Journal 9

Reading Redefined for a Transmedia Universe

Lamb, Annette. "Reading Redefined for a Transmedia Universe." Leading & Learning. 39.3 (2011): 13-17. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. <http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november-2011.asp&xgt;.

In this article, “Reading Redefined for a Transmedia Universe” written by Annette Lamb explores how reading a book has changed over the years. A couple of years back a book was simply pages with text which told a story. But now with all the technology enhancements ebook have become very popular. E-books is a new way to read novels over devices for example a computer. Some e-books provide features that allows the reader to click on text or pictures that provide more information. I believe this can be a great source for young students to get them interested in reading.  Lamb explained that e-books can also be considered distracted for readers because of all the features. Technology is everywhere and e-books is another source that allows people to have easy access to be able to read a novel in an instant.

Question 1: Should students be able to read e-books?

In my opinion students should have the option to either read books through a online database paper book. I personally am a visual learner which having access to e-books can get me interested in books. When I was younger I had a hard time focusing on a books, I think having e-books students will understand the book better. Also, I think that because it has features to help understand the novel you will get more out of a book. When it comes to textbooks I think it can really help students in many ways as far as understand the material better.

Question 2: How is reading changing over the years using technology?

Reading has definitely changed over the years and e-books has become one of the most famous ones that everyone is using. One thing that I like about being able to read these books is that we are able to open them from anywhere from a smartphone to a computer.Technology is very important and when is used responsibly it can be one of the best sources out there. Having the ability to enjoy a book from your computer can save you time and money.

Journal #8

Journal #8 Adaptive Technology

Communication

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies assist people with severe communication disabilities to participate more fully in their social roles including interpersonal interaction and learning, education. People with severe speech problems rely on AAC to be able to express their thoughts, needs, and ideas.  

Low Tech Device

Low tech devices helps people with speech problems by providing symbols, colors, and pictures which they are able to click and touch to express themselves. In the classrooms being able to have easy access to these aids makes a huge difference when it comes to communicating with students with speech problems. 

High tech Device

This DV4 is considered a high tech device which helps communicators who have little or no speech with the tools necessary to unleash the power of their unique voices, and gives care team members the tools and resources to make it easy for augmented communicators to speak their minds.

 Accessibility

This is known as an alternative communication which allows users with mobility impaired to able to communicate using software and hardware. Most of the time these computers are touchscreen which mousses and keyboards are not needed. 

Hardware

Magic touch is a device that allows you to put a screen on top of a computer screen and it’s transformed into a touch screen. This tool is very helpful because people with speech problems are able to touch the screen and there is no keyboard and mouse needed.  
Software

QualiSPEAK Pro is an easy-to-use and fast communication application for every person who cannot speak or can speak with difficulty. Users will be able to verbally communicate by entering any text or selecting any speech Items which will be automatically read out loud. Users can create and manage categories where phrases or words, related to the subject of the category. This software allows saving any text and will make it easier on the person using it more efficiently with their personality.  

Journal 6

 Google+ The Complete Guide, by Ben Parr 

Parr, B. (2011, July 16). Google+: The complete guide. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2011/07/16/google-plus-guide/

Summary: Google+ has many great features that I believe teachers can use educational with their students. Parr describes that Google+ can be a little confusing for beginners and by him providing video clips it will make it easier to be able to navigate. The features that Google+ offers are Stream, sparks, Hangouts, huddle, circles, and photos which all will help organized our own Google+. With Google+ Google is looking towards many people getting one and being one the most popular social networks. Teacher should use Google+ but first they should provide students how it should be used responsibly. By students using a social network for educational purpose students will be more aware of how to avoid dangerous situations. 

Question 1: How do you believe teachers can educate students on how to use it responsibly? In my opinion teachers have the hardest job when it comes to educating students to do the right thing when using any sort of social network. I would first inform the students if used responsibly they will gain useful knowledge. Also, if teachers make their students sign up for any social network teachers should strictly only be used for educational purposed. Teachers should be involved in the network and if any bad behavior occurs she should immediately take action.

"Educators – Google Plus is for You," by Chris Brogan

  Brogan, C. (2011, Sept 30). Educators – Google Plus is for you. Retrieved from http://www.chrisbrogan.com/gpluseducators/

Summary: Brogan explains how Google+ offers a great feature that helps people separate their social and educational social network. Google+ offers class circles, which is a tool where it lets you choose who you want in each circle of friends. Also, you can invite friends to a whiteboard collaboration, which is a group of people that get together and are able to see each other face to face. Google+ can be used in many different ways and is unique because it offers many more features and people are able to connect with people that are interested in their same field. 

Question 2: How can video chats be educational? I think having the ability to video chat can be educational depending which circle of friends you are being connected with. I am a visual learner which being able to talk to my professor through a video chat would make me understand anything better. Although, I do not recommend teachers from K-12 to use it for educational purposes because parents can interpret it as unprofessional.

Journal 7

My Personal Learning Network

 A Personal Learning Network (PLN), is a way that people are  able to connect with PLN Educators around the world. PLN is a way that a group of people with the same interest are able to get information from other more experience teachers. This will help teachers progress in their educational field because of the resources they are able to gather. I myself created my own PLN that I know will help me when I become a teacher. I have been getting more involved with Diigo, Twitter, and “The PLN Educators” website. Having my own PLN will help me grow as a person and get connected with people that have my same interest.

 Twitter is a way to stay connected with friends, experts, celebrities and news. Although, I have to say that I now see Twitter as an educational network, because I am able to follow people that are interested in the same profession as I am. I chose to follow Tim St. John, Shelly Terrell, scichat, and Steven Anderson as well as my classmates. I joined a chat by #edchat on November first at 1 in the afternoon which provided many great resources on the different ways we can improve the educational field. I did not chat but I was trying to keep up with what the educators were collaborating during the chat. Being able to join chats will definitely improve our teaching skills or provide our students with many other ways education can be fun. Shelly Terrell the founder of #edchat is one of the best educational bloggers. Shelly provided information that is useful to any one in the educational fields. During the chat many people gathered to collaborate which useful information was provided as well as educational articles. 

Diigo is a social-bookmarking tool that allows the users to save anything that is in the internet as well as to be access from any computer. Diigo has many great features that will help user maintain their accounts organized. For example, it has a way to highlight any important information that you might want to have easy access as well as to put tags which are related to the information. I found an interesting lady by the name of Cyndi Danner which is a digital story teller which was what caught my attention. She loves technology which was why she focused on the different ways technology can be used in the educational field. I chose to follow her because she provides many important resources that will help me become a better teacher. I also bookmark a couple of important cites that describes why having a PLN is important and useful. 

The Educators PLN website is to provide useful and knowledgeable information that will help people in the educational field to connect. I joined both Classroom 2.0 and Educators PLN which both provide information about Personal Learning Network. I was able to focus on “The Educators PLN” which provides videos, chats, forums, blogs, leaderboards and many other resources which all help support the importance of being connected. I watched a video produced by Thomas Whitby which explains how important it is for teachers to teach their students about all the educational websites. It was an informative video regaring the importance of using educational sites and describing how students can benefit from being able to get information from more than one websites.