Vokis, Jogs, and Modules...Oh My!

Within a week, things started getting real! After my fifth class out of six, I learned how I can be in charge now, how I can be an online teacher...do I truly have what it takes? Our class has read a series of articles that provided us insights into the world of online education. There were many qualities addressed, positive and negative aspects reviewed, and comments posted from those that are involved in this world already. I have once again drawn this conclusion...I can do this! I would love an opportunity to explore this world, learn more about it, and contribute to it as an online teacher. I feel that this world,in addition to my professionalism will be a fun, wild, frantic ride full of  ups and downs, but so is any job!! For this entry, I am going to talk about the highlights from the last week and how these will affect my teaching in the future!

Last week, I joined a colleague on Blackboard Collaborate, an online teaching tool where courses, lectures, and presentations can be conducted and students can join to participate. It went very well!! I felt confident in my abilities and look forward to interacting and hopefully using it more often. The worry I have is the ability to practice. I will keep playing around with my free 30 day trial, but after that, I am not sure how I will continue to use it unless my district adopts it into our school or if I work in a job that uses it as well. Either way, this was something new that I feel makes online teaching engaging and possible!!

Two new technology tools that I learned about were how to create a Voki and add favorite websites through Jog the Web. Apparently, the Voki has been around awhile, but you get to create an interactive avatar that can be posted, recorded with your own voice, designed, and added to any site you already use! Okay, have you checked out my avatar yet? PRESS PLAY! TOP RIGHT ON MY BLOG! :-) My two daughters gave it a try and were a little surprised to hear that the unicorn sounds awfully like their mom! I would love to have an avatar introduce them to my own website or have each of my students use an avatar to give them a creative voice on an assignment. I feel that it can be a creative way to bring out many shy students and give them a chance to share a comment about our current topic. They could even set up two and have them respond to a debate! The Voki with the most convincing comment wins! The other technology tool that I learned to use was called Jog the Web. Here is a link to check out my first trial run, Carrie's Jog the Web.This tool allows the owner to create pages and collections of important websites. I enjoyed this one immediately. I can see this being an easy thing to set up for my students when a collection of links and Internet resources are needed to be used. Students can go from one page to the other easily and quickly and see my comments about each site. I seem to say this several times, but I do mean it...I have enjoyed learning about these tools and can't wait to see them take a place in my lesson plans and help students thrive.

Now, another test stands in front of me...creating my own interactive course (lesson) for students in my class to interact and use. I am nervous, but confident in my ability  to complete this challenge. Already, I do feel ahead of the game because I will be working on this with my current Social Studies partner, and I would like to expand my use of Edmodo, a site I have used just this past school year. So, stay tuned, keep reading, press play on my Voki, and post any comments you have! Thank you!!

The Next Chapter: Synchronous Learning vs. Asynchronous Learning

Ahh, yes, this will be my future, just another seat with another little child who will probably be on her phone anyways. This fits well as I approach my latest blog entry. Our life is focused around technology! As I have begun the second half of my online teaching course, we focused on synchronous learning versus asynchronous learning as well as learning how to become an administrator on a community board such as Blackboard Collaborate. What a way to start the second half...many new things to learn, many new things to try, and figuring out the time to do it all!

Synchronous Learning has many benefits including the ability for students and teachers to participate simultaneously in the learning process, no matter the distance our students may be from each other. I must admit that I love this concept! There are many benefits including how it can reach out to so many people at the same time, provide immediate feedback, be highly motivating, and have a quick feeling of community (telepresence). Asynchronous Learning has its perks too including flexibility, more time to reflect or let the information process, and accessing homework and activities from home.  It can be cost effective (no pressure to have your computer/Internet working at that precise moment).

I love both ideas! Each side had features that I need and would be looking to use in my current position or what I would want to use if I become an online teacher. I know that I feel highly motivated and can tell my brain is engaged when I participate in my own synchronous learning through this class I am taking now.  However, I appreciate being able to breathe and slow down and let all the new information soak in when it involves asynchronous learning.

I will also be soon embarking on an adventure of becoming my own administrator to the Blackboard Collaborate. This will be completely new and nerve wracking to me, but I will open my arms up to the challenge. I loved being a participant, and it seemed easy to work around, and therefore, I will see what this new adventure brings! To be continued...