Sunday, June 24, 2012

Project 9b

PLN Project #10

My PLN may not look like much, but I'm just getting started. I have the common ones like google, facebook, twitter, and etc, but I plan on having it filled up by the time this class is over. I'm glad to be introduce to this, and I'm going to set mine as my homepage.

Blog Post #7

Part 1
The Networked Student is a perfect video to sum up why we are taking EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. The video by Wendy Drexler talked about connectivism, and how the network student in the video can look or ask other people how they go about handling something and vice versa. Now if someone majoring in education ever asks me to why he or she has to take EDM310 I can show them this video. Hits the nail on the head.

The video depicts how 21st century learning is changing from the traditional classroom setting of a teacher and a chalk board. Information can easily be found on the network as the network student shows, but where do teachers come into play in all this. This is the same thing Dr. Strange is trying to get us to understand the classroom and the world is evolving, and we as educators need to adapt so we can have a purpose in being in the classroom. We as teachers need to accept that time has changed, and we cannot be afraid or stubborn to change with it.

The question that comes from 21st century learning is, Why does the network student even need a teacher? According to Drexler's video a teacher is needed, because he or she can teach the student how to build this network and take advantage of learning opportunities. The teacher can help the student when he or she gets stuck, like Dr. Strange and his lab assistants help us in EDM310. Teachers can help the students communicate properly, like how we are shown to write a post correctly using Writing A Quality Blog Post. I personally like and agree with the video 100 percent.

networking student



Part 2
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment was a good video to show us how a PLE really works, and even a 7th grader can use it or make one. Her PLE is bigger than my PLN, but I'm just getting started with mine. I'm glad Dr. Strange introduce me to PLN, this is really going to help me down the road.

Part 3
Thomas Suarez: A 12-year-old app developer did not teach me anything new, but it help stress the point, like the other videos in this blog, that the information is out if we will only search for it. Thomas Suarez took the initiative and search on how to make an app, and he did it. This video brings up the question again to why are teachers needed.

C4T #2

Comment #1
I was assigned Vicki Davis,blog coolcatteacher.

I comment on her post about, 10 Ways to be a Terrible Teacher.
Vicki Davis post was about ten ways to be a terrible teacher, and every teacher has their TT days, or what Ms. Davis calls, "Terrible Teacher" days. I commented by first introducing myself and my edm310 class to her, and I also told her I had some teachers like the ones she listed on her post. I told her thank you for this post because I am an up coming teacher and I can really benefit from this information.

Vicki Davis

Comment #2

The next post I comment on is Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock. In this post Ms. Davis posted lesson plans and ideas for teachers who need or want some ideas. I commented by saying it was nice of her to post links about activities teachers can get their students to do, and I like how the links were for more than one subject. The links are not just limited to history teachers. I also told her I hope to be half the teacher she is one day.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Blog Post #6

Randy Pausch Last Lecture

Wow! Randy Pausch is in better shape than me. In Pausch's last lecture he talks about three things, his childhood dreams; enabling the dreams of others; lessons learned. Dr. Pausch was a great motivational speaker, it's sad he had to leave us so soon, but like he said in his last lecture we are not here to talk about that. This video tells us what was his dreams were, and everything he did to pursue those dreams, and what Dr. Pausch learned while pursuing them. He did not make all his dreams a reality, but he did try his hardest to make it happen.

The first thing Dr. Pausch talks about is his childhood dreams. I think what he was saying is to go after your childhood dreams, well at least the ones that are somewhat realistic because we know being Superman is impossible. Dr. Pausch wants us to go after your dreams, and give it everything we got. For example, he wanted to do that zero gravity thing, but the thing said only students could go. He was willing to become a journalist just to do. Just because you cannot do something one way does not mean you cannot try a different approach at that dream or goal. Like Dr. Pausch said you are going to run into some brick walls but you cannot stop there.

Next thing he talks about is enabling others dreams. Dr. Pausch said in the video gave his students an assignment, and got back some outstanding work. He was so amazed that he had to ask another person for advice to how to approach the students in class the day about the assignment. Dr. Pausch said the person said tell the students they did a great job, but you know they can do better. What I got from that is never let your students settle, make your student want to out do his or her previous assignment. That is exactly how I want to do my students in the future, I want them constantly trying to top every assignment. Never let your students settle, make them bring out their best.

The last thing he talks about is lessons learned. He said he was able to reach his goals because of his parents being there to support him. A good supporting cast is always something good to have. Dr. Pausch states the teachers and mentors can also help guide you along to your dreams. He says always keep your drive, and I think that is some of the greatest advice you can give because your drive keeps you going. As I stated before it is sad that such a great person is gone, but his words still live on.

Dr. Pausch

Project #8

Part 1


Part 2

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Blog Post #5

Part 1
iSchool initiative

Travis Allen’s video makes some outstanding points about iSchool being integrated into the schools. I too made an argument back in high school,about having laptops put into the classrooms of my high school. I had some of the same points as Allen did in his video about it costing less for the school and students; I also said it would be good for the going green campaign, saving the trees. Another point I made about having laptops is that it would help cut down on the kids carrying heavy bookbags back and forth. The students would stop complaining about their backs hurting from all the heavy lifting due to their backpacks. But you know what Allen did different from me, he put his views into action, while all I did was complain to my teachers and classmates.
I think Travis Allen is doing a great thing trying to get everyone to use the iSchool method, because it makes a lot of sense. The iSchool would fit perfectly in the schools, especially in this time period. I see a lot of more positive things coming out of this than negative. I’m with Travis Allen. The iSchool has it all in one device for one set cost, what can beat that?

Part 2

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir was magnificent, 185 people on different computers singing all together just amazing. This was not my first time hearing of people making music or recording music online together. This is actually very popular among singers today. If two singers are in two different states they still can record a song together at the same time, because of technology which is a beautiful thing. Everyone does not have to be cramped up in one room or studio anymore. Technology is advancing and so is everything else.

Part 3

21st century

What Kevin Roberts is saying throughout his video Teaching in the 21st Century, is if all teachers can do is give students facts, formulas, dates, etc., the teacher's job is obsolete. Roberts is stating that students can get all the information they want from the internet at anytime and anywhere. Roberts wants to know are we as educators showing students how to take the information the students are finding and using it to help them figure things out. I feel Roberts is right, kids can get information whenever they feel like it. If teachers are giving the same information that students can find online and not showing them how to apply it to anything then yes teachers are pointless. I know the information is out there and so does the students, but with me being a future teacher just showing the kids it is out there is not good enough. I need to help the students to develop skills that will help them to put the information they get to good use and I think I am ready for that.

Part 4

Why I Flipped My Classroom was a great example on how I feel all teachers should do their classrooms. I love Katie Gimbar's approach to get all her students involved. Personally I like teachers that post videos or give worksheets so students can look over the material before they get to class. This makes more time for answering questions in the classroom as Ms. Gimbar said she has more time to go around and help students individually because all students are not learning at the same rate. Her videos are also another great thing she added because all students do not learn at the same rate, but with the videos they can pause and rewind as they please. I plan on using a method similar to Katie Gimbar. For example, posting videos, and letting students know what is coming up next in class so they can gone head and research the objectives of the next lesson for themselves. This is an awesome video for teachers to learn from.

TimeToast Timeline Project #9a

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Blog Post #4

first grade


The post, 1st Graders Create Their Own Read-Along Audiobook by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano, reminds me a lot of the old read along cassette tapes I use to get from the library. I think is very similar to that, because on the cassette tape it too also had sounds to indicate to turn the page or the end of a chapter. Tolisano is doing a nice job in keeping that cassette tape read along thing but using it on modern day technology. Flat Stanley Podcast was awesome, and it was done by first graders. Ms. Tolisano and her first grade class did a great job expressing energy while they read, because it made the podcast sound fun and interesting. This makes the students more interested in their work and does a great job in keeping the students attention.
The video, Benefits of podcasting in the classroom by Joe, was excellent. Joe did a wonderful job in showing us the benefits of podcast and the different types of podcasting. The greatest thing I love about podcast is the fact that you can access it anywhere at any time, and if you mess school all you have to do is pull up the podcast.
I learn to be bring energy to my podcast, because being energetic can make all the difference. No one wants to listen to someone sounding like Ben Stein; the guy who did the Clear Eyes commercials. I know when making my podcast with energy can make the listeners believe I’m really interested in what I’m doing not like someone is forcing me to do it.

Project #6 "This is My Sentence" Video

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Blog Post #3

Part 1

peer editing

Items a, b, and c taught me how to peer edit and make corrections in a positive way. I like how out of all the videos I have watched and power points I have looked at, they all stress the point of staying positive when editing. No one wants anyone peer editing them in a negative way, it would feel like their being attacked. The video, What is Peer Editing? , does a great job in telling the person doing the peer editing to compliment the individual and do not criticize them on the mistakes they made but compliment them on what they are doing right. You can make suggestions just do it in a positive way.

The video, Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes, was funny and also helpful. The video points out the mistakes made when it comes to peer review, and I thought the kids in the video did a great job in acting it out. The video had one mistake called Speedy Sandy, and that mistake reminded me a lot on how I look when I peer review and how horrible it looks. I am very grateful for the videos and power point. Now I know next time when peer reviewing to; stay positive, be specific, make compliments, make suggestions, and make corrections.

Part 2

a. The video, Technology in Special Education , shows how technology in special education classrooms helps the students communicate much better and faster. Without technology in the classroom the teachers would have to wait for the student to point out every individual letter, and that would take some time and technology helps cut down on that time. Now the teacher can accomplish more things in the classroom because she has more time.

With the use of technology in the classrooms the students say they get assignments done much quicker because writing for them would take some time. Technology also keeps the students attention; they are alert and ready to learn. Technology helps students by enlarging pictures for those who do not have good vision, or speaking to some of them through headphones so they can do the silent reading. Technology in the classroom has made teaching special education easier and more beneficial to the students.

b. The app I choose is Alphabytes. I think this app has it all, you can teach a student how to read, spell, and write all in one app. I think the app would do a good job in keeping the student’s attention with the fun animations, and would motivate the student to learn more because he or she wants to see more animations. I like how apps are being used for educational purposes too.

3. Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

I like Vicki Davis and how she is relating her materials to the interest of the students. Now her students are more interested in the work they are doing. Davis said something in this video that really caught my attention; she said the students showed her how to do some things. I like to hear things like that, teachers learning from the students. Not only is the teacher learning something new from the students, the students feels more important about themselves because they were able to help their teacher learn.

Digi Teen was a great idea by Vicki Davis and her colleague. Her students were able to work with other students all around the world on blogs together. This video reminds me a lot of my edm310 class and how she is keeping her class caught up with technology. I think Vicki Davis is just like my professor John Strange, and is not only showing them the technology but also helping them to use it.

C4T#1

Comment #1

The teacher I was assigned to was Silvia Tolisano. Silvia Tolisano's blog page is langwitches.

I commented on her post, Evaluating Apps with Transformative Use of the iPad in Mind. Silvia Tolisano post is about evaluating apps to make sure the apps are actually beneficial to the students, and making sure the students are not doing or working with pointless apps. Tolisano wants teachers to be more selective of the apps they choose for their students. She even puts evaluation sheet examples to what she uses on her blog to help teachers on what to search for when they are looking to see all they can get out of an app to help a student progress.

Silvia Tolisano

I commented on her post, by first introducing myself. I told her by me being a prospective new science teacher I find her post to be very beneficial for both teachers and students. I also said by using the information in this post not only can the teachers learn to find vital information to teach, students can do further research on topics given by the teacher and without wasting valuable teaching and studying time by using what she referred to as “crapware” apps.

Comment #2


I commented on her post, Talking at Cross Purposes.
In this post she is talking about cross purposes and what it means. Tolisano says people are at cross purposes when they do not understand each other because they are talking about different subjects without realizing it. She is saying teachers can take a little word like help and interpret it in two different ways, and this can be why teachers get frustrated with each other.

I commented by saying I loved the cartoon, she had a cartoon depicting what she was talking about. I told her I see people all the time with different views or meanings of the word help. Some think help means to get someone to do the work for them and others think it means to work together has one to get a task done. I also told her now I know what to call it when people view the same thing a different way without knowing it.

Project #5

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Blog Post #2

1. Did You Know? 3.0 - A John Strange 2012 Version

did you know

Watching the video Did You Know by John Strange really showed me how America is falling behind in education. The facts in the video were hard to take knowing that Americans have more technological advances that other countries, such as the availability of computers in homes, school, and libraries. The video clearly shows us how we are not using technology to the fullest. Although America seems like it’s on the incline in technological advances, we are on the decline in the field of education.

At the end of the video John Strange asked, “Are you ready to be an educator?” My answer to this question is yes. I believe I can teach kids through the use of technology. I can show students how to use technology for more than entertainment purposes. I want to help America climb back up the educational ranks, because education is key.

2. Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman

Mr. Winkle Wakes is a great example to how technology changes things over time. Just imagine if you fell asleep for hundred years and woke up, you will be just as unfamiliar with the world has Mr. Winkle was. Growing up I have seen technology change things all around me from CDs to mp3 players, to push to start cars, to touch screen computers.

In the video after all of Mr. Winkle wondering he heads to a school and goes into a classroom. Mr. Winkle is familiar with the classroom, it is similar to the way when he was growing up. Mr. Winkle notices an object in the back of the classroom collecting dust. He does not know what it is, it is a laptop. Outside the classroom he notices everyone had a laptop. This illustrates how classes are today in America, and how it is not progressing with the outside world, when it comes to technological advances. Majority of the population goes to school, so why not have up to date technology in the classroom?

3. Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
I agree with Ken Robinson schools are killing creativity. The public school system is putting so much emphasis on math and language arts, that it gives students no sense of creativity or originality. Mr. Robinson makes a great point when he talks about how can students come up with something original if they are not allowed to explore what is out there.

If everyone is lead to become an educator, where are our next artists, dancers, etc. going to come from? Mr. Robinson says how can teachers teach for the future if they do not know what the future holds. We as educators need to look at students as a whole being by exploring their interest, abilities, and likes, rather than just their math and reading scores. A bubble answer sheet cannot measure a student’s creative ability.

4.Class Disruption
Class #1
Teacher is energetic
Using up to date equipment
Using resources students are familiar with

Class #2
Non-energetic
Shows no interest in the students
Outdated equipment

After watching the video I would prefer to take the first teacher’s class, he looks as though he is more knowledgeable about his subject, and he also has updated equipment. Not only is the second teacher’s attitude depressing, the classroom looks depressing. A majority of my classes have been like class two, a chalk board, a teacher, and four walls, and the only reason a computer is in the classroom is to record grades. I have even had a lot of teachers like the second teacher; do not even take the time to learn your name. The first teacher goes around and works with every student individually and also communicates with his students on Facebook and Twitter.

I think more students should want to take classes like the first teacher’s class, because they can really benefit from the different resources he uses. The students will also be given the opportunity to work with equipment that they use at home and in the work place such as computers. The teachers should strive to be like the first teacher, showing his students that Twitter can be used for more than saying hey to your friend. The first teacher knew by keeping up with technology, that Facebook and Twitter were currently the popular things among his students , and he knew this by keeping himself up to date with technology.