Blog Junkie

This is my last action research project for my Graduate Diploma.  I decided to explore how the use of technology could enhance collaborative learning and create a close, secure online environment where students can learn and explore with confidence.  I chose to use TappedIn as the site which would host my virtual classroom.

I chose TappedIn for a number of important reasons.  First: it is a totally secure environment to bring students into.  They are locked into the classroom and cannot leave to other areas of TappedIn without the teacher’s express permission.  No one can enter the classroom or view it without being invited by the teacher. There is a chat feature which is locked into the classroom so the students are only chatting with their own class.  This can be changed to allow the students to collaborate with other classes via teacher invitation.  All chats are recorded and sent to the teacher’s email, including private chats. This chat can be disabled until the teacher gives permission to use it. You can lock your classroom and students cannot access it from home. How much more secure can you possibly get.  Second: they have amazing support, both tech and teaching. They give scheduled tours of the site that are listed on the calendar so you can see the date/time of the tour.  There is a reception room where there is always someone online to answer your questions or help you join a group if you’re new.  The staff are incredibly welcoming and helpful. Third: They have an incredible array of free professional development on a wide range of topics.  I belong to 4 different professional groups, including one for gaming!  I may be a WoW convert yet!  Actually, I want to learn how to use Quest Atlantis!  Fourth: you can set up your own office space there and create and lead your own professional group if you wish.  Fifth: there is an area secured for students to go to with different “rooms” such as NASA, gaming, one for special ed students….and the list goes on. I cannot say enough about this site.  My tech is even impressed to death!  My principal is happy with everything!  Yeah, I’m afraid I’m raving about this place!

So what happened when I actually brought the students in?  Well of course things went wrong!  This is me in the lab we’re talking about!  (4 computers and 1 mouse died!) The first time there was some concern about the chat not being enabled.  My Super Techieman had problems getting the chat through the filters and thought it wasn’t working.  SURPRISE! It was (which is why he is Super Techieman) and the kids jumped all over that like bees on honey!  Had to disable it quick as we had not discussed that yet.  Also the lesson, which I thought was just fine, was too big and too overwhelming for the students in this environment. When I disabled the chat, they turned the whiteboard into one, just sort of naturally, not on purpose to disregard instructions.

The chat on the whiteboard was very, very interesting. These students have never been in an online environment like this and appear to have only limited experience with texting, MSN…They stuck to a given topic, wandered off, self-policed back on topic again. Was fascinating to read – too long to paste into this post.  One student posted a comment to which another replied that the comment was rude.  I held back with a rapid heart rate – keeping with my vow to stop controlling things with my “teacher power” (as I did with disabling the chat) and waited to see what would happen.  The student with the “rude” comment (it was somewhat rude) apologized stating he/she hadn’t meant to be rude.  The conversation carried on.  No teacher power needed or given.  Was awesome! But the lesson was still off.  I’m not used to teaching in this environment any more than the students are used to learning in it. With some discussion with the TappedIn folks and with some help from a PLN member from Twitter, I went back in and fixed things.  I also added the principal as a moderator so she could also log in and join in anytime she felt like it.  I liked that idea as both security in helping the kids understand the responsiblity they have been given and that she would experience this with us.  A great way to collaborate.

Last thing to go slightly south was the issue of off-school access to the site, thus the chat.  I was asked by a student if they could log in from home.  YIKES!  I had no answer so I hedged the question. TappedIn staff informed me that I could lock the class and the students would be denied access.  At 3:03pm the first student attempted to access the classroom, was denied and informed that I would be emailed.  I had the email in my inbox complete with student username, time of attempt.  I have no issue with them going in the classroom, except for one:  who is supervising them at home, if anyone?  So the room remains locked and we had a class discussion on the rules of use and I held up printed email copies of chat transcripts and access notifications.  Rules understood.

It was a great learning experience all way around.  We’ve earned each others trust.  I’ve learned some lessons on teaching online.  The students are learning some netiquette and how to learn online. Very cool.