Nicole

=Nicole Masciana=


 * Skype Username:** nmasciana
 * Twitter Username:** EDT598Nicole
 * Facebook Username:** Nicole Mascianatoc



=1. About Me=

My name is Nicole Masciana and I teach English at Platt High School in Meriden. I graduated in May of 2011 from Siena College in New York with a Bachelor's in English-Education.

This is my third Educational Technology class - so I am still a novice. I am comfortable using a Smartboard, and I have access to a LCD projector in my classroom which I use almost daily. I have been able to introduce my students to many different websites (screen-shot-o-matic, Voki, etc.) and tools that I have learned from my previous EDT classes, which has been great. I also created a Google site for my English classes, where I post homework, announcements, handouts, PowerPoints used during class, and so on. It has been a great succes with my students.

My favorite part of the program so far has been learning all about the new educational tools that are available for teachers and students. I am the supervisor for the school newspaper as well as Inkblot (creative writing magazine) and was successful in making both completely digital and paperless. I am really excited to continue learning new ways to implement technology in my classroom and look forward to the rest of the classes in the program.

Tim Wall will be my partner.

=2. Paired Project=

For the paired project, Timothy and I decided to focus on the company Smart Technology and all of their products. We intend to narrow it down specifically to Smart Boards, as our school district (Meriden) is currently in the process of integrating more of these into classrooms. The first step we took was to search Facebook for some type of connection we could make with people, companies, websites, blogs – anything that would help us get more engaged in the world of Smart Technology. Tim and I “liked” the Smart Technologies Facebook page and will now be able to easily stay up to date about any new products, announcements, or any other postings made by this company. This is a great was to stay involved in Smart Technologies news. So far, I’ve noticed that this page is very active. There are frequent postings by the company themselves as well as followers. I think it’s great that they are on Facebook because it’s quick, easy, and very accessible to everyone. Next, we looked on LinkedIn for some way to get involved in Smart Technology or some type of Educational Technology research. So far, we have followed this company and I searched for an employee to connect with. However, I am not able to do so yet – I will have to send an InMail to someone – when I am feeling confident enough. We have been searching for someone to connect with who has done some sort of educational research. Additionally, Tim and I have subscribed to SMARTCompanies on YouTube. We viewed several of their videos, including “Why SmartBoards are So Easy To Use” and “Latest Smart Products” which were both well-made, interesting videos.

=3. Reflective Essay #1= Action research, as I understand it, is any in-depth questioning done in a specific field that is meant to improve the quality, performance, or understanding of an organization. Action research, done individually or in groups, is meant to be shared, published, or analyzed. My experience with research in the field of Educational Technology is somewhat limited. I have only briefly searched or scanned Educational Technology research and studies purely out of my own curiosity. I am a novice when it comes to interpreting and comparing this type of research. There are many things that I am interested in and would like to learn more about concerning Educational Technology research. One of the main topics I would like to explore is teacher usage and their social reactions to technology in the classroom. Though I am a new teacher, I have noticed that the number of teachers at my school who know how to (and are comfortable) use technology is limited. Are they perhaps intimidated by it, are fearful of straying away from what they are used to, or are simply apprehensive about learning how to use something new? I would like to see if any research has been done on this. Does it have to do with age? Gender? Background field of study? And what effect does all of this have on the students? I am also interested in learning more about web-based tools. Though Smart Boards and all Smart Technologies products are amazing, the truth of the matter is that not every district is currently able to afford these for all teachers. I want to know more about what I can do with the basic resources I have at hand – my computer and LCD projector. I feel as thought I have only scratched the surface on what web-based tools are available for teachers to use. I would like to know about what research studies have been done in this area. Is there a particular site that has been found to be especially engaging? What would be the best site to use for a teacher webpage? What free/paid resources are available? What do students like? What is easiest for teachers to use? I look forward to learning about these and all other Educational Technology research topics throughout this course as well as throughout the remainder of the program.

= = =4. YouTube Videos= media type="youtube" key="rXxdxck8Gic" width="425" height="350" This video is about the types of uses for assistive technology in a secondary setting. I chose this video because it is very relevant to me, and it is something I am interested in. I wanted to know more about what types of assistive technology tools are out there, and where I can incorporate them in my classroom. I have several students who have learning disabilities, and many who struggle with reading, writing, and other literacy skills. This video shows some text-to-speech tools which would be great for some of my students. This video also discusses the social impact and benefits that assistive technology can have on a student.

media type="youtube" key="YZ7-9ZpZzDY" width="425" height="350" I chose this video because it gets right to the point about how teachers can use a wiki space in their classrooms. Done using a screen shot video, this discusses the possible uses and benefits of using a wiki page. The narrator shows how this is a great tool for students because they have access and are able to edit information on their own, post videos, articles, and write on a space that all other members of the class can see.

media type="youtube" key="jLVn2p8T4WI" width="425" height="350" This video was made by a high school English teacher, which is why it caught my interest. This teacher talks about how he uses a SmartBoard in his classroom. He says that he uses it on a daily basis for editing grammar, spelling, or other writing techniques. He says the kids enjoy and get excited about this because they can see how words and sentences can move and form. I think this is great - and would be a great way for my students to practice some word work. Having a visual component is very helpful for some students.

=5. **Outline of Inquiry Plan**= I will be developing a plan about utilizing a WikiSpace in my classroom. I decided on this particular technology tool because I have limited access to technology (such as a Smart Board, iPad, etc.) this is very doable for me. Also, my students are in 11th grade and their skills are somewhat advanced and I can see this being an activity that they will truly enjoy engaging in.

10. Dissemination – I will spread the word about my work by writing a summary, sharing with other teachers, and using online and social media resources.
 * 1) The name of the study I am using for a model is Hew & Chung’s “Use of Wiki’s in Higher Education.”
 * 2) Other research that has been done in this area – multiple online resources.
 * 3) The problem is that student’s experience in the area of collaboration is extremely limited. Most work throughout their high school experience has been individual, and there is little emphasis on group work or collaboration with others. I feel that this is a critical skill, and something extremely necessary to know in the work force. I want to create a class WikiSpace and have students use it, become comfortable with is, and eventually master this skill.
 * 4) The activity will be student practice with the class Wiki.
 * 5) The audience is a group of approximately 20-25 students in an urban high school.
 * 6) Materials needed will be desktop or laptop computers for each student. This will be done either in a computer lab or with the portable laptop cart available at my school.
 * 7) Data collection – I will calculate the number of posts students make, conduct surveys, and give assessments based on information from the Wiki.
 * 8) I will evaluate whether or not my efforts were successful by assessment scores, reading/writing skills improvement, student feedback, etc.
 * 9) Timeline – I will need a minimum of 3 months for this activity, but it can go on for as long as the school year.

Week 5:

=6. Podcasts=

The Favorite Tech Podcasts that we listened to was This Week in Google - Episode 152, titled "Now with Green Stamps." Listening to this was interesting because it was my first experience with a podcast. I thought that it would be more like a lesson - with a goal in mind to teach those who are listening or watching about something. However, that was not at all the case. I did not feel like the hosts and guests on the show were trying to teach me something or convince me of anything. They were mostly just chatting and discussing current issues in a very intellectual way. It was like watching a radio show. At the end of the podcast, I felt like I really learned a lot about the topic (iPads and the Google Tablet) and was eager to learn more. I really liked TWIG and plan on staying updates as much as possible.

Blog Post - Commented on "Checking Your Facebook Privacy" Article here.

=7. Reflective Essay #2=

At the start of this course, Inquiry into Educational Technology, I was only just beginning my education and understanding of action research. Throughout the duration of the class, I was able to grow and expand my knowledge about not only action research, but about all types of educational technology that are out there. I feel this is a very valuable skill and one that is important for me to have. The better I know about what’s going on in the “Ed Tech” world, the better leader I can be for my students and for other teachers in my school district.

One of the most significant lessons I learned about technology is that each piece or tool has its own place inside or outside of the classroom. At the beginning of the course, I was curious about how people (specifically teachers) feel about technology usage in their classrooms. The social aspect and teacher’s level of comfort with new technology tools is interesting to me, because I have noticed there seems to be quite a range. During this course, I explored all types of new tools for teachers - Wiki sites, Twitter, Facebook, Smart Products, wireless clickers, and many others. I learned many things about these tools – how to use them, what types of instruction they were good (or not so good for), any benfits or downfalls, troubleshooting, how to use privacy settings, and so on. However, the most important lesson I learned was how to //appropriately// use these resources. Every product has a proper time and place and must be used correctly in order to maximize its efficiency. This is very important to keep in mind in this ever-changing and ever-growing world of technology.

I am grateful that this course provided me with the opportunity to explore the internet, educational technology news, new tools that are available, and research that has been done. I look forward to learning more and more throughout the remainder of this program.