Friday, April 30, 2010
Final Honest Reflection Post
1. These are some of the things I have learned from my EDM310 class and how I would use them in my teaching career or on an individual basis.
Blogs: I found these to be a incentive tool for creativity. This is a great way to get feed back for yourself and your students. At the same time, it is a tool that you can share information with other people.
PresentationsThe Google presentations is a way to present a lesson using a "free" program. You use it very similar to power point.
Google DocsI will be using Google docs in my future for the simple reason that I do not want to have to pay to create a letter. Google Docs can be uploaded in a word format. The only problem with Google Docs is it does not have the format simplicity that Word does.
Google SpreadsheetsThis is an excellent source for storing your passwords and such.
PicasoA tool to change your own pictures so that you can paste them elsewhere or just make cosmetic changes.
PodcastsThis was a fun project and I enjoyed working with my fellow students on this one. The recording made me feel like my opinion was going to come across to someone "hopefully".
Posts I ReadThis was one of the main things that opened my mind to other people's opinion. I was able to see how someone else felt or experienced the same process and their take on it.
PLN A way to document what you have learned and the tools you have used. I would like for my students to develop their own PLN and appreciate it.
TwitterI had a Twitter account before this class but I never really knew how it was going to be beneficial. I have establish many followers and have already began to use it as a source in my educational journey. I know I will use this tool in my career.
Comments for KidsI enjoyed commenting on the children's blogs and I know they enjoyed having someone commenting on their work. This showed me how important a positive attitude is important.
Comments for TeachersI have been able to follow most of my teachers that I commented on. In this process I have been able to find some role models in my career path. I hope to continue the professional leadership they have shown.
Who I am as a ProfessionalThis class has not necessarily changed who I am as a professional but it has added to my professionalism greatly. I am now a tech literate teacher.
Google FormsThese were great! I like getting to see what every one's anonymous answer's where. I would have like to done this on a larger scale. This will be a tool I use if to just put together a test.
Google EarthThis was neat. Not my favorite but it was neat. I can see where this could be used in a Geography class.
2. There is one thing that I wished I would have gotten some experience on the Smart Board. I know these are very common in a classroom and I would have liked to of mastered this.
3. No Way!
4. Yes! After working so hard on a project like podcasts or presentations it was fun to share them with my classmates. I even posted a lot of them on my facebook account to share with my family and friends.
5. I found the terms to be intellectually challenging. A lot of the terms I was already aware of the process but not what it was "officially called".
6. Heck No!
7. If I was to make a change I would split it into two classes. This way you can concentrate on the processes and work quality. The projects would have better quality material in them If I had more concentrated instructions on the subject matter.
8. I will maintain and improve my technological literacy by maintaining my tweets, continue to use my programs (Vocaroo, Blogs, Screenjelly, etc), and by instilling technology literacy in my own students and children.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Week 2 (was lost)
A Vision of Students Today:This little movie was very entertaining. It had a kinda thriller movie undertone. There was a lot of shocking information that the students were putting out there. These things are not on our minds on a daily basis but they do exist and effect us. We do have to keep in mind that with all of the negative facts there are positives to go with them. Do I think that technology can save us. I do think that with most of the problems or dilemmas that the students presented can be improved with the use of technology. Technology does have a way of opening doors and breaking down barriers. Technology can offer convenience to obtaining education. Its not about the technology:I completely agree. We as teachers have to remember to keep our minds open to learning. I think that as someone providing information to the public (students) it is also important to keep up with the development of society. So that the knowledge that we are trying to convey is done so in an interesting and applicable way. This keeps the student willing to take in and use the lesson being shared.In my opinion, I believe no one ever quits learning. Whether people realizes or not we are taking in new information on a daily basis. If we were to quit learning it would be a rather boring place to be. Is it OK to be a Technically Illiterate Teacher?I don't think we should come down that hard on teachers that are not proficient in the technology field. These are probably our older teacher that are looking at retirement. I just can't phantom to think that teachers that have spent tens of years in a class room have nothing to offer their children in means of learning. I'm sure that any decent teacher is going to be open to learning new ways to connecting with his/her students. So, I don't see someone absolutely refusing to open their minds to technology. In the same breath, just because a teacher is a front runner in the technology department doesn't mean they are a good teacher. Yes they might know how to tweet, skype, and/or blog but are they able to relay the math lesson on fractions in a way the students will be able to use in the future? More than likely children are going to grasp technological lessons easier but, are they getting the basis of the lesson or how to push a button.
Posted by betty at 7:19 PM 0 comments
Labels: week 2
Final PLN
This class has been such a challenge but in the same since rewarding. It has really opened my mind and opportunities to the world. I know I could be reluctant about having a positive attitude towards the projects but they are some of the projects that I am most proud of through out my college education so far. I will be able to carry this information with me into the future. I just hope that when I get stuck on something I don't know(like before) i remember to search for what I need and a wall is just a way to show how badly I want it(whatever "it" is).
Thank you for introducing me to the world of technology. Next time my children ask to get on the computer I won't just let them play video games. I will have them play with some of the new technology tools and create an original project. In the end my daughter did get her face book account and I have no anxiety about her socializing on it. I have went over the rules and regulations and trust her to abide.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April 25
What would my sentence be? I don't know exactly how it would read but I know some key words that would be included in it. Some of the words are patient, strong, creative, encouraging, and/or great persevere abilities. The order or words around these adjectives I have know clue but these are a few of my characteristics.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Using Technology to Teach
Monday, April 12, 2010
April 4 (bp)
Vote For President (April 18 bp)
-My vote goes to (drum role please) Twitter. I find twitter to be quicker than blogging, more substantial than face book, and most likely to lead us in learning how to use education in our classroom. So make sure who you follow on your twitter it makes a mark. :)
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dFgyOVp3OUNtRGpORXNmakk3b0MtVWc6MQ
For all Those Flash Card Freaks!
April 11 blog
+Why is it important for students to post their work to blogs? Give examples that you have encountered.
_ It is important for students to post their work to their blogs so that they can get feedback and so they are able to share ideas with other students and people. Some of the examples that I have encountered in sharing my work on my blog have mostly been positive. I like going to the teacher blogs because I can add them to my twitter and follow their ideas and comments. I have gotten so many ideas from this, one example is the online flash cards to study with. This is great to study with. Another example of why students should share their blogs is that I have really became aware of what a bad speller I am. This is something that has been brought to my attention and am now able to make a change to be more conscious of my spelling.
+
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Morgan Bayda Blog
I think to use technology is great. Twitter, Face book, and all the other tools out there are wonderful for teaching and finding a support source. But lets not forget the basis that our own education(especially the older students) is built on. We have to start somewhere and then advance where appropriate. I plan on using my technology tools that I've learned in EDM class in my classroom, and as a support system in my teaching career. I don't however, plan on making my lesson plan around my technology source. You can buy a child every toy there is at Toys R Us but what do they really have the most fun playing with? The card board box, that becomes the race car, the castle, the house, and/or the robot. It's just nature.
ACCESS - Alabama Connecting Classrooms
Alex - Alabama Learning Exchange
The Last Lecture
You can really tell that he has inspired many students to put forth their best and succeed. One of the reasons I have chosen the teaching field is so that I can inspire other people to look past the "walls". This really hit home with me and I will reference this lecture in the future for inspiration.
His career wasn't an easy venture. The inspiration isn't about what he has accomplished but how he accomplished them. We must remember failure is not an option.
Friday, March 26, 2010
My Skype Experience
Monday, March 8, 2010
Little Voices, Little Scholars
Sunday, February 28, 2010
My PLN
Comments for Kids/Teachers
+Shalom,
Your post really sounded delicious. I have never had homemade butter and bread before but from your description it seems like it would be great! Thank You for sharing.
Hi room 14,
Thank you for sharing your video with me I really enjoyed the message that you shared. What a creative way to get a message accross. I'm going to show this to my children and hope that they will Stop and Think on a daily basis.
+03/23/10
- Commented on Alyssa's Blog in Mrs Shelters class. She had some great points about elctronics.
_ Commented on Annita's spuf of American Idol they did. It was cute.
-Commented on Ananistasia's description of her first day back to school in the fifth grade.
02-28-10
-Commented on Mellville Room 8- I just commented at what great music facilities they had
-Commented on Oswart Bolgspot - They had beautiful pictures of floweres and vegestables that the students had grown and then taken photos
-Commented on avaco37.blog- this had students indiviua blogs about books that they had read and lectures they had listened to. My student was number 42.
-Meresideblog- From my understanding this was a tutorial of how to teach children to locate diff places on the earth
Comments for Teachers:
-Comments for Mr.Tom Whitby-
+Great Post! As an elementary education major in about my junior year of college, I still have not mastered the IWB. Many of my professors use this but I personally have not had any instructions or experience on it. I'm a hands on learner and look forward to the opportunity but with IWB's becoming such a big part of our educational system, shouldn't I have some instructions on how to operate one. I am taking an EDM class, which this post is part of, but we have not had any experience with IWB's.
+I think your comment that we should have indiviualized IEPs for every student instead of lesson plans is very insightful. It really seams like thats what education is comming to and it would be ideal in the long run but not time realistic. Looking at education as an industrial product is a new concept to me. I don’t see how that point of view can be productive. It does seem like that’s what society is doing they want a big payout with little investment in the educational industry. So, do you think teachers will receive a pay increase for a successful classroom or just a pay decrease for failing children. Enjoyed it!
03/27/03
-Commented on Mr Swoshi's Blog. He was infomoring everyone of prezi and asking for suggestions on how to get student's attention when using power point. Prezi is similar to power point put it doesnt consist of slides. The only thing bad about this tool is you have to pay for it.
- Following my teacher today and she found a really neat website that helps you develop your own. Its at snappages.com and its free. She shared another site to help create hotmail forms. This one is found at formsight.com. I tried to comment on her blog but for some reason it wasn't allowing me too. I am following her tweets now. Yea another teaching source added to my twitter.
02/28/2010
Update on my kids/teachers Comments
-I have commented on Dainne Krauses Blogs, there was a lot of information on her blog look forward to learning all the new information.
-
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Week 6
http://is.gd/2cfNk
I really enjoyed watching these movies. I found them to be very informative. The longer I'm in this class the more appreciation that I develop for technology. I've now came to the conclusion that its a necessity and not just a privilege to stay up to date with technology development.
One thing that really struck me was the comment that he made about the library. For the past three years of my college education I've only visited the library once. I can remember back in the day learning how important learning the Dewey decimal system was. I wonder what the librarian from twenty years ago feels about the filing system today.
The concept that the humanities and sciences needed to come together was really profound to me. I never consciously thought of them as different species but this really made me aware that they are viewed like that. What a great way to keep up with history and information and adding a since of attitude or feelings towards cold hard facts.
Our ideas are not our own they belong to society. I loved this. This gives us/me the freedom to put my opinion out there (hopefully educated) with the understanding that I'm not the only one with this thought or opinion. If it is a wrong opinion of offensive idea then there is a way to get feedback. I think the main thing to keep in mind with this statement is to keep an open mind and what better way or tool to use to discover the different cultures, opinions, and etc, than the net.
Re: Wendy Drexler's Watched the Networked Student
http://is.gd/2cgBb
For this video we are asked to explain why we need a teacher for network learning. The first reason would be because there is sooo much information out there. We need a teacher to help us contain it all and organize it to support or create a thought or theory. We need to know how to tell what information is correct or propaganda. A teacher that is network learning informed can help us learn to to those things.
Another reason a teacher is needed in using network learning is to teach us how to find the information that we need and to inform us how to ask for help from professionals.
Re: Micheal Welch's What ever
http://is.gd/3WVVZ
Great video, I really have a lot of thoughts after watching this one. I hope I can get them all in with out rambling. I want to address the narcissistic references, social anonymity, and industrial revolution.
There were several references to today's society being narcissistic. I think that term is thrown around way to much today. With today's awareness of the debate nurture v/s nature, i think society is in control of their own behavior to a great degree. A lot of narcissism are just a misconception to low self esteem. Some people have insecurities so they tend to overcompensate and then come across at the other extreme. We push our children to be narcissistic either as a parents and teachers. We are extensions of our parents and we all know they (usually) can see no wrong in their child. From a teacher's point of view, the student that exceeds the standard qualifications, either educationally or extracurriculars, those are the ones we are proud to say we taught.
The social unanimity that u-tube, blogging, and twitting gives us opens the doors for social exploration with out the consequences of being judged face to face. For someone that has social anxiety its a great tool to practice expressing themselves and receiving feedback. Now I'm aware that a lot of feed back is probably negative but it helps that person deal with confrontation. Not everybody is liked and on the same end one person is not disliked by anybody. Great idea for dealing with insecurities and grasping social information.
I just had to add this comment in here. This video really cemented my idea that has been creeping in my head. In world civilization we learn about the industrial age. How it was and still is such a controversial subject. But with out industry we would not have the conveniences today. True our air might be a lot cleaner but whatever. I think the technology revolution has really hit and I don't thing the older generations are aware. I'm glad I'm getting in now cause you know what they say, "better late than never".
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Week 5
Mr. McClung has a great idea in doing a journal. I think this is a great reference for new teachers and teachers that have taught for years. It just gives you a tool for reassuring yourself or getting ideas. This blog just lets you know that your not the only one going through a tough class or if your stuck on how to present a lesson you might find a fresh idea. Great Idea!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
week 4
In one of the pod casts I reviewed it gives us great and common scenarios where new technology can be used to make life and information more accessible. The using skype for a child that is sick at home and doesn't want to miss important information is just a common sense conclusion. Pod casts also makes information adapt to your lifestyle instead of trying to adapt yourself around your information availability.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
OK, from the thoughts of a person who is weaning from the "Winkle error", good gracious. I could just imagine when this child starts reading and writing. A pencil is going to seem like a stick and rock from the caveman days. This does make me nervous as a future educator. I'm really starting to question my ability to supply my student's with the best opportunity at a top education.
I do know children are able to learn a lot quicker and more efficient than adults. If these are the toys children are playing then what are they going to think of the crayons and glue. I can hear my comments now, "when I was a little girl.....". The important thing is to gain the knowledge and apply it the best of my ability.
They are First Graders! Are You Ready?:
That looked like so much fun. Who needs glue and colors and talk about the social skills that are being developed. Just think about the first hand experience they can get in any subject. The skype is a great idea for career day. The field trips the students can take could be endless and without even leaving their classrooms.
This has really got my brain to creating. The only thing now is for me to be proficient in these programs. EDM 310 here I come, well after a few zzzz's.
Podcast Reviews:
This was my first conscious effort in actually finding and listening to podcast. Before this class I didn't know that these existed. It was a bit tricky (for me) to find the specific ones that I would be interested in but I did. After I downloaded i-tunes and fumbled through to the podcast section, it was all over with.
These were a great source of information and tools to use for my education and the education I will be presenting to my students. I found a couple of podcast I was interested in the, Cool Teacher, Education, Promethean Planet, and Smart board lessons podcast. I'm sure I will find many many others as I have time to go through them fluently.
This is definitely a tool that I will be using in the future. I can see myself using this as a reference for my lesson plans and obtaining information about a classroom. The Cool Teacher podcast is one that will keep you up to date on all of the new technologies that are available. Technology moves so fast that this is a good p-cast to refer back to often.
The Smart board lesson p-cast is very helpful. I know a lot of schools are switching (if not already have the S-board) and I have no experience at all working with this type technology. This is a device that I will certainly be required to have knowledge of, when coming in as a new student. I look forward to learning about it and hope to get some hands on experience with the S-board before my education is completed.
Little Kids... Big Potential:
I think the title explains it all. Awesome presentation! This video is a great example of how children are quicker learners than adults. It also has some great reflections of how Internet safety and social courtesy can be taught. I think that's one of the first lessons that need to be taught when introducing this subject of technology. That just because your not face to face you can still effect people's lives.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Week 1 Movie Blogs
This was a cute little production with a big message. I can completely empathize with Mr. Winkle. I'm an "older" student returning back to college and sometimes the Mr. Winkle does come out in me. I have been in the work-force where I have had to use and manage several computer programs but being back in college has really opened my eyes to how "little" I have utilized the technology that is available.
We have to have more technological education in the classroom. It's a tool that children are attracted too to help them learn the math's, science's, and etc. Have you ever herd a mom say, " you better behave or you will have to play on the computer"? Kids love technology and if they don't get the experience from home or school where are they suppose to explore that knowledge. In today's age I think internet safety and social courtesy is an important lesson to learn.
My ten year old daughter has been drilling me to create her a facebook page. I kept putting it off because of the stranger danger and cyber bulling stories that have draped the daily news. I think as long as she is monitored and educated on how to avoid and handle that type of situation it would benefit her future. So, my daughter thanks you.
The Importance of Creativity:
Wow, Great Lecture! I really enjoyed the comedy he plugged in. It was very rateable. I can admit that I have seen one or two of those heads dancing around in public places. Hilarious! One of his stories reminded me of my baby daughter. Her kindergarten teacher had commented to her how beautiful her drawing was. Olivia's reply was, " I know". Was that being rude I don't think so. She had worked hard on her art piece and confident that she had achieved her goal. A beautiful picture.
On a serious note, I do feel that the arts and extracurricular act ivies are just as important as learning math and science. A lot of school's budgets don't provide for these types of programs. As a single mom of two girls its financially hard to supply these to my children. I make it work because, I do think these opportunities will help them be well rounded individuals. A lot of times the girl's birthday and Christmas gifts are gymnastic lessons or cheer camp. How do you know you want to be in the ballet if you have never been to a point class. Not to mention the benefits of social development it provides.
Harness your Students' Digital Smarts:
Mrs. Davis really seemed in touch with her students and that she enjoyed what she was teaching. The concept of the students teaching the teacher is great. I think it takes the stale taste out of the lecture. Teachers as leaders have to be opened to suggestions and change. What better place to get new information and suggestions than from the people your instructing.
These children seemed so advanced in today's technology. At this point I would definitly be the student in that classroom. I cant wait to expand my technology skills.