PREETI+SINGH

**(MUVEs) and Professional Development** [] **MUVEs and Professional Development**
 * Multi-User Virtual Environments **

The two professional organizations that have an online presence and offer training in MUVE are National Science Foundation and US Department of Education:

National Science Foundation: A Multi-user Virtual Environment for Building Higher Order Inquiry Skills in Science []. The National Science Foundation shows that MUVE-based curricula can teach standards-based biological content infused with complex inquiry skills better than good traditional approaches. They discuss that by using MUVEs students learned biology content, that students and teachers were highly engaged, student attendance improved, and disruptive behavior dropped. Students built 21st century skills in virtual communication and expression, and more importantly, using this type of technology in the classroom facilitated good inquiry learning.

US Department of Education: The Role of Emerging Technologies for Knowledge Mobilization, Dissemination and Use in Education [] This article states that new models of teaching and learning have the power to improve educational outcomes dramatically. This paper elaborates ideas about using information technology (especially MUVEs) to aid in adapting exemplary educational projects from different sites. A few personal learning networks (PLN) that help teachers keep abreast of new and emerging technologies are Skype, blog, wiki, Diigo and Google talks. One Personal Learning Network that will help keep me abreast of the new emerging technologies is diigo []. Bookmarking all the websites that implement MUVE would help me move towards teaching students with 21st century tools.

Eduism: [|http://edusim3d.com/?page=parts.php&part=7] Eduism is a new and emerging technology that I plan on using in my classroom.Edusim is a concept that “seeks to model a new way to engage students through immersive touch by leveraging 3D virtual environments on the interactive surface or classroom interactive whiteboard” (Edusim, 2007, para. 1). This MUVE technology is safe enough for elementary school students. Eduism is a mini version of the core Open Cobalt Metaverse Project ([]).This 3D multimedia wiki technology makes it easy to create deeply collaborative and hyperlinked multi-user virtual workspaces, virtual exhibit spaces, and game-based learning and training environments that run on all major software operating systems. MUVEs can be used as a collaborative tool, just as in Tapped In: [|http://tappedin.org] //Tapped In// is the online workplace of an international community of education professionals. K-12 teachers and librarians, professional development staff, teacher education faculty, students, and researchers engage in professional development programs and informal collaborative activities with colleagues. This could be used for professional development, to educate teachers in the importance of collaboration. Tapped In “bundles synchronous and asynchronous discussion tools, a notes section, an interactive whiteboard, and file sharing space. After logging into the virtual space, users are teleported to the TI Reception Area and greeted by Helpdesk staff”** ( ** Dieterle, & Clarke, 2009, p. 2). Tapped In is an online teacher’s community that fosters collaboration []

References

Dieterle, E., & Clarke, J. (n.d.).//Multi-User Virtual Environments for Teaching and Learning//. Retrieved November 29, 2011

Edusim (2007). 3D virtual worlds for classroom interactive whiteboard. Retrieved on December 1, 2011 from []

**Online Learning Community: Leading Technology Change**
**Edmodo**

[] **My Prezi on the advantages of Edmodo** ****Spotlight on Emerging technology: Edmodo**** Online learning for elementary school students is an emerging concept. Online modules like Moodle and Rcampus are a few up and coming modules that are used by teachers and students all over the world. The module that I chose is Edmodo, which is a free social learning network for teachers, students, schools, and districts, and provides an engaging platform for blended learning and safe, productive social networking. “It provides users with a secure way to post classroom materials, share links and videos, and access homework, grades, and school notices. They can store and share digital materials, including blogs, links, pictures, videos, documents, and presentations” (Schaffhauser, 2011, para. 1). Edmodo is an excellent online learning tool. Teachers need to take advantage of these web 2.0 tools to help their students work on integrating 21st century skills. I presented a Prezi on Edmodo to four teachers and to my Principal. At the end of the presentation I asked them a few questions on how Edmodo can support meaningful, authentic student learning. They all discussed how Edmodo could make a huge difference in the way students learn. This tool would motivate students to learn and get instant feedback from their teachers and peers. These activities would bring students closer to the 21st century skills that they are required to learn in this digital age. The instructional gaps that might be filled with this learning option is that any students who do not have internet capabilities at home could work on the activities in school and still feel connected with their peers. This online learning can help differentiate instruction, as the teacher can monitor student learning and activities more efficiently. "In elementary and secondary education, teacher quality is among the most important contributors to student achievement" (Cavanaugh, & Clark, 2007, p. 13). By implementing Edmodo with my students, I hope to make online learning a successful endeavor, and help students move towards acquiring 21st century skills.

After showing the presentation, I asked the teachers and my Principal how they thought I could implement changes in our school so that we could start using Edmodo effectively. My Principal loved the idea of creating a professional development class for Edmodo, and creating a support system, to be spearheaded by me. She was very excited about making changes in the school and moving classes towards technology integration. The four teachers to whom I presented this had mixed feelings about using Edmodo in their classrooms. One of them thought it would be extra work on top of all the other demands the district places on us. She was not convinced about trying it with her students.

My Principal and I came up with a few ideas on how to work with the teachers in my school to implement Edmodo. We decided that we would start with teachers who were interested and enthused with technology integration. These teachers would need to understand that just using a smartboard in the classroom does not constitute technology integration. "Possessing the latest technology does not necessarily mean higher quality education is taking place. It must be skillfully used in order to produce desirable results" (Gillard & Bailey, 2007, p. 91). This endeavor would be a success if I guide these teachers, and meet with them regularly to iron out any concerns they might have with Edmodo. After a fewmonths we would all share our experiences with Edmodo during a faculty meeting. By starting small, we hope to make a ripple effect and ‘hook’ more teachers onto this emerging technology. References Cavanaugh, C., & Clark, T. (2007). The landscape of K–12 online learning. In R. Blomeyer, & C. Cavanaugh (Eds.), What works in K–12 online learning (pp. 5–19).Eugene,OR: International Society for Technology in Education. Gillard, S., & Bailey, D. (2007). Technology in the classroom: Overcoming obstacles, reaping rewards. The International Journal of Learning, 14(1), 87–93. Schaffhauser, D. (2011, July 11). Edmodo Revs Education Social Networking Service. In The Journal. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from [] **McLuhan’s Tetrad** http://tinyurl.com/3zsmngh ** Overview of McLuhan’s Tetrad ( Smart Boards ) **