Sunday, December 9, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Project #13
For Project #15 and Final Project #16, my group used Google Docs, Google +, and Skype to effectively work on our projects. During the past two and a half weeks, we have used Google Docs to share our script ideas and lines. For Final Project #16, we used Google Chat to discuss details about our video (music, photos, etc.). We used Skype to talk about the details of our projects and to practice our lines for our projects. Making our projects was very fun and enjoyable!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
C4T #4 Summary
C4T #4 - Post #1
"Jenny's Learning Journey" talked about the use of IPads, and I replied, "I enjoyed reading your post. IPads are a great tool in many different ways for many different people. Technology is advancing so much and so fast. I think that iPads and other technology should be incorporated more in the classroom. I am glad to see you using it in your classroom. Thanks for sharing!"
C4T #4 - Post #2
Jenny's Learning Journey talked about the inspiration of photography, and I replied, "I use my iPhone almost everyday to take pictures. It could be from a beautiful sunrise or sunset to something that just catches my eye. It makes me happy to be able to put all my pictures on Facebook and save them on my computer. I can go back and look at them anytime. I also like sharing them on Facebook and Twitter, because I want all my friends to see them. Photography is great, and it inspires me in so many ways!"
C4K Summary for November and December
C4K #7
"Dr. Vitulli and Dr. Santoli" talked about education in another country, and I replied, "It is great to see how education is in another country. It is interesting to see how things are changing. I can relate to the education system in Ireland. They hold education to a high standard just as I do. School and my education mean a lot to me. Not just to get a degree and finish school, but to learn from everything I do and incorporate it in my career!"
C4K #8
"Alex" talked about and explained the history of the birthday song, and I replied, "I enjoyed reading your post! I did not know this is where the birthday song came from. Thank you for sharing this information!"
C4K #9
"Matthew" talked about the holiday of Halloween, and I replied, "I enjoyed reading your reflection of what all you done in the month of October. It sounds like you had a great and fun time. Halloween is a great time of year to do many different things. I use to love to scare people. Actually, I still do. Thanks for sharing!"
C4K #10
"Karley" talked about the ways people express themselves, and I replied, "We, all humans, express ourselves in so many ways. It can be through our feelings, attitudes, and/or emotions. I have many family members and friends that can tell when something is wrong or when something is good. Sometimes in situations, it is good just to have someone to realize how we are feeling and understand our emotion."
Final Report on PLN
After continuing to work on my PLN, I have found that it is a lot bigger than I thought. I have used Symbaloo as an organization tool for my PLN. I also use my Firefox browser in my PLN. I keep the sites I use daily on my bookmark toolbar. This makes it so easy to quickly get to whatever site I need to get to. My PLN has grown a lot over the semester.
Blog Assignment #13
Back To the Future
Brian Crosby's Back To the Future "video" was incredible. I only hope I can be as great a teacher as he is. There is not a single student who cannot learn something. Mr. Crosby says we must take our narrow curriculum and bring it to the 21st century. He took students who did not even know what city they lived in to creating blogs and projects that have been seen by people all over the world. I think we, as future teachers, must go “outside the box” to reach some of the disconnected students we will encounter. A 21st century teacher must teach the 21st century skills that are needed for students today in a 21st century classroom. Mr. Crosby demonstrates this in a fabulous way. The “High Hopes” lesson was incredible. These students were connected to the world through this project. The science and language arts lessons that were learned through hands on experiments are so encouraging to me as a future educator. Mr. Crosby also gave me a new motto: CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION=PASSION!
A Vision of Students Today
This video "A Vision of Students Today" voiced the opinion of every college student in America. We spent hours a day in classrooms, studying, working, or completing projects on information we probably will never use again. The education system needs to undergo drastic changes. The technology that is available to us today is valuable and needs to be used. Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, blogs, and countless other technological wonders could provide countless resources not only to college students but to younger students as well.
I think this video should tell a university president that if this is the atmosphere they are creating for their students then they are failing. When a teacher assigns reading that only 5% of the class completes what is the point. Those students will probably still pass the class. A diploma does not give a grade point average it gives a degree. Most professors do not even know who their students are much less if they are prepared or even in class, and what’s worse is that they really don’t even care. I know there have been many positive advances in education over the last few years, but are these changes enough? The video was right ‘’we did not create the problems, but they are our problems.” Are we going to fix them now, or let are children’s generation deal with the same failures we deal with everyday. I vote for changes now.
Brian Crosby's Back To the Future "video" was incredible. I only hope I can be as great a teacher as he is. There is not a single student who cannot learn something. Mr. Crosby says we must take our narrow curriculum and bring it to the 21st century. He took students who did not even know what city they lived in to creating blogs and projects that have been seen by people all over the world. I think we, as future teachers, must go “outside the box” to reach some of the disconnected students we will encounter. A 21st century teacher must teach the 21st century skills that are needed for students today in a 21st century classroom. Mr. Crosby demonstrates this in a fabulous way. The “High Hopes” lesson was incredible. These students were connected to the world through this project. The science and language arts lessons that were learned through hands on experiments are so encouraging to me as a future educator. Mr. Crosby also gave me a new motto: CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION=PASSION!
A Vision of Students Today
This video "A Vision of Students Today" voiced the opinion of every college student in America. We spent hours a day in classrooms, studying, working, or completing projects on information we probably will never use again. The education system needs to undergo drastic changes. The technology that is available to us today is valuable and needs to be used. Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, blogs, and countless other technological wonders could provide countless resources not only to college students but to younger students as well.
I think this video should tell a university president that if this is the atmosphere they are creating for their students then they are failing. When a teacher assigns reading that only 5% of the class completes what is the point. Those students will probably still pass the class. A diploma does not give a grade point average it gives a degree. Most professors do not even know who their students are much less if they are prepared or even in class, and what’s worse is that they really don’t even care. I know there have been many positive advances in education over the last few years, but are these changes enough? The video was right ‘’we did not create the problems, but they are our problems.” Are we going to fix them now, or let are children’s generation deal with the same failures we deal with everyday. I vote for changes now.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Progress Report on Project #16
For Project 16, our group decided to make the 1-2 minute commercial for The University of South Alabama's 50th year anniversary. The theme is "Made at the USA". Our group has met several times. We have taken a collection of pictures and recorded some video. We're all very excited to get our video finished.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Blog Assignment #12
Assignment
1. Read the article, "Should schools embrace, Bring your own Device", By Emma Chadband.
2. In two paragraphs or more, discuss your thoughts and reactions to this article. Would you use this type of technology in your classroom? Why or why not? Follow the requirements in "Writing A Quality Blog Post."
Bring Your Own Device
After reading the article, "Should schools embrace, Bring your own Device by Emma Chadband", I am certainly on board with bringing your own device (BYOD) in my classroom. I think there could be a positive learning environment for students using their own devices. I am a secondary education major. There will be many students who have technology readily available, but they are not allowed to use them in the classroom. School districts must come up with a way to allow the use of these personal devices in the classroom.
As Ms. Chadband tells us in this article, teachers who are users of these devices could host training workshops for other teachers. Schools will have to implement policies to govern the use of these devices. “With the proper policies and ground rules in place – and the program doesn’t exist merely to cut costs and corners – BYOD can work for educators and students,” states Chadband. I am a firm believer that school districts should do whatever it takes to ensure the students are being taught with the best technology available. Whether the schools own the devices or the students should not matter. It is necessary to prepare students for their future.
As Ms. Chadband states in her article, there are negative possibilities for allowing students to bring their own devices to school. Cyberbullying is certainly a concern. School districts must be prepared with policies and procedures for the inadequate use of the devices. The students must be held accountable for their content and unauthorized use. I am not saying it will be easy, but it is an option worth considering.
1. Read the article, "Should schools embrace, Bring your own Device", By Emma Chadband.
2. In two paragraphs or more, discuss your thoughts and reactions to this article. Would you use this type of technology in your classroom? Why or why not? Follow the requirements in "Writing A Quality Blog Post."
Bring Your Own Device
After reading the article, "Should schools embrace, Bring your own Device by Emma Chadband", I am certainly on board with bringing your own device (BYOD) in my classroom. I think there could be a positive learning environment for students using their own devices. I am a secondary education major. There will be many students who have technology readily available, but they are not allowed to use them in the classroom. School districts must come up with a way to allow the use of these personal devices in the classroom.
As Ms. Chadband tells us in this article, teachers who are users of these devices could host training workshops for other teachers. Schools will have to implement policies to govern the use of these devices. “With the proper policies and ground rules in place – and the program doesn’t exist merely to cut costs and corners – BYOD can work for educators and students,” states Chadband. I am a firm believer that school districts should do whatever it takes to ensure the students are being taught with the best technology available. Whether the schools own the devices or the students should not matter. It is necessary to prepare students for their future.
As Ms. Chadband states in her article, there are negative possibilities for allowing students to bring their own devices to school. Cyberbullying is certainly a concern. School districts must be prepared with policies and procedures for the inadequate use of the devices. The students must be held accountable for their content and unauthorized use. I am not saying it will be easy, but it is an option worth considering.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
C4T #3 Summary
Jen Deyenberg's Journey Through Teaching with Technology
"Jen Deyenberg"
Post #1 - Tablets in the Classroom
Hello! My name is Jamie Ham. I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. I love your idea of technology in the classroom for creation and sharing of knowledge. Tablets in the classroom would be a very beneficial piece of technology to be successful. All students will be different. There is so many apps out there that can be used to meet each students' needs!
Post #2 - Going Back To School!
My name is Jamie Ham. I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. I can relate to the comment you made about that you like being a part of a learning team. I like how you said that technology is not only an essential learning tool but also by being used the correct way for students and the curriculum. I have learned so much about the advancements in technology through this EDM310 class. My goal as a future educator is be use these technologies to best benefit my students.
C4K Summary for October
C4K #3
"Briana-Cari's" post talked about the season of Fall and playing in piles of leaves. This is what I said: Fall is one of my most favorite times of the year. I can remember when my friends and I would rake up a pile of leaves and jump in them. We had so much fun playing in the pile of leaves!
C4K #4
"Kevin's" post is about American values. This is what I said: I can tell by your thoughts on this project that you have learned many important characteristics that make us Americans. I remember doing a similar project in high school. I had the opportunity to interview my great aunt who lived during the Great Depression. I learned more from her interview than I did from the classroom. I think you are right to conclude that freedom is an integral part of American identity. We must continue to fight everyday to insure this freedom remains deeply rooted in American values.
C4K #5
"Scott's" post is about Thanksgiving! This is what I said: I enjoyed reading your story about Thanksgiving! I have had similar experiences. My whole family gathers for Thanksgiving. My family is huge. We talk and play games. Then we eat a huge meal. We have a great time together.
C4K #6
"Sadie's" post is about buying a house with windows! This is what I said: I really enjoyed reading your blog post. It was very interesting to see your view about windows. I love the comment you made about God creating the earth and allowing us to see and experience nature. I also agree that God created windows for this purpose. A house with no windows would be no fun at all. I have many windows in the house that I live in. I also believe in windows!
Blog Assignment #11
Skype Interview with Ms. Cassidy
After watching, "Little Kids, Big Potential", I was completely amazed. These first graders in Ms. Cassidy’s class are much more advanced than most. I think it is incredible that the teacher involves all the technology that is available to her. Working with blogs, web pages, video, and Skype in the classroom will better prepare these first graders for their future education.
The "Skype interview" with Ms. Cassidy was great. As a senior in college, I have been subjected to a lot of technology. I cannot imagine how advanced I would be if I were to have begun my education as these first graders.
Ms. Cassidy told us she was given five computers with no programs on them, although they did have internet. She wanted to use the computers, so she had to go online to find places for her to use with her students. She had to research and what she found for her students is extraordinary. She taught her students to blog and how to navigate her webpage. When asked about safety on the internet, I loved her statement, “We must teach.” She taught her students to only use their first name, use no photos, and use only the links that she approved. She taught her students to always be kind when online. Ms. Cassidy also searched for federal grants and funding for her classroom. What a dedicated teacher! Instead of waiting for money to come in, she went and found it. I hope I can mimic Ms. Cassidy with her enthusiasm for technology.
One of her comments about having a great technological coordinator, I think, is an essential key for success in the classroom. Ms. Cassidy said he was skeptical at first, but used her as a guinea pig with her first graders. It worked! Technology is always changing and we must keep up with the changes. Ms. Cassidy said some teachers do not want to change. Others are trying to change. Ms. Cassidy believes all teachers should be technologically literate. What worked even ten years ago, does not work today, according to Cassidy. She also tells us that some administrators have no interest in adding technology. Some do not care, and offer no encouragement.
Parents love to see their child’s progress through their blogs. The kids love technology. It is not new to them. They think it is a part of their world. They love to see how many people have looked at their blogs and the comments on their blogs. They get excited and are eager to learn. Ms. Cassidy tells us that we are handicapping our students if we do not take advantage of opportunities of technology. I also want the parents to have access. I want my students to get excited and eager to learn. Adding something new all the time will keep the students interested and not get in a rut. Having some peers not encouraging what you do and the way you teach will be a hurdle for me. I will always have to put by students first, no matter what.
Some great advice from Ms. Cassidy is to learn about something before you reject it. You may like it. She also tells us to start learning technology with something that interests us such as video, photography, and writing. There is no limit as to how you learn. I want to use this advice in my classroom. Trying something new is sometimes hard and time consuming, but we must persevere to accomplish our objective.
Another student asked Ms. Cassidy about blogging and cheating. Her response was blogging is collaborating, not cheating. This is a little hard for me to comprehend. I think I will have to work hard on learning this concept. I would like to use any type of technology available to me and whatever I have to learn will only better my students.
Facebook for education? Why or why not? Most students use facebook everyday. Ms. Cassidy had a great suggestion. Create a different account that is used only for education purposes. This would be a great way to deliver information, especially for a coach. I believe this would probably be a hard sell for any teacher to their administrator. When you are talking about first graders and technology is one thing. When you are talking about teenagers and technology is a very different story. Facebook is practical, but I am not so sure it would ever be approved by administration because the kids use facebook for negative purposes sometimes.
Ms. Cassidy said Twitter was a huge tool for her. I have recently become a Twitter user and I hope to have the same success with it as Ms. Cassidy. She told us that she would never have found some of the links to use in her classroom if she had not found them from her followers on Twitter. This will be a great tool for support when I become an educator.
I love all the technology that Ms. Cassidy has talked about in this interview. I believe I can use everything she has mentioned if I work hard and prepare. Blogging will be hard for me because of the cheating opportunity. Skype will definitely be a useful tool for me. I am looking forward to using everything available to me to better prepare my students for the future.
After watching, "Little Kids, Big Potential", I was completely amazed. These first graders in Ms. Cassidy’s class are much more advanced than most. I think it is incredible that the teacher involves all the technology that is available to her. Working with blogs, web pages, video, and Skype in the classroom will better prepare these first graders for their future education.
The "Skype interview" with Ms. Cassidy was great. As a senior in college, I have been subjected to a lot of technology. I cannot imagine how advanced I would be if I were to have begun my education as these first graders.
Ms. Cassidy told us she was given five computers with no programs on them, although they did have internet. She wanted to use the computers, so she had to go online to find places for her to use with her students. She had to research and what she found for her students is extraordinary. She taught her students to blog and how to navigate her webpage. When asked about safety on the internet, I loved her statement, “We must teach.” She taught her students to only use their first name, use no photos, and use only the links that she approved. She taught her students to always be kind when online. Ms. Cassidy also searched for federal grants and funding for her classroom. What a dedicated teacher! Instead of waiting for money to come in, she went and found it. I hope I can mimic Ms. Cassidy with her enthusiasm for technology.
One of her comments about having a great technological coordinator, I think, is an essential key for success in the classroom. Ms. Cassidy said he was skeptical at first, but used her as a guinea pig with her first graders. It worked! Technology is always changing and we must keep up with the changes. Ms. Cassidy said some teachers do not want to change. Others are trying to change. Ms. Cassidy believes all teachers should be technologically literate. What worked even ten years ago, does not work today, according to Cassidy. She also tells us that some administrators have no interest in adding technology. Some do not care, and offer no encouragement.
Parents love to see their child’s progress through their blogs. The kids love technology. It is not new to them. They think it is a part of their world. They love to see how many people have looked at their blogs and the comments on their blogs. They get excited and are eager to learn. Ms. Cassidy tells us that we are handicapping our students if we do not take advantage of opportunities of technology. I also want the parents to have access. I want my students to get excited and eager to learn. Adding something new all the time will keep the students interested and not get in a rut. Having some peers not encouraging what you do and the way you teach will be a hurdle for me. I will always have to put by students first, no matter what.
Some great advice from Ms. Cassidy is to learn about something before you reject it. You may like it. She also tells us to start learning technology with something that interests us such as video, photography, and writing. There is no limit as to how you learn. I want to use this advice in my classroom. Trying something new is sometimes hard and time consuming, but we must persevere to accomplish our objective.
Another student asked Ms. Cassidy about blogging and cheating. Her response was blogging is collaborating, not cheating. This is a little hard for me to comprehend. I think I will have to work hard on learning this concept. I would like to use any type of technology available to me and whatever I have to learn will only better my students.
Facebook for education? Why or why not? Most students use facebook everyday. Ms. Cassidy had a great suggestion. Create a different account that is used only for education purposes. This would be a great way to deliver information, especially for a coach. I believe this would probably be a hard sell for any teacher to their administrator. When you are talking about first graders and technology is one thing. When you are talking about teenagers and technology is a very different story. Facebook is practical, but I am not so sure it would ever be approved by administration because the kids use facebook for negative purposes sometimes.
Ms. Cassidy said Twitter was a huge tool for her. I have recently become a Twitter user and I hope to have the same success with it as Ms. Cassidy. She told us that she would never have found some of the links to use in her classroom if she had not found them from her followers on Twitter. This will be a great tool for support when I become an educator.
I love all the technology that Ms. Cassidy has talked about in this interview. I believe I can use everything she has mentioned if I work hard and prepare. Blogging will be hard for me because of the cheating opportunity. Skype will definitely be a useful tool for me. I am looking forward to using everything available to me to better prepare my students for the future.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Special Blog Assignment
As I read "A World Where Grades Will Be Left Behind", I learned a lot about the future of education and what it may become. Mary Beth Marklein, author of this article, interviewed Sebastian Thrun. Thrun is the founder of Udocity, which is an education company. He teaches free online classes to anyone who wants it. He taught a class composed of more than 160,000 students. Thrun states that after this experience, he could never go back to the traditional classroom. He explained to Marklein that there are no tardies, and failing grades are not an option. He said the class is almost like a playground. Thrun told Marklein that he believed education should be as fun as playing a video game.
Udocity is not the only online start-ups that Thrun oversees. He hopes to develop a catalog of free online courses taught by prominent professors from all over the world. Sal Kahn, a friend of Thrun’s, has gotten some schools to “flip” their classroom. The students watch a video at night and complete work the next day in class. According to Thrun, some charter schools have also built curriculum that involve game playing. Making online college as affordable as a phone bill is the goal of other places, such as Charter University. Thrun also states that classes could be as large as thousands of students. As Marklein listens to Thrun, he tells her he does not know how education will be in thirty years, but he does know that educators are using technology to personalize their teaching strategies. He says grades will not exist, nor will a time limit exist. Students will be able to work at their own pace and take as long as needed to master a skill or concept. Thrun uses an analogy of the live theater versus film-making in explaining his theory. When film-making became popular, it did not destroy the live theater. Films were just different forms of entertainment. He believes this stands true for the education system. The online college will not replace traditional classroom education. The online college will be just another option for students to learn through a different form of education.
As I read and thought about this article, I wanted to know more about Udocity. I went to their website and looked at a course that I could take. I could see the instructor’s hands writing on the white board as if I were in his classroom. The site was easy to navigate, but someone with limited computer skills would probably struggle. The class forum is exceptionally helpful. You can ask questions, seek help from others taking the class, or just make a comment.
However, in the video segment of this article, Thrun says that human interaction is essential in education. To be online, with no personal interaction, as Thrun has described, makes that statement contradictory. He even stated he did not ever want to go back to the traditional classroom. My personal view as a future educator is still a little skeptical of the free online college. First, the traditional classroom should be enhanced by technology, not replaced by it. I do not want to teach from a computer. I love technology and the advancements that have been made in the education system, but sometimes I think teachers want to teach technology instead of the subject at hand. I do not want to be one of these kinds of teachers. I do not have anything against “flipping” my class but only if all students have access to computers and internet at home. I am all for game playing to learn a skill or concept. I will try anything I have available to better my student’s educations. I also believe in the grading system. I have learned through my educational journey that it is okay to fail sometimes. If we teach our students that failure is not an option, the wrong message is being sent. I believe in accountability for the students and the teachers. I want to be held accountable for what I teach. If I were to have one student who did not learn anything from my class, I would consider myself a failure as an educator.
The free cost of online learning will be a very positive force for many people. I know my college education has cost a lot of money, but it has given me something money cannot buy. I have learned about life and made lifelong friends that could never be taught from a computer. I do not want my future students to miss the opportunity to experience the life lessons that can be learned in the classroom. The major goal I have is to teach my students the subject at hand, but also about life.
I know change is necessary, but I believe change can happen to better what we have in place already. Enhancing our education by technology is acceptable. Using technology as an alternative for educating our students is still to new for me to accept.
I love technology, but interaction with people is essential. Society is filled with advanced technology, but there are people behind the scenes of the technology. Social skills that are learned in the classroom can never be replaced by technology.
As I prepare for my future as an educator, advanced technology skills will be essential for my students to succeed. I also believe life lessons are essential for success. I, for one, believe we can have it all!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Blog Assignment #10
Cartoon
After reviewing the cartoon from Mr. Spencer’s blog, I believe he is trying to state that both the papermate pencil and the Ticonderoga pencil both provide the same services. One is just more expensive than the other is. He is also trying to say that the Ticonderoga pencil is better quality than the papermate. I think Mr. Spencer is telling us to use whatever technology we have available, even if it is just pencil and paper.
Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?
After reading "Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?", it made me realize that not everyone will approve of your style of teaching. When the principal does not support your teaching methods, it would make your job a lot harder. As long as no rules, laws, or safety practices are being compromised, let the teachers teach! Each teacher and each student are individuals, with individual styles, and whatever works should be allowed. This scenario is eye opening because it tells me there could be “brick walls” even from your administrators.
It’s Not Opium and It Won’t Kill Our Writing
After reading John T. Spencer’s blog, "It’s not opium and it won’t kill our writing", it has made me realize that the communication tools we use today is like the pencil and paper. We can just call it the keyboard and monitor or keypad and screen. The technology is different, but the concept is the same.
The mother in this story was concerned about her son writing with the pencil and paper and becoming addicted to it. She was concerned it was taking away his study time and his playtime. She was also concerned that he would lose his ability to write. She did not realize that this writing was a learning tool for him. He says it made him learn how to distinguish between formal English and informal English. He also said he communicated with his friends by these letters. Our technology we use today to communicate is “not opium and it won’t kill our writing” We use the computer and cell phones every day. Tweeting, facebooking, or texting is teaching us something every day, especially how to use technology available to us. . We are learning something. I know the texting language is different, but each one of us will have to make a conscience effort to commit to using formal English when necessary. As the son in this story used letters to communicate with his friends, we use computers and cell phones to communicate with our friends. I thank Mr. Spencer when he says we are not a generation of stupid, illiterate, shallow thinkers.
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
After reading Scott McLeod’s post, "Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?", I thought it was quite amusing. I absolutely love sarcasm and he did it well. He summed up all the negative and positive aspects of internet technology and computer technology in his post. There are concerns about use of the internet in the classroom, but we must figure out a way to monitor more efficiently because the use of technology is adamant. We must teach our students about the technology available to them to be able to compete in their future careers and endeavors. How can we do this if it is not available in the classroom? Calling out the parents, teachers, administrators, and board members did not leave anyone out of the equation. We must all work together to make a better education system that will prepare our students for the world ahead of them.
Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D. is currently the Director of Innovation for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency in Iowa. He is also on leave from his position as an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is also the founding director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), which is the only center in our nation dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators. He also is the co-creator of the video series, “Did You Know? (Shift Happens). He has received many awards for technology leadership work.
After reviewing the cartoon from Mr. Spencer’s blog, I believe he is trying to state that both the papermate pencil and the Ticonderoga pencil both provide the same services. One is just more expensive than the other is. He is also trying to say that the Ticonderoga pencil is better quality than the papermate. I think Mr. Spencer is telling us to use whatever technology we have available, even if it is just pencil and paper.
Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?
After reading "Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?", it made me realize that not everyone will approve of your style of teaching. When the principal does not support your teaching methods, it would make your job a lot harder. As long as no rules, laws, or safety practices are being compromised, let the teachers teach! Each teacher and each student are individuals, with individual styles, and whatever works should be allowed. This scenario is eye opening because it tells me there could be “brick walls” even from your administrators.
It’s Not Opium and It Won’t Kill Our Writing
After reading John T. Spencer’s blog, "It’s not opium and it won’t kill our writing", it has made me realize that the communication tools we use today is like the pencil and paper. We can just call it the keyboard and monitor or keypad and screen. The technology is different, but the concept is the same.
The mother in this story was concerned about her son writing with the pencil and paper and becoming addicted to it. She was concerned it was taking away his study time and his playtime. She was also concerned that he would lose his ability to write. She did not realize that this writing was a learning tool for him. He says it made him learn how to distinguish between formal English and informal English. He also said he communicated with his friends by these letters. Our technology we use today to communicate is “not opium and it won’t kill our writing” We use the computer and cell phones every day. Tweeting, facebooking, or texting is teaching us something every day, especially how to use technology available to us. . We are learning something. I know the texting language is different, but each one of us will have to make a conscience effort to commit to using formal English when necessary. As the son in this story used letters to communicate with his friends, we use computers and cell phones to communicate with our friends. I thank Mr. Spencer when he says we are not a generation of stupid, illiterate, shallow thinkers.
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
After reading Scott McLeod’s post, "Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?", I thought it was quite amusing. I absolutely love sarcasm and he did it well. He summed up all the negative and positive aspects of internet technology and computer technology in his post. There are concerns about use of the internet in the classroom, but we must figure out a way to monitor more efficiently because the use of technology is adamant. We must teach our students about the technology available to them to be able to compete in their future careers and endeavors. How can we do this if it is not available in the classroom? Calling out the parents, teachers, administrators, and board members did not leave anyone out of the equation. We must all work together to make a better education system that will prepare our students for the world ahead of them.
Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D. is currently the Director of Innovation for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency in Iowa. He is also on leave from his position as an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is also the founding director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), which is the only center in our nation dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators. He also is the co-creator of the video series, “Did You Know? (Shift Happens). He has received many awards for technology leadership work.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Project #10 - PLN Progress Report
PLN
This is my progress report post for my PLN. I used "Symbaloo" to organize my PLN. This was a fun and interesting project. I enjoyed organizing and getting information together. I look forward to continue to build my PLN. On the left side, I have the news links. Social networking sites are on the right side. Various links and information are at the top. Finally, I chose to concentrate my PLN with a Health aspect. I am a health major. This is a field that I like to learn new things in. At the bottom, there are various health links, such as, WebMD, Internet Health Library, Obesity, Diet, Diabetes, and Alzheimers.
This is my progress report post for my PLN. I used "Symbaloo" to organize my PLN. This was a fun and interesting project. I enjoyed organizing and getting information together. I look forward to continue to build my PLN. On the left side, I have the news links. Social networking sites are on the right side. Various links and information are at the top. Finally, I chose to concentrate my PLN with a Health aspect. I am a health major. This is a field that I like to learn new things in. At the bottom, there are various health links, such as, WebMD, Internet Health Library, Obesity, Diet, Diabetes, and Alzheimers.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Blog Assignment #9
What I Learned This Year - Volume 4 (2011-12)
After reading "What I Learned This Year - Volume 4 (2011-12)" , it has made me realize to be the best teacher I can be. I must not let my peers define who I am or change who I am. As Mr. McClung asks, “are the kids having fun?” This is the rule he said had gotten him to where he is. Mr. McClung’s statement saying to remember who you really work for is absolutely a great motto for me to remember as I enter the classroom.
In addition, Mr. McClung challenges us not to get comfortable. Being in a routine and never trying new things will make you a lazy teacher. As this happens, kids do not enjoy your class. His advice is not to use old lesson plans because then your creativity will slowly wither away. We, as educators, have to choose to be a better teacher each day. Mr. McClung made this choice because he wanted to be the best for his students. What an inspiration!
These blog posts from Mr. McClung’s teaching experiences have been incredibly inspiring for me. I hope I can take what he has learned, taught, and experienced with me as I enter my teaching journey.
What I've Learned This Year (2008-09)
I chose to read Mr. McClungs "blog" on his reflection of his first year of teaching. Learning to read the crowd is a skill that I had to learn in my years of coaching softball. Mr. McClung says to best benefit my students I have to know if I am reaching them. I could always tell when my softball girls were confused about a skill I was teaching before they ever even asked a question. I would see these blank stares and know that this was a skill I would have to reteach.
Mr. MClung's second point is that he had to learn to be flexible. This is where I think I will have some trouble. I am a very organized person, and I do not like when things do not go as planned. As a teacher, I have to expect that something will go wrong every day. Mr. McClung also discussed the idea of communication. I think communication with students is important, but I also think that communication with their parents is equally important. I know that I will be in contact with parents who do not care, but I know that there are parents that truly care about the education of their child. If we communicate the problems or dilemmas we have in our classroom, many parents would be more than willing to help fix the issue. As Mr. Mclung talked about be reasonable with expectations of his students, I learned that what I want a student to do and what a student is capable of may be two completely different things. Mr. Mclung says not to ever be afraid of technology. Students today have access to every type of technology imaginable. We must use this to our benefit.
Although there were a lot of valuable interesting thoughts in his blog, the idea that stuck in my head was that no class, no instructor, nor a book could ever prepare me for what exactly I will come in contact with in my classroom. Every district, every school, and every student will be different, and I must be willing to change the way I think, act, and teach to best benefit my students.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
C4T #2 Summary
My C4T teacher is "William Chamberlain"
C4T #2 - Post #1
This post was about challenging students. My response was, "As teachers, our most important duty is to challenge students. I can remember the first time I had a teacher challenge me. She forever impacted my educational journey, and I still use many of the skills she taught me. If we do not challenge our students, they will only achieve the minimum required. I was very grateful to have a teacher challenge me, and I hope I can pay forward what she taught me."
C4T #2 - Post #2
This post was about teachers being remembered as storytellers. My response was, "The best teachers are amazing storytellers. I can remember when I was in school the best classes were when teachers talked about real live experiences. They told a story. When I have the opportunity to stand in a classroom full of students, I will remember that sometimes lessons do not have to be huge projects that you plan for weeks in advance. Some of the most important lessons I ever learned came from something simple as a story."
Blog Assignment #8
This Is How We Dream
These videos, "This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2" , are extremely educational. The changes in how we communicate have changed drastically. We receive information instantly and globally. The laptop is just a part of who we are as students as the pen and paper used to be. Word processing is efficient and easy to learn. The internet is easy to use. We can research information and write about anything we choose without ever leaving the comfort of our home. Mr. Miller demonstrated this as he told about writing the Virginia Tech tragedy without even setting foot on Virginia Tech campus.
Digital processing with images and audio is a little more complicated. Some of the teachers are trying to implement this type of communication into their classroom. It is more time consuming, but the outcome can be fabulous. I agree with Mr. Miller that this type of digital processing is more appealing and interesting to see. I will try to implement this type of technology into my classroom. Technology changes right before our eyes, and we must be willing to adapt to changes in the classroom. Teaching our elementary aged children this type of technology is right on target. Think about what they can do by the time they reach high school and college. I do believe sharing ideas is essential in our digital age, but saying ideas do not belong to us individually anymore is a little farfetched for me. Personal accomplishments and gratification is an individual aspect for anyone. Sharing ideas should not take that away. Making someone’s homework or research easier by sharing my ideas would be great, but I do not want to take away the individualism of the ideas.
I can only image what kind of digital processing using the web could create. It is so far above my understanding that I cannot even comprehend it. I sure hope to learn how to use this type of communicating in the future. As Mr. Miller put it, “Why wouldn’t you?” Probably one of the greatest lessons I learned from Mr. Miller’s video is limits and restrictions we have are because we placed them on ourselves.
Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12
"Carly Pugh’s blog" is exactly what Mr. Miller meant by multi-media communication. I believe Carly went beyond the assignment and left each of us with an awe-inspiring presentation. I love YouTube and using video from YouTube to express one’s philosophy and goals is incredible. I believe Dr. Strange has used this as an assignment so we can fully appreciate the direction he is trying to take us in this class. What an example!
"The Chipper Series" and "EDM310 for Dummies"
I am an assistant softball coach at GCHS, and I would love to create a video with former softball players giving inspiring messages to my current players. I believe this would be a great tool to create a different perspective for the students. Just maybe someone could cause a spark and the light will come on. Sometimes it takes an outside source to reach some students. I am not talking about the actual playing of the game, but the life lessons that are learned through the playing of softball.
The primary message in both of these videos is never give up and follow through! Our future depends on it. Frustration and anger is how I felt in EDM310 in the beginning. This could have been me in the video. I am now realizing that EDM is not an easy class. Dr. Strange is trying to take us to the future of education. I just need to think outside the box.
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
After watching the video,"Learn to Change, Change to Learn" I am all for embracing technology in the classroom. I do believe we need to learn to change and change to learn for the 21st century educators and students. I am not so sure about taking the controlled atmosphere completely away from the classroom. We are still talking about kids. Students need discipline and structure. Learning from community is great and I believe in projects outside the walls of the schools. I have never been a fan of standardized testing. I do believe change is inevitable to prepare our students for future careers. In addition to academics, there is so much more students learn from being in school. We can still prepare our students to the best of our ability with the resources that we have, but computers do not replace the human.
Scavenger Hunt from "WEB 2.0 Tools"
I have located the Edmodo social networking cite that I think would be a great tool for my classroom. I can create tests with this cite and grade them from this cite. I can also communicate with other teachers from this cite from all over the world. Students and parents can have access to homework, test dates, grades, and any other event or action about our school. This cite seems to be secure and easy to use. It reminds me of facebook. I think the students would really like to use this as a means of communicating.
Animoto video is a great site. This site allows you to use photos and video clips from facebook, instagram, and even your personal computer. It also has hundreds of tunes available for your video. The video can be shared using social media sites such as facebook. The videos can also be created in high definition. There are three plans to choose from. Thirty second videos are free. There is a plus plan and a pro plan offered for a very affordable yearly fee.
These videos, "This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2" , are extremely educational. The changes in how we communicate have changed drastically. We receive information instantly and globally. The laptop is just a part of who we are as students as the pen and paper used to be. Word processing is efficient and easy to learn. The internet is easy to use. We can research information and write about anything we choose without ever leaving the comfort of our home. Mr. Miller demonstrated this as he told about writing the Virginia Tech tragedy without even setting foot on Virginia Tech campus.
Digital processing with images and audio is a little more complicated. Some of the teachers are trying to implement this type of communication into their classroom. It is more time consuming, but the outcome can be fabulous. I agree with Mr. Miller that this type of digital processing is more appealing and interesting to see. I will try to implement this type of technology into my classroom. Technology changes right before our eyes, and we must be willing to adapt to changes in the classroom. Teaching our elementary aged children this type of technology is right on target. Think about what they can do by the time they reach high school and college. I do believe sharing ideas is essential in our digital age, but saying ideas do not belong to us individually anymore is a little farfetched for me. Personal accomplishments and gratification is an individual aspect for anyone. Sharing ideas should not take that away. Making someone’s homework or research easier by sharing my ideas would be great, but I do not want to take away the individualism of the ideas.
I can only image what kind of digital processing using the web could create. It is so far above my understanding that I cannot even comprehend it. I sure hope to learn how to use this type of communicating in the future. As Mr. Miller put it, “Why wouldn’t you?” Probably one of the greatest lessons I learned from Mr. Miller’s video is limits and restrictions we have are because we placed them on ourselves.
Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12
"The Chipper Series" and "EDM310 for Dummies"
The primary message in both of these videos is never give up and follow through! Our future depends on it. Frustration and anger is how I felt in EDM310 in the beginning. This could have been me in the video. I am now realizing that EDM is not an easy class. Dr. Strange is trying to take us to the future of education. I just need to think outside the box.
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
After watching the video,"Learn to Change, Change to Learn" I am all for embracing technology in the classroom. I do believe we need to learn to change and change to learn for the 21st century educators and students. I am not so sure about taking the controlled atmosphere completely away from the classroom. We are still talking about kids. Students need discipline and structure. Learning from community is great and I believe in projects outside the walls of the schools. I have never been a fan of standardized testing. I do believe change is inevitable to prepare our students for future careers. In addition to academics, there is so much more students learn from being in school. We can still prepare our students to the best of our ability with the resources that we have, but computers do not replace the human.
Scavenger Hunt from "WEB 2.0 Tools"
I have located the Edmodo social networking cite that I think would be a great tool for my classroom. I can create tests with this cite and grade them from this cite. I can also communicate with other teachers from this cite from all over the world. Students and parents can have access to homework, test dates, grades, and any other event or action about our school. This cite seems to be secure and easy to use. It reminds me of facebook. I think the students would really like to use this as a means of communicating.
Animoto video is a great site. This site allows you to use photos and video clips from facebook, instagram, and even your personal computer. It also has hundreds of tunes available for your video. The video can be shared using social media sites such as facebook. The videos can also be created in high definition. There are three plans to choose from. Thirty second videos are free. There is a plus plan and a pro plan offered for a very affordable yearly fee.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Blog Assignment #7
The Networked Student
The video, "The Networked Student" , is very informing for me as a future educator. I do believe students need to take control of their own learning. However, some student’s would like to use this type of learning, but I also believe other students have not yet come to the realization that 21st Century learning is where education is heading. Not all students are taught some of the 21st Century learning skills in the classroom. Not all teachers are ready to commit to this type of teaching. We, as 21st Century teachers, have a greater advantage than veteran teachers do. We learn new skills everyday when some teachers do not even know the basic skills for 21st century learning. It will be up to us to implement a learning network for our students from day one in the classroom.
This video also gives us a direction to follow. Teaching us how to build a learning network by using certain websites and blogs is educating in itself. Blogs are mostly opinion based, but can provide opportunity for student to voice his or her informed opinions. I know from personal experience that comments about one’s blog posts can keep the student “on his or her toes.” These blogs can be seen by virtually anyone anywhere in the world. Hard work on creating these blogs can help someone else learn important information. That is what we, as future educators, should strive to do. Subscribing to audio and video podcasts to support the 21st century learner is great advice. Having access to the some of the best professors in the world is probably one the greatest teaching and learning tools one can possess.
The question is asked, “Why does the networked student even need a teacher?” I do not believe the teacher will ever be replaced by technology. The students will always need guidance. Everyone is stuck sometimes, and teachers will need to be able to show students how to differentiate between good information and bad information. I also believe 21st century teachers should never expect technology to replace the experience a student’s receives in the classroom. The networked learning is necessary, but not at the expense of other valuable lessons learned from a teacher and other classmates through verbal skills and communication. 21st century teachers and learners have to adapt to emerging technology and it is relevant in our classroom. I think the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher is how well the teacher can adapt to the ever-changing technology, without giving up the personal guidance that is necessary for the success of a student.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
After watching "A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment" , this Personal Learning Environment, PLE, is very detailed for a seventh grader. The digital organizational skill this student maintains is quite impressive. My Personal Learning Network, PLN, is not at efficient as it should be. I must use these ideas and others to create a more organized and effective learning network. This student’s science class is completely paperless, and this is foreign to me. I still like to hold on to hard copies of some of my work. I guess because not all teachers are completely “sold out” to network learning, and hard copies are still required. I have not given up totally on some of my traditional learning methods, but I am learning to adapt to network learning more and more. My paper trail is getting smaller might I add!
This video also gives us a direction to follow. Teaching us how to build a learning network by using certain websites and blogs is educating in itself. Blogs are mostly opinion based, but can provide opportunity for student to voice his or her informed opinions. I know from personal experience that comments about one’s blog posts can keep the student “on his or her toes.” These blogs can be seen by virtually anyone anywhere in the world. Hard work on creating these blogs can help someone else learn important information. That is what we, as future educators, should strive to do. Subscribing to audio and video podcasts to support the 21st century learner is great advice. Having access to the some of the best professors in the world is probably one the greatest teaching and learning tools one can possess.
The question is asked, “Why does the networked student even need a teacher?” I do not believe the teacher will ever be replaced by technology. The students will always need guidance. Everyone is stuck sometimes, and teachers will need to be able to show students how to differentiate between good information and bad information. I also believe 21st century teachers should never expect technology to replace the experience a student’s receives in the classroom. The networked learning is necessary, but not at the expense of other valuable lessons learned from a teacher and other classmates through verbal skills and communication. 21st century teachers and learners have to adapt to emerging technology and it is relevant in our classroom. I think the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher is how well the teacher can adapt to the ever-changing technology, without giving up the personal guidance that is necessary for the success of a student.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
Friday, October 12, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
C4K Summary for September
C4K
The first student's blog I commented on was "Rave" , who is a Year 5 student in Miss Ouano's class at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ in Room 14. Rave's post was about Olympic Day. Rave described it as when the whole school comes together to participate in different sports or events. Rave's favorite activities were volleyball and handball. I told Rave that I enjoyed learning about the Olympic Day. Rave explained everything in detail, so it was easy to understand.
The second student's blog I commented on was "Taniela" , who is a Year 5 student at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ in Mr. Mark's class in Room 15. I really enjoyed reading the post. It sounded like a fun activity. They had to tie a band around their hips and stick one arm in the band. The purpose of the activity was to see what it feels like to run with one arm. Taniela says that it felt weird and strange to run with one arm, and I agreed with her.
The first student's blog I commented on was "Rave" , who is a Year 5 student in Miss Ouano's class at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ in Room 14. Rave's post was about Olympic Day. Rave described it as when the whole school comes together to participate in different sports or events. Rave's favorite activities were volleyball and handball. I told Rave that I enjoyed learning about the Olympic Day. Rave explained everything in detail, so it was easy to understand.
The second student's blog I commented on was "Taniela" , who is a Year 5 student at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ in Mr. Mark's class in Room 15. I really enjoyed reading the post. It sounded like a fun activity. They had to tie a band around their hips and stick one arm in the band. The purpose of the activity was to see what it feels like to run with one arm. Taniela says that it felt weird and strange to run with one arm, and I agreed with her.
Blog Assignment #6
Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture
After watching "Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture" , he used lessons he learned as a student and brought them to his classroom. He learned the technique of teaching fundamentals from his football coach. After fundamentals, came teamwork and enthusiasm. These techniques should be a requirement for all educators and should be what all of our teaching should be based upon. Indirect learning, or the “head fake,” is amazing. I hope I can replicate this type of learning in my classroom. To make learning fun while learning something hard is fabulous.
Constructive criticism is another technique that Pausch used. He tells us that critics should help one to become better. Being critical of your students is a way of telling them that you will never give up on them. There is a wrong way and right way to do this. He also tells us to give credit where credit is due. This teaching technique will bring positive results. While praising your students, a bear hug also brings confidence. I do not know if this would be feasible, but it sure makes sense.
The “brick wall” theory is a way of explaining how it will determine how bad we want something. Brick walls will come to us, even in the flesh. The technique of surrounding yourself with smart people will only make you a better person. This tells me to always be ready to ask for help. Never try to be a one-man show. Seek advice from your mentors and role models. Some of the most important techniques he used in his teachings were to focus on others and not yourself, apologize when you need to, and always tell the truth. I only hope I can carry these traits to the classroom.
Perseverance is probably the technique Pausch used that is hardest for me. People will impress you if you wait long enough. Never give up. Sometimes impatience is a virtue that rears its ugly head. Pausch also teaches us to teach by example. Getting your hands dirty, or spilling ice cream on your clothes, is the technique of being involved, literally. Working in groups is a masterful way of teaching students to focus on people and learning. Giving feedback to your students gives them something to build upon. Never losing your child like words is a technique that tells me to never think you are better than anyone else is.
The teaching techniques of Randy Pausch are inspiring for me as a future educator. Everyone has to make his or her dreams come true and if you have the opportunity make someone else’s dreams come true. Hard work and dedication will pay off in the end. Having mentors is absolutely some of the best advice. From teachers to parents and friends, mentors will always help when all else fails. I think he sums is up exactly right when he says, “You have to decide if you want to be a “Tigger” or an “Eyore.” I will not only be a better teacher but a better person as well if I take these teaching techniques and advice to my classroom. Pausch says,” You can have your cake and eat it too!”
After watching "Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture" , he used lessons he learned as a student and brought them to his classroom. He learned the technique of teaching fundamentals from his football coach. After fundamentals, came teamwork and enthusiasm. These techniques should be a requirement for all educators and should be what all of our teaching should be based upon. Indirect learning, or the “head fake,” is amazing. I hope I can replicate this type of learning in my classroom. To make learning fun while learning something hard is fabulous.
Constructive criticism is another technique that Pausch used. He tells us that critics should help one to become better. Being critical of your students is a way of telling them that you will never give up on them. There is a wrong way and right way to do this. He also tells us to give credit where credit is due. This teaching technique will bring positive results. While praising your students, a bear hug also brings confidence. I do not know if this would be feasible, but it sure makes sense.
The “brick wall” theory is a way of explaining how it will determine how bad we want something. Brick walls will come to us, even in the flesh. The technique of surrounding yourself with smart people will only make you a better person. This tells me to always be ready to ask for help. Never try to be a one-man show. Seek advice from your mentors and role models. Some of the most important techniques he used in his teachings were to focus on others and not yourself, apologize when you need to, and always tell the truth. I only hope I can carry these traits to the classroom.
Perseverance is probably the technique Pausch used that is hardest for me. People will impress you if you wait long enough. Never give up. Sometimes impatience is a virtue that rears its ugly head. Pausch also teaches us to teach by example. Getting your hands dirty, or spilling ice cream on your clothes, is the technique of being involved, literally. Working in groups is a masterful way of teaching students to focus on people and learning. Giving feedback to your students gives them something to build upon. Never losing your child like words is a technique that tells me to never think you are better than anyone else is.
The teaching techniques of Randy Pausch are inspiring for me as a future educator. Everyone has to make his or her dreams come true and if you have the opportunity make someone else’s dreams come true. Hard work and dedication will pay off in the end. Having mentors is absolutely some of the best advice. From teachers to parents and friends, mentors will always help when all else fails. I think he sums is up exactly right when he says, “You have to decide if you want to be a “Tigger” or an “Eyore.” I will not only be a better teacher but a better person as well if I take these teaching techniques and advice to my classroom. Pausch says,” You can have your cake and eat it too!”
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Blog Assignment #5
iSchool
After watching the videos, "The iSchool Initiative" and "ZeitgeistYoungMind's Entry", Travis Allen makes some really great points. Drastic funding costs have forced school systems to let go of teachers and buy less learning materials. Schools are forced to get by with the bare necessities. There are not enough teachers, computers, or textbooks in our school systems. The larger classroom size makes it difficult for teachers to give personal help and attention to students. We have to do better. Travis has a brilliant plan. Travis wants all schools to invest in the iSchool. The iSchool would allow all students, teachers, and parents to have a classroom at their fingertips. All textbooks, notes, maps, calendars, calculators, and such could be downloaded to apple’s itouch to create the iSchool. The iSchool could drastically change accountability between teacher and students, and students and their parents. Homework assignments could be uploaded to the itouch, and grades could be accessed at the touch of a button. This type of technology would transform the education system to the mobile world in which we live. If you add up the cost of textbooks, calculators, and copy paper, the cost of the itouch would not compare. Where schools normally spend $600 per student, the itouch would only cost around $150.
Although I think the theory behind the iSchool is amazing, I wonder how simple it would be to implement. Most students know more about technology than teachers. I know for a fact that some of the teachers that I have been around could never teach using an iPod. There would have to be mandatory training for school systems to implement this type of change. Most schools that I have been involved with could never afford the money it would take to implement this radical change all at one time. Many schools would be forced to transform to the mobile world one classroom at a time. I think that this plan would be incredible if it’s implemented correctly. I know I would love to teach at a school that had this type of technology!
Virtual Choir
After watching, "Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir" , I have one word to say about the video, Amazing! What an experience for those students. The resource that we have in the internet is extraordinary. Why would we not use this technology to make our students more successful? If a group of 185 people can sing Lux Aurumque on the internet without ever meeting, we can do almost anything.
Teaching in the 21st Century
What does it mean to teach in the 21st century? We live in the information era. "Kevin Robert’s presentation" on teaching in the 21st century describes how teachers must change if they expect to have successful students. Students have information at their fingertips, and as Roberts describes in his video, educators must use these resources to as a way of reaching their students. We have so many resources at our disposal that could help our students be engaged and entertained all at the same time. The days are gone when teachers can pull out a text book and tell students to define vocabulary words. We have to engage and challenge our students in learning. We can no longer be just a teacher, we must be a facilitator. We must be the filter for all the information they have access to. We must recreate our education system to focus on skills rather than facts. I do believe Roberts is correct in his analogy. The digital world is constantly changing, and education must adapt to this change if we expect our students to succeed. My students will be the only ones losing if I do not take the risk of being a 21st century teacher "one activity, one unit, and one class at a time".
Flipped Classroom
After watching the videos, "Why I Flipped My Classroom" , "Flipped Classroom – FAQ" , "Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ - Flipping the Classroom" , and "Flipping the Classroom - 4th Grade STEM" , I think flipping the classroom is an excellent theory, however I think applying the concept would be difficult because of the time it would take for teachers to properly implement the program. Most teachers already have full schedules, and I think adding video lectures would only add to the long list of ways teachers are burned out. School districts would have to spend thousands of dollars training teachers, students, and parents. There are many benefits to this type of instruction. Parents would have access to the information necessary to help their children with homework and projects, but they would also have to be trained to properly use this type of educational technology.
My dream is to teach at the high school where I graduated. We live in a small community with less than 600 students attending our school. I would guess that less than half of those students have internet access. This would be a problem if I was to “flip my classroom.” In one of the videos it talked about what teachers do for students that do not have computer access. Those students normally are able to watch the video when they get to school, but isn’t that basically defeating the purpose?
After watching the videos, "The iSchool Initiative" and "ZeitgeistYoungMind's Entry", Travis Allen makes some really great points. Drastic funding costs have forced school systems to let go of teachers and buy less learning materials. Schools are forced to get by with the bare necessities. There are not enough teachers, computers, or textbooks in our school systems. The larger classroom size makes it difficult for teachers to give personal help and attention to students. We have to do better. Travis has a brilliant plan. Travis wants all schools to invest in the iSchool. The iSchool would allow all students, teachers, and parents to have a classroom at their fingertips. All textbooks, notes, maps, calendars, calculators, and such could be downloaded to apple’s itouch to create the iSchool. The iSchool could drastically change accountability between teacher and students, and students and their parents. Homework assignments could be uploaded to the itouch, and grades could be accessed at the touch of a button. This type of technology would transform the education system to the mobile world in which we live. If you add up the cost of textbooks, calculators, and copy paper, the cost of the itouch would not compare. Where schools normally spend $600 per student, the itouch would only cost around $150.
Although I think the theory behind the iSchool is amazing, I wonder how simple it would be to implement. Most students know more about technology than teachers. I know for a fact that some of the teachers that I have been around could never teach using an iPod. There would have to be mandatory training for school systems to implement this type of change. Most schools that I have been involved with could never afford the money it would take to implement this radical change all at one time. Many schools would be forced to transform to the mobile world one classroom at a time. I think that this plan would be incredible if it’s implemented correctly. I know I would love to teach at a school that had this type of technology!
Virtual Choir
Teaching in the 21st Century
Flipped Classroom
After watching the videos, "Why I Flipped My Classroom" , "Flipped Classroom – FAQ" , "Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ - Flipping the Classroom" , and "Flipping the Classroom - 4th Grade STEM" , I think flipping the classroom is an excellent theory, however I think applying the concept would be difficult because of the time it would take for teachers to properly implement the program. Most teachers already have full schedules, and I think adding video lectures would only add to the long list of ways teachers are burned out. School districts would have to spend thousands of dollars training teachers, students, and parents. There are many benefits to this type of instruction. Parents would have access to the information necessary to help their children with homework and projects, but they would also have to be trained to properly use this type of educational technology.
My dream is to teach at the high school where I graduated. We live in a small community with less than 600 students attending our school. I would guess that less than half of those students have internet access. This would be a problem if I was to “flip my classroom.” In one of the videos it talked about what teachers do for students that do not have computer access. Those students normally are able to watch the video when they get to school, but isn’t that basically defeating the purpose?
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Blog Assignment #4
Podcasts
I have never had much experience with a podcast, but after reading some of the success stories, "1st Graders Create Their Own Read-Along Audiobook" and "Langwitches - Flat Stanley Podcast", I know I will defiantly use this technology in my classroom. As teachers, we should use any resource available to reach our students. Most of the blogs that I read were geared towards elementary age students where adults played a major role in the creation of these blogs. I am currently earning a degree in secondary education, and although I know that teenagers would respond well to this type of technology, I worry about the security. I know teenagers that journal all the time. A podcast would be a very interesting journal for an English class, and I could use the podcast in my classroom to record progress in health and exercise. I believe that using the same concept that is being used by elementary grade students to record stories on a podcast can be used in the high school atmosphere. “It is not the technology being taught. It is the skill being taught.”
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