Journal 4: Project Plan

Site Title: Science with Ms. Cueva!

Developer: Ada C. Cueva

Rationale/Focus: Communicating with students

Main Features: Assignments, Announcements, Contact

Target Audience: Students and parents

Design Considerations: Site will need to be “user friendly” and intuitive as students/parents with a variety of technology levels will have access to it.

Limiting factors: One limiting factor would be that not all students in my classroom have regular access to a computer. In addition, I am not sure that an email submission box will be possible or effective.

About Me...

About Me

My name is Ada Cueva, I was born in Colima, Mexico but have lived in Anaheim from the time I was one year old. I graduated from Katella High School in 2006, received my Bachelors Degree in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona in 2011, followed by my Teaching Credential in 2012. After six years of school I decided to take a couple of quarters off before starting my Masters in EMM. After graduating from high school I was hired as an instructional aide in the same district that I graduated from and have moved into other positions including substitute teaching and now teaching full time. I have also returned to my high school as the Varsity Tennis Coach...so when I'm not in the classroom, I'm on the tennis courts. In the summer I work as the Nature Director for a Day Camp in Anaheim Hills (picture). 

Progress in EMM Program

This is my third quarter in the EMM program. I took last fall off to coach (and give myself a mental break) so I started last winter. I am hoping to complete the program by this upcoming spring quarter. The classes I have had so far were interesting and engaging. I really enjoy the exposure to multiple resources. Although I don't feel that EVERYTHING we use will work for me, it is nice to have the option to use it.

Why EMM?

I definitely do not consider myself a technology genius but I would not say I am clueless either. I enjoy learning new ways to use the technology that is available. I chose to earn my Masters in EMM because I teach Science to junior high students who were born into a world submerged in technology. I feel that technology is something that comes extremely easy to them and if I can incorporate it into our lessons, it will help to keep them engaged in a variety of ways. It's relevant, dynamic, and readily available to most students and I want to take advantage of that to help them learn our science content.

Journal 3: Social Media in Schools

The Case for Social Media in Schools

The use of social media in schools seems to be an ongoing controversial topic among educators, parents, and students. In the article, “The case for Social Media in Schools,” several valid points are presented for why this is a good idea.

I especially agree with the first point discussed in the article: Social Media is Not Going Away. This is the very reason why I chose this Masters program as opposed to anything else in education. Our world is overrun with technology and our students were born into a society that competes for bragging rights of the latest and greatest developments. This generation of students was born into a rapidly advancing world and they are completely surrounded by technology in their everyday lives. Social media such as facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are essential in the way they communicate. Therefore, instead of trying to deny them of something that is very much a part of who they are, we need to embrace it and find ways to incorporate it in an educational manner.

Another important point made in the article was that Cell Phones Aren’t the Enemy. I also find this to be true, as I have seen it countless times in my own classroom. While modeling direction for a speed lab, I asked students to raise their hands if they had a calculator; only two students raised their hands. Then I asked students to raise their hands if they had a cell phone; I got nearly an entire class with their hand up. As long as students know what the expectation is, they will use their cell phones in the appropriate manner. There are also many applications such as “Remind 101” which can help the teacher maximize student productivity by sending out reminders about class assignments that go directly to students’ phones.

Overall, I thought the article made a good case for the use of social media in the classroom. I think that if it is implemented appropriately, students will become engaged and increase productivity simply because they are enjoying the learning, especially when it does not feel like “work.”