Sunday, October 31, 2010
Blog Assignment 11
Kathy Cassidy's Little Kids.....Big Potential
I really enjoyed this movie. These children really knew their internet safety and about politeness on leaving comments for others. They were very encouraged and excited about school and the different things they were doing. Things like what this teacher is doing makes it fun for these children. It encourages them to want to learn more and do more exploring with technology.
Mrs. Cassidy started out 10 years ago with just doing a webpage and that led to blogging and so on. She then got federal funding so she could get computers and different technology aspects in her classrooms. I have to say that she has a lot of drive and commitment to her students and school, since she is the main drive behind this, although she did say that she has "tremendous support". I really like her outlook about the parents being able to keep up with their child's progress through their blog page. This gives the parent flexibility at when they can look at their own child's work.
She is correct that we can not just do what we were doing 10, or even 5 years ago because technology is here to stay. It's not leaving and we have to involve it in our classrooms and be sure that our students are familiar with it, so that they are not left behind. I think it is really cool that these children are able to get writing, audio, and video training. I definitely agree that we should keep up with technology, because it is just getting bigger and better and it is not going away. I also like the fact that her students will get on their blog from home on their own just because they want to. That is some kind of motivated learning. I think her positive outlook is great. She is so motivated, which in turn, reflects on her students.
So far, this is by far my favorite post. I think I would be mostly likely to use her ideas about blogging pages. These would be very beneficial for my students in an English class. I like her motivation and I hope to have that same motivation that it leaks off of me and into my students. That is what teaching is all about, making school and learning fun, so that these children want to constantly learn.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Summary of C4K 3-7
Room 16's got Talent
I read the class blog of them talking about a bad thunderstorm that they had over the weekend. They were very descriptive about it. They talked about it making their little brother and sister cry, because the thunder was so bad and how the lightening was so bright that it "almost blinded him". I told them that it was really good descriptive writing.
I read about an international child here. She used voki and used the name sweetlollepop. This child kept a reading log which is what he/she mostly talked about.
2017Purple
I read Abby N.'s blog about why she thought sixth grade was awesome and her blog about a story she made up. She thinks that sixth grade is cool because she has more teachers this year than ever before and she has her own locker, which she finds is a challenge to open.
She wrote a fiction story and it was really good. I kept reading it waiting for more. She has a great imagination and creativity. The only thing I gave her advice for was proofreading before she posted it. This is a very talented child.
The sixth C4K I read was just a learning blog, in which they commented on what they had learned for that day. My student had commented that she learned it was important to exercise because it helps her bones stay healthy (she was a second grader). Here are my comments below:
Hi, my name is Tabitha and I am from the USA. I attend college at the University of South Alabama and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I hope you are enjoying the second grade, my daughter is also in the second grade. You are correct that it is very important that to exercise and stay active. It helps with your health and keeps you physically fit, and you are right, it does help you to stay more energized. Good luck with your second grade year!!
MsN4thPeriodMath- Wilson R.
Here I read Wilson's blog about two apples that they cut into. Wilson thought is was crazy that the smaller apple had more seeds than the larger apple. He also said that right after they ate the apple, they took a test.
I read the class blog of them talking about a bad thunderstorm that they had over the weekend. They were very descriptive about it. They talked about it making their little brother and sister cry, because the thunder was so bad and how the lightening was so bright that it "almost blinded him". I told them that it was really good descriptive writing.
I read about an international child here. She used voki and used the name sweetlollepop. This child kept a reading log which is what he/she mostly talked about.
2017Purple
I read Abby N.'s blog about why she thought sixth grade was awesome and her blog about a story she made up. She thinks that sixth grade is cool because she has more teachers this year than ever before and she has her own locker, which she finds is a challenge to open.
She wrote a fiction story and it was really good. I kept reading it waiting for more. She has a great imagination and creativity. The only thing I gave her advice for was proofreading before she posted it. This is a very talented child.
The sixth C4K I read was just a learning blog, in which they commented on what they had learned for that day. My student had commented that she learned it was important to exercise because it helps her bones stay healthy (she was a second grader). Here are my comments below:
Hi, my name is Tabitha and I am from the USA. I attend college at the University of South Alabama and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I hope you are enjoying the second grade, my daughter is also in the second grade. You are correct that it is very important that to exercise and stay active. It helps with your health and keeps you physically fit, and you are right, it does help you to stay more energized. Good luck with your second grade year!!MsN4thPeriodMath- Wilson R.
Here I read Wilson's blog about two apples that they cut into. Wilson thought is was crazy that the smaller apple had more seeds than the larger apple. He also said that right after they ate the apple, they took a test.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Blog Assignment 10
An Open Letter To Educators
I too feel that my college education experience has been very much like hers. In one of my classes, if I even make a comment to another classmate, my professor looks at me and just waits on me to tell him what I said. I don't really understand why he does that and it is embarrassing in some ways. This is one technique that I will not take with me as a future educator. I am glad also, like Morgan, that I have been open to this EDM310 class, because I have learned so much.
Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home
I really enjoyed his approach to the solution rather than just focusing on the problem. Most of the time, we usually focus so much of our time and energy on the problem that we forget all about a solution. This message was very powerful and I added it to my PLN.
Two Questions That Can Change Your Life
I Claire Booth Loose's quote that "a great man is a sentence". I don't know if that is all I think makes a man, but it is great motivation. I think another great motivation question and a way to help us improve ourselves and our lives was the second question of "Was I better today, than yesterday?". This was very difficult and it took me a while to come up with my sentence, but since we all reserve the right to change "our sentence" heres is my sentence at the present moment:
I agree with the person who disagrees with scantron testing, as I feel the students are not learning, they are merely memorizing.
I too feel that my college education experience has been very much like hers. In one of my classes, if I even make a comment to another classmate, my professor looks at me and just waits on me to tell him what I said. I don't really understand why he does that and it is embarrassing in some ways. This is one technique that I will not take with me as a future educator. I am glad also, like Morgan, that I have been open to this EDM310 class, because I have learned so much.
I really enjoyed his approach to the solution rather than just focusing on the problem. Most of the time, we usually focus so much of our time and energy on the problem that we forget all about a solution. This message was very powerful and I added it to my PLN.
Two Questions That Can Change Your Life
I Claire Booth Loose's quote that "a great man is a sentence". I don't know if that is all I think makes a man, but it is great motivation. I think another great motivation question and a way to help us improve ourselves and our lives was the second question of "Was I better today, than yesterday?". This was very difficult and it took me a while to come up with my sentence, but since we all reserve the right to change "our sentence" heres is my sentence at the present moment:
I agree with the person who disagrees with scantron testing, as I feel the students are not learning, they are merely memorizing.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Additional Assignment #3
Sir Ken Robinson: Changing Educational Paradigms
He has an outstanding view point on education and what they tried to do with it and that it was great when they started out. However, we can not model our future and present schools on what was done in the past. This is a great message because it makes sense. They didn't have the technology that we do now, so how can we expect our children to not get distracted. His concerns about children and ADHD are also very compelling and I agree with his view point on this. It does make our children seem like "ZOMBIES". My daughter was on it for about a month, and I didn't like how tired she stayed all the time. I don't think that is healthy for a child and the fact that she could not remember anything became a problem. So we took her off of it and gave her different consequences for her actions and it helped her.
I also like his view on standardized testing and the manufacturing line students. He has an amazing point that I never really thought of that way. He is so right that some students are better with small groups or on their own rather than in a huge classroom. Why do we think that this is the correct way of teaching and learning???
Is it because this is the way that is has always been done? I think it's time to change, lets move with the time and stop lingering in the past!
He has an outstanding view point on education and what they tried to do with it and that it was great when they started out. However, we can not model our future and present schools on what was done in the past. This is a great message because it makes sense. They didn't have the technology that we do now, so how can we expect our children to not get distracted. His concerns about children and ADHD are also very compelling and I agree with his view point on this. It does make our children seem like "ZOMBIES". My daughter was on it for about a month, and I didn't like how tired she stayed all the time. I don't think that is healthy for a child and the fact that she could not remember anything became a problem. So we took her off of it and gave her different consequences for her actions and it helped her.
I also like his view on standardized testing and the manufacturing line students. He has an amazing point that I never really thought of that way. He is so right that some students are better with small groups or on their own rather than in a huge classroom. Why do we think that this is the correct way of teaching and learning???
Is it because this is the way that is has always been done? I think it's time to change, lets move with the time and stop lingering in the past!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
C4T Summary #3
The Thinking Chick
I commented on The Thinking Chick's "The Hole" blog. Here she talked about how she and her husband found their first real estate property in October 2009. She blogged that they had found " the crummiest ‘house’ in the best location! Our condo (The Hole as it will forever more be called) was in a short sale situation and was unbelievably trashed. But, the building was fabulous, the views divine, and the layout exactly what we’d been hoping for." She also stated that they, "were successful in purchasing our first home-from the other side of the world." She was able to purchase her home and remodel it all while she was in Bangkok, Thailand. She was successful in doing this by using her sister as her personal shopper, her sister's iPhone to take pictures and email them to her. She was able to have her counter tops installed the way she wanted by using Skype to talk with the installer.
2 Cents Worth
I read his post called "Are They Students or Are They Learners". In this blog he posted a chart in order to try to distinguish between just students and learners. I think that this chart should always be referred back to so that we always strive to keep are students as learners and ourselves as master learners. Check out his chart David Warlick 2Cents Worth.
I commented on The Thinking Chick's "The Hole" blog. Here she talked about how she and her husband found their first real estate property in October 2009. She blogged that they had found " the crummiest ‘house’ in the best location! Our condo (The Hole as it will forever more be called) was in a short sale situation and was unbelievably trashed. But, the building was fabulous, the views divine, and the layout exactly what we’d been hoping for." She also stated that they, "were successful in purchasing our first home-from the other side of the world." She was able to purchase her home and remodel it all while she was in Bangkok, Thailand. She was successful in doing this by using her sister as her personal shopper, her sister's iPhone to take pictures and email them to her. She was able to have her counter tops installed the way she wanted by using Skype to talk with the installer.
2 Cents Worth
I read his post called "Are They Students or Are They Learners". In this blog he posted a chart in order to try to distinguish between just students and learners. I think that this chart should always be referred back to so that we always strive to keep are students as learners and ourselves as master learners. Check out his chart David Warlick 2Cents Worth.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Blog Assignment 9
I think it is very important to be flexible with our lesson plans, for the most obvious reason, we are working with children. Another important aspect is to remember who our audience is, because it is very important that the students understand and they communicate back to us what the lesson was about. Also communication is very important aspect in every job. You must be able to communicate clearly and effectively to other employees as well as the children. I think his most important value he talked about was keeping the children's goals attainable. Everyone likes to feel as though they have accomplished something so great, especially children, that is why we must have goals for our students, but they have to be attainable for the students. I also think it is critical that we listen to our children and try to help them in any way that we can, like his student said, he knew his teacher cared, because he listened.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Additional Assignment #2
How Kids Teach Themselves
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1. What do you think? If learners are motivated, can they teach themselves?
I do think that people, not just children, if they are motivated can teach themselves. 2. If those motivated learners are kids, can they teach themselves?
I also think that children can teach themselves. I have a friend who has five children and she home schools them all. On their particular program, they teach themselves. She says that it works out fine for them and they are making awesome grades. 3. What conditions are necessary for kids to teach themselves? For anyone to teach him or herself?
I think children just need some sort of guidance in the right direction, and from there if they want to learn they will. They need someone to care about them first. 4. What role do computers and internet access play in the process?
Computers, especially after watching this, play a huge role. He even said that after 2 years, the children in India were using the computers for their homework and had better English. 5. What role does motivation, a desire to learn?
I think this is the role for a teacher. Teachers are there to help the learning process progress. Teachers should constantly motivate their children. 6. What roles do a problem, a question or multiple problems or questions play in the process?
I think questions are a part of learning and another reason why we need teachers. Yes students can teach themselves, but when they have a question, teachers should be there to help. 7. How do you motivate someone to learn?
I think as teachers, we should constantly help these students and never give up on them. Continuously push your students to strive to do better than before. 8. How are you motivated to learn?
I like for people to push me. I also like deadlines and dates. I think this teaches responsibilities to students. 9. Can anyone who is not motivated to learn learn?
I think anyone who wants to learn, will learn. They may learn at a different rate than someone else, but they will learn something. 10. Do you teach yourself? When? Why?
I do teach myself things. I have taught myself plenty of workouts and how to do them correctly. I knew I wasn't doing it right if it didn't hurt. I have also taught myself a lot about uploading pictures and how to edit them within the last year, just since having a Facebook. 11. What role does a teacher (either answer generally or use a specific example) play in your learning?
As my experience, I think my teachers have pushed me harder than I thought I could get myself to go. For example, I have a teacher right now, who is pushing me to learn things that I thought I would never understand. 12. What is the most important idea, question or emotional response you take away with you as a result of watching this video?
From this video, I think I see that no matter where children live or come from, if they are curious and they want to learn, they will. No child is incapable of success, I just think that they may have different situations which make it harder for them to succeed. When children are given just a little bit of attention and opportunities they will prevail in ways people never thought of.
I do think that people, not just children, if they are motivated can teach themselves. 2. If those motivated learners are kids, can they teach themselves?
I also think that children can teach themselves. I have a friend who has five children and she home schools them all. On their particular program, they teach themselves. She says that it works out fine for them and they are making awesome grades. 3. What conditions are necessary for kids to teach themselves? For anyone to teach him or herself?
I think children just need some sort of guidance in the right direction, and from there if they want to learn they will. They need someone to care about them first. 4. What role do computers and internet access play in the process?
Computers, especially after watching this, play a huge role. He even said that after 2 years, the children in India were using the computers for their homework and had better English. 5. What role does motivation, a desire to learn?
I think this is the role for a teacher. Teachers are there to help the learning process progress. Teachers should constantly motivate their children. 6. What roles do a problem, a question or multiple problems or questions play in the process?
I think questions are a part of learning and another reason why we need teachers. Yes students can teach themselves, but when they have a question, teachers should be there to help. 7. How do you motivate someone to learn?
I think as teachers, we should constantly help these students and never give up on them. Continuously push your students to strive to do better than before. 8. How are you motivated to learn?
I like for people to push me. I also like deadlines and dates. I think this teaches responsibilities to students. 9. Can anyone who is not motivated to learn learn?
I think anyone who wants to learn, will learn. They may learn at a different rate than someone else, but they will learn something. 10. Do you teach yourself? When? Why?
I do teach myself things. I have taught myself plenty of workouts and how to do them correctly. I knew I wasn't doing it right if it didn't hurt. I have also taught myself a lot about uploading pictures and how to edit them within the last year, just since having a Facebook. 11. What role does a teacher (either answer generally or use a specific example) play in your learning?
As my experience, I think my teachers have pushed me harder than I thought I could get myself to go. For example, I have a teacher right now, who is pushing me to learn things that I thought I would never understand. 12. What is the most important idea, question or emotional response you take away with you as a result of watching this video?
From this video, I think I see that no matter where children live or come from, if they are curious and they want to learn, they will. No child is incapable of success, I just think that they may have different situations which make it harder for them to succeed. When children are given just a little bit of attention and opportunities they will prevail in ways people never thought of.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Blog Assignment 8
How We Dream Part 1 & 2
He talks about how he always remembers his childhood with books and that is what he has always wanted to do. He states that he wrote a speech for the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting and did it all without ever stepping foot in a library. He got all of his research from the internet and his thoughts. He states that research is no longer like the library, in that once you check out a book no one else can get it until it is returned, instead everything can be shared from the click of a button. Also he points out that we can collaborate work with each other via the internet using a webcam.
He goes on to say that information is updated instantly. He said that ideas do not belong to us as an individual but rather as a culture, so we should share all of our information. He also makes a great point that the limits and restrictions are placed by our own selves. He basically states that the internet is a much faster way of getting things published rather than just writing and then sending it out.
Honestly, I am not so sure I am prepared to write with multimedia. I think some of my future students may be prepared, so it seems that I need to get better prepared.
Chipper
This made me laugh and I like the approach to procrastination and the approach to students teaching themselves. I also like the approach to the Timeline Pilot School. Basically stating that you get out what you put in. Great sarcastic approach as to being so busy that you can't get the work done, then that is what will happen on the job too. Yet after everything that is obviously their own fault, they constantly still want to blame everyone else and constantly change jobs. I like when Chipper has a change of heart, kind of what happened to me. After working in the real world and seeing how hard it really is, you realize what is actually important in life and decide what you are going to do with the rest of your life.
EDM310 for Dummies
This video explained exactly what I felt like at first. However, after taking advantage of the labs and getting advice from other students I actually got it. I have even helped others, I can not believe it. Now the course is half way over and I realize that it is not so bad. I have not made a decision on what my video will be on, but I am sure I will have it within the next day or so.
Why Smartboards are a Dumb Initiative
He made a great argument that most of the time the smart board doesn't do anything much different than a projector, except cost more and makes the white board look prettier. I would have to agree with him. This doesn't get the students anymore involved than before, its just more expensive. Why not use that money for something that will actually help the children in their future.
Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards
He states, " They do little more than reinforce a teacher-centric model of learning". I would have to agree with him also. He even gave his away after a year of experimenting with it, because he found that it could no more than what the computers in his classroom were capable of. Why are the school systems spending so much money on these, and laying off teachers? These are the things that frustrate me about the school systems. We have great teachers in there now, but we need more teachers. And the new teachers should be technology literate, so they can pass it on to their students so that they will be "tech savvy".
He talks about how he always remembers his childhood with books and that is what he has always wanted to do. He states that he wrote a speech for the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting and did it all without ever stepping foot in a library. He got all of his research from the internet and his thoughts. He states that research is no longer like the library, in that once you check out a book no one else can get it until it is returned, instead everything can be shared from the click of a button. Also he points out that we can collaborate work with each other via the internet using a webcam.
He goes on to say that information is updated instantly. He said that ideas do not belong to us as an individual but rather as a culture, so we should share all of our information. He also makes a great point that the limits and restrictions are placed by our own selves. He basically states that the internet is a much faster way of getting things published rather than just writing and then sending it out.
Honestly, I am not so sure I am prepared to write with multimedia. I think some of my future students may be prepared, so it seems that I need to get better prepared.
Chipper
This made me laugh and I like the approach to procrastination and the approach to students teaching themselves. I also like the approach to the Timeline Pilot School. Basically stating that you get out what you put in. Great sarcastic approach as to being so busy that you can't get the work done, then that is what will happen on the job too. Yet after everything that is obviously their own fault, they constantly still want to blame everyone else and constantly change jobs. I like when Chipper has a change of heart, kind of what happened to me. After working in the real world and seeing how hard it really is, you realize what is actually important in life and decide what you are going to do with the rest of your life.
EDM310 for Dummies
This video explained exactly what I felt like at first. However, after taking advantage of the labs and getting advice from other students I actually got it. I have even helped others, I can not believe it. Now the course is half way over and I realize that it is not so bad. I have not made a decision on what my video will be on, but I am sure I will have it within the next day or so.
Why Smartboards are a Dumb Initiative
He made a great argument that most of the time the smart board doesn't do anything much different than a projector, except cost more and makes the white board look prettier. I would have to agree with him. This doesn't get the students anymore involved than before, its just more expensive. Why not use that money for something that will actually help the children in their future.Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards
He states, " They do little more than reinforce a teacher-centric model of learning". I would have to agree with him also. He even gave his away after a year of experimenting with it, because he found that it could no more than what the computers in his classroom were capable of. Why are the school systems spending so much money on these, and laying off teachers? These are the things that frustrate me about the school systems. We have great teachers in there now, but we need more teachers. And the new teachers should be technology literate, so they can pass it on to their students so that they will be "tech savvy".
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
My PLN Progress Report
I have also added Facebook because it keeps me up to date with so many different things and keeps my technology literacy constantly evolving. I added Next Generation Dance Center's website (http://www.nextgenerationdancecenter.com/) because the owner is a very great leader and she helped me evolve into the person that I am now. She also holds a Secondary Education Degree and she has always encouraged each one of her students to follow their dreams. I am coming along in this class very well thanks to these people and more.
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