EDTECH Research

During this research assignment I had a flashback to my days at Hope College.  As an education major I spent most of my time on the second floor of the library finding ERIC documents on microfiche.  After searching through dusty file cabinets, I was able to find my article on the projector then print it for further research.  Now with the use of Google Scholar and the Albertsons Library database of scholarly materials, research is literally at my fingertips.  I struggled to find a specific research topic for social studies at first, since most of our lessons are note-based.  Social studies sometimes get a bad reputation because of the quantity of information teachers need to teach and the time give to teach it all.  Therefore, notes seem to be the clear option for relaying the information efficiently.  I found that when I added research papers or projects, my students were able to take their learned knowledge and make it active.  It also gives students some freedom to take history into their own hands and select different topics they are interested in.  So with that in mind I researched how to integrate web-based search engine for primary source documents and multimedia use for project-based lessons.

This assignment introduced me to APA style for my citations.  I've used APA style a little, but I found that the websites and videos were helpful to get me acquainted with something other than MLA.    The convenience I appreciated was on Google Scholar; having the "cite" option.  Although I had to double check the citation, making sure my capitalization was correct, it gave me a solid base to work with.  This is also helpful for high school students who are writing research papers, some for the first time.

Overall, I was not super thrilled about this assignment, only because I've been out of the paper writing world for quite sometime, but I did appreciate it.  It was a challenge to find a specific topic to study and expand my research off certain key terms.  That is what I most enjoyed about the online data bases.  I could manipulate my search as different terms popped into my head.  Also, I was not limited to one institution's library for my research.  I was able to access a variety of scholarly articles through Google Scholar and the Albertsons Library.  I look forward to integrating the information I learned into a future lesson plan.

Please click here to view my research EDTECH Research

RSS in Education

This has been an adventurous week in technology for me.  I learned about RSS, which I was unfamiliar with prior to this assignment. In addition, I made a multimedia presentation with Screencast-o-matic.  It seemed like a daunting task, but in the end I was surprise how easy it was.  I've been curious about all the icons on different websites.  From news sites to church sites, it seems everyone has the facebook, twitter, and RSS icon.

During this time of research, I learned that RSS, which means Real Simple Syndication, was simply an up-to-date news feed from blogs or websites.  I usually check my local news site along with a national site a couple times of day to get a quick look at what is going on.  Using a RSS reader, like Feedly, allows a person to save time browsing site to site and condenses it on one continuous feed.  I was surprise how easy it was to make categories and organize the information in a way that best fits the individual.  In my video, I discussed that RSS is and how it can be applied in the classroom.  I really wanted to figure out a way to integrate it into a high school social studies class.  So I thought back to assignments I thought were important in all my classes and how this technology could enhance that lesson, but also be appropriate for the age group and content.  Then it dawned on me!  What assignment needed to be updated daily from creditable sources?  Current Events.  I believed it is important for my students to stay in-tune with what is going on, not only on a local level, but also a national and international level.  Since you are able to categorize the groups easily, it can be used for all my content areas - history, government, economics and geography.  RSS is a tool that will provide information to my students in an organized area on their computers or phones.  This would be desirable because students will appreciate the efficiency provided with the constant feeds and their ability to subscribe to several news sites, like the New York Times or the BBC.

Although I do not feel like an expert in RSS and its uses, I was glad to research some of its possibilities and look forward to viewing other posts and videos for other ideas to integrate it into the classroom.

Elements of Educational Technology

After reading The Definition of Educational Technology by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), I now understand the complexity and extent of technology in our learning arenas.  I have been out of the classroom for almost six years since I have become a stay-at-home mom.  When I did teach, I was the go-to-person for technology since I was one of the few who integrated into their lessons.  Some of the teachers I worked with still loved their overhead projectors and did not want to release their grip and see what their computer had to offer.  Now that I have read the complex definitions of the thirteen different elements, I feel like that old teacher who is still holding on to PowerPoint and the glory it once was.  The difference is I want to let go and enter back into teaching with an understanding of the tools available to enhance my students.

I am thankful to say that the school I previously worked for is now working with iPads for both students and teachers to use as tools in the classroom.  I understand the need to be facilitators of technology, whether a history teacher or technology teacher, because it is the world we live in.  My family does not own an iPad, but my three year old daughter somehow understands how it works and how to access the camera and games on it.  I remember what I was in elementary school and we had special computer days where we would enter code into some tan box with a black screen and green type (I think if we did it right a smiley face made out of green Xs would appear).  Now toddlers are being exposed to technology that is growing at a faster rate than they are.  As a teacher and a mother, I want to understand the purpose of these technologies for my students and my children.

In conclusion, this article was eye-opening for me and I feel that I have a lot more to learn than I thought.  I am glad that I have enrolled in this master’s program not only for my future classroom, but to help other teachers understand the elements and their importance.  Hopefully along the way I will catch up with the fast-pace world and become part of it.  I look forward to reading the papers of my peers and see what they had to say about these elements and how they will use them in their classrooms.

Please see my link for a more in-depth look at Learning, Using, and Resources.

Click Here to access my Google Doc

Welcome!

Hi everyone!  I'm Lindsay Hoyt from Farmington, Michigan.  I was a social studies teacher for three years at Southfield Christian High School.  During that time I was the go to person for technology and actual began my EdTech masters at Lawrence Technological University.  I had my son in 2007 and decided to put my masters on hold until I was ready to go back to work.  I have a son name Seth who is 5 1/2 and a daughter named Jillian who is 3 1/2.  I've spent the last couple years in their preschool classes volunteering, but was fortunate enough to get an online teaching position with Global Christian School Online this past year teaching World History. 

I know that I am out of the tech loop since I've been out of the classroom.  I'm looking forward to Boise State's EdTech program to help catch me up in the world of technology.  I coach high school lacrosse and I know that technology is my girls' existence.  I want to understand what is available to me as an educator and use that to engage my students when I return to the classroom.  I look forward to getting to know my fellow classmates and hear what you all have to say about your schools.