Virtual Schooling Presentation

Week 14-15

After reading the different scenarios I firmly believe that schools are not equip to handle changes that relate to virtual schooling. Small school districts lack the funding to hire teachers or have to deal with teacher shortage in core curriculum or electives. This includes providing students options to select another teaches for courses due to teacher and students conflicts or if a parent decide their child should have a teacher whom they trust with their learning. Regardless of a child’s previous education was, school districts do not have the funds to assure a teacher that students who transfer into their district will meet the annual standardize test scores to benefit the teacher.  A Facilitator must be given release time in order to service students and provide the documentation needed for them to receive academic credit. Schools do not have extra personnel or funds budgeted to make these accommodations without making adjustments to teacher work schedules. When students are ill and will miss numerous days of school because of their illness, school districts have a limited number of instructors who can visit the students and present their lessons. Even though these scenarios are examples of the limited services that schools can offer students, these changes will not occur over night. As state school funding is shifting for public schools, I see my school district only confronting a few of these situations based on traditional answers. They offer limited courses with selected teachers teaching the course, requesting teachers to do more without time or financial support, and provide face-to-face learning for students who have medical issues.

What I know About Online Learning P2t

What I learned from the readings is that I understood what goes on when taking a course, but did not realize the different names that it is referred to in public and private education. Words that are used to describe types of Distance Education such as Audio -Based K-12 Distance Education, Video-Based K-12 Distance Education I have never heard of before until now. Virtual Learning was not new to me, but while I was reading Clark I realized how distance learning transformed into Virtual Learning. Forms of study and how the teacher and student interacts was interesting. Can I refer to Video Conferencing as a Google Hangout? However, I wonder with the different entities who are public, private, and non-profit virtual education operators how do parents select providers to serve the needs of their children? Are there any particular forms of virtual school operation that is common?

What I Know About Online Learning

            

What I Know About Online Learning

What I currently understand about K-12 online learning, virtual schooling, and cyber schooling is that each one use the internet as the major vehicle that students use for their educational learning. To keep track and monitor online activities, students are required to log in for attendance each day and complete daily activities as well as assignments. Online learning also use a variety of teaching strategies such as using blogs, discussions, projects, team tasks, and research assignments to create student engagement for their course. Other resources such as websites, videos, graphics, games, and other interactive resources are also incorporated into online courses.  Online academic assessments can take the form of multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank timed or untimed questions where students can receive immediate feedback on their tests or quizzes.

            When an individual enrolls in a online course, they can access the course materials at anytime or anywhere as long as they have internet access. The instructors usually schedules dates where the student can access the materials as well as deadlines for completing assignments or exams. The kind of students that take online classes range from those who are very independent workers to those who need to repeat a class. The kind of courses that are offered are the core course (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) and a range of electives such as Business, Computers,  Foreign Language, and Media

Post #2 Judging the Quality of Wikis and Non-vetted Sites

I view Wikipedia as a resource that my students can read to provide leads or understanding of information they are researching. Although I know that they will use Wikipedia because it’s free, easily assessable, and appears as the first link in their search.  When given a written assignment, I usually provide them with a limited list sources related to the content. I have in many occasions explained to the students that Wikipedia was similar to an encyclopedia except the information is written by various authors.  I will accept them reading the information, but I do not count it as a major resource for their assignment.  Now I do use Youtube, Schooltube, Teachertube , and Discovery Education in my lessons and presentations. I allow my students to use these sources also in their assignments. Even though Youtube is used most often by them for the type of projects they have to complete, I enjoy watching their creativity with them. I know that these video sources are not documentaries, but the messages can have a profound effect on their learning. 

I think the gender differences descriptions are correct that only 16% are contributors and 9% edit. Hearing the type of tactics that are used on Wikipedia was new information to me. I did not know that a contributor’s work that was added could be rejected and deleted. This was astounding. In the meantime, I could understand why this would not be an attractive profession for activity for women. I think this is why men dominate in contributing to Wikipedia over women.  

Post #1-Blog Added to RSS Reader

I use technology tools and sites in my classroom for various reasons for student engagement.  Many times I have found myself searching for articles, current events, or discussion topics for countless hours. Now using the blogs that I have identified will help me address many of the areas that are my personal interest and related to marketing education. I plan to utilize this information to enrich the content of my curriculum, student interaction, and personal growth.   

I use online magazines and news as weekly assignments for students to read, complete activities, and write journal statements related to marketing.  The blogs that I added are to my  RSS reader are ClickZNews, Business Insider, and Adverblog.

ClickZNews:  http://www.clickz.com/type/news

Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/

Adverblog: http://www.businessinsider.com/

I selected these specific blog sites to add to my reader because they digital marketing, e-commerce, gaming and marketing education information. The information address national and international markets which are subjects that I use and have a personal interest in.

To keep up with the various activities that emerge from marketing such as sports and entertainment, hospitality and tourism, entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and social media can become overwhelming with information and changes that impacts our society. I selected the following individuals and organizations to follow on Twitter because they will enable me to maintain awareness of the content and industry updates in marketing.

Angela Maiers - @AngelaMaiers 

        Education- Author “Classroom Habits and The Passion-Driven Classroom.” She specialize in

         learning, leadership, digital literacy, and 21st Century Skills.

Jeff McCauley-@jeffmccauley

         Teacher-Author “Sports Media Marketing, Marketing Now, and Sports More than Just A

         Score.”He teach marketing, sports marketing and social media Marketing to high school 

         students and create and distribute resources to my fellow marketing teachers.

MBA Research-@MBAResearchNEWS

         Not-for-profit organization operated by 30+ state education departments, supporting educators

         who prepare students for professional careers in business.

Cheryl Burgess-@ckburgess

         Author-“Social Media Employee.”

Denise Teague-@dmteague

         Michigan Department of Education, CTE Program Consultant, Public Schools Advocate,

         Opinions are my own.

Tony Robbins-@TonyRobbins

        Life coach and self-help author “Unlimited Power, Unleash the Power Within, and Awaken the

         Giant Within.” He became well known from his infomercials and self-help books.

Reflection

I have not used these tools as frequently as I could have.  The tool I am gravitated towards is the RSS reader because I would use it on my phone and computer to read and gather information.  I could find myself using it more daily than twitter. Once I feel comfortable about reading the information provided on twitter I believe I will be able to understand how I can best utilize it personally and professionally.

Right now I cannot think of anything that would help me with my information gathering.

Unit 2-Web 2.0 and SAMR Model

The  SAMR is known as the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition Model.  In order to use this model for my high school Marketing (10th-12th grade students), I would use technology as a different method of teaching to impact student learning. The examples using traditional methods and integrating technology using the SAMR are:

Substitution:

Instead of writing chapter or unit responses or questions with pen and paper, I would have students use Microsoft Word or Google Docs. I would also have students use online dictionary (Merriam-Webster or Dictionary.com) instead of printed dictionary for vocabulary usage. A smart board allows student to communicate and explain their responses.

Augmentation:

Instead of having students type a essay paper, print it out, and handed to the teacher to read for grading, I would have student use their email (Yahoo, Gmail, AOL, etc.) to submit their essay to other students in the class for peer review, and the final copied forward to teacher for grading. The students can also create Evernote and Doodle Buddy.  Other software such as MindMapping and Cmap are excellent for concept mapping ideas, terms, and concepts.         

Modification

Instead of having students create a storyboard with pictures and drawings for a television commercial, I would have students create a storyboard using technology that would include using multimedia adding sound and video. The students would use Lino or Notability.  I would also have a blog created so that students will be able to share their projects and receive feedback from peers.  

Redefintion

Instead of student writing and making presentations about the marketing program, the students will create a video about marketing education program that can be used for various purposes such as school activities and events. The student will use video production software (Movie Maker and Techradar), multimedia programs (Power Point, Prezi, Slidedog, and ClearSlide/SlideRocket), video and digital camera.

Unit 1 Prompt

Unit 1 Prompt

The Generational Differences and Boundaries described in the readings and videos caused me to see my students through a different set of educational lens. Being a Marketing teacher, I am familiar with labeling consumers based on marketing segmentation, but their technology and digital profile has painted a different picture.  What I realize is that students are more digital natives, gamers, socially conscious, multi-tasks, value diversity, instant gratificationers, achievement oriented, etc. more than I realized.  The Generation X and Millennials student interact with some kind of technology devices in their personal and school environment daily.The two videos “Vision of Students Today and Vision of K-12 Student’s Today,” provided my examples of student direct responses to how they use traditional tools and learning strategies versus using digital.

How students view digital technology and desire to use them as engage learning is an important issue in the education environment. Although today’s student is tech savvy, they do not find the traditional learning desirable like their parents or those born in previous years. The Net Generation and Millennials differences and habits are very obvious which can be seen by their behavior and how they react to education. I agree with Pensky on many the information he stated in his article that today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach. They have more digital tools at their disposal in their personal world that they use and the educational system has not figured out how to adapt or incorporate them into the educational system.  He also made reference to how generation differences are practiced and perceived by previous generations.  Educators also use limited digital technology in their classroom because of their lack of training.

McKenzie made strong points about Pensky failure to consider his findings a valid research source for brain change, experimental group, and group identification.  The errors he identified such as lack of data, and incorrect medical reference highlighted the flaws in Pensky's article. However, using words such as Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants are useful categories to describe generational differences and boundaries. Pensky’s article presented great insight into the lifestyle and behavior of Net Generation and Millennials students can be useful to educators regardless of the flaws.

            

Introduction Post

I’m Blair and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. My teaching career started 20 years ago as a Marketing Teacher /Coordinator.  I graduated from Wayne State University in 1985 with a BS in Business Administration in Public Relations and Advertising.  While looking for a job, a friend suggested I apply for a substitute teacher with Detroit Public Schools.  I tried it and really enjoyed teaching.  I went back to school and obtained my Masters/Teaching Certification and Occupational Certification from Eastern Michigan University in Business Education.  I have been the Marketing Teacher/DECA Advisor/Coordinator at Western International High School for 17 years. I teach Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing Cooperative (School to Work/Student Job Placement).  In 2008 I earned my Administration Certification. 

My hobbies are singing, fitness, traveling, and going to the movies.  Even though, I find time to fit all of my hobbies into my schedule, I would like to visit schools internationally to see how student learning differs from our teaching methods.