EEND 713 Course Reflection - Module 8

The journey to obtaining our Technology Specialist Endorsement began March of 2017.  As a cohort we have learned new and exciting platforms to implement with our students, we have learned about legalities, and we analyzed our own district and why the district has to follow particular regulations and restrictions.  To say the least it has been quite the journey, there have been moments where I just thought to stop.  I made the pay scale jump and was feeling burnt out with the other million responsibilities I have as a teacher, on top of life being a task all on its own.  I am happy that the majority of our cohort persevered and saw this entire course to completion. I have grown as an educator because of it, and really have brought a lot more current technology into the classroom.

This particular course we needed to focus on a Unit Plan and Genius Hour. Both projects were very different but very insightful and useful in its own right.  

I decided to design my Unit Plan off of a current unit I was teaching in Reading (Ready Gen).  I figured if I was going to design something, I might as well make it practical and useful.  The students at the time were learning about explorers and typically I would have just followed the Teachers Guide and the district's essential standards and skills.  However with the Unit Plan we needed to think of ways we could incorporate technology into the unit.  I am so happy I did.  Not ONLY did my students enjoy exploring FlipGrid but I was able to share this project with two other 5th grade classrooms in the building.  The kids loved being able to interact with other students in other rooms about the exact same thing they were learning in the classroom.  They made very thoughtful posts and took the time to respond to one another with equally thoughtful responses.  The current pedagogy of education is to create free and deep thinkers.  This activity definitely displayed that! I have the SPED and ESL cluster and I was SO PROUD of the insight they shared, and the responses they came up with, on their own without my assistance.  Collaborating across classrooms is definitely something I plan to continue to do. Especially because the students are GENUINELY engaged in the learning, and it is no longer a "sit and get", or "chalk and talk" (chalk? what's chalk?).  Moving forward, I hope to collaborate with my colleagues on how we can continue to implement cross classroom learning and utilizing online platforms effectively.

The second project that this course focused on was called Genius Hour.  This was a fantastic way to force everyone out of the monotonous life we easily get stuck living.  We are professionals that spend so much of our life outside of work, working, that we just keep moving along and forget about diving into new and exciting entities that we find interesting.  So for this project we were instructed to do so.  I chose Brazilian Jujitsu (BJJ).  While I have been boxing for 10 year, BJJ is a completely DIFFERENT martial art.  As I stated in earlier blogs, I always WANTED to try but was always too intimidated.  After being assigned this project, I figured it was a sign from the universe to step outside my comfort zone.  I could drone on and on about it, but if you are that interested in my journey just read Module 1-7 for the 713 Course.  I really hope that I can organize my instructional schedule this year to find some time to pilot Genius Hour with my students.  I think it is a great way for students to begin to explore their own interests and help pave the way into the people they eventually become later in life.  Obviously, due to the fact they are children and do not have limitless funds or freedom to do what they want, when they want, I can at least provide them an opportunity to research topics they are interested in. Not every child finds the debate about if Christopher Columbus was a hero or a villain interesting, just as some students could care less that plants make their own food, or some could care less about building an effective bridge.  This is something that allows a child or an adult an opportunity to really explore and investigate their own curiosities.  Helping foster a curious child, will only prove to be beneficial for the future of our society. So while I have a laundry list of "to-dos", I truly see the benefit in allowing this for our young learners. Create a passion for curiosity now, and who knows who they will grow to be?  Maybe the next NASA Astronaut, the next teacher, the next engineer that helps create a cleaner and safer environment for man kind....or maybe, they also become a Jujitsu Master one day :)

 

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 7

Workouts before rolling on the mat

Above is a link that shows you the other type of exercise you are required to do when warming up and getting ready to roll on the mats.  Which is where I am headed in about 30 minutes.  I wish I made the workouts look as glamorous and motivational as the chick in the video does.  I am more like a sweaty, grunting, dying, sloth trying to make it through 60 minutes of torture.

Through this process, I haven't really become any stronger than I am today.  Most likely because I have been conditioning for boxing for the past ten years, and unless I aim to start lifting weights... there won't be much change in my strength.  HOWEVER, what I have noticed over the past couple of weeks that my flexibility and agility have definitely increased.  Before, I could barely touch my toes.  I am one of those "athletes" that shows up, works out, does their thing, and then leaves without stretching. 

In BJJ you need to stretch, and even if you do not, half of the warm ups force you to stretch, and then when grappling on the mat you are DEFINITELY forced to stretch your body in ways you aren't always used to.

This has been such a wonderful experience thus far.  My coach wants me to join the camp, that will inevitably train me for competitions.  I am not sure I am quite there yet, and even if I was, I don't have the time to commit to the sport right now.  Not enough that I'd need if I was entering a comp, and I won't enter a competition unless I know there is a good chance I will win.  I don't need to win, but I need to know that I am prepared enough...and currently, I most certainly am not.  Stay tuned friends, as time unravels, and I am gifted the opportunity, I will move forward...but that is until further notice :)

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 6

"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay it's price" - Sun Tzu

I have been attempting both gi and no gi in jiu jitsu these past few weeks.  One would think that natural evolution would occur and that I would become better at the sport... and while yes, I have... Not to the speed I had anticipated.

I have been able to submit mildly more than I did a few weeks ago but I am still tapping out more than I am able to tap others out.  It has been frustrating to say the least.  Especially because athletically, I haven't really had many challenges (unless it is swimming lol).  I have showed up not training a day, and run a marathon in 4.5 hours.  I have done 13 mile mud runs without training for it either.  I am a firm believer that the largest challenge is in your head, and no matter how in shape or out of shape I am, my mental prowess always prevails.

Jiu Jitsu has been humbling to say the least, but humbling in a good way.  While I have "gotten better", I am a far cry from being anything close to proficient in the sport.  My coaches have been nothing but encouraging and remind me that it takes YEARS to truly master the sport.

Regardless to my current trials and tribulations, it has definitely been a journey worth embracing, and if I ever have children, especially a daughter, I am having her start BJJ as soon as she can walk.  Her mother may not have it in her to master the sport, but my daughter sure will... and it will make me more comfortable about her safety if I know she can tap someone out in 15 seconds!

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 5

Well, the gi came in the mail the other day.  Holy moly those things are expensive! Thank goodness my coach is sponsored by so many different MMA and UFC academies, that he gets promotional codes and discounts on our gis. He saved us all $25!

Not to mention it is like wearing a furnace when you are working out. Just standing and doing nothing I sweat.

The warm ups and drills in gi, are just as brutal as the warm ups and drills in no-gi Jiu Jitsu (JJ). The difference are the rules in no gi vs gi JJ.  With a gi on, you are able to grab your opponents clothing and use that to choke them out or get them in submission or tap out.  It is actually more complicated than it sounds because if you do not have grip or forearm strength it is pretty difficult to hold onto the gi tight enough.

I am not very good at JJ, but that is to be expected, as it take decades to perfect... if ever.
However, I have gotten better. I had my first submission, and I was able to block a girl from getting me into her guard and prevent her from mounting (aka I win).  That was only two blips on the radar though, the remaining time I was definitely the one submitted and tapping out lol.   I also recognized I tap out much sooner than I should because of year I will get injured.

I already had a broken rib and black eye this summer from boxing, I am not ready for another injury that makes me sit out of exercise for weeks.

I have also noticed, I take the defensive when a match starts and we need to grapple.  I am not good at take down (getting someone from standing position to laying down).  I am also not good at being on the offensive.  I wait for my opponent to come to me before I respond.
Learning how to flip people has been so fun! It is amazing how the body works, and how certain positions can truly render people harmless.  Men that are twice my size I can learn how to submit.

This is certainly a GREAT martial art that teaches women self-defense. I highly recommend it!

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 4

"What I have learned from Jiu-Jitsu, is that in order to be successful, you must deal with the hardships of failure. Only then, can you learn how to win." - JT Torres

Yesterday, I gave my first attempt on the mats, no gi (I have to wait for the gi to come in the mail)....

HOLY HUMBLING WORKOUT.  As I stated before, I have been boxing for ten years now.  I began in South Korea in 2008. 

I have run marathons, competed in triathlons, done Spartan races, trained with elite athletes, and have been pushed SO MANY times to the point of tears of frustration.  I have climbed ropes and learned out to lift heavy weights and run while dragging a grown man behind me on a sled...  With all that being said, I never thought the experience I had in Jiu-Jitsu would be THIS exhausting!!

I went last night, and today, I have muscles SCREAMING at me that I did not even know existed. 

I walked into UFC Gym, a gym I have belonged to for years.  I looked at Alex and instantly my heart started racing and my palms became sweaty.  I told him, "Alex, I don't think I am ready, I think I am just going to go box."  He calmly and simply stated "no".

At this time I gave myself an eternal "pep-talk" and reminded myself that I am committing my Genius Hour and this is the moment I need to just throw myself in.

The majority of the class, is warm up drills, and then practice with partners, and only at the very end do we "live roll" on the mats.  Live rolls only last about 15 minutes, which you would think is nothing, but when you are putting your entire body and energy into defending yourself and/or attempting to tap someone out, you would be AMAZED by the amount of strength and energy it takes.

I could bore my readers with a step-by-step play and rattle on, but I will spare you the details (thank you for even making it this far).  I tried, and it was incredibly hard.  I haven't felt insecure about a sport in a long time, and this DEFINITELY humbled me. 

Some of the basic moves I learned were:
* Shrimping
* Gripping
* Escaping Side Mount
* Scissor Sweep
* Straight Armbar

All-in-all, I was able to defend myself, but certainly had more "taps" than successes... We shall see what the next roll on the mat brings me. FINGERS CROSSED (seriously).

Click here to see how to get into the arm bar

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 3

"If you want to be a lion, you must train with lions"

Meet my new Jiu Jitsu Coach: Alex Seaver (pictured in the white gi)

Alex and his wife have been doing Jujitsu for ten years, and have been competing in professional tournaments for years.  Both coaches are extremely disciplined trainers that have been trained by official Jujitsu Academies.  They both currently train people at UFC Gym in Oak Lawn.  

As mentioned before, I have been boxing since 2008 in South Korea.  However, I have been entirely too intimidated to try my luck on the mats grappling. Jujitsu is a martial art that takes decades to perfect. 

What is Jiu Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial that focuses on controlling a resisting opponent in ways that force him or her to submit ("tap-out").  Control is easier on the ground than in a standing position, so a lot of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu centers on ground skills.  The objective is to take your opponent down to the group and wrestle for dominant control positions where you can render your opponent harmless.

There are two forms that BJJ can be practiced on the mat.  One with a gi and one without a gi.  Gi is grappling with a use of a traditional Gi (similar clothing to what people wear in karate).  No Gi is grappling without the traditional uniform, instead you wear shorts and a rash gard.  In NO Gi you CANNOT grab your opponent's clothing. To be a completely rounded and disciplined BJJ competitor, you should train in both.

My plan is to attend the BJJ class at 7:45pm this upcoming Tuesday for the beginners class of BJJ No Gi.  I will keep everyone posted with my progress!

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 2

"Discipline and consistency.  I owe these two factors all have attained in my life.  Things have never happened overnight.  Results have appeared as a consequence of decades long toil.  It is necessary to persist."  - Master Carlos Gracie Jr.

Initially I was going to look into Local Politics for my Genius Hour Project, however, after reading other people's posts. It inspired me to chance m mind on what I wanted to dedicate my time to learning.

I have been boxing since 2008 when I lived in South Korea.  I remember wanting to die for months because the workouts were so intense. Not to mention, I felt like I was chasing the men around in the ring because I could never land a hit.  I was one of two females at this particular boxing gym.  My coach was a Golden Glove Champion for South Korea.  I remember how intimidated I felt when I first started boxing, but now ten years later, if I don't get an opportunity during the week... it depresses me.

ANYHOW, currently I box at UFC gym in Oaklawn.  I catch myself peeking over to the men and women grappling on the mat and always want to try but I am so nervous to try.  I am also slightly embarrassed because I know I'll get my butt beat.  Jiu Jitsu is not an art for the faint of heart.  However, I know my best accomplishes and biggest growth always comes from dancing outside my comfort zone.  So starting next week, I am going to see how well I do or don't do at Jiu Jitsu.  I know this will only help me with self defense skills!  I have mixed emotions of excitement and pure terror.

What is JiuJitsu? --Click here and watch

EEND 713 Genius Hour - Module 1

For this particular assignment, we are supposed to explore a Genius Hour Project of own own interests.  This process is intended for us to understand why students would enjoy a project they are interested in and how to organize their Interest Projects.

For this particular Genius Hour, I would like to learn more about local politics.  It has always been something that I am interested in but have not had the initiative to explore other avenues, or necessarily the time to commit to understanding my own local politics deeper.  I think it is my civic duty to be knowledgeable in politics, nationally and globally.  However, it is also important to understand how the villages and towns we live in operate as well.  I believe often time because so many adults have hectic and busy lives, there is not enough of time to dedicate to personal interest or passions.

I plan is to first find out who my local elected officials are and when village meetings are conducted.  What topics does my village have interest in? What are my neighbors concerned about? What are my neighbors angry about? Why are they angry? Are they pleased with our current officials?

The village I live in is a relatively small community, with plenty of opportunity to vent on social media platforms. I just have not seen a very politically active side in my town, and would like to know why and/or understand more.

I brainstormed some ideas and what I needed to do to begin my research.  I have attached a few notes wrote that helped me organize my thoughts and get my research started.

EEND 713 Introduction

Hi!
My name is Sheila Daly, I teach 5th Grade ESL at Roosevelt Elementary.  I taught three years in South Korea for the South Korean Government. I volunteered as a teacher in India for about three weeks, and I have traveled about twenty countries in my lifetime (I intend my list to keep growing). South Korea was an incredible experience and if I did not have family in Illinois, I would have returned to SK a long time ago. I am currently finishing my fifth year in Cicero, IL, and have overall been very pleased with my experience working in this very unique subculture. This past June, I began an additional cohort with Aurora University obtaining my Masters in Educational Leadership (principal endorsement). I can say with confidence that these classes have really helped me transfer valuable knowledge and experience into my new cohort...especially the Technology and Leadership class I took over the summer :-)

My current “comfort level” with technology has definitely gotten better throughout the St. Francis courses. I have been equipped with new knowledge, platforms, and policies. It has really helped me provide quicker feedback to my students that helps them apply new skills taught and learned. These courses have also helped me become more aware of policy and law that I was unaware of previously.

I have been taking these course outside my “comfort zone” since March 2017, and finally towards the end of the road, entering a new class does not provide me crippling anxiety.
This will be a bittersweet end to this journey with my cohort. I have had the pleasure of working with INCREDIBLE professionals who really have a genuine passion for teaching. Additionally, I believe we have all been blessed with quality instructors provided to us by St. Francis. The University definitely did not disappoint.

💙💚💛

EEND 681: Implications of CIPA, FERPA, and Parent Coffee Presentation (Reflection)

What I appreciated about this particular course was the review of laws like FERPA and CIPA. While I have heard of these acronyms in the past, my knowledge was very limited.  Through research and analysis I discovered that our district is CIPA compliant, which explains why there are particular limitations on what students are allowed to do. If the district does not follow CIPA regulations, we risk losing the e-rated funding that helps students have access to 1:1 devices.

Another valuable entity I have taken from this course is having more knowledge of what is expected on the state exam.  Being provided a blueprint and study guide, helps ease anxiety of the unknown.  It will prove to be beneficial for the entire cohort.

Additionally, I think highly of the fact that the assignments were able to be modified to relevancy to our current position and school building. Being able to make an assignment applicable to what you are currently doing in the classroom or building really brings authenticity to what we are learning and WHY we are learning it.  It helps transfer our knowledge to real learning, and in turn we grow because of it.  Just as we expect our students to do.  The group assignment was great because in most schools, I believe the expectation is to collaborate.  Instead of us muddling through a project independently, we put all our collective input and effort together and created a presentation that will be beneficial for our parents.  Our students' parents have such a deep impact on how our students progress throughout the year, and equipping parents with knowledge is a huge foundational block to ensuring that the school community is working in unison.

About Me!!

Hi!
My name is Sheila Daly, I teach 5th Grade ESL at Roosevelt Elementary. I began my adventure with District 99 in 2012 and overall been very pleased with my experience working in this very unique subculture.  Previously, I taught three years in South Korea for the South Korean (SK) Government. I volunteered as a teacher in India for about three weeks after my contract completion in 2011. I have traveled to twenty countries in my lifetime (I intend my list to keep growing). South Korea was an incredible experience and if I did not have family in Illinois, I would have returned to SK a long time ago.

My current “comfort level” with technology has definitely gotten better throughout the St. Francis courses. I have been equipped with new knowledge and platforms because of it. It has really helped me provide quicker feedback to my students that helps them apply new skills taught.

In regards to EdTech successes and failures, my exposure has expanded through the past courses and taking these courses are still outside my “comfort zone”, but a little less scary now that we are almost finished with the endorsement. I do feel that one of my biggest "failures" was trying to launch a PBL Unit with my students. Previous to last course, I did not feel I had any understanding on how to launch a PBL with my students. HOWEVER, and fortunately, the Genius Hour project really broke down the process and made it easier to launch it with my students. It was really exciting to see the students excited about researching what they are passionate about 💙💚💛

EEND 680: Reflection

Overall I appreciated this course very much!  I liked having to be pushed outside my comfort zone and create a classroom story (via video). I do not think I would have done such a task without it have been assigned to us. However, when my students and I completed the assignment, I realized how much fun we had, and how I can utilize classroom videos and Spark Adobe more often in the classroom.  I also like that we had to create PD and design better building meetings. I think so often we can get into the habit of complaining, but never bringing a solution to the table. I believe that these assignments forced us to create some solutions to the frustrations we experience. I hope if I am ever in charge of PD or a building meeting, that people are not zoned out daydreaming about the weekend, and are able to actively participate in conversation and learning.

I plan on continuing this Technology Specialist Course with St. Francis, as I have discovered many new tools to utilize with my students and ways to really bring the classroom to life, whether it be through Classroom Stories, designing Professional Development, and/or creating better Building Meetings.  The process and journey thus far has been transformative in my classroom. Additionally, I have deeply respected and appreciated my adjuncts. It is refreshing to learn from other teachers who also come to our cohort sharing their own experiences, trials and tribulations, and their successes. We are consistently learning from one another and authentically learning from our adjuncts.

I have deeply appreciated Ms. Morgan’s knowledge and expertise in this course. I also like that she actively participates in our classroom discussions, brining different perspectives to the table. Everyone may not always agree with one another on perspective and opinion, but it is nice to have respectful and professional debates on our own personal philosophies.

Design a Better Building Meeting

Purpose:  The purpose of this assignment was to reflect upon meetings that are currently conducted in our buildings, and find a way to make them better. The purpose was to create and design a building meeting that was not as torturous as current meetings, and that people found to be more meaningful and not so meaningless.

Challenge:  Everyone can complain about the things they dislike, and want to be changed, but it is often more difficult to bring solutions to the table. I messaged about fifteen of my colleagues asking them this exact question. How can we make our building meetings better. I knew my answer, but I was curious of others, and wanted to get a dynamic perspective of how most perceive our building meetings.  Most people responded with their complaints, but only few were able to have some sort of insight on how to make it better.

How it was use in the classroom:  This has not been used in the classroom because this assignment was given over the summer. Making it impossible to implement. HOWEVER, next year I will be entering my Masters in Educational Leadership program, and part of my responsibilities will be leading PD.  Talk about intimidating! Eeek!

Reflection & growth:  I really liked this activity because it forced me to think about how I would attempt to solve issues that teachers have with building meetings. I feel that most of our meetings we are talked and spoke to, and not necessarily invited to be part of the meeting. Just as we are expected to teach children, I feel it is the responsibility of the person leading PD to make it more interactive, otherwise, most of us are checked out and not listening. Which in turn, makes the building meeting a monumental waste of time. We need to find more ways to be productive with our time, so we as a school community can become stronger and more effective and efficient.

Classroom Story (Video)

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment was to create a classroom story via video.  The tool that I chose to use was called Spark Adobe. I chose this platform because it was simple to use and very user friendly.  My students and I decided to create a commercial for our incoming 5th grade students for next year. We discussed what kids should expect from their learning and their teacher.

Challenge:  The challenge was creating a video that was organic in nature… we still have yet to reach that goal.  Because my students and I are not completely comfortable with video recordings, it was an awkward (but fun) experience for us all.  I also wish there were better FREE programs out there that offered more than what Spark Adobe offers. I was grateful to have stumbled upon it, however, I wish there were more aspects offered for editing the video. Alas, all things we want does cost money.

How it was use in the classroom:  I used this digital tool in my classroom to record a commercial for incoming 5th Graders next year.  

Reflection & growth:  In reflection, I thought that this was a fun assignment. I am fortunate that I was able to implement this assignment before the end of the school year. It was a great way to spend time with my students, as the end of year chaos amped up.  I really hope to utilize classroom videos and/or project videos with my students in upcoming years. I just hope that eventually I can find a product that is free, just as user friendly, but offers a little more dynamic aspects than Spark Adobe.

EEND 680: Introduction Post

Hi!
My name is Sheila Daly, I teach 5th Grade ESL at Roosevelt Elementary.  I taught three years in South Korea for the South Korean Government. I volunteered as a teacher in India for about three weeks, and I have traveled about twenty countries in my lifetime (I intend my list to keep growing). South Korea was an incredible experience and if I did not have family in Illinois, I would have returned to SK a long time ago. I am currently finishing my fifth year in Cicero, IL, and have overall been very pleased with my experience working in this very unique subculture.

My current “comfort level” with technology has definitely gotten better throughout the St. Francis courses. I have been equipped with new knowledge and platforms because of it. It has really helped me provide quicker feedback to my students that helps them apply new skills taught and learned.

In regards to EdTech successes and failures, my exposure has expanded through the past courses and taking these courses are still outside my “comfort zone”, but a little less scary now that we are over half way through the entire endorsement. I do feel that one of my biggest "failures" was trying to launch a PBL Unit with my students. Previous to last course, I did not feel I had any understanding on how to launch a PBL with my students. HOWEVER, and fortunately, the Genius Hour project really broke down the process and made it easier to launch it with my students. It was really excited, to see them excited about researching what they are passionate about 💙💚💛

EEND 679: Reflection

What I really enjoyed about this particular course was exploring different platforms for assessing students and practicing Genius Hour with my students.  I tend to stick to things that are familiar, and Google Suite is a program that I am extremely comfortable with. If it weren’t for this course, I do not think that I would have explored outside “my comfort zone” and discovered other tools I could utilize in my classroom. What I liked MOST about GoFormative was that students are able to see the correct answers instantly after submission.  I feel that quick feedback is essential for growth and students truly understanding where they made an error. I also think that when students are able to see an example of correct work versus their incorrect work, it activates their critical thinking skills and they can assess themselves and analyze how they will answer correctly the next time. Additionally, I really enjoyed trying out Genius Hour with my students. I feel that it came at a perfect time for me to launch and test out with my students because it was during PARCC testing.  There was definitely a rocky start, but once students found something they were really interested, all I really had to do is keep them organize and guide them through the process of their research. I am really looking forward to seeing what students have learned, and how they plan on presenting their Genius Hour Projects to their classmates!

I plan on continuing this Technology Specialist Course with St. Francis, as I have discovered many new tools to utilize with my students and ways to really bring the classroom to life, whether it be through Genius Hour, new assessments, and/or a Flipped Classroom approach.  The process and journey thus far has been transformative in my classroom. Additionally, I have deeply respected and appreciated my adjuncts. It is refreshing to learn from other teachers who also come to our cohort sharing their own experiences, trials and tribulations, and their successes.  We are consistently learning from one another and authentically learning from our adjuncts. It has been worth my time and money invested into the program.

Genius Hour

Purpose:  The purpose of Genius Hour was to allow students an opportunity to explore their own self interests that was not dictated by curriculum.  It is structured research that keeps students on track and accountable for their own learning. Students are given a lot of freedom during this time to discover new things that interest them and reach out to others and use different platforms and resources to collect information that helps them understand their questions.  Students originally begin the project with a quality question they want answers to, and as they continue to research, they blog and record what progress they’ve made and what new questions they generated throughout their research.

Challenge:  The challenges that I experienced with their first Genius Hour experience, was having students find things they genuinely have interest in beyond the classroom walls.  Some students continued to find topics that I would deem as “aligned with curriculum” or they would ask to research something we as a class have already investigated. I believe because students are so used to being told what to learn and when to learn it, that when they are given this creative freedom, they genuinely are lost and confused by that directive. With some guidance, students were able to locate more quality topics to research. Some students still need to find something with more depth, however, I believe that as they start to see their classmates interests come together in presentation, students will be less apprehensive about their own genuine likes.

How it was use in the classroom:  This was utilized in my classroom the last few weeks of PARCC testing. Students test for hours in the morning, and trying to teach students curriculum in the afternoon proves to be an uphill battle...but, can we blame them? Their brains are fried from high stake testing.  However, providing them an opportunity to investigate and explore things that genuinely interest them allowed students to take deep interest and accountability in their own learning. There was a bit of a rocky start, but as students continued throughout the week to dedicate time to their own interests, they began to ask me for more time to complete their research. It was really refreshing to hear...especially after a week of exhausting tests!

Reflection & growth:  I really appreciated the examples provided in the USF documents and the examples Mrs. Morgan showed our class. It provided me guidance when manufacturing and creating my own Genius Hour, or as I call mine, “Daly Dedication Hour”.  I feel that as my students continue to experience this “Genius Hour”, that it will only feed their curiosity and that over time their presentations are going to become far more compelling. I also believe that students of all levels are going to be able to bring something to the table that will help enlighten all their classmates.  Unfortunately, districts must align with and follow curriculum, but during static weeks it Genius Hour would be a great tool to implement to ensure students are still learning, even though they may be burnt out from normalcy of curriculum.

GoFormative

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment was to find digital platforms that allowed teachers accessibility and ease to assessing their students. One of the platforms I chose to use as my assessment tool was GoFormative. I chose this because it was something new and I wanted to explore how I could utilize it in my classroom.

Challenges:  I did not find GoFormative to be very challenging overall. It did take me a moment to make sure that I launched it properly with my students, and I did ask a student to see their computer so I could see how it was displayed on their end to have a better understanding of the process and formating of the program. I also found it a bit confusing when I was trying to Assign/Share the assignment because unless I loaded it from my Google Classroom, my students could not access the assessment.

How it was used in the classroom: I used GoFormative in my 5th Grade classroom to assess some of their Ready Gen curriculum skills.  The skill that we have been focusing on has been Cause & Effect and I was able to load a few questions that aligned with the skill and curriculum.  I was also able to provide students with instant feedback on what the “correct” answer was after they submit their answers. I really appreciate this aspect of GoFormative because it shows students instantly whether they got the answers correct or incorrect.

Reflection and growth:  I am glad that I was able to explore beyond using Google Suite with this assignment, and can think of ways to utilize GoFormative in my classroom. What I like best about this platform was that students are able to have instant feedback on their responses. As a student myself, I hate waiting to see whether or not my answers were correct or incorrect. Additionally, students are able to analyze their work if incorrect quickly, and hopefully find and/or understand where their mistake was.

Genius Hour Reflection

After reviewing the documents shared with us through USF about Genius Hour, I decided to recreate my own version of Genius Hour with my classroom. While the documents I created majorly mirrored the Genius Hour documents, I decided to call it DALY DEDICATION. I thought it was witty using the play-on-words with my last name and having student carve out some time daily to dedicate to their research.  When I first glanced a the Genius Hour set-up I was not certain that my students would understand the structure and movement and purpose of Genius Hour. However, as I walked myself through my own Genius Hour, I also launched the project with my students. This week and next week are optimal for trying something new because it is PARCC testing, which means that most of my students are completely brain fried and learning something new may be moot. My students are in the beginning stages of Genius Hour and I am just reviewing their choices of topics. I feel that a lot of my students are going to need a bit more guidance finding a good topic with enough fat to research. For the most part, the students have wrote down something interesting to learn, but they need more guidance find the question they want answered.

In my own experience of Genius Hour (Daly Dedication) I found it to be fairly smooth.  Mainly because, I am addicted to Google and spend a lot of time asking Google questions I want answers to, which often lead to different clarifying questions.  When I first started to brainstorm and write down my interests and what I wanted to research, I initially went with “Adult Bullies”. I find anything psychological and sociological fascinating. However, I already know A LOT about both subjects because I spend a lot of my free time reading about both topics, and to be honest, I already know why adults bully people, so I would not have truly gotten an organic and authentic experience from this Genius Hour. In turn, I decided to research something that I am interested in, but insecure about in my knowledge. I have always wanted to get involved with politics because I feel our system is so incredibly broken and corrupt, but I had zero idea where to start.  I do not know many people who are passionate about politics because so many people are disenchanted by the lies and manipulation (cannot say I blame them). Also, my fear of being ignorant, kept my efforts at bay. Which is where Genius Hour guided me along the path of exploration and discovery. I know that in order to truly understand the Beast of Government, is to begin on a smaller scale. Start with the house cat before trying to tame the tiger. So I chose to research “how to become more involved in local politics”.

Through the hour I dedicated to research I found there a lot more information I need collected before I move forward. I definitely will start by attending Town Hall meetings, but before I do that I know that I need to come prepared. I need to research the Village Trustees of Brookfield and what they have done and what they “stand for” before going. I also need to know what have their plans been to make the village better and what are they currently doing to see that through.  I do not want to attend a meeting unprepared and ignorant, and I presume that the first few meetings I will sit back like a wallflower and watch how a meeting is conducted. Additionally what I found in the hour of my research is that the College of Dupage is conducting a free seminar on April 14th called Local Government Candidacy for Beginners, which is time allows, I plan on attending. It is a great way to utilize FREE education about a topic I am interesting in learning more about. In regards to the struggles that I faced when researching, was that some questions I typed in did not really provide an answer, or if it did,it was vague and led me to asking different questions to try and figure it out.  I would become distracted momentarily, while even though focused, I needed to remind myself about the question I am trying to answer.

I think that Genius Hour really provides students an opportunity to look into something that truly interests them. For 180 school days, many students are told what to read, when to read, how to read, what math to learn, what math to solve, what science to research...that providing them an opportunity to explore something they are interested in can be extremely rewarding for both student and teacher!  I am currently utilizing Genius Hour, or Daly Dedication, with my students this week and the following week before Spring Break. This is a great time of the year because students have been PARCC testing for two weeks, and when they are done for the day, to try and tell them to read things they have no interest in is torture. At least with Genius Hour (Daly Dedication) they will be using instructional hours, or academic skills, BUT with topics that they are interested in. Interest creates desire, and desire fosters learning. It is a win-win for teachers and students. This could also be used for when students complete a task before their peers as a supplement and enrichment activity.

Overall, I think it is a great projet to allow students to experience and explore, but ultimately and unfortunately, I do not see this being utilized throughout the year due to having to follow curriculum and focus on skill mastery.  This is something that is great to launch during the school year’s static weeks.

Research question: How do I become more active in local politics?

EEND 679 Introduction Blog

Hi!
My name is Sheila Daly, I teach 5th Grade ESL at Roosevelt Elementary.  I taught three years in South Korea for the South Korean Government. I volunteered as a teacher in India for about three weeks, and I have traveled about twenty countries in my lifetime (I intend my list to keep growing). South Korea was an incredible experience and if I did not have family in Illinois, I would have returned to SK a long time ago. I am currently finishing my fifth year in Cicero, IL, and have overall been very pleased with my experience working in this very unique subculture.

My current “comfort level” with technology would be “eeehh" because I am not completely blind but I still do not feel like any form of Master of Tech. I am comfortable enough with turning a computer on and off and basic programs. I utilize GAFE daily, and my students are often collaboratively working in their Google Classroom. There are other websites I have experimented with throughout the past few months that I have enjoyed using with my students. Some of those websites are ScreencastOmatic.com and Linoit.com and FlipGrid, in addition to all the wonders Google Suite offers!

In regards to EdTech successes and failures, my exposure has expanded through the past courses and taking these courses are still outside my “comfort zone”, but a little less scary now that we are half way through. I do feel that one of my biggest "failures" was trying to launch a PBL Unit with my students. I still do not have enough knowledge base, nor have I seen a solid example, that makes me comfortable trying it out with my students. I know they have incredible benefits, but I definitely need more guidance in regards to PBLs. It is always a humble reminder when we struggle with something new because it serves as a strong reminder to how our students must feel sometimes when presented with something new and different to them 💙💚💛

EEND 678 Reflection

This course provided many practical tools and designs that I plan to experiment more with and familiarize myself with. I really appreciated the structure and set up of this course because a lot of our conversations were organic and in the classroom.  I always enjoy bouncing ideas off of others and also hearing new ideas from others.  In fact, there were a few times that I was taught new things from my peers that I was able to utilize and use in my classroom the next day.  I also appreciated the introduction of grants. I have always known what grants were, but I never really gave them much thought. However, this course, because it was an assignment, really opened up my eyes to the potential grants can give to our classrooms. Funding is short in many districts and grants can provide us an option to still give our students the optimal and ideal learning environment.

I am not sure that I had a “favorite” aspect in this class, but I did learn that PBL units are a lot more difficult than I could imagine. I love the idea and I truly believe that students will take a lot out of PBLs, I however definitely need more guidance and understanding before I can successfully launch a PBL in my classroom that I believe would be beneficial for my students. But with most things, all it takes is a bit of practice and exposure to understand how something works.

Grant Writing

Purpose:   The purpose of this assignment was reach out to a company for a grant to find supplemental funding for the classroom.  As schools and districts continue to practice innovative classrooms there never seems to be enough of funding for what teachers are requesting. This is an outlet that educators and schools can use to help assist in creating classrooms for optimal learning.

Challenge: The challenge in this assignment was finding a company that had a form that was pre-created for you to fill out for a grant.  I found numerous companies that made standing desks but it was difficult to find a company that offered a grant form to be completed. I did find a company called Stand Up Kids however they are not accepting any grant proposals until 2019 because they are currently conducting studies with large universities. Another challenge I found was writing a grant that would really convey the deep need for this product. Additionally, having the district agree that this product will prove to be beneficial with our students.

How it was used in the classroom: This would be used in the classroom for students who have difficulty paying attention. Studies have shown that standing desks help productivity. Additionally it is healthier for students to stand versus being sedentary all day in their desks. In particular in our district because our elementary students do not have gym more than once a week and only have ten minutes of recess after lunch (weather permitting). This is detrimental for a child’s growth and development, physically and cognitively.  I believe that utilizing these desks in our classrooms would truly help all students.

Reflection and growth: I liked that this assignment was something new that I have not done before because it opened my eyes to new ideas and opportunities I could capitalize on in my classroom.  I certainly believe this is something that I will keep in mind as I continue to expand and build a more innovative classroom.  I am disappointed that the company I found will not be accepting grant applications until 2019, but I have anticipatory plans to proceed with submitting the proposal in 2019 when the company starts accepting grant proposals.  In the meantime, I will search around and see if there are other grants that will provide benefits for my students and their learning environment.