I am writing a review on the post I have made for comments for kids assignment.
Noah
Noah is a student that wondered if a phrase from the song, "Oh Canada" was sexist. Personally I don't think that it is, but I'm glad that he posed the question and is thinking about it.
Sosaia
Sosaia's post involved him getting instruction in the game of baseball. I explained to him that baseball is a very popular sport in the United States. Sosaia also talked about rugby. I explained that in America we have American football which is similar to rugby.
W.A.
W.A.'s blog post was a creative writing assignment where the assignment was to write a mystery. He wrote about a situation in which everyone went missing, and something chased him quickly from the street. He armed himself and took action. Later he found out the cause of the disappearances was aliens.
I liked the first round of Comments for kids. Although I'm not an elementary education major, I still like kids in general, and I especially like to hear what they have to say, because it is very different that what adults usually say. Children are much more honest and sincere most of the time, compared to adults; that is a refreshing change of pace for me.
Kevin White
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Blog Assignment #6
Video #1: The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
This video is made using paper cutouts representing people and different sites that can be used to build up a personal learning network. These sites include delicious, skype, and google. The video is about connectedness; The student in the video is working on a psychology assignment using the internet and his personal learning network.
This simple video says a lot about how to build up your personal learning network. In the coming years, classes will be based on internet research more often; this will makes books and paper obsolete eventually. To answer the question posed, "Are you prepared to teach a network student", I would have to answer, no*. The asterisk meaning that although I am not currently ready, I am working toward that, and I will take the information learned in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class as a knowledge base that I will add to as I progress toward becoming an educator.
Will teachers be obsolete in the future? The video says no, but the role of the teacher changes dramatically; instead of the teacher having all the answers, the answers are everywhere. The teacher becomes a guide and steers the student into the right direction by helping students learn to research themselves. When the student is able to find the answers for themselves, rather then the answers being provided to them, they build problem solving skills that will help with their chosen career path much, much more than memorizing endless facts and data which will probably only help if they want to be the next Ken Jennings.
Video #2: A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
This video is about a science student whose class is paperless. They get their assignments from the class blog. The student also uses a program that bookmarks websites for them. I like this feature, and although I don't use it yet, I will; I will use it to write history papers and keep my sources handy so I can quickly go back and forth and cite my sources easily. It appears as though the teaching and learning world is changing for good, and those of us who don't make the change BEFORE we graduate are doomed to stand in line at the unemployment office. (I don't want that)
Blog Post #1: Smartboards
There are indeed pros and cons when it comes to whiteboards; what are the objections and what are the praises of the smartboard? From what I read, the cons to using smartboards are mostly based on misappropriation of funds. Anti- smartboard writers claim that even with proper training, educational white boards offer little "bang for the buck" from an education standpoint.
The pro smartboard/ white board side of the argument explains that it helps engage both the student and the teacher, which leads to enhanced learning. I can see both sides of this argument. I probably won't be the one who decides on whether or not I get to use a smartboard; regardless of that, I will just have to do the best with what I have. Here is a smartboard review
This video is made using paper cutouts representing people and different sites that can be used to build up a personal learning network. These sites include delicious, skype, and google. The video is about connectedness; The student in the video is working on a psychology assignment using the internet and his personal learning network.
This simple video says a lot about how to build up your personal learning network. In the coming years, classes will be based on internet research more often; this will makes books and paper obsolete eventually. To answer the question posed, "Are you prepared to teach a network student", I would have to answer, no*. The asterisk meaning that although I am not currently ready, I am working toward that, and I will take the information learned in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class as a knowledge base that I will add to as I progress toward becoming an educator.
Will teachers be obsolete in the future? The video says no, but the role of the teacher changes dramatically; instead of the teacher having all the answers, the answers are everywhere. The teacher becomes a guide and steers the student into the right direction by helping students learn to research themselves. When the student is able to find the answers for themselves, rather then the answers being provided to them, they build problem solving skills that will help with their chosen career path much, much more than memorizing endless facts and data which will probably only help if they want to be the next Ken Jennings.
Video #2: A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
This video is about a science student whose class is paperless. They get their assignments from the class blog. The student also uses a program that bookmarks websites for them. I like this feature, and although I don't use it yet, I will; I will use it to write history papers and keep my sources handy so I can quickly go back and forth and cite my sources easily. It appears as though the teaching and learning world is changing for good, and those of us who don't make the change BEFORE we graduate are doomed to stand in line at the unemployment office. (I don't want that)
Blog Post #1: Smartboards
There are indeed pros and cons when it comes to whiteboards; what are the objections and what are the praises of the smartboard? From what I read, the cons to using smartboards are mostly based on misappropriation of funds. Anti- smartboard writers claim that even with proper training, educational white boards offer little "bang for the buck" from an education standpoint.
The pro smartboard/ white board side of the argument explains that it helps engage both the student and the teacher, which leads to enhanced learning. I can see both sides of this argument. I probably won't be the one who decides on whether or not I get to use a smartboard; regardless of that, I will just have to do the best with what I have. Here is a smartboard review
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Time Toast About My Family
Hello. I made this Time Toast time line and I am putting it on my blog. I Hope you like it.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Blog Assignment #5
Hello All. I've been ask to read/watch a few posts/videos and post my reaction to them on my blog.
Site #1: 100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better
This is an article/post that, well, gives 100 different ways to use an ipod to promote education. The education that can be obtained is more than just history, science, English and math; instead, the articles contains many different ways to educate yourself including foreign languages, learning to play a musical instrument, and creating flash cards. I bookmarked this article because I want to try out a lot of these aides and hope to incorporate them into my education. My podcast group and I did our podcast on how itunesU can benefit us, this article is similar as it contains study aids, but it is far more elaborate than our itunesU podcast.
Site #2: Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
I found this to be a very educational site dedicated to creating and teaching other people to create podcasts. In the not so different future people will be dependent on podcasts for education instead of just using them to supplement their education. I know I will. I will use Judy Scharf's site to help me with podcast related questions I might have.
Site #3: The Education Podcast Network
This site is a helpful network with many uploaded podcasts from mostly educators. It is very useful to teachers who want to learn, or share what they have already learned with others.
I believe with just the three websites I will be able to enhance all aspects regarding podcasts. Whether I am trying to create, upload, or share a podcast with someone, these websites contain the tools and information necessary to be successful.
Site #1: 100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better
This is an article/post that, well, gives 100 different ways to use an ipod to promote education. The education that can be obtained is more than just history, science, English and math; instead, the articles contains many different ways to educate yourself including foreign languages, learning to play a musical instrument, and creating flash cards. I bookmarked this article because I want to try out a lot of these aides and hope to incorporate them into my education. My podcast group and I did our podcast on how itunesU can benefit us, this article is similar as it contains study aids, but it is far more elaborate than our itunesU podcast.
Site #2: Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
I found this to be a very educational site dedicated to creating and teaching other people to create podcasts. In the not so different future people will be dependent on podcasts for education instead of just using them to supplement their education. I know I will. I will use Judy Scharf's site to help me with podcast related questions I might have.
Site #3: The Education Podcast Network
This site is a helpful network with many uploaded podcasts from mostly educators. It is very useful to teachers who want to learn, or share what they have already learned with others.
I believe with just the three websites I will be able to enhance all aspects regarding podcasts. Whether I am trying to create, upload, or share a podcast with someone, these websites contain the tools and information necessary to be successful.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Blog Assignment #4
Post #1: Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
This post written by Dr. Mcleod comments on the reluctance of many parents and teachers to use technology to enhance the education and lives of children. To a lot of parents and teachers, the risk is too great for the potential reward. I, however, do not agree with this. I do agree that the misuse of technology is an actual and real threat, but I believe that if children are taught to use technology responsibly they should be able to identify and avoid those threats.
Dr. Mcleod is a professor at Iowa State University and is recognized as being the top K-12 technology leader in the nation.
Video #1: The iSchool Iniative
Travis Allen explains how the use of an itouch will allow schools to be able to save $450 per student, while also using no paper and therefore preserving natural resources. From a monetary perspective it makes a lot of sense to save money where possible so those funds can be spent elsewhere. I like the idea about limiting access to only academic sites to prevent abuse by the less responsible students.
From an education standpoint I think this idea is brilliant. It allows busy parents to be able to check the status of their children anywhere, anytime and in the palm of their hand. I think this will help with parental involvement which, in turn, would lead to an increase in the percentage of children graduating from high school. I believe this will also help those students in after high school life; it certainly isn't going to hurt that cause.
Video #2: The Lost Generation
This video starts with some statements about the future that sound harsh and undesired. At the halfway point in the video, the narrator explains that there is a hope and changes can be made to save the future. The words that were scrolling on the screen stop; the words then scroll in the opposite direction while the narrator reads from the bottom to the top which completely changes the meaning of the video and moves it from a negative to a positive.
Post #2 and Video #3: Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
I like the idea of using the internet in this way. It makes it easier to get talented people together to practice not only music, but pretty much anything that involves the transfer of ideas.
Video #4: Teaching in the 21st Century
The question asked in this video is "What does it mean to teach (in the 21st century)." I believe it means more now than ever. I agreed with the idea of the video that explains that teachers are no longer the primary source of information for students, and instead are the filters for that information.
This post written by Dr. Mcleod comments on the reluctance of many parents and teachers to use technology to enhance the education and lives of children. To a lot of parents and teachers, the risk is too great for the potential reward. I, however, do not agree with this. I do agree that the misuse of technology is an actual and real threat, but I believe that if children are taught to use technology responsibly they should be able to identify and avoid those threats.
Dr. Mcleod is a professor at Iowa State University and is recognized as being the top K-12 technology leader in the nation.
Video #1: The iSchool Iniative
Travis Allen explains how the use of an itouch will allow schools to be able to save $450 per student, while also using no paper and therefore preserving natural resources. From a monetary perspective it makes a lot of sense to save money where possible so those funds can be spent elsewhere. I like the idea about limiting access to only academic sites to prevent abuse by the less responsible students.
From an education standpoint I think this idea is brilliant. It allows busy parents to be able to check the status of their children anywhere, anytime and in the palm of their hand. I think this will help with parental involvement which, in turn, would lead to an increase in the percentage of children graduating from high school. I believe this will also help those students in after high school life; it certainly isn't going to hurt that cause.
Video #2: The Lost Generation
This video starts with some statements about the future that sound harsh and undesired. At the halfway point in the video, the narrator explains that there is a hope and changes can be made to save the future. The words that were scrolling on the screen stop; the words then scroll in the opposite direction while the narrator reads from the bottom to the top which completely changes the meaning of the video and moves it from a negative to a positive.
Post #2 and Video #3: Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
I like the idea of using the internet in this way. It makes it easier to get talented people together to practice not only music, but pretty much anything that involves the transfer of ideas.
Video #4: Teaching in the 21st Century
The question asked in this video is "What does it mean to teach (in the 21st century)." I believe it means more now than ever. I agreed with the idea of the video that explains that teachers are no longer the primary source of information for students, and instead are the filters for that information.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
C4T-1
I read two blog posts from Greta Sanders blog which I will now summarize:
Creating Safe Learning Environments
This post is about a presentation that was presented at the New Teachers Reform Symposium. There is a slide show on the blog post that is quite informative. Although it is targeted at younger school children, even secondary educators and professors could learn something from it. Children (and people) need to feel comfortable to be able to learn in the most effective way. Also, the slide show lends the idea that mistakes aren't evil, instead they are a natural part of life progression.
Blended Instruction With Blogs and Wikis for Young Learners
There will be an online conference on which the importance of blogs and wikis will be expressed. I am gaining perspective on the importance of blogs; wikis, on the other hand, I know little about. I hope to watch the presentation and take valuable insights out of them that I will be able to use in my teaching career.
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Creating Safe Learning Environments
This post is about a presentation that was presented at the New Teachers Reform Symposium. There is a slide show on the blog post that is quite informative. Although it is targeted at younger school children, even secondary educators and professors could learn something from it. Children (and people) need to feel comfortable to be able to learn in the most effective way. Also, the slide show lends the idea that mistakes aren't evil, instead they are a natural part of life progression.
Blended Instruction With Blogs and Wikis for Young Learners
There will be an online conference on which the importance of blogs and wikis will be expressed. I am gaining perspective on the importance of blogs; wikis, on the other hand, I know little about. I hope to watch the presentation and take valuable insights out of them that I will be able to use in my teaching career.
Blog Assignment #3
Video 1: Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
This video does well to describe the real college experience, not the artificial one concocted by our imaginations in high school. The lost and helpless looks of most of the students in the video say a lot about the mundane nature of most classroom settings I've been in since high school, including Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
If I were to change something in this video, I would try to further elaborate on how ineffective ninety minutes of lecturing is; also, I'd like to not that it is ineffective to me. I'm sure some people like it that way.
Post 1: Kelly Hines: "It's Not About the Technology"
One of the things that truly agitates me is the misuse of tax payer money; normally I would not say that money spent on education was ever wasted, but it surely can be misused or misappropriated. With nearly all states in the Union feeling a budget crunch, education cuts are usually one of the first suggested cuts unless a fierce opposition to this occurs.
I believe that teachers should be able to show proficiency in whatever technological capital has been entrusted to them to ensure that it will actually be used, and used correctly and efficiently. I posted on Ms. Hines post that I do not want to be the one that squanders tax payer money by not using what has been appropriated to me to the benefit of my future students.
Post 2: Karl Fisch: "Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"
I agree with Mr. Fisch's main point about being technologically illiterate is equivalent to being illiterate a few generations ago. The world has changed drastically over just the past 20 years, and who knows what could happen in the next 20 years. The point being that teachers are in it for the long haul; by in it, I mean they MUST continue to learn simply to ensure they are keeping up with a changing world and not shortchanging their students in the future.
Also, the idea of educators being proud of being technologically illiterate is appalling to me. I want to give my future students the opportunities to succeed in life, not just to exist. I do think that educators that are unwilling to learn new things even at older ages should not be tolerated. Tenure and decades of experience are irrelevant to me if those students being taught by those instructors leave school and find out they know little to nothing about how adapt to changes in life. Adapting to changes in technology will help facilitate adapting to all changes in life; it helps by removing the fear that most people, including me, associate with change. As I have progressed in my academic life, change is becoming less scary and I am learning to adapt better and in new ways.
Website 1: Gary Hayes' Social Media Counts
I found this website to be very informative from the aspect of how fast social media is growing. From an educator's viewpoint it means that my future job as an instructor will be always changing and I have to either adapt to the new social media world order or risk turning into a dinosaur and becoming extinct.
This video does well to describe the real college experience, not the artificial one concocted by our imaginations in high school. The lost and helpless looks of most of the students in the video say a lot about the mundane nature of most classroom settings I've been in since high school, including Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
If I were to change something in this video, I would try to further elaborate on how ineffective ninety minutes of lecturing is; also, I'd like to not that it is ineffective to me. I'm sure some people like it that way.
Post 1: Kelly Hines: "It's Not About the Technology"
One of the things that truly agitates me is the misuse of tax payer money; normally I would not say that money spent on education was ever wasted, but it surely can be misused or misappropriated. With nearly all states in the Union feeling a budget crunch, education cuts are usually one of the first suggested cuts unless a fierce opposition to this occurs.
I believe that teachers should be able to show proficiency in whatever technological capital has been entrusted to them to ensure that it will actually be used, and used correctly and efficiently. I posted on Ms. Hines post that I do not want to be the one that squanders tax payer money by not using what has been appropriated to me to the benefit of my future students.
Post 2: Karl Fisch: "Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"
I agree with Mr. Fisch's main point about being technologically illiterate is equivalent to being illiterate a few generations ago. The world has changed drastically over just the past 20 years, and who knows what could happen in the next 20 years. The point being that teachers are in it for the long haul; by in it, I mean they MUST continue to learn simply to ensure they are keeping up with a changing world and not shortchanging their students in the future.
Also, the idea of educators being proud of being technologically illiterate is appalling to me. I want to give my future students the opportunities to succeed in life, not just to exist. I do think that educators that are unwilling to learn new things even at older ages should not be tolerated. Tenure and decades of experience are irrelevant to me if those students being taught by those instructors leave school and find out they know little to nothing about how adapt to changes in life. Adapting to changes in technology will help facilitate adapting to all changes in life; it helps by removing the fear that most people, including me, associate with change. As I have progressed in my academic life, change is becoming less scary and I am learning to adapt better and in new ways.
Website 1: Gary Hayes' Social Media Counts
I found this website to be very informative from the aspect of how fast social media is growing. From an educator's viewpoint it means that my future job as an instructor will be always changing and I have to either adapt to the new social media world order or risk turning into a dinosaur and becoming extinct.
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