Interview with John Vallas

Tiffany Clark and I interview her son John Vallas through Skype; however, I had trouble converting the AFL file into a link to upload on youtube. So he video himself for us and we thank him for doing this for us!! Enjoy!
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=1c464878ce&view=att&th=12851652cc71f65e&attid=0.1&disp=attd&zw

Farewell Post

This is my farewell to my fellow EDM310 classmates. I have learned many things, and thanks to Dr. Strange for having patience with my inexperience. Thanks to my classmates that have helped me with my projects and I will miss you all!

Honest Reflection

My Honest Reflection.

1. I can honestly can say that I've learned how to use all the things we covered in class with the exception of a few. Twitter is hard for me to use because I am private, and I don't feel like tweeting about mundane things I am doing throughout the day. I really am proud of my blog, I really use Skype a lot with my son, Windows Moviemaker was really fun to use and I will use this in the future with my family photos and videos, Comments For Kids was enjoyable, and my daughter enjoyed this especially. I was blown away about Itunes U and how it was incorporated in the universities, and didn't even know my son was using a form of this at Alabama. Youtube has been my savior when I don't know how to download a video or anything. I'm even using this as a single mom to fix things at my home. I installed my own dlp bulb in my huge tv with an instructional video from Youtube.

2. Because I am basically starting from scratch in this class, technology wise, there is nothing I wish I had learned and did not. Everything was new to me and useful.

3. I don't want to forget anything I have learned good or bad. Except maybe my Twitter account. Even though I was constantly feeling like a dummy and a lot of times Dr. Strange made me feel like a dummy, I want to remember everything I have learned.

4. Again, even though I complained a lot, I am excited that I know how to do a large number of things I would have never have learned if I didn't take this class. Even the smallest thing like posting a link, I didn't know how to do! I didn't go to school in an era that we used these things. I am excited when I show my kids my blog and how I made a movie. Or how I kept up with my blogging.

5. What I found challenging was the syllabus and trying to keep up with what I had to do. There is so much information and assignments everywhere! I need everything to be in one place.

6. Bored? Please.... Maybe bored of not knowing what I was doing.

7. Again I would change the way we have to go to a number of documents to figure out what we need to do. This could be organized better.

8. I would say I am at the Some-Medium level. Dr. Strange may not agree. But from where I started I'm great!

9. I want to learn more and will try to improve my skills in all the areas we covered. I am also excited to use some of the things when I teach. Maybe podcasting, or Skypeing my students etc. I will also get my son to teach me new things since he is technologically savvy.

Project 14 Substantive Presentation

This is a a video I put together for my Project 14 Substantive Presentation! I hope you enjoy it!!

April 25

Welcome to My PLE!

This was a video about a seventh grader who used Symbaloo to create a PLE personal learning environment. Her screencast was really professional and well done. I dare say my PLE is not his advanced. When I was in seventh grade no one even had a computer! A PLE is suppose to give you control and manage how you learn. Hopefully I can fine tune my twitter account and I started to put together a facebook page, which shows how behind I am. Maybe I should get my seventh grader to help me?


Two Questions That Could Change Your Life!

This video was great and thought provoking. One sentence that generalizes your life ! Thats difficult to create. I'm usually so busy with my children that I don't really have time to reflect at the end of the day. I would hope that I was a better person from day to day, but being older and wiser I know that you just have to try your best and not dwell on the bad days. I hope when people think of me my sentence would be. She was a good mother and a good person. As a teacher I would hope my sentence would be She motivated children to learn!

SURVEY

Here are the results from my survey.

How old are you?
50% were in the 18-24 age group
26% were in the 25 and older group
24% were in the 35 and older age group

Are you married?

72% said no
28% said yes

Do you have any children?

60% said yes
40% said no

Do you work?

70% said yes
30% said no

How many hours a week do you work?

30% said 10-20
40% said 20-30
30% said 30 or more

Do you find EDM310 difficult?

75% said slightly difficult
25% said extremely difficult

Thanks for filling out my survey!

Google Earth Project

Here is my college basketball google earth tour. Hope you like it!

Project 8 - Teaching Something

Here is my presentation on creative ways to teach children the Alphabet!

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AXE7E4cRpf_iZGNoM3BoMm1fMjZjamp3OXpnNA&hl=en

Comments For Kids Week 14

I had to comment on Prince, He is a student at the PT England School. He posted a video on swimming and his favorite singer is Michael Jackson. I told him to keep up the good work.


Voice Thread

This is my VOCAROO voice thread!

WORDLE

Here is my Wordle about all things Greek!

Comments for Kids week 14

My comment was on Calvin in room 10. He was showing how he made butter and he thought it looked like scrambled eggs. I told him keep up the posting and good job.

Quentin Tarantino Movies Timeline

Here is the link to my Quentin Tarantino timeline enjoy! Timeline!http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/48399

My Dr. Seuss Timeline

Here is the link to my Dr. Seuss beginner books timeline and when they were published!
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/48391

Dr. Seuss The Zax

This video is about two stubborn Zax that refuse to move so the other may pass. Because of their inability to compromise they get stuck in one place. The world goes on around them and without them. I admit that I am somewhat of a Zax. I like to learn new things but I do hate change. I especially go in to the Zax mode when I have to do projects for EDM310. I get scared because I don't know what I'm doing so I procrastinate, and I'm not a procrastinator. I must not act like a Zax!!!

PS22 Video

I loved this video it made me cry! These kids took such pride in their performance and you could tell the teacher was really excited. This is the reason to publish student work on the web. If this was just an article about the kids at PS22 you would have never felt the impact of the video with all these children singing. Also if it wasn't for this video being posted Stevie Nicks would not have seen it and these children would not be performing at Madison Square Garden.

Comments For Teachers Week 13 and 14

" 10 Steps To A Gmail Makeover "


I had to comment on Lisa Thuman's blog here is the link http://thumannresources.com/
which is 21st century ideas to help facilitate learning and teaching. The first blog I read was really helpful it " 10 Steps To A Gmail Makeover ". She told how to archive your emails, make folders for your emails, filters for your emails etc. How to basically keep your self organized and get rid of all the emails that are useless to you.

This was somewhat helpful to me but most of the time I have my emails forwarded to my phone so I can just delete them as they come in. Making folders would be something I would need to do because I often delete important emails and I cant find them later. So putting them in a folder for retrieving them later would be helpful.

My Video/Podcast

I did this video with Tiffany Clark about Textbooks Or Ebooks? I hope this helps.

My Presentation

Comments for Teachers WEEK 10,11,12

The teacher I had to comment on was William Chamberlain, and his blog " At the Teacher's Desk". http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/

Are We Really Sure That Our Successful Students are Really That Successfull- March 30th.

This post was written about a student named Donte Rome and his blog posting. He brought up the fact how he could pass classes and never buy the books for the class. He would just Google the information and it would be accurate. Mr. Chamberlain brought up the point " Are successful student's really successful?" if they can make it through classes using a search engine.

I think this is a valid point. Why am I learning these things if I can look them up on a search engine instead of sitting in class for two hours. Also why am I buying 200 dollar books.


" Spreading Students Culture Worldwide " March 6th.

Mr. Chamberlain decided to get his students involved by " harnessing the power of students culture". He believes that children take great pride in their culture at an early age. He decided to have an introduction of Maori Mihi for his students. Mihi is a greeting spoken by an individual when they meet in formal and informal settings. He had some of his Maori students record a video of their Mihi.

The student that did this found this really empowering and got a huge amount of positive feedback. She was proud that her greeting would be viewed all over the world. A group of students in Russia even tried to do a Mihi. This technology is helping all students learn about different cultures from all over the world. How incredible to be able to view children in their native setting.

Comments For Kids WEEK 12

My comment was for Vaifoa from PT England School in Auckland, New Zealand. She posted a video of her Mihi, which I believe is a greeting in her native tongue Maori. She was adorable and I told her to keep up the good work and I would return to her post and see what she was doing.

WEEK 12 Blog Assignment - Kaia

What Kaia's father is exposing her to is incredible and scary at the same time. All this new technology and being able to reach maybe millions of people on the web is mind-boggling. What we can learn on the web is limitless. I remember when I was in school and we were limited to encyclopedias and the library. Kids and adults alike are able to learn a multitude of things good and bad from a computer.

I also think that Kaia's father has a reason to be scared also. The good that comes with the internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc. also has a bad side. There are scary people that roam the internet and are looking for victims everyday. Before Facebook and Twitter how many people, just by looking at their phone, or scanning Facebook, could tell what you were doing and where you were every minute of the day. This is really getting ridiculous and we all need to be cautious of what we put out there on the web.

Morgan Bayda

Morgan Bayda is a teacher from Canada that is disillusioned with traditional education. I also have a hard time in some classes. Especially the classes that are so large and mainly a lecture everyday. I don't get that one on one discussion with the teacher and other classmates like my other smaller classes. Also the lecture classes could be done online instead of student's having to sit in these classes twice a week and falling asleep.

Dan Brown's video was also eye opening. He knocks "Institutional Education" and says it refuses to adapt to the landscape of the information age. I think this is true in most universities. We have the traditional three tests and a final exam, which is mostly memorization anyway. I think using podcasts, Ipods, etc. would be beneficial and more productive in most classes. I hope I can incorporate some of this technology in my future classroom.

Comments For Kids Week 10

I had to comment on a teacher blog from Victoria, Australia. The post was about how her students were studying things that float, and things that sink. I left a post saying how I enjoyed the post, and that I have a daughter their age. Also,How my daughter loved The Magic School Bus too!

COMMENTS FOR TEACHERS WEEK 7,8, & 9

I had to follow Dr. Scott McCleod's blog Dangerously Irrelevant. He is a leading expert on technology leadership issues k-12. He was the creator of the Did You Know? video that we had to watch for EDM310 earlier in the syllabus. He has updated this video with Did You Know? 4.0. This video is still going strong with viewers and was mentioned this week in Time magazine.

The second post I read was We Trust You With The Children But Not The Internet. I wasn't aware of this but some schools don't allow their teachers access to the Internet fearing that It will be abused. It is ridiculous that teachers are allowed to watch the most precious of all things (our children), but not be trusted to use the Internet responsibly. I can't imagine as a teacher not having the Internet as a learning resource.


The third post was called Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff Please. This post could have been written by Dr. Strange himself. It was all about what Dr. Strange teaches about technology and collaborating. This was written in a tongue-and-cheek manner, but it really rings true. Some people feel that using blogging, the Internet, ipods etc. are bad because we can't control how kids use them and they will be exposed to explicit things. I agree and disagree with this post. Sometimes I do feel that kids are exposed to things that they shouldn't be. For example my daughter has a cell phone and I can't stop other kids from forwarding things to her. But then again these tools are here to stay. We can either teach our children to use them responsibly or be left behind on the technology train.

COMMENTS FOR KIDS WEEK 9

This week I had to comment on the video Alkaline-Earth Metals. I had a hard time with this video because something is wrong with it. The sound is not working and I made several attempts to view it. Did anyone else have the same problem.

Project 6 SKYPE

SKYPE

I have recently started using SKYPE because my son went of to college this past year. Out of all the new technology I have learned to use, I have really enjoyed using SKYPE. I love to keep up with people out of town or even out of the country withSKYPE. My daughter will be going to Norway this summer and I plan on using SKYPE to keep an eye on her. I haven't used SKYPE to ask Dr. Strange or my classmates any questions. I need to utilize this feature more.

WEEK 8

Comments for Kids Week 8

I commented on an elementary student named Linda who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Her blog was mainly what she enjoyed doing in her free time. She enjoyed skateboarding, and having fun with her friends. I commented that I had a daughter her age and I hope to read her blog in the future.

ALEX

Alex is the Alabama Learning Exchange, (Alex). This is a very informative site that has sections on Alabama courses of study, web links, lesson plans, personal workspace, professional learning, and a podcast treasury. Alex provides resources for parents, students, teachers, administrators, and anyone in the field of education. It is a one stop shop for educators.

The goal is for Alabama's students to reap the benefits of other educators sharing their wealth of expertise as educators with all of their colleagues. This site is something I would definitely use in the future as a teacher. It has a lot of information especially for someone who is just starting out teaching.

ACCESS

Access is the Alabama distance learning initiative. This program was launched on November 1, 2004 by Governor Bob Riley. It provides students with the education necessary to be successful. Students now have the opportunity to take advanced placements courses and additional course electives through a statewide network.

I really didn't know that this program was available and so successful. Students are able to take classes that they would have never been able to with really qualified instructors. This almost reminds me of Itunes U. Obviously this program has been really successful because the enrollment has gone from 425 students enrolled in fall 2005 to 4500 students and 42 different courses.


Randy Pausch: The Last Lecture

I really didn't want to watch this speech again because I find it really sad. This is a speech from Randy Pausch who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and this is the backdrop for his last speech at Carnegie Mellon University. He makes everyone feel more comfortable by introducing his cancer as the "Elephant" in the room. He is really inspiring he never let his illness get him down, instead he accepted it and decided to make the most out of every second he had left.

I like the quote " We can't change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand" This video blew up on Youtube and was such an inspiration that a book was written on his lecture. He reminded me in his lecture what was important in life instead of worrying about trivial things. You could tell this from his deep love of his wife and children. It must have been hard for him to give this lecture , but instead he thought of how other people would benefit from hearing it.

WEEK 7

"This is How We Dream" Richard Miller: Parts 1 and 2.

These were interesting videos but a lot to watch at one time. It was kind of distracting when images are popping up on screen and your trying to listen and take in what's going on visually. Blut what he is saying is that we will go from writing with paper and pencil to writing with multimedia. Richard Miller calls it the "new humanities", a technological convergence of visual, audible, textual, literacies that represent in his view the future of human communication.

We already as students do most of our research without stepping foot into the library. You can do your research using a Mac or whatever computer you have, write it, print it,add images, use a power point, whatever you want to do by having these resources at your fingertips. Then you can even post it on the web and reach more people than you ever would in print.

I hope as a teacher one day I can use all these resources available to me. And I hope I can get my student's to use these resources also. Since I will be teaching younger kids I don't know if it would be practical but I hope to somehow integrate this technology in my classroom.

Comments for Kids Week 7

I had a little girl named Jordana in Mrs. Kolbert's class. She had just written that she liked blogging and wanted some comments on how everyone else did. I just mentioned that blogging was new to me , but I did like it. I look forward to reading her posts in the future.

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler

This is a true story of a teacher named Wendy Drexler and her high school student who is a student of connectivity. He is studying American Psychology and is working mainly of his own. Using a pln and social networking sights to gather information. He also uses blogs to learn and then he starts his own to report his findings.

I think this is a great idea for high school age students depending on how self motivated they are. This is similar to our own EDM310 class and I don't know how willing a student is to study on their own, but like the video says the plus is that he can access Itunes U
and learn from the best professors at the best universities.

Do we still need a teacher? I think we definitely do. We still need the teachr to help us when when we need support, and help organize the information. Maybe even for moral support. But most of all to keep the student on task.

Toward a New Future of Whatever by Michael Wesch

He started by talking about George Orwell's book 1984 and how this book challenged the youth of 1984 what are you going to do about being politically active? Nothing. We would have thought the media scape of today has changed the way students are engaging and becoming more politically active, but it hasn't. He used American Idol as an example. How we haved moved to suburbia and become disconnected. We have all relied on the television for information. And we think that being on T.V. is the only way to have a voice.

He says that our culture is ruled by trivialities and narcissism and we are disengaging. I think our culture is moving in this direction. We don't go out and talk to our neighbors we get on Facebook and talk. We don't go out and meet people anymore, we join Matchmaker websites. We don't even have to talk to someone we can just text. I hope we can prove Mr. Wesch wrong.

My Personal PLN

For my personal PLN I have my own blog and I have started using Twitter. I post to my blog and I comment on the other students blog also. Twitter is new for me and I'm trying to learn how to use it. I'm commenting and asking classmates to follow my account. I want to expand the people I follow and who follow me . I am also trying to follow some of the educators that are on Dr. Strange's PLN Mr. McClung's World and Michael Fawcett.What Now? What Next? So What?

Comments For Kids Week 6

This week I had a little girl named Eden who wrote a story called Waves and the Lost Mum. It was a story about Waves who was a sea unicorn and she was an orphan. She left her home one day and went on a journey to find her mother. This was a really creative story and I enjoyed reading it. The best part were the voice thread comments on the side that were from the other students commenting on the story. These kids are adorable and they have a lot of great commentary on Eden's story.

WEEK 6 February 21

I Tunes U

I never knew about Itunes U, I'm learning something new everyday.http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/ I think this would be really beneficial for teachers or professors to post lectures on similarly to the podcasts. Especially for kids that are ill or even online courses. This would be something I would use in the future for information for a paper or even if I was traveling to an area to check out the museums or locations before I go. I'm going to introduce this to my daughter to use in the future for papers etc. If she can actually visit a location on her ipod touch than she is going to get more out of this than looking at some pages in a book.
I think my son is using this at the University of Alabama for some of his classes. I also like the fact that this can be mobile learning. You can plug your ipod into your car or be on a treadmill and be learning and studying for a class. What will they think of next!

Duke at Itunes U

I think Duke University's program of using Ipods in the classroom is great. Here is the link to the article I readhttp://news.duke.edu/2005/12/ipodupdate.html. They even have gone so far as to give Ipods to students to use for each semester. They even created an Ipod Core Project team to teach students how to use thier Ipods, share ideas, and problem solve. Students would use thieir Ipods in a number of ways from downloading their lectures to enhance thier class notes to using them as a PDA and personal calendar to keep track of sporting events and even exams.

Getting the faculty and students to come together and use this digital initiative was successful. This experiment even showed how student behavior changed because of this experiment. Wearing both earbuds meant that the student wasn't to be disturbed. Wearing one earbud mean't that the student was listening to music but could engage in conversation. It is a way to be around alot of people but not have to interact socially. I think using the Ipod outside the classroom is a great way to learn. I'm working on trying to link my notes to my Ipod Touch so when I go walking or on the treadmill I can listen to them. This may take a while but I'm working on it.


Technology Literate Teachers

Ok I'm completely confused by this Wiki. I don't really know how to use a Wiki and hopefully I will learn how to add to the discussion. As a returning student I'm learning new things everyday about technology and becoming less scared to try new things. I'ts pretty bad when I have to call my son at college and ask him how to add a link to my post! But I think It's my responsibility to become technologically literate because my student's will be way more advanced than I am.
I that podcasting is great and our comments for kids in other countries is something I want my sixth grader to do now. The technology student's have at their fingertips today is incredible. I will be looking forward to incorporating these skills in my classroom.

WEEK 6

Dr. Alice Christie

I really connected with Dr. Christie's blog on geocaching. I have been geocaching with my kids and it's like a treasure hunt. I would have never thought of using this with a class. I liked the fact that Dr. Christie would take her students to national parks and historical areas and use geocaching and gps systems to help them learn about the location. She would use teams and color code the teams giving them clues and use the contents of the geocache to understand the curriculum.
I know with my kids it was helpful even for them to learn to read gps systems and even with direction. It takes the students from a classroom to a exciting environment to learn and explore. Students use cooperative learning and work together and if they are successful they are rewarded with a prize from the geocache.

Comments For Kids

I really enjoyed viewing the animoto and all the pictures in Mrs. She's class. Those kids are amazing. Especially since most opportunities are not available to them because of thier living conditions and because of this they are so eager to learn. They appreciate what most kids in the States take for granted. I had the student Elizabeth U. and she was adorable. She drew great pictures and I look forward to blogging to her more.

"What I've Learned This Year" By Mr. McClung.

This was a great blog and was very inspiring. I learned in my classroom management class that the four stages of teaching are Fantasy, Survival, Mastery, and Impact. I thought that was so funny but the more I talk to experienced teachers I think it's accurate. I love the fact that Mr. McClung saw that his version of teaching was not working and he made a change. My daughter has a sixth grade science teacher and the class is very advanced for sixth grade. Most of the kids are not doing well and the last test 75% of the class failed the test. The sad part is that if she changed the way she taught the class these kids would get it. Instead it's negativity and constantly blaming the kids. When something isn't working it's time to change the game plan and that's what Mr. McClung did. Also like Mr. McClung it's important for your student's to respect you and hopefully like you. You can still be a stern teacher and the student's will know that you care about them. I feel it's not only important for you as a teacher to teach but it's just as important to build self esteem.

Week 5

Wikipedia

I didn't realize that someone could actually go into Wikipedia and change the information. I know my sixth grader uses it all the time for her reports and I guess we won't be using this as a resource any more. The things I learn in this class!! There is so much information out on the internet today sometimes I wonder what is and isn't true. You can't even trust the so called reliable sources, like the major news stations anymore because it's almost as if they have all changed their format to entertainment news. Any ideas for a reliable internet source since I won't be using Wikipedia anymore? According to an article I read supposedly Wikipedia has revised it's anyone can edit policy. I believe one day it will become reliable as a source of information but just like anything it needs to revamp some of it's policies.

Week of Feb. 7

Podcasts and More

I watched the Youtube video on how to make a podcast and it was really informative. I'm probably going to watch it about four more times along with the others. The podcast Roaming with the Romans was adorable. That is such a great idea to do with a class with any subject they may be learning. I think getting them involved and doing research for their podcast is a great way to learn. Along with doing the Podcast they can improve thier speaking skills and all the other computer skills that go along with it.

Week ending February 7, Resources for podcasts

Podcasting In The Classroom

This was a really informative podcast it was easy to watch and had some great ideas of how you can utilize podcasts in your classroom and how it can help students. The scenario where the girl was sick and she didn't want to miss class because she had a big test coming up hit home because I have an eleven year old and her classes are so difficult I'm guilty of sending her to school when she's not feeling well just to get the information for her test.
Even though I'm not the most Tekkie person I really am excited to use this in my classroom. Not only to give information for students that are absent or even need a refresher from thier notes. But also to send messages to my students even if they need an optimistic word from their teacher to give them motivation. I also am excited to get them involved doing podcasts. One day I'm sure I can get more savvy to use this technology that I didn't know existed.

Week 4 - Podcasts

This is how much I know about a podcast I kept thinking something was wrong because the video never popped up. Who know it was just audio? I'm too old for this. I found the Kidcast pretty informative since I know nothing about creating a podcast. I think it would be a great teaching tool in the classroom. Teaching With a Smartboard needs to be mandatory for all the teachers at South Alabama. None of my instructors are taking full advantage of thier boards because they don't know how to use them. They won't even touch thier boards because they are scared of them. This podcast was informative and I liked the animation they provided. But these guys banter back and forth too much. Get to the lesson.
I picked a podcast called How Stuff Works. Two guys named Josh and Chuck teach people about things you would never even think of knowing. I listened to How Organ Donation works. They provide a wealth of knowledge on the most mundane things like, Why Are Honeybees Dissapearing to some really interesting topics like, how witness protection works, do Zombies really exist or my favorite are stupid people happy? It's easy to listen to something I would like on a long roadtrip. This Week in Photography was pretty good if your into photography or just a novice like I am. They are a tad egotistical but I found it but I found I helpful even as a beginner photographer.
MacBreak Weekly was one I was looking forward to listening to since the episode was about the new Ipad. I probably will tell my son about this podcast because I just bought him a Macbook. These guys are really pro Mac I doub't you will hear anything that wasn't positive. The only concern they had was whether to buy the 3G or WiFi version. This girl Justine was really hyped about it and it made me want to find out more. EdTechTalk was pretty good even though the ladies talking were annoying.
I listened to the episode on the Iphone. It was okay I really would like these people to get on with the subject at hand instead of talking about what they all did for the week. I listened forever to one lady talk about climbing the bridge in Australia. Boring. Then I went to a show on gaming and it was a little easier to listen to.

EDM310 Blogs Ending January 24

A Vision of Students Today

I Agree with all of the comments. Although students of today are technologically savvy, it seems to work for and against them. They have laptops that can help them with every aspect of their college studies, they can even register with their computers. I was telling my eleven year old the other day how I registered for classes back in 1981. We use to have to get up really early and stand in a line that was a mile long. Hoping to get our first choice of a schedule and usually it would never work out.

The cost of books are ridiculous. I now go to my class for the first week to see if I even need my book. I've noticed this generation of students take for granted if they have parents that can pay for they're education. Not showing up to class or constantly dropping classes. Being older and now having to pay for my own education has definitely made an impact on my attendance and grades.

It's Not About the Technology

Kelly is making a valid point about teachers must be learners. We as educators have to be up to date on our technological skills. Since technology is always evolving the students have to equally be learning since tech is constantly growing and advancing every year. I strongly agree "Learning and Teaching Are Not The Same Thing" My daughter's sixth grade teacher is always saying to her classes i don't understand why you don't get it. She tells the children that they must take ownership of their grades. Well when 15 out of 20 kids fail a test she needs to change the game plan. She shows a power point presentation on the subject. Well why not make the power point available online so the students can at least look at it or print the notes.
All my teachers are great this semester but someone in the computer department needs to show them how to use their smart boards. Like Kelly said they have all this technology available to them but they don't know how to use it. But again it's not always about the technology my teachers are very effective and interesting teachers.

Is It Okay to Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher

Of course I agree withe Karl Fisch's post who wouldn't. As teacher's we want to at least be as good if not better at being capable on a computer. As Fisch says saying your illiterate on a computer nowadays is like saying you can't read or write. I think it's a great way to stay in touch with your students and teach your student's. Unlike my daughter's teachers in sixth grade why shouldn't the students be able to email the teacher during the week or weekend if they can't understand homework etc. Teachers , Principal's, all the administrator's of a school should be learning or taking classes to be on top of the newest technology. How can the leaders of a school not move thier student's forward in the computer age if they are illiterate themselves.
I find that for me I can say and be a lot more frank and honest on an email or text than I can be if I were talking to someone face to face. I think students who have a hard time reading a report in front of a class could flourish on a blog. Thanks to my kids I can use my word processor, download itunes, skype etc. But I have to admit I don't read as much and I don't even get a newspaper delivered anymore, I read all my news online. And again I reiterate that a computer can't provide a hug or motivation like a caring teacher but a combination of the two could be remarkable learning tools.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

Gary Hayes is showing the incredible speed that the social media is growing. I wonder where all these people are doing this while they are working or when they are in class. I think it will impact our career as teachers in a good and bad way. Of course as educators we can stay in touch with our students whether giving assignments, timely grades and comments etc. But it can also impede our ability to teach. How many times have your seen students texting on their phones or looking at facebook instead of listening to a lecture.
Another aspect is kids today are, I believe addicted to thier social gadgets. It's kind of unnerving for people to know where your are every minute of the day. Especially with twitter who cares what your eating for lunch or where your shopping. I find even with my daughter who is eleven she never gets away from the social scene or her friends. In my day we saw our friends at school and once in a while we would spend the night on the weekends. But today kids are talking to each other 24/7 and scheming to socialize after school every day , weekends, any time they can.

Ken Robinson Blog

I really was dreading to watch this video because It was long and I thought It was going to be boring, but It was completely the opposite. This video was really funny and enlightening. I agree how schools kill creativity we are always taught to color within the lines and not be different. My children are lucky to go to schools where drama and theater and the arts have not been cut from the curriculum, but like Ken said in public school these classes are being phased out because of budget cuts or they are put at the bottom of the curriculum. As Ken says "We have been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers."

I think I have been guilty of this especially with my son. I have always taught him no matter how good you are at athletics or playing your guitar your not going to be a rock star or a professional athlete. He has always wanted to be a doctor and I don't know how many times I have told him to stop playing your guitar and study. Like the story he told about the woman that directed Cat's, how many kids have been put on adderall because they can't sit still and this woman is a prime example of a creative genius. This video will make me look and react to the kids I teach in the future in a different light.

Vicki Davis Blog

I think this teacher and her class is incredible. My children go to private school with new Mac's in their computer labs and they don't do anything like this, It's a shame. I wasn't familiar with any of the terms she was using like wiki, avatar, etc. But I am eager to learn. It's amazing how she has connected student's in so many countries together to talk about everything from customs to how being a teenager differs from place to place.

My eleven year old knows more than I ever will about computers, but one thing I hope to gain

from this class is to teach her how to link with kids in other countries and maybe get her class at school to start doing this. I'm eager to start following her Cool Cat teacher blog, and read her book.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

This video is a play on Rip Van Winkle except this character is Mr. Winkle who also wakes up after a 100 year nap to find miraculous changes in all aspects of society except when he visits a school and he finds it familiar and the same saying basically that schools haven't changed in 100 years. Media and computers in the classroom are vital in learning. My daughter's sixth grade class is making a model rain forest with each student picking an animal to draw and explain. Using their new apple computers the school has in their lab they are able to go to the rain forest on the web and the possibilities are endless. As technology advances our schools need to advance along with it.
But on the other hand I still believe students need to learn the basics, or how Mr. Winkle describes it as reading, writing, and arithmetic. How many kids know how to download a video from YouTube or Download songs from Itunes but they can't do a basic algebra problem or know the tools in writing a book report. Also can a computer like a teacher provide encouragement or even know when a student is struggling whether in school or at home. Mr. Winkle makes valid point we must advance our schools but it is comforting to also have the familiar.

Did You Know ? Blog

I really think that we are in information overload. This video is really crazy and depressing.
It makes me feel that eventually computer's will all crash and burn and that we will have no room on this earth from overpopulation. Technology is affecting everything from politics, Obama is the first president to have a Blackberry, to meeting your wife or husband. It has been the most valuable tool in education, and the most destructive tool if you choose to do something you will someday regret. One mistake can be on the world wide web forever.

I'm from an older generation so I'm still trying to play catch-up with the technology out there today. I never thought I would be text-messaging my daughter, or skypeing my son who is at the University of Alabama , and constantly makes fun of my technological skills. From a positive outlook maybe computers or someone from the billions of people that will be born around the world will one day can discover a cure for cancer, or figure out how we can all live free and peacefully on this earth together.