App Reviews

Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards - Kindergarten

Reading Standards: Foundational Skills

Phonological Awareness

21. Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes). RF.K.2

ABCmouse.com – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/abcmousecom

ABCmouse.com is a free app intended for children ages 2-5. While the app is free, a subscription is needed to access the whole curriculum. The subscription fee is $7.99 a month. The app includes songs, puzzles, books, and more to support emergent readers in phonics and phonemic awareness skills. It is downloadable on iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire, and most Android phones and tablets.

Duck Duck Moose Reading - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/duck-duck-moose-reading

Duck Duck Moose Reading is a culmination of many types of interactive games for children ages 3-7. The app is free to download and helps young students to begin connecting letter sounds to print and recognizing and naming letters. All letter sounds are taught along with CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words.

Starfall Learn to Read - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/starfall-learn-to-read

Starfall Learn to Read is intended for children ages 4-7. The app is $2.99 to download and helps children to distinguish the relationship between spoken and written language through books, puzzles, and short video clips. The app helps students to learn letter names and sounds. It is downloadable on iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire, and most Android phones and tablets.

In my opinion, the ABCmouse.com app is the most valuable for teaching phonics to emergent readers. The songs are catchy, yet informative. Parents and/or teachers can also pay an extra $3.95 a month for assessments. The progress for up to three children can be tracked. I use ABCmouse.com’s letter songs daily in my classroom to help engage and introduce explicit phonics lessons. Children thoroughly enjoy ABCmouse and don't even realize they are learning!

Application Reviews

Application Reviews Post by Charlie L. Boyd

ITSE Standard for Educators, Designer 5a, use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.

Applications:

1.      Canvas

Canvas is a learning management software that allows the teacher to create learning modules for the curriculum. It allows for the upload of documents, notes, assignments. A useful feature in this digital world, is the teacher can upload web links, can check all work for plagiarism through a feature called “Turnitin.com”. All assignments and tests can be graded through this software giving students immediate access for viewing grades.

The cost of the cloud-based software is $5 per learner per month or $30 per learner per year. Through a chat session with a Canvas adviser, I learned that this software is adaptable to K-12 and higher education students. I chose this site as a credible sited because of it validated each reviewer, allowed for positive and negative comments, and had a customer service agent call me within minutes to further validate its credibility. This cloud-based software is Windows and MAC compatible.

2.      Compass Learning

This learning management software is intended for K-12 students. The users, in this case teachers, will be able to create folders for specific learning activities, be able to track students’ work and the amount of time spent on each assignment, as well as, help students by creating video lessons to keep learning assignments interesting. Because this software is a G2 Crowd product, it has some of the same pricing agreements as others in the group.

This is a cloud-based software priced as $5 per learner per month or $30 per learner per year. This software is Windows and MAC compatible. I chose this review site due to its ability to verify the reviewers through multiple methods like email addresses, telephone numbers, and various social media sites. This software through its reviewers achieved five out of five stars.

3.      Classe365

This software has multiple modules that come together as a tool to prepare teachers and students for learning, customer management, and supports over 100 languages. This software integrates well with multiple other applications such as Canvas, MS Office, and QuickBooks as a complement. I chose this software because it can bring entire school districts together to manage administrative and learning activities.

Classe365 is a cloud-based application that is compatible to both Windows and MAC platforms. This software is meant for school districts of K-12 graders and higher education students. Because this is a larger application with multiple modules, the costs vary between $22 per license per month per student to $30 per month per student. A yearly license can be purchased based on the number of modules requested.  This site has been properly copyrighted with contact information listed. I made a telephone call to the site contact and was quickly greeted and provided with requested information.

The one application that I feel is the best choice for me and my students is the Compass Learning software. I chose this one because of its ability to track students’ time spent on assignments and its ability to create video lessons for students. It is a cloud-based application which means that the students and I can access it from anywhere as long as we have internet capability.

Theories of Critical Thinking

Technology in the classroom has been a challenge and an opportunity for teachers. To have access to a resource that can actively engage students and promote a deeper and greater understanding of content material is outstanding. Most students today have grown up with technology and are very proficient with utilizing this resource. Some teachers may not be as proficient in using technology. In the article by Fullan and Langworthy, it talks about a learning partnership between student and teacher to create a greater learning experience. Teachers and students learning from each other, and forming a partnership allows both to be successful.

Technology in the classroom has become the norm due to the fact that it is more affordable for the school systems today. Many schools now provide/rent chrome books and mac books for students, and with all the available software it can provide a challenging yet rewarding quality education. Many students feel that school is boring and not important but when teachers and students work together it can make learning exciting, and engaging. Teachers have the responsibility to challenge the students and provide good feedback to help students master a concept. When students do well and master a concept it gives them a sense of accomplishment, and makes them want to know more because they feel they can achieve their goal.

A teacher has the responsibility of teaching goals and standards for the grade level taught based on the core curriculum that the state requires, while incorporating blooms taxonomy. In the article by W. Huitt, it talks about the new updated standards and within the standards, remembering is included in that. It is so important that students not only understand the content material, but to remember it as well. Teachers have the responsibility to sharpen a students cognitive and psychomotor skills as well boosting their self confidence. When a student is confident in their ability to do the work required they learn at a deeper level.

E. M. Rogers article discussed the evolution of technology in the classroom and how it has the ability to empower students. It talked about how students did not like newspaper and journal assignments because of all the negative and bad things that are happening in the world today.  Using digital
newspapers, and journal articles will help the students to keep in touch with what is going on in the world and help make a connection to the classroom. Librarians and teachers partner to give students a greater variety of resources, but with today's constantly changing technology it is difficult to keep up. The idea of partnering with students, who are always up with the latest technology, can keep students engaged in learning. When students are engaged they are learning. Technology, when monitored has a positive effect in the classroom.

Theories of Critical Thinking

Teaching in a classroom that has no technology is quite the learning curve for teachers, both veteran and new.  By reading these articles, it is very plain that the presence of technology in the classrooms is not how students will walk away with the knowledge that they need.  It is all about how districts, schools, departments, and teachers in the classroom all work together to use the technology.  The articles break down how students learn and how things have changed in organization of the levels of learning.  Coming from a Webb's Depths of Knowledge background, it was a little difficult to follow the organization and break down of Bloom's Taxonomy.  Utilizing technology appropriately, gives students the opportunity to tap into the higher levels of learning necessary to gain mastery of the particular classes that they are taking.  

One thing in particular brought out in the Huitt article was how teacher made tests generally only register in lower levels of taxonomy (Huitt 2011).  One thing that needs to be taken is how teachers write their lesson plans and how they incorporate the technology to implement better instruction.  That seems to be an easier task with more concrete disciplines like math and science versus more abstract content areas like English and History.  The necessary technology needs to be easily accessible for the particular lesson.  When the integration is maximized, much like accommodations, the will be fluidity between the student and the teacher.  The students will be able to recreate situations that will enable students, in a sense, to become the teacher.  Or at least the protégé.

Willingness to embrace change is one of the biggest areas of focus.  Teachers need to be open and knowledgable of more than simply lecture and test.  With the different platforms available and the different modes of delivery of information, teachers have to be students and can even learn from the children that they teach.  This quote really sums up what needs to be happening in classrooms these days.  "Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner, analyze and synthesize the information, and present it professionally. The technology should become an integral part of how the classroom functions -- as accessible as all other classroom tools."  (National Educational Technology Standards for Students, International Society for Technology in Education 2010).

Theories of Critical Thinking

The use of technology in the classroom not only enhances the visual senses, but also allows students to enjoy learning. I see this same opportunity in other areas outside of a classroom setting.  I am not a teacher, therefore; my background is not in a classroom.  However, I find it very interesting to read documents such as these. My position also allows me to have a different view point. I am able to examine and use the techniques from a different vantage point. Several years ago, I began my initial journey to become a teacher. Although my plans changed, I cherish the knowledge I gained from my coursework. It was during that time that I became acquainted with Bloom’s taxonomy. Bloom’s taxonomy is not only a great tool for teachers as they develop lesson plans and activities for students, but it also provides valuable techniques I have found useful throughout my time building my career. I use these same steps through training employees and working with children outside of a classroom setting. The steps described are important to successful teaching and learning for every student, at every age, in various settings. Much like building a structure you must first start with the foundation. 

The Kuhn article explains how we can use Bloom’s taxonomy in today’s world. Today’s world is a digital world. As a mother of two young children, I am constantly amazed at the understanding digital literacy I see daily. Even my 5-year-old can successfully operate a MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. In our digital age, it is even more important now that educators use technology to assist in learning. Today’s students will never know a world without technology. Technology is simply a part of who they are. It only makes sense for it to also be a huge part of their learning.

It is important for educators and instructors to acknowledge the ability of their students and use technology in a way that not replaces but enhances learning. Classrooms are no longer just a teacher standing up in front of a classroom and writing on a chalk board. Today’s students do not only use paper and pen to take notes. Technology has allowed classrooms to be more student driven, independent learning environments. Technology enables teachers to teach in a different way. It allows teachers to engage their students in a way that is much different than many of us knew in elementary and high school.

The use of technology can be daunting for many, especially for educators that have been doing things the same way for many years. There are different teaching styles and strengths when referring to both students and teachers. Providing students and teachers with access to technology is not enough. Each must know how to proper and safety use what is available.  It is extremely important for administration to provide opportunities for all educators and instructors to experience and learn how to best use technology in their classroom or learning environment. It is also important that educators know and teach the importance of proper use of technology. This sometimes means that we, as educators, must step out of our comfort zone and be willing to try something new.  If we are going to make an impact, we must never stop learning ourselves.

Theories of Critical Thinking

Over the years, education has made some drastic changes throughout the years and will and continue to make changes. One such change includes the use of technology. The traditional methods of teaching are currently fading out of the classrooms and moving towards the Digital Age. In education, teachers have always been faced with the task of using instructional strategies that engage students. Not only are we are faced with the challenge of using new and engaging instructional strategies; but we are being directed towards using instructional strategies that incorporate technology. As educators, we have a duty to recognize how technology can engage students and make learning meaningful for them.

                In 1956, Bloom’s taxonomy was developed as a classification of intellectual objectives and skills essential to learning. For over 50 years, these objectives have been used to structure lessons, guide learning, and assess students' performance (Huitt, 2011).  Anderson and Krathwohl updated Bloom’s taxonomy to indicate outcome focused objectives. (Huitt, 2011). Bloom’s Taxonomy is a great tool for education because it provides a framework for educators. Bloom’s taxonomy can be used to help design lessons that integrate technology tools that allows students to demonstrate all the levels (Kuhn, 2008).

                In education, we are constantly exposed to new and improved digital tools. Using digital tools is important, however, trying to have the latest technologies are not important (Hobbs, 2011). The primary focus should be on how the digital tool will contribute to your instructional strategy and to become familiar with how to use that tool. As educators, we can become overwhelmed with all the digital tools that we are sometimes are required to use.

                These articles have provided great insight on ways to help integrate technology. As a potential administrator, my goal for technology will be to have 100% of teachers using technology in their classroom instruction. However, I know that teacher beliefs and ability to use technology are not the same. As I reflect on The Adoption Process article, I know that I will have teachers that are innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards (Rogers, 1963). As a teacher, I know that students learn best by modelling. As a school administrator, I feel the same concept is true when getting teachers on board to using technology. A school administrator should use technology and be knowledgeable and effective users. Administrators set the climate for the entire school, I can not expect my teachers to provide meaningful technology integration if I don’t use it. Administrators that have an active role in technology integration will find it easier to get teachers on board to using technology.

Theories of Critical Thinking

I have been teaching music for 18 years. It is certain that I have been at every stage of the adoption process throughout my career as an educator. that technology would never be used in the music classroom that much. How could technology ever teach a child to read music, comprehend it, and be a creative musician? I now use apps and music software daily to plan my lessons as well as teach my band students how to use the technology themselves.
The digital world has changed quickly. It is hard to keep up with the technology as it changes almost daily. Teaching and learning is no longer just about books, paper, and pencils. As educators and innovators, we must embrace the new technology, find what gets results, use it, and continue to seek new strategies to improve. The digital age can be overwhelming. I have at times been the opinion leader helping out and modeling how to use technology to older teachers and students. As I have become the “older” teacher, I seek out advice from younger teachers and even students when trying to comprehend the latest tech gadget.

The Kuhn article sums up how we can use Bloom’s taxonomy in today’s digital age. Our school is a 1 to 1 school and I see firsthand the innovative ways teachers are teaching students. I have two elementary school aged boys that amaze me with the things they can do on a computer or even on a game system. They are creating innovative projects and learning at a level that I could have never imagined at their age. Cutting edge technology is definitely providing the tools teachers need to reach all kinds of learners.
As educators, we all agree that we want our students to learn and make progress. As we continue to progress in the digital world that we live in, it is our responsibility to embrace technology and use it to get results. That does not mean we have to use everything that is available and it doesn’t mean that we have to stay close to what we are comfortable with either. As a music teacher, I teach students to be comfortable making music but to not be afraid to go out of their comfort zone to experience new music. I hope to set that example as an educator as well and use technology as a way to be a better teacher and learner.

Theories of Critical Thinking

The first article I read was the Fundamental Change in Education. Being a third grade, regular education teacher at a title one school, I have seen many students that are not engaged, bored, or just do not seem to care about school. They have a hard time seeing the importance in their education at that age. In this article they talk about students learning on a deeper level by pushing purposeful planning of lessons to the real world and by having students be creative in their learning. This real world connection just started to be a huge focal point for me in the past two years. I didn't think writing word problems in math using real world concepts would change the way students viewed math, but I was wrong. The idea of students understanding how a new concept can help or impact their future learning, or jobs, made the students seem more curious. While I was reading this article the first thing that came to mind was the STEM activities that I have done with my class.

This article also talks about the world today being more digitally driven. This is very true and one of the main reasons I chose this major. I want to be able to utilize and be successful at using technology in my classroom. I think technology is an amazing tool for our students that could really benefit them as learners. Teachers no longer have to stand and lecture a class all day, while having them do book work that is directly linked to the standard. Now with technology, we can have our students making powerpoints, prezi's, research, google docs for partnership, the possibilities are endless. The students can now make real world connections while learning new things that might not be part of the standard ( like how to collaborate, put their ideas into words). Using techonology in these ways will help reach a higher level of thinking.

Being a math and science teacher, Bloom's Taxonomy is a vital part of planning my lessons. Most of our lessons are concepts built off he basic understanding. We move from writing an equation and labeling each part to eventually being able to see someone else's work and identify errors made within their work. In our school district, Educational objectives and learning targets are the big push this year. The verbs that are used in this article are exactly what we have been focused on using for our learning targets. I thought it was interesting to see how changing just the verbs in your objectives, or targets, can decipher what level your students are at according to the taxonomy.


Although those are the two articles that stuck out most to me, Connecting Depth and Balance In Class was also a fascinating read. All teaching work with students that have different learning styles. We all work with students that learn at a faster pace or a slower pace than others also. Technology is definitely a helpful tool when trying to meet each student where they are according to their level of learning. They also talk about how some people are very excited to jump right in and start using technology in every way possible, but others are very hesitant. This reins true in every school. I know many teachers and other professionals that just aren't sure they want to rely so heavily on technology. My co-workers and I use google drive to keep all of our resources together to help us collaborate and share useful resources, our school uses a program called I-Ready to gather data on our math scores, and we use a program called reading eggs to gather data for our students in reading. These programs also have lessons that go along with the standards of the grade they are currently enrolled, but use resources from previous grades so each student can have differentiated instruction. I love that this article highlights the idea that technology is a helpful tool for day to day use in a regular education classroom that is practical.

Theories of Critical Thinking Blog Post

After reading these articles, I completely agree that as teachers we need to make learning, “irresistibly engaging” for students (Fullan, M. & Langworthy, M. (2014). A rich seam: How new pedagogies find deep learning. London: Pearson.). It is our job to create real life problem solving for students so that their learning is connected to the world around them. In my teaching philosophy, I talk about how the goal for my students is to become lifelong learners.  In my opinion becoming lifelong learners is way more important than just memorizing spelling words. Technology is opening doors in the classroom for higher engagement. Technology allows students to create, explore, and research all at their fingertips. This is why the role of teachers and students is changing in the classroom. In order to engage students, we have to know what students are interested in, and build on their knowledge from there. I understand you can’t let a student who only wants to learn about sharks, research them all year, but you can create a math PowerPoint or google classroom activity with a shark on it, and all the sudden the student’s engagement has went up tremendously. Technology opens these doors and expands resources for students and teachers. 

Anyone who has ever been in an education class knows about Blooms Taxonomy, but technology allows us to take mastery into any even deeper meaning. Technology allows us to not only see that they have mastered a skill on a handwritten test, but it also lets us see how they apply that skill in the real world. Digital tools have taken Blooms Taxonomy to a different level. 

In the article, “The Adoption process”, it talks about change. Some people are for it, and others take longer to accept it. In my classroom, I have started ‘Genius Hour”. Some people have made comments about it “taking away from curriculum time”, or “why teach it if we don’t test on it”, but my students absolutely love having control over their own learning. In reality this isn’t taking away from curriculum at all, it is actually just allowing them to have a deeper understanding into the standards we are supposed to teach. I am not standing in front of the class and having them memorize the parts of a plant, they are growing a plant, and researching it all on their own.  Slowly other teachers have jumped on board with it this year, and I have even held a technology PD in my room discussing the topic. 

Education is always changing. I think as educators it is important that we are flexible and that we adapt and change with it. We have to remember that we are teaching the future. We are preparing students for some jobs that don’t even exist yet. It is our job to teach children to be lifelong learners, and for us to be lifelong learners ourselves. I love the way that technology has opened doors in my classroom. Some lesson have bombed, and some lessons have soared, but the importance is that we try to teach to the adapting and changing world that our students are growing up in. 

Theories of Critical Thinking

These articles gave great insight to where the norm is going in regard to technology in the classroom. I have been in education for 15+ years and I can see more and more that technology is being brought to the forefront of education and how teachers run their classroom. When I began teaching many years ago I had a chalkboard, students used paper and pencil to take notes and take tests, standardized tests were given paper-pencil style, and the use of computers where used only in the lab. Now we have a computer initiative for each student and standardized tests are given with the computers. We, as teachers, are asked to incorporate technology into our classroom as much as possible because this is the way our world is headed and we must include technology into our classrooms to keep up with this ever-changing technological world.

Looking back on education classes in college and the professional development I received early in my career, I can remember the importance of Bloom's Taxonomy. This hierarchy of learning begins with the basic skills of knowledge and ends with the evaluation of learning. Students must master each step before moving on to the new one. Some students would move quickly up the "ladder" and for some they would never make it to the top. This was difficult for teachers to create lessons for all students since students learn at a different pace. With the use of technology, students are now allowed to learn at their own pace and research the material. Students have more resources than ever to learn the concept and complete a project. Teachers must take the leap and incorporate technology and get out their head that it can't be done, I don't have enough time, I don't know how to help the students use technology, or I don't want to use technology. Technology is the way of this generation and we must all do our part to ensure student success and student learning.

Teachers must also realize that the time is now to take a step back and let their classroom be more student led than teacher led. I have noticed that I do less lecturing in front of the classroom and I do more of monitoring student activities. I still do my part as a teacher to cover the material and teach the standards but with the use of technology, I can assign a project or have the students do a hands-on activity and just let them go. Students are more apt to remember the material when they are having fun, enjoying class, and being actively engaged in learning. My classroom has become a more active classroom with more activities, projects, and research. Students are coloring, cutting, gluing, finding answers to problems, looking up formulas, and student-centered activities than ever before. I can also see that those who seemed to be "left behind" are now the ones making better grades and enjoying being at school and learning.

After reading the articles, reflecting on my classroom, and speaking with other colleagues there may still be some issues. Coming from a rural school, I know that not every household has the internet and access to a computer. We must be mindful that not all students are proficient with technology and we must do our job as educators to teach ALL students. Every district, every school, and every classroom is unique and it is our job to find out what works for our classroom and our students.