Blog Assignment #5

The iSchool Initiative by Travis Allen
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Zeitgeist Youngmind's Entry by Travis Allen
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Travis Allen asked the question "Does Technology belong in our classrooms?"  Travis started the iSchool Initiative which has become a digital learning revolution showing the capabilities of mobile learning in the classroom.  His goal is to prepare our youth for the digital future.  He wants to change public education with the iSchool which is developed on Apple's iTouch platform.  It has applications, recorders, notes, calendar, and email.

Some of the benefits would be that the students would have access anytime and anywhere to the classroom material.  Parents would be able to access their child's progress and see the lessons for the class.  The iSchool would save money by not having textbooks and other resources.  The costs would be $150 for iSchool this would be a savings of $600 per student.  My thoughts are that not every student would learn best with this method. Some students learn best by being in the classroom with a teacher giving the lesson and having classroom discussions.


Eric Whitacre's Vitural Choir by Jennifer Chambers
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This was an awesome video!  This video shows how much can be done through all of the new technology with internet.  The choir was made up of 185 people  who had never met.  Together with technology they perform Lux Aurumgue.  It was put together and then put on youtube.

Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts
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Roberts speaks about the challenges teachers face.  Teachers have to look at how and what they are teaching. He makes you think and he uses sarcasm.  Things keep changing in the world of technology. Teachers do not teach they way they use to because of technology the answers are only a click away.

Flipped Classroom
"Why I Flipped My Classroom" and "Flipped Classroom" by Katie Gimbar
"Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ- Flipping the Classroom" by Dr. Lodge McCammon
"Flipping the Classroom-4th grade STEM" by Ms. Munafo

Flipping the classroom is designed to decrease in-class instruction time and increase application in class.  It is designed to let students learn at their own pace.  I think that lecture in class is great because it gives the opportunity for class discussion.  Not everyone has access to internet and the extra time at home to learn this way.  I think that subjects should be taught during class time!  I think I would post lecture notes or slides prior to class for students to get familiar with the material, but it should be taught in-class.   This is how I learn best because I have too many distractions at home.

Project #6

Project #5 Presentation

C4T #1 Summary

My C4T #1 assignment was on Diane Dahl's blog, a teacher from Texas.  She received her masters through Brain Based Teaching through BrainSMART at Nova Southeastern University.  Her goal is to find new ways to improve student learning. Her post on July 4, 2012 was on Metacognitive Thinking Skills for Life and Learning Part One: Optimism.  Diane Dahl states that optimism is the most important tool because it allows the mind to be more creative and find solutions.  She goes on to show this was proven through studies.  She points out the three strategies for optimism: Deal With It-take care of the problem, TNT-think about what you would have different, and Delete- delete the negative.

My C4T #2 assignment was Metacognitive Thinking Skills for Life and Learning, Part Two: Listening.  Diane feels that listening is very important , but it is rarely taught to children.  She is very upset that her school district does allow more time to teach better listening skills.  Diane feels that we should practice by using Listen and Repeat Strategy.  She recommends putting children into pairs and having one read a sentence while the other child listens, then have them repeat back what they heard. Then she wants them to reverse roles.  Another game she uses is Name that Tune, but her favorite is read-aloud time.

I made my first comment on September 14, on Part One, Optimism.  I feel that optimism is very important as a teacher we really need to express optimism to push our students forward.  I plan on teaching high school Science and a lot of students already have a fear of Science before giving it a fair chance.  I think it is my responsibility to teach optimism for them to perform better and for the students to have optimism in themselves.  I try to take the approach that the glass is half full.  My second comment was on September 23, on Part Two, Listening.  Having three kids of my own listening is a very important skill to have and to teach!  I commented that I really like the read-aloud approach.  I shared that some of my favorite teachers and classes over the years have been those where listening was critical in passing the test. I really enjoyed her post and look forward to following her in the future.

Blog Assignment #4

Google Images

                                                                 

Langwitches Blog
Langwitches
Ms.Tolisano makes a podcast with first graders by reading a book chapter by chapter.  After they finished a chapter they would have a class discussion.  The students would make up questions and answers and record their own voices.  They were shy at first, but they became more confident.  They were able to work on many different skills such has speaking, presenting, and media technology.  I think this is a great way to build confidence and make learning fun!

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom
Benefits of Podcasting
Joe Dale talks about the benefits of podcasting in the classroom.  He states that the students become more excited and learning becomes fun.  It is a way to interact with the students outside of the classroom.  If the students miss class they can still get the information through the classroom to stay up to date.  It is also a way for the parents to stay informed on what the students are learning. I think that it is a useful tool to have access to in the classroom.

Judy Scarf's Podcast Collection
Podcast Collection
Judy Scarf talks about podcasting as a "radio style" talk show and the benefits it has in the classroom. You will find lots of instructions for creating podcast and great tips.  There are many teacher resources as well.  She says that podcasting is easy and we should take advantage of it.  I do think it has some benefits and will be a great tool for the classroom.
 

Blog Assignment #3

In watching  What Is Peer Editing?, I learned the three steps in editing my peers.  Be sure to give compliments, make suggestions, and make corrections.  It is important to stay positive and be specific.  In the slide show Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial,  it  emphasized complimenting, giving suggestions on how to improve, corrections on spelling and grammar, and to stay positive!  The video Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes, talks about criticism that doesn't matter such as Picky Patty and Whatever William that doesn't care at all.  The most important thing is to be helpful as a peer.

I think that it is great to stay positive and try to help your peers.  I think that the three steps are very beneficial.  Everyone needs to be given compliments to stay encouraged and to do their best.  Many may not know what needs to be done differently if suggestions are not made. If I am going to be criticized in order to improve I need to know what I need to improve on specifically. I think that  these are great steps to follow when editing a peer's post.

My C4C Assignment #2

This week my C4C assignment was an overall well written post.  Her spelling and grammar were great.  She was open minded with her thoughts, although sometimes she seemed a little repetitive.  I left a public comment because it was overall a good post.

Technology in Special Education by Lacey Cook is about how technology helps special education students.  Students work better by themselves with technology.  iPads allow help in audio learning.  Using the new technology helps prepare them for the future.  How the iPad works with Academics for Autism demonstrates how a child was not motivated to learn until he got to use an iPad.  iPads help non verbal students communicate.  MathBoard@apple.educationapps.com, Math bingo would be fun for the students while learning.

Children with Autism learning to use the iPad.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts, she uses digital media and encourages her students to work and communicate with students from all over the world.  Not only is she teaching her students, but they are teaching as well.  I think she has given these students an opportunity to communicate with people that would otherwise be impossible.

Blog Assignment #2

Video #1
Did You Know?
I watched the video "Did You Know?" 3.0 A John Strange 2012 Version based on a Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod version. It talked about how India has a large percentage of honor students and how China is becoming more of an English speaking country. It talked about how technology is the new future and how teachers need to be up to date on technology and prepare their students. I have used Google to search for many different things and I now have a gmail account and youtube account. Technology is the present and the future!

Video #2
Mr. Winkles Wakes

I watched the video "Mr Winkles Wakes" by Matthew Needleman.  In this video there is a man, Mr. Winkle  that wakes up after 100 years and things around him have changed!  I understand some of what he felt.  When I was in high school it was not expected of the students to have labtops, twitter, facebook, youtube, email accounts, and to have blogs.  When I was in school we learned to type on the old fashioned type writters.  Most students these days have know idea what a type writter looks like unless they google it!  Technology is growing at a fast rate and for the older generations (except the few like Dr. Strange) it is a scary thing.  There are many good things that come from the new advances.

Video #3
The Importance of Creativity

In the video "The Importance of Creativity" by Ken Robinson it is important to allow children to become creative.  This needs to be embraced.  Growing up with a mother who was and still is an artist she always taught us to be creative.  Many kids aren't good at everything, but may be really good at something.  I noticed a lot of the times with children with learning disabilities that they were not good at learning English or Math, but they were exceptional at art or athletics.  Everyone is born with special abilities they just have to realize what they are and embrace them.  Being creative in art allows this.

Video #4
A Day Made of Glass

In the video "A Day Made Of Glass" it allows us to see how advanced the classrooms could become.  The schools would be ran by solar panels and everything would be glass touch.  It is hard to imagine that school classrooms could come this far in the near furture.  I think there are some really neat benefits to some of the technology, but I am still a fan of some of the old school ways. 

Blog Assignment #1

My Life
I am a transfer student to the University of South Alabama and this is my second semester here. I am interested in Secondary Education Science. I love Science and before I had my family I planned on attending vet school at Auburn.

I am from south Alabama, but I have lived all over the United States.  My husband and I stopped traveling about seven years ago when it was time for our oldest child to start school.  We live in the country and love the simple life.  We spend most of our time competing in rodeos and going to barrel races.  We have three children that love to ride horses as well.  When we are not riding horses we like to fish and work on home projects.

Randy Pausch on Time Management
Lessons learned on time management include using a planner, plan for the unexpected, be specific,be reasonable,and to schedule difficult task when you are the most alert. I would like to add that it is best to complete assignments when your kids are asleep or at school! It is important to not waste time and do the important things first.

Optional
I do have issues with time management because of the unexpected and I need to try to follow my schedule better.