Project 5 Google Presentation

Blog Post 14:Final Reflection

Blog post 2

Did You Know(Strange Version)


After watching Dr. Strange's Did You Know   video, I found it very interesting how most of the facts covered in the video are things we rarely think of. If you're a U.S. citizen, there's a good possibility that you're aware of the fact that we are struggling in the education field as a nation. The video show's how evident this is because of the number of India's K-12 honor students exceeding the number of regular students in the U.S. This should be one of the main reasons for young Americans to take initiative and desire to succeed in school, but they fail to do so.
          Another interesting fact from the video is the amount of citizens that now have computers,which could be one of the leading causes why our country is under-educated. It is also recognized now that at the current rate, there will be more English-speaking Chinese citizens than there are in the U.S. in a short period of time. It is our responsibility to do our part as American citizens and do everything we can to help the upcoming generation. After all, that is why I'm in the education field, what about you?

Mr. Winkle Wakes

In Needleman's video Mr. Winkle Wakes Mr. Winkle is an elderly man whom has fallen into a 100 year slumber. Even though it is made with older effects and graphics, it allows the reader to look at the story through Mr. Winkle's eyes. It is amazing how far we have came in the computer and technology field. Ironically, the moral of the story is no matter how much time goes by, some things truly never change. The video also has a similar storyline to one of my favorite animation(cartoon) shows,Futurama.
Myself, as many others, can relate to the moral of the story from first-hand experience. What I mean by this statement is that the education field is always changing, so what my generation learned in school will possibly never be taught to the next generation. However, this video also has another meaning, that is schools must begin to incorporate today's technology into the classroom. This is shown in the video when Mr. Winkle notices a laptop in the back of the classroom that isn't being used. As future educators, unlike the school in the video, we MUST find a way to include new forms of learning through the educational tools we are given. This includes many of the online tools we are learning to use in EDM 310.


The Importance of Creativity

In Ken Robinson's The Importance of Creativity, Sir Ken Robinson reviews how he believes the schools of today kill creativity. I thought it was hilarious when he told the story of the little girl drawing a picture of God. After the little girl's teacher proclaims that no one knows what God looks like, the little girl's response is that they will after she gets done drawing him!! Though this may be funny, it also shows the creativity of children. He goes on to state that we become educated out of creativity, this occurs when we are taught a certain way for so long and adapt to that specific way and not our own.
          He supports this by quoting Picaso which reveals the problem with being creative is staying that way as you grow up. I totally agree with his statement that as a kid we are denied pretty much anything that we want to be, such as a musician or an artist because of our educational system's outlook.I never really thought about the fact that we are living through a process of academic inflation, as he describes it, in which a B.A. doesn't guarantee you a job as it did in the past. After viewing the video, it inspires me in many different ways. It makes me realize as an educator, we must strive to keep our students as creative as we possibly can. This means that we need to "think outside the box" of everyday teaching methods. I plan on adapting this view into my career by creating assignments that will not only inspire my students but also make them excited about learning, as every educator should.


A Vision For 21st Century Learning

The video A Vision for 21st Century Learning, does a great job of describing what must happen in order to change our educational system. The clip points out that many of today's students will come into contact with computers and video game consoles before K-4. This should make the viewer realize that these tools could also be used for educational purposes. Also pointed out in the beginning is how we live in a very fast-pace world of social networking and online communications. The idea proposed is that we could use the technology, such as  a virtual version of Rome shown in the video, in order to make learning fun. As pointed out, today's classrooms were produced during the Industrialization period, in which the students come in as raw material, move from grade to the next, and leave crammed full of facts. This causes much of the material the students learn to be forgotten or used very little. We must incorporate new ways that will allow our students to learn in ways that they will never forget the material covered.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

In the video Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts, Vicki Davis does an amazing job of offering her views on new forms of teaching. She is a world renowned blogger, and is constantly adapting ways to incorporate new technologies into her classroom. Vicki also has her students using blogger, which is a system I'm just now learning to use in EDM 310. She has a very good point in stating that only certain children will succeed with only paper and pens. This is why she has adapted these new forms of technologies (Wikis, avatars, etc.), into her classroom. This will inspire creativity within her students and also make learning enjoyable.
            I have gained many ideas after viewing her video, and think that we need to strive to become innovative educators. An amazing aspect is when she states that her students have taught her, in many cases, how to use these systems. This shows that she is doing a great job of inspiring her students, something every educator should strive to do. Another trait that I intend on adapting is how she has taught them literacy in which if they don't know a word they know how to look it up online. This form of teaching, as stated in the video, will allow students to become more comfortable with new software and technology. I enjoyed getting a firsthand view at what new technology can bring to the classroom of tomorrow and definitely intend on using it myself.

Project 13 Collaboration Report

In order to collaborate for Project 15, we had to come up with a new form of meeting other than by telephone or in person. After asking Elizabeth from the EDM staff, we were referred to the new online tool Google Hangout. This tool allows you to meet face to face with multiple people at once via webcam. We first began using Skype but couldn't figure out a way to talk to multiple people at once. I enjoyed using Google Hangout because its just like meeting face to face. I also began using skype to communicate with my cousin, whom lives down in Crystal River,FL.

           Overall, I was very pleased with the way our group collaborated, we accomplished the assignment without the use of telephones or meeting in person. I intend on adapting the new Google Hangout into my career as an educator. I will also continue to use skype in order to stay connected with friends and family around the globe.

Project 16: Final Project

C4T Summary for April

For my first C4T comment for the month of April, I viewed Kelly's Blog, which had an article on replacing the Friday folder with a podcast. She had her students record 30-1:30 seconds each week via podcast with the Voxie Pro recording system. This idea allows the teachers and parents to gain insight on how the student is progressing in terms of the class. I plan on incorporating this feature into my classroom also because recording a podcast allows students, teachers, and parents to witness progress first hand. The fact that it is only 30-1:30 means that the podcast will not be too demanding. I enjoyed the idea and believe that it will be a success and allow students to progress more quickly in the future.

          For the second C4T comment, I read Kelly's post on using a new system, Ted-ed, to open new doors for a new style of teaching. Ted-ed is a site that allows students to watch educational video lessons and take a quick quiz on the subject covered. This site opens the door to what she refers to as "flip" teaching, which changes up the classroom model. The main difference in this style is that instead of the students getting instruction and doing there practice work as homework, they watch their instuction at home and practice in the classroom. This allows the students to recieve teacher support, meaning that the focus of the classroom is on higher-level thinking instead of instruction. Video is a great way for students to learn, and the videos on Ted-ed are animated to appeal to the students. I think this is another great idea that will allow more flexibility and options in the classroom of tomorrow.

Final Report PLN

 I must say that my PLN has grown vastly over the coarse of EDM 310. When I started class this semester, I believed I was up-to-date with the use of internet tools. Little did I know, my whole world was about to change and I would gain my very own personal learning network(PLN) along the way. I have most of the tools that I have used this semester saved in my favorites or either bookmarked through Symbaloo. One of the greatest changes I have went through is blogging, in which I have been interacting with fellow students, teachers, and children from all over the globe. This allows me to better adapt as a teacher by gaining insight on the views of fellow educators, as well as interact with children from different cultures and lifestyles.

           Another tool that is vital to my PLN is Edmodo, which is a network that will allow me to set up my online classroom. I plan on putting this to work as soon as I complete my education because it allows you to connect with your students through an online classroom. Edmodo will be very important in helping develop the form of online education we have been studying all semester. One tool that I didn't like at first that is now a part of my PLN is Twitter, because all I needed was another social network, but then I learned how to utilize it. Twitter can be extremely useful when you want to connect with educators in your field of study, for example, that's how Dr. Strange met Mrs. Cassidy. Also included in my PLN are other programs that I intend on using when my career as a teacher begins, such as Flickr. After looking back to the beginning of this term, I would have never thought I would learn what I know now about these online tools that form my PLN. These tools have changed my life thus far and I add new gadgets daily. My PLN will definitely make my life as an educator easier along with allowing me to influence my students to adapt to this new age of online learning.

Blog Post 13

For our blog post 13, we were instructed to go on a 24 hour media fast. This means  no radio, no cell phones, nothing that is electronic for an entire 24 hours. My first attempt was a failure because I listened to the radio as soon as I jumped into my car, so I had to back up and devise a better plan. My second attempt was a success!! Since we couldn't use any electronics, I had to shut my radio off in advance and also let my cell phone die. I chose to go to the beach for my 24 hours, so it really wasn't that bad at all.

          The good thing about being born and raised in the country is that you learn to make ways to have fun without electronics. There's a thousand things that I could've done, but I really wanted to get away for a little while before finals, and what better place to do it than the beach? I believe that this assignment was to make us reflect upon how big of a role technology plays in our lives. I'm not a big facebooker, but the radio, laptop, and especially cell phone got to me. I have a few friends that I haven't got to see in a long time that live at the beach and couldn't call them, which made me realize how much I needed my cell phone. Another time when it really sank in was when I was driving down and couldn't listen to my radio.
          I would have never realized how important technology is in my life if it wasn't for this assignment. It was extremely hard not to use some form of electronics throughout the day. It took me getting away from my house and actually making an effort to complete my e-media fast. I honestly can't believe I did it!! I enjoyed the assignment because it made me get out an actually get involved in the outside world, something that you can't do alot as a full-time student. So you think you can make it?

Project 15 SmartBoard Instruction Part 2

Progress Report on Final Project 16

To begin preparing for project 16 I watched Dr. Strange's video, Final Project Discussion, to get an idea on what I will do for Project 16. One of the first subjects he reviews is that he does not want us to draw a quick conclusion in regards to this project. He urges us to THINK about how we will incorporate the technology we have learned to use in his EDM class this semester into our own classroom. He also wants us to think about how we would go about presenting this new technology to other teachers and inspire them to use it also. He goes on to suggest that we may also do project 16 on something that we didn't cover in EDM this semester, such as:Google Earth, Search Processes,etc. Throughout the video, he is basically revealing all the different routes you can go about to create the project.
          Next, I watched the video recommended, Project Based Learning, which shows students all over the U.S. working together in groups to solve specific problems. The one that stuck out the most was the group that was working together to create an online classroom for the year 2015, which is similar to what we'll be doing in project 16. After completion they are critiqued by different sources which is another cool feature of doing a group based project. I wanted to really THINK just like Dr. Strange suggested so I chose to hold off on the other two videos until the date gets closer.

         

C4K Summary For April and World Blog Challenge

 My first three C4K's for the month of April were part of The World Blog Challenge.My first two comments are located on Ashley's Blog, who happens to be from Canada. For my first comment I reviewed her Prezi, which is a collaboration of her thoughts, one of her favorite videos, and insight on herself. If you've never seen a Prezi, I definately recommend viewing hers. After viewing her Prezi I've decided to create my own as soon as I get a chance. For the second week I commented on her My First Post, which was just a trial run with her blog. I found out a little more about her but the Prezi was a better project.
          For the last week of the World Blog Challenge,  I commented on Robertz' Blog. The post I commented on was quotes that he sometimes uses. For a young student, he seems to be headed in the right direction as far as morals and values are concerned. One of the quotes he used that really stuck out to me was "You are you, don't let words knock you down." Robert is maturing as a blogger and student and it really shows through these quotes.
           For my last C4K :(, I commented on Billy's English Mihi, which is a video telling a little about himself. He is in year three in the country of New Zealand, and has already began embedding video into his blog. He is seven years old and we do have something in common, a love for marvel super heroes!! Through the course of commenting using Dr. Strange's C4K system, I have gained far better insight on what we must do with our Blogs. This system has made me realize how far behind our nation is because these children are less than half our age and are doing what we've been taught in college level classes in GRAMMER SCHOOL, Thanks Dr. Strange and EDM 310 for changing my views on commenting

Creativity and Curiosity:My Thoughts-Special Post #12A

In this post, Dr. Strange asked his EDM students to respond to a few questions pertaining to curiosity and creativity. In response to the first question, I do believe that most schools in this country destroy curiosity and/or creativity because of their lack of care. What I mean by this is what we've been learning to do all semester, and that's to strive to be creative, and it takes curiosity to do that. One of the biggest problems with our school system is that it has, for the most part, remained the same for a long period of time. This happens because so many teachers in the system nowadays are afraid of change. Luckily, I have been a victim in this case, coming from a small country community, but have managed to pull myself out of the rut and begin adapting to the new online learning community with the help of EDM 310.
          We are asked next if there is a curriculum that can inspire curiosity? My answer is yes. In order to create this curriculum, however, we must learn new ways to use online tools in order to create a spark in our students. This happened to me this semester when I enrolled into South and began EDM. At first, I despised this class because I never realized how much easier the online tools(Blogger,Google+,etc.), made life as a future Educator. It really hit me about halfway through when I witnessed one of my college professors using Flickr, an online tool we used in EDM a few weeks prior.

          The next question we were presented with was is there a curriculum that can be developed to inspire creativity? My answer to this is of course, I mean after all, that is what we've been learning this entire semester!! The key components would be the tools of the new online learning system such as:Blogging,Skype, Twitter, Flickr, etc. I want to draw off the conclusion that Mrs. Cassidy mentioned and say that we, as teachers are responsible for changing our style in order to adapt to the new generation of students. The beauty of the online learning system is that it allows your students to connect with students across the globe, not only in America. This will inspire the students of this country, as it has me, to witness how far we are behind in our educational system. For example, look at the kids whose blogs we've been commenting on all term, they're only children and have their own blogs!!
          Next, we are presented with two questions of whether or not teachers actions can inspire curiosity and/or creativity? Both of my answers are yes. The reason being, as a teacher, our students pay attention to many things we do. Meaning, if they see us continually supporting this new style of teaching it will rub off and give them curiosity for the online learning tools as well. Furthermore, the video we viewed a few weeks ago about the difference of being a teacher or an educator hits the nail right on the head. Within the video it mentions that an educator is a Mentor, and if we reach out to our students and get them to accept this new style of learning, we can inspire both curiosity and creativity.
          For the last two questions we are asked what would help us become more curious/creative and what role would schools and teachers play in this. In response, in order for myself to become more curious, I must take initiative to help drive our education system forward. To do this, it is important that I stay connected with educators that are trying to help the cause and inspire the system to evolve. I plan on doing this by using Twitter and Skype to stay connected with educators dedicated to improving education,which will cause the school system to improve as well. As Dr. Strange mentioned in class, his main goal with EDM is to release a new revolutionary style of teacher into the old system so that we can reach out and inspire our students and fellow educators alike.
         

Blog Post 12

Blog Post 1

For your first blog post assignment, I want you to sign up for the free 30 day trial of Netflix. All you need is a credit/debit card to begin your free trial. After starting your Netflix account, I want you to explore the movies that pertain to American history. Since it is your first assignment I'm giving you the freedom to choose any film that involves American historical events. I would prefer the film to be a documentary because Hollywood tends to bend the truth in most cases. However, if you can prove the film is based off of actual events, I will accept it. After watching the film of your choosing, I want you to write two to three paragraphs summarizing the film and also how the film allowed you to gain better insight on the historical subject covered. Just in case you have problems choosing a film, I've recommended a few. Follow the instructions in Dr. Strange's Writing A Quality Blog Post and remember to be creative!! After you've completed this assignment, don't forget to close your netflix account if you choose not to keep it. I urge you to continue your membership because it has been a vital tool in my Personal Learning Network and new titles are added weekly.I've added a link to netflix below, along with the list of recommended documentaries. Good Luck with your first post and remember a good first impression is always important!!

Netflix

Recommended documentaries: The History Channel's World War 2 in HD, Ken Burn's The War, America:The Story Of Us, National Geographic's Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West.If you still have problems send me an email to thsj6988@gmail.com and we'll figure it out.

For My first blog post assignment, I chose to watch the first episode of America: The Story of Us, an A&E show on Netflix. The first episode begins with John Roth changing the settlement of Jamestown,VA, from a depleting colony to a booming settlement just by planting a simple tobacco seed. The video points out how only 12 years after the founding of Jamestown, African Americans were brought over as slaves and played a key role in building the colony to be a successful one. Also shown is how the Mayflower, which was aiming for the Hudson River Valley, landed 200 miles north in what is described as a mini-ice age. Shortly after settling, the pilgrims discovered the Native American tribes inhabiting the land. At first they were fearful because they were greatly outnumbered, but after overthrowing a tribe easily with the use of muskets, they realized the Native Americans were a peaceful people. After a period of peace, the Americans soon adapted the ways of the Natives, causing a vast expansion of our country and also catching the attention of the British. The British attempted a surprise raid on John Hancock’s ship, which his crew stopped, in order to make him pay taxes on his wine. This caused the British king to become outraged, seize Hancock’s ship, and send 4000 redcoats to America. The country was now occupied by the British, which was like having unwanted guests in your home. Shortly after the British entered America, The Boston Massacre occurred with the redcoats killing over 4 Americans, eventually leading to the American Revolution. Paul Revere plays a key role in the episode by acting out his infamous Midnight Run. The episode does a great job depicting the beginning of our country, or as it is referred to “the Birth of a Nation.”

 It is still hard to grasp the sacrifices that were made in order for us to become a nation, but this show does a great job giving better insight on those actions. One thing that I didn’t know before I watched the video was that it was against the law to plant tobacco anywhere but Spain at that time. It’s amazing to think that the planting of a simple tobacco seed kick-started the growth of America. I also gained a better mental picture on many important events that occurred during that time, such as the Boston Massacre, and even the Boston Tea Party. Another thing I liked about the video was that they covered a good bit of American History in just one episode. I enjoyed watching the video and plan on finishing the series soon.

       

Blog Post 11

After watching the video Little Kids.....Big Potential, we are shown how the use of technology, in this case blogging,wikis,and skype, is causing the education community to evolve at a rapid rate. These children are in Mrs. Cassidy's 1st grade class, thats right 1st!, located in Moose Jaw, Canada. Mrs. Cassidy has her kids using blogs to communicate with students and teachers from all over the world. She has also incorporated the use of skype, which allows her class to have live video conversations with teachers from other classes. One of the most amazing features in the video is when the children speak of the people from Alabama(EDM 310), which shows how the use of internet tools allows you to connect with people from all over the planet. It is mind blowing to think that these students are already using the tools that I have just recently learned to use this semester. Mrs. Cassidy has her children up to par in the world of online education. This video is a great example of how these online tools influence students to become engaged in this new online education environment.

          The second video,Cassidy Part 1, is one of three skype interviews with Mrs. Cassidy herself. She informs the viewer that she has had a blog for 5 years,7 now, and has added videos in the last 2 years,4 now. It is amazing to learn with a true educational reformer!! With the help of federal funding, she has started including the use of many online tools in her classroom.  Just by being brave enough to be the "guinea" pig, she has raised the bar for the education community as a whole. I totally agree when she states that technology is not going anywhere. As future educators, we must include these new forms of online learning in our classroom in order to offer our students a chance to enjoy the benefits.
          In Cassidy Part 2 of 3, Mrs. Cassidy touches on the different ways teachers choose to use technology in their classrooms. Her influence is shown at the beginning when she speaks of how one of her co-workers has also began using the same tools she is. She also has another great point in answering Dr. Strange's question of whether or not teachers need to be technology literate, and that is it is extremely important. She also has another great proposal, which is that each educator should choose his/her own favorite method of online learning, whether it be video, blogging, or other forms.
Towards the end of the interview she urges the viewer to begin using twitter, along with Dr. Strange, in order to connect with a variety of educators in the same field.

          In the last video, Cassidy Part 3, Dr. Strange gives the EDM students a chance to ask Mrs. Cassidy a few questions. One of the first questions that stood out most to me was when she was asked if blogging would open the door for cheating. Her response is that instead of cheating by looking at other peoples assignments, we must collaborate, or "piggy-back" in order to develop ideas on the same or similar subjects. At the end of the video, Dr. Strange asks Mrs. Cassidy to show the students, with the use of skype, her back yard which is covered in snow. This interview with Mrs. Cassidy is a great example of how technology is causing the world of education to evolve.

          After reviewing Mrs. Cassidy's videos,most of the tools she talks about are already located in my PLN. The resource I will use most will be videos through Youtube and my own that I will create. I believe that, as a teacher if you can create a video intriguing enough, you can inspire your students to follow your path of being creative. Another resource that I intend on using to it's full potential is Twitter, which is how Dr. Strange met Mrs. Cassidy. As she states in the interview, Twitter doesn't seem useful at first, but in the long run it can be invaluable by allowing you to connect with educators within your age group and field of study. One of the fears of many teachers, as stated earlier in the post, is that students may try to cheat through blogging. I plan on doing exactly what Mrs. Cassidy suggests and become more creative with my assignments by constantly updating them, which will discourage cheating. Mrs. Cassidy's approach will open a new door to students and teachers alike. The tools she suggests we use as future educators will allow us to connect with a vast world of teachers and help us adapt to the ever changing world of  online learning.
         
        

Blog Post 10

Do You Teach Or Do You Educate?

After viewing Do You Teach Or Do You Educate, I feel like I've gained  better insight on the difference in between being a teacher and being an educator. To get started, one of the major differences, as pointed out in the video, is that an educator is someone that inspires you, not just helps you learn something. One of the first things I'm going to do as an educator is to simply get to know my class. Through all my years of school, I've been through quiet a number of teachers, and the ones that I can actually say inspired me the most were the ones that took the time to get to know me. .These educators played a major role in my life and are one of the main reasons why I'm still attending college today.Another way is through my enthusiasm, which is one of my best traits, and as an educator I will use it to inspire my students.
          One of the biggest things about educating someone is the effect it has on driving them towards reaching goals in their life. A teacher is someone that gives you a limited amount of information on a certain subject, whereas an educator is someone that will empower your desire to learn more on that same subject. I plan on getting involved in my class in a way that will change their lives. It is important to keep learning enjoyable, and I plan on doing this by setting up fun study methods, such as playing a trivia game in order to prepare for a test. Another way I plan on reaching out to my students is through the use of  my blog. Since I've began using this tool in January, it has opened my eyes to an entirely new world of online educating. With the help of Blogger, educators will be able to connect with their students online and allow them to view videos and other sources that pertain to the subject being taught. We have seen how various educators all over the globe have used their blogs to connect with their students with our C4T and C4K assignments, which has inspired me to do the same. At the end of the day, I just want to be remembered, and what better way to do that than by having a positive influence on someones life?

     Don't Let Them Take The Pencils Home

In Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take The Pencils Home, he brings to light a very important message in a unique way. It took me a little while to figure out the deeper meaning of the post, but after reviewing the links provided on Mr. Johnson's blog, I now have a better understanding. He uses this post to reveal the recent debate over whether or not allowing students to take home computers is helping them in the classroom or hindering them. He takes a very unique approach by replacing the word computer with the word pencil throughout his post. I enjoyed this method because it causes the reader to become engaged and to seek the deeper meaning of the post, a true sign of an educator.

          He is approached by one of his bosses/supervisors in which she presents the problem with allowing students to take their computers home. Her argument is that test scores tend to drop because instead of using the computer for learning, the students tend to use it for playing games. Mr. Johnson then points out the fact that their school is located in a poor community. He uses this information to support his argument because children in poor societies look at computers as a toy, not a  learning tool. He reveals his idea of how he will solve the solution by taking on a few simple tasks. First, he explains that he has met with both the students and their parents to discuss ways that computers should be used for learning. He then describes how he has began teaching the parents how to use the computer in similar ways in order for them to somewhat monitor how their children are using the computers. He also explains that he intends to keep the assignments enjoyable for his students, which is not hard to do with all the options and different educational tools offered online today. In conclusion, I support Mr. Johnson's argument because he concludes with the statement that even if they are playing games there is a good possibility that there is still learning taking place.

       

         

C4T#3 Summary post

I was assigned to Mrs. Vicki Davis , author of the Cool Cat Teacher Blog,for my C4T #3. Mrs. Davis is a full-time teacher and mother of three whom lives in Camilla,GA. For my first comment, I chose her post about Elearning and Global Competency. This post reviews a situation where a student receives constructive criticism from a fellow classmate. This shows that sometimes it takes a different situation in order for us to learn from our mistakes. As she states in her post, the quick exchange with his peer made more of an impression than repeated attempts from his teacher did.
          For my most recent C4T post, I reviewed Mrs. Davis' post on Slavery Awareness. In her post, she informs her followers that she has her class involved in slavery awareness(May Day). At first I believed she was speaking about slavery in the past, until she informed me there are still currently 4.1 million slaves in the world TODAY!! This stat is not only mind-blowing but also a shame. I have agreed to look further into the website she has provided http://hopeforslaves.com, If you're interested check it out. I think it is great that she has her class involved in something that we all need to be aware of, slavery in the world today.

C4K Summary for March

For the month of March in the C4K category, I was assigned to comment on Amaan's blog. Amaan is a student in Mrs. Stones class at The School of Bradford. In his post, Amaan tells a story of two boys that are playing and run across 50 white spiders. After reading the story, I found myself longing to go back to the days of my childhood. It's amazing to interact with children all over the world and see firsthand how quick technology is changing the world of education.

Blog Post 9

For blog post 9, we read Mr. McClung's blog post, What I've Learned This Year (08'-09'). His post reviews what he has learned as a teacher throughout the course of the school year. One of the first subjects covered is how to read a crowd, which can be hard to do as a young teacher. The ability to read a crowd comes easier with experience, but as Mr. McClung states, a good teacher allows the crowd to drive his/her instruction. Mr. McClung also points out the importance of being flexible and having the ability to communicate. Being flexible is key in education because not every student is on the same learning level, nor can they execute a "perfect lesson" on a regular basis. Communication is another subject covered in the post which is very important because of the variety of people you will come in contact with daily as an instructor. Though teachers hold very high expectations for their students, we must be reasonable and remember they are only kids or "young adults." Adults all over the world seem to have a common problem with technology, that's why it is important that teachers don't be afraid of technology. Technology can be vital in the classroom, which is why it is important for the teacher of tomorrow to be familiar with it. Also covered is the importance of listening to your students, and how it can effect their learning habits in a positive way. At the end of the post Mr. McClung urges the reader to NEVER stop learning, because the more you know, the more you can teach, and as he states, we owe that to our students.
          For the second post I chose to view  What I Learned This Year(10'-11') which was Mr. McClung's third year as a teacher. As we discover in the first paragraph, this is Mr. McClung's second year at the same school, and his third year as a teacher. He then gives the reader insight on how he has had to adapt to becoming a head coach, and also teaching his first computer applications class. The first lesson he discusses from his new year is to know who your boss is. This is important in any field of work, but Mr. McClung is referring to the fact that as a teacher we need to remember why we chose this line of work, and that's for the kids. He stresses this because it is easy to lose sight of your goals when you are worried about pleasing someone, such as your boss.  He warns the reader to not expect others to be excited about change as you are in the next section. I can totally relate because I know how easy it is to have your hopes crushed because of someones lack of excitement. I believe this is important because usually the ones that will accept new ideas and adapt to new ways will make it A LOT further in life. The next topic is don't be afraid to be an outsider, which is somewhat similar to the last topic. He goes over why, as teachers, we should want to be outsider that is always inspired to learn new forms of teaching styles. Don't touch the keyboard is referring to his section that covers why we should make sure our future students get hands on learning. The reason this is important is because you want to avoid doing your students work for them, which is sometimes hard to do. Mr. McClung urges future teachers to not get comfortable in their job as a teacher. This is key because teaching, as everything else, becomes easier with practice. This can cause problems down the road because it is easy to get stuck in a daily routine, and to not challenge ourselves to develop new styles of learning. He offers advice on how to avoid getting too comfortable as a teacher, which is to accept new challenges in order to avoid becoming a LAME teacher. After reviewing his post, I now have a new respect for Mr. McClung, and better understand the tasks that lay before me on my path to becoming an instructor. I have gained priceless information that will help kickstart my career as a teacher.

Smart Board Project

Blog Post #8

This is how we Dream parts 1&2
After reviewing the video This Is How We Dream Pt. 1 by Richard Miller, I gained many valuable ideas about how I can use this technology in my classroom. As a writer and author, he explains how technology has affected his life, after having one of his works published, it now sells for less than a dollar online.In the video, he describes how he has had to adapt to the new world of teaching, which is what we all must be prepared to do as future teachers. He makes the viewer realize the severity of the situation by explaining how he has went from using the library as his primary source to now having his Macbook. He offers insight about how to take free tools from the internet and use them to enhance your future projects.After viewing the video I now have a better idea of how to use the new teaching tools described  to my advantage and allow them to improve my career as a teacher.

         One of his examples of how the web has changed teaching is when he describes his Virginia Tech project and shows the viewer it is forever saved on the internet through a search engine. This tool is amazing not only because it is saved online forever, but anyone can access it freely on the internet. Another example is through networking online and having the ability to add images and film clips to your published works. He shows this with his presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. that he enhances with the use of audio and video clips from online sources. In This Is How We Dream Part 2, He begins by showing the viewer examples of how online material is constantly being edited and updated through the use of the internet.  He then begins to show examples of how to use these online tools to organize your own published works.
        My favorite example he uses is Jonathon Harris' search tool that he created using nothing but the web. Miller shows  Harris' stunning discovery,which is a tool used to do vast searches in categories such as the news and online blogs all over the globe. Harris' creation should definately inspire viewers to utilize online tools  because it is unlike any other search engine I've ever seen and it was created solely with the web. Miller is making strides in developing a way to educate students that would allow them to learn how to use these tools. This technology would open new doors to an entire new world of endless knowledge and capabilities. These tools will  allow inventors and creators to not only develop their own dreams but to share them with others also. The ideas covered in Richard Miller's videos will open the door to many areas that could one day be a main source for educating the students of tomorrow.

Carly's Blog Post 12
In Carly's Blog Post 12 she does a great job of using Youtube to show how online sources can be used in the world of teaching. This is a great example of what Richard Miller  covers in his videos about how we, as future teachers, must utilize the free online tools of today. This is important because it is vital that the students of tomorrow know how to use these same tools in order to become better learners. Carly uses her youtube playlist to share a list of videos that will help future instructors along their path to becoming the teachers of tomorrow. As she covers, inspiration is key to becoming both a better teacher and learner, therefore, she added a few inspirational videos to her list.I'm sorry but if you watch the video Think Different and don't feel somekind of inspiration, you may want to check your pulse, AWESOME!!! Thanks Carly, you're an inspiration!!!!

Chipper & EDM for Dummies
In the student video The Chipper Series, Chipper is a female student in Dr. Strange class that makes many, many mistakes along her way. After slacking from the beginning of the video, Chipper makes the decision to drop EDM after failing to complete her assignments. She then goes on to make a series of mistakes by opening up her own school, which eventually fails because of lack of the required ertification. The videos covers a range of very important lessons of why it is important to strive to be a successful student. It covers many aspects of how a student can take on a life of laziness, and wind up failing in life altogether. In the video EDM for Dummies, Jamie does a great job of capturing how frustrating EDM can be, and also showing how much it has helped her in the end. I enjoyed both videos and would include ideas from each in my video. My idea for a video would probably be more serious, because it is a very serious situation    I would probably follow along the lines of the Chipper Series but have a guy wind up in old age still having to work a hard labor job, when he should be enjoying retirement.  I can relate to  both  Chipper and EDM 310 for Dummies because there's been a few times when I too have been ready to throw in the towel, but have managed to hang in there with the help of the EDM 310 team, thanks guys!!!

Learn to Change, Change to Learn
The video Learn to Change, Change to Learn does a great job of descibing how the world of education is in the lower category of importance in today's society. The video covers how classrooms today dont grasp the students minds as much as technology does outside of school. What I mean by this is that students whom are familiar with the internet and it's endless tools have a hard time paying attention in class. This is where the teacher of tomorrow ,a.k.a. me, will step in and merge the two together. Many of the ideas discussed are some of the same beliefs EDM 310 is built upon. Dr. Strange and his staff understand exactly what must happen in order for us,his students, to adapt to this new style of online teaching. I enjoyed the video and totally support the idea it is based upon, because I've witnessed it in the EDM 310 classroom this semester first hand.

Scavenger Hunt
Using one of the suggested Web 2.0 sites, I created my first social network as a teacher using the edmodo online tool. The system is basically set up like facebook, but is made specifically designed to allow teachers to connet with their students online. This tool is a great example of how the online classroom idea is evolving. Edmodo allows you, as a teacher,  to keep everything organized in your online teaching profile. I can take this tool and use it in the future to teach my class online by just adding my students to my edmodo group. I will also be able to utilize this tool to connect with teachers and other students around the globe with ease. I've enjoyed learning about this new social teacher network and definately plan on adding it to my PLN.

My Comic Strip
Here's a link to My comic I created for Blog Post 8 Meet Moose, Thanks, and here's the link so you can create your own, ENJOY!!!http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/

Project # 11 Short Movie

Project #9b Timeline

PLN Progress Report

A PLN, or personal learning network, is an online tool that allows you to have quick and easy access to a wide range of internet tools, whether used for work or personal use. The PLN I chose to use is Symbaloo, which is free and easy to learn how to use. I have just recently began utilizing this tool and have come to find it very useful in executing many tasks quickly.

            For example, I needed to complete the Timetoast Timeline which was due for a project this week and my PLN allowed me to navigate directly to the website and begin my assignment quickly. Another great thing about the Symbaloo system is the various ways you can personalize it. For instance if you would like to arrange your websites into four different categories, you could do so with ease. Another great feature about the PLN is that if you get tired of working online you can quickly jump to a form of entertainment, such as the latest Youtube video. Also, Symbaloo offers News links to current news around the world which can be vital in keeping up with current events.  Most of all, the latest online education tools are easily accessed, which is an invaluable tool to new and upcoming teachers. This is just a few ways I have learned to utilize the free tools offered by my PLN.

Blog Post #7

Networked Student
The video Networked Student proposes the idea that 21st century students will use the Internet and it's various tools to become self-learners. The idea is very realistic and could become a reality in the near future. As we've learned throughout this semester in EDM310, the world of technology is growing at a mind-blowing rate, and shows no signs of slowing down. The number of people throughout the world with internet axcess is another reason why the Networked Student could become a reality. Teachers all over the globe are adapting to new forms, such as the use of Blogs, to inspire their students to become advanced learners.
         In the video, the use of Blogs and other networks allow students to interact with students and teachers all  over the world. This opens a whole new door for the student, in which he can communicate and learn from some of the world's best instructors. With the new style self-learning student, what will the role of the teacher be in the future? That question is answered in the video, it's our job to teach them how to build and use their networks. The internet can be used for many good reasons, but it also has its negative uses, which is the teacher's job to decipher. It may not happen exactly as the video predicts, but I do believe this new type of student is evolving as we speak.

          The Networked Student idea would allow students to interact with other students around the world, which would allow them to gain insight on different cultures and lifestyles in the world. The teachers job is also vital because without them, the student would'nt know how to use the networks. The teacher will serve as a guide for the student, in which he/she will be taught how to properly use the education tools of the future. This is a very important job because of online criminals, or hackers,which will continue to be a problem in the future. That is why it is the teachers job to prepare the student to look for and be able to identify these problems. The student of tomorrow must be prepared to use the technology of tomorrow, or he will be left behind. This is why the role of the teacher will always be an important one.

Welcome To My PLE!
In the video, Welcome To My PLE! , I learned various things about how to further enhance my own PLN. My PLN is set up a little different than the students in the video, but it still serves the same purpose. The video definately helps you to gain ideas to help organize and build your own. My PLN allows me to have instant axcess to all my favorite websites, social networks, and other online tools which are used throughout the semester in EDM 310 and also when I become an instructor. The only major difference is that the student in the video has her PLN color coded, whereas I do not.

Team K.A.T.E. Podcast Project #8

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Blog Post #6

In the video Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, Dr. Pausch tells the story of how he followed his dreams to unimaginable places. Randy had many dreams as most children do, but unlike others, he chased them until most of them became realities. Along the way to chasing his dreams he had the luxury of meeting various key figures, such as his college professor Andy Van Dam, that challenged him to be unique. There are also other factors that played a role in Randy's life, such as his intense love for football. Though he never achieved his dream of becoming a professional football player, he learned the values of hard work through the game. Randy used the same concept on his way to making amazing advances in his classroom. Randy earned  the title of college professor and now teaches at Carnegie Mellon University, where he continues to adopt and experiment with different ways of teaching.
          I think many of the views expressed in the video will help me to become a better teacher. One of the key aspects of teaching is being able to communicate with your students. As Randy states in the video, it is important to be careful on how you talk to someone because they could take it the wrong way. For example, students are less likely to pay attention to someone  who is being rude or discourteous towards them. Another one of his teaching attributes i learned from the video is he didn't follow the guidelines of "textbook" teaching. In  other words he divided his class into different groups and challenged them to work together to complete assignments. This method of teaching proves to be effective when the students design a mind-blowing virtual world, which is shown in the video.
          Dr. Pausch accomplished something that many teachers spend there entire lives trying to do, make something difficult  enjoyable. He accomplished this task by thinking outside of the box and creating his college course Building Virtual Worlds. At the time, it was the first class to split the students into random groups and assign them different tasks, such as designing virtual worlds through the use of software. This type of teaching was ground-breaking and is now used in colleges throughout the United States. The course became an instant phenomenom in which students were lining up in great numbers to attend. The technology used in his course went on to be a huge success, and was used  in the Spider-Man 3 film.

         Randy and Don Marinelli established the Entertainment Technology Center to offer a Master's degree in Entertainment Technology. This Master's degree is different than any other because it is totally based off of group projects. The Degree comes with a written aggreement from five major companies, such as Electronic Arts, guaranting the student with a job after graduation. Another tool Randy took part in designing was ALICE, which is a system that teaches computer programming. The beauty of this tool is that it makes a game out of learning, making it enjoyable. Dr. Randy Pausch was an amazing man and made many priceless discoveries in the field of teaching, he will be remembered forever. I plan on using many of his views within my own classroom, such as challenging my students to work as a team and most of all,to have fun.

Terrell's Timeline

Blog Post #5

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
In The post Dr. McLeod speaks of how parents should keep their kids away from computers. This would actually wind up hurting your children in the longrun because of how connected the world and it's people are to computers. I think he takes it to the extreme because he is only being a father. Computers are notoriously dangerous because of sexual predators and various types of perverts. Dr. McLeod describes himself as a solution builder, idea generator, and a catalyst, all of which are shown through his post.

The Ischool Initiative
I enjoyed almost every aspect of Travis Allen's videos. I think his ischool idea is absolutely brilliant. He does a great job of revealing how he plans to use the ipod Touch to change the world of education. He speaks in the video about the ongoing problem within the U.S. education system. I think his idea of an electronic school is not only amazing, but could also work. Parents are required to spend hundreds of dollars each year for school supplies and books. The beauty of the ischool is the only thing you must purchase is a version of an ipod touch, which usually costs around $150. Everything else you need is available through itunes which is an easy-axcess system that runs most of Apple's products.
After obtaining your ipod and familiarizing yourself with it's software, class is about to begin. Another great thing about Travis' idea is that all the textbooks needed are available on your ipod. Being able to download your books will not only save tons of money, but also our environment. The use of the applications shown in the video,allows students to focus on certain areas in which they've had problems in the past. The Calender application that is shown allows teachers and students to keep track of their assignments and important dates. The video helped me out by showing the U.S. Constitution application, which will be a major help in Government. I support Travis' idea one hundred percent and hope he gets the help he needs in order to make his vision a reality.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
In the video, Whitacre takes 185 people from around the globe and creates a majestic choir performance unlike no other. This use of the internet is absolutely amazing. As pointed out in Jennifer's post, one of the most unique things about the performance is that none of the performers had ever met. This video is just another great example to show how much technology has evolved. The entire video was composed over the internet by 185 strangers that had never praticed or performed together. This use of the internet could be utilized in the future in order to bring the people of the world closer together.

Teaching In The 21st Century
In the video Teaching in the 21st Century, Roberts gives his views of what teaching will be like in the future. Because of quickly evolving technology, teachers are no longer a main source for information. Now all a student has to do is jump on the internet and type in a question. In order to not become obsolete, the teachers of the future must be ready for a new style of teaching. The technology of tomorrow is astounding, but who's going to show them how to use it? That's why teachers, in order to better prepare students, must learn how to use these tools themselves.


Reading Rockets
After reviewing the website Reading Rockets, I found various tools to help children on their way to becoming readers. The website points out the major problem of children in America lacking reading skills. In today's society, not only must you know how to read, but also you need to be able to do so with ease. Another problem with not being a sufficient reader is the lack of comprehending. In order for a student to be able to fully understand what they're reading, they must have the ability to comprehend what they read. The webpage offers various videos and other tools, such as podcasts, to help children with reading comprehension. The site also takes a different approach by having tabs at the top in order to categorize it for the student's parents, teachers, and principal for additional help.
The page also breaks down the aspects of reading into seperate categories. This feature allows the reader to focus on the areas where he/she is having problems. For example, if a child is having problems with the phonics aspect of reading, the website has an entire section on ways to help strengthen that area. In order to learn how to become a better reader, it helps to have something you enjoy reading. Thats why the site offers a list of suggested books and authors for children. Finally, they also have their own show on T.V. in order to help them learn from home. This website is a tool that can be extremely useful in helping develop a new generation of readers.

Blog Post 4

Podcasting in the Classroom
The first video I chose to view in order to gain ideas for our upcoming podcast assignment was Joe Dale's Podcasting in the Classroom. The video reviews the various ways that podcasting can be beneficial in the classroom. As stated in the video, most people born after 1980 have never known a life without technology. One of the biggest problems in the classroom today is being able to keep someone's attention long enough for them to learn, that's where podcasting comes in. The video informs that podcasts can be set up in various ways, such as videos or voice recordings. Another way to use podcasts is for an outline to help students follow along with a certain subject. Mr. Dale uses this type of podcast in the video. One thing that I learned from the video is that the podcast is posted onto Itunes. This opens many new possibilities, such as allowing sick or absent students to complete their assignments on time. Podcasts are an excellent tool that should be used for years to come.

How to Create a Podcast
The video How to Create a Podcast is a great way to learn how to get started making your own podcast. It starts off by introducing the viewer to a free online software program named Audacity. Audacity is a program used to create and edit recorded clips that make up your podcast. The video walks you through step by step on how to get your podcast ready to publish by downloading or opening a few simple files. After you have finished editing your podcast and it is complete, you're ready to upload the file on the host site Podango.com. After using Podango, there are a few more steps leading up to the website Mypodcast.com. This website allows you to record, publish, and air your podcast. Finally, the last step is submitting your podcast to a search engine, In which the video suggests the site Podcast411.com. This video gave me valuable tips on my way to getting started creating podcasts.

Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting
In Ms. Rosenthal's Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting post, she touches base on a very important tool of podcasting, listening. She explains how important hearing all the aspects of a word is. The aspects of a word are key to learning what it truly means. Ms. Rosenthal's goal is for the listener to not only hear the sounds of the letters that make up the word, but also it's embedded context, the melody of it's sentence, and the words that lead to and follow it. All of these aspects come together and allow the listener to grasp the meaning and better understand what he/she is listening to. The article also points out that the podcasts can be used to help someone who is trying to learn a new language by hearing the words and learning how they are spoken.The use of the Smartboard tool,a user-friendly editing tool, allows the students to work on the podcast as a group with ease. This is another great example of how the podcast tool is used to help students become better teachers. This article taught me to pay close attention to the pronunciation of my words in my podcast.

Project 6 My Sentence video

Blog Post #3

Technology in Special Education
Technology is rapidly changing each day, as Mrs. Tyler points out in the video. In the field of special education new technology allows many special needs students to succeed where they failed in the past. Mrs. Tyler does a great job comparing the old special needs technology to the technology used today. The old technology shown in the video,such as the reading chart, was in need of immediate updating. The advancement in technology allows the kids to do various things they could'nt do before, such as read and write. New technology is needed in the classroom today in order to better serve the special needs students.
Many of the tools in the video are commonly used throughout society today, such as computers. The computers used by the students are designed to allow them to interact with the class in various ways. The technology also makes them more willing to learn because they enjoy using the computers more than they did the old reading charts. Another tool used in the video that helped the kids was the ibooks application. This tool allowed a special needs student to listen to and comprehend a book the class was reading, in which he had problems with in the past.The video is a great example of how advancement in technology is always needed. I support the idea Mrs. Tyler proposes in the video and encourage schools to do so also worldwide.

How the Ipad works with Academics for Autism
The app I would most likely choose would be the Kids Writing Pad. Alothough it is shown in the video, I chose this app because it helps in many different areas, not just one. First, It allows practice in writing through the use of the pecil and touchscreen. Secondly, it helps the child with spelling because they must spell the word out in order to write it. Finally, it helps the child with pronunciation of words, after writing the word they can spell it out loud on the app. I've been debating on whether or not to purchase an Ipad, and have chosen to do so in order to better prepare myself as a teacher.

Gary's Social Media Count
Gary's Social Media Count shows how much society, as a whole, uses uses the internet worldwide. This is a result of advancements in computer technology. In order to be prepared to teach the citizens of tomorrow, I must be familiar with most of the programs listed. The use of online tools, such as social networks, has reached alltime highs in recent years. One of the main reasons these components continue to grow is because of how easily they are used. A person can now send messages globally in a matter of seconds, and the rate is steadily growing.
In many ways, these facts are scarey to many people that actually realize what they're looking at. The growth of technology is not exactly slowing down either. There are constantly advancements being made in order to make our lives easier. With greater population comes higher demand for efficient products, such as the ipad, Droid, or any Apple product.

C4T 1

In Fisch's Crowdsource My Basement Design, he is asking for input on any ideas to help him remodel his basement. the idea is for the reader to gain a picture of the remodeled basement in his/her head. With the help of pictures, and a blue-print layout, the design of the basement is brought to life.
The post Ideas I'd Like My Future Principal to Consider:The Schedule, One of the biggest problems within the American High School system is scheduling. Fisch uses this article to show the various problems that the system of scheduling has. He talks about a new type of schedule that the high school he works for has began using, The Variable Schedule. The Variable Schedule is very similar to that of today's college schedule. This schedule allows students to learn how to deal with unscheduled time, work and life, and grow deeper relationships with teachers. The high school schedule system that is used today was developed in 1967, which shows how badly our education system needs to deal with this problem.
In my first comment, I recommended a brand of appliances for Mr. Fisch to use in his basement. The reason I chose to do so is because I have roughly five years of experience in the Appliance repair business and thought I might could help out. In my second comment, I supported the descision to adopt a new style of scheduling in high school systems. The new type of schedule is known as Variable Schedule. The reason I chose to support the new schedule was because the schedule system used today is based off studies from 1967.

Wordle

Blog Post 1

1. My name is Terrell Still Jr. I come from a small farm community by the name of Mccullough, Alabama. I was born and raised on a farm and have an intense love for anything to do with the outdoors, such as fishing,hunting,and four-wheeler riding. I lived with my parents until I graduated high school after working a few years. I never believed I would pursue a college career until I realized how necessary it is to have one in this day and time. It took me working hard-labor jobs, such as carpentry,roofing,and framing, to finally gain respect for a higher education.I was lucky enough to have parents and grandparents that pushed me to finish high school and to pursue a college education. Unfortunately, my grandparents passed away before I was able to graduate from college. The story of my education has its ups and downs, but hopefully the final chapters of me pursuing my bachelor's degree will end well at the University of South Alabama. My education began at Escambia Academy, a small private school on the outskirts of Atmore, Alabama, and I also graduated from EA. My parents and grandparents sent my sisters and me to a private school in order for us to recieve a higher quality education. Like so many other young adults, I assumed I could take on the world easily with my high school diploma in hand. I worked until the Spring semester of 2007, and I that point I realized that life would not be easy without a college education. I started classes at Faulkner State Community College, and my education was underway. After a few semesters at Faulkner, I had to make a decision on where to finish my education. It was the summer of 2010 when I decided to move to Auburn to finish school. I made a few bad decisions and wound up back in Atmore three months later. I had plenty of time to think about my mistakes after sitting idly in Atmore for a year. Sometimes mistakes are necessary stumbling blocks that you have to step over to get to higher ground. So, here I am today in my first semester at the University of South Alabama with a second chance for success. 2. Many of the methods Mr. Pausch addresses in the video can be vital to making the most use of your time. The first helpful hint was the list of questions to ask yourself in order to gain a better understanding of the task at hand. Asking yourself these questions will get you on your way to efficient time management. Another key to using time wisely is planning. Planning helps you become more familiar with what you must do with your time. Finally, to-do lists are great tools for utilizing your time efficiently. The key to becoming more time efficient is experience, and the only way to gain experience is through practice.

Practice Post

My First Post