Blog Assignment 9

What I've Learned This Year (08-09)

In this blog post Mr. McClung writes about his first year experience as a teacher. I really enjoyed reading this blog. You can read it here! I love the way he provided his personal experiences to gives advice to new teachers. His first point was "Reading the Crowd". With this he was explaining that it is not all about the teacher, but the students. As a first time teacher, I would think, it would be easy to get caught up in thinking that it is all about you, the teacher. He explains that it is not so much about the delivery of the content, but about the student comprehension. His next point was "Be Flexible". His point was that no lesson is perfect. As educators, we must realize that most of the lessons we plan will not go6 exactly the way we want them to. He gives advice by stating that when things are not going the way you plan, just work with it and better the situation, and to always do things with a smile. He also talks about communication and being reasonable with our students. As teachers, we must realize that students sometimes reach our expectations and sometimes they don't. When they don't reach our expectations we must not get upset or discouraged, but understand that we are working with children. We also must stay open to new things like technology, always listen to our students, and accept new experiences as learning opportunities.

What I've Learned This Year- Volume 4

This blog post is also written by Mr. McClung. This is his fourth writing on what he learned at the end of every school year he has taught. He only had two points to share with us in the particular blog post. his first point was "You Gotta Dance With Who You Brought to the Dance". In this point he writes about how he struggled with being concerned with what his peers thought about him as a teacher. I always find myself thinking about what other people think of me as a person and a student. The advice that Mr. McClung gives is to not change yourself based of other's perception. As an educator, we must always make sure that our students are having fun. He writes that regardless of what his peers were thinking, he asked himself, "Are the kids having fun?" As long as this question was answered for him, he knew that he was doing what it was he was supposed to be doing.

His second point in this blog post was "Challenge Yourself". In this point McClung enlightens us about him becoming too comfortable in his teachings. He advices teachers who have been teaching the same subject for awhile, to switch up things. He writes that you should never get complacent in your teachings, because with this, your students get bored. I love this advice, because the last thing I want, as a teacher, is for my students to dread my class. I will always remember this advice that Mr. McClung has given.
Check out this blog post here!

Project #10

My PLN (Personal Leearning Network)

The process of my PLN is going well. I decided to use Symbaloo to organize my PLN. It allows you to group different tiles together in categories. Symbaloo is free and you will have it forever. With this I can organize material for different subjects to make lesson plans in my future classroom.

C4T #2

I was assigned to leave a comment on Mr. Jarred Kruse's blog post. His blog post consisted of a picture of the back cover of a book by Kevin Kelly entitled "What Technology Wants". These are his two thoughts about the book based on the back cover "1) To think evolution has an inevitable nature is a gross misunderstanding of evolution. Given the flaw in what seems to be the basis of his argument, 2) he is going to have a hard time supporting even a neo-determinism. Given the large scale dismissal of simple determinism, he already has an uphill battle without faulty premises." This post can be read here. This is the comment I left:

Hello Mr. Kruse,
My name is Kayla Johnson. I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I decided to comment on this blog post because we have been blogging about technology in the classroom. No, I have not read the book, “What Technology Wants”, but have seen many videos and read many blog post (for my EDM 310 class) that deals with supporting technology in the classroom. I am one that agrees in technology being included in the classrooms in the decades to come. How do you feel on the subject?

My second comment was also addressed to Mr Kruse. This post was titled "Flipped Class – a student perspective". The post consisted of the thoughts of one of Mr. Kruse's former middle school students about the flipped classroom. This blog post can be read here. My comment was:

Hi Jerrid,
Again my name is Kayla Johnson. I attend the University of South Alabama, where I am in EDM 310, a classroom focused on teaching and familiarizing future teachers about the technologies of the 21st century. We recently had to watch a video on YouTube about the flipped classroom, and it doesn’t really match what your student was describing. The video on YouTube did mention that students did watch videos. In my opinion, it may be difficult for some students to comprehend videos, like your student said or the students may not have any form of technology in their home to watch videos. I think that there are many versions of the flipped classrooms and various opinion to go along with each one.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Kayla

Blog Assignment 8

This is How We Dream Parts 1&2: By Dr. Richard E. Miller

Part 1
Dr. Richard E. Miller tells us that writing has changed in our culture, and how great this change is. He tells us that this may be the greatest change in human history because we have the capability to communicate instantly and globally. With the means of technology that we have today, we can do any research without stepping into a library. He states that writing is a solitary activity. Writing is something that we use on a daily basis, and now writing has taken on a new meaning.He says that the writing that we do now, is usually with our laptops and computers, opposed to pencils, paper, and libraries. With the technology we have today, writing is becoming strictly computer based. Meaning there is hardly and letters being mailed, because people are sending emails. Dr. Miller says that with the desktop as our workspace we can find research from all over the world. With technology not only can we use text for collaborate, but we can also use photos and videos.

In this video Dr. Miller is basically saying that the purpose of libraries are quickly becoming extinct. With the technology we have today there is really no need for books, pencils, and papers because that all can be accessed on our computers and laptops. With the internet there are countless ways that things can be learned and created. As educators we must stay ready to learn and teach new ways that technology is developing everyday.

Part 2
With the digital environment that we live in, we have a new kind of material, the type of material that is updated instantly and changes right in front of our eyes. iTunes U helps compose videos and access lectures. Dr. Miller states that "ideas don't belong to us individually, but belong to us as a community". I agree with this statement, because as educators we must always be open to sharing new ideas that we have with the world. Not only can we share our ideas, but we can also learn something new from the shared ideas of others. Dr. Miller believes that in the future students will not be using word processor anymore, but technology that he is just learning how to use. Watch the video here.

Carley's Blog Post

While watching Carley's blog post, I was thinking, "wow, I wish I was that creative". I really like how while reading her blog post I could see her personality through it. It was not your average blog post. I really liked the way she included her own playlist, in her blog post. I liked the way she said that she would incorporate research in her classroom, and give her students variety instead of giving them the same assignments everyday.

I think that variety does make a classroom successful. Getting the kids out the norm makes them excited to learn about new things. Carley's blog post and videos are full of information and motivation to become a better learner and educator.

The Chipper Series/ EDM 310 for Dummies

These videos made me laugh. I really felt the same way when watching EDM 310 for Dummies. This videos were fun to watch and were relatable for me. This is also a concept I can use in the classroom. Regardless the subject I am teaching, videos like these two make learning and understanding fun. These types of videos keeps the students engaged and supports visual learning. These videos were great ideas that maybe will be used in my classroom in the future!

Learn to Change, Change to Learn

To think that education is ranked below coal mining in the IT Intensive scale. This video highlights that students have a much more stimulating environment outside the classroom then they do inside the classroom. As educators, we must accept that technology is not a choice, technology has developed into a environment. There is no such things as a traditional classroom anymore. Students not only learn in the classroom anymore, but in museums, libraries, magazines, and of course online.

I agree with this video. Students might become they place where students come to do group projects. As educators, if we want our students to make global connections we must first make global connections first with other teachers around the world. With the technology today and the technology that is definitely coming we as future educators must learn to change, and change to learn.

Scavenger Hunt 2.0

1.) A Twitter/ Facebook type website that provides social platform for teachers, students, parents is Edmodo.com. This website is twitter like and allows you to make mini communities for students and parents. It also gives assignments, reminders, and updates. Websites like this allows parents and teachers to have direct communication with each other online.

2.) I have never used Prezi before. Prezi may have been used to make this video presentation. Teachers and students can enjoy using Prezi license free through the Edu Enjoy subscription. It comes with 500 mb storage, private presentations, and your own logo!

3.) A video tool that I have never used is Photo Peach. Photo Peach is a free site used to make slideshows quickly. Teachers can use Photo Peach to make slideshows and then incorporate polls and quizzes that are related to the slideshow. The website is easy to use for students.

Blog Assignment 7

Wendy Drexler: The Networked Student

This video, The Networked Student, was very interesting. This video by Wendy Drexler covers the experience of a student in his contemporary issues class. He attends class three days a week physically and two days online, and his teacher hardly lectures when in class. It is also interesting to know that high school students are now taking classes that are offered online, which was not the case when I was in high school.

Through the video the student explains that his teacher is a student of connectivism, which is the "theory that learning occurs as part of a social network of many diverse connections and ties". Connectivism is also how the student in the video is taught. The teacher teaches the student to take control of their learning and to also use their peers to strengthen the learning process. The teacher is there to encourage the students on building their own networks and to take advantage of learning opportunities. The teacher is also there for the student if they are having troubles with anything and also reaches out to experts if other help is needed.

This video taught me a lot about wanting to teach to 21 century students. In my opinion, if children in the future are going to be doing most of their work, inside and outside the classroom, online then they do need a person to distinguish good and bad information, that they may find on the Internet. I like the concept of the 21st century classroom, because that type of classroom can be compared to our EDM 310 class.
Being enrolled in a course where class is not required weekly makes a student independent. It does not handicap the student into being lazy and not finding the answers to questions in which they are capable of finding themselves.

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (PLE)

This video is amazing. It really surprises me that this type of learning goes on in a 7th grade class. If students are learning and mastering what we are learning, as college students, in the 7th grade, just think about what the future will be like. It is amazing that children are enjoying and are excited about learning new things dealing with technology. Videos like this gives me butterflies to think about the job that awaits me in the future of education.

Project #8 Podcast

Blog Assignment 6

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
Randy Pausch was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Paush was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September of 2006. After finding out that he only had about 3 to 6 months to live he delivered a remarkable speech called "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams". I really admire Randy Pausch's attitude, especially for him to act with such positively in his predicament. This speech that he delivered was very inspirational and full of useful advice. In his speech he talked about his childhood dreams, enabling the dreams of others, and lessons learned.

Dr. Pausch begins his speech by listing his childhood dreams and explaining how he achieved some of them and some he didn't. His first pointer came when he was explaining how he hit his first "brick wall" in trying to achieve his childhood dream of being in zero gravity. He explained that "brick walls" are there for a reason, to prove how badly we want something. That statement in itself is so inspirational and that was only in the first 5 minutes of his speech. Pausch did not give up on his dream just because he hit a brick wall, and because he never gave up his dream was fulfilled. This is a great theory to use when facing challenges in life and also in the classroom as a future teacher.

As for enabling the dreams of others, Pausch used the way he taught in his class as an example. He taught his class the exact way he delivered this speech. His teaching was enjoyable to listen to and while watching this video I did not feel like I was being lectured to. I think it is great that he is explaining how to enable the dreams of others. As future educators, that is apart of out job as well. We have to not only teach to our students, but also inspire them to accomplish their dreams. We have to reassure students that are filling down, that they can do anything that they set their minds to.

The last thing Pausch talks about is lessons learned, and the roles of parent, students, and mentors. He talks about how we should never lose our child-like wonder, to always have fun everyday. He goes on to ask are you a Tigger or an Eeyore? He also advised us to tell the truth, don't complain, be earnest, and to never give up. Remember, "the best gold is at the bottom of the barrels of crap".

C4K Summary for September

My first C4K was to Michu, her blog post was about how much she loves painting her nails. Michu is a fifth grade student at Chestnut Tree in Buenos Aries, Argentina. In my comment to her I encouraged her to keep doing what she loved. She commented back to me, saying that since she could not paint her nails in school that she paints her nails all day on Fridays. Here is the comment I left;
Hi Michu! My name is Kayla Johnson. I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I love the way you express how much you love painting your nails. I also love painting my finger and toe nails. I paint them often. How often do you paint yours? I have lots of finger nail polishes, maybe more than I really need! I also enjoyed the pictures you posted, especially the ones that look like sneakers! I wish I could do designs on my nails. Keep up the good work with your blog post.
Kayla

My second C4K was to Logan at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ. His blog post was about his favorite meal to eat, McDonalds. This is the comment I left;
Hi Logan,
My name is Kayla Johnson. I am a college student in the United States. I also love McDonald's very much. I wonder if our McDonald's in the U.S. taste the same as yours in NZ. I also am interested in knowing what Cow Juniors is? My favorite from McDonald's is a double cheese burger. I like the Big Mac but it is not my favorite. I really enjoyed reading your blog on your favorite meal. Keep up the good work.
Kayla Johnson

Project #9a

Project #6