Well fellow class mates its been real and its been fun; but it ain't been real fun so I am gone!
Everyone have a great summer and be careful!
I hope to see you all next year so we can goof-off some more! Peace and Love ♥Rachel
Friday, April 10, 2009
MANDATORY POST!
I have learned things in this class that I did not know that I was going to learn. First of all Blogs. Before entering this class I had heard of blogs but had no clue what they were or what they could be used for. Blogs are probably the thing that I will take from this class and use. I hope to use blogs to communicate with the parents of my students and for other uses.
The Presentations were helpful. I already know how to use the PowerPoint and so I did not learn too much new information, but it was nice to know that there are other ways to do Presentations other than with PowerPoint!
All together I do like using Google Docs! My favorite thing about Google is that I can access it any time any where that has Internet! (The dog can never eat my homework!) I also did like learning about the payout tables on Spreadsheet. I think people should know how to calculate things like what they will owe on something they purchase and so many people have no clue. After class on the day we learned about the payout table I went home and entered my information for my vehicle into the table to see what my "results" were.
I was glad that we learned about podcast. I do not think that I will ever use them in my classroom but I did enjoy making my own podcast. Videocast are something that I will use in my classroom. For one of our blog post we had to watch 2 videocast of our choice and I choose sea life which grabbed my attention and I think that it would do just the same for my students.
Picasa was interesting to look at, I enjoyed playing with the pictures and making new files. I have a program on my computer already that I use but I was glad to see another option in case I ever needed a new program to use.
I can not express to anyone enough my hatred for twitter!! I guess that I do not see the use for it in my classroom and that is why I dislike it so much. I searched about Twitter on Google to try to find information on how to use it in an effective way. Every time I open twitter up I just sit there with blank stares trying to get started and I just can't. I really DID try to make an effort but I felt like I was at a wall trying to climb over with no ladder! ( I just wasn't going to get very far.)
I did reach a teacher and she was more than helpful. She manages a blog that is designed to help parents with their children's math homework. Reaching a teacher that had passion for school and technology showed me that I will most likely be using technology in my classroom in one way or another. I thought that having to contact a teacher was a different but fun learning experience.
Google Earth is something that I hope to use in my classroom. I could take my class on a field trip without leaving the classroom and children love things that are different so I think that it would be beneficial. Google Earth could be technology and Social Studies/Geography integration which I think will work in helping the children to learn, rather than reading out of text books.
Foliotek is a great way for the State of Alabama to easily access the records they need about future teachers. I think that if i have to keep up with all the papers that would be required for me to have to have I would be LOST! Foliotek takes a burden off of me and I also think that it makes life easier for my professors. Foliotek is a great tool and I am so thankful that we have it!
I did not know about ACCESS Labs until I researched them in this class. I came from a very small school and did not know that that kind of technology was available for high school students. I think that without ACCESS some students would not get the full education that they deserve and that ACCESS will only expand any school that it is in!
All together I feel like I am coming out of this class with more information than I had when I went in ( and isn't that the point?)! I have enjoyed this class and learning about how I can use technology in my classroom. There were some parts of this class that I thought were not as valuable as others but I am glad to of had the experience. I hope that I can remember everything that we learned and use it in my classroom!
The Presentations were helpful. I already know how to use the PowerPoint and so I did not learn too much new information, but it was nice to know that there are other ways to do Presentations other than with PowerPoint!
All together I do like using Google Docs! My favorite thing about Google is that I can access it any time any where that has Internet! (The dog can never eat my homework!) I also did like learning about the payout tables on Spreadsheet. I think people should know how to calculate things like what they will owe on something they purchase and so many people have no clue. After class on the day we learned about the payout table I went home and entered my information for my vehicle into the table to see what my "results" were.
I was glad that we learned about podcast. I do not think that I will ever use them in my classroom but I did enjoy making my own podcast. Videocast are something that I will use in my classroom. For one of our blog post we had to watch 2 videocast of our choice and I choose sea life which grabbed my attention and I think that it would do just the same for my students.
Picasa was interesting to look at, I enjoyed playing with the pictures and making new files. I have a program on my computer already that I use but I was glad to see another option in case I ever needed a new program to use.
I can not express to anyone enough my hatred for twitter!! I guess that I do not see the use for it in my classroom and that is why I dislike it so much. I searched about Twitter on Google to try to find information on how to use it in an effective way. Every time I open twitter up I just sit there with blank stares trying to get started and I just can't. I really DID try to make an effort but I felt like I was at a wall trying to climb over with no ladder! ( I just wasn't going to get very far.)
I did reach a teacher and she was more than helpful. She manages a blog that is designed to help parents with their children's math homework. Reaching a teacher that had passion for school and technology showed me that I will most likely be using technology in my classroom in one way or another. I thought that having to contact a teacher was a different but fun learning experience.
Google Earth is something that I hope to use in my classroom. I could take my class on a field trip without leaving the classroom and children love things that are different so I think that it would be beneficial. Google Earth could be technology and Social Studies/Geography integration which I think will work in helping the children to learn, rather than reading out of text books.
Foliotek is a great way for the State of Alabama to easily access the records they need about future teachers. I think that if i have to keep up with all the papers that would be required for me to have to have I would be LOST! Foliotek takes a burden off of me and I also think that it makes life easier for my professors. Foliotek is a great tool and I am so thankful that we have it!
I did not know about ACCESS Labs until I researched them in this class. I came from a very small school and did not know that that kind of technology was available for high school students. I think that without ACCESS some students would not get the full education that they deserve and that ACCESS will only expand any school that it is in!
All together I feel like I am coming out of this class with more information than I had when I went in ( and isn't that the point?)! I have enjoyed this class and learning about how I can use technology in my classroom. There were some parts of this class that I thought were not as valuable as others but I am glad to of had the experience. I hope that I can remember everything that we learned and use it in my classroom!
Twitter!
I do not think that Twitter will ever be used in my classroom. I have found it not difficult, but different. I can see where Blogs, Podcast, and Facebook can have their place in the classroom but Twitter seems to fall between the cracks for me.
I talked to Mr. C and asked his advice about where to start on Twitter and he sent me some "link" I guess but I found nothing on it to even start me off. I looked over Twitter Tips for some answers and yet again nothing. I search Google to see what others had to say about Twitter an those who like Twitter, LOVE Twitter and those who do not find any use for it, find NO use for it. I guess that you can either be for it or against it and I am against it.
I view Twitter as a mass collaboration for texts messages! If I want to text someone I can do it on my cell phone to the people I want to talk to! The information that is shared on Twitter by the people that I am following shows that they know their stuff about teaching and I think that they have alot to offer, I just think that I would rather view their Blogs then Twitter with them!
I found a link to The Nine Reason Why Twitter Should be Used in Schools. I found this article because I followed Twitter Tips on Twitter. This article has alot of good points about how Twitter can be used in schools but I am still not for it! I logged onto Twitter about 4 times a week to see what had been Twitted and I would make a random comments but other than that I did not find Twitter useful. I did try though.
I talked to Mr. C and asked his advice about where to start on Twitter and he sent me some "link" I guess but I found nothing on it to even start me off. I looked over Twitter Tips for some answers and yet again nothing. I search Google to see what others had to say about Twitter an those who like Twitter, LOVE Twitter and those who do not find any use for it, find NO use for it. I guess that you can either be for it or against it and I am against it.
I view Twitter as a mass collaboration for texts messages! If I want to text someone I can do it on my cell phone to the people I want to talk to! The information that is shared on Twitter by the people that I am following shows that they know their stuff about teaching and I think that they have alot to offer, I just think that I would rather view their Blogs then Twitter with them!
I found a link to The Nine Reason Why Twitter Should be Used in Schools. I found this article because I followed Twitter Tips on Twitter. This article has alot of good points about how Twitter can be used in schools but I am still not for it! I logged onto Twitter about 4 times a week to see what had been Twitted and I would make a random comments but other than that I did not find Twitter useful. I did try though.
Improvement Suggestions!
Technology in the Classroom at the University of South Alabama!
In the podcast that I was in I feel like I was begging the others in my group to talk, I had to say "Do you have anything to say about that?" No one would "butt" in and I felt like I had to keep going and going even though I would pause and hope someone else would start in on the topics. Although I was not as prepared as some of the other podcast that were done I feel like as a whole my podcast was done really well. We covered the topic that we were suppose to cover and went over all that aspects of what need to be said, I wish the others would have been more involved. ( I always thought that I had a weird sounding voice and on the podcast I actually sound good! )
You Tube - Can it be Useful in the Classroom?
Overall they start off very well; he is obviously prepared because he bring a document about You Tube with him to the podcast. He discussed how You Tube can be uploaded to and how simple it is. Mike talks about a You Tube clip that was helpful to him and a You Tube clip that we watched in our EDM 310 class. They discuss how You Tube can be use in a mathematics class and by watching You Tube you can refresh your memory. Overall they were well prepared and I hate to say that I couldn't find anything wrong but they did very well.
Facebook! Its in Class! But can it be Useful in Class?
The girl that starts off does very well until she has to stop reading a script. They give a detailed description of what facebook is and tell why it was made. They tell why facebook has benefits and how simplistic it is. They know their stuff when it comes to how facebook works and specific details about facebook. They did have a good example of how facebook can be used in the classroom; a "community" to talk and share information. The only thing that I can see that they did not cover is that facebook would still be a distraction. No matter what you tell your students to do on facebook, they will still use it for personal use which can get in the way while trying to get work done.
Pick of the Day: Useful Internet Sites for Elementary Teachers.
I think that Dr. Strange should of had them introduce themselves. At some points during their podcast I had to turn up the volume (they needed to talk louder). They did have some good websites ( I visited them while listening to the podcast). They also did not flow very well between each other. It was kind of like they were doing this as individuals. They did good overall and they obviously had to do some research to have the websites available for the podcast.
In the podcast that I was in I feel like I was begging the others in my group to talk, I had to say "Do you have anything to say about that?" No one would "butt" in and I felt like I had to keep going and going even though I would pause and hope someone else would start in on the topics. Although I was not as prepared as some of the other podcast that were done I feel like as a whole my podcast was done really well. We covered the topic that we were suppose to cover and went over all that aspects of what need to be said, I wish the others would have been more involved. ( I always thought that I had a weird sounding voice and on the podcast I actually sound good! )
You Tube - Can it be Useful in the Classroom?
Overall they start off very well; he is obviously prepared because he bring a document about You Tube with him to the podcast. He discussed how You Tube can be uploaded to and how simple it is. Mike talks about a You Tube clip that was helpful to him and a You Tube clip that we watched in our EDM 310 class. They discuss how You Tube can be use in a mathematics class and by watching You Tube you can refresh your memory. Overall they were well prepared and I hate to say that I couldn't find anything wrong but they did very well.
Facebook! Its in Class! But can it be Useful in Class?
The girl that starts off does very well until she has to stop reading a script. They give a detailed description of what facebook is and tell why it was made. They tell why facebook has benefits and how simplistic it is. They know their stuff when it comes to how facebook works and specific details about facebook. They did have a good example of how facebook can be used in the classroom; a "community" to talk and share information. The only thing that I can see that they did not cover is that facebook would still be a distraction. No matter what you tell your students to do on facebook, they will still use it for personal use which can get in the way while trying to get work done.
Pick of the Day: Useful Internet Sites for Elementary Teachers.
I think that Dr. Strange should of had them introduce themselves. At some points during their podcast I had to turn up the volume (they needed to talk louder). They did have some good websites ( I visited them while listening to the podcast). They also did not flow very well between each other. It was kind of like they were doing this as individuals. They did good overall and they obviously had to do some research to have the websites available for the podcast.
Student Blog Analysis
I picked a Blog of a Student in the TT 9 class. I am not sure, but I thought that we all had the same topics to Blog about. At any rate, her blogs had many good points but I did not see one that had anything to do with this class. She blogged about family, school, and sports but the purpose of this Blog, to me, is to get the assignments and learn in the process; not to only talk about my personal life.
I feel like the Blogging is a good assignment for this class. I know that it is a pain in the rear sometimes but I did not even know what a Blog was until I entered this class. I do think that some of the assignment topics are not very interesting but I may change my mind later once I have started teaching and can use the information in real situations.
After reading the Blog of another classmate I realize how much effort I have put into this class and I do feel like I have gotten something out of it. I have communicated with a teacher from another state, I really enjoyed the video of "The Last Lecture", and I feel like my professional Blog my help me in the future to get a job.
I hope to be able to use Blogs in the future to communicate with my students and parents. I think that by using a Blog I will be able to help the parents have the assignments of their children, know upcoming events, and just to be better informed without having to make a personal call or come to the school. I know that I will continue to Blog after this class is over and I am thankful that I have finally learned what a Blog is!
I feel like the Blogging is a good assignment for this class. I know that it is a pain in the rear sometimes but I did not even know what a Blog was until I entered this class. I do think that some of the assignment topics are not very interesting but I may change my mind later once I have started teaching and can use the information in real situations.
After reading the Blog of another classmate I realize how much effort I have put into this class and I do feel like I have gotten something out of it. I have communicated with a teacher from another state, I really enjoyed the video of "The Last Lecture", and I feel like my professional Blog my help me in the future to get a job.
I hope to be able to use Blogs in the future to communicate with my students and parents. I think that by using a Blog I will be able to help the parents have the assignments of their children, know upcoming events, and just to be better informed without having to make a personal call or come to the school. I know that I will continue to Blog after this class is over and I am thankful that I have finally learned what a Blog is!
Another Podcast Summary
Carol Dweck talks about how students think that their intelligence is a fixed trait. She says that some students want to do activities that will show that they are smart. In her interview she talks about an 8 session workshop. A group of students were picked to have both the study skill and a growth mind set workshop while another group got just study skills. The students who got just the study skills had grades that continued to decline. The students who received the workshop learned that their mind is like a muscle and it grows as you use it.
At the end of the semester there was significant rebound in the students that were in the growth mind set workshop. Teachers could even pick out which students were in the workshop and which ones weren't although they did not know that there were two groups.
In the interview she talks about a race car driver that contacted her to talk about growth mind set. He talked with her about how in racing you are bound to make a mistake or get in a tough spot and without growth mind set you would not be able to handle the tough situations.
At the end of the semester there was significant rebound in the students that were in the growth mind set workshop. Teachers could even pick out which students were in the workshop and which ones weren't although they did not know that there were two groups.
In the interview she talks about a race car driver that contacted her to talk about growth mind set. He talked with her about how in racing you are bound to make a mistake or get in a tough spot and without growth mind set you would not be able to handle the tough situations.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Mrs. Thorp!
I finally started a conversation with a teacher! Mrs. Thorp's Blog is one that I used for my national blogs of teachers. I contacted Mrs. Thorp two days ago and she has agreed to talk to me! YAY!
From Mrs. Thorp!
Rachel,Thank you for taking the time to respond on my blog. I would be happy to have a conversation about technology and teaching. Let em know how I can help you or what format you want to use.Have a wonderful day
My Response!
Mrs. Thorp,
I have really enjoyed your blog and I am using your "Candy Button" idea right now to try and help my brother in math. I thought that I would tell you a little about myself, I am a Junior at the University of South Alabama and I am getting my Degree in Elementary Education. I have lived in the same town in Alabama my whole life and I want to teach at the same school I attended. Thank you for responding to my comment and I wanting to ask you a few questions! First of all, I was wondering where you are located? Did you use technology to teach while you taught third grade? (if so what did you use?) What made you want to start a blog?
Mrs. Thorp
Rachel,
I am glad that you like my blog and that it i useful to you. I am happy that you are studying to be a teacher. We really need dedicated teachers to help the next generation of children learn to love learning.
I will try to answer your questions.
1. I live in Lansing, Michigan and taught third grade for the last 8 years before retiring in a Lutheran school. I have also taught preschool in Lansing and third grade in Bay City, Michigan.
2. Yes, I did use technology in the classroom, but just in the last eight years. We had computers in the classroom , but I also had a laptop which I brought back and forth to school. I used the computer to keep track of grades and attendance. We had a projector that I could hook up to my computer so when I found something on the internet that was useful, I could show the class on the screen through the projector. i made power points very often on my laptop that I also would project on the big screen. I did this a lot in social studies. Our course of study for third grade social studies was Regions of the United States, so during social studies we went on a virtual field trip to all the regions. As we watched the power points we pretended we were sight seeing through the states. To keep the parents informed on what we were doing I created a trip blog. In this blog I shared with the parents what we were learning on our trip across the United States. Here is the link to the blog: http://thirdgradetrip.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/third-graders-visit-west-quoddy-head-maine/
3. I also you used a web page to post my assignments and spelling words each week. Many parents like this because they could see the assignments before I gave them to the class.
4. Right now I am blogging still even though I am not teaching in a classroom. My intended audience is parents and teachers of third graders. I wanted to help parents who want to help their third graders do better in school. Sometimes parents want to help but for some reason do not want to ask their child's teacher or maybe they are homeschooling and need some help. I would like to be there for them if they need the help. I also have some teachers who read my blog because they are looking for some new ideas.
I hope this is helpful for you. I f you have more questions that I can answer, let me know.
It is encouraging for me to know that there are young people like you who want to be teachers! Stay with it. There some children out there who will be blessed to have you as a teacher!
Mrs. Gladys Thorp
From Mrs. Thorp!
Rachel,Thank you for taking the time to respond on my blog. I would be happy to have a conversation about technology and teaching. Let em know how I can help you or what format you want to use.Have a wonderful day
My Response!
Mrs. Thorp,
I have really enjoyed your blog and I am using your "Candy Button" idea right now to try and help my brother in math. I thought that I would tell you a little about myself, I am a Junior at the University of South Alabama and I am getting my Degree in Elementary Education. I have lived in the same town in Alabama my whole life and I want to teach at the same school I attended. Thank you for responding to my comment and I wanting to ask you a few questions! First of all, I was wondering where you are located? Did you use technology to teach while you taught third grade? (if so what did you use?) What made you want to start a blog?
Mrs. Thorp
Rachel,
I am glad that you like my blog and that it i useful to you. I am happy that you are studying to be a teacher. We really need dedicated teachers to help the next generation of children learn to love learning.
I will try to answer your questions.
1. I live in Lansing, Michigan and taught third grade for the last 8 years before retiring in a Lutheran school. I have also taught preschool in Lansing and third grade in Bay City, Michigan.
2. Yes, I did use technology in the classroom, but just in the last eight years. We had computers in the classroom , but I also had a laptop which I brought back and forth to school. I used the computer to keep track of grades and attendance. We had a projector that I could hook up to my computer so when I found something on the internet that was useful, I could show the class on the screen through the projector. i made power points very often on my laptop that I also would project on the big screen. I did this a lot in social studies. Our course of study for third grade social studies was Regions of the United States, so during social studies we went on a virtual field trip to all the regions. As we watched the power points we pretended we were sight seeing through the states. To keep the parents informed on what we were doing I created a trip blog. In this blog I shared with the parents what we were learning on our trip across the United States. Here is the link to the blog: http://thirdgradetrip.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/third-graders-visit-west-quoddy-head-maine/
3. I also you used a web page to post my assignments and spelling words each week. Many parents like this because they could see the assignments before I gave them to the class.
4. Right now I am blogging still even though I am not teaching in a classroom. My intended audience is parents and teachers of third graders. I wanted to help parents who want to help their third graders do better in school. Sometimes parents want to help but for some reason do not want to ask their child's teacher or maybe they are homeschooling and need some help. I would like to be there for them if they need the help. I also have some teachers who read my blog because they are looking for some new ideas.
I hope this is helpful for you. I f you have more questions that I can answer, let me know.
It is encouraging for me to know that there are young people like you who want to be teachers! Stay with it. There some children out there who will be blessed to have you as a teacher!
Mrs. Gladys Thorp
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
K-5 Podcast!
I watched two podcast in the K-5 grade level. The first one I watched was about how Solar Eclipse occur. In the video a teacher gave examples and demonstrated how and why Solar Eclipse occur. There was a Video that explained why some people see a total solar eclipse and why other people see only a partial eclipse.
In the second Podcast I watched we learned about "A Night in the Coral Reef." There was a narrator who talked as the video showed different kinds of fish that live on the reef. This Podcast even caught my attention and it is at a K-5 Grade Level.
These Podcast, especially the second one could be used in the classroom to visual stimulate the children. Books are good for learning but I know a child would much rather see a video to learn about sea life than read about it in a book. These Podcast are free and would be a great way to integrate technology into the classroom with any subject. I am glad that I found these podcast and hope to use ones like them in my classroom.
In the second Podcast I watched we learned about "A Night in the Coral Reef." There was a narrator who talked as the video showed different kinds of fish that live on the reef. This Podcast even caught my attention and it is at a K-5 Grade Level.
These Podcast, especially the second one could be used in the classroom to visual stimulate the children. Books are good for learning but I know a child would much rather see a video to learn about sea life than read about it in a book. These Podcast are free and would be a great way to integrate technology into the classroom with any subject. I am glad that I found these podcast and hope to use ones like them in my classroom.
The Edible Schoolyard and A Night in the Global Village
These podcast were amazing. I watched the Edible Classroom first and I was surprised to see such an elaborate garden at a school. Children will learn so much more by having their hands touching and feeling what they are doing. Learning the skills in the kitchen are not something that is taught as much as it should be in the home. Having a class where the students not only grow and pick from a garden but they learn how to cook with it is awesome. The garden would be a great way to integrate social studies, science, math, and much more into your classroom. The garden, which was originally started by Alice Waters in order to make the cafeteria more healthy has become apart of life at Martin Luther King School.
The second podcast that I watched was the Night in the global Village. This was a place where children went to stay for one night. While at the Global Village they were assigned a certain lifestyle from a certain part of the world. They were given limited resources and force to bargain with others for food and firewood. This Program is designed to show children what life it like outside the United States.
Both podcast were eye opening. The Global Village is something that I did not know existed and I wish that I had had that experience of staying the night at as a child, or even now! Children, and I, take what we have for granted so much these days and with a place like this it could really turn a child around.
The Edible Garden is something that I would like to have at my school. Maybe not as large as what this school had but possibly a classroom garden where the children would still be hands on. Children love to feel apart of their surroundings and by allowing them to take charge and have a garden I think that it would really help them to grow and develop.
The second podcast that I watched was the Night in the global Village. This was a place where children went to stay for one night. While at the Global Village they were assigned a certain lifestyle from a certain part of the world. They were given limited resources and force to bargain with others for food and firewood. This Program is designed to show children what life it like outside the United States.
Both podcast were eye opening. The Global Village is something that I did not know existed and I wish that I had had that experience of staying the night at as a child, or even now! Children, and I, take what we have for granted so much these days and with a place like this it could really turn a child around.
The Edible Garden is something that I would like to have at my school. Maybe not as large as what this school had but possibly a classroom garden where the children would still be hands on. Children love to feel apart of their surroundings and by allowing them to take charge and have a garden I think that it would really help them to grow and develop.
iTunes University
iTunes U puts the power of the iTunes Store to work for colleges, universities, and other education organizations, so users can easily search, download, and play education content just like they do music, movies, and TV shows. Mobile Learning has never been so easy. With programs like iTunes U, students no longer have to be sitting at a desk to get information they need for their classes. The technology that is offered today allows students to gather information on the web, get their email, watch lectures, get directions, or pinpoint exactly where their friends are; anytime and anywhere! Using iTunes U in the classroom would give your students a better chance of "catching up" on work they may of missed by uploading a lecture or assignment to their iPod or Computer. iTunes U is a free program that can be used by anyone. Some Colleges do have their material closed off to the public and can be accessed by authorized users. This program is simple and is a tool that I hope to use in my classroom one way or another.
Monday, February 23, 2009
iPods in Education
As part of the University initiative to encourage creative uses of technology in education and campus life, Duke University distributed 20Gb/ Apple iPod devices. These iPods were equipped with Belkin Voice Recorders and were distributed to over 1600 entering first year students in August 2004. These iPod were distributed with the main focuse being on audio playback but faculty and student interest made them more of a tool. iPods were starting to be used as field recording tool, classroom recording tool, and a study support tool. The iPods also reduces dependency on physical materials in the classroom and also engaged the students more in the classroom.
At other universities, such as York, iPods are being using in the same way. Lectures can be heard with out going to the classroom, however Diane Zorn of York U warns "students looking to use technology to avoid hitting the books will be disappointed." Even though the technology is the there, the course material is still the same and the classes are no easier, just different.
At other universities, such as York, iPods are being using in the same way. Lectures can be heard with out going to the classroom, however Diane Zorn of York U warns "students looking to use technology to avoid hitting the books will be disappointed." Even though the technology is the there, the course material is still the same and the classes are no easier, just different.
Dr. Alice Christie
Dr. Alice Christie's website has numerous amounts of information that can be used in the class room. She has been teaching for over 40 years and integrates technology into her classroom with GPS and Geocaching, Digital Photography, Podcasting, Online Researching Resources, and much more. The main topic that interest me is the Digital Photography.
Dr. Christie takes pictures of anything from vegetation and people to trains and flowers. The pictures she takes are usually in a natural environment and are beautiful just as they are. By using technology she enhances them to look abstract and bring out the colors in them. Using technology to enhance pictures could be a creative tool to use in the classroom. Teaching the children how to use a digital camera would be very effective in their lives outside of school and knowledge they would surely carry with them. Then having the children take pictures ,of their choosing, of the outside world after they have learned how to use a digital camera. Once these pictures have been taken I could have my class digitally enhance them on the computer. I think that this activity would be beneficial and a great learning experience for the children.
Dr. Christie takes pictures of anything from vegetation and people to trains and flowers. The pictures she takes are usually in a natural environment and are beautiful just as they are. By using technology she enhances them to look abstract and bring out the colors in them. Using technology to enhance pictures could be a creative tool to use in the classroom. Teaching the children how to use a digital camera would be very effective in their lives outside of school and knowledge they would surely carry with them. Then having the children take pictures ,of their choosing, of the outside world after they have learned how to use a digital camera. Once these pictures have been taken I could have my class digitally enhance them on the computer. I think that this activity would be beneficial and a great learning experience for the children.
Wikipedia
Virgil Griffith of Cal Tech computation and neural-systems graduate student created the Wikipedia Scanner. This Scanner offers users a searchable database that ties millions of anonymous Wikipedia edits to organizations where those edits apparently originated, by cross-referencing the edits with data on who owns the associated block of internet IP addresses.
Voting-machine company Diebold provides a good example of changes that are made to Wikipedia, with someone at the company's IP address apparently deleting long paragraphs detailing the security industry's concerns over the integrity of their voting machines, and information about the company's CEO's fund-raising for President Bush.
Someone with an IP address from Wal-Mart made this change:
With the Wikipedia Scanner now in effect, maybe dire changes to Wikipedia will not be made as often. Wikipedia is open to so many people with so many different views. The whole point of the online encyclopedia is that it is collaborative and multi-sourced. Wikipedia calls itself "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit," which is another way of saying it is not fact-checked. Or spin-checked, for that matter. I would not trust it as a source for any paper that I am going to write. I do not think that Wikipedia can be trust as a honest source for anything.
Voting-machine company Diebold provides a good example of changes that are made to Wikipedia, with someone at the company's IP address apparently deleting long paragraphs detailing the security industry's concerns over the integrity of their voting machines, and information about the company's CEO's fund-raising for President Bush.
Someone with an IP address from Wal-Mart made this change:
From:
Wages at Wal-Mart are about 20% less than at other retail stores. Founder Sam Walton once argued that his company should be exempt from the minimum wage.
To:
The average wage at Wal-Mart is almost double the federal minimum wage (Wal-Mart). However, founder Sam Walton once argued that his company should be exempt from the minimum wage.Also, politician's offices are heavy users of the system. Former Montana Sen. Conrad Burns' office, for example, apparently changed one critical paragraph headed "A controversial voice" to "A voice for farmers," with predictably image-friendly content following it.
With the Wikipedia Scanner now in effect, maybe dire changes to Wikipedia will not be made as often. Wikipedia is open to so many people with so many different views. The whole point of the online encyclopedia is that it is collaborative and multi-sourced. Wikipedia calls itself "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit," which is another way of saying it is not fact-checked. Or spin-checked, for that matter. I would not trust it as a source for any paper that I am going to write. I do not think that Wikipedia can be trust as a honest source for anything.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Randy Pausch's: Last Lecture
Randy Pausch's Achieving Your Childhood Dreams is a great lecture. Randy makes many points during his lecture, but the ones that stuck out to me were first that; You have to be good at something: It make you valuable. In the world today there are not as many opportunities and will not be as many until the economy gets back on its feet. To be good at something makes you a better resource to the place that you work.
One other point that he makes is that you will encounter brick walls. When you reach the brick walls you can either stand there or find your way around them. "You can get more out of not achieving a dream than you can if you do achieve it." You learn more this way, it shows you what you want and maybe what you can not have and in the end you deal with defeat and maybe find a way to reach the goal next time. Not always getting what you want can be a learning process that some people need in order to progress in their own life.
My favorite point that he made was to have fun. In all things that are done in life, a person should have fun doing them; otherwise what is the point? Randy informs his audience in beginning of his lecture that he has 6 months to live. He is dying from cancer of the liver. Randy also goes to say that he does not want to talk about it, he is here to talk about childhood dreams, not cancer. During his whole presentation he never acts like a dying man. I forgot a few times of his situation and when it hit me again I sat there in amazement at his upbeat attitude.
This lecture was not something that I would of ever pick off of You Tube to watch but I am glad that I did. Seeing someone who has death standing at their back door, and yet they are so alive; makes me want to do the things that I have always want to do, that way when my time comes I will have no regrets. I hope that I am as good of a teacher as him and can use some of his advice in my classroom and life.
One other point that he makes is that you will encounter brick walls. When you reach the brick walls you can either stand there or find your way around them. "You can get more out of not achieving a dream than you can if you do achieve it." You learn more this way, it shows you what you want and maybe what you can not have and in the end you deal with defeat and maybe find a way to reach the goal next time. Not always getting what you want can be a learning process that some people need in order to progress in their own life.
My favorite point that he made was to have fun. In all things that are done in life, a person should have fun doing them; otherwise what is the point? Randy informs his audience in beginning of his lecture that he has 6 months to live. He is dying from cancer of the liver. Randy also goes to say that he does not want to talk about it, he is here to talk about childhood dreams, not cancer. During his whole presentation he never acts like a dying man. I forgot a few times of his situation and when it hit me again I sat there in amazement at his upbeat attitude.
This lecture was not something that I would of ever pick off of You Tube to watch but I am glad that I did. Seeing someone who has death standing at their back door, and yet they are so alive; makes me want to do the things that I have always want to do, that way when my time comes I will have no regrets. I hope that I am as good of a teacher as him and can use some of his advice in my classroom and life.
Monday, February 16, 2009
April - 180 Days?
This Blog talks about whether there is enough time in the school year to teach students what they need to know for the future with technology. Some argue that there is not enough time in the 180 day school year and that too much already being done. But the students do need to learn about technology and some students are already behind.
There is a PowerPoint on this blog that shows how the days of the 180 day school year are being used. When the slide shows ends, after going over what the days are used for, there ends up being only being 120 days that are used for teaching. What happened to the other days? They were used for State testing and other functions. This blog goes to show how time is being used in the schools. If time is made for technology it can be taught be other activities would have to be removed or minimized.
There is a PowerPoint on this blog that shows how the days of the 180 day school year are being used. When the slide shows ends, after going over what the days are used for, there ends up being only being 120 days that are used for teaching. What happened to the other days? They were used for State testing and other functions. This blog goes to show how time is being used in the schools. If time is made for technology it can be taught be other activities would have to be removed or minimized.
Last Semester's Podcasts!
February 15, 2009
1. Go to the blog for the Podcasts done by students in last semester’s EDM 310 classes. Listen to
at least two podcasts. As you listen to them, think about what would have made them better. You
will be doing a Podcast soon. It will also be available to the world. Think about how to make
your Podcast better than the first set of podcasts done in EDM 310. Write two or more
paragraphs identifying improvements that you will try and introduce into yoyr podcast. Be sure
you properly cite the 2 or more podcast to which you listened.
1. Go to the blog for the Podcasts done by students in last semester’s EDM 310 classes. Listen to
at least two podcasts. As you listen to them, think about what would have made them better. You
will be doing a Podcast soon. It will also be available to the world. Think about how to make
your Podcast better than the first set of podcasts done in EDM 310. Write two or more
paragraphs identifying improvements that you will try and introduce into yoyr podcast. Be sure
you properly cite the 2 or more podcast to which you listened.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
This Post is a little extreme. Yes, these days we are having to us computers more and it is a helpful tool, but if that is not what the teacher wants I see no reason to push it. Teachers that have been teaching for 30 years (and who are obviously NOT computer teachers or even deal with computers) have their own way of teaching. If the teachers can meet the curriculum then why should computers have to be involved?
On the other hand. I can see how not knowing how to work a computer could cause problems. There is no reason that the teachers should not at least try to learn how to do the basic computer functions. Most class rooms these days have computers in them and if the teacher can not work the computer, how are the students going to advance in what they should know? I guess I can see that knowing how to use a computer is mandatory these days. 2020 children are going to have so much more technology that is not even out today that if they do not know how to work today's computers they will be left behind in the future. So I guess that I do agree with the article!!
On the other hand. I can see how not knowing how to work a computer could cause problems. There is no reason that the teachers should not at least try to learn how to do the basic computer functions. Most class rooms these days have computers in them and if the teacher can not work the computer, how are the students going to advance in what they should know? I guess I can see that knowing how to use a computer is mandatory these days. 2020 children are going to have so much more technology that is not even out today that if they do not know how to work today's computers they will be left behind in the future. So I guess that I do agree with the article!!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
International Blogs!
Green School in Bali-Indonesia
Green School serves more than 100 students in Preschool and Kindergarten through Year Eight. Their innovative curriculum combines demanding academic content taught through a holistic approach that aims to inspire and enhance all of a child’s capacities. Their goal is to foster a spirit of inquiry and a love of learning that prepares children to thrive in the challenging, complex 21st-century world. The eight-hectare campus in Sibang Kaja is divided by the Ayung River, whose western bank supports classrooms, libraries, laboratories and kitchens, while the eastern bank serves as the setting for the School’s entrepreneurial enterprises, cultural centers, homes, and guest villas. Aquaculture ponds, organic vegetable gardens, edible mazes, and permacultural gardens are found throughout the vast campus of shaded walkways, elegantly curving bridges, and cool breezes that lift themselves off the rushing River. (According to the Blog) This blog has all the recent activities of the students ages K - 8. It has information for parents and the schools daily schedule.
Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom Blog
Kathy Cassidy uses her classroom blog to help her children read more smoothly. She has a video on her classroom blog of a social studies assignment that has the children showing the difference in what they "want" and what they "need"! Mrs. Cassidy also uses her blog to show what her children are doing in the classroom. She has the children working online with a "buddy" from the University of Regina to work on their computer skills.
Green School serves more than 100 students in Preschool and Kindergarten through Year Eight. Their innovative curriculum combines demanding academic content taught through a holistic approach that aims to inspire and enhance all of a child’s capacities. Their goal is to foster a spirit of inquiry and a love of learning that prepares children to thrive in the challenging, complex 21st-century world. The eight-hectare campus in Sibang Kaja is divided by the Ayung River, whose western bank supports classrooms, libraries, laboratories and kitchens, while the eastern bank serves as the setting for the School’s entrepreneurial enterprises, cultural centers, homes, and guest villas. Aquaculture ponds, organic vegetable gardens, edible mazes, and permacultural gardens are found throughout the vast campus of shaded walkways, elegantly curving bridges, and cool breezes that lift themselves off the rushing River. (According to the Blog) This blog has all the recent activities of the students ages K - 8. It has information for parents and the schools daily schedule.
Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom Blog
Kathy Cassidy uses her classroom blog to help her children read more smoothly. She has a video on her classroom blog of a social studies assignment that has the children showing the difference in what they "want" and what they "need"! Mrs. Cassidy also uses her blog to show what her children are doing in the classroom. She has the children working online with a "buddy" from the University of Regina to work on their computer skills.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
How Class Blogs Are Being Used!
Mrs. Thorp's Third Grade Blog
Mrs. Thorp's Blog allows parents to be able to view ways that she is showing their children how to do mathematics. She also has her methods and household objects that parents can use to help their children. Mrs. Thorp is a retired teacher and wants parents to be able to help their children in school. Mrs Thorp believes that parents are the biggest help to children when it comes to studying and doing homework. She also has miscellaneous topics like "how to manage your backpack." At the bottom of her Blog she has a link to her husband and a few other family members so you can get to know them too! This was a very cute blog and would be helpful to parents.
7th Grade Social Studies: Mrs. Niklasch
Mrs. Nilasch has no photos on her blog but her blog is one of the best I have found. She has Due Dates for her assignments and what the assignments are about. Parents can leave feedback and comments about all topics on her blog. She has her powerpoints, tests, enrichment book list, and so much more information that parents normally can only get during working hours located on her blog. Her blog is like having her there to answer your personal questions. This blog has everything and more that a parent would need to keep up their childs work and a perfectplace to be able to locate the teacher!
Mrs. Thorp's Blog allows parents to be able to view ways that she is showing their children how to do mathematics. She also has her methods and household objects that parents can use to help their children. Mrs. Thorp is a retired teacher and wants parents to be able to help their children in school. Mrs Thorp believes that parents are the biggest help to children when it comes to studying and doing homework. She also has miscellaneous topics like "how to manage your backpack." At the bottom of her Blog she has a link to her husband and a few other family members so you can get to know them too! This was a very cute blog and would be helpful to parents.
7th Grade Social Studies: Mrs. Niklasch
Mrs. Nilasch has no photos on her blog but her blog is one of the best I have found. She has Due Dates for her assignments and what the assignments are about. Parents can leave feedback and comments about all topics on her blog. She has her powerpoints, tests, enrichment book list, and so much more information that parents normally can only get during working hours located on her blog. Her blog is like having her there to answer your personal questions. This blog has everything and more that a parent would need to keep up their childs work and a perfectplace to be able to locate the teacher!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Did You Know?
This little movie was great! The only thing that I did not agree with is that "computers will be smarter than people". While computers can calculate and do alot of the work that I do not want to do, computers just know formulas, not really logic. The fact that more text messages are going around than the population of the world is amazing! I really do not think that I have played 10,000 hours of video games although my brother might have and he is only 11.
I really enjoy knowing facts like this and I think that I am going to have to watch the video again to get all the information that was shown. I think that the future is unknown and we do have to have our children prepared for a technological world. I know that when my step daughter was 5 she was on the internet on Webkinz (an interactive kid's site). I started getting on line in the 6th grade which would of made me 12 at the time. Technology is advancing and as a result we are going to have to be prepared, I can not wait to see what the future holds!
I really enjoy knowing facts like this and I think that I am going to have to watch the video again to get all the information that was shown. I think that the future is unknown and we do have to have our children prepared for a technological world. I know that when my step daughter was 5 she was on the internet on Webkinz (an interactive kid's site). I started getting on line in the 6th grade which would of made me 12 at the time. Technology is advancing and as a result we are going to have to be prepared, I can not wait to see what the future holds!
ACCESS
ACCESS wants all student to have equal opportunity to education. ACCESS will allow for schools that do not have the funding or resources for advanced diploma classes, to be provided online. ACCESS provides high-quality classroom courses and teachers, via technology. ACCESS vision: The State of Alabama will provided equal access to high quality instruction to improve student achievement through distance learning opportunities. ACCESS has internet based courses and interactive video courses blended. These classes are delivered by highly qualified Alabama certified teachers.
These classes would be an outstanding addition to any school. With almost every subject covered under ACCESS, and having interactive teachers that can actually help them students on the other end of the video conference, this program would be great. The online classes it what I would of preferred. I like to learn things on my own and by having online courses available students get that option. I think that ACCESS will reach its goal and succeed in schools in Alabama... maybe further.
These classes would be an outstanding addition to any school. With almost every subject covered under ACCESS, and having interactive teachers that can actually help them students on the other end of the video conference, this program would be great. The online classes it what I would of preferred. I like to learn things on my own and by having online courses available students get that option. I think that ACCESS will reach its goal and succeed in schools in Alabama... maybe further.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
ALEX
Alabama Learning Exchange. On the ALEX website one can find lesson plans for different subjects including, but not limited to, art education, language art education, mathematics, sciences, social studies. All the information on this site can be obtained for all grade levels. The ALEX site can be searched for certain topics that one might want to cover in his or her classroom by using the search icon located on the homepage. Establishing an ALEX account is free and allows you to create personal workspace for storing and submitting lesson plans and teacher web pages.
This site can be very helpful especially for new teachers that need help getting started. The information on this site seems to be reliable and would be useful in the classroom. I am sure that I will use this site at some point to help get started in my own classroom. For those that do not know how to access this site, the link is as follows. http://alex.state.al.us/index.php
This site can be very helpful especially for new teachers that need help getting started. The information on this site seems to be reliable and would be useful in the classroom. I am sure that I will use this site at some point to help get started in my own classroom. For those that do not know how to access this site, the link is as follows. http://alex.state.al.us/index.php
Thursday, January 15, 2009
About Me!
I have attended South Alabama since Fall 2008. Before I came to South I was at Auburn University. I attended Auburn for my freshmen year and couldn't handle being away from home. I now live 65 miles north of Mobile, in Jackson Alabama, and drive to class 2 days a week. I am an active member of Alpha Omicron Pi as recording secretary. I enjoy spending time with my family, riding horses, playing wii sports and guitar hero! I work 3 days a week and spend my weekends, right now, hunting with my boyfriend. I love being in school but am trying to hurry and get done. I am majoring in Elementary Education and I prioritize on having good grades and would love to help anyone that needs it. ♥
Saturday, January 10, 2009
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