Personal Learning Environment Framework

Chatti has opened my eyes to a new style of learning: Personal. Prior to reading about this efficient learning resource, I had always recognized the importance of making learning personal. It is evident that the beauty of a classroom is the fact that every student is different; mirroring the philosophy, "diversity makes the world go round," the classroom environment is more successful when individuality is present. I believe it is essential to understand students as both individuals and groups; students will learn better when the teacher is aware of how their kids work independently and collaboratively. The idea of independent work must focus on building on students' strengths and interests. PLEF is a resource that does this.

Students' abilities involving and interests in the Internet are both facets that draw attention to the benefit of a PLEF. PLEF's must be authentic, controlled, and organized. What better feature is accessible to teachers in monitoring students' resources?! This is a key addition to the learning process. Students are able to combine their Internet knowledge and usage to classroom learning. Students have knowledge at their fingertips, in an ORGANIZED fashion, which allows an easier transition into the processes of analysis and reflection of work.
Personally, I find that this would be a positive addition to the classroom environment, and would allow students to expand their thinking beyond the resources of our room. Why not expand an environment to promote learning on all levels, especially if students are all different learners with varied needs.

Pop-Culture TAKING OVER Education?

I was researching how culture has come to influence education, yet what I came across was not what I originally imagined. As a high school teacher, I understand that the latest fads in fashion occupy the hallways, and "today's" lingo is replaced with Shakespeare's language. We all know that we need to "change with the times," in order to engage 21st century learners. Unfortunately, these changing times do not always positively affect WHAT students learn.

In school, it is essential that we teach students to become independent in order to achieve success in the real world. I find that I do this daily within my lesson plans, but what happens when they leave my classroom? I have each student for a mere 40 minutes in every day; yes, I believe my lessons click, but do they always stick? They leave my room and enter theirs: reality. The new "fad" in their reality, unfortunately, is reality TV. I fear that student's are leaving school and entering the mindless reality of this experience; they come in to school and roar over the "funniest thing that happened on Jersey Shore. How cool would it be if we could do that?"

Why I ask, is this cast of Jersey Shore taking over the teachers' role? Students are looking towards these idiots as role models, and we are being pushed to the side. I like to think that I am a teacher who reaches her students, but do these figures have more power over me? At the end of the day, students need to know what I teach them, not GymTanningLaundry. When did a search on the impacts of culture in education lead to a beach, drinking, and bad decisions?

 "Pop culture college | 7 habits of highly effective people, jersey shore edition." 2010, October 15. http://blog.earnmydegree.com/blog/2010/10/15/7-habits-highly-effective-people-jersey-shore-edition/

Welcome, Wiki, to Classroom K108

Engaging students in the 21st century must be done with technology. Students have grown up with the benefit of technology at their fingertips; they use it in all spheres of their lives: social, emotional, physical, and finally, educationally! Sure, we as teachers have the opportunity to bring students to computer labs to provide them with in-class instruction, but why not take advantage of the fact that technology can bring learning home; it extends the school day, connects the classroom to the living room. By providing students this opportunity to learn in the comfort of home, the teacher has already gained students' attention; in order to further engage students, using the common interest (between teacher and student) of the computer, we as teachers will invite our students to take part in learning within the environment in which they are most comfortable: home.

Although class blogs have stolen the reputation of the most effective learning tool in and out of the classroom, David Wetzel draws attention to the truth: "Wikis are more versatile than a class blog, because blogs are typically one way communication and Wikis are update by teachers and students." Wetzel's attempt is not to slander blogs, but to inform teachers, students, and parents that they can ALL take part in the learning process at once. A blog is an individual's thought, whereas a wiki encourages all individuals to become involved in the process. A teacher can continue a lesson in the classroom online, and even better, ALL students can comment! It extends the school day, and by a means which interests children. In Wetzel's own words: students can "save class work in personal Wiki folders...complete at home...and submit to teacher;" "can collaborate one work during and after school...group Wiki folders;" "student groups can edit each other's work as they complete a class project;" and most importantly what EVERY teacher wants in a group project "students are held accountable...because Wiki records who participated."

What isn't there to love about the invention of Wikis? It grabs the students' interests and holds the accountable for the work they put in. Welcome, Wiki, to Russo's classroom, K108! Everybody join in! I promise it will help :)

Wetzel, David. Using Wiki Technology to Engage Students. http://www.suite101.com/content/using-wiki-technology-to-engage-students-a69448. 2008, September 10.

Educational Security

Technology has become a strong source of connection in the communication and the classroom fields. It has opened the doors of people's lives; education has expanded from the classroom sphere to the home and beyond. The resource has allowed all Internet participants the access to these open doors, leaving many of the young population exposed and vulnerable. As educators, our desire is to use the Internet to further extend learning, yet with this comes the threat of unprotected students. It is not our wish to allow intruders to discover the "personal information, known as their thoughts and portions of the intellectual explorations that make up their life," rather to simply have the information at our fingertips to benefit learning.

Intrusion must stop, but how? Much like all other solutions, education. We as teachers, students, and communicators must spread the word to others that todays' learners are being given a disservice to their education. As we try to expand learning outside the classroom walls, others are damaging the move. Through educating the public, on the pitfalls of internet violators, we hope that awareness will bring a change and grant education the ability to transform and the security it needs.

Works Cited: Bill, "Have Fun Explaining This to Parents as Your School Transitions to Google Apps." September, 14 2010. FunnyMonkey.com.