Animoto for Aninille

I really enjoyed putting my Animoto presentation together.  The aesthetics that the website provides makes creating slide shows fun with a very sophisticated end result.  Students can actually use this tool to feature important events, people, places, or concepts.  It is great for bringing out their creativity and it fits right into their niche in the world of technology.  Students at RHI love putting together films and this is one other option that they now can add to their tech. tool belt.  I can also see teachers being less intimidated with creating video slides which will allow them to present a variety of resources to students in order to make learning enjoyable and meaningful.

PLUS:
free accounts available
user friendly
templates are available for use
paid membership isn't too expensive

DELTA:
free accounts have many limitations (time limit on videos, some templates aren't available)
requires internet

Here are my Animoto: http://animoto.com/play/51TV1fYoI0oNGQP76rJseA
                                  http://animoto.com/play/1rmSsG5R2EOgsAYt6MIrsw

Here is my How to Animoto: http://goo.gl/nDFYZy

I'm Not Pimpressed

Although I see the many ways that Pinterest can be used for learning, for me, I don't yet see the big picture.  I spent more time finding things that were irrelevant and useless for the topic I was looking for.  It could be the topic, but to be honest, I wasted a lot of time weeding through all the other junk that were found after my initial search.  I can see Pinterest as a good way for people with hobbies, but right now, I don't see it being very useful for my classes.  Some of the suggestions this website can be used in education is for showing students great quotes or beginning a discussion.  Much of the advantages however have to do with getting the teacher organized rather than an effective tool for incorporating technology for students in English class.  I can see it more for students in Art or Science classes because there are more samples and creative ideas.

PLUS:

a lot of resources
user friendly (mostly)
easy to use
great for hobbies

DELTA:

too many resources that are not relevant
requires internet
needs consistency and optimism to work in the class

Here is my Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/antenille/ms-antenilles-satire-resources/

Here is my How to Pinterest: http://screencast.com/t/oTrgs4ciVl7

Charlie Chaplin's Speech in The Great Dictator

This is a MUST read. The movie was released in 1940, but how true it still is.


Charlie Chaplin final speech in The Great Dictator
I'm sorry but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black men, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each others' happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls; has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge as made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man; cries out for universal brotherhood; for the unity of us all.

Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say "Do not despair." The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men---machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have a love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural.

Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it’s written “the kingdom of God is within man”, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power.

Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill their promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.

Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite!


Here is the clip from the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcvjoWOwnn4

Wordle for Antenille

When I was first getting started with Wordle, the only purpose I can think of was to put in words or terms.  After reading the other suggestions, I was pleased to see that there are other ways that it can be used.  I am excited to try them out, like the one-word poetry suggestion.  I have to do some research on that.  This is a great way for students to filter out any unnecessary information and focus on the important information in unit lessons.  It is very easy and extreme fast to create.

PLUS
-VERY user friendly
-can be used with ALL ages, including 1st graders
-it is printable
-fun

DELTA
-requires Java
-requires internet
-users are not allowed to create their accounts and have a list of wordles they have created


Here is my Wordle:
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/7488623/Antenille%27s_2nd_Quarter_Focus_Vocabulary

Here's my How to Wordle: http://screencast.com/t/ltVqGgSTMg8k

ToonDoo is a Will-Do

A few years ago, I learned how to use comics in class through makebeliefscomix.com.  This was introduced to my by Ms. Leila Staffler.  I did use it in my classes several times and my students loved it.  Now, I am once again introduced to another alternative that my students can use.  The one major benefit I think this activity will give to our students is the ability to practice critical thinking.  They are able to use what they know and create their interpretation of it through these cartoons.  They will not know what hit them until it's too late and they have actually learned something!  It is very beneficial for those who visual and kinesthetic learners.

PLUS
-free account
-user friendly
-a lot of different options for characters, backgrounds, talk bubbles, etc.
-different templates to choose from
-fun
-share cartoons for free

DELTA
-with too many different options, students may feel overwhelmed or take too much time to do their cartoons
-requires internet connection

Here is my cartoon: http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/7072224

Here is my How to TooDoo: http://screencast.com/t/G4CmSNZgsmpg

Blendspace is the Best Place

1. Purpose and Use in the Classroom
I cannot believe I never knew about this site!  It is so unbelievably A W E S O M E!  Students have a myriad of resources to look at in order to better digest unit lessons.  This is so useful for English and I cannot imagine how much greater it will be for Math and Science.  It allows teachers to be more organized and gives students a focus.  It is one of the best ways to differentiate instruction by allowing students to see the same subject in different views.  I am committed to using this!

2. Advantages
Very user friendly
Autosaves
Options to see other lessons that other teachers have created
Different search engines are directly linked to Blendspace to make searching for resources so SIMPLE, not to mention a TIME SAVER
Different template options
Free Account that can like to Google (saves time with needing to create a new account)

3. Disadvantages
Requires a reliable internet connection to edit and access

I LOVE IT!

Here is my Blendspace lesson: http://blnds.co/1d0xDF5
Here is the my How to Blendspace screencast: http://screencast.com/t/SdBCV1TZKE

Workin' With Wikispaces

When I was first introduced to Wikispaces, it was in one of McRel's Professional Development sessions in 2010.  We were shown a video of the basic concept of wikis (you know, the one about getting ready for camping).  I thought it was a great tool to use in class, especially if a group is editing a paper or putting together a project.  My obstacles were arduous though.  Students did not have laptops yet.  The internet service at the school was very unreliable.  Teachers did not get an in depth training on how to integrate technology in the classroom.  Teachers did not how to manage the different products suggested.  I can go on and on.  For the few teachers who embraced the change, ideas waltzed in and out of their heads and in some cases, used them in class.  For the others who were resistant to the movement of "Technology in the Classroom," a form of amnesia apparently developed in their brains and forgot all about the training afterwards.  However, for the majority, the problem was that they wanted to integrate, but were hesitant, afraid, or too intimidated to do so.
I digress.  Jane Hill of McRel first made it possible for me to actually use Wikispaces in 2011 with the Striving Readers/ELL Cohort.  By getting my feet wet, I realized that it was not difficult to navigate.  It was easy to manage.  It was very useful.  I learned so many strategies, techniques, and gained new tools from other teachers throughout the CNMI.  The issue came in when the vision of the Wiki began to dim.  With everything else that teachers needed to do, they did not participate enough and as a result, it became idle.  The tool itself is awesome and builds integration and cooperation with students.  If consistency is not practiced enough, the effectiveness of the tool will be compromised.  In addition, without internet, it is impossible for it to be accessed.  I think Wiki is one of those things that needs to be approached with QFIC.

Here is my wikispaces page: http://mrssantosrhs.wikispaces.com/

Here is the screencast for the How to Wikispace: http://screencast.com/t/BBGp85PCzr

Sewing Knowledge with VoiceThread

When I heard the term "VoiceThread," I thought that I would be expecting an application that only allowed me to record my voice giving instructions or comments.  I did not expect that I would have to go through all the steps I did to create a presentation.  In the end, it was worth it.  I can definitely see myself using VoiceThread in my classes, especially in Distance Education.

PLUS

This tool is another great alternative for students to do presentations.  The best thing about it is that unlike Jing (which I love by the way), it allows for more audio recording time and even allows the commentator to record him-/herself while giving the comment.  It gives presenters and commentators the opportunity for more in depth discussion on a topic.

DELTA

A downside that I see with VoiceThread is again that it requires an internet connection.  In our school system, the internet is very unreliable.  In my experience, students who have created Prezis delay class time because of the fluctuating internet connection to load their presentations.  I anticipate the same happening with VoiceThread.


Click here for your "How to" on VoiceThread: http://goo.gl/K94V1t
Here is the link to my Voicethread: http://goo.gl/SjKGRz

Peelin' the Prezi

For years, Microsoft has dominated the world of digital presentations.  In 2010-11, students in the CNMI were included in the One Laptop per Child Initiative.  Microsoft Office is too costly for the school system to purchase for roughly 2,000 students (maybe more).  Instead, students were introduced to the free service by OpenOffice.  This program also provides students with word processing, spreadsheet, and even presentation software called OpenOffice Impress.  Although it is free, functions and variety is limited.  A new era has arrived in digital presentation.  Prezi makes Microsoft PowerPoint look almost feeble and outdated.  But that's just my opinion.

PLUS

In the world of digital natives, it is only natural that they be taught to use technology for good and that they be taught that technology is not just a tool for gossiping, bullying, and spying.  With Prezi, students will be given an additional tool to develop 21st Century Skills.  Even students (and teachers like myself) who do not have a creative bone in their bodies can create a presentation that glows with quality and innovation.  Prezi is easy to navigate and user-friendly.  Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate a different tool for creating presentations for their classes.

DELTA

There are a few issues with Prezi that the average PowerPoint user could get points for.  Unlike PowerPoint, once a Prezi theme is selected, font cannot be changed.  In addition, it requires internet access to view, edit, and publish.  Without internet, it is rendered idle, unfinished, and useless.

Please click on the link for information on how to create a Prezi: http://goo.gl/G1h8Rr
Please click on the link to view my Prezi: http://goo.gl/ZFdMSC

Life-long Learning

PLN vs. PLE

I needed to read the articles several times to fully grasp the concept of PLN and PLE.  Personal Learning Networks are the people that you would link your PLEs to.  They are the people that you will eventually learn from and may also teach as well.  Personal Learning Environment are the tools and extensions (Twitter, Evernote, Diigo, etc.) that we can connect to so that they can serve as supplementary materials in our quest for more knowledge.

Metaphor

PLN and PLE can be compared to several aspects of being a teacher (in the traditional sense).  PLN can be the students, parents, administrators, community members, and other teachers, the stakeholders.  They are the people who we link up with and learn from each other.  PLE could be all the materials I need to function as an effective teacher: classroom supplies, professional development, even access to the internet.

Within PLN & PLE

Some components found in PLN are the social networks used to access friends, for example, Twitter, Facebook, or Linked In.  It seems common-sense, but I should mention that in order to get to those friends, you have to be a member of these networks as well.  PLEs are tools in your vault that you have chosen so you can better function in your career.  Here are some examples:

• Diigo
• Evernote
• Blogger
• Google Dictionary
• Engrade

PLN & PLE Conclusion

Throughout the course I have been mentioning the fact that schools need to develop a technology-based Professional Learning Communty (PLC).  By creating PLN & PLE, this can be achieved.  Three years ago, a colleague of ours created a PLC this way, but after she left, we had no knowledge of how to continue and what she even did to establish the system.  By have the PLN, we can continue with communication anywhere and anytime.  Students too, can use this concept to post discussions, share tools, and expand learning.  This is a great way ensure that learning endures.

Web 2.0 and Beyond

Part One - A New Web Generation

I know for a fact (after reading information about Web 2.0) that if not for Web 2.0, I will not able to create this blog and post it up for people to see.  I would not be able to customize my blog, my email page, and even edit papers with other people in other places in real time.  That said, I am so glad that it was invented.  I have used features (unknowingly) of Web 2.0.  For example, two summers ago, our school's Title I Needs Assessment Team created our report through Google Docs and we edited our report together without having to write it on paper first, then type it, then edit it.  We were able to split the tasks and work on different parts of the paper without stressing out about needing to type it later.

Part Two - The Future Web Generation

Semantics is the order of words when we speak.  For example we would normally say "I am tired."  The change in semantics happens when the statement becomes Yoda-ized (I made up a new word just like Elvira...teeheehee) like this: "Tired, I am."  They both mean the same thing, but the latter emphasizes "tired" instead.  
The next world wide web in the making is Web 3.0 or Semantic Web.  With Web 2.0, the system cannot recognize telephone numbers and personal information.  Semantic Web is being designed so that it can easily recognize those things (including international phone numbers).  I suppose the whole motivation behind its creation is for a search engine to be more selective and objective when presenting its resources.
There are a few drawbacks that I see in this new development.  I am very weary about posting my personal information on the web for people to get access to.  Look how long it took me to be convinced that blogging is a good thing.  With all of the online predators, especially towards children, Web 3.0 will raise the risk of our young ones getting found and being harmed.  Another issue that I think would be detrimental is the whole notion of filtering information so that only certain ones appear.  There may be 30 million results that post, but that does not mean they are not being used.  The tail end of that 30 million may be a primary result for somebody else whose search key phrases are different from mine.  No piece of information is wasted.  Because I am a big fan of classic movies, many times I do not know the actor's names, I just type in what the movie was about and eventually I find what I am looking for.  With Web 3.0, it sounds like I have to be very specific with my search in order to get results.  I am not convinced yet.

Part Three - KickResume

KickResume is a Web 2.0 Application that helps people create their resumes online for free.  It is very easy to use and contains many all of the basic components of a resume.  You also have the option of adding sections to your resume.  When finished, the resume can be downloaded and saved as a PDF and you can log in anytime to make changes and updates.  This is perfect tool for students, especially in the high school level, students taking Cooperative Education and Training courses, and anyone preparing to get into the workforce.
Now, the downside.  After downloading your finished resume, it will be difficult to make changes because it is saved as a PDF.  Yes, you can add text over the PDF, but you cannot correct errors.  You would need to go online to make the corrections through your KickResume account.  That said, if the internet is down or you cannot find a connection, it will be very difficult to make those corrections.  Of course, in today's world you can go almost anywhere to get an internet connection, but you never know.  Another downside is that the website does not publish your resume to potential employers.  Actually this is both a good and bad thing.  You would have to print or email your resume when applying for jobs.

Digital Literacy - A Stakeholder Effort

Article: "Making Sense of Digital Literacy Education" by Ian Quillen (July 2, 2010)

Synopsis of the Article:
The article describes some actions that the Common Sense Media (CSM) organization took to create a curriculum on teaching digital literacy in schools.  After much research and observation on how young people bully each other on social networks, CSM's chief education and strategy officer, Linda Burch realized that the position of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. DOE is correct in saying that schools should teach digital literacy to all students.  Based on findings, a new curriculum was created by CSM: Digital Citizenship in a Connected Culture, which is composed of five units: Digital Life, Privacy and Digital Footprints, Self-Expression and Identity, Connected Culture, and Respecting Creative Work.  The curriculum follows New York's State Standards and is being aligned with the Common Core State Standards as well.

Things to Consider:
1.  Do you believe CNMI PSS should adopt the Digital Citizenship in a Connected Culture curriculum?  See http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum for more information.
2.  Do you teach (formally or informally) digital citizenship to your students?  How do you monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your teaching?
3.  Do you think that teaching digital literacy is the responsibility of teachers?  Please explain in 1 or 2 sentences.

Reflection:
Just recently I was reminded of something by my colleague, Elvira.  She attended an Anti-Bully session in Saipan and she shared something with me that made sense, one which I never actually sat to think about before.  Anger is a natural, human emotion, we should accept it.  Violence, on the other hand, is a learned behavior.  It should be controlled, prevented, and stopped.

After reading "Making Sense of Digital Literacy" by Ian Quillen (2010), I am reminded of what Elvira said.  Our behaviors are learned.  For many people, these lessons are taught at home by parents, guardians, and any relatives we look up to.  Quillen's article rests on the fact that students' behaviors online should be taught at school.  From my understanding, Quillen states that a school system is responsible for doing this.  I disagree.

A child's upbringing is a community effort.  A child's first classroom is in his/her home.  Parents are the first and foremost teachers who children learn from.  If parents teach their children manners, respect, courtesy, generosity, etc., then their acceptance to learning and practicing digital citizenship in school will be inevitable.  In contrast, if parents show their children rudeness, selfishness, hate, etc., then teaching digital citizenship will be like wading through molasses.  This is not to say that it is solely the parents' responsible to teach children.  In some case, parents do.  It is the influence of friends, other adults, in other words, community members, who may influence a child to go against their parents' teachings.  

Even with all of our efforts to educate students on the harmful effects of bullying and cyber-bullying, the problem is still here.  I just read an article about 12 and 14 year-old girls who are charged in the suicide of 12 year-old Rebecca Sedwick in Florida last week because she was cyber-bullied.  She died on September 10, 2013 and after investigating, the two girls were finally charged in October. See http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20745709,00.html.  After learning of Rebecca's death, the 14 year-old posted on her Facebook account that she knew she bullied Rebecca and that Rebecca killed herself, but she doesn't care (she used a more hateful expression though).  Interestingly (and disgustingly) enough, the 14 year-old's mother was arrested on Friday, October 18, 2013, for brutally beating two boys.  See http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/florida-mom-teen-accused-bullying-girl-committed-suicide-arrested-child-abuse-charges-authorities-article-1.1490366.  This, in a way, proves what I just mentioned about what parents do and teach influence their children.  

Yes, we as educators have the obligation to teach our students responsibility and citizenship when using technology, but in order for our students, our children, to grasp and appreciate digital literacy, the partnership of all stakeholders is necessary.

Antenille's Blog About Blogs

For years I have honestly wondered what the deal was about blogs.  For me, it was redundancy.  People on facebook create their statuses, discussion boards are created in courses, twitter allows others to see what you're doing.  This is TOO much!  
No one has ever given me an answer about blogs that I was satisfied with and besides, I didn't want anyone to know every single thing about what I was thinking, what I was doing, and what is going on in my life. Those things are reserved for important people in my life.  Today, I learned something new.  After watching the YouTube video on blogging, I now understand the value of blogs, especially in the classroom.  From my understanding, blogs or formally, web logs, are posts (allowed to be longer) that we publish that focuses on important events and movements, not necessarily from my life, but from my interests.  Newspapers are very selective about the articles they write and print, blogs make it possible for people from everywhere to communicate about everything, especially common interests.  I watched a documentary on Netflix (I forgot the title) about this "average Joe" Chinese man who blogged about the tyranny of China's communism.  He not only wrote about the discrimination and human rights violation of his people, he uploaded videos to support his claims.  The government tried to stop him.  He was invited to Germany as a guest panelist on their Blogger Conference, but was detained in China by the government.  His blogs made him famous.
"Being an expert is not talking about yourself," (Patel 2012).  This is exactly the reason why the Chinese blogger became famous.  He did not blog about his miseries, he blogged about his people's and with this, sought the assistance of world leaders.  He was recognized by many people from around the world for his noble deeds.  The end of the film shows him leading other bloggers into the movement of revealing to the rest of the world the suffering that their government is inflicting on its people.
I can definitely use blogging by connecting course topics to student thoughts, but that becomes tedious for them.  Instead, what I would really want to see happen at our school is to for the us teachers to begin blogging about strategies that work, what we're having issues with, and new information that may help our school run more effectively, etc.  I see the communication with teachers is very limited because of all the tasks we have to do.  By having a blog, we can all be actively connected to our school and each other as we are a team.  A setback of blogging could be grammar and punctuation issues.  Also, some teachers (like myself at first) may need convincing or training to use blogs.  I think the motivation and consistency might be problem as well.  With students, they may become too distracted with blogging.  It's a little daunting to think because if we are going to do this, each teacher as about 90 students all together and having to read and organize all blogger's posts will take up more time than is necessary or productive.  According to Backbencher 2013, three drawbacks of blogging are that everyone in the world could see your post which opens you up to much criticism and insult which leads to low self-confidence, and lastly, more pressure to post blogs if people are interested in what you write.  It may seem ridiculous for the latter to be a negative, but this will eventually take up more of your time.
I think blogging would be excellent in class, but I still need to research on how to make it effective.