As this is the last blog for my class I am noticing how far I have evolved.  From a novice techie who had never blogged, tweeted, posted or really understood any of the underpinnings of technology I have come a long way baby.  I never thought I would be able to accomplish any of the tasks, but I did, not with greatness, but with perseverance.  I know I’m a long way from proficient and even longer from mastering the intricacies of the EdTech field, but I really feel good about the progress.  


Ironically I found this quote today as I was playing around with my Motivation class and it really pertains to my motivation in this class as well;

"The famous basketball player Michael Jordan wrote the following about goal setting in his book, I Can’t Accept Not Trying:  Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence:

I approach everything step by step....I had always set short-term goals.  As I look back, each one of the steps or successes led to the next one.  When I got cut from the varsity team as a sophomore in high school, I learned something.  I knew I never wanted to feel that bad again....So I set a goal of becoming a starter on the varsity.  That’s what I focused on all summer.  When I worked on my game, that’s what I thought about.  When it happened, I set another goal, a reasonable, manageable goal that I could realistically achieve if I worked hard enough....I guess I approached it with the end in mind.  I knew exactly where I wanted to go, and I focused on getting there.  As I reached those goals, they built on one another.  I gained a little confidence every time I came through. 

...If [your goal is to become a doctor]...and you’re getting Cs in biology then the first thing you have to do is get Bs in biology and then As.  You have to perfect the first step and then move on to chemistry or physics.

Take those small steps.  Otherwise you’re opening yourself up to all kinds of frustration.  Where would your confidence come from if the only measure of success was becoming a doctor?  If you tried as hard as you could and didn’t become a doctor, would that mean your whole life was a failure?   Of course not. 


All those steps are like pieces of a puzzle.  They all come together to form a picture....Not everyone is going to be the greatest....But you can still be considered a success....Step by step, I cant see any other way of accomplishing anything." (Jordan, 1994)

That’s how this class was for me, I am taking technology step by step and as I put together this final blog and read the blogs of the other students in our class I realize I have learned more than I realized, have put the puzzle pieces together and I know I am moving closer to success and mastery of EdTech. 
 
References:
Jordan, M. (1994). I Can’t Accept Not Trying:  Michael Jordan on the Pursuit of Excellence. Retrieved
        from http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siegle/selfefficacy/Jordan.html

With great intentions I designed a storyboard and a Prezi, but my eyes were bigger than the Prezi.  I had to limit the activity working with Google Earth as the requirements for memory were greater than Prezi would allow.  There were some convoluted ways to create a video of Google Earth leaving space and arriving at your doorstep, but I think it would be time consuming and wouldn't be that beneficial.  perhaps in a year there will be a newer version.  
That said my Prezi is in its rough draft phase and I welcome comments and direction.  Remember this is a dream 6th grade Social Studies Class

Activity   Lets Go on a Journey  http://janeswikieme5050.wikispaces.com/
Objective: Learn about where you were born
Action: Find out where you were born, determine what you already know about this state, decide how you would leave Oviedo Florida and arrive at your destination, and then what you would learn using the class criteria.
Example Prezi: http://goo.gl/3Nj645

Learning Journal 5

In a dream I hope to work with students in the 6th grade teaching geography culture and maps 101 skills.  I enjoy map programs and envision a digital story telling project that would encompass their journey to a country using Google maps, a presentation device and their voice.  Objective: Learn about the world around them.  Action: They would choose a country, determine what they already know about this country, decide how they would leave Florida and arrive at the destination.  They would discover facts, pictures, current pop culture and write about the misconceptions they may have had when they first selected this country.  The culminating task will be to show what they have curated on a Prezi taking us through their journey.   Using a podcast program they will reflect and regale the class with this information in story format to mirror the Prezi.  Students will need access to recording devices, microphones, cameras, computers or iPads and software that will support imagery and audio storage. Students will learn to create a cohesive presentation using a myriad of software and hardware tools to show understanding and comprehension of maps, cultures and geography.  

Technology has really come along way.  In the early 80's I worked with a special unit whose mission was to design, build, test and field a machine that allowed photos from a spy plane be annotated and blown up and sent to our targeteers located in Saudi Arabia.  The machine had to be ruggedized, able to be dropped from 800 feet (with a parachute) and start operating as soon as it was plugged in.  The actual time for the image to go from Langley to Saudi had to be completed in mere minutes.  Image resolution had to be good enough for a pilot to be able to recognize a target while flying very very fast.

 Ok reality, we had the requirements from the field, we took it to many black world engineers and they designed a Tactical Digital Facsimile.  The requirements were loosely met, several issues had to be worked out, electricity was 110 not 220, transformers had to be developed to drop with the TDF, along with generators,communication dishes of course who can forget you need an Uninterruptible Power Source when ever you are traveling in another country.  The list went on from there, paper had to be designed to withstand the heat, parts had to be developed so an intelligence officer with no tech support could unplug and plug in to make the system operational.  We had over 40 contractors on the configuration management board who all had a piece of the pie. In less than six months we had fielded the fax and it worked!  Targets were identified, bombs were dropped and the requirements for a bigger, better, faster and more user friendly system were developed. 

Flash forward to 2014 - I have the future on my kitchen table.  The resolution, speed and cost so unbelievable that 30 years ago if someone had told me I would own a TDF, and would use it daily to send recipes, photos and documents over my phone line I would have smiled and said someday maybe.  Now is that someday.  Technology is moving so fast maybe that Teleportation requirement SpaceCom requested will be possible.  Never say never.

Over the past week Hagerty High School has experienced a principal’s worst nightmare.  News media outside the school suggested a story was brewing and it wasn’t about the amazing Hometown Football game that pitted two rival Oviedo teams against each other as they raised money and awareness to support a cure for childhood cancer.  No, another Hagerty teacher was accused of inappropriate relationships with a student. How is it that in today’s day and age a teacher in Seminole County thought it would be OK to text and send pictures to an underage student?  

Is it the fault of technology, are the powers of secrecy and clandestineness too powerful for human nature to resist.  Many parents in the car line are blaming the technology. Seriously, use of technology in this case is like blaming the gun in a shooting.  But maybe the cell phone/smart phone is now a device that needs oversight.  What are the rights of Freedom of Speech in this new tech world where teachers could abuse their students over technology? Should e-mails, texts and photos be subjected to review, so that the temptation is tempered by the idea that use of these devices can be monitored?  If parents supply a phone to a student, they should supervise how it is being used. Since we acknowledge some parents are not monitoring their children, how can a principal protect her staff and the students?  Is it acceptable to monitor technology while on campus?

Maybe the problem isn't the temptation to commit nefarious acts on these devices, but our culture that leads teachers and students to use text and emails so freely without concern about being caught.   Students discussing the situation are at a loss as to why the relationship between a student and a teacher is untenable.  Students did not understand why the teacher is in trouble. The student and the teacher had a relationship, everyone was happy.  Perhaps students are confused about the responsibilities of a teacher and how they are held to a higher standard?  Of course these are the same students who are developing their values as they watch movies alike Easy A, TV shows like Pretty Little Liars and literature that encourages relationships with your teacher as a rite of passage.  Are they right, have students who can be charged as adults in a crime, earned the right to engage in relationships with instructors?

In my humble opinion, teenagers, although young and impressionable, need to understand this behavior is illegal, and I understand the teacher is ultimately responsible for the abhorrent behavior, but maybe our culture is sending the wrong message in its media and entertainment.  Anti-bullying, drugs and drinking have all earned a place in the classroom, maybe its time to cover student teacher behavior, sexting and adult child relationships. Its time a line in the sand needs to be drawn.  Perhaps it is time that both students and teachers who use technology for a crime on school property be subjected to the same punishment as selling drugs on campus.  When students and adults use technology that could compromise an innocent victim the violator should be punished under the same rules as a drug dealer.  What happened at Hagerty High School? Last week’s blog discussed the innovative idea where students should have academic integrity, honor and integrity was emphasized and negative posters were replaced with positive student encouragements.  Bravo to the Hagerty administration and their staff.  Perhaps it’s time we reinforce the idea of personal integrity among the teachers and staff.  

 
In a school open house recently the principal of the High School said something intriguing; this year they were not going to pound into the students heads that cheating is wrong, plagiarism is wrong, and they are not going to remind students if you are caught or and you will be punished even if you try to cheat or accidentally cheat.  Instead she stated this negative approach was ineffective and degrading to the students in her school and this year another approach was going to be implemented.  Cheaters BEWARE signs were replaced with a new look.  Academic Integrity is going to be expected!  The students signed an Honor Code that included the following:

 Academic Integrity is following the Honor Code without being supervised or warned

Taking responsibility for learning by completing any and all assignments individually

Completing any and all assignments according to the expectations of each individual teacher

Ensuring honesty, transparency and accountability in all your student activities.

This attitude is encouraging students to do right instead of penalizing student when they do the wrong thing. It encourages the students to take responsibility for their learning experience.  Teachers in the classroom were skeptical at first, but when I asked them about the students’ attitudes toward plagiarism and copying they offered that they do a lot more collaborative work in their classrooms, and students working together apply peer pressure to prevent plagiarism.  Granted my daughters are in AP courses and are with teachers and peers that look at learning as a stepping stone to higher education, but overall the student population is succeeding in a positive approach toward cheating isn't what a successful student does.

Its interesting when I look at the Web as a conduit of information waiting to be picked and placed into whatever project I am working on.  There is so much information out on the Internet, coming up with original ideas is harrowing.  But when I have a great idea, and I Google it, and I see that many other brilliant minds have the same great idea I realize my thoughts were validated. I want the world to know I thought of that too, and I want the citation, copyright, acknowledgement to be part of my work to validate my thoughts.  By integrating technology into our research I believe it is important to acknowledge another’s work, and it should be heralded as WOW we agree. 

I am pleased by the direction this principal is taking.  I believe the students will look back someday when they are tempted by the easy road of plagiarism and will stop and think about the honor code, instead of wondering if they will get caught if they take the low road.  Respect and Trust  are integral  and will make  America great.  

This weeks readings have been very basic, and I thought I understood all the acronyms that were web related, but I found myself rereading the material several times.  I was lost; NET, HTTP, WAN, LAN, TCP/IP, WISP,ISP, RPG, VR and GIF are all examples of how the technical community closes itself off from the regular users of the Internet.  Where is the plain English version of the Internet community. I really believe when reading these acronyms the novice reader panics and is ostracized from this community.  I am reminded of the movie The Internship, where two novice net business men are thrown into the Google community.  They learned the lingo and survived, but that's Hollywood. RL, it is important to new users that are entering Internet world that these unique and strange acronyms are spelled out, described and the new user is incorporated into the community.

This brings me to how users of the Internet, the same users who see these tech acronyms and panic, overlook or are never taught the rules for Internet etiquette.  Example a new Girl Scout Leader sends an email to her new parents.  In all bold caps she lets them know the dues are due and don't be late to the Father Daughter Dance.  Innocuous when you read it like this, but when you see YOUR DUES ARE DUE MONDAY - DON'T BE LATE TO THE FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE your hackles rise and immediately there are problems.  So many adults and teens assume everyone knows all caps YELLS, and isn't appropriate for on-line discussions, but many new users are not aware of the social expectations of communication on the Internet. 

Bottom Line: When working with adults in a volunteer organization it is critical to oversea their initial foray into the groups blogs, Web Page posts, and Facebook discussions.  The Netiquette rules found in Teachers Discovering Computers (Gunter & Gunter, 2014) has a very good list of "Golden Rules" for the novice Internet user to abide by. In 2012 Kim Tranter of ULearnSociaMedia listed 10 Netiquette rules that include no gossiping and no spamming, and Barbara Stephens in her 2011 blog Netiquette Means Commenting Responsibly  gives great advice on how to react to improper discussions.  Its amazing how important it is for a volunteer organization to hold fast to these rules as many volunteers hold other jobs like Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and want everyone to come to their party.  Well you get the picture.  

As we move into a smaller world it is very important to remember what is welcome and enjoyed by Americans can be misconstrued and insulting in another country.  So as you blog, Facebook or text with students, adult volunteers or family review the golden rules, and take a step back and review your message before sending.   Take a moment and review your material and make sure it stands up to your organizations Netiquette standards.  

When looking at the next five years, and perhaps beyond, technology is going to stretch our students, teachers and school systems; some will snap back as technology rushes forward and declare its to difficult reverting to older technology, some will break because of poor foresight and planning, and some will find the sweet spot and be able to expand and contract with the flux and flow of new devices, software and support requirements. In two recent discussions, 14 things that are obsolete in 21st century schools by Ingvi Hrannar Ómarsson and Iowa’s YouTube video Iowa: Did You Know by Dr. Scott McLeod, the impact of technology in our educational environment is a major topic in most learning decision forums.  The formost questions asked in these discussions include; How important is technology? and What is the direction students, teachers and school districts need to meet the future? 

In Ómarsson’s blog he is a proponent of free access to technology devices, powerful wifi connections,  universal classrooms, healthy lifestyles incorporated into the school day, and he would like teachers and librarians to understand and embrace the technology movement.  In a utopian society this approach would be successful, but today our schools are dealing with so many issues of personal safety, homelessness, budgets, hunger.  Technology is the elephant in the room.  As the need for bigger, better, faster technology the decision makers are overwhemled.   Watching the Did You Know video clip  it was important to realize the education board of Iowa is not going to have the think tank of technology decision makers to take them from 40th in the nation to the top 10.  

Is there an answer? Maybe the designers of technology need to look at the impact they are creating and develop a smart way to implement technology in our schools.  Instead of every school system developing their own technology environment, maybe it is time for collaboration of our edtech teachers where they build a universal requirement for educational technology (hardware, networks, devices) and then look at specialized requirements that meet school districts special needs.  Instead of thousands of tech directors hidden in closets, as mentioned in Ómarsson’s blog, maybe it is time for a revolution of Edtech leaders to drive the requirements instead of the device company’s enticing and teasing the school boards and teachers with “latest, greatest, biggest, best” .   Both McLeod and Ómarsson are right something needs to be done, but maybe a different approach in how we build our requirements is a better approach.   

Ómarsson, I. (2014, February 26). 14 things that are obsolete in 21st century schools. Retrieved August 24, 2014, from http://ingvihrannar.com/14-things-that-are-obsolete-in-21st-century-schools/

McLeod, Scott. (2011, Aug. 4). Iowa: Did You Know? Retreived 28 August 2014 from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1JyLYphevc