Communicate 1.1.2 – Laws of Communication Quest

• How can one refrain from violating FERPA guidelines in online communication? In online communication schools must first educate themselves on FERPA guidelines to make sure they understand and know what is expected of them. In regards to schools having students complete online activities and assignments like blogs, discussion boards, etc... schools need to make sure parents and students understand that others will be able to view their work. Make sure you do not require students to release personal information online for an assignment, and make sure to get parent's consent prior to the assignments that students are allowed to participate.
• What methods could be employed to verify that copyright is not being violated? Again, education is the key. Many folks do not understand or know what copyright is. All employees in a school, business, company ect... need to be trained on copyright laws. A system should be in place where there is a contact person to refer questions to, the main rule is when in doubt ask if it is copyrighted or not.
• Does copyright require that all work, images, words, and graphics must be original? All copyrighted items must be "original" works by the creator.

Communicate 1.1.1 – Definitions of Communication Quest

• How have your individual communication skills changed as with the innovations in technology?   Communication skills have changed drastically for everyone. Personally, I seem to be "plugged-in" at all times. I always have my iphone, ipad, or laptop at my fingertips. My family, friends, and co-workers can access me 24/7. I remember when I first started working in 1993- I had no access with any family members or friends while I was at work, unless I made a phone call during my planning period or lunch. Now, I am getting texts, emails, and messages all during the day. My oldest child that has a phone and can contact me and let me know what she made on a test before I ever see her again after school. I have noticed that sometimes I will continue to type on my keyboard while talking on the phone with someone and I have checked my phone for texts while I am in a face to face conversation with someone. RUDE!!!! I have tried to make a conscientious effort to put down my electronics and make eye-contact. I think it rude and crude to interrupt a face to face conversation with answering a phone call or text.

• How have advancements in technology altered classroom communication? Will these change further? Technology has many benefits as well as distractions for classrooms. Teachers must be actively involved with their students and constantly monitoring to be able to manage all the technology devices in the classroom. Technology can be a great tool to motivate, inspire and engage students. It is a way for teachers and students to connect and keep in touch. Teachers can give immediate feedback to students with technology. However, it can be negative with being used in the wrong way and teachers and students being distracted with devices in their hands and not fully being present or "plugged-into" the class discussion or activity.

Navigate 4.1.1 – Trend Impact Quest

Navigate 4.1.1 – Trend Impact Quest

I think one of the hottest and upcoming trends in Digital Learning will be m-learning or mobile learning. Everyone has a smart phone, tablet, or electronic device with them at all times. Students live and breathe by their smart phones. M-learning is an opportunity for schools to tap into students' interests and passions by offering apps and tools to utilize in the classroom and outside the classroom.

Instead of looking at mobile devices as a negative impact in the school, we need to embrace them and let students utilize them for learning. If all we do is take up phones and fight this war, that we will never win, then we all lose- students, parents, educators, schools and communities. We need to look at mobile devices as a chance for us to finally be able to bridge a gap with our students and communicate with them on their level.

Schools and districts are beginning to adopt Bring Your Own Technology(BYOT) or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)- this is a chance for schools and districts to embrace technology instead of shunning it and punishing students for having it.

Educators need to get on board use the devices and apps that motive students in their classrooms. M-learning is also a wonderful opportunity to stay in touch with parents as well. Again, parents usually have a smartphone to be able to plug in and check on class/homework assignments, grades, etc...

Mobile learning along with other tools in the digital learning world can be a chance for educators to really connect and touch the lives of more students.

Navigate 3.2.1 – Tools for Deciding on an LMS Quest

Navigate 3.2.1 – Tools for Deciding on an LMS Quest

There are so many LMS/CMS for one to look at it that the task of choosing one can be quite daunting and overwhelming to say the least. The process needs to focus on your learning institution's expectations, goals, and needs. The following steps from GAVS Tool Navigate program can help in the process:

• Needs Analysis – define the goals of acquiring an LMS for your organization.
• Requirements Gathering Process- meet with stakeholders from users to the implementation team to do a thorough rubric of requirements that meet all needs.
• Vendor Identification – identify the potential vendors that match the program’s needs and general requirements. Open Source or a vendor?
• Request for Information – request information from the vendors identified to clarify that the needs and requirements are in line with their product offerings.
• Request for Proposal – request proposals from the leading vendors to compare pricing models.

Josh Bersin quotes in his blog so profoundly... "The days of being an "expert" have changed. In today's rapid-moving information economy professionals in every discipline have to learn continuously. The "renaissance man" has been replaced with the "renaissance learner." People who know how to continuously learn will outpace their peers." That is why the LMS is now a $2 billion industry that keeps growing yearly.

For K-12 learning and higher learning (professional learning with teachers), I feel the following are the top LMS:

1. Moodle

2. Canvas

3. Blackboard

4. Pearson Learning Studio

5. Desire2Learn

My number one priority is the user-friendly component for both the teacher and student. If it is NOT user-friendly I moved on to other LMS.

Moodle as of now is the optimal LMS for me to utilize with teachers in professional learning.
Canvas is my pick to utilize with students in K-12.

Navigate 3.1.4 LMS Reporting Quest

Navigate 3.1.4 LMS Reporting Quest

Canvas LMS Options for Grade Reporting:

Grade Export shows the student final grade results for all students in a given term.

Gradebook helps instructors easily input and distribute grades for students. Grades for each assignment can be calculated as points, percentages, complete or incomplete, pass or fail, GPA scale, and letter grades, and assignments can be organized into groups for weighting as well.

With Assignments in the Gradebook you can:

• Evaluate both individual and group work
• Enter and edit scores
• Leave comments for your students
• View total grades as a point value instead of a percentage
 for your students
• View total grades as a point value instead of a percentage 

Use the Gradebook to:

• View assignment submission notifications and assignment details
• Sort the gradebook by assignment due dates, student names, secondary id, total scores, or group scores 
• Download assignment submissions from students to grade or view them offline when no internet connection is available
• Manually enter student grades
• Automatically calculate total and final grades
• Assign zeros after deadline (this will send a notification out to students)
• Simultaneously view grade information across all courses
• Notify students when an assignment has been graded
• View Grade history and revert updated assignment scores to previous scores (including grades from multiple submissions and/or regraded quizzes)
• Download or upload Grades as a CSV file
• Hide grades from students until they are published
• Create custom weighting, curving, and grade ranges
• Message students who haven’t submitted an assignment yet
• Leave private grading notes/comments for the student

SpeedGrader™ allows you to view and grade student assignment submissions in one place using a simple point scale or complex rubric. SpeedGrader can be used for the following:

• Sort submissions by student and hide student names for anonymous grading
• Evaluate assignments for each student, including resubmitted assignments
• Use rubrics to assign grades  
• Leave feedback for your students
• Track your grading progress and hide assignments while grading

Navigate 3.1.3 Tools within the LMS Quest

Navigate 3.1.3 Tools within the LMS Quest

Communication Tools in Canvas	Assessment Tools in Canvas	Grade book Tools in Canvas
Email- class, individual, group	Discussions	Grades can be posted
Announcements for class	Quizzes- can assign points and grade it	View grading history
Discussions for class	Conferences	Upload grades
Conferences – these can be recorded	Assignments- can be assigned point value and can add comments	Download Grades
Collaboration- Etherpad or google doc	Grade book with weights	Treat ungraded as a 0
Calendar- can be designed for personal or class- with alerts	Mange a question bank in quizzes	Note column
Notifications are available to post to course page or send out to students in course	ePortfolios are available to display work	Reports can be generated and customized
	Learning Outcomes- set up to manage mastery	Set group weights in gradebook
	Rubrics can be set up

Tools that are the most valuable to have in an LMS:
Discussion boards, uploads of files and folders, quizzes/grading

Tools that the the least valuable to have in an LMS:
email- everyone has an account, do not have to have one built into LMS, calendar- everyone uses google or smartphone calendars

Navigate 3.1.2 Creation and Investigation into Courses Quest

Navigate 3.1.2 Creation and Investigation into Courses Quest

What an adventure I have had tonight in creating and investigating Canvas LMS. I have worked with Moodle for the past three years and created courses for teachers in this LMS, but was really intrigued to try a new LMS.

First Canvas had a wonderful set of short videos for orientation that was quite helpful and very user friendly. In total it was 45 minutes to watch all 16 videos. I have never had this for Moodle, and I pay for Moodle for my school system. So I really enjoyed having an orientation for Canvas. They also have great resource manuals as well as a help desk with posts so one can see all of the recent questions and answer sessions.

The first thing I did was set up a free account which was quite fast and simple. It went straight to a dashboard. The picture above shows you the dashboard for my account in Canvas.

I clicked on create a new course. The Course title popped up first- I typed in "Introduction to Digital Citizenship." Then it showed me the "next steps" you must take in order to set up your class. It basically walks you through each step. It was LMS for dummies!

The first step was to import content. I imported the test zip file from GAVS. You could import zip files, individual files or folders. Very easy and simple.

Next step was to add course assignments. To add anything on Canvas you simply click on the plus sign.

Then the add students to class section was the next step. This could be done by typing or pasting a list of emails.

Select navigation links was next and it let me drag and drop items in any order of content for the course.

Choosing a course home page was also quite simple- you could set the course activity page to default to the home page or customize it.

Adding course calendar came next. I could do both a personal calendar and one for the class.

The last step was to publish the course.

All in all, Canvas is a very SIMPLE and EASY format that young and old, digital immigrants or natives would feel comfortable utilizing!

I think I definitely need a new LMS for FCS.