Unit 7 Google Alerts: Personal Learning Environments

Three Pillars of Educational Technology: Learning Management Systems, Social Media, and Personal Learning Environments

http://teachonline.ca/tools-trends/how-use-technology-effectively/three-pillars-educational-technology/three-pillars-educational-technology-learning-management-systems-social-media

The article that is linked above was an interesting read about Learning Management Systems. The history and improvements of LMS is discussed. The different applications for classroom use are also examined. I found it interesting that LMS is being used during physical classrooms as well as virtual classrooms. I thought they would be only used virtually like we are doing now.

Dipping Your Toes into Personalized Learning

http://www.personalizelearning.com/2016/10/dipping-your-toes-into-personalized.html

This is a blog that is set up to help teachers set up and use Personalized Learning. I particularly found the chart that compares personalized learning and differential learning useful to help me know the difference. This blog is set up like a chat, and I bookmarked the site to use for later incase I have questions on how to implement personalized learning into my classroom.

Unit 6: Google Alerts Week 3

This week I was able to get a lot more information from the Google Alerts. Below is a short summary from a few sites that I found of interest.

http://uniliterate.com/2016/10/smart-smartphones-language-classroom/

“The smart way to use Smartphones in the language classroom.”

Discusses how to use Smartphones to enhance learning. One way is to use Skype to communicate with others. This could be used for various languages, and to practice speaking skills. A second way is by downloading one of the thousands if not millions of educational apps available to assist with learning the English language. A third way is for students to work on web quests and to do simple internet searches on a topic. By setting boundaries of acceptable use, the article discusses how the Smartphone can be of help in a classroom instead of a distraction.

http://www.eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-lesson-plans.html

A second website that I received an alert for that I found very interesting is called Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers. This website has free lesson plans. There are worksheets, songs, and other items that go with the lesson plan, but those require a membership. If this is a population of students that somebody teaches, then it might be worth it to get a subscription. The prices are not that bad. A one-year member ship is $29, two-year member ship is $48, and a three-year member ship is $59.

http://www.eslprintables.com/

ESL printables is a place where other ESL teachers share their resources for free. There are many different resources such as printables, PowerPoint, templates, smartboard files, and lesson plans. I loved how easily the search works. In order to download something, you have to contribute to the group first. It is updated all the time with new content to use in the classroom.

Unit 5 Personal Learning Community Google Alert Week 2

Once again I had a hard time getting any hits throughout the week from Google Alerts. I keep editing my alert to try and make sure that I can get a few more. Many of the alerts I received this week were ads. The one alert that I received that I found of interests is called "Learning Methods-Thinking Styles-Teaching Methods" http://www.basicknowledge101.com/subjects/learningstyles.html

This site discusses the optimal learning state for anyone to learn. Many times we, as educators, have been told about different learning styles, to try and reach out to as many different learning styles that we can, and to differentiate instruction. By using a personal learning environment reaching the different learning styles and levels of each child becomes more manageable.

Positive education: The one discussion on this page was about positive education. This was a term I did not hear before. This approach to schooling help to emphasize strengths of a child. Teachers create individual learning goals rather than trying to push children through in order to pass a standardized test. In my opinion, education is headed down a path that is making it harder to teach authentic skills that children need because of the strong push on standardized tests and funding that is attached to them.

This site gives hundreds of definitions and examples of educational terms that may be helpful for educators at any level. It is a site that I have bookmarked to use as a reference for my graduate work and my professional career.

Unit 4 Blog Post 1

ESL Alert

Throughout the week I was shocked to find that I did not receive any alerts for my google alert on creating personal learning experiences. I added another alert later in the week on ESL lesson planning. I did receive one alert for this search. The page that I read was on a blog by busy teachers.
http://busyteacher.org/16873-effective-lesson-planning-101-6-easy-steps.html
I was very impressed by the 6 easy steps that were listed for lesson planning, and I think that they are not only for ESL lesson planning, but it is good advice for all lesson plans. The author states to use 6 simple, short steps for lesson planning. The first step is an attention grabber. To help ESL students she suggests that the attention grabber has a visual component to it. The next part of the lesson plan should be to activate prior knowledge, then a short explanation part of a lesson plan should be conducted. Following that students should have a controlled practice, and then more practice with a little more freedom. To sum up a lesson plan a review and closure should happen. I think that this format is a great general plan for any lesson.