Case 5: PLEs & PLNs

For part 3 of this case, I decided that I would go into my accounts on Pinterest and Twitter to extend my following of people in similar career paths to me. On Twitter, I followed Women in Social Studies Education, and on Pinterest, I followed Students of History. So far, both of these accounts have provided an extended amount of information that I did not know would be helpful. 

While following new people through social media sites, I have found new ways to teach subjects effectively. I thought that this would be very helpful in the future when students find themselves getting bored. I found different examples of how to teach specific lessons which I thought could play into switching things up to keep things fresh. I was thankful to find that the account I followed on Twitter provided advice on the best ways to get a topic across to students and gave tips on how to hold students’ attention. 

I plan to continue to follow others that are in the same career like me and potentially reach out to gain tips and advice. I would like to learn more about how to teach young students (both in middle and high school). I want to know how they want to learn, and the best ways the students can retain the information. From my personal experience as a student, I know that when learning a subject that you are not interested in, it is difficult to want to learn more about that subject. I plan to continue to follow similar accounts to gain more knowledge of my career choice.

Case 2: Google Certified Educator and ISTE Reading Reflection

After completing the Google Certified Educator and reading the ISTE standards, I took time to think about how the two connected. Throughout the lesson checks I noticed how a few of them had close connections to the ISTE Standards for Educators. When I came across one of the unit review questions that referred to something similar to the ISTE standard: collaborator. The connection came when a question about how a teacher can find relevant videos by professionals as a way to put together a lesson beyond a textbook. The correct answer was along the lines of “by making a playlist on YouTube of relevant videos.” I thought that this connected to collaborators because the professional on the topic would be able to explain it better, give examples, or even put the lesson into action. The professional and the teacher are in a way collaborating to make sure that the students comprehend the topic.

Another ISTE Standard connection I made was the standard: design. Design would be shown through the multiple different platforms on which students can not only collaborate with each other, but find the platforms that work best for them. Through technology, each student can play the lesson to their strengths. Through the G Suite for Education examples and the lessons under Think Beyond the Textbook. There are so many platforms for learning on the internet, and when it comes to making each lesson more interesting and fun, there are plenty of platforms that can take a topic from textbook boring to internet interactive. Being interactive with the lessons makes it easier for students to be more attentive with the lesson and even understand it better. 

Introduction to My Theme: Colonial Virginia

Colonial Virginia 

    When Christopher Columbus set sail to find a better route to India, he landed on an island in the Caribbean Sea in 1492. When the news of a new world spread, many people were eager to find out more. Around 1600, England sent three ships on a voyage to the new world. Their destination ended up being what became Jamestown, Virginia. This settlement was the trial run for the other Englishmen that would soon come to join in the exploration of the New World. Colonial Virginia later played a crucial role in the growth of the American Colonies, and later became the birthplace of American Democracy which is the government system that we still use today. 

    My passion for history extends much farther than just American History, however, the amount of history that does grow from colonies is spectacular. This blog will target U.S. History students in middle school, specifically 8th grade. Colonial Virginia hosts a rich amount of American history. Jamestown became the first English settlement of the New World. Those that settled here went through both great struggles and triumphs. I believe that learning the history of your home country or even the world is very important. It gives the people today more insight of how the world works based on the lessons that history has taught us in the past.

   The video below is a great explanation of the journey to the new world but the English settlers, and how and why Jamestown was chosen to be the first settlement.

Click HERE for Fun Facts About Jamestown