Blog post 15 Final Reflection

Blog Post 14

"Top Ten Tips for Using Technology In The Classroom" By Jose Picardo

Jose Picardo has ten suggestions for using technology in the classroom. The first is "streaming videos" in the classroom. I cannot think of a better classroom addition than Youtube. It is a site that most students are already familiar with, so integrating it in an educational way is a great way to use it. The second tip is utilizing music. Jose suggests, "becoming familiar with your pupils music." I am not sure how this could be beneficial in the classroom, unless you were teaching a music class or studying a particular artist. The third tip is "Teleconferencing" using tools such as Skype. I think Skype is a great tool for allowing students and teachers to connect. Skype has so many possibilities. Students can conference with their teacher about homework, or study with a friend. The fourth tip is "Interactive Exercises." Jose advocates using websites that allow you to construct exercises to go along with your lesson. I have never used any of these websites, but I think it is a great idea. I love to use the SMART board to make games, and exercises for lessons.
     The fifth tip is utilizing "Interactive Whiteboards." I must admit, I am in love with SMART Technology. I think it is such a great way to create really fun lessons. I just hope educational technology keeps going in that direction, because I seriously want to learn everything I can about SMART boards. The sixth tip is "Podcasts."  I had never listened to or made a podcast before taking EDM310, but I definitely see the value in it. Since really learning about them, I have started downloading them to my iPod. I think that is a great way to use podcasts in the class. Important lessons can be recorded and then students can download them to their MP3 players. The seventh tip is using "Blogs and Wikis." I will definitely have a class blog for my future classroom. Blogs provide students and parents access to what is going on the classroom. Individual blogs are great for showcasing students work. Tip eight is using "social networks." Students are obviously using sites like Facebook and Myspace on a daily basis, so why not use them in the classroom. You can set up group discussions, or create a "HELP" group for students who need to ask a question about class. Tip nine is making use of "Internet Tools." Mr. Picardo mentions "Animoto.com." I have never heard of this site, but it is apparently a site that allows you to make slideshows using pictures. I have only made slideshows using Google presentations, but it is really a neat site. I will definitely be bookmarking it. Finally, Mr. Picardo's final tip is using your students cellphones or MP3 players to connect and share different information.  I think all of his suggestion are great.  I just hope that future and current teachers can see the value in using these types of technology in the classroom, because their students are already using it.

Final C4K Summary

Mrs. Yollis' Blog

I commented on Mrs. Yollis' Halloween Video. It is a video showing their class Halloween party. They made all kinds of crafts. A lot of them were edible, and they looked delicious.  Here is my comment and a link to the blog post. Mrs. Yollis' Halloween Blog Post


Dear Mrs. Yollis' class,

My name is Faun.  I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama.  It looks like your class had a very spooky Halloween party.  The marshmallow spiders looked scary, and delicious.  I did not dress up for Halloween, but my son dressed up as a skunk.  He looked so funny!  I have had so much fun learning about your class.  Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Faun

C4K#11- Anthonyd@ Pt England School


Anthony is a year 5 student in room 14(Mrs. Squires class). His most recent post was about an "Immersion Assembly." An Immersion Assembly is like a seminar where they learn about a certain topic. Anthony's topic was "Space and the Planets." Here is my comment.

Hey Anthony, my name is Faun and I am in EDm310 at the University of South Alabama. It sounds like your Immersion Assembly was really fun. I am taking Geography, so I have learned a lot about the planets this term as well. Did you know that Pluto is considered to be a "dwarf-planet?" Well, I hope you keep learning and good luck this term.

C4T#4 Summary

I commented on Mr. Larry Ferlazzo's blog.  Mr. Ferlazzo is an English teacher in Sacremento, California.  His blog has hundreds of the best websites for anything you want to learn about.  This post in particular was titled, "This Week In Web 2.0."  It featured some useful websites available.  The three sites mentioned are Spreecast, Veengle, and Quipol.  I had never heard of these sites so it was great to learn about them. Spreecast is a multi-person video chat tht allows others to watch the video and type text or ask questions.  Veengle lets you take clips from youtube and put them together in a playlist.  Quipol is a website that allows you to create surveys.  Here is my comment and a link to Mr. Ferlazzo's blog. Mr. Larry Ferlazzo's Blog
Comment #1
Hi Mr. Ferlazzo, my name is Faun and I am a student in EDM310 at the Univerisity of South Alabama.  I have never heard of SpreeCast, but I am definitely going to check it out.  I use Skype fairly often, but having the option of doing a multi-person video chat is amazing, especially with chat commentary.  I think it would be a great way for students to do interviews with other education majors, professors, etc.  Especially if other students could voice their questions in the process.  I am going to have to give it a try.  Great post.
Sincerely,
Faun


I commented on Mr. Ferlazzo's blog for the second time on the preview of an article titled, "In The Minds Of Others" Reading fiction can strengthen your social ties and even change your personality."  It listed some of the benefits of fiction reading.  Here is my comment below.
Comment #2
Hey Mr. Ferlazzo,
 My name is Faun, and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama.  I absolutely understand how reading fiction can change your personality.  I attribute most of my childhood quirks to all of the reading I did.  I was the only kid in school blabbing about eating "Turkish Delight."  I took something from every book I read as a child, and I am so glad I did because it helped shape my identity.  Great article and post!

Final Report PLN

I really love Symbaloo. I would have never known about it had I not taken EDM310. Since my first progress report, I have added several websites to my PLN. Many of which I have gotten from my last C4T blog, Mr. Larry Ferlazzo. I would recommend everyone research his blog Larry Ferlazzo's Blog because he has literally hundereds of useful educational websites. I hope to continue to add resources to my PLN, even as I start to teach.

Project 16 Final Project

Missed The Metaphor Assignment

I recognized that the story had a metaphor in it, I just was not sure what it was a metaphor for. I think we are all so scared to death of getting a bad grade that we over think and over analyze these assignments. Some of the metaphors I have encountered and used a lot are:
1. Its raining cats and dogs
2.I am dead tired
3. There are plenty of fish in the sea
4. Can I have some sugar (kiss)?
I think showing students lots of examples is a great way to help them understand metaphors. Also, show them the difference between metaphors and similes because they are very similar.  You could also read different stories that have metaphors in them.
 I think we should use metaphors to enrich language and text. It is also great for expanding vocabulary.

Blog Post 13

My Teacher Is An App 
By Stephanie Banchero and Stephanie Simon

     This article is about how many schools across the United States are branching out into online learning. Some schools just offer a couple of classes, whereas some offer full course loads completely online. However, there are many pros and cons to online learning. Some are concerned about how much students actually learn. Another concern is socialization. Are students who belong to these "cyber schools" missing out by not being in school? It is also evident that online-learning could solve some of the school systems financial problems.
     I must say that I am not completely convinced about 100% online learning. It seems to me that if that were to happen, that teachers may eventually be obsolete. Another concern I have is one section of the article stated,"A few states, however, have found that students enrolled full-time in virtual schools score significantly lower on standardized tests, and make less academic progress from year to year, than their peers." I am not a huge believe in test scores measuring knowledge, but I do not know how motivated a student is without a parent or teacher making them do the work. I am in favor of the "hybrid learning" though. To me this is the answer. A school that offers most classes at school but maybe offers two totally online. This could shorten the school day, expose students to online learning, and possibly save money. This generation is already learning online, why not make it official in the schools by offering hybrid courses.

Project 15 SMARTboard Instruction Part 2

Project 14 Skype Interview

This is my interview with a second grade Elementary teacher named Karen Miller. She is a teacher in Alabama, but did not feel comfortable giving the name of her school and city, due to the fact that it will be put on Youtube. Here is my interview.

Blog Post #12

This blog post requires you to make a compilation using images, videos, music, etc. to show what you have learned thus far in EDM310.  You can use Premier moviemaker or iMovie. You could also use this website called Veengle. It lets you compile different Youtube clips together.  I had a lot of fun doing this, and it really shows that I have learned a lot in this class.  Before taking EDM310 I had NO idea how to make a video like this.  I think it would be a valuable self-assessment post.  In the words of Dr. Strange, "Post the video to Youtube and embed it in your blog." So here it is.

Final Project Progress Report

My group members are Ashley Howard, Lavenia Curtis, and Kimberly Lefferson.  We are going to make an EDM310 survival kit.  We will all bring in itmes that are vital to survival in EDM310 and put them in a box/container.  We have met several times to discuss our project, and all that is left to do is film it.

C4K#10 Part 1

I had such a great time exploring Mrs. Yollis' class blog.  I learned a lot about California.  I seriously do not understand why her class blog was first runner up for the Edublog Award, it should have won first. Mrs.Yollis seems to set the bar for learning very high, and I admire that.  She expects a lot from her students, which shows why they are accomplishing so much.  I love that she gets her students so involved with the process of blogging. Through blogging she is teaching her students how to make videos, take digital photos, proofread, comment, subscribe to RSS feeds, and so much more.  Through blogging she is connecting students globally.  Her blog has almost 77,000 views, compared to EDM310 which has almost 47,000 views.  It is no mystery why so many people are visiting Mrs. Yollis' class blog.
I learned a lot from reading Mrs. Yollis' blog, so I can only imagine what her students are learning in class. I especially loved the "Our World, Our Stories" project. This post in particular had kids from all over the world making videos that discussed what they eat for lunch and what they do at recess. I also think it is great that on Mrs. Yollis' website  she posts homework assignments, announcements, and even tips for other teachers. I am amazed that so much is going on in this third grade class. It is great to see a teacher utilizing blogging in such an inventive way.

C4K summary

C4K6-Spencer period 4- Hey Spencer, my name is Faun, and I am a student at University of South Alabama and this comment is for my EDM310 class. I was assigned your name for “Comments for Kids”. It sounds like your STEM class is really fun. Do you enjoy doing projects like “stranded” more so than just general classwork?

Random name-Bryce-period 5
Hey Bryce, my name is Faun, and I am commenting on your blog for my EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I was assigned your name by your class' random name generator. I have never heard of "Roblox". Did you learn about it in school or outside of school? Is it hard? I love to play online games, but some of them are really complicated. I tried to play "World of Warcraft", but I was lost within five minutes.

C4K7-Marissa 5th hour
Hey Marissa, my name is Faun, and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I was reading about your experiment. It looks like a lot of work. What are you trying to achieve with this experiment? Is it for a science class?

Lakin 5th hour
Hey Lakin, my name is Faun, and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I am studying to be a teacher, and I love writing. I like to write about historical figures, like George Washington. You should post a story you have written, and I hope to read more from you soon.


C4K8-Stevenson Room9 Pt England School
Hey Stevenson, my name is Faun, and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I loved watching your video. It taught me a lot about the Australian outback. You draw so well, and your picture was very colorful. I love koala bears, but I have only seen one in a zoo. Do you see koala bears a lot? I would love to know. I had fun reading your blog. Bye Stevenson!

C4K9-Mr. McClung's post-10/14 Lessons Learned
Hey, my name is Faun and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. Well, all I can say is "I have a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!"  Seriously though, you sound like an awesome class.  This run sounds like a big deal to your school.  I would not know because running is just not in my vocabulary at the moment, although it should be.  I have know idea what "the box" is but I am intrigued, and I will check back to see what all the fuss is about.  Had fun reading your post! Bye!

Blog Post 11

"Little Kids...Big Potential" youtube.com
I think Mrs. Cassidy is doing a great job.  I know first grader's are still learning to read and write.  Using personal and class blogs allows students to go back and see their spelling and grammatical mistakes.  I also like that she is teaching these children how to be safe when using the internet.  Only using your first names is good rule to have students follow.  The idea of using a Nintendo DS is something that I would have never thought of.  Nintendo DS has a chat capability and the option of playing games with other students.  So that is great way to help kids learn,but it disguises it as fun.  I loved that one student said, "it helps us learn to share."  That is also very important for students at this age.   Mrs. Cassidy  is doing a remarkable job incorporating different aspects of technology into her classroom.

Skype Interview
I think it is amazing that Mrs. Cassidy seems to facilitate most of the technology exploration in her classroom herself.  I know she said she had support from administration, but it is really great that she is stepping outside of the ordinary classroom etiquette.  Kids can learn so much by just being exposed to new things, and that is something they will take with them to future classrooms.  I think it is amazing that she took it upon herself to start using new technology, because I know a lot of educators do not.  I also love her approach to the internet safety issues.  I think it is so important to make sure children are aware of the dangers and to teach them how to be safe.
I am in agreement with Mrs.Cassidy about the importance of students having a PLN.  I think it is so important for students and teachers to have access to learning website and networks.  I am definitely going to stress the point of each of my students creating their own PLN.  I would also implement the use of a class blog.  As a parent, I know that time is very hard to come by.  A class blog with my child's work posted every day/week would help me to gain insight into their overall progress without having to schedule a meeting.  Mrs.Cassidy seems like an awesome teacher, and I hope to see more of her class Youtube videos.

Blog Post 10

"Do you Teach or Do you Educate?" youtube.com

When I think about why I became an education major, the only thought that comes to my mind is all of the teachers I have had in my life. Some of them good, and some of them not so good. However, some of them were GREAT! The select few who really inspired me to go into education were in fact "educators". They did not just write on a blackboard and make me memorize facts. They engaged me totally.
My first college English Composition class was taught by Dr. Thomas Lakeman. Not only did he teach me about those dreaded "logical fallacies" and how to write a great paper, but he literally offered every bit of knowledge in his head to his students. That is the kind of educator I want to be. I hope to always stay humble in my approach to education. I hope to educate my students as if I am still learning. I will never expect my students to have the "right answer". I would rather we find out the answer together.

Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home!

This blog post is basically a discussion between two teachers about students taking pencils home. Gertrude read an article about how students taking pencils home can cause them to have lower test scores. Tom disagrees and advocates the use of pencils, arguing that once the student has a pencil they have a lot of options what they can do with it. Gertrude suggest they will use them for entertainment or "playing hang-man".
I think this post is a metaphor for a lot of attitudes in the educational system. When you limit students in any circumstance, that is just what you are doing to them. Limiting them in their education. I say bring on the pencils, and anything that further promotes a student's learning.

C4T#3 Summary

http://kimcofino.com/blog/Kim Cofino- Comment 1.

Hey Kim, my name is Faun, and I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your blog. Isn't Google amazing? I have just recently starting using all the Apps and it just makes life so much easier. I cannot wait to start teaching, so I can utilize all of them. I can imagine that it takes some time coordinating the logistics for all of the apps your school is using. I think it is so great that you are though. Keep up the good work Kim.

Kim Cofino-Comment 2.
Hey Kim, I love the idea of a "Connected Learning Community". A school in our area has recently adopted a similar idea. Every older student received an apple computer. I think students having their own computer is so important. Especially middle and high school students. I am so loving the idea of having student blogs. I have a student blog and I really see the value in it. It allows students and teachers to share ideas while connecting outside the classroom. Good luck this semester and I hope everything goes as planned.

Blog Post 9

May 27, 2009 "What I've Learned This Year" by Mr. Joe McClung

Mr. McClung's blog's are really a good idea. I think it is important to assess what you have learned. It is also important to look at the things you can change in order to make your next year of teaching better. In this particular blog, Mr. McClung talks about the importance of "How to Read a Crowd". People can become so focused on doing a good job as a teacher that they forget about what their students are actually learning.
He also discussed the importance of "Being Flexible". Mr. McClung says that, "NO LESSON IS EVER PERFECT. THE LESSON YOU TEACH AND THE ONE YOU PLAN ARE ALWAYS DIFFERENT" This really made a lot of sense to me. I sometimes worry about my lessons not being delivered the "right way" once I start teaching, but I realize how unrealistic it is to want everything to be perfect.
He also comments on communicating with colleagues, and being reasonable when it come to our students not meeting certain expectations. Our job as teachers is to encourage our students whether they succeed or fail.
Lastly, Mr. McClung writes about advocating technology, and really listening to your students. I think this is great advice for any teacher, and I know that students know when a teacher really listens to them. Probably the most important thing in is blog is the advice of, "Never Stop Learning". I think if we can always have a thirst for knowledge as teachers, we will never run out of things to teach our students.

June 23, 2001 "What I Learned This Year" by Mr. Joe McClung

Mr. McClung really stresses the point of not focusing on pleasing administration. The important thing is to always keep your focus on your students. He also discusses changes in education. He comments on the fact that as teachers we need to always be involved in changes and new ideas in order to keep moving forward in our careers. However, some teachers will forever be content teaching what they have always taught. Mr. Mclung also discusses not "fitting in" with the adults in his school. He would rather "focus on my students". I think this makes him great teacher, and not an outsider.
Mr. McClung also writes that it is important to not overstep your students when they are learning something new. He writes that,"it is very easy to take over and basically do the work for them...because we can always do it better". As teachers we must know when to step back and give our students the reigns. Lastly, Mr. McClung comments on not getting comfortable in you job as a teacher. Trying new things and learning new things will keep your students more involved and interested. Most importantly it will keep you from falling into a boring routine as teacher.

Project 13 Smartboard Instruction Part 1

Project 11 Book Review

Blog Post 8

Dr.Richard E. Miller "This is How We Dream"
youtube.com

In this video Dr. Miller talks about a lot. I am not going to lie, some of it went over my head. It was a little like Charlie Brown's teachers, "WAH WAH WAH". So I decided to watch the videos again, and I think what he is trying to convey in this speech is that we are living in a time where ideas are changing the way we work and learn.
Dr. Miller talks about how he was able to "write an entire article without setting foot in a library". We have access to anything imaginable with just the click of a mouse, and that is an extraordinary thing. Students are learning in a new way, and teachers are teaching in a new way, and it is only the beginning. I agree with Dr. Miller about Youtube. I believe Youtube is one of the most amazing learning tools. If I do not understand something, the first thing I do is look it up on Youtube.
I absolutely think I am prepared to write with multimedia, and hopefully more so after finishing EDM310. I also think my future students will be able to write with multimedia, probably more so than me right now. Students in this generation have really never known life without computers, and the internet. I think this makes them more technologically savvy in and out of the classroom. I hope to reinforce that knowledge as well as teach them more.

Blog Post 12 by Carly Pugh

I have to say I think Carly's idea for an assignment is a great one. I think Carly did an excellent job of demonstrating how to effectively use multimedia. I love Youtube, and I advocate anyway in which you can use Youtube in the classroom. She basically was able to tell a story with each video she chose. Any of which would be great to display in the classroom setting.

"Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies"

I would like to create a video that pokes fun of the "Instruction Manual" and hopefully convince Dr. Strange to make automatic scrolls for the instruction manual. I think that would make navigating on it a lot easier. I think the point of the "Chipper Series" is to urge Edm310 students to not procrastinate or be lazy, otherwise you are doomed in the class and life. I think "EDM310 for Dummies" is just showing that if you apply yourself and follow directions you can be successful in EDM310.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn
youtube.com

I think this video has a lot of good points. Teachers are now responsible for being the mediator between students, and all the information they have access to. I also like the point that was made about cellphones being a tool for learning, and yet they are banned in most schools. The trick is getting students to learn with this technology and not just use it for recreation.

Project 12

Blog Post 7

I really think Dr. Pausch is an inspiring individual. He knew his fate and he was still able to live his life with such vivaciousness. I think he conveys not only his passion for teaching and learning, but life. I loved his outlook on life, "You are either a Tigger or an Eeyore". Most importantly I think his contributions to the world of education are under-appreciated, and I am glad I got to learn more about him through this video.
Dr. Pausch used various teaching methods during his years as a professor. He really seemed to advocate project-based learning. This notion was unheard of to me before EDM310, yet now I really see the value in it. Dr. Pausch obviously believed in it strongly. I loved the course curriculum he showed. It basically gave students the reigns in their education. He gave them the tools, and they were responsible for creating something. I think this versatility makes the learning environment more fun, and that was something Dr. Pausch was all about.
Dr.Pausch also promoted "No-Book Learning". I believe he knew we were headed into a new era in technology, and "book-learning" was becoming obsolete. I think it is more challenging to learn without books. In a textbook, you have the answers, and everything is mapped out for you. When you stop limiting students to just books in the classroom, they are forced to think outside of the box. That is when the most brilliant ideas are discovered.
Another teaching method or mantra Dr. Pausch used was, "Focus on people and Learning to work in groups". I must admit I have a hard time with group projects. I feel like I always end up doing all the work. Dr. Pausch believed that group learning is not just about the work, but connecting on another level with your fellow classmates and colleagues. Learning to work with others is something that we will all be faced with in life, and it is important to work at it.
Overall, I think Dr. Pausch is a very inspiring individual, and we could all learn from his teaching methods. He was able to accomplish his goals, and make numerous contributions to the world. He made an imprint on his students and collegues, and now the rest of the world. My favorite part of his whole lecture was, "Never lose your child-like wonder". I think we can all be better educators if we keep that in mind.

PLN Project 10 Progress Report

I used Symbaloo for my PLN. Right now it consists of all the websites I visit regularly. I frequent Google, Youtube, Blogger, and many more. I really like that Symbaloo is easy to use, and that it allows you to organize your sites. Right now I have all my sites organized into three columns. The first column consists of all the sites I use for my classes. The other two columns are more for recreational use. I am really enjoying using it, and I would not have even known about had I not taken EDM310. I will hopefully have a really impressive PLN by the end of the semester.

Timetoast Timeline Project 9b

C4T#2 Summary Post

C4T#2 Comment 1
I commented on Kelly Hines blog. Her post was about an event at the Museum of Life and Science. I commented about how in Mobile we have a place that is similar, the Exploreum. I told her it was a great place for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to explore all the aspects of life and science. The added bonus is that it is great anytime students and teachers can learn together, and get out of the classroom environment for a little while.

C4T#2 Comment 2
Kelly Hines had not posted anything new, so I commented on her previous post. It was about a service called Rondee. Rondee is not only fun to say, but it is a way for people to have conference calls via internet, cell phone, or home phone. Mrs. Hines said that the service is offered free. I commented that it would be a great way for students to work on group projects or even have study groups using Rondee. I definitely think students, teachers, and family could benefit from using Rondee.

C4K Summary Post

C4K#1

My first C4K was Sela at Pt England School in Auckland, New Zealand. We actually had a lot in common. I can tell that Mrs. Lagitupu's class is very into sports. Sela loves rugby, and her post was about the start of the Rugby World Cup. She wanted Tonga to win, so she came to school dressed in red and white. I told her I did not know much about rugby, but in Alabama, our SEC football season was starting. I told her I hoped her favorite team would win the Rugby World Cup.

C4K#2

My Second C4K was bg2011, which is an avitar name I found out. This was a first time blogger, so I kept my comment very simple and to the point. The post was a little hard to read understandably. It was about his/her pet, and jumping on the trampoline. I had to read a few more of their posts to find out what kind of pet they had. They had a dog, so I started commenting on how I had a dog, and how I liked to play on the trampoline too. There was not a lot to comment on, so I just tried to make it easy to read and age appropriate.

C4K#3

My third C4K was Mui. She is also a student in Mrs. Lagitupu's class. I told her how I had commented already on Sela's blog. Mui loved Rugby too, so I told her I would do some research to learn more about it, which I did. Her post was on Similes. I asked if that is what they were studying in school, and I actually made up a simile to post on her blog. I loved commenting on the Pt England kids, because it gave me a glimpse of how students are in New Zealand.

C4K#4

My fourth C4K was Olivia. Olivia loves Harry Potter, and I do too, so we had a lot to talk about. Her post was about the avitar she had picked. She picked one that looked like her. She had also taken a quiz to find what Harry Potter house she would be in, which was Gryffindor. I took the quiz also, and was in the same house. I told her I had read all of the books and seen all of the movies too.

C4K#5

My fifth C4K was Room 3, class blog post 12. This post was a video of all the students in Room 3 doing The Honey Bee Dance. This video was seriously awesome. I am going to re-post on my facebook because it is so funny. I told the students they were my new favorite class. I told them how the song made me want to get up and dance. They seriously did such a good job.

Blog Post 6

The Networked Student
Wendy Drexler

This video portrays a 21st century student who is in an entirely web-based American Psych class. Instead of textbooks, the teacher uses resources found on the internet. The student networks with other students, and professors from all over the world. They also learn by using websites, wikis, blogs, and forums.
I am personally in love with the idea of a Connectivism course. I tend to learn so much more when I am not just limited to a textbook. I prefer hands on involvement with my education, because I actually seem to remember it later. I think more teachers should consider the idea of throwing the textbook out the window, and using the unending resources that are available through the internet. After watching this video I am reminded of the "Teaching in the 21st Century" video
by Kevin Roberts. If more classes become based on networking, what then will become of teachers? We will become the filter for all of that knowledge, and that in itself is a huge job.

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
youtube.com

In comparing this student's PLE to my PLN, mine looks kind of lame. I have all of the sites I go to on a regular basis, but she takes it to another level. This student's PLE is amazing. It is all organized, and color coordinated. She has her school resources separate from her recreational sites. I am officially motivated to make better use of my PLN after viewing hers. Here is my link to my PLN.

Faun's PLN!

Project 8 Podcast

Blog Post 5

Don’t teach your kids this stuff. Please?

By Scott McLeod

I read this post and was immediately convinced that he was being sarcastic. I agree and disagree with his post to be honest. Do I think it is bad to expose children to the internet and technology? No, I do not. I would never deprive a child of an obvious learning tool. As an adult and future teacher, I would make sure that my students are aware of the dangers posed, and do my best to monitor them.
Scott McLeod is a Professor at the University of Kentucky. He is the founder of UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He is also the co-creator of the "Did You Know?" video series.

The iSchool Initiative, ZeitgeistYoungMind's Entry
by Travis Allen youtube.com

Travis Allen's videos are for an idea on how to reform the public school system through the use of an itouch. Through mobile interaction using his idea, "ischool", students and teachers could accomplish classroom tasks while preserving school funds. Using various Apps on itouch, schools and students could literally save hundreds of dollars every year.
I think that Travis' video is amazing. It is great to see a student recognizing the state of the educational system and trying to do something about. I think there would be so many benefits of using ischool. First, there would be more teaching jobs available. Second, think of the money and trees that would be saved. Lastly, I am a huge advocate of students being independent learners. I believe ischool could promote that. I must admit that my first thought was, "How is every student going to afford an itouch?" After he presented the information of how much a student generally spends on supplies, it all made sense. The only problem is getting the schools to go along with Travis' idea. I will definitely join the ischool initiative after seeing Travis' video.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

All I can say is, Wow! I have been in choir at school, and it is hard to sound this good even when you are standing in a room together. I feel so lucky to live in a time where something so amazing could be made, and with people who have never met. This is definitely what the future classroom will look like. I can only imagine the time and energy it took to create this video. I think the people who made it should get an award if they have not already. It is absolutely astounding.

Teaching in the 21st Century
by Kevin Roberts youtube.com

I think that Kevin Roberts sums up the fact that we are in an age of everything. As teachers, we have to be the mediator between our students and all the information at their fingertips. We are no longer in an age where students will be content to sit in a classroom and memorize facts. I must admit every class that I have ever been in that focused only on facts, I ended up learning nothing. We have to change our way of thinking and how we approach the idea of learning. In order for our students to be challenged we must be up to date on resources and be creative. As a future educator, I think this video helped me to understand the importance of engaging. It is so vital to teach students that these tools are not just for entertainment, but learning. We are teaching them skills that will effect them for the rest of their lives.

Project 9 Timeline

Project 6 This is my Sentence

Blog Post 4

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom by Joe Dale

In summary, podcasting is an effective way to get students involved in and out of class. Students can learn and research independently from the teacher. It also allows for collaboration with fellow students on projects. The use of projects verses only textbook education makes the overall learning process more effective and memorable. Podcasts are also a great way to keep parents involved with the classroom experience.
I think students should be exposed to the idea of podcasting as soon as possible. It is such a fun way to learn, and students get to be creative. They can make a radio show, which is an idea I love. They can also reenact scenes from books in character, as shown in the video. I love the idea of adding music to your podcast, it seems to personalize it in a way. Podcasting is another great example of how students can learn and be creative in the classroom.

Judy Scharf Podcast Collection


This website has a lot of informative suggestions on how to get started with a podcast. She really simplifies it on this website. It is actually one that I am saving and plan to reference when I start teaching. It includes instructional videos, as well as topic ideas. I love the idea of having students interview someone from a book.
I listened to the exemplary podcast, "A tour of the Digestive System". This podcast discussed the whole process of food going from your mouth to your intestines, and so on. This podcast was so funny, and informative. It is a little intimidating that such young students are making such a great podcast. I would definitely love to use some of the sound effects and voice transformers these students used. It makes the entire listening process more exciting.

Eagle's Nest Radio and Class Blog

I listened to the podast, "Shark Facts". This podcast was not an interview based podcast. A lot of the podcasts I listened to were interviews, so it was refreshing to hear a new take on it. This podcast focused on presenting facts about sharks in a fun way. It had a poem about sharks, vocabulary about sharks, and a "Did you Know?" segment. I think this format is better suited for children of this age. Each segment had a change of music. There are just so many ways to allow students to be creative in a podcast. It started me thinking, it would have been a great to include the Jaws theme music on a podcast like this. I plan on teaching first grade, so this type of podcast setting would be ideal for students of that age.

Project 5

You can comment or send me an email at FaunLeah@gmail.com.

C4T#1

Summary

I read Mr. Chase's blog. His post was about the college ritual of moving in to a new apartment before the new semester started. He said it seemed like all of the Boston collegiate were all moving in on the same day. The rituals of apartments, roommates and moving, were experiences that he could have done without during his college life. I commented on the fact that I too have moved twice this year and it is absolutely a nightmare. I expressed that I live in the city where I went to school so it was much easier for me. I also commented on how the "rituals" of college were some that I missed out on because I am a single parent.
The second post I commented on was a post about Mr. Chase visiting Philadelphia and being confronted with Independence Hall. He wrote about how some people just did not get as enthusiastic about being there as he did. I commented on how I have wanted to travel there, and how I know that it is place rich in history. I also commented on how fortunate we are to live in this country and how some people just do not understand the significance of the history of Philadelphia.

Blog Post 3

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
www.eduratireview.com

Kelly Hines makes a very good point in her article. So much of 21st century learning and teaching follows the mindset that more technology equals more learning. She argues that it is not about the technology students are equipped with, but rather a teacher who is willing to learn and therefore able to teach. She also says that most of the core educational standards could be taught with little or no technology.
She mentions in her article, "The lack of comprehensive and curriculum-related professional development for teachers is why schools have thousands of computers that are being used as game systems and word processors." She is absolutely correct. What good are computers in an educational environment if teachers are not utilizing them as learning tools. As the education systems evolve and change, we must change with them. We have to be able to connect to students when they enter the classroom. I believe that Mrs. Hines is saying that technology can be friend or foe in the classroom. The important thing is to learn with it and teach with it. Teachers need to reiterate in the classroom that learning is the ultimate goal for the student and the teacher.

Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher? By Karl Fisch
www.thefischbowl.blogspot.com

In this post from 2007 Karl Fisch discusses whether or not it is acceptable to be technologicaly illiterate in the 21st century. He argues that is is necessary for educators to have a basic knowledge of technology. If teachers do not posses some level of technological literacy then Principles and the educational system should be held accountable. He says that the only thing scarier than a teacher with no technological literacy is a teacher who refuses to learn it.
I really understand what Karl Fisch is trying to explain. I like his example of how people tend to be proud of how they are not good at something like math. The seriousness of the situation in regards to technology in the classroom is that we are depriving students of knowledge and jeopardizing their future. It is scary to think about teachers who refuse to learn something even though their students need to learn it. He makes a comment on his post that says, "If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write." Is this an extreme comment? I would argue no, it is not. I think it is an absolutely appropriate comparison and it definitely suggests the serious need for technologically literate teachers.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count
www.personalizemedia.com

I can think about two things when I watch this Social media count. First, how overwhelming it is. I get tired just looking at it. I think about what Dr. Strange said in class about newspapers and how if you had stock in them to dump them. I wonder how much different this count will be 5 years from now. Will these social media outlets still be so popular or will they be obsolete? Second, what do they mean for my future as as a teacher?
To be honest, I am sure that 5 years from now there will be something bigger and better or at least updated when it comes to Social media. I think that in terms of education, social media has had many positive outcomes. It can connect teachers all over the world, and it provides infinite information in the classroom. As long as teachers stay up to date on all of the new tools available to them, learning will never cease and may even be disguised as fun. I am just excited to be a future teacher and have all of this knowledge literally at my fingertips.

A Vision of Students Today By: Michael Wesch
www.youtube.com


This video comments on various issues involving students and their relationship to technology in the classroom. It discusses what they do, how they learn, if they learn, their relationship to each other and their teachers, just to name a few. What does it all mean? Students are reading 8 books verses 2300 web pages a year. That fact says a lot.
We are living in a virtual classroom and world. I think that this video is showing how we are surviving as students and teachers. Without technology the average student and teacher for that matter, would not be able to manage time effectively. Over 500 pages of e-mail are written every year by a student. Multi-tasking would be impossible without technology. As stated in the video we are accumulating debt for a degree that will earn us a job that probably does not exist yet. The only hope for our future is technology. It is being integrated into every part of society in hopes of finding a solution for all of the world's problems. I think that in the future there will be many impossible tasks made possible because of technology.

Blog Post 2

Did you know 3.0
www.youtube.com by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod

I think the video is showing how life in America and the entire world as has changed because of the computer and technology in general. The video states that the radio took 38 years to reach a market of 50 million people. Whereas in the present day, text messages sent and received daily outnumber the population of the planet. That is an astounding thought, and proof of how far we have advanced. I think the authors are marveling at how fast technology is changing.
I watched the video and began to wonder, "How did I answer a question before Google?" Those moments in life where you wonder, "What is the the name of the guy from that movie?" Before Google, I would just never know the answer. The computer has opened up infinite possibilities in research and made knowledge available to everyone. Perhaps as technology continues to advance,the world will have more job opportunities. I personally look forward to the day when technology reaches the point of curing diseases like cancer, and the video shows that we are not that far away from achieving that.


Mr. Winkle Wakes
www.youtube.com by Matthew Needleman

Mr. Winkle is an old man that wakes up after sleeping 100 years. He finds the world he once lived in has changed. People are now in the age of computers and fax machines. He goes to a hospital where machines are breathing for people, and people are having surgery with lasers. Finally He goes to a school and he sees one dusty computer. He feels comforted when he realizes that some things never change.
I think this video is an obvious eye-opener to the fact that schools are lacking in technology. Ironically, that is where society needs technology most. Because you cannot have office workers, and doctors without education. By depriving students access to computers, and limiting them to the same mundane academics, we are depriving them of knowledge. We are also not equipping them with an understanding of modern technology that they need to survive in the present day.

The Importance of Creativity
www.ted.com by Sir Ken Robinson

I found this video very amusing. Sir Ken Robinson has a great way of getting his point across in a humorous way. The point Sir Ken is trying to make is that public education today puts more emphasis on the core subjects, and tends to shy away from creativity and the arts. By doing so, students are actually hindered in their creativity. He argues that the arts are just as important as mathematics.
Public school systems all over the world usually focus on the "Right Answer", and leave no room for negotiation or mistakes. However, the mistakes are sometimes the best teaching tools.
I also see the trend in schools today of leaving creativity at the door. Subjects such as art, music, and dance are seen as recreational, more so than learning tools. I think that kids today lack some imagination because they are not allowed the freedom to express themselves or anything for that matter.

Cecelia Gault (Young Student in Finland) Interviews Sir Ken Robinson
blogs.scholastic.com

Celcelia's article and video touch on very important issues that affect American students. She ponders why other less productive countries seem to excel in education. Cecelia interviews Sir Ken Robinson and he stresses the importance of a versatile curriculum and the need for creativty. He also advocates the use of technology in schools, and stresses that everyone has the ability to be creative, it just has to be nurtured.
I personally agree with Sir Ken Robinson and David Livermore. If the educational system starts expanding their set curriculum to include more creativty and technology, then the Cecelia Gault's in American classrooms may be motivated to learn more. I believe that exposure is so important in young students. Exposure to other countries, cultures, technologies and ideas. It is refreshing to see a child interviewing such an educated man in such a professional manner. I also think that sometimes the public school systems in America expect too little from their students which could possibly hinder their overall learning and development.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
edutopia.org

To quote Dr.Strange, "What will the older generation of teachers do when exposed to the new technology that graduating teachers are bringing with them?" Vicki Davis is obviously not one of those teachers. She thoroughly teaches her students how to use different kinds of technology in the classroom. She teaches about blogging, uses cell phones, and even has a class Wiki. I think that it is awesome seeing a teacher utilizing all of the different ways to use a computer in the classroom.
This is by far my favorite video. I can imagine that being in a rural school zone in Georgia could give people the impression that they are not technologically literate. I think it is safe to say that stigma is being shattered. I also enjoyed learning about the DigiTeen concept. This site allows students to connect all over the world, and that in itself is a great learning tool. It really makes me excited to start teaching when I watch Ms. Davis interacting with her students in such an exciting and innovative way. She emphasizes that pencil and paper are no longer the only tools needed in the classroom. I also love the fact that her students were teaching her about Terraforming. It goes to show that the learning process is limitless even for the teacher.

Project 2

Blog Assignment 1

     Bonjour everyone!  My name is Faun Lyles.  I was born and raised in good old Mobile, Alabama.  One of my major interests right now is to graduate sometime in the near future and become a great teacher.  I have been at the University of South Alabama since 2006.  I know it is a little sad that I have not graduated yet, but that is partly because I changed majors a lot and I am a single mom.  I have a son named Bryson, and he is my world.  He is also the main reason why I want to be a teacher, because nothing motivated me to have a career before I had my son.  My mom and dad are also from Mobile, and they have been married for 28 years.  I have one older sister named Haley who is so funny and my best friend.  In my spare time I love being with my son, going to church, and spending as much time at the beach as I can.  I one day hope to travel, and possibly even teach in another country.  Teaching has always been something I have wanted to do.  In my opinion, there is nothing more gratifying than watching a child learn something for the very first time.  Let me just say, I love music!  I love listening to it, creating it, and teaching it.  I also love to eat, but more than that I love to eat while watching Alabama football (Roll Tide).  However, my ultimate happiness and what I do best is simply being a mother.

Randy Pausch on Time Management

     I learned that if you have to eat three frogs, do not start with the little one.  That is so true, and something that I am guilty of.  I tend to start off with smaller less important tasks, and leave the harder tasks for later.  This plan inevitably leaves me feeling very "full" at the middle of the semester.  I also learned that "Failure to plan, is planning to fail".  Dr. Pausch said that its important to make a plan for every day, week, and semester.  I usually just take it day by day, but with my course load being so large, planning around the entire semester may allow me more time to learn and less time to panic when finals roll around.  

Practice Post

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