Blog Assignment #10

I'm a Papermate. I'm a Ticonderoga.

I believe this cartoon is symbolizing the different types of technology. The Papermate would represent the old fashioned pencil and paper type of learning, and the Ticonderoga would represent all of the new types of technology. I think the cartoon tries to make the point that using paper and pencil is a cheaper way of learning. However, the learning is not very efficient and is often slow because the pencils are always breaking. Ticonderoga, on the other hand, represents all of the new technological devices. They cost much more than pencil and paper, but they provide a better quality education. I think the cartoon is trying to make the point that it is better to spend more money up front because in the long run, it will be more beneficial to you.

John Spencer

I enjoyed reading John Spencer's blog post Why Were Your Kids Playing Games? This post was about a conversation between a teacher and the principal. This principal was upset because the teacher was playing a game in his classroom which goes against his no games policy. The teacher tried several times to explain to the principal that the game was educational. The students were engaged in the learning process and were having fun at the same time. However, the principal failed to see the teacher's point. Instead, the principal wanted the teacher to focus on teaching his students memorization skills. While it is important to follow the rules, I think it is important to have rules that are student focused. Creativity should be encouraged in schools because it allows students to have fun while learning.

The next blog post I read by John Spencer was Remember Pencil Quests? In this blog post, Spencer explains that in his sophomore year the teacher told the class that they were going on a pencil quest. He explained that this pencil quest would be like a moving textbook where each site they visit will have a page to read as well as questions to answer. The student was confused and asked the teacher what conflict was driving the quest. The teacher simply explained that they were going on an adventure and the goal was to finish the quest. Spencer then explains that the students were very excited to be going on this quest and happily ran from site to site. He also said that his students are now excited about the projects, problem-based learning, and pen pal networks they are doing in his class. I think it is important to create projects for your students that will get them excited about learning. As a future educator, I hope that I will be able to incorporate projects into my lessons so that my students will have something to look forward to.

Scott McLeod

Scott McLeod is a blogger and professor who is very inspiring. He is serving as the Director of Innovation for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency 8. Scott McLeod is also recognized as one of the nation's leading academic experts on K-12 school technology leadership issues.

I enjoyed reading Scott McLeod's blog post Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? I enjoyed the humor and sarcasm present throughout the poem. He uses sarcasm to explain just how important technology is. I agree with McLeod's argument. I think technology is very important and should be incorporated into classrooms. We live in a world that is constantly changing, and technology is now a very important part of today's society. Allowing students to blog and create their own personal learning network exposes them to a type of learning that pencil and paper cannot provide. While technology can be used inappropriately, this does not mean that we should ban it from our schools. The use of technology should be encouraged in schools because it allows the students to enjoy learning.

Project #14

Project #11

Project #12

Blog Assignment #9

What I Learned This Year- Volume 4

Mr. McClung begins his blog post by explaining how he began writing these reflective blog posts. He states that he received so much positive feedback from his first reflective blog post that he decided to continue. This post was reflective of his fourth year of teaching. He said that in his fourth year, he did not learn as much as he thought, so he decided to write about two underlying themes that stuck out to him that year. The first theme was that "You Gotta Dance With Who You Came to the Dance With." McClung said that in his fourth year, he struggled with his reputation as a teacher. He was well aware of his reputation among the students. However, he was concerned about how his peers viewed him as a teacher and the was he handled business. After reflection, he realized that he should not change who he is as a teacher based on what his peers may think of him. McClung said that he follows one rule now which is "are the kids having fun?" He decided that as long as he followed that one rule then he would not go down the wrong path again.

I agree with Mr. McClung and think that he makes a very important point. As long as he is following the guidelines and teaching the curriculum, he should not be concerned with the way his peers feel. Teachers need to do what is best for their students, and what works in one classroom may not work in another. As a future teacher, I need to remember to always do what is best for my students, and as long as I am teaching my students the curriculum, I do not need to worry about trying to please my peers as an educator. Instead I will focus on what is best for my students along with valuing the opinions of my superiors.

The second theme Mr. McClung learned in his fourth year was "Challenge Yourself." He noticed that he had become too comfortable with what he was teaching. The creativity was disappearing from his classroom, and he noticed that he had been teaching the same courses for three years. He then learned that he will teach a new subject and grade level next year. He said that he welcomed this change, and even though it will require more work, it will be worth it. McClung believes that if teachers get too comfortable that they ultimately become lazy, and the lessons begin to be uninteresting to the students. He views this change as an opportunity to better himself as a teacher, and his goal is to make sure his students enjoy coming to class.

I enjoyed reading this theme, and I think all educators should read this. Sometimes teachers choose to use the same lecture material and tests for several years. While this is an advantage to teachers, it is almost unfair to the students. As a future teacher, I need to adjust the techniques and materials I use with each group of students even if I am teaching the same course. Every classroom and every group of students are different, and the same techniques will not work with every student. I need to challenge myself and learn to evaluate myself as an educator to see what changes need to be made so that my students are enjoying learning.

What I've Learned This Year

The second post I read by Mr. McClung was What I Learned This Year (2008-2009). In this post, McClung outlined what he learned in his first year of teaching. He discussed an important fact that he learned which was to make your lessons student centered in order for them to be effective. Another important lesson Mr. McClung learned was to be flexible. He learned that the lesson you plan and the lesson you actually teach are always different. In his first year of teaching he also learned the importance of communication and being reasonable. He also encourages people to not be afraid of technology. He knows that you will not master a skill the first time you attempt it, but according to McClung, that does not mean you should stray away from ever using technology. He says that technology is essential to surviving in the society that we live in today.

I enjoyed reading this blog post; it was very inspiring. I liked how honest he was about the struggles he faced in his first year of teaching. I will definitely keep his tips in mind when I begin teaching. I know it will be essential that I am reasonable with the expectations I have for my students and how important it is for me to communicate with my students, parents, and my superiors. I plan to incorporate technology into my classroom, and I hope to always continue to learn and grow as an educator.

Blog Assignment #8

This is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2

I enjoyed watching both of these videos. I found them to be very interesting and helpful. He did a great job at laying out the uses for all of this technology in the classroom. In his videos, Richard Miller points out that while people are working in the digital environment, people are now being faced with a new kind of material which changes before their eyes. The material and information is now updated instantly. We live in a world that is constantly changing, and we must be able to adapt and change with it.

Richard Miller put a lot of time into creating these videos. As a future educator, I need to be able to incorporate technology into my classroom. Richard Miller makes a very important point which is that we now have the capability to communicate with people instantly and with people all over the world. Just through taking EDM 310, I have had the opportunity to make connections all over the world. It is important that I use this concept in my classroom as I help my students create their own personal learning environment. He also discusses that now, we do not work with just pencil and paper in the library. However, we now carry our laptops with us and work with word processing. Now, students can access information from all over the world without ever going into the library. It is important that I teach my students how to properly use this technology and find credible information.

Richard Miller also discusses another important change in technology. Through the help of networking technology, it is possible to collaborate with other people and compose not only with text but with images and film as well. I could use this technology to allow my students to work together and create nontraditional projects. Richard Miller also said that as educators we should share our ideas freely. This is an important concept because as a future educator, I hope to gain knowledge and information from people who have been in the profession much longer than I have. As I gain experience and knowledge, I hope to share that information with others. Richard Miller sees a change coming where students will no longer work with word processors but with the technology and composing material that he is learning how to use. Am I prepared to write with multimedia? I still have a lot of work to do before I am fully prepared to teach my students how to write with multimedia. I am not concerned with learning how to write with multimedia. However, I am concerned about teaching my students how to write with multimedia. I hope that by the time I become an educator, I will effectively be able to teach my students how to write with multimedia.

Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh

I enjoyed reading Carly Pugh's blog post and watching her playlist. She included so many links in her post, and I found them to be very resourceful. I liked how she put so much effort into creating this assignment and included so many videos that were very helpful to me as a future educator. Carly's assignment would allow students to think about what kind of teachers they want to be, ways to motivate their students, ways to improve modern education, and much more. Through this assignment, students would be using all of Richard Miller's multimedia components. They would be using the text, auditory, and visual components that Richard Miller described in his video. I think that Carly's post comes very close to meeting Richard Miller's hopes of writing with multimedia.

The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies

I thoroughly enjoyed watching both of these videos. They were very humorous, but at the same time, they had a very important message. The Chipper Series was an interesting video about a girl who is a procrastinator. However, she sees no problem with procrastination. She even made the claim that she was going to go to Wikipedia and change the definition of procrastination so that she could turn her work in late. One important message that should be learned from this video is that rewording a definition to meet your needs will not change how other people perceive the definition. Chipper thought that by changing the definition of procrastination in Wikipedia that she would be allowed to turn her work in late. However, Dr. Strange informed her that he was not going to accept her definition of procrastination. Another important lesson to be learned from this video is to not procrastinate. This is a problem that I struggle with. I always turn my work in on time. However, I sometimes wait until the very last minute to do it which causes me a lot of unnecessary stress. Chipper also made another interesting statement which was that she wanted Dr. Strange to teach her so that she did not have to learn. This was a statement that I did not completely comprehend. How can someone teach you if you are not willing to learn? Also, students will enter the work force one day. They will have to be independent learners because an employer does not want to hire someone who is not willing to work hard.

EDM310 for Dummies was a creative video that all students should watch coming into EDM310. I was nervous about entering this class because I had heard that it was hard. However, I have come to enjoy this class, and I learned that this class is not hard. EDM310 just requires a little more work than other classes; it has required me to become an independent learner. While this video was about a book called EDM310 for Dummies, I have similar feelings toward EDM310. I have learned so much about technology and plan on incorporating this knowledge into my future classroom. An idea that I would like to see made into a video is teaching students the importance of technology. Most students have a basic idea about how to use the internet, but most students are unaware of the abundance of resources that are available. For example, I considered myself technology literate coming into this class. However, I soon learned that I was very wrong. I am creating my own personal learning network that has allowed me access to many valuable resources and people who will be able to help me as I work toward becoming an educator. I think it would be important to have a video of this nature because students need to know that there are so many free resources available to them. They just have to know how to look for them.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn

This video was very interesting. It begins with a very shocking statistic. The U.S. Department of Commerce ranked 55 industry sectors by the level of I.T. intensiveness. Education was ranked 55, below coal mining. One person in the video also made the statement that students are experiencing a more stimulating environment outside of school than they are in school. Technology is no longer an option, and it cannot be kept out of schools if we want our students to excel. Students need to be using technology in schools to create connections with people and opportunities all over the world. I personally agreed with a lot of what this video was saying. Technology is an important part of society and is constantly changing. As a future educator, I need to be able to adapt with technology and provide with my students with access to this technology in my classroom. Another statement made in the video was that we now have a classroom system when we should have a community system. Technology can help create this. I hope to create a community system in my classroom where my students work on group projects and make connections with people outside of the classroom that will provide a richer learning environment. Students do not need to be fed information in order to pass the class. However, students need to be taught how to find information and determine whether or not it is quality information.

Scavenger Hunt 2.0

1. Poll

I created my poll at PollEverywhere.com. This is a site that allows you to easily create polls using your mobile device. Please take my poll here.

2. Video Tool

Animoto was an interesting video tool that I have never used before. This site allows you to create an account for free. Animoto allows you to create high definition videos. It also allows you to share the videos you create on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Pinterest, and you can even embed it into your blog. This tool also allows you to customize the video and has approximately 50 different styles to choose from. I could use this tool to allow my students to create videos, and they could then post those videos on the class blog.

3. Social Platform for Teachers

I created an account with Edmodo which is a social media site full of educational resources for teachers, parents, and students. I am following several different communities which involve math, computer technology, professional development, college readiness, and career and technology education. I definitely think this would be a beneficial resource for my classroom. I have already found several math websites through Edmodo which would help students with homework and would allow my students to participate in interactive math activities. I could also place assignments, quizzes, and polls on this site which would allow my students to access this information outside of the classroom. This would be a great way for my students to access homework and talk with other students outside of the classroom.

C4T#2

Summary of Melissa B's Blog Post #1

Melissa's blog post was Two Turtle Doves. She began her post by describing the duties of teachers at her school at the beginning of the new year. Seniors are filling out college applications and need recommendations. So, she spends a lot of time at the first of the year writing recommendations for her students. She then described what she would like to see happen at her school in 2013. First on her list of what she would like to see happen in the new year was to have fewer meetings. She feels that these meetings, which discuss how the staff is teaching, take away from valuable classroom time. She also hopes that in the new year, the school could focus more on academics and less on athletics. She was disappointed that the Career Center at her school, which helps students search for colleges and scholarships and prepare for other real world tasks, was moved from its spot at the beginning of the year. Replacing the Career Center was the Director of Student Activities which has also been called the Athletic Director. She would also like more recognition for the hard work of her AP Language Students' 100% pass rate on the national exam they took last year. Also, she hopes the school will be more open to new ideas and that her students will learn how to examine both sides of an issue.

Summary of My Comment #1

My name is Ashley Showles. I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I am reading your blog post for my class. I will summarize your blog, along with my comment, and post it on my blog in two weeks. I really enjoyed reading your blog post. It was very humorous. As a future high school teacher, I have come to realize that a lot of my time will be spent in faculty meetings. Also, athletics is an important part of where I attended school as well. I believe more of an emphasis should be placed on academics than athletics. I think it is awesome that your students had a 100% pass rate. Schools need more teachers who are motivated and willing to provide the best education to their students. I really enjoyed reading your blog post.

Summary of Melissa B's Blog Post #2

Melissa did have a new blog post. However, it was more of a housekeeping post because she discussed the snowfall that they were facing up north. So, I looked through her older posts and found one about the Sandy Hook shooting. However, I wanted to find a post that was about education. I read one of her blog posts titled By the Numbers. In this blog post, she discusses that she teaches AP English Language to 11th graders. She also discusses that language can be a difficult subject, so she decided to hold a workshop. After the workshop, a student that she did not teach came by her classroom for help. She helped the student with her work but felt guilty because she was helping another teacher's student. When she finished helping the student, the child thanked her because she now understood what she was supposed to do.

Summary of My Comment #2

I enjoyed reading your blog post. I do not understand why a teacher would become defensive if their student went to another teacher for help. As a student, I find it easier to go to certain teachers for help. I viewed the student's behavior as a compliment because she felt like you would be able to help her solve the problem she was facing on her assignment. I think it was great that you were willing to help this child.

Project #9 PLN 1st Post

My PLN

Before taking EDM 310, I did not have a personal learning network, so I have been working this semester to develop a PLN. Earlier in the semester, I was just bookmarking useful tools and websites. However, that was not an easy way to keep up with all my tools. After watching the video A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment, I thought Symbaloo would be a great place to start. I created an account with Symbaloo, and now my PLN is becoming more organized.

My PLN currently has information and links to Twitter where I am following several inspirational educators. I also have links to my blog and the EDM 310 class blog. A link to the University of South Alabama and my classes can also be found on my PLN. I also have a link to Pinterest where I have found a lot of useful information from classroom bulletin board ideas to ideas about math games.

I am still working to gather more information to put on my PLN. At first, I was completely overwhelmed with trying to create my PLN. Before EDM 310, I did not have an account with Twitter or Pinterest. So, I am still trying to learn how to effectively use these tools while creating my PLN. From this experience, I have learned that I need to be developing my PLN now. I do not need to wait until I am in the classroom before I start finding these valuable resources. I am hoping that by the next PLN progress report I will be successfully using all of the valuable resources and that I will have added a lot more to my Symbaloo account.

Blog Assignment #7

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Randy Pausch is an inspiring man! In his video, Randy Pausch pointed out that it is important to have specific dreams and understand that brick walls are there for a reason. This is an important lesson to teach my students. I need to teach them that just because they reach a bump in the road does not mean that they should give up. It just means that they need to try even harder to reach their dreams. I also loved the quote, "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." A great point that Randy Pausch made was that most of what we learn, we learn indirectly. He also said that the way something is said makes a huge difference. As a future teacher, this is something that I should be aware of. I need to watch not only what I say but how I say it. Being positive when talking to my students is a great way to encourage them, and I need to remember that there is a good way and a bad way to say everything.

Randy Pausch provided so many life lessons throughout his speech. Not only are his examples applicable in the classroom, but he also uses examples that will help people as they journey through life. He is given the prognosis that he only has three months to live, but he chooses not to dwell on it. Instead, he uses the time he has left to be a positive influence and inspire others. His attitude and the way he presents himself is something that all educators should portray to their students. It does not matter what circumstances life throws at you; dwelling on the cards you have been given will not change the situation. Teaching my students how to handle situations will not only help them in school but will also help them as they go through life.

The first portion of Randy Pausch's lecture is spent on his childhood dreams. Then he discusses how to enable the dreams of others. The way he discussed his childhood dreams was also an important teaching tool. From watching this video, I have learned that my childhood dreams have helped mold me into the person I am today. So when I become an educator, I need to work with my students. I need to encourage their childhood dreams because those dreams help shape them into the person they will become as well as shaping their future. Another good piece of advice was not placing an achievement bar for my students. Instead, I need to push my students to do more and try harder. I need to encourage them to be the best that they can be. According to Pausch, one of the best things you can give somebody is the chance to let them know what it feels like to make other people happy. This is another important life lesson that students should be taught. Students should all get the chance to know what it feels like to help someone else and to make other people happy.

Randy Pausch spent most of his time developing nontraditional classrooms. His students did not just sit in their desks and have information fed to them. Instead, his students were continually working on projects and doing things that most normal classrooms would not ever do. These nontraditional ideas are great ways to teach students how to become self-learners. They do not have a textbook or class notes to memorize. In the end, these students have gained a wealth of knowledge through these nontraditional techniques. Creativity should be encouraged in schools. When students are able to be creative and use their own strengths, a different type of learning takes place, and students are more likely to enjoy the process.

Another important life lesson that Pausch uses is teaching students how to work in groups. It does not matter what field a child goes into or if they go straight into the work force. People are required to work together and get along with their co-workers and bosses. It is important that I teach my students how to work together and be self reflectors. Students need to be able to evaluate their own abilities and see what areas of their own lives need improving. I hope to teach my students to have empathy towards other people and to focus on others. He also pointed out the "head-fake." This would be a useful tool for an educator because according to Pausch, the best way to teach somebody something is to let them think that they are learning something else. An important concept for me as a future educator is that I need to allow my students to have fun while learning something hard. I should engage them in the learning process in hopes that they will enjoy the task at hand.

Throughout his video, Randy Pausch gives numerous lessons that would be beneficial to teach to my students. One of those lessons was how to get people to help you. I need to encourage my students to be honest and willing to apologize when they mess up. It is important for students to realize that being honest and being willing to admit that you make mistakes will be beneficial in cooperating with others. Randy Pausch spent his time inspiring others. I hope, as an educator, that I may be able to achieve the same effects on my students. I hope not only to teach my students but to mentor them and inspire them to reach their goals and lead the lives they want. Some of the last pieces of advice in this video were to never lose the child-like wonder, help others, work hard, be prepared, loyalty is a two way street, and most importantly to never give up.

Project #8 Podcast