The Beginning
I was extremely overwhelmed with this class after the first class meeting. I was not looking forward to the blog posts and projects. I did however find it nice that I already knew how to set up my blogger account and how to make it look unique. I even helped out a few of my fellow classmates as the class was being instructed on how to create their accounts. Some of the people in class were falling behind in the instructions and since I knew what we were doing, I took time to show the few people around me what we were being assigned to do.
As The Semester Progressed
I was familiar with some of the projects that we were assigned to do this semester. I was able to complete them and post them to my blog better than I did last semester. Finishing my blog posts and comments was going pretty well until around the beginning of July when I kept getting behind. I picked myself back up and finished my work. My favorite assignment was the Smartboard Lesson project where we had to create a lesson and film us teaching the lesson using the tools on the Smartboard. My partners in this project were two friends I made last semester in other COE classes. I liked the interview projects too that I did involving my roommate and then the other one involving Dr. Baggett. I believe that these projects helped my to come out of my shell a little bit because I knew that all of these project videos had to be posted to YouTube.
As The Semester Comes To A Close
The work in EDM310 seemed to be piling on top of me as did the work from my other classes this summer. I was extremely overwhelmed but found a way to work on an assignment one by one until I had everything completed. I ask myself, "What have I learned?" This is simple to answer now that the semester is almost over. I have learned how to stay on task, how to manage assignments, how to look ahead for work due and how to work with others on projects for hours outside of class time. I have definitely advanced technologically with the help from this class. I also strive to be a teacher who creates her class blog, incorporates the class blog with classroom curriculum, and teachers her students the values of technology at an early age.
The End: Reflection
"What experiences have been especially meaningful to me?" This question would have been more difficult to answer throughout the semester. This is because I was more worried about getting work done on time than actually absorbing the lesson. I did take in most of this semester though. The experiences I enjoyed the most was exploring the class blogs from around the world. By taking EDM 310 this semester, I grew a greater respect than I did last semester. This is because I was able to understand the purpose of technologically literate teaching this time around. I hope to have my own class blog one day and have many students from around the world visit it and comment on my lessons. This class has changed my view of technology from that of just using Facebook to using programs like Symbaloo to organize my internet world, using Glogster for presentations, and many other sources that I have discovered through my second journey with EDM 310.
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I have actually already talked to multiple friends about this class. Some will have to take it due to degree requirements and others have never heard about it. I have spoken many positive words about EDM 310. I know that there are a few negative things to say about it, but I also stressed the importance of the class. If I were to talk to a friend who was taking this class next semester, I would stress on the importance of keeping up with your work. Getting behind in the work is the biggest issue with this class. If you stay on task, the semester should run smoothly. I would also recommend actually trying to absorb the lessons and techniques that you learn from other blogs and videos. The worst thing to do with the material is to skim through it and not get anything out of the time spent on the assignment! I would go ahead and advise my friend about a few programs that would help out during their EDM 310 experience. I would mention Symbaloo, Glogster, Delicious, Skype, Google Docs, Gmail, Blogger, and many more! I could show my friend some of my video projects to give an idea of what kind of assignments we have done this past semester. I would also stress that it is important to follow the class blog because I have forgotten to a few times and it has hurt me. Maybe showing what happened to me will help my friend realize the importance of staying on task with EDM 310. Hopefully what I have said to my friends and what I would say will help with their experience of EDM 310.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Post # 13 (part 2)
I commented on Anna Dumas' blog entry about her teacher interview. She interviewed Mrs. Charlene Dindo at the Fairhope K-1 Center. Below my comment is the link to her post.
*"Good Job Anna! What great technology that is being used in this classroom! I love how there is a documentary feel to this video with the elementary teacher. She seems to be extremely technologically literate. Yay!"
Teacher Interview
I commented on Katie Cummins' blog post about her Personal Learning Network. She used Delicious which is not what I used for my PLN. I used Symbaloo and love it! She also mentions using Facebook as part of her PLN. Me too! Below my comment is the link to her PLN blog post.
*"Good job Katie! This program that you have used is such a cute way to keep organized! I use Symbaloo which is very colorful as well. And of course I also use Facebook to help keep up with friends and family.
Katie's PLN
I commented on Stephen Akins's blog post about his advancement with Twitter. He uses Twitter as a part of his Personal Learning Network and has chosen to discuss his new additions to his Twitter friend list. Below my comment is the link to Stephen's Twitter post.
*"Great post Stephen! It is awesome to see how well you are doing with Twitter. I barely have used it myself, but after seeing such progress with you I will definitely start exploring."
Stephen's Twitter
*"Good Job Anna! What great technology that is being used in this classroom! I love how there is a documentary feel to this video with the elementary teacher. She seems to be extremely technologically literate. Yay!"
Teacher Interview
I commented on Katie Cummins' blog post about her Personal Learning Network. She used Delicious which is not what I used for my PLN. I used Symbaloo and love it! She also mentions using Facebook as part of her PLN. Me too! Below my comment is the link to her PLN blog post.
*"Good job Katie! This program that you have used is such a cute way to keep organized! I use Symbaloo which is very colorful as well. And of course I also use Facebook to help keep up with friends and family.
Katie's PLN
I commented on Stephen Akins's blog post about his advancement with Twitter. He uses Twitter as a part of his Personal Learning Network and has chosen to discuss his new additions to his Twitter friend list. Below my comment is the link to Stephen's Twitter post.
*"Great post Stephen! It is awesome to see how well you are doing with Twitter. I barely have used it myself, but after seeing such progress with you I will definitely start exploring."
Stephen's Twitter
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Post # 13
This assignment is to visit the very creative videos of the Alba Middle School students. The first video is called "The Mean Oil Spill" and is suppose to be a spoof about the latest BP oil spill. The second video is called "Just Pray" which had a more serious tone. I visited both videos and commented on them. They were really touching and the insight that these students had on our surrounding environmental situations was right on point. Below are the videos and my comments that I left for them.
The Mean Oil Spill
"Hello! My name is Rachel McGuire and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I thought that this video was a great message to others about this awful oil spill. You did such a great job with this video and I am anxious to see more of your work!"
Just Pray
"Another touching video! Great job with this one including the interviews and the entire message to the public. What a fantastic idea to use technology and our love for nature to try and save what is in harms way. Good work!!!"
The Mean Oil Spill
"Hello! My name is Rachel McGuire and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I thought that this video was a great message to others about this awful oil spill. You did such a great job with this video and I am anxious to see more of your work!"
Just Pray
"Another touching video! Great job with this one including the interviews and the entire message to the public. What a fantastic idea to use technology and our love for nature to try and save what is in harms way. Good work!!!"
Marine Biology Google Form
I chose to use Marine Biology questions as the theme of my Google Form. I asked questions that had all of the different answering methods included. Some questions that were asked are like, "Is Mobile Bay an estuary?" and "What moves particles in the ocean?" They were more difficult questions than any easy question such as what is the blue substance that fills the ocean. That is just a ridiculous question. I like to think that my question form pushed the reader to think hard about one of nature's greatest creations. I sent my form out to multiple classmates but only one person responded. The one person that responded actually did fairly well with my form. I am pleased with the outcome of this form. I took a screen shot of the form to give an idea of what the results turned out like.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
C4K 4
The video that I was assigned for the 4th C4K was a very touching piece. It is called "The Beauty of Blood" and uses interviews from blood donors to help show how easy giving blood can be to save lives! There is a young girl who tells her story of her battle with cancer and how donated blood helped save her life during surgery. This was a great video to show the positive aspects of giving blood. I commented on the video and explained how I have given blood my entire life until a couple of years ago. For some reason, my blood clots super fast after just a little fills the bag and no more will come out. They aren't able to use a bag of blood unless it is completely full so I am unable to donate anymore. I also mentioned how well put together this video was because it definitely got it's point across! Below is the link to the "The Beauty of Blood" video created by the Cinema Owls.
The Beauty of Blood
The Beauty of Blood
My PLN
For my Personal Learning Network (PLN), I am using Symbaloo! This website is SO easy to use and has just about everything you need organized on one page. It uses tabs to organize your internet life in separate categories. You are even allowed to add tabs if you want more than the original page offers. Some of the tabs that are already there when you sign up for an account are the basics...Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Gmail, Pandora, and Blogger...all that I ever need or use! Then there are plenty more tabs to explore and personalize. You can even personalize the whole page with the backgrounds that Symbaloo offers or even your own pictures. This website is so amazing and I am so glad to have found it so I can stay organized with my internet surfing. It could keep me busy for a while just playing around with it. The link below is the Symbaloo website so you TOO can start getting organized!!!
Symbaloo
Monday, July 19, 2010
Teach Someone Project
For my 'Teach Someone' project I decided to teach my friend Tiffany how to personalize her Blogger account with a website I found by being in EDM 310. The website is called TheCutestBlogOnTheBlock.com. It works with blog websites including Blogger and provides backgrounds and other accessories to help make your blog look GREAT! I love using this website and I have actually shown others about this website and how to use it in blogs. Below is the link to the website and below that is my video!
The Cutest Blog On The Block.com
The Cutest Blog On The Block.com
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Post # 12
Mr. McClung's most recent reflection brought up many good points as he explains the switch in his job. He talks about switching from the 6th grade to the 8th grade and how he had to adapt to the new environment and learning styles. In 'The Path Least Traveled' section, he talks about predicting outcomes. I enjoyed his quote, "I had to approach this portion of class with no expectations of the expected outcome of the conversation and leave all my opinions and bias at the door" because I myself try not to expect too much out of anything. He also discusses how a teacher must not be a control freak however hard it may be. I feel that I can be a control freak at times but he reassures me in this post that its alright to be one sometimes..."I feel like as teachers we need to teach our students how to preform task in the classroom rather than depend on us to do it for them", says Mr. McClung. This recap post is a great insight into changes that might happen in education jobs and there are many great pointers discussed. Below is the link to Mr. McClung's post.
Mr. McClung Year 2
The M-Cubed Presentation video was cool to see how this program is used in the classroom. It is a very different printer and program that is being used and I have never seen or heard about it before! The students in the video are creating shape nets that they put together using different tools on the computer. Then when it is printed, they can cut it out and fold it together to make the shape that they have created! Below are some more videos that I have watched involving this program and the printer.
Create a Shape Net's Permutation
This video shows you how to create different shape net permutations so you can create different shapes. It has a step by step description of how to move items around in order to choose the shape you want to create.
Fab@school 3D Printer
This neat video shows a printer, the Fab@School 3D printer, building a mini rotunda using silicon. It is in fast motion so the printer looks like it is going really fast but is just to save time. How cool is it that this printer is creating a 3D item in a school!?
Creating unique shapes and custom shapes
This is another tutorial that is explaining step by step where to go and what to use to select shapes. It gives really detailed directions so it shouldn't be hard to choose a unique shape the first time using the program. There are different folders that allow you to choose already known shapes.
Mr. McClung Year 2
The M-Cubed Presentation video was cool to see how this program is used in the classroom. It is a very different printer and program that is being used and I have never seen or heard about it before! The students in the video are creating shape nets that they put together using different tools on the computer. Then when it is printed, they can cut it out and fold it together to make the shape that they have created! Below are some more videos that I have watched involving this program and the printer.
Create a Shape Net's Permutation
This video shows you how to create different shape net permutations so you can create different shapes. It has a step by step description of how to move items around in order to choose the shape you want to create.
Fab@school 3D Printer
This neat video shows a printer, the Fab@School 3D printer, building a mini rotunda using silicon. It is in fast motion so the printer looks like it is going really fast but is just to save time. How cool is it that this printer is creating a 3D item in a school!?
Creating unique shapes and custom shapes
This is another tutorial that is explaining step by step where to go and what to use to select shapes. It gives really detailed directions so it shouldn't be hard to choose a unique shape the first time using the program. There are different folders that allow you to choose already known shapes.
Post # 11
Ms. Cassidy's first grade class was absolutely adorable. This was like a video of the perfect class where everything seemed to be going right. There were so many uses of technology in this classroom and all of the kids were loving it! I saw the smartboard being used along with many laptops and I SO hope that I get a chance with this much technology in my future classroom. I do worry that some students might not take to technology as well as others and this may cause a delay in learning, especially with the younger groups...but maybe there will be many ways that I can catch every student's attention and they fall in love early! In the Skype conversation, Ms. Cassidy mentioned that she received many pieces of technology and was able to use them as centers. I hope that I too will get the chance to have multiple laptops or other devices that I can create learning centers out of. This was such a cute video. Below is the link to the video so anyone can check it out!
Ms. Cassidy's First Grade Class
Ms. Cassidy's First Grade Class
Friday, July 9, 2010
Post # 10
This 7th grader that shows her PLN in this video really has a lot organized. She already knows so much about how to use the technology that is provided for her. There are a few programs mentioned in the video that would be a lot of help with lessons in class. I have to admit, she does have a lot more going with her PLN than I do with mine. I also do not have to do so many activities and projects that she has to do with her technology. This is a great example of how students are learning with technology these days!
"What is your sentence" and "Was I better today than I was yesterday" were the two questions mentioned in this video. It asks you to think of just one sentence that would describe what you have done/will do. With everything that I wish to do after graduation, I would say that my sentence would have something to do with helping others. Maybe something along the lines of, "She gave her time and helped those in need." Yeah, that sounds nice. The next question that asks, "Was I better today than I was yesterday" has a different answer daily. Some days I might feel as though I am in the slumps and have done nothing right. On most says I would answer 'yes' to this question because I try to better myself with each new day.
"What is your sentence" and "Was I better today than I was yesterday" were the two questions mentioned in this video. It asks you to think of just one sentence that would describe what you have done/will do. With everything that I wish to do after graduation, I would say that my sentence would have something to do with helping others. Maybe something along the lines of, "She gave her time and helped those in need." Yeah, that sounds nice. The next question that asks, "Was I better today than I was yesterday" has a different answer daily. Some days I might feel as though I am in the slumps and have done nothing right. On most says I would answer 'yes' to this question because I try to better myself with each new day.
C4K 3
May 18th Post
Above is the link to the post that I commented on for C4K 3. The post was about a Topographic map lab that the students got to experience. I said how impressive this lab was and that it sounded really intriguing. I also said that I have never experienced anything like this lab during my years in school. I was a little jealous! The post has a picture too showing some of the kids "in action".
Above is the link to the post that I commented on for C4K 3. The post was about a Topographic map lab that the students got to experience. I said how impressive this lab was and that it sounded really intriguing. I also said that I have never experienced anything like this lab during my years in school. I was a little jealous! The post has a picture too showing some of the kids "in action".
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
4th of July
My parents and I visited Panama City Beach this past weekend for the 4th of July. It was absolutely beautiful and the oil has not made it anywhere close! The picture above is of me with my brother and dad...we are at my brother's gig while his band was on a break. It was so much fun! And I am sooooo thankful that I got a weekend at the beach with NO OIL! =)
Post # 9
Morgan Bayda's post called "An Open Letter To Educators" was a new view that I have not yet come across concerning my education in college. She includes a video made by Dan Brown that supports her opinions in her post. The video is of this young man who has dropped out of college because he felt that his schooling was interfering with his education. He explained how college today is not the best way for people to be educated because of some ways the classes are taught. I agree with this because I have been in my fair share of classes that I have learned nothing. He explains how education was not always available to everyone and that only the highly privileged were allowed to have access to much of the world's information. He continues with telling how times have changed and now anyone can have access to any information just as long as they can pay for it. It is strange to think how we have to pay so much just to know more than those who aren't able to attend college. I do agree with Dan Brown because he knows how people aren't getting educated properly with the way some classes are run. I agree with him in all of his points except one. I will not drop out of college because right now this is the best way for me to get educated for my degree. Yes, I have been in those huge classes that don't get individual attention from the professor, have to do countless amounts of irrelevant work, and don't ever get what they need to out of the class itself. I have been to a good few of those classes. I am not in any of those classes now though. I am further along in my college career now and I am getting the education that I need. I stuck in there for those horrible classes and now I am in classes where the teachers know me, I am doing work that will help me in the future, and I am retaining the knowledge that I am taught in class. Yes college gives a bad education experience from some, but I am where I am suppose to be and my knowledge is growing. Morgan speaks about her computer class and how she uses everything that she learned in that class. I agree with her about the computer class, because I am learning so much in this class and will definitely be keeping this knowledge with me throughout my life. She lists the different uses that she has been taught in her class and that she continues to use them. I also would like to help in a low budget form when I get out of college. I want to join the Peace Corps after I graduate so that I can take two years before I start work to help others overseas.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Post # 8
"What I've Learned This Year" by Mr. McClung was a really great read for beginner elementary school teachers. I wont be teaching for another couple of years and I still find it enlightening. He writes about 'How to read a crowd' and that being flexible is important. The quote, "When things go wrong, simply work with it and try to better the situation"is a positive line for beginner teachers. Communication and being reasonable are also two important factors of teaching, according to Mr. McClung. He says that the best way to resolve any work place issue is through communication. Also he says that we can forget that we are dealing with children and that we should encourage them to try again when they don't meet our expectations. I find that to be an amazing tip considering that we can get so frustrated with children. He writes that we shouldn't be afraid of technology. I know that I am not, but I still find his section on that helpful. The 'Listen to your Students' section talks about taking interest in the lives of your students because it means so much to them. And finally, Mr. McClung tells us to never stop learning. I totally agree with this piece of advice because I believe that we never do stop learning our entire lives.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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