KWL Post

What I know?

I have been using technology personally, and educationially for as long and I can remember.  I believe strongly in the adage, “Work smarter not harder.”  The issue is, with this adage and technology, that every time I sit down at a computer, ipad, iphone  or keyboard (music), I end up doing number of other things, working on my learning curve or trying to figure out how to leverage what the software currently does not do to approximate what it is I am trying to accomplish.  

   

What do I want to learn?

I am always interested in leveraging what it is that I know with new ways to doing.  This is throughout my life.  For instance, I hate how much waste kCups create.  There is perfectly good coffee grounds inside the kCup, that could be used for compost and growing medium.  The coffee maker came with a do-it-yourself refillable kCup that fits in the coffee maker.  The problem is, it takes as long to clean and refill this as it would to make an entire traditional drip pot of coffee.  I also despise random coffee grounds all over my sink when I try to clean out the refillable cup as much as I dislike using the kCup.  So, the choices are, don’t drink kCup coffee or only make one cup and let someone else clean out the refillable cup.

Cleaning out the cupboard one afternoon I found some unused coffee filters from the unused drip coffee maker.  “Do I keep them......do I recycle them?  I am too cheap to recycle perfectly packaged and good filters......fast forward a week later.

Grumbling again about having to clean out my refillable pod container, the sink and now my shirt, I wondered, “Why don’t they make a make a miniature natural compostable filter that would fit inside the refillable container?”   “Wait can I?.......I look to paper towels....pause.... eureka.....I will cut down the unused drip filters into four inch circles....crimp slightly....put into the refillable.......presto fresh cup of coffee....take off lid....pull out soggy packet....toss into compost bin....rinse container....no pesky grounds in my sink!

So, your question is, “What do I want to learn?”  My response is, “Be my natural coffee filter,” I will use everything that you can offer, along with anything that assists me in making connections to my practice.

Though........in a perfect world.  My photo students use iPhoto to download and do minor edits.  Their assessments would be less fragmented, (handing in workbooks before doing the online aspect) if they could upload (drag and drop) from iPhoto into “googleforms” so the image would accompany the assessment portion of the unit.  I am thinking more integration rather than more steps and different websites...more paperless whenever possible.

What do I currently use?

All classroom management; attendance, announcements, schedules, handbooks, business forms are digitally available and, in some cases, fillable. 

I use technology in the home, work and in my music and art classrooms.  In art, students watch online videos to reinforce “throwing” on the wheel (ceramics).  Their handbook, that I created, used to reside online.  Students document their work digitally and include this photo into their assessment packets.  In my digital photography class, all formative / summative assessments are online.  I use GoogleForms, spread sheets and FileMakerPro.  In my Art History Class, I have implemented a student self designed differentiated homework quiz.  Individually, students create four questions based on the video, reading, vocabulary homework.  They also answer these questions along with one question that I include.  These questions will then comprise their final exam at the end of the semester.  This is all done electronically by exporting the googleForm into spreadsheet, then into FileMakerPro, and from there, I can print out individual exams.  

In music, students use iPads to access online music theory units, watch youtube performances.  My accompaniment music is on my iPad and I have a foot controller to turn pages.  I use software called “Sibelius” along with a digital USB keyboard. I input music manually, from PDF’s or through realtime direct keyboard input.  From this, I can make rehearsal CD’s, write and arrange music and print out the sheet music for students. 

I use technology throughout every day.  I look forward to new ways of extending, deepening and broadening my use of the media and connections in the digital communities.