Comments 4 Kids

The first student I was assigned to read was named Evan. The blog he wrote was titled "Asessippi Ski Area" He said skiing at Asessippi is fun and that you would definitely come back with bruises. He also went on to say that he sat with his freind Jesse on the way home and they watched the movie Flicka.

----I really enjoyed reading his article. It wasn't very long but that's OK, it was still entertaining. I really like these assignments because I am learning about different places that I have never heard of. Also, hearing about a ski trip makes me want to go one day!

The second student I was assigned to read was Yasmine from Mr. St. Pierre's class. The blog I read was Terryville ghost strikes again! It was very exciting and interesting to read. The story is about Yasmine and her friends, Ciara and Genesis who had an encounter with a ghost that comes around often. I have never had an encounter with a ghost before so reading this story gave me the chills. I hope I never come in contact with a ghost!

The third students blog I got to read was a student names Jonita. She is from the island of Samoa. I had never heard of this island so I wanted to know where it was located and I found out it is by Australia.I also realized there are many islands by Australia. Also while reading her blog, I learned about a sport called netball. I research this as well and found out it is a sport a lot like basketball.

9b Instructional- Timetoast

I am a huge fan of the T.V show F.R.I.E.N.D.S, and also a huge fan of Lisa Kudrow. She graduated from Vassar College in New York. In May 2010, she was invited to speak to the graduating class. I wanted to share with everyone because it is very humorous, and also very motivating. She is a wonderful speaker and I hope everyone enjoys.

Blog Assignment 6

The only blog that I could find that comes close to finding an opposite argument was by a student in a class similar to EDM 310. The post does list cons of smart boards as well as pros. The three cons Brittany points out are: you can control everything from the SMARTboard, you don't have to sit behind a computer and desk but in front of the classroom, you can convert written document into text and students interact with the lesson.

For further information on Brittany's post, you can go to her blog: http://notesfrombrittany.blogspot.com/2011/01/do-smartboards-create-more-effective.html


Michael Staton, Why Smartboards Are A Dumb Initiative

I'm not sure how I feel about this post because for one I've never used a smart board so I don't really know how they work or if they are an affective learning tool. From the the classes I am taking that use a smart board, I don't see a negative side of them. We are able to see where items are online that we need. This for sure helps me because I am more of a visual learner and need to see things done. So seeing the website or document I need for an assignment, I am able to remember what the page looked like which helps me identify it when I'm on my own looking for it.
I have a couple teachers write on the board, and it doesn't come out the clearest, however when a lot my past professors have written on a white board, I haven't been able to read it. So the type of board you write on doesn't mean its any more clearer.
In Michael Statons blog, he writes that all smart boards are good for is standing in front of a screen. But I don't see what the difference is in standing in front of a smart board as apposed to a chalkboard. As a teacher, you should be standing up in front of the class, what difference does it make whats behind you? Your students are supposed to be looking at you, not focusing on whats behind you.

Bill Ferriter

In Bills blog, he explains how he isn't a huge fan of the smart board. Once again, going back to the fact that I have never used one, it is hard for me to say what I think about these two posts. Bills says he used his board for two or three assignments, all of which he says could have been done with his computer. Also in his blog, Bill talks about how he went to a Twitter Ed Chat about interactive white boards. I clicked on the Twitter Ed Chat to learn more about what it was, and it told me the URL i requested could not be found. Anyways, Bill concludes this discussion by saying, "The majority of participants recognized that without time and training, they quickly become nothing more than really expensive overhead projectors." Hopefully this isn't true. From what very little I know about smart boards, I like them and find them very useful.

The Networked Student

To answer the question, "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" The answer is for guidance when he needs it, and also the teacher is the one who taught him how to build a network. This story reminds me of EDM 310. We are given all of out material, told what to do, and have many many different ways of getting in touch with Dr. Strange and the lab staff. We do not meet twice a week, but with all the opportunities to go to the lab and get help, you could basically go to this class twice a week. I think I would be ready to take on a student like the Networked Student, well once I get all of this technology and all of the programs to go along with it, I could defiantly handle this type of student. I hope Ms. Dexler does well with middle school students. I'm sure they can handle everything. Students are much more advanced these days than I was in middle school so I feel confident they can handle it.

Individual Project #9a

Podcast Project #8

Blog Assignment 5

100 Ways to Use Your I Pod to Learn and Study Better

I cannot believe all of the many things I can do with my I Pod! I thought an I Pod was only good for music. My favorite part about reading the article, "100 Ways to Use Your I Pod to learn and Study Better" was reading that I could install Spark Notes. I have always liked using spark notes for quick referencing of different books. I am also really glad to know we can get tutorials as well.
Before this class, I was not very fond with the idea of using technology in the classroom, but the more articles I read and videos I watch about how much technology can help me teach my students and be a better educator, the more I realize how much of a better education my students can get because of all of the different learning tools available.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

A pod cast is a recorded lecture that can help students review highlights from previous lectures in class. Students can view these podcast to help them review for a test. Students can also find other podcast with other information to help with many different subjects needed for classes. This video made me realize how wonderful of a tool pod casting is. I think that our students are lucky that if they are home sick, they can be caught up with what their class is doing. It will make the student, parents, and teachers less stressed knowing that the child is caught up.
I also found it very interesting that I am in the "millennial" generation which is someone who was born after 1980. The millennial generation doesn't know life without technology. Since it has been around all of our lives, doing anything without a computer seems almost absurd for some people.



Eagles’ Nest Radio & Class Blog

The pod cast done by the third graders was very interesting. The students did a very good job of speaking. They made it very entertaining and amusing. It was an educational video and I applaud them.
As I was listening to this pod cast, it made me realize that if third graders can do a pod cast and make it an educational experience, then there is nothing wrong with putting technology in the class room. One thing I do worry about is the students looking at a computer screen too long. It can be harmful to people's eyes of all ages. I will make sure that I do limit the amount of computer time my students have and I would like to have more pod casts available for my students to listen. Depending on what grade I teach, I would also like for my students to put together a pod cast. I think that it can be a great thing for the students to show off that they have done and learned. It will also be permanent to the internet and there will be the excitement of knowing that other students can Google the pod cast and it can help them learn about different topics.

Project #6

Blog Assignment 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? By Scott McLeod

I really enjoyed reading this article. I thought it was well said and put together. They layout of the post really added to his point. In my opinion, I think getting children involved with technology to soon can become an issue. We need to let them enjoy their childhood. They only get it once.
Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading academic experts on K-12 school technology leadership issues. Dr. McLeod 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. Dr. McLeod blogs regularly about technology leadership issues at Dangerously Irrelevant and occasionally at The Huffington Post. He is the creator of Leader Talk, the nation’s first group blog written by school leaders for school leaders. Dr. McLeod also was a co-creator of the wildly popular video, Did You Know? (Shift Happens).
The information about Dr. McLeod was found here.


The iSchool Initiative
I see his point. That it could save money blah, blah. Technology has many positive and negative qualities, however, with technology; you don't get the student-teacher connection. Students will not get that one on one experience. Technology is already taken away the interactions with people. Technology is teaching people how not to communicate one on one. They are able to type something, send it and possibly never have to meet that person. It's taking away life in my opinion. Now with the click of a button, people can do the majority of their errands, online. Video games are taking away going bowling, tennis and many other sports. So many people have problems with video games=violence, and that's what they blame for all of these students who go on a shooting spree, isn't converting school and everything else to technology the same as having no life?

The Lost Generation

I think this video was well put together. If you focus on this when its being read backwards, I think these words are very true.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

I thought this was very cool to watch. I think it is interesting that technology can allow something like this to happen. The song is very pretty. I had never heard of it before now. I think it’s so amazing that all of these people had recorded the song and then it was able to be put together to make it seem like it was recorded all at once.


Teaching in the 21st Century

My reaction to the video is true. Our children are able to go on the internet and navigate around to find out the answers to anything. I'm not really sure what "To Teach" in the 21st century means to me. I feel like it means that same thing it has meant throughout time. We just have an easier and quicker way of getting answers. We can find out anything within seconds. We also have different ways to get our material across to students.

Google Presentation

C4T 1

I was assigned to read e Learning Blog Don't Waste Your Time by David Hopkins. I found his posts to be very interesting. He seems to have a strong opinion about things which is a lot like me. I really like to get my point across.
His first post I read was about QR Codes. Now, if you’re like me, after reading the first sentence your thinking, "What on earth is this code thing and why do I have to read about it." Well, luckily enough, I went on to read the entire post and found it to be very interesting. If you’re still asking yourself "What is a QR code, allow me to summarize what Mr. Hopkins said.
The first thing he explains is simply, what is a QR code. The answer is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. Now, you're probably still wondering the importance of this. My opinion, there isn't one. However, they are in more places than you think. Chances are you have seen one and not even known. David Hopkins explains that Pepsi used them on bottles to give people access to special games and competitions not available anywhere else on the web. Calvin Klein used them to entice you to see their advert, “uncensored”. I ask all of my fellow followers to go to David’s' blog and read more about QR codes. The website is http://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/.

The other blog I read by David Hopkins was about Twitter & Facebook use by Russell Group Universities. He gives links for two articles for his viewers to read. He then asks the readers opinion of the two articles. He then asks, "Are Universities using these tools because they think they ‘have’ to in order to be seen as progressive, modern, interested, social, etc, or is there a well-defined and implemented strategy behind the decision?" I once again invite my viewers to go to his blog and read the articles and think about what you think about the above questions.
http://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/

Blog Assignment 3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

My reaction to this video SO TRUE!
Secondly, I'd like to say I liked how well the students put this movie together. It was very creative.

I have bought books for a class and never used it, then turn around and sell it back to the store to only receive 20% of what i spent on the book, if that, back. But I think we all can agree college books are too expensive.
I also agree with the fact that we all have to be "multi-taskers." There is so much responsibility and work that we have to be. I sometimes feel like this work isn't necessary but then I look at the big picture. I realize that on top of all of this work and responsibility that I am learning so much more. I am learning how to manage time better, becoming more organized and getting a good education from qualified professors. I also know that learning how to manage time and balance work and school will help for when I have a real job and I get on my own. Being organized is key for making it in this world and having less stresses.

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

I enjoyed reading about Kelly Hines' opinion on technology in classrooms. The one thing that I liked most out of the entire post was, "Teachers must be learners." The first thing the majority of my professors have said to my in my education classes was that statement, and I truly believe it myself. I believe that as educators, we cannot go into a classroom and think we know everything. For one, if we did know everything, then there would be no point in college. We are the ones that are students are going to look up to. We are the ones that are going to shape the future. IT is up to us that our students get the best out of us so they can make this world a better place to live in.
We also need to remember that we were in there seats at many times on our lives, as elementary students all the way to college students. We would not have wanted our teachers to have had a bad attitude when they were teaching us and not given us the time of day. Life is about living as well as learning. New discoveries are being made almost daily and are being shown to the world for people to learn and pass on. Everyday is about learning something new. In my opinion, that makes things interesting. Who wants to only know the same stuff and never branch out? I've always enjoyed learning new things and look future to learning more things as an educator.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

"In order to teach it, we have to do it. How can we teach this to kids, how can we model it, if we aren’t literate ourselves? You need to experience this, you need to explore right along with your students. You need to experience the tools they’ll be using in the 21st century, developing your own networks in parallel with your students. You need to demonstrate continual learning, lifelong learning – for your students, or you will continue to teach your students how to be successful in an age that no longer exists." Karl Fisch

I could not agree more with this quote from an award winning post by Karl Fisch. I truly from the bottom of my heart believe that in order to be a successful teacher, educators have to be able to be a good learner. With technology always changing and new discoveries being made, everyone has to always be prepared to continue learning in order to keep up with everyday changes. As educators, we also have to make learning fun for our students. Our students will also teach us many things along with making our jobs very rewarding.


Gary Hayes Social Media Count

I believe this media countdown is showing us by second how much the world is changing with technology and how much time people spend on the internet. I think for my professional career, this means that I better get used to technology taking over the world because everything is changing by seconds.