Read a Short Story, Project 11

Final Project 16

For our final project we made a blog entitled, "Things to know about EDM 310". This is a blog filled with quick links to class assignments and tips to make it easier for new students to make it through the semester. This blog was designed by: Sarah Pierce, Jared Datema and myself.


http://thingstoknowaboutedm310.blogspot.com/

Final Report on my PLN

I have learned a lot in this class but I think one of the most important things I have learned is where to find information that I really need. What do I mean by this? Well of course we already knew that the internet was good for researching facts and facebook. But what I learned is how to find real teachers, teaching today and how to see what they are going through and what they are learning and things they are encountering on a day-to-day basis. This is so important because I now have the opportunity to learn from other teachers mistakes and take advice from those who have been there. I get to see first hand what works and what doesn't. The payoff will be in my classroom when I am not having to learn EVERYTHING the hard way and I can take a lot away from the experiences of others.

I have enjoyed using twitter to get up-to-date news and information regarding what is going on with teachers and politics today. I will continue to use twitter to remain updated on the issues facing our educational system today. I also find reading other teachers blogs EXTREMELY beneficial. Like I said, I can see what works, and what doesn't and think critically about things that I may have never considered or thought of before on my own. I also think that symbaloo is a very useful tool in organizing all of these things to make for faster access. As always, the better you are at managing your time, the more you will be able to accomplish in life, your career, in everything.

C4T Teacher # 4 Summary Post

Kathy Cassidy- Primary Preoccupation

-Room Two and the Forty Designs

This blog is about a teacher who has done her research! She is trying to decide how she wants to design her classroom and she has even read books about it! She cut out objects and has put them on a piece of paper in the shape of her classroom to try out different set-ups. I really like the fact that this teacher cares so much and is really trying to find the best arrangement for her students. I hope that I not only put forth the effort like she does, but am also able to design an amazing classroom. This teacher definitely has my respect.

-Primary Digital Portfolios

In this post, the teacher made a video about the student conferences coming and it was basically a teaser-trailer. I really liked hoe excited the kids were. It was really refreshing to see such young children excited to learn and using technology at such a young age. I hope that I'll be able to invoke the same excitement in my students when I finally become a teacher.

Summary Post C4K November- December 6

Wellington 4.0-Game of the Week

Every week this class has a game they play to help students with concepts. I think this is a really neat idea because it goes along with their subject material and it gives students  another aspect and method of learning. Although I scored very poorly, I thought this was an extremely creative idea! What a neat way to make learning fun. 

Mrs. Byrne's Class, Kayla- Lest We Forgot

I really liked this post because it was right around Veteran's Day and it was about remembering our troops. I really liked this because you don't see many young children today that appreciate and write about our troops defending our country. It just really spoke to me that someone so young was so sensitive to such an important matter. I was particularly impressed with this post.

Wdona's Nice Mnemonics

This was a really neat picture and I really liked it and I commented on how cute it was and how I thought the student was a good artist.It said,  "Mom never ever makes oozing nachos in a crunchy stadium".  But, for some reason, my comment was deleted.

Logan's Learning Post for 2nd Skype

I was impressed with this post too! It was about Thanksgiving. It was fairly short, but it pointed out things that most people don't know about Thanksgiving. I really liked this because it means that this student dug for knowledge, deeper than the surface and learned things that most books don't discuss. I thought it was really cool to see that in someone so young. I really enjoyed reading this post.

Project 15

Additional Assignment 5

Just Teach Them to Solve for X

In this post he is talking about how there are 2 components to teaching. We need to teach students the answers, but also how to get that answer or why that answer is true. A student may know the answer, but if they have no clue how the process works, is that really knowledge? We as teachers not only need to teach answers, but also concepts and understanding.


Sketchy Portraits: 8th Grade Identity and Pencils

In this post, he is comparing students to pencils, believing that students are "under construction". By this he means that they want to be independent and learn for themselves, but also stay grounded and cling to the things their parents taught them. Why should students have to pick one or the other? Life is full of adventure, and learning is an adventure. You make mistakes, but learning takes faith and some things we have to figure out for ourselves.

He Just Likes the Class for the Pencils

In this post, Tom explains the structure of his classroom a little more and what he does to make students enjoy his class. He sets up a hypothetical critism situation and says that "some students just like his class for the pencils. In this case, pencils could be any component to his classroom. He then points out that it is a number of things put together that he thinks makes the difference. Examples would be using humor and givees them meaningful work, rather than busy-work activities.

The Medium Shapes the Learning

In this post he talks about film-making and how all the different films have a lot of similiarities by piecing together parts differently. He also explains the benefit of using technology, but only when you yourself truly understand it. It is good to use it, but really do your research and have a plan: BE PREPARED.

Blog Post 13

ABOUT ALEX

ALEX is basically a new teacher's best friend. ALEX is designed to provide teachers with the most up-to-date, best resources for teachers to use in their classroom. This ranges anywhere from sample lesson plans, to interactive activities. I have actually used a template lesson plan from ALEX for an assignment in EDF 315. It is extremely useful because it shows you what other teacher's lesson plans look like and allows you to build off of it rather than starting from the ground up. Not only is it a great resource, but the information comes from the National Board of Cerified Teachers so you can use these resources with confidence because they have reliable sources. ALEX has received the 2007 Honorable Mention as well as the 2008 and 2009 Digital Education Achievement Award.

You can choose from any subject you can think of. You can even create your own personal page of workspace. The possibilites are endless. If you can think it, ALEX has it.

I think that ALEX is extremely beneficial for new teachers because it gives them a template to work from. New teachers don't know the ropes when they first start out and ALEX allows to have a good start and an example to refer to, rather than trying to figure everything out on your own. I think as a teacher I would definitely use the resources as templates or examples and create my own. I love that I have a reference to look at while trying to plan things. But, I don't think teachers should make the mistake of using every lesson plan AS IS. We don't need anymore cookie-cutter teachers. How can we expect students to think for themselves if we as teachers can't even think for ourselves? We can't hold others to expectations or show students how to be creative if we are unable to be creative ourselves.

Project 6 Google Docs Form Analysis

My survey asked ten simple questions related to the life of college students. I learned a lot from surveying my classmates. Listed below are some of my findings.

41% of subset group EDM 310 are between the ages of 18-20, while 77% are between the ages of 20-25.95% of the students surveyed DO NOT live on campus. Only 14% of the subset work full-time, while 59% work part-time and 5% are married with children. My subset is 91% female, 18% have children and it is also 18% that are returning college students.

When asked if they would recommend USA to a friend, 77% said yes while 23% said maybe. 86/5 of the subset live in Mobile County while 9% live in Baldwin County and 5% live in Mississippi.

As a disappointment to me, when asked what coffee shop USA students support, 68% said Starbucks only 9% said Satori... and we wonder why their is such a corporate takeover!! Support your local businesses folks!

This survey taught me a lot. I think this tool is EXTREMELY useful. It allows you to observe what others are doing and presents data to you in multiple different forms: graphs for the visual learner, statistics for the mathematician. No longer do we have to pass out surveys, calculate the results and then make charts and graphs.. it is all done for us electronically. I think it would be cool to do this at the start of a school year with my class as an icebreaker for them to get to know one another. I am glad I learned about this tool and I am sure being in education, I will use it quite a bit. I learned about my classmates and a fast, easy way to distribute surveys!

Progress Report on Final Project #15

I am doing a multimedia project about the importance of reading to children at an early age and how to read effectively. I am working alone, my schedule makes it difficult to collaborate with others. I have started writing a paper, and I am adding pictures and some sounds to certain parts. At the end, I intend to record me reading over the paper. So far it is going really welll. I am glad we got to pick the topic because doing something that you are interested in makes doing the research and work a lot easier. I have a 14 month old daughter so this topic has personal importance to me. The paper has a lot of research and statistics about the benefits of reading. My goal is to motivate all parents to read to their children regularly. I will also be talking about how to read effectively by changing your tone amongst other things. I'm excited!!

Blog Post 12

Do you agree the system for education needs to change?

Read Obama and Biden's plan for changing education. Do you think it is effective? What are it's strengths? What are it's weaknesses? Does their plan leave anything out? Discuss what you would do different. Do you have any other ideas? What does it mean for you as an educator? http://change.gov/agenda/education_agenda/.

I think that the Obama-Biden plan looks "good" on paper. I feel like they recognize the PROBLEMS in education. BUT, I feel like these are changes to improve the CURRENT system, rather than create a new one. So, depending on which side you are on, determines whether you think the plan will be effective.

For example, they talked about improving the drop-out rate. Their answer to this crisis is "intervention strategies in middle school -- strategies such as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math instruction, and extended learning time." But what that doesn't andress is if the CURRICULUM is in fact the problem. Will any changes be made to include all people in the curriculum? Will it benefit all students or will it remain to serve and maintain White privelege? What about technology? Where will it's role be in education?

Obama-Biden also plan on expanding the Head Start program. I think this is a good idea. Not only is it giving students a little extra preparation and foundation to succeed in school, but it also can benefit working parents. This is where I agree with Dr. Strange that the current system does also serve as a "babysitting facility". Sure, students are getting an education (or schooling depending on your point of view) but if kids weren't at school they'd be somewhere else for someone else to watch them while their parents work. This is also evident as Obama-Biden also plan to increase extended care programs.

They are also making strides to give teachers more incentives to teach. They plan on doing a few things, all which seem very broad and open to the interpretation of each particular district:
"Obama and Biden will promote new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. Districts will be able to design programs that reward with a salary increase accomplished educators who serve as a mentors to new teachers. Districts can reward teachers who work in underserved places like rural areas and inner cities. And if teachers consistently excel in the classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well. " Sounds pretty wordy to me. How about a simple pay raise and bonuses for effective teaching?

Overall, I feel that Obama-Biden do recognize the problems. They are attempting to put out a solution to each of the problems too. But again, it raises the question, is our current system fixable? Or should we reform it all together? There are many other things Obama-Biden plan to do. There are a lot of things that I think are extremely positive changes. But againm the underlying issue is 1) Where does technology play a role in education? 2) Is it the current system that needs updating or changed all together? 3) How are we going to address the needs of all students? It could almost be said that the symptoms are being treated rather than addressing the problem But again, this depends on the way you see education.

There are a lot of things that were addressed. But what about the curriculum, technology and implementation of a new, modern way to educate our students?

Teach someone Something: Understand

Summary Post C4K comments 3-7

Comment 7= Lauren in Mrs. Reuter's class

In this post Lauren talked about the differences between fourth grade and now. She talks about how she likes her teachers and how they get to use netbooks. Reading her blog post made me realize what a difference a good teacher can make and it made me reminisce about my elementary years.

Comment 6= Conor S in Mrs. Quam's and Mrs. Goerend's class

In this comment Conor talked about how he learned that we can still read words as long as the first word and the last word are in the right place. Here is an example:

It truns out yuo can mxi up ltetres all you wnat in a wrod as lnog as the frist and the lsat ltters aer the smae.

I think it is an interesting fact that I would have never known!

Comment 5= Adriana, 7th grade, Australia

In this post Adriana talks about theories of how the world came into being. She States that believing the "Big Bang Theory" is an insult to one's intelligence. I actually agree with her. It is a pretty far-fetched, invalid viewpoint.

Comment 4= Emily, Grade 5

Emily made a post where she "Glitterfied" her favorite pictures. It was really neat and artistic and I complimented her art in them. They were so cute!

Comment 3= Maurice, 1st grade

This post was entitled, "Fish for Dinner" and it was a picture that he drew on the computer of a boat and someone fishing on it. This picture was so cute and it is amazing to me that a first grader did this on a computer!! Great job Maurice!

Summary Post C4T #3

I am going to include a link to the original blog post I commented on, because it was AMAZING and I think everyone should read it. It is so true and so raw.

Mr. Couros,

I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I am an aspiring teacher. If you need to reach me for any reason, my blog is http://blackjennyedm310.blogspot.com/.

First of all, I'd like to thank my professor for assigning me to comment on your blog. I feel like anything I say, is going to do this post serious injustice because it's just THAT good. Also, I'd like to thank you. You've done something a lot of teachers are too prideful to do and you noticed something that some teachers don't ever realize. I can relate to Ashley in the aspect of sports. I also love sports and played every sport I could in high school. The difference with me is that I loved school, so dropping out wasn't as issue. But my love for school coincides with my love for social interaction. I went to school where almost everyone was White and everything we read about, learned about or did was tailored to my needs as a White, middle class child. You see, school worked for me. But school was also built around MY needs. What about all the other students? I think this issue clearly ties in with the color line. If school wasn't built around your needs, then are you really going to fit in? Is the system really going to work for you? Students need and want to go to a place where their culture is acknowledged, appreciated, and incorporated into the classroom. If I, as a White middle-class student, went to school every day with ALL Black students, ALL Black teachers and learned only about Blacks and Black history, and no one understood my culture, would the system be working for me? Would I feel like I had a place and I belonged there? Probably not. We need to educate all students. Different people have different needs, learning styles, languages, history, and culture. So why do we educate children all the same way?

Out of that rabbit hole and back to your post- I sincerely appreciate reading something like this. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting there is one. You called some very important things to light. These are things that educators need to be thinking about. We need to realize what a big impact we can have on student's lives and what an important job we have been given. If schools don't educate and teach people how to be successful, who will? We, as teachers, hold the next generation in our hands every day. We get them from 8-3. Let's make the most of the time we are given and do what we are supposed to do, whether it's for the sake of having a job or because we really do care.

Thanks for the VERY inspiring post. I will be a frequent visitor to your blog from now on.

Jenny Black


Here is my comment on Perfect Practice by Kevin Creutz

This post was about how there is never really anything called perfect practice makes perfect. It's really about imperfect practice makes perfect. Without risks, we won't grow. Attached below is my comment.


Hello!

My name is Jenny Black and I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed your post. What is life without risk? Can you ever really learn without making mistakes? If something is perfect every time does that imply its stagnant and ineffective? Risks are good and we learn from mistakes. I think your students are very lucky to have someone that is willing to step outside the box. Great post!

Blog Post 11

Video: First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class

The kids are discussing the benefits of using blogs. They talk about how it helps them write better and teaches them about others feelings. They also talk about using Wikis. What surprised me about this video is how young these students are.. they are so little! They are using things that we are being taught to use in this class... this makes me feel slightly stupid.

Mrs. Cassidy uses alot of technology in her classroom. She first started with computers that you couldn't put any programs are. So, she set out to find a way to get some professional development on her computers. She ended up getting some funding from the government to get her started. She started using these technologies 10 years ago. She has slowly added in new technologies. She has done most of it on her own, but she has support. Some problems that we as teachers might run into is funding, parents, and the school system trying to regulate what you do. We have to be prepared to answer questions and concerns. We need to be available to parents outside of school hours to show them what is going on whenever they are interested. She talks about how the students love the technology and believes they really appreciate on not having to "shut down" when they get to school. It's a part of their world and it's not weird or foreign to them. We can't teach children things that we taught 100 years ago. We need to keep up and if we don't, we are not only handicapping ourselves, but the STUDENTS as well. It as our duty to prepare students to be successful in todays society and like it or not, technology is a big part of that. Some benefits would be preparing students to be successful in society and helping them to utilize technology as a part of their everyday life. They are getting audio and writing experience that will later be vital to their success in our society.

Additional Assignment 3

Ken Robinson's Changing Educational Paradigms


What do you think is the most important thing Sir Ken Robinson says in this presentation?


Well, it really stuck out to me when he talked about the ADHD issue. I had no idea that it was so prevalent in the south. I think it goes hand in hand with the stereotype that people from the south are stupid. My husband is from Iowa and I've been the butt of many jokes. I also am not sure if ADHD is real or not. If something is boring, it's boring. So you are going to take a pill to make it less boring?

It also stuck out to me that he said people work best in groups and that when you separate people, you are taking them out of their natural learning environment. I could see this being true during discussions. But writing papers, I find it much easier to work alone because I have to really get in the zone and focus.
Is there anything you disagree with in this presentation?

How congruent are Sir Ken Robinson's positions with those which you are being taught in the College of Education. In other words, where is there agreement? Where is there disagreement?

Well, the university (and almost every university) is set up the way he describes. It is just the format of the system. There are CLASSES that don't operate in the traditional matter. But as far as how departments and majors are grouped, it is the same. I hadn't heard his position on education until this semester. Two of my teachers have similiar views. I was totally unaware of this issue/problem until this semester.

What can you do to address the issues Sir Robinson raises?

Well, the debate of "i'm just one person" comes into play here. That is true, but in history it is often that one person that makes a difference. We have the ability to ignite change. If we all helped each other, we could definitely see it in our lifetime. We just have to be sure of what we believe and why. The first step to solving a problem is recognizing there is a problem. So I'd say we are headed in the right direction, if change is what you are after.

What do you think of the presentation? If you had to do a presentation with others like this, what role on your team would you like most to play?
Idea Generator?
Author?
Narrator?
Designer?
Artist?
Sound Effects?
Other?

I really liked the presentation. Having the drawings put to words gave a lot more emphasis and real understanding of the point he was trying to make. It helped me to focus on just the video because not only was I listening, I was also reading and watching simultaneously. I would like to watch more videos like this. If I had to be a part of a group doing this, I would most likely want to be the narrator. I'm a social person. Art is definitely NOT my strong suit. Even my stick figures are ugly. So any art related jobs would definitely be out of the picture.

Blog Post 10

http://morgbayda.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/an-open-letter-to-educators/ by
Morgan Bayda.

I like the fact that she added other opinions into her blog post so that you can compare and contrast more than what one person believes. Like I said to Morgan, I can't agree with something without knowing in detail what it actually looks like. Its like with President Obama. When he is making a huge, sweeping statement, it is easy to agree. But beneath the surface, what does that statement actually mean? What does this "change" actually entail? I want to know what these people (including you Dr. Strange) want to happen. I don't want to know the goals, I've read and heard plenty about that. I want to know what you are actually going to do everyday that is different. What does this new school look like? What is an example of a normal day of work from start to finish? What are the assignments? What is the structure? What is the teacher's role? These are questions that need to be answered before I can hop on the train. I want to make an INFORMED decision based on what is actually going to be DONE, not just sweeping statements about the outcome of the change.

Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencil Home

We must be able to consider other viewpoints. Like in this post, learning should be about our students. We should see what works for them. How? find their strengths and weaknesses and tailoring the curriculum to their needs. For example, if a student's strength is visual learning, find an educational clip or video and watch it in class. Then let students discuss that viewpoint in class and make their own opnions about the material. They can then blog about it as a way of further incorporating technology.

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

Very, very much liked this video. I loved inspirational ANYTHING! It speaks to me in a way that nothing else can. It penetrates deep inside me and touches my soul in some way, and I love how it feels. This video is about how we need to focus on one thing and be good at it. If we try to do it all, we end up not doing any of it at all. We end up with what looks like a bunch of half-hearted attempts or just one big mess. Developing your own sentence helps you to focus one thing and do it perfectly. This way we are improving others lives as well as ourself. I decided I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to change peoples lives. My sentence will be a reflection of that.

My sentence:

She effectively educated ALL of her students and they went on to be the most successful, contributing members of our society.


Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

Blog Post 9

What I've Learned This Year by Mr. McClung


What a great person. A lot has to be said for someone who is able to learn so much, so early in their life. As I read this post, I felt as if I was reading a teacher's blog that had been teaching for 30 years and was retiring. Yet, this is a first year teacher. I believe his school is very lucky to have someone like him and I hope I am as self-examining and inspirational as him one day.

In this post, he talks about his experiences in his first year of teaching and what he has learned in the process. He learned that teaching isn't about you, it's about the students. You have to learn how to read the crowd. You have to be flexible. Don't beat yourself up when the lesson plan doesn't go exactly as you thought it would. He also touches on the importance of communication. Where ever you go, there are going to be misunderstandings. It is always important to talk about your issues so that you can work through them. He also talks about the importance of being reasonable. You can't set to high of expectations on your students because if they are unable to achieve them, they will feel as if they have failed. You must always lift up and encourage your students. He also realizes the importance of technology. We shouldn't be afraid of it. It is just a tool to help further education. Also, listen to your students. He realizes the important role he plays and builds a sense of community, family, and trust. Lastly, he recognizes that we should never stop learning. Life is a journey and learning should taking place every step along the way.

This post made me inspired. Maybe it's possible not to spend your whole career trying to figure it out. Maybe we can all start out good and just get better and better. I hope that I can be open to learn and take it all in, just as Mr. McClung did.

Timetoast Project B

Additional Assignment 2

Answers to Questions In Response to the Lecture by Sugata Mitra’s titled “How Kids Teach Themselves"


1. What do you think? If learners are motivated, can they teach themselves?


Yes, like he said, if children have interest, education happens. This statement is backed up by an experiment he conducted in South Africa.

2. If those motivated learners are kids, can they teach themselves?

Definitely, why wouldn't they be able to?

3. What conditions are necessary for kids to teach themselves? For anyone to teach him or herself?

What is always necessary is RESOURCES! If children don't have access, they can't learn information. I like whe he said this: Education is a self-organizing system. It shows emergence and starts to do things it was never designed to do. It seems impossible. Learning is an emergent phenonmenon.


4. What role do computers and internet access play in the process?

Computer and technology plays a huge role. Access to the internet is virtually synonomous with access to education/learning.

5. What role does motivation, a desire to learn?

Motivation plays a HUGE role. If a student isn't motivated it is extremely hard to make yourself learn something. Motivation makes learning fun and much more productive.

6.What roles do a problem, a question or multiple problems or questions play in the process?

Problems are a learning experience that teach you to overcome difficulties. In order to overcome them, you almost always learn something in the process.

7. How do you motivate someone to learn?

By teaching them something that they are interested in. If someone doesn't care about the subject at hand, or see anyway it relates to them or their every day life, then it is extremely hard to be motivated.

8. How are you motivated to learn?

I am motivated because I have a goal. To me, I want to do the best I can to have a positive impact on tomorrow's society. I want to educate children in a REAL way. A way that is effective and changes the current statistics. I want to teach students things that they really need to know and help them to be successful in today's society. In order to accomplish this, I first have to educate myself. I also need to keep in mind that there is always more to learn and I can always be taught something new, no matter what position I may be in.

9. Can anyone who is not motivated to learn learn?

Yeah, I think my hearing or seeing it they can. But they will take much less away from the experience and they may be unable to tie what they learned to the big picture.

10. Do you teach yourself? When? Why?

Yes. Being in this class is an example. You have to teach yourself how to do things you have never done before. Every day, living life, you are always teaching yourself. You do this by people you meet, things you see and read, experiences you have.. etc. Everything, every day is a new learning experience.

11. What role does a teacher (either answer generally or use a specific example) play in your learning?

A teacher is a guide. They play different roles depending on the structure of the particular class. They are there when you need help and give opinions and resources to help build your learning experience.

12. What is the most important idea, question or emotional response you take away with you as a result of watching this video?

That the educational system is going to and needs to change and we have to be ready for it. But, that doesn't mean I like every aspect of it. I don't deny technology can seriously improve our system. BUT, I don't think it should be done from one's home. I think we should still go to school to get the social development while still benefiting from the technologies.

13. What other questions or issues are raised by this
video that should be considered and discussed by aspiring teachers?

What worries me is that we won't need near as many teachers if this all goes completely technological. I really want to teach. It is my life-long dream. I can go with the change, but I want us all to have a place in society to help make a difference while simultaneously supporting our families.

Blog Post 8

Richard Miller: This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2

I think this can be extremely beneficial for learning for several reasons. All information is updated around the clock, so the information you are currently viewing, is completely up to date and the most accurat information available ANYWHERE. You are never exposed to outdated, innaccurate information. The facts are always right, and always a click away.
What I really like about the multimedia writing is that film is such a powerful tool to convey messages, infinitely more powerful than text. Watching a video that is interactive and eye catching that you can manipulate as you go along, always keeps the learner on the edge and makes it possible for the learner to follow whatever facet is of interest concerning the topic. You are learning by your own freewill and tailoring your learning experience to your own particular strengths and interests making for a better educated individual thuc creating a better society.

It is so interesting to me personally to be able to see the "mood" of cities and as our country as a whole. That means when something happens, globally, politically, socially, anything- we have the power to see how anyone and everyone else is reacting to it. No longer would we have to rely on news stations to accurately or inaccurately portray people's stances. News reports are most always reported with a specific party or agenda in mind. Being able to have access to the truth for yourself is a liberating and enlightening accomplishment.

Also, one cannot deny the power of collaboration. No one has all the pieces to the puzzle. Not one person has all the answers, but here is the deal: we all have a piece, a way or perspective that helps things make more sense when looking at the big picture. If humanity has the opportunity to put all of our knowledge, our puzzle pieces, together in one place- we have the power to uncover great things. One piece from one person can uncover a whole domino effect of answers that we previously didn't have access to before. I don't think it's a question of if we are able to do this, or if our students are able to. The question is how will our society change when we are no longer in the dark and everyone has equal access to all knowledge?


The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies

I took away from these videos that you can try to find away around doing things the right way, or try to cheat the system- but you can't. It's frustrating when you don't understand how something works and you don't know how to use something. But that is the purpose of this class. It is for us to discover new and useful tools to make our educational experience as productive and effective as possible. It also shows us some of the advances being made in the educational realm so that we can be ready for change. It gets easier, but it requires you to learn. You actually have to learn how to use the sites because this is a project based course and you have to do the work alone. So EDM 310 is a different kind of learning experience. It's not based on memorization or tests, its based on learning programs and completely assignments.

For me, I think a good video to make would be like "Where in the World Do You Find That?" There are so many things that I know we are supposed to do, that I can't find anywhere. Or I'll find it once, then I won't be able to find it again. For instance, I heard that we are supposed to put pictures in all of our blogs. I also heard this is in the instructional manual. BUT I can't find where it says to do this ANYWHERE! It's like a link comnnects to a link that connects to another link that connects to another link. Then 50 links down the road, you forget where you even are or what you are even looking for. So, I think it would be useful to put all the common questions and problems in a video and address them with step-by-step instructions.

Critiques of Smartboards

Even before watching these critiques, I have NEVER seen what is so great about them. Aren't you really doing the same thing as writing on a chalkboard with a fancy pen? To make matters worse, ALL the teachers that I have ever had, did not even know how to use a smartboard and the students had to come up and assist them. If the primary goal of a smartboard is to 'wow' the students, how do you do that when you don't even know how to use it? Here is my link to a pro-Smartboard user blog: http://smartboardchat.blogspot.com/. I definitely agree that there are much better ways to spend the schools' money. I know from a learning perspective, Smartboards do not make any difference. It may make you look technological (if you actually know how to operate it) but still, in the back of everyone's mind- it's just a fancy chalkboard and let's face it- we all know WAY too much about those.

My Timetoast Timeline

My PLN Progress Report

My PLN is coming along pretty well considering I had no idea what a PLN was before this class. Who knew Twitter was good for things other than following celebrities? I also attached my blog to my Twitter account so the people that follow me on Twitter have access to my blog. I am following a lot a new people and organizations involved in education. It is really neat because I feel as if I am getting the inside scoop. I feel like I am having information given to me without even having to look for it. I find this very useful and it makes me feel more educated. I know that sounds cliche, but it feels good to be exposed to things that you had no idea was going on. In education, it is our job to know what is going on and be ahead on the curve. So, I find Twitter useful in keeping me up to speed with current events and issues that surround our nation today. I would prefer to keep Facebook more personal. I would like to use it mostly for keeping in touch with family and friends. I like to have my priorities separated and organized rather that piled all into one place haphazardly. Although, from time to time I do post information on Facebook that I feel people need to read. I try not to, but sometimes it just slips out. I am looking forward to building tne image of who I really am. It gives us the opportunity to show people how we think, one situation at a time.

Blog Post 7

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

This assignment is 1 day late because my daughter (that just turned 1) got a virus that made her unable to keep any food or fluids down for 3 days. Needless to say, as a young first-time parent, this was terrifying. To make matters worse, I contracted the virus and have spent the past 2 days vomiting uncontrollably. So with that said, I apologize my assignment is late. It won't happen again.


This video was good for multiple reasons. It taught you valuable life lessons while making you think, "What would I do if I knew I was about to die?" That to me is an incredible position to be in. You know you are about to die, so what do you do with your life? How would you live like you were dying? He was surprisingly light humored for someone with a deathwish. I hope that if I were ever in his shoes, I could leave as gracefully as he.

Randy always wanted to be an Imagineer at Disney. My dad has an office in Orlando so I must say I am no stranger to Disney or it's magic. I think one of the most valuable lessons I took away from him has to do with his rejection. All the schools and programs he wished to attend, he got rejected. But for Randy, that was never the end. He had his dreams and he wasn't giving up on them. For me, my mindset would have been, "Well I got rejected from that school, so it's out of the picture. What other schools do I want to apply to?" But not Randy. He achieved his dreams, but that doesn't mean that there weren't people that stood in his way. I liked when Randy said, "Walls were built to keep the people out who didn't want something bad enough." I have a totally different mindset than that. Hearing his perspective, enabled me to rethink a lot of things and made me realize that if something doesn't work out the first time, I shouldn't give up. I should just try harder.

I also like when he said, "Be good at something, it makes you valuable". You don't ever really think about it that way, but he is right. In order to make the world go round, we need people to be good at different things. Together, we make up all the pieces to create the whole picture-the puzzle. But in order to be needed, you have to hold a piece to the puzzle. Whether that means trade school, college, or grad school you need to be specialized in something. Randy got the highest education he could with the mindset that he could not possibly get rejected frm Disney. But, he still did. Imagine how that must have felt? But he didn't give up. Eventually he went on to work on a project with them and was later offered a job. Surprisingly, he turned it down but agreed to work in the lab 1 day a week. He went on to do so for 10 years.

Randy then started a program at Carnegie. He had a curriculum that looks a lot like EDM310's. It was a project based course with 4 major projects. What he really achieved through this program was teaching these students to do something really hard, and have fun doing it. He actually taught his students so well, that he didn't have a problem finding a replacement for himself. He found someone that he believed in when no one else did. Randy went out on a limb for this guy. In the end, Randy said his successor was better than him and would go on to take the program to do bigger and better things. That shows humility to be able to make a statement like that about something so near and dear to your heart.

I took away from this video that no dream is too big. No wall is too high-You just have to want it bad enough. Never lose your childlike wonder-it's a good thing. Don't let others bring you down and most importantly, one person CAN make a difference and change the world.

Summary Post for C4T Teacher #2

The blog I was supposed to comment on was ELT, Good at English. I had a really hard time with the assignment. I am the kind of person that can't lie about my opinion. If I don't agree with something and it bothers me on an ethical level, then I have a hard time. I just didn't agree with a lot of the things this teacher was saying. I didn't want to comment because I felt it wasn't my place to share my feelings and it would be innapropriate to have that discussion with a licensed teacher. I also don't want to make any enemies. I am in college, so I realize I don't know much in comparison. But if I were forced to comment on this blog, this is what I would have submitted. With that said, keep in mind I find this very innapropriate on my part and I would not be comfortable submitting this comment.

The post was titled, "Maintaining Oral Standards". It about the current controversy surrounding oral testing. It talks about problems with the grading scale, since different teachers have different opinions. It also talked about how she believed her students to be "weaker learners". I had a problem with this because I feel that it is your job as a teacher to educate and uplift your students, not talk negatively about them. I also don't think that oral testing is right, which reflects my issues with dialects being discriminated against. If you would like me to elaborate on this subject, just email me and I'd be happy to share with you my opinions. Here is what my short response would have been:

Hey, I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I was instructed to comment on your blog. Our class blog is http://edm310.blogspot.com/ and my personal blog is http://blackjennyedm310.blogspot.com/.
Although I am not a teacher yet, I can understand how and why it might be frustrating sometimes. But, I was just thinking.. What if one of your students or their parents happened to see this post? How do you think it would make them feel calling them "largely weaker learners"? I know that if I heard my teacher say that about me, it would really hurt me. I really cared about what my teacher thought of me when I was younger. I also believed what they said about me. Thanks for letting me read your blog and if you'd like to reach me, feel free.
Thanks again,
Jenny Black

I have also read over a few other posts of hers. I tried to leave a comment and the site would not let me. But the second post I read was titled, "A New Meeting Place for ELT Professionals." This post is about how these teachers are using Twitter as a way to communicate ideas, problems, and more. I really think that is a very beneficial way to use technology. Again, the site wouldn't let me post my comment, but this is what it said:

Hey, I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I was instructed to comment on your blog. Our class blog is http://edm310.blogspot.com/ and my personal blog is http://blackjennyedm310.blogspot.com/.

I think it is really cool to utilize technology in this way. I think it is very beneficial to be able to communicate with teachers outside of your school district and state about issues. This way, you can see what our nation's issues as a whole are and see what is working for other teachers. As a new mom, I enjoy being able to talk with other moms and find out whats "normal" and what other children are doing at the same age as my daughters. I think learning from other teachers experiences and successes can save one a lot of time, errors, and improve one's overall teaching quality. I also think it is a good quality to possess to be open to learning from others.

Summary Post C4K Comments 1 and 2

I commented on DavidL's blog in Mr. Chamberlain's class. The first post I commented was "All About Me". It just talked about David's life. David has lots of brothers. He loves playing video games and he is working to safe up for a computer! I think it is really neat that he is working for what he gets. He is learning valuable lessons and he seems to be a very responsible young man. He has a tough time with homework. But let's face it, does anyone really enjoy doing homework?

The second post I commented on was David's "Learning Manifesto". In this post David goes into greater detail about his issues with homework. He plans on changing his habits. He has a plan in place to help him and he has set goals. I think this is a very good start to the year. I think a lot can be said for a young boy that can already identify his weaknesses himself and work towards improvement. On top of that, he is earning money to get his own computer. Everyone struggles in some area in school. I admire how honest he is.

Blog Post 6

The Networked Student

Well, of course something like this has it's pros and cons. I will start with the cons...

First of all, anyone who is in school working very hard to get their degree in teaching, would be smart to not want a program like this implemented. There goes many, many AMERICAN jobs. That problem doesn't even scratch the surface of why I do not like this idea.

Secondly, students NEED their teachers. I believe teachers play a vital role in student's development not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. Students that aren't taught things at home, rely on their school to teach them. Students that don't get the love and support they need from home, rely on their teachers and classmates. Bottom line-we need face time. If you honestly believe that using only technology and having teachers you can reach "online" is beneficial, then I think you are losing far more than you are gaining. Think back to your childhood. Some of my best memories are from middle school and high school. In fact, I am still very close to two of my teachers. They were very influential and supportive of me and I look at them like extended family. I can't imagine "school" consisting of sitting at a computer all day and doing research alone.. really???? This is what our "bright" future entails? You are taking away social interaction, relationships, field trips, sports, clubs, teams...etc. Don't even try to say you get social interaction and relationships online because that is simply ridiculous.

On a side note of that, I wanted to mention when he said they had access to the "greatest teachers in the world". First of all, listening to them online MIGHT be cool sometimes. But, do they know your name? Do they care about YOU? Are they an influential figure in your life? Secondly, I would argue that just because you teach at Yale or Harvard doesn't make you a better teacher than someone that teaches at a state college. A lot of those jobs have to do with politics and the teachers are very disconnected from their community.

Also, I find it very hard to read lengthly information on a computer screen. From talking to my classmates, I know I am definitely one of many that has a problem with it. It's hard. My eyes have a problem concentrating and I lose my place a lot. I always end up having to print it out and read it on paper.

Another problem I'd like to mention.. I think there would be a lot of problems with students "copying and pasting" and not really reading all of the material. Then what you will end up with is a HUGE database of information that no one is going to take the time to read. I think a better option would be to have condensed, simplified versions, or outlines posted with access to the original document when needed.

Here is my final con. Let's face it folks, the "real world" isn't sitting behind a computer screen. It might be for a small percentage of us, but not most. Isn't the purpose of school to prepare for the "real world", the workforce? If you are cutting out significant amounts of social interaction (face-to-face), then I argue you are making people more socially akward when they do finally go outside for once.

A couple of ways this could benefit the student is the accumulation of research over time. It's true, if someone does a lot of hard work and research, then another person adds a little more.. and another person finds something and adds it.. Pretty soon you are going to end up with a very comphrensive database of knowledge. This is a good thing. Also, I believe you can be exposed to a lot of different information, which is also good. But like I said at the beginning, I believe you are losing far more than you are gaining.

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment

I think that PLN's are very good TOOLS. I do not think that school should be strictly on a computer. We need a lot more elements and methods than just one. I thought her PLN was really neat. PLN's are something I would not have a problem implementing in my own classroom. Like anything else though, it has it's draw backs. There is a lot of room for the "wandering eye". It would be way too easy for a student to be checking facebook, watching tv.. etc.. and then bring up your schoolwork when your teacher walks by. The teacher would have to be very aware and alert of the situation.

The Machine is Changing Us

Well, the video is right. I do have a short attention span and 30 minutes is a long time. I would say I have a lot of the characteristics of the "MTV Generation". I would argue that it is not narcissism. I also would agree it's more trying to find yourself and your self-worth.

The "Charlie bit my finger" video was really funny!

I think that is is healthy to talk about your feelings. If doing it online is the only way people will do it- then so be it. It's good and healthy so why not? Just keep in mind that anyone who wants to watch it can...

This video made me realize that I have to keep in mind the characteristics of the "MTV Generation" or whatever generation I am teaching so that I can better meet their needs.

Blog Post 5

Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog

That is so cute! They are so little and so smart! I think it's cool how they put to Podcasts to music. I hadn't even thought about that for ours. I think it's really cool because it's different. It adds another element to the classroom. In my opinion, the more ways and alternative to learning, the better.

Langwitches

I think this is a really good cause and idea. I read where she was asked to introduce Podcasts to a 1st grade class.. wow! I was definitely not using technology when I was in 4th grade! That shows how things are changing in the educational realm. Having students all over the world doing this and so young? Very cool and innovative!

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

I really like this one. I have never even heard of Vodcasts... but I love that! Sometimes it's hard to just listen to something. If you add video to it, much more interesting. When I think back about school, I remember that it was HARD to pay attention all day because it was BORING!!!! If you take the boring out of school-and make learning fun and with friends, I think test scores will sky rocket. Even if a student doesn't study at all, just listening in class will make a huge difference. So everyone would benefit.

100 Ways to Use Your Ipod to Learn and Study Better

This is really cool. I have never even heard of any of this. The only way I can really learn something for a test is studying flashcards. They have flashcards! That is SO cool to me because it takes forever to write out note cards. So you could spend the time it would have taken you to write the note cards, actually studying. So, you will end up learning the material much faster, leaving time for other important tasks. You are even going green! An environmentally friendly and faster way to get done with my work?? Yes please!

It also has lesson plan ideas. I could definitely use all the tips and tricks I can find when I become the teacher. I am glad we are doing these kinds of assignments because it is equipping us with actual ways to revolutionize the classroom. It is easy to talk about changing the system, but doing it is another thing entirely. I could see myself showing my class this article so that they can benefit from their iPods too!

There is also something that finds the nearest WiFi! I am always looking for somewhere quiet to do my homework. I never know who has internet, and who doesn't. I don't know whose costs money and whose doesn't. So this is a very valuable tool.


I learned that Podcasts can be personalized my music! I really like it. I think that is definitely something I want to add into my own podcast. In the future, I'd also like to do a Vodcast as well as use them in my classroom to make m class NOT boring.

Additional Assignment #1

A. Google Squared is good for research, especially research papers. Instead of browsing around, trying to find a reliable source, you have all the information already put together for you in a table. This way, you can get your work done faster and your time is spent in a more productive manner. It's also very adaptive to your needs. If something isn't listed that you want to know, just add it.

B. I love Wolfram Alpha. This site puts information together for you in charts and graphs. It also shares statistics. This site would be more beneficial to the "visual learner". With these sites together, you have information presented to you in different ways so that you can more fully understand what it is you are learning about. I think these sites should be used in conjunction so one can get the full picture. I wish I would have known about these sites earlier. I think they are a tremendous asset to all students.

C. Yes I knew about Google Squared, although I had yet to take advantage of it's benefits.

D. I did not know about Wolfram Alpha.

E. Well "Did You Know" is a video of statistics put together in a flashy show that includes music. I still like the video and I think that the information wasn't misconstrued. I think it is a good video that makes a valid point.

F. It's just like you said. You have to step back and see what the statistics are trying to show you. What are they trying to make you believe? Just like anything, they can be put together in a way to manipulate your thinking. So you have to be aware of the context of the statistics your faced with. Just use critical thinking and don't always take them at "face value".




Food for thought:
I think it is beneficial because if he could use it and he is illiterate then doesn't that even out the playing field a little bit??

Blog Post 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff Please by Scott McCleod

I appreciate that we are assigned interesting material. It's not long articles that are politically correct, which we have been assigned to read all of our life. I like reading things that are arguable and different. I like that he says things that can make people mad. Anger can make you think about why you believe what you believe and if you believe it for legitimate reasons. I like that he started out be outlining all the fears and stereotypes parents and some teachers have about the internet. The truth is, students will find trouble of they look for it. The internet is definitely no exception. But I believe if used correctly, it can positively impact our schools. If students are bored in school (and most are) and they don't see how what they are learning relates to the "real world" (which most don't) then it is HARD to pay attention and care about school. If you add things like technology, and show them why what they are learning actually matters and can help them day to day, I think that in itself will raise tests scores tremendously and end a lot of discipline problems in the school system. Alabama is one of the "dumbest" states, so we could definitely use some change. That's just a fact.

Well when I "Googled" Scott McLeod A LOT of information came up. He has a website called Dangerously Irrelevant and I actually saw my comment on the side of the page. WOW! I also noticed that he has the "Did You Know" videos on his site. Basically, this website is dedicated to technology and leadership, seeing change in schools. He blogs a lot about technology and schools. I looked it over and decided that I am going to visit this site often. I feel I have a lot I can learn from this man. As a future teacher, it is my responsibility and duty to society to always be learning.

The iSchool Initiative

I thought this was a really cool idea. One, because it's from a high school senior. A lot of students in high school are not worrying about how to improve education... Way to step out and be a leader.

I think the idea is great. BUT, if I were the student, I would rather use the iPad. I don't really like things that are really small. The pictures are small, it's just way too small for me. I think the iPad would be much better for learning. It fits much better on a desk and the pictures would be a lot bigger. I think it's a lot easier to wrap you brain around a concept when you can actually see it in a decent size. The iTouch is just tiny! You would be looking at like microscopic pictures. I don't like that at all. I think that teacher's would also have a problem with students putting their iTouch in their laps.. and doing other things. The iPad fits confortably on a desk so the teacher can make sure students are on task.

Watch The Lost Generation

I am at a loss for words. I have chill bumps. That was the most moving thing I have seen in a long, long time. I LOVED it. We are always hearing how things are going from bad to worse. Statistical data seems to always seal our fates. We are herded into believing that this cultural downward spiral is unavoidable and normal. I constantly find myself worrying about becoming another statistic. That was so inspirational. I love to be inspired and she definitely touched me somewhere deep in my soul. I am going to share this with my family.

As far as the technique goes, where I'm concerned, she is a genius.I wasn't expecting it at all. I actually watched it twice because I loved it so much. How she sat there and figured that out.. is beyond me. She is very creative and I really, really liked the technique. I think we could use things like this in schools to motivate our students, which happen to be the future of our country.


Eric Whitaker's Virtual Choir and Jennifer Chamber's Post


Wow. I didn't even know this sort of thing was possible. How do you even do something like that? It just blows me away that technology allows that sort of thing ALREADY and I didn't even know it was possible.

While watching, it made me think. We are all in this thing called life TOGETHER. We are always fighting, going going going, and not stopping to SEE. At the end of the day, we are all the same. We are just people, living our lives, and hoping for the best.

Project # 5 Google Presentation