17 Matching Annotations
  1. May 2023
    1. In teacher education, critiques of technology are rarely discussed or illuminated when preparing teachers to teach with technology (Heath & Segal, 2021; Krutka et al., 2019). Failing to question educational technology and the practices surrounding its integration perpetuates an assumption that technology is a neutral tool, often harming the most vulnerable in our schools

      I think that this is a really good point. Technology has become an assumed skill that everyone is expected to know. It's supposed to be "easy" for people to pick up. In my opinion, applications are becoming increasingly more complicated with new updates that constantly change the layout and Terms of Use of the app. With the amount of applications that are sued in school, it seems impossible to stay up to date on these features. This can be very harmful and cause teachers and students to fall behind and struggle with completing assignments.

    1. An orientation toward justice means that we and our students cannot accept the exclusions that are baked into our learning environments and our society. Justice means we have to ask, "What's wrong?" And we must take action to fix what's wrong.

      Focusing on justice is so important for marginalized students and it also can bring awareness to privileges that other students have. Being able to understand social justice at a young age creates more empowered students. Normalizing conversations about it is also important to do, especially in states that have the ability to include it in the curriculum.

    1. For the next 10 minutes, students have the option to work independently, with a partner, or in a small group with the teacher to list as many symptoms as they can for at least one of the diseases. Students have the option to write words or draw images to represent symptoms on a provided graphic organizer. As they work, they are encouraged to use their devices for research and to find a place conducive to their learning. Two students work at a standing desk while others grab clip boards and gather on the floor with their devices.

      I think that providing options is a great way to engage students in learning. Everyone learns differently, and I believe that every student deserves the opportunity to try new learning tactics so they can figure out what will make them the most successful.

    1. Bloom’s Taxonomy: Moving Toward Higher Order Thinking SkillsAnother way to evaluate and identify appropriate digital tools and apps for learning is to use Bloom’s taxonomy - a hierarchical model of cognitive skills.

      Bloom's Taxonomy is a very useful tool for educators to use. By using this tool, teachers are able to envision their lessons from their students' point of view. When they are able to do this, they can incorporate new aspects to their lessons that will help their students to understand it.

    1. When teaching with technology, you might assume that students actually know how to use digital tools and apps for their learning. While most kids and teens today are growing up using various technologies at home, they tend to use these tools for entertainment, social media, and messaging others. Unfortunately, many students are not taught how to use technology in a safe, ethical, and legal manner to support their learning. This can lead to a number of problems, including using technology in harmful ways that have a negative impact on their own and others’ lives.

      This is so important, even in higher education. Lots of professors assume that older students understand exactly how apps work and are able to pick it up easily. I personally have trouble figuring out new platforms, so it is often difficult to keep up. Also, some students might not know how to find suitable sources, or know how to cite these sources correctly. A lot of professors assume that everyone was taught how to use digital tools growing up.

  2. Apr 2023
    1. The government can only listen in if they obtain a special type of search warrant that shows that they have exhausted all other possible ways to obtain the information they need.  But strangely there are no similar legal protections for browsing the internet even though when your computer visits a website, it is essentially a phone call to another computer seeking to obtain the information on that webpage—a very similar idea to the content of a phone call.

      I am not shocked at this information, and I'm not sure that I am against it either. The only time that the government would actually be obtaining a warrant to access this information is if they had a genuine reason for it. For example, if someone commits a crime the government would be able to listen to the call. But if you are just a normal citizen, it is unlikely that anyone will ever look at the information that was collected about you.

    1. Before you download or use another app or digital tool: Read the Terms of Service or End-User License Agreement What rights are you granting the company? How might the company infringe on your privacy? (e.g., Snapchat TOS states: “While we’re not required to do so, we may access, review, screen, and delete your content at any time and for any reason”) Read the privacy policy Start by watching "How to read privacy policies like a lawyer" What data are collected? Take a look at UMass Amherst’s Data Classification categories to help you evaluate the type of data collected by the app or tool (e.g., restricted, confidential, operational use only, or unclassified). How are data used? How are data shared? How does the company ensure the security of your data? What happens if there is a data breach and your data is stolen?

      These are steps that are often overlooked, but extremely important. An example of why you should read the Terms of Service and the private policy is TikTok. When you make any video on TikTok, the rights to that video become public and anyone is able to use it without repercussions. This means that, say you make a video with a certain brand highlighted, they can take the video and use it as advertisement without giving credit to the creator.

    1. Your online course should leverage appealing visual design – avoiding unnecessary or exaggerated use of color, images, or graphics. As noted in the Aesthetic Usability Effect, when a person perceives a design as aesthetically pleasing, they will also find the design easier to use

      I think that the layout and aesthetics of design are actually a really important tool for successful websites and apps. To keep a user engaged, designing a layout that is easy to understand makes it easier to navigate each aspect of the website. For example, the layout of this website has a satisfying setup. I am able to differentiate between the different sections because they used large, bold writing. The font is easy to read and the accent colors for the links are cohesive so I know what they are for.

    1. Mobile Design

      I think that mobile design is essential for technological tools in the 2020s. It is unrealistic to imagine that everyone will have access to computers whenever necessary, however it is easier to imagine people having access to mobile phones. There have been times where I am out in public, want to study or do homework, and I am unable to use my laptop. Instead, I have been able to use apps that are connected to my online textbooks to do work on the go.

  3. Mar 2023
    1. Disabilities can develop from birth, aging or accidental or health-related incidents. On average, people who are 70 years old or older will spend eight years as individuals with disabilities. As the Baby Boomers who were born in the years following the Second World War – approximately between the years 1946 and 1964 – have been aging, we have been seeing an increasing need for accessible digital solutions.

      I think that it is important to recognize that it is possible for anyone to develop a disability in their lives, especially people who are over 70 years of age. Many people think of disabilities as something that a person is born with, but that is not the case. Accidents can easily happen to anyone, which could result in TBI's or physical bodily alterations, such as amputees. But some disabilities are not a result of an accident and can develop over time, as seen in Baby Boomers. A lot of people have a tough time keeping up with all new technological interfaces, so it is important to make sure that anyone is able to learn how to use it.

    1. Before using a tool in the classroom, you should examine whether it supports diverse learners. Make sure students can choose diverse icons, flags, gender marks, and characters without additional payment (paid membership or fees).

      Being mindful of the cost and membership fees of various tools is really important to me. Families that have diverse learners, even such as families that speak different languages, should be able to access and understand the work that is given without having to go elsewhere for translation programs. Finding interfaces where the student can choose custom icons and characters seems like a really inclusive tool to have available so the students can feel more connected to their work.

    2. Is easy to understand (e.g., navigation is logically ordered; information is clear, concise, and simple). Provides immediate feedback and guidance (e.g., if a form is not completely filled out, the tool signals to the user what they have to do to complete the form). Is well designed (e.g., does not feature distracting ads or information; uses a simple interface with lots of white space). For content-based apps, such as math games, provides supplementary resources, activities, and information that give students additional support for developing their knowledge and skills.

      I think that these are important for every subject, but especially math exams and activities. The format of math problems can be confusing, especially with the different ways to set up the problems. Making sure that the information is orderly and consistent can make it easier for children with cognitive disabilities, and it can make it more clear for children without cognitive disabilities as well. It is easy to overlook questions, and depending on the format, it can be difficult to examine what has or has not been filled out.

    1. Each day for a year Chris has posted to his blog a piece of creativity and the results are quite special to see. More than anything else his blog shows personal growth and an engaged audience many of whom have undoubtedly been encouraged to pursue their own creativity.

      I think that creating a PLN like this is a great idea. Creating a journal to track personal growth is so important. When you are working towards a goal it can sometimes be difficult to measure how far you've come. A blog lets the creator have quick access to any entry, and it can also be a great resource for others to use. Earning an audience keeps the creator motivated to try new things and report them back onto the blog. This is a great way to hold yourself accountable in a fun and rewarding way.

  4. Feb 2023
    1. Or, you may want to keep up to date with the latest digital tools and apps but have no time to do so.

      I can definitely see myself getting so caught up with work that I completely forget to stay updated. I like sticking to the things I know, so it is helpful to have resources that will find new online tools to use in the classroom.

    2. If you want to focus your search on specific sites, or kinds of sites, add “site:” and a portion of a URL (e.g., “site:.gov” searches only government sites, “site:.edu” only searches education sites, and “site:umass.edu” only searches sites hosted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst).

      I have used this tool for years when finding credible sources online for research papers and projects. I tend to get overwhelmed by all of the results when I'm researching a certain topic. This is really helpful and I continue to use it all the time to find credible .edu websites.

    1. Cognitive growth is the development of professional knowledge and skills that occurs when educators come across new information, ideas, and resources from their PLNs and when they critically reflect on their practice.

      I think that it is very important for educators to include relevant material that they find in their lesson plans. Relating the course material to every day events is a great way to keep the students engaged. It is also a way for the educator to stay up to date with trends in order to stay connected to their students.