Goodbye EDM 310 and Thanks

Goodbye to all my classmates!! and Good Luck !!!

Thanks Ms Averitt for all your help!!!

My Summary of EDM 310 Fall 2009

1. The first thing that I learned is that I have a lot to learn when it comes to technology. I also have come to realize that I must continue to learn even after I become a teacher in order to keep up with the fast pace of the technology. In the beginning of this class I really didn't know what to expect from the class. I had no idea what blogging was, I had no idea that so many people blogged. There are countless blog sites out there on every topic under the sun, this is an excellent way to share ideas and bring people closer together.

I learned how to put together a powerpoint presentation. I never used powerpoint before and I worried about it,it wasn't that hard after I got started. This is definitely a very useful tool that I can use in the classroom. As for Google documents I didn't really get much out of this, I realize it is free and it is good to know about because it is accessible to everyone. I have used Excel before but I needed a refresher on how to use it again. I don't know if Excel is useful for a grade book, most school systems have software programs that teachers enter grades into.

I must of been living under a rock, because I had not heard of podcasts or videocasts until we had to listen to them on iTunes. I didn't know iTunes had anything free either. iTunes University is a great tool for students, I was amazed at how many universities are already using it.I can see iTunes University growing and reaching more and more universities in the future and maybe even high schools too.

I can honestly say that I have never been on the Internet reading posts or watched as many videos as I did this semester. I can honestly say that I always felt that the Internet was full of garbage and useless information. I have come to realize that you have to really search and you can find lots of useful sites , but you have to really be careful to make sure that they are reliable.

I hope that one day that all school will offer students equal access to technology so that every student will be prepared for the future.

2. I would of liked to learn more about Smartboards, the Mobile County Public Schools have them now.
I think that it would be a good idea to introduce it in EDM 310 since we are going to be student teaching soon.

3. I can't think of anything that I didn't want to learn, I'm not a big fan of blogging although I do think that it is useful and is a good way of sharing ideas.

4. I cannot say that I got excited about anything in particular.

5. I was not intellectually challenged, I felt a little overwhelmed with all the projects in the beginning but that's about it.

6. I got a little bored listening to the podcasts from iTunes that we had to subscribe to for one of our first blog assignments. The podcasts were too technical just boring.

7. If I could change anything it would be the amount of blogging assignments we had to do, in the beginning it was OK, but it got old after a while.

8. I am not technologically literate. I would rate myself at "Some". I do know that I have a lot to learn and that I must continue to keep learning as much as I can.

9. I need to learn so much, I can start by reading and researching on the Internet. I can also learn from my peers and students. I must try new things when I become a teacher and experiment in order to learn. I definitely will go to workshops when available and search out whatever resources available to me since I know that technology is changing at a fast rate.

My Favorites from the Three Lists and Why

I read through Doug Johnson lists and I picked the ones that I felt were important and useful for me as a teacher. From the 7 Stupid Mistakes list I chose #6 Ignore kids intrinsic interest in technology- that would be a huge mistake. Today kids know more than we do about what is out there. Kids today have been raised using technology unlike some of us who are older. Using technology is a great way to motivate them and keep them interested in the classroom. I also chose #7 Technology will go away in schools- big mistake. The use of technology is just beginning in our schools, we haven't even begun to see all the ways it will be used. A teacher who ignores it is doing themselves and their students an injustice.

From the 7 Brilliant Things Teachers Do with Technology I chose #1 Empower kids with technology. Using technology in the classroom is a way give the kids control over what they are learning. Many kids know a lot and having them bring their knowledge to the classroom gives them a feeling that they have a say in what the class is doing. Students can gain a lot of self esteem and become more motivated to achieve if technology is used correctly by the teacher.
I also chose #7 Delight in the discovery, the newness and the fun technology holds
-school needs to be fun sometimes. Why should we expect kids to be motivated to learn if there is no fun in learning? Technology is the answer to that, there are very few kids that don't like computers or trying new things like cameras, cellphones, ipods. Using technology in the classroom to enhance learning and integrating it into the curriculum will make old lessons new and more interesting to the kids.

I also read the New Classroom Rules list and a few I did not get them they seemed more like jokes to me. I did pick a few that I felt were of use and mad sense. I chose #14 Raise your hand if you need help, don't wait for the teacher, get help from your neighbors and post your question to your PLN. I always tell my daughter don't just sit there ask for help if you need it. It is simple but it needs to be emphasized, now there are many ways to find help. The teacher isn't the only one to answer your questions , there are so many resources out there. The last rule that I chose is #15 Know what you are suppose to be learning, why, what you will do with the knowledge. I believe that it is important to know why you are doing something, instead of just doing it because someone told you to. I think that if you explain to your students why something is important and how it is useful to them then they will be more motivated to learn. I believe that the information you are learning has to have meaning for you to actually learn it, otherwise students are just memorizing facts and forgetting them as soon as they take a test.

At The Teachers Desk Comments

I like Mr Chamberlain blogs , he really comes up with a lot of great ideas for his classroom. I can tell that he takes his profession seriously and puts a lot of thought and time into teaching. I looked around at his posts and enjoyed reading them a lot. "How to get (and keep)More Visitors" was good it gave ideas of how to keep people reading your blog. He gave tips like don't change your address and use descriptive titles so people can find your topics to read.I also read "Using Technology for Effective Communication" in this post he talked about the different ways he communicates with parents. Mr C uses facebook and gives out his phone number.Mr C has a facebook account set up for his parents only, no students and so far it has worked great.

On "Teaching 2.0" I found Dr Strange from USA. Mr C posted a Dr Strange's video that describes what Dr Strange is teaching in our EDM class, twitter, iGoogle, blogging, etc. Mr C made a point to say that he thought that this video would make an excellent tool for in-service training for teachers at his school. Another post I liked was "Always Evolving, Always Changing" in this blog he points out what we have been talking a lot about in this class. We need to keep up with the fast pace of technology. Mr C talked about the need for teachers to learn, adapt and evolve in order to stay up to date with the changes.The last post I will comment on is "Something that Matters" it is just a very short post about graffiti he saw that he believes a student wrote on the wall. It said " I wanna do something that matters" and it got him wondering why students don't do things that they love or matter to them. He made a point that people are possibly driven by money and not by what is important to them.

My Reaction to Michael Wesch's Video about the Future of "Whatever"

This video made so many points that I had to back it up and watch some parts over again. I was really amazed at the idea that media is controlling how we communicate and it has become a language.The new media is disengaging us from people instead of bringing us together. I agree, I use to work in a department store and I hated it when customers came in and talked on their phone the entire time I waited on them, they didn't talk to me they pointed and spoke very little. I see this a lot everywhere I go, people walk around talking or texting and they are not paying attention to the person who they are with. I am an older college student and I have noticed that a lot of college age students can't put their phones down to listen to a professor for an hour. The use of the word "whatever" is indicative of the attitude of people, I don't care and new media is a reflection of that too.

Nowadays you can get on your computer and write e-mails, blogs and say things that you would not dare say to a persons face.Typing on a computer or looking into a web cam is not the same experience as looking into someones face and speaking. I am sure that there are millions of people who have sent a message or written things that they wish that they could take back, but once you send it its gone and there is no turning back. This type of communication can be edited and changed to give a false impression. I think as a teacher it is a good idea to talk about all of these things with students so that they will think about what they are engaging in. I think that it is important to let the students know that communication is a shared experience and that the new media is not always a shared experience.

I do think that people are all looking for someone to connect with , but at the same time they are not connecting they are disengaging instead. the new media is disconnecting us from the ones we are closest to.

CommentKids: My comment to MrsG Student Zebin K

I read Zebin K's blog and he talked about his interest in sports. He said that he liked football, tennis and baseball. I told him that I also like sports and that I liked to watch them on TV. I also mentioned that when I was younger I was the youngest of 3 brothers so I had to play if they need an extra person. Zebin K asked in his blog if we played soccer, volleyball or rugby because he has not played any of these sports. I told him that I played volleyball in middle school but soccer and rugby were too hard and dangerous for me. I didn't tell him but I am definitely too old to play either of those now.

PS 22 Landslide Video Post

First of all "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac is one of my favorite songs so I enjoyed the video a lot. You can tell in the PS 22 Video really enjoyed themselves and that they were well prepared. By doing these videos and posting them on blogs the children can watch themselves and critique themselves. Also they gain a lot of self esteem and pride making the video. I watched the other videos PS 22 choir had posted and they were all great. The singers were not nervous, they were very relaxed. The production process also teaches the children how to create and how to use technology.






Mr Chamberlains class posted their Dear Kaia: Voicethread and Video on his blog. The voicethread was a great way to reach out and connect the classroom long distance. The students all participated in the video and gave it a personal touch. A post like that gives others ideas on how they too can reach out and enhance their classroom experience using technology. This too is a good tool for others to learn from by posting it to a blog.







Dr Stranges EDM posting of South Alabama student's podcasts is a great way for the class to work cooperatively. Often students do not like to work in groups , this gives students experience
researching a subject and creating a script to be taped. I know that I dreaded doing this project, but once we started talking and recording it wasn't that difficult. I have watched others class podcasts and I look forward to watching our podcasts. By watching the others podcasts you can learn what to do and what not to do.

I also liked what I saw on Mr Kaechele Technology class blog. His students are doing a lot of the same things we are doing in our EDM 310 class but they are 8th graders. They are way ahead of the game or should I say way ahead of me. They are using Google Reader, Google Documents, Skype and Flickr and podcasting. They are posting their videos on their classblog. The students are able to share what they are learning with others and learn at the same time. I think that these students are learning so much and are very fortunate to have this experience in school.

ALEX and ACCESS Usefulness to Teachers

I searched the ALEX site and found that it was full of information that teachers of all levels can use. The site provides teaching and learning tools that are great for a new teacher to look at to get ideas. The site also has links to websites that have been reviewed for content, readability and reliability. I think that this is great, it keeps you from going from website to website to just find out it's not what you are looking for. The site also offers professional development opportunities for teachers and school systems to sign up for, you can't learn enough when you are a teacher. This site also had podcasts for all subject areas that you can download and use in the classroom.

I also found that the site has The Alabama Course of Study for every grade level (k-12)and for every subject area. When you click on the grade and a subject it not only gives the standard but it gives you links and lesson plans for that standard. This is a great help for a new teacher who needs some ideas on how to go about teaching the standard. The standards also have a key that tell you what test the standard will be on, for example the SAT or ARMT. This too can be helpful to prepare your students for those high stakes test. Overall I feel that ALEX is a very useful tool for any teacher and especially for a new teacher who needs all the help they can to get started.

I also found ACCESS to be extremely helpful to a teacher. It has numerous resources, links that can be used in the classroom. The vision for ACCESS is "to provide equal access to high quality instruction to improve achievement through distance learning." On this site the State of Alabama Department of Education is offering online courses to participating schools and school systems in a pilot program to test the effectiveness of distance learning. So far they are reporting that it is working out very well, they feel that the students need more contact with the teachers. I think it if about time that Alabama is providing an education that will prepare our students for the future in respect to the move toward technology.

On the site they also provide information about professional development through video conferencing which is great this keeps from having to travel. Video conferencing can also reach more teachers across the state. The teachers have lots of programs that they can use in the classroom to enhance learning by using technology. I did not realize that the Alabama was moving in this direction and I am glad to find this out. I hope that Mobile County schools get involved soon. I feel that both ALEX and ACCESS are beneficial to all teachers especially to a new teacher who may need a push in the right direction when it comes to integrating technology into the curriculum. Teachers nowadays need all the help they can get.

Comment4Kids: Jorhar's Woodtech Blog

I commented on Jorhar's 8th grade technology blog. Jorhar wrote in his blog that he loved to play video games. He also stated that if he could play video games all day that he would. Jorhar wrote that his favorite games was called "Devil May Cry" and he had a picture from the game on his blog. I commented on his blog that I also like to play video games and that I am not very good at them. I told him that I like to play the Wii. I suggested in my comment that he should apply what he has learned playing video games to other forms of technology.

My Personal Learning Network

As a prospective teacher I have learned that there are numerous resources that I can take advantage of . I have learned a lot in my education classes at USA and my professors have been very helpful when it comes to providing us with resources. In my EDM 310 class I have found that there are numerous resources on the Internet that I can use.

Facebook

I have been a member of Facebook for about 6 months. I worked as a paraprofessional for the Mobile County School System and I have become friends with several teacher and school staff. I was first introduced to Facebook by a Special Education teacher that I worked with at ER Dickson Elementary School. I am no longer employed with MCPSS so Facebook is a great way for me to stay in touch with my former coworkers at the school system and keep up with what is going on in the schools today. I have also become Facebook friends with several of my classmates and a few professors at USA. I feel that this is a good way to stay connected with people I meet and work with.

EdTech Talk

I was first introduced to EdTech Talk while reading one of my classmates blog. EdTech Talk posts podcast that have topics about the use of technology in the classroom. I have found these podcast very interesting, often they have guests teachers and administrators discussing various uses of technology in the classroom. This site gives many good ideas and a sounding board to educators who are interesting in integrating technology in children's education. This site allows for live participation in discussions. I feel that this site can and will be useful by giving me ideas on how to integrate video, audio to the curriculum. I am an elementary education student so I will need lots of good ideas on how to prepare my young students for the future. I am following this site on my personal blog so I can keep up with the topics they are discussing.

The Future of Education

This is a community of educators I found while I was googling for ideas on how to build a PLN. This website is a PLN for educators, you can create your own page after you join you can network with other educators that are members and discuss ideas and share information. I found that there are a lot of resources within this one site. Many experienced teachers post activities that they have found to be useful in the classroom. I have commented on blogs and I intend to keep in contact with the members when I need advice in the future. This site has blogs and links to resources on the Internet that experienced teachers have posted. I signed up as a member and subscribed to a RSS feed so I can keep updated.



At The Teacher's Desk

This is a blog that I learned about through Dr Strange, he suggested this blog site on our blog assignment sheet. So I decided to take a look at it and I agree with Dr Strange that this site is another good resource for educators. There are many contributors that we learned about through our blogging assignment like Mr Mc Clung an Mr Chamberlain. I am following this blog on my personal blog and I have found the topics to be useful. This site also gives many good ideas on how to integrate technology in the classroom, like using Skype for ESL students. The contributors are all educators who have experience that I can benefit from and I like the idea that I can contact them for advice or just to give my two cents.

Art Talk Wiki

This is a Wiki created by Dr. Paige Baggett who is an art professor here at the USA. This is a Wiki that Dr Baggett created for her students and educators to use to network. Dr Baggett has discussed in class the importance of making contacts and finding resources that can helpful to us as teachers. I love art and I feel that art is very important aspect of education that is often overlooked. Art is a wonderful world that children need to explore and this Wiki is a great source of idea that is useful in facilitating the integration of art in elementary school. I hope to keep in contact with Dr Baggett in the future and continue to make more contacts in art education.

Comments About Kaia and Her Father

At first I didn't know what to make of this until I read the blog written by Jabiz Raisdana-Kaia's father- in Quatar. I really didn't understand what this was all about. The whole scenario was started by Jabiz Raisdana-Kaia's father- he wanted to take his daughter outside to explore even though it was not a beautiful place to look at. Kaia's Dad is a teacher after reading Last Child in the Woods he felt that his daughter need to go outside and find beauty in the world that she lives in. So one day Kaia and her dad went outside and he let her take pictures with a digital camera in search of something beautiful. Kaia is a very beautiful 3yr old girl, she enjoyed the experience and enjoyed using a digital camera.

Once the pictures were taken, Kaia's dad decided to create to post the pictures on a his daughters blog. Mr Raisdana was concerned about putting his daughter on the Internet and expressed his concerns about exposing her to the world. There are several pictures of things that they found outside and pictures of Kaia taking the pictures. The album with her photographs also has her voice describing the pictures she took. A teacher from Missouri-Mr Chamberlain- contacted Mr Raisdana and they decided to Skype a conversation with the class about the pictures that Kaia took and why he posted her photos.

During the Skype Kaia's dad explained to the class that Kaia was only 3 and would not be able to read a blog or a letter from them. He suggested that they make a video that she could watch and tell her what they felt about her pictures. The video was very well done and sweet they all talked to Kaia and let her know how much they liked her pictures and how they felt about them.

I can see that this type of exchange can bring things that we read about to life. This can be used in the classroom to bring someone that is a world away to your classroom in real time. I think that it could be used to talk to authors about a book that they read. I can see high school using this a way to talk to experts in different fields and bring a subject to life. Skype can be used to make words on a piece of paper to life and make a student sit up and take notice. It is definitely much more enriching than just reading about a subject.

Comments4Kids Post

I looked at Mr Goerend's Classroom Blogs and he has some very creative students in his class. I read through the blogs and I commented on 6 posts. The first one I commented on was Brandon who wrote about having a National holiday to burp. I let him know that I was not a fan of burping but I give him credit for being original. Brett blogged about having an international holiday called Sumo Wrestler Day. Everyone walks around like a sumo wrestler, they put extra food in their bellybuttons when they are done eating. In my comment to Brett I told him that this too was very original and there are quite a few people who walk around like sumo wrestlers without trying to.

Matt blogged about a holiday that fits with Halloween, Laugh Like A Witch Day. He said that everyone is supposed to let out high pitched screeching laughs all day. I asked him if men are suppose to screech with a high pitch like a woman or do men screech differently. Emma blogged about a holiday I just had to comment on, National Spitting Day, everyone spits no matter where they are. Emma said in her blog that it is permitted to spit inside buildings it didn't matter where. In my comment to Emma I expressed that I would not like to participate or witness this holiday first hand. One of my favorite blogs was by Anna who blogged about National Act Like A Mime Day.One Act Like A Mime Day everyone must act everything and not talk, I told Anna in my comment to her that this is very creative and not an easy to do. It takes a lot of creativity to come up with ways to express what you want to say instead of talking. I commented on one more blog that didn't have a name on it. The blog was titled "How Embarrassment Turned Into An International Holiday." In this blog the author blogged that everyone must sprint instead of walk where they are going. I commented that this is a holiday that you have to train for because it will be hard to sprint for a whole day.I really got a lot of laughs from these blogs, Mr Goerend's students are very creative and have a lot of imagination.

Media Literacies Comments

I really liked New Media Literacies video it was to the point and it moved very fast. The video talked about all the things that a person living in our fast paced society needs to survive and to be a productive contributing member of society. the New Media Skills covered in the video that I agree with are;play, judgement, negotiation, appropriation, visualization trans media navigation and multitasking. The other ones I didn't really get a grasp of when I watched the video. I truly believe that using judgement and negotiating is something everyone need to be skillful at in order to get along and be harmonious. If we are going to share ideas and thoughts on the Internet we must be able to judge what we see and be able to negotiate with others to come to an understanding. I think all of these skills are necessary to be effective, multitasking is expected in all work environments.

A point that I found interesting is the idea that for years Media Literacy was controlled by a small group of producers. That is not the case anymore, we are all producers now thanks to the Internet.If you blog and post videos or anything else that can be viewed by others you are a producer. Trans media navigation is also important for today's world we all have to be able to find our way around the technology world or we will be left out. As a prospective teacher it is important for me to play and experience and experiment in order for me to learn. I believe that it is important for me to give my students the opportunity to play in order for them to learn so I must give them the time and opportunity so they will be able to be productive citizen.

I found a website called Project New Media Literacies that explains why it is important to be media literate and culturally literate. One the site it talked about MIT's research based initiative to research how to equip our youth with social skills and cultural competencies so that they will be able to participate in our growing media world. It also talked about how important it is today to bring awareness to the public about how important it is to be globally connected in a multicultural world.

Wendy Drexler's The Networked Students Comments

This little video The Networked Students was short and sweet but was packed with interesting information about organizing a Personal Learning Network(PLN). As I stated in my previous blog I find it difficult to sift through the information on the Internet to find what I really need. This video gave good ideas on how to go about it. I will use all of this information to create my own PLN for my EDM 310 class and for the future. There are so many tool that are useful on the Internet that you never have to step foot in a library or a classroom according to the video.

The video started of talking about a student that did have a book and didn't go to lecture. The student created their own PLN and used that as their curriculum with the guidance of a professor.The student never went to class they used the Internet for all the resources used to learn from. the student learns by making social connections and creating a virtual workbook of all the connections that they made about the subject they are learning about. The professors is there for guidance and feedback , the student is responsible for his own learning.

I don't know if I trust myself to find everything that I need to educate myself. In the video it suggests the use of iTunes U to find lectures, Google Scholar to find articles that are credible and find bookmarked sites that are relevant. Blogging is also mentioned as a way to share with others what they have found and to help others in their search for resources. I am working on my PLN now and I am going to try and use some of the ideas from this video. I see more an more how much is out there at all of our fingertips but if you don't know they are there it is useless.

Am I Ready to Write With Multimedia??

I think I am ready.I know how to type now when it comes to using all the technology available no I am not ready. It as a very difficult thing to do. On the two videos made by Richard Miller:This Is How We Dream he talked about how we do not have to step foot into a library anymore to research for papers, kids now go directly to the Internet. I remember looking into the Encyclopedia Britannica for information, that is unheard of now.When I was in high school way back in the 80's I took typing class (with a typewriter), this seems so ancient now. Children now are typing on computers using word processors, it is a very natural thing to do for the newer generations.

I am learning how to share my thoughts and ideas by blogging. I see that this is a way to share information globally. What is difficult sometimes is distinguishing what is fact and what is fiction. Often when I am searching for information I find myself sifting through so much garbage on the Internet to get what I need. I see so much blogging and I find it a little frustrating because it seems to be all opinion that is not really helpful when I need facts. After watching the video I understand the point that he makes about sharing ideas and thoughts by uniting humanities and the sciences.

Creating a documents on the web using text, images, audio and video has changed the way we communicate now. There was a time when you had to wait for the news to come on. Now all we have to do is log onto a computer, cell phone and we can access anything that is happening in the world. Sometimes we can watch something happening live and unedited. Technology is changing before our eyes and we have to try to keep up. Using audio and video makes it so appealing and makes us want to watch. Now you can get on the Internet and read almost any newspaper published and get more from the website than you would from the actual paper edition because they have videos , audio. Another thing appealing is the ability to respond instantly to something you read by emailing the newspaper editors with your comments. I am very overwhelmed at times and I get frustrated but I definitely see that the writing with multimedia a benefit.

Using iPods in Instruction

I googled using iPods in instruction and I found lots of sites and blogs that discussed the use of them at different universities. Duke University has been using them, they started by giving iPods to their incoming freshmen in 2004 to see if they would be a useful technology . The next year they only gave them to certain students depending on their major. Considering all that is available on iTunes U, the use of an iPod can be valuable in instruction. As I read about the way Dukes students used the iPods I realized that it would be a great asset to most student, not matter what their major.

They found that the use of iPods was very convenient and easy to use. The resources on iPods made it much more convenient than going to the library or the lab. The professors found that their was much more student engagement. Duke did find a problem or two one of which was obtaining licenses for materials. The students that were given the iPods were Engineering students, music and foreign language majors. They used the iPod for downloading music, recording interviews and tutoring sessions. I can see that this would be very convenient to carry instead of books or going to the library. Duke has developed models for introducing and merging computing into college campuses. They have expanded the courses that will use iPods in instruction. I wish the University of South Alabama would follow the model and give us all iPods, I would find a good use for it.

I never knew about iTunes University have you?

I didn't realize that iTunes offered this. I think its a great idea. Many universities are using it to post lectures and other educational tools for free.When I think of iTunes I just thought it was for downloading music and videos. I think that iTunes needs to let more people know that they have all this available. I can see professors and college students using more and more in the future. If you miss a lecture or if you need to review something it can be downloaded to an iPod or computer.

I believe it is also a good idea for those who have graduated they can use to keep up with whats new. I can see school systems using this in professional development and for conferences. There are quite a few universities that are participating in iTunes university, I am sure that the numbers will be growing. the iTunes University is a great way to reach as many students as possible. I think that it is a great way to enhance an online course by using both audio and video podcasts. If you want to learn more about iTunesU click here

Dr Christie's Google Earth Visual Tour Comments

I watched Dr Christie's Google Earth visual tour, it was interesting to see all the famous places that she included in her presentation. I was not able to identify many of them. I have some experience using Google Earth, I have used it to look at my house and my families homes. It is interesting to see all the details like my parents old car that they don't have anymore. These kinds of details give you an idea at how old the pictures are. In the virtual tour it did not really demonstrate how to use Google Earth, I was expecting the tour to have more information and a demonstration on how to use it.

I do see the point that Dr Christie is making in that it can be used as a tool in the classroom. Google Earth can be used to visit places in the classroom that students may never visit in person. I do like the way she presented it and spoke , this definitely can be useful and the students can create their own tour of places they are studying in class. It can also be used to show where they live or where they came from. If you have a student that is from another country they can use this in the class to show others where they are from. I believe there are countless ways Google Earth can be used in the classroom

My comments about Mr McClungs post.

I really enjoyed reading What I've Learned This Year by Mr McClung on his blog spot. In his blog Mr McClung gives advice to teachers that he learned through the school year. I really admire that he admitted that at first he was wrong to put himself first and realized that teaching is about the students. Mr McClung said that he use to think he had to have perfect lessons in order to be effective. However he learned that it is important to be flexible and consider his students needs and that the lesson plan may not work. He gave a lot of good advice: be flexible, communicate to students and teachers, and to be responsible.

I feel that the best advice he gave was to listen to the students and show them that you care about them. I believe that you will never be an effective teacher unless the students know you care about them as a whole person. Mr McClung also said something that I truly believe is important never stop learning. In his blog he advised teachers not to be afraid of technology, most teachers are afraid of what they don't know. That's why we have to keep learning. I hope he gets a chance to read our blogs. His students are lucky to have him as a teacher.

Is Wikipedia Reliable ???

I never really knew what Wikipedia was for a long time;I saw it everytime I Googled for information. One of my professors here at the University of South Alabama told us not to use it as a reference for anything because anybody can get on it and add information . After I read the article on NPR website I remembered what my old professor had told us about people getting on Wikipedia and making changes. I'm glad that Virgil Griffith came up with a Wikipedia Scanner to trace the people responsible for editing information. I really liked that he revealed Walmart, Diebold and Dow Chemical for erasing information about their corporations. This seems like a violation of rights ; and their freedom of speech is being violated by eliminating their entries because they want to cover up things that will make them look bad. Diebold was the one I was most concerned with; the idea that a company that makes voting machines is making financial contributions to a presidential candidate and that they erased this information from Wikipedia is appalling.

I definitely do not think that Wikipedia is to be trusted, especially after reading the NPR blog and listening to NPR podcast. I would hope that the Wikipedia Scanner prevents others from editing entries, but I believe that a lot of corporation will just find another way to get around it ; in order to protect their reputations.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture Comments

I have to say that I was really moved by his last lecture. I saw a news story on TV about him right after he died and at the time I didn't know much about him. After watching him talk about his childhood , it is obvious that he was a very special person. Randy Pausch's Last Lecture is very inspiring and makes you want to be an educator that makes a difference in others lives. I can relate to some of the things he talked in his childhood because I am close to his age.

I was very impressed at the detail of his dreams, as a child he seemed to know exactly what he wanted to accomplish. Pausch's dreams fit him , he ended up being a computer geek. The fact that he accomplished his dreams shows his determination. Another thing that he talked about was his parents and that they allowed him to dream. Pausch's parents did not limit him, they allowed him to be creative and try things. It is obvious that Randy Pausch was a dreamer, but he was also determined and motivated to make them come true.

In his teaching Randy Pausch allowed his students to be creative and did not limit them, Pausch was amazed at what his students accomplished. Pausch's enabled his students dreams to come true, he encouraged them to be different and try things with no limits. Pausch spoke about a student he had Tommy Burnett that wanted to work on a Star Wars movie, Pausch even thought to himself that this was a far fetched idea. Tommy Burnette did end up working on the 3 Star Wars movies. Pausch spoke about enabling others dreams, Randy Pausch definitely enabled his students by being an example and encouraging them and supporting them.

Pausch and his partner Don worked together on the Dream Fulfillment Factory, this is an amazing idea that allows students to be creative. In the Dream Factory they worked in groups with no books making things with a promise of a job. Randy Pausch spoke about teaching kids in a way that is fun and they didn't realize they were learning. Its called a "head fake", teach them something that is really hard but make it fun, the kid won't know they learned anything. Pausch had some values he lived by and shared in his last lecture; be good at something, work hard, find the best in everyone and luck " preparation meets opportunity". Pausch also talked about how to work with others by; doing the right thing, listen to feedback, show gratitude and don't complain , work harder. I agree with all of these ideas , Randy Pausch was an amazing professor and he obviously touched a lot of people and helped them make their dreams come true.

Fischbowl Comments

I read the blog and I agree with Karl Fisch about the importance of being a technologically literate teacher. All teachers must be prepared to teach their students and that includes technology. In today's world technology is everywhere and it cannot be avoided. Teachers today must learn as much as they can in order to do their students justice. Any teacher that doesn't want to learn or is not willing to learn should not be teaching others.I agree with Fisch when he compared not being able to read and being illiterate technologically, both are useful and necessary in our society.

There may be teachers who are afraid of change and unwilling to integrate technology into their classroom. These are the teachers that need an intervention by their administrators and the school systems. Professional development is so important in order to keep teachers up to date on new technology. Teachers can also learn from their students,students can teach because they are the ones keeping up with whats new. Technology can be used to enhance creativity and critical thinking in the classroom. No, I do not think that its OK for teachers to be technologically illiterate.

My Comments about "It's Not About the Technology"

I totally agree with the Kelly Hines post on "Its Not About the Technology". I agree that teachers must also be learners, for a teacher to be successful in the classroom he or she must be willing to learn too. Every students learns differently and a good teacher will be able to recognize that something that is not working. I believe that the use of technology in the classroom is important for a students future since our world is technology controlled now. However in the classroom the technology should be used to help make learning more creative. Learning should encourage students to be critical thinkers and the use of technology can help some students reach that stage of thinking.

I also believe that it is imperative to incorporate more technology in schools at a young age. I feel that it is only useful if the teacher is using it for learning and not to make class go smoother or for lessons to be easier. As I said before students learn differently and technology may be a way some students blossom in the classroom. A good teacher will incorporate technology in a way to make the students problem solve and find solutions instead of just following a set of directions. Teachers have such a big responsibility to prepare students for the future and technology is ever changing and so should education.

What I Think About Michael Wesch's Movie

As I watched Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today and it reminded me a lot of the Did You Know ? 3.0. The statements made by the students in the video about the amount of time they spent on the internet and cell phones verses the time they spend studying is not representative of me. I am much older the average college student so I probably have different priorities. When I was college in my 20's I would say that I probably would of been that way, but there were no cell phones and no internet access in the 1980's. I sit in class and watch a lot of students texting in class, they don't seem to be able to focus on class. A lot of college students in my classes act as though their classes are interfering with their socializing because they can't take their eyes of their phones.

Another thing that stuck me in the video was the point made that most professors don't know the names of their students. I can see that happening in a large classroom and this lack of contact makes the college experience more institutional and less meaningful the those involved. The money spent on a college education is so high many students are not taking advantage of what they have, there are so many people in the world who do not have these kinds of opportunities.
I feel that the movie represents me in my 20's, I can see myself getting caught up in the cell phones and internet at that age. At age 43 I do not have to check my e-mail everyday, I a not into texting or chatting on the internet. I do get on the internet everyday to do my school assignments. I have a Facebook account but I rarely check it, i don't feel that need to everyday or even weekly.

It's Time for Technology Talk Podcast Critique

The video podcast was very well prepared. The information in the podcast was useful, it had a lot of good ideas about using technology in education. The participants seemed a little nervous in the beginning and a little stiff. They looked at their notes a lot, but they seemed to get over being nervous as time passed. I think that it would of been better if everyone talked, only a few of the speakers actually got into the conversation. Two of the participants just nodded their heads a lot and contributed very little to the conversation. I think that the podcast would of been more interesting if the participants who have had teaching experience talked more from experience and gave examples from their classrooms.


I think that I would include some type of visual demonstration since it is video and not a audio podcast to keep my viewers interested. I feel that watching people sit and talk get a little boring and will not hold the attention of your audience. I also feel that having a host or an interviewer guide the conversation to keep it flowing may be a good idea. A person with a strong personality and knowledge of the subject matter would be a good choice. Overall I thought the podcast was well done. I realize it is harder than it looks.

Plagiarism and Copyrighting

Plagiarism is copying other peoples written or spoken words and using them as your own. It is important to give credit to those who originally wrote or spoke the words you are using in order to avoid plagiarism. On the website http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/02/ intentionally and unintentional plagiarizing was discussed. I believe that it is easy to unintentionally plagiarise someone else but it is important to avoid it. It is very important when writing a summary to compare what you have written against your source. I feel that it is best to use my own words and thought when possible and if I have to quote someone , I make sure I quote them or site them as a reference.

Copyright laws have been established to protect peoples written work. Under copyright laws we have to get permission to use their original work. It is up to the author to authorize others to use of their work whatever form it may be, music, books, articles etc. Plagiarism and copyright go hand in had in a way, no one should use someone elses words with out either giving credit or getting permission. I think that many people don't see that it hurts to copy something but if you are writing a report or doing research it is important to have credibility. By giving credit it gives you credibility by showing your sources. Violating copyright laws can be very serious and costly if someone tries pass someones elses work as their own.

Steve Sullivan's Presentation Review

Mr Sullivan's report had many tools that can help people with disabilities become accessible to the web. In the report Mr Sullivan stated a few Acts that require services and tools be accessible to the disabled. I think that it is wonderful that people with disabilities are not being overlooked and that their are people who are coming up with devices to help them become web accessible. In the report he mentioned a few tools alternative web browser, screen reader software, magnification software and voice recognition software. All of these tools would be extremely useful in schools and in the daily lives of those who finitely help include them into the society.

Sullivan's Principles are very important to consider, just because we have laws doesn't necessarily mean that they are being carried out. These devices are not always available to those who need them. Training is also very important, the proper use of these tools needs to be taught so that it is used to their potential. I worked as a paraprofessional in an elementary school here in Mobile and I worked with a little girl who had very poor eye sight. This little girl was unable to learn because she could not see. It took almost an entire school year for her to get magnifiers and a TV that magnified her worksheets. The teachers and I were not trained we had to figure out how to use them. I feel that many people who are disabled are overlooked and that their needs should considered and not put on a back burner.

My Podcast Resources Comments

I listen to the resources provided and I found a few of them to be very well done and some were down right boring. The site http://is.gd/2cd21 WCPN 90.3 had a podcast about Charter Schools and the speakers were great! They were very well prepared, knowledgeable about their subject matter and easy to follow. Their conversation was very casual yet professional at the same time. They had a good chemistry. I enjoyed listening because the speakers gave a lot of examples of things that they do in their charter schools that were new to me.



I also listen to a podcast from site http://practicalprincipals.net/ . This website a tons of information, several podcasts and links for educators. I listened to episode 20 they discussed issues that tech geeks in education have working with administrators. They too were very casual and professional at the same time. The podcast participants were well prepared and the conversation flowed well. It got a little long and boring at times, but they were funny made fun of themselves and called themselves geeks. I think that they were very passionate about what they discussed.

My iTunes Podcast Remarks

As I listened to the six podcasts, I felt as though I was listening to a show on a talk radio station. The podcasts were very relaxed and informal. The people conversing in the podcasts were very knowledgeable about the subject matter. The podcast were more of a conversation instead of a lecture with speakers. I was not sure what to expect when I first sat down to listen. I had to concentrate a lot to really hear what was being said.I think if I were driving in my car I would it would be easier to concentrate on.

I listened most of all six of the podcasts and I enjoyed listening to Connect Learning. The podcast had a very casual format, the content was easy to understand and very informative. As a prospective teacher I felt it had a lot of useful information about the use of technology in the classroom. I agree that customizing the curriculum to the students was an excellent idea. I also agree with the idea of giving the students control over their learning by self evaluating and setting goals for themselves.

In the EdTech Talk podcast I also felt that it had a lot of useful information about professional development that school districts would find useful. The podcasts discussed how little time teachers are given for professional development. This podcast discussed state requirements for re-certification and that many teachers had little time to get the continuing education units to get their certification. The need for teacher education in the area of technology was also discussed, since technology is changing at such a fast pace.

The KidCast podcast discussed when should a podcast be just audio and when should it be video.The speaker pointed out the need for a video podcast was necessary when body language, a demonstration or animation was needed to explain the subject matter better. A visual podcast has much more to consider like lighing, background etc than does an audio podcast. The MacBreak Weekly and This Week in Photography podcasts were not that interesting to me, they were very slow and somewhat boring. I believe they were too technical and I did not understand much of what was being discussed. The Smart Board Lesson Podcast had a lot of useful information for teachers. I particularly liked the idea of Professional Development using a whiteboard and either teachers could participate live or it could be recorded and watched at a convenient time. I believe that a large school system could use this to their benefit because it would reach a lot of teacher.

My Reaction to Next Generation Learning Video

This video was interesting to me it gives a view at what an ideal school looks like. I liked the fact that it integrated technology throughout the curriculum. The students today need more technology in the schools to hold their attention. I believe that a school like that would also motivate many students to participate more and encourage learning. Technology is constantly changing and at a very fast pace so children need to be exposed to it early. I believe that the use of computers and other technology will enhance the learning experience.

In the video the students were offered laptops if they did not have a computer at home I think that is a wonderful idea. However I don't know how that will work in a large public school system like Mobile County. I do believe that we need to integrate technology much more than we have. I feel that children in the US need more technology in school than we have now, especially in the public schools. The Anson school featured in the video is a dream school in comparison to most school we have here in Mobile. Mobile County has maybe 2 student computers in each classroom, the students go to computer lab once a week if they are lucky. I believe that money is the main reason we are lacking technology and many older teachers are not trained to integrate technology into the curriculum. Hopefully there is a new wave of teachers coming that can make the much needed change.

My Reaction to Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

I would love to meet this teacher and observe her classroom. I would love to have a classroom like hers too. Vicki Davis is amazing, I love the way she treats the students by encouraging them to be critical thinkers. She is not afraid to say that she does not know everything and that she is learning from her students. I can see any student being empowered in this classroom. I also was very impressed by the way she customizes her curriculum to the strength and interests of the students in her class.

Davis realizes the importance of technology in our society and that it is changing and uses it in her classroom beautifully. Any student who has her is very fortunate. Davis pointed out that technology has its own literacy associated with it. The technical jargon that they used in the video and website were not familiar to me. There is something very important that Davis does in her classroom is that she lets the students make decisions about what happens in their classroom and allows them to teach. I believe that this is such a wonderful environment that motivates and promotes critical thinking.

My Reaction to Sir Ken Robinson:The Importance of Creativity Video

I thoroughly enjoyed Sir Ken Robinson he was very witty but his message about creativity was very true to me. I can see what he is saying, that children are getting educated out of creativity. The school's want students to conform and sit still and do their work (math, science), the arts are not important anymore. Robinson spoke about the hierarchy of education around the world, he is right math , literature, science comes first, then maybe if there is time for music or art. This is also true when budgets are cut the arts are the first to go. Robinson pointed out that schools around the world are all putting academics as the only measure of intelligence. Those who have talents in the arts are not seen as intelligent.

I agree with Robinson that society has decided who is intelligent and what intelligence is.This decision is eliminating a whole group of creative and brilliant people. The idea that school and colleges are trying to produce more professors instead of encouraging people to use their minds in creative venues is unfortunate. I am sure there are people in this world who could of been another Picaso or Mozart if they were encouraged to pursue what they loved instead of memorizing the periodic table. I really liked the point that he made about intelligence being distinctive and the example of the dancer. If the dancers parents just put her on medication for her hyperactivity instead of encouraging her to dance what a tragedy that could of been. I hope that schools will become aware that creativity is so powerful if it is nurtured and not educated out.

My Did You Know ? Reaction

As I watched the video I felt a little sad and that something in the US needs to change. The number are amazing and frightening at the same time. I feel as though the US cannot compete in the world when it comes to technology. The US is suppose to be the land of opportunity and the most powerful country in the world but the statistics in this video do not support that claim. India and China are surpassing the US in educating their youth. Another aspect of the video that struck me was the ever changing pace of technology. It looks as though no matter how much you learn in college you will be behind when it comes to technology. Technology is changing at every turn and if you don't keep up you will be unemployable.

I believe one of the reasons that China and India are so far ahead in regards to educating their children is that they are more motivated to get ahead. The youth in the US don't seem to have the same drive to achieve. The school systems in the US are not doing their jobs according to the statistics in the video. Most Americans think of India and China as countries that are poor and the quality of life is lower than in the US so this is a hard pill to swallow. I think that someone needs to go and see what they are doing in India and China and bring it here to the US. Another statistic that was interesting was that Bermuda had the most internet action than anywhere else in the world, I don't get that at all. Overall I felt a little sad for the future of children in the US, hopefully something will change.

Hello!!!!!!!!!

My name is Ruth I am working toward my 2nd bachelors in Elementary Education, I graduated from South Alabama in 1989 with a BA in Psychology. I have worked with special needs children in both private and public schools. I decided about a year ago to go back to school to get my teaching degree. I have a 10 year old daughter named Bre'yanna who inspires me to be my best, so I am trying to do that by going back to school. I recently stopped working for the Mobile County Public School so I could concentrate on school.

I don't have a lot of free time so when I do have time I usually spending it with my daughter. My daughter recently got a Wii, I never really liked playing video games but I love playing Mario Kart. I also enjoy reading ,watching movies and traveling. When I graduate I hope to teach either kindergarten or 1st grade.