Final Reflection

So this is it, the last assignment. Eight weeks ago this day couldn't have arrived here soon enough, and now that it is staring me in the face I am honestly feeling rather poignant. Dr. Strange had included a list of questions on the class blog to think about and reflect upon, but oddly enough I have been thinking about most of them for almost a month now. We are supposed to include what we have learned, mention some things that stand out, identify a few aspects of our teaching which might have been changed, and of course what we found out about ourselves.
I know that I really enjoyed the lab times. They were directly related to my success in this class. Anthony and Jamie Lynn are amazing teachers and because of them I was not afraid to ask for help when I needed it. Keep in mind, I did not say they were not afraid of me asking for help. For the most part I, also, enjoyed the projects. I learned that I can stay up until 11:59 twice a week and still be productive during the day. I feel extremely accomplished, because at the beginning of the semester, I remember thinking to myself, "there's no way I can do this," but I did it. I was the student that only had basic computer skills. When I say basic, I mean BASIC. I had previously had an Introduction to Microcomputing class which covered Word, Excel, and Power Point but I did not really learn anything. Then I get to Dr. Strange's class and I learn so much, it is bubbling out of me and I can't wait to share it with others. It is almost contagious or something. I just get so excited that often times others look at me strangely when I am explaining what I am doing or how to do it. Let them look at me strangely; I do not care, because from the words of the great Gina Pace, "I love being able to say Google me."
I really do not have enough time or space in this post to go into detail about the improvements I need to make, but I am willing and eager to continue learning so I think that is more important. In another class I was taking this semester, my professor always stressed that being a good teacher was not about turning your students into something else or making them people they are not. Dr. Strange did not turn me into something else (not even a mac lover), I am still me. Only now, I feel like a better me. So here is my final reflection: any class that I can learn new tools, meet extraordinary people, and feel better about myself and my teaching capabilities is considered successful. EDM 310=Mission Accomplished.
On a p.s. note I plan to continue blogging and by this weekend my daughter Kyla will have her blog up. I will have a link to it on my blog. Thanks to all the readers, commentators, critics, and positive thinkers who chose to "follow me along my journey, as I learn to become an effective blogger." I was right it definitely was an "adventure for all persons involved."

Just a little 411 for PC owners

This post is just a little information for all my fellow PC owners. After watching Martha and Ashley's video for their final project it was just about all I could stand. It was so great and I decided if I heard one more person say they created their fabulous project with imovie I might just scream. So, instead of screaming I decided to google it. Yes, Anthony I googled something without you having to force me. And guess what? I learned something! I found this super fantastic totally awesome and most importantly FREE video editor. Guess what else? It is only for PC users. So to all my PC people click here for your free download. I was just playing around with it a little bit and it is amazing! I cannot wait until I have something I can really use it on. For all of you who already knew about it, shame on you for not sharing it with us. And for all of those who do not know about it, you should check it out.

Blog Post 12/Assignment 13

M-Cubed: ISTE Presentation
After watching this video, I was really interested in what they were doing. The students were excited about printing their projects and even more thrilled when it turned out the way they expected. I know you probably realize Dr. Strange assigned us to watch more videos, but I was genuinely interested in checking this "FabLab" out. So I watched...
FabLab ModelMaker: Change a Shape Net's Permutation
and
FabLab ModelMaker: Break Apart or Separate Shape Nets
I watched, not necessarily learned, how to construct shapes and break them down. Both videos were very informative and well illustrated, I just learn better hands-on. Yes, Dr. Strange that is what makes your class completely educational because we actually learn and not just memorize. I would like to spend some time playing with the FabLab. I am a complete math lover and I was interested from the beginning. I think with mathematics, more than any other subject, it is imperative to visualize the process and being able to have the tangible product in your hands is just about as visual as it gets. The next video I watched was chosen because it had been viewed by so many. It is called The Children's Engineering Initiative. It is not what I first thought it was. I learned how Virginia is leading the way for technological use in elementary schools. I, also, saw the struggle that is evident in just about all elementary schools. No matter though how difficult the process or how many "brick walls" one may hit, it is the initiative that gets the ball rolling. If you do not actually roll the ball, that is alright, too. Just get in there every now and then and give it a little push.

Questionairre Report

My questionnaire was about Facebook accounts. I inquired about the number of friends on facebook, uses for facebook, and even how many hours account holders spent on their account. Almost all the people who responded are PC owners, except for Anthony. In addition, all the respondents are between the ages of 19 and 45 years old. On average, the response to recommending Facebook to a friend is 3.8, on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most likely and 1 being not likely at all. Many of the respondents only use Facebook for social networking, but some other social networks noted were blogger, twitter, skype, and myspace. I, personally, use myspace but the last time I looked my number of friends was dwindling; due to the inactivity many people are closing their myspace accounts. There was a large range of responses for the hours spent on Facebook, but most people spend 2-5 hours on Facebook, a few people spend less than 1 hour using their account, and one person spends 6-10 hours on Facebook each week. In my questionnaire I left one question open for comments about Facebook. One respondent said, “I use Facebook to stay in contact with a lot of people back home. It comes in handy!” While another was quoted as saying, “Did use Facebook a lot until they started having privacy issues.” It is clear the opinions of Facebook, also, cover a broad range, but on average many people are using it, enjoying it, and utilizing its connecting capabilities to stay in touch with friends. Most people who answered the questionnaire have more than 300 friends and almost everyone said they spend their time commenting on friends’ pages while using Facebook. Maybe they should call it “Friendbook!” I enjoyed doing this questionnaire and l feel like I learned something. How valuable the information is, I do not know, but it was interesting. I am not going to take this time to call out the thirty something classmates who did not answer my questionnaire, but you know who you are. A big thanks to Melissa, Crystal, Alissa, Barry, Maeghan, Kimberly, Sara, Tyler, and Anthony for taking the time to answer my questions.

McClung's Second Year

What I learned This Year
McClung has many firsts during his second year teaching. He teaches a different grade and unlike last year he is not afforded all the resources most teachers would consider necessary. In addition, he must teach a new kind of Science and an additional Social Studies class. Since his background was not in History he has difficulty, one might even say failure, teaching it to jr. high school students. He still manages to adapt to changes that were and are necessary for classroom success. Mr. McClung is still learning to become a better teacher and he is not afraid to say it. I love the way he recognizes the "school moms." I did not think Mr. McClung could be a more awesome teacher from last year or do a better job, but applications of his new ideas and now his new experiences have made this year's post even better than the last. I can empathize with his feelings for the "grown-ups." I hope he always remembers that teachers teach everyone, but we do it for the kids.

Comment for teacher 2nd summary

Eric Langhorst

So, first I read the latest post from Mr. Langhorst and it was spectacular. A week goes by and it comes time for me to read and comment again. Much to my dismay he had not posted anything new. Of course I know it is completely acceptable for me to go into earlier posts in order for me to read and comment so that I may fulfill my assignments. So that is what I did. I have been periodically checking just to see if he had posted something new and I have been anxiously awaiting his upcoming blogs about his visit to Mount Vernon to the 2010 Gilder Lehrman Summer Institute, but he has not posted any. Well quite frankly, I am disappointed. I wanted to read about it, and I do not even like history. Honestly, I loathe history. Point to make: even though Eric Langhorst is a fabulous writer and photographer and his blog is informative and interesting, it is not nice to "lead" readers on to thinking you are going to "be Tweeting, writing some blog posts and sharing lots of pictures" if you are not going to be able to get around to it. The problem is, it is difficult for me to remember all the wonderful things I have read and learned from this blog, because my mind is so clouded by the distress this waiting has caused. Maybe Mr. Langhorst will read this and get in gear.

Comments for kids 4

James and the Giant Earth





I have been following the Pt England Scribes. It is a group of children ages 7-9 who are engaged in hands on learning with computers and technology. They are using their skills in the classroom to enhance their reading, writing, language, and literacy skills. Then they share them with the world with their class blog. They use pixelmator to create their animations and they create podcasts to describe their illustrations. The ones I have viewed seem to be mostly related to science, but I think they are learning so much more. Their teacher includes a picture of the student who creates each blog, so I can just imagine how accomplished it makes each of them feel. I added this feed to my PLN because I have a feeling this teacher is going to continue to be successful with technology in her classroom and I could learn a lot from her.

Final project

This is just a tease of what the whole thing looks like. If you would really like to check it out click here. Press all the buttons and then leave me a comment.

Complete PLN

This is my PLN. I am using netvibes. Each day it grows a little bit more. I like being able to follow certain blogs by the click of the mouse. I am able to keep up with all my social networking sites on one page. No more going from tab to tab. Plus look how beautiful it is. Every time I look at the rainbow of colors it makes me smile. That might not be important to everyone, but it is significant to me, because I am not usually smiling when I am sitting in front of the computer.
So as you can tell I have all the important feeds on my PLN tab. I am following the class blog, Martha’s blog and the kids of Port England quite closely. If either of my two teachers post something interesting I can check that out, too. I used to use igoogle, but it was very complicated to navigate. Here if I need to add a tab, I just click edit tab to add and I can add anything I want. In each tab I am given the option to add widgets, feeds, links, or bookmarks. I would explain exactly how to do it, but netvibes is truly self-explanatory. If you can read, you can do it. I did it! I have learned a lot in my EDM 310 class, but my PLN is something I will cherish. Here is a link to Alana's PLN.

Blog Post 11/Assignment 12

Skype conversation Strange and Cassidy
Ms. Cassidy uses a technological approach to education and utilizes it in the classroom for writing lessons. She notes that we can no longer use the same tools we used 5 years ago to teach today's students. Technology is rapidly changing and she has been fortunate to obtain computers for her class to use and a technical engineer to help her set up programs. I love watching the children interact with each other as they check their classmates blogs. It is most impressive to observe as their skills improve. They are gaining confidence in their abilities and in return are acquiring an out-going traits. These elements will help them to be better learners, critical thinkers, and successful students.
I am anxious to implement various technological tools in my class. I feel the benefits are endless and the possibilities are limitless because technology can be applied to every school subject. Some difficulties that could arise are lack of funding or necessary equipment which can be combated with grants and donations. Another "brick wall" that I have been dealing with in my current classroom is the lack of internet access. I have to save all of our recordings at school and then post everything at night when I am at home. Hopefully, I will not encounter this problem in the public school setting. I know the biggest advantage for my students is the excitement they have for hands-on activities. When they are engaged in the learning process, they learn more.
Ms. Cassidy is a role model and excellent exemplar for the ways technology can be utilized. She discusses some of the issues that are important to the children's privacy and safety and gives valid solutions. She is inspirational and proof that these are ideas that work. I will most definitely, use the class blogs and podcasts in my classroom. I was relieved to find out that all the children used in the production were not first graders. I appreciate the way she used her valuable resources (last year's class). If you want to be amazed at a group of kids and be inspired to be the best teacher you can be you should watch this video, First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class: Little Kids Big Potential.

Blog Post 10/Assignment 11

Welcome to my PLE
The PLE video was somewhat intimidating. I feel behind in the technology race. Her PLE is expansive and her dedication is astounding. It was amazing to hear a young lady speak of failure, yet she does not give up on her goals. When she hits a brick wall and receives no response from the scientist, she tries again. She is well informed of technological tools, references, and resources. As I gaze at my own PLN, mine seems like a small star in a vast universe. I am currently using netvibes for my PLN page, and I have chosen the bright pink background with a rainbow theme, so mine is much brighter and more colorful than hers. I only have three tabs on mine, though. One is for social networking, one for professional contacts and one is for bookmarks and links. The tab with social networking is mostly for fun. It has my e-mail feeds, facebook and twitter accounts, and it, also, has a little widget with the local weather. The professional contact tab contains a few of my fellow classmate’s blogs that I am interested in following, my previous comments for teacher assignments and a few other interesting blogs I have discovered during my technological journey. There is, also, a handy “To-do” list centered in the middle of this page. My bookmarks and links tab is filling quickly with links that I have found interesting, useful, or both. My PLN may not be quite as expansive as her PLE, but I am not finished. I plan to continue filling my PLN with an abundance of useful information and tools. Like her, I use it mostly for school. If anyone else has any good ideas for additions, please leave me a comment. Suggestions are so helpful in situations like these. We really can learn a lot from each other. As a matter of fact, I have to give some credit to fellow classmate Martha Yim, for helping me find out about netvibes. So from Martha, to me, to you, if you have not had the chance to check out netvibes for yourself click here.

Two Questions That can Change Your Life

These questions are the epitome of self-reflection. For the person that is not affected by them, I say you should pinch yourself. You might be in la-la land. Without sounding religious or fanatic I think these questions are necessary for a full life and rewarding life. If a person walks around without thinking about the differences he or she is making or not making in the world today, they are just taking up space and using up valuable oxygen. Humanity is built upon the dream of a better tomorrow, and ultimately if you are not doing something to make it better you are just getting in the way. I thought, for a long time, about my "sentence." I am a teacher, not just because I teach, but because I love teaching. It is truly my niche in life and I know I make a difference. It is amazes me that a simple woman from Alabama can be a part of the solution and influence the lives of tomorrow in such a positive way. So after careful consideration and much deliberation I decided my sentence would be about Alana the teacher.
"She makes a difference by influencing positive thinkers with confidence and creativity."

Interview discussion

What constitutes a "Technologically Literate Teacher?"

Comments for Kids 3

This new assignment was not nearly as much fun, probably because my post was a 34 second long video. You can view it here. Although it was not my favorite, I have to admit Mr. McClung does a great job of getting his students involved. And that fact is what teaching tomorrow is all about.
It is The McClung's Review and the students are granted various awards. It is the end of the school year and they reflect on their achievements. This particular video is of Mason giving his acceptance speech. He has won the award of "Most time spent hating Mr. McClung." It seems like some of the video has been cut short, but I do gather the kids are having a great time learning. Kudos to Mr. McClung for being so open about these inventive projects and engaging his class.

Teach Someone

How to YouTube


This audio is to give you step-by-step directions on how to YouTube. YouTube is a great educational tool to use for teaching and learning, not to mention lots of fun. The first thing you need to do is create an account. Go to www.YouTube.com. Click on "create account" it is located in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. To get started you will need to fill in some necessary information, and accept the terms. You can either add YouTube to your Google account or create a new one. Now you are setup to use this fun and fantastic tool.
Now onto the using part of this How-to audio. First you are going to need to make a video. If you are not sure how to do that, you will need to click on the google bar on your computer screen and type the in the words "How to record a video?" and click "search" because you are going to need some additional help. This is an audio about how-to-Youtube. So you have your account setup and you have a video or two. Now it is time to upload your videos. Click on the word "upload." Check out the video requirements in the blue box and click on the upload choice that applies to you. I, personally, like to pre-record then upload. Browse your computer to locate the safe place you saved your video to and in just a few moments you will be finished. Double click on the video file and it will start the upload process automatically. Just some friendly information: the longer the video, the longer this process takes. Go ahead and give your video a title and description. Tag it if you would like. Then select the proper category and decide which privacy setting is appropriate for your video. Finally, save changes. This is very important!
Now in the upper-right hand corner you can click on your account and manage it. By clicking on "my videos" you can view all or some of your videos. Then if you want to know who is watching your videos and when they are watching them just click on the word "insight" on the left side of the screen. Instantly you can view all sorts of video statistics and information.
The last thing I want to talk about, because it is also very useful, is sharing your videos. Click on the video you would like to share, of course one that you have already uploaded and can be found in your account. You can click on the box that says "share" and choose the locations you would like to share your video with or connect it to. If you would like to post your video on your blog or some other place you will need an embed code. Click the button that says "embed." High-light and copy the embed code, then go to your blog post and paste the code. Now I particularly like to go to YouTube and browse videos, well not all the videos, just mine. I click on the word "browse" and type in the titles of my own videos. I like to see how high up on the list my videos are. Now you can browse your videos or any of the other gazillion videos, it is your choice. You can choose by title or category. After choosing a video you can view it, comment on it, or share it. Ta-da! You are an official YouTube user.

Blog Post 9/Assignment 10

Lecture to Educators
This post did not share much information that most students do not already know. Lecturing is not so effective, text books are costly and rarely used, and most of the "facts" teachers inform their students of are more easily found on the internet, not to mention probably more current. What my classmates should have learned from this post is exactly how lucky we are. If you attend a school that has hands on activities and real life training, check out Dan's video before you start complaining. I am so skeptical of these notions because for the past two and a half years my classes have included an assortment of pedagogy. All of my teachers have known my name, although some of them still cannot pronounce it correctly they gave it a valiant effort. I cannot name one class that did not use the required books. Yes, I have had some professors who lectured, and trust me it was boring, but some information is just "need to know." I agree with Morgan and Dan that change is necessary; however, I do not think Dan is making the best decision. I look forward to seeing future videos from Dan, to find out how that decision works out for him. Life does require us to sometimes do things we do not necessarily agree with and often times it is about the bigger picture of things. To get a degree or not? Today that is the question.

ALEX: The Alabama Learning Exchange
ALEX has lesson plans, web links, and interactive activities easily accessible and usable by administrators, teachers, students, and parents. You can choose from any of these categories: Courses of study, Web links, Lesson plans, Personal workspace, Professional learning, Podcast treasury, Alexville, or Search. In the "Course of Study" tab you can search features by grade level, subject, or keywords. By clicking the "Web Links" tab, you are directed to teacher, administrator, or student web links. Each link category is further broken down into topics of interest for you to choose from.
The "Lesson Plan" option has many benefits. You can browse through actual lesson plans by subject, title, author, or school. You can even create and save them in your own personal workspace. To use the "Personal Workspace" you must establish an account, which only takes a few minutes. You can find or create lesson plans, podcast entries, or teacher webpages.
The "Professional Learning Plan" teaches about ALEX, offers training opportunities, views past presentations, and searches for grants. All of these are valuable tools for the Alabama teacher, or any teacher for that matter. The "Podcast Treasury" is pretty self-explanatory. Hundreds of educational podcasts are available at the click of the mouse. "Alexville" is a little different. It is like a blog for all ALEX users and visitors. There are posts and comments to read about with tips, pointers, and appreciations. The last tab is the "Search" box and it allows you to search the database. You can make a more narrow search by clicking a category first.
Taking the time getting to know and play with this free (yes FREE) on-line tool would be beneficial to any educator. I could write revelations about how ALEX could benefit me as a future teacher, but then I would be neglecting to inform you how useful it has already been to me as a student. Finally Dr. Strange has assigned us something to research that I am familiar with. You should not wait until you start teaching to utilize ALEX. ALEX should be a part of your PLN right now! Include it as a link or bookmark it for easy access. Go ahead and setup an account. I already told you; it is free and it only takes a few minutes. Later down the road it could save you a lot more than a few minutes. It has already saved me from a few headaches. It has all the assistance a teacher, student, parent, or administrator could ever wish for. Try it; you will like it.

Not an assignment

If you read the title, you are probably wondering "She has time for that?" The answer is NO, but I just could not help myself. I had my Pre-Kindergarten class brainstorm some ideas for videos that we could do. They, not me, came up with some really good ideas. One of their ideas was to read books. Since during the 2009-2010 school year almost all of them learned to read I thought this was a great idea. I must admit I was slightly concerned about how well they would do, since they are not extremely fluent with their reading skills. They do a great job of sounding out and reading small sentences in a structured setting, but being able to show the pictures, speak loud and clear, and pausing for punctuation are slightly more complicated tasks. Then something wonderful happened! One of my students from last year has come to visit for the summer. She is helping out and keeping me on my toes. Guess what? She has mastered these more difficult skills I just mentioned and all the kids in the class want to be just like her. They want to go to big school like her, they want to run as fast as her, and now they want to read like her. This idea could not have worked out any more perfectly. Check out the video "Katie reads Why the Frog has Big Eyes" and see how attentive the other students are as she reads the story to the next generation of "big-schoolers." I am so proud of her! She inspired them more in just a few minutes, than I did in a whole year. What a way to use technology in the classroom. Now everyday the kids are practicing reading their books. They, too, want to read a story to the whole class and have me record them. Stay tuned for more non-assignments. We have some more ideas in the works.

Comments for Teacher Summary

I was assigned to read and respond to The Tempered Radical by Bill Ferriter. He teaches in North Carolina, where he received "Teacher of the Year" award. Recently he wrote about whiteboards and their place in the classroom. After posting comments on his blog, he made another post emphasizing one of my statements. He makes great points; he did say my comment was "brilliant."
Bill Ferriter has, also, wrote pieces about the money invested in schools for better leadership and he has offered suggestions on what does work in the world of smartboards. He writes extremely relevant articles and he does a great job of honestly expressing his opinions without losing his temper or embarrassing the department of education.
I am honored to have been a part of his blog and I am truly glad Dr. Strange designated this particular to teacher as my assignment. It is always good to expand your learning network and I have a feeling "teacher of the year" Bill Ferriter is a good one to have contact with. If you are interested in some serious education issues check out his blog.

Smartboard lesson

Assignment 9

Mr. McClung has just completed his first year of teaching and has posted some things he has learned in his blog. He writes about communication, flexibility, and listening. His post is proof that doing is learning. He was only able to learn that lesson plans do not always go as planned, by having a few of them flop. The true beauty of experience is learning a lesson. Mr. McClung learned to be more reasonable, lower expectations, and know his target audience. Then he did the most wonderful thing. He shared his knowledge with the world. This post is a page full of lessons well learned. I am appreciative to Mr. McClung for sharing this information with me. I look forward to making some mistakes of my own and learning valuable lessons along the way. Then I can write a post and pass on the things I learn in my classroom. It is a good thing I am not afraid of technology anymore.

Comments for Kids 2

I was assigned to read and comment on the Little Voices Little Scholars blog. I watched Cyrus' video on transportation safety. Cyrus talks about crossing the road safely by looking both ways. He did a great job illustrating his project and he showed improvements from one video to the next. Overall, he did a fantastic job. You can view the podcasts from room 7 by clicking the link above. It is extremely impressive that young children are doing the same projects we are assigned to do.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Teaching methods? This video is not about teaching methods. I could not even focus on methods. I kept seeing the words "not fair" run through my head as I watched Dr. Pausch's video. Not because I pity him, but because he has had such an influential life, I feel sorry for the people who never meet him or watch his videos. Those people will never get the chance to be impacted and inspired by him. This video captured my attention from beginning to end and I must admit that I was crying by the conclusion. There I was sitting in my room with my headphones on tears running down my cheeks. The video, that I truly thought was for my personal gain and education, was really for his children. His family has every right to be proud of him. I think, Dr. Pausch could best be described as the fairy godfather of computer geeks. He really did help make his students' dreams come true.
So if I must comment on some methods here are the ones that I heard:
Work hard, be honest and earnest, think about others, and never let a brick wall keep you from your dreams. Using these ideas and passing them on to my students and colleagues, is another way Dr. Pausch has made a difference in the world, long after his death.
On a more technical response I was captivated by the use of visuals and graphs during his lecture. His comical props and surprise birthday cake are amusing and heartwarming. What do you call his method of delivering information, touching the heart, influencing the mind, encouraging emotions, and shaping tomorrow? Whatever it is, I like it.
I really agree with the project based group work Dr. Pausch uses in his curriculum. He reminds me a little bit of Dr. Strange. I have had some experience with this method of learning. I have noticed I have learned more by doing than by just listening and absorbing. Most recently in Dr. Strange's class I have had to do solo and group projects. I know for sure I learned more about creating and managing a blog by having my own, than by listening to someone else talk about theirs.
Methods? Methods you ask? A method is just a how to project. If you really want to learn something do it, rather than talk about how to go about doing it maybe if you get the time or the opportunity. You never know when it will be your "Last Lecture."

Timeline #2

Podcast project

PLN Status

I am using iGoogle for my PLN. I am currently following the children of Pt. England School and I have posted comments for them. Their teacher recently commented, "Isn't this a great comment from one of Dr Strange's students? I am thinking I will save this as an exemplar - for myself :)." I have, also, set up my iGoogle page to include live feeds of edm 310, Twitter, and Facebook. I picked the smartest students in my edm 310 class to follow their blogs and I am reaching out to my assigned teacher as I comment on his posts.

Assignment 7

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

If I may be honest, I did not particularly like either one of these videos. Now I do want to point out, it is evident Dr. Richard E. Miller put a lot of hard work and effort into these videos. They just failed to grasp my full attention and enlighten me. If it were not for the fact Dr. Strange prompted the questions, "Are you prepared to write with multimedia?" and "Will your students be able to do this?" I really would not have much of anything to discuss and post on these videos. It seemed, to me, they were more like commercials than lectures. The only thing that reminded me of a lecture was the tone in his voice.
This says absolutely nothing about Dr. Miller's intelligence or ability, but it further exposes the simpleness of myself. Most of the things he was discussing could have just as easily been spoken in Chinese(because I do not know a thing about Chinese). Which I guess easily answers Dr. Strange's first question. No way! I am not ready to write with multimedia because I lack much needed confidence about my current skills. When the time comes, I know I can and will be ready to write with multimedia; for the reasons that I am open-minded and willing to learn. Precise reasons why I watched those videos, complete all these projects, and constantly raise my hand for poor Anthony to come answer my questions.
Onto the second question: Will my students write with multimedia? They probably already do. The ones that do not, I will teach them everything I know. If I do not know it, then I will find out, even if I have to e-mail Dr. Strange.

The Networked Student

This movie was entertaining and informative. I really enjoyed the use of pre-drawn illustrations. It allowed me to gain an additional perspective for my repertoire of educational tools. The author speaks about all the positive impacts acquired from being connected and the knowledge from using those connections. A student is able to learn more, research quicker, and share instantly with a network of peers, professors, and future employers.
Why does the networked student need a teacher? Before listening to this video I wondered the same question, but was too frightened to ask. Drexler did a fantastic job identifying numerous reasons for the networked student to need a teacher. The ones I can most clearly see are encouragement and coaching. The networked student, no matter how independent he or she is, will at times need words of encouragement and actions of persuasion. A teacher can, also, plant seeds of new ideas and freshen perspectives on stalemate topics. These amazing connections found in the big “cloud” are like windows to the world. I believe teachers are the people who open the windows.
Am I a networked student? Well, after completing my PLN status, I was amazed at all the connections I have made in just three weeks. I am subscribing to and following blogs and posts, I am commenting around the globe and receiving comments, and I even have links and RSS feeds. Now I do not necessarily know what all that means, but I am learning. The important part is, I am meeting different people and gaining valuable resources for my future. In addition, I am mastering skills that I will be able to teach my students and use in an everyday setting to enhance the curriculum. Well, oh my goodness isn’t that what education is all about? Teachers who learn from teachers, who learn from teachers, become better teachers and better learners. I think the networked student has figured that out.


The Machine is Changing Us

When the video first began, it sounded much like blah, blah, blah, blah. I was having much difficulty understanding the message. About half way through it things started clicking, probably because the statements he was making do relate to me and my personal life. I am on the edge of the MTV generation and I often times find myself saying, "whatever." I have watched on the sidelines as the world around me changed and then at times of my own self-awareness, I have jumped on the train of change with a big woo-hoo!
When Wesch began discussing the connections YouTube has facilitated, it gave me goosebumps. Starting a family, going to college, and being a teacher have enabled me to feel a part of something bigger than myself. I never really thought being a part of the YouTube community could grant the same feelings. Those people do not just think they are making a difference. They ARE making a difference. I saw those statistics about how many videos are uploaded every minute and how many more are watched everyday.
I just recently did some research of my own on YouTube and its benefits in the classroom for my podcasting project(plan to post by June 30, for all those interested). Although not nearly as extensive or eloquent as Wesch's research, I do know that using it will be an advantage for me and my students. I will use YouTube in my classroom and I am most excited about making videos with my students to assist them in their own self-awareness as they realize the large role they play in the big picture of life.

Comments for Kids

The "kids" assigned to me are from Leopold Primary School. You can check out their blogs here. The children did an amazing job blogging and their teacher used a fantastic competitive idea to get the parents involved. The class video is the most interesting. If you have a minute you should definitely check it out. Their class and daily activities are well rounded and fun-filled. Miss McGready sets a great example for the rest of us to follow. Her students are happy, learning, and experiencing; and her classroom is extremely cool. It makes me want to be a kid in her class.

Vocaroo

Assignment 6

Smart Board Comparison
Teachers Love Smart Boards
Why Smartboards Are A Dumb Initiative
Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards

While searching through many articles, posts, and advertisements about smartboards I found a lot of contradicting information. There were many pros and cons. Each positive piece of evidence I discovered was quickly followed up with “if, and, or but.” Smartboards are extremely popular pieces of technology used in the classroom, but I am not quite convinced they are the best choice of technology to be utilizing for adequate and efficient education. In an attempt to keep up with the ever changing time, I understand why so many schools have found it necessary to fill their classrooms with smartboards and publicize the fact. After reading and comparing I have come to the conclusion that, although interesting, there are better ways to incorporate technology into the classroom instead of smartboards.
Smartboards are shiny, busy, and eye-catching. They have the ability to motivate and engage children. Well of course they do, because for the most part smartboards are just a learning game. They have assisted teachers in moving away from blackboards, flip charts, and over head projectors. Some of the repeated benefits are the infusion of technology, increased support for visual learners, recordable for use over and over, and parental and student access on the web. Instead of being behind a computer the teacher can be at the front of the room and he/she has the option to add an on-screen keyboard and other educational applications. As an alternative to taking notes, students can maneuver, manipulate, and write with the touch of a finger. Smartboards are based on stimulating visuals and are notably more preferable than out-dated books. This technology introduced at an early age can help children become more comfortable and have the ability to understand more complicated technology to come.
On the opposite side of the fence, smartboards are extremely expensive. As a matter of fact, according to what they can actually accomplish I would say that they are over-priced. In addition, smartboards still use the old teacher-in-front-of-the-class technique. Although children are engaged by the bright lights, bells, and whistles; smartboards are lecture based. The curriculum is not any more easily presented and the teachers seem to have a harder time adding the applications, therefore, taking away valuable teaching time. The biggest complaint seems to be the cost. Most officials do not disagree with paying out for them because they look good on reports, but the cold truth is there are lots of other devices capable of the same skills at a much more affordable rate. I think it is great if you already have one and are using it, but I would not suggest anyone go spend their dollars, or my tax dollars for that matter, on buying one in the future.


Video Ideas

I have been thinking of all kinds of videos, probably since the first day of class. I am interested in being a part of any or all of them. The first idea I thought of was a comedy news skit. It could have all the parts of a real news broadcast, but have superficial facts. It would contain interviews, weather, local news, and global news. All performed in a comic setting.
Another fun idea is a mock reality show of a southern family. It could have all the daily activities that we know and love, like: eating grits, hanging out on the front porch, and saying “y’all.” Both of these ideas are light and funny, but I thought about recording some science projects that I do with my class, too. I would include a hypothesis, test, data, and conclusions of commonly asked scientific questions. We do a few science projects throughout the year that would make real interesting videos.
Jamie Lynn and Dr. Strange’s videos made me think about making fake product commercial videos. I could go on and on with ideas, but those are just the ones off the top of my head. I would love to be in any videos. I am not afraid of the camera. I actually enjoy it and look forward to making some fun ones on my own that are not required for homework.

Assignment 5

Eagle’s Nest Radio: All Roads Lead to Rome

These kids are so cute! The host speaks very proficiently. I learned about architecture like the coliseum, gladiators, and history of Rome. Did you know Romans were responsible for creating aqueducts? What about their thirst for violence? Do you know which Cleopatra was famous? It was the 7th. I thought Cleopatra was from Egypt. She was actually Greek.
The information was enlightening and interesting. This is the best history lesson I have ever heard. What a wonderful way to teach children so many skills. They were able to learn basic historical knowledge of the Romans and their culture, while they explored with technology and interacted socially. This is true education. The additional picture affirms they enjoyed this learning experience.

Langwitches

This podcast is inspirational, to me. I plan to make one of these in my classroom. They explained difficult words and expressed their understanding of new vocabulary. The teacher is able to assess their reading comprehension skills without administering a standardized test.
It is fulfilling to hear such enthusiasm about reading coming from such young children. Children who enjoy reading have a direct correlation to being successful students. In addition to doing a fantastic job teaching these youngsters numerous life long skills, this teacher has shared their success and her innovative ideas with the world. Now other teachers can grab the torch and follow in her footsteps.

More on podcasts

This video was extremely informative. It includes the benefits of podcasting, student and faculty approval, and links to help you learn to podcast with step-by-step instructions. I have already personally experienced the enthusiasm of my own students while working with technology. I was not shocked to hear the students in this video point out some obvious positive aspects of podcasting. The teachers are very eager to engage their students in learning and the end result is happy principals and happy parents.
I really appreciated how well rounded this video is, but it was a slightly lengthy. It is well worth the time to watch. I plan to take advantage of the tutorial links at the end. I already have a few ideas to use in my classroom for some podcasts. I am eager to have my students get as excited as the ones in the video are.

Practical Principals


After watching each of these I was able to gain some insight on the value of technology in the classroom. The students are overwhelmingly excited about what they are doing. The podcasts really give them an opportunity to be a part of the learning process, as opposed to sitting in a desk and listening to the teacher bore them to death. The teacher is able to cover materials called for in the curriculum and teach technological capabilities, all the while opening up new doors for her students. These are the lessons they will go home and tell their families about. I firmly believe learning is a hands-on project. Once I went to this workshop and the lady passed out worksheets with a picture of a balloon. Then she passed out red crayons. She told all of the teachers to color the balloon red. Then she asked, “What can you tell me about red balloons?” The room went quiet. What else could we say; it was a red balloon. Then she got out a bag full of balloons and passed them out. She let us blow them up, let them go, tie them, wave around, and anything else we could think of doing. Then she said, “Now, what can you tell me about red balloons?”
Of course, red balloons are just an example, but it applies for all areas of learning. In order to learn, one must do; and in order to teach, one must be able to learn. I cannot wait to apply some things that I have, recently, learned to my class curriculum. I know my students will be just as excited. You should have heard them beg to watch the video “Reading to My Class,” I previously posted. They thought they were awesome before. Now they know they are.

READING TO MY CLASS

Spring Break Timeline

Presentation

Assignment 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff

Scott McLeod is a professor of Education at Iowa State. He was named one of the National School Boards Association's 20 to watch in 2007 and he just so happens to be the co-creator of the "Did You Know" video I have previously posted about. I really liked the way he addressed this post as a letter to people who are responsible for the growth and education of students. The way you have to scroll down to get the full message implies this is his opinion of technology. Then in the conclusion he fools you with his mockery. He argues technology is useless and dangerous. He claims you have to keep your children safe and you cannot trust them. I guess they should not drive either. He concludes with irony by stating he is going to teach his kids all that stuff and basically if you do not, your kids are going to be at a huge disadvantage. He plays on the fact that parents always want the best for their kids and points out how we can stifle their possibilities by wrapping them in a bubble.



iSchool Initiative

Travis argues for a solution to broken school systems. He suggests classrooms ran by technology, the iSchool. He documents technology already available which could improve education. Applications such as: e-mail, Chemical Touch, World Wiki, USA Presidents, Star Walk, Formulae, and Classics are just a few that he mentions. He claims they would save natural resources, cut costs, and improve interaction. It would grant access and accountability, but have lock and personalized settings.
He makes a good point about the impact the iSchool would have on the environment, but I cannot help to think about the huge gaps between the children participating in iSchool and the children who do not. There would be transition time and some children, more than likely poor children, would have a huge disadvantage upon entering the real world. It sounds great on paper, or should I say on video, but I sense we are not ready for the iSchool. Our technological capabilities have surely surpassed our ethical principles. Our ethics will need to catch up and I obviously have a lot of learning to do.



The Lost Generation

At first I was thinking; this girl is troubled, yet somewhat realistic. I think the first half of the video is possible, possibly inevitable if something does not change. The second half is extremely up-beat and optimistic. It literally gave me goose bumps. The technique was perfect for this message. From the color of the background to the angle of the text, all the details set the stage for this intriguing technique. I enjoyed this palindrome. I actually looked it up to find out what the technique was. My first reaction: This is so neat.


Virtual Choir

This is a really amazing video. I am in complete awe. I think this demonstrates very positive and creative use of the internet. I believe people should be allowed to explore and use the internet in any way they wish, as long as it is does not include any form of child pornography or exploitation.

Assignment 3

A Vision of Students Today

This video speaks volume, without saying a word. The music, signs, and emotionless faces say it all. It is slightly depressing, but in many cases it is reality. It does describe parts of my previous college experience. I took out many loans, attended little class, and rarely found anything my professors said interesting. Probably the reason why I did not graduate in 2002, like I should have. Now I am thirty and I have a family and a job to go along with the responsibilities of being a student. This time a little older and a little wiser, I am paying for each semester as it comes, attending class regularly, and paying close attention to my professors. This seems to be working for me. I can empathize with being a teen with "bigger fish to fry" than going to class. I really am not quite sure why society thinks it is a good idea to start a new chapter in your life[college], leave the proverbial nest, and offer you credit cards all in the same year.
There is not anything I would have added to this video. Many times less is more. It is important to get your point across and not ramble on. I feel this video accomplishes that and leaves the viewer interested for what comes next. Kudos to Kansas State University.

It's Not About the Technology


Sometimes when I am sitting in Dr. Strange's class I feel old and outdated, like a cassette tape. I wonder how will I be a great teacher, if I do not even know how Twitter works. This post by Kelly Hines reaffirms that any teacher willing to be open-minded and use the tools can truly teach. She points out that tools are just that, tools. Computers are not teachers. There are lessons in life that all students must learn and some of them have nothing to do with technology. Does technology help? Why yes it does! Do our students need to know how to use technology? Why yes they do! They, also, need to learn about painting, the smell of chemistry class, and friendships. Things that do not necessarily rely on technology.
I am impressed that Hines speaks out so loudly amongst her "tech savvy" colleagues. She is brave and slightly daring posting it on the world wide web for all sorts of technical geniuses to read and critique. Just from actively attending Dr. Strange's class and completing assignments, I know she already possesses plenty of technical literacy. I have a huge appreciation for any teacher who still places value on continuing to learn.


Fischbowl: Is it OK to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

Mr. Fisch just says all the stuff he thinks teachers should know how to do, but he fails to offer any valid solutions. Of course, we can all agree as the time passes it becomes more and more important to be technically literate. That is why as education students, we are learning and training for these necessary skills. I think he is a little extreme comparing technological literacy to reading, but he makes his point. What suggestions does he offer for his annoyed colleagues? I do not remember reading any. For those teachers in-service and close to retirement, where is their place? I suggest maybe they are not proud of their illiteracy, but just refuse to be ashamed.
I do not mind saying I do not have it figured out. I continue to learn on a daily basis. I am just not willing to stand up and say here is a list and not offer any valid directions on how to achieve the ideas on the list.
I can, however, see how Mr. Fisch won an award for this post. It is easier to gain respect from most people when you are open and honest about your thoughts and ideas. I congratulate Mr. Fisch for doing so, and for winning an award for it. Many people find it is easier just to agree, nod, and move on, but Mr. Fisch wrote his article that made people reflect and possibly change their actions. Even though I do not always like to admit it, this is another win for technology if Mr. Fisch helps just one student have a better chance at success he has achieved something. Yes I, too, mean success in terms of both economic/employment and citizenship/personal fulfillment.

Gary's Social Media Count

I watched the social media count, then I had to shut down my computer for the day. I came back to it the next day and realized the seconds were still running(well of course, the world had not come to an end over night). The numbers are so large. For me as a teacher, it means I have a lot of keeping up to do. It is just so big and vast it is hard to feel like you fit in. And it never stops, like the energizer bunny. It just keeps going and going and going. For me, it means I will have to keep learning and learning and learning.

Assignment 2

Did You Know
Did you know? No, I did not. It is difficult for me to clearly respond to this extremely busy video. It has so much information. I had to watch it three times. Each time I viewed it I felt smaller, less significant, and even more out-dated. I am not entirely happy about the rate of change the world and its inhabitants are experiencing. I am a simple woman; and I like it that way. I am absolutely positive there are computers that transcend my capabilities and that information frightens me. Please tell me someone who reads this has watched the movie Terminator.
I am not intentionally passing negative judgment on those who find this type of video to be exciting and interesting. I appreciate all the technological advancements which have come to benefit me i.e. air conditioning, cell phones, and washing machines. In addition, I am delighted to have learned what "B.G." means and on a side note I thoroughly enjoyed the background music. Although, for me, this video was slightly dismal I cannot help but smile at myself. See I am the one in every two people who have been at their current job for more than five years. This point of interest leads me to believe I am one in a million. Who cares if there are 1,300 Alanas in China and the world is flying past me at light speed. What can I do about it? When my days are complete I am content. The music did make me want to dance though, so I think I will watch it one more time.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
Aw, poor Mr. Winkle. He reminds me of my grandfather, who worked on a merchant marine ship during World War II. I can relate to Mr. Winkle's feelings of overwhelming discomfort. Fear of the unknown oftentimes prevents us from moving forward with change. Upon personal reflection, this video is an eye opener. I feel the need to make some additions to an earlier statement. I am, also, grateful for the technology which provided me with an epidural during the birth of my daughter and the technical machines which assisted the doctors during my grandmother's open-heart surgery. I possibly overlooked some important advancements during my bash at the "Did You Know" video.
I do not know what town Mr. Winkle is from, but around here the schools do not look like the one he finds. I think I might have taken that for granted. I know there are learning facilities that are exactly like the one Mr. Winkle stumbles upon, and many more that are in worse condition. The problem for me, and probably many others, is out-of-sight, out-of-mind. My daughter's school is filled with computers, smart boards, and internet accessibility; and honestly she knows more about them than I do. I realize I have neglected to consider the many schools which lack necessary learning equipment. Although I may be simple and not tremendously interested, I believe it is imperative today's children have access to updated and working technology. Also, I think all teachers should be required to take a class comparable to EDM 310, even if the information will be outdated before graduation. This question remains: What to do with Mr. Winkle?


Schools Kill Creativity
Ken Robinson does an exceptional job expressing some key points about how the school systems suppress and discourage creativity in students. I have to admit, I was slightly intimidated about the video lasting almost twenty minutes. After watching it, I found myself looking for more of his lectures to watch. It was an excellent point of discussion. It held my attention the entire time. He is very enlightening, experienced, and extremely hilarious. Although he is funny, his point is serious.
I agree creativity is exceedingly important. I place a lot of blame on numerous advancements in technology, for the lack of creativity. The more outside stimulation people receive, the less they need to create their own. Many children today are raised in front of the television, therefore they do not need to play, explore, or imagine. They have video games that do that for them. In a world of instant this and rapid that most people do not have time to think, much less be creative. As Robinson points out social acceptance is based largely upon success in academics. Academic achievement is rooted in industrialism and technology. As both commodities progress and increase, it becomes more and more difficult to obtain the same academic status. More and more academic education is required and there is even less time for creative arts. Robinson is precise; creativity is being stifled and original ideas of value are becoming obsolete because educators are failing to promote them. Not only was Robinson on target with his topic he, also, did a great job of producing visual images. Watch the video and you will envision Shakespeare as a young school boy and a wiggly girl in the principal's office finally find her niche in life. I cannot conclude this response without giving him an enormous pat on the back for his references to ADHD. In summary, just watch it. You will enjoy it and learn something, I did.



Harness Your Students Digital Smarts
I have to start by saying I appreciate that Davis is open to learning [Tetraform] from her students. Also, I am very impressed that she is so wonderful; yet she is human enough to admit she does not know everything. It is evident her children are learning more efficiently with her project based assignments, rather than multiple choice tests and redundant lectures. Her methods give the students a boost academically, socially, and technologically. Combined it seems to boost the students' self-esteem, too. I agree pencil and paper are becoming tools of the past. I am slightly worried about those of us who are not completely trained for this transition.
Davis is inspiring. I want to be able to encourage independent learning as well as she does. OpenSim, DigiTeen, and the flat classroom project are resources that I would like to learn more about. They appear to be great venues for teaching, learning, and experiencing the growing world of technology. It is evident she wants success for all of her students and she is so proud of them. Although customizing the set curriculum is sometimes frowned upon, Davis manages to set the bar for a great learning experience. I know a few teachers that could benefit by trying just one of her methods. Way to go Davis, you hit a home run for education.

Just Getting Started

I welcome all readers, commentators, critics, and positive thinkers to follow me along my journey, as I learn to become an effective blogger. This will definitely be a new adventure for all persons involved.