Blog Post #9

"What I've Learned This Year" by Mr. McClung

What an awesome blog! It is true how much we learn over a year's time! Also, with it being the first year in the classroom, things are always so different in "real life." The college classroom full of peers is so different than the classroom full of wide-eyed students! Especially when you are the new teacher, I am sure you are tested by the students, other faculty and administration just to get to know your style and your attitude.

How important it is to stay positive as the quote said! I am sure it is easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated when things don't go as we envision them. But as was stated so well, we are dealing with children and no lesson is ever perfect. We have to be able to watch their reaction and "see" that they are understanding the lesson as we are presenting it and to be able to adapt and change if that is what is needed.

I think all of the suggestions are great but I find the last two "Listen to your students" and "Never stop learning" to be the most important. We have to hear what our students are saying by their words and their actions because as one of the students stated, that is how they know we care. And, since the world is such an ever changing, ever developing fast pace place, it is necessary for us as teachers to be willing to change and learn with it. No one will ever know everything and we must be willing to learn from all sources - even our students!

Skype Interview

For my Skype interview, I chose to interview Paula Naugle a teacher in New Orleans. I had received an invitation from her to visit her classroom after commenting on one of student's blogs through C4Ks in February. She is doing amazing things with technology in her classroom. Take a look at her blog, Paula Naugle's Blog Page It was an awesome interview! I really enjoyed talking to her and I learned so many things! I can't wait to visit her classroom and see the use of technology in action!

C4K - March Posts

C4K #4

Hi Naomi! My name is Lisa May and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama in the United States. I am studying to be a teacher and was assigned to your blog. I love the picture! I was impressed that you were able to upload the picture and the link. I just learned how to do that in this class! You are so lucky to have a teacher that lets you use this technology in the classroom. I know it makes it so much more interesting!

When I saw the picture of Maria Tutaia, I did a google search to find out who she was. She plays netball for New Zealand. I didn't know what netball was either so I had to search it as well. It seems a lot like basketball. Do you play netball? My two sons are 12 and 10 and they play basketball for their school. Does your school have a netball team? Have you ever been to watch her play? She seems like a good role model from the information I read about her. Why do you like her? Why did you chose to add her picture to your blog?

I would love to hear from you. You can read my blog at http://maylisaedm310.blogspot.com/.

CFK#5

The student I commented on was Ngametua and she is a year 7 student at Point England School. She was blogging about her picnic! Her blog address is Ngametua's Blog Page. Below is the comment I left for her:

My name is Lisa May and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama in the United States. I loved reading you blog about your picnic. What a fun day at school! We call these days field trips at my children's school. But I don't think they have ever gotten to go swimming on a field trip! You must have great teachers that want you to have fun! I love to be near the water and to play volleyball and softball. This would have been a great day for me too! All the things I like to do!

I am very impressed with your blog! I just learned how to use a blog this year and I am much older than you! You are so lucky to have teachers that are letting you explore technology and use the internet! You can visit my blog at
http://www.maylisaedm310.blogspot.com/. I would love for you to comment on it if you get a chance!

C4K#6

The third blog I was assigned to review was Room 8 at the Melville Int School. They are making a lot of movies there and I was asked to watch one on handball. Here is the link if you'd like to view it.NZ Handball Demo for Denmark They are blogging with a school in Denmark and have learned that things may be named the same but are different in different cultures.

Hi, my name is Lisa May and I too am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I really enjoyed watching your video! Isn't it amazing how "handball" can mean so many different things? My son's play "handball" in our driveway. They use a tennis ball and throw it against the wall. They have tried to teach me but I am not very good at it! They are 11 and 12 and like to play it at recess too! Isn't it cool that they like to play the same things even though we live so far away?

The world really is a small place and technology is making it even smaller. Your school s doing a great job of incorporating technology in your education. I hope you are enjoying it and keep developing it as you advance in your education.

Thanks again for sharing your video! It was awesome.

Smartboard Presentation

Blog Post #8

Dr. Richard E. Miller Discusses Writing With Multimedia

I enjoyed watching the video by Dr Miller. I think he discusses many important topics. And I definitely agree with his idea that the way we write and communicate has changed. The fact that we live in a world of immediate communication and collaboration is astounding. It does create an environment of immediate audiences and "listeners" to our ideas and thoughts. You can dream anything, find a creative medium within technology to distribute it on the internet and have feedback in a matter of minutes. This in itself amazes me! What better execution of the rights of freedom of speech!

As teachers, I think it is our responsibility to teach our children to use the freedom responsibly. Because they are exposed to it in many fashions, most of it in a social manner, it is our responsibility to teach them to use their writing skills and media for the good of mankind. They need to use it for the betterment of society. We need to teach them to use it to communicate their ideas and thoughts to a world wide audience.

We also need to learn to use the technology that is available to us for creating these amazing documents and publications. To be able to embed historical speeches into a paper, to be able to see and use real time reports to further support our thoughts, to be able to rally a nation behind an injustice are all things that are capable by the use of technology. I think a book report in the future will be so different from the book reports that I did as a child. It will be not just a summary of the book but a conglomerate of ideas found in the book, opinions of others that can be found on the internet through blogs and the like, or videos or interviews that contain reviews about the book. The possibilities are endless and we as teachers need to explore all these options and expose our students to all of these options so they will be able to use their creativity to communicate their ideas to the world wide audience.

The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies

I watched these videos earlier in the semester but they did not have as much impact as they do now! I completely understand the overwhelmed feeing of the "students"in both videos. Because it is a class that is very independent, it requires a lot of discipline to complete all the work. I thought that it would be a breeze but what I have found is that it is very challenging. I don't know if it is so much the time as it is learning all the new technology. I find myself putting things off because I am unsure how to do it so my first thought for a video would be on the usefulness of the lab and the other resources that are provided by the staff. Another video could be a comparison of the level of confidence of the students at the beginning of the class versus the end of the class. And one last idea would be an instructional video on the PLN and Twitter. I am still having trouble with the composition of the PLN and usefulness of Twitter. I don't have the ability to get twitter on my phone so for me to use it, I have to be at the computer and the timing is just hard. Maybe one on suggestions of how and when to tweet would be useful.


The most important thing that I can say that I have learned from both videos and the first half of the semester is to stop procrastinating! My goal for the second half of the semester is to work steadily each day on the projects rather than waiting until the last minute!



I really enjoyed this video! It really speaks the truth. These are very well known, well educated teachers that are stating that education has to change. One even goes so far as to say that "Education is dead but the door to learning has opened." What a profound statement. We definitely are in the midst of a change in mind set when it comes to education. Memorization of facts is not longer necessary. That information is at your fingertips. It can be accessed at any time. Our job now is to teach them to use the resources to find the information, to process it and to apply it to everyday life. They have to be able to differeniate fact from fiction. They have to be able to recognize opinion from fact also. They have to be able to process all the information that is available to them to formulate their own opinion and produce creative ideas and thoughts. They have to know how to communicate their information. They have to know how to collaborate with their peers to create and develop projects. If we can create this thirst for knowledge within our students imagine the future that they will have ahead of them! Education has to change to teach the changing world around us!

RSA Animate The Secret Powers of Time by Phillip Zambardo and Drive - The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us by David Pink

First, I would like to say that I love the format of these videos. They are very stimulating because you find yourself enthralled with the fast pace of the drawings as well as the fast talk of the speaker. It really holds your attention and makes you pay attention. What great use of technology to insight both the auditory and visual senses.

Aside from the technology, the message in both is very clear and very true. We are a society that lives in the moment - hedonistic present people. We want what is good now. We hate to wait and consider it a waste of our time. We are a society of multi-taskers. But, is that always good? Are we multi-taking for the betterment of our sanity or only to find more time to work. Do we use technology to help us or to hinder us? I found the fact that if given an extra day, most people surveyed said they would use it for work. Why not for family and fiends? I think we can learn from some of the practices of the past - for instance family dinners and family vacations. How much time do we actually spend with our family? We are all so plugged in that even when we are together, are we really together. I have been in a room with a bunch of teenagers and no one is talking but they are all texting. So, I ask, who are you texting? And, they are texting the child sitting right next to them. CRAZY! Why don't they just speak. Are we losing the ability to communicate in person?

I really believe the part of the video in which he says we have to change the way we teach these children. They are not like we were. They do not respond to the way we were taught. They need to be engaged so that they are not left behind. They are aware of the technology - it excites them. It involves them and they can relate to it. As teachers, we have to utilize this so we can communicate with them and encourage them to learn. They need to use technology for more than video games. They need to know what is out there. They need to know that they can use the skills they have from playing video games in their education. They can use those problem solving skills, those creative approaches to be successful in school. We have to foster their desire to learn and help them apply it so they can be successful in life. We need to teach them to be future thinking individuals rather that hedonistic present thinkers.

This brings us to the second video which is directly related to the ideas of time and culture and society. If, as the video says, we were to pay people enough so that money was not an issue, can you imagine the possibilities! If people did things for the enjoyment, for the personal satisfaction, simply for the purpose of leaving their mark on society, can you imagine all that would get done? If we didn't have to worry about the bills, and the mortgage and the car note, all that brain energy and thought could be directed at developing and creating. When the stress of money is removed, it frees up so much time for being productive.

I think everyone has an underlying desire to change the world. I think that we become robots and do as we are told, when we are told and eventually we forget our childhood dreams of changing the world. We become desensitized by the material world, all the things we have to have and think we need. All those things that money can buy. When, if we were to look inside, what we really need and what should drive us can be found in the heart of the children. What we really want and what really drives us to be loved, to be accepted and have a purpose. We all want to do something important and in turn be important to someone. Our job as teachers is to never let that inner desire to have purpose be destroyed in our students. We need to develop their creativity and love for each other and humanity and develop it so they will have an impact on society by the things the create and do as adults.

Project #11 Short Movie

My PLN

Well, all I can say is that my PLN is definitely a work n progress. I have watched the videos, looked at past student PLN's, watched the tutorial and still am somewhat lost as to the benefit of using the PLN. I have an account with Symbaloo and have changed the background and created a few tiles to make access to my blog and the edm310 blog easier from Symbaloo. It is easy to create a tile. I am just confused as to what tiles I need to be creating. Maybe I am making this more difficult than it is. Maybe I am trying to read something into it. The way I understand it, it is just a way to organize websites you use on a regular basis. I would happily take any comments or suggestions as to how to make the PLN useful to this class.

Blog Post #7 - Randy Pausch Last Lecture

I just finished watching the last lecture of Dr. Randy Pausch, what an amazing man! To be faced with the news of cancer and only a short time to live and to be able to continue to have that attitude and response to life. His statement in regard to life being about your reaction is so true! Your personality truly shows in your reaction to the "brick walls" as he discussed. I loved the idea that the brick walls are there to stop the others that don't want the item/idea as much as you. They are there to find out who is truly motivated. I loved that he shared his childhood dreams and that by achieving his dreams, he was able to touch the lives of so many other people. How true it is that when we take the focus off of ourselves and make it about others, life becomes so much more fulfilling and happy. We achieve so much more when we help others. It appears that is the story of his life and what a success it was!

I really liked the lessons that he talked about that he learned from others in his life. I once had a softball coach that had us practice without a ball as well. I never really understood the philosophy behind it until he talked about his football coach. It really is about knowing the fundamentals. It takes the whole team to be a success, not just the one with the ball! I am often asked why I make myself crazy involving my kids in so many sports. It is for the exact reasons that he spoke of. "The head fake" lessons. Children learn so much about teamwork, helping others, playing together, sharing, etc. by being on a team. I also like the idea that he carried the team aspect over into the classroom. I think that students can learn just as much as if not more by working in teams. Everyone sees things in a different way and when exposed to all these different thoughts, it often sparks creativity and enthusiasm. I think that teamwork and group projects are an important part of education. These projects can be incorporated into every aspect of education. I think students learn better and learn more when participating in the process and working with others. When in a group, it is just more fun! It's the head fake lessons, most of the time you don't realize you are learning. You often see it as a time for socializing, yet you are learning. What better way to teach - then when they don't realize they are being taught!

I also liked the fact that he wasn't afraid to try something new. Starting the BVM class and the ETC classes were a risk. No one knew how they would be received. No one knew the outcome. But, he had developed such a relationship with the school and he had such the personality that they were willing to take that risk. And what a great decision that was. I think it would be safe to say that the students amazed him in their abilities. I think this idea could be applied to all classrooms. If we give the students the support and the ability to use their talents without too many restrictions, we will always be amazed at the outcome. I think to often, we get stuck in a rut and we do that which has always been done when it would be much more effective to be open minded and to think outside of the box. I think in regard to technology and the advances that have been made, we as future educators have to be willing to change, we have to be willing to take risks and we have to have faith in our students ability to amaze us!

And, finally, how awesome would it be to know that you have touched as many lives as he has. To have inspired so many people. To have changed the way education is approached. To have been able combine all aspects of education, the right and left side of the brain. To teach without the student knowing that they were learning. I think we live in a hands on society. Children want to be entertained and our jobs as teachers have to change with that mentality. We have to be able to break through the brick walls, whether it be lack of funding, lack of equipment, lack of parental support, lack of administrative support and provide this type of education to them. We have to involve the student, motivate the student, and incorporate technology so they stay entertained and on target. We have to give them the tools and support they need to develop their creativity and as an aside, they will in most cases amaze us and teach us more than we have ever taught them!

C4T

Link to Teacher's Blog


I do agree that we can not teach as we were taught. I realize that education has to change and grow with the technology that is now available. We as teachers have to be able to incorporate technology into our classrooms in order to first hold the students attention and second to prepare them for the world in which they are to become a productive part of. Technology is ever changing and it is a scary thing because you can never be an expert as most teachers feel they should be. I think the answer is to realize that as teachers we just have to be expert learners! We have to be willing to try the new technology, sometimes that may even mean learning from our students. We can't be afraid to try new things! We have to meet the challenge of the future head on and not allow ourselves to hold onto the "old ways" to the detriment of our students. I hope that I can incorporate all that I have learned and will learn in EDM310 in my classroom once I begin to teach! I want to be the teacher that the students think is cool because they are engaged and are learning when they think they are just having fun. I know it will be hard because as a whole society often resists change and there are many teachers with a lot of seniority that will hold out and resist the movement to incorporate more technology into the classroom. They will offer every reason why it won't work and that things are working fine now so why change. I hope to be a strong enough voice to change that attitude and help to move education into the 21st century!

FEBRUARY 20, 2011 10:41 PM


This is my second comment on your blog for the C4T assignment. I loved the title "Serendipity" what a fun word! It invokes creativity just in saying it! As I read the blog and the comments about the video, it made me think back to the video. The video was very inspiring as many of the quotes from the comments of other students said. It really makes you think how something so simple can have such a positive affect. It makes you think about the value of creativity and the importance of fostering it in our students. We don't want our students to become complacent and mundane in their approach to school, to studies and mostly to life. We want and need to inspire them to use all of their brain! Can you imagine the impact we could have on the world if we were to inspire even half of the children to reach their potential! As educators, it is important that we challenge the students and inspire them so they don't become "robots" doing the same thing day after day just because that is what has always been done. I think it is our calling to think outside the box to make school fun so they can see all the possibilities that lie ahead of them! Isn't it crazy how something so simple and can have such impact!

Blog Post #6

I just finished watching Wendy Drexler's video on the Networked Student. I enjoyed it because it was simple and straight forward. It is hard to believe that it was made in 2008. I was completely unaware that all of this technology was even available at that time. The idea of the networked student was new to me as I began this class.

I guess I am still trying to grasp all of it and how to use all of it in the classroom. It is hard to envision all of these changes, my brain wants to remember the classroom of the past that I learned in 20 years ago. I accept the challenge to learn the technology and to continue learning as time goes on. I think that the role of the teacher will always be there, the function may change. The teacher in the future may be more of a moderator that helps the students on individual learning paths. I think the classroom will always exist but maybe not the way it did 20 years ago. We have to embrace the technology and change with our students so that we can keep them engaged and teach them skills not just facts.

I think the idea that was presented in the video of teaching the students to develop a learning network is important as well as the idea of not being afraid to ask. With the technology that is available, the students can be exposed to so much more than I ever was as a student. All I had was an encyclopedia which doesn't even come close to the information that is available on the internet. But, I think the students need to be guided and taught how to use the internet effectively. They need to know it can be used for learning and for meaningful conversation not just for entertainment. All in all, I think teachers and students need to have a learning network available to them, it needs to include the internet and technology as well as human interaction and discussion.


A 7th Grader's PLE

I was totally impressed by the video of this 7th grader. It can be found by clicking on the following link. Welcome to My PLE.

This video really amazed me! These students are really learning skills that they can use for a life time. She didn't just learn about the gecko or the jellyfish, she learned where to get information about it, how to organize that information and how to communicate and share the information! What a lesson! My PLN is a bunch of websites written on sticky notes, the back of envelopes and scraps of paper. How much more efficient would it be for me to have this information organized on a personal page? I think I need to go back to elementary school to learn these skills! As I have been progressing in this class, I have tried to not be overwhelmed and have tried to be open to change but after seeing her PLE and thinking about mine, I realize I am still holding onto the old way of doing things with pen and paper! I will make more of an effort to utilize what I am learning and to incorporate it to make my learning process easier and more efficient!

To use a Smartboard?

Positive Uses of the SmartBoard

After reading the first two articles, I wondered if there was a positive side to using the smart board. These two educators seemed to think the only benefit to the smart board was to make it appear that the school was using technology. They argued that all the smart board did was allow the teacher to have a neat new gadget that enabled her to continue to teach in the "old way" of stand and lecture. It also seemed to argue that the expense was outrageous and the same outcome could be accomplished with the old methods, the tried and true, projectors and computer stations with keyboards.

My assumption after looking over some of the comments to these two articles and the link that I have attached, is that maybe these teachers didn't have significant training on how to use the smart board. It appears that teachers, have very distinct feelings about the smart board, you either love it or hate it. There seems to be a significant argument for both. It appears that it is more successful if the teacher is creative and has enough training to be able to use it effectively. It seems to be successful when it is used interactively and keeps the students involved in the process. They seem to be very successful in math classes and in teaching special needs students, ie the deaf and hard of hearing. If the students don't participate in the lesson, how is the technology beneficial? The use of technology is to involve and engage the students. I think the smart board is just a tool as is all technology. It is not the answer in every situation. If the money is going to be spent to obtain them, take the extra time to train the teachers to use them effectively. If the training isn't going to take place, use the money on something else!

Project 9b - Instructional Time Line

How to Meet your AR Goal

C4K comments

C4K #1

Hi Rachel,

I love your blog! I am so impressed with the picture! It really makes the definition and the different measurements easy to understand. My favorite measurement is cups because I love to cook. Baking chocolate chip cookies is my favorite.

http://kidblog.org/MsNaugles5thPeriodMath/rachels10/fun-with-measurement/#comment-665

@pnaugle was a great clue to begin the search for information about Mrs. Paula Naugle. From her tweet account, I was able to find her blog site, http://pnaugle.blogspot.com/. Once on her blog page, I was able to find out that she teaches 4th grade math and social studies. She has been teaching for over 30 years. She uses all forms of technology in her teaching, which I found very refreshing. I have often wondered if teachers that have been teaching a while have been willing to adapt and incorporate technology into their classrooms and I can see that the answer to that is definitely "yes" in this situation. I look forward to following her class blogs and her personal blogs!

C4K #2

Hi Nicole! My name is Lisa and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your blog and the eight facts about yourself. It was really good for a first time blogger! I just started blogging myself, I think it is really fun. I am sure you will like it! I live close to the beach and fishing is one of my favorite things to do also. I have a son about your age and he loves to be near the water as well. I hope you enjoy blogging, maybe you will get a chance to look at my blog and send a comment. I would love to hear from you!


Hi Turuhira! My name is Lisa and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile,Alabama. I loved reading your story! My favorite part was that you said you had super strengths to make people happy! And, that you got it from your mum! I bet you are really good at making people smile, if you tell stories like this all the time! And, the costume is awesome!
I wish everyone wanted the super hero strength to make people happy! Wouldn't this world be a much greater place! I can't wait to read about your next adventure!

C4K #3

Hi! My name is Lisa May and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama in the United States. As part of one of my classes, I was asked to listen to your podcast! It was awesome! You did a great job explaining the book, it made me want to read it! I think it is great that you are learning to do podcasts at your age. I just made my first podcast a few days ago! If you keep up the hard work and learning all you can about computers and technology, you will have an amazing future ahead of you! Good luck in school! If you get a chance visit my blog at http://www.maylisaedm310.blogspot.com/.

C4K #4

I was very impressed with the website of the Pt. England School in New Zealand. Their philosophy on education is exceptional! I was also amazed at the extend to which they are using technology within their classrooms and how long they have been using it. To think these young children were doing podcasts as far back as 2007 and I just heard of a podcast this semester! Room 16 is a year 6 class which means that the children are ages 9 and 10. Based on the picture, it would appear that there are 29 students in the class. It is taught by Mr. Kent Somerville. They have just started their first term on Feb 2. The only post to their blog was done by Mr. Somerville the first day of school, proclaiming "2011". I look forward to watching it's development as the year goes along, I looked at past Room 16 blog posts and they are amazing! I wish they were doing these things in the schools that my children attended.

Blog Post #5

I watched/listened to 5 of the 7 links provided and found some to be more informative than others. In the Benefits of Podcasting, I really liked watching how the students were using the podcasts to enhance their education. It was great to hear the student say " Now, I listen to more than just Beyonce!" I thought that was great! It really shows how technology that children today are familiar with can be incorporated into the classroom. Also, having just had a child at home sick for an entire week, I can definitely see the benefits of podcasting. We had hours of homework to complete that could be managed much more effectively had podcasting of the lessons been available on the internet.
In Langwitches Blog, I found the interview with Silvia Talisano to be very interesting. It provides a great explanation of the many facets of podcasts and the behind the scenes work that has to be done. I love that they allowed the students to try different "jobs" until the they found the one they were most comfortable with. I think that allowing the students to actively participate in the education process truly allows them to "learn" the material. I t promotes more creative and analytical thinking. And, like the video said, kids can handle a lot more than we think they are capable of when given the responsibility.
In "100 Ways To Use Your iPod To Learn and Study Better," I found the information to be good but very dry and at times hard to stay tuned in to. But, I had not been exposed to that side of the iPod and really didn't even know that those capabilities existed. i thought it was just for music! So, I definitely learned something there!
In the Judy Scharf Podcast Collection, I found the link to teachertube http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=100030- to be extremely informative. It was very straight forward and easy to understand. And, considering that I am new to the world of podcasting, I really appreciated it's simplicity!
In the Practical Principals, I found it interesting that it really sounded like I was just listening in on a conversation between two people. This was also informative because it allowed me to see that it doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to get the point across. There doesn't have to be a lot of fancy equipment, just a desire to make something useful and interesting! A lot can be said for the human voice and the emotion that it can portray.
So, how can I use all of this in my podcast and in future podcast? I think that it exposed me to the many forms that a podcast can have. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you want it to be. But I think the most important thing that I learned was that you should be knowledgeable and you should be prepared. You want to hold your audiences attention through the entire video or audio so you have to have emotion and passion for whatever you are discussing!

Project #9a Timetoast Timeline

TimeLine

Project #8

Project #6 My Sentence

My Sentence

Blog Post #4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

This post is very relevant and very thought provoking! As were the posts and comments by previous EDM students. I was surprised that some of the students did not agree with Dr. McLeod or see the sarcasm in his writing! He makes a good point when questioning who will be ahead in the next decade. Technology is here to stay and if not used properly, it will be used negatively. It is our responsibility as parents and educators to teach our children that technology is good and should be used for that purpose. If we don't teach them the benefits of technology,then they will learn how to use it from their peers or through their own exploration. The point is, they are going to use it so why not teach them from the beginning the "right" way to use it so they aren't tempted. There are some crazy things available through the internet but as with most things, I think the good far out weighs the bad. And, if by chance a child comes across one of the darker sides of the internet, maybe that is a teaching moment in itself. Technology , as with anything else, is just a tool, how we use it is completely up to us! I would prefer that my students and children be exposed and prepared rather than sheltered and reluctant.

Dr. Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Educational Administration program at Iowa State University. He also is the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the nation’s only academic center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and was a co-creator of the wildly popular video, Did You Know? (Shift Happens). This quote is from his short bio found on his web page http://scottmcleod.net/.

The iSchool Initiative
I found this video to be very intriguing. Was it the idea of this student? Was it a collaborative effort by him and other students? Was he the spokesperson? Could this really be the answer? Could this work? Who sponsors it? What happens to the typical classroom? Does it apply to all stages of education? I think it raises some very important questions. I found it very interesting that there are so many apps available to aid in the education process, even change the education process. I realize that technology is available but what about the student that doesn't have the discipline to self-teach. What happens to the student that needs the text books? Can you teach a 5 year old in this way? It seems almost like a form of home-schooling? Then, are we removing the social aspect of school? Isn't that a part of the education process as well?

The more I think about it, the more disturbing I find this video and idea. I think that technology is a tool that should be used for education. But technology in itself is not the education. Students still need a teacher, classmates, peers and a classroom in which to collaborate and to learn. I may be taking the video to extreme but the idea of the iSchool scares me. I have visions of teenagers that never leave their homes or their rooms. They rely solely on the communications they have through their computers and phones. I have visions of very technologically advanced children with no social skills or face to face interaction. I think that the idea of the ischool could be successful when combined with a traditional school setting. It allows the students to use the technology that they crave and yet still receive human interaction, motivation and emotion.

The Lost Generation

I absolutely LOVE this video! I love the way it was done, the technique is amazing! And, how true it is that we often give this generation so little credit. They are teenagers, they are young and care-free but I truly believe they have learned from the mistakes of my generation. They not only see the consequences of the "me" generation, they have lived it and survived it. I think that this generation has more awareness than I ever had as a teenager. I am sure the majority of that is because of technology! The world is a much smaller place now. We see the impact of what we do today on tomorrow. We see how everyone and everything is dependent on each other. When I was a teenager, Africa or the Middle East, was a place on the map. Now, my teenager may be communicating via facebook or blogs with someone that lives there. We are no longer "isolated" in the United States, in Alabama, in Mobile. We are all members of the world's community and as such have to act with responsibility and with priorities. This generation is not lost, they are forging their path and as educators, it is our responsibility to lead them along the way!

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir - 'Lux Aurumque'

That truly is amazing! Not only is the performance beautiful, to think that the internet makes it possible for all those individuals to sing as one is also beautiful. Another example of how technology has made the world a smaller place. No longer is there a need to travel hundreds, maybe thousands of miles to work with the top individuals in any field on any project. It has removed the boundaries that existed due to location. It makes it possible for so many things.

I liked the comment by Jennifer Chamber's as well. I guess we are all becoming bloggers! This class has definitely opened my eyes to the things that are possible with the internet and technology. I could spend hours clicking from one thing to the next, it is hard not to get lost, there is so much out there! Every day I find something new. It definitely makes you start thinking of the possibilities! If we can harness that excitement and pass it on to our students just think of the possibilities and the things that we ( students and teachers) will be able to create!

Teaching in the 21st Century

As I watched this video, it made me think about why I want to be a teacher. Why did I choose this profession? What does it really mean? I think as much as I want to teach, I want to learn. Having been in the business world for the last 20 years, I have felt at times that something was missing. As I reflect, it was at those times that I had quit learning! I think the human brain has an innate desire to learn. I think our brain almost craves it as our body craves food. As teachers in the 21st century, it is our job to preserve and develop this desire to learn in our students. We must keep them engaged so they will be life-long learners. Just think of the possibilities if we all kept researching, studying, engaging over our entire life time. It is said that the brain of a child is like a sponge. As teachers we must never let that sponge dry out. We must constantly be presenting challenges to the students through their lessons that allows them to push the limits, expand the boundaries and to create with out too many restraints. If we can take the lessons of the past and pass the knowledge that has been learned from those experiences to the students so that they can build on it, imagine the possibilities.

I think that to teach in the 21st century will be an honor! It will be an amazing endeavor to challenge the students, to forge a new path and to leave a mark on history! As technology evolves, our classrooms must as well so that we can keep the students engaged and creating as we move into the future!

Blog Post #3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today


As I watched this video, it made me think about the differences in my first college experience and my college experience now. Twenty years ago when I attended Spring Hill College, I was blessed to have small classes and all my professors knew my name. One of the benefits of a small school. There were no computers in the classrooms, no smart boards, ipods,etc. No one had a personal computer. When you had to write a paper the research was done in the library and the paper was written by hand. Occasionally if you were taking a computer class, you would visit the computer lab to do the assignments and get out as soon as possible. Social interaction was done in the cafeteria at meal times and in the dorm rooms and common areas. There was no facebook, my space, blogging, text messaging. So, I ask myself, was this a better or worse experience than today's college student? I don't really have an answer for that yet!
Here are some of my observations. My oldest son went to a state university for his first two years of college. He sat in huge classrooms with 300+ students, learned from a graduate student that taught on an overhead projector and had no personal interaction with his educators. I do not think this is the way education should be. The students need to be engaged. They are bored by this type of education and many get lost in the system. They bring computers, cell phones and ipods to class and are plugged in to all this technology and are not listening or learning in the classroom. So, how do we as teachers make sure that they are not facebooking during our lecture. How do we make sure they are listening to us rather than the newest songs on their ipod? How do we make sure they are prepared for the jobs of the future? How do we make sure that they can communicate effectively in person as well as through technology? I think this is the challenge of today's teachers. We have to be able to develop the desire to learn within our students through all mediums. We have to be able to use all of the technology that is available to us so that they will engage the students and make them hungry to learn more.
So, the comparison of my education for my first degree, his education and my education at South now creates some interesting questions. Which works better? Who is more prepared for the "real world"? Who learns the most in each situation? That is all still to be determined, I guess. It will be interesting to look back after I have more experience at South and see in which way I learned more. It would be interesting if the film was further developed by talking to the professors who have been teaching for the last 30 years. They have seen the transformation in students and in technology. Have they been able to adapt? How are they adjusting? Are they willing to change their teaching methods to adapt to the "new student"?

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

I loved reading this post! I think it does get to the heart of things. Technology is not the answer in and of itself! The teacher must be motivated and willing to use the technology to teach the basics as well as the information of the future. A computer in the classroom doesn't mean that the student is going to learn more just by the virtue of it being there. We as teachers need to light a fire within our students to learn the best and most effective way to use that computer to further their desire to learn. We need to continually be developing our teaching skills by learning how to incorporate that technology in our classrooms. We must always be willing to learn and most of all be able to instill that desire for learning in our students. We need to lead them by example, let them see that we ourselves are students. That we can teach them the basics but we can further that education by learning together how the basics apply to our current world and situation. The students don't want to read and memorize as I did when I was in school. They want to how they are going to use the information. It is our job to relate it to real life applications and challenges and this can be done with technology. We must be excited and motivated and in turn our students will be as well!

Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

I found it interesting that this article was written in 2007. I wonder if Mr. Fisch feels that any progress has been made in the field of education. As hard as it is for me to admit, I do agree that being technologically literate as a teacher today is as important as knowing how to read, write and do math. I have fought technology and only learned what I had to get by but now I see the importance and I am very intrigued by all that is out there. I knew the systems that had to be used in the world of mortgage finance but had no idea of the power of blogging, tweeting, or researching on the internet. My kids use technology much more effectively than I have but I hope to change that. I have a true desire to learn and am passionate about using it once I get into a classroom. I think that as long as the teachers continue to be life long learners, then we can and will be able to incorporate technology into our classrooms and prepare our students for the future. We can't teach them what we don't know but if we are willing to learn along side them, it is a win-win situation for everyone. The classroom becomes a place where the student and teacher can share ownership - we can challenge our students and ourselves to try new things and thus we all win!

Garys Social Media Count

Those numbers are staggering! I know that social media is a huge part of our society today but had no idea of the numbers. I think as an educator, these numbers show us that we have to be ever changing and willing to adapt to the advances of technology. We have to find a way to harness the students interest in socializing and direct it toward problem solving and learning. If we can make use of there desire to use computers for the benefit of learning and developing critical thinking, just imagine the possibilities! I look forward to a future where the children share ownership in the curriculum and they are rewarded for creative and innovative ways of using the power of technology to learn and teach each other. After all, we learn and are most influenced by our peers so we as teachers should learn form each other and students should be encouraged to as well!

C4T comment 1

So, my name is Lisa May and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. John Strange's EDM310 class and my first assignment was to view your blog and comment - so , I see a really good looking guy with an icicle - totally not what I expected - my first thought was "What? How does this relate to education?" Then I thought I hope all by assignments are this pleasing to the eye! Thanks for the break in what was a rather overwheming first week of classes. I look forward to your future posts!

My tweeter address is @lmmay001 and my blog page is Lisa May's EDM310 Class Blog and help or comments you may have for an aspiring teacher would be greatly appreciated!

January 30, 2011 7:21 PM

"She Who Laughs Last.."


I read this article and tried to think what was the last thing that really made me laugh? I couldn't think of anything,then I asked myself, "How sad is that?" I realized that maybe I have been rushing through life so serious and trying to accomplish all these little tasks involved in raising a family, working and going to school that I have forgotten to look for the humor and happiness in the small things - so, thank you for two things:
1. Providing those facebook postings that definitely made me laugh - especially the bedtime chasing because with our big family and three sick kids this past week, musical beds is all to familiar!
2. Making me realize that I need to slow down and appreciate the humor in my life! And believe, there is plenty of it with 8 kids,a husband,work,school... - I had just forgotten to laugh at it! Laughing does make it all more bearable!

Blog Post 2

  
Did You Know?
     "Did You Know?"  was  a very thought provoking video!  I knew the internet  was developing quickly but had no idea how much it had grown. As I watch my kids use the computer, I know they know so much more about it than I do.  They use Google like we used encyclopedias at their age.  The use Facebook and texting like we used the home telephone.  No one could have ever imagined things would have progressed as far or as fast as they have.
      I struggle to keep up and I wonder if it is even possible sometimes!  I am excited about where things are going but yet somewhat afraid at the same time.  When I graduated from college the first time, you hoped to find a job that would provide stability. It was an admirable thing to have seniority and stay with one company and one job for a long period of time. To become the best at whatever it was that you did.  According to the statistics, that stability no longer exists.  People are "expected" to change jobs and positions on a regular basis.  While that may be good for growth, does it open us up to a society of individuals that have a little bit of knowledge in a lot of things rather than an in depth knowledge of one thing?  It will be interesting to see a similar video in 2 years, 3 years, 5 years to see where things go from here!

Mr. Winkle Wakes
     How true the sentiment that was expressed in "Mr. Winkle Wakes" !  Technology is evolving every where it seems but our schools!  In the business world, everyone wants to learn the newest and "hottest" way of doing business.  Shouldn't we look at education as our "business" and want to use the newest and "hottest" technology available for our customers - the students in our classroom?  As the video "Did You Know" stated, we are training our children and our students for jobs that don't even exist yet!  We need to challenge them to use technology as it becomes available and to create that which makes it work better and easier so that they are able to compete in the global market.
     As time goes on, our neighborhoods and our communities will be much farther reaching than they are today and we as educators and as parents can't turn a blind eye to that!  We need to be awake and aware of all that is happening even if it does make us uncomfortable and little uncertain at times!  We need to continue to learn so we can teach our children and students that an education is not only something you can receive within four walls until you reach the age of 18. It is an ongoing process as long as our heart is beating and our brain is on!

  Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity


     I really enjoyed the presentation by Sir Ken Robinson.  As a mother of eight children, I have thought the same thoughts many times  Since the majority of my kids have gone to the same school and had the same teachers, I have wondered how each will do in the classroom.  Some teachers have been amazing and seem to reach all the children regardless of personality type but others are not so much.  For instance, we encountered an art class which my children "hated".  How at the age of 6 can you "hate" art?  That if any should be one of their favorites!  It always allows such creativity and individualism yet they complained constantly.  So, I began to think about it, and looking back through the years at their "art projects", I realized that although each was created by a different child, they looked exactly alike.  How can "art" be the same for all of them? This video made me think about that again.  By using the same methods and the same projects and lesson plans year after year, are we creating cookie cutter children?  Children that are afraid to think outside the box, to be a little different?  Do we punish them for individuality and creativity?  Are we too quick to judge them and diagnose a medical problem that can treated by drugs?
     I really think that a change needs to be made in our classrooms.  We need to promote creativity and individualism.  We need to let our children know that while math and english are extremely important so are art and music.  We need to find ways to foster the imaginations of the students.  To let them ask the questions and find the answers.  To let them color a purple sky or a green ocean or a blue tree.  To let them move outside the realm of memorization in education to questioning and understanding the concepts behind the processes.  Because what I have found as a mother is that if you take the time to explain why, they tend to understand and are more willing to comply and more eager to keep moving forward.

Cecelia Gault (Young Student in Finland) Interviews Sir Ken Robinson


     I think it was a very well thought our interview.  Cecelia asked some very interesting questions of Sir. Robinson namely the myths of creativity and the definition of intelligence. I agree that all people are creative, some just know how to use it better than others.  I also agree that it can be developed if given the right situation and guidance.  I think that is our job as educators, to make sure that we promote the creativity in each child. We need to allow them the opportunities to think outside the box so that they can find their niche and place in the world!  I believe that students need to use their creativity and intelligence to be successful in today's world!

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts. 
     
     When watching this video, the main thing that I liked was empowering the students.  How true it is that they often know more than we do especially when it comes to technology!  When they discover it on their own and then teach it to their peers, it develops an ownership in the project.  It develops a sense of pride and a desire to want to learn more.  I think it is also important to realize as educators that we don't have to know everything.  We just have to be willing to find out!  Inmost cases the process is more important than the answer.
     As I think about this video and all the previous videos, it makes me understand more clearly why I have chosen the field of education to study.  What better task to have than to prepare our children for the future!  I hope that I can use my experience and my desire to continue learning to light that spark within my students so that we all can learn from each other without boundaries and restrictions.  I look forward to using technology rather than text books!