Friday, March 16, 2012

Week 10 Reflection

With a sad heart I end my last week in this amazing course, yet without thinking of ending everything. Still, we will meet, discuss and chat, never say goodbye everybody. We will be friends forever, hopefully. Even this week while we end everything, I learn and learn. The Task: How are you integrating technology into your teaching? LoTI (Levels of Technology Integration): Digital Age Framework offers a way to evaluate how technology is being integrated into the classroom. This is learned about from this link:
(http://www.loticonnection.com/index.php/more/frameworks/20-loti-framework)

The idea of the survey appealed to me so much not only to evaluate my work in the classroom and how far I use technology, but from another perspective it added to me a lot of ideas that I can use in the future in my classroom. Actually, every question added something to me. The idea of how often I use digital tools and resources during the instructional day. Here you get to know some more digital tools that you might not be using. Participating in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology toward improving student learning. This might inspire me to think more about this participation.
I offer students learning activities that emphasize the use of digital tools and resources to solve "real-world" problems or issues. The idea if my students propose innovative ways to use our school's advanced digital tools (e.g., digital media authoring tools, graphics programs, probeware with GPS systems) and resources (e.g., publishing software, media production software, advanced web design software) to address challenges/issues affecting their local and global communities. Why don’t I use this and encourage them to do it. If I employ learner-centered strategies (e.g., communities of inquiry, learning stations/centers) to address the diverse needs of all students using developmentally-appropriate digital tools and resources. This inspired me to do it in my class. The idea if I model and facilitate the effective use of current and emerging digital tools and resources (e.g., streaming media, wikis, podcasting) to support teaching and learning in my classroom is also important as a reminder to make sure if  I do or not. If I use different digital media and formats (e.g, blogs, online newsletters, online lesson plans, podcasting, digital documents) to communicate information effectively to students, parents, and peers. Students in my classroom use the digital tools and resources to create web-based (e.g., web posters, student blogs or wikis, basic webpages) or multimedia presentations (e.g., PowerPoint) that showcase digitally their research (i.e., information gathering) on topics that I assign.Here are the rest of the questions that might inspire all of us to work and work for the good of our students all:
My students use the classroom digital tools and resources to engage in relevant, challenging, and self-directed learning experiences that address the content standards.
My students identify important real world issues or problems (e.g., environmental pollution, elections, health awareness), then use collaborative tools and human resources beyond the school building (e.g., partnerships with business professionals, community groups) to solve them.
I promote, monitor, and model the ethical use of digital information and technology in my classroom (e.g., appropriate citing of resources, respecting copyright permissions).
My students participate in collaborative projects (e.g., Jason Project, GlobalSchoolNet) involving face-to-face and/or virtual environments with students of other cultures that address current problems, issues, and/or themes.
I consider how my students will apply what they have learned in class to the world they live when planning instruction and assessment strategies.
My students collaborate with me in setting both group and individual academic goals that provide opportunities for them to direct their own learning aligned to the content standards.
My students and I use the digital tools and resources (e.g., interactive whiteboard, digital student response system, online tutorials) primarily to supplement the curriculum and reinforce specific content standards.
I prefer using standards-based instructional units and related student learning experiences recommended by colleagues that emphasize innovative thinking, student use of digital tools and resources, and student relevancy to the real world.
Our classroom's digital tools and resources are used exclusively for classroom management and professional communication (e.g., accessing the Internet, communicating with colleagues or parents, grading student work, and/or planning instructional activities).
The digital tools and resources in my classroom are used by me during the instructional day and not by my students.
I advocate for the use of different assistive technologies on my campus that are available to meet the diverse demands of special needs students.
I promote global awareness in my classroom by providing students with digital opportunities to collaborate with others of various cultures.
I engage students in learning activities that require them to analyze information, think creatively, make predictions, and/or draw conclusions using the digital tools (e.g., interactive whiteboard, digital student response system) and resources (e.g., Inspiration/Kidspiration, Excel, InspireData) available in my classroom.
My students model the "correct and careful" (e.g., ethical usage, proper digital etiquette, protecting their personal information) use of digital resources and are aware of the consequences regarding their misuse.
I use the digital tools and resources in my classroom to promote student creativity and innovative thinking (e.g., thinking outside the box, exploring multiple solutions).
I model for my students the safe and legal use of digital tools and resources while I am delivering content and/or reinforcing their understanding of pertinent concepts using multimedia resources (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote), web-based tools (e.g., Google Presentations), or an interactive whiteboard.
I seek outside help with designing student-centered performance assessments using the available digital tools and resources that involve students transferring what they have learned to a real world context.
I rely heavily on my students' questions and previous experiences when designing learning activities that address the content that I teach.
I assign web-based projects (e.g., web collaborations, WebQuests) to my students that emphasize complex thinking strategies (e.g., problem-solving, decision-making, experimental inquiry) aligned to the content standards.
I design and/or implement web-based projects (e.g., WebQuests, web collaborations) in my classroom that emphasize the higher levels of student cognition (e.g., analyzing, evaluating, creating).
I promote the effective use of digital tools and resources on my campus and within my professional community and actively develop the technology skills of others.
My students use all forms of the most advanced digital tools (e.g., digital media authoring tools, graphics programs, probeware with GPS systems, handheld devices) and resources (e.g., publishing software, media production software, advanced web design software) to pursue collaborative problem-solving opportunities surrounding issues of personal and/or social importance.
Problem-based learning occurs in my classroom because it allows students to use the classroom digital tools and resources for higher-order thinking (e.g., analyzing, evaluating, creating) and personal inquiry.
My students use digital tools and resources for research purposes (e.g., data collection, online questionnaires, Internet research) that require them to investigate an issue/problem, take a position, make decisions, and/or seek out a solution.
My students use the digital tools and resources in my classroom primarily to increase their content understanding (e.g., digital flipcharts, simulations) or to improve their basic math and literacy skills (e.g., online tutorials, content-specific software).
I provide multiple and varied formative and summative assessment opportunities that encourage students to "showcase" their content understanding in nontraditional ways.
I use different technology systems unique to my grade level or content area (e.g., online courseware, Moodle, WAN/LAN, interactive online curriculum tools) to support student success and innovation in class.
My students use the available digital tools and resources for (1) collaboration with others, (2) publishing, (3) communication, and (4) research to solve issues and problems of personal interest that address specific content standards.
My students apply their classroom content learning to real-world problems within the local or global community using the digital tools and resources at our disposal.
I hope this learning will not end, as I hope that our work and friendship will not end either.
I wish you all the best in life.
Hesham

Friday, March 9, 2012

Week 9 Reflection

Time passes very quickly. I still remember a few weeks before when I was just preparing myself for my first experience of an online course, then meeting very cooperative and kind instructors who made things so simple from the very beginning even before we start. They have worked as facilitators and guides throughout the whole course. Then meeting after that nice and helpful classmates that I feel as if we meet each other for real. I might feel sad that it comes to an end but I still hope that there will be more online courses with the same people again.
Thank you Jodi & Sherie. Thank you OREGON University. Thank you dear classmates. I have learned a lot from everything and everybody. I hope this friendship will last forever.
Even this week comes with a lot of lessons to learn and a lot of amazing ideas from the nice people here.
The idea of learning styles and  multiple intelligences these links are so useful.

Also the Additional Resources  about Learning styles

This is amazing.  Then at last the course evaluation where I cannot find words to describe how grateful I am to my Jodi & Sherie and everyone who gave me the chance to take that course. Thank you everybody.

Let me end by something I usually tell myself when I say goodbye to people dear  to my heart.

Even when you say goodbyes
with tears in the eyes
know that one day
somehow... someway
we will meet again
with tears of joy
in our eyes...!!!
Hesham

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Week 8 Reflection

This week was to put words into real action. I have learned about how to create my own stuff for my students and I am planning to teach them to create more online and offline activities so as to have a big data base that might be used at my school and shared among student and teachers all over the world maybe.
The idea of creating a Nicenet class for one of my courses and creating a class blog on Blogger as well as creating a class survey using Google docs and creating a class website or wiki on Google Sites. This is awesome as this way you put what you learned into action.
Making exercises online to print out with :
Tools for educators - word search, bingo, crossword puzzles, and board games: http://www.toolsforeducators.com/
Lanternfish - flash cards, bingo games, matching, multiple choice exercises to print out: http://bogglesworldesl.com/
Easy Test Maker (paper tests):http://www.easytestmaker.com/default.aspx
Make exercises to use online or offline on a computer or to print out
Hot Potatoes - download this program at http://hotpot.uvic.ca/ to use it on your computer.
See some interesting exercises at http://eolf.univ-fcomte.fr/index.php?page=technically-interesting-hot-potatoes-pages
Crossword Puzzle Games - create crosswords to save and use on a computer or print out: http://www.crosswordpuzzlegames.com/create.html
OH MY GOD! That's fantastic! This makes work easier and more interesting.
So many tools and ways to perfect your work as a PROFESSIONAL teacher, I feel like in a maze.