimentation, and freedom allows students to become engaged and involved on things they are interest in. One way it can be used to improve education is by providing multiple options for children. As an educator, telling children that there is more than one right answer, could allow for creativity, passion and a want to learn. This is exhibited in Project Based Learning, thus I believe this is one direct way education can be improved because the learning is more student centered and applicable to the real world. Students are allowed to be original, use their creativity, while at the same time connecting with professionals in society and their peers to create their own intrinsic motivation to learn.

What does it mean to say “Free cultures get what they celebrate?”

I think this means that if people are encouraged and given the opportunity to be creative without being told to do something or being paid, the end result will not only develop from ones intrinsic motivation but be meaningful to society as well. If creativity is not celebrated, it will not be viewed in a positive light and thus an authoritarian and consumerist society may be reverted to. If achievements are not celebrated then the importance of creativity and originality may be viewed as meaningless instead of meaningful.

Filter Bubbles

Growing up I did not really realize the bubble I was in. It was not until high school that I realized I was very isolated in my own bubble. I attended a private school, was from a middle/upper class family, and grew up in a safe neighborhood. One of my high schools graduation requirements was to do several hours of community service. This is that shocking event that made my see the outside world and all of the events in society that were outside of my bubble. I have lived in a bubble but am trying very hard to expand that bubble and be opened minded to the world around me.

Eli Pariser discusses a whole new notion of filter bubbles on the Internet. What he means is that the Internet does this "invisible alogorithmic editing of the web."Just when I thought I was expanding my mindset and my bubble, I come across the fact that the Internet, especially search engines and news headlines, personalize my search results based on what it thinks  I want to see. Pariser calls this my "unique universe of information" created by the Internet. I have no control over this and it is kind of scary and in a sense dangerous. It is putting me back into the bubble I want to expand. Right now I am not a fan of this "filter bubbles" concept because I can not see how the internet can pin point exactly my interests, my thinking,etc. It really can not. So what may be a better way of using the Internet?I think the Internet should be a way of networking instead of filtering and putting people in bubbles. By networking, we can collaborate, see others points of views, share ideas rather than become controlled and filtered.

A Whole New Mind: Section One

A person's brain controls the functions of the human body. It has often been described as the bodies hard drive.The left hemisphere,mason dizon line and the right hemisphere make up the brain. Each hemisphere controls different ways of thinking.Right brained directed and left brained directed thinking. Although the different sides of the brain control different elements, both hemispheres work together as well.

Daniel Pink, in his book A Whole New Mind, explores the brain a bit further and describes his theory on societies new direction, the "conceptual age" which is more right brained than left brained( what we have focused on in the past, the information age) and how we can reverse our way of thinking to be more successful in the "conceptual age."

What is the Conceptual Age?
Pink talks about the information age and the conceptual age.We are moving away from the information age, which consisted of Left brain directed thinking: logical,linear,computerlike capabilities(Pink,29) to the new age, "the conceptual age."Knowledge workers, those who get paid for putting to work what one learns in school(Pink,29)" are no longer sufficient. It is the artistry, empathy,taking the long view inventors and artists who will soar in this new conceptual age.Pink describes the conceptual age as being powered by "right brain" qualities such as inventiveness,empathy,joyfulness, and meaning.This is the era in which we are moving towards. 

Why does Pink believe this "Conceptual Age" requires a whole new mind?
Pink explains that the brain consists of two hemispheres that are designed to work together as a "smooth, single,integrated whole in one entire,complete brain."In the past, society has focused more so on the left hemisphere:logic,anaylsis,literalness,and sequence, undermining the left half of the brain. As society has evolved, R-directed thinking has taken over control. This requires a whole new mindset. Left directed thinking, as Pink states, is "still necessary but not sufficient(Pink,27)."PInk explains that our conceptual era is due to abundance,asia and automation. the video below explains more. These three concepts have lead us to think differently, in a new mindset, more R-directed but a tteh same time not forgeting our Right brain. We should use both halves efficiently to be successful in this conceptual age we are driving towards.




I agree with Pink and his whole new mindset on the conceptual age. R-Directed thinking is becoming valued more in our society due to our focus on meaning,uniqueness and originality of the individual.I see this R- Directed thinking in the many different types of schools offered to children. Children are now able to go to schools that cater to their interests and are meaningful to them. With schools such as Fine Arts academies, High tech high, the plethora of private and charter schools, children are being given a chance to find meaning themselves and create a passion and follow it.People need not to be measured by achievement tests anymore but unique assessments in which they thrive. I try and emphasize uniqueness,beauty,care and R-directed thinking in my classroom. I have found it to be more effective for my students.

Twenty Percent Project

Twenty percent project? When I first heard this term I thought it involved something with math and was kind of nervous, because math is not one of my strong points. When I heard it was about creating my own project involving technology, I became very excited. This idea came from google. Google lets its employers spend twenty percent of their time(approximately one day a week)focusing on their own projects in which they are passionate about. I think this allows for creativity, exploration and a non stressful time.

For my twenty percent project, I have three different options in mind. They are: 

1. Learning Sign language.

This is something i have always wanted to learn before. As  I become more involved in my career, I have seen how sign language in education can be beneficial for young children. It can help them remember their letters, numbers,communicate their wants and needs if they do not know how to say a word, and is a new adventure for a child to take. 

2.Create my own Math videos for pre-kindergarten

As technology is becoming more and more popular, teaching from the book is seen as old school. Children are becoming more comfortable with using Ipads or watching videos and it is seen to help them more efficiently learn concepts. I have noticed that my pre-kindergarten children love watching educational videos, playing educational games on the ipad and are more engaged with technology then ever before. Math is my focus so I was thinking maybe creating some math videos would help my students learn math easier..

3. Guitar

Playing an instrument has always been something I havre been curious about. I tried playing the guitar briefly this past January, took some lessons but then stopped because I did not have much time to practice. Now that I am able to spend some time on my own project, learning the guitar through instructional videos may just help me and spark my interest in guitar again.

Communities of Practice

Communities of practice are everywhere.

As a senior in high school, one of my graduation requirements was to do an apprenticeship. At this point in my life, I did not know what I was going to study or what career path I wanted to do. So, I decided to intern/be an apprentice at an elementary school in a kindergarten class. I was somewhat nervous and scarred, not knowing what was ahead of me. However, this experience began my passion for education and working with young children but also introduced me to a  “community of practice” in which I saw firsthand and wanted to become a part of.

As Lave and Wenger state,” Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. “

My apprenticeship in kindergarten classroom allowed me to see how teachers collaborate, share ideas and activities, are a part of the same domain, form a community and last but not least are practitioners. They learned from their conversations. I went to meetings where teachers shared lesson plans, ideas, gave advice and constructive criticisms, and helped one another out to collaborate in a community setting. These teachers certainly “shared a concern or passion for something they did and continually learned how to do it better through interaction (Lave and Wenger).” At the end of my apprenticeship, I felt as if I began to contribute to this community of practice and helped make an impact on the children in my classroom.

This sparked my interest and ever since I have situated myself and taken part in communities of practice that deal with my passon: education young children. Currently, I am assisting in a pre-kindergarten class at a private school. There are three classes with three teachers and three assistants. We are not restricted as to anything taught to the children but have lots of flexibility. Through the community of practice formed, organization and success has evolved. Together we have created a community of practice that focuses on educating 4 ½-5 ½ year old children to help them become prepared for senior kindergarten. Without this collaboration, the curriculum would not exist and there would not be organization but instead chaos, jealousy and strong competition on who teaches better. Not only am I involved in my work (pre-kindergarten) community of practice but also recently I have developed a Personal Learning Network that serves as another community of practice.

My PLN has really been able to connect me to others who share my domain (elementary education) and has given me an opportunity to become part of a community based on social interaction that is so resourceful and helpful. It is through this shared practice of education that I am connected and networking with people all over the world. Through twitter, pinterest, scoop it and more I am allowed to share my resources and open myself to other’s resources and experiences as well.

“Communities are not limited by formal structures: they create connections among people across organizational and geographic boundaries.”

My PLN is one of the greatest communities of practice I am involved in and am hoping to solidify it and become involved even more.

Although Communities of practice I believe are very effective and a great way for learning to take place, not everyone agrees. There are a few limitations, I guess as this site points out.

Limitations of Communities of Practice

My passion in Education

As an educator, I truly want the best for the children I am teaching to. It is my goal to become a role model, leader,mentor,friend and ongoing learner.The thing I am most passionate about is teaching this generations children how to become successful 21st century citizens. It is not, to me at least, adequate to just teach for short term memory and rote memorization. I want to make an impact on children's lives and help them become technology savvy. I would also hope to create critical thinkers who can apply what they have learned in the classroom to their lives. The worst thing to me is learning something short term, being tested on it, and then forgetting it and never really using or relating it to your life. Learning more about the Ipad allows children to become active,participative learners in their own education.I would like to use project based learning more to help children use their creativity and make learning applicable and individualized to each and every student. To me, teaching is taking the best practices and allowing your students to use your practices as a opportunity for growth and development. This is part of my pasion in teaching. Along with my words written on this page, I have made my own board to visualize my thoughts. I hope you like it !

http://wallwisher.com/wall/educationalpassion

Tribes through storytelling

Google me or not?

Google is an interesting serach engine as well as one of the most useful tool son the web. I have used it to look up word definitions, find information on just about anything and search for videos amd images for school assignments and work.

One of my assignments for this week was to google my name and see what popped up. As I have done this before, I was not suprised at my results. I first searched my full name "Lindsay Gross." The only relevant search result that was actually me was a biography of myself for my college softball team.Under images, I also found a picture of me in my college softball uniform from 2 years ago. This showed more of myslef as a visitor of the internet not really connecting myself to othersbut rather giving out small bits of personal information. My facebook did not show up because I have blocked it from being serached on google for personal and privacy of myself. In this sense, searching my name appears though I am a visitor to the internet and only use teh internet as a tool for completeing a task.

However, seraching  my PLN username(lindsgross) came up with my blog,blog posts, and my twitter. IN this case i can be seen as more of a resident by allwing myself to be a presecence on the internet and connect to others. On these serach results found i present my opinions on topics or post resources helpful for educators like me. I truly share my passion for education and want others to learn by and from me as well.

I feel secure and comfortable that not a lot of provate information about me can be serahced publicly through google. Google views me more effectively through my PLN username and in this way others can view me as a resident of teh web, as I wuold like to be seen.