Final Blog Post 12

Krissy@venspired.com (CC). 2013

So this is it the end of the journey. I have explored digital citizenship for 12 weeks now and I must say I have learned A LOT. The digital world is far more complicated than I originally thought. The three main points I have learned about are my digital footprint, digital citizenship and how to use digital tools.

Digital Citizenship

This topic seems easy at first but I find it gets much more intricate the more you look into it. Within this umbrella term there are many little sub-topics that are all equally important as the next. I personally found for myself communication

to be important. I think that many people today don’t seem to understand that communication online should be no different than if it were to be in person. This means communicating with respect and clarity. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen two people get into fights on Twitter or Facebook. The younger generation especially need to realize that in person your character is shown through your demeanor, appearance the way you talk and expressions. That is a lot of information to use; it provides people with a lot of chances to determine how they want to communicate with you. However, online there is only one way. What people see? Your tone is hard to express over written language unless clearly specified, this means sarcasm can backfire. If you only post photos of partying then you just look like someone who is not very serious about their future. If you write hateful comments…well no one is really going to want to associate with that. Because digital communication is more vague then face to face we need to make sure we are clear and respectful when we do so, in order to have the world see us how we actually want to be seen.

Digital Tools

This was the fun part of the course we used tons of tools some that were new to me but many that I have been using for years! I want to focus on the tools I already knew about. I learned so many different features and ways to use these tools that I would have never known about. I think this is important to take away as digital citizens. When we start using a new tool we need to really explore it and even go to outside sources to learn more about it to better use that tool.

Digital Footprint

This was probably my favorite topic because I find it incorporates everything we learned in this course. Your digital footprint is basically a log of everything that you do online. In this generation that is pretty much your whole life. In my blog post #1 I talk about how I think a positive digital footprint is the key point. I think if we execute my above points properly then we can really clean up our digital footprints to make them positive. It is never too later to change your footprint for the better. Although, we cannot erase our past we can make our current footprint positive. Everyone changes and grows up we want our footprint to show that over time I have learned to be a proper digital citizen.

I would like to thank my classmates and facilitator for this fun experience and I hope you all the best with improving your digital footprint.

Blog post 11

SoundCloud (CC). 2015

This week we learned about using webcasting tools. I specifically used Podcasts (SoundCloud). A podcast is described and carried out similar to a song. CNN did a short video about it and this wasn't their description.

The show was recorded and then uploaded to the Internet and becomes a podcast, an audio file playable on any iPod or portable music device. It's just like a song, it's no different.  

I have used these tools a lot but always on the receiving end. I have never created something using these tools. I found it really interesting to compare the two experiences. It was really quite nerve wracking to create something, I kept worrying about how others would see this. I think I did gain a better appreciation for the audio and visual tools and people who use them though. Since it was so difficult for me I really started thinking about all the podcasts or soundclouds I listen to. This made me think more about copyright. In my Copyright post I said:

Copyright is not there to make our lives difficult it is in place to protect the creators work. It is a way to try to protect the creator when issues of copying may arise.

When people create things with webcasting tools I feel they are putting a lot more of their selves into it then with writing. Simply because their voice or face is in it. Suddenly creating is not just about the content but everything is being judged by the online public.

Personally I like to use these tools to learn but I really don’t like creating with webcasting tools. I found it caused me too much stress. I stopped focusing on the content and more so on my delivery. The quality of my voice, tone, pitch and just over sound of my voice was almost all I focused on.  I prefer to have my written work online than having audio or visual online.

I think for some people this may be a helpful tool if they have a hard time expressing thoughts on paper. Academically I think teachers could benefit from this, on day they are away or to allow students a way to learn outside of the classroom.

Feedly

This week I found a site on my Feedly that really caught my eye. TESOL 2015, in this post Navnish describes 3 of her favorite ideas from the 2015 TESOL conference. This caught my eye first because I am a TESOL major and second because my professor spoke there as well.

Before I get into what her post said I want to point out something she said that I think relates to all conferences and all fields of work.

Every year, educators from around the world approach the TESOL convention with one single mission in mind: to learn. Some come to learn the trends of the ESL world, some come for the research, and still some others for the strategies and techniques they can implement in their classrooms.

This is interesting I think because she shows that you don’t have to be a professor to attend these conferences. People go ultimately to learn about their profession or even just an interest. I think more people should start doing this.

As for her actual post she looks at three ideas presented at the conference: mobile technology, student-led discussion and vocabulary teaching. As a future EFL teacher myself I think the last point is the most important. In order for a student to read and understand a text they need to know 95-98% of the vocabulary within it. That is a HUGE number, one that surprised me when I learned it. Which point catches your eye?

Podcast - SoundCloud

This week we did a podcast. Something I was dreading to be quite honest. I don’t really like recording my voice but it was much simpler for me than using Screencast. We have explored the digital world over these last 10 weeks and over this time I have seen how complex it really is. I feel that common though about the digital world is that it is simple. There is no face to face interaction, we can be free to do and say whatever we want. However, this is not the case. There are so many areas within the digital world, but I have chosen to focus on two. To me these two are the most important.

The first is digital citizenship, with this I include netiquette. I think how you use digital tools is how you portray yourself online. We need to be efficient and effective with our technology uses. This means being aware of what we post online and knowing HOW to communicate with others online. This leads right into my next focus which is your digital footprint. This is a topic that we explored within the first week of this course, but has stuck with me ever since. Since we learned about this I have been very aware of mine. I make sure I only post things I wouldn't mind a future employer to see and I try to practice the golden rule. “treat others the way you want to be treated”. Before I post something I think about how I would react to a post like this. If I think it is not hurting anyone and is respectful then I will post it.

To me these are the most important parts of digital communication.

Blog Post 10

This week we looked at using slideshow tools. I have never actually used one before so it was a completely new experience for me. I liked using slideshow tools. I found it was an easy and fun way to compile information. I am used to only writing to convey my opinion or share information but using these tools I was able to tap into different learning styles.

As for the content of the slideshow we looked at copyright. This is a subject everyone knows about but not necessarily its proper use.  Here is a definition of Copyright from The 2Learn.ca EducationalSociety. (2011-2012).

Copyright law was created to protect creators of original material. The law provides a way of determining "who gets paid" for their original work. It also provides "who pays" for use of that original work.

Elias Bizzaeas (CC). 2007

Copyright is often violated without the person even realizing they are doing so. Copying photos from Google images is extremely common, but how many people actually think about giving the credit? This is where netiquette applies, giving credit where credit is due. Recognizing others talent and time spent creating is a good way to start practicing properly copyrighting.

From my post about Animoto I made some comments about copyright that I would like to add here:

Copyright is not there to make our lives difficult it is in place to protect the creators work. It is a way to try to protect the creator when issues of copying may arise. Although copyright is not always acknowledged and this generation has become extremely good at dogging the rules, it is important to follow these rules I personally have had a Flickr account for years and I would be upset if someone has been taking my photos and taking credit for them. My photos express my creativity and a lot of work went into them.

PLE

I would add these creative knowledge expression tools in my PLE by adding it to School and Professional. I chose these two areas because I feel that I can use this in teaching. As a teacher I believe it is important to provide my students with as many forms of teaching as possible (visual, audio, etc.). These tools help give me more ways to do this.

Feedly

This week in my Feedly reader I found an interesting article about Being Strict and Allowing Mistakes- Keep Growing. When I first looked at the title I actually was thinking of this in terms of teachers marking assignments (this topic was covered in a class not long before I saw this article). After reading the post though I realized that it was actually about self-improvement. The writer talks about how mistakes can be used as a tool to grow rather than a discourager.  She talks about how every time we make a mistake we learn from it and better ourselves somehow, even if it is just the tiniest bit. That we should be making goals but if we fail our goal not to be completely put off by it. A quote from the article that really caught my attention is:

The goal is not to be extremely strict to yourself, the goal is to be just strict enough so you keep growing.

By this she means we need to be critical of ourselves to the point that we can learn from our mistakes and be better the next time, but not so strict that we lose our motivation and put ourselves down. I recommend this article especially if you are a perfectionist like me. 

My Animoto on Copyright

Animoto

gaelx (CC). 2012

This week we had to create a slide show about using copyright images. I found it fun to tell a story through pictures rather than relying on text. I tried to incorporate photos that really explained copyright rather than just photos of the copyright symbol. I used photos to show the complexity of the copyright system and different forms of copyright (photo and video).

We used Animoto to create our slideshow and I used Flickr to find my photos. Finding my photos on Flickr actually helped me to understand copyright better. When I found a photo I also saw the creator of that photos name. Seeing their name right under the photo helped me to imagine if I took a picture and it was used without my permission. It is different than just using Google images because now I realize this is someone’s work rather than a collected page of images by a computer. 

Copyright is not there to make our lives difficult it is in place to protect the creators work. It is a way to try to protect the creator when issues of copying may arise. Although copyright is not always acknowledged and this generation has become extremely good at dogging the rules, it is important to follow these rules. I personally have had a Flickr account for years and I would be upset if someone has been taking my photos and taking credit for them. My photos express my creativity and a lot of work went into them. 

Technology Use Scenario

Scenario 13

Dr. Brown, principle  at Bluebird Elementary School, is concerned with safety in his school, both for his staff and for students. During the summer, Dr. Brown had cameras installed in each of the classrooms. The video from each of these cameras is viewable on the internet, so that parents can check on their students' classes during the day. Some parents are concerned that because these cameras are connected to the Internet, other people could also use them to "spy" on their children.

I personally think that Dr. Brown was using technology inappropriately. I feel that his intentions were good but his use of the technology and how he shared it is wrong. First of all I do not think that the videos should have been put on the internet. This is allowing anyone to view these videos not just faculty and parents. This is a breach of the students privacy. This is also hard on the teachers because they can now have their teaching scrutinized by the parents.

Dr. Brown's intentions of protecting his school is good but  instead of making the videos accessible from the internet he should have kept these tapes within the school. He could have kept the tapes on private record for future access that will be secure. I do not think parents need to watch their children at school, instead I would use a webpage to update parents on things that happen within the school.

Weekly Reflection and Report Blog #9

This week we used VoiceThread and PollDaddy. I found the PollDaddy activity interesting. All the class members were to decide if a digital communication scenario was right or wrong. I was surprised to see the different answers on some of them. When I thought the answer was clearly wrong others thought it depended on the situation. I think this was a good reminder that digital communication is not black and white and that we really do need to think critically but also open-mindedly when dealing with it. VoiceThread was also a really interesting tool (I wrote a blog about my experience with it previous to this one). I would like to add part of that blog post to this because I talk about how I would incorporate VoiceThread into my PLE.

I would add this tool to my PLE under professional. I can see myself using this in my classrooms as a way for my students to learn and share information. This may also be useful when I take notes. I have a horrible habit of writing or typing notes then when I go back to them I have no idea what they mean. If I can add speech or video to my notes I think that would make me more efficient in my learning. I recommend that people at least take a look at voicethread it could end up helping you out in the future. 

I really like that VoiceThread allows me to keep notes in a form other than just text. I find I am more of a visual and auditory learner so this is a nice addition to my PLE.

Feedly 

Dre Wiz (CC). 2013

This week I found an article through my Feedly that really represents what this course is about. The top ways digital tools transform learning. The title itself is relevant to the course. A quote I really like from the article by Evans is “We have a strong belief that today’s students should be well-prepared for the future, and digital tools can help ensure that they are prepared.”

 This article also showed how digital tools can be used in elementary school classes. I feel this is important to note because most people focus on using these tools for higher level students rather than the lower level. This topic could also be debated as having negative effects on the young students. We want to give our students other strategies to rely on rather than just technology. The more tools we introduce them to (digital or not) the more prepared they are for learning.

Ultimately, I think that the teacher needs to decide what is appropriate for their learners. The students’ available resources, skills and maturity level (to use these tools responsibly) should be taken into consideration. I really liked how this article focuses on the teachers use and integration of technology in the classroom and in their jobs in general. I think it is nice to see how teachers benefit from using technology for a change rather than just focusing on the students use. This article shows that using digital tools is not only beneficial for the students but also the teachers.