Participate 3.1.1 Access to the Digital Community Quest

Digital learning is becoming easier for students, but there are still some barriers. After analyzing several sources, the barriers that I determined were affecting connectivity were age, cost, education, service unavailable, and disabilities (because of the lack of accommodations).

I believe there are some steps we can take to increase accessibility.

1. Recognize Barriers to Problem Solve Solutions: Just being aware of problems is important to being able to problem solve solutions.

2. Spread the word of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI): This initiative has strategies, guidelines, resources to make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.

3. Screen websites for accessibility: Before using a website, as teachers we must screen them to make sure it meets all of our students’ needs.

4. Ensuring proper software is available: The WAI has developed ATAG which is primarily for developers of authoring tools, so that people with disabilities can create web content, and help authors create more accessible web content. 

5. Take advantage of government programs that provide low income accessibility. Connect Home is a platform for collaboration between local governments, public housing agencies, Internet service providers, philanthropic foundations, nonprofit organizations, and other relevant stakeholders that will produce local solutions for narrowing the digital divide. http://connecthome.hud.gov/

Sources

"National Broadband Map." National Telecommunications & Information Administration, 2016. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. <https://www.ntia.doc.gov/>.

"Introduction to Web Accessibility." Introduction to Web Accessibility. 2014. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

"Home Broadband 2015." Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech RSS. 2015. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

Link to Poster: https://www.canva.com/design/DABsJXxZJXY/NQwLdZ3WIRgq-u0VMkwF2g/view?&utm_content=DABsJXxZJXY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton

Participate 2.1.1 Collecting Reputable Digital Resources Quest

After completing a blog post that meets the requirements of this quest, submit the link to your post in the Submission Form at the bottom of this page.


During the walkabout, I collected many resources. I was previously using these resources to communicate, review, and enrich my students. It is nice to have a list to share with students and fellow teachers or to use in future assignments. I like having an organized list that is my own personal toolbox.

file:///C:/Users/siembieda/Downloads/GoogleBookmarks%20(1).html


One of my favorites was Read, Write, and Think. I found this particularly useful because it has technology tools for students to create products. When students are creating, they are being critical thinkers.


I also love Khan Academy. It is a nice place to both enrich and review. I find myself using it to review before I teach a lesson to the students. I recommend it to the students before a test.


Finally, I like Wikiversity. It is a wonderful place for students and teachers to research and find learning materials.



Just like the teachers, students need to be taught how to safely collect information. Many major universities have guidelines for choosing a source. If a student is a virtual learner, they need some tutorials in this. I found some fun ways to do this at http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic32.htm

It is a good idea to have the students practice finding reliable sources. In addition, having a checklist or rubric could be beneficial to the students as they become online learners. 

Participate 1.1.3 Ideal Digital Learning Community Quest

Participate 1.1.3 Ideal Digital Learning Community Quest

To bring an ideal learning community to fruition, a team would need to be built. The team could consist of technology developers, teachers, graphic designers, students, and parents. The DLC could consider the Governor's Office for Student Achievement's explanation of digital learning.

https://gosa.georgia.gov/what-digital-learning

Using the team's input, the DLC will make sure that it has a place that had high quality, engaging content that was interactive and allowed for differentiation. It also would be inviting, easy to use, and avoid any technological glitches. I love Edmodo, but think that the DLC has some technological programming problems that could be avoided. It allows for uploading of documents and pictures, but the process is arduous and could be simplified. This problem cannot be solved by me, but ensuring that programmers are addressing teacher and student concerns is essential. 

Here is my Animoto on some key features to an ideal DLC.

https://animoto.com/play/29BobVrOtqqOMb0rq6GKgQ

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Participate 1.1.2 Joining a Digital Learning Community Quest

Finding the Right DLC

After investigating Digital Learning Communities, I found many that I liked. I also realized that I was already a member of a few and was using these as classroom resources. I believe the most difficult part of finding the correct DLC is making sure it is reputable. To start off, I always consider the source. Have I heard of this DLC or the organization that has created it?  This also requires exploring the DLC. Additionally, I think about if the DLC meets the needs that I am looking for. 

DLC for Me

Once I have reviewed several DLCs, I bookmarked some using Google bookmarks. This was best for me because I am using blogger, and I like how all of the Google products link together nicely.

https://www.google.com/bookmarks/bookmarks.html?hl=en

I chose these DLC because they met my individual needs or my students. I found them easy to use and  places I could learn and find information.

Bookmarks

DLC; Collaborate; communicate; teacher; students; assignments; apps

Edmodo

educational website that takes the ideas of a social network and refines them and makes it appropriate for a classroom

DLC; learning projects; research; learning research; collaborative learning

Wikiversity

DLC; learning videos; tutorials; practice

Khan Academy 

Tutorials for a variety of subjects.

DLC; online courses; learning circles

P2PU

DLC; Online courses; movies; languages ebooks; textbook

Open Culture

Free cultural and educational media on the web

My Choice
 I chose to use Edmodo because my students and I can communicate though this DLC. I also have the option of uploading documents, giving quizzes, and sending apps.The interface is easy to use and gives the teacher control over posts. The students enjoy the opportunity to learn and share in this format. It is very similar to a social network site, so it is right on trend. 

A Digital Citizen must choice carefully considering priorities. When choosing Edmodo, I thought about my top 3 priorities. Is this a place where students can communicate, show respect and be safe? Edmodo has the tools for a teacher to use to ensure this. Just the fact that an email sends posts to the teachers allows me to monitor the online contact. I can also delete posts and share information with parents.

These options made it the right one for me!

Participate 1.1.1 Character Traits Quest

Learning today definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. As educators, parents, and community members it is our job to have rules that make our world a nice place to live. The virtual world offers wonderful resources that were unimaginable just a few years ago. I remember searching for teacher resources in the 1990s and finding about 3 items, but today the content is limitless. Unfortunately, it also be a playground for unkind behaviors. Teaching students to be digital citizens can steer students to all the advantages while avoiding the pitfalls. I believe the three most impressive character traits are communicating appropriately, using respect and most importantly remembering safety first.

1. Communicate appropriately.

When you cannot see facial expressions or body language, emails, posts, and blogs can be misinterpreted. Communication needs to be analyzed more carefully to make sure that the intended message is clear. The Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill gives some tips for writing an email, but I believe they could be applied in general when communicating virtually.

• Think about your message before you write it
• Reflect on the tone of your message.
• Strive for clarity and brevity in your writing.
• Format your message so that it is easy to read
• Proofread. (I laugh because I am the best proofreader after I click send!)

"Effective E-mail Communication." The Writing Center at UNCChapel Hill Effective Email Communication Comments. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

2. Respect.

This is can be anything from making sure posts are fair and true to respecting others digital property. Applying the respect rule to the virtual world needs to be taught and reinforced. Showing and teaching content respect is needed. Digital citizen has great resources on online plagiarism. Good parenting and teaching is having the conversation and dialogue about respect.

http://www.digitalcitizensalliance.org/cac/alliance/postdetail.aspx?Id=193



3. Safety First.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children identify risks that children face daily on the internet.

• Cyberbullying
• Exposure to inappropriate material
• Online predators
• Revealing too much personal information

It is important for children to be aware of these issues and follow rules and regulations to keep safe. Communication is the key to avoiding safety problems. Some basic tips they offer are the following: Keep the computer in a high-traffic area of your home.

•  Establish limits for which online sites children may visit and for how long.
•  Remember that Internet technology can be mobile, so make sure to monitor cell phones, gaming devices, and laptops.
• Surf the Internet with your children and let them show you what they like to do online.
• Know who is connecting with your children online and set rules for social networking, instant messaging, e-mailing, online gaming, and using webcams.
• Continually dialogue with your children about online safety.

Basic Internet Safety. http://www.netsmartz.org/InternetSafety. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.

Check Out My Slate: https://slate.adobe.com/cp/ru6LQ/

Create a Blog
Well, I set up my blog, and I am excited about starting something new, but I am scared of blogging. The fear of being judged by others is a big fear of mine.

I must say, the process of setting up the blog was very easy. It was nice that I could use my Google account.

I am excited about learning more! I think online learning is a great choice for many students. I look forward to learning best practices. Currently, I have a few accelerated students who do coursework online. The process intrigues me. So here I am!