Week 7

This is How We Dream
This video really hits me just because an English professor is telling us that technology is the future. Dr. Miller says we are now in a "digital environment" and we need to use the new materials that we have at hand. He says that as educators, we have to share our knowledge and the internet is the easiest and fastest way to get it all out for people to find. I completely agree with him. One of my teachers said that the best way to hide something is to print it. Many people do not read any more. Much of their information comes from electronics. Dr. Miller shows us iTunes in his video which is an excellent way for people to find everything. As he says, instead of going to the library, you can stay in the comfort of your home and find any information that you need.

As Dr. Miller mentions, the internet can be the easiest way to do research. I just finished a research paper. My reference sheet show three books and about seven internet sites. Items are easier to find on the internet than a book. For books, first you must find a book that has the information that you want. Then you must find the information that you want in the book. With the internet, you can just type in what you want and "click" you have it. Not rustling through dusty bookshelves for something that may or may not be there.

At the moment I am not competent enough to completely work with multimedia, but by the end of this class I hope to be. I cannot see myself working quite like what he shows us but I do hope to be able to work decently with it. I believe that once I start teaching, my students will have a greater knowledge of technology than what I am trying to grasp now. And if they are not, then I plan for us to work together in building our knowledge, because as many are saying now, technology or "the new humanities" is the future.

The Networked Student
This sounds like my Microcomputing Systems class, thought it seems like the teacher is used a little less. We meet two or so times a week but everything is done online and we have to use blogs and PLN. The teacher does not really lecture and we have even have a YouTube video maker Skype with our class. And of course, we have the wonderful no book rule. iTunes U was be a great help with that.

This type of class is different from what I am used to. I enjoy having a class where the teacher lectures some and I see them at least twice a week. I like a personal touch over the technology but technology is a great way to get in touch with other people. The PLN is a great help.

I hope I could be a decent network teacher. I have a lot more to learn before I could guide anyone in technology, but a network teacher is still a teacher. It especially showed when they said she hopes that they use what she taught them when they leave the class. All teacher wish that.

Toward a New Future of Whatever
I liked how Professor Welsh showed how people open up more through technology. I agree. In anything that I have done publicly through technology, whether Facebook or blogging, I am much more open about how I feel or think. I feel less self-conscious. When I write some of the things, though, I also want more attention, which is where the narcissism comes in. We want and expect people to look and pay attention to what we say when we write on Twitter, YouTube, or our blogs. I can see how people believe that the best way to be heard is to be in the media. Technology truly is getting to be a bigger part of our lives.

Comments 4 Kids
Have you ever heard of Secret Life of Scientists? This student introduces us to this site and tells us a little bit about Erika Ebbel, biochemist and Beauty Pageant Queen on his class blog.

Comments 4 Teachers(Week 7, 8, 9)

These are the comments that I posted for my Comments 4 Teachers

Bringing the Novel to Life
Wow. I adore reading and have thought about joining or making a book club but I never thought about any details. This makes a book club sound so much more organized but fun than what I really thought. Since I plan on being an English teacher, this sounds like it would be very helpful for me.

A Dozen Ways to Incorporate Technology into the History Classroom
I really liked this presentation. Though I am going to be an English teacher instead of History, I still see this as very helpful. This may be goofy but I got really excited about what I can use in my future class and how I will use them when I saw all of your ideas. I think that I could have fun making some lessons and my students could have fun and really learn with technology in my classroom.

Walden University Video- Using Technology to Expand the Classroom
I loved that you said that you do not want your class to just exist just during class time. I really want to be one of the teachers that interests their students in what they are learning. I want learning to be fun for them. If I take what you have talked about, I sure that I can succeed. Thank you so much!

Summary
The posts that I read were so inspiring and interesting for me. I really enjoyed this project. Mr. Langhorst is now officially on my PLN. I learned so much from him. I am extremely excited to about being able to actually put what I have learned into some use. Unfortunately for me, I have a while before I can.

Presentation About Me!

Week 6

Comments 4 Kids
This week I watched a video by year 4 students in Mr. McCafferty's class. They learned a catchy little ditty that can help them with problem solving. The students were so animated while they sang (or shouted) that I watched the video a few times. Because of the students' animation, i.e. the clapping, stomping, and yelling, the song repeated itself in my head for a while afterwards. For me, things like this (simple and catchy) help me to remember answers or information

Dr. Alice Christie's Web Site
My favorite part of Dr. Christie's web site was in the tab called Searching the Web. I think that out of all of the useful information on her web site, the is the most useful. With all of the things that I have been doing in school and observed from some teachers, this is wonderful. The tab contains information and links to information about the web. It also has links to dozens of search engines and research resources. This is a great place to start of research.

As a student, I have research papers to worry about all the time. I always use Google or Yahoo search just because I do not know any other. I think one of my favorite search engine on the page is HotBot. It shows the website's home page so I can see what the site looks like before I click on it. Another good page that I can use or send my students to is called High School Ace. It has link to any subject a high schooler might have. It also has links to see what is on the new today or difference references. Those are just two of the links that I can use. You should check it out.

iTunes University
Before this class, iTune use to just be a way for me to listen to music or maybe watch some videos. It was just for entertainment. Now iTunes is a place for me to learn. What a difference, right? iTunes purpose is no longer just entertainment but also education. Now I can see lectures(some for fun, of my choice, and not graded) and other course material from universities on iTunes U. For anyone involved in the field of education, this is a great help.

iTunes U has browser that you can use to find different subjects for you purpose. As a student, you can find lessons online for whenever you need it or other lesson that can help you understand. As a teacher, you can post lessons or problems online for your students to use. You can learn a different languages through the language link or just learn more about the English grammar. In the education section you can see things like Guitar Hero to Microsoft Excel. As iTunes U says, "Learn anything, anytime, anywhere." Thank you iTunes U.

iPod Use in the Classroom
iPods are much more than mere music players now. They are now tools for educators. iPod can be used for just a single class to classes across the globe. They are students very own pocket classroom in which they can stop and replay over and over. From kindergarten to university levels, iPod used is rapidly expanding. The Chapin School uses iPods for their foreign languages, computer proficiency, and music classes. Georgia College & State University created iVillage where their students can virtually learn and communicate with each other.

In 2004, Duke University gave iPod to all of their first year students for the students to use in their classes. They now give iPods to students only in certain courses. Duke expected twelve hundred students to use iPods for lectures and the like for some of their Spring 2005 courses. Duke Digital Initiative, formerly known as iPod First Year Experience, is a program in which students work on mastering the use of technology through use strategies, teaching, and curriculum enhancement. If you would like to see some uses of the iPod in classrooms, check out Education World.

Week 5

Wikipedia
We all have heard that we should not used Wikipedia as a source in any paper. Anyone can change facts and the "facts" can be any range of fact (or fiction.) I have never used Wikipedia as a source for any of my school reports or researches. I knew that people change the facts for fun or for benefits. One of my friends has actually told me that his friends in high school used to change facts to something ridiculous just to see how long it would take for someone to notice and change it back.
These articles that I read tell us about a man named Virgil Griffith and some of the work he has done with Wikipedia. Griffith wanted, after hearing that politicians change up their facts on Wikipedia, to see who else changes Wiki information. Griffith found a way to trace Wikipedia changes back to the groups who changed them. We can actually see exactly why our teachers have told us to never use Wikipedia.

What I've Learned This Year
This is a great blog for anyone who wants to be a teacher. Mr. McClung highlights and describes some if the major points that many future teacher may worry over or make mistakes about. He writes about what some of my best teachers have. They have to listen, be flexible, communicate, and learn.
We need to listen to our students and fellow workers. Hear what your students say like what problems they may have or what would help them further. Take advise from others. Your ideas may be good but another's may be better. Being a teacher does not mean you cannot learn from others, including your students. In fact, being a teacher just means that you have a bigger responsibility to learn. Any teacher who starts off thinking that they know everything and do not need to listen are going to get the shock of their life when they find out otherwise.

Comments 4 Kids
This week I visited Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom Blog and commented on Ryland's blog at this link. Ryland is learning how to read and write. I am so excited for him. Though I had always hated learn how to read and write, I now find them to be two of my favorite hobbies. I hope that he learns to enjoy them also!

Week 4

Comments4Kids
I admit it. I am a huge fan of this. I read Taryn's blog of his week at this link. The poor boy's week was full of tests. A baby visited their class and he was pretty excited about it. He sounds so sweet. He and his classmates get to talk to other children their age all over the globe through blogging. I think that this is a great idea for the children.

Eagle's Nest Radio
Podcasting is a great way for children to learn. They know that they are going to be recorded and then posted where everyone can listen. They actually have to know some of the material beforehand. I love how so many of the students participate in this. The students all have to cooperate with each other. They seem to be enjoying themselves. Since my class has to do the same sort of thing, it was fun hearing these students.

Podcasting does not seem as hard as I was making it out to be. I would need to pick out some fun music for the introduction and ending and more sounds for effect. All that is left is to pick out who else is working with me and then find a good interesting topic. The students topic are educational but they were taught in a fun entertaining manner. I enjoyed listening to them explain some of history like the gladiators or explorers.

Blog 3

iPhone Used By One Year Old Baby
This baby is adorable. He is one year old and knows how to use an iPhone! His motor functions are not quite as advanced as an adult's would be and he gets a little enthused but he still manages to get where he wants to go. The phone actually looked like a very fun toy for him.

My teachers keep telling us that the younger students that are coming up today know more technology than their teachers do. This child is a great example. He will be starting school when I start teaching. He will have grown up using the newer technology. The use of technology starts almost from birth. New games use for children to learn to read at an earlier age or just something to keep them entertained are coming out several time a year. Children stay inside more and more often and keep themselves entertained by playing with technology. Click here for iPhone Baby video

Podcasts
One of the Podcasts that I listened to was called Kidcast. The segment that I listened to talked about Videocast. The man explain how to make Videocast and their pros and cons. I prefer his podcast, where the talker speaks to the listeners, to the podcast where there are two talkers and they talk mostly to each other.

David Warlick had a podcast where he talks to several different teachers and they discuss podcasting in the classroom. The teachers help their students podcast or post lessons so students can look back and look over what their teacher had taught earlier. They also used class chat room to go over lessons. This just shows how much farther technology is heading in education. Education is really moving with the times. Using technology can really help students get into learning. In another podcast, EdTechTalk, a teacher tells us that some of her students used Wikis to communicate with each other to do some out of class work. Her students were even exercising their leadership skill by answering each others' questions online.
Another podcast tell about the new iPad. I just find it amazing that all of this new technology is popping up everywhere. You can buy one thing that is top of the line and brand new, but two months later something else could come out that new newer and supposedly better.

Media Literacy in the First Grade and Little Kids... Big Potential
These kids are amazing and adorable. I actually did get a little confused doing something on their web page and had to remember what they said to do to comment. I made my roommate watch this video with me and it surprised us both to see such young children doing so well technologically. I am a sophomore in college and I have to catch up with first graders. I never would have thought that would happen.

It amazes me to see how well these children can use the computer. It is great to see how much fun the children have learning. This is great for them. They are in first grade and can use the internet. While they are using technology, they are also learning how to share at the same time. Hopefully they will keep learning as they get older.

Blog 2

A Vision of Students Today
Part of this video is much like my college life. I spent most of my days in my room. If I am not in my room I am in class or getting groceries. My twenty credit hour semester keeps me fairly busy. So many hours have to go into each class for homework and studying. Once one is done, another is waiting.

I know that college students spend much time and money but it surprised me to see exactly how much is spent. I personally know people that have spent hundreds of dollars on text books only to find that they will never use it in the class. The needless waste of money like this is a part of the reason why students are up to twenty thousand dollars in debt by the time they graduate.


It's Not about the Technology
Thank you Mrs. Hines! I had just read that what I learn about technology now will become obsolete by the time I start teaching. Since I keep hearing that technology is the future, I worried that my technological deficiencies may affect my ability to teach. Thank you for telling us that teaching and learning can be done with or without technology.

Having the ability to teach is the most important tool. I also know first hand that a teacher may know the subject he or she is teaching but they must be able to teach the subject to others. Throwing information at students is not teaching. Teachers must find a way to instruct in a way students can understand. Giving the teacher costly equipment will not help students learn if the teacher cannot teach.


Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Technology is everywhere and growing. There are newer iPods and iPhones, smaller computers, and applications galore for all of them. Homes, businesses, and schools all have and use technology increasingly but we can still work well without it.

Although I do think that technology is very useful in teaching, I cannot see being technology illiterate as such a terrible thing. I do not think that I will ever be my definition of technology literate but I do plan on using technology to aid in my teaching. I do not believe I will fail as a teacher just because I am technology illiterate.


Gary's Social Media Count
This was amazing. I did not realize just how much people use technology to communicate. The video "A Vision of Students Today" showed how many hours a college students averages on Facebook but this shows how much people use technology to communicate with each other. It also shows many different ways people can communicate with each other without being near.

The money and time people put into technology is amazing. The numbers shown on this does indicate that using the internet would be a great way of advertising. People can have a life and live well without actually leaving their front porch. I do wonder how people would react if they were pulled off their computers,cells, and iPods.

Blog 1

Did You Know? 3.0
I loved this presentation!It gave random bits of information about technology and humans in general. The graphics were great at emphasizing the bits of information and all of the data was easy to understand. The information surprised me but it made sense.
I found some of the facts amusing, like "there are 31 million searches on Google every month," because I am guilty of being a part of that 31 million. As a future teacher, it vexed me when I learned that all the technical information I learn in college will be outdated by the time I start actually teaching.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
I thought that this was a cute video for children. Poor Mr. Winkle really did receive a shocker. I can't imagine waking up to see my entire world changed.
I think Mr. Winkle might have notice a few more differences in the places he visited. One thing that might have stood out was female workers. The number of female workers probably equaled the number of male workers, which is very different from one hundred years ago. Mr. Winkle might have seen that instead of blackboards and chalk, teachers use white boards and markers and projectors to teach their students. The number of students in the school might have also alarmed him. Students are now required to go to school whereas one hundred years ago, students might have skipped school to help out their families with work around the house. He might have noticed that unruly children in school are not disciplined as they were in his time. He might have also learned that random people cannot wander around a school campus unauthorized without some type of consequence.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
I thought that this video was great. I really hope to use this teacher's technique of teaching. She was teaching not only technology, but cooperation. The students were working together and teaching each other which only helps to reinforce what they have learned.
She also expected the students to try to learn. She said she would use new words and not explain what they mean. Students have to look up the word themselves. I have learned the hard way from my father that this also is a better way of remembering something instead of just being spoon fed information.

Schools Kill Creativity
Sir Ken Robinson shocked me. His humor was fascinating and his speech was brimming with sense and marvelous ideas. I have never thought about some of the things that he spoke of. The thought of children growing out of creativity by being taught to fear doing something wrong scares me.
I loved Gillian Lynne's story. I had heard it somewhere else and thought about it often but I was never told who the little girl was. I had already disliked the idea of children being diagnosed with ADD and Gillian Lynne's story just strengthened my disapproval.