Sunday, July 20, 2014
Blog Post 16
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Blog Post 14 & 15
Over the duration of this course, I have learned many new tools that I am excited for my own personal use as well as to enhance the educational experience of the students I have the opportunity to teach. I believe I have gained so much knowledge as far as new forms of technology that can be implemented into the classroom. I have become very fond of the SMARTBoard imparticular. I have also gained one of the greatest tools any has given me, time-management. I have also come to realize time-management is one of my weaknesses. I now know that I willingly overload myself all too often. The new skills I have been given will be a great attributes to me as a educator and knowing my weaknesses will only help me improve them as well. The videos we were assigned to watch in this blog assignment opened my eyes to even more knowledge I can use in my future.
In How to make an audio QR Code, we learn an easy way to make an audio QR Code. The video shows how this particular code is for an audio file a teacher created for her student's parents to access. She first recorded the file using Record Mp3. Next, she uploaded it to QR Code Monkey and generated the final product.
In the video, iPad Reading Center, the teacher shows how she incorporates iPad use in her class. She has found the iPad as a great tool when helping her students with their reading skills. One way she had found success in her reading center is by having the students record themselves reading and watch the video to hear errors they made and make the proper corrections to improve their skill.
The next clip, Poplet with Ginger Tuck, Ms. Tuck and her class show how Poplet is a fantastic application that is compatible with the Apple iPad. Students can add useful information such as pictures and text to create a wonderful visual aid to advance the reading techniques.
AVL and kindergarten Students,This video shows a teacher demonstrating how to access the Alabama Virtual Library on the iPad. She has her students search words from a list using the class iPad. She ask them to draw a picture showing what they learned as well as writing a sentence that correlates with the information they researched.
C4Tp Last Post
On July 1, 2014 Ms. Tolisano writes her blog post Documenting for Learning. She opens her blog with how she has always been one to document anything and everything. She believes documenting can be used for:
-Heutagogy
-Pedagogy
She also sees documenting as
-Process of international documenting serves as a metacognitive purpose
-reflective practices
-memory aid
-professional and much more
She has until now mostly used documenting for personal purposes, but she now sees how it could be used as a great tool for teachers, students, schools, and school districts.
In her second blog, Building Good C U L T U R E Mr. Dan McCabe mentioned Ms. Tolisano on Twitter in a tweet. He asked her to build an acronym from the letters in the word culture and create a sketch to go along with her creation. The following is her work.
C4Ta Last Post
Ms. Lisa Thumann writes a very interesting blog on her site, Thumann Resources
In "Let's Talk about Attrition Rates at Unconferences," Ms. Lisa Thumann discusses how she and colleague have been organizing different conferences since 2009. She talks about how organizing these conferences are "not rocket science" but a lot of time and effort is necessary. She enjoys being able to have the opportunity to share information and ideas in a informal setting. She states her concern is whether 50% attrition is acceptable? She ask the question, "Why do we accept only half of registrants on a free event showing up acceptable?"
"Honestly, the time and efforts donated by the organizers is the same whether it's 200 people or 400, but I hate to see the wasted food that could have fed some local hungry families. She goes on to explaining how vendors could have the money for the conference on equipment or supplies for a local classroom in need. Ms. Thumann states how attrition rates have been increasing every year. When concluding her blog she ask for her readers to weigh in on how to improve the current process.
In her second blog she opens up discussing how she works with a great team of people. Since it was the closing of the academic year, they were coing together to re-invision how they would like to approach the Common Core. "Since we view learning and teaching as a special process of collaboration, creativity and sharing, our team has decided to form Common Core Communities of Practice. They would focus on improving the practice and provide collaborative workspace for teachers. She stated their would be a conference held a month and a half after writing this post. Unfortunately, Ms. Thumann has not blogged in nearly a year so I am unable to discuss the outcome of their conference.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Blog Post 13
I chose to become a Secondary Education major specializing in Social Sciences because I have been incredibly blessed to have phenomenal history teachers my entire life. History has always come easy for me due to my intrigue to learn about the past and different cultures. In high school, I had two particular teachers who have made some of the greatest influences in my life. One taught me three different courses and I loved how he always found a way to relate the subject to something modern that students could understand. My favorite class he taught was Law and Society. He gave me the fundamental tools to draw my own opinions and that my views matter. The second teacher taught me English. She is a strong woman who knew how to get everyone's attention on the subject and to keep their interest. She taught me so much more than the English language she taught me about life. When I think about the impact these teachers have made on my life it makes me long to have the same positive influence on others. Whenever I have big life decisions to this day I can always count on them and as a young person having people who are in your corner always brings up your confidence.
The part of history I find most intriguing is English history when King Henry VIII ruled England. The decision to leave the Catholic church because of another woman is mind blowing. His rule and decisions were constantly undermined by his love life. The turmoil in Europe during the 1400 and 1500s is a fascinating part of history. Even after his death, you can see the effects of King Henry III and his decisions had on his children as well as other parts of the world. I also enjoy learning about the Holocaust and I hope to one day share my love of these topics with students.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Project 12 SmartBoard Instruction Part B
This is the link to our bloopers if anyone would like to watch.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
C4Ta #3 Post
In Supporting Complex Change, on July 5, 2014, Beth Knittle discusses how all teachers should have change in their pedagogical practice. She views her students as teachers, each an individual, and adapts to "help them achieve success as they continually fine tune and perfect their craft." She uses Knoster's thoughts on managing complex change. Doing so, she has a chart she likes that helps her figure out what students are missing that is keeping them from personal success. She has learned when her students are having difficulties she can refer back to the chart and it is typically a good indicator of what is the hindrance.
Blog Post 11
I found this video not only to be inspirational and motivating but innovative. Dean Shareski narriates and interviews three teachers who taught History, English, and Information Technology that came together and went to the administration to combine their classes and used Project Based Learning to teach the students. Research has shown when using PBL it increases student engagement and creates a better understanding of the topic. They used technology to enhance the student's learning experience to help them bring the content alive. Once they changed the schedules and had the combined class approved and with three credits it allotted more time for both the teachers and students which allowed them to have a greater quality of learning. I personally feel this is an amazing idea. The group I am in in EDM310 wanted to do a similar structure when we created our first PBL. I believe this is something I would like to try sometime in my teaching career.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Blog Post 10
In First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Classroom we see how she is incorporating technology to help her students learn. Her students work with a SMARTboard like the one we are learning in EDM310. Each of her students have individual blogs where they discuss what they are learning. She has also set up a class web page. One of the students talked about how they are able to go home look at what is upcoming. I thought that was a great idea because it would allow not only the students access to their work but the parents could take a more active role in their child's education. Other types of technology Ms. Cassidy's students are using is Wiki, making videos, skyping with other classes, and playing educational games on the Nintendo DS. They are not only learning critical thinking but they are learning how to share. Ms. Cassidy is a great example of how we as future educators can incorporate technology.
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1
Ms. Cassidy is being interviewed by Dr. Strange and he begins the interview by asking how she got involved with technology. Ms. Cassidy talked about how she got involved about 10 years ago when 5 computers where given to her classroom. She first learned about webpages and blogging and her technological journey took off from there. She created her webpage 10 years ago, she had her students start blogging 5 years ago, and began making videos 2 years ago. Each year she has parents sign consent forms that give permission so she can post their work, photos, etc. to the internet. She only post her students first names and makes sure the names do not directly match the pictures. Parents typically enjoy being able to see their child's progress throughout the year not just at scheduled meetings. They can check their blogs and the class webpage whenever they want. The students are excited about having blogs because it allows other students, in and out of their classroom, to comment on their work. Another comment Ms. Cassidy stresses is how technology is here to stay. When you do not take advantage of technology you are only handicapping yourself and your students.
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 2
Ms. Cassidy discusses how she does not use technology in the same way most people would use Facebook. She tends to use it for more educational purposes and to find others with similar educational interest. She talked about how the best way to utilize technology is to relate it to our own personal needs or interest. She also discussed how it is important to build a Personal Learning Network or PLN. She has started using Twitter most recently as a resource to add to her list.
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 3
In the third interview Dr. Strange allowed EDM310 students to ask questions. She talked about how students this particular year were only required to blog once a week. There are certain blogs that are required for students to do although they are free to do extra. She tries to keep things flexible in her classroom. One of the EDM310 students asked how she was able to protect students while on the internet. Ms. Cassidy stated that she goes over precautions with her students like not writing their last name, not posting personal photos, and the importance of staying positive. She also explains to them what they should and should not click on while on the internet. She also discussed how she wants all her students to be good digital citizens.