Week #3 Storify

I was super stressed out about making an ICT video for my students so instead I made one for the parents in my class to sign up for reminders about classroom events using Remind.  I used Screencast-o-Matic to create my ICT video on Remind.  It made it easy to create, upload, and share :)

Latest Storify- LMS Week #3
https://storify.com/annemariel82/learning-mangement
Remind "How To" on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFPRy8Tikbo

Week #2 Storify

Storify Response for Week #2 (I keep forgetting to upload to all of the spots!!!!!!)

https://storify.com/annemariel82/distance-learning

ED 722 Week #3 Reading/Video Response

As we scale up and refine the LMS built using free tools (G+, Drive, Communities, Twitter, Google Groups, etc.), how well does this LMS support you and your learning style? How could it be improved? Feel free to be critical as you post as this contributes to the evolution of such systems.

2015 should be known as the year of the acronym!  I feel like everywhere I look I see, ICT, LMS, MOOC, BYOB J, etc.  As I have said prior to starting my program at UNH I was hesitant about online learning but it has grown on me over the past few months.  My brain is bursting with information and sometimes a little overwhelmed but it’s all a learning process, it’s important for teachers to be students sometimes.

This LMS supports my learning style and me because I would like to think of myself as organized and I’m definitely a visual learner.  All of the coursework online has allowed me to see all of my online learning and allowed me to use the internet, etc. as a tool for my learning.

Both the videos and the reading by William and Sunnie Watson were able explain what Learning Management System can do for both learner and teacher.  For the most part LMS is easy implement.  Of course there will be a lot of trial and error but that helps everyone involved.  When Dropbox was first introduced in my school district many people were hesitant to try it, including myself but over time I saw what a huge help it was for me!  No longer was I remembering to save to my flash drive or email myself my latest version instead I was able to view documents and edit them on my either my school or home computer.  What a lifesaver!  As I started IT&DML I was unfamiliar with Google Drive or any G+ applications.  It has taken me some time but I think I get it.  I like how Google Drive automatically saves and you can easily share documents with others and have them edit or make comments right to the document.  I’m now trying to use Google Drive for more and more things, so far so good.

LMS also creates an open learning environment that allows everyone to be engaged.  Once everyone is engaged, learning can be blended together and then critically used.  LMS software easily makes tests easy for students to take and easier for the teacher to create and grade tests.  And who doesn’t love more “free” time!  Teachers can also upload all of the content needed for learning, anytime, anywhere, this saves time for the teacher and gives students immediate responses.  LMS gives teachers and learners the chance to interact in an online classroom and lets everyone do so at their own pace.

I really like how each week there are objectives and assignments that are listed for this course.  It makes it easier for me as a learner to see the expectations and it allows me to stay on track for what is do.  The Google+ community also allows me to find everything I need in one place.   I wish more of my classes presented things to me this way!

Week #1- Storify- Distance Learning

Just Realized I didn't post this Storify to Week #1 to my blog!  Sorry for the confusion!!!!

https://storify.com/annemariel82/distance-learning

Online Learning Theory Week #2

In the summer of 2003 I took an online class to fulfill my final general education credits for Philosophy.  It was the worst class I have EVER taken in my entire life.  Basically I needed to post summaries of what I read and then defend my thoughts, etc. to the professor who for some reason was constantly online and ready to question.  I didn't get much out of it and just waited for the six weeks to be over!  Needless to say my first online learning experience was a bust!  It was so awful that over ten years later it continued to haunt me and made me unsure about beginning the IT&DML program at UNH.  I'm still getting my feet wet with online learning but I'm trying to figure things out as I go.

As a Kindergarten teacher I worry about too much technology time for my students.  I don't want them to be staring at a screen all day everyday but I want to incorporate it into their learning as much as possible.  It's great that in my school district and my classroom students have access to various pieces of technology throughout the day.

We start off the day with some news from Scholastic News just to get the kids learning about the world on the smart board.  Then students have whole group phonics instruction with zero technology followed by a brain break on the smart board.  For those of you not familiar brain breaks are the best.  The kids get to follow an interactive video and DANCE!  It really gets things moving.  Then they sit again for whole group reading instruction.  I have found using the brain break in-between helps otherwise they are sitting on the rug for so long and they get bored.  After whole group reading students move to literacy workstations.  Students rotate through out four stations, small group reading with me, listening and responding to a story at listening center or on the iPad, hands on word work depending on what they are working on rhyming, beginning sounds, vowels, etc. and time on the computer or iPad researching on PebbleGo! or letter writing practice, etc.  Then we have 45 minute phonics block working on letters, letter sounds, and blending, letter writing practice can be done on the smart board but I have found using the white board is easier.  In the afternoon we have a math lesson on the smart board that is an interactive story.  This new program has been great for my students and they look forward to learning something new each day.  After the whole group math lesson we have math workstations similar to the literacy workstations.  Students rotate between two small group lessons with myself/co-teacher, hands on numeracy work based on the topic we are working on and time on the iPad working on number recognition, number writing practice, patterning, etc.  Finally at the end of the day we have flexible grouping which is an intervention/enrichment time.  Some students work on the computer or iPads but mostly it's working in a small group with a teacher or tutor.  I know my students are lucky to have so much technology but I don't want to give them too much.  They need to interact with people not a screen. 

Technology should be incorporated into learning not ALL of the learning.  As old or new as the theory for online learning may be it is an ever-changing puzzle that never has an exact fit.

Creating my storify for this week was fun because as I reading all of these images were popping into my head!

https://storify.com/annemariel82/theory-of-distance-learning

Introduction Week #1

My name is Anne Marie Lanning and I am in my ninth year of teaching and third year of teaching Kindergarten in East Hartford.  Before settling into Kindergarten I have taught first, second, and third grade in both Hartford and East Hartford.
Kindergarten is where my heart is!  Each and every day is a new adventure and for the most part enjoyable!  My class this year GREAT!  The kids are so excited to come in and just learn.  It's really exciting watch as we are half way through the year.
When I'm not busy with school work I am also the Union representative for my building and an active member of my teacher sorority that does outreach work to various childrens organizations and schools.
I earned my bachelors degree at University of Connecticut in Political Science and History and then I received my masters degree at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia in Elementary Education.  I am lucky enough to see my friends and family in Philadelphia a few times through out the year so that makes traveling a hobby of mine.  My parents are also snowbirds so I get to get enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures in February and April.  My countdown has already started since we have had all of the cold weather and snow and ice!  I am also a huge pop culture and TV fan!!!
I'm enjoying my time in the IT&DML program.  I have learned so much and looking forward to another semester of learning!