Sunday, May 2, 2010
Good Bye EDM 310
Good Bye EDM 310. hope your semester was filled with as much knowledge and excitement as mine was . and farewell to you, both Dr. Strange and Mr. Sullivan. thanks for all the good teachings, may you all have a great summer break! Good Bye!
Final Blog Assignment
To start off, I must say that I sure have come a long way from the first day of class. When I signed up for this course, the most I had ever done with a computer was email and download music, and surf the web. don't get me wrong, I got lost several times, but after bugging my teachers to death with questions on top of more questions, I would eventually get the hang of things. Some of the things I learned from this class that I feel I will take with me into my future teaching career is Timetoast. being a History major, I feel this is one tool that I might get the most use out of. not just to benefit my students, but to have that extra something that helps me stay organized and sharp with my historical timelines. second, I really enjoyed the comments for kids. Its really nice to be able and have the opportunity to hear what these kids are thinking and to be able and keep up with them through technology. I thought podcasting was a good idea, I just don't see that being a tool I use in my teaching career. but you never know, and if it is something I will have to do, at least ill know how to do that and I can credit this EDM 310 class for that. I think the hardest thing for me was knowing that everything I blogged was being read by people all over the world, be it teachers and students, so that really forced me to think about what I was writing about knowing there was a grand ole audience out there. i thought the Google Earth Project was kind of cool. it was the one project that took most of my time, I dont know if that was because I was having difficulty following instruction, or if i was just really having too much fun on there. regardless, being a History major I also feel this will be another tool I can benefit from in the teaching field.
I also really enjoyed the Interview projects. I thought it was nice to cover topics on technology through actual interaction with teachers and students. it was a very informative project that I feel covered several topics of technology. I also feel I will benefit from in the classroom. as many things I enjoyed from the class, there were a few I did not. really it was not the work itself but the amount of work per week. I don't feel I benefited from the comments for classmates. my responses to my blog posts were almost robotic. I did not care too much for the group projects either, and not because of the actual assignments but more so the scheduling and meeting with people. I had a hard time meeting with with my project partners.
2. overall, I feel there was nothing left to be taught in this class and everything that was taught to me was for the most part not to hard to learn. 4. I thought this class was exciting when it came to the actual projects and comments for kids. this was exciting to me mainly because of the interactions that came with these assignments. 5. I did find this class intellectually challenging at times. for me, just having to really think before you type to such a grand audience, it forces you to be more accountable with what you say and professional about it at the same time. 6. I really was never bored with this class mainly because there was so much to do. the classes i get bored real easily in are those lecture classes that only require you to come in and sit down and take a few test periodically. 7. if i could change anything, I think it would be the work load, primarily the comments for assignments. 8. i am now the most technologically savvy I can say I have ever been. Its amazing how much more confident I am behind a key board than i was just a few months ago. If i had to rate my level of technological literacy, it would have to be good. 9. I feel so much more confident in front of a computer, but I know I have so much more to learn. after watching some of the videos for different blog assignments, I know that there are alot of Kids that are so technologically in tune, and if I want to be a real effective teacher, I must be able to keep with the future or else I will be left behind in the past.
I also really enjoyed the Interview projects. I thought it was nice to cover topics on technology through actual interaction with teachers and students. it was a very informative project that I feel covered several topics of technology. I also feel I will benefit from in the classroom. as many things I enjoyed from the class, there were a few I did not. really it was not the work itself but the amount of work per week. I don't feel I benefited from the comments for classmates. my responses to my blog posts were almost robotic. I did not care too much for the group projects either, and not because of the actual assignments but more so the scheduling and meeting with people. I had a hard time meeting with with my project partners.
2. overall, I feel there was nothing left to be taught in this class and everything that was taught to me was for the most part not to hard to learn. 4. I thought this class was exciting when it came to the actual projects and comments for kids. this was exciting to me mainly because of the interactions that came with these assignments. 5. I did find this class intellectually challenging at times. for me, just having to really think before you type to such a grand audience, it forces you to be more accountable with what you say and professional about it at the same time. 6. I really was never bored with this class mainly because there was so much to do. the classes i get bored real easily in are those lecture classes that only require you to come in and sit down and take a few test periodically. 7. if i could change anything, I think it would be the work load, primarily the comments for assignments. 8. i am now the most technologically savvy I can say I have ever been. Its amazing how much more confident I am behind a key board than i was just a few months ago. If i had to rate my level of technological literacy, it would have to be good. 9. I feel so much more confident in front of a computer, but I know I have so much more to learn. after watching some of the videos for different blog assignments, I know that there are alot of Kids that are so technologically in tune, and if I want to be a real effective teacher, I must be able to keep with the future or else I will be left behind in the past.
Google presentation project/ teaching the US Civil War through Timetoast
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/53863
having a hard time uploading this to youtube, give me a few minutes and it should be up there
having a hard time uploading this to youtube, give me a few minutes and it should be up there
April 25th, 2010 Blog Assignment
1st video
hello, my name is Alex. I am a student at the University of South Alabama and i am not even afraid to admit that my PLE is 1/10th of what yours is. I am so impressed with how organized you are at such a young age. I know I was not any where close to this in the 7th grade. great job, keep up the good work, these tools will take you as far as you want to go in life.
to compare her PLE to mine is a joke. I think the only tools I have is facebook, twitter, skype, and gmail. this girl had everything. this student had all of this plus alot more. she had stuff like FML to The Yellow Pages. that's awesome. but I guess as long as my PLE is building then I'm good.
what is your sentence>?
really cool video. but I have no clue what my sentence is. shoot, I don't even know the first letter.
I think these are important questions we should ask our selves. I think we should always ask our selves these questions. these questions can only give us a better understanding of what we are doing and where we are going.
hello, my name is Alex. I am a student at the University of South Alabama and i am not even afraid to admit that my PLE is 1/10th of what yours is. I am so impressed with how organized you are at such a young age. I know I was not any where close to this in the 7th grade. great job, keep up the good work, these tools will take you as far as you want to go in life.
to compare her PLE to mine is a joke. I think the only tools I have is facebook, twitter, skype, and gmail. this girl had everything. this student had all of this plus alot more. she had stuff like FML to The Yellow Pages. that's awesome. but I guess as long as my PLE is building then I'm good.
what is your sentence>?
really cool video. but I have no clue what my sentence is. shoot, I don't even know the first letter.
I think these are important questions we should ask our selves. I think we should always ask our selves these questions. these questions can only give us a better understanding of what we are doing and where we are going.
April 18th, 2010 Blog Assignment
the topic i am choosing to cover is on the debate whether we are given too much work for EDM 310. I wouldn't be so quick to say its too much work, but i will say you know whats in front of you, you know whats expected. So i will agree that it is very easy to get behind, procrastinating in this class is not like procrastinating in most. Most classes require a few quizzes and 3 or 4 test. So if you procrastinate, you can always cram the night before a big test. I don't think you can do that in this class. I know because my getting so behind has cost me three straight nights that I could have been studying for other classes. after catching up, I realize that its all about taking the time to do your work. and once you get started, it really doesn't take that much time to complete.
watch this video and tell me what you think, thanks!
watch this video and tell me what you think, thanks!
april 11th, 2010 assignment continued
I think its very important for students to post there work through blogging, and it showed in the first video. technology is a very effective way to keeping kids interested, and when their work is done real well, they have a bigger audience to tell them that. with that said, you also have a much bigger critical audience. but even then i think that's important. students need all the criticism they can get. and blogging is a very effective tool for these kids to use in their learning, both inside the class and out. i really feel that blogging makes students more accountable, and i think they know that. and that to me is very important. here are a few examples of that
second example
second example
april 11th, 2010 assignment
DR. Seuss- The Zax Video
alex said... I thought this video was perfect in projecting an image of how so many teachers today think and operate in the class. I'm really glad that future teachers(students)are being showed videos such as this one, because this world is evolving, and evolving rapidly. and I feel the only way to be positivity effective in the classroom and in the world is to evolve with it.
alex said... I thought this video was perfect in projecting an image of how so many teachers today think and operate in the class. I'm really glad that future teachers(students)are being showed videos such as this one, because this world is evolving, and evolving rapidly. and I feel the only way to be positivity effective in the classroom and in the world is to evolve with it.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
PLN-
People I learn from:
family- Vanessa Baranov, Raissa Baranov, Emile Baranov, Lara Baranov
military- Gysgt. Riverra, Gysgt. maxwell, Sgt. Adair, Sgt. Allen, Sgt. Stuckey, Sgt. Thomas, Cpl. Cooper, Cpl. Kilcrease
school(present and past)- Dr. Strange, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Donald, Dr. Nicholls, Mrs. Dardeuw, Mrs. Caffey, Mr. Boyse, Mr. Estel, Mr. Green, Andy Neely, Mr. Megganson,
Friends- Nicole Callaghan, Mr. Greg, Paul Wiley, Scott Parker, Hayden Mitchell, David Aragon, Tobias Pugh, Scott Kenecni, David Greene, Will Phillips, Linda Adams, Richard Johnson, Brian Crawford, Brandon Ross,
Media:
FACEBOOK, Twitter, NBC, FOX, WNSP 105.5 Sports Radio, ESPN, Men's Health, Sports Illustrated, Larry King, Mobile Press Register, Skype,
family- Vanessa Baranov, Raissa Baranov, Emile Baranov, Lara Baranov
military- Gysgt. Riverra, Gysgt. maxwell, Sgt. Adair, Sgt. Allen, Sgt. Stuckey, Sgt. Thomas, Cpl. Cooper, Cpl. Kilcrease
school(present and past)- Dr. Strange, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Donald, Dr. Nicholls, Mrs. Dardeuw, Mrs. Caffey, Mr. Boyse, Mr. Estel, Mr. Green, Andy Neely, Mr. Megganson,
Friends- Nicole Callaghan, Mr. Greg, Paul Wiley, Scott Parker, Hayden Mitchell, David Aragon, Tobias Pugh, Scott Kenecni, David Greene, Will Phillips, Linda Adams, Richard Johnson, Brian Crawford, Brandon Ross,
Media:
FACEBOOK, Twitter, NBC, FOX, WNSP 105.5 Sports Radio, ESPN, Men's Health, Sports Illustrated, Larry King, Mobile Press Register, Skype,
skype
I have found skype to be a great way to communicate with others. I have not only benefited from skype in the classroom, but also outside the class. I have used skype to communicate with several classmates, whether to ask a question or to answer one, but I mainly use skype to communicate with brother-in-law who lives in England.
voice thead project
This is myVoicethread. I chose do it on a picture of my family. Check it out by clicking the above link!
Comments 4 kids!
The first post I made was to Erin. She did a wonderful job speaking her native language. I hope she continues studying the Maori culture! Here is what I said:
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. You did a wonderful post Erin! That was great eye contact. Keep up the good work! I like how you are learning about your culture! Keep your culture alive in your studies and good luck learning!
My next three posts were to Kathleen McGeady’s 2KM class at Leopold Primary School. They were very creative and I really enjoyed reading their blog. Here is what I said:
Yoghurt
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. You guys did a great job making yoghurt. You made it look so easy I might go try and make some! Good luck with you next adventure!
Paperless Day
This is Alex again. These are some great ideas to help our planet! Maybe the U.S. she institute a paperless day. We have Earth Day which is similar but I'm not sure it's that effective. Good luck making a difference! We need more people like you guys in the world!
Surprise Gift!
Alex again! That is so awesome that you guys got mail from a class in the United States! I’m not fond of raisins but I love jelly beans! I hope you guys keep in touch with each other after this year!
My next few posts were to Mrs. Yollis's class. Here they are:
April 12
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. That is so cool you guys sent packages and that you guys got some back! Good luck with your future adventures!
April 14
Alex yet again! That is an awesome video! I actually learned how to read decimals better. Way to go guys! Keep up the good work.
April 15
Alex again. Wow! You guys are really making a difference! I wish we could get the whole world as involved as you guys are. Way to go on the hard work. I have been trying hard to recycle and to not waste water while I brush my teeth. Keep up the hard work!
April 16
Alex for the last time :(. This is so awesome that you guys got to meet someone from another country! I bet you guys really enjoyed her visit. I only have one question: Is it hard to learn how to use a boomerang? Good luck with your future endeavors!
The last class I commented on was Room 10 in Pt. England. Here is what I said!
Term 2
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. This is so cool that you guys are going to be learning about the Earth. I'm going to be a history teacher; so if I were ever to decide to become an elementary teacher this is what I would teach! I hope you guys really enjoy learning about the Earth.
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. You did a wonderful post Erin! That was great eye contact. Keep up the good work! I like how you are learning about your culture! Keep your culture alive in your studies and good luck learning!
My next three posts were to Kathleen McGeady’s 2KM class at Leopold Primary School. They were very creative and I really enjoyed reading their blog. Here is what I said:
Yoghurt
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. You guys did a great job making yoghurt. You made it look so easy I might go try and make some! Good luck with you next adventure!
Paperless Day
This is Alex again. These are some great ideas to help our planet! Maybe the U.S. she institute a paperless day. We have Earth Day which is similar but I'm not sure it's that effective. Good luck making a difference! We need more people like you guys in the world!
Surprise Gift!
Alex again! That is so awesome that you guys got mail from a class in the United States! I’m not fond of raisins but I love jelly beans! I hope you guys keep in touch with each other after this year!
My next few posts were to Mrs. Yollis's class. Here they are:
April 12
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. That is so cool you guys sent packages and that you guys got some back! Good luck with your future adventures!
April 14
Alex yet again! That is an awesome video! I actually learned how to read decimals better. Way to go guys! Keep up the good work.
April 15
Alex again. Wow! You guys are really making a difference! I wish we could get the whole world as involved as you guys are. Way to go on the hard work. I have been trying hard to recycle and to not waste water while I brush my teeth. Keep up the hard work!
April 16
Alex for the last time :(. This is so awesome that you guys got to meet someone from another country! I bet you guys really enjoyed her visit. I only have one question: Is it hard to learn how to use a boomerang? Good luck with your future endeavors!
The last class I commented on was Room 10 in Pt. England. Here is what I said!
Term 2
This is Alex B. from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class in Mobile, Alabama and I have been assigned to read your blog. This is so cool that you guys are going to be learning about the Earth. I'm going to be a history teacher; so if I were ever to decide to become an elementary teacher this is what I would teach! I hope you guys really enjoy learning about the Earth.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 4th, 2010 Blog Assignment
I thought this was a pretty interesting blog assignment.I was intrigued with how one was able to view the many different opinions of different individuals and how they were able to retrieve images into their lives. I am one that would say safety first, though I’m not always the one that likes to practice that. Every now and again I will download something onto my CPU and feel the ill effects of that (infected) download later. Having said that, I think the many safety strategies needed take are very important and vital if you are going to access the greatest medium known to man, the internet. There are so many technological advances that I am just now starting to adapt myself to and get comfortable with. Now I’m pretty good with the basics and as this semester has progressed, so have I with these different mediums.
Being a history major, there are several things that interest me or at least I feel will benefit me in the teaching force. For starters, I’m not quite sure I will blog as much as I have in this classroom, but I think there are a few things I will take with me. I don’t think I will use voicethread much when teaching. The only time I could imagine using it is when I am not in class, but even then that’s what substitute teachers are for, right? Don’t get me wrong, the 3 videos for this assignment clearly showed how technology has positively affected several classrooms; I just don’t see how it does that for many other classes, especially upper level classrooms. Being a secondary education major, that’s one issue I think I’m struggling with in the debate of technology and the class.
I went to a very diverse high school, and I must say I learned a lot about different cultures and people and it was never through voice thread or class blogs and any other form of communication through computers that influenced my cultural learning, it was through physical interactions. engaging with these people in class, sports, work and on. So that’s kind of how I feel about learning networks.
Being a history major, there are several things that interest me or at least I feel will benefit me in the teaching force. For starters, I’m not quite sure I will blog as much as I have in this classroom, but I think there are a few things I will take with me. I don’t think I will use voicethread much when teaching. The only time I could imagine using it is when I am not in class, but even then that’s what substitute teachers are for, right? Don’t get me wrong, the 3 videos for this assignment clearly showed how technology has positively affected several classrooms; I just don’t see how it does that for many other classes, especially upper level classrooms. Being a secondary education major, that’s one issue I think I’m struggling with in the debate of technology and the class.
I went to a very diverse high school, and I must say I learned a lot about different cultures and people and it was never through voice thread or class blogs and any other form of communication through computers that influenced my cultural learning, it was through physical interactions. engaging with these people in class, sports, work and on. So that’s kind of how I feel about learning networks.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
march 28th blog assignment/ Morgan Bayda
I feel the same about the classroom and how it is not the most encouraging force we have in higher education. there are so many classes that are like this. where we are forced to sit and listen with extreme obedience for a professor who doesn't even know our name. social interaction on many subjects taught in the class should be pushed.
I have mentioned my frustrations with this system we are forced to learn in today many times to my friends and adult figures, most of whom i would consider parents or those who I go to for advice, and the reply to my frustrations are always the same- college is a right of passage- that basically its not what you learned, but that you put up with enough crap that earns you proof of a piece of paper with your name on it that tells the world, i did it. the questions asked should be revised from -did you do it? to -how you did it?
I have mentioned my frustrations with this system we are forced to learn in today many times to my friends and adult figures, most of whom i would consider parents or those who I go to for advice, and the reply to my frustrations are always the same- college is a right of passage- that basically its not what you learned, but that you put up with enough crap that earns you proof of a piece of paper with your name on it that tells the world, i did it. the questions asked should be revised from -did you do it? to -how you did it?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
comments for kids week 6
alex said...
Hello Mr. Thomas,
I must say that i am very impressed with your video. I thought it was short and to the point.
I too enjoyed the many details you added to the characters in the video. being a history major in college, I was impressed with your vast knowledge on some good ole history.
Take care man,
Alex
April 1, 2010 11:20 AM
Hello Mr. Thomas, I must say that i am very impressed with your video. I thought it was short and to the point. I too enjoyed the many details you added to the characters in the video. being a history major in college, I was impressed with your vast knowledge on some good ole history. Take care man, Alex http://pesking.blogspot.com/2010/03/signing-treaty-of-waitangi.html#comment-form
Hello Mr. Thomas,
I must say that i am very impressed with your video. I thought it was short and to the point.
I too enjoyed the many details you added to the characters in the video. being a history major in college, I was impressed with your vast knowledge on some good ole history.
Take care man,
Alex
April 1, 2010 11:20 AM
Hello Mr. Thomas, I must say that i am very impressed with your video. I thought it was short and to the point. I too enjoyed the many details you added to the characters in the video. being a history major in college, I was impressed with your vast knowledge on some good ole history. Take care man, Alex http://pesking.blogspot.com/2010/03/signing-treaty-of-waitangi.html#comment-form
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
3/12/10 Assignment
The Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) and the Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educatiors and Students Statewide (ACCESS) are two great resources for educators. At the APEX website, educators can upload or download practice plans for core subjects K-12. ALEX also has a professional learning webpage and a podcast webpage. The professional learning webpage provides access to relevent issues that affect all educators. The podcasts webpage has available video and audio downloads for all the core subjects. Altogether, it is a very informational resource that professional or beginner educators can easily navigate.
ACCESS is an accredited academic institution that offers long-distance classes that qualify as high school credit hours. The professors are certified state educators that use multimedia to facilitate class lectures. Interactive Video-Conferencing and web-based courses deliver the online learning experience to the student. ACCESS is a rapidly growing alternative to the more conventional classroom learning experience.
ACCESS is an accredited academic institution that offers long-distance classes that qualify as high school credit hours. The professors are certified state educators that use multimedia to facilitate class lectures. Interactive Video-Conferencing and web-based courses deliver the online learning experience to the student. ACCESS is a rapidly growing alternative to the more conventional classroom learning experience.
3/7/10 Assignment
I want to start by saying that I thought that was the best video thus far. The video was consistent with calls to action of many of the previous videos, but it was more directed at American culture by implying that MTV, South Park, the hippi movement were some of the causes of the deterioration of the term "whatever".It makes me think that the subliminal message of all the assignments to date is that American media and entertainment has created a very narcissistic, material, and indifferent attitude about individual self identity. As an American, I can relate to the many references throughout this video.
If I am walking to class alongside an imaginary young girl talking on the phone I usually can't bear to listen. The words she uses most are like and whatever. The conversation is about herself. She probably doesn't even know who she is talking to. It 's as if she believes that the dumber she gets, the cooler it will make her. That's the sad part. The scary part is that there are actually people who think that is cool. According to Mr. Wesch, whom I agree with, this concept of coolness started a long time ago and is now becoming so intolerable that people are beginning to unite against it.
Growing up things did not seem this bad. The definition of whatever, as described in the video, was originated when I was growing up. Relatively new, it was a funny thing to say. At least it was then. Now it has become so overused that it is no longer funny. It is actually very scary the insecurities and self-awareness that are now attached to the term.
It is my duty as a future teacher to penetrate the groups and masses of people who think that it is alright to be dumb, indifferent, narcissistic, and insecure. Just like the people on youtube making calls for action, we need more heroes who will open arms in an effort to help others develop a moral ethical core. The moral of the video is that youtube and other innovations of new media literature might be necessary to penetrate these groups.
If I am walking to class alongside an imaginary young girl talking on the phone I usually can't bear to listen. The words she uses most are like and whatever. The conversation is about herself. She probably doesn't even know who she is talking to. It 's as if she believes that the dumber she gets, the cooler it will make her. That's the sad part. The scary part is that there are actually people who think that is cool. According to Mr. Wesch, whom I agree with, this concept of coolness started a long time ago and is now becoming so intolerable that people are beginning to unite against it.
Growing up things did not seem this bad. The definition of whatever, as described in the video, was originated when I was growing up. Relatively new, it was a funny thing to say. At least it was then. Now it has become so overused that it is no longer funny. It is actually very scary the insecurities and self-awareness that are now attached to the term.
It is my duty as a future teacher to penetrate the groups and masses of people who think that it is alright to be dumb, indifferent, narcissistic, and insecure. Just like the people on youtube making calls for action, we need more heroes who will open arms in an effort to help others develop a moral ethical core. The moral of the video is that youtube and other innovations of new media literature might be necessary to penetrate these groups.
Monday, March 22, 2010
2/28/10 Assignment
1. The main point of this video is that we must use technology to have a positive influence on future generations. The technological revolution, ie the improvement of technology that has provided instant access to information, has changed how we write. Miller starts by explaining his understanding of writing, which was in solitude with a peice of paper and paperback books that he would use to brainstorm ideas. Through what he calls incremental changes, we have moved towards a more electronic based understanding of writing.
I think that Miller might be exxagerating the negative influence that this has had on writing. On the other hand, perhaps he is underestimating it. There is a broad consensus among the baby boomers that the quality of writing has declined in our society. Writers like Hemmingway and Fitzgerald are certainly not influential on many people because of the distraction of technology. On the other hand, which I think Richard Miller fails to mention, is that there are still many students of literature. Albeit, in absolute terms of the number of people, we are less skilled at writing, but there are still certain groups of individuals who understand writing the way that he once did. I believe that writing isn't as influenced by incremental changes to the extent suggested by Miller.
Despite my criticisms, I believe this video can be helpful. Miller suggests that educators must use innovative technology to the benefit, not hindrance, of writing. However, this is aleready an obvious fact, we already know that technology is central to our society. We know that it has changed the way we write. I think that the writing atmosphere has definately changed in all the incremental ways suggested by Miller, but I believe the fundamental understanding of writing will continue to be influenced by ways that were influential to previous generations (Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, etc). As a teacher, I have no choice but to teach the electronic understanding of writing as depicted by Miller because it is so central to society, but I will also teach the understanding of writing that baby boomers still prefer.
2. Being a teacher of a networked student is a relatively new thing for teachers. Many teachers, as a result, do not know how to teach a networked student. I think the answer to whether the networked student needs a teacher in many cases is No. I say this because kids nowadays know more about technology than adults. However, it is important for teachers to get up-to-speed quickly so that students aren't be preyed upon by propaganda, are able to use the network with ease and guidance, and maximize the opportunities of the network.
A teacher who is ready for the networked student must stay on top of developments in social networking, and in turn, be educated on the risks and rewards of the connectivisim learning theory. This would involve knowing which sites are safe and which aren't. It would also require knowing what measures to take to protect children from electronic predators.
I think the networked student is a great idea that can promote equality in our society. When you consider the importance of networking, it is more than tantamount
to education in terms of career success. I heard that 75% of jobs are landed by successful networking. Only about 33% are landed by conventionally submitting a resume. So I think this is a great idea because of the importance of networks in our society.
3. I think that these skills are a list of ways to think outside the box. Any good artist, citizen, worker, or intelligent person must possess some of these skills if they want to be good at their profession or an informed person. If I have to choose, I see myself as possessing the play quality and consider it a strength of mine. I have a pretty creative way of looking at the different inputs of a situation or problem and solving for a solution. In terms of the other qualities, I definitely think I do not have bad judgment.
I think that I will improve these qualities in my experiences with people, events, and situations throughout my life. Knowing of and reflecting on these qualities will help me respond better to problems or situations that are a product of our informational culture. Ultimately, I think that many of those qualities are acquired in time, not all at once, because they require a high level of maturity and understanding to develop. Someone who reflects on these qualities before and after a confusing or problematic series of events in their life will, in my opinion, acquire the qualities fastest.
4. According to the New Media Literacy Project, being literate involves reading and writing by using communication tools that are media related. These literacy measures have changed as the media has started communicating through shapes, graphics, sounds, and social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace. These are forms of communication that were either not as pervasive, or were totally absent, in our recent societies history.
Many of the professors in college Universities are still unfamiliar with these new forms of communication. It is kind of funny to think that these scholarly people might be illiterate. In reality they are very literate, but have been slow to adjust to the fast pace of change that has invented new literacy forms. Honestly, I really don't think there is any promise that college professors will spend their time learning these new methods. From my experience, University level faculty are not interested in this subject and prefer their students to communicate in more traditional methods. The teachers that will benefit most by educating themselves on these new literacy measurements are lower and middle school teachers. These are the teachers who can guide their students away from the dangers of the new media literacies.
I think that Miller might be exxagerating the negative influence that this has had on writing. On the other hand, perhaps he is underestimating it. There is a broad consensus among the baby boomers that the quality of writing has declined in our society. Writers like Hemmingway and Fitzgerald are certainly not influential on many people because of the distraction of technology. On the other hand, which I think Richard Miller fails to mention, is that there are still many students of literature. Albeit, in absolute terms of the number of people, we are less skilled at writing, but there are still certain groups of individuals who understand writing the way that he once did. I believe that writing isn't as influenced by incremental changes to the extent suggested by Miller.
Despite my criticisms, I believe this video can be helpful. Miller suggests that educators must use innovative technology to the benefit, not hindrance, of writing. However, this is aleready an obvious fact, we already know that technology is central to our society. We know that it has changed the way we write. I think that the writing atmosphere has definately changed in all the incremental ways suggested by Miller, but I believe the fundamental understanding of writing will continue to be influenced by ways that were influential to previous generations (Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, etc). As a teacher, I have no choice but to teach the electronic understanding of writing as depicted by Miller because it is so central to society, but I will also teach the understanding of writing that baby boomers still prefer.
2. Being a teacher of a networked student is a relatively new thing for teachers. Many teachers, as a result, do not know how to teach a networked student. I think the answer to whether the networked student needs a teacher in many cases is No. I say this because kids nowadays know more about technology than adults. However, it is important for teachers to get up-to-speed quickly so that students aren't be preyed upon by propaganda, are able to use the network with ease and guidance, and maximize the opportunities of the network.
A teacher who is ready for the networked student must stay on top of developments in social networking, and in turn, be educated on the risks and rewards of the connectivisim learning theory. This would involve knowing which sites are safe and which aren't. It would also require knowing what measures to take to protect children from electronic predators.
I think the networked student is a great idea that can promote equality in our society. When you consider the importance of networking, it is more than tantamount
to education in terms of career success. I heard that 75% of jobs are landed by successful networking. Only about 33% are landed by conventionally submitting a resume. So I think this is a great idea because of the importance of networks in our society.
3. I think that these skills are a list of ways to think outside the box. Any good artist, citizen, worker, or intelligent person must possess some of these skills if they want to be good at their profession or an informed person. If I have to choose, I see myself as possessing the play quality and consider it a strength of mine. I have a pretty creative way of looking at the different inputs of a situation or problem and solving for a solution. In terms of the other qualities, I definitely think I do not have bad judgment.
I think that I will improve these qualities in my experiences with people, events, and situations throughout my life. Knowing of and reflecting on these qualities will help me respond better to problems or situations that are a product of our informational culture. Ultimately, I think that many of those qualities are acquired in time, not all at once, because they require a high level of maturity and understanding to develop. Someone who reflects on these qualities before and after a confusing or problematic series of events in their life will, in my opinion, acquire the qualities fastest.
4. According to the New Media Literacy Project, being literate involves reading and writing by using communication tools that are media related. These literacy measures have changed as the media has started communicating through shapes, graphics, sounds, and social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace. These are forms of communication that were either not as pervasive, or were totally absent, in our recent societies history.
Many of the professors in college Universities are still unfamiliar with these new forms of communication. It is kind of funny to think that these scholarly people might be illiterate. In reality they are very literate, but have been slow to adjust to the fast pace of change that has invented new literacy forms. Honestly, I really don't think there is any promise that college professors will spend their time learning these new methods. From my experience, University level faculty are not interested in this subject and prefer their students to communicate in more traditional methods. The teachers that will benefit most by educating themselves on these new literacy measurements are lower and middle school teachers. These are the teachers who can guide their students away from the dangers of the new media literacies.
2/21/10 Assignment
1. A big challenge for any teacher is the ability to provide young students free access to educational resources on the internet. Dr. Christie has a link that is titled Educational Technology on her site. This link provides a range of online educational resources that is available to students absolutely free. This would be a very useful resource for me as a teacher because it enables me to provide free access to educational resources for my students.
The technology section of the site provides access to information that should inspire students. There is a link called Adora Svitak: Flying Fingers. This is an interview with a child prodigy author. Using this link in class is a great way to show what other kids are doing, while at the same time stimulating new creative writing ideas among my students.
2. iTunesU is a great way for students to learn new methods of communication. iTunesU allows two-way communication between the student and teacher. For example, the student can post comments to the group via RSS feed and and the teacher can post lectures and podcasts. Some students may prefer this method of learning than the traditional classroom based method, so I think this is a great resource that can be very useful.
In addition to learning the cutting edge communication methods, educating children on how to use iTunesU could introduce new ideas and interests to the student. The breadth of information on iTunesU is simply incredible! The student has a world of information at the fingertips. Furthermore, it is a very cool website for the student to explore. When I was young the resources we used in school were boring and dull. This website is sharp and stimulates interest.
3. iPods can extend the learning beyond the classroom. It enables students to do a variety of convenient tasks. IPods transmit documents to different computers as well as enable students to record class lectures and download audiobooks. It is a great way for students to learn outside the classroom.
Duke University experimented with ipods and found that many students thought they were very useful for school. Seventy-Five percent of students who were given an ipod by the University reported using it in at least one class. They often used the ipods to record class lectures. One of the drawbacks of the experiment suggested that students were less likely to use the ipod for school purposes if the material was not already loaded onto the ipod. Another drawback was the quality of the recordings, which some students found unclear.
Altogether, I am wary to encourage students to use an ipod in the classroom. I feel that they would be listening to music when they should be working, or watching the newest rap videos. If teachers could provide ipods to students that only allowed download of class material, I could see the benefit of including it in the classroom.
The technology section of the site provides access to information that should inspire students. There is a link called Adora Svitak: Flying Fingers. This is an interview with a child prodigy author. Using this link in class is a great way to show what other kids are doing, while at the same time stimulating new creative writing ideas among my students.
2. iTunesU is a great way for students to learn new methods of communication. iTunesU allows two-way communication between the student and teacher. For example, the student can post comments to the group via RSS feed and and the teacher can post lectures and podcasts. Some students may prefer this method of learning than the traditional classroom based method, so I think this is a great resource that can be very useful.
In addition to learning the cutting edge communication methods, educating children on how to use iTunesU could introduce new ideas and interests to the student. The breadth of information on iTunesU is simply incredible! The student has a world of information at the fingertips. Furthermore, it is a very cool website for the student to explore. When I was young the resources we used in school were boring and dull. This website is sharp and stimulates interest.
3. iPods can extend the learning beyond the classroom. It enables students to do a variety of convenient tasks. IPods transmit documents to different computers as well as enable students to record class lectures and download audiobooks. It is a great way for students to learn outside the classroom.
Duke University experimented with ipods and found that many students thought they were very useful for school. Seventy-Five percent of students who were given an ipod by the University reported using it in at least one class. They often used the ipods to record class lectures. One of the drawbacks of the experiment suggested that students were less likely to use the ipod for school purposes if the material was not already loaded onto the ipod. Another drawback was the quality of the recordings, which some students found unclear.
Altogether, I am wary to encourage students to use an ipod in the classroom. I feel that they would be listening to music when they should be working, or watching the newest rap videos. If teachers could provide ipods to students that only allowed download of class material, I could see the benefit of including it in the classroom.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Podcast NOTES
It should be immediately apparent what what to expect when you hear a particular podcast. That means its important to give a proper introduction to the subject and to accurately convey your approach to discussing it. With a program like iTunes there are infinite ways to be distracted so its also important to pursue a connection with the audience, especially when being informative.
Podcasts usually start with a personal introduction to the podcast author, or podcaster, and also introduces the subjects being discussed. There are two forms of podcasts, audio and video, which can be used to inform the listeners on particular subjects. Audio podcasts take more effort from the author to convey emotions.
The podcast can be either a monologue or dialogue between multiple authors. Multiple authors can help legitimize the point of view explained by the podcast.
Podcasts usually start with a personal introduction to the podcast author, or podcaster, and also introduces the subjects being discussed. There are two forms of podcasts, audio and video, which can be used to inform the listeners on particular subjects. Audio podcasts take more effort from the author to convey emotions.
The podcast can be either a monologue or dialogue between multiple authors. Multiple authors can help legitimize the point of view explained by the podcast.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Is it okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
I agree with Fisch's article. This article was subjective and to the point. In this post, Fisch compares learning today to learning in the 20th century. To break this down, he compares the social acceptance of math literacy versus language arts literacy. He also mentions in his article that teachers should be held accountable when they are lacking the technological skills their students require.
I have noticed the increasing need to be technologically literate. In the past ten years of my life, I have experienced the need for learning and adapting to many forms of technology. Currently, I am trying to catch up with my peers in learning new websites and social connecting networks. To be an effective teacher, I must relate to my students socially, academically, and most importantly technologically.
I agree with Fisch's article. This article was subjective and to the point. In this post, Fisch compares learning today to learning in the 20th century. To break this down, he compares the social acceptance of math literacy versus language arts literacy. He also mentions in his article that teachers should be held accountable when they are lacking the technological skills their students require.
I have noticed the increasing need to be technologically literate. In the past ten years of my life, I have experienced the need for learning and adapting to many forms of technology. Currently, I am trying to catch up with my peers in learning new websites and social connecting networks. To be an effective teacher, I must relate to my students socially, academically, and most importantly technologically.
It's Not about the Technology
In order for our students to become 21st century learners, our teachers must also be 21st century learners. A classroom can have the latest technology but without the knowledge of how to use the technology effectively it becomes useless. Schools are branching out and buying the needed technology but are not spending time on educating teachers on how and why it is useful and effective.
Some teachers are still sitting behind a desk ordering students to turn to certain pages in a textbook and having students read and answer questions. While there is a time and place for these skills, they are not what we need to relate to our 21st century learners. Our students are going home and playing with video games, navigating websites, downloading and uploading music with more ease than their teachers. As a future educator, I must learn to adapt to the newest technology so that I can use it for the betterment of my classroom.
In order for our students to become 21st century learners, our teachers must also be 21st century learners. A classroom can have the latest technology but without the knowledge of how to use the technology effectively it becomes useless. Schools are branching out and buying the needed technology but are not spending time on educating teachers on how and why it is useful and effective.
Some teachers are still sitting behind a desk ordering students to turn to certain pages in a textbook and having students read and answer questions. While there is a time and place for these skills, they are not what we need to relate to our 21st century learners. Our students are going home and playing with video games, navigating websites, downloading and uploading music with more ease than their teachers. As a future educator, I must learn to adapt to the newest technology so that I can use it for the betterment of my classroom.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
A Vision of Students Today
This video is a scary and accurate depiction of today's classroom. I feel the messages that were written by the students were a look at the present and into the future. As a college student, I often feel a lack of a connection in some of my stadium classes. If a young man in a large college setting has difficulty connecting, I can not imagine the lack of connection a child may feel in a similar classroom. Teachers are underpaid and overworked and many have lost their will to be an effective teacher. With this being said, I think the children are the ones who become lost.
Ways we can avoid this as our future is by providing teachers with better training to immediately take back to their classrooms. Students deserve the best education possible where hands-on and minds-on learning can take place. Students are not prepared to transition from level to level, for example: middle school to high school, or high school to college.
This video is a scary and accurate depiction of today's classroom. I feel the messages that were written by the students were a look at the present and into the future. As a college student, I often feel a lack of a connection in some of my stadium classes. If a young man in a large college setting has difficulty connecting, I can not imagine the lack of connection a child may feel in a similar classroom. Teachers are underpaid and overworked and many have lost their will to be an effective teacher. With this being said, I think the children are the ones who become lost.
Ways we can avoid this as our future is by providing teachers with better training to immediately take back to their classrooms. Students deserve the best education possible where hands-on and minds-on learning can take place. Students are not prepared to transition from level to level, for example: middle school to high school, or high school to college.
HARNESS YOUR STUDENTS' DIGITAL SMARTS
This video is about a teacher who has connected the students in her class to the world through technology. The instructors name is Vicki Davis. She teaches her class the importance of technology in a way that keeps her students interested. in this class, she requires the kids to think and be creative. She is very effective in grabbing their attention, and from there, the learning begins.
What I found to be interesting was how she grabbed the attention of students. By having the students play video games, she was able to focus their attention on what she wanted them to learn. Another interesting moment was the parents comment on the teachers ability to have the students connect to the world. As an education major, I know the importance of having students relate to the world around them.
This video is about a teacher who has connected the students in her class to the world through technology. The instructors name is Vicki Davis. She teaches her class the importance of technology in a way that keeps her students interested. in this class, she requires the kids to think and be creative. She is very effective in grabbing their attention, and from there, the learning begins.
What I found to be interesting was how she grabbed the attention of students. By having the students play video games, she was able to focus their attention on what she wanted them to learn. Another interesting moment was the parents comment on the teachers ability to have the students connect to the world. As an education major, I know the importance of having students relate to the world around them.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY
this video was very informative and slightly humorous. Mr. Ken Robinson is very knowledgeable on the subject of creativity and the fact that creativity is being lost right before our eyes. in this video, Mr. Robinson covered all sorts of different examples on the subject of creativity, some of which through little stories and some of his own life experiences.
I really enjoyed the story about the little girl drawing a picture of God. when asked by the teacher why she was drawing a picture of God, when people do not know what god looks like, the student replied, they will know in a minute. I just thought that was so funny and reminded me how innocent children really are. one of the many qoutes that stood out to me was " if you are not prepared of being wrong, than you will never come up with anything original." i agree with Mr. Robinson that kids have become so afraid of failure, that they take the slightest risks that affect their creativity in a negative way.
this video was very informative and slightly humorous. Mr. Ken Robinson is very knowledgeable on the subject of creativity and the fact that creativity is being lost right before our eyes. in this video, Mr. Robinson covered all sorts of different examples on the subject of creativity, some of which through little stories and some of his own life experiences.
I really enjoyed the story about the little girl drawing a picture of God. when asked by the teacher why she was drawing a picture of God, when people do not know what god looks like, the student replied, they will know in a minute. I just thought that was so funny and reminded me how innocent children really are. one of the many qoutes that stood out to me was " if you are not prepared of being wrong, than you will never come up with anything original." i agree with Mr. Robinson that kids have become so afraid of failure, that they take the slightest risks that affect their creativity in a negative way.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Did You Know
I found the first video (did you know?) to be quite educational. if nothing else, the right here right now music sure did pump me up. I thought the video covered all kinds of cool and random facts about the world we live in today and how it has changed so drastically from the past. For one, I did not know than China is so close to being the number one most English speaking country in the world. Other facts I did not know were that 1 out 8 people married met online and that is pretty cool. I found all these things to be fascinating.
I found all of these random pieces of information in the video to be so interesting. My fascination with China is that China as a culture does a really good job staying true to their own culture, and at the same time adapting to other cultures. Another fact I found interesting was that 1 out of 8 people who were married met online; the only reason I thought this was interesting was because I give my friend a hard time for visiting those dating sites, and after watching the video, I kind of felt like a moron.
MR. WRINKLE WAKES UP
I really enjoyed this video. this video is simply about a man who wakes up from a very long nap. he wakes up to a new world that is very technologically forward. he wanders around for a while visiting different key features such as hospitals and different places where technology has changed such an importance to that area. throughout his revisit of a new world, he finds a class room and notices that it still looks the same as he remembers it.
I did like this video. I sure could relate to Mr. Wrinkle at times. I guess I haven't really subdued my self to today's advance technologies like I should have. I mean, I just bought my first computer last year, and just recently added an i pod to my collections. I will say it is cool having all these great technological things. its great for society. but sometimes it is nice to take a step back and remember where we were before computers. its pretty cool that the classroom, for the most part hasn't changed. Its also cool that teachers haven't been replaced by robots, cause that would just suck, period.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY
this video was simply about a man talking to an audience about creativity and technology. i thought
I found all of these random pieces of information in the video to be so interesting. My fascination with China is that China as a culture does a really good job staying true to their own culture, and at the same time adapting to other cultures. Another fact I found interesting was that 1 out of 8 people who were married met online; the only reason I thought this was interesting was because I give my friend a hard time for visiting those dating sites, and after watching the video, I kind of felt like a moron.
MR. WRINKLE WAKES UP
I really enjoyed this video. this video is simply about a man who wakes up from a very long nap. he wakes up to a new world that is very technologically forward. he wanders around for a while visiting different key features such as hospitals and different places where technology has changed such an importance to that area. throughout his revisit of a new world, he finds a class room and notices that it still looks the same as he remembers it.
I did like this video. I sure could relate to Mr. Wrinkle at times. I guess I haven't really subdued my self to today's advance technologies like I should have. I mean, I just bought my first computer last year, and just recently added an i pod to my collections. I will say it is cool having all these great technological things. its great for society. but sometimes it is nice to take a step back and remember where we were before computers. its pretty cool that the classroom, for the most part hasn't changed. Its also cool that teachers haven't been replaced by robots, cause that would just suck, period.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVITY
this video was simply about a man talking to an audience about creativity and technology. i thought
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
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