Sunday, December 12, 2010
Additional Assignment 1
The educational implications of what Google squared provide is it can help you breakdown whatever category you are searching for. For example, concerning statistics, Google squared will search the web for that data and compose it into a spreadsheet thus making it easier to break down those statistics. Wolfram Alpha can help you better conduct research because it will compute whatever you are looking for into structured data which would make researching easier for students. Moreover, it can get into more accurate details of misleading statistics.
Before this assignment, I did not know about Google squared or Wolfram Alpha. After this assignment, it made me think twice about my comments about the “Did You Know” video. For example, I was surprised that 25% of India’s high IQ population is more than the population of the entire United States. These statistics was misleading because India has a very large population and 25% of their population is more than the entire United States population.
Here is a screenthot of Picairn Islands from a search using Wolfamalpha.com
Before this assignment, I did not know about Google squared or Wolfram Alpha. After this assignment, it made me think twice about my comments about the “Did You Know” video. For example, I was surprised that 25% of India’s high IQ population is more than the population of the entire United States. These statistics was misleading because India has a very large population and 25% of their population is more than the entire United States population.
Here is a screenthot of Picairn Islands from a search using Wolfamalpha.com
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Summary of C4K
In the month of November for comment for kids, I started out with Mrs. Jenny classroom of mostly six year olds at Pt. England School in Auckland, New Zealand. The title of their classroom blog is titled Little Voices, Little Scholars. I had the pleasure of commenting on Kyan’s blog post in which he created a video animation of his pirate ship. I simply told Kyan how creative he was and what a great job he did on his animation.
Next, I had the pleasure on commenting on Mrs. Pam Thompson classroom blog in Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Mac was the name of the student who I was assigned to and Mac posted a post about “Intimate Alice” which was a digital story. Mac wrote about how much he enjoyed story and gave his observation of the story. I commented about how I enjoyed the story as well and gave an observation of the episodes I watched. Furthermore, I commended Mac on his observation of the story.
Later, I commented on Mrs. Haugen’s sixth grade classroom blog. I commented on Will’s post about his current event presentation. Will wrote that he was going to do his current event on the spread of Cholera in Haiti. I told Will that his choice of current event was a wise choice and that he would do a good job presenting his presentation.
After that, I had the pleasure of commenting on Yasmine’s Blog. Yasmine posted a poem she created title winter poem. Yasmine poem was very good and I simply commented on her writing ability and how much I enjoyed her poem.
Next, I had the pleasure on commenting on Mrs. Pam Thompson classroom blog in Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Mac was the name of the student who I was assigned to and Mac posted a post about “Intimate Alice” which was a digital story. Mac wrote about how much he enjoyed story and gave his observation of the story. I commented about how I enjoyed the story as well and gave an observation of the episodes I watched. Furthermore, I commended Mac on his observation of the story.
Later, I commented on Mrs. Haugen’s sixth grade classroom blog. I commented on Will’s post about his current event presentation. Will wrote that he was going to do his current event on the spread of Cholera in Haiti. I told Will that his choice of current event was a wise choice and that he would do a good job presenting his presentation.
After that, I had the pleasure of commenting on Yasmine’s Blog. Yasmine posted a poem she created title winter poem. Yasmine poem was very good and I simply commented on her writing ability and how much I enjoyed her poem.
Final Report on PLN
I have been using my PLN a lot since I discovered how to create a PLN. I created my PLN with using Symbaloo.com. On my PLN, I added the primary social networks that I use on a continuous basis which were twitter, MySpace, and face book. Since taking EDM310, I found many ways to use twitter for learning and educational purposes. Moreover, I plan to incorporate twitter as a form of communication with my students in my future classroom.
Next, I added some other sites that I use on a regularly basis that helps improve my learning experience. I added sparknotes.com, dictionary.com, wkipeda.com, and many other sites. It has been very convenient to be able to access these sites through my PLN. Next, I added blogs that I use on a daily basis, Gmail, YouTube, and yahoo. After that, I included all my entertaining sites, news sites, and financial sites on my PLN as well. Overall, I am very happy with my PLN and it will continue to grow as I grow.
Next, I added some other sites that I use on a regularly basis that helps improve my learning experience. I added sparknotes.com, dictionary.com, wkipeda.com, and many other sites. It has been very convenient to be able to access these sites through my PLN. Next, I added blogs that I use on a daily basis, Gmail, YouTube, and yahoo. After that, I included all my entertaining sites, news sites, and financial sites on my PLN as well. Overall, I am very happy with my PLN and it will continue to grow as I grow.
Summary of C4T Teacher #4
I was assigned to comment on Mr. Eric Langhorst blog title Speaking of History. The first post on commented on was a presentation Mr. Langhorst created about building a personal learning network. I thought this was a very informational post considering I’ve been building my own personal network. After viewing the presentation, I left explaining how awesome and informational the post was.
The second post on commented on was Mr. Langhorst presentation about improving parent communication. This presentation was very helpful considering I will soon be a first year teacher. The tips were excellent and I thought the presentation was very well done. The comment I left for Mr. Langhorst was simply explaining how much I liked the post and how helpful the tips he presented will help me in the future.
The second post on commented on was Mr. Langhorst presentation about improving parent communication. This presentation was very helpful considering I will soon be a first year teacher. The tips were excellent and I thought the presentation was very well done. The comment I left for Mr. Langhorst was simply explaining how much I liked the post and how helpful the tips he presented will help me in the future.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 13
ALEX is a website from Alabama Department of Education that helps educator’s share information and has resources about their course of study. For example, teachers can log onto AlEX and get lesson plans, professional learning opportunities, podcasts, and many other educational resources for teachers. The site is easy and free to use and can be very helpful a new teacher.
Overall, I thought the site was very informational and resourceful. The site is easy to use and is very useful. For example, the lesson plans were very interesting and could come in handy in the future for any teacher. All in all, I think it’s a great resource to have.
I also reviewed the ACESS site which I thought was a great concept. Giving students the ability to learn through technology and from distance learning is really awesome. I think it’s a great way to connect all the schools in the state and have students become more interactive with technology.
Overall, I thought the site was very informational and resourceful. The site is easy to use and is very useful. For example, the lesson plans were very interesting and could come in handy in the future for any teacher. All in all, I think it’s a great resource to have.
I also reviewed the ACESS site which I thought was a great concept. Giving students the ability to learn through technology and from distance learning is really awesome. I think it’s a great way to connect all the schools in the state and have students become more interactive with technology.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 12
Read the post “Twitter Tips: For Teachers & Educators” by David Hopkins. Think about the tips that you read and write two or more paragraphs about the post.
I thought David Hopkins tips were very informative and good for educators. The first tip he gave was to work out what you want to get out of twitter. I think this is extremely important because twitter can be used for various things. Teachers must know how to use twitter effectively and how to incorporate it into their lesson.
Another great point he made was to not share things and pass them off as your own without giving credit to the originator. I thought this was a great point too because it’s to pass things off as your own on sites like twitter without giving credit, so new users must learn how to use the retweet option. Other great tips he gave were to look at people who are following you, don’t be afraid to block unwanted people, and widen your network. The point here is to be proactive in on the site. Overall, the tips that David Hopkins gave were very good and helpful to new teachers are educators who decide to use twitter.
I thought David Hopkins tips were very informative and good for educators. The first tip he gave was to work out what you want to get out of twitter. I think this is extremely important because twitter can be used for various things. Teachers must know how to use twitter effectively and how to incorporate it into their lesson.
Another great point he made was to not share things and pass them off as your own without giving credit to the originator. I thought this was a great point too because it’s to pass things off as your own on sites like twitter without giving credit, so new users must learn how to use the retweet option. Other great tips he gave were to look at people who are following you, don’t be afraid to block unwanted people, and widen your network. The point here is to be proactive in on the site. Overall, the tips that David Hopkins gave were very good and helpful to new teachers are educators who decide to use twitter.
Progress Report on Final Project
The progress of my final project is right on schedule. Here is a summary of what me and my group member (Sherrie) plan to do. Our project will consist of a movie teaching kids how to Skype and use the internet effectively. My daughter who is 7 will participate and Sherrie’s daughter is 10 will also participate. We’re in the beginning stages of putting the project together and have brain stormed many other ideas to enhance the overall idea. So far everything is on schedule and there have not been any setbacks.
Project 6 Summary
The purpose of my questionnaire was to determine how many students attend University of South Alabama basketball and what contributes to the lack of attendance. Furthermore, I wanted to find out what the basketball program could do the improve attendance for basketball games.
Twenty four people responded to my questionnaire, 5 were male and 18 were female. 63% were juniors and mostly all were more interested in football than basketball. Second, the survey revealed that 75% of the responders had not attended a game within the last year.
Next, the responders were split on what would make them attend more basketball games in the future. Moreover, 42% agreed that schedule conflicts was a reason that they thought contributed to low attendance at basketball games. Finally, 96% believed that regardless of the attendance, the USA basketball program should not be eliminated.
Summary of complete responses
Are you male or female?
What is your academic level?
Which sport are you most interested in?
Which USA sporting event are you mostly likely to attend?
How many USA basketball games have you attended within the last year?
What would make you attend more USA basketball games?
What do you think contribute to the low attendance at USA basketball games?
How much support do you think USA basketball recieve from the community?
What form of promotion would you use to promote USA basketball?
Because of lack of attendance, do you think USA should eliminate the basketball program?
Number of daily responses
Twenty four people responded to my questionnaire, 5 were male and 18 were female. 63% were juniors and mostly all were more interested in football than basketball. Second, the survey revealed that 75% of the responders had not attended a game within the last year.
Next, the responders were split on what would make them attend more basketball games in the future. Moreover, 42% agreed that schedule conflicts was a reason that they thought contributed to low attendance at basketball games. Finally, 96% believed that regardless of the attendance, the USA basketball program should not be eliminated.
Summary of complete responses
Are you male or female?
What is your academic level?
Which sport are you most interested in?
Which USA sporting event are you mostly likely to attend?
How many USA basketball games have you attended within the last year?
What would make you attend more USA basketball games?
What do you think contribute to the low attendance at USA basketball games?
How much support do you think USA basketball recieve from the community?
What form of promotion would you use to promote USA basketball?
Because of lack of attendance, do you think USA should eliminate the basketball program?
Number of daily responses
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 11
I think Ms. Cassidy’s approach to technology in the classroom exactly what I imagined my classroom would be like. Ms. Cassidy stated that she is constantly using and searching for new use of technology to incorporate in her classroom. I think her use of blogs and posting the students assignments online is very effective. In the Skype interview, Ms. Cassidy stated that parents are able to see their child’s progress on their own time which is very beneficial.
In my classroom, I would use blogs the way she use them in her classroom. I would focus on numerous assignments while improving my student’s writing skills. Ms. Cassidy had a technology coordinator on board with her so she has not encountered many problems from the school district, administration, or parents. Likewise, I would seek out such a person to get on board with me so the use of technology in my classroom would go smoothly without any interruptions.
The benefits from using Ms. Cassidy’s methods in my classroom would be huge. As I watched the video of her classroom, the kids were enjoying themselves and were learning a lot. I think all students would be interested in learning by using these methods which would lead to tremendous academic success.
In my classroom, I would use blogs the way she use them in her classroom. I would focus on numerous assignments while improving my student’s writing skills. Ms. Cassidy had a technology coordinator on board with her so she has not encountered many problems from the school district, administration, or parents. Likewise, I would seek out such a person to get on board with me so the use of technology in my classroom would go smoothly without any interruptions.
The benefits from using Ms. Cassidy’s methods in my classroom would be huge. As I watched the video of her classroom, the kids were enjoying themselves and were learning a lot. I think all students would be interested in learning by using these methods which would lead to tremendous academic success.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Summary of C4K 3-7
The first comment I made was on Mrs. Helen King classroom of 5 year olds at PT England School. There entire school held a Pirate Day celebration to celebrate all things marine. Mrs. King’s class posted a video of students celebrating the special day. In response to the video, I praised their unique idea for students to dress up in pirate costumes in effort to make learning fun by keeping students engaged and excited.
Next, I commented on Faith’s Blog, an 11 year old student. She wrote about a response to a live speech President Obama gave to the students about accomplishing dreams. She wrote that he told the students that “dreams do come true.” In response, I told Faith that one of the most important factors to that the President touched on was to organize your time correctly. I told her how I use to be a slugger when I was younger but later mastered the ability to organize my time which helped improved my grades. I told her that getting her education is essential to helping achieve her dream.
After that, I was assigned to comment to Bryant’s blog, a student in Mrs. Byrne’s 7th grade class. Bryant made a post about the miners who were rescued in Chile. He posted a summary of what happen and included links for the readings to learn more about Chile and the mining areas. I commended Bryant for posting links and his blog about the mining area to help inform the readings. Also, I expressed how the survival of all the miners was truly a miracle.
Next, I commented on Francesco’s Blog a student in Mrs. Sandler’s class. Francesco made a post celebrating the class 100th post and praised her teacher for introducing her to blogs. In response, I praised Francesco for her wonderful comments she made about her teacher and told her how ecstatic her teacher must be to know that she is enjoying learning.
Finally, I assigned to Joycelyn A’s blog in Ms. Naugle’s elementary classroom. Joycelyn made a post about a pumpkin project that her and her partner were assigned. They had to weigh the pumpkin, check to see if the pumpkin would float in water, measure the circumference, and then count the seeds. Joycelyn explained how she had fun doing the project and how messy the project was. Moreover, she was amazed that the pumpkin did not sink but floated on water when it was tested. In response, I told her I had similar projects when I was in elementary school and they taught me a lot.
Next, I commented on Faith’s Blog, an 11 year old student. She wrote about a response to a live speech President Obama gave to the students about accomplishing dreams. She wrote that he told the students that “dreams do come true.” In response, I told Faith that one of the most important factors to that the President touched on was to organize your time correctly. I told her how I use to be a slugger when I was younger but later mastered the ability to organize my time which helped improved my grades. I told her that getting her education is essential to helping achieve her dream.
After that, I was assigned to comment to Bryant’s blog, a student in Mrs. Byrne’s 7th grade class. Bryant made a post about the miners who were rescued in Chile. He posted a summary of what happen and included links for the readings to learn more about Chile and the mining areas. I commended Bryant for posting links and his blog about the mining area to help inform the readings. Also, I expressed how the survival of all the miners was truly a miracle.
Next, I commented on Francesco’s Blog a student in Mrs. Sandler’s class. Francesco made a post celebrating the class 100th post and praised her teacher for introducing her to blogs. In response, I praised Francesco for her wonderful comments she made about her teacher and told her how ecstatic her teacher must be to know that she is enjoying learning.
Finally, I assigned to Joycelyn A’s blog in Ms. Naugle’s elementary classroom. Joycelyn made a post about a pumpkin project that her and her partner were assigned. They had to weigh the pumpkin, check to see if the pumpkin would float in water, measure the circumference, and then count the seeds. Joycelyn explained how she had fun doing the project and how messy the project was. Moreover, she was amazed that the pumpkin did not sink but floated on water when it was tested. In response, I told her I had similar projects when I was in elementary school and they taught me a lot.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Additional Assignment #3
Sir Ken Robinson presented a very good argument in his video. I think one of the most important points that he says in his presentation was about students learning and its connection to ADDH. In essence, we are drugging our children when they don’t learn the way we think they should learn. That was a very interesting point of view. I tend to agree with most of the points he made in his video but I disagree with the point of view that you can’t sell students in today’s world in order to have a great job; you must go to college and get a degree. Yes, it’s true that some students do not find a job after they obtain their degree. On the other hand, I think students who do not get the job they want after they graduate still have a better chance for economic mobility compared to the student who does not go to college at all.
To address some of the issues that Sir Ken Robinson’s video present, I think I will forward this video to all my peers and bring up the issues with every person that I come in contact with when the topic arises. Overall, I thought the presentation was very entertaining and very well made. If I had to create such a presentation, my role would be the Idea Generator. I’m not much of an artist but I’m always coming up with great ideas to support projects.
To address some of the issues that Sir Ken Robinson’s video present, I think I will forward this video to all my peers and bring up the issues with every person that I come in contact with when the topic arises. Overall, I thought the presentation was very entertaining and very well made. If I had to create such a presentation, my role would be the Idea Generator. I’m not much of an artist but I’m always coming up with great ideas to support projects.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 10
After reading Morgan Bayda post “An Open Letter to Educators”, I agree with her that North America is using a model of schooling that was created hundreds of years ago by the dominant culture thus cheating us out of our education. Because of this, I think the quality of education in America is far behind what it’s capable of being.
Much like Morgan, sometimes I feel like I am being cheated out of my education. Most curriculums in the public school systems are not student-centered. Public schools seemed to be focused only on standardized testing rather than allowing students to be creative and free to explore their education. Moreover, the curriculum is very limited and is centered on the dominant culture and its point of view. For example, almost in every public school in America, the only time the curriculum is devoted to learning about African American history is in February because it is so-called “Black History Month”. I believe African American history should be learned along with every other aspect of history during the entire school year. A well rounded education would declare history as history, it’s impossible to cram the entire history of African Americans in to one month when African Americans have contributed and help set the foundations of this country.
Next, the way the teachers are conducting and teaching their classes are affecting the education experience as well. I agree with Morgan that it’s frustrating to be in a class where you can only discuss the topics openly with your teacher rather than your classmates. In a class where blogs, open discussions, PLN, and other kinds of effective communication tools are used, it’s more rewarding for the student. I hope that most new generation of teachers will be willing to integrate technology into their lessons to help improve the education experience for the student. As a result, this would give the students the opportunity to be creative and to explore their ideas among their peers using many different forms of communicating. For example, a student may feel uncomfortable commenting on topics in class but if the teacher used blogs, that student may feel more comfortable responding online because it’s less intimidating.
All in all, I think there will always be improvements needed for education in America. I think it’s up to the individual to feed off what they are being taught and educate themselves to get a well rounded education. It’s important to know how to critically think for yourself because knowledge is power and one could never have enough of it.
I really was inspired by the video “Two Questions That Can Change Your Life.” I’ve always been a person to try to reflect on what I did yesterday and how I can improve on that. So I think asking the question “Was I better today than I was yesterday?” is something that I will continue to do to achieve my goals in life. My sentence would be “He motivated his students to achieve their highest potential and devoted his entire life inspiring others.”
Much like Morgan, sometimes I feel like I am being cheated out of my education. Most curriculums in the public school systems are not student-centered. Public schools seemed to be focused only on standardized testing rather than allowing students to be creative and free to explore their education. Moreover, the curriculum is very limited and is centered on the dominant culture and its point of view. For example, almost in every public school in America, the only time the curriculum is devoted to learning about African American history is in February because it is so-called “Black History Month”. I believe African American history should be learned along with every other aspect of history during the entire school year. A well rounded education would declare history as history, it’s impossible to cram the entire history of African Americans in to one month when African Americans have contributed and help set the foundations of this country.
Next, the way the teachers are conducting and teaching their classes are affecting the education experience as well. I agree with Morgan that it’s frustrating to be in a class where you can only discuss the topics openly with your teacher rather than your classmates. In a class where blogs, open discussions, PLN, and other kinds of effective communication tools are used, it’s more rewarding for the student. I hope that most new generation of teachers will be willing to integrate technology into their lessons to help improve the education experience for the student. As a result, this would give the students the opportunity to be creative and to explore their ideas among their peers using many different forms of communicating. For example, a student may feel uncomfortable commenting on topics in class but if the teacher used blogs, that student may feel more comfortable responding online because it’s less intimidating.
All in all, I think there will always be improvements needed for education in America. I think it’s up to the individual to feed off what they are being taught and educate themselves to get a well rounded education. It’s important to know how to critically think for yourself because knowledge is power and one could never have enough of it.
I really was inspired by the video “Two Questions That Can Change Your Life.” I’ve always been a person to try to reflect on what I did yesterday and how I can improve on that. So I think asking the question “Was I better today than I was yesterday?” is something that I will continue to do to achieve my goals in life. My sentence would be “He motivated his students to achieve their highest potential and devoted his entire life inspiring others.”
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Skype Interview Project 12
The purpose of this project was to practice using Skype to interview someone and practice recording the session so i can reuse it in other classes. Well i did a great job using Skype and i know how to conduct an interview. The problem i had was getting the audio correct and i think the programs suggested did not do a great job at all of doing this. I tried Screentoaster and followed the instruction but the program did not record the audio correctly and crashed numerous times. Furthermore i tried Screenjelly and Screenr and had problems as well. I know with a reliable problem, this project could have been better.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 9
“What I’ve learned This Year” by Mr. McClung was a very informational post for beginner teachers about what to do to become an effective teacher. First Mr. McClung talked about how to read the crowd. Many teachers are concerned with how they are doing based on what their superiors think but forget that it’s all about the students. Mr. McClung reminded us that in order to be effective, we have to let the audience drive the instruction. I totally agree with this point of view because if the teacher has the students engaged, the students would be very attentive and interested which creates an environment conducive for learning. I remember the teachers I had that refuse to engage me and just stood up there and taught like they were reading from a book rather than actually teaching.
Next, he talked about how to be flexible, he made the point that we are performing in front of a crowd who tend to forget their lunch so we should be flexible if students does not do exactly as we plan. This was a great point that he made because nothing will go completely as planned and as teachers, we must be willing to accommodate some students.
After that, he stated that we should be reasonable. He wrote as teachers, we sometimes hold high expectations for our students and sometimes they do not meet those expectations. I agree with this because not every student will excel in what we expect than to do. We must not make the mistake of being too unreasonable because it could hurt the learning process.
Next, he stated that teachers should not be afraid of technology and that we should listen to our students. I agree with this as well, there are many current teachers who are afraid of technology and do not incorporate technology into their lesson plans. I believe that the new generation of teachers will not have this problem as much as the older teachers because we are more technology literate. Furthermore, listening to students is an important ingredient to becoming an effective teacher. Teachers who fail to listen to their student will lose them and will not be an effective communicator.
Finally, he stated that teachers should never stop learning. In my opinion, one could never have too much education and each class we have will be different from the other. For example, the way one class learns one year may be not work for next year’s class so it’s important to learn different ways to teach the lesson. Most importantly, we should be expanding our knowledge about our content area and other areas. All in Mr. McClung post was an excellent piece of work.
Next, he talked about how to be flexible, he made the point that we are performing in front of a crowd who tend to forget their lunch so we should be flexible if students does not do exactly as we plan. This was a great point that he made because nothing will go completely as planned and as teachers, we must be willing to accommodate some students.
After that, he stated that we should be reasonable. He wrote as teachers, we sometimes hold high expectations for our students and sometimes they do not meet those expectations. I agree with this because not every student will excel in what we expect than to do. We must not make the mistake of being too unreasonable because it could hurt the learning process.
Next, he stated that teachers should not be afraid of technology and that we should listen to our students. I agree with this as well, there are many current teachers who are afraid of technology and do not incorporate technology into their lesson plans. I believe that the new generation of teachers will not have this problem as much as the older teachers because we are more technology literate. Furthermore, listening to students is an important ingredient to becoming an effective teacher. Teachers who fail to listen to their student will lose them and will not be an effective communicator.
Finally, he stated that teachers should never stop learning. In my opinion, one could never have too much education and each class we have will be different from the other. For example, the way one class learns one year may be not work for next year’s class so it’s important to learn different ways to teach the lesson. Most importantly, we should be expanding our knowledge about our content area and other areas. All in Mr. McClung post was an excellent piece of work.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 8
This was a very good informational video put together by Richard Miller. He made many good arguments about how we can change from a reading/writing culture to a listening/watching culture. Overall, I think I am prepared to write with multimedia and I think my students would also be prepared. I believe that children growing up in today’s culture are very technology literate and would welcome using these methods to learn.
On the other hand, I do not think we should completely do away with books are taking the focus off of learning how to hand write things. I think the book is a beautiful thing. Now we have electronic magazines, kindles, eBooks, and other devices that seem to be taking the place of the book. Personally, there is something about actually having a book in my hand and flipping the pages.
All in all, I like the ideal of writing with multimedia but I do not think it we should totally do away with books and the pen. Books have been around since the creation of human kind and it has gotten the human race to amazing places. The Bible is one of those books that I think should always be available in book format. There are electronic bibles but there is just something about just holding a bible in your hand that gives a different effect than reading it on a computer screen.
ED310 is different were very creative videos. I am not sure of what kind of videos I would like to create but I think maybe “Getting through College While Raising a Family” could be a good one. I think we all need to know to how to balance raising a family, work, and school. It can be very difficult and rewarding at the same time.
Very good comparisons in the Smartboard videos. I had a chance to see Smartboards in action at a middle school this past summer doing my observation. I was amazed at how well the 7th and 8th grade students knew how to use it. It was very useful for the teacher and students and made the lecture go very smooth. I plan to use a Smartboard in my classroom when i begin teaching.
On the other hand, I do not think we should completely do away with books are taking the focus off of learning how to hand write things. I think the book is a beautiful thing. Now we have electronic magazines, kindles, eBooks, and other devices that seem to be taking the place of the book. Personally, there is something about actually having a book in my hand and flipping the pages.
All in all, I like the ideal of writing with multimedia but I do not think it we should totally do away with books and the pen. Books have been around since the creation of human kind and it has gotten the human race to amazing places. The Bible is one of those books that I think should always be available in book format. There are electronic bibles but there is just something about just holding a bible in your hand that gives a different effect than reading it on a computer screen.
ED310 is different were very creative videos. I am not sure of what kind of videos I would like to create but I think maybe “Getting through College While Raising a Family” could be a good one. I think we all need to know to how to balance raising a family, work, and school. It can be very difficult and rewarding at the same time.
Very good comparisons in the Smartboard videos. I had a chance to see Smartboards in action at a middle school this past summer doing my observation. I was amazed at how well the 7th and 8th grade students knew how to use it. It was very useful for the teacher and students and made the lecture go very smooth. I plan to use a Smartboard in my classroom when i begin teaching.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Additional Assignment #2
1.What do you think? If learners are motivated, can they teach themselves? I agree that if learners are motivated, they can teach themselves.If a person has a desire to learn something, I believe that person would do everything in their power to teach themselves. A motivated learner is more capable than an unmotivated learner.
2.If those motivated learners are kids, can they teach themselves? Yes, kids can teach themselves and they do it every day. For example, a kid can learn a very complex video game with no help. No one teaches that kid how to play, he is simply motivated and interested, as a result, he masters it.
3.What conditions are necessary for kids to teach themselves? I think the most important condition is that the child must be interested in what is being taught.
4.What role do computers and internet access play in the process? I think computers and internet access play a huge part in the process. First, kids are interested in new technology; they are simply fascinated by computers. Furthermore, information is easy to access and different ways of presenting that information accessible which makes learning fun.
5.What role does motivation, a desire to learn? I think motivation can create a desire to learn because you simply want to know more. For example, a child may be fascinated by the internet so that child is motivated to learn about the internet. As a result, that child desires increase every day.
6.What roles do a problem, a question or multiple problems or questions play in the process? Tests reveal progress in learning.
7.How do you motivate someone to learn? You motivate someone to learn by telling them about the benefits of what they have learned.
8.How are you motivated to learn? I am motivated to learn because I have a desire more. Knowledge is power and it’s important to absorb as much knowledge as possible to become wise.
9.Can anyone who is not motivated to learn? I really don’t think so; one must be motivated because that motivation creates desire. If a person is not motivated, there will be no desire, no fun, and no learning.
10.Do you teach yourself? When? Why? I teach myself on a daily basis, I teach myself because some things you have to learn for yourself. Learning is not just about learning what’s in the classroom; it goes way beyond the classroom.
11.What role does a teacher (either answer generally or use a specific example) play in your learning? The role of an effective teacher is to guide the student in the right direction. In other words, the teacher’s role is to make sure the student is on track. The teacher's role is not to hold the student's hand throughout the entire process.
12.What is the most important idea, question or emotional response you take away with you as a result of watching this video? Children can do amazing things if the desire to do so is there.
13.What other questions or issues are raised by this video that should be considered and discussed by aspiring teachers? How can parents motivate their children to learn?
2.If those motivated learners are kids, can they teach themselves? Yes, kids can teach themselves and they do it every day. For example, a kid can learn a very complex video game with no help. No one teaches that kid how to play, he is simply motivated and interested, as a result, he masters it.
3.What conditions are necessary for kids to teach themselves? I think the most important condition is that the child must be interested in what is being taught.
4.What role do computers and internet access play in the process? I think computers and internet access play a huge part in the process. First, kids are interested in new technology; they are simply fascinated by computers. Furthermore, information is easy to access and different ways of presenting that information accessible which makes learning fun.
5.What role does motivation, a desire to learn? I think motivation can create a desire to learn because you simply want to know more. For example, a child may be fascinated by the internet so that child is motivated to learn about the internet. As a result, that child desires increase every day.
6.What roles do a problem, a question or multiple problems or questions play in the process? Tests reveal progress in learning.
7.How do you motivate someone to learn? You motivate someone to learn by telling them about the benefits of what they have learned.
8.How are you motivated to learn? I am motivated to learn because I have a desire more. Knowledge is power and it’s important to absorb as much knowledge as possible to become wise.
9.Can anyone who is not motivated to learn? I really don’t think so; one must be motivated because that motivation creates desire. If a person is not motivated, there will be no desire, no fun, and no learning.
10.Do you teach yourself? When? Why? I teach myself on a daily basis, I teach myself because some things you have to learn for yourself. Learning is not just about learning what’s in the classroom; it goes way beyond the classroom.
11.What role does a teacher (either answer generally or use a specific example) play in your learning? The role of an effective teacher is to guide the student in the right direction. In other words, the teacher’s role is to make sure the student is on track. The teacher's role is not to hold the student's hand throughout the entire process.
12.What is the most important idea, question or emotional response you take away with you as a result of watching this video? Children can do amazing things if the desire to do so is there.
13.What other questions or issues are raised by this video that should be considered and discussed by aspiring teachers? How can parents motivate their children to learn?
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Progress Report On PLN
My progress on my Personal Learning Network is going pretty good. I am really enjoying making my PLN and it’s becoming very helpful. Once I finish making my PLN, I plan to introduce all my friends and my family to the site to make their own PLN. Overall, progress is going pretty good and I’m adding to it daily.
Summary of C4T #2
I had the pleasure of reading Mrs. Lee Kolbert’s blog and I commented on her post about document cameras she posted on September 26, 2010. Mrs. Kolbert explained her love for document cameras and how she uses document cameras almost every day in her classes. A document camera usually costs around $500 but she was introduced to the IPEVO document camera that only costs $69. She went on to explain the many advantages this camera has and how important document cameras are in the classroom.
I posted a commented about how I was introduced to document cameras and how having document cameras helps enhance the learning experience for students. I also pledge that I would try one of those $69 document cameras and use them a lot in my classroom as well.
I posted a commented about how I was introduced to document cameras and how having document cameras helps enhance the learning experience for students. I also pledge that I would try one of those $69 document cameras and use them a lot in my classroom as well.
Blog Post Assignment #7
Randy Pausch’s “The Last Lecture” was a very inspirtrational video to watch. First, Pausch was very courageous to give a lecture after being diagnosed with cancer and told that he only had 3-6 months left of good health. Pausch made a point that he was not going to talk about cancer or spirituality and that he did not want pity from the audience.
Pausch presented a very dynamic personality on stage that really captured my attention. For example, I found him completely hilarious when he stated that he was probably in greater shape than most people in the audience and dropped down to do push-ups. His funny personality had the audience completely mesmerized.
Pausch’s lectured focused on a couple of points, how to achieve childhood dreams, how to enable the dreams of others, and the lessons learned from helping others achieve their dreams. First, Pausch’s talked about how to achieve childhood dreams. He gave a list of his childhood dreams which included playing in the NFL and winning big stuff animals. He explained how he achieved his dreams even though some may have seemed impossible or silly. For example, he wanted to defy gravity and later in life he had a chance to have an experience without gravity.
I also liked the concept of the “head fake”, where you learn what learn indirectly. For example, one of his dreams was to play in the NFL. Although he did not get a chance to play in the NFL, he learned a lot of things from playing football as a child. He learned how to be disciplined, how to work with other people, and many other concepts. In essence, parents who have their children join little league football or not trying to have them learn football, but are trying to help them learn other things that being on a team teaches.
Finally, the way he communicated how to enable people to do their dreams and how you can accomplish your dreams by enabling people was very effective. Pausch made some interesting points throughout the lecture. I think it’s important that we all have dreams and try to accomplish those dreams. Most importantly, by accomplishing dreams, you become more confident to set higher goals and achieve bigger things. All in all, Pausch’s entire lecture was very enjoyable and motivational.
Pausch presented a very dynamic personality on stage that really captured my attention. For example, I found him completely hilarious when he stated that he was probably in greater shape than most people in the audience and dropped down to do push-ups. His funny personality had the audience completely mesmerized.
Pausch’s lectured focused on a couple of points, how to achieve childhood dreams, how to enable the dreams of others, and the lessons learned from helping others achieve their dreams. First, Pausch’s talked about how to achieve childhood dreams. He gave a list of his childhood dreams which included playing in the NFL and winning big stuff animals. He explained how he achieved his dreams even though some may have seemed impossible or silly. For example, he wanted to defy gravity and later in life he had a chance to have an experience without gravity.
I also liked the concept of the “head fake”, where you learn what learn indirectly. For example, one of his dreams was to play in the NFL. Although he did not get a chance to play in the NFL, he learned a lot of things from playing football as a child. He learned how to be disciplined, how to work with other people, and many other concepts. In essence, parents who have their children join little league football or not trying to have them learn football, but are trying to help them learn other things that being on a team teaches.
Finally, the way he communicated how to enable people to do their dreams and how you can accomplish your dreams by enabling people was very effective. Pausch made some interesting points throughout the lecture. I think it’s important that we all have dreams and try to accomplish those dreams. Most importantly, by accomplishing dreams, you become more confident to set higher goals and achieve bigger things. All in all, Pausch’s entire lecture was very enjoyable and motivational.
Blog Post Assignment #7
Randy Pausch’s “The Last Lecture” was a very inspirtrational video to watch. First, Pausch was very courageous to give a lecture after being diagnosed with cancer and told that he only had 3-6 months left of good health. Pausch made a point that he was not going to talk about cancer or spirituality and that he did not want pity from the audience.
Pausch presented a very dynamic personality on stage that really captured my attention. For example, I found him completely hilarious when he stated that he was probably in greater shape than most people in the audience and dropped down to do push-ups. His funny personality had the audience completely mesmerized.
Pausch’s lectured focused on a couple of points, how to achieve childhood dreams, how to enable the dreams of others, and the lessons learned from helping others achieve their dreams. First, Pausch’s talked about how to achieve childhood dreams. He gave a list of his childhood dreams which included playing in the NFL and winning big stuff animals. He explained how he achieved his dreams even though some may have seemed impossible or silly. For example, he wanted to defy gravity and later in life he had a chance to have an experience without gravity.
I also liked the concept of the “head fake”, where you learn what learn indirectly. For example, one of his dreams was to play in the NFL. Although he did not get a chance to play in the NFL, he learned a lot of things from playing football as a child. He learned how to be disciplined, how to work with other people, and many other concepts. In essence, parents who have their children join little league football or not trying to have them learn football, but are trying to help them learn other things that being on a team teaches.
Finally, the way he communicated how to enable people to do their dreams and how you can accomplish your dreams by enabling people was very effective. Pausch made some interesting points throughout the lecture. I think it’s important that we all have dreams and try to accomplish those dreams. Most importantly, by accomplishing dreams, you become more confident to set higher goals and achieve bigger things. All in all, Pausch’s entire lecture was very enjoyable and motivational.
Pausch presented a very dynamic personality on stage that really captured my attention. For example, I found him completely hilarious when he stated that he was probably in greater shape than most people in the audience and dropped down to do push-ups. His funny personality had the audience completely mesmerized.
Pausch’s lectured focused on a couple of points, how to achieve childhood dreams, how to enable the dreams of others, and the lessons learned from helping others achieve their dreams. First, Pausch’s talked about how to achieve childhood dreams. He gave a list of his childhood dreams which included playing in the NFL and winning big stuff animals. He explained how he achieved his dreams even though some may have seemed impossible or silly. For example, he wanted to defy gravity and later in life he had a chance to have an experience without gravity.
I also liked the concept of the “head fake”, where you learn what learn indirectly. For example, one of his dreams was to play in the NFL. Although he did not get a chance to play in the NFL, he learned a lot of things from playing football as a child. He learned how to be disciplined, how to work with other people, and many other concepts. In essence, parents who have their children join little league football or not trying to have them learn football, but are trying to help them learn other things that being on a team teaches.
Finally, the way he communicated how to enable people to do their dreams and how you can accomplish your dreams by enabling people was very effective. Pausch made some interesting points throughout the lecture. I think it’s important that we all have dreams and try to accomplish those dreams. Most importantly, by accomplishing dreams, you become more confident to set higher goals and achieve bigger things. All in all, Pausch’s entire lecture was very enjoyable and motivational.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Blog Post Assignment #6
The Networked Student
The Networked Student was a very good video. So why does the networked student even a teacher? I agree with some of the points in the video about why a networked student needs a teacher. First, the student needs the teacher to help determine what good information is and what bad information is. The internet is full of information and if the student is not careful, he could be exposed to bad information thus hurting his learning experience. Second, the student needs the teacher for a learning architect.
Although the networked student may be well informed about how to use the internet, the student must have some sort of guidance. The teacher will be there for guidance to make sure the student will look in the right direction and to find the information in the most efficient way. Finally, the networked student needs the teacher for encouragement. The networked student may be technology advanced but the student will need the teacher to encourage a deeper learning experience.
All in all, I think I am prepared to be a teacher to the networked student because I am a networked student. I think most teachers are from my generation (Millennial Generation) of teachers will be prepared because we are a socially connected and internet based generation unlike our parent’s generation.
7th Graders Personal Learning Environment
The 7th grader’s personal learning environment was really cool. My PLN isn’t nearly as organized or even remotely like what she has created. In fact, I think I need to do the same thing. It’s really amazing how so much information out there and she has created a PLE to access all this information in a quickly and timely manner.
The Machine Is Changing Us
Mr. Wesch video was very interesting and informing. I agree with a number of points he made in the video. We have changed as a society and have become easily influence by machines. The problem I have is that people in today’s world always have to be occupied with something. Take for example this scenario of a family driving to their destination. The father is driving, the wife is texting on her phone, and one child is listening to his iPod and the other child and watching a DVD with headphones in her ear. There is no communication going on, everyone is busy although they are all together they’re in a separate world. In all aspects of my life, I find myself sometimes doing sort of some of the same things. I think this will only increase in my future as a teacher and for the entire human race.
The Networked Student was a very good video. So why does the networked student even a teacher? I agree with some of the points in the video about why a networked student needs a teacher. First, the student needs the teacher to help determine what good information is and what bad information is. The internet is full of information and if the student is not careful, he could be exposed to bad information thus hurting his learning experience. Second, the student needs the teacher for a learning architect.
Although the networked student may be well informed about how to use the internet, the student must have some sort of guidance. The teacher will be there for guidance to make sure the student will look in the right direction and to find the information in the most efficient way. Finally, the networked student needs the teacher for encouragement. The networked student may be technology advanced but the student will need the teacher to encourage a deeper learning experience.
All in all, I think I am prepared to be a teacher to the networked student because I am a networked student. I think most teachers are from my generation (Millennial Generation) of teachers will be prepared because we are a socially connected and internet based generation unlike our parent’s generation.
7th Graders Personal Learning Environment
The 7th grader’s personal learning environment was really cool. My PLN isn’t nearly as organized or even remotely like what she has created. In fact, I think I need to do the same thing. It’s really amazing how so much information out there and she has created a PLE to access all this information in a quickly and timely manner.
The Machine Is Changing Us
Mr. Wesch video was very interesting and informing. I agree with a number of points he made in the video. We have changed as a society and have become easily influence by machines. The problem I have is that people in today’s world always have to be occupied with something. Take for example this scenario of a family driving to their destination. The father is driving, the wife is texting on her phone, and one child is listening to his iPod and the other child and watching a DVD with headphones in her ear. There is no communication going on, everyone is busy although they are all together they’re in a separate world. In all aspects of my life, I find myself sometimes doing sort of some of the same things. I think this will only increase in my future as a teacher and for the entire human race.
Summary of C4K 1 & 2
I was assigned to comment on ColbyC’s blog, a student from Noel Elementary School in Noel, Mo. The first post I commented on was his “About Me” post. In Colby’s post, he described how he wasn’t too excited about going back to school, his hobbies, and that he didn’t have many goals but he wanted to be successful. I responded to Colby’s post by telling him that he should make being successful his goal. Most importantly, I told him that he could achieve anything that he wanted to do if he became determined to succeed in every aspect of his life.
Next, I commented on Colby’s Learning Manifesto. The Learning Manifesto is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, and views concerning learning. Colby commented that he would not spend his time watching television and playing video games instead of working on his assignments. Furthermore, he stated that he would become more organized in his work by organizing his locker. Also, he talked about respecting his teachers and never questioning their authority.
I response to Colby’s post, I talked about the importance of being organized and dividing his time appropriately. I told him that there will always be time to have fun and to place the most important things above everything else.
Next, I commented on Colby’s Learning Manifesto. The Learning Manifesto is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, and views concerning learning. Colby commented that he would not spend his time watching television and playing video games instead of working on his assignments. Furthermore, he stated that he would become more organized in his work by organizing his locker. Also, he talked about respecting his teachers and never questioning their authority.
I response to Colby’s post, I talked about the importance of being organized and dividing his time appropriately. I told him that there will always be time to have fun and to place the most important things above everything else.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Blog Post Assignment #5
After viewing some of the suggested material covering podcasts, I came away with a number of ideas about how to create an effective podcast to enhance the learning experience for my students. I learned that podcasts could be used to effectively communicate with students outside of the classroom as well. It would allow students to catch up if they were absent from class or got behind in the lectures. Furthermore, the process in creating the podcasts would stimulate the student’s creativity. Students could actively participate in creating their own podcasts which would make learning fun for everyone. Next, I had an opportunity to actually view a podcast that was created by students. I thought it was very well done; the coordination and the editing of the podcast were right on point. Finally, I read about the article “100 Ways to use Your IPod and Study Better,” which was very informational. I didn’t know the iPod could be used in so many rewarding ways.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 4
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff Please
I thought the way Dr. McLeod presented his argument in such a sarcastic way was very effective. In my opinion, many adults tend to focus on negative aspects of technology to keep their children away from it. For example, a parent may fear her child having a Facebook page because of the potential of meeting a sexual predator or a parent may not want their child to freely use the internet because they could be exposed to pornography. It’s only natural for parents to be protective of their children but there must be balance. In today’s world, the internet is at the center of everything. People shop, pay bills, take classes, and communicate through the internet every day. If a child is not exposed to the internet or not taught basic internet skills, that child will be severely behind in society. So then, when Dr. McLeod wrote “don't do teach them any of it 'cause I'm doing all of it with my kids, can't wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two.” That is to say, the parents who lag behind in teaching their kids internet skills will only hurt their child in the long run.
The iSchool Initiative
The iSchool Initiative is a very interesting concept although I think it will not work. First, I think it will be too costly to get it started. The school district would have to purchase enough devices for all students in the districts and may have to replace devices almost every year. Many students can’t properly take care of their textbooks; similarly, I don’t see that changing with an itouch device. Secondly, technology is great but replacing the physical textbook with an ebook would not be a good idea for students. Students would easily be distracted by other things on the device rather than actually reading the eBook. Finally, lack of software updates, program crashes, and other unforeseen things could once again put the education process behind if the devices were the only options. All in all, iSchool is a good concept but I think the concept overlooks many possible issues.
The Lost Generation
I am very confident that I will not live up to those statistics but the way our society is, it feels like my generation is really lost. In America, we spend more time trying to make a living than actually living. Personally, my life is going so fast because I am always so busy. Sometimes life feels like it’s only about making money and staying afloat. The truth is that without money, one could not have the best life or even live longer than someone who has money. Because of this, we tend to place more infancy on making money which creates many other problems. Overall I thought the presentation was very well crafted. I liked the dark background the text scrolling up versus scrolling down.
Eric's Whitacre's Virtual Choir
This performance of Lux Aurumque by a virtual choir of 185 people was completely amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it before and it was surely a fascinating way to use the internet. I think the way they used the internet to create this production speaks volumes to what one could do with the internet. The possibilities are truly endless.
I thought the way Dr. McLeod presented his argument in such a sarcastic way was very effective. In my opinion, many adults tend to focus on negative aspects of technology to keep their children away from it. For example, a parent may fear her child having a Facebook page because of the potential of meeting a sexual predator or a parent may not want their child to freely use the internet because they could be exposed to pornography. It’s only natural for parents to be protective of their children but there must be balance. In today’s world, the internet is at the center of everything. People shop, pay bills, take classes, and communicate through the internet every day. If a child is not exposed to the internet or not taught basic internet skills, that child will be severely behind in society. So then, when Dr. McLeod wrote “don't do teach them any of it 'cause I'm doing all of it with my kids, can't wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two.” That is to say, the parents who lag behind in teaching their kids internet skills will only hurt their child in the long run.
The iSchool Initiative
The iSchool Initiative is a very interesting concept although I think it will not work. First, I think it will be too costly to get it started. The school district would have to purchase enough devices for all students in the districts and may have to replace devices almost every year. Many students can’t properly take care of their textbooks; similarly, I don’t see that changing with an itouch device. Secondly, technology is great but replacing the physical textbook with an ebook would not be a good idea for students. Students would easily be distracted by other things on the device rather than actually reading the eBook. Finally, lack of software updates, program crashes, and other unforeseen things could once again put the education process behind if the devices were the only options. All in all, iSchool is a good concept but I think the concept overlooks many possible issues.
The Lost Generation
I am very confident that I will not live up to those statistics but the way our society is, it feels like my generation is really lost. In America, we spend more time trying to make a living than actually living. Personally, my life is going so fast because I am always so busy. Sometimes life feels like it’s only about making money and staying afloat. The truth is that without money, one could not have the best life or even live longer than someone who has money. Because of this, we tend to place more infancy on making money which creates many other problems. Overall I thought the presentation was very well crafted. I liked the dark background the text scrolling up versus scrolling down.
Eric's Whitacre's Virtual Choir
This performance of Lux Aurumque by a virtual choir of 185 people was completely amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it before and it was surely a fascinating way to use the internet. I think the way they used the internet to create this production speaks volumes to what one could do with the internet. The possibilities are truly endless.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
C4T Post
I had the pleasure of reading Larry Ferlazzo blog over the last two weeks. On August 29th, Mr. Ferlazzo made post about an organization planting trees at the World Trade Center site in memory of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The post was titled “Life Returns to Ground Zero 9/11” He added the article about this memorial to his list of “Best Sites to Teach About 9/11”. In short, I responded to his post by commenting that the entire concept of planting trees to represent those who died on 9/11 was a great symbolic idea. Most importantly, students learning about this project will discover the true meaning of a memorial and the impact the tragedy had on this country.
In the next post on September 12th, Mr. Ferlazzo made a post about class size. His comments were that a he has a large class in an IB class but if he had the same amount of students in his 9th grade English class, we would go nuts. My response was class size does matter, especially in secondary schools. Students would benefit from the smaller class size by getting more one on one time with the teacher. Furthermore, teachers could benefit because a smaller class would be easier to manage than a large class. Most importantly, college students are adults and are expected to be responsible, with that in mind I think the college student would be able to handle a large classroom.
In the next post on September 12th, Mr. Ferlazzo made a post about class size. His comments were that a he has a large class in an IB class but if he had the same amount of students in his 9th grade English class, we would go nuts. My response was class size does matter, especially in secondary schools. Students would benefit from the smaller class size by getting more one on one time with the teacher. Furthermore, teachers could benefit because a smaller class would be easier to manage than a large class. Most importantly, college students are adults and are expected to be responsible, with that in mind I think the college student would be able to handle a large classroom.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 3
Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
I really liked the “A Vision of Students today” video; it’s almost a mirror image of my life. Well technically, the issues that that video discusses are what mostly all college students have to deal with. We have to be a multitasked to survive the college life. For example, I am a parent who goes to school full time and work 8 hours a day. I the video a student held up a sign stating that he only get 7 hours of sleep a night, in my world I average about 8 hours of sleep per night. Free time is almost non-existence in my world.
Another interesting point about the video is that it highlighted the fact that technology can sometimes be a disadvantage for the student because they use it the wrong way when in the classroom. For example, a student who brings a laptop to class but instead of using it to take notes, the student is on facebook on the laptop. I see these kinds of things all the time in class and it’s a shame because the student is wasting time and money. All in all, the video was well made and made some good points.
"It's Not About Technology" by Kelly Hines
I agree 100% that teachers must be perpetual learners. A teacher must learn new ways to convey the same message and expand beyond their subject area. A teacher should be able to make learning an enjoyable experience for the students and that means the teacher must be diverse. What may work for one class may not work the other class. Each student is different and each class is different so different approaches must be learned. Most importantly, one can never be too educated! In essence, there should never be a stopping point for a teacher, as society grows, the teacher must grow.
It’s very interesting that in the point that was made learning and teaching is not the same thing. Some teachers are experts on their material but are very dry when it comes to the students actually learning what they are teaching. So yes, teachers must know the difference between the two and must accept the fact that when students aren’t learning, maybe it’s not the students but the teacher’s way of teaching the subject. Likewise, technology is useless without good teachers. An effective teacher knows how to use technology to his/her advantage. On the other hand, an effective teacher will not take advantage of it or may let the technology do all the work instead of teaching, for example reading word for word from the PowerPoint.
Finally, being a 21century teacher without the technology is what all teachers in today’s world should be striving for. Some school districts are underfunded and don’t have the resources or capability to supply the classrooms with updated technology. In this case, a teacher must know how to take what is available and make it today’s material. As a result, the teacher will become and effective teacher because of her ability to relate to today’s generation of students.
Karl Fish: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher
I do not think it is extreme to compare a technology illiterate teacher of the 21st century to the equivalent of a teacher 30 years ago who didn’t know how to read or write. Teachers of the 21st century must be prepared to teach students of the 21st century. A large percentage of today’s students own personal computers and have in dept knowledge on how to use them.
A teacher who doesn’t know basic computer knowledge would become disconnected from her students because of the inability to relate. All in all, your post was excellent and very well written. I read your post as an assignment for Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class. Thank you for sharing your comments. Here is my blog http://reasetarvariesedm310.blogspot.com/
Gary Haynes Social Media Count
I think watching the social media count answers the question,”Should technology illiterate teachers be allowed to teach in the classroom?” Based on the socially media count, I think that answer has to be no. Everything we do in today’s world has some aspect of technology involved in it so as a teacher, I think it means that we have to remain up to date and up to speed on the latest technology to provide the most accurate and best learning experience for the students. A teacher who doesn’t know what an Ipad is, what blogs are, or even the knowledge of Facebook will have trouble relating to the students.
I really liked the “A Vision of Students today” video; it’s almost a mirror image of my life. Well technically, the issues that that video discusses are what mostly all college students have to deal with. We have to be a multitasked to survive the college life. For example, I am a parent who goes to school full time and work 8 hours a day. I the video a student held up a sign stating that he only get 7 hours of sleep a night, in my world I average about 8 hours of sleep per night. Free time is almost non-existence in my world.
Another interesting point about the video is that it highlighted the fact that technology can sometimes be a disadvantage for the student because they use it the wrong way when in the classroom. For example, a student who brings a laptop to class but instead of using it to take notes, the student is on facebook on the laptop. I see these kinds of things all the time in class and it’s a shame because the student is wasting time and money. All in all, the video was well made and made some good points.
"It's Not About Technology" by Kelly Hines
I agree 100% that teachers must be perpetual learners. A teacher must learn new ways to convey the same message and expand beyond their subject area. A teacher should be able to make learning an enjoyable experience for the students and that means the teacher must be diverse. What may work for one class may not work the other class. Each student is different and each class is different so different approaches must be learned. Most importantly, one can never be too educated! In essence, there should never be a stopping point for a teacher, as society grows, the teacher must grow.
It’s very interesting that in the point that was made learning and teaching is not the same thing. Some teachers are experts on their material but are very dry when it comes to the students actually learning what they are teaching. So yes, teachers must know the difference between the two and must accept the fact that when students aren’t learning, maybe it’s not the students but the teacher’s way of teaching the subject. Likewise, technology is useless without good teachers. An effective teacher knows how to use technology to his/her advantage. On the other hand, an effective teacher will not take advantage of it or may let the technology do all the work instead of teaching, for example reading word for word from the PowerPoint.
Finally, being a 21century teacher without the technology is what all teachers in today’s world should be striving for. Some school districts are underfunded and don’t have the resources or capability to supply the classrooms with updated technology. In this case, a teacher must know how to take what is available and make it today’s material. As a result, the teacher will become and effective teacher because of her ability to relate to today’s generation of students.
Karl Fish: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher
I do not think it is extreme to compare a technology illiterate teacher of the 21st century to the equivalent of a teacher 30 years ago who didn’t know how to read or write. Teachers of the 21st century must be prepared to teach students of the 21st century. A large percentage of today’s students own personal computers and have in dept knowledge on how to use them.
A teacher who doesn’t know basic computer knowledge would become disconnected from her students because of the inability to relate. All in all, your post was excellent and very well written. I read your post as an assignment for Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class. Thank you for sharing your comments. Here is my blog http://reasetarvariesedm310.blogspot.com/
Gary Haynes Social Media Count
I think watching the social media count answers the question,”Should technology illiterate teachers be allowed to teach in the classroom?” Based on the socially media count, I think that answer has to be no. Everything we do in today’s world has some aspect of technology involved in it so as a teacher, I think it means that we have to remain up to date and up to speed on the latest technology to provide the most accurate and best learning experience for the students. A teacher who doesn’t know what an Ipad is, what blogs are, or even the knowledge of Facebook will have trouble relating to the students.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Blog Post Assignment 2
Mr. Winkle Wakes was a very funny film that highlighted the issue of lack in technology in public schools. Two months ago I did an observation in a middle school classroom for a course I was taking over the summer semester. The first thing I observed in the classroom was the lack of technology and outdated text books. Most classrooms were only quipped with one computer, just like the video showed. I think this is a major problem for students and teachers. Most of these problems is because of lack of funding.
Most importantly, if classrooms continue to lag behind the United States will not be able to complete against other countries. Technology is changing quickly and students need to learn the latest information in order to be successful.
"Did you know 3.0" was a very informational video, I learned a lot of things that I actually did not know. One of the most interesting statistics was that China will soon become the number one English speaking country in the world. I had no idea that people in China spoke English so fluently, so to suggest that they would become the number one English speaking country in the world was rather shocking.
Next, 25% of India’s high IQ population is more than the entire United States population. This statics was already very interesting although it does not come as a surprise. I’ve always thought that people from India were highly intelligent, especially in the area of science and math but I had no idea how many extremely intelligent people populated the country. Finally, the fact that 1 out of 8 people who married in the United States last year met online. I think this stat will increase with time and as technology advance even more. I believe in 4 to 5 years that number may be 3 out of 8 people.
Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts was an exceptional video that I totally agree with. I really liked the fact that each student had their own computer at their desk and they were given the freedom to explore the internet and incorporate the use of technology in their education. For instance, when the students were told to Google a word, students discovered how easy it was to have this information at their fingertips rather than having to flip through a book looking for it.
Secondly, I thought the interaction between the students and the teacher was amazing. The teacher made a great point that just because you don’t fully understand a subject, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taught. Both teacher and student benefits from this type of education where it’s not just teacher centered.
The Importance of Creatively was a very informational video that highlighted the lack of creativity in the public school system. Ken Robinson used a number of good examples but the one that was most interesting was about the girl who was drawing a picture of God. This was teaching moment for both student and teacher but the teacher failed to realize it. I believe if the same attention focused on the four major subjects is focused on creative subjects, students will enjoy school more. All students love some type of creativity no matter if it is art or music, children are fascinated by creativity. In some sense, the education system focus on creativity from K-3 but as students began to advance; less creatively is installed in the curriculum. The learning process is much more fulfilling for the student when the mind is stimulated through creatively.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Blog Assignment 1
I am a junior majoring in Secondary Education English/Language Arts. I chose this major because I believe an effective teacher has the ability to touch many lives in profound ways, so my goal is to become an effective teacher. I’ve always had a passion for helping people so combined with my desire to make an impact in the world, choosing my major was fairly easy for me. Most importantly, the lack of African American male teachers in the education system is extremely low. As a result, African American males are dropping out at an alarming rate, of course there are other contributing factors to these statistics but the most important factor in my opinion is the lack of African American male role models in the classroom. In other words, there is a great need for African American male teachers so I believe it’s my life’s calling to fulfill one of these needs. After I graduate with my Bachelors degree, I plan to further my education by obtaining my Masters and my Doctrine.
I currently work full time for World Omni Financial Corp; World Omni is another name for Southeast Toyota Finance. In other words, if you live in the Southeast and you have financed or leased a Toyota, Scion, or Lexus, there is a pretty good chance you financed your car through us. Twenty percent of all Toyotas purchased in the country are purchased through Southeast Toyota Finance. I’ve worked in accounting for 9 years now and I work for a very good company. World Omni has consistently been listed in Fortune magazine as one of the top 100 companies to work for in the country, recently we were listed as 23rd best company to work for in America. I decided to make a career change a couple of years ago so here I am at University of South Alabama. Making the change from working in an office environment behind a desk to a classroom will be a major shift for me in all areas of concern but I am willing to make the sacrifice to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. The only thing that keeps me going is my desire to help kids because there are more reasons why I should stay in my current career than go into a career with low pay, budget cuts, bad schools, a broken public education system, and violent inner city schools. Nevertheless, I believe the satisfaction that I’ll get from teaching is far greater than working in accounting for the rest of my life.
I am 29 years and I have a one year old son who name is Bryce. Bryce is truly the love of my life and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful son! I have a strong faith in God and that faith is what helps me manage my extremely busy life. My hobbies includes going to concerts, traveling, sporting events, and listening to music. My favorite bands are Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Bjork, Alicia Keys, Maxwell, Kem, Stabbing Westward, and Korn. My favorite teams are Kansas City Chiefs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and New York Knicks. I rout for the Saints as well, I also rout for players such as Brett Favre but I am a dedicated Chiefs fan. My favorite color is red, I love seafood, and the best place I’ve been thus far was New York City. I hope to one day to travel to Egypt, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Brazil.
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