![]() Learning something completely new has it's ups and downs. There were moments of frustration during my Network Learning Project (NLP) along with moments in which I felt accomplished. I have been blogging about this experience and it has helped me remember that you have to start somewhere to get anywhere. In my first blog about creating fondant I explain which online tools and resources I researched that helped me get started with my Learning Goal. My Learning Goal was to create a cake using fondant frosting utilizing only online resources. This starting point set the stage for me and what my end-goal was hopefully going to look like. My second blog dissects which resources worked and which did not. Twitter (#fondantcake) and Instagram (#fondant) were great visual resources to see what fondant cakes should resemble. On Pinterest, I was able to find a blog by Amy Locurto called How To Make Fondant. I Screen-Casted this to explain how and why it was helpful. I also noted how I found the ingredients I needed to purchase within the grocery store. Some ingredients were harder to find than others. For example, I searched Meijer for glycerin for at least an hour. I could not find it anywhere. Eventually I had to google where this was located and found that it was in the pharmaceutical department (surprise)! In my NLP process I discovered that I would have to substitute different kitchen tools in order to successfully create my fondant. In order to smooth out the fondant once it is was placed onto the cake I had to use a measuring ruler instead of a cake smoother. I also had to replace a double boiler with a sauce pan and a glass bowl in order to not burn the fondant mixture. This was a challenge because the glass bowl did get very hot at one point. I made sure to watch closely so I did not burn or wreck my fondant mixture. In my video I demonstrate that once the fondant mixture was cooled (almost a full 18 hours later), it was time to roll out the fondant. I used a kitchen roller to roll it out and fit it over a 9 inch cake. My cake was already baked and ready to be decorated. While rolling out the fondant, I used the kitchen roller to glide the fondant over the cake. This was very tricky because I did not want to fold or dent the fondant. I also did not want to ruin the cake. It was a little stickier than expected because I had to work around the frosting that binds the fondant and the cake. I was successfully able to lay down the fondant and smooth it out with the ruler. Once I trimmed the edges with a knife the cake was completed! Learning through visuals and play was the name of this game. Baking is not something that has ever come naturally to me and as I reflect on how I competed my NLP, online resources were a great way to learn how to create fondant. According to James Paul Gee, a Professor of Literacy Studies, Powerful teaching and learning comes from a variety of ways outside of the school setting. Loosely organized cultural and social settings called "affinity spaces" connect people from all different backgrounds who are brought together to learn due to similar passions and interests. I found that communities outside of a traditional school such as Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Reddit were extremely helpful to my learning experience. Learning something new is not always easy and quick. It is a process that takes time, collaboration, trial and error. I chose creating and using fondant as my NLP because I am passionate about learning how to bake. I love to cook for people and having a new skill to share with others is something I can now say I can do. Bransford, Brown, and Cocking (2000) states that there has been developments in how humans learn. This sheds light on what society expects of our nation's educational systems (pg. 4). This puts teachers in the driver's seat. I believe that if I can learn as much as I did from technology when creating fondant then my students can too. I must give them access to own their learning and advance their skills to align with America's fast-paced expectations. In the future, I would be interested in challenging my students to a similar task such as a "Network Learning Experience" using online resources. Below I have posted a video synthesizing my NLP experience. For more information on this process click the three blog buttons below. Thanks for joining me in my journey!
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Twitter chat is a one of a kind experience! It was exciting to enter this type of digital conversation. I felt closely connected to people whom I have never met before. I have never been much of a "tweeter". Although, I started my twitter teaching account to get more ideas about curriculum and connecting with other teachers and educators world wide. In order to engage in a twitter chat I needed to find a hashtag from the Educational Twitter Forum and follow along. I searched the hashtag #nctechat on twitter and I was in! For educators, it is so important that we are able to have these conversations about best practices. I was a little nervous to answer the first question on the chat forum. Once I did, I immediately starting getting notifications of "likes", "follows", and "retweets". In fact, on one of my tweets and even got 20 likes and 3 retweets. For a "non-tweeter" this was pretty exciting! I talked to many different grade-level teachers about reading curriculums, summer reading programs, and what books to read that we could potentially carry over into our classrooms. I also had a twitter exchange with another teacher about how she incorporates poetry centers into her classroom. I would like to try #edtechchat because I am currently going to school to get my Masters of Arts and Educational Technology. I grew my Professional Learning Network by 8 followers this day. I am now able to extend my own knowledge within a community that is just one tweet away. In this article about Teacher's self-initiated learning through Professional Learning Networks, online communication offers opportunities for teachers to socialize, professionally collaborate, and access information online by locating and sharing resources. I would recommend any teacher try twitter for their professional development! References:
Tour, E. (2017) Teachers’ self-initiated professional learning through personal learning networks. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 26(2), 179-192, DOI:10.1080/1475939X.2016.1196236. ![]() As I am diving deeper into my Network Learning Project I have learned that... I was right. Before I started this journey I had reservations about making fondant from scratch. I knew it would not be easy. One obstacle in particular has been finding the kitchen supplies needed. I have solved this by borrowing a sifter and a double boiler from a friend. I am also substituting a cake- smoother with a wooden ruler. I have spent lots of time searching supermarkets for ingredients and researching tricks and tips to make fondant. I have learned that twitter is a great resource for images and completed fondant. Although, it does not help me with the process. Below I have included a short screencast of Amy Locurto's Blog, How To Make Fondant and how it has been helpful for me! Supermarket Finds: 1. Unflavored Gelatin 2. Glycerin 3. White Corn Syrup The following images used are from the author: I have never used the above ingredients before. Once I finally did locate them I made sure to snag them off of the shelves. I love to cook, but it was a challenge when looking for the key ingredients for fondant. Turns out I even had to travel to the pharmaceutical section of the store to find glycerin. I have also realized that the internet is FILLED with an abundance of good and bad resources. It is easy to obtain access to all kinds of online learning. According to a 2018 article from Paul Gee, the internet can be filled with misinformation but it is also can provide powerful learning opportunities that are rarely seen inside your average schools. I have found this to be true during my time learning how to make fondant. Check out my blog below & see where my Network Learning Plan started! References:
Gee, J. P. (2018). Affinity spaces: How young people live and learn online and out of school Retrieved from http://www.kappanonline.org/gee-affinity-spaces-young-people-live-learn-online-school/ Locurto, Food Network Channel, How To Make Fondant, Retrieved from https://www.livinglocurto.com/how-to-make-fondant-cakes/ I pride myself as a teacher who puts a lot of worth into classroom culture and environment. It is important for students to feel ownership over their learning, be creative, and work together. One way teachers can incorporate these values into their classroom is by implementing 21st Century Learning aspects. As technology begins to advance amongst schools and in our society it is important for teachers to understand how to use technology in a way that all students can easily access it, gain new skills, and have a say in their own learning.
My first grade 21st Century lesson plan includes a versatile tech tool called Seesaw. Seesaw allows students to take pictures, post, write, record, and much more. It automatically saves students work to a community-based portfolio. Students will work in research groups based on a planet of their choice. They will use the classroom Chromebooks to search the internet for important facts. Students will write their own non-fiction planet book and transfer them onto Seesaw using audio, visuals, dictation, and/or typing skills. Students will be expected to give peer feedback. Allowing my students ample time to create this project will be a challenge. I will spend a lot of time teaching students how to collaborate and use Chromebooks as research tools. Another challenge during the process of creating my lesson plan was selecting a technology app to use. I wanted something that fit a wide range of learners and wouldn't break the bank. It did get frustrating researching options because I wanted a "just right fit". I did find that Seesaw was my best choice because of it's many tools and it's easy to use. I have created this lesson plan based on the 4 C's of 21st century learning. According to Applied Education Systems, the 4 C's include collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity. Targeting these aspects will effect the outcome of this lesson. Check out my 21st Century Lesson plan below. I hope it inspires you to try something new! References: Applied Educational Systems, Inc. (n.d.). What Are the 4 C's of 21st Century Skills? Retrieved from https://www.aeseducation.com/career-readiness/what-are-the-4-cs-of-21st-century-skillsA |