tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7753778099932189392024-02-07T10:32:41.439-08:00Lacie Brothers EDM 310Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-83117467489262543122012-07-20T13:12:00.000-07:002012-07-20T13:12:00.997-07:00Blog Assignment #14<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u475b0bmzO4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-26185780595397465762012-07-18T18:40:00.000-07:002012-07-18T18:40:21.039-07:00Blog Assignment #13 The first video for this blog post that I watched was <a href="http://learningismessy.com/blog/?p=854">Back To the Future</a>. Mr. Brian Cosby talks about all the different activities that he does in his 4th grade classroom. His students blog, create videos, use wikis, and a lot of other cool technology tools. My favorite part about this video was that video clip he shares of a student doing a science experiment about air pressure where a soda can crushes itself. This wasn't my favorite part because of the really awesome reaction in the experiment, but because Mr. Cosby had each student film themselves doing the experiment and then embedded the clip into their blogs. The idea of having each kid excited to participate in the activity and then even more excited about sharing what they have learned is amazing.<br />
My second favorite part of this video is the balloon experiment. Mr. Cosby lets his kids help design and engineer the actual balloon so they are all involved and having fun while learning. After the balloon was lifted off he assigned each student to write a story from the point of view of the balloon. This interested me because he is combing two core subjects, which is something I don't think we do enough. The students expand their creativity immensely with projects like these. It also turns school into an exciting day of learning rather than a boring day of daydreaming.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftechliterateteacher%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded">A Vision of Students Today</a> was the second video I watched for this blog post assignment. This video was very thought provoking from the point of view of a student. It made me ask myself what I am trying to get out of the <i>college experience.</i> It also made me evaluate what I want for my future as well. As a student, I can relate to feeling like you are wasting your money, that there are not enough hours in the day, and even not being recognized by your professors by name if at all. College isn't meant to be easy, I get that. It's preparing you for the real world. It almost feels like a weeding out process, like every teacher is testing you, not on the course material, but if you are determined enough to finish.<br />
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From the point of view of a president or dean of a college or university this video is probably haunting. To live for money has got to be a miserable life, and sometimes I feel like people in administration are forced into the black hole of dollar signs purely because their jobs call for it. If I were an administrator and I saw this video I would feel sad, simple as that. It would feel awful to see the signs being held up one after the other saying things about how expensive college is, how much debt students will graduate with, or that the material being taught isn't lining up with the students needs. Although the administration is said to hold all the power they don't, the world and society does. We as a society have made money the center of our universe and we're all paying for it. But then again, hopefully a member of an administration team somewhere will see the video, spark some change, and help make the college experience affordable and worth it educationally.<br />
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I would want my students to know...the feeling of accomplishment.<br />
I would want my students to be able to...use self discipline for their schoolwork and home life.
I would want my students to have experienced...a classroom environment that pushes them to better themselves.<br />
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After watching the video, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvyP-cwpHN8&feature=related">How will you teach me in the 21st century</a>, I was impressed by the media and content. Melinda Kraft had a very creative take on the future of our students. She poses many questions concerning the values, skills, and material we will be teaching our classes in the future. Technology has become such a huge part of the every day life of the every day person that it wouldn't make sense not to bring it into the classroom. A classroom with technology brings up questions like Melinda's though. I think our teaching will look different but the motives behind the activities will stay very similar. Our jobs as teachers are to teach and mold our students into being the best they can be, and if the classroom is changing then let us take this opportunity to embrace it. We should show our students that change can be good and that it doesn't need to change who we are, just maybe how we do homework.<br />
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The <a href="http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/2012/03/exemplar-of-students-work-with-video.html">Exemplar of Students' Work With Video</a> post and video was very refreshing. The two students are not being fancy or using special technology to film this video. They are simply just sharing about their responsibility of managing their school's compost pile. One of the students is legally blind and he still fully participates with the project which is probably the most amazing part of the video. I love the fact that he was able to have just as much fun and be 100% involved as any other student would. Technology can potentially cause an issue with participation from students within special education, and I worry that there will be a student out there somewhere who wasn't as lucky as the little boy in this video.<br />
<br />Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-84695980326331922372012-07-15T21:34:00.012-07:002012-07-15T21:54:54.698-07:00Project #10 Below I have shared with you one of my favorite webmixes that I created on <a href="http://www.symbaloo.com/">Symbaloo</a> over the process of making my PLN or my personal learning network. My PLN is going to help me so much when I get into the classroom and begin teaching. It is so convenient to have everything in one place. With a short glance and a quick click, you can be four sites away discovering new lesson plans or fun activities for students. Although I am not in the classroom yet my PLN guides my internet usage almost daily. It has all of the sites I visit on a regular basis ready to go for me so when I open up my home page all I have to do is choose and click. Over the years I hope to grow my PLN far and wide. I also recommend creating your own PLN regardless of what line of work you are in.
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600px" name="_symFrame" noresize="noresize" src="http://www.symbaloo.com/embed/shared/AAAABo4V2lcAA42ACo_Gag==" width="920px"></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-73746359166270042612012-07-15T20:55:00.000-07:002012-07-15T20:55:09.872-07:00C4T #4 I was assigned to <a href="http://edtechworkshop.blogspot.com/">Ms. Andrea Hernandez</a> for Comments 4 Teachers this round. She is a technology teacher and has lots of helpful hints in her blog. The first post I commented on is focused on creating a good learning environment for students in the classroom. One thing she pointed out that I found interesting was how much the physical representation within a classroom can affect the learning process for students. I had never put much thought into why some teacher's classrooms or offices are more <i>easy going</i> than others. I describe it as easy going because it seems to be the only thing that fits the calm, attentive, content feeling that you get when you are sitting in a classroom taking notes or working on homework and you aren't wanting to tear your hair out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KTrEQl87iNsEL_81JtLGdKTW5uRwR1Fq4HZHLrpKh7fLmmgZvVN625R_Ln8tAFTubo4IHgPqTLiw0BUtZz3MRji8KaWM14dTyfmwJm_vsqp4flmIovuSU4s8iUhal7lQGnI2yKHiXxg/s1600/Pixie+-+tree+falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img alt="why share?" title="http://edtechworkshop.blogspot.com/" border="0" height="481" width="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KTrEQl87iNsEL_81JtLGdKTW5uRwR1Fq4HZHLrpKh7fLmmgZvVN625R_Ln8tAFTubo4IHgPqTLiw0BUtZz3MRji8KaWM14dTyfmwJm_vsqp4flmIovuSU4s8iUhal7lQGnI2yKHiXxg/s1600/Pixie+-+tree+falls.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The second post I commented on Ms. Hernandez's blog was an image that states the old age saying "if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound?" and compares it to "if something is created but not shared, does it make a difference?" I found this post to be my favorite purely because of the fact that it causes you to think for yourself and process what you believe. My response was mixed. Half of me said yes it does make a difference even if it isn't shared because the person that created it had the desire to make that particular thing become a reality for them. Therefore, it made a difference to the creator. However, the other half of me argued against it and replied with no, it makes no difference if it is not shared with anyone because<br />
no one can be affected by the creation unless it is shared with them. Therefore, it does not make a difference.Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-7583984161500403212012-07-15T20:13:00.002-07:002012-07-15T20:13:27.082-07:00Project #15<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iHpwnsS9m_0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-11255125800101955492012-07-11T21:28:00.000-07:002012-07-11T21:28:40.966-07:00Blog Assignment #12 For this post we are supposed to create our own blog assignment, and I have chosen to make mine about an awesome website called <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>. Pinterest is a social media site but don't compare it to Twitter or Facebook because they are very different. Basically there are all types of categories to search in when you login. There is arts and crafts of course, creative food recipes, funny video clips and images, workout plans, wedding ideas, photography pointers, cool classroom decorations or fun lesson plans, tips and hints on cars and motorcycles, I could go on forever! The social part about Pinterest comes in when you like or re-pin something because it shows up on the boards of your followers, kind of like sharing.<br />
The assignment I have come up with could be used in the high school or middle school level in a computer or English class. I believe that it would be beneficial in a computer class because it's fun and keeps the students learning more about how to maneuver around the internet and more complex websites. A English class could also gain something from this blog assignment because each student must write in good grammar, use proper sentence structure, and use their creative writing skills. It would serve as good writing practice as well as typing practice, which could be great for each class.<br />
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My Pinterest Assignment:<br />
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1) Create an account.<br />
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2) Pick 5 different categories that interest you, and re-pin 3 objects or ideas in each category.<br />
- For clarification: within each of the 5 categories you choose you should re-pin 3 things, therefore you will end up with 15 pins on your board.<br />
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3) Out of the 15 pins choose your favorite 5 and write a blog post explaining why you chose these particular pins.<br />
- Questions to think about: How or will this benefit me? Could I see myself actually doing this project? What about this pin attracts me? Is this pin something I could use later on in life? Does this motivate you to start a new hobby or activity? How or could this affect other people?<br />
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4) Use proper grammar, sentence structure, and good transition words. Must be 5 paragraphs including an intro, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This is your chance to write about what you choose, so be bold, creative, and use your voice!Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-51178681953474182362012-07-11T20:48:00.000-07:002012-07-11T20:48:18.297-07:00Progress Report So far this final project has gone very smoothly. I couldn't have been placed in a better group and am really glad I got to know them over the course of this class. Each of us add a little spice to the melting pot which cooks up a fun time! We are almost done with our iBook. All we have left to do is add in a few more individual details for each member, put together our group video, and combine our paragraphs to complete the group summary. What's cool about this project is that it's so different. It's so interactive and is constantly challenging you to step up your game. Although I have had my rough moments with the iBook editing program, I'm enjoying it very much. We should have it all put together and published by tomorrow, fingers crossed!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.podcastingnews.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/publish-apple-ibooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img aalt="apple iBook" title="http://www.podcastingnews.com/content/2010/05/publish-your-own-apple-ibook/" border="0" height="322" width="232" src="http://www.podcastingnews.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/publish-apple-ibooks.jpg" /></a></div><br>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-7582488231251284092012-07-08T19:01:00.000-07:002012-07-08T19:01:23.841-07:00Blog Assignment #11 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPZtTej0jQ&feature=player_embedded">Ms. Cassidy's Classroom</a> was an awesome video to watch as a future teacher. It gets me excited to be able to do these cool activities with my own students one day. All the students in the class participated in the making of this video which is very impressive. Throughout the film, you see clips and pictures of students recording each other, and also using other technology devices such as ninetendo DS's, computers, and portable cameras.<br />
It's tricky enough as it is to have every student involved and have the project turn out successful, so if you have a student with a speech impediment things could potentially be tougher. However, as tough as it may be it is a great lesson for that particular student and the class as a whole. The teacher could use this situation to teach the class about bullying and how every one is unique in their own way. I would hate to see a child upset from insecurities so the teacher could also help the student by building their confidence regardless of their differences from <i>normal</i> kids.<br />
The thing that I found most interesting about Ms. Cassidy's teaching methods within her classroom was that she let them blog at such a young age. My reaction at first was that they were simply too young, but then I came to realize that if they are old enough to film, edit, and product a video they can certainly blog efficiently. I give major points to Ms. Cassidy for taking the "learning with technology" phase to the next level. She has found a good balance between the regular pen and paper and the computer literate educational route.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://randyplett.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/kid-with-camera-2995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img alt="kid with camera" title="http://randyplett.com/blog/?p=154" border="0" height="528" width="768" src="http://randyplett.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/kid-with-camera-2995.jpg" /></a></div><br>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-35555389862897169542012-07-04T18:44:00.000-07:002012-07-04T18:44:53.904-07:00Blog Assignment #10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YJq0HQJkxefq6VE4dE220RVmIi_xv89lhyBsQm58tbXnsks2Xi3h-fuQYClRHTa5yh5PTLtd991H6pg0lV8xB_RdO5Hh1Dw0WXJkGhnFYYbRs2OtJDz6XgsGTb7AoGdHr3CLrmcnBfoC/s400/pcmacmock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YJq0HQJkxefq6VE4dE220RVmIi_xv89lhyBsQm58tbXnsks2Xi3h-fuQYClRHTa5yh5PTLtd991H6pg0lV8xB_RdO5Hh1Dw0WXJkGhnFYYbRs2OtJDz6XgsGTb7AoGdHr3CLrmcnBfoC/s320/pcmacmock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
When I went to the <a href="http://pencilintegration.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-papermate-im-ticonderoga.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+AdventuresInPencilIntegration+(Adventures+in+Pencil+Integration)&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher">blog post</a> written by Mr. Spencer concerning the cartoon above I was hoping to find a more in depth meaning of the cartoon. Although I had no luck finding a better worded reasoning, I did however come up with an idea of what it's about. I think it's comparing the old teaching methods with the new upgraded, technology enhanced methods.<br />
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I read the blog post <a href="http://pencilintegration.blogspot.com/">Remember Pencil Quests?</a> by Mr. Spencer for my choice of readings from his site. He talks about an experience he had when he was a sophomore when his teacher took his class on a <i>pencil quest</i>. I don't know exactly what a pencil quest entails but he compares it to a scavenger hunt like game with a map. Mr. Spencer adds the enthusiasm that his teacher had for this fun filled day in class, which ultimately transferred to the students.<br />
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The point to Mr. Spencer's post isn't just to share about a fun memory from his school days. It's to share a thought he had concerning the students he has now, has had, and will have in the future. He states at the end of his post that he wonders what those students will think when they look back at the good ole days. Instead of pencil and paper scavenger hunts, they'll remember internet searches and iPad games.<br />
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I read the blog post <a href="http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/08/dont-teach-your-kids-this-stuff-please.html">Don't teach your kids this stuff, please?</a> and was taken back by Dr. McLeod's forwardness. But then I thought about it a little more and realized that to be heard you have to be creative and be able to grab people's attention. You must put yourself out there if you want to make an impact, and that is exactly what he did. He writes a poem-like post about how kids shouldn't be free to roam the internet. Stating all the dangers, cons, and mischief that kids can get into McLeod does make a valid point.<br />
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However, I think the statement he is really trying to make is that it's not the internet itself that is "evil", but the people and sites that abuse it are the actual issue. Kids should use the internet and become familiar with how it works because eventually it will be the number one source for everything and everyone (if it isn't already that is). What does need to be done is guidance from parents and teachers. It is our responsibility to keep children and students safe in the virtual world. That responsibility mainly consists of guidance and protection, without them then the bad realms of the deep dark internet will get them.Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-73956401538452154212012-07-02T01:03:00.000-07:002012-07-02T01:03:11.955-07:00Blog Assignment #9 The first blog post I chose to read was <a href="http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-i-learned-this-year.html">What I've learned this year (2008-2009)</a>. Mr. McClung discusses about how much he has learned over his first year of teaching. He states that he did not just grow as a teacher but as a person as well. A few points he talks about that I found interesting were "how to read the crowd" and "listen to your students". These two topics really stood out to me. "How to read the crowd" originally grabbed my attention because it was so honest. He speaks about how at the beginning of the year he was more focused on impressing his co-workers and superiors than his students' learning. People pleasing is a trap that everyone falls in. The awesome thing about McClung though, is that he saw his faults and learned from them. To make the extra effort to change for the better shows character, and he has a lot of it.<br />
The second topic I liked, "listen to your students", because it touches on something I feel like people tend to forget sometimes. The world can sweep you off your feet, we get busy, we get selfish, we become blind to the people around us that are in need of a boost. In this particular case, McClung shares a response from a student when asked why they knew their teacher cared. The response was, because he "listens to what I say". Think about this for a moment. Imagine yourself as a little kid again, and how it would feel if you felt ignored or looked over time after time. But then there was that one special teacher that took the time to see who you really were and made you believe you were worth listening to. That's what we must do as teachers. We are robbing ourselves and hurting our students if our only goal as teachers are to teach math problems and science experiments.<br />
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The second post I chose was <a href="http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-i-learned-this-year_15.html">What I've learned this year (2009-2010)</a>. I picked out two points that I enjoyed in this blog just as in the first one. "Find your school mom" is the first section that I loved reading. It's not easy to admit you need help sometimes but McClung does a great job of doing so. He says that every time he is at a new school he finds a "school mom", a teacher who has worked at that school for years and knows the ropes. At first I found this funny, I pictured an older woman shaking her finger at a young hot shot teacher trying to straighten him out. But as I read on I realized what a great idea McClung had. All of our lives we have had someone telling us what to do, how to do it, and sometimes even doing it for us. So it's not surprising that we start to sink after jumping into the deep end without our water wings on. Finding a "school mom" to help mentor you and guide you through those first few years is an amazing blessing to have.<br />
The second topic McClung spoke on that caught my eye was "scope and sequence". This stood out to me right away simply because of its title. I had no clue what scope and sequence was until I read this blog. But it turns out I did know what it was, I just knew it by "assessments and evaluations" instead. McClung talks about how much he realized this past year that his classroom management needed some work. He goes on to say that he caught himself lecturing on what he thought was interesting instead of being focused on what his students needed to know and what was important to them. A big thing he mentions in this section is keeping track of his assessments. Assessments can be monotonous, but if you keep your eye on the light at the end of the tunnel they will pay off in the end for you and your students.Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-46622064554753339712012-07-02T00:18:00.003-07:002012-07-02T00:21:22.972-07:00C4T #3 I was required to comment on <a href="http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/">Edna Sackson's Blog</a>. She works in Australia as a teaching and learning coordinator. Edna's first post that I read was about how she believes that teachers should be changing their focus from teaching to learning. Teacher's need to take a step back and realize what is going on around them within today's education system. They need to start embracing the technology that is available to them and their students. Edna believes that if teachers begin to learn how to incorporate new technology into their classrooms then the students will benefit tremendously, not to mention it could make the teachers' life a little easier at times.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/302/159/302159147_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img title="i am eleven" alt="http://vimeo.com/5547134" border="0" height="354" width="640" src="http://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/302/159/302159147_640.jpg" /></a></div><br><br />
The second post I read of Edna's blog was based on a documentary about a woman who traveled the world interviewing eleven year old children. She asks the kids all kinds of questions and she receives all sorts of different answers. The point of the film however is to peak inside the minds of a pre-teen, when they're at the tender stage on the edge of the world just waiting to dive in, and see what they want to happen in the world and their opinions about the "big" issues that surround us all on the newsstands. Some kids wanted peace and to be rid of inequalities, which is perhaps why Edna purposed the question, "what would you do if you could change the world?" This blog was really inspiring and got me to think about what I would do if I was ever given an opportunity to impact the world. Then I started thinking even more and it's a shame that I automatically think I can't make a difference. The children in the video gleam of hope and belief, we should learn to think like them and start acting on our desires of change.Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-24593422041994503662012-07-01T23:43:00.000-07:002012-07-01T23:43:05.052-07:00Blog Assignment #8 <a href="http://techliterateteacher.blogspot.com/2009/07/dr-richard-e-miller-discusses-writing.html">This is how we dream</a> is a 2 part video discussing the different changes throughout this technology era we are in. Richard Miller explains how the world of writing and literature can be drastically changed for the better. He shows the different advantages technology offers in this subject. Instead of having to read a ton of pages of information and then have to burp it all back up into a written paper, he suggests that we adapt to the technology we are given and start listening to lectures or watch lessons by means of computers.<br />
Miller's presentation isn't made up of regular power point slides or a video of him lecturing, he has created this video as a kind of simulation of his computer screen that follows along with his narration. It is obvious that he is quite technology savvy and has done a very good job using his talent in this film. He shows the audience how he himself researched for a major speech that he gave at Virginia Tech by never having to step foot into a library.<br />
The point Mr. Miller makes is that it is very possible to replace paper and pencils with keyboards and computers. He sends the message that it is simple, and I agree with him. I think it would be very easy to exchange written documents with creating a video. However, the issue will not be about the technology itself but the student's well being. The worry of this idea is focused on how the student will grow up and contribute to society after having a schooling system that requires so much time on a computer rather than practicing personal relations to fine tune his salesmanship.<br />
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When I read <a href="http://pughcarlyedm310.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post-12.html">Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12</a> I was impressed for many different reasons. First off, I loved her graphics and the way she has her blog set up, especially the picture she has of the guy eating breakfast to the side of her post. I wondered how she placed it on the side and marveled for a quick minute. Then after I started reading along I found it enjoyable. Her writing style is so easy to follow along, you forget that you're doing homework because you're laughing at the dry sarcasm hidden within her words.<br />
On a teaching note, I couldn't agree more with her about having a philosophy to teach by. I believe that every teacher should create their own to keep themselves checked every day they begin to teach. Having a philosophy is such a good idea because not only does it keep you focused on who you are at the core and what you truly desire to accomplish, but it can help you get through those daily struggles that come with teaching and just life in general. If you have a basic standard that you hold yourself to then you can lean on it when you need a motivational crutch or you can squeeze it tight when you are struggling with what the right thing to do is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a school.discoveryeducation.com" href="http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/computer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img title="computer" alt="school.discoveryeducation.com" border="0" height="290" width="360" src="http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/computer.gif" /></a></div><br><br />
The video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhMRj-Ne38&feature=player_embedded">EDM for Dummies</a> is absolutely hilarious! The beginning of the video explains how a lot of students feel during this course. If this was a real book I definitely would buy it and make sure every one I knew taking EDM 310 also had it. This video was a really creative way to express the frustration that tends to come along with the workload of this class. Although, this class does require a lot of your time it helps you ten times more than you could have ever imagined. It truly does prepare students to be a technology enhanced teacher.<br />
I would love to create a video about using smart-boards in the classrooms. In three of my upper level education classes we use smart-boards daily throughout the course, but we also are assigned to teach different lessons either to the class or in front of the class which is a helpful step on the journey to our own classrooms. But the cool thing that I have learned from my classes that use them and EDM 310 is how they are actually used in the classroom across all grade levels. I had never been around smart-boards until my senior year of high school when our math department installed them as a test drive to see if they were worth the money to give each teacher in the school their own. Turns out they were well worth the money! My point is though, that elementary school teachers use smart-boards too and I would love to create a video or presentation showing the awesome tools of smart-boards and how far they stretch across the education system.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHiby3m_RyM&feature=player_embedded%23!">Learn to Change, Change to Learn</a> was an eye opening video. It suggests the notion that school be focused more in a setting that the students are already embracing which would be computers, phones, and social media. The speakers throughout the film each say how they feel concerning the school systems now and what changes they think should be made. My first reaction is to shut it out, because as pro-technology as I have been I'm starting to worry more about our student's being too absorbed in technology and won't be as well-rounded as students who go through the normal education process now. However this video was very thought provoking and made me do some thinking.<br />
The first thing that caught my ear was the man who said that we have used the "industrial narrative" and that "schools are like factories". This is a valid point. Schools have become giant factory machines where teachers pull down a lever, out pops the graduate, and down the conveyor belt it goes. But it doesn't have to be that way. There can be a balance between the old fashioned classroom and the high tech virtual school. They can coexist, and in my opinion if they both joined together they would create a great learning environment for students and a great outlook for the future of the students.<br />
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For the scavenger hunt I found the site <a href="http://www.edmodo.com/">Edmodo</a> for number one. Edmodo is a social networking website for teachers, parents, and students. This could be beneficial for teachers because they can post assignments, notes, connect with other teachers, connect with parents, and also connect with students when they have questions or need extra help. Parents could gain a lot from a site like this as well because they can keep up with their child's progress and also have fast, quick contact with the teacher. Students would not only enjoy something like this but they could learn at their own pace with unlimited resources at the click of a mouse.<br />
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<a href="http://www.animoto.com/">Animoto</a> is a site where you can create your own unique video presentations to use in the classroom or where ever you would like really. I had never heard of this website until this assignment and was impressed with all the different resources that you can use on Animoto. You can make a presentation out of your own personal photos, videos, and you can even add music to help grab the attention of the audience or your students. The coolest thing about Animoto is the high tech graphics that come with your finished product, and that come without the confusing technology mumbo jumbo.<br />
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<br>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-40731669007261634252012-07-01T16:55:00.002-07:002012-07-01T16:55:43.869-07:00Project #14<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V2ymtWtwIi4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6K3pTsSz1ww" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-90279754812831815962012-06-27T14:04:00.000-07:002012-06-27T14:04:29.678-07:00Project #11<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GYy-3bu73os" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-26439650942328749672012-06-26T13:41:00.001-07:002012-06-26T13:41:47.836-07:00Project #12<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Rg9NVoOXa9s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-44222353363111076952012-06-24T17:54:00.000-07:002012-06-24T17:54:14.943-07:00Blog Assignment #7 <a href="http://techliterateteacher.blogspot.com/2009/06/networked-student.html">The Networked Student</a> is a creative presentation about a student who doesn't attend a <i>regular </i>school. He goes to class 3 days a week, and 2 online. His teacher is practicing a method of education called connectivism. Connectivism is the theory of learning from social connections and ties. This means that a lot of what her students learn is from research over the internet, and gives control of the educational plan to the student. Each student can share what they've found by posting blogs or other social media websites.<br />
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The student in the movie does not learn from a book. He researches online articles, blogs, electronic versions of magazines or books. Also, he listens to podcasts of teachers from everywhere around the world and can listen where ever he wants to and isn't cooped up in a classroom. There are so many advances to his educational learning method compared to other students who go to school day after day for hours on end. One main advance that I was interested in is that it's personal experience. The student isn't trying to follow the lecture and struggling to keep his eyes open, he is free to set his own pace and review as needed. Not only is there power in the students' hand but when you experience something for yourself you learn on a deeper level than when you simply try to absorb information being thrown at you.<br />
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The big question brought up by this type of schooling is if the students even need teachers. But to my surprise they do! Teachers must teach the students how to use the different websites and how to stay connected with their fellow classmates. In addition to proper guidance the teachers are responsible for being there to teach them good online communication, organizational skills, and many more aspects of technology etiquette. A teachers job is to teach, but to teach means to care, help, lead, and I believe that in every type of school or educational learning method will always have a teacher. Whether or not those teachers are labeled educators or even know that they are in fact impacting and helping others is the real question at hand here.<br />
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<img alt="Computer" title="Source: Google Images" src="http://buffalocomputerconsulting.com/images/computer.jpg" id="il_fi" height="388" width="366" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; ">Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-21837006552033606492012-06-24T17:23:00.000-07:002012-06-24T17:23:37.789-07:00Project #9b<div class="prezi-player"><style type="text/css" media="screen">.prezi-player { width: 550px; } .prezi-player-links { text-align: center; }</style><object id="prezi_qvjfg1taw_g-" name="prezi_qvjfg1taw_g-" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="550" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://prezi.com/bin/preziloader.swf"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="allowFullScreenInteractive" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"/><param name="flashvars" value="prezi_id=qvjfg1taw_g-&lock_to_path=0&color=ffffff&autoplay=no&autohide_ctrls=0"/><embed id="preziEmbed_qvjfg1taw_g-" name="preziEmbed_qvjfg1taw_g-" src="http://prezi.com/bin/preziloader.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowFullScreenInteractive="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="550" height="400" bgcolor="#ffffff" flashvars="prezi_id=qvjfg1taw_g-&lock_to_path=0&color=ffffff&autoplay=no&autohide_ctrls=0"></embed></object><div class="prezi-player-links"><p><a title="My Favorite Movies" href="http://prezi.com/qvjfg1taw_g-/my-favorite-movies/">My Favorite Movies</a> on <a href="http://prezi.com">Prezi</a></p></div></div>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-38531825113909230682012-06-24T16:35:00.000-07:002012-06-24T16:35:43.867-07:00Project #10 Progress Report My PLN, or personal learning network, is based off <a href="http://www.symbaloo.com/">Symbaloo</a> so far. This application creates a mix of all the websites that I visit on a regular basis or just some of my favorites and posts them on my home page. It is so convenient and organized which really helps me stay on track. My mix consists of all the social websites I always check, like facebook and twitter. Also, I added Pinterest so I can research cool crafts for inside the classroom or lesson plans about different subjects. Symbaloo is such a helpful app, and I plan on using it for a long time.<br />
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<img alt="Symbaloo" title="Source: Google Images" src="http://edtechdhh.edublogs.org/files/2010/06/Symbaloo_web2.0_mix.png" id="il_fi" height="388" width="585" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; ">Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-9677004395065046872012-06-24T15:25:00.000-07:002012-06-24T15:25:51.870-07:00C4T #2 Diane Krause is a technology staff development specialist. Her <a href="http://diannekrause.edublogs.org/">blog</a> is full of different websites and sources for fellow technology savvy teachers that consist of helpful information about a variety of subjects. She calls them her <i>"digital discoveries"</i>. Her blog has awesome graphics, a cool set up, and is very organized. The first blog that I commented on was about a website called <a href="http://www.zinio.com/">Zinio</a>. Zinio is a resourceful site for mobile reading. It has a ton of electronic versions of magazines and is called "the world's largest newsstand". There are all sorts of different magazines on the site that ranges from art to sports to entertainment and much more. The cool thing about Zinio is that unlike a regular paperback magazine, it has videos available throughout the site for that you can watch along with reading different articles.<br />
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<img alt="Students at computers" title="Source: Google images" src="http://media-1.web.britannica.com/eb-media/15/106415-004-1B158AEA.jpg" id="il_fi" height="388" width="284" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 8px; "><br />
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The second blog I commented on was about a link called <a href="http://prezi.com/ekfgpr0dhu80/nets-for-kids/?auth_key=edf56217b73e9526a4acf176a755d75b02baede4">NETS</a>. This site is focused on helping students learn about the national standards on a level that they can understand. It's actually a Prezi which is a type of presentation that we actually cover in EDM 310. The Prezi has tons of attention grabbers for kids and it also has a short YouTube video that states the question, "digital citizen, who will you be?" Kids can learn all about the six national education technology standards from this website and virtual slideshow, which are: creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, research and information fluency, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making, digital citizenship, and technology operations and concepts. Sites like these not only help students learn and grow, but it also gives them a preview of what they will soon be creating themselves.Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-55675683127595823172012-06-19T16:17:00.000-07:002012-06-19T16:17:04.299-07:00Blog Assignment #6 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo">Randy Pausch's Last Lecture</a> is an incredible video. As I've stated in a previous blog post, Randy Pausch is someone to be admired to say the least. His character alone should be envied by all. In his "Last Lecture" he covers three topics that include different strategies of teaching and also learning. The topics are: "achieving childhood dreams", "enabling childhood dreams", and "lessons learned". Throughout the lecture Randy pairs up each strategy with a story from his personal life which not only makes the lecture more entertaining, but it makes everything he covers have even more of an impact on the audience.<br />
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He begins his presentation with the topic of "achieving childhood dreams". At first glance this doesn't sound like much of a teaching strategy and the phrase itself isn't, what he includes under this category is where the true inspiration falls. Randy lists all of his childhood dreams, one in particular was that he dreamed of playing in the NFL. Unfortunately he never got the chance to play professional football, yet he states that he probably got more from this failed dream than any other dream he did accomplish. Through playing football, Randy learned how important fundamentals are, what hard work really is, and also about "head fakes". A "head fake" is when you teach someone something but they end up learning something different along the way. Randy's football coach was really hard on him one day at practice and when the assistant coach approached him about it he told Randy that it's a good thing. He said that when people don't care anymore to help you fix your mistakes is when you know that they have given up on you. I think every teacher needs to be told this story. Teachers carry a lot of weight in their students hearts. Their encouragement and opinions can sometimes mean more to a student than what a peer thinks. We are all human. Every teacher will have a difficult student, or more than one, throughout their careers. But we must keep in mind that every single student deserves to be pushed in their own way, and not one of them should ever be given up on because we can't handle the responsibility of their education when it gets tough.<br />
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<div class=alt="Randy Pausch" title="Source: Google images" "separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jonah.cs.elon.edu/sduvall2/courses/csc335/2012spring/FamousCSers/pausch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://jonah.cs.elon.edu/sduvall2/courses/csc335/2012spring/FamousCSers/pausch.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br><br />
The second topic Mr. Pausch speaks about is "enabling childhood dreams". He tells the story about a program at Carnegie Melon University that he and a colleague designed. The program is called the Entertainment Technology Factory (ETC) which he also calls the Dream Fulfillment Factory. It was a master's program that consisted of two years full of small group projects. What Randy points out is that this program is very successful, but it's not the academic success that should take notice. What should take notice is the fact that his students were given the opportunity to chase their dreams and some of them ultimately did just that. ETC was so successful because of three reasons. One reason is a simple requirement of the course's curriculum. A focused evaluation of each member of their groups is something each student must do. Randy does this so each student will see their faults and have the awareness to make the proper changes. The second reason is again centered on head fakes throughout the process of the course. It's here that Mr. Pausch states that "the best way to teach someone is to have them think they're learning something different". He used this strategy in the creating of Alice, an educational software that was created within the ETC. Which brings me to the final reason for the success of the ETC, "helping millions of kids have fun while learning something hard". Randy saw Alice as an opportunity of teaching through head fakes, but also an opportunity to simply help someone's educational journey by adding in some fun.<br />
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The last topic the Randy Pausch covers is "lessons learned" where he shares a variety of advice that was given to him in the past and also tips to receive help from others. Whenever you are chasing after something you desire there are "brick walls" that are put up to hinder your path. Randy believes that every brick wall is there for us to prove how bad we want the dream. Throughout his life Mr. Pausch has faced his fair share of brick walls but even a man with such a strong level of passion as him needs people to guide him around those walls. One specific piece of advice that Randy was given that I liked the most was from Andy Van Dam. Andy once told Randy that "it was a shame that people perceive him as arrogant because it's just going to hold him back". In the same way that Randy encourages his students in ETC to take their evaluations as the first step of change, he was forced to see his faults as well. This quote from Mr. Van Dam affected me the most because he wasn't rude or disrespectful. He used constructive criticism perfectly and it was effective because it was out of care, not resentment. I think we should all use this strategy not just in the classroom but in all areas of life. We need to become better people so we can then become better teachers.Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-45913756405202227382012-06-19T13:10:00.000-07:002012-06-19T13:10:09.229-07:00Project #8<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fa25Wr2x1bo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BYIWMtzMKLg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-42326759359052750892012-06-17T16:48:00.002-07:002012-06-17T16:48:30.296-07:00Project #9a<object width="550" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.timetoast.com/flash/TimelineViewer.swf?passedTimelines=365719" /><param name="passedTimelines" value="365719" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.timetoast.com/flash/TimelineViewer.swf?passedTimelines=365719" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" passedTimelines="365719" width="550" height="400" allowScriptAccess="always" /></object>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-78264705618162672392012-06-17T15:21:00.000-07:002012-06-17T15:21:59.974-07:00Blog Assignment #5 Travis Allen created <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68KgAcx_9jU">The iSchool Initiative</a> and the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06YOePeUx4o">ZeitgeistYoungMind's Entry</a> which are both filled with lots of thought provoking information. He suggests that all school systems should switch to the iSchool. The iSchool is exactly what it sounds like, a school on an Apple device. Mr. Allen is extremely knowledgeable and well spoken for his age. In his videos he provides solid information backing the iSchool and how it could save money for school administration as well as their students. Also, he explains how the system would work through a variety of applications on the iPhone or iTouch even. I was very impressed with his reasoning and was forced to double check my thoughts towards a 100% technological school.<br />
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My hesitations are simply for the students social and physical well being. To think of our future children staring at a computer screen day in and day out scares me. I have hopes of my children enjoying playgrounds and having pool parties with their friends. What Mr. Allen has proved to me though is that both worlds can exist. Students can do their homework on the iSchool and then go play outside, just like they do now except their homework is on paper. Which brings up another great argument by Mr. Allen, <i>going green! </i>Think of all the trees we would save if every student wrote essays, worked out math problems, and read books on the iSchool. Instead of cutting down trees to write a book report on paper, kids could type up the report and then go climb those trees! Travis Allen is right, we need to be embracing the era that future generations are being born into and begin teaching them the ways of technology.<br />
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I was amazed when I watched the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs">Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir</a>. It is astounding at how many resources the internet offers but this is one resource I never would have thought of. To sing each part individually on their own yet at the same time to produce perfect harmonies is a very hard thing to do. Eric Whitacre is a musically inclined technology genius! He fits the description of a true artist so perfectly there isn't even any wiggle room. A crazy thought is that each and every member of his choir are separated in a physical sense, maybe they have never even met in person, yet through the internet they are capable of creating melodies that choirs who meet every day in a classroom strive for.<br />
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When I watched the video <a href="http://www.edm310.com/Teaching21stCenturymed.m4v">Teaching in the 21st Century</a> it put things into perspective for me as a future educator. Kevin Roberts, the creator of the video, makes a valid point about the future importance of teachers. He shows many different ways students can learn and research information which ultimately makes the job of a teacher a <i>has been</i> occupation. However, as Roberts points out teachers can and will still be teaching years from now. The theory he is suggesting is that educators will be teaching students how to use the tools of technology, which in turn makes teachers very much needed.<br />
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I feel as if Roberts really hit home in this 21st century based video. His opinions concerning the changes in education may or may not come true, we won't know until the time comes. Yet, his preparations are much needed in the lives of our students today. Teachers shouldn't worry about becoming "obsolete" as Roberts states, they should worry about the fact that we have wasted so much teaching time with our students already. The Mac is the perfect example. Schools are replacing regular PC's with Mac's as we speak, but most teachers do not have the skills to properly work one let alone teach their students to use one too. It is now that we must swallow our pride and learn alongside our students. The sooner we learn as teachers, the sooner our students will be impacted. Kevin Roberts is setting the standards high and teachers across the land should run, leap, and jump to push that bar higher as we grow and flourish into an education system that is prepared to take on the technology age.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.confidenthappykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/stressed_out_kid_doing_homework.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kid doing homework" Title="Source:Google Images" border="0" src="http://www.confidenthappykids.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/stressed_out_kid_doing_homework.jpg" /></a></div><br><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aGuLuipTwg">Why I Flipped My Classroom</a> was definitely my favorite video of this blog post. It didn't have special high tech graphics or fancy moving blurbs of information like the other videos that I've watched and enjoyed, but it had a subject matter that I, as a future teacher, worry about when day-dreaming about my first year of teaching. Katie speaks about "flipping" her classroom's seating and approach to reach her students more effectively. She figures out that because of how her classroom was setup she wasn't meeting the needs of the students who are not centered in the seating chart. To change this, Katie uses the internet as her main resource by uploading the lesson's content online. The students can review lessons as many times as they want, move ahead if they are absorbing the information faster than others, also they can preview all of the things that will be talked about in class that day. She then grouped her students desks together so now if she goes to help a student there are others listening in on questions they might have as well.<br />
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This video needs to be put into action. As Katie states, "90% of the classroom time is spent on delivery from the teacher and only 10% is used for interaction or meeting the individual needs of each student". With that said, <i>are we even really teaching our students? </i>If the majority of the time spent with my students is wasted because of my own neglect for observation then something must be done. To teach someone is to provide them with something new, something they couldn't do or didn't know before, not spit information in one ear and hope it doesn't spring out of the other ear before a test. Katie has a pretty clear idea about what teaching is and she is doing it. She is taking educational risks and thinking outside of the box. The boundaries that she has crossed have opened a whole new world for teachers and their students. Katie's method of teaching is going to impact her student's and hopefully colleagues immensely.<br />
<br>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-79229390262818530252012-06-12T17:07:00.000-07:002012-06-12T17:07:23.841-07:00My Sentence Video<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wS3O8wXx6Zw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-775377809993218939.post-30448301391207706952012-06-12T16:12:00.000-07:002012-06-12T16:12:06.856-07:00Blog Assignment #4 The first blog I selected to read was <a href="http://langwitches.org/blog/2011/05/24/1st-graders-create-their-own-read-along-audiobook/">1st Graders Create Own Read Along Book</a>. I was skeptical at first because I have seen things like this before and it seems to be the teacher doing all of the work. Except in this case the students did a lot! I was impressed when I saw how the students, being so young, were really into it and absorbing the skills it takes to complete such a technological project. I especially enjoyed reading about the students eagerness to re-record to make their voices "better". They were toning in on their reading skills by learning how to make the story <i>sound</i> more exciting. Reading is a lost enjoyment in our children's generation and if we can make it fun for them they will soon realize what an amazing world is at their fingertips when cracking open a good book.<br />
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For my second choice, I chose the <a href="http://langwitches.org/blog/2011/03/30/listening-comprehension-podcasting/">Flat Stanley Podcast</a>. Right of the bat it was clear that Ms. Tolisano's purpose for having her students do podcasts was not just for the entertainment of her kids, but to really teach them skills in the world of technology. I commend her for doing so, because as I have stated in previous blog postings I really feel that it is important that our children become experts at technology. When they grow up and enter the working world computers, mp3 players, and all of the Apple products will be even more advanced and useful. I worry that if they are not taught by someone with the same mindset as Ms. Tolisano then they will suffer when they are adults standing in the unemployment line because they are not <i>experienced</i> enough with the present technology. <br />
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My final pick out of the list of blogs or podcasts to choose from was<a href="http://joedale.typepad.com/integrating_ict_into_the_/2009/04/the-benefits-of-podcasting-in-the-classroom.html">The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom</a>. I found this blog to be interesting in a different way than my first two selections. What's different is that the author, Joe Dale, sees it in a variety of point of views. He lists many reasons why having podcasts in the classroom can be beneficial, but I specifically respected three of his comments. Those being: " parents can see and hear what their children are doing at school", "it can offer distance learning opportunities for absent students", and "it promotes creativity and innovation". These particular reasons struck me because they are from the point of views of the parent, student, and an average person. He doesn't just view this opportunity as a form of subject matter as some teachers can do at times, he views it as <i>progress</i> all across the board from the student's home life to the well-being and character growth of the child.Lacie Brothershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15221879318057734103noreply@blogger.com1