Sunday, May 2, 2010
Bye For Now
I have enjoyed my time in this class. I hope to keep in touch with my teachers and classmates.
Final Post
1. I found all of the things we covered in class to be useful. Upon entering the class, I was unaware of just how many free tools there are available on the internet. I also thought that many of them would be above my head. This class really helped me realize that these tools are easy to use and very beneficial.
One of the most useful things was Google Docs. I like being able to save pretty much everything to one place and to be able to communicate with other classmates. Saving items to Google Docs was useful because I could access them from any place with internet access.
I also liked how we used YouTube and iTunes for class. I discovered that many students are utilizing these two items for educational purposes. When I become a teacher, I plan to teach lessons using at least those two to make learning more diverse and ultimately enjoyable.
2. I can honestly say I learned a lot more than I expected to from this course. I feel well - versed in several aspects of technology and am more open to it.
3. There isn't anything I wish I had not learned.
4. One thing that excited me was the Skype session we had in class. When I was younger and went to Epcot, I remember one particular ride that was supposed to depict the future. One part of the ride showed a mother, away on business, talking to her kids by means of a computer. When we engaged in the Skype session, I realized that it has become a reality in such a short amount of time.
5. I found a lot of the Blog assignments to be not so much "intellectually challenging" so much as intellectually stimulating. A lot of the videos and blogs really made me think deeply about how far technology has come and just how much we're now able to accomplish.
6. I did not feel bored during class at any point in time. Every minute could be filled accomplishing something, whether it be a blog assignment, class assignment, or even further personal education.
7. I would not change anything about the course and I did not feel overworked.
8. I feel pretty literate in technology. If there's something I might be unsure about, I feel confident enough to figure it out.
9. I plan to continue learning about new technology tools that are developing. I will use such items like Google docs to prepare presentations professionally to show either a coworker or my students.
One of the most useful things was Google Docs. I like being able to save pretty much everything to one place and to be able to communicate with other classmates. Saving items to Google Docs was useful because I could access them from any place with internet access.
I also liked how we used YouTube and iTunes for class. I discovered that many students are utilizing these two items for educational purposes. When I become a teacher, I plan to teach lessons using at least those two to make learning more diverse and ultimately enjoyable.
2. I can honestly say I learned a lot more than I expected to from this course. I feel well - versed in several aspects of technology and am more open to it.
3. There isn't anything I wish I had not learned.
4. One thing that excited me was the Skype session we had in class. When I was younger and went to Epcot, I remember one particular ride that was supposed to depict the future. One part of the ride showed a mother, away on business, talking to her kids by means of a computer. When we engaged in the Skype session, I realized that it has become a reality in such a short amount of time.
5. I found a lot of the Blog assignments to be not so much "intellectually challenging" so much as intellectually stimulating. A lot of the videos and blogs really made me think deeply about how far technology has come and just how much we're now able to accomplish.
6. I did not feel bored during class at any point in time. Every minute could be filled accomplishing something, whether it be a blog assignment, class assignment, or even further personal education.
7. I would not change anything about the course and I did not feel overworked.
8. I feel pretty literate in technology. If there's something I might be unsure about, I feel confident enough to figure it out.
9. I plan to continue learning about new technology tools that are developing. I will use such items like Google docs to prepare presentations professionally to show either a coworker or my students.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
7th Grader's PLE and Two Questions
7th Grader's PLE
In the videocast, a seventh grade science student is demonstrating the use of her PLE. She explained that it can be used for school and personal purposes. The student had her PLE organized to where the top row contained links to her personal social networks and the bottom row had resources for her class. She was using sources like YouTube and Delicious to do research. Her teacher also posted assignments on YouTube for the class to look-up and complete.
I have my PLE organized on my Blogger account. There are several links in my blogs that transfer to YouTube and other helpful links on college websites. I hope to soon have my PLE completely linked where my educational resources and social networking sites can be on the same page.
Two Questions
This video was by Daniel Pink and was very motivational. The first of the two questions was "What's your sentence?". Pink explained that great people in the past have been defined by a single sentence. He used examples of Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Pink urged us to make our sentence a goal to live by and accomplish something great.
The second question was "Was I better today than yesterday?". Pink explained that it's the way to become better each day.
I found this video and these two questions very inspirational and I will try to incorporate them into my daily life. I will also suggest them to friends who may be having a difficult time in hopes of motivating them also.
In the videocast, a seventh grade science student is demonstrating the use of her PLE. She explained that it can be used for school and personal purposes. The student had her PLE organized to where the top row contained links to her personal social networks and the bottom row had resources for her class. She was using sources like YouTube and Delicious to do research. Her teacher also posted assignments on YouTube for the class to look-up and complete.
I have my PLE organized on my Blogger account. There are several links in my blogs that transfer to YouTube and other helpful links on college websites. I hope to soon have my PLE completely linked where my educational resources and social networking sites can be on the same page.
Two Questions
This video was by Daniel Pink and was very motivational. The first of the two questions was "What's your sentence?". Pink explained that great people in the past have been defined by a single sentence. He used examples of Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Pink urged us to make our sentence a goal to live by and accomplish something great.
The second question was "Was I better today than yesterday?". Pink explained that it's the way to become better each day.
I found this video and these two questions very inspirational and I will try to incorporate them into my daily life. I will also suggest them to friends who may be having a difficult time in hopes of motivating them also.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Thoughts on Google Docs
I chose the topic of Google Docs from the EDM 310 class. As a reminder, our assignment was to create a slide show using Google Docs and present it in class. We could do our presentation on any topic as long as it was a certain amount of slides and contained pictures and captions. I did my presentation on a trip to Ireland I took in 2008 for St. Patrick's Day (image from my slide show is shown on right). The reason I liked this topic so much is because it was one of the most interactive. I was able to learn a lot about my classmates.
I now feel very comfortable using Google docs and would use the slide show feature for presentations in the future. I also feel confident that I can show someone else how to use it.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Importance of Students and Blogs
I watched both of the assigned videos and was really blown away by both of them. The first one Dr. Seuss - The Zax made a very salient point which was that you may not want to change your ways, but everything around you will continue to change. Either go with it, or be stuck in the middle and unable to move. This was what happened to the two characters in the cartoon.
The second video was by PS 22 in New York City http://is.gd/3WVnq Not only was I captivated by how well the children sang, but also with the emotion they felt and expressed. This video also ties in nicely with the point The Zax made because one line was "I've been afraid of changing". People should move with change instead of going against it.
When assigned to use other student blogs for examples, I came across student blogs from Marshall University (go to www.youtube.com and type in Marshall University Student Blogs). Another example I found was from Cornell University http://blogs.cornell.edu/kaitlyn/ and http://blogs.cornell.edu/cullen/ . All of these students have been assigned to do blogs, whether written or video recorded. I was really impressed by those written at Cornell.
I think that it is extremely important for students to post their work to their blogs because it can be an emotional outlet, it can inspire other people, and even help that student obtain a job in the future. The students in PS 22 were able to perform at Madison Square Garden for the next Fleetwood Mac show. They're talent was discovered through the use of technology.
The second video was by PS 22 in New York City http://is.gd/3WVnq Not only was I captivated by how well the children sang, but also with the emotion they felt and expressed. This video also ties in nicely with the point The Zax made because one line was "I've been afraid of changing". People should move with change instead of going against it.
When assigned to use other student blogs for examples, I came across student blogs from Marshall University (go to www.youtube.com and type in Marshall University Student Blogs). Another example I found was from Cornell University http://blogs.cornell.edu/kaitlyn/ and http://blogs.cornell.edu/cullen/ . All of these students have been assigned to do blogs, whether written or video recorded. I was really impressed by those written at Cornell.
I think that it is extremely important for students to post their work to their blogs because it can be an emotional outlet, it can inspire other people, and even help that student obtain a job in the future. The students in PS 22 were able to perform at Madison Square Garden for the next Fleetwood Mac show. They're talent was discovered through the use of technology.
Dear Kaia and Singing Hearts
The first of these two blogs I read was about a little girl named Kaia's learning and bonding experience with her father. http://is.gd/3WSsn Her dad wanted to make sure she spent time outside and appreciated the beauty of things which may not normally be considered beautiful. They both were armed with cameras as they took pictures of the surrounding desert. Kaia's pictures were uploaded onto her blog and she and her father made a photo essay.
The second of the blogs was by her father Jabiz Raisdana. http://is.gd/3WSzD This blog gave some background of their outing from his point-of-view and addressed some concerns he initially had about exposing his daughter's identity to the world via Internet.
Both blogs were wonderfully done and I think it's a beautiful thing to have someone so young realize that there is beauty in everything, even if not noticed at first glance. Jabiz Raisdana is teaching Kaia - aided by technology - some important life lessons.
I want to persuade my future students to use technology to document activities in their lives. I think it's something they will appreciate later and will also be a great learning experience. Photo essays like Kaia did are the perfect idea for what I have in mind.
The second of the blogs was by her father Jabiz Raisdana. http://is.gd/3WSzD This blog gave some background of their outing from his point-of-view and addressed some concerns he initially had about exposing his daughter's identity to the world via Internet.
Both blogs were wonderfully done and I think it's a beautiful thing to have someone so young realize that there is beauty in everything, even if not noticed at first glance. Jabiz Raisdana is teaching Kaia - aided by technology - some important life lessons.
I want to persuade my future students to use technology to document activities in their lives. I think it's something they will appreciate later and will also be a great learning experience. Photo essays like Kaia did are the perfect idea for what I have in mind.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
On "An Open Letter to Educators"
After I read Morgan Bayda's post and watched the video by Dan Brown www.morgbayda.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/an-open-letter-to-educators/ I spent some time reflecting on my own college experiences and what I really thought about them. I agree with both Morgan Bayda and Dan Brown that in classes, students are expected to sit and write down facts and later regurgitate them on a test. I also agree that you learn a lot more by developing and expanding PLNs. One thing that remained in my thoughts was that those ways are just how institutions are and I don't see them changing anytime soon.
I face an internal struggle within myself on this issue of education. One one hand, I agree with Morgan Bayda in that I am willing to embrace a new way of learning, but on the other hand, this way of learning has been almost set in stone - so to speak - so can that proverbial stone be crushed by a new way of learning?
Technology has made major advances even from the time I entered college. iPods were just becoming popular, and soon to follow were podcasts. Soon after, cell phones were not only for calling and texting, but also became handheld personal computers. I think it's wonderful that a lot of educators have embraced the new technology but I think it will be many more years before it becomes standard in daily classroom routine.
I face an internal struggle within myself on this issue of education. One one hand, I agree with Morgan Bayda in that I am willing to embrace a new way of learning, but on the other hand, this way of learning has been almost set in stone - so to speak - so can that proverbial stone be crushed by a new way of learning?
Technology has made major advances even from the time I entered college. iPods were just becoming popular, and soon to follow were podcasts. Soon after, cell phones were not only for calling and texting, but also became handheld personal computers. I think it's wonderful that a lot of educators have embraced the new technology but I think it will be many more years before it becomes standard in daily classroom routine.
ALEX and ACCESS
ALEX
The acronym ALEX stands for Alabama Learning Exchange, and is basically a resource site for educators based in Alabama. The site offers a variety of useful tools like educational links on the web, podcasts, and even lesson plans. The site covers every course of study and typically goes through the grade levels of K-12.
Since I am a music major, I explored in depth what was under Arts Education. I found what was expected of musicians by certain grade levels as well as lesson plans that went along with the expectations. The expectations were very detailed and included 4 different levels of mastery.
I think this site will be very useful for me in the future, especially with the lesson plans. It will help ensure that my students are at the same level as other developing musicians.
ACCESS
ACCESS is Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide. It is a site packed full of useful links and resources for educators and students. One thing the site offers is online courses which may not be offered at a particular school. Students are able to enroll in these and receive credit.
ACCESS also offers many test prep resources. Some of these include AP tests and the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. The site also has resources for the Alabama Virtual Library, ChemLab, and MathType which can all be useful for students enrolled in those subjects.
This site will be useful to me if I need to make a suggestion to a student to take a course that isn't available at the school, or to provide tutorials to help with a particular class. There is also a professional development site to help teachers continue their own education.
The acronym ALEX stands for Alabama Learning Exchange, and is basically a resource site for educators based in Alabama. The site offers a variety of useful tools like educational links on the web, podcasts, and even lesson plans. The site covers every course of study and typically goes through the grade levels of K-12.
Since I am a music major, I explored in depth what was under Arts Education. I found what was expected of musicians by certain grade levels as well as lesson plans that went along with the expectations. The expectations were very detailed and included 4 different levels of mastery.
I think this site will be very useful for me in the future, especially with the lesson plans. It will help ensure that my students are at the same level as other developing musicians.
ACCESS
ACCESS is Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide. It is a site packed full of useful links and resources for educators and students. One thing the site offers is online courses which may not be offered at a particular school. Students are able to enroll in these and receive credit.
ACCESS also offers many test prep resources. Some of these include AP tests and the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. The site also has resources for the Alabama Virtual Library, ChemLab, and MathType which can all be useful for students enrolled in those subjects.
This site will be useful to me if I need to make a suggestion to a student to take a course that isn't available at the school, or to provide tutorials to help with a particular class. There is also a professional development site to help teachers continue their own education.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Toward a New Future of Whatever
When I first clicked on the link for this particular assignment, I noticed that the video we were to watch was over 30 minutes long. My initial reaction was "Oh great, I hope I can stay engaged in this for that long." What I found interesting was that within the first few minutes, Mr. Michael Wesch discussed how the current generation has short attention spans. I completely agree with this. We are conditioned by television, radio, etc to have these short attention spans with short "breaks" nestled within whatever we're watching or listening.
Mr. Wesch traced the meaning of "whatever". "Whatever" has changed from meaning "that's what I meant" to an indifferent, I don't care type of context. I agree with his discussion that individuals in a society are trying so hard to stand out that they get discouraged and pick up this "I don't care, I'm not going to do anything about it" attitude. He mentioned that it's like being lost in a big city or disconnected in a rural area.
I do feel indifferent to an extent. I don't have that drive to be discovered like in American Idol or for people to know me on YouTube. What's important to me is that I make a positive difference in my family, friends', and co-workers' lives. I want to serve a purpose in this society, not be held in high regard for a talent or anything of that nature.
As a future teacher, I want to take what I've gathered from this video and apply it. I want my future students to feel like they can make a difference without being completely indifferent. I'd want them to think more along the lines of providing for a collectivist society rather than an individualistic. Towards the end of the video, people held up writing on their hands, and several of the messages were about the world and that we are all connected - we need each other. That is a message I want to impress upon my future students.
Mr. Wesch traced the meaning of "whatever". "Whatever" has changed from meaning "that's what I meant" to an indifferent, I don't care type of context. I agree with his discussion that individuals in a society are trying so hard to stand out that they get discouraged and pick up this "I don't care, I'm not going to do anything about it" attitude. He mentioned that it's like being lost in a big city or disconnected in a rural area.
I do feel indifferent to an extent. I don't have that drive to be discovered like in American Idol or for people to know me on YouTube. What's important to me is that I make a positive difference in my family, friends', and co-workers' lives. I want to serve a purpose in this society, not be held in high regard for a talent or anything of that nature.
As a future teacher, I want to take what I've gathered from this video and apply it. I want my future students to feel like they can make a difference without being completely indifferent. I'd want them to think more along the lines of providing for a collectivist society rather than an individualistic. Towards the end of the video, people held up writing on their hands, and several of the messages were about the world and that we are all connected - we need each other. That is a message I want to impress upon my future students.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Alice Christie, iTunes University, and iPods
Alice Christie
The portion of Alice Christie's website I chose to explore was her Podcasting Resource Page. Not only did I want to read about what she has learned by using podcasting, but we are about to begin a podcasting project in my EDM 310 class. I thought this could help me with our project.
First, Ms. Christie explained what podcasting is. This portion of her site could be very useful to educators because it explains what podcasting is, how it is useful, and she provided several helpful links for creating a podcast. I also really liked how she created a section on her own personal experiences with podcasting. I really appreciate Ms. Alice Christie for creating her website www.alicechristie.org to help future as well as current educators.
iTunes University
Since I was unfamiliar with what exactly iTunes University was, I went directly to the Apple website to try to learn (www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/what-is.html). I discovered that iTunes University is a branch of iTunes specifically designed for students and professors at institutions to record and distribute such things as lectures, courses, and research materials.
I think this is a great idea for students because if a student must miss class, they can still download the lecture from iTunes. Most students own or have used an iPod, so this should be simple to do. I also like how iTunes University can be accessible to everyone, including the hearing or vision-impaired.
Institutions can choose to have their content accessible to the general public if they wish. This could be good for smaller institutions to get their name out there and possibly attract more students.
iPods in the Classroom
The site I first visited was www.educationworld.com. According to this site, iPods are great to use in the classroom because of the portability of the iPod and the amount of information one can store. There is an official iPod in education site on Apple's website that contains such things as "The Lesson Plan" page which provides activities and downloads for the classroom. There is also an iPod in Education resource which explains to educators how to use and incorporate the iPod into the classroom.
Duke University had an interesting idea by giving all entering students in 2004 an iPod. The students were encouraged to explore how it could enhance not only the academic side of school, but the social as well. Students thought the iPods were very helpful because they could access information from their classes, and download lectures and videos to better their understanding. More information can be found here www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2004/07/64282
The portion of Alice Christie's website I chose to explore was her Podcasting Resource Page. Not only did I want to read about what she has learned by using podcasting, but we are about to begin a podcasting project in my EDM 310 class. I thought this could help me with our project.
First, Ms. Christie explained what podcasting is. This portion of her site could be very useful to educators because it explains what podcasting is, how it is useful, and she provided several helpful links for creating a podcast. I also really liked how she created a section on her own personal experiences with podcasting. I really appreciate Ms. Alice Christie for creating her website www.alicechristie.org to help future as well as current educators.
iTunes University
Since I was unfamiliar with what exactly iTunes University was, I went directly to the Apple website to try to learn (www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/what-is.html). I discovered that iTunes University is a branch of iTunes specifically designed for students and professors at institutions to record and distribute such things as lectures, courses, and research materials.
I think this is a great idea for students because if a student must miss class, they can still download the lecture from iTunes. Most students own or have used an iPod, so this should be simple to do. I also like how iTunes University can be accessible to everyone, including the hearing or vision-impaired.
Institutions can choose to have their content accessible to the general public if they wish. This could be good for smaller institutions to get their name out there and possibly attract more students.
iPods in the Classroom
The site I first visited was www.educationworld.com. According to this site, iPods are great to use in the classroom because of the portability of the iPod and the amount of information one can store. There is an official iPod in education site on Apple's website that contains such things as "The Lesson Plan" page which provides activities and downloads for the classroom. There is also an iPod in Education resource which explains to educators how to use and incorporate the iPod into the classroom.
Duke University had an interesting idea by giving all entering students in 2004 an iPod. The students were encouraged to explore how it could enhance not only the academic side of school, but the social as well. Students thought the iPods were very helpful because they could access information from their classes, and download lectures and videos to better their understanding. More information can be found here www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2004/07/64282
Saturday, February 20, 2010
On Wikipedia and "What I've Learned This Year"
Wikipedia
I was made aware of the validity - or possibly lack thereof - of Wikipedia a year ago when the school librarian educated us on the path to finding references for projects or essays. She showed us that Wikipedia has an "Edit" option on most of the searches. She explained to us that anyone can revise or delete information on the site. Since then, I have been ceased to use Wikipedia for any research for school, because of the - in my opinion - lack of reliability.
I was very pleased to learn that Virgil Griffith created a means of tracking IP addresses so that users can know who is making edits. I was not surprised to find that businesses and the government were making a majority of the edits. I think that if people - especially students - want to use Wikipedia as a "jumping off" point for research, that is fine, but I advise them to use books in the library or find a more reliable source.
"What I've Learned This Year"
I felt this post by Mr. McClung was filled with sincerity and good advice. As a future educator, I am very interested in learning what first year teachers have learned, so that it can prepare me mentally for my future. One of my favorite points he wrote about was to Listen to Your Students. I think this encompasses a lot of the points he mentioned. Better communication will result in better learning. Students will tell you how they learn best so listening to them is important. I also think this will motivate the students to learn just by knowing you care enough to listen to them. I think in its entirety, his post was a great one.
I was made aware of the validity - or possibly lack thereof - of Wikipedia a year ago when the school librarian educated us on the path to finding references for projects or essays. She showed us that Wikipedia has an "Edit" option on most of the searches. She explained to us that anyone can revise or delete information on the site. Since then, I have been ceased to use Wikipedia for any research for school, because of the - in my opinion - lack of reliability.
I was very pleased to learn that Virgil Griffith created a means of tracking IP addresses so that users can know who is making edits. I was not surprised to find that businesses and the government were making a majority of the edits. I think that if people - especially students - want to use Wikipedia as a "jumping off" point for research, that is fine, but I advise them to use books in the library or find a more reliable source.
"What I've Learned This Year"
I felt this post by Mr. McClung was filled with sincerity and good advice. As a future educator, I am very interested in learning what first year teachers have learned, so that it can prepare me mentally for my future. One of my favorite points he wrote about was to Listen to Your Students. I think this encompasses a lot of the points he mentioned. Better communication will result in better learning. Students will tell you how they learn best so listening to them is important. I also think this will motivate the students to learn just by knowing you care enough to listen to them. I think in its entirety, his post was a great one.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom
After watching the video of the benefits of podcasting in the classroom by Doug Saunders, I felt really motivated to utilize podcasting myself. I agree with the persuasive points he made, such as promoting students' creativity and innovation and that podcasting allows more parental involvement. Saunders referred to the current group of students in schools as "Millenials" which means they are born after 1980. He stated that this group has been around and using technology for most of their lives. Technology has changed the way students learn. Podcasting better suits their style of learning for several reasons.
Often times when students need to find answers or need to conduct research, they turn to the internet. Students now have a very visual means of learning. Podcasting/vodcasting provides the perfect tool to aid in student learning. Also, if a student is ill and must miss school, podcasting provides a way for the student to not fall behind in their studies.
I like how podcasting allows for student involvement. The video showed a group of students recording a podcast. I think this is a great way for them to learn the information they're saying and providing their fellow classmates with something different than the teacher giving the lesson.
Mr. Saunders did a great job with his video and I appreciate him providing the links for podcasting video tutorials at the conclusion of his podcast.
Often times when students need to find answers or need to conduct research, they turn to the internet. Students now have a very visual means of learning. Podcasting/vodcasting provides the perfect tool to aid in student learning. Also, if a student is ill and must miss school, podcasting provides a way for the student to not fall behind in their studies.
I like how podcasting allows for student involvement. The video showed a group of students recording a podcast. I think this is a great way for them to learn the information they're saying and providing their fellow classmates with something different than the teacher giving the lesson.
Mr. Saunders did a great job with his video and I appreciate him providing the links for podcasting video tutorials at the conclusion of his podcast.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Podcasts
When I was reading the assignment for this particular blog, I was unsure of how familiar I was with listening to podcasts and using iTunes. I only listened to a podcast once before and was a little confused by it, but after watching how to use iTunes and use podcasts, it became quite simple. The podcasts I listened to and watched were those suggested by my instructor.
The first podcast was on SMARTBoard lesson 131. The podcast was hosted by Ben Hazzard and Joan Badger and they discussed new forms of media they discovered and provided brief descriptions. A few examples were Adobe Air, Webcut, and PhotoBooth. I found their podcast not only informative but interesting because they used musical transitions which made the podcast sound more professional.
The next podcast was Kidcast where videopodcasting was described and advocated. I thought this podcast was interesting because the speaker was an advocate for videopodcasting, yet the podcast was only audio. ConnectLearning episode 90 was a question and answer session and hosted by David Warlick. It was a recorded audio of librarians and media coordinators at a conference discussing what new technology is being used in their respective schools.
I found the last two podcasts - MacBreak Weekly and This Week in Photography- to be the most interesting. All the participants in MacBreak Weekly were connected not only with audio but by Skype as well. They were discussing the new iPad and the audio was very clear and enjoyable to listen to. This Week in Photography was the only podcast I listened to that was also a videopodcast. It was nice to see what the host was discussing.
I will keep these podcasts in mind whenever I create my own podcast. I will remember the things I did like - video, group discussion, and interviews and musical transitions - and will possibly use them in my future podcasts.
The first podcast was on SMARTBoard lesson 131. The podcast was hosted by Ben Hazzard and Joan Badger and they discussed new forms of media they discovered and provided brief descriptions. A few examples were Adobe Air, Webcut, and PhotoBooth. I found their podcast not only informative but interesting because they used musical transitions which made the podcast sound more professional.
The next podcast was Kidcast where videopodcasting was described and advocated. I thought this podcast was interesting because the speaker was an advocate for videopodcasting, yet the podcast was only audio. ConnectLearning episode 90 was a question and answer session and hosted by David Warlick. It was a recorded audio of librarians and media coordinators at a conference discussing what new technology is being used in their respective schools.
I found the last two podcasts - MacBreak Weekly and This Week in Photography- to be the most interesting. All the participants in MacBreak Weekly were connected not only with audio but by Skype as well. They were discussing the new iPad and the audio was very clear and enjoyable to listen to. This Week in Photography was the only podcast I listened to that was also a videopodcast. It was nice to see what the host was discussing.
I will keep these podcasts in mind whenever I create my own podcast. I will remember the things I did like - video, group discussion, and interviews and musical transitions - and will possibly use them in my future podcasts.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A Vision of Students Today, It's Not About the Technology, Technologically Illiterate, Social Media Count
A Vision of Students Today
When I watched this video by Michael Wesch, I was not surprised by a lot of the facts presented within it. The large classroom with many rows of stadium seating was familiar to me. When one student help up a sign that stated her average class size is 115, that made me think to my large classes I attended and made me a little weary of the system. I think that having smaller class sizes is more conducive to learning. When you're in a class with so many people, you truly feel like only a number. This can be supported by the statements of "Only 18% of my teachers know my name" and "My neighbor paid for class but never comes".
It seems that technology and social networking is what a lot of college students put time into. I will have to agree with that. I have a facebook profile and e-mail account and check them almost daily. I think this film accurately portrays the truth. I enjoyed the video, but if I were to make any changes to it, I would slow down how fast the facts on the pieces of paper are shown. It's a lot of information thrust upon you in a short time, and it's difficult to comprehend completely going that fast - but then again, maybe that's an accurate representation of the classroom...
It's Not About the Technology
I agree with the points Ms. Hines made in her post. I've felt for a long time that technology is not the absolute solution to bettering education. I believe it is a useful tool, but not the tool. Teachers need to provide students with a means of understanding their - refering to the student - individual learning style, and how to successfully communicate/teach others. Those generic yet important skills will allow students to learn to use and understand technology and will prepare them for their future.
I think the first two points of Ms. Hines were the most important. The first one of "Teachers must be learners", I couldn't agree with more. I've heard stories from teachers many times about how they honestly learn something new each time they teach. I also think that by a teacher being passionate about learning, it will inspire students to learn also. The second point of "Learning and teaching are not the same thing" I also feel to be completely accurate. The teaching has been done when the student fully understands.
After I read the post and the comments on it, it appears that many other people feel the way I do and the way Ms. Hines does.
Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
When I read this post by Karl Fisch, there was no doubt in my mind that he is extremely passionate about this subject of technology and teachers being well-versed in it. I think it is wonderful of him to be an advocate of something he is so passionate about. As I was reading his list of standards, I felt a lot of it reflected back to me. I feel like I am one of those people who will admit that I don't fully understand computers and technology, although I am not proud of it. I feel like I know enough to get by for the time - being, but being a future educator, I do have a passion for learning, and will put in constant effort to make myself more technologically literate.
I have caught myself having thoughts like "I will be a music teacher. How tech-savvy should I be?" But I have discovered and taught myself many programs that will aid in my teaching, from simple recording devices to programs for composing music. I believe technology, no matter what field someone is in, is an essential tool, and I think it's wonderful to have people like Karl Fisch out there who are great advocates of technological literacy.
Social Media Count
I was really surprised that all this information could be shown on one media count. I was especially astounded by the number of Google searches, text messages and e-mails that were sent.
As a teacher, I think this means that most, if not all, of my students will be technologically literate and will use it constantly. I want to be able to understand it as well as they do in order to be an efficient teacher.
When I watched this video by Michael Wesch, I was not surprised by a lot of the facts presented within it. The large classroom with many rows of stadium seating was familiar to me. When one student help up a sign that stated her average class size is 115, that made me think to my large classes I attended and made me a little weary of the system. I think that having smaller class sizes is more conducive to learning. When you're in a class with so many people, you truly feel like only a number. This can be supported by the statements of "Only 18% of my teachers know my name" and "My neighbor paid for class but never comes".
It seems that technology and social networking is what a lot of college students put time into. I will have to agree with that. I have a facebook profile and e-mail account and check them almost daily. I think this film accurately portrays the truth. I enjoyed the video, but if I were to make any changes to it, I would slow down how fast the facts on the pieces of paper are shown. It's a lot of information thrust upon you in a short time, and it's difficult to comprehend completely going that fast - but then again, maybe that's an accurate representation of the classroom...
It's Not About the Technology
I agree with the points Ms. Hines made in her post. I've felt for a long time that technology is not the absolute solution to bettering education. I believe it is a useful tool, but not the tool. Teachers need to provide students with a means of understanding their - refering to the student - individual learning style, and how to successfully communicate/teach others. Those generic yet important skills will allow students to learn to use and understand technology and will prepare them for their future.
I think the first two points of Ms. Hines were the most important. The first one of "Teachers must be learners", I couldn't agree with more. I've heard stories from teachers many times about how they honestly learn something new each time they teach. I also think that by a teacher being passionate about learning, it will inspire students to learn also. The second point of "Learning and teaching are not the same thing" I also feel to be completely accurate. The teaching has been done when the student fully understands.
After I read the post and the comments on it, it appears that many other people feel the way I do and the way Ms. Hines does.
Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
When I read this post by Karl Fisch, there was no doubt in my mind that he is extremely passionate about this subject of technology and teachers being well-versed in it. I think it is wonderful of him to be an advocate of something he is so passionate about. As I was reading his list of standards, I felt a lot of it reflected back to me. I feel like I am one of those people who will admit that I don't fully understand computers and technology, although I am not proud of it. I feel like I know enough to get by for the time - being, but being a future educator, I do have a passion for learning, and will put in constant effort to make myself more technologically literate.
I have caught myself having thoughts like "I will be a music teacher. How tech-savvy should I be?" But I have discovered and taught myself many programs that will aid in my teaching, from simple recording devices to programs for composing music. I believe technology, no matter what field someone is in, is an essential tool, and I think it's wonderful to have people like Karl Fisch out there who are great advocates of technological literacy.
Social Media Count
I was really surprised that all this information could be shown on one media count. I was especially astounded by the number of Google searches, text messages and e-mails that were sent.
As a teacher, I think this means that most, if not all, of my students will be technologically literate and will use it constantly. I want to be able to understand it as well as they do in order to be an efficient teacher.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Did You Know? 3.0 and Mr. Winkle Wakes, Creativity, and Digital Smarts
Did You Know? 3.0
When I first watched "Did You Know? 3.0" by Karl Fisch, I was a bit overwhelmed by the numbers and statistics it provided. The movie included such information as the amount of children born in certain countries like China or America, the creation of new jobs to accommodate constantly-developing technology, the popularity of social networking, and even the increase in number of internet devices.
What I gathered from watching this movie is that the rapid development of technology is having a direct and extremely influential impact on our lives. The human race seems to want results to appear faster and always have access to technology to gather the results. The final question in the movie stated "So what does all this mean?". I think it means we have made tremendous strides in technology but it seems to be growing at a faster rate than with what humans can keep up.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
The message I got from "Mr. Winkle Wakes" by Matthew Needleman was that schools are not keeping up with advancement in technology. Mr. Winkle slept for 100 years and when he awoke, he first went to two places in the city: a business and a hospital. There were dramatic changes to both places just by their use of technology. Mr. Winkle noticed that people could communicate through computers and that machines could keep people alive.
When Mr. Winkle went to the school, he noticed not much had changed in 100 years, and there was one computer that looked like it never got used. This should be a wake-up call to educators because it leads to the question of "How will the students in the schools become prepared for such jobs in a business atmosphere or in a hospital if they are not taught to use technology?" I think this movie makes a good point and that educators should first familiarize themselves with technology so that their students will be successful and prepared for what they will use in their future.
The Importance of Creativity
Watching this video of Sir Ken Robinson was a breath of fresh air to me. I am a music education major and fully support the permitting of creativity in schools. I believe that allowing creativity would be nothing but positive and productive to a student's development.
Sir Ken Robinson said some things that I would like to quote, because I think not only are they beautifully stated, but absolutely true: "Creativity is just as important as literacy.", "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original", and "We are creating academic inflation". The last of the quotes has been on my mind quite a bit lately because I am nearing graduation and must begin a job search soon. The amount of people obtaining undergraduate degrees is so great that the worth of the degrees themselves are decreasing. It is becoming more difficult to find a job because of the amount of technically qualified people. I think it's wonderful so many people are taking the initiative to go to college, but I feel because of the lack of creativity allowed in schools, it narrows down what people can do in life.
Digital Smarts
This video was about an Information Technology teacher in Georgia and her approach to teaching technology to her students. Her goals were to have students learn how to learn, collaborate effectively, and be comfortable with any technology. Ms. Vicki Davis incorporated terms in to her teachings for students to look-up the meaning if necessary. I think this is important because it gives them motivation to figure out what they don't know.
I think that Ms. Davis' method of teaching is very effective. I noticed in the video, she had students in front of the class teaching other students what they learned and how to figure out certain aspects of the technology. Not only is this helpful for the communication skills of students, but explaining things to others often times helps the student understand the concept more themselves.
I also really like that Mr. Davis has her class connected to other students around the world. She started the "Flat Classroom Project" which allows students to interact and share ideas on a global level.
When I first watched "Did You Know? 3.0" by Karl Fisch, I was a bit overwhelmed by the numbers and statistics it provided. The movie included such information as the amount of children born in certain countries like China or America, the creation of new jobs to accommodate constantly-developing technology, the popularity of social networking, and even the increase in number of internet devices.
What I gathered from watching this movie is that the rapid development of technology is having a direct and extremely influential impact on our lives. The human race seems to want results to appear faster and always have access to technology to gather the results. The final question in the movie stated "So what does all this mean?". I think it means we have made tremendous strides in technology but it seems to be growing at a faster rate than with what humans can keep up.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
The message I got from "Mr. Winkle Wakes" by Matthew Needleman was that schools are not keeping up with advancement in technology. Mr. Winkle slept for 100 years and when he awoke, he first went to two places in the city: a business and a hospital. There were dramatic changes to both places just by their use of technology. Mr. Winkle noticed that people could communicate through computers and that machines could keep people alive.
When Mr. Winkle went to the school, he noticed not much had changed in 100 years, and there was one computer that looked like it never got used. This should be a wake-up call to educators because it leads to the question of "How will the students in the schools become prepared for such jobs in a business atmosphere or in a hospital if they are not taught to use technology?" I think this movie makes a good point and that educators should first familiarize themselves with technology so that their students will be successful and prepared for what they will use in their future.
The Importance of Creativity
Watching this video of Sir Ken Robinson was a breath of fresh air to me. I am a music education major and fully support the permitting of creativity in schools. I believe that allowing creativity would be nothing but positive and productive to a student's development.
Sir Ken Robinson said some things that I would like to quote, because I think not only are they beautifully stated, but absolutely true: "Creativity is just as important as literacy.", "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original", and "We are creating academic inflation". The last of the quotes has been on my mind quite a bit lately because I am nearing graduation and must begin a job search soon. The amount of people obtaining undergraduate degrees is so great that the worth of the degrees themselves are decreasing. It is becoming more difficult to find a job because of the amount of technically qualified people. I think it's wonderful so many people are taking the initiative to go to college, but I feel because of the lack of creativity allowed in schools, it narrows down what people can do in life.
Digital Smarts
This video was about an Information Technology teacher in Georgia and her approach to teaching technology to her students. Her goals were to have students learn how to learn, collaborate effectively, and be comfortable with any technology. Ms. Vicki Davis incorporated terms in to her teachings for students to look-up the meaning if necessary. I think this is important because it gives them motivation to figure out what they don't know.
I think that Ms. Davis' method of teaching is very effective. I noticed in the video, she had students in front of the class teaching other students what they learned and how to figure out certain aspects of the technology. Not only is this helpful for the communication skills of students, but explaining things to others often times helps the student understand the concept more themselves.
I also really like that Mr. Davis has her class connected to other students around the world. She started the "Flat Classroom Project" which allows students to interact and share ideas on a global level.
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