Thursday, May 19, 2016

Thing 10: Final Learning Activity

I found this professional development to be helpful in someways, but also not as I expected, but mostly because I found that I had less time this year for my own professional development due to projects at work.  In the past I have had more time to devote to my own learning and this year my role as the library media specialist has grown with the implementation of Google Apps for Education in our district.  I was hoping to complete all 10 activities, and found I really struggled to complete only five.   This type of learning is second nature to me.  This is the way that I do most of my individual learning, whether it is to find out more about a new tool a teacher would like to use in the classroom or for any type of personal information I want to acquire.  That is why I thought this would be a good way to look at new tools and learn new things.  Unfortunately for me, time was not on my side.  

I did find the tools I chose to be worth looking into.  The photo activity taught me more about copyright, which I believe is important and students should be responsible for at the very least the basics.  I find teachers don't know much about it either and it is my job to help educate them.  I also want to incorporate more photography and photo use into my classes.  The personal learning activity has helped me to expand my network, although the challenge for me will be to organize all the messages and information I receive so it is manageable.   The last tool is one I will continue to research as I can see it becoming something my teachers will be clamoring to use.

I will definitely continue to use this type of learning as I am familiar and comfortable with the style.  My challenge will be to make time for this as opposed to just searching the calendar to find time.

DIY - Breakout Edu

I am always on the lookout for new and exciting things to present to the students and teachers in my school (and my daughter's school).  They don't always have to do with technology, but they do always have to do with new ways to learn and present materials.

This weekend at the Google Summit I will be presenting about the newest tool I have been researching this spring called a 'Breakout Box.'  This is new for me for a variety of reasons.  The first reason is it has been a long time since I have presented to a large adult audience.  While it is easy for me to get up in front of students and teach, presenting to peers seem to always be a different animal for me.  While my nerves may get the best of me inside, I won't let it show on the outside, and know once I get started I should be ok.  It will help to have a co-presenter as well. What is going to make this presentation easier is I am so excited about one of the tools I will be presenting.

The breakout box is the newest thing I've found to use in the classroom.  It's basically a mystery room in a box.  Where you use clues to solve mysteries (or in this case unlock locks.)  The benefits are many.  For the teacher this resource is able to be customized, used with any age group (including adults for PD), with any subject and with any number of students.  For the students it teaches them teamwork and collaboration, to think outside the box, higher order thinking skills, time management as well as other classroom benefits all while being fun.  I have even written my own breakout game which is the game I will use this weekend at the conference.

As they say 'here goes nothing!'