Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Blog Assignment 10

Morgan Bayda and Dan Brown's An Open Letter To Educators

Ms. Bayda's post and Dan Brown's video both were very interesting and I can definitely relate to them. I also find it very miserable and exhausting to sit through all these lecture classes that last hours. It is extremely hard to stay focused for the entire time. The school systems really need to start understanding that the world is changing and new technology is always being developed and learn to adapt with it. I am definitely in favor of using all the technology possible in the classroom if that is what is necessary for students to learn and stay focused.

Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home

I really liked this post because it shows how a lot of people look at the test scores and research without really even thinking about it critically. I like how he focused on how to solve the problem. It was a great post.

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

Whats my sentence?

Since I want to be a coach in the future I would have to say my sentence is "I will do everything in my power to help young children grow into well rounded and successful adults and to help them achieve their goals."

Was I better today than yesterday?

I think that to get better everyday should be the goal for everyone, but I am not sure that everyone can get better every single day because everyone has bad days. Overall, I do think I am getting better than I was in the past. This is a question that I do need to start asking myself everyday if I want to be great at what I do.

Additional Assignment #3

What do you think is the most important thing Sir Ken Robinson says in this presentation?

The most important part I think is just the overall question how do we educate our children? I think this will always be wondering through peoples mines.

Is there anything you disagree with in this presentation?

I think everything he says in the video is really well thought out and I agree with everything he says.

How congruent are Sir Ken Robinson's positions with those which you are being taught in the College of Education.

I believe it is pretty different because growing up through school I have always thought or been told that we get smarter and think more critical as we age and learn. In his video he states otherwise that we are more divergent learners and critical thinkers as we are younger and it gets worse as we age.

What can you do to address the issues Sir Robinson raises?

Just continue to try and learn and discover. Always keep your mind open to new opportunities to learn.

What do you think of the presentation? If you had to do a presentation with others like this, what role on your team would you like most to play?

I think it was an excellent presentation. I loved the way he used the art and drew it in as the speech went along. I would like to be the artist because I enjoy drawing and being creative. Although I am not sure I could do as good of a job as the artist did in the video

Monday, October 18, 2010

Blog Assignment 9

What I've Learned This Year

In this post Mr. McClung talks about what he learned his first year as an elementary teacher in Noel, Missouri. He gives a lot of great insight for what to expect for all future educators. Some of the great things he learned and shared in his post was to read the crowd, be flexible, communicate, be reasonable, don't be afraid of technology, listen to your students, and lastly never stop learning. The one that really interest me was to listen to your student because I think building relationships with your students is the most important aspect of being a teacher. I hope in my future I can earn all my students trust and be able to be a good role model to them.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Blog Assignment 8

This Is How We Dream

Richard Miller's two videos were about using technology in classrooms. In his first video he talks about having to write an article about the shooting at the University of Virginia Tech a few years ago. He explains how he never had to step foot into a library because he did all his research using the internet.
In the second video Mr. Miller explains how easily articles and information can be changed on the internet, unlike books that has been printed and published they can not be changed. He also talks about a certain software that allows you to imagine ideas and then to create them online.
I think the more I learn I will be better prepared to write with multimedia. I also think that future students will be able to do this because of the way our generation picks up and adapts to new technology today, it will only get better.

The Chipper Series and EDM 310 For Dummies

Both of the videos basically gave ways to help you get through EDM 310 by working hard and using good time management techniques. My idea of creating a video would just to make a short instructional video on all the tools and equipment we use in our class for future students to look at for advice.

Critiques of Smartboards

After reading these to articles I definitely can agree with some points of their arguments. I really liked the quote by Sylvia Martinez “You can’t buy change. It’s a process, not a purchase. The right shopping list won’t change education.” Even though I can see where the authors of these two articles are coming from, I still think that it can be useful. In both of there articles they both said the Smartboard keeps the kids interested during class. That right there is enough to make me want to use a Smartboard because I would much rather have kids a little interested in my class than a sleep in the back of the classroom. Here is a blog that explains the other side of these articles arguments Teachers Love Smartboards"

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Additional Assignment #2

1. Yes, I definitely think learners can teach themselves just about anything if they are motivated.

2. Yes, I also think kids can teach themselves certain things, but kids always need a little guidance.

3. I think they just have to be motivated and want to learn.

4. I think the internet plays a major role in this because you can find just about anything you want to know if you just sit down and research it.

5. I think motivation is the key because without it people would have no focus on what they are doing.

6. I think their are always going to be questions, but you can not always consider them a problem. You just have to keep working until you get it right.

7. Always encourage them.

8. I am motivated because I want to be good at what I do and I want a good job.

9. I do not think people who are not motivated can learn too much.

10. I do teach myself as much as I can until I do not understand something, then I ask for help.

11. When I get stuck or need advice that is when a teacher plays a role in my learning.

12. That everyone can learn if given the opportunity and right materials.

13. What else can we do to further help less privileged kids around the world?

Friday, October 8, 2010

Blog Assignment 7

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

I thought this was a really inspirational speech from the beginning. From the start he told people he had cancer and he only had about six months to live, but he said do not pity me. He even talked about how great of shaped he was in and started doing push ups. Dr. Pausch made a lot of good points throughout his last lecture for everyone to listen to.
He first began by telling about each of his childhood dreams and then went on to show how he achieved all of them, or at least achieved more important things from them. He got to do such things like: ride on the "vomit comet" and experience zero gravity, meet his boyhood idol Captain Kirk, was an author of an article in The World Book Encyclopedia, and also be a Disney Imagineer. He shows that you should never give up on your childhood dreams.
He also wanted to be able to enable the childhood dreams of others. With this being said he got to work with a lot of different companies and industries but ultimately ended up as a professor at Carnegie Mellon. Being a professor was the perfect way to enable the childhood dreams of others. At Carnegie Mellon he started a new class called Building Virtual Worlds where they all had different projects to create. These virtual projects became so big they had to create a show at the end to show all of the great games and projects to the entire campus.
At the end of Dr. Pausch's speech he drove home a lot of great motivating points to help us along with our dreams. Some of these are, brick walls let us show our dedication, never bail or give up on your dreams no matter how unrealistic it seems, cherish feedback and use it, show gratitude, do not complain, work hard, and find the best in everybody. I think Randy Pausch's last lecture could help and inspire a lot of people.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

C4T # 2

Week 1 Reflections Jr. High

In this post Dr. Chamberlain wrote about his first week teaching his class and what he thinks he needs to work on. Some of his work including planning better, working on co-teaching, and creating relationships with his new students.
I commented that I thought it was great that he was trying to make relationships with students because I think that is very important for teachers.

Reflections on My First Week of Teaching EDUC 210 Technology for Teachers

In this post Dr. Chamberlain has required his EDUC 210 students to write a reflections from each weeks readings and class discussions. He also gives a model for the students by writing his reflections of the first class
I commented that it was good to see that he is looking for what needs to be changed and working to do so.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Blog Assignment 6

The Networked Student

I really liked this video and how it was set up. The way they had the pictures set up and organized to go along with the narrator was cool and it kept me interested the entire time. It seems so simple to do but it was very creative and it turned out great.
This video did a great job of showing how you can use technology in and out of the classrooms. It was amazing, because before this class and video I would have never thought of looking up lectures or blogs from great college professors from around the world. This video just shows how much you can learn from technology not just teachers.
When the question was asked "why does the networked student even need a teacher" I was kinda wondering the same thing for a while because you can learn so much on your own. Having a teacher their would keep the kids motivated to keep learning and to keep exploring. Also I think the teachers can help guide the students if they need help or to show them whats a good credible site and what is not.

A 7th Graders Personal Learning Environment

This was a great video and was really put together well. I think this is a great way for student to stay organized. I liked the way she had hers organized because she had all of her personal accounts up top and all her school work along the bottom row. I also agree that by using technology instead of paper and pens makes everything look a lot better and neater. I think this was a great video of a PLN and everyone should consider creating their own.

The Machine is Changing Us

I really enjoy the video by Dr. Wesch. I liked how he inserted clips from tv shows and other sites to help get his information across. It was very interesting and he made a lot of great points. I liked how he started off the video by using the word "Whatever" and telling us how it was used over the different time periods. At the end of the movie when he changes the way it is used to, "I care, Lets do whatever it takes..by whatever means necessary" really leaves a powerful message and was a great way to finish.