Putting Learning Into Our Student's Hands...

In my last post, I tried to give you more insight into how Schoology works and some reviews from their page. Reading/hearing about another's experience with a program is very helpful, so I hope you took the time to see how it has worked in other districts and related it back to our own.

So, back to putting learning into the student's hands...Well, it is that easy with an LMS such as Schoology because they have created an app for smart phones and devices that can be downloaded for free! You've seen the students....they can't stand not checking their phones! With the creation of a Schoology app, students can get on to their login and access you class documents, grade, discussion boards, updates, etc. at the push of a button! There is no excuse for "not knowing" or "I didn't get it" because we have everything posted onto Schoology that we need our students to know. It is truly a win-win situation! Please visit Schoology's "mobile app" page to learn more! I just think we can't go wrong here!

With that said, I would like to share another story of a previous Moodle user and her experience with switching over to Schoology. Kay Solomon writes in her own blog and shares her travels through both programs. She felt that Moodle wasn't easy on the eyes and the amount of "steps" necessary to set things up was daunting, so she did some searching and found Schoology. She began using it with her classes and found it to be great. Kay writes, "The first thing students say when they see it is, 'It looks just like Facebook,' so the interface isn't unfamiliar to most students. But what's exciting is the capabilities for teachers." Her students reacted well to this change and felt at ease! Ours will too. She also shares a list of features she enjoys in this post on her blog....

• Create separate courses with the ability to copy assignments from one course to another with a click (not possible in Moodle)
• Generate course updates that automatically generates an email to each student registered for the course (no more, I didn’t know about the assignment excuse)
• Easily upload documents for student access (with much less effort than in Moodle)
• Assign papers/assignments using Dropbox feature so that students can upload their work (good if you don’t want stacks of paper on your desk)
• Easily create online quizzes and tests that can be easily copied from one course to another
• Set up gradebook, (again, where assignments/tests/papers can be copied from one course to another) where students can check their own grades when they want to (no more, Mrs. Solomon, what’s my grade?)

How GREAT would that last one be! We don't have to show students their grades, they can do it on their own right on their cell phone or iPod! Speaking of GREAT...did I mention, yet, that Schoology is set up to work with Google docs?! Talk about convenience. Not only are we affecting our students and their education, but we are making life easier for us as teachers! Again, win-win! And, if any of our teachers are currently using Moodle, they can easily transfer over. Solomon shares, "Oh, and if you're a Moodle user, you can import all of your Moodle courses to Schoology with just a click". 

I want to leave with one question..... Why not? Let's do this, change the way our students learn, interact, think and share. Let's make this change and begin to use a learning management system to be competitive, stay "up" with the current times and take advantage of these WONDERFUL, FREE programs just waiting for more educators and students to come use them :) 

Welcome!

It is safe to say that as educators, parents, and administrators, we want what is best for our students. We will strive for greatness, revolutionize lesson plans, and get our children involved; we won't stop until we feel they are getting the best education available. We have wonderful technology: computers, monitors, document cameras, but those are generally only used in the classroom by the teacher. But, what if students could collaborate and learn online while still in school? What if they could engage online with their classmates during the school day? What if teachers could create lessons that were set up to supplement a unit of study and watch students interact in a virtual world? As adults, this is something we know our students are great at and is something they enjoy. What if they had access to all materials, could chat with their classmates "after hours", could engage in a thoughtful discussion, could edit a google document that was shared with their group but was always accessible via a Learning Module System? What if, right? What if these learning platforms were free and easy to use? Enough with the "what if", because the new question is, "Why not?" This blog will be about how we should download and utilize a LMS called Schoology in the secondary level to co-exist with our in-class instruction and how we can eventually use it for hybrid-style learning.

A Learning Management System is an online community for students, teachers and even parents to collaborate with their classes. Educators can create classes to mirror those of their teaching-load and have yet another effective learning community, albeit online. We currently have access to Moodle, yet aren't fully trained, nor have a lot of staff taking advantage of this LMS, and I believe that is solely because they don't understand the benefits. Education will continue to change, and it will leave us behind if we don't take advantage of all that is offered. We want the best for students, right? We just can't stop in the classroom, we have to extend it and create a form of distance learning for students via a LMS.

I think its very important that we stay competitive as a high school, and many schools are converting over to using systems such as Schoology. We have had access to Moodle, but no one uses it,and in my opinion, Schoology would be more beneficial and user friendly. The above graphic shares some details about LMS systems, and I think it is good to note that studies said learning can happen 50% faster online than in a classroom. This makes me think, are we challenging our students? Are we reaching them in all ways possible? I also think it is important to note from this image some of elements a good LMS will have. One that I think would be crucial for us as educators would be the collaboration aspect. I don't think we reach our students enough as they reach each other and if we put ourselves in that e-world and "chat/collaborate " with them, I think we could see big changes in their learning! One more benefit to mention is the cost. This system is FREE to use!

Because times have changed drastically and our students are more in-tune with technology, it is our job to keep up with them. While the older generations see the phones, computers, devices, etc. as a nuisance, our students see them as a way of life, and they truly are good at using them. By incorporating a LMS into our classrooms and using them as a hybrid platform to our in-class lessons, we can ignite more excitement, open more doors for conversation/collaboration, have better communication with parents and "keep up" with them as they continue to take over the world with their "techy-ness".

In an article from The New York Times, Schools Go Into the 'Cloud' to Embrace the Popularity of Social Media , Sonia Jessup discusses the elements of social media and how they are being incorporated into these learning management systems. As someone who uses social media sites, this feature makes it quite easy to navigate and makes it feel "comfortable" to use. She writes, "Several start-up companies have begun offering cloud-based platforms that combine education and social media. Companies like Teamie, based in Singapore, provide software that lets teachers create, share and manage academic content, and also let students collaborate on assignments on platforms that are similar to the 'walls' used on Facebook". These kids are the future and this is what they use! Companies are creating these systems to cater to their technological talents, and by not using them, we are essentially taking away from them!

In this blog, I will write more about Schoology and how we can use it at Olivet, the ideas of social presence and how to incorporate it as much as possible, emerging pedagogies and supporting technologies, the implications of digital natives and digital immigrants, and more! Let's take our students and their education to the next level!

I should probably share a little bit about my background when it comes to online education. I am currently a grad student in CMU's Educational Technology program. I take back-to-back 8 week courses over 2 years and currently have only three more classes to go until I consider myself a "master" of ed. tech! The course I am currently in is called, "Distance Education", and I have been learning a lot about how to make online learning work in all different formats. This course has taught me how to create a unique learning environment in the online world, and I feel very confident that I can help our school implement and become everyday users of Schoology. I want to share all I can with my co-workers to continue our work as professionals and to better the education of our students! 

More about Schoology!

In my last post, I explained how some of us might feel like "digital immigrants", as Mark Prensky calls them, and how technology can seem foreign, but I encouraged giving it a shot, playing around on my Schoology class and seeing the ease and use of an LMS.

I think it is important that I share more about Schoology as it relates to us as teachers in the classroom. Schoology shares, on its site, some success stories, and I suggest you take a peek. This one, about Olentangy School District hits home, as it is a growing district and wants to continue being competitive in the school market. A quick quote from this case study..." Most teachers know how to use it without any training. Even the more complex functionality is intuitive. We do offer professional development but mostly teachers have logged in and started using it on their own." WE can do this! I also think you might enjoy reading some of the features included in Schoology (FOR FREE, REMEMBER!). Visit their Classroom Management page and see what it can do for us.

If you still aren't sold on Schoology, I ask that you view this Youtube video. These two teachers share their experiences with Schoology and what it has done for them as educators. Short post...I just want you to get a feel for this LMS!

Okay, We Have Schoology...Now what?

In my last post, I discussed some resources/technology tools that we can use via our LMS, Schoology and how they will benefit our instruction and students. Easy, right?

Am I making you crazy yet? Am I making it seem like it will be rainbows and butterflies and the easiest thing you've ever done to enhance your classroom and teaching? At this point, I hope I have at least swayed you to think that these free programs are very beneficial for our 21st century students and by using them in our classroom we will make ourselves more marketable as a district and a high school that is aiming to prepare students for the future, especially the college bound that will most likely use an LMS at that level. While I do think these programs are fairly easy to use and navigate, that doesn't mean it doesn't take practice and some instruction on how to make your hybrid-style classroom successful.

I would like you to look at a course that I have set up in Schoology for a week plan that would go along with my in-class instruction. To do, please visit my Schoology page. You will have to create a username and password to do so. You will also have to enter an access code to my classroom and I will have to accept you. This is a great safety feature that lets us make our classrooms accessible to only our students and parents. After you have done the first step, here is the access code for my section: 8DJWX-ZMWFH

When you eventually get access and begin to look around, I would like you to look at the set up, the organization, the ease with which students are able to navigate from day-to-day, the rubric system and assignment section with due dates, the discussion boards, etc. In creating this learning module, I found that it does take work and time, but it wasn't hard to do! I would love to see all of our staff in the high school use Schoology in their classrooms to go along with their in-class instruction, and to make those of you that might feel uncomfortable with it feel more comfortable, I would do several sessions during our PD days, after school and at lunch to ensure your success in using this program. 

While I know that I am newer to the staff and have only been out of college for three years, I do understand the hesitation some of you might have, and I think some of you would fall into the category of calling yourself a "digital immigrant". No, you're not foreign to the country, but you're foreign to some of the newer technology. Mark Prensky coined the terms "digital immigrant and digital native" as he saw fit for the population working with technology. He writes in his article, Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, 

"What should we call these 'new' students of today? Some refer to them as the N- for Net- Gen or D for  Digital, but the most useful designation I have found for them is Digital Natives. Our students today are all     "native speakers" of the digital language of computers, video games and the internet. So what does that make the rest of us? Those of us who were not born into the digital world but have, at some later point in our lives, become fascinated by and adopted many or most aspects of the new technology are, and always will be compared to them, Digital Immigrants" (p. 1-2). 

These terms are very fitting for the world we live in, and while I consider myself a digital native because I was born into this constant upgrading world of technology, I do understand the struggles of a digital immigrant because I have had issues with certain programs and just wanted to give up.  I think, those of that you haven't jumped on the technology bandwagon, or are currently living with a "digital accent" would enjoy reading Prensky's articles as he urges immigrants to dive in and embrace but know that you aren't alone. 

In an interview with SLATE, Prensky talks about another aspect he coins his "digital stupidity". He states, "My digital stupidity comes from ignoring the fact that there's so much online. If I need a train timetable or if I need tickets to something, I won't automatically assume I can do it online. I think the biggest one I would say, is not realizing all the powerful tools that I have with me at all times." This statement shows that we can all fall victim to digital stupidity, but with the right knowledge and understanding of some these tools, we can all use our, as Prensky states, "digital wisdom" too! 

So, after all that, it is my goal to help you through this process, and help you move on in your professional life to use what is provided for us in the digital world. Won't you just give it a try??

Learning Technologies For All To Use

 In my second post, I shared some direct information as to how we, at OHS, can incorporate and use Schoology as an LMS to create a hybrid-style learning experience for our students. So if we all download and use Schoology in Olivet, what else can we do for our students in a hybrid format to fully take advantage of all that is offered on the web? Well, hopefully reading this post will inform you a little more and give you some insight into some very easy and beneficial tools that we can incorporate!

There are several new ways of thinking about teaching and learning that have emerged in the online learning arena.  For instance, microlectures, badges, video communication, and challenge-based learning. One that I find fitting for my Spanish classes, and you might too, is video communication. Video communication is another way to interact with people that aren't in the same location as you are. The people trying to communicate over a video communication host, for example Skype, would both need a microphone and a web camera. Computers these days come equipped with both of these, making it very convenient for users to connect in real time via a computer. When users are connected, they are able to see and talk with the other person(s). With that said, users can also connect with more than one person via video communication, thus creating a group-like setting. There are several web tools that can be used for that, one that is very well received is Google Hangouts. From personal experience, Google Hangouts is really convenient and fun to use! Because our students all have Google accounts, we are already one step ahead of the game. Engaging our students via video communication opens new doors for them in wonderful ways. Culturally, they can be exposed to new experiences via video communication. Ways of life, speech, places, etc. are just a few of the new “things” our students could sit while sitting in Olivet, Mi. There is no greater opportunity for my Spanish-learning students to see the world from the confines of our city. I guarantee they would be fully engaged, excited and 100% a part of their learning because it is something outside of a textbook, something only available online, and something that gives a hybrid-style classroom benefits. 

Another learning technology is micro-lectures, and I think this is one that many of our teachers would enjoy using and many of our students would benefit from having. Instead of me writing about it, though, I am going to show you a..."micro-lecture about micro-lectures"! Fitting, if I do say so myself.... :) Watch and enjoy! Afterwards, I ask you to think about how we could use this at Olivet? How could you specifically use it in your content? (Videos for education by Dr. Alisa Cooper via Youtube)

Learning Management Systems and Their Benefits

In my "welcome" post, I shared some insight about Learning Management Systems...I like to think of it as a classroom in the virtual world that can be easily accessed by all students and their teachers 24/7. A place for collaboration, discussion, assignment descriptions and dropboxes, question and answers...the list goes on and on. At Olivet, we rely heavily on our in-class instruction to "get the job done" as we don't utilize Moodle, which is currently on our computers, or any other distance learning education site to enhance our student's experience. Moodle, another LMS, is something we have access to, yet only a few actually use it, if any. Why? Why aren't we taking advantage of this virtual learning tool for our students? We haven't been trained, shown the benefits, played around with it or seen it in action, so we stay away because what it really boils down to is just "more work". I fell into that category as an educator at Olivet High School. I gave it one chance, but got discouraged, had no training, except maybe a packet with the bare bones and just didn't want to do it. I didn't know what Moodle or an LMS could do for my students and my classroom if I implemented a hybrid-type learning experience because I never gave it a try and got frustrated....Good news! I now know the benefits of an LMS and suggest we get rid of Moodle and use another program. I am an advocate for using these resources in our classrooms and giving our students even more venues to learn in a hybrid-style classroom!!

My idea is simply this: We download and use Schoology in our classrooms. Our students get a login and have access to it at school-just in case they don't have internet at home. We set up a hybrid style course for our students where they still get their learning and instruction in the classroom, but they also collaborate and work/engage in Schoology. We, as the teachers, upload some of our assessments and assignments, begin and facilitate discussion forums, upload content and lets be honest- the amount of useful educational tools/sites/pages/pictures/everything on the internet is vast and needs to be incorporated more! This IS the future, technology is the future and our students...well they are the future!! After using it in my own online course via CMU, I feel very confident that our students will not only learn and engage while using Schoology, but they will enjoy it. They are SO knowledgeable with all things internet, so by incorporating an LMS, especially Schoology which is set up similar to Facebook, we are promoting learning in a style they know and love.

Students feel comfortable on the computer, and that is something very difficult for adults to grasp. We believe that our students shouldn't hide behind a computer screen, but the reality is that they do. They spend a lot of time on their devices. They use sites such as Twitter and Facebook for social networking to chat and interact with friends. They upload photos to Instagram and share more than we know online- the internet is their home, so incorporating an LMS will be easy for them.

One thing that you need not worry about is how this will affect your relationships with your students. We have it easy in our face-to-face classrooms because we can create and maintain relationships with our students. We can read body language, use eye contact and "read" each other more. At first thought, maintaining those relationships in an online format seems daunting, but building social presence in our hybrid-online classrooms is easier than you think. Social presence, according to Rourke, L., Anderson, T. Garrison, D. R., & Archer, W. is, "The ability of learners to project their personal characteristics into the community of inquiry, thereby presenting themselves as 'real people'." There are several ways that we as teachers can increase our social presence to assure our students feel connected. Little things like an opening discussion question describing yourself to the class and letting your students share about themselves, uploading pictures to give students an image-this can be extremely helpful if in a full online course. By being very open to questions and discussions, using emojis or smiley faces and being authentic in posts. Oliver Dreon posts about social presence in his article, Tips for Building Social Presence in Your Online Class. His 5 tips include, "Have your online students introduce themselves, introduce yourself to students, create a common area for off-topic discussion, use synchronous tools for office hours and don't be the center of every discussion." Does it take work, yes, a little, but the payoffs are great and our students deserve this!

There are several LMS out there, but I believe that Schoology would be the best for us and our current situation. I think it would best suit us as we begin to use it with out in-class teaching and eventually use it for hybrid-style learning/classroom. Verneshia Johnson shares a list of advantages to Schoology, in her article titled, Edmodo Vs. Schoology, Who Wears the Crown in k-12 Learning?. See the list below, but I encourage you to visit the link to that article as I think it shares a lot of high points into the world of online learning.
Schoology Advantages

• Attendance records
• Easier to delete accounts
• Ability to post comments/documents when providing feedback
• Time limit options
• Updates
• Templates for classes
• Google compatible: conference/edit with students and collaborative work
• Soft limitations
• Direct contact with teachers
• Teachers provide parent codes
• Album/galleries of pictures
• More parts - a bigger learning system
• Closer to BlackBoard used in colleges
• Blogging/class discussions
• Easier to add clubs and groups
• Whole school system set up
• Students see multiple classes/groups/messages in one place from multiple teachers
• Ability to create multiple courses and folders
• Structured, detailed, and organized
• More detailed option for creating student profile