The 5 C's Project
By: Michael Schaffer
Introduction
I feel that becoming a teacher who can teach the 5 C’s in Technology is more important than ever before. With technology ever changing and new ways to teach and learn being created every day, the Five C’s (Create, Curate, Collaborate, Communicate, and Connect) set parameters to help educators choose the right tool for the job. Understanding the five C’s allows the you as the teacher figure out which web tools will have the best impact on each students achievement in the classroom. Each of the following web based tools included in this project all can be used in the classroom. It is up to the teacher to find the correct curation tool. For example, my school district is 1:1. All the students are issued an Ipad to be used for collaboration of information with the teacher as well as other students in the class. We use a Learning Management System that curates all resources for their courses through the internet. My goal as a teacher is to be able to curate all class information into our Learning Management System (Schoology) for the students to be able to access at any time. Utilizing the 5 C’s in web based tools will promote student learning, building relationships, communicate information from a distance, and allow students to present their knowledge and ideas to a global community.
Please take a short time to research a few web-based tools that I have selected.
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a social networking application that allows users to create mini blogs called tweets. These tweets can broadcast to various platforms. Twitter allows users to connect with people around to world to get a different perspective or develop relationships with professionals.
Wix
Wix is an easy to use website creation tool. Website can be create to broadcast information via the internet. The benefits of using Wix is that the end user is not required to code the website. This can save a great amount of time and the user can focus on the aesthetics of the website.
Powtoon
PowToon is an animation presentation tool that allows the user to create interactive lessons. The application is easy to use and allows the user to display their creativity for each presentation.
Explain Everything
Explain Everything is an interactive whiteboard application that allows you to create fabulous presentations, The end user can create presentations, lessons, activities, and video tutorials.
Schoology
Schoology is a Learning Management System "LMS" that is widely used among educators. Educators can manage their classroom by posting assignments, quizzes, portfolios, hold discussions and gradebooks all in one tool. Educators can also connect to the parents of student as well as connect with other teachers in their Professional Learning Network "PLN".
Symbaloo
Symbaloo is an interactive tool that allows users to create a collection of online resources. This resources are links to websites in which the user identifies as a important web page links. The creation of each collection places each link in a convenient page called a webmix.
Skype
Skype is a video conferencing application that could bring the educational experience outside of the classroom. Using this application educators could work collaboratively on a project with other teachers or classroom. This application also allows the opportunities to invite guest speaker into the classroom. The application could also allow teachers to connect with students who may have been absent from class.
Google Docs
Google offers a management application for creating and editing documents collaboratively with peers via real time. Documents are stored on the Google Cloud where the editor has the rights to share a document or keep the document private.
For this assignment, the student used three web-based tools: Schoology, Symbaloo, and Google Forms. The students had to follow instructions that were listed on the Google Form. Their task was to research, investigate, use, identify resources they would like to see on the Symbaloo, and provide feedback of the web-based tool.
Below, you will find the T245 Woodworking Symbaloo, the worksheet via Google Forms, and the responses that each student for the web-based tool.
I was surprised that the student thought the web-based tool was easily used. I am now going to take the resources that the student want and place them in the Symbaloo. I ultimately feel that the students will use this tool often in my classroom
Reflection on Smore
Reflection on Diigo
Creating a Deeper Understanding of the 5 C's of Technology
Over the past two school years, as well as this course, I feel that technology has changed the way in which teachers provide education and the method that students comprehend new information. The 5 C’s has taught me that I must be open to altering the way that I present and communicate information to meet the needs of the students for comprehension.
As I started this project, I reflected upon the ways that my school already uses the 5 C’s (Communicate, Curate, Collaborate, Create, and Connect) in technology used in the classroom. It was to no surprise that the majority of the teachers are already using many of the curation that I mentioned in this newsletter, especially Schoology, Twitter, and Explain Everything. These new technologies have offered a new way for students to learn, create, present assignments or ideas, and express themselves in the classroom. I feel that my school is promoting critical thinking at a higher lever by providing new means of research and investigation learning.
The teacher leaders at my school are reaching out of their comfort zone and embracing technology. The teachers are using technology in ways unimaginable to promote the 5 C’s in the classroom. I believe that all teachers should be educated in the 5 C’s of technology to meet and reach the needs of our students in an ever changing world.