Summary of Learning

Summary of Learning
        Concept Map

https://bubbl.us/?h=2b5066/57641a/28ToK6RPP4dn2&r=34820743

I tried out the concept map found at the link above for my summary of learning. I wanted to try something new for my last entry and I chose concept mapping because I think this would be an engaging way to have students work on this concept. The map was extremely easy to use. A student of any grade would be able to use this website to make a concept map. I used a basic version - what you get is what you see above. For a six dollar monthly fee - or a 59 dollar yearly charge - you can upgrade to download pictures, insert links, or upload content from your computer. While that would be fun - and something I think might be worth the charge depending on how often it was utilized in the classroom - I stuck with the basic format for this activity. I summarized all of the tools I used and learned about this semester. Of them all, I think that Voicethread was my favorite tool. I love interactive storytelling and appreciate that it can be utilized anywhere, that parents can be part of the process, and that it can be edited by multiple users at the same time. It was also very easy to use and included an audio function.

My biggest take away from this class is that for a teacher to utilize technology in the classroom she has to be willing to explore what is available, be creative and enterprising in the use of the technology, and create small goals for herself to keep moving forward with the integration of technology in her classroom. My plan for integrating technology is to identify the types of technology I am most comfortable introducing first that will benefit the learning process of my students. Since this type of technological integration is new to me I want to start small and make sure I have a good grasp of how the process will flow. I will pick one or two more types of technology to learn more about so that I can integrate those into my classroom the following year.

I plan to increase my PLN by continuing my blog, reading the blogs of other educators, and utilizing twitter to follow educators around the world. I had never given thought to using blogs or twitter before this class but now feel comfortable using blogs to record my learning and twitter to have discussions with other professionals.

I've really enjoyed exploring the different types of technology available and the ways teachers can utilize that tech to enhance their learning and teaching. I feel much more comfortable with several different types of media and am ready to use them in the classroom!