Sunday, February 28, 2010
PLN
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Week 5
Wikipedia Scanner
The program that Virgil Griffith made for scanning Wikipedia to see who edits something can be a useful tool. Wikipedia has never been a trusted site to me, and most of the teachers I have had in the past. As a student I was never allowed to use Wikipedia as a source for a research paper. It is just too easy for anyone to go on there and edit things. With this new scanning program I think it might help a little. People will still be able to edit things; they will just be caught sooner.
Wikipedia Scanner is a really great idea but, I would still prefer to not use Wikipedia as a reference. However, it is appealing to see all the companies in Wikipedia using it and editing their own information. It makes you think about why they are changing their information. Wikipedia Scanner is a great update to Wikipedia but I do not think I would trust it 100 percent.
"What I've Learned this Year"
The post by Mr. McClung of "What I've Learned this Year" was Fantastic and interesting. He went through what he thought his first year as a teacher was going to be like and what it ended up being like. He said he thought it was going to be all about him and how he taught. He was in a fantasy word which means, he would go by his lesson plan, everyone would understand everything, but he soon found out it is not always like that. It is all about your students and its ok to get off course you just need to pick the students up and stay positive.
His thoughts of what he went thought at the beginning is what most new teachers go through. I am taking classroom management this semester and it really has helped, it teaches us the things Mr. McClung was talking about. He says being flexible and communicate are very important, so as a first year teacher you need to know these things that Mr. McClung is talking about and I thank him for sharing this with us!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Blog 4
I read Anna H. post about being safe on the Internet. She made great points! Reading a student's blog is a lot of fun and interesting. I think it is a great idea for students to write blogs, it really seems to help with the student's ability to write and think. I really enjoyed reading Anna’s post and look forward to reading other student blogs.
Benefits to Pod-Casting in the Classroom
Pod casting is a rapid growing new way of teaching. There are many benefits to pod castings like it can be used to access learning materials anywhere and anytime. Pod casting is manly used by “millennials”; which refers to people born after 1980, and has always had a life with access to personal computers. Pod casting is a creative and innovational way of learning using differentiation; which is more student centered.
Pod casting is a new and relevant way to learn and has been shown to excite students. It allows students to demonstrate higher learning experiences. One great thing about pod casting is it allows students out sick to still receive study materials to help them study. Pod casting provides relevant information on the go and the info easily uploads to web sites. Parents can easily get involved and make sure their children are keeping up with their assignments.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Blog 2
After Watching Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today, It reminded me of when I went to the University of Alabama and I had 100 or more people in my classes, where the teacher did not know your name, You did not have to go to class, you could also be on your lab top and not be doing school work. I feel like I did not learn as much in a big class like that because I never got the one on one treatment that I may have needed. Also Bigger classes like that mainly just have test and no work from what I have experienced. Changing school to Faulkner and now to South Alabama was a smart choice for me because the classes are a lot smaller and there is more one on one help. You tend to stay more focused when the teachers looking at you. Also you do not have that option to not come to class because the teacher will know!
The video was right on target to me, it is like that in big classes. The video also showed you the hours that students spent on average on doing homework, Studying, facebook, etc. It seemed to not be enough hours in a day to do it all. One thing that I really liked was about how much each student spends on books and never opens them. Some by choice but some are because the teacher never teaches out of them. It would be nice just to have to buy the books you really will use, I know that would help out a lot with students financially and the student loans would not be as big.
It's Not About the Technology
After reading this article, I agree with Kelly Hines about numerous points. When she says that it really doesn't matter how much technology is brought into a classroom or how much a student uses it, it really doesn't matter unless something is being taught. If there is nothing being taught, then how will a student learn? I think technology is very important in the classroom but it should not be the main focus.
I also agreed with her first point about how teachers must be learners also. You have to be a learner to become a teacher, there are new things to learn everyday and if you learn these things then you will be a great teacher. She made the comment "I don't know why these kids don't get it. I've taught it a hundred times." Then she proceeded to say “If an object does not move, no matter how much force has been applied, no work has been done. Therefore, if a student has not learned, not matter how much effort has been exerted, no teaching has been done.” I really looked up to her when she said this because that is very true and not every teacher faces this fact. I really enjoyed reading what Kelly Hines had to say.
Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
After reading this particular article, I set and thought. Thought back to my days in grade school; remembering different teachers, the ones who were technologically literate and the ones who were not. I remembered how each one of them taught and how well the information they shared stuck with me. I came to the conclusion that the teachers that were illiterate with technology don’t get me wrong, did a good job teaching, but not as well as the ones who used technology to their advantage. In today’s world technology is a major part of everyday life. Students today, not just trying to get ahead in class, but just trying to keep up need technology.
So to answer the writer’s question; Is It Okay To Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher? The answer is quite simple, no. The author states strong opinions that his teaching peers that are not literate with technology seem to struggle compared to the ones who are. I believe that teachers should be able to use technology to their advantage, not necessarily be tech savvy, but at least want to learn more about. Learning this would not just help them out but it will help the students in our future that are with no doubt going to have to use a lot more technology then I did growing up.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Blog Assignment One
As far as China soon becoming the biggest English speaking country; that is quite interesting as well. However, it only proves two things (in my perspective), that the United States is letting more and more immigrants (legal and illegal) into the country who cannot speak English; and Apparently, the United States is so center minded and lazy when it comes to learning a second language. It would not be so bad to say that, China is the biggest English speaking country, but America is the biggest Spanish speaking country. I am not offended by the possibility of China being the biggest English speaking country due to the country’s population. Concerning India having “more honor kids than America has kids,” that offends me. No offense taken to India though. We just take our education for granted. So that statistic is a slap in our face, by our own hand.
After watching Sir Ken Robinson’s Importance of Creativity I feel somewhat inspired and quite possibly even more compelled to expand my creativity. However, what I feel most strongly about after watching the video is that our educational system is in a great need of enlightenment. Perhaps the world needs another renaissance. Perhaps even America would have more honor kids if our teachers “were allowed” to encourage creativity. From my perspective, our schools here in Alabama (and I am sure it is much like this throughout the nation) is only focused on preparing the kids for the high school exam. There is no room for broadening the mind and allowing that inner enthusiasm that we all have to actually breathe and flourish.
From my own experiences in school, I can see that blame cannot solely be placed on the teachers. Teachers want to encourage creativity, but they are limited on time and resources. Perhaps even the teachers are not allowed to express their creative side. So maybe we need to take our education (much like every other thing of importance to our future) out of the hands of politicians. With such passion I feel that we need to abolish these limits on education. For what reasons should education be limited anyway? After all, it is education.
After watching Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts I think her way of teaching is great. She said you should not just make your students use paper and a pencil because not everyone learns that way, but you should use different technology. I think that is a great idea not just that it is different but because it keeps the students on the edge of their sits, it also helps them uses different technologies for their future. She teaches them how to use different programs which will help them in the future as well .I love how she made the students go the extra mile by looking up new terms. I also really like the Fact that Mrs. Davis made about it is fine if the students teach the instructor. It is always great when a teacher like Mrs. Davis has such a passion for teaching; it really inspires me to become a great teacher one day!
