Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Ashley Shaw - Reflection Part 2

How has the process been? 
Overall I really enjoyed creating my proposal presentation. I liked analyzing the needs of the students in my class and prioritizing technology in order to help my students engage and enhance their learning. 

Have there been challenges? 
There have been a few challenges throughout this process, however all of them were relatively small and easy to manage. One issue was that kids in the class come without charged Chromebooks. However, my co-teacher and I knew that was going to happen, so we were prepared. We borrowed extra chargers and charging strips from the technology department at our school. The other issue is helping students to stay on task, and be on the appropriate websites. Luckily, our district has a subscription to Hapara where the teachers are in control of what websites they are allowed to be on during a specific period of time. This helped to alleviate a lot of issues. 

Are you still excited about your topic and believe in its potential? 
I am very excited about using technology to increase engagement! My students have been very motivated to use technology and make their lives easier. However, little do they know, it is also helping them to understand the material on a deeper and more meaningful level. 

What has been the most positive aspect of your journey? 
The most positive aspect of this journey has been that the students in the class are getting a robust understanding of the material, unlike ever before. The online graphing calculator allows them to do things that would be essentially impossible, or at the very least time consuming, quickly, efficiently, and effectively. 
The most negative (if any!)? 
So far, I do not want to jinx it, but there have been no negatives to the process. I feel like my students have been more engaged and interested in the material. Additionally, they are more motivated to participate in the activities because they like to use Desmos and their computers.    

What do you think of being a teacher or in essence a "Learning Specialist/Instructional Designer" in their classroom who utilizes technology to enhance learning for all their students? 
I think that every teacher needs to utilize technology in their classrooms. At this point learning without technology is basically impossible. However, the way that you use technology in the classroom is important. As a teacher you need to think about how you can elevate learning, help students to take ownership of their education, reach levels that would be impossible without technology, and redefine what a typical day looks like.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Ashley Shaw - Reflection Part 1

 Engagement is a key component in learning. When students are bored or disengaged they are less likely to meet the objectives of a lesson or a class. For my project I would like to increase engagement through the use of technology. Overall, I think it is going well so far. One way that I have gotten my students to buy-in to using the technology is as a manner of making their lives a little bit easier. For example, in my Algebra II class students are asked to find the measures of center for a set of data, and then explain what that information means in relation to the data set. This is not necessarily a difficult task, but it can take a lot of time. However, as a class the students were able to open Desmos, create, and save a calculator that calculates most of the measures of center for them in a manner of seconds. Additionally, it can create tables, graphs, and box plots as a visual representation of the data.  Not only is technology helping them to engage more in the lesson, but it is also helping them to understand the content that we are currently learning.

In my Intermediate Algebra II class we are talking about quadratic equations. Once again, we utilize Desmos to get them to engage in the material. They are able to quickly graph parabolas, find the vertex, axis of symmetry, domain and range quickly and efficiently with the help of technology. In the future, we will also build and save a calculator that will help students to perform the quadratic formula and find the real roots of the quadratic. I feel like my students have a positive attitude toward technology because they are learning and growing in a way that they feel comfortable with. 

That being said, there are still times when it is difficult to get the students to open their Chromebooks and participate. Luckily in most of my classes I have a co-teacher and between the two of us we are able to reason with the students that opening their Chromebooks and using Desmos will help to make their life easier and their understanding deeper. Another issue that occasionally pops up is the fact that many students come to class with dead Chromebooks. Luckily we have a few extra chargers that we let students use, or they are able to go to the technology classroom, get a loaner, and charge their device. All in all, I would say that implementing technology in the classroom more has really helped students to engage and take ownership of their learning. 


Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Work Smarter, Not Harder

 Prior to this class I actually had quite a bit of experience with AI, but I never really thought about it from that perspective. As I was reading over this week’s coursework, I realized that I use AI all the time! I have a fitness tracker, I use Siri and Alexa regularly, GPS on my car, a backup camera, etc. However, I did not really use it to enhance my teaching until more recently. 

Last year at one of our institute days we had a speaker come to discuss AI and, more specifically, ChatGPT. I had never used the tool before in my own classroom, but I was very interested to see what our speaker had to say. At first I was skeptical, and believed that I would never use AI in my own classroom. However, by the end of his lecture I realized that was untrue. ChatGPT has a ton of capabilities that I had never considered! Since his speech I have now used AI to generate practice problems, brainstorm different lessons I could use that incorporated stop-motion animation, plan an itinerary for a vacation, and more! I still am a little hesitant to use it to have it do other things for me, because I still like the idea of generating my own ideas and lessons, but I am way more open to using AI than I ever thought I would be!


While I have never actually used it in a lesson with my own students I know that they love to use AI! Last year I had a student in my class who was very self-motivated. He decided that he wanted to switch his schedule for the following year, but he knew that he would need to contact the assistant principal of Curriculum and Instruction. Even though the student is very confident, he did not usually have regular conversations with the assistant principal, so he turned to AI to help make this communication seem more professional. He typed in the stipulations for the email that he wanted to send, and ChatGPT generated a letter. The letter sounded very professional and thoughtful. I think he used AI in an appropriate and effective way! It was cool to see him thinking outside of the box!


Image Source: Simplilearn

I think that technology, and AI Specifically, is a great way to enhance learning and create opportunities that were previously impossible. AI has made my own life so much easier, but I never want it to take the place of learning. I think that if you use AI appropriately, to help you brainstorm, answer a question that you are having, etc. it is great! However, it should not take the place of hard work and learning. I feel like at times students use AI to write them an essay that they just did not feel like writing, or summarize a story that they did not want to read. In this case I just think AI is promoting laziness and unpreparedness. However, overall I think AI is a powerful tool that can help make students understand concepts at a deeper and more meaningful level. 


Monday, October 7, 2024

End of an Era

Image Source: Tenor

I wanted to start off with my new and improved GIF, because I think it speaks a lot to the transition that has occurred over the last eight weeks of this class. At the beginning of any new class, semester, life experience, etc. I always feel very overwhelmed. I tend to look at the big picture, rather than breaking things up into more manageable pieces. However, by the end I am feeling much more like Kristen Wiig in this GIF. I am so excited I cannot even stand it! 


There are many reasons for my excitement levels being sky high, and the first one is that this class was a really great experience. I feel like I was introduced to so many resources that I was previously unaware of. The week that we talked about accessibility allowed me to explore so many different extensions for Google Chrome, that I have begun to incorporate into my own lessons. I also loved coming up with a curated collection of things, websites, podcasts, books, etc. that I enjoyed, and sharing it with everyone else. I enjoyed clicking through my classmates' collections as well, I plan on using them as a resource in the future! Finally, I loved creating my own website! I always thought it would be an awesome resource for my classes, but I was too nervous to create one myself. Now, I have a website that I can use as a baseline to share important information with my students presently and in the future.


Additionally, my perspective on technology in education has shifted slightly. I have always thought that technology is key in order to enhance learning. However, I never thought about how being part of a professional learning network could improve how I use technology in the classroom. I am going to continue to network and learn more about what free resources are available, what fun activities I can include in my own lessons, and how I can make my class more engaging and active. Overall, I think this class has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone into new and exciting lessons!


One other aspect of the class that I absolutely loved was the assignment tracker! It helped me to stay focused and organized. It also helped with my anxiety, because it was nice to see what I needed to get done on a weekly basis. I think that in the future I may implement this with my own students! I think it will be a great way for my students to take ownership of their learning! It will give them more responsibility and prepare them for the real world!


Finally, on a personal level, this is my second to last grad school class possibly ever! While I love to learn and expand my knowledge on various topics (especially educational technology), I am looking forward to taking a break! I will take all the amazing things I have learned throughout this experience and, hopefully, use it to amplify student learning!


It’s the end of an era…

Image Source: GIPHY



Getting the Dirt

As a millennial who is mildly obsessed with social media I was a little bit nervous about conducting the data dig about my life. While I try my best to make sure everything I post is thoughtful and appropriate, there was a time in my life when college-Ashley was not always so vigilant. 

Places 
I started my dig at Peek You. This website definitely was able to locate me, however the information, for better or worse, was a little sparse. The website was able to link me to a different website, Instant Checkmate where many connections were made. The first thing I noticed was they were able to identify many towns that are meaningful in my life: 
  • Elmwood Park - where I grew up 
  • Palatine - where I live now
  • Normal - where I went to college 
  • Niles - although I never lived there, my grandma did.

Image Source: Instant Checkmate




 People

As I continued my data dig, I noticed many of my family members were listed as my connections. There were a few people that I did not know, but many of them are my very close family members. 

  • Frank Shaw - my grandpa

  • John Shaw - my dad

  • Joseph Shaw - my brother

  • Laurie Shaw - my mom

  • Marianne Shaw - my aunt

  • Nora Shaw - my grandma

When I was on other websites I found very similar results, with even more people! While all of the family members I listed above have the same last name as me, on another website I found my maternal grandparents. 


Social Media

Later on I switched to Edge to do more research into myself. I started off by Googling my most common username “ashaw314.” My results were not super exciting, in fact only my Pinterest portfolio.


Social Media

Later on I switched to Edge to do more research into myself. I started off by Googling my most common username “ashaw314.” My results were not super exciting, in fact only my Pinterest portfolio. 




Social Media

Later on I switched to Edge to do more research into myself. I started off by Googling my most common username “ashaw314.” My results were not super exciting, in fact only my Pinterest portfolio. 



Image Source: Personal Screenshot



Then I decided to try to Google my name, once including and once excluding my middle initial. When I excluded my middle initial none of the results were actually me. However, when I included my middle initial I was able to find my address, age, and previous address right on the page. 


When I clicked on the first link, True People Search, I was able to find a lot more information that was in regards to my life. Including a street view of my house, as well as information about my house including how much I paid for it, property taxes, the school district I live in, etc. 

Image Source: Personal Screenshot


Reaction

I understand why doing a data dig could really stress out a lot of people. However, I was excited to see how my experience would pan out. I think part of the reason I was not too worried was that I do not really have anything to hide. I want to see what other people could find out about me. The only thing I did not love was that people were able to easily find my address. However, that is public record, so I understand that people can access that information. 


As far as teaching my students this in school, I do think it is a very valid point for teachers to make. I think at times students have tunnel vision, and they do not realize that whatever they post will live on forever. Having a friendly reminder of this is very important! Many times students have gotten into trouble based on posts they have made outside of school. Knowledge of this can help students to be mindful of what they are posting, because you never know what someone can find in the future.










Monday, September 30, 2024

Architects of Education

Every teacher is like an architect. While architects build houses, office buildings, parks, etc., teachers build knowledge. However, both teachers and architects need to take many things into consideration when they are designing their “projects.” 


A teacher has to ask themselves many questions before they begin to design their lessons, and here are just a few: 

  • How do my students learn best? 

  • What is the objective of the lesson? 

  • How can I differentiate in order to make sure the lesson is meaningful and accessible to all of the students in the classroom? 

  • What tools do I have available to me to help make the learning experience more valuable?


In my previous job I worked as a Special Education teacher in a middle school. My job was essentially to create lesson plans that met the learning standards of the district, while also making sure that the material was accessible to all of the students in my classroom. Throughout this time I became very familiar with tools that Google has embedded into Chrome that help students read, understand, and navigate text in a meaningful way. My students often used text-to-speech, translating, and voice-to-text  extensions on Chrome to make their learning experience valuable. 


Image Source: Google Play
One of my favorite students of all time struggled with written expression. He was able to read without any issues, but when it came time to responding to prompts, writing essays, or even Googling a question he could not seem to put the letters in the correct order. However, that did not stop him. He would always use the Read&Write for Google tool so that he could speak into the computer in order to get his message across. Additionally, he would use the voice to text tool on Google searches just so that he was able to see the correct spelling of the word he wanted to use in his writing. 



Due to my background as a special education teacher, I feel like I have gained so much insight as to how I can accommodate students in order for them to really understand the material that we are focusing on at a given time. I try to provide students with multiple explanations of the same material in order to appeal to all different types of learners. For example, sometimes we draw pictures, graphs,  and diagrams of what we are learning so that they can see how changing a variable or number really makes an impact on the figure. Other times, we sing songs to help them remember a formula that we are using to solve problems. Additionally, something else that I do regularly is assign students videos for them to watch independently, and then ask questions. This is generally their homework assignment, but what I love about it is the student is in full control of the video. They can put on closed-captioning if that helps them understand the material better. They can replay the video as many times as they want, change the speed, ask me private questions rather than having to ask in front of the whole class, etc. I think setting up my classroom in this manner is also my strength. 


That being said, I still have a lot of room for growth. The area that I would like to improve the most is incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into my classroom as an accessibility tool. I strongly believe that in the next few years AI is going to be a huge part of education, and I would like to figure out how I can plan lessons in such a way that the students are utilizing AI to enhance their learning, understanding, and knowledge. 



Image Source: Ashley Shaw




Monday, September 23, 2024

The Good Old Days?

Close your eyes, and let’s go back in time to the year 2003. It was, in my opinion, a much simpler time. I was in eighth grade gearing up for high school, and the summer was mine! I had a brand new cell phone, but that cell phone only made phone calls, no texting, no internet. My friends and I would wander around our town all day, and then go home on AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and chat all night. Although we were connected to one another it was not the same as it is today. 


Now, students are connected to each other 100% of the time. Which, I think, makes being a teenager far more difficult than it ever was before. Bullying is not a new concept, but when students are doing it virtually it is much harder to monitor and much easier to be done in a covert manner. According to Pew Research Center, 69% of parents and 44% of teens agree.




Image Source: Pew Internet

That being said, there are definitely aspects of being a teenager that are easier now, and in this case 15% of parents and 12% of teens feel that way. Students have access to so much more information at their fingertips than ever before. Artificial intelligence (AI) was not even on most people’s RADAR three or four years ago, but today it is something that a large percentage of our population is very familiar with. 

Image Source: Pew Internet



In another article that I read, Common Sense Media reported people’s perception of AI. At this point slightly more than half of people ages 14-22 have used AI, but only 4% of those people use it everyday (Teen and young adult perspectives on generative AI). I myself, while I do not fall into that age range, would definitely fall into the category of someone who uses AI occasionally. I think it can be a great tool to advance learning, but it should not replace learning. In the same article, 53% of people use AI to gain information, which is essentially the same as Googling a question (which is what I have always done). I think that is a great way to implement AI, because students are learning using AI as a tool rather than a replacement for learning. The same article also reported that 51% of people use AI to brainstorm! Once again, I think this is a great use of the technology! Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with multiple ideas for a project, and having the help of Artificial Intelligence makes the beginning process so much easier. I used AI this summer when I had to create a lesson plan that featured stop-motion animation. Since that is a strategy that is new to me it was wonderful to have AI available to help me come up with new and interesting ideas. 


In the end, it is my belief that technology has definitely made some aspects of life far more difficult than it needs to be. I am very grateful that I was a teenager in the 2000s! That being said, professionally, technology (like AI) has given me the ability to take my students places that would have been impossible just a few years ago. 


References

Faverio, M. (2024, August 27). Why many parents and teens think it’s harder being a teen today. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/feature/why-many-parents-and-teens-think-its-harder-being-a-teen-today/ 

Teen and young adult perspectives on generative AI. (n.d.). https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/teen-and-young-adult-perspectives-on-generative-ai.pdf 





Monday, September 16, 2024

The Competitive Edge

 

What is Active Learning?

According to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Educational Innovation,
Active Learning “refers to a broad range of teaching strategies which engage students as active participants in their learning during class time with their instructor” (Active learning). I believe that
Students learn best when they are engaging with the material that they are learning. Working with other students, explaining concepts to each other, and taking ownership of their own learning are all aspects of Active Learning, just to name a few.  I think not only does Active Learning make learning more enjoyable, but also more meaningful. When students are motivated to learn they, in my opinion, are also much more likely to retain the information. 



Image Source: GIPHY

Active Review Sessions (Games)


One of my all time favorite things to do is watch game shows! I love them! Due to this love for game shows, and competition, I have always enjoyed incorporating games into my classroom. I think it is a great way to motivate the students to practice the problems that we have been learning on a particular day, week, or in a unit.

When I was a student teacher I was in a double period Algebra I class for students who struggled with math. The first half of the class was guided notes and a few practice problems, but then after the break the students were given the opportunity to do practice problems in a game-like situation. Many of the games were structured in the same way. The teacher created a slide deck with practice problems, the students complete the problems individually or in small groups, and then they are awarded points for correct answers. Once they are done, they have the opportunity to earn bonus points (even if they did not get the question correct). Some of the games included throwing paper balls into the garbage can, putting a golf ball into a hole, Bozo Buckets, etc. We also did things like a relay race, where one student did one step of a problem, passed it back to another student who did the next step, and so on until the problem was solved.


Even though the students did not love math they really enjoyed playing these games! They were motivated to participate, because they wanted to win! Many times winning also included candy or extra credit as rewards. Today, I play many of these games in my own classes. The students are actively engaged in the problems because they enjoy playing the games.   


Another one of my favorite games that we play in class frequently is a scavenger hunt. This game really lends itself to math very nicely! The students are asked to solve a problem, and then look around the room for the answer. Once they find the answer, they flip the paper and solve the next problem. Each paper has a letter on it, and once they solve all the problems a hidden message is uncovered. Some of these ideas may seem trivial, however the students seem to enjoy it much more than worksheets or taking notes. 


Here are some examples of games that I have played in my classroom:

Jeopardy (foolishly I made my own game even though they have some templates available online) 

Scavenger Hunt

Shooting Hoops


References:

Active learning. Active Learning | Center for Educational Innovation. (n.d.).
https://cei.umn.edu/teaching-resources/active-learning 


Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Personalities and PLNs

 16 Personalities 

Image Source: 16 Personalities


The first personality test that I took was the 16 Personalities test. I have to say, overall I think the results are spot on. Some of the strengths of the ESFJ personality include practical skills, sense of duty, loyalty, sensitivity, and connecting with others. I hope, and believe, that I possess many of these traits. Out of those strengths the one that sticks out to me the most is connecting with others. In fact, I believe that is my greatest strength as a teacher. Making students feel comfortable, heard, and understood makes an immense difference when you are trying to get them to do anything else. I go out of my way to make connections with students, talk to them about things that are unrelated to what we are learning in class, remember the things they say that they like, and ask questions. Doing these things seems small and insignificant, but I truly think it makes the students more engaged in everything else that we do. They know that I care, first and foremost, about who they are as people and therefore they are willing to  work harder in my class. While this, I would say, is my biggest strength, I do think that there are some weaknesses that also align with my ESFJ result. 


Some of the weaknesses that the ESFJ test results revealed were worry about what others think of them, inflexibility, vulnerability to criticism, neediness, and being too selfless. I definitely connect with these weaknesses, and possess many more that were not included in this list. However, out of the ones that they listed I would say that I connect most to vulnerability to criticism and inflexibility. Let’s begin with vulnerability to criticism. I always want people to think the best of me, I want everyone to understand that I am trying my best, and working hard. When someone, especially someone close to me, questions what I am doing or critiques my work I automatically start sweating. It makes me anxious to think that people think I am lazy or not doing quality work. I know at times this is all in my head, but it is something that I struggle with consistently. Next, inflexibility! I am a creature of habit, no doubt about it! Sometimes, I have to take a deep breath and realize that things do not always have to work out perfectly, in the exact way that I want it to. At times, things come up and it is important to be able to pivot. This is something that I struggle to remember, however it is also something that I am constantly working on. In the end, I agree that the strengths and weaknesses in my results do align with my personality. 


There are so many other aspects of the ESFJ personality that I feel very connected to. I love taking tests like this, and understanding who I am. I think this impacts how I interact with others and decisions that I make about my own life. I am conscious of things that I struggle with and use self-talk to help me make the decisions that may be out of my comfort zone, but best overall. 


Image Source: GIPHY



How Good are Your Leadership Skills?


Image Source: MindTools


The second test that I took assessed how good my leadership skills are. I was happy with my score, 76 out of 90 points. I enjoyed taking this test because I love the idea that there is always room for improvement. I like having a goal and becoming a better leader is important to me. I think in order to be a good leader you have to be creative, a good listener, delegate tasks based on the strengths and weaknesses of the people that you are leading, etc. However, if you look at my previous results, sometimes I can be a little inflexible. I think that in order to achieve my goal of improving my leadership skills, I am going to work on being more flexible and relinquishing control in such a way that it is beneficial for my students.



My Personality Test

Image Source: My Personality Test


The final test that I took was the shortened version of the Myers Briggs personality test. These results were very similar to the first test that I took, although at a quick glance they seem to be very different. When I first looked at this I was surprised that the feeling category was 30%, but after reading it I realized that it described me as warm and kind hearted, which was similar to the 16 personalities test. Additionally, they said I was organized  and practical, which was also very similar to the first test that I took. I was glad to see that my results were relatively consistent. For one, this means that I can hopefully rely on the results and know my strengths. Even better, however, I understand my weaknesses. I will continue to work on those in order to be more effective at work and at home. 


Image Source: GIPHY


Action Plan

Right now I would say that I am in the immersion stage of being in a PLN.  My goal is to find PLNs on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Then, once I find accounts I am going to actively try to participate in conversations about teaching math at least once a week. Another goal that I have for myself is to try something that I learned from one of these accounts in my actual math class. I think all of these goals are good for me, because they are attainable but I am still going out of my comfort zone. Generally, I would definitely be considered a lurker when it comes to PLNs. I like to look, but I very rarely am an active participant in the conversation. That is something that I would like to change. I actually think that the reason that I am hesitant to participate in these conversations goes along with my results from the personality tests that I took.


In my results something that came up on two different tests was that I am sensitive to criticism. I definitely agree with this! I think that it all stems from my competitive nature, and desire to be good at almost everything, not necessarily the best, but at least good. Therefore, I am hesitant to participate in online conversations because I do not want to seem inferior. Hence, my goal of participating in online discussions and trying new techniques is a great way for me to test myself and it directly correlates to the results of my personality tests.


Personal Timeline / Goals



Image Source: Ashley Shaw (Personal)




References


Free personality test. 16Personalities. (n.d.). https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test 

Home. MindTools. (n.d.).
https://www.mindtools.com/apdfhaw/how-good-are-your-leadership-skills 

My Personality Test. (2020, March 8). Personality type indicator.
https://my-personality-test.com/personality-type-indicator#google_vignette 




Townie vs. Tourist

 As someone who is addicted to their phones, I use a variety of technology on a regular basis. However, how I use it varies. 

Townie or Tourist


Image Source: Medium




Townie

When discussing technology there are a few different ways we can categorize ourselves. Today, we are going to be talking about being a resident versus being a visitor. In my mind, being a resident means you actively participate on the app or website on a daily (or near daily) basis. Additionally, you are actively engaging with the technology, sharing your ideas, and connecting with others. 

Image Source: Tenor

Breaking Down My Residency


Personal

As I was making my map I realized something, photos! Pictures are a huge part of my digital citizenship. I love using apps that allow me to share pictures and memories with my friends and family. Snapchat, Instagram, and Google Photos all allow me to share pictures and videos of things that make me happy. I enjoy creating and curating my posts, as well as seeing/watching what my friends and family have been doing. Another app that falls into the personal resident category is the Apple Calendar. I would be lost without that app! I actively engage in it by adding events, inviting my friends/family to different calendar appointments, and setting reminders. Peloton and the New York Times Game App, both allow me to connect with others through competition. I like to connect with my friends and I like to win, and these apps allow me to do both of those things (hopefully) simultaneously!


Overlap

The Google Suite is an example of some apps where I am a resident, however it transcends the personal and professional realms. I use Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail in both my personal and professional life. I am constantly creating and sharing different documents, as well as sending emails in all aspects of my life. 


Professional

While I use the Apple Calendar on a regular basis in my personal life, I never use it in my professional life. Instead, I solely (and consistently) use the Google Calendar. It is so important for me to have the Google calendar in order to keep myself, my students, and my colleagues organized. I can share homework assignments, meeting appointments, and more with anyone who needs to be informed. EdPuzzle and Desmos are two platforms that allow me to share information with my students in creative and new ways. On EdPuzzle I share videos with my students, then they can rewatch, and ask me questions. Desmos, on the other hand, is an online graphing calculator, and more. When students log-in to Desmos they can save and share calculators with all of the information they need to be successful. Along the same lines, I can share my saved calculators with my students or post them on Schoology for them to access. 


Tourist

On the other hand, there is technology that I use only when I absolutely have to. This kind of technology I only look at on occasion, if I get a notification that someone else messaged me, or just to see what other people are doing, but without actually interacting with others. While I use Libby, Audible, Amazon, and TikTok almost everyday I never interact with people on the apps and have my notifications off. I use all four of those apps at a very basic level, and I am not really using them to their full potential. YouTube and Schoology are two apps that I use constantly, and occasionally interact with other people. However, I never create content on these apps, and I only use Schoology because it is required at my job. Similarly, Agile Minds and Talking Points are two apps/websites that are bookmarked on my browser. Yet, they are not ones that I use regularly and I only visit the sites occasionally. I think my goal for this school year is to become a resident in the Talking Points app. This site allows you to communicate with both parents and students via text from an anonymous phone number. It is intriguing to me, and I need to investigate it more 



Image Source: Drible


Ashley Shaw - Reflection Part 2

How has the process been?   Overall I really enjoyed creating my proposal presentation. I liked analyzing the needs of the students in my cl...