This was formed originally for my technology class EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I have decided to keep this blog as I continue my journey towards graduating with a degree in elementary/special education.
This is sort of a poem by Scott McLeod that tells you mainly good reasons on why not to let your kids on the internet. At the end it states that if you listen to what I just said than my kids I teach will get the leg up. Scott Mcleod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is frequent blogger and someone that is admits our project in EDM310.
I am half and half on this argument. I believe that there are many reasons to keep children restrained when it comes to being on the internet. It can be a dangerous place and any child left unattended with free roam with no guidelines can get hurt. I do however feel like children do need access to the internet. They can see far away places such as seeing Broadway without being in New York. They can talk to people in different countries. They can create so much, and do so much more. The possibilities are endless. The iSchool Initiative / Zeitgeistyoungminds
This video was created by a high schooler named Travis Allen. The video tells about how the traditional classroom can go completely digital. In the video it tells how the itouch can change the way a classroom functions. The itouch is an Apple product that is virtually in a way a tiny computer that has a touch screen. On it you can buy things called applications that are basically programs. In the video he gives a long list of apps that would be beneficial in the classroom: email, Chemical Touch, U.S constitution, World Wiki, US, presidents, Starwalk, Formulae, Recorder, Scientific and graphing calculator, Notes, Calender, Classics, and iHW. All of these apps can allow you to essentially have the classroom in your hands at all times. The second video is essentially a commercial stating what the iSchool initiative is and that you should join.
I was beyond fascinated when I watched this video. It inspires me to want an iSchool classroom. I can only imagine the impact this would have on my students and the things we can learn and discover. I really hope by the time I am a certified teacher that this will be in place in my future school. I see no faults in doing this. I only see the many benefits it can provide. I feel that if this does take hold then many more teachers can be hired and class sizes can be lowered. I think our administrators need to get on the ball and adopt this idea.
This is a video of many videos of people from all walks of life singing together. Everything is done Virtually. I found myself to be pretty apprehensive about this. Somewhere inside me kind of doubts that this is possible. The sound sounds like a choir put together on one stage. I feel like it is very possible that it could happen given the amount of technology out there but then again being in band my whole life I know that a wonderful sound doesn't come the first time around. It is very rare for any form of art to be able to get together and create an epic sound on the first go. I do however feel like maybe the singers sounds may have been altered so that it all fits together well. I love this creation and shows that anything can be created.
This is a Prezi turned video that goes over what it is to teach students in the 21st century and brings up some nifty questions. It talks about how students have access to any information via the internet and how as teachers we need to approach it. It lists Bloom's Taxonomy and at the very top is create but where does things like blogging fit into Bloom's Taxonomy. It lists tons of things you can do on the world wide web. There are so many lessons that can be built, things created, and things to explore. It mentions many things that I myself need to explore and become familiar with.
Reading Rockets is a website dedicated to "teaching kids to read and helping those that struggle". It contains information for parents, teachers, librarians, principals, and even other professionals. The site even comes in Spanish. It has outsources in Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and contains podcasts. "It contains a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities to help young children to read and read better."
I decided to further research (under the teachers tab) classroom strategies: vocabulary. It offered many suggestions such as word walls and word hunts. On the site it gives a chart stating when you can do this activity either before reading, during reading, or after reading. I found this very helpful. Even more helpful is when you click on an activity it shows a new chart with the same information but also with whether this activity can be used solo, in a group, or as a class whole. It lists the activity, gives you a small example, tells you why to use it, how to use it, examples in all subjects, books to use with this activity, and even resources to back up the activity. I feel like they really used their resources and the site is well thought out and put together. I will definitely come back to it when I am in my own classroom.
In this blog Michael talks about what it feels like to get recognized for basically doing his job. He talks about how his school is PBL. He says how the PBL coach came by to check their progress and gave him the statement, "You don't really follow the PBL model, but don't change anything." . He states how in his previous job as a concrete worker he would receive bonuses and how that compliment meant more to him then all those bonuses did.
I may not know him but I feel as though he did deserve this compliment. I feel as though any teacher doing his or her job deserves a compliment. They need the pick me ups just like children do. If you give someone a compliment it makes them feel as though they are on the right course, that they do matter. In this world it is so hard to be a teacher and anything that puts a little spark back in you is definitely needed.
"I don't know either"
This blog is about how with a recent project on Genocide he tries to take the kids from teacher centered learning to student teacher learning. He decided to let the kids create mini-documentaries. His kids after much struggle he decided to create a template. When he asked the students what they struggled with they said it was not the research but the end product that gave them issues. They said I don't know what you want and his reply was " I don't either."
I found this to be really powering and inspirational. I think it is okay for the teacher to not really know what they want the end product to look like. I think if the teacher knows exactly what they want the end product to look like then the students can never meet that standard. If the teacher has no idea what they want then it gives the student more room to be creative and come up with their own ideas. I think in this aspect then the teacher may just be surprised with what they get handed if they allow the students free roam.
This video tells briefly about what a podcast is and gives a couple of ideas about the benefits of podcasting. One benefit is that if your child is sick then they can go online to listen to lectures. Also you can hook up your ipod in the car and relisten to lectures. It also gives parents insight about what their child is learning in school. One good thing is having the students create podcasting is found on the higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy which every educator strives for.
I unfortunately did not like this video. It was jumbled up and all over the place. I did find some good tidbits from it about if a child is sick and so forth. Things I had not thought of but I feel as though it said a "title" then gave very little details to go with that tittle. It had things that didn't really seem to fit in there such as the baby with the lullaby. I also feel as though I am no where closer to understanding what a podcast is. I am still baffled.
This blog describes in detail the steps it took their first grade class to create a podcast. They did a podcast in an interview type process on a Magic Tree House book called Vacation under the Volcano. The teacher read the book aloud in class then chapter by chapter set up questions and answers for them to do in the podcast. The students were very into critiquing their work and making it their best.
I found this article so interesting. I never would of thought to do this process with early elementary children. It just goes to show exactly how in tune students are to technology. I am learning more and more about how vital technology is in the classroom and I am becoming more and more open to using it in my classroom.
A podcast is a "radio style" audio clip. It can be used on itunes or other podcasting service. Podcasts can contain any information that you want. It can be listened on a MP3 player or other devices. They give some good tips on completing podcasts such as making sure you know the software you are working with and give yourself plenty of time to complete the project. The site also gives a generous amount of idea topics, time schedule, and even a rubic for grading.
I found this blog insightful and full of good solid information. It is good to finally understand what a podcast is. I was so confused on whether or not it contained video. I am still a little shaky on how I can use this to do my lectures as it has been mentioned. I see wonderful ideas on getting the kids to create podcasts. I think creating the podcasts will be such a wonderful skill for the children to mastery. I think they will have fun and learn a lot of facts.
Mary Worrell is a teacher from the U.S. in the Netherlands. Her most recent blog is called "Paper Reinforcers". She starts off talking about how she spent a great deal of time fooling with office supplies. She would go through phases where she would change her penmanship. All of that was when she was younger before she was a teacher. Now she has a powerful love for technology that has taken over her previous obsessions. Her organizing hides the things that she lacks. She goes on to talk about how she came from a family of ADD and ADHD. She herself was never diagnosed but she suffered never the less. She can do almost anything except handle a deadline of writing. Which become problematic being she has professions of being a teacher and journalist. " Anyone can write, but to be a writer, you have to sit down and write. You can’t just think about writing and expect a piece of work to appear." She avoids writing altogether. Yet with her students they write daily in journals and practice freewriting. She states that it is the act of writing that is so important. You may not understand yourself until you start writing and maybe why she avoids it is because she is not ready to see those things. She has much creativity and ideas yet doesn't put anything to paper. She says she is going to go into the new year different and challenge herself to change her old ways. "remind myself: every lesson is a draft."
I found a couple of things that I really connected with in her writing.I have ADD and ADHD. I believe it plays a huge role in
how I am going to teach my children. I know what it feels like to be restless
and unable to sit down. I am going to provide as much physical activity as I
can. I am not going to just lecture at the front of the classroom either. I love how she said “your notebook is your textbook”. I find
that so very true. I feel that I would be lost without my notes to guide me. I
feel as though they are more important than the textbook. I love how she engages the students with freewriting. I believe it is so beneficial to the students. I
feel as though it really helps the students express their feelings and get them
out so they can see them.
She is a new teacher, teaching in a different country, and building up a new school. Her Personal Learning Network contains teachers from around the world. With so much stress from being brand new she constantly finds herself questioning everything she does. She is thankful that she has all of the teachers behind her to help through all of this but she also finds an added disappointment attached to it. She holds these teacher in a higher royalty then the others that surround her. She feels as though they are the experts. She goes to them for advice but still feels as though she to branch away and do this on her own.
I know very little about Personal Learning Networks. So I can only imagine what they do or how much stress they could cause. I feel pressure just being in the classroom with one experienced teacher, I couldn't grasp the stress I would feel if I had a whole network of them. I do feel though that they must offer some web of confidence.
Peer is someone that is of equal status with another person with one belonging in the same age group, grade level, or status. Editing is when you prepare something normally a written assignment for presentation or publication. When you combine the two you get that peer editing is when someone of your same status prepares your presentation for publication. There are three steps to completing a peer edit: Compliments, suggestions, and corrections . The main thing is you need to stay positive. Always make sure whatever you say is in the positive light and not negative. Be kind. Act just how you would want to be treated. Just think about how it would feel if someone said horrible things to you about your presentations. Start your edit with compliments. Tell the author what he or she did well, what you liked, or what proper grammar they used. Then you make suggestions. Be specific. Tell the author directly what you want them to work on and what would make their presentation better. When you make suggestions think about their word choice. Did they use words to grab your attention? Think about did they give good detail about what they were talking about. Was their paper organized and not jumbled up? Can you understand how the presentation fits together? Then check for grammatical errors. But remember to always stay positive that is the main objective.
This video and slide show on peer editing was just a refresher of what proper etiquette is. I never really realized how important staying positive truly is. I know it would be very hurtful to say suggestions in the wrong way. It is so very important to say things in a nice friendly manner. I knew before this video that peer editing was about checking for grammatical errors but i skipped over the fact to leave compliments. It gave me a new perspective on how to write to my peers.
A little girl is the newscaster and she gives some examples of how not to be when you peer edit. The first one is Picky Patty who is too picky when it comes to her editing. She says, "You have too many ands". Then there is Whatever William who just does not care. He shrugs his shoulders and just sighs. Social Sammy is the one that is in every-bodies business instead of doing his own work. Jean the Generalizer does not give you details about what you did wrong or right. She says, "Um, you didn't add a period." "Where?" "Everywhere." Mean Margret is rude to you and says awful things. She is the one that calls you mean names and degrades you. Loud Larry is the one that does not know what his library voice his. Pushy Paula likes to push her ideas on you until you have no choice but to cave in. She will push her view even if she is wrong. Off-Task Oliver does not know how to keep on track. He likes to veer off topic and talk about other things then the editing. Speedy Sandy tries to get the end of the project as fast as possible without spending much time on one thing for very long. Defensive Dave takes everything too personal. He thinks whatever you say is a personal attack against him. So these are the examples of what NOT do when you peer edit.
This video gives you a small idea about how technology has helped special education students. Lacey Cook talks about how technology has helped her students in the classroom. She believes that it is a major factor in facilitating classroom participation. She has used technology to send assignments through email, powerpoint presentations, and set up a website for the students to access. The video gives examples about how difficult their lives were without technology and how much technology helped change their lives. Corbin used to need an aid to read aloud to him. Now he can use an ipod and have it read to him. Kris is handiable and before technology he would use a laminated piece of paper with the alphabet on it to communicate with everyone. Now with technology he can use a computer to talk for him. One student has trouble seeing small print and with technology his computer enlarges the print so that he can read it. His computer has helped him do assignments quicker as well. Lacey Cook has made technology a main objective in her classroom. She believes it helps build relationships and communications that were not in place before technology. She feels like it also helps her students stay focused and that they learn more then when just using textbooks.
I am still uncertain about using technology in the classroom. I still feel that books can provide imagination, something that television and the internet does not provide. I feel like technology can help in many ways. It can help a student talk or read. I do feel that technology is only beneficial if you are doing things like projects. I don't feel like sitting a child in front of a television or computer is going to do them any good. I love how Corbin was able to use an ipod to help him read. I find that fascinating how technology can do so much. I think technology should definitely be in the classroom to assist handiable students. The technology can be used to assist students that cannot talk by speaking for them, students that have trouble seeing by speaking aloud what the messages say and what the pictures are, and so many other ways. I think technology will be nothing but beneficial for special needs children.
I recently looked at the Apple Apps to see which would be good for special education. I found that i liked the App FirstWords: Feelings. I feel that learning about feelings is such an important thing. I try and teach my daughter so much about how she is feeling so that she understands what is okay and what is not. I think it is important for the students to know and learn to express their feelings in healthy way. I know that a lot of students that come into my classroom will not know how to express or understand their feelings. I think this app will be a great icebreaker to get them used to what they are feeling.
Gary Hayes created a counter that counts per second in four different categories: social, mobile, games, and heritage. It describes medians from facebook to twitter to movies to music.He put together this flash player to show exactly how active and dynamic the world is.
I found it interesting the number of people that went to an orchestra verses how many music downloads their are. It makes me feel like the world is losing touch with its' culture. I find it saddening that people don't go to orchestras or symphonies. I like the fact that there are still more physical books being sold versus ebooks. It shows to me that at least people are holding on to some part of the "older times".
I have many mixed emotions and ideas about the counter.The media makes me think that it is very likely that the classroom setting will very likely become more online friendly. It is still hard to believe that one day the classrooms will be fully integrated with technology but with these statistics it shows that it is still more likely.
To say I have been challenged as a future teacher is an understatement. My mind has been blown away by this video. This video is empowered by students at Kansas State University and the video was created by Michael Wesch and his anthropology class. 200 students collaborated online and made 367 edits to bring to you the findings in this video. The results were shocking. What will students say when asked directly, "what are you thinking?". They answer the idea of what are students today. I am in a massive class but only some of my teacher even know my name. I buy the textbooks required of me but I do not even open them. I barely do half of the readings given to me and only some are relevant to my life. "I will read 8 books this year. 2,300 web pages. 1,281 facebook profiles." I will write a small amount of paper for your class but i will more then quadruple that amount in the emails I will create. The average students breaks up their time by doing "7 hours of sleep, 1.5 hours watching T.V., 3.5 hours online, 2.5 hours listening to music, 2 hours on my cellphone, 3 hours in class, 2 hours eating, working 2 hours, and 3 hours studying" which totals to "26.5 hours a day." I will be in major debt when I graduate but there are those that are less fortunate then me that barely make ends meet. Standardize tests don't get me to the job in the future and won't help me deal with the problems I face day to day. "Some have suggested that technology can save us.... I facebook through most of my classes. I bring my laptop to class but i'm not working on class stuff." This video shows where me as a student stands as a number against every other student.
As a future teacher this video changed so much for me. It went along with some of my feelings I already had and changed some of my feelings that I didn't. My belief that technology is well attended but not always the best was justified by this video. Given their own free will most of the students chose to do other things during class via their technology. Though I do feel like the students are crying out for their classes to be more alive. This breath of life comes from technology. So it really is which is the lesser of two evils. As a student I feel their pain. I have been a number in the system not a name. As an elementary school teacher I feel like I can bring so much more to the table and awaken these young minds. If I were to be a professor I would be lost in the storm. I know that I can provide life skills and memorable lessons to the table. I know I can make a difference. The issues though comes from when technology takes over, consumes you. I feel as though too much technology is just as evil as no technology. I feel that left alone and unguided it can and will pose an issue in the classroom. If students are left unguided with their computers and cellphones then they use them however they see fit. Which more and likely means facebook usage. I feel like this video brought to my attention how the students feel. I am really grateful it was a requirement for my class.
I ran across this interesting article that states 7 golden rules of using technology. One idea is do not hide technology is some far away room. When I was in school computers were in a room called the Lab. We only visited around once a week or less. It took a lot of work for the teacher to get the room. The teacher did not know much about them and were very little help when it came to the projects we had to do. We would type up papers or create something on paint. Even through out high school we were rarely ever allowed near a computer. I had one exception which was when I was on the school newspaper. There we had tablet PCs and used the internet for ideas and research. We didn't learn nearly as much as I am learning in my technology class at the University of South Alabama. Technology needs to be integrated into the classroom in some way or another.You have to remember most students already have access to technology. Another idea is instead of hiding cell phones away allow the students to use them. Most students have smartphones that can create apps or pull up Google. This can help where classrooms are lacking with computers and such. The one classroom that I have been in doing my field experience only had four computers but they did have a smartboard. The teacher really only used the smartboard for a projector and used it once to play a game the whole three months I was there. Without guidance teachers are useless against technology. Once they are shown ideas they will be able to integrate it into their classrooms. They just need the lessons so they can learn. Most schools block sites because they fear the unknown. If administrators took the time to grasp the concepts of technology then the classroom can change everything it does. Projects on the computer can replace tests then students can be judged many different ways verses one solid way. We have to remember that technology is not a fad it is here to stay. We have to be able to adapt to it and allow ourselves to learn its' full abilities.
Dr. Strange created a video entitled Did you know? It gives statistics and quotes about the united states population. The first statistic states how India has more k-12 honors students then the United States has students. Then we move on to a prediction stating that by 2025 there will be more Chinese-English speaking people then all of the native English speakers in the Untied States (Gerdon Brown, UK finance minister 2005).
In one minute on YouTube 1,097,220 videos are being watched, on Google 1,393,519 searches are going off, and 11,453, 577 SMS messages are being sent. In theory you are not alone when you search, when you watch, or when you text. In one minute a ton of things are going on at once. No matter what you do you are never alone. Someone somewhere has been there too or done that right along with you.
Two years ago according to the Kaiser Family Fund 93% of 8-18 year olds had computers with 89% African American and 92% Hispanic. Two years ago 85% of 15-18 year olds had cell phones. Just imagine what those numbers would be today.
It is hard to imagine that any country would have higher number of honor students let alone more of their population being honor students then all of our students put together. I have some doubt believing that so many students have computers in their homes. I know of many students that do not have computers but they may very well be the 7%. I find it scary to know that so many videos are being watched every minute. It scares me because i am a shy person and it terrifies me to know that someone will be seeing my videos that i will be posting later in the semester.
Mr. Winkle Wakes is about an older man that wakes from a hundred year slumber. He wakes up to a new world full of machines and gadgets he has never seen before. He frightened and overwhelmed by this new world. He first finds himself inside a huge skyscraper where new machines are everywhere and people are busy doing work on these machines. People are able to talk to other people on opposite sides of the world. He starts feeling sick and ends up in a hospital. There he finds people staying alive by machines. There are things called lasers and x-rays. He becomes even sicker and runs out into the street. He wonders until he finds a school. At the school he finds only one machine that is dusty and hidden away in the back of the classroom.The teacher is lecturing and the students take notes. He finds comfort in knowing that after a 100 years the schools have not changed.
I don't feel like this holds much truth. When I am in a classroom I see computers and a smartboard. I don't just see the teacher up at the front of the classroom solely lecturing. Although if you are in a college campus then you will see the teacher lecturing and students taking notes. I though as a teacher will involve the students more in activities instead of just lecturing. I have recently came across the idea of student lead curriculum for the math and science subjects. I find this concept at first hard to understand but with farther explanation i find it easier to grasp and even more believable to accomplish. In student lead curriculum you basically ask them questions and guide them along to grasp a concept rather then just lecture. I feel that it is going to be harder for the younger students.
"Creativity is as important as literacy" Sir Ken Robinson talks about the importance of creativity "original ideas that have value". He feels that creativity should be treated with the same importance as the core subjects. Young students show little fear to doing anything wrong, usually they wing it. By the time you become an adult you live in fear of making mistakes. You are "educated" out of creativity. Everywhere across the world holds the same hierarchy: mathematics and language are at the top of the bar and then the middle subjects such as history and science with the lowest point being the arts. Everywhere students are taught the things that will be most useful for work. Your favorite things being frowned upon. You are constantly being told do not do that because you will never get a job doing that. People that are creative do not feel as though they are such because that is how they are taught.
In my heart creativity is key in the classroom. As a teacher i am going to try my best to allow times where the students can show off their talents. I want to acknowledge that not every students heart's lie in the core subjects. They should have time to dance, draw, and sing. I realize that every student learns differently and has certain subjects that they flourish in and certain subjects where they lack confidence. As a teacher it is my job to help the students where they lack confidence and help put in place building blocks to help them throughout life.
The main argument is the repeating trend of students passively learning. It tells you of how we need to prepare the students for the 21st century. We need to start using technology further in the classroom. Most students have been on a computer by the time they hit kindergarten. Yet students are still being taught through textbooks and being lectured. If we show the students further in technology then the teacher becomes more of a mentor and the student become more like teachers.
I find a hard time including some forms of technology in the classroom. I find technology rather intimidating and at times difficult to use. I am rather blind when it comes to technology I feel as though technology only helps in some ways but would be rather difficult to use as a whole. I feel as though the world is too connected to technology and would be better if it became a little unplugged. I don't allow my daughter to watch television. I feel as though reading is more beneficial and helpful. I feel like technology can at times be a hindrance. I feel like you have to pick and chose what and when you use any form of technology.
This video shares the idea that every student has the ability to learn. The problem comes into place when you use only one form of teaching. As a teacher you need to broaden your teaching tool box and provide an assortment of teaching styles. One way to hit home with the students is by providing the use of technology in the classroom. She has the suggestion to provide new terminology and not define it for the students. Instead have them look up the word via Google. That you should be teaching to make any type of technology comfortable with the students. She has the idea that as a teacher you don't need to know everything in order to teach it. You learn right along with the students. They feel empowerment when they figure something out on their own. Vicki Davis created two environments Digiteen an environment for students all across the world to collaborate together and Flat Classroom Project a project designed to expand the idea of the typical classroom setting.
I feel as though the amount of technology used in the classroom depends on the grade level. The video shows high school students using in my opinion pretty advanced skills. They are creating a terraform which is basically a digital world. I don't feel this is appropriate for elementary students. In the classroom i did my field experience and my classroom only had four computers. So that in itself makes it difficult to use as a main source of teaching. I feel like as time grows then more and more computers will be placed in the classroom and new teaching styles will be put in place. For as it stands right now that will be difficult for many classrooms.
I have recently came across a discussion on facebook from one of my near and dear friends about suicide. I believe as a friend, a spouse, a parent, and even a teacher you need to be on the look out for symptoms. Symptoms of suicide. Is a link that provides a checklist of symptoms that are warning signs for suicide. If you or anyone you know has ANY of the symptoms on the checklist you need to seek help. International Suicide Prevention Wiki offers tons of places to go for help. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. One call can make a world of difference. Never be afraid to ask for help, you are not a burden you are our loved ones and no matter what you may think someone somewhere cares deeply and truly for you. You are never alone. The statistics show exactly how serious this truly is. Don't be afraid to stand up if you feel someone is in danger of hurting themselves. You speaking out could save a life.
