Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Project # 10
Finding The Right Tool:
So as i've mentioned before I am a HUGE reader and will push anyone in the direction of reading more. So when I was asked what technology I would use in my classroom I immediately thought of the Kindle. The Kindle doesn't have to be used for just reading fiction or nonfiction books on you leisure. You can use the Kindle for multiple purposes in the classroom. A great website that talks about tips for the Kindle in the classroom is from the Getting Smart Blog The article 10 Tips for Kindle in the Classroom By Brian Friedlander are helpful in showing that ereaders help in the classroom. Mr. Friedlander talks about how students are more excited about reading on their own personal ereader than with traditional books.
Some of the tips that Mr. Friedlander talks about that I would use in my classroom would be to have students use the dictionary on their ereader to help them start understanding words and broaden their vocabulary, you can start teaching students about note taking skills, by teaching them to start using the note teaching feature on the Kindle, and another feature that's going paperless and going green, is you can send PDF’s and Word files to your Kindle from your email to your students Kindles so your students can read from their own Kindles.
So as i've mentioned before I am a HUGE reader and will push anyone in the direction of reading more. So when I was asked what technology I would use in my classroom I immediately thought of the Kindle. The Kindle doesn't have to be used for just reading fiction or nonfiction books on you leisure. You can use the Kindle for multiple purposes in the classroom. A great website that talks about tips for the Kindle in the classroom is from the Getting Smart Blog The article 10 Tips for Kindle in the Classroom By Brian Friedlander are helpful in showing that ereaders help in the classroom. Mr. Friedlander talks about how students are more excited about reading on their own personal ereader than with traditional books.
Some of the tips that Mr. Friedlander talks about that I would use in my classroom would be to have students use the dictionary on their ereader to help them start understanding words and broaden their vocabulary, you can start teaching students about note taking skills, by teaching them to start using the note teaching feature on the Kindle, and another feature that's going paperless and going green, is you can send PDF’s and Word files to your Kindle from your email to your students Kindles so your students can read from their own Kindles.
Blog Post # 6
The Networked Student:
This week I watched the video The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler. It was an interesting video to watch. The video was about how teachers make their students become independently self sufficient about learning. And all the learning is based off of scholarly networking websites and the internet. Textbooks, books, and paper are all thrown out the window. Instead of students being handed a book or a worksheet, students have the responsibility of finding out the correct information on a subject themselves. If the student has a question or wants to talk in depth about a particular subject, he or she also has access to top professors all over the world. The students aren't just stuck in a room writing notes anymore. Instead students are now going in depth into subjects and truly seeing how the world works.
So you ask "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" No matter what students still need that one on one time with teachers. As humans grow they need someone to ask questions to, to get advice from, to look up to, and no matter what students will always need reinforcement. The whole point of a teacher is helping students grow and become a better person. Just because the way education is technologically changing doesn't mean the human emotion is going into that direction.
Am I ready to become a networked teacher? Yes! To me the whole point of becoming a teacher is to help push students creativity and brain power. Being a networked teacher is doing just that. Students are given a subject and he or she has to go and truly find out why that subject is the way it is. My major is Elementary Education. As a teacher I'll be teaching a variety of subjects. I'll try to teach each subject to the best of my ability, but I won't be an expert on each subject. With becoming a networked teacher and having the students talk one on one with professors who are experts on that specific subject is an amazing idea to use with my future students. They'll have an endless amount of information and knowledge to gain, and all of it will be at their own fingertips.
A 7th Graders Personal Learning Environment:
Ok. Her PLE was so organized and she knew exactly what she was talking about. She was totally confident on what she was talking about and knew exactly what she had to do. She talked about how she wasn't made to do any of what she was doing, but she did it anyway. To me that shows how responsible this 7th grade girl is. She made her PLE the way she wanted it to look like and was able to use the creative side of her barin, as well as work her knowledge of learning side. She did an excellent job, and I need to learn from her PLE, and start to work to make my PLN a little better...
This week I watched the video The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler. It was an interesting video to watch. The video was about how teachers make their students become independently self sufficient about learning. And all the learning is based off of scholarly networking websites and the internet. Textbooks, books, and paper are all thrown out the window. Instead of students being handed a book or a worksheet, students have the responsibility of finding out the correct information on a subject themselves. If the student has a question or wants to talk in depth about a particular subject, he or she also has access to top professors all over the world. The students aren't just stuck in a room writing notes anymore. Instead students are now going in depth into subjects and truly seeing how the world works.
So you ask "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" No matter what students still need that one on one time with teachers. As humans grow they need someone to ask questions to, to get advice from, to look up to, and no matter what students will always need reinforcement. The whole point of a teacher is helping students grow and become a better person. Just because the way education is technologically changing doesn't mean the human emotion is going into that direction.
Am I ready to become a networked teacher? Yes! To me the whole point of becoming a teacher is to help push students creativity and brain power. Being a networked teacher is doing just that. Students are given a subject and he or she has to go and truly find out why that subject is the way it is. My major is Elementary Education. As a teacher I'll be teaching a variety of subjects. I'll try to teach each subject to the best of my ability, but I won't be an expert on each subject. With becoming a networked teacher and having the students talk one on one with professors who are experts on that specific subject is an amazing idea to use with my future students. They'll have an endless amount of information and knowledge to gain, and all of it will be at their own fingertips.
A 7th Graders Personal Learning Environment:
Ok. Her PLE was so organized and she knew exactly what she was talking about. She was totally confident on what she was talking about and knew exactly what she had to do. She talked about how she wasn't made to do any of what she was doing, but she did it anyway. To me that shows how responsible this 7th grade girl is. She made her PLE the way she wanted it to look like and was able to use the creative side of her barin, as well as work her knowledge of learning side. She did an excellent job, and I need to learn from her PLE, and start to work to make my PLN a little better...
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Blog Post # 5
If I built A School
First I just have to say I loved reading If I Built A School by Krissy Venosdale! Ms. Venosdale spoke beautifully to me. How she described her dream school was stunning. I could picture everything she described to a tee. I'm a huge fan of coffee so when she talked about how her dream school would have "A cafeteria that looks like a seating area at a cozy, modern coffee house and could be used throughout the day as another comfy gathering space." I become 100% on board with her dream school! Coffee throughout the day without leaving the building? Yes please!What I loved most about Ms. Venosdale's dream school is how she talked about how the students would be excited to learn. Instead of making school an institution made to just push students through until they graduate, she talked with such enthusiasm about making it a institution that students couldn't wait to get to and the students couldn't wait to exercise their brains. It was a beautiful description of how a school should be. Not how school's have sadly turned out to be.
The way that Ms. Venosdale spoke about her dream school sent many ideas my way about how I would want to build my dream school. From what I could tell from Ms. Venosdale's description of her dream school, she LOVES color. And it just so happens that I also love anything that has color and love the saying "Live Colorfully", but if I could have a Willy Wonka moment and be able to build my dream school, I'd start with the front doors. The doors would have huge signs in many different languages that say "Welcome". Once you get into the hallways this is where there would be nothing but students art work plastered all over the place. Showing off all their artistic capabilities. I'd have nothing but floor to ceiling windows throughout the whole school. Letting in nothing but natural sunlight. Each room would have computers that actually work and help the students grow and see what the world has to offer beyond their classroom. Each room would would also have little nook areas where the students could relax and enjoy reading his or her assignments. In the center of the school I would have a courtyard where the students could go outside and enjoy the weather while they do homework or eat lunch. And with my love for coffee, I would have a little cafe in the center of the courtyard where students and teachers both could get there little caffeine fix towards the middle or end of the day. I would make the learning hands on and let the students actually see what they're learning. No just sitting in their seats for eight hours writing notes. I'd make the students interact with activities. Help them get excited about learning and show them why they need to know the information they're receiving.
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Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir
Watching Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir was stunning. It felt as though he took time and space and just stopped it for a second. How he did that with people who were in USA, Germany, Singapore, and many other places is amazing. I had no clue that a man could think of using the internet, to get a handful of people from all over the world,and compose a beautiful song with nothing but strangers voices. Mr. Whitacre is a man who knew what to do with the internet and his time by not just checking his Facebook or Twitter. He used the internet instead to create a piece of musical masterpiece.
Teaching in the 21st Century
To Robert's teaching isn't just paper, pencil, and a desk anymore. Roberts is stating that teachers need to go above and beyond. We need to start teaching students skills they can use everyday. What they learn in class isn't as hard to find now. Almost everyone can navigate Google, Wikipedia, Iphones, Ipads, and computers. The answers to questions are easy to find. But showing students how to live is different. I agree with the video. The World is dramatically changing. What once use to be the gigantic world is now not as big. You can watch anything that's across the World in a matter of seconds. The whole point of school is to be challenged. To get your head thinking of ways and ideas to solve problems. The old way of teaching isn't doing that anymore. As a teacher Robert's said it best "Our charge is to provide MEANINGFUL and POWERFUL engagement" That means getting students engaged in activities and not just sitting in a desk.
Flipped Classrooms
The flipped classroom is a new concept to me. And I'm kind of uneasy about it. I would have to test it out before I could say yes, I am going to use this concept in my classroom or no, I am not going to use this concept in my classroom. The reason I'm so uneasy, is because this is the first time I've heard of this. And I could be wrong, but as an Elementary Education Major I find it hard to believe that students in elementary school will go home and watch a video of me teaching a new concept and comprehend it. As the students become older and more responsible I could see that happening. But with students in elementary school, I could that as being a possible fail. Also in elementary school you're having to depend a lot on the parent of the student. If that parent doesn't want to or doesn't have the time to help his or her child with the video, than the video will not be watched. I like the concept of "Flipping the Classroom" but I would have to test it out before I decided wether or not it would be a good idea for my classroom.
First I just have to say I loved reading If I Built A School by Krissy Venosdale! Ms. Venosdale spoke beautifully to me. How she described her dream school was stunning. I could picture everything she described to a tee. I'm a huge fan of coffee so when she talked about how her dream school would have "A cafeteria that looks like a seating area at a cozy, modern coffee house and could be used throughout the day as another comfy gathering space." I become 100% on board with her dream school! Coffee throughout the day without leaving the building? Yes please!What I loved most about Ms. Venosdale's dream school is how she talked about how the students would be excited to learn. Instead of making school an institution made to just push students through until they graduate, she talked with such enthusiasm about making it a institution that students couldn't wait to get to and the students couldn't wait to exercise their brains. It was a beautiful description of how a school should be. Not how school's have sadly turned out to be.
The way that Ms. Venosdale spoke about her dream school sent many ideas my way about how I would want to build my dream school. From what I could tell from Ms. Venosdale's description of her dream school, she LOVES color. And it just so happens that I also love anything that has color and love the saying "Live Colorfully", but if I could have a Willy Wonka moment and be able to build my dream school, I'd start with the front doors. The doors would have huge signs in many different languages that say "Welcome". Once you get into the hallways this is where there would be nothing but students art work plastered all over the place. Showing off all their artistic capabilities. I'd have nothing but floor to ceiling windows throughout the whole school. Letting in nothing but natural sunlight. Each room would have computers that actually work and help the students grow and see what the world has to offer beyond their classroom. Each room would would also have little nook areas where the students could relax and enjoy reading his or her assignments. In the center of the school I would have a courtyard where the students could go outside and enjoy the weather while they do homework or eat lunch. And with my love for coffee, I would have a little cafe in the center of the courtyard where students and teachers both could get there little caffeine fix towards the middle or end of the day. I would make the learning hands on and let the students actually see what they're learning. No just sitting in their seats for eight hours writing notes. I'd make the students interact with activities. Help them get excited about learning and show them why they need to know the information they're receiving.
Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir
Watching Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir was stunning. It felt as though he took time and space and just stopped it for a second. How he did that with people who were in USA, Germany, Singapore, and many other places is amazing. I had no clue that a man could think of using the internet, to get a handful of people from all over the world,and compose a beautiful song with nothing but strangers voices. Mr. Whitacre is a man who knew what to do with the internet and his time by not just checking his Facebook or Twitter. He used the internet instead to create a piece of musical masterpiece.
Teaching in the 21st Century
To Robert's teaching isn't just paper, pencil, and a desk anymore. Roberts is stating that teachers need to go above and beyond. We need to start teaching students skills they can use everyday. What they learn in class isn't as hard to find now. Almost everyone can navigate Google, Wikipedia, Iphones, Ipads, and computers. The answers to questions are easy to find. But showing students how to live is different. I agree with the video. The World is dramatically changing. What once use to be the gigantic world is now not as big. You can watch anything that's across the World in a matter of seconds. The whole point of school is to be challenged. To get your head thinking of ways and ideas to solve problems. The old way of teaching isn't doing that anymore. As a teacher Robert's said it best "Our charge is to provide MEANINGFUL and POWERFUL engagement" That means getting students engaged in activities and not just sitting in a desk.
Flipped Classrooms
The flipped classroom is a new concept to me. And I'm kind of uneasy about it. I would have to test it out before I could say yes, I am going to use this concept in my classroom or no, I am not going to use this concept in my classroom. The reason I'm so uneasy, is because this is the first time I've heard of this. And I could be wrong, but as an Elementary Education Major I find it hard to believe that students in elementary school will go home and watch a video of me teaching a new concept and comprehend it. As the students become older and more responsible I could see that happening. But with students in elementary school, I could that as being a possible fail. Also in elementary school you're having to depend a lot on the parent of the student. If that parent doesn't want to or doesn't have the time to help his or her child with the video, than the video will not be watched. I like the concept of "Flipping the Classroom" but I would have to test it out before I decided wether or not it would be a good idea for my classroom.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Blog Post # 4
The first podcast I listened to was “Dinosaurs Before Dark” and I loved it! Just listening to the children getting all excited and really into telling the story was just too cute! But what I loved was how each student spoke clearly. None had a problem with having to read aloud. They all had their own personality that he or she brought to the table. But for all of the students to read clearly, blew me away. In school students always have to take turn reading stories during class. And there's always been a handful of students who can not read out loud to the class for numerous reasons. One, because he or she can't read well or two he or she has a problem with public speaking.For these students who are only in first grade taking their first steps to speaking and reading clearly in front of people is awesome.
The second article I read was "Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting" and I couldn't agree more. I listened to the students speaking Hebrew and it blew me away. I can't speak any Hebrew but it was a cool experience to listen to second grade students speaking it a little. I had to agree with her when she wrote about how when you learn a different language you have to attach that feeling to the word. You can't just memorize another language to truly learn it. You have to really listen to what you're trying to learn and let it sink in. Then you have to listen to yourself to actually hear if you had the right melody for that word. Again, I had never heard of podcasting in a teaching environment but I love the idea. The students actually get wrapped up in the words. And learn to truly understand their meaning. Who knows, maybe with podcasting students will learn to start loving the art of language.
Special Blog Post # 1
WolfRamAlpha
1) To answer the question on the misinterpretation of the "Did You Know?" video
India has a population of 1.21 billion people, China has a population of 1.35 billion people, and last most certainly not least The United States has a population of 309 million people.
2) The first question I asked WolfRamAlpha was "How many people speak English?" the answer was 760 million people World wide speak English. The Second question I asked was "What is the most spoken language?" and the answer to that was Mandarin with 1.1 billion people.
3) This was my first time ever even hearing about WolfRamAlpha. And I think it's a pretty nifty website. The World use to be thought of as this HUGE planet that know one really knew about. Now with technology the World had become so small. For one website to calculate almost the percentage of anything that has to deal with population is astounding. For one person in The United States who wants to just check to see how many people live in China, and get back that information in a matter of seconds is mind blowing. For me this website is useful in so many ways. And I can see why teachers would want to use it. For my future classroom I know I will. With the help of this one website you're taking the whole World into your hands. As a teacher I can show my students what the world has to offer. I want to show them that there isn't just the city they live in that's real. They have the whole globe to discover and why not start that curiosity for it in the classroom?
4) The Social Media Counts is an interesting concept. How Mr. Hayes figured that out is pretty amazing. To sit there and be able to see how many people are getting onto Facebook, downloading an app, or even just buying an Ipad is pretty awesome. Whenever I log into Facebook I'm not thinking about how many thousands of other people are logging into it as well.
Social Media has become a huge step in our society. Since, social media is such a huge step of course it will be affecting jobs now and in the future. As a future teacher, social media will definitely be effecting my job. Social media has already changed schools. Students are now doing almost everything on computers. Students aren't just being shown pictures of far off distant people or places. Students are now getting to now watch in HD those people and the places they live. Plus, students can now even interact with them. As a future teacher I have to say I'm excited about social media. Most of the time it gets a bad rep for just being used for pointless activities. But if I can find a way to use it to broden the horizons for my future students I'm going to take that chance.
1) To answer the question on the misinterpretation of the "Did You Know?" video
India has a population of 1.21 billion people, China has a population of 1.35 billion people, and last most certainly not least The United States has a population of 309 million people.
2) The first question I asked WolfRamAlpha was "How many people speak English?" the answer was 760 million people World wide speak English. The Second question I asked was "What is the most spoken language?" and the answer to that was Mandarin with 1.1 billion people.
3) This was my first time ever even hearing about WolfRamAlpha. And I think it's a pretty nifty website. The World use to be thought of as this HUGE planet that know one really knew about. Now with technology the World had become so small. For one website to calculate almost the percentage of anything that has to deal with population is astounding. For one person in The United States who wants to just check to see how many people live in China, and get back that information in a matter of seconds is mind blowing. For me this website is useful in so many ways. And I can see why teachers would want to use it. For my future classroom I know I will. With the help of this one website you're taking the whole World into your hands. As a teacher I can show my students what the world has to offer. I want to show them that there isn't just the city they live in that's real. They have the whole globe to discover and why not start that curiosity for it in the classroom?
4) The Social Media Counts is an interesting concept. How Mr. Hayes figured that out is pretty amazing. To sit there and be able to see how many people are getting onto Facebook, downloading an app, or even just buying an Ipad is pretty awesome. Whenever I log into Facebook I'm not thinking about how many thousands of other people are logging into it as well.
Social Media has become a huge step in our society. Since, social media is such a huge step of course it will be affecting jobs now and in the future. As a future teacher, social media will definitely be effecting my job. Social media has already changed schools. Students are now doing almost everything on computers. Students aren't just being shown pictures of far off distant people or places. Students are now getting to now watch in HD those people and the places they live. Plus, students can now even interact with them. As a future teacher I have to say I'm excited about social media. Most of the time it gets a bad rep for just being used for pointless activities. But if I can find a way to use it to broden the horizons for my future students I'm going to take that chance.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Blog Post # 3
Blog Critique
The student I was assigned to comment on was Logan Kirkland. I think Logan did an amazing job on his second blog writing. Logan was very clear as to what he was wanting to get across. Logan also had wonderful grammer throughout the whole blog entry. The reason I'm critiquing this way is because Logan did such an awesome job on his blog post. He didn't leave anything out and he also took his time and thought about what he was wanting to say. Not just throwing something up on his blog to write it in time.
Peer Editing
The two videos and the slide show about peer editing were both wonderful. I was never taught in school about peer editing and if I had the school or teacher never put much emphasis on the subject. Peer editing is such a big deal because it isn't just about critiquing someone in school to make yourself feel better. You'll be having to peer edit your whole life. Peer editing just isn't used in helping someone write a paper. It's learning how to state your opinion on a subject without hurting that other person and also using tact to accomplish it in. You'll be using peer editing in any profession some finds himself or herself in.
The video "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes" was just adorable! I loved how their teacher let them reenact what different peer review editors are like and how he terrifically he got his point across.The children in the video portrayed each character perfectly and showed us how we should not act when we do help others when it comes time for critiquing. None of us want to be Picky Patty's or Jean the Generalizer's.
Assistive Technologies
I never knew how much technology we have to use for the blind. What the Ipad and the Mountbatten can accomplish is stunning. I've personally have never worked with a blind person before, but I have helped make Braille Bibles at my grandmother's church. I never thought how differently the literature and the math subjects are for the blind. Math is already such a hard subject for students to grasp that I couldn't imagine having to learn how to accomplish math without being able to see. What the Mountbatten can do for blind students is miraculous. How the students can feel and see how easy it is to do such simple math is amazing.
When I become a teacher I am sure I will one day come across a blind student. If so, I will want that student to excel with the rest of his or her class. Just because he or she is blind does not mean that they can't have a bright future as well. I want to be trained to know what to do to help my students along. I want each individual student to feel that they can do anything that he or she wants to do. We are at a time now where almost anything can be achieved. All you have to do now is go for it. It's like the quote “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
Vicki Davis
"Turning school upside down." I loved how she said that. Ms. Davis looks like an amazing teacher. For her to go in and completely change how school is everyday is awesome. She connected her small school that's in the middle of nowhere to the world. She even got a chance to take her students to The Middle East. How many teachers are blessed enough to do that?
The student I was assigned to comment on was Logan Kirkland. I think Logan did an amazing job on his second blog writing. Logan was very clear as to what he was wanting to get across. Logan also had wonderful grammer throughout the whole blog entry. The reason I'm critiquing this way is because Logan did such an awesome job on his blog post. He didn't leave anything out and he also took his time and thought about what he was wanting to say. Not just throwing something up on his blog to write it in time.
Peer Editing
The two videos and the slide show about peer editing were both wonderful. I was never taught in school about peer editing and if I had the school or teacher never put much emphasis on the subject. Peer editing is such a big deal because it isn't just about critiquing someone in school to make yourself feel better. You'll be having to peer edit your whole life. Peer editing just isn't used in helping someone write a paper. It's learning how to state your opinion on a subject without hurting that other person and also using tact to accomplish it in. You'll be using peer editing in any profession some finds himself or herself in.
The video "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes" was just adorable! I loved how their teacher let them reenact what different peer review editors are like and how he terrifically he got his point across.The children in the video portrayed each character perfectly and showed us how we should not act when we do help others when it comes time for critiquing. None of us want to be Picky Patty's or Jean the Generalizer's.
Assistive Technologies
I never knew how much technology we have to use for the blind. What the Ipad and the Mountbatten can accomplish is stunning. I've personally have never worked with a blind person before, but I have helped make Braille Bibles at my grandmother's church. I never thought how differently the literature and the math subjects are for the blind. Math is already such a hard subject for students to grasp that I couldn't imagine having to learn how to accomplish math without being able to see. What the Mountbatten can do for blind students is miraculous. How the students can feel and see how easy it is to do such simple math is amazing.
When I become a teacher I am sure I will one day come across a blind student. If so, I will want that student to excel with the rest of his or her class. Just because he or she is blind does not mean that they can't have a bright future as well. I want to be trained to know what to do to help my students along. I want each individual student to feel that they can do anything that he or she wants to do. We are at a time now where almost anything can be achieved. All you have to do now is go for it. It's like the quote “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
Vicki Davis
"Turning school upside down." I loved how she said that. Ms. Davis looks like an amazing teacher. For her to go in and completely change how school is everyday is awesome. She connected her small school that's in the middle of nowhere to the world. She even got a chance to take her students to The Middle East. How many teachers are blessed enough to do that?
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