Day 11 - Online Graphing Tools

Today's assignment consisted of creating and publishing two online documents (Google Docs), each containing a heading, an executive summary, and a chart, which was created using Kid's Zone.

The intent of this exercise was to allow us to purposefully create and publish online documents that contain text and graphics that are designed for maximum visual impact. In the same way that numbers may be manipulated to make a point (liars, damned liars, and statisticians), visual images may also be tweaked to maximize the message. Of interest to the instructor was our ability to select the appropriate type of chart and formatting options to emphasize our points.

Document 1 compares the available 4th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematical scores for West Virginia compared to the national average for the last 3 test administrations. Document 1 includes a narrative executive summary and graphic that describes the data year by year as well as any noticeable trends within the data. Document 1 also includes a request for additional funding to address the differences between West Virginia and the national scores.  

Document 2 compares the available 8th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science scores for West Virginia compared to the national average for the last 3 test administrations. Document 2 includes a narrative executive summary and graphic that describes the data year by year as well as any noticeable trends within the data. Document 2 also includes a defense of the performance of the state and the money that has been allotted when referring to the differences between West Virginia and the national scores.

Activity Outcomes: Students can purposely create, integrate, publish, interpret, and discuss graphic images using line or bar charts.

Online Graphing Tools – Sample NETS T Reflection
The tasks included collecting data NCES.
Summarizing Data Using Text – Google Docs and Graphically – Kid’s Zone
Analyzing Data – Google Docs
The tasks included creating, publishing, and sharing our data.

The big picture activities for this activity relate to several ISTE NET T standards. In particular the use of online tools to access “real world issues” and information such as "How WV Compares to the Nation in Academic Progress" using the (NCES)site. Creating graphics using online tools (Kid’s Zone) and creating & publishing documents (Google Docs). Sharing our content using (Blogger) is required for all of our assignments. These activities hit several standards in particular:
1b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and
      resources
3c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of
     digital-age media and formats
5c. Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis
      to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support
      of student learning

Day 10 - Diigo and Wordle

Today, in class, we created a Diggo account and learned how to create a bookmark using Diigo. We also learned how to add a gadget called "link" to our blogs and learned how to add the bookmark as a link under the "link" section on the side bar our blogs. After we had completed that assignment, we learned how to add a poll to our blogs by adding the gadget "poll" and creating our own polls that could be seen on the side bar of our blogs. We then learned how to create a word cloud using Wordle and learned how to add the link to Wordle as well as our word clouds under the "link" section on the side bar our blogs, learned how to embed the word cloud image within today's blog posts, and learned how to add a link to the Wordle website within today's blog posts.


Using Wordle as tool to analyze text can reveal some interesting results. Technology standards have changed dramatically away from technology as tools to technology to support learning. See the Wordle of the "Pledge of Allegiance" by clicking here or by viewing it below:

ISTE NETS T Standards:

2a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

3d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

Day 9 - Jing Video Capturing

Jing allows video capture as well as image capture. The output format is .awf -a Flash video file. Being able to capture images and video is important in that you can incorporate items from your screen into a variety of documents including word processing docs., web pages, and presentations. I wanted to show how you insert clip art into a word document.

The screencasted version of my video is available online 

Creating a digital video without a camera
Publishing a video to the web (Free screencast account)

ISTE NETS T Standard:
3d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

Day 8 - Teaching Jig Graphics

Click here to see my picture on the web

Below is my embedded picture:

ISTE NETS T Standards:

2a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

2d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

Day 8 - Bits of Fun

Self Portrait

We created an online self portrait in the cubist style of Picasso using a free website called Picasso Head.

Learning Outcomes

• Share/Link using available online tools
• Explicit links using a public URL
• Snipping images you cannot right mouse click on
• Embedding images in a blog post

1.) Automatically share from host site to blogger spot by Portrait by Anonymous: "Picassohead". This is the built in "Share" feature from the Picassohead web site.

2.) Click here to see my self portrait. "Explicit link" to my self portrait in the PicassoHead galley from the public URL.

3.) Embedded snipped object is included above.

ISTE NETS T Standards:
1a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
1c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes

Day 7 - The Value of Empathy in Education

My score is 48. 

I have benefited from empathy in that I can easily relate to the feelings of others and easily find the proper words and actions to sympathize with them and comfort them. On the other hand, I have been hurt by lack of empathy when it comes to others not understanding the reason that I am so greatly affected by someone or something in a negative manor. Because of my own experience with hurt due to lack of empathy, my instruction and assessment will often incorporate empathy, mostly through discussions and writing assignments based on how my students feel towards a given situation or person and, most importantly, why they feel that way.

ISTE has developed NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) for both students and teachers, and these standards must be presented, practiced, and assessed in the classroom. The purpose of the NETS is to ensure that all students are receiving the digital skills that are necessary for success in the 21st century. For instance, in the classroom, teachers are required to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity, design digital-age learning experiences and assessments, and model digital-age work, all while promoting digital citizenship and responsibility. As a result, students must be able use technology to demonstrate creativity, communicate with one another, gather information, and solve problems. Through NETS, students have the opportunity to interact with one another and, thereby, recognize and share feelings that are being experienced by another semi-sentient being.

ISTE NETS T Standards:
1b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
2b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
2c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

2d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

Day 6 - 4 Personality Temperaments Post #3

The four personality types are: Guardians, Idealists, Rationals, Artisans.

Awareness of personal characteristcs improve perfromance in a learning environment because you gain success by better understanding yourself, your strengths, and your weaker points, based on a better understanding of your own personality and those around you.

ISTE NETS T Standard:
4b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

Day 6 - 4 Personality Temperaments Post #2

My results were the same as my previous prognostication. Because I am considered a Guardian, I believe that I will have no trouble leading a class of students, for I find it easy to speak mostly of their duties and responsibilities and to keep an eye on what needs to be done, seeing that such tasks are completed quickly yet efficiently. I also believe that I will have little trouble amongst a group of teachers or a cadre of principles, for I find it simple to obey the laws, follow the rules, and respect the rights of others.

ISTE NETS T Standard:
4b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

Day 6 - 4 Personality Temperaments Post #1

Although I have no experience with personality tests, I think my personality would be Guardian, Idealist, Artisan, Rational based upon the descriptions. I think that my personality would most likely be categorized as a Guardian because I consider myself a responsible individual who speaks mostly of my duties and responsibilities and who speaks of what I can keep my eye on and take good care of; I also consider myself as one who obeys the laws, follows the rules, and respects the rights of others. 

ISTE NETS T Standard:
4b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

Day 5 - Google Forms

Today, we learned how to create a Google form. Additionally, we learned types of questions within a form as well as how to use the editing view. We then learned how to edit a form, how to create a link to that form, and how to adjust the theme of that form. After that, we learned how to share the doument, how to summarize the data, and how to use the snipping tool to retrieve the charts and data from the excel formulas sort.

Click here for the link to the survey
Click here for the link to results

ISTE NETS T Standards:

3a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations

3b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation

3c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats

3d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning