Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Interview Movie

I interviewed my roommate who is a business major here at South Alabama. I asked her a few questions about technology in the classrooms on campus. We also talked about the pros and cons about technology these days. Check it out!


Technology Interview Movie

Podcast Project

Hillery Hinton and I interviewed Dr. Baggett on technology and education. We asked her questions about how she felt about technology including the Smartboard. Below is the link to see the video.

Podcast Project


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Bob Marley TimeToast!

I created my TimeToast on the life of Bob Marley. I believe his to be an educational one since he is a great piece of music's history. He had so many dreams and achieved a lot even when his main goal was peace. The TimeToast that I created is put together with facts of his life that the average person does not know. Click on the link below to see my TimeToast! Enjoy!

Bob Marley's life on TimeToast

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Post #7

Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture"



In Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture", I became very aware after the first two minutes that this hour long video would NOT be a drag. The instant he explained about his condition with cancer, it was like he created an immediate bond with his audience and any viewer of his video. He used humor in his talk which I love because it always keeps attention. He spoke of his childhood and explained some childhood dreams of his. In his talk, he explained how to keep your childhood dreams. He also explains how we have to play the cards that we are dealt and talks about how his condition is inevitable but will not bring him down. Its amazing to me that with 5 months to live, he was so happy and in the best of health and seeing him like this is so inspiring.
Throughout this video, I actually wrote down a few quotes that the mentioned. These quotes made me stop and think about their meaning and I realized that they implied to me as well. One quote was, "Brick walls are there for a reason - they let us prove how badly we want things". Now that is a great quote for a classroom because everyone hits a brick wall every once and a while. It encourages us to keep looking up and to work harder. Another quote is, "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted". This is for those childhood dreams that you didn't exactly achieve but got just as much experience from working for it. I like the one, "Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you", that is quoted from Jon Snoddy.
He talks about so many lessons and ways to live life, work with others, and succeed. One topic that he explains is, 'Never lose childlike wonder', because it drives you to what you really want. He advocated heavily on helping others. I believe this too because you never know when you might need that extra hand with something someday from a person that you have helped before. He believes in karma and so do I. I strongly believe in karma and was brought up on it so when he talks about helping others, doing good for others, thinking about others, I understand what he means because it really pays off in the end. He says to 'Never give up', which is another very strong piece of advice. If you are a teacher, leading your students to success, you want to push them with this saying so that they don't have the option to give up.
I absolutely love this video and plan on sharing it with family members that are going through rough times and have been striving for their childhood dreams. His presentation gives advice to so many age groups and personalities. He is an inspiration to all students because every student is striving for a goal no matter what it is. I will use some of his quotes as inspiration and I will remember this video for future reference either in the classroom or with friends or family. His enthusiasm on life and helping others as a way to reaching goals is a great leaning tool for generations to come. I honestly dreaded watching this video when I saw that it was over an hour long, but believed that directions when they said, "it is well worth the time", and I am so glad that I did.

C4K 1&2

C4K 1

The link above is to 'Daniel's Dangerous Blog' which is the blog of a student in Miss T's classroom in New Zealand. He wrote about the Kung-Fu series called The Five Ancestors and described the plot and the characters. I let him know in my comment that he did a good job and I am intrigued by his post. The way he sums up the post is by making you really wonder how the books turn out.


C4K 2

Above is the link to Miss McGeady's class in New Zealand. This post was the MOST interesting by far of all of the adorable links to class blogs. Not that all of the other class blogs were boring but because they are not...but this blog post had a link from a NASA website. You can click the link which takes you to a page where you type in your name and where you are from. Then you get a digital certificate of your name because it will be sent to MARS! In 2011, NASA is sending a micro chip to Mars with all of the names that are sent in. So it is everyone's chance to be a part of history on Mars. Click the link to the blog and try it out yourself! I printed out my certificate so I could have documentation. I feel pretty special.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Post # 6

"This is How We Dream" (parts 1 and 2) by Richard Miller was a very interesting and very DIFFERENT video assignment. I liked the way that he presented his thoughts in sync with the actions of the computer. The computer was flowing so smoothly through all of the sites and videos. The presentation was about how we could use media technology in so many ways. Miller has already done so many things and showed examples and how to do each way. I would really like to look into some of the examples that he talks about, like the research he did where he collaborated his own thoughts with what he found on the internet.
In the first video, he talks about how you can do projects certain ways with different programs using the internet. I was not aware of some of these ways and would love to learn how to use them. You can incorporate videos and lectures into your presentation. You can involve everything you need for your presentation with just one computer and the internet. To me, this seems so far advanced than the media world I have been using. Either I have not been taught the write components to use, or the computer has advance so much in the past few years.
In the second video, he talks about "composing with the web itself". This was very hard for me to believe because I haven't seen this before. He talks about Jonathan Harris and his and says"...to try and use the web to present the affect of the globe." Even this statement makes no sense to me. Watching the example of using the web in this manner is so bizarre and amazing that we are even more advanced now to this level. The example the video shows are, "aggregating thoughts that {Harris} releases into the web". How cool is that?!


"The Networked Student" by Wendy Drexler was a vert creative and cute video. The way that it was presented kept me listening and didn't bore me at all. It was also very enlightening because I am also learning to become a networked student. I think that this class will help me do so and it will prepare me for a higher level of learning in the rest of my classes. This video was a great example of how students should be changing some of their learning styles and how getting more involved with networking will help the outcome of learning. It also makes me more aware of how some of my students, as a future teacher, will be more used to this type of learning as I begin my career some years from now.
The question 'why does the networked student even need a teacher' is asked in this video and it gives a great answer. The video says, "she is the one that teachers him how to build this network and how to take advantage of learning opportunities". It also explains the that teacher (1)offers guidance as he gets stuck, (2) how to communicate properly and ask respectfully for help, and (3) how to tell between good information and propaganda. The explanation continues with (4)the teacher showing how to turn a web source into a scavenger hunt, (5)to get excited when he finds his wanted content, and (6) helps organize the mountains of information. If that isn't enough reason why a networked student still needs a teacher, than I don't know what is. Even though the students has everything he could ask for at his fingertips, he still needs guidance and a little bit of everything else from his teacher.
I do believe that after this EDM310 class, I WILL be prepared to be a teacher of a networked student. I do not think that I am prepared NOW, but I know I will be in the near future. Even though Ms. Drexler will be trying to get students more networked in the fall with middle school kids, I think that I would be ready if I were to start teaching next fall. As long as I finish this EDM 310 class now this Spring, I believe I will be ready by next fall. Good thing I WONT be teaching by next fall, so I have plenty of time to practice on my own time with networking. By the time that I do start teaching, I will have plenty of practice, preparation, knowledge of networking, and room for even more learning of future networking.


In Michael Wesch's video, I liked how he took the time to explain the different versions of "whatever". He talks about the different generations and how they used it. I don't quite know if I fall under the "MTV Generation", but I know that I did grow up watching it. I think it was a bit more important in my brother's time since he was born in 1981 and I was born in 1988. I like the Simpson's cartoon clip explaining the "eh" that we use today. I use the phrase 'whatever' and 'eh' everyday.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Post # 3

In Dr. Scott McLeod's post "Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff, Please?" he uses sarcasm to talk about how we shouldn't let our kids around technology AT ALL. Weird to think about which is good that he is being sarcastic. The use of humor helps to get the point across that there should be technology in our kid's/student's lives. There should also be a balance because not all technology is necessarily "good". Dr. Scott McLeod is the Director of UCEA CASTLE University of Minnesota.


The iSchool Initiative is a video created by a senior in a Georgia high school. He wants to use more technology in the classrooms to change education completely. He makes different points about new ways of technology changing the classrooms and how they would be more cost efficient. His main topic is about the iTouch which is already a big hit with the US. A lot of people already use the iTouch and this high school student wants to use this device to change how we are being educated. His main points about the iTouch are about the different applications that we could use and all of the costs that we would save just by using it.
Some of the application that he mentions are very useful and would definitely be used in our classrooms...I know I would use them! One application was a graphing calculator while another application gave you access to any library book or text book. There was even one called the Chemical touch where you find all of the elements for Chemistry. There were so many more applications but he also discussed the costs that would be saved. He showed a Venn Diagram of the costs that would be saved per student and per class. He said that the iTouch could lead to massive savings in our schools. He also mentions that the iSchool Initiative will join corporations to revolutionize education across America. I think it is a pretty good idea!


The Lost Generation video was awesome. It was depressing at first when the words were first being said and it made sense a little because of the way that our society is going sometimes. When the words went in reverse is what made the video such an inspiring, amazing clip. I love how the words made sense going either way but I liked the second time through WAY better!


Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir was such an amazing idea. The fact that this was actually pulled off using technology like this is incredible. Such a beautiful piece of work done with technology and using so many different countries to produce one song. Great video!

'My Favorite Moments in College' Presentation

PRESENTATION! Enjoy my presentation on my favorite college moments by clicking the link provided.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Post # 2

The auditorium classrooms and the 80 or so fellow classmates were the epitome of my Freshman and Sophomore years. At least here at South, that is how it is like when you have to take the same generic classes that everyone else has to take too. Once you get farther into your major, with your more concentrated classes, the classrooms get smaller and you get fewer classmates. I believe that the material that you actually need to focus on is when you get into your more concentrated classes and not so much in the bigger, generic ones. This movie did capture my college experience but only for the first two years. Not all classrooms are like the big ones where the students get lost in the crowd either.
Honestly, I had to stop the video half way through because I got motion sick from it. All of the moving around was constant and didn't really give much time to make any emphasis on the words. I thought it could have been a little bit more like the "Did You Know? 3.0" video we watched and not been all real video. It was a bit depressing for me and if I were going to be a Freshman in college next year, I would not be excited at all. This video makes it seem like all colleges are a waste of time and money when I think that I have gotten a lot done here at South. It gets a really good message out about how some kids aren't getting much from their class experience in college but I think it makes college out to be awful for everyone, everywhere.


I thought that Kelly Hines' post "It's Not About the Technology" hit the nail right on the head. She made several points on how a teacher can have an effective and positive impact on his/her students. I personally like the one labeled, "Teachers must be learners". I will always remember this because I believe that even when we become certified teachers, we will never stop learning. I do not think that anyone stops learning up until their final day on Earth. Everyone knows of the quote, "You learn something new everyday"! Well it is definitely true especially with all of the technology that is expanding with each new day.
Another point that Mrs. Hines made is critical I think when becoming a new teacher. "Technology is useless without good teaching." I totally believe this point because technology is such an important factor in learning these days and can sometimes be confusing. So it is important for every teacher to be technology savvy in order to get their lessons across to their students. Not only is technology useless without good teaching, but anything is useless without good teaching. How would any of us understand long-division or how to write in cursive if we didn't have a teacher that was able to get us to understand it. If there isn't a good, tech-savvy teacher in the room with one of our new Smart boards, how in the world will we be able to figure that thing out?!


I think that it is quite bold of Mr. Fisch to be so honest in his post, but I like it! It is SO true that people should want to learn how to be technologically literate and be proud that they are. I dont understand either when people say that they aren't good at certain things and dont care if they are or aren't. My mom is not very good with certain programs that I find easy, like Word. I usually have to help her if she needs to email a document that is saved on the computer, or write and save a document on the computer, or figure out little problems (that are easy to me to figure out) that she can't fix. I do not know how I would feel if I had kids later on in life and was unable to figure something out on the computer and they had to show me how.
I also agree with the post from Terry Freedman that he added to his post. I like how he created a list with who should be technologically literate. He also stated in some that if they were not, that they should find other jobs. It is important that everyone related to the future of the kids today is literate with technology because they need anyone's help that they can get. This is a very well stated post and pushes the right buttons. It puts the issue out there so that people can read and wonder if they are in the right career based on their literacy in technology. The fact that some people in the school systems aren't literate with technology shouldn't be hidden anymore and this post is a great way of getting the truth out.



This is pretty crazy that it never stops. It makes sense that it never stops because there are so many people using the internet and these programs. It just makes you think about how people are so dependent on the internet and some programs that they use it so much. This counter is definitely news to me and I had never had to think about all of the people using the internet. It is cool to see something like this to give you an idea of what the world is doing out there. I just cant believe that it goes so fast!
I think that if this counter is changing so fast now, it will be doing the same if not faster when I become a teacher. By the time that I am teaching, I think that the kids will be more involved with the internet than they are now. I could use this counter to show the class so they know how big the internet is and it isn't just something we use in Alabama. The internet is another world to me and I want to show the children that. They need to see the changing pace of our society and the societies of the world. This will be a great lesson to teach my future students. I still cant believe this thing!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Post # 1

"Did you know? 3.0" definitely makes you think a little harder than before. The way the video shows the advancement of our world with technology honestly kind of scared me a little. I did realize how advanced we were but I hadn't realized, until this video, how far advanced. I do believe that this advancement is a good thing. I am glad to have seen this video so that I have something to show me what I don't usually think about. It is most definitely a jaw dropper when you watch it!

I also think that this video is great for any age. Even though there may be some material too advanced for younger ages, it could be a great idea to introduce them to idea of our growing technology. It is definitely a great idea to show all adults of all ages this video to show how our lives are changing daily. I have actually seen this video from an email that my dad sent me from his office. He obviously thought that I, being a college student, needed to see it just as him and his collegues did. It is an important message for all. No one needs to avoid this video and continue living under a rock because everyone should be aware of our amazing advancement in technology.



"Mr Winkle Wakes" is a cute video that made me realize the fact that we are so advanced in many other ways that we live. It also showed me that one of the main parts of my entire life has not changed much in the past century. This means that is has been the exact same, minus the grade changes and advancements with computers, since I entered Kindergarten. I have never thought that school just wasn't at the same level of advancement as our offices, businesses, and hospitals. Even though this video is a lot shorter than "Did you know? 3.0", it packs a very big message. I dont see a problem with our schools not being as advanced as other industries. America's schools have done just fine staying the way they have been over history.

This is a great video to show to the younger audiences. Not only is it a cartoon, but the message isn't too diffecult to understand. This could show younger audiences in places such as elementary schools just how far we have come with technology. We should show the children that life wasn't always like how they have already grown up in. The message about the schools being the same could portray a difference in the ways that we live because nothing really is needed to change in schools other than the material. But with businesses and hospitals, we update so frequently so that we can better in those areas of living.



Ken Robinson made many brilliant points throughout his talk. I am so glad that this man was humorous. He made his points and also caused the audience to listen even more intently while they laughed over and over again. I enjoyed this video a lot and am glad that I watched the whole thing. I can't agree with Robinson more with the idea that creativity is extremely vital. He said, "Creativity now is as important in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status." This is an incredible statement and I have memorized this so that I cant share it through my future in education.

I see myself as a creative individual. I grew up more drawn to art and music than math and science. I also grew up with many others better than me in the math and science areas and it made me feel inadequate. Now that I am in college, I have grown to learn that I am just as amazing as every other student because I have talents in areas that suit the person that I am. I didn't have many teachers in middle school and high school that would show me my individualism that I should have had. This video is a perfect talk about how important a child needs to be creative and how they need to continue to have their creativity throughout their lives.



The class that Vicki Davis teaches looks like a lot of fun! They get to teach each other through a program with avatars. I like how this class is teaching students new things and different ways to use the computer. It is expanding the use of technology in education which is vital to keep up with the rest of the world and their involvement with technology. She also states that it is a better form of teaching than teaching with just paper and I agree. It gives kids more room to grow with their knowledge through technology.

In the video, the kids just looked like they were into the learning. They didn't look bored or were looking off into space. If I were teaching a class like this, I would definitely take some tips from Vicki Davis with the programs she uses and ways she teaches. I think that EDM 310 is a lot like the class in the video. I know that we will be learning about programs and tools that we did not know existed. I also know that this class will be a lot like Vicki Davis' class in Georgia!

Wordle


This is my wordle which is made up of different words that are parts of my life. You can create your own at Wordle.net.