Embedded Files
Overall Reflection
The past two modules in the Leading Edge Certification course have asked us to explore digital discussion tools and accessibility of digital content. As a result, I have been able to study tools like Flipgrid, Google Classroom (Ask a Question feature) and Padlet. I started a new Google Classroom with my students for reading discussions. I didn't want all our reflection questions to be mixed up with our major assignments in our primary Google Classroom. In Google Classroom, I can pose a question about a text that my students can respond to when they are ready. Once they submit an answer, they can read their classmates responses and comment/reply to them. They can also revise their responses if they get new ideas.
In this past module about accessibility, I have learned about the legal requirements surrounding accessibility of online content. I learned how to create captions and provide a transcript of my videos which will be helpful for my students. I am so that Google continues to incorporate more and more of these accessibility tools into their suite of products making it easier for us to ensure equal access.
CUE Community
I continue to be impressed by the talent and ideas of my IEC Cohort members. There has been some sharing of final projects for elective course works. I'm so glad that everyone feels so comfortable with sharing. I think sharing is the biggest personal hurdle this cohort has helped me get over. We make ourselves vulnerable when we share, but it is so essential to the learning and growing process. I have traditionally been hesitant to share due to the fear of my work not being perfect. I realize now that we have to share anyway. It doesn't always have to be perfect, or 100% finished. We are better teachers when we work together. Something we share might inspire another teacher to try something new. Or another teacher might have an idea to take our idea and make it even better.
There has been a lot of sharing in the Google + Community about Section 508 and digital content accessibility tools, as well as more Google tips and tricks.
Project Status
I continue working on my blog, Above the Line in Elementary. It has been fun thinking about the lessons and activities I have traditionally done and how I can tweak them to make the experience more meaningful for my students. Many teachers have been hesitant to implement technology because they feel they have to overhaul everything. My hope is that other teachers reading this blog will be inspired to think about transforming their classroom just one lesson at a time. I am on Spring Break this week, so I hope to spend some more time blogging.
My most recent posts are lesson redesigns; a Map project that goes with our Core Lit selection, By The Great Horn Spoon, using Google My Maps, and a Field Trip Reflection writing assignment redesign using Padlet and Google Docs.
Elective Status
I am enrolled in my second elective, TEC-982, Flipped Learning. I am looking forward to beginning the coursework. I am almost finished reading the required text: Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day. I look forward to learning more about this process and implementing more flipped learning opportunities for my students. One thing that struck me with my first read of the text was the power of shifting the use of the word "classroom" to "learning space." This simple change helps students understand that they come to learn and that they are responsible for making that happen.
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