PLN Post 2

I still getting used to it. I have been reading teachers blogs and getting more and more involved in twitter. I have some teachers on Facebook. It's real nice to have someone experienced to ask question. And as I become a new teacher I will get more and more involved in using my PLN.

Goodbye

Final Blog Post

1. I learned so much from this class. But there are only a few things I will continue to do. Blogging is actually really fun. I think I might create a blog of my racing adventures and so forth. Next thing I learned about is YouTube. Now I already knew a little, but now I know how to use it better. And let me tell you it is way more fun now. Movie making, I love make movies now. It's so much fun, especially since it's so easy to put on Youtube. PLN, where as I thought this was dumb at first, it's a real good idea. It's nice to have people to ask questions. Now probably the most important thing I learned from this class was, getting a Mac. It has change my life.

2. I would have liked to learned more about movie editing and uploading podcasts.

3. I never used Picasa. And creating a wiki, not really my thing.

4. Yea, I learned all kinds of stuff. Because of this class, I plan on submitting videos on Youtube and keep blogging. I plan on taking over the website my dad created and making it better. I like computers and the internet more now.

5. I can not think of anything. I know it's crazy, but I can't.

6. Yes reading tons of blog post. It got a little old after a while. I do not know how you, teachers, do it. It would drive me insane.

7. Not as many post readings and commenting.

8. I think I am in middle. There is still much for me to learn.

9. I plan on keeping up with the things I like. And being more open to things as the come out.

April 25 Blog Post

Comments4Teachers 10 & 12

I commented on dragonsinger's blog. The two post I read were Classroom management and WikiEducator vs. Wikispaces. Both good articles. She, I think it is a she, has tons of videos and pictures of her class! It's a really neat site.

Survey

I did a survey about college at South. I asked them their majors, what there first choice was, why they came to south. The majors where 40% Secondary Ed, 36% Elementary Ed, 16% Special Ed and 8% other. Most of them where Juniors or sophomore. 48% said South was their first choice. There was many different reasons stated for coming South.

Click here to view entire summary.

Google Earth

Project 8 Teaching someone using technology

Comments4Teachers 7, 8 & 9

I did this comments for teachers was Bud Talbot. I picked three of his post that I liked. They were all about different things, but all partaning to teachers. Teachers need to build a relationship with his or her students. A teacher can know everything about there subject, but fail to teach a child. Teachers need to use the students hobbies to help them learn. Next is twitter, where as at first I disliked twitter. I am begining to thank that it will be great for teachers. It is useful in keeping students open to all views and ideas.

Interview with Manuel Vital

Project 14

Chelsie, Paola, Brittany and my Project 14 video.

Podcast

Click here to listen to Brittany, Paola, and mine podcast!


Click here to see all Podcast!

April 18 Blog Post

Well I wasn't sure what to talk about. I didn't know what to pick. Well I decide on something that I like, but am not really fond of. I know real confusing. I like blogging. It's a neat way to get your feeling out. However, for this class it makes it stressful. But lets get going.

First I'm going to talk about the blogging for the class. I think it's fun sometimes. Sometimes it hard for me to get to a computer with internet or I'm real busy studying for a test that I have to take. I enjoy the blogging. But every time I write a blog I feel like I'm writing a paper. The spelling and grammar have to be perfect. It has to be so long. It has to include pictures and links and etc..

Second reading other's blog: Comments4kids, Comments4teachers, and Comments4classmates. I think this is awesome. I love reading others blogs. The Comments4kids I'm a little indifferent about. I could take it or leave it. The Comments4classmates are nice sometimes, especially when I'm not sure exactly what to post about. The Comments4teachers is really good, because some of them make blogs of what works for them and what doesn't. It's nice to be able to read tips and fact from some great teachers, ones that normally I wouldn't ever meet.

Racing

Skype

To start off I love skype. I would even pay to use skype, not very much, but I would pay. I have used skype to talk to my partners about the podcast and other projects. I even use it to talk about work for other classes. I think skype is a neat tool, that I will continue to use well after this semester is over!

Comments4Kids Week 14

Their post was about the snow. They had a snow day and only two people came to school. I wished we had snow like the did. Click here to see their picture.

Comments4Kids Week 13

Osana wrote a blog about the camp she went to. She went out in a canoe. She said it was cold and that she was really nervous. But she learned how to use the paddles the correct way and had a good time.

Comments4Kids Week 12

I had Shyla's blog. She drew this wonderful picture. Of her at the zoo with the tigers!

Comments4Kids Week 10

Jessica wrote a haiku about a gator. It said,

"In the dark, cold swamp

The sly gator waits for prey

Eyes see left and right"

I thought it was cool.

Comments4Kids Week 9

They blogged about what they did that day. They had read tons of stories and even made a quilt about one of them. The story was about Wilma Rudoloh. It was realy neat. Click here to visit their blog.

April 11 Blog Post

I watched the two videos. And first off those little kids can sing very well. I was impressed. And I thought it was neat that they got to sing live. The second video about the Zax. This is an excellent video of how things don't slow down jut cause you do. Education needs to realize that just because it is still doing things the old way; doesn't mean everyone else is. I think it is important to keep up with technology, especially in education. We are training children to grow and a get good jobs; so when we get old and are on social security there is some one to pay it. Now of course most people don't really think of that, but it's true.

On the second part of the assignment: I'm some what confused. I'm not sure what exactly I'm supposed to be writing. I have tried to figure it out and still no clue. Any comments on what I am supposed to do would be greatly appreciated!

March 28 Blog Post

This was a great video by Dan Brown. I did read the post by Morgan, but after watching that video it just did not compare. I mean here is a guy that quit school, because it was interfering with his education. I have never thought about the vaule of education. How it has decreased over the years. I believe that Dan is right if Schools don't change, that they will be left behind. And I think that would be horrible. We needs school. Not so children can learn random facts, but to teach them how to find them and help them when they are stuck.

Now I could never quit school my parents would kill me. But I understand why Dan did. I feel the same way about so much he said. I have bought tons of books only to leave them in the wrapper. I would say 90% of my classes have been done by powerpoint. It needs to change to keep up with the times, and as teachers we need to make sure it happens!

April 4 Blog Post

Dear Kaia

This is awesome. To see how Kaia is using technology is amazing. I love how her dad is getting her involved in not only technology but learning in general. She will be so far ahead when she starts school. Hopefully by the time she gets in school that teaching has changed. The way teaching is now she will not stay on this track.

I love how classes can see what is going on in children. As teacher we need to remember that children can learn to use technology. They just need the right help and we must never give up on them. All children want to learn, it's the teachers job to help them!

March 12 Blog

ALEX is a database of lesson plans created by teachers. It is split into all different subjects. Also teachers can upload and save their own lesson plans. This program makes finding a different lesson plan easy.

I think that this is awesome for teacher, new teachers especially. With the database teachers can search through all the different lesson plans and find the best one for their class. Also with the ability to upload and save your lesson plans. This is great teachers can access their lesson plans from any computer.

ACCESS

ACCESS is a program in with students can take a class that is usually not offered at their school. This help students a smaller schools be able to get the same education as students as students is big, well-funded schools. The schools systems can save money by having less teachers, teaching more classes. It also makes being able to teach classes in different places all around the world at the same time with the same teacher possible.

This is a great program. Except for the fact that teachers will be needed less and less. Technology is taking jobs away from teachers. I know technology is great and is helping make teaching more accessible to more students. But eventually teachers will not be needed and with means less jobs. It makes education more accessible to students in poorer schools. It's great now, but what will it hold in the future.

PLN Post 1

Developing my PLN was a little harder then I thought it would be. I joined twitter and to be honest I don't like it. It's really difficult to understand. Now I use Facebook and I have a few teachers on there that I am friends with. I have asked them questions and advise.

Week 8 Comment4 kids

I read a post about the French Revolution. I think it was a very good summary of what happen. I agree with everything that was said.

Week 7 Comment4 kids

I read a post by Alondra. It was a post to new students taking the class she was in. Telling them they would love it. I love to see students enjoy classes.

Week 5 Comments4 kids

I read a post by Kate and Laura. It was called bitten and kinda followed what happen to Peter Parker in Spider-Man. This was very well written and I enjoyed reading it. I wished there was more to it.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Wow, Where do I begin? Randy Pausch is my hero. He is more of a man then anyone I have ever meet. He is an amazing man. He has accomplished more things in his life then more people set out to do in their lifetime.

Lets start with his talk. His talk was about childhood dreams. We all had them, just most of us forgot them as we got older. He talks about his childhood dreams and that her accomplished all of them but one, playing in the NFL.

His ideas about school are amazing. He makes learning fun. And he uses what he calls head-fakes. And if learning is fun then students will normally go above and beyond what is expected of them.

How should I end this. I would love to meet Randy. Not because of the things he has done with VR, I don't really care about it that much. But because of his outlook on life. He hit so many brick walls, but he continued on his way. He has the BEST outlook on life!

Feb. 28 Blog Post

Dr. Miller
I like how he starts out by saying he was a writer, yet he is doing videos. He talks about how he loves books and always wanted to work with books. He is a teacher that realizes that education has changed. And he is still a writer, but since he uses the internet his stuff goes out faster and to more people.

As teachers we need to be like him. To matter what our subject is, thanks to technology the way to teach it has changed. Because of the internet things can now be viewed just a few seconds after it was completed. Where as before we would have to wait for a new book to come out to tell us the information.

Wendy Drexler
I love this video. like a lot of the videos we watch it gives tons of information is something simple. I think that this is the where college is headed, high schools it's debatable. I think in college this is a great way to learn about information and also help you for the real world. Some teachers spell everything out, first this then this last this. I think this is great, but once out of school things are not always that structured.

It is a great way for students to learn what they want to. And not just be told what to learn. It is much more fun find something you like a go deeper into the subject. As a teacher, at first, I don't think I will be teaching networked students until I teach at the college level. If I ever teach a college level class then this will be a big part of the way I teach.

Michael Wesch
Whatever! To be honest when I saw that this video was 33 minutes long I almost did not watch it. I'm glad I did. What he said made so much since. And I love how he got a group of students do go out over youtube. Everyone uses youtube in some form or fashion. When I get on it is usually to watch some racing videos or to learn more about some sport I want to play. I really never cared to watch some home video of a child being bit. And I was very surprised to see how many people watched it. Not only watched it but made their own versions. Do these people spend their life youtube, whatever to each his own.

Comments4Kids Week 6

I watched a video about Raven. He said that he was glad to be school and that he wanted to be the captain of the Rugby team.

Feb. 21 Blog Post

Dr. Alice
There are so many things that can be done. I looked through her media stuff. From videos, pictures and sounds so much is possible. As teachers we must use the resources that we have. These things make learning more fun. Trust me that it is easier to learn things when they are done in a fun way.

Podcasting and videos are the big thing in media education, but so many overlook pictures. Just plain still pictures. Not just the picture itself, but the art of taking the picture. And yes there is an art to taking a good picture. My mom and I taken a ton of pictures. I love photography it has taught me a lot. Not just about being creative but math also.

iTunesU
iTunesU is a great thing if used in the right mind. Students can learn more at anytime and anywhere they choose. Classes might become a thing of the past. "In my day we had to go to classes for college, not lay in bed on the computer." You can quote me on that. I do believe that eventually this will happen, but not for awhile.

I wish that we had things on iTunesU. I know that Dr. Strange puts somethings on there, but I mean actually class lessons so if I miss a day it will be ok. There are things I like to do and sometimes class gets in the way. With iTunesU I can go do what I want and still go to class.

Dukes iPod
Duke gave a bunch of students iPods, freshmen at that. I think this a great idea. I wish I was at Duke. South is getting in to this. Not giving them out but using them in some classes. Now I will probably never have a class that uses the iPod, but younger students may.

I welcome this full force. I think it is great and hopefully trickle down into high schools. Apple has made a product that was meant for music and fun, into one of the best teaching aids. Administers and teachers need not hold back progress, but welcome it.

Life in the Fast Lane

Feb. 14 Blog Post

Wired Story
First of I think we can trust Wikis now. I love them. They are a great way to find out information really quickly. Yes there are problems, but I think the wiki scanner will fix most of these. I watched a show the other day called Tosh.O. The host Daniel Tosh has a wiki page about him. So as a joke he told people to go make changes. There where so many done and such bizarre things said. His wiki was removed. So this tells me that there is someone or some program trying to keep order.

What I've Learned by MR. McClung
Mr. McClung did a lot of learning as with all teachers when they first start out. I think that him putting his thoughts and things he learned will help other beginning teachers. I like how he said not to be afraid of technology. Tons of people are and the most get over it to teach in this day and time.

I know that I will go through my own learning process when I start, but hearing other teachers talk about theirs I think will make mine easier. The thing he said about teaching for the students and not administrators. This a big thing that often gets over looked. The students are the ones there to learn.

Feb. 7 Blog Post

Today I listened to The Benefits of pod casting in the class room. I love the information that is put in this movie. I agree pod casting is a great tool to use in the classroom. But there are some concerns that I do have. If your students can get lessons with out coming to class whats the point in coming. Another is that teacher can not rely on this to much. They need to teach their students.
I loved how the teacher in this video used the podcast and things to make class and stories more interesting. And letting the students create their own is a great way for them to learn. Not only the information but also technology that they will use later in life. So all in all I agree it is great to use pod casting in classrooms. The pros out way the cons.


Go Saints. WHO DAT?

Comments4Kids Week 4

I commented on Elena T. She wrote about Ruby and The booker Boys: The Slumber Party Payback. It is so cool to see kids using the internet and computers. Now the things they write will not only be seen by teachers but anyone that finds it. I wish my classes were like this. As a teacher I will remember that the internet is a good place for students if monitored by adults.

Blog post for Jan 31.

Well I went and listened to some podcast. This not the first time I have listened to podcast so it did not excite me all that much. I do however love the idea of podcasting. My friend and I have been talking about doing a podcast for a long time. And now that i have my new mac it will be so much easier to do.
The podcast I listen to where about videocasting and I listened to a few of the mac weekly ones. Nothing to exciting. But i like the fact that they are out there if I was interested. The best part about podcasting is that its free. Free is always better. I like how the school have podcast of the classrooms. And I am super excited that South is moving in that direction. Of course we are no where close to some schools, but it's a start.
More into the practical applications of podcasting. Podcasting is a great way for students to learn without going to class. This is awesome for college students, because most of them don't show up for class. Image that if college students didn't have to worry about waking up for an 8:00 class. They just listen to a podcast at their own convenience instead. Now with younger students, if a student is sick and can't come to school, but oh no there is a text the next day. Well if the teacher podcast a study guide then no worries. If not someone probably failed.
As I said earlier I think podcast are a great idea. I will be making one soon and not just for class. My friend will have one and hopefully make one each month. If we can get some free time away from school that is. All in all podcasting is awesome. It's free has lots of helpful stuff and some stuff that is just nice to listen to.

iPhone 1 year old.
This is amazing. It's crazy that this child can do this. I will be ready to teach this child when I start teaching. Just think how tech savvy this child will be in the third grade or high school. I think this is awesome.

Jan. 24 Blog Assignment

Micheal Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

This video gives me the chills. I love how it is done. It is so simple, but has such a big message. This movie is almost three years old and yet nothing has really changed. One of my favorite parts is when time comes up. But even the things they showed were not all the things students do. What about the ones that play sports and have hobbies. I race and it takes a bunch of time.

It talks about how some say technology is the answer. Not if teachers are unwilling to use it properly. I still have teachers that don't use technology. Most teachers refuse to learn and keep up with the times. When a teacher stops learning they become useless. Because times change new things come out.

Kelly W. Hines: It's not about the Technology.

I agree, I agree, I agree. I know kind of a weird way of starting, but I do. It does not matter if there is technology in the classroom if the teachers is unwilling to use it. Teachers must learners. Not only with new trends and ideas, but learn how is child is different. They must find what works for each child, or some child will be left behind.

Teachers that do not want to learn should not teach, mush less given technology to use. A school system that spends tons of money on technology, but keeps the same crappy teachers is wasting money. The article talks about teaching the children creativity and problem solving. If a student has these two things they can figure most things on their own.

Karl Fisch: Is it ok to be a Technologically illiterate teacher?

Extreme? I think not. I think he hit the nail on the head. Teachers need to keep up with what the students are doing. If they can not keep up they need to find a new job. Granted that a teacher now will not get fired for being technology illiterate. In the future this will change. I'm not saying teachers need to know it all, but they must be willing to learn.

That's where most teachers fail, learning more. The older the teacher the worse the problem. A teacher that has been teaching for 15+ years has not seen much change to their job. Whereas all other professions have. Teachers must realize that students can not be successful without technology.

Gary Hayes' social media counts.

What does this mean for me as a teacher? That technology is growing really fast. Students are spending more time on computers then in books. Why? Because it is different, fun, and exciting. School must be the same way. Now most of school is boring. If we, teachers, except students to learn we must adapt to them not the other way around.

First Blog Assignment Jan. 17

In this first assignment I had to watch four videos,Did you know,Mr. Winkle wakes, Ken Robinson, and Vicki Davis. Did you know was a video full of facts. Such as, Students are being trained for jobs that might not exist yet and students going to a four year college, the information they learn in their first year will be outdated by the third. Technology is growing at a fast pace, and it is only getting faster as years go by. The problem with this is that most schools have not brought technology in. In Mr. Winkle wakes, it shows how other places use the technology, but the school are still the same except for maybe having a computer. However not all school are so reluctant to bring in technology. In Georgia, Vicki Davis uses technology to make her students become thinkers. She has her students converse with other students all over the world. This gives the students an opportunity to meet new people and share ideas with someone they would have never meet before. Vicki Davis says, "That if a school only uses pen, pencils and paper only a few children will succeed." Students must be taught in more then just one way. With brings me to the last video, Ken Robinson. He made a speech on creativity. He says, "All children are born with a talent, but schools squander them." Schools have become so harsh on grading mistakes that students no longer take risk. The way technology and education moves forward is through taking risk. If no one took risk of fear of it being wrong, things will stay the same forever. But if everyone was not afraid of taking a risk, think of the things that can be accomplished.