Project 8

Blog 5

Eagle's Nest Radio

Well today I learned from third graders where the saying "All roads lead to Rome" came from and the sometimes they filled the colluseum with water to simulate naval battles. These kids are so good at the podcasts. Its hard to believe that they are the same age as my little sister. They are so articulate and confident. I can learn alot from these young ones.

Benefits of Pocasting in the Classroom

A huge benefit with podcasting that I saw is the recoding of lectures and the ability of playback. Some students learn better by hearing rather than reading and notetaking. Also they can get their lessons if they are out sick for an extended period of time. This is a tool I intend to use. in high school I had a friend with gastrointestinal problems who only made it in a few days and ended up with a 30 in the class because he missed so many lectures. I don't want that to happen to any student of mine. I also really liked how it can engage the students and make the learning fun for them as they can act out projects.

Education Podcasting Network

I love the organization of this site. From grade specific to subject matter everything is very neat and consise. There is no "digging" to find what you need. The idea of having one site with so much information on anything you need to know if very exciting. In addition to finding information you need you canget a creative jolt to solve any "teacher's block".

Blog 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff Please

This article is written by by Mr. Scott McLeod, who is an associate professor of education administration at Iowa State University and also co-creator of the faculous Did You Know video. In this post he satirically comments on the many web dangers and other bad things that may happen. He says not to teach children technology because they'll only use it for Facebook and porn. I do agree that some students can get hurt or cheat or anything else but in my opinion the benefits of technology outweigh the risks. With proper supervision and instruction students can achieve and learn alot.

The iSchool Initiative

A big worry on my mind about this is what if it malfunctions and all students work is lost? I know its very unlikely and rare but it can happen. Aside from that I really like the compact and multifunctionality of it.I also really like the idea of all the applications, such as the graphing calculator, calendar, Chemical Touch, U.S Constitiution, and many other things. Also the cost is much much lower than our traditonal route. Books being able to be loaded into the iTouch will gratly reduce the load students have to carry around.

Lost Generation

I really do hope that in thirty years I won't be divorced and a workaholic. I believe that family is the most imporatant thing in my life. Happiness is a choice. I choose to get up at 7am four days a week and get dressed and go to school. It would be alot easier to withdraw from school and go from part time to full time at McDonald's, but that isn't a life or a career I want for myself. I'm not passionate about cheeseburgers, I am passionate about English and I choose to work and study and pass so i can have my passion for a career and not to choose the easy way out. I am not lost.

I really enjoyed the video though. I liked how the words were arranged so backwords there was a really optimistic message. The message of "this is what they say but they are wrong" was awesome.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

WOW !!! That was amazing!!!! The vasrious uses of the internet never cease to amaze me. The way it sounded you would thing this was very rehearsed but they've never met! This shows us networking in its finest form.

Additional Assignment 1

I had no idea that google squared or wolframalpha existed until today and I think they are pretty cool gadgets. I really like how you don't have to sift through a lot of links to get the information you need like in regular google. I think google squared and wolfram alpha in education will help students find what they need to know in a fraction of the time. I also like the pictures and maps included in various seraches that you do.
Your comments didn't alter my thinking too much on Did You Know but it did reinforce how small we are in comparison to other places in the world such as India and China. In addition I learned that statistics are never a hundred percent accurate because several sources will have several different numbers. I learned to always check my statistical facts because again, they aren't a hundred percent. But I'm not so sure as when I use statistics what number to use for accuracy.
The stable boy grabbing his iPad and using it without problem is indeed magical. It is amazing how the six year old illiterate poor boy canhave no problem with it. makes me want to try it myself.

Google Presentation 1

Blog 3

A Vision of Students Today

        The video captures a some of my college experiences such as the lack of time and sleep, the expenses, and having to deal with problems that aren't "mine". My average class size is about thirty and almost all of my instructors know my name. Although them knowing who I am may have more to do with my participation than anything. I do believe that the job I have when I graduate does not currently exist. I have noticed that in several of the videos I have watched in EDM 310 reinforces that. I do feel the need to grab the students and shake them and say "WAKE UP!" that said they facebook in class, do other things than pay attention, or just don't go. Classes here at South cost $681 for a three credit hour class. I believe if you pay for a class then you need to go, take notes, ask questions, participate in discussion, and do your readings. Some things that you have to read may not be relevant to your life and that is horrible, but relevance won't let you pass. There defiantly are not enough hours in the day. Between classes, work, homework, and trying to keep my house clean and my husband happy there are some days when I have to say to  myself "What am I doing? This is too hard!". And the answer is always immediate. I do this so I can do what I love to do and not what I have to do to survive. I knew before I decided to go back to school that it wasn't going to be easy, but it will be worth it. 

          I think the students in the video focused more on the negatives of college life. I would add more positives like "This will be worth it", or "I wanted this". Because that is what should keep them motivated. Anything is better than working at McDonald's or any other entry level job. Believe me, that is my current place of employment. You can move up to management but is that really where you would rather be in five years? Or would you rather be what you want to be?

It's Not About the Technology

            I definitely agree that technology is a cool thing to have but only the mindset and feelings of the teacher is more important. Teachers no doubt need to also be learners. Theory and methods are constantly changing and educators need to maintain an open mind and learn the new methods. Not only do you have to be open to learning but you have to seek them out. Nothing worth learning or having ever just falls in your lap. 

        My favorite statement in the blog was “I don’t know why these kids don’t get it. I’ve taught it a hundred times.” Albert Einstein once said "The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." If the way you are teaching a student is not helping them learn then obviously you need to change your methods. Having the best technology in the world does not make you a better teacher. It just makes you a more technological teacher. At the same time you have to be willing to adapt to new things.  
       Being a great educator doesn't require the use of smartboards or any other snazzy technology. Although its nice to have. The more important thing is students learning, students being able to solve problems, and also thinking for themselves.

                                     Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
       This post was the polar opposite of the above blogger. I'm not sure how much I agree. Yes you need to be literate to a point but you shouldn't lose your job over it. But you definitely should try to adapt. Like I said before teachers must also be willing to learn and adapt to new things with an open mind. These new things I am learning in EDM 310 can be overwhelming. For example going in and changing to html code in the wordle post frustrated me to no end. But I did it.

       I'm really on the fence about this blog. On one hand I see where he is coming from and everyone should have a basic understanding. On the other hand I don't think that it makes you a bad teacher. Karl said "Technology is the underpinning of just about everything we do today - and especially so in relation to how we communicate with each other. And isn't communication one of the essential ideas that runs through all of our disciplines?". This statement is very true. Communication is one of the utmost important things in our society. Without communication what do we have? Our means of communications are evolving so we need to learn how to use them. 

The Social Media Count

         The changes at such an astounding rate reinforce the fact that as educators we need to be open to adaptations and changes in technology and methods.  We also need to be aware of what changes are occurring in the world of technology so we know what we need to know.

Blog 2

"Did You Know?"

First of all let me say WOW. That video was crazy awesome and information filled. I think my brain may have detonated trying to absorb all of it. I can't believe that China will soon be the number one English speaking country in the world. That is so strange to me. How does that even work? India has more honors students than America even has students? I thought America was a pretty awesome place but this video opens my eyes to us being just a small blip on the map compared to everyone else. The progression of technology is so amazing. One in eight of the couples that got married last year met online. My parents probably never imagined when they were my age that they would marry someone they met online but my dad married my step mother who he met on eharmony.com in 2006. The video raised a very good question. Who and how did we get the answers that we look on Google from? Honestly I have no idea. I Google EVERYTHING. How did people entertain themselves before texting and social networking websites? Did they read? Were they more active? Is that why obesity is so common now? The progression of technology in my lifetime was enormous but I didn't even notice. But you can bet i have my eyes on it now. I don't want to be left in the land of the technologically illiterate and obsolete. 

Mr. Winkle Wakes

  This satiric video of Rip Van Winkle running around in modern times being scared of the technology in the business office and the hospital shows the progression of technology in the world except in the classroom of which stays exactly the same. The business office has printers, fax machines, and skype conversations  and the hospital contains ventilators, x-ray machines, and lasers whereas the school still has its teacher that lectures while the students take notes. In the back of the classroom sits a dilapidated and dusty computer. Perhaps the teacher attempted to start being more technologically literate but she gave up and when back to what she knew. I think the classroom needs to updated but not completely changed. I do like the idea of actively engaging students in the classroom but I think the methods can be updated with power points and smart boards.  

The Importance of Creativity 

From a young age we are programmed to be intelligent rather than creative. My parents for example constantly told us "turn off that music and study your chemistry" or "you don't need to take dance". They always said that there is no money in the arts. And quite frankly I have an awesome voice but I don't sing. Instead I study and read. The piece of paper that I'll receive in a few years that says I'm educated is more important in our society than being a "starving artist".

 But I think we need to encourage and support the arts. What if   Luwig Van Beethoven would have been told to work on his math? Then who would have written Fur Elise? Behind every great artist, musician, and composer has to be someone supporting them. We need to let children know that its ok to make mistakes and ask questions. After all the only stupid question is the one that is never asked. I really enjoyed this video. it was the longest but it pulled me right in.

Harness Your Students'  Digital Smarts

I really like how she uses technology to teach students. Her students are thinkers which makes it so they are self motivated and empowers them as people. Her students are so young yet they are so technologically literate. They make me feel so far behind. the students aren't creatively lassoed in which is very exciting to see. I loved how she said that she isn't only teaching them but they are teaching her. I think that teachers can learn a lot from   their students of they allow themselves to.

Wordle 1