Millennial Survey 2

For this assignment, I had to take the Millennial Quiz again to see how Millennial I am now since the course is coming to an end. After taking the quiz for this second time, I received a score of 97%. One point higher then the first time. Based on my generation, my score was on the higher end. The higher the score the more I have in common with individuals of the millennial generation. I didn't think my score would change much because I was on the higher end the first time I took the survey. However, I advanced by one point.  I feel more confident about the use of technology and working in this global society then I did before taking this course. However, I know I can still advance in this technological age.  After completing the Millennial Quiz the first time I stated in my blog that I wanted to become more knowledgeable with technology and communication that I can use within my classroom to improve my students learning. Mission accomplished; I have learned several ways to incorporate technology into my classroom and outside of the classroom.   As I stated in my first blog the more knowledgeable I am about technology, the more I can teach my students and prepare them for survival and successes in the world. As we learn and progress in the advancements of technology and communication, our generation becomes known as millennial learners. It is important for our generation to become millennial and understand the use of technology and communication to survive in the 21st century.   

Frand's 10 Characteristics:
Computers Aren't Technology
Internet Better Than TV
Reality No Longer Real
Doing Rather Than Knowing 
Nintendo over Logic
Multitasking Way of Life 
Typing Rather Than Handwriting 
Staying Connected
Zero Tolerance for Delays 
Consumer/Creator Blurring 

I feel that I'm in terms with all 10 of Frand's characteristics.  I especially, agree with the Internet Better Than TV characteristic.  The internet provides quicker results and is more entertaining compared to TV.  There are also educational sites with games to enhance the learning of our children.  I definitely agree with the Nintendo over Logic based on trial and error because special education is based on trail and error to determine what works best for our students. I would like to comment on typing is better then handwriting. I've always thought that is important for children to learn to write, and when cursive writing was taken out of schools I was shocked. However, I do realize that technology is taking over and possibly one day everything will be computerized. There is much more that can be done with typing versus handwriting, and I've learned several of these ways in this course such as using google docs. Information Age Mindset is taking over our society and changing the ways people do things compared to the past. Newer generations are changing as technology changes and are working in the global society. Whereas, older generations aren't as adaptive to this change, and have a harder time adjusting to this digital age of technology.       

Reference:

Frand, J. (2000). The information-age mindset:  Changes in students and implications for higher education. EDUCAUSE Review. September/October15-24. Retreived May 25, 2012

This assignment goes along with Teaching Standard 4a: Professional Learning in that I examined myself based on my millennial generation.  I was able to make a comparison to others in my age group and generation based on technology and communication.  I was identified as being in the higher range of my generation. I feel that I have advanced throughout this course with communication and technology, but there's also room to learn more. 

Proceed to Survey (Survey 1)

I had to complete a survey which was one of the same surveys I completed in the beginning of the course. I have learned so many new things about technology and how to use it. I realized how much higher my answers were this time around on the survey then in the beginning. To be honest, I didn't even know what some of the questions were referring to in the beginning. I even answered true to all of true/false questions on the last page. In the beginning survey, my answers were mainly false. Now I have a blog, a video on youtube, and much more. I have gained a great deal of knowledge to help me function in digital society.

Excel 1

For this assignment, I had to go to the NCES site and view state comparisons. In the boxes I had to select  4th grade, reading for 2011, and gender. I exported the information into a Microsoft Excel worksheet to proceed. I downloaded the Data Analysis Tool Pack add on for excel to calculate the scores. I had difficulty getting the Data Analysis Tool Pack to become active at first, it showed as being inactive. After several trials, I finally got it to become active. Technology is so tricky at times if you don't do the exact steps it needs. Then, I commuted the descriptive statistics for the total score column on a different worksheet. The next step was to sort the total scores in ascending order from smallest to largest, and create a scatter graph to plot the states. My scatter graph shows were my home state of WV is located within the other states. Compared to other jurisdictions, WV is blew average for reading scores in 2011. WV's total score is 214.3860242 marketing it as number 10 out of 53 jurisdictions. That means that were 43 other jurisdictions with higher reading scores in 2011 then WV, and nine lower. 


I used Jing to capture my scatter plot image and posted it below. 

In my opinion this assignment co-insides with Teaching Standard Function 4C. In using calculations and data, educators can examine the outcomes of their students works. Then adjustments can be made to improve their teaching practices and enhance their students' learning. Through this assignment, I was able to identify WV's reading scores for the year of 2011 compared to other jurisdictions. It was interesting to view how low WV was compared to other areas in the world. This makes me aware of the fact that as a future educator, I will have to implement reading sills and practices to help improve my student's reading abilities.   

Google Sites

For this assignment, I had to create a web page on Google Sites. I created my page inputting lesson plans and materials that I created or obtained throughout my education at FSU. I will use my google site to organize and store my resources that I can use within my classroom. I had a difficult time deciding on which template would meet the needs of my web page. I chose a template under school and education titled schoolhouse rock. The template is somewhat plain, but it looked as if I could organize my resources successfully in it. I only added a few of my resources so far. I have several more to add in, and this is a handy tool because I'm always saying that I need a way to organize all of my teaching material and lesson plans from school. Well here we go! I got the hook up now! So far, from this course I added my resume, rubric, my solar system youtube video, and my solar system quiz. I also added another rubric, an art lesson plan, and a music lesson plan that I created in other courses. I'm glad I learned about this new feature. It was simple once I figured out how to do things. I did have difficulties inserting google docs at first, and also editing the sidebar. Fortunately, I figured them out. The main thing with my site is organizing my resources which may be time consuming, but worth it in the end.

Click here to view my Google Site

In my opinion this assignment goes along with Teaching Standard Function 4A and 4B. I gained new knowledge based on professional learning by working with technology and improving my skills to work diligently in digital society. I am not only organizing my materials and resources for myself, but by sharing my work publicly other educators may gain new ideas to incorporate into their classrooms. They can also post comments on my page that may influence my teachings. Therefore, I am collaboratively working within global society. I am also able to view other educator's sites and comment on their pages.  

Rubrics

For this assignment, I had to create a grading Rubric on Rubistar. Rubistar is a way to create easy rubrics to evaluate our students performances. Rubrics contain categories that contain expectations based under a level of numbers. I actually had several rubrics that I used in my previous clinical work so I was familiar with creating them. However, I never used the Rubistar site. I created my rubric on Rubistar using Video-Talk Show: Play Performance. This rubric would be used to evaluate my students on a final performance assessment. My students would conduct a play based on the story that was used for a particular unit of study. For instance, I used this rubric with my students in conducting a video recorded play based on the story "The Great Kapok Tree" at the end of the unit of study. The students were evaluated with the rubric on Presentation of Character, Achievement of Purpose,Use of Non-Verbal Cues (voice, gestures, props, masks), Imagination and Creativity, and Fluency. When creating my rubric on Rubistar I was able to save it to the site and was then given the Rubric ID: 2206991. The Rubric ID can be shared with others so they can view my rubric from the site. I also saved my rubric in googledocs and then shared the file for public viewing. 


Click here to view my online Play Performance Rubric. 

This assignment goes along with teaching standard function 3E: Use of Assessments in Instruction. Rubrics allow teachers to give students an outline of what is expected of them for a particular assignments. Students should be given the rubric when the assignment is given and know what is expected of them in order to receive the highest grade. Also, function 4C: Reflection on Practice allows me as an educator to determine what worked best or didn't work in my rubric which then gives me the opportunity to make adjustments to the rubric for future use.

Self Correcting Grading Form

For this assignment I had to create a Self Correcting Grading Form in google docs. I created a quiz on the solar system that I can use with my Photostory from a previous assignment. When doing a study on the solar system my students can view my photostory on the solar system and then complete my quiz. The self correcting grading form is a great tool to incorporate into teaching. It will allow my students to complete a quiz and then it can be self graded my adding formulas into the spreadsheet. I only used multiple choice, check boxes, and a pull list for this assignment. I imaged that it would be difficult for the self grading form to grade paragraph answers. I created the form or quiz and posted it. I then took the quiz by using KEY for the name, and inputting the correct answers. Two other individuals completed the quiz for me. My son who is going into the fourth grade completed the quiz for me and he only missed one question. Therefore, I think my questions are efficient for my students. I then added a formula into the spreadsheet in order for the self grading form to grade the answers, and also a formula to find the average of each student's answers. This was a simple and useful resourceful tool that I can integrate into my teaching.

Click here to view and complete my Live Survey or Quiz and also to review the spreadsheet grading results.

 


This assignment goes along with teaching standard function 4A. I have engaged in professional learning by improving my skills in working with technology and using it within my classroom. Self correcting grading forms are new and resourceful way to enhance my teaching techniques and work within the global society.

Google Forms

This assignment was extremely challenging for me to get started on. Luckily, another student in the class offered her assistance. I was so thankful. I had to create a public survey using Google Doc forms. Once I figured out to create the form, I generated a public survey on Interests and Technology. In the survey, I had to incorporate each kind of question offered in the form such as multiple choice, check boxes, list, grid, scale, text, and paragraph text at least once. I had to add a theme, help text for questions in the survey, and make at least one question mandatory to be answered. A public spreadsheet was also constructed on google docs that goes along with the survey form which shows the results of those who answered my survey questions. This was neat! I created the survey and shared it publicly, and then I was able to view the results that were atomically collected in the spreadsheet.

MY SURVEY

 

I feel that teaching standard function 4A, C, and D go along with this assignment. The assignment allowed me to explore new ways in using technology, and to work within the global society.  This type of procedure would allow me to survey my students to learn about them or to understand what they have learned to assist in making adjustments with my classroom to improve my teaching and my students' learning. The survey can be completed by anyone who has the link address to it. In order to get feedback from parents and my students, I could create a survey form and email the link to the parents, and have my students fill the form out in class by providing them with the link. This has shown me another great way to internet with individuals publicly through the web.