My Fellow Classmates: I had a fun time goofing off in class and laughing many times with the teacher. I believe we have Larrica to thank for that. Everyone can agree this class taught us alot in the technology field for teachers. I will always remember walking into class and having the smell of popcorn in the air due to a avid popcorn eater who sat next to me.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and month long break. If I continue in the education field, Im sure I will see most of you again in the spring.
In the words of Dr. Strange, "If we dont know, lets find out."
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
'Strange' things Ive Learned
Blogging
Google Gadgets
IGoogle Page
Google Docs
The many online resources for teachers
Staying motivated and excited to excite others
PODCasting
The thing that excited me the most was Blogging. I had read blogs before, never really took them seriously, and never thought about doing one of my own. It was a fun experience and I cant wait to post on my own once this semester is over.
Our class had the pleasure of being Dr. Strange guinea pigs in Podcasting. Of course, some people were floored that they would have to talk in front of class, but I seen it as a challenge. I thought for its first time, the podcasting went great. I hope to hear more Strange Conversations in the future on iTunes.
The other stuff I had done before, just not on google.
I am so glad to have an Igoogle Page now that includes my gmail, which I didnt know even existed. This class has taught me more than I imagined and its been an entertaining class.
Google Gadgets
IGoogle Page
Google Docs
The many online resources for teachers
Staying motivated and excited to excite others
PODCasting
The thing that excited me the most was Blogging. I had read blogs before, never really took them seriously, and never thought about doing one of my own. It was a fun experience and I cant wait to post on my own once this semester is over.
Our class had the pleasure of being Dr. Strange guinea pigs in Podcasting. Of course, some people were floored that they would have to talk in front of class, but I seen it as a challenge. I thought for its first time, the podcasting went great. I hope to hear more Strange Conversations in the future on iTunes.
The other stuff I had done before, just not on google.
I am so glad to have an Igoogle Page now that includes my gmail, which I didnt know even existed. This class has taught me more than I imagined and its been an entertaining class.
My Blog/Justin Tullis' Blog
I have recently reviewed his blog and I read over mine as well. The obvious difference is that for the most part, he kept up with his blog. In my case, I missed my blog 2 weeks in a row, and then it slowly slipped until I missed a complete month and a half of blogs. Its not that i did not enjoy them. It is a neat tool to use and I will try to use it in my classroom one day. I expect to post in blogs in the near future.
Teachers and students can use the blogging world for numerous activities. My only wonder is some students will not have access to a computer outside of school. Some families just are not fortunate enough. If schools were able to step in and provide internet access maybe after school or something, it would really keep kids interested in school AND out of trouble...maybe haha.
In the near future, blogging between students and teachers for schoolwork. It could really help teachers in doing new things with her class to motivate them to reach their goals in any way possible. Its easy these days for kids to get distracted and bored, and blogging would be a fun way for kids to be educated.
Teachers and students can use the blogging world for numerous activities. My only wonder is some students will not have access to a computer outside of school. Some families just are not fortunate enough. If schools were able to step in and provide internet access maybe after school or something, it would really keep kids interested in school AND out of trouble...maybe haha.
In the near future, blogging between students and teachers for schoolwork. It could really help teachers in doing new things with her class to motivate them to reach their goals in any way possible. Its easy these days for kids to get distracted and bored, and blogging would be a fun way for kids to be educated.
Duke Blue Devils
I watched the documentary on the epidemic which is HIV/AIDS diseases going on in South Africa. It was definitely eye opening because I hear about the problems going on with the raping and the crime and the ongoing disease spreading. It is very sad. Illness and death break up the families and it makes young children more prone to violence and sexual assault.
There are some positives to this. Programs for South Africa's youth help out tremendously. Role playing was an activity the kids participated in where they acted out in the conformities of a skit with the suppport of the leaders and the other kids. It lets the other kids know that they arent the only ones going through these situations. These kids are the future of South Africa, no matter what they go through. The documentary was a well rounded video which was bittersweet considering the story.
There are some positives to this. Programs for South Africa's youth help out tremendously. Role playing was an activity the kids participated in where they acted out in the conformities of a skit with the suppport of the leaders and the other kids. It lets the other kids know that they arent the only ones going through these situations. These kids are the future of South Africa, no matter what they go through. The documentary was a well rounded video which was bittersweet considering the story.
EDM 310 Podcasts
I watched our podcast first on youtube as an educational tool...Well, it defintely couldve been better. Our conversation clocked in under ten minutes. I wonder if i talked too much, but I was just trying to keep the conversation flowing. I felt we were about a 7 out of 10. A little more information wouldve been better. I thought we werent as prepared as we could have been.
The second podcast I watched was Last Lecture with Brandy, Daniel, and Amanda. Needless to say, Daniel kept us on our toes, not knowing what ridiculously funny statement would come next. Even though it wasnt compact and maybe all over the place, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I had not seen the video prior the podcast, and it made me want to watch it as soon as I left class.
The third podcast was people from another class that covered Facebook. It was relatively easy to talk about the subject because they were already familiar with the program. It wasnt the best podcast, but it got the job done. They talked about its pros and cons and how it would work in a school related way between teachers and students. Good points were brought up, and overall it was an alright podcast.
Strange Podcasting was a wonderful idea. Of course it wasnt the best turnout as far as people being prepared, but it turned out quite well. I would suggest people not read straight off of notes and carry on a normal conversation with two other people. Brush up on the topic with your group beforehand to see where everyone stands. There were many people at fault for this including me, and that is the non word "um." I dont know if we can ever break this habit, it will even go unnoticed unless someone were to point it out. The podcasts were fun and new, and I suggest to keep doing them for other EDM 310 classes. Some people need to be pushed into doing something to realize they would like it.
The second podcast I watched was Last Lecture with Brandy, Daniel, and Amanda. Needless to say, Daniel kept us on our toes, not knowing what ridiculously funny statement would come next. Even though it wasnt compact and maybe all over the place, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I had not seen the video prior the podcast, and it made me want to watch it as soon as I left class.
The third podcast was people from another class that covered Facebook. It was relatively easy to talk about the subject because they were already familiar with the program. It wasnt the best podcast, but it got the job done. They talked about its pros and cons and how it would work in a school related way between teachers and students. Good points were brought up, and overall it was an alright podcast.
Strange Podcasting was a wonderful idea. Of course it wasnt the best turnout as far as people being prepared, but it turned out quite well. I would suggest people not read straight off of notes and carry on a normal conversation with two other people. Brush up on the topic with your group beforehand to see where everyone stands. There were many people at fault for this including me, and that is the non word "um." I dont know if we can ever break this habit, it will even go unnoticed unless someone were to point it out. The podcasts were fun and new, and I suggest to keep doing them for other EDM 310 classes. Some people need to be pushed into doing something to realize they would like it.
Mathematics and Technology
In the podcasts it starts out talking about how alot of math teachers see technology as optional. The teacher is focused on covering all the material and prepping the students for the upcoming test. The problem is students may not be getting it by a simple book lesson by lesson, and therefore become disinterested in the material and could hurt them for math classes in the future. The technology suggested would provide new experiences and quick feedback to reinforce what students learned.
In the other episode, Judy compares a math classroom to a science classroom. In a science classroom, you learn how something works and ask engaging questions which allow the students to think critically. In a math classroom, a student is taught what to do and does it. Sometimes they are not sure why a certain method works that way, they just know how to do it. Math classes need to start asking "why?". Judy Chandler talks about a program called Geogabra that helps students in different ways in algebra and calculus.
These podcasts helps teachers in need for new and exciting ways to teach the classroom. It will take awhile to change the unanimous train of thought that technology is optional. But eventually, they will have to get with the program
In the other episode, Judy compares a math classroom to a science classroom. In a science classroom, you learn how something works and ask engaging questions which allow the students to think critically. In a math classroom, a student is taught what to do and does it. Sometimes they are not sure why a certain method works that way, they just know how to do it. Math classes need to start asking "why?". Judy Chandler talks about a program called Geogabra that helps students in different ways in algebra and calculus.
These podcasts helps teachers in need for new and exciting ways to teach the classroom. It will take awhile to change the unanimous train of thought that technology is optional. But eventually, they will have to get with the program
Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets
The title is self explanatory. Growth mindsets are people with mindsets that believe that intelligence can be learned through education and studying and perserverance. The fixed mindset believes that their intelligence is fixed, meaning they cant increase it.
Students were divided into two groups. The growth mindset group was taught that the brain is a muscle that can get stronger and new connections can be made with effort. The second group was taught study skills. The second group or fixed mindset did not improve much and there was not alot of urgency to learn. The first group, who was taught how to apply the growth mindset to schoolwork, showed significant improvement. The Professor that did this experiment also discussed how the growth mindset can be applied to other areas such as business tactics and race driving! I would love to have this mindset taught to me so I can take full advantage of my brain before I become too old.
Students were divided into two groups. The growth mindset group was taught that the brain is a muscle that can get stronger and new connections can be made with effort. The second group was taught study skills. The second group or fixed mindset did not improve much and there was not alot of urgency to learn. The first group, who was taught how to apply the growth mindset to schoolwork, showed significant improvement. The Professor that did this experiment also discussed how the growth mindset can be applied to other areas such as business tactics and race driving! I would love to have this mindset taught to me so I can take full advantage of my brain before I become too old.
Edible Schoolyard/Night in the Global Village
The Edible Schoolyard was so cool. I wish I could create ideas like that. It is exactly what I think more schools should be doing. Not only does it teach self-sufficiency and hands on work, it helps a child's self-esteem, teaches team work. It teaches values, discipline...the list goes on. I honestly would love to start a school like that around here.
What the Edible Schoolyard is: It is a garden created in Berkeley, California for healthier school lunching. The students learn around the garden by building and growing a garden. They learn measurements by hands-on cooking the food they grow. They study water molecules, but most of all, they learn responsibility and teamwork.
A Night in the Global Village was different from the Garden, but an equally way of teaching kids values and humility. Students are given the chance to switch lives from a normal school student to go live on a ranch in Arkansas and see what its like to live in the shoes of the less fortunate. This big ranch has separate countries and students have to live in the country's conditions that they are assigned to. My only problem is the experiment only lasts one night. The kids only get a taste of the conditions, where as a 3 night stay would grant more knowledge and more awareness of what its really like. The biggest thing about this is the students hopefully learn that everybody is the same, even though some people are poor and some are wealthy.
What the Edible Schoolyard is: It is a garden created in Berkeley, California for healthier school lunching. The students learn around the garden by building and growing a garden. They learn measurements by hands-on cooking the food they grow. They study water molecules, but most of all, they learn responsibility and teamwork.
A Night in the Global Village was different from the Garden, but an equally way of teaching kids values and humility. Students are given the chance to switch lives from a normal school student to go live on a ranch in Arkansas and see what its like to live in the shoes of the less fortunate. This big ranch has separate countries and students have to live in the country's conditions that they are assigned to. My only problem is the experiment only lasts one night. The kids only get a taste of the conditions, where as a 3 night stay would grant more knowledge and more awareness of what its really like. The biggest thing about this is the students hopefully learn that everybody is the same, even though some people are poor and some are wealthy.
Podcasts...
I listened to four podcasts and some were good and some were not as good. The conversations could go on and on, and I know our group wasnt able to do that. So I give them credit there. Although, some podcasts did not stay completely on topic...
I listened to MacBreak Weekly first. This was one of the podcasts I thought jumped around on topics, but I was interested because the main topic was on cameras. I love learning about new cameras, because Im investing in one. It was cool learning about what to look for and what ones were best in their opinions when purchasing a camera.
The second podcast I listened to is This Week in Photography. I love taking pictures, so this was also a fun and an informative podcast for me personally. They talked about different kinds of ink jet printers and which ones were best and least expensive. The host also discussed the kinds of ink, pigment and dye. He said that both were great, although he recommended pigment over dye.
The next podcast I listened to, Ed Tech Talk, was one of my favorites. My favorite part was when they discussed digital photography. They explored questions asking if a picture was really worth a thousand words. Ive always wondered about the expression myself. Can a picture describe someone's life? I think one can speculate, but cant really know until they know that person. They talked about blogs and stuff as well.
The last podcast I listened to was Kidtalk, which was actually interesting to listen to. One idea that really got my attention was how Penn State has 60 second lectures. Students are chosen to discuss a topic, then given 60 seconds to make their case. They have to focus on one point, and keep their idea central.
Although this took some time, it was interesting and informative. I would consider listening to podcasts on my own in my spare time.
I listened to MacBreak Weekly first. This was one of the podcasts I thought jumped around on topics, but I was interested because the main topic was on cameras. I love learning about new cameras, because Im investing in one. It was cool learning about what to look for and what ones were best in their opinions when purchasing a camera.
The second podcast I listened to is This Week in Photography. I love taking pictures, so this was also a fun and an informative podcast for me personally. They talked about different kinds of ink jet printers and which ones were best and least expensive. The host also discussed the kinds of ink, pigment and dye. He said that both were great, although he recommended pigment over dye.
The next podcast I listened to, Ed Tech Talk, was one of my favorites. My favorite part was when they discussed digital photography. They explored questions asking if a picture was really worth a thousand words. Ive always wondered about the expression myself. Can a picture describe someone's life? I think one can speculate, but cant really know until they know that person. They talked about blogs and stuff as well.
The last podcast I listened to was Kidtalk, which was actually interesting to listen to. One idea that really got my attention was how Penn State has 60 second lectures. Students are chosen to discuss a topic, then given 60 seconds to make their case. They have to focus on one point, and keep their idea central.
Although this took some time, it was interesting and informative. I would consider listening to podcasts on my own in my spare time.
Randy's Last Lecture
I am very humbled after watching such an inspiring lecture. He makes everyone take a good look at themselves and tells us to live our lives like its the last...well it is. Mr. Randy talks about all the childhood dreams he had, but also details how he managed to fulfill most of these dreams the best way that he could. I have childhood dreams that were never fulfilled, and hopefully I can go back and reexplore these dreams. As a teacher, I want to be able to give motivation to students along their way to achieving their various dreams and goals.
Dr. Pausch brings up good points about educating young minds. It made me think about a few things. I want to be able to open up the minds of children, and let their imagination run. Today, kids minds are so conformed to act and do a certain way, when there is not a wrong way to go about accomplishing something. Hands-on learning, and active participation in learning are ways I would try to do that.
In the last days of his life, Dr. Randy Pausch does what he preached. Live these days as if they are your last...Never let go of your dreams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
Dr. Pausch brings up good points about educating young minds. It made me think about a few things. I want to be able to open up the minds of children, and let their imagination run. Today, kids minds are so conformed to act and do a certain way, when there is not a wrong way to go about accomplishing something. Hands-on learning, and active participation in learning are ways I would try to do that.
In the last days of his life, Dr. Randy Pausch does what he preached. Live these days as if they are your last...Never let go of your dreams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
Duke University Ipod Use
I looked up some information on the use of Ipods at Duke University. It seems very helpful for classes because it reduces the need for physical materials. Through iTunes, a student could get the lecture content. It could be used for extra support in class or in case the student missed the class. It simplifies things between the faculty and students, which is its overall reason to be used at the University.
Using Ipods at a university isnt completely perfect though. They are challenges for content storage, its ease of access, and the fact that students could share the information with other students could spike the chances of cheating.
Overall, I think the pros outweigh the cons for ipod use. The students are able to listen to the professor at their own pace outside of class. Reducing the need for physical materials is a huge plus, because paper is a scarce resource and we need to preserve it best way possible.
Here is a website I got my information from http://cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf
Using Ipods at a university isnt completely perfect though. They are challenges for content storage, its ease of access, and the fact that students could share the information with other students could spike the chances of cheating.
Overall, I think the pros outweigh the cons for ipod use. The students are able to listen to the professor at their own pace outside of class. Reducing the need for physical materials is a huge plus, because paper is a scarce resource and we need to preserve it best way possible.
Here is a website I got my information from http://cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Student Electronic Contact
I was fortunate enough to have a friend who lives in Montreal, Quebec who used to visit Mobile, Alabama. We are facebook friends and I messaged her about the technology her college uses in Montreal.
She says majority of the teachers use powerpoint through their labtops(sound familiar). She studies publicity and says they talk about all kinds of crazy technology companies use to advertise products. "in downtown montreal, i was going to class and i say that big truck that was pulling a big trailer covered in windows. there was a new nissan in it, with lights and stuff so we could see!"...I thought that was interesting, although it doesnt have much to do with education.
She also says they do use blogs and teachers have websites where they put up class information.
From what I gathered, it is more or less the same type of technology we use. I did enjoy catching up with her and learning what kind of technology they use in Montreal
She says majority of the teachers use powerpoint through their labtops(sound familiar). She studies publicity and says they talk about all kinds of crazy technology companies use to advertise products. "in downtown montreal, i was going to class and i say that big truck that was pulling a big trailer covered in windows. there was a new nissan in it, with lights and stuff so we could see!"...I thought that was interesting, although it doesnt have much to do with education.
She also says they do use blogs and teachers have websites where they put up class information.
From what I gathered, it is more or less the same type of technology we use. I did enjoy catching up with her and learning what kind of technology they use in Montreal
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
ACCESS LAB Visit
I visited the ACCESS LAB at Daphne High School. The teacher that introduced us to the new tech was Joe Roh. He expressed a great deal of excitement in the equipment, but stated the problems involved keep other schools from hardly using it. At Daphne, most of the classes offered in the lab are only counted as electives, so not many students sign up. Mr. Joe said they get the most out of the lab during summer school. Students are allowed to retake a failed class and have it counted. Something that was very neat is the ACCESS lab could connect through video to other labs in different schools or counties and teach classes simultaneously. Timing is a big problem with that as well as faculty, but it was very cool to see. Mr. Joe also introduced us to the Promethean board. That piece of equipment was my favorite. An electronical whiteboard, or "smartboard on steroids." It was all very interesting to learn about the new technology in classrooms. The negative thing is alot of schools dont even use the equipment they have, and State of Alabama have rules and regulations that need to be loosened. Mr. Joe believed Daphne and other surrounding schools were 2 years away from where they'd like to be with the involvement of technology in the classroom. When all the obstacles are out of the way, ACCESS will be a great alternative for the average classroom.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Alice Christie's Technology Abundance
The Doctor has an abundance of resources for teachers. I definitely would try to implement some of her technology ideas. My favorite technological advance from the website was the podcasting. Students can get additional experience and help with the video and audio feeds of podcasting. Activities can be demonstrated in ways that the student may not get in the classroom. Another idea I liked was the Instant messaging. It can be useful for certain areas of classroom learning, although I am not sure how far it would be taken. Technology offers many perspectives in learning, and Dr. Christie's website is a good resource for that.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wikipedia a Trusting Source?
After reading the required materials, I totally understand why Wikipedia is not allowed for sources for term papers or other serious researching. I would not use it for in-depth researching anyways. But, with that said, I do use it for everyday common knowledge on certain areas of study. I used it to get basic facts for my presentation. I also used Wikipedia to verify what I already knew about the subject I was presenting. In the future, I will still use Wikipedia for its easy accesibility. To be certain though, I will double check the source and maybe look elsewhere to confirm Wikipedia's information.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Ignorance Should Not Be Acceptable
I thouroughly enjoyed the blog about teachers being technologically illiterate. I agreed with everything he said. It is a part of life, not an 'add-on'. I do think they should be held responsible and ignorance to computers in the year 2008 should not be acceptable. Principals should be held accountable for their teachers and take action and get them involved. The computer is not only a tool, it's a surviving tool in today's world. He hit the nail on the head when he finally showed the part of the blog he left out in 2006. In my opinion, I think he should have left it in his blog in 2006.
"It seemed like there was a different standard for math - not knowing math was socially acceptable." That is very true. People seemed proud of their ignorance to math. And it is rubbing off for technology as well. Our society has become concerned only with themselves, instant gratification, and the "what is in it for me" attitude. Teachers technologically illiterate should be persuaded to taking computer classes to get the basics. It is discouraging to know this is still an issue in 2008. Hopefully, this discussion will be put to rest soon.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
New Article
Ms. Averitt has located two very interesting articles about RSS feeds and Podcasting. I have posted them under Syllabus and handouts, but I am going to also put the links to them here.
Alaska Website
Alaska Website
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Blogs for Young Ones
I ran across this elementary blog at the webiste Areallydifferentplace.com and it was very cool. Technology has its good and bad, and this is definitely a good. This keeps kids interested about their school, and its a smart tool for them to learn about things they wouldn't normally discuss in class. They are 6th graders and each student has their own blog. The teacher posts topics and classroom news daily. It's very neat. I wish we did this back in grade school!
The other blog I found was quite interesting. The elementary blog was from Ontario at
http://elementary.ontarioblogs.com/. The final post on the front page was a bid goodbye as their blog had come to an end. It started in 2006, but they could no longer find someone to sponser it, so they had to shut it down. Students from 4th grade to 12th grade could blog. I never realized how the online community used blogging as such an educational tool. Technology has surely evolved.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
ACCESS Granted!
ACCESS is an educational website that allows students to participate in courses that are not taught in their region of the state. ACCESS is specifically for the state of alabama. The website is mainly for students who are enrolled in Advanced Placement and want to take advantage of different areas of study. Through the internet, students and teachers can communicate and learn subjects that may not be in the average school curriculum. It is not only for students in Advanced Placement, but also for students with learning disabilities that may need extra practice or advice from other teachers. Teachers can also share educational opinions or information through video feeds.
ACCESS is a wonderful tool for all students involved. Students can get much more insight to their courses of study and it also broadens their horizons and gets them interested in learning. Teaching is no longer a one room house with one teacher. Technology allows for numerous options for ways of learning and ACCESS clearly defines that.
ACCESS is a wonderful tool for all students involved. Students can get much more insight to their courses of study and it also broadens their horizons and gets them interested in learning. Teaching is no longer a one room house with one teacher. Technology allows for numerous options for ways of learning and ACCESS clearly defines that.
Monday, August 25, 2008
ALEX-Tools For Many
The Alabama Learning Exchange(ALEX) is a diverse website that provides many resources for teachers, administrators, and students. First, a teacher should sign up for an account on ALEX to take full advantage of its resources. The website offers all grade level courses of study from Language Arts to Foreign Language to Physical Education. There is also education web links for teachers, administrators, and students outside of ALEX. They involve lesson plans, counseling and guidance, and all courses of study. Alabama Learning Exchange offers a wide variety of lesson plans for all courses of study. A teacher can search lesson plans by author, title, or school. Teachers can also create their own lesson plans to submit to ALEX. Last but not least, ALEX offers Professional Learning. This includes many links and tabs for teaching, learning tools, and the best practices for the classroom.
The usefullness of this website is critical to the classroom. It's great to have lesson plans to give a teacher some insight or a plan to build into their own. ALEX's major selling point is the Professional Learning in which there are many links for learning tools in the classroom, and the opinion for the best practices for teaching. This is a website I will be coming to in the future for advice and teaching practices.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Midnight Post
Hello, my name is Brian Stevens. I was born in Mobile, Alabama(how original). Im 21, and this is my 4th year at South. Although, this is my 1st year in the education department. Had a change of heart with majors. Im quite shy so I am wondering how the whole teaching profession will pan out for me. Anyways, my main interests are music and music related funness. I play the bass guitar, go to rock concerts as a hobby. My presentation will probably be something in the music area. I also write lyrics and poetry when I am in the mood. I've grown up around football, so Alabama would be the team I root for. Lastly, I am interested in conserving to help the environment. Save water, recycle. Anything I can do on my own to help the environment. The sacrafice isnt that difficult if one applies themself. So I encourage conserving. Goodnite!
First Postmark!
All i can say is that my life is pretty plain. I like to watch the puddles gather rain.
A picture:
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