Saturday, July 23, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Blog Post #14
Pseudoteaching: MIT Physics
First, lets discuss what pseudoteaching is. It is when you are teaching a lesson and it seems like it is an amazing lesson, until you have finished teaching and then you realize that none of the students have learned. Pseudoteaching seems like it is a good lesson, the students feel like they are learning, other people feel like they are watching a great lesson, but in the reality very little information is being absorbed by the students.
An example of a pseudoteacher is Professor Walter Lewin who is a physics teacher at MIT. Professor Lewin had a very high energy towards his students. He was showing them multiple demonstrations per class, and the students loved it. The only problem was that the attendance and grades in his classroom started to drop. The students weren't learning anymore, so they were becoming frustrated. This lead them to stop coming to class at all, because it became a waste of time for them. Lewin was known for being an amazing teacher, but the MIT staff knew there was a problem when Lewin's grades began to fall.
The way that MIT decided to fix this was to incorporate TEAL into the classroom. TEAL stands for Technology Enhanced Active Learning. With this, the teachers were able to change out black boards for interactive whiteboards in which they could involve the students more. This pushed for students to attend the class, because with these boards came clickers that they used to check attendance. With these clickers, they also were able to interact with the lecture by answering multiple choice questions through them. This helps the teacher to know how much information the students are actually learning. Not only did they add interactive white boards into the curriculum, they also cut down classroom size to make the lecture more personal with the students.
Another thing that was noted in this article, is that you don't have to have an interactive white board to push the students further. One teacher from Carey Academy gave his students basic white boards and urged them to learn on their own by helping each other figure everything out. The teacher never lectures, he lets the students teach themselves, as he guides them along. The students draw models on the boards and think of their own ways of learning that works best for them. The students love this because they are feeling like they are accomplishing goals.
Noschese says that when he was first teaching he would plan his lessons around "what am I going to do in class tomorrow?" Now, he plans his lessons around "What are my students going to do tomorrow? How will it help them to progress towards our learning goals?"
To me, this TEAL program has seemed to really work for the students. They are learning more and attending class more, and the results have shown it. Students can get bored with hearing the same thing everyday and not being able to comprehend what is going on, so they decide to just stop all around because it becomes a waste of time. I understand this, because I have had a class like this. Teachers need to be sure to keep the students interested, and once students start learning, it sparks their brain to want to learn more because they feel accomplished. We as teachers need to continuously go over our lessons and make sure that it isn't being made to appease a supervisor, but it is being made to make the students learn what we are trying to get across to them.
First, lets discuss what pseudoteaching is. It is when you are teaching a lesson and it seems like it is an amazing lesson, until you have finished teaching and then you realize that none of the students have learned. Pseudoteaching seems like it is a good lesson, the students feel like they are learning, other people feel like they are watching a great lesson, but in the reality very little information is being absorbed by the students.
An example of a pseudoteacher is Professor Walter Lewin who is a physics teacher at MIT. Professor Lewin had a very high energy towards his students. He was showing them multiple demonstrations per class, and the students loved it. The only problem was that the attendance and grades in his classroom started to drop. The students weren't learning anymore, so they were becoming frustrated. This lead them to stop coming to class at all, because it became a waste of time for them. Lewin was known for being an amazing teacher, but the MIT staff knew there was a problem when Lewin's grades began to fall.
The way that MIT decided to fix this was to incorporate TEAL into the classroom. TEAL stands for Technology Enhanced Active Learning. With this, the teachers were able to change out black boards for interactive whiteboards in which they could involve the students more. This pushed for students to attend the class, because with these boards came clickers that they used to check attendance. With these clickers, they also were able to interact with the lecture by answering multiple choice questions through them. This helps the teacher to know how much information the students are actually learning. Not only did they add interactive white boards into the curriculum, they also cut down classroom size to make the lecture more personal with the students.
Another thing that was noted in this article, is that you don't have to have an interactive white board to push the students further. One teacher from Carey Academy gave his students basic white boards and urged them to learn on their own by helping each other figure everything out. The teacher never lectures, he lets the students teach themselves, as he guides them along. The students draw models on the boards and think of their own ways of learning that works best for them. The students love this because they are feeling like they are accomplishing goals.
Noschese says that when he was first teaching he would plan his lessons around "what am I going to do in class tomorrow?" Now, he plans his lessons around "What are my students going to do tomorrow? How will it help them to progress towards our learning goals?"
To me, this TEAL program has seemed to really work for the students. They are learning more and attending class more, and the results have shown it. Students can get bored with hearing the same thing everyday and not being able to comprehend what is going on, so they decide to just stop all around because it becomes a waste of time. I understand this, because I have had a class like this. Teachers need to be sure to keep the students interested, and once students start learning, it sparks their brain to want to learn more because they feel accomplished. We as teachers need to continuously go over our lessons and make sure that it isn't being made to appease a supervisor, but it is being made to make the students learn what we are trying to get across to them.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Final Report on PLN
My PLN has been very useful to me throughout this semester. I like that I have all of my websites that I use frequently, combined together so I can get to them with one click of a button. This makes it easier for me to get to the websites, and it also makes me visit each website at least once a day, because they are all right there! I'm sure I will continue to use my PLN throughout my education, and into the teaching field!
C4T Comment's for Teachers #4
In our last C4T, I followed the blog, What Ed Said. She is a teacher, who is very inspirational in the way she thinks. In the first blog that I commented on, 10 Things I have Learned about Leading, Ed states the past 10 things she has learned in her first half year as the Teaching and Learning Coordinator at her school. The main things she has learned that I know will help me are, to have good communication and to have empathy. I think everyone needs to have good communication, this leads to better understanding of situations, people, and everything going on around you. I also think it is good to have empathy because you need to understand peoples stories and why certain things happen the way they do. Ed has a lot of other good advice, and I urge new teachers to read all of this.
Ed's second blog post that I read is, Opportunities for Creativity. In Ed's school, they always have had two extra creative classes for the students to go to. Now at her school the creative classes consist of, art, drama, music, film, poetry, and technology for the students to choose between. They will have one of these classes weekly and not with their "homeroom" class, but with the other students who choose the same elective. By having this, it will inspire the kids to be more creative and love what they are learning. I remember when I was in elementary school and we had art class, I loved it. But when we had music class, I wasn't so crazy about this. Mainly because I was more interested in learning how to paint and draw, but learning about music and music notes didn't interest me, I'd rather just listen to it. I think by having this, more students will enjoy what they are learning, and having the option to pick what they are learning is amazing! I would have loved that when I was in elementary school!
Ed's second blog post that I read is, Opportunities for Creativity. In Ed's school, they always have had two extra creative classes for the students to go to. Now at her school the creative classes consist of, art, drama, music, film, poetry, and technology for the students to choose between. They will have one of these classes weekly and not with their "homeroom" class, but with the other students who choose the same elective. By having this, it will inspire the kids to be more creative and love what they are learning. I remember when I was in elementary school and we had art class, I loved it. But when we had music class, I wasn't so crazy about this. Mainly because I was more interested in learning how to paint and draw, but learning about music and music notes didn't interest me, I'd rather just listen to it. I think by having this, more students will enjoy what they are learning, and having the option to pick what they are learning is amazing! I would have loved that when I was in elementary school!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Blog Post Number 13
Top 10 tips for using technology in the classroom
Jose Picardo has 10 great ideas for using technology in the classroom. They include: streaming video, music, teleconference (skype), interactive exercises, interactive whiteboards, podcasts, blogs and wikis, social networks, internet tools, and gadgets. A lot of these ideas are great to get the students more interested. I think the two most interesting and useful ones are blogs and interactive exercises. These keep the students thinking and paying attention by being hands on.
As a student in Dr. Strange's class, I am already familiar with a lot of these tips. The ones that are new to me are streaming video and music. Although I know what a streaming video is, I haven't really thought about playing a video in my classroom. This could help by having some other source, other than the teacher to help the students learn. Also, if there is a catchy song or poem to help the students learn like the one playing in this video at the beginning, it might help them to memorize it, that way they won't forget it. Mr. Picardo also mentions using music video's and things done through technology. Although I see what he means that students are interested in music, I can see it being more of a distraction than anything. Personally, I have to work in complete silence to get my work done, and I know a lot of other people are like that too. These top 10 tips are very useful and I think they could help someone who is new to technology!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Blog Post Number 12
Watch Integrating Technology in the Classroom and tell your thoughts on how these teachers use SMART boards in their classrooms. Be sure to listen to what the students say too.
This video interviews teachers at Minnehaha Academy who are using technology in their classrooms. In particular, SMARTboards. The children mention that they love to use the boards because they are interactive and they get to participate more. One device they use are the "active votes." These are really useful while quizzing the students, because the teacher can see who is and isn't getting the answers right. This also forces the students to participate. They are not embarrassed if they get the answers wrong, because the students can't see what everyone else answers. The students in the high school classes also use these boards as simulations to help them understand physics better.
All around, I think these boards really help out the students who attend this school. The teachers don't just use these boards to show power point presentations on, they also use them to help the students get involved with learning and playing games about what they are learning. They get the students active in their learning and this helps them to have a better future as they are growing up. These boards, with the help of the teachers, are pushing students further, and that is what we need in our school systems.
This video interviews teachers at Minnehaha Academy who are using technology in their classrooms. In particular, SMARTboards. The children mention that they love to use the boards because they are interactive and they get to participate more. One device they use are the "active votes." These are really useful while quizzing the students, because the teacher can see who is and isn't getting the answers right. This also forces the students to participate. They are not embarrassed if they get the answers wrong, because the students can't see what everyone else answers. The students in the high school classes also use these boards as simulations to help them understand physics better.
All around, I think these boards really help out the students who attend this school. The teachers don't just use these boards to show power point presentations on, they also use them to help the students get involved with learning and playing games about what they are learning. They get the students active in their learning and this helps them to have a better future as they are growing up. These boards, with the help of the teachers, are pushing students further, and that is what we need in our school systems.
Final Project Progress Report
For my final project, I am in a group with Kelsey Hayward and Christy Hayes Wilson. Although we have not yet decided what we are doing for our project, we plan to meet Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and next Monday to make sure we get everything done!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Blog Post Number 11
First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class and Skype Interview with Ms. Cassidy
In Ms. Cassidy's first grade class, the students use a lot of technology. They have blogs, websites, wiki's, and they also use skype to connect to other people. I think the thing that is most useful are the student blogs. This helps them to read and write. The students even said that having the blogs have improved their spelling. They also love that their family members comment on their blogs because this makes them feel like they are doing something right, and every child needs support. To me, blogs are a very interactive way to get the students involved, because they are typing what they want to say and learning how to spell and how to use grammar correctly while doing it.
Another tool that I know I will use is skype. This is a fun way that changes up the everyday routine of classroom procedures. I think it would be really neat to skype with another class who is from somewhere other than the US so that the students could compare what they are learning and also learn from each other.
I'm sure that while being a teacher I will run into some problems with parents. The problem would probably be a parent doesn't want their child to learn technology, they want them to learn the way they learned. If that was to happen, then I would invite them into my classroom for a day so they could see what goes on while their child is at school. I think once they were to see how interactive technology makes the classroom that they wouldn't have a problem with their child learning through technology, instead of just books!
In Ms. Cassidy's first grade class, the students use a lot of technology. They have blogs, websites, wiki's, and they also use skype to connect to other people. I think the thing that is most useful are the student blogs. This helps them to read and write. The students even said that having the blogs have improved their spelling. They also love that their family members comment on their blogs because this makes them feel like they are doing something right, and every child needs support. To me, blogs are a very interactive way to get the students involved, because they are typing what they want to say and learning how to spell and how to use grammar correctly while doing it.
Another tool that I know I will use is skype. This is a fun way that changes up the everyday routine of classroom procedures. I think it would be really neat to skype with another class who is from somewhere other than the US so that the students could compare what they are learning and also learn from each other.
I'm sure that while being a teacher I will run into some problems with parents. The problem would probably be a parent doesn't want their child to learn technology, they want them to learn the way they learned. If that was to happen, then I would invite them into my classroom for a day so they could see what goes on while their child is at school. I think once they were to see how interactive technology makes the classroom that they wouldn't have a problem with their child learning through technology, instead of just books!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
C4T #3
This past week I have been reading "Teacher Tom's" blog. He is a preschool teacher in Seattle with a great approach to his teaching methods. He let's this children do almost everything on their own. The kids do not do much inside, except maybe on a rainy day. Everything they do is outside on their new outdoor playground. In Teacher Tom's first blog that I read, motivation, sociability, and the ability to work with others, the children are adding an addition to their outdoor playground. They are building a waterway with half pipes that leads from the top of a hill with a mini cast iron pump to the bottom of the hill. The children take on different roles and all work together to build it without any teachers help. To me, this is amazing. This just shows that if you let children's imaginations run free, they can do anything. They are so much more creative than most adults and they have unique ways of doing things just like this. While pictures with captions were being shown of the children who were making this, Teacher Tom was telling about a study a few years back in the Perry School, which was a preschool. The students who attended this preschool were said to have higher IQ's at first but then they dramatically dropped. They were continuously tracked throughout their life and the study showed that although they had a lower IQ score than originally, they showed to have less behavioral problems, greater academic achievement, and they were less likely to be assigned to special education classes.
Since I plan on working with younger kids, these blogs really interested me. I couldn't stop reading them! I read A LOT of them, so, I am going to pick just one more to talk about, which is his most recent one, evidence you've been somewhere. In this, Teacher Tom is showing pictures of the students and their secret hideout. It is tucked away up a steep slope behind some trees in their outdoor playground. The children go here to imagine with their friends. To create stories and games where adults can't intervene. The blog is called "evidence you've been somewhere" because in order to get down from the hideout, its hard to not slide down on your bottom resulting in dirt stains on you-- evidence. Teacher Tom is great at what he does. I think it takes a courageous person to let a bunch of preschoolers run around and do all of this. He doesn't try to stop them, he only motivates them to imagine more, in return making them think about real life scenarios. How to build things, how to make things work, and most of all how to have fun while doing it.
Since I plan on working with younger kids, these blogs really interested me. I couldn't stop reading them! I read A LOT of them, so, I am going to pick just one more to talk about, which is his most recent one, evidence you've been somewhere. In this, Teacher Tom is showing pictures of the students and their secret hideout. It is tucked away up a steep slope behind some trees in their outdoor playground. The children go here to imagine with their friends. To create stories and games where adults can't intervene. The blog is called "evidence you've been somewhere" because in order to get down from the hideout, its hard to not slide down on your bottom resulting in dirt stains on you-- evidence. Teacher Tom is great at what he does. I think it takes a courageous person to let a bunch of preschoolers run around and do all of this. He doesn't try to stop them, he only motivates them to imagine more, in return making them think about real life scenarios. How to build things, how to make things work, and most of all how to have fun while doing it.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Special Assignment #2
PART 1
Kahn Academy
Kahn Academy is a nonprofit website that is a great learning device for students to use. It is a way to access videos, or any learning material. If you want to practice math problems-- any kind of math problems, then you just go to the math portion of the website and start working. The problems can be broken down step by step and problems are randomly generated so you won't get the same question twice. The student can also get a progress report because the site records everything they have done on here. Kahn Academy will also let the student know when they need to review materials. For teachers, they can look at how their class is progressing with a statistics report. They can also look at individual students to see how they are doing and what they need work on.
iTunesU
iTunesU is a way for students to view teachers lectures and other assignments that teachers want their students to see. Teachers set up a class site where the class can see what all the teacher posts for them. Students will then download the lectures that the teachers post, straight to their computer, iPhone, or iPod. Teachers can make this website private, so only students in the class can see, or they can make it public for anyone in the world to view.
TED
Technology, Entertainment, Design. TED was first an annual conference, later developed into a website. There are numbers of inspirational speakers videoed at these conferences and then posted to this website for the world to see. The videos are subtitled in many different languages so people anywhere can understand what is being said. These videos are there to change attitudes, lives, and ideas of everyone.
PART 2
Kahn Academy has many different ways in which a student can learn. Kahn covers every subject that you can think of and everything about the subject. Teachers could easily use this tool to their advantage. This is a great way for students to learn and get practice at what they are learning. The great thing for teachers is that you can see the progress that each of your students are making.
iTunesU would be great for teacher to use. It is a way for teachers to share their lectures through the internet and to control who gets to see them. It is also good for students because it can automatically download without them doing anything. One major way this can help the teachers is with time management. A teacher can use iTunesU to upload a video/podcast etc. of a math problem for example. They wouldn't have to repeat them self over and over because the student could just watch the video multiple times if needed.
Teachers could use TED to show to their class of uninspired students. This might help the students to feel more motivated to do better at school. Teachers could send a specific video to each individual student who they think needs to see that. This could be a better way for teachers to get across their point of what they want to say to the students, without having to say it them self and sound like a broken record.
PART 3
Kahn Academy provides many different links to a video explanation from different subjects. I chose to watch a brain teaser exercise, liar or truth teller. The problem in this video was this: there are two doors. Behind one there is a prize and behind the other there is despair and horrible things. There are two people, a liar and a truth teller and they both know whats behind both of the doors. You only have one question to ask to one of the people. What do you ask? He then tells you to wait a little while before continuing the video-- but of course I didn't. The answer is "what would the other guy say is the correct door to open?" If you ask the liar this then he will tell you the incorrect door, and if you ask the truth teller this he will say what the liar will say, which is actually the incorrect door. Therefore, you know to open the opposite of whatever one of the people tell you. These exercises could be great to stimulate the students brain and get them thinking. There are also many more videos that explain different subjects that would also be great to use!
My Class 2.0 by Marc Coleman can be found under the K-12 section of iTunesU. In this video, Marc discusses using the online website, Evernote. Evernote is a place where you can write notes and then search each note by key word. You can then send those notes out to other people if needed. You can also use Evernote to take pictures. Evernote can read writing in pictures and use those words in each picture as keywords. Evernote can connect directly to your accounts (twitter, facebook etc) so you can update via Evernote. This is an easier way to have all of your information into one organized spot and I'm sure it is very useful to a lot of people.
The hidden power of smiling by Ron Gutman is about the positive effects of smiling. He took older year book photos and tracked the life of each of the people. He could actually tell from each photo who's life was good, who's marriage was happy and so on. Gutman goes on to tell a lot of statistics about smiling and how its good for your life. He says to live a longer, happier, and healthier life, then smile! Although I wasn't crazy about this video in particular, I can see the good that this website can do through spreading inspirational videos like this.
PART 4
I believe that Kahn Academy will be used to a great extent in my classroom. I can see myself using this as an extra learning device for the students to learn. I think that it is so great to have extra material and extra problems for the students to participate in if they are having a hard time. I also like the fact that the teacher can track the progress of the class to see what needs more improvement and what is working.
iTunesU is a great way to share your podcasts and videos. I think this device can help students learn more by having each lecture right there at their finger tips. It is good to have this because they can access it anytime from anywhere whenever they feel as if they need help.
TED is probably not something I would use regularly in my classroom. Although it is a great site, I can't see too many benefits this has in the classroom, but to motivate unwilling students. So, whenever I have a student who is slacking, I will find the perfect video and show it to them!
PART 5
I think this assignment has surprised me. What surprised me the most was Kahn Academy. I didn't even know a website like this existed! It is such a great tool and teachers would be crazy not to use it. It is free and easily accessible. It isn't a hard website to work so the "computer illiterate" teachers could work it easily.
Kahn Academy
Kahn Academy is a nonprofit website that is a great learning device for students to use. It is a way to access videos, or any learning material. If you want to practice math problems-- any kind of math problems, then you just go to the math portion of the website and start working. The problems can be broken down step by step and problems are randomly generated so you won't get the same question twice. The student can also get a progress report because the site records everything they have done on here. Kahn Academy will also let the student know when they need to review materials. For teachers, they can look at how their class is progressing with a statistics report. They can also look at individual students to see how they are doing and what they need work on.
iTunesU
iTunesU is a way for students to view teachers lectures and other assignments that teachers want their students to see. Teachers set up a class site where the class can see what all the teacher posts for them. Students will then download the lectures that the teachers post, straight to their computer, iPhone, or iPod. Teachers can make this website private, so only students in the class can see, or they can make it public for anyone in the world to view.
TED
Technology, Entertainment, Design. TED was first an annual conference, later developed into a website. There are numbers of inspirational speakers videoed at these conferences and then posted to this website for the world to see. The videos are subtitled in many different languages so people anywhere can understand what is being said. These videos are there to change attitudes, lives, and ideas of everyone.
PART 2
Kahn Academy has many different ways in which a student can learn. Kahn covers every subject that you can think of and everything about the subject. Teachers could easily use this tool to their advantage. This is a great way for students to learn and get practice at what they are learning. The great thing for teachers is that you can see the progress that each of your students are making.
iTunesU would be great for teacher to use. It is a way for teachers to share their lectures through the internet and to control who gets to see them. It is also good for students because it can automatically download without them doing anything. One major way this can help the teachers is with time management. A teacher can use iTunesU to upload a video/podcast etc. of a math problem for example. They wouldn't have to repeat them self over and over because the student could just watch the video multiple times if needed.
Teachers could use TED to show to their class of uninspired students. This might help the students to feel more motivated to do better at school. Teachers could send a specific video to each individual student who they think needs to see that. This could be a better way for teachers to get across their point of what they want to say to the students, without having to say it them self and sound like a broken record.
PART 3
Kahn Academy provides many different links to a video explanation from different subjects. I chose to watch a brain teaser exercise, liar or truth teller. The problem in this video was this: there are two doors. Behind one there is a prize and behind the other there is despair and horrible things. There are two people, a liar and a truth teller and they both know whats behind both of the doors. You only have one question to ask to one of the people. What do you ask? He then tells you to wait a little while before continuing the video-- but of course I didn't. The answer is "what would the other guy say is the correct door to open?" If you ask the liar this then he will tell you the incorrect door, and if you ask the truth teller this he will say what the liar will say, which is actually the incorrect door. Therefore, you know to open the opposite of whatever one of the people tell you. These exercises could be great to stimulate the students brain and get them thinking. There are also many more videos that explain different subjects that would also be great to use!
My Class 2.0 by Marc Coleman can be found under the K-12 section of iTunesU. In this video, Marc discusses using the online website, Evernote. Evernote is a place where you can write notes and then search each note by key word. You can then send those notes out to other people if needed. You can also use Evernote to take pictures. Evernote can read writing in pictures and use those words in each picture as keywords. Evernote can connect directly to your accounts (twitter, facebook etc) so you can update via Evernote. This is an easier way to have all of your information into one organized spot and I'm sure it is very useful to a lot of people.
The hidden power of smiling by Ron Gutman is about the positive effects of smiling. He took older year book photos and tracked the life of each of the people. He could actually tell from each photo who's life was good, who's marriage was happy and so on. Gutman goes on to tell a lot of statistics about smiling and how its good for your life. He says to live a longer, happier, and healthier life, then smile! Although I wasn't crazy about this video in particular, I can see the good that this website can do through spreading inspirational videos like this.
PART 4
I believe that Kahn Academy will be used to a great extent in my classroom. I can see myself using this as an extra learning device for the students to learn. I think that it is so great to have extra material and extra problems for the students to participate in if they are having a hard time. I also like the fact that the teacher can track the progress of the class to see what needs more improvement and what is working.
iTunesU is a great way to share your podcasts and videos. I think this device can help students learn more by having each lecture right there at their finger tips. It is good to have this because they can access it anytime from anywhere whenever they feel as if they need help.
TED is probably not something I would use regularly in my classroom. Although it is a great site, I can't see too many benefits this has in the classroom, but to motivate unwilling students. So, whenever I have a student who is slacking, I will find the perfect video and show it to them!
PART 5
I think this assignment has surprised me. What surprised me the most was Kahn Academy. I didn't even know a website like this existed! It is such a great tool and teachers would be crazy not to use it. It is free and easily accessible. It isn't a hard website to work so the "computer illiterate" teachers could work it easily.
Blog Post Number 10
Do You Teach or Do You Educate?
Teaching is something that I've always seen myself doing. I feel like I have always been a teacher even though I hadn't gone to school for it. I was the student who helped out the other kids who just couldn't seem to grasp the concept of multiplication. Not only do I feel as if I was teaching back then, I feel like I was educating other people around me by showing them the way and helping them rather than just telling them what to do.
I hope to bring this in my classroom when I am a teacher. I hope to keep kids inspired to learn and for them to trust in me that I have their best interest in mind. I think a main way to educate is by example, by showing the students right from wrong in everything they do.
Tom Johnson's: Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home!
In this blog, Mr. Johnson is arguing with Gertrude the "School Curriculum Instructional Interventionist Academic Specialist." Mr. Johnson allows his students to bring home pencils so they can do their homework. Gertrude argues back that he can't do that because it will lower test scores! She had just read a journal article that stated students who come from a low income neighborhood and bring pencils home ultimately have lower test scores. Mr. Johnson replied back that students view pencils as a source of entertainment, to play hangman and other games like that. He continued, that he met with the parents and they agreed that pencils could be used for learning. Mr. Johnson made up fun interactive ways for the students to learn and therefore bring pencils home and actually WANT to use them to learn, not to play. But if they wanted to play then so be it, because they are probably learning from that to.
I think the main point of this blog is that students are always learning. We can try to influence the way the students learn by urging them to to do something (bring your pencils home to do your school work) but if they still don't do what you tell them to then they will more than likely still be learning in some way. Maybe they will learn that they should have done their work, because now they have a bad grade for not doing it. This will then make them do their work because they want good grades. Therefore, a lesson has been learned to always do your school work. Even if students aren't always learning things that are part of the curriculum, they are continuously learning life lessons.
Teaching is something that I've always seen myself doing. I feel like I have always been a teacher even though I hadn't gone to school for it. I was the student who helped out the other kids who just couldn't seem to grasp the concept of multiplication. Not only do I feel as if I was teaching back then, I feel like I was educating other people around me by showing them the way and helping them rather than just telling them what to do.
I hope to bring this in my classroom when I am a teacher. I hope to keep kids inspired to learn and for them to trust in me that I have their best interest in mind. I think a main way to educate is by example, by showing the students right from wrong in everything they do.
Tom Johnson's: Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home!
In this blog, Mr. Johnson is arguing with Gertrude the "School Curriculum Instructional Interventionist Academic Specialist." Mr. Johnson allows his students to bring home pencils so they can do their homework. Gertrude argues back that he can't do that because it will lower test scores! She had just read a journal article that stated students who come from a low income neighborhood and bring pencils home ultimately have lower test scores. Mr. Johnson replied back that students view pencils as a source of entertainment, to play hangman and other games like that. He continued, that he met with the parents and they agreed that pencils could be used for learning. Mr. Johnson made up fun interactive ways for the students to learn and therefore bring pencils home and actually WANT to use them to learn, not to play. But if they wanted to play then so be it, because they are probably learning from that to.
I think the main point of this blog is that students are always learning. We can try to influence the way the students learn by urging them to to do something (bring your pencils home to do your school work) but if they still don't do what you tell them to then they will more than likely still be learning in some way. Maybe they will learn that they should have done their work, because now they have a bad grade for not doing it. This will then make them do their work because they want good grades. Therefore, a lesson has been learned to always do your school work. Even if students aren't always learning things that are part of the curriculum, they are continuously learning life lessons.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Blog Post Number 9
What I've Learned This Year By: Mr. McClung
When Mr. McClung wrote this blog, he was a first year elementary education teacher. Through that year, he said he grew as a teacher and person. He learned a lot from his first year of teaching and he summarized it all in this post.
The first main thing he learned was "how to read the crowd." When teaching, it is not about meeting certain requirements and doing exactly what you are told, it is about making sure your audience is comprehending what is being told to them.
The next thing he learned was to "be flexible." By this, he means you do not have to stick to what you were planning. If things don't go according to plan, it's okay! Being flexible means you stay teaching the main idea but it doesn't have to go perfectly. As long as the students are learning what they need to learn, then it doesn't matter if your lesson didn't work out like you imagined it to.
"Communicate." To me, this is the most important thing to do. Communicating makes everything better in every situation. Lack of communication can only lead to more problems. Communicate with classmates, fellow employees, superiors, student's parents, anyone!
Mr. McClung also says to "be reasonable." This means to not have high expectations that can't be met. It is good to have high expectations to push the students to their personal best, but it is not good to set the bar so high that it only leads to disappointment when the student doesn't meet that goal.
"Don't be afraid of Technology." If I have learned anything in this class, it is this. Computers and other devices are only there to HELP us. Not take over our job or replace us. Technology is used as a tool for the students to learn even more than before.
Also, we need to "listen to our students." In order to gain respect from them, you need to make sure to understand them as a person and create a personal relationship. One that they can trust you with, therefore wanting to learn from you.
The last main point that Mr. McClung made was to "never stop learning." We only owe it to our students to give them the most efficient form of education we can. The world never stops changing, meaning there is more new things to learn everyday and we must embrace this and use it to our advantage.
Mr. McClung has made some very great points, ones that I will for sure listen to and think about while teaching. The main one I think I'll personally need to focus on is to be flexible. I know I can sometimes get stuck in my own ways and want things to go a certain way, but I'll need to realize that things won't always go as planned! I feel like I have learned from this blog and I am glad that it was assigned to us!
The first main thing he learned was "how to read the crowd." When teaching, it is not about meeting certain requirements and doing exactly what you are told, it is about making sure your audience is comprehending what is being told to them.
The next thing he learned was to "be flexible." By this, he means you do not have to stick to what you were planning. If things don't go according to plan, it's okay! Being flexible means you stay teaching the main idea but it doesn't have to go perfectly. As long as the students are learning what they need to learn, then it doesn't matter if your lesson didn't work out like you imagined it to.
"Communicate." To me, this is the most important thing to do. Communicating makes everything better in every situation. Lack of communication can only lead to more problems. Communicate with classmates, fellow employees, superiors, student's parents, anyone!
Mr. McClung also says to "be reasonable." This means to not have high expectations that can't be met. It is good to have high expectations to push the students to their personal best, but it is not good to set the bar so high that it only leads to disappointment when the student doesn't meet that goal.
"Don't be afraid of Technology." If I have learned anything in this class, it is this. Computers and other devices are only there to HELP us. Not take over our job or replace us. Technology is used as a tool for the students to learn even more than before.
Also, we need to "listen to our students." In order to gain respect from them, you need to make sure to understand them as a person and create a personal relationship. One that they can trust you with, therefore wanting to learn from you.
The last main point that Mr. McClung made was to "never stop learning." We only owe it to our students to give them the most efficient form of education we can. The world never stops changing, meaning there is more new things to learn everyday and we must embrace this and use it to our advantage.
Mr. McClung has made some very great points, ones that I will for sure listen to and think about while teaching. The main one I think I'll personally need to focus on is to be flexible. I know I can sometimes get stuck in my own ways and want things to go a certain way, but I'll need to realize that things won't always go as planned! I feel like I have learned from this blog and I am glad that it was assigned to us!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Google Form Results
My Google form was about pets. I asked if they have one, what kind, and so on. 71% of the people that answered my form do have a pet. 43% of the people who do have a pet, have a dog. Followed up by a cat at 29% and a fish and rabbit tied for third at 14%. Everyone answered that they want a pet if they do not already have one. 71% of people said that they are responsible for their pet and the other 29% answered "other" when asked the question. 86% of the class said that they enjoy the company of their pet, and 100% of the class said that having a pet has made them more responsible and caring. Dogs are the most favorite pet while snakes, spiders, and rodents tie for last place as the least favorite type of pet. 43% of the class never brings their pet to public places.
Google forms could possibly be my favorite thing that we have learned in EDM310. I think they are very useful and fairly easy to use. I know that I will use Google forms throughout my teaching experience.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Blog Post Number 8
This is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2
In this video, Richard Miller emphasizes how much easier the internet makes our lives. We have so many resources right there in front of us, that it would be an inconvenience to not use it. Any kind of definition or facts we need to get, we can access by using Google, or any other search engine. There isn't much need in going to the library anymore because we all have one right in front of us!
Communication is made so much easier through the internet. We can talk to anyone anywhere with just a click of a button. We no longer have to use pen and paper, we can do everything right here on our computers. Creating and editing images, videos, podcasts, and other things can easily be done with the advancement in technology that has made this capable for us.
I am glad that I have learned all of these different tools because I will definitely be teaching and using them all in my classroom. By using the computer to do research and write papers/other assignments, it helps to maintain better organization. Not only does using a computer keep you organized, but you also get sources much easier instead of having to look everything up in books and newspapers, and it is more economically friendly without the use of paper and pencils!
Carly Pugh's Blog
Any student who has Carly as a teacher will be lucky. She seems like she will be a wonderful teacher. It is great to see someone who is so excited about teaching! Her idea about a playlist seems like it would be very effective in a classroom environment. I know that it is sometimes hard to get interested in literature especially when you're reading something you don't quite understand, but having students make their own playlists about the topic they are reading using videos they find on the internet would definitely be more interesting! Carly did exactly what Dr. Miller intended. She accessed the internet and used it to her advantage!
The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies
Both of these videos are similar in the fact that they portray EDM310 perfectly. In the beginning of the class, it is hard not to be frustrated at how much work and how difficult it all may seem. But both of the videos show that as you go on in the classroom, it gets easier. And it has! I was so overwhelmed when I first got into this class, but now I feel like I have gotten used to it and it's not such a pain to do.
In the Chipper Series, Chipper drops out of school because she doesn't like the way Dr. Strange "teaches." She starts up her own school and eventually ends up coming back to EDM310. In EDM310 for dummies, the students are very frustrated, but once they read the book, everything becomes much better. If I were to create a video, I would like to do something that would help future students while in this class. Something that would help them get through it all!
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
"Technology is not really a choice." This was said in the video, and it is so right. We can't get away from technology because it is everywhere that we are. This video was a mix of different educators from various parts of the world and various institutions that all agree that what is being taught needs to change. We need to use more technology and less books. I agree with this video in the sense that educators need to change their teaching methods to form to the way society is today
In this video, Richard Miller emphasizes how much easier the internet makes our lives. We have so many resources right there in front of us, that it would be an inconvenience to not use it. Any kind of definition or facts we need to get, we can access by using Google, or any other search engine. There isn't much need in going to the library anymore because we all have one right in front of us!
Communication is made so much easier through the internet. We can talk to anyone anywhere with just a click of a button. We no longer have to use pen and paper, we can do everything right here on our computers. Creating and editing images, videos, podcasts, and other things can easily be done with the advancement in technology that has made this capable for us.
I am glad that I have learned all of these different tools because I will definitely be teaching and using them all in my classroom. By using the computer to do research and write papers/other assignments, it helps to maintain better organization. Not only does using a computer keep you organized, but you also get sources much easier instead of having to look everything up in books and newspapers, and it is more economically friendly without the use of paper and pencils!
Carly Pugh's Blog
Any student who has Carly as a teacher will be lucky. She seems like she will be a wonderful teacher. It is great to see someone who is so excited about teaching! Her idea about a playlist seems like it would be very effective in a classroom environment. I know that it is sometimes hard to get interested in literature especially when you're reading something you don't quite understand, but having students make their own playlists about the topic they are reading using videos they find on the internet would definitely be more interesting! Carly did exactly what Dr. Miller intended. She accessed the internet and used it to her advantage!
The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies
Both of these videos are similar in the fact that they portray EDM310 perfectly. In the beginning of the class, it is hard not to be frustrated at how much work and how difficult it all may seem. But both of the videos show that as you go on in the classroom, it gets easier. And it has! I was so overwhelmed when I first got into this class, but now I feel like I have gotten used to it and it's not such a pain to do.
In the Chipper Series, Chipper drops out of school because she doesn't like the way Dr. Strange "teaches." She starts up her own school and eventually ends up coming back to EDM310. In EDM310 for dummies, the students are very frustrated, but once they read the book, everything becomes much better. If I were to create a video, I would like to do something that would help future students while in this class. Something that would help them get through it all!
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
"Technology is not really a choice." This was said in the video, and it is so right. We can't get away from technology because it is everywhere that we are. This video was a mix of different educators from various parts of the world and various institutions that all agree that what is being taught needs to change. We need to use more technology and less books. I agree with this video in the sense that educators need to change their teaching methods to form to the way society is today
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
C4T Comment's for Teachers #2
The second blog I commented on was More Google Doodle Fact Checking-- Did they get the Eclipse Right?. In this blog he picks apart one of Google's animations to see if they got the scale right on the lunar eclipse that is displayed. He goes through a process of different mathematical equations to figure out that Google in fact did get it right, or as close to right as it can be.
Blog Post Number 7
Randy Pausch: Last Lecture
Randy Pausch is such an inspiration to anyone who watches this video.There are numerous amounts of lessons to be learned through him. In his video, he talks about his dreams, him helping other people achieve their dreams, and the lessons hes learned along the way and the personal experiences in which he came in contact with through these things happening. Randy did so much in his life that most people could never dream of doing, but he did these things because he had very strong motivation, something we all should have.
There are a lot of quotes that Randy said that really made me think. One of them is "When you're screwing up and no one is saying anything anymore, that means they've given up on you." This is something that a lot of people should really listen to. Instead of getting angry at people always pushing you, you need to accept their criticism and grow from it in order to make yourself better.
"Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things." I believe that this is one of the best things that Randy said. No matter what kind of obstacles get in your way, if you really truly want something, nothing will stop you. This motivation is very good to have throughout your life, and I think it's a very good way to teach. To show kids to never quit and always push for what they want is what all students should learn.
When Randy was about to fulfill one of his childhood dreams of becoming a Disney Imagineer, he learned another great life lesson. "There's a good way and a bad way to say I don't know." If someone comes to you with a great idea, it's always best to listen and learn what they are saying. It is wrong to shut it down because it is something new to you that you don't know about. I think every teacher needs to have this kind of mindset while teaching. Some teachers don't like change and only like things their way, and this shuts down kids creativity a lot of the times. This isn't good and we need to all make sure to be open to anything.
I am very happy that this video was assigned to us. It was truly inspirational and I feel like I have learned a lot from it. I plan to bring these lessons into my classroom and hopefully share them with students so they can pass them on.
"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."
Randy Pausch is such an inspiration to anyone who watches this video.There are numerous amounts of lessons to be learned through him. In his video, he talks about his dreams, him helping other people achieve their dreams, and the lessons hes learned along the way and the personal experiences in which he came in contact with through these things happening. Randy did so much in his life that most people could never dream of doing, but he did these things because he had very strong motivation, something we all should have.
There are a lot of quotes that Randy said that really made me think. One of them is "When you're screwing up and no one is saying anything anymore, that means they've given up on you." This is something that a lot of people should really listen to. Instead of getting angry at people always pushing you, you need to accept their criticism and grow from it in order to make yourself better.
"Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things." I believe that this is one of the best things that Randy said. No matter what kind of obstacles get in your way, if you really truly want something, nothing will stop you. This motivation is very good to have throughout your life, and I think it's a very good way to teach. To show kids to never quit and always push for what they want is what all students should learn.
When Randy was about to fulfill one of his childhood dreams of becoming a Disney Imagineer, he learned another great life lesson. "There's a good way and a bad way to say I don't know." If someone comes to you with a great idea, it's always best to listen and learn what they are saying. It is wrong to shut it down because it is something new to you that you don't know about. I think every teacher needs to have this kind of mindset while teaching. Some teachers don't like change and only like things their way, and this shuts down kids creativity a lot of the times. This isn't good and we need to all make sure to be open to anything.
I am very happy that this video was assigned to us. It was truly inspirational and I feel like I have learned a lot from it. I plan to bring these lessons into my classroom and hopefully share them with students so they can pass them on.
"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
PLN
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Blog Post Number 6
The Networked Student
This video shows the good that technology can do! The 21st century student does many things that we are being taught in this class. He reads other blogs and then comments on them and then writes his own blog like we do. He uses his iPod as a learning device just as students in edm310 have recently been taught. He also uses websites like Delicious and Google Scholar. Just like our class, the 21st century student has a Skype interview which we will be having soon.
In the video the question "why do we even need a teacher?" arises. Well, even though it may look as if a student can do anything he needs through the internet, a teacher is still needed. A teacher is there to guide the children and help them learn on their own. They are there to answer any question a student may have and to guide them through the learning process.
I think this video shows a lot of great things that the internet can do. It shows the things we are learning in this class and the ways that it can better our future. Not only will this help us out, but it will also help future students who are studying the same thing and run across our blogs.
7th Grader's PLE
The 7th grader in this video sounds much older than she is. She is very intelligent and extremely organized. This makes me wonder if it is because everything she is doing is computer based? I would think it is. She even mentioned that she likes doing her work better this way because she can do it on her own time and in her own way. If all students were able to do this I think grades would rise. Most people like to have independence and this gives them the feeling of guided independence where they still have deadlines and things to do but its all up to them on when and how it is completed.
Although I have not yet set up my PLN, I plan to use Symbaloo just as this 7th grader did. Hopefully mine will be as useful as hers!
Why SMARTboards are a Dumb Initiative by Michael Staton and Why I hate Interactive Whiteboards by Bill Ferriter
After reading these arguments from Michael and Bill, I see their concern. They believe that SMARTboards are a waste of money because you can do the same thing on a computer or use an overhead projector in the classroom. They also both agree that it is a way for the school system to look better to supervisors and to parents. But In Amanda Theel's blog, SMART Boards: Good thing or a Bad Thing?, she shows the good in SMARTboards. She comments on how it makes it easier for the teacher to not have to "draw the same graph or diagram for the third time that week." You can also save your presentation on the SMARTboard in case a student or someone else would like to see it again.
I can see the arguments of both, but I have always been a fan of SMARTboards. I think they are another advancement in technology that will keep the student interested.
This video shows the good that technology can do! The 21st century student does many things that we are being taught in this class. He reads other blogs and then comments on them and then writes his own blog like we do. He uses his iPod as a learning device just as students in edm310 have recently been taught. He also uses websites like Delicious and Google Scholar. Just like our class, the 21st century student has a Skype interview which we will be having soon.
In the video the question "why do we even need a teacher?" arises. Well, even though it may look as if a student can do anything he needs through the internet, a teacher is still needed. A teacher is there to guide the children and help them learn on their own. They are there to answer any question a student may have and to guide them through the learning process.
I think this video shows a lot of great things that the internet can do. It shows the things we are learning in this class and the ways that it can better our future. Not only will this help us out, but it will also help future students who are studying the same thing and run across our blogs.
7th Grader's PLE
The 7th grader in this video sounds much older than she is. She is very intelligent and extremely organized. This makes me wonder if it is because everything she is doing is computer based? I would think it is. She even mentioned that she likes doing her work better this way because she can do it on her own time and in her own way. If all students were able to do this I think grades would rise. Most people like to have independence and this gives them the feeling of guided independence where they still have deadlines and things to do but its all up to them on when and how it is completed.
Although I have not yet set up my PLN, I plan to use Symbaloo just as this 7th grader did. Hopefully mine will be as useful as hers!
Why SMARTboards are a Dumb Initiative by Michael Staton and Why I hate Interactive Whiteboards by Bill Ferriter
After reading these arguments from Michael and Bill, I see their concern. They believe that SMARTboards are a waste of money because you can do the same thing on a computer or use an overhead projector in the classroom. They also both agree that it is a way for the school system to look better to supervisors and to parents. But In Amanda Theel's blog, SMART Boards: Good thing or a Bad Thing?, she shows the good in SMARTboards. She comments on how it makes it easier for the teacher to not have to "draw the same graph or diagram for the third time that week." You can also save your presentation on the SMARTboard in case a student or someone else would like to see it again.
I can see the arguments of both, but I have always been a fan of SMARTboards. I think they are another advancement in technology that will keep the student interested.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Special Assignment #1
1. Did you know about WolframAlpha? No
2. Did you know about Google Squared? No
3. What percentage of China's population is the population of the United States? Approximately 23%
4. What percentage of India's population is the population of the United States? Approximately 25%
5. Now what do you think of the facts reported in Do You Know? I see where they got most of them from! And with the growing population they are already being outdated.
6. Do you think WolframAlpha and Google Squared will be useful for you? for your students? Why or why not? I think they will be useful for me. If I or a student ever want to know a statistic it will easily be looked up. WolframAlpha will also help students learn how to read a graph.
2. Did you know about Google Squared? No
3. What percentage of China's population is the population of the United States? Approximately 23%
4. What percentage of India's population is the population of the United States? Approximately 25%
5. Now what do you think of the facts reported in Do You Know? I see where they got most of them from! And with the growing population they are already being outdated.
6. Do you think WolframAlpha and Google Squared will be useful for you? for your students? Why or why not? I think they will be useful for me. If I or a student ever want to know a statistic it will easily be looked up. WolframAlpha will also help students learn how to read a graph.
Blog Post Number 5
The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom
While watching this video it made me realize even more the good that pod casts can do. I like the idea that a teacher could upload their lectures onto iTunes and students that have to miss school can listen that way. I think that listening to podcasts in class as an alternate of the teacher reading out loud is also way more interesting to the student. When I was in school I used to love when the teacher would play tapes of what we were reading. It always interested me to hear the different characters voices instead of the teachers voice for every character. Students recording their own podcasts can also spark more excitement in their learning. Getting students more involved and changing up the everyday routine seems as if they will be more interested. Hopefully resulting in higher grades. This video helped me to realize the good that making a podcast can do.
100 Ways to Use Your iPod
When I was younger I would have never thought that people could learn from a tiny music player! It was strictly text books, and if the class was lucky, computers every now and then. iPod's aren't just music players anymore. Your iPod could be used for learning many different things now. You can learn a different language from your iPod, listen to news stories through a podcast, and study through your iPod. I think that this will be very helpful for students whos teachers post their lectures on iTunes. That way if you don't quite understand the material and need to hear it again you can. Or if you miss out on school you can listen through a podcast. Not only did this site show me what all an iPod can do, but it also gave me a better understand of making podcasts. This will definitely help my group and I when we make our podcast!
Langwitches
This is a blog website about podcasting in a first grade classroom. A teacher wrote a script and then got her students to record the script so they can listen to it while in the classroom. The children loved to do this! They loved to hear their own voice and follow along with the script as it was being read aloud over a podcast. I love how this blog shows step by step what happened in the classroom. This blog makes me feel more motivated to do podcasts in my very own classroom. It is a fun way to get the students more involved in their school work! This blog also showed me how to upload a podcast/booklet onto a mac, which will be helpful in the future!
While watching this video it made me realize even more the good that pod casts can do. I like the idea that a teacher could upload their lectures onto iTunes and students that have to miss school can listen that way. I think that listening to podcasts in class as an alternate of the teacher reading out loud is also way more interesting to the student. When I was in school I used to love when the teacher would play tapes of what we were reading. It always interested me to hear the different characters voices instead of the teachers voice for every character. Students recording their own podcasts can also spark more excitement in their learning. Getting students more involved and changing up the everyday routine seems as if they will be more interested. Hopefully resulting in higher grades. This video helped me to realize the good that making a podcast can do.
100 Ways to Use Your iPod
When I was younger I would have never thought that people could learn from a tiny music player! It was strictly text books, and if the class was lucky, computers every now and then. iPod's aren't just music players anymore. Your iPod could be used for learning many different things now. You can learn a different language from your iPod, listen to news stories through a podcast, and study through your iPod. I think that this will be very helpful for students whos teachers post their lectures on iTunes. That way if you don't quite understand the material and need to hear it again you can. Or if you miss out on school you can listen through a podcast. Not only did this site show me what all an iPod can do, but it also gave me a better understand of making podcasts. This will definitely help my group and I when we make our podcast!
Langwitches
This is a blog website about podcasting in a first grade classroom. A teacher wrote a script and then got her students to record the script so they can listen to it while in the classroom. The children loved to do this! They loved to hear their own voice and follow along with the script as it was being read aloud over a podcast. I love how this blog shows step by step what happened in the classroom. This blog makes me feel more motivated to do podcasts in my very own classroom. It is a fun way to get the students more involved in their school work! This blog also showed me how to upload a podcast/booklet onto a mac, which will be helpful in the future!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Blog Post Number 4
Don't Teach Your Kid's This Stuff
When I was first reading this post I found myself getting very defensive over the fact that this was a person that didn't want to use technology in schools. I think that Dr. McLeod's post is very attention catching from the way that he writes the post, in short statement form with lines between each, to the message he is portraying. Dr. McLeod's main message is keeping kids up to date with technology will better them in life. The children who do not get to use technology and know how to work it will miss out on job opportunities in the future. Mainly for the fact that as technology is advancing, most companies and jobs are advancing right along with it.
Dr. McLeod is an associate professor at Iowa state. He is a professor in the Educational Administration Program and he also created one of the Did You Know videos! Dr. McLeod has won several awards for his technology leadership work, and he blogs regularly about it!
The iSchool Initiative
The iSchool Initiative is a more ecological way to learn. Instead of using pen and paper, textbooks, and copy machines, each student would have there own iFace platform that would have all the features of an iPhone, just without the cell phone service. There are already plenty of apps that have what each classroom would need, but if just a few more were added to meet the requirements of each school system then this could work out.
I think that Travis has a great idea. Although I don't think this will happen within the next few years, I could see something with this same concept coming into effect. My main concern about this is when will students start using this? Will it be in kindergarten when children are learning their alphabet, or will it be once children get a little bit older and know their basics? I could definitely see this working for college courses at least.
You can't be my Teacher
This video is all about opening teachers and future teachers minds about the way they should teach their students. This little kid is in a way begging to be taught with technology. When I was first watching this I was confused about what was being said. It didn't seem like a real video and I actually thought I was watching the wrong thing! But when the child kept asking the same type of question I realized that this was all being done for a purpose.
Darren Cannell has made this with his son in effort to show teachers that someone has to teach these kids about technology. Children are going to school for a reason, to learn, so why not learn one of the most useful things they could know? Knowing how to use technology will be able to make these students more successful as the rest of the world is advancing with technology.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
What more can you say than "That was amazing!" To think that all of that was conducted online is hard to believe. None of these people have ever met before, yet they still sing in perfect harmony.This is just another example of the amazing things you can do with technology. Whitacre shows just a brief idea of what you can do with technology. I can't wait to see what he has to show us next!
Teaching in the 21st Century
"Teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge, we are the filter." This was the main sentence that stood out to me in this entire video. Kevin Roberts is very right about this. It used to be that teachers knew it all and they were the ones that taught us everything we know. Now, there are so many different sources we could go to if we have a problem that we need solved. Teachers are there to guide students in the right direction when problem solving.
To teach, means to help students learn, not by themselves but with the help of a teacher. I think this video has a major impact on the way that anti technology teachers view using technology as a tool in the classroom. This video will make them see that they are still useful and needed in the classroom. Technology is not replacing any teachers, it is just helping the students learn MORE. Isn't that what every teacher should want?
When I was first reading this post I found myself getting very defensive over the fact that this was a person that didn't want to use technology in schools. I think that Dr. McLeod's post is very attention catching from the way that he writes the post, in short statement form with lines between each, to the message he is portraying. Dr. McLeod's main message is keeping kids up to date with technology will better them in life. The children who do not get to use technology and know how to work it will miss out on job opportunities in the future. Mainly for the fact that as technology is advancing, most companies and jobs are advancing right along with it.
Dr. McLeod is an associate professor at Iowa state. He is a professor in the Educational Administration Program and he also created one of the Did You Know videos! Dr. McLeod has won several awards for his technology leadership work, and he blogs regularly about it!
The iSchool Initiative
The iSchool Initiative is a more ecological way to learn. Instead of using pen and paper, textbooks, and copy machines, each student would have there own iFace platform that would have all the features of an iPhone, just without the cell phone service. There are already plenty of apps that have what each classroom would need, but if just a few more were added to meet the requirements of each school system then this could work out.
I think that Travis has a great idea. Although I don't think this will happen within the next few years, I could see something with this same concept coming into effect. My main concern about this is when will students start using this? Will it be in kindergarten when children are learning their alphabet, or will it be once children get a little bit older and know their basics? I could definitely see this working for college courses at least.
You can't be my Teacher
This video is all about opening teachers and future teachers minds about the way they should teach their students. This little kid is in a way begging to be taught with technology. When I was first watching this I was confused about what was being said. It didn't seem like a real video and I actually thought I was watching the wrong thing! But when the child kept asking the same type of question I realized that this was all being done for a purpose.
Darren Cannell has made this with his son in effort to show teachers that someone has to teach these kids about technology. Children are going to school for a reason, to learn, so why not learn one of the most useful things they could know? Knowing how to use technology will be able to make these students more successful as the rest of the world is advancing with technology.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
What more can you say than "That was amazing!" To think that all of that was conducted online is hard to believe. None of these people have ever met before, yet they still sing in perfect harmony.This is just another example of the amazing things you can do with technology. Whitacre shows just a brief idea of what you can do with technology. I can't wait to see what he has to show us next!
Teaching in the 21st Century
"Teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge, we are the filter." This was the main sentence that stood out to me in this entire video. Kevin Roberts is very right about this. It used to be that teachers knew it all and they were the ones that taught us everything we know. Now, there are so many different sources we could go to if we have a problem that we need solved. Teachers are there to guide students in the right direction when problem solving.
To teach, means to help students learn, not by themselves but with the help of a teacher. I think this video has a major impact on the way that anti technology teachers view using technology as a tool in the classroom. This video will make them see that they are still useful and needed in the classroom. Technology is not replacing any teachers, it is just helping the students learn MORE. Isn't that what every teacher should want?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Blog Post Number 3
A Vision of Students Today
I have been shown this video before in one of my previous classes. I think that it is overwhelming what is expected out of college students. When the classmates were showing statistics, it all averaged out to be 26.5 hours of work a day. I know for me personally every hour of my day is filled with something. If it isn't school than it is work. Since this semester has started leisure time does not exist for me!
A way that this video does not relate to me is when they showed a sign that was suggesting spending a lot of money on books that they don't even crack open. Personally, I wait until after my first time in a class before buying books that way I know whether it is actually needed or not. Another way that I find myself different from the "average student" is the sign that stated something about a few hours to watch television. The only time my TV is on is when I am going to sleep, but even then I don't watch it! Overall, I think this video does accurately represent the average college student and their day to day life.
It's Not About the Technology
I think that the most important point that Mrs. Hines made was teachers must be learners. People are constantly learning and in order for someone to be an effective teacher they must be the front runners in the learning aspect. Just because teachers were taught a certain way when they were going through school doesn't mean that they have to continuously teach in that way. This is mainly important because the students of today are growing up in a different way than children did 20 years ago. Most always have access to a computer and know how to use these as learning tools, so why not use these effectively in the classroom?
Another important point that Mrs. Hines made was that learning and teaching are not the same thing. She is very right about this. Just because you are teaching a student something does not mean that they are learning it. If the teacher realizes that the student is not learning what they are trying to teach them then the teacher needs to take a different approach to the way they are teaching. The teachers need to form their teaching methods to each student as an individual. I agree 100% with what Mrs. Hines says in this blog!
Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
In this post, Karl Fisch discusses why it is not okay to be a technologically illiterate teacher. Having computers in the classroom are there as a learning tool, not to replace the teacher. I think some teachers don't want to change their ways, but times and technology continuously changes and they need to. Being technologically literate is all for the learning of the student, and teachers should want their students to succeed, right?
Karl Fisch and Mrs. Hines have a lot in common with the way they view technology in the classroom. I agree with them both and think that every teacher should start using it, and make a change in the way that they teach their students. After all, these students are our future and we need to train them in every way we can!
Social Media Count
Seeing these numbers change so rapidly amazes me! This is evidence that technology is advancing continuously. I know that as a teacher, I will need to keep up with technology even when I get older because that is what the people around the world use as a connection to society.
I think as a whole teachers need to stay connected to technology in order to stay connected to their students. To be able to be on the students "level" will allow them to gain more respect for you and for them to trust you with what you are teaching. Times are changing and so is the way that students are learning.
I have been shown this video before in one of my previous classes. I think that it is overwhelming what is expected out of college students. When the classmates were showing statistics, it all averaged out to be 26.5 hours of work a day. I know for me personally every hour of my day is filled with something. If it isn't school than it is work. Since this semester has started leisure time does not exist for me!
A way that this video does not relate to me is when they showed a sign that was suggesting spending a lot of money on books that they don't even crack open. Personally, I wait until after my first time in a class before buying books that way I know whether it is actually needed or not. Another way that I find myself different from the "average student" is the sign that stated something about a few hours to watch television. The only time my TV is on is when I am going to sleep, but even then I don't watch it! Overall, I think this video does accurately represent the average college student and their day to day life.
It's Not About the Technology
I think that the most important point that Mrs. Hines made was teachers must be learners. People are constantly learning and in order for someone to be an effective teacher they must be the front runners in the learning aspect. Just because teachers were taught a certain way when they were going through school doesn't mean that they have to continuously teach in that way. This is mainly important because the students of today are growing up in a different way than children did 20 years ago. Most always have access to a computer and know how to use these as learning tools, so why not use these effectively in the classroom?
Another important point that Mrs. Hines made was that learning and teaching are not the same thing. She is very right about this. Just because you are teaching a student something does not mean that they are learning it. If the teacher realizes that the student is not learning what they are trying to teach them then the teacher needs to take a different approach to the way they are teaching. The teachers need to form their teaching methods to each student as an individual. I agree 100% with what Mrs. Hines says in this blog!
Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
In this post, Karl Fisch discusses why it is not okay to be a technologically illiterate teacher. Having computers in the classroom are there as a learning tool, not to replace the teacher. I think some teachers don't want to change their ways, but times and technology continuously changes and they need to. Being technologically literate is all for the learning of the student, and teachers should want their students to succeed, right?
Karl Fisch and Mrs. Hines have a lot in common with the way they view technology in the classroom. I agree with them both and think that every teacher should start using it, and make a change in the way that they teach their students. After all, these students are our future and we need to train them in every way we can!
Social Media Count
Seeing these numbers change so rapidly amazes me! This is evidence that technology is advancing continuously. I know that as a teacher, I will need to keep up with technology even when I get older because that is what the people around the world use as a connection to society.
I think as a whole teachers need to stay connected to technology in order to stay connected to their students. To be able to be on the students "level" will allow them to gain more respect for you and for them to trust you with what you are teaching. Times are changing and so is the way that students are learning.
C4T Comment's for Teachers
For the past week I have been following Beth Knittle's blog posts. Her first post was Learning is not an Instructional Method. In summary, this post says that all students do not learn in the same way. Learning is something that the student does individually on their own. It is up to the teacher to form the way they teach around the class as a whole or to a specific student who might need to be taught in a different manner in order to help the students learn. I agreed with everything Ms. Knittle said. She also mentioned in her blog about some people thinking that online classes are to boost grades. I think that taking online classes are just another example of the way certain students learn. For some students, they like to teach themselves. Therefore, online classes are a much better suit for them. For other students they need to be shown and directed in what they are learning. That results in them needing to be in an actual classroom. Online classes are not just a "grade booster" but an actual preference on the way students learn.
Beth's second post that I read was Thoughts on Beware the Straight A Student. In this post, Beth talked about how she once took a class where the teacher did not allow for creativity. The teacher would assign certain work, and give out resources to complete the work, but would not allow the students to explore other resources. Beth mentioned that she did not learn anything in this class. I think that if we limit our students creativity to just what we know then the student isn't actually learning anything more than what we give them. If the student wants to find out their own information, this is a wonderful thing. We should be thrilled that they are interested in learning and support this in every way possible.
Beth's second post that I read was Thoughts on Beware the Straight A Student. In this post, Beth talked about how she once took a class where the teacher did not allow for creativity. The teacher would assign certain work, and give out resources to complete the work, but would not allow the students to explore other resources. Beth mentioned that she did not learn anything in this class. I think that if we limit our students creativity to just what we know then the student isn't actually learning anything more than what we give them. If the student wants to find out their own information, this is a wonderful thing. We should be thrilled that they are interested in learning and support this in every way possible.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Blog Post Number 2
What can I say other than "wow." I never really put into perspective how fast technology actually does grow until I watched this video. It amazed me that we are learning things that will be outdated within three years! This is true though because we are constantly learning day in and day out. New inventions and thoughts are being produced to further progress technology everyday.
What also caught me by surprise was the fact that China will soon be the number one English speaking country in the world. This fact just shows the progression of China's intellect as a whole. If Dr. Strange's course doesn't teach you the value of being technologically literate, than this video should. I can't believe that computers will soon be able to do more than the human brain is capable of! This video shows the progression of technology and I can't wait to see what is in store for us in the future.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
This video shows the progression of technology all around us, except within the classroom. This doesn't seem right to me that every where around is becoming more technologically advanced, but the place where we go to learn is only slowly becoming more advanced. It seems to me that the classrooms should be more advanced than any other place. Is this how it is always going to be?
I do understand that one of the biggest reasons why the classrooms don't use as much technology is because the funding may not be there to support it. But even if the funding were there would teachers want to have more technology in the classroom? This is an issue among many schools, I know that I will be a teacher who wants to use technology in the classroom.
Sir Ken Robinson
While watching this video, a lot was brought to my attention. Schools really don't support creativity as much as they should. Artistic classes should be regular classes just as math, science, english, and history all are. There may be some students who are not as good of students as they should be because they are bored with what they are being taught. Maybe if schools were to add another component to their curriculum this would help to make the inattentive students more attentive.
Ken said a quote that stuck out to me while watching this video. He said "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you will never be original." This is so true because as we grow up we get scared of being wrong. Kids get scared of having the wrong answer that they slowly cut down their creative side to keep up with what they think is "normal." We need to let the kids know that is great to be creative and we need to support that by putting more creativity in schools!
Cecilia Gault
I think Cecilia has a bright future ahead of her in being a reporter one day! She did very well in asking questions that would get the viewer more interested in the topic that is being discussed. She stayed very calm and pronounced everything with ease throughout the interview. She is a very intelligent girl to be able to understand and communicate back and forth with Ken Robinson about the issue on hand at such a young age! This interview shoes her creativity, because she wasn't shy about any question she asked him. We as teachers can help children be more like Cecilia by keeping them engaged in the class room, and making them speak up and do activities that require speaking.
Vicki Davis
Vicki Davis is the kind of teacher we need in every school! She is a very inspiring teacher and those students are lucky to have her. I think it is such a great idea how she lets the students teach some of the lessons. By the students teaching the lessons, it is forcing them to learn the required materials, and not just listening and then forgetting it later.
I think it is also neat that she lets the students explore into the basic lessons she gives them, and the students are actually able to teach her about the projects she has assigned to them. The style of teaching that Vicki does is rare but its amazing. The way she teaches is the way we should all be teaching!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Blog Assignment 1
I was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. My dad is from Indiana and my mom is from New Orleans so I consider myself half cajun half yankee! My first year of college I went to the University of Alabama. I didn't like the atmosphere there so I transferred to Auburn University for my second year. I loved Auburn but decided to come home to finish up school. I took a year off of school and I am now starting at South this semester. My major is Elementary Education and so far I have loved it. I love children and I love interacting with them. The way they think interests me and I want to be a part of our futures' learning experiences and begin to shape the people they will become one day.
Family is one of the most important things to me. I have two sisters, one who lives at home with me and one who is married and lives in Georgia (we're still working on her moving back home). My mom and I are best friends and my dad is an easy going guy. When we are all together there is continuous laughter! I also have an obsession with my dogs. I have three of my own: Lizzy-- chocolate lab, Addie-- teddy bear (bichon frise and shihtzu mix), and Sadie-- border collie who I have with my boyfriend! Fashion is one of my biggest interests, I love anything to do with it. I am the assistant manager at Lotus Boutique and just about all of my spare time goes to work!
Family is one of the most important things to me. I have two sisters, one who lives at home with me and one who is married and lives in Georgia (we're still working on her moving back home). My mom and I are best friends and my dad is an easy going guy. When we are all together there is continuous laughter! I also have an obsession with my dogs. I have three of my own: Lizzy-- chocolate lab, Addie-- teddy bear (bichon frise and shihtzu mix), and Sadie-- border collie who I have with my boyfriend! Fashion is one of my biggest interests, I love anything to do with it. I am the assistant manager at Lotus Boutique and just about all of my spare time goes to work!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
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