For this assignment, I selected a Microsoft PowerPoint slide show and recorded my audio over the different slides. By clicking the speaker icon at the bottom right side you will be able to hear the different recordings. As well, when going through the slideshow moving to the next slide will queue the audio. The text below is the script/written component of my assignment. Thank You for a great semester.
*** I will send out my slide show through an email on URCourses!!!!
Slide1: Introduction
Hello, my name is Andrew MacPhail and this is my PowerPoint Presentation for my final assignment in EDTC 300, Summary of Personal Learning. For this presentation I will summarize my learning throughout this course in the fields of core class concepts and themes, networking throughout the semester including Discord, Twitter, and blogging with comments on classmates’ work. As well I will summarize the experience and work throughout the semester when it comes to my learning project. This class and the readings and articles within it have shown me how beneficial technology can be, as well as the responsibility it brings with it.
Slide 2: Where I stood with Technology Before the Start of this Course
I have always been aware of the growing presence of technology in this world. In the process of going through school in my youth I was introduced to different forms of technology. In elementary school I did not use any technology until later years, including grades 5-8 where computers were made more accessible and they could be used to write out essays and assignments, falling into the substitution section of the SAMR model. In High School, there was a greater presence of online technology outside of Laptops and PC’s, including online forms of assessment such as Kahoot, Google Classroom and virtual group work. During this time a greater presence of social media among peers was becoming more common including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. For many social media was used as a platform for communication and there was no direct focus applied to Ribble’s nine elements of digital citizenship. Working through University I was introduced to blogging as a resource and how it can be used as a way to relay information and communicate with peers. The Pandemic has shown me that technology is a tool we need throughout our daily lives but it can lead to people’s thought process being transformed. As educators, we need to educate students in this field.
Slide 3: Core Class concepts and Themes
Starting within the first week I was already being introduced to new concepts and learning new lessons that I can apply as a future educator. The first is how online presence is establishing itself as a key factor when looking into chances of employment, as seen in the article “ Forget the Resume: Online Profiles the Tools of Young Job Seekers” and “ Five reasons why your online presence will replace your resume in 10 years”. Reading these articles caused me to think about my online presence and how up to this point I never focused on expanding it or adjusting it. Although throughout this course I have had the chance to expand my online presence through Twitter and my Edusites blog. After the class activity of researching ourselves I was able to find my blog with material for this course as well as my educational philosophies and field experience. ePortfolios allow you to be continually changing and adjusting it in order to encompass a larger branch of online tools, for example hyperlinks to other work and adding your social media; This could bring a new level of connection for peers and educators.
Slide 4: Core concepts continued
The concept of blogging was relatively new to me before the start of this class, although I did have experience within earlier ECS classes. At first I was overwhelmed by certain parts of blogging and needed to adjust to the different settings, but in time using blogs for our different assignments I realized all the benefits it brings with it, including the ability to directly reference other sources, add images, link YouTube videos and podcasts, and comment on my peers’ work. I would say this class has allowed me to learn blogging in detail and I look forward to using it in the future to enhance my digital literacy and fluency for educating others.
Slide 5: Core concepts continued
I selected Feedly as an RSS reader due to the easy to follow interface and the ability to subscribe to a wide variety of education related sources. This was a fantastic tool for me to learn from and use throughout the semester, both in my learning project and on Twitter. Each day I would be able to check my Twitter Account and see what my peers had the chance to share. As well, I was introduced to many new resources that can help me with current online platforms I use, such as Google Docs and Jamboard. Feedly allows the opportunity to learn about digital literacy and uphold the awareness of possible fake news.
Slide 6: Core concepts continued
Looking into the digital world and citizenship showed me that with benefits come drawbacks, including the concern of cyberbullying, blackmail, and sextoration. These are issues that will continue to remain with the presence of technology. As educators we need to teach digital dualism and cyber safety. Ribble’s elements are gaining awareness but incorporating these points into the SK curriculum will help educate our students to empower appropriate technology use. Taking technology into different branches of the curriculum and classes we can confirm interventions and a supporting community if issues arise.
Slide 7: Core Class Concepts continued
Moving to digital identity I had a chance to learn how much easier it can be to cyber sleuth someone and develop a sense into a person’s personal life. We see that impacts of this include “ The Price Shame” by Moncia Lewinsky and how younger students may make mistakes they are not fully aware of that can lead to impacts and transform a person’s life. This reaffirms the need to keep in mind different elements from Ribble. We must highlight to students that developing multiple online identities and learning the differences between them could be useful and ensure that they can control the split images of themselves between platforms. Another fundamental aspect of digital literacy involves making sure that I as an educator teach and display the proper information to students. Through learning in this course I was able to see the presence and growing concern of fake news and how students need to develop an understanding of critical literacy and consumption. The fact that reality may differ from a news source and can be tangled and modified for the gain of an external party must be understood as well.
Slide 8: Core Class Concepts Continued
The final key concept that I was introduced to was digital literacy and I was immediately overwhelmed by the scale of information that is produced into the digital world within a matter of minutes. Many of these platforms that are being built on are also being used by us and our students, for example Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube. It was shocking to learn how easily I could come across fake news but also how building a relationship within the classroom environment can help design and share our information.
Slide 9: Networking on Discord
Checking in on Discord each week allowed me to learn how technology can bring a community together and allow them to learn from one another. I had used it before the start of this class but was unaware of different core features. By working with peers I was able to learn about sending hyperlinks, photos, direct messages, and how easy it is to share different resources. I was introduced to a series of unique articles which complimented and were connected with different themes in class, such as the growth of memes and digital literacy.
Slide 10: Networking on Twitter
Twitter served as a great learning opportunity for me to find about other educators, resources, and experiences that occur across different schools. At first, Twitter was an overwhelming platform, although due to the easy to use interface and upholding the questions my peers had asked I am now able to efficiently Tweet, Like, share resources, and work on meeting other educators. Certain topics such as Saskedchat highlight very important points to me and gives me the chance to engage in that conversation could allow for students to have their voices enhanced.
Slide 11: Networking through commenting on classmates blogs
Interacting with peers on their different blogs allowed me to learn about a wide variety of perspectives and hear from others experiences. Through the use of links, articles, and videos shared for different classmates I was able to find new material to enhance the concepts discussed in class and further my understanding. The online platforms such as WordPress and Edusites allow for images to be easily uploaded which brings with it another level of immersion into reading various blogs. The concept of blogging brings with it confusion at first but I believe it can bring with it new experiences for students.
Slide 12: Summary of my learning project
This assignment served as a great opportunity for me to learn about a concept I did not picture returning to, this being cooking. When I started this project I barely engaged in cooking my own meals and usually found substitutes. Although, through the use of online resources such as YouTube, Tik-Tok, and Feedly I was able to find new perspectives to assist me throughout my journey. I was not aware of these different resources. Keeping in mind that many students have these resources could assist educators in allowing students to create their own assignments. I look forward to keeping these resources in mind when moving forward in my step of cooking.