Blog Post #6

The networked Student
Before this video, I had not realized that certain students were taking the initiative to "teaching" themselves. Before when technology was not so apparent in classrooms, the teachers were the soul source of learning. Now with technology being everywhere we turn, teachers are seen as a guide. The more learning strategies the students are exposing themselves to, the more we as teachers need to stay a step ahead! Teachers need to stay up to date on the current technologies so that the students can benefit from it.
With the students being as responsible as they are and as eager, that is only going to strengthen them as individuals. I think that researching and finding new educational webistes on their own is teaching them to think for themselves. Rather than a teacher handing them the material on a silver platter, they are taking the initiative to the next level. I am all for students taking charge, but that only means my part will continuosly grow. I as a teacher will learn new ideas from students everyday, which is what I look forward to.
As far as being ready to service a networked student, I think that in time I will be up for the challenge. With this being my first year of the teaching major, I have already learned a cornucopia of useful webisites and resources. EDM 310 has exposed me to so many assets of the teaching profession. Even though networked students are full speed ahead on their work, they still need a guide to look to. As a technologically literate teacher in the future, I can only look forward to what my students can teach me as well as what valuable knowledge I can give to them.

A 7th Grader's PLE

Wow. The 7th grade sure has changed since I was there. We had huge textbooks, they have their own personal computer. I have to say, this student is organized to a T with her schoolwork. I personally like writing notes with pen and paper, while she saves hers to a bookmark where it is sent to the appropriate place on her computer. Technology has certainly grown in the 7 years when I was in 7th grade...These students seem much more technologically literate than I was at that age. After seeing how she has her computer organized it inspired me to create specific folders for my classes. This is an inspiring video from such a young girl!

Bama Brunettes - Project 8

Blog Post #5

Just who is Scott McLeod? When I read Dr. McLeod's blog post I was instantly attracted to the type of style it was written in. He did not do the generic paragraph type style, instead everything was off kilter (awesome!) Aside from the style, his point was not the in-your-face type opinion. It really got me thinking about technology and it's pros and cons. I was no quite sure of what he was trying to say until the very end. When he stated, "can't wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two" That's when it all clicked for me and I'm sure for a lot of other people.
I am all for technology that is administered in a safe way. Technology is going to be the future, people. Embrace it. It is expanding so rapidly that it is impossible not to jump on the bandwagon.
I did not know who Scott McLeod was before we were assigned to read his post, but now I know that he is such an influential man. He is a an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky and the founding director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education, a center for the needs of technology for school administrators.

The iSchool Initiative The iSchool initiative is beyond remarkable. This invention could seriously change everything, and literally everything, about schools in the future. In essence, Travis Allen and his team are revamping the scholastic fundamental tools, that up until this point, schools have thrived on. Not one thing will remain the same...but is that good or bad?
I'm downright torn. Of course the carbon footprint would surely decrease, but what if the powersource of technology is suddenly wiped out and technology can no longer be possible? What if technology is not as incorporated in the future as we think it will be? Then we are back at square one. Maybe something's are better left untouched. If we put all this effort into a gadget that will hold every ounce of school information, and it not pan out like people said it would, then what? So do we make the leap of faith and put our trust 100% into the iSchool, or leave schools the way they are? Afterall, it has worked sufficiently for this long...
I'm not sure if this is making sense to anyone else but me but technology could be the one element that holds the future together or it could not. We can only assume and predict the future, but until we get there speculations are the only instrument that connect people's ideas to the future.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir Amazing..it is unbelievable that people all around the world (who have never met!) can come together like that and take part in such a beautiful song. It in fact shows how much of an impact the internet has on the world. The internet is constantly opening new windows of opportunity, such as a world wide web choir concert for all to see.

Teaching in the 2st Century Roberts thinks that teaching in the 21st century is not just about study guides or chapter tests, it is about being a positive role model to students. To me, he is also saying that teachers have to prepare students for the real world, not just to pass the middterm exam. With information web sites being limitless to students 24/7, teachers have to be apart of their student's lives in other ways as well. Students look up to educators as an example of what they should be like when they are older. When I was younger, my teachers were sort of like superheroes to us young children. They could do nothing wrong, and everything they did, they did it with ease. I now know that was not the case.
Teaching skills are ever evolving. The way teachers taught back when, is certainly different nowadays. It is like teaching is hiked up a notch, they have got to still be a part of student's lives in additional means. This will affect me as an educator without a doubt. I have always been the person who cares for other people and will try to help them be the best they can be, and that skill that I have will unquestionably help me in my own classroom with my students.

Project 9a - Timeline

Project #6 - My Sentence

Blog Post #4

Benefits of Podcasting
Podcasting in the classroom is a brilliant idea to me. It brings a fresh new perspective to the students and breaks away from the old paper and pencil. The narrator mentioned that you can use podcasts as a study tool as well as for fun. Podcasts can help student to student interaction, too. We are working in a podcast group currently and it has helped tremendously with interaction between my group members and I.

Eagle Nest Radio
These children really know what they are doing. They are so well prepared with the information of Rome. This recording is such a creative way for students to understand the topic and to actually have some fun with school. These children knew details about Rome that some people may still not know. I love what the chidlren did and I want to use it in my classroom some day.

Education Podcast Network
The Education Podcast Network is a website where teachers can go to to get fresh new ideas about methods of teaching. This website is full of several different podcast topics that teachers can search through for their students. The subjects offered on the EPN are so beneficial for teachers trying to find new ways of learning for their students.

Blog Post #3

In Kelly Hine's post, "It's not about the Technology" she mentioned several different points: Teachers must be learners, Technology is useless without good teaching, Learning and teaching are not the same thing, and Be a 21st century teacher without the technology. I wrote back to her agreeing with the fact that teachers must be learners. No one in this world is ever completely done learning. Learning is not something that can be ended. With technology constantly being updated in every aspect of teaching, learning new ideas is not uncommon. I also mentioned that being technologically literate is a must in order to be a teacher.
In another point, "technology is usless without good teaching", I said that if a classroom has the newest most expensive smartboard just sitting there, what good is it? If it is not being utilized to the teacher's advantage, it might as well not be there. Teachers have multiple roles, but the most crucial is that they are responsible for teaching the children as much as they can. The children's minds at elementary age are so young and impressionable, being taught essential skills by their teacher holds the most importance. Technology plays a huge role in the growth of children's minds.

Karl Fisch's blog post is truly the epitomy of an in depth opinion of someone who is so passionate about something. This post is focused on technology and how educators should all be technologically literate. I agree one thousand percent with Karl Fisch. One of my favorite lines from his blog is when he said, "If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more- it is equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read or write." He hit the nail on the head with that one. Technology is such a big part of the world today that is is nearly impossible not to use it in the classrooms.
I mentioned in my comment to him that I think all educators should read his blog post. I also said that being technologically advanced can only help the students in the long run. So why wouldn't educators want to get in on technology? It's crazy to me how some select teachers can just use the ways they learned in the classroom how ever many years aog and not advance in their skills whatsoever. Teachers want their students to be the best they can be, and technology would certainly help improve their creative sides and help them grow all around.

Michael Wesch's video - A Vision of Students Today is hands down the most though provoking video I've seen on this topic. The video is shot in a university classroom with students holding up different statistics about college students. Some say they spend a certain amount of hours doing homework or how much money they spend on textbooks. I wrote, it is mainly focused on the student's perspective. It is all about the student and how much time they spend in class on Facebook. To me, students are paying to be there. Quit complaining. Trying to better your education takes time and focus.
From the other perspective, I'm sure teachers don't want to grade 300 tests and homework, and I'm sure they also hate making the students pay for that $450 textbook. Educators are not there to make you miserable. They are there to inspire you to get your degree and to be successful in your career of choice. I feel like this video was made to see the pressures students face, but you really did not see the teacher's side. This video has opened my eyes to both the student's perspective and the teacher's.

Gary Haye's Social Media count was shocking! Who knew that many things were being shared on facebook or how many new twitter accounts were being made. What's even more shocking is the rate at which they change. Every .5 seconds thousands of social media is being shared all around the world. Technology is truly the biggest way of connection for people all around the world.
I think that me being a future teacher, this can only mean good things are yet to come. With that many social webistes out there, and that many people talking about anything that's on their mind right at that second, new ideas for teachers are constantly being introduced! Teachers all around the world are brainstorming ideas with each other. You can learn so much from a fellow teacher's blog and pictures of what their students have accomplished. It is easy to get discouraged in the teaching career but with millions upon millions of people and even teachers using the social media like Gary Hayes has shared, you can always find someone to insprire you. Getting inspired as a teacher can only mean good things for your students!

C4K #1 #2 #3 #4- September Comments

I was assigned Maree, and her blog post was on how important it is for countries to "get along". She mentioned that language is a barrier between countries and that we should learn their language, vice versa. Maree also said that in order for countries to get along, we need to establish a good relationship with them. A relationship with them is essential because we could trade and exchange goods with them, she posted. I agree with Maree 100%. It is not good to have war between countries for anyone. We could use help from other countries and they can most certainly use America's help. Maree posted that accidentally offending them causes wars, and I absolutely agree. Wars are not something anyone looks forward to!

This week I was assigned Toreka. She wrote a beautiful poem on her latest blog. In her post she incorporated her favorite things. She used so many vibrant adjectives that I praised her on. I asked her in my response if she had ever looked into writing as a profession. Toreka seems like she really enjoys writing, and that it is not something she dreads in her classes. She spelled everything correctly and used proper sentence structure. Toreka wrote a great blogpost!

This week I was assigned to the St. Elmo Explorers. They made a remarkable video about themselves. They painted a portrait of themselves and they mentioned what made them the same and what made them different. Every single child had such expressive adjectives and not one of them were repeated. I love this idea, too. When I was in elementary school making a video was not something we did. It is so important at this tender age to realize what makes you, YOU. A little girl in particular caught my attention, Vaunia. She did an outstanding job with her adjectives.

I was assigned to comment on Kristina's blog. In her post, she gave a little information about herself. She stated hold old she is, her best friend, and her interests. Kristina likes to cheer and to participate in gymnastics and so do I. i told her that I have danced all of my life and that I did gymnastics as well. She also has a brother, and I do not. I said that I am an only child, although I wish that I had siblings. She decorated her blog very nicely as well. All of her colors and fonts made it more interesting to the eye.

Project #5 - Google Presentation

C4T #1 & #2

In Dr. Strange's first blog he basically wrote what he wants his students to know when they leave his class. He created a list of specific goals as to what the student should be able to understand and use in everyday life. Of course the students should be able to write properly, but he also added they should be capable to utilize the scientific method. I wrote back and I completely agree with him. Throughout the years student's minds are jam packed with information and Dr. Strange neatly compiles the information into a list. I also said that the scientific method is the one item on the list that I remember. Dr. Strange and I agree that the method is not only for school classes but for everyday life.

In Dr. Strange's second blog, internet is the main topic. He is saying that the internet is such a huge part of people's lives. He also mentioned that the internet is full of predators and why we should teach our children how to safely maneuver around the cyber world. I agree, I said that my aunt is crazy about internet. She refuses to dispose any personal information. Dr. Strange said "Be aware. Not afraid." That is so true. People cannot avoid the internet forever. It is now a huge part of life that it is impossible to not take interest in. I also said that the school's are up and coming in the internet. Teachers are getting more and more involved in the internet for their students. The internet can broaden your mind if you let it and you aren't afraid.

I was assigned Jenny She for my second C4T. Her blog post was on her experiences with Google+ and how important peer tutoring sessions are. I mentioned in my response that I have not used Google+ but I keep hearing things about it everywhere. I agreed with her on the fact that peer tutoring sessions are absolutely necessary. When you are in a relaxed environment with people your own age, it really does help you learn at a different level. Such a casual meeting with friends makes college easier to get through, is what I got from Ms. She. We both agree that teachers should integrate these casual sessions into their classrooms.

Blog Post #2

Wow, this video is astounding. Who really knew that that is what is going to happen in just a few years? One of the questions that stood out to me was that in 2049 a $1000 dollar computer was going to essentially know more than humans itself? That sounds so strange to me. If that were true, computers really are going to take over the world. That means that kids are just going to go to the internet and not utilize their brains at all, that would be extremely unfortunate...

I know that research for this video was well thought out, but who can really tell the future? No one REALLY knows what is going to happen. Researchers can guess and analyze all they want, but at the end of the day its still just a guess. According to all of their research, they make it sounds totally believable to the audience. This video makes the people who watch it really stand back and think about what is going to potentially happen to the next generation of children.

"Mr. Winkle wakes" was an eye opener. After all the years he was asleep everything, except one thing, was completely different. The jobs , the environment, and even the people, were a whole of a whole new era. If I woke up and that happened to me, words couldn't describe how I would feel. I can only imagine what was going on in his mind. 

Everything except one thing was changed. That one thing were the schools. He said it was the same as in, the children were still in desks, still reading, and were still receiving the same old lectures. I think that comforted him to know that after all these years, school still has not changed. With the schools being untouched, the message the video was trying to get across was that no matter how much is now changing, education at a school will be forever available. 

The third video is hilarious! This man is making light out of a possibly tough situation. Basically, he's making jokes but he's still trying to get his point across to the audience that school is discouraging children's creative side. Discouragement is definitely not what school should entail. The teachers are there to push the children, not tear them down. 

Speaking of schools ruining the student's creative side, I think that is is somewhat true. As sad as that may be, its happening all over. Students are there to learn and to strive to be the best they can be. When teachers are telling them, "no that's not how we do it.." that only hurts the children. When he mentioned that no one knows what God looks, the student who was drawing it sure had a hunch of what he looked like.  Good for that student to not let people put them down!

This video made a very good point to anyone who watches it. Cecilia is such a smart little girl to even think of these type of questions at such a young age. She mentions how to meet the needs of the 21st century, the guy she interviews says the curriculum is one way, I absolutely agree. Kids in this century shouldn't be learning past objectives because they probably have already been introduced to them. Kid's attention needs to be met and kept! They get bored easily, and the only way to keep that interest is having a new curriculum.

He also mentions that technology needs to be updated, which is most certainly does. If teachers aren't up to date on what's best for their students, who will push them to see what's out there? Teachers are the student's role models. That is such a hard part that teachers must part take in, after all they are the ones who are around the students the most. The Cecilia Gault's in my classroom will be challenged, I think that's the key to children like that. The child's interest must be kept, and they must be challenged in every which way to succeed!

This last video was so on point. She said that only certain types of students will succeed with pencil and paper. That is so true. Getting the students involved in twitter or blogging, is so much more exciting than just having a activity to do with paper. Children's interests change everyday, and she as a teacher is constantly looking for new ideas to expose her students to. 

This teacher is such an inspiration to her students, I'm sure of that. She did mention that she is learning right along with her students. That is basically unheard of. When a student has taught her something that makes the student feel as if they and the teacher are on the same level. It also makes them feel more comfortable around the teacher. All of these videos made me think, but this last one is the one that sticks out in my mind.