The Final Thoughts...Sad that all things come to an end!

So my PLN ended up being pretty organized. This was surprising to me, as I usually am organized  chaos. 
I first started with jotting things down on a piece of scratch paper, with circles, balloons, arrows going in all directions, even to outer space. 
After our critical friends discussions and the ideas and feedback that were given, made me think a little more about the goal of my PLN and the other teachers involved. 
The critical friends session was the most valuable to me. After that meeting, the mind map was easy as 3.14 and really fast compared to my initial brain storm attempts.


Now my thoughts on the Total Package. I really enjoyed LTEC 642, just as i have enjoyed other classes from Dr. Bert. In the beginning,  the Twitter, Periscope and Line assignments were a little overwhelming to me, as I never had to speed post, or tag others in one of my social media posts, other than tagging friends...making the deadlines was challenging for us as a whole class group. In the beginning, the additional waves of conversations via Line were a little irritating, but once I figured out how to turn the sound and vibration notifications off, it became a little easier to deal with, and once the "new" wore off, and not every one in our class was blasting message on it any more, Line became my preferred way of staying in touch with project group members for both the Case Studies and the Collaborative Video Project. 
Another, mildly frustrating endeavor was the CVP, the time differences between Hawaii, Samoa, Germany and Japan, seemed a little challenging for us to be able to have meaningful meetings, and to be able to collaborate effectively. However, in the end it all ended well. 

If I could take more classes from Dr. Bert, I would, although I have already reached my needed number of electives for my Master's. Maybe I could ask him if I could just audit his classes, just for fun!

Social Media, Learning and Sharing

For the longest time, or at least since I started using Social Media, I thought it was just for fun, following celebrities, news, or other entertaining entities. 

Last year, when I started my Master's in Learning Design and Education, and got involved with getting Google Apps for Education going in our school, I discovered that Social Media is much more than just entertainment. 

Social Media, think of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google+, etc., many legitimate and valid educational organization use Social Media to share their educational offerings, links, webinars, etc. Many of these organizations or savvy individuals I have "followed" or "friended" on various Social Media channels and have had "conversations" with. However, just as many valid sources sharing Info on GAFE, Educational Technology and so on, are just merely "venting" channels. A few select individuals do all the sharing, and when followers ask questions, no answer ever is given. Therefore, I have found that one has to be very selective when truly using certain Social Media channels as a truly educational tool. If just a few, same people share opinions or suggestions, and questions from followers or other group members go unanswered, there might be some issues with the validity of the group. 
I realized this too late, after I joined a few dozen Google+ communities on GAFE tools. While I still am part of many of these communities, I have now muted several of their communications, and learned to rely more on groups that do have a more global and credible presence, and are endorsed by other global, credible entities. 

This brings me to my assignment for Educators: from all the groups you belong to, be it on Social Media or Professional Communities, list which ones you belong to, which ones you ask questions on, which ones you get answers on, which ones you give answers on. How many of these groups do you truly feel you "belong" to, why? or why not? 
Then, create a short presentation (video, Slides, Prezi, Powtoons, etc) on how effective you feel Social Media channels are in helping you become a better educator, what works or doesn't work when using Social Media as a professional learning tool. Share what you like so far, share what you find troubling, share how you would like to see it changed and how you can distinguish between the credible and not-so credible sources.

I am just wondering if I'm the only gullible, trusting educator seeking knowledge from the Web and Social Media, or if there are others like me, who need to learn the hard way...   Am I?

My Personal Learning Network

As a teacher I have been familiar with a PLC, or Professional Learning Community, for years. These communities are either meeting as a department (have been part of the math department in our school for years, and now am part of the science department of our school for the last 1.5 school years), or as a team (8th grade team in a South Kona Middle School). Usually in these communities we work on data collection on teaching practices, read informational readings and reflect on them, discuss students or plan interdisciplinary projects for our students, or to plan team-building advisory activities. 

So, now on to my PLN, or PERSONAL Learning NETWORK. As a math teacher, I was told to join the Edmodo Algebra I group for the DOE Hawaii, to have access to the online resources and printable workbooks, along with DOE approved quizzes, test, and other activities, and to also be able to interact and share resources with fellow Hawaii Algebra I teachers. What I learned from this group, is that the majority of Hawaii Algebra I teaches don't really know algebra (or are just too lazy to use their brains and just do the problems themselves), as they are whining about having keys to all the worksheets, or whine about certain resources that aren't editable. Considering that the majority of the resources have typo's in them, I have never even looked at published keys of any of the worksheets or quizzes/tests because it takes me just minutes to do the work myself versus printing the keys out, walk to the print room to pick up the docs, to then discover they have wrong solutions on them. So, THAT PLN to me is not that valuable. 

Now that I am teaching Science and STEM, after having been very vocal about not teaching to the math and algebra tests, and have spearheaded our school's adoption of GAFE, I figured I should join fellow Google-minded people. I joined GEG ACE21 Hawaii (the local Google Educator Group), several MOOC groups (Massively Open Online Courses), Chromebooks, Google Classroom, and various other Google+ Communities, just so I could get "da scoops" on things that I am interested in with regards of using technology in the classroom.  I found out that only a few folks within these groups are the only contributors of gem-like resources, the rest of them seem just to be also "whiners". 
Many of them have members who will ask questions on these communities-very valid and interesting questions- and never receive answers or feedback. 
My take-away from some of the groups I joined, is that they are merely a one-way channel of the creators blurting out little not-so-gems to their followers, and that they do not allow for feedback or sharing of resources by members of the group. 

My goal, for my REAL PLN, and for my imaginary PLN that I have to create for my LTEC 642 class, is that is an OPEN network, where people can freely add to and comment on, not just a few select members who run the show. My focus will, hopefully, be open, multi-way communication, sharing of resources, feedback, Q&A, a safe place where members can ask, answer, share and review resources, knowledge, etc.

Next step: get this brain-fart into a brain(mind)-map, and actually make it functional! Wish me luck!

CVP 2015! Are you sure?

Glad that it is almost over. This project has been a challenge to say the least. 

Communication with our Japanese group member has been very challenging. The virtual crickets were almost constantly chirping. 

However, regardless of the trouble we had to communicate, at every step of the project, at least 2 team members were able to pick up the pieces each and every week and roll with it.

I am partially to blame, as I initiated most of the steps of our project, and I believe I was way too direct and aggressive in my approach for our Japanese group members. I am only familiar with Japanese martial arts and how trainings are conducted, but I now realize that I am completely not understanding modern Japanese communication and am now very much looking to learn the modern Japanese way for collaboration.

So, in retrospect, I would merely be suggestive instead of directive in my approach of organizing online meetings, Line, Hangouts, etc. Ask for feedback, instead of telling everybody what I had in mind.

I now realize that the Japanese-Hawaiian community, here on Hawaii Island, has evolved just as much into American culture as any other community. While my students value their roots, by participating in Taiko Drumming, or Bon Dance, it is in a sense very different from the traditions in Japan, even with very modern and eccentric ways of social media communication means, there is still a very deep rooted system of master and apprentice. I now realize that we are all apprentices, and need to merely suggest each other of ideas, and then discuss them, and not suggest of what I might have in mind.

Next time around, I would not take the initial steps to start the project, but maybe just start initial conversations.

I am Grasshopper after all, regardless of the Dan-level I reached at a Jiu-Jitsu Dojo. 

I am ready to learn, and ready to accept my short-comings!
Bring it on!

My Social Capital

I believe I joined Facebook about 8 years ago. Mostly pressured by relatives from across the world as an easy way to stay in touch and to share news and photos of new family members and to watch them grow up. 

Over the years, I also have evolved to use Facebook as a means to follow organizations, public figures and topics of my interest. 
I often find myself going to Facebook pages of companies' whose products I use and like, or even local radio and TV stations for faster updates on local and global events. I "like" them, and "follow" them, and in case of any local incidents, I can post to their pages so share any events I encounter that could have impact on other people in my community.
I have also "friended" people I have never met in person, but share similar interests or hobbies with, and have formed various networks for personal and professional interests. 

After reading Cultivating Social Resources on Social Network Sites: Facebook Relationship Maintenance Behaviors and Their Role in Social Capital Processes  ^{by Ellison et. al. (2014)}
(http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcc4.12078/full) I have become more aware of what I am actually doing when I "like", "follow" or "friend" people or companies on Facebook. I am creating networks and gaining virtual capital. 

With recent developments in France, and many other incidents of terrorism, I have changed my profile picture to stand with France, as a virtual hug of support. For me it is personal, I grew up about a four-hour drive away from Paris, went to Paris with my Senior Class, and have fond memories of my visits there. And some of my relatives go to Paris on a regular basis for various professional activities. 

When I was in my Senior year in High School, and my first year in Medical School in Belgium, there were various attacks of colleges and college auditoriums around Brussels and Liege, several explosions, several people were killed, many were injured. This was the work of a Communist Combatant Cell, trying to spread terror and communist ideology near State and Liberal-oriented Colleges. Back then, the only way one would get updates was through public radio and TV stations, newspapers, and old-fashioned rotary phone calls.

I also find it disturbing, that we as Social Media users, now also have come to share sad and terrible things, while, I personally thought that Social Media always had this fun and positive connotation. 

Maybe if we all shared the following on our Facebook pages, we could indeed create a better place.

Think of your fellow man

Lend him a helping hand

Put a little love in your heart

You see it's getting late

Oh, please don't hesitate

Put a little love in your heart

And the world will be a better place

And the world will be a better place

For you and me

You just wait and see

Am I Influenced By Social Media?

About 10 years or so, I joined the concept of Social Media. With close relatives still residing in Europe, and I living across the Globe, Social Media became the first line of communication with Family to share pictures, get updates on what is going on, and to inform each other of sudden changes or family emergencies, etc. I have seen my cousins' and second cousins' kids grow up via Facebook and Twitter, although I never met them in person-which is pretty sad, but a whole different story. 

While I do have the occasional sudden outbursts of happiness or discontent, and these outburst are usually very vocal and explicit, I have slowed down in posting sudden outbursts on Social Media. I still tend to "like", "1+", or "favorite" posts on various sites, I have slowed down in, and re-evaluated what I post and how I post it. The majority of my public sharing of opinions, emotions or updates, are usually very general and not very provoking of public response.
I do use the private messaging options in my various social media means, to approach other people in my networks or to share VERY opinionated thoughts with people in my networks. 

I think I would like to branch out in to the vast net of Social Media, and create an alter ego for Educational Purposes; start using Social Media as a tool to keep my students on their toes regarding assignments, due dates, resources, etc. These channels will need to stay private, as my students are minors. Over the last 2 or 3 years, I have seen an increase of the use of Social Media as an Educational Tool, and have seen apps been created just for Educational purposes. As a Techie, I am always looking for new goodies I could use in my classroom, for educational purposes: sharing resources, sharing info on assignments, etc. Many commonly used Social Media tools have options to create private groups or lists, while others-like Edmodo, Remind, etc.- focus on just classroom/college cohort applications. Other ways Social Media could be used: means for Professional Development Groups to communicate and share resources, discussion boards on pressing developments in education, etc. 

For these Social Media tools to become valuable tools in an Educational Setting, many K-12 school districts will need to revise their internet and social media policies, especially now that Google Apps For Education has become a very Global tool for teachers and their students to collaborate. While I have been "breaking the rules" according to DOE policies regarding Social Media use to communicate with students, especially with GAFE, DOE and BOE rules need to be changed if Social Media will be used for educational purposes....

Not sure how long that will take, but I am not holding my breathe. I just keep breaking the rules until they change them!

Half-Time or 7th-Inning Stretch?

Well, It's actually past Half-Time, and if I would be talking to my 8th-graders, it is now down to crunch time... So what do I feel at this point besides utter exhaustion? Some words that are in my brain: overwhelmed, way behind, confused.

While the majority of my assignments are not necessarily extreme on how to use brain power to complete them, they are extreme at the pace they are presented and when they are due.

Besides the case studies we have to do on the topics we all voted on, we have these side-bar activities that are usually more instantaneously than the bigger projects.  And these make me feel as if I am torn into several directions at the same time. Multi-Tasking is no longer just an idea, it is a power verb. The CVP with the students of Japan is taking the most out of me, as in frustration, the same individual keeps missing out on synchronous meetings, while language issues seem to be the main culprit...I get it, having to express yourself in a language that you feel uncomfortable with, does take a toll on people, but when you are in a college or graduate setting, that should not be a reason on why you shouldn't attend an online meeting. 

The Twitter curation was fun, as it gave me another way to convince myself I'm not as old as I think I am, and that I can still learn new Social Media tricks...and it gets me to connect with people who feel they should follow me, although I do not have the foggiest idea on who they are, or where they are.  Social now means also Global. I like that! 

The TCCfx2015 event was fun to attend, especially since most of the people who presented, are also people who are or have been in my graduate level classes as my peers or as my teaching assistants. I enjoyed the join.me means better than the conferencing tools that were used during the past Spring TCC conference, the only thing I wished I had done, is find way on how to save the presentation and resources people shared in their presentations. 
When I attended the Google Global Summit on Oahu, just days after TCC, all presenters shared links to their resources via Google Drive, and even though it has been over 6 months, I still have access to these resources...TCCfx2015 was just days ago, and I cannot access any of the links I saved or wrote down. And now I have to reflect on this...ARGH...I was too busy chatting in the chat box, which then in turn made me forget to tweet enough times. Ah! That leads me to my big brain-teaser: I tweeted a few times via my desktop TweetDeck...these tweets never showed in my Twitter app on my phone nor in Twitter desktop version; they only show on TweetDeck, and I did use the correct #! I accidentally spelled a # wrong for our periscope assignment-that's creepy that people across the world can view your live video, and then make hearts appear on the screen. I guess dyslexic Devil worshippers sell their soul to Santa on Twitter this way!

My other class I am taking for my Master's is also having a major paper due at the same time that the class I am writing this blog for has several big items due. I sometimes wished professors would check in with each other on their pacing and assignments, but now I am thinking as a Middle School teacher.

I guess, my 2-cents for future Grad students: don't work 2 jobs while taking 2/3-time or full-time graduate classes...pace yourself, keep a written calendar or planner, start working on assignments early, don't hope your team partners will do all the work, initiate group meetings or documents, and BREATHE! 
And then, take a sick day from work to catch up on your assignments...I say that is OK, I just took my first (not-so) sick day ever -I was out sick only 12 days in my whole elementary to high school career, and only was out  2 weeks from my job to work because of my husbands' open-heart surgery so I could be with him-  to work on assignments and read up on articles for assignments. I did have a fever and body-aches, but I don't think it's the flu! 

Hang in there folks! I know it's the last, hard stretch, but it will be worth it, regardless of the frustrations, difficulties, etc. Crack open a bottle of your favorite beverage, work on your assignments, breathe, and make sure you get enough sleep!