Sunday, February 26, 2012

Blog Post #5



Don’t Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
Scott McLeod is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is also the Founding Director of UCEA (Castle) Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. If you know who he is, it makes his sarcastic “plea” all the more sarcastic. I think he makes a valid point when talking about the dangers of “cyber-space” but then turns around and makes sure you know all of the positive things about technology. He of course believes that the positive far outweighs the negative.
I think this writing adds to the fact that we must teach the use of technology in a responsible way. If kids are not taught to use technological advancements, then perhaps they may be safe from the “evils of technology” but they will be far behind in the real world. Teachers should not bear the total responsibility of the wise use of technology, I was glad he addresses the parents, administrators and board members too.

The iSchool Initiative by Travis Allen
A very impressive idea initiated by a high school senior. It is very evident that he has done his research and is very knowledgeable about what is available on the itouch by Apple. Not only does he bring home the point that in this age of technology, communication between parents, students and teachers can be instantaneous but also very efficient. Tons of information could be available to students at the touch of a button. All subjects could utilize this device. As a teacher, it would be great to blog with students at any time to see what they are really learning and even feeling. Large class sizes do not allow for a lot of one-on-one communication.
He really sold his idea when he started talking about cost. Everyone in education these days are looking for ways to save money or utilize what little they have. Dropping the cost from $600 a student to $150 will hopefully get the attention of school systems. He also makes it clear that websites can be blocked and that safety boundaries can be put in place. I see that he kept the idea alive by the time he got to Kenesaw and has 20 people working for him. I think it is a great idea and I hope it is successful.



Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir
That was amazing! I cannot believe the quality of the sound and the harmony between 185 voices that were never in the same room. Some not even on the same continent!! I think this is a great example of how technology can link us together and how the possibilities are endless. Just listening to it was great but also getting to see the people singing was a plus. You could tell they were regular people doing what they love to do. They were given an opportunity to be a part of something much greater and some would never have gotten the chance to perform in front of people on a stage, but as they say, now all the world is their stage. Great example of how technology can en-“light”en us.


Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts.
The video should be a must for all teachers to watch. The days of rote memorization, and just giving back answers are long gone. We live in an age now where we have got to teach our students to be problem solvers and engage in their learning. Shouldn’t teachers have been doing this all along? Maybe we could solve a lot of the problems our country is having today if educators would embrace the advances and limitless knowledge that technology offers.
He explains clearly how teachers are no longer the only source of knowledge for the students but they are the filter through which to obtain that knowledge. We must teach them how to responsibly use technology and engage them in seeking their own answers and then expressing themselves along the way. The statement about the laptop being the temptation but not the source speaks to the ethics and accountability that teachers (and parents) must still try to instill in their students. Effective teachers in the 21st century must learn to incorporate technology into their classroom and be willing to change along with technological advancements that are available to our students.


Reading Rockets Webpage
This is an excellent source for any educator or parent of school age children. Some of the great things offered on this website is the ranking of the top apps available for students and parents to download onto their iPads or Smart Phones. Reading Rockets has already done the research for you and given you their top picks for Reading Comprehension, Spelling, and Writing.
Their choice of videos and podcasts are great too. You can watch or listen to experts in the field of education, participate in Professional Development and watch video clips of actual teachers and students in the classroom utilizing various reading techniques. They have a lot of book suggestions and even author interviews for the kids to watch or listen to. It is a great website for beginning and veteran teachers.

Project #9b

Friday, February 17, 2012

Blog Post #4

Langwitches Blog

I really liked the idea of recording the children on the podcast. The teacher has to stay ahead of the story in order to have the script ready though. It is an example of how reading skills can be reinforced and I think that if the students are involved then they really retain what they have learned. It also adds excitement and anticipation to the reading lesson.
In her example of “Dinosaurs Before Dark”, there is evidence that the students were more than just interested in the story itself, but they were experimenting with their voices by using more inflection, pitch, and emotion. I think this helps with fluency and speed in their reading. It also helps to build confidence in young readers.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom by Joe Dale

The benefits of podcasting in the classroom are many!! But the idea I liked the best was making information available anytime, anywhere and especially when a student is absent. Many students are over-whelmed when they come back after a sickness with all of the make-up work and with podcasts they can listen at home and it also saves the teacher time in that they don’t have to re-teach missed assignments. Podcasts are easy to upload to a web page or blog. It can help parents stay involved in what their students are doing and learning.
Podcasts are also a great way to differentiate and utilize the higher level thinking skills of Bloom’s Taxonomy. It is a type of project-based learning in which students engage in the teaching and learning process. It is a chance to express themselves creatively and be responsible for the quality of the outcome. It is also a great way to review concepts and information that has already been taught.

Podcasts Collection by Judy Scharf

This was a very informative article about succeeding with podcasts in the classroom. She actually lists some tips to help you succeed such as making sure you are very familiar and comfortable with the software you choose to use in making your podcasts. She suggests giving students a choice of their topics and even includes a list of project ideas. She shares some great links to good examples of podcasts so students will know what they are working toward.
She also shares an example of a time-frame in which you can go by in order for students to have a sufficient amount of time in which to finish a good podcast. She also includes a rubric for students to use as they are progressing through the steps of their project. All of her examples will be of great help to the classroom teacher.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

MY FIRST C4T ASSIGNMENT

      For my first C4T assignment, I was given Tina Barseghian’s blog, Mind Shift. A blog that gives information on technology that is revolutionizing the world of education replacing familiar classroom tools and changing the way we learn. My first comment was left on her blog post entitled What Does Your School Know About You? In this post, Miss Barseghian talks about how more schools and colleges are using algorithms to determine a student’s path. Much in the same way as Amazon and Netflix are able to use software to predict books, music, and movies you might like based on your past preferences. It seems that the practice of data mining will soon be the norm in how schools and students operate. For example, at Purdue University a program called Course Signals are being used to help by warning students who are at risk of poor grades and “ facilitates intervention and support” that can help them improve. I think the algorithm programs are just part of the education curve in this day of technology. It’s hard to argue with results of some of these programs such as Perdue’s Course Signals where the program has been consistent with grade performance improvement at both the course and developmental levels. In some cases, students who were receiving C’s and D’s have pulled up half a letter grade or more. So it seems to be beneficial.
      The second blog post from Miss Barseghian in which I commented was
As Digital Tools Abound, Help Kids Self Regulate. This time, Miss Barseghian discusses how with tablets, laptops, apps, and online games there is great promise in technology to inpsire and excite students to learn with digital tools. But that using technology in and of it self is not a silver bullet for motivating children to love learning and doesn’t guarantee they’ll use it for creative and innovative learning. Stressing how important a students initiative, self-efficacy and ability to set goals are essential, I thought the post had a great point in how education is moving towards using digital media to teach. It is important for us as teachers to help our students develop learning strategies so they are able to stay on topic. It was a great post for anyone who is an educator giving good strategies to help keep your students innovative and motivated to learn. Self-regulation will become an essential life skill to cultivate in this day in age with technology.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Blog Post #3

TECHNOLOGY IN SPECAIL EDUCATION
Technology in Special Education was a very informative video. I was not aware that this type of technology was available and can make such a difference in a student with physical and cognitive limitations. I never saw this type of technology in a rural school I attended. I would be interested to know how the funding of these resources was obtained.
It was amazing to see that this technology is not a “one-size-fits all.” Each computer was personalized for the need of that student. It was a great example of differentiation by using computers. As it ended, I wondered just how successful her students have been in transferring these skills into the real world. It really made a difference in the classroom.

HOW THE iPAD WORKS WITH ACADEMICS FOR AUTISM
After watching How the ipad Works for Autism, the special education app I chose is called Scene Speak. What caught my eye first was the ability to upload personal pictures from a computer. So many autistic children need familiarity and routine and anything strange or unfamiliar can be a set-back. This app allows you to create scenes of real places and real people that they will come in contact with everyday.
For example, you could upload pictures of their school, teachers, and friends and place them in order of the school day so they are familiar with what they will do, the order in which they will do it and the people that they will interact with. The computer can be programmed with a familiar voice that talks to them about the picture they are looking at and explains to them the order of their day. I think it is a great recourse to have in the classroom.

SOCAIL MEDIA COUNT
The numbers and statistics are astounding in the video Social Media count. There certainly is no doubt that social media is a global explosion that is changing the way people interact with the world in which we live. As with past generational changes, we as teachers must embrace the power of technology in order to help our students succeed.
The ever-changing advancements in technology offers teachers not only help when utilized correctly, but also the challenge of being familiar with what is available. We would do our students an injustice if we didn’t expose them to what is available in the world but we will also do them injustice if we make them totally dependent upon it. Teachers today are challenged with the task of helping their students find the proper balance between the real world and the virtual world of technology.

A VISION OF STUDENTS TODAY
As a student looking at the video

A Vision of Students Today, I can relate. It was all truth. I have experienced it. Looking at this video as a student wanting to become a teacher, I better be prepared to engage technology into my style of teaching.
The days of notes and lectures alone are becoming obsolete. Students will be looking to attend universities that offer them the opportunity to learn and express themselves through the use of technology. They want to learn in a way they can express some creativity and not just note memorization of facts. They want to learn the skills of technology so they will be prepared in jobs that require them. Technology of some kind is required to survive in the world today, any teacher no willing to learn some and use it is setting a very poor example.

Project #5

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Blog Post #2




Did You Know

     This week I watched Dr. John Strange’s YouTube video Did You Know based on Did you Know 3.0 by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. The video was a real eye-opener and needless to say it makes you think. The topics discussed and statistics shown in his video, I had no clue about. For example, the statistical fact that 25% of the population in India with the highest IQ’s, outnumber the entire population of America. This shows how far America is falling behind the rest of the world in education and how important it is to improve our educational techniques.
      Another mind blowing fact was “by 2025 the number of English speaking Chinese is likely to exceed the number of native English speakers in the rest of the world.”- Gordon Brown, UK Finance Minister, 2005. This is astonishing leading us to ask why the U.S. is not making a strong push in foreign language learning in our school system. Especially with the ever growing number of people who can hardly speak English living in the U.S. Being in education, it is our responsibility to use the accessible technology in preparing students for jobs that will be available for them in this growing world of technology and advancement.


Mr. Winkle Wakes

     Mr. Winkle Wakes Up was a neat little video by Matthew Needleman. It was a story of an old man named “Mr. Winkle” who has awaken after a one hundred year sleep. Once awakening, Mr. Winkle discovers much has changed while walking around in our modern day society. The advancements of technology in business and the medical field makes him sick. It isn't until he finds his way to school that he finds his comfort zone. Finding out much hasn't changed in the educational approach during his one hundred years of sleep.
     The video was to show how schools are not using technology in the classroom. Unlike much of the rest of the world where technology allows businesses to communicate globally, or how the technological advancements aid in many ways in the medical field. I do believe there is a major gap in technology and the use of it in the classroom. However, there are still advantages from the normal class lecture. A class like EDM 130 allows the opportunity to explore a different side of education with technology, which someday could be the norm.


The Importance of Creativity

     The video The Importance of Creativity by Ken Robinson expresses concern for the future of education regarding creativity. It showcases how the creativity of children is being destroyed by modern education. Mr. Robinson made a great point in how all people do not learn the same. Yet our education system tries to teach everyone the same way which hinders creativity. Mr. Robinson states “We are educating people out of their creativity.”
     As future educators, we should be just as concerned with creativity as we are with academics. Mr. Robinson stated “creativity is as important as literacy” and “if you’re not prepared to be wrong then you will never come up with something original.” As teacher, we should allow our students to show their creative side. I agree with Mr. Robinson and believe that schools should focus on the child as a whole not just a certain side of the brain. As he said “We do not grow into creativity, we grow out of it.”


A Vision for 21st Century Learning

     The video A Vision for 21st Century Learning was a very interesting view of what the future of learning could be. It argues that the “traditional” way of learning is very passive where students are filled with facts. It shows the need to be more integrated with their learning instead of lectures and book reading. As well as how technology could change the face of education as we know it.
     I feel that in education, we should incorporate technology appropriately to aid our students in their learning experience. There should be an even amount of lecture, reading, discussions, and technology to create the best learning environment. As we know, everyone does not learn the same way. I believe that with moderation of these teaching methods you would give each student the opportunity to learn in a way which best fits them. Isn't that our ultimate goals as educators? To be in touch with our students and help them excel academically and creatively.


Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts

     The video Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts showcases a new approach in education through technologically teaching. Much like our EDM 310 class, Mrs. Vicki Davis is incorporating technology in the classroom. She is the IT director and teacher in Camilla, Georgia who pushes her students to think deeper. In the video she states “students get bored with only paper and pencil learning. And only certain types of students will succeed.”
     Mrs. Davis makes it a more hands-on experience by allowing her students to instruct the class. She uses different terminology everyday, which she expects her students to know by “googling” or searching for it to understand. I think it was pretty cool how she has been able to allow her students to experience different cultures throughout the world by using online programs, while being in a rural setting in Georgia. I agree with her remarks on how she feels teachers do not have to know it all. Instead, teachers need to allow students to explore and use critical thinking skills to learn material on their own.