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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Blog Post #5

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
Dr. Mcleod's post was a joy to read. His small hint of sarcasm made it interesting. I definitely think that we should teach our kids to use the internet and other sources of technology, as well as the old fashioned ways of learning. But I do believe that parents and teachers should monitor their use of the internet and technology seeing as how cyber bullying, sexting, and other points that Dr. Mcleod made in his post are happening so much.
Dr Scott Mcleod is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky. He has founded the nation’s only academic center dedicated to technology called UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership Education.

The iSchool Initiative and Zeitgeist Young Mind's Entry
At 17, Travis Allen created a YouTube video to launch a digital learning revolution. At 18, he formed iSchool Initiative. Now, he is a student at Kennesaw State University and has a team of students to help spread the word about iSchool.

In his iSchool Initiative video, he gives a list of pros for the use of iPhones and ipads in the classroom. He states that it would be a lot less expensive because there would be no need for textbooks, paper, pencils,or printer ink. An average student would save around $600 using an iPhone that costs $150. And of course this helps with the whole go green movement by not using paper to produce textbooks or other school supplies. He also said that there is an app for all subjects. I believe that this would be a great thing to experience in the classroom. Schools could even block websites that are non-educational. Travis Allen put up a good argument and I believe that the only problem would be keeping the iPhones and iPads safe and protected. I think that kids in middle school and up would have a better chance of using these tools in the classroom and it would help keep them interested.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir
This video consisted of 185 people performing 'Lux Aurumque', but the significance is that none of these people met or performed together! Each singer performed individually and it was all composed together by internet and made into a YouTube video. This video showed me how amazing technology is and that we are coming a long way with it.

Teaching in the 21st Century
In Kevin Roberts video “Teaching in the 21st Century”, he explains what he thinks it means to teach. He sees teaching as changing because of technology that is growing every day. WE are no longer just teachers. Students can get information from many different sources now, so we have to be the "filters". This means showing them how to use these resources and in the right way. We as educators have to rethink tools and problems to keep students more engaged and not just entertained. I agree with Roberts video simply because kids should enjoy learning, not just facts, but skills necessary for the future. As a future educator I will definitely make learning interesting and teach students facts AND skills they need to know.

iPhone apps

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Blog Post #4

Colorful iPod


100 Ways To Use Your iPod To Study Better

In this article, Valene explains that there are many different tools on iPods that are available for educational purposes. From children to college students and adults, there are many different educational tools to download. The article lists many different ways an iPod can be used for studying and listed the different applications that are available. This showed me that iPods are used for much more than listening to music. I believe that this can help me to better my skills as an educator by giving me different tools for teaching, as well as learning for myself.

Benefits Of Podcasting in the Classroom

This post by Joe Dale was very informative about podcasts. I own an iPod and I have been using them since they were first put on the market, but I have never downloaded a podcast. After watching this video I have learned so much about podcasts and the benefits of them. The use of iPods are very common, and podcasts are easy to use. They can be listened to anytime and anywhere, and are easy to download. Creating and uploading them is also easy. This is a great learning tool as well since it makes interacting with students outside of the classroom easy.

Eagle Nest Radio and Class Blog

I really enjoyed listening to these kids podcasts! These podcasts were done by third graders and was made like a radio show. It sounds like they enjoyed making them and this is a good way to promote creativity. Some of them were very entertaining and were full of facts. This showed me that I can be creative and show excitement while doing my own podcast!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Blog Post #3

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Kelly Hines blog post to me says that technology is not as important in the classroom as it is stressed so much to be. It is important that the teacher is well educated and knows how to use the technology. What is the point in having a $5,000 smart board if it just sits there, and the teacher does not know how to use it?

The teacher should be willing to be a learner as well as the students. She says a teacher should teach with learning in mind. Provide the kids with all of the material they should know and focus on learning. And if that teacher who teaches the children to learn and has enough knowledge to do so, can incorporate technology into the classroom and show the children what the technology can offer them.

Karl Fisch "Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"
In yhis blog post, Karl Fisch states that if a teacher is not technologically literate and does not make it an effort to learn more, it is pretty much equivalent to a teacher that can not read or write. I think that by this statement he is trying to say that teachers should be technologically literate because computers and other types of technology is a big part of our modern day lives, and it has been for a long time now.

In my opinion, all teachers should be technologically literate. It is important that we teach our students to be technologically literate as well, to prepare them for the future! A teacher can only teach what they know, and they must be able to keep up with the changes in our society. Most jobs now deal with technology and isn't that what teachers do? Prepare our students for the future?

Gary Hayes Social Media Count
As I watched Social Media Count change I was astonished! I never realized how fast social networks, technology, and the internet were growing and being used each second! I also read the August update below the counter and noticed that billions and billions and billions of dollars are going towards technology each day.

These changes are happening at an unbelievable rate. What do they mean for my professional career as a teacher? I think that this shows that teachers should be up to date with the new technology. It is an important tool in teaching these days. I notice that even a lot of elementary school children have brand new cell phones these days, and if they are capable of using one they are capable of dealing with other types of technology! It is our job as educators to stay on track with our students. What good would it be for us if the students knew more about technology than we do?

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

Google Presentation

Sunday, September 11, 2011

C4T Summary

Summary for Doug Pete's posts

In Mr Doug's post September 11, he was helping set up new computers at his learning center when he got a call from his secretary to turn on the tv. This was when he saw the second plane hit the world trade center. He also said that ever since this event took place it has made the traveling process much harder. Every channel that day was filled with news coverage of this event and on the ten year anniversary it is doing so again today. Mr Doug posted a link to watch many clips from the news that day. Then he asked where were you and what are your memories?

I watched a few of the videos from the link and it brought back many memories from that day. I responded to his questions by telling him I was in my fifth grade class when we found out what was going on and how they let us out of school early. It was ten years ago but I remember it very well. His blog post was a great one for a day like today, ten years ago from the tragedies of September 11.

American Flag USA



In Mr Doug's post OTR LINKS he posted a link 'Prof Engage Students Through Their Laptops' which explains that The University of Michigan will have a tool which will help keep students engaged in their studies through their cell phones and their lap tops. This tool is supposed to keep students focused so they do not drift off in social networks and stay engaged in the lectures. It also says that this tool will help students electronically communicate with the professor. But, for a fee of $14.99 per term cost for students, $24.99 for two terms or $59.99 for five years.

My response to this post was I agreed that it was a great learning tool, which would help keep students focused and also help them to become more technologically literate. It records student activity which would keep students from not participating which is also an upside to this program. The only this i disagreed with was that the students have to pay for it, on top of the normal college expenses.

I enjoyed reading Mr. Doug Pete's blog posts!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Blog Post #2

Did You Know 3.0
The video "Did You Know 3.0" by  by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod showed many different statistics that pertain to technology around the world and show how things have advanced and changed drastically over the years. Technology is always growing and its strange to think about how it affects our every day lives. The world depends on technology every day and without it we would be lost.

We are always learning new things, and information is always being outdated and replaced. It is very important to be in touch with the world whether its through Google, Facebook, television, or radio and it is just as important to be up to date with these new forms of technological advances. This video was shocking to me because most of the statistics were extremely high, which showed just how much technology is changing our culture and our world.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
Mr Winkle Wakes discovers that technology is now taking over our every day lives. Our jobs and other businesses, hospitals, and forms of communication are now all connected with computers and machines. Towards the end of the video, I believed that it was either trying to say that technology should be used in the classroom, or that technology has not completely consumed our lives.

This video, to me, explains that even though we are so technologically advanced, there are some things that still remain the same. No matter what things are always changing and expanding our knowledge every day.

The Importance Of Human Creativity
Ken Robinson has a humorous way of speaking about creativity. He says that creativity is as important in education as literacy and it should be treated the same. I definitely agree with his statement because without creativity nobody can express themselves to their full potential. Letting kids express their creativity makes learning more fun and fulfilling  for the students.

He also says that around the US subjects such as math, science, and reading are expected to be more important than the arts. Teachers should encourage children's creativity and support it. Mr. Robinson said that  to be original it is okay to be wrong. To me this means that being wrong not only helps us learn, but it helps us learn in our own way. Children should not be punished for doing things the wrong way, but they should be encouraged to find a way that works for them.

 Cecelia Gault
Cecelia Gaults interview with Sir Robinson is about students in America keeping up with less fortunate countries who have lower drop out rates. I agree with the video because curriculum should be more balanced with science and the arts, and that schools should make a better use of technology. Students should not focus on just math or science to succeed in life, but to explore their creativity with other subjects. Everyone has their own thing thats makes them different with creativity, and anyone can possess creativity. I would ensure that the Cecilia Gaults in my classroom would have a great learning experience with all subjects, and encourage them to use their individual creativity to express themselves to help them learn and expand their interests.

 Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Mrs. Davis uses many different form of technology in her classroom to help connect her students to the world and to learn how to learn how to learn and to learn how to use the new software. When students learn things on their own it gives them more confidence and empowerment which I believe would make them want to learn more.

Her classroom is in a rural city in Georgia. She teaches her students to become more involved with the outside world. This helps them learn how to communicate, as well as learn the differences in technology around the world. Technology should be incorporated into the classroom and every day learning like Mrs. Davis does with her students.
student on computer