Blog Post 15 Final Reflection

C4T Summary

In my first assignment I viewed Jenny Luca's blog post Talking plagiarism with students I felt while reading this post I was not only learning but I found myself agreeing with all of the thoughts being expressed. Providing students with the knowledge before giving them an assignment I feel can reduce the likelihood of plagiarism taking place. In this post the importance of teaching a child ethical behavior is discussed, I feel that this is a quality all children should possess and be informed about. Ethical behavior not only helps a child succeed in the classroom but also in the outside world of everyday life. I was very glad I explored this page and found this post, I was extremely interested in all of the topics being discussed.

My second post Is community the new business model? I strongly enjoyed learing about Jenny Luca's views on this topic. The impact of social media on businesses today is very interesting to me. I was very bummed that I could not view Jenny Luca's actual presentation, but reading about her feelings was almost just as good. I agree with her thoughts of educators not only reacting to student's lives inside the classroom but outside as well. Jenny Luca inspired me in more ways than one in my future career as an educator. I will keep up with her blog and read many of her posts.

C4K Summary

C4K #9: I was assigned to a young boy named Mike's page. Mike was much older than all of the other students I have previously been assigned to. He is very smart. Mike explained and expressed the importance in which he felt in finding which learning style works best for you personally. I truly enjoyed reading Mike's blog post and exploring his page. He is a very intelligent young man!

C4K #10: Viewing Mrs. Yollis' classroom blog was truly inspiring. She has great ideas and ways to address information to her students and their parents in a fun and interesting way. She keeps her blog up to date with relevant and important information for all viewers. My assigned post for this week was awesome. I got to learn about Mathletics. It is a fantastic activity for students to participate in. This tool helps children learn the material being taught in a fun, exciting way. It also teaches social communication skills between students and adults.

C4K #11: For this assignment I viewed Nathan's blog from the 5th grade. Nathan expressed his feelings very in detail of how much he enjoyed his teachers participating and dressing up for the Immersion Assembly. I expressed to him how great I also feel it is to hear about his teachers taking such joy and excitement to the assembly and participating. Nathan's blog made me realize as a future educator, I must be excited about my lessons in which I am teaching in order to gain my students interest. Nathan also had a project about while learning the planets someone made up a rap to add a fun twist to the learning experience. I learned a lot from Nathan's blog post.

Blog Post 14

After viewing Jose Picardo's educational blog, I truly enjoyed the entire thing. I feel that the Top Ten Tips for Using Technology in the Classroom are not only useful and helpful to me now as a student but will be extremely helpful when I am an actual classroom teacher. Picardo's suggestions of streaming video's I feel can help gain interest of the students. The music tip is great, all kids young and old love music; Finding ways to incorporate this in your teaching could make a great difference. Getting to know your students is an important factor, finding out what interests them so you can incorporate it into your teaching to help them be successful.

I was not familiar with creating your own interactive exercises, I really enjoyed learning about this. Finding ways to better fit your students personal needs can increase success in the classroom. I also feel that in order for the white board to be affective you must know how to use it properly. Podcasts are a great way for students with remedial differences, it along with blogs are great in the fact of allowing students to access material from home! Social networks help students communicate on another level. All of these tips I feel are extremely helpful, I will remember them and one day incorporate them into my future classroom!

Final Project 16

Blog Post 13

For this blog post assignment I chose to do option two. Reading Stephanie Banchero's article My Teacher is An App I really enjoyed. This article shared facts of how more children are starting to do their schoolwork from home. Throughout this article an example is given about a boy doing his work from home. This vibe I felt was as if the child did not recieve the full amount of time needed to spend on the material because he was doing it from home.

I agree that some of our schoolwork should be able to be accessed and completed from our home, but I also am a firm believer in attending school both physically and mentally. I feel that this betters a child's chances of interacting socially with other students. I also feel that by attending school this helps children build social skills, by being able to ask and listen to questions of other students. I really enjoyed this article and I feel that it can help many educators understand the impact in which they have on children's lives.

Project 15

C4K #10

After viewing Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog I must say I was beyond impressed. I admire her tribute in which she posted in honor of Veteran's Day. I feel that Veteran's Day is one, if not the most important days out of a year in which we recognize and honor our troops and Veterans. Providing children with a full understanding such as the video clip in which Mrs. Yollis posted on her blog allows children to see all of the great things our armed forces do. As educators we must open the mind to our students and give them the tools and information necessary to knowing about days such as Veteran's Day. I feel as if this blog is used to share information of all kinds providing great details. It is updated very frequent and adequately. I feel students are involved by being assigned projects similar to the way we do in EDM310. This blog is very much connected and shared with many other classroom students and educators which I feel is awesome. Parents are involved because they are able to access from home or anywhere on their computer the material in which their child is learning. This blog keeps in contact through skype and blog posts with students and teachers around the world. Mrs. Yollis posts in detail the material in which she is teaching in each subject. She is very proud of her students accomplishments in the classroom and wants to share their knowledge and success to the world. I very much admire Mrs. Yollis.

Project 14

Progress Report on Final Project

For Project 16, my group and I have shared ideas in person, through email, text messages, and Facebook. We are all working together very well and creating unique ideas. Although we have not set our topic in stone yet, we have many good ideas flowing. Our goal so far will be providing a great tool and piece of information for EDM310 students and educators!

Blog Post 12

In this assignment we were suppose to create a blog post activity. In my activity students will view this Dr. Seuss YouTube video "The Sneetches" on diversity. After viewing the clip students will write an essay explaining the importance and what diversity means to them. They will also explain how it is shown in this Dr. Seuss video.



My essay:
Diversity to me is being different, unique, and yourself. It is about being true to what you personally believe in and stand for. I feel that it is extremely important to explain diversity to Elementary students while they are young. Providing children with the ideas of not everyone is the same at a young age I feel can help them learn and grow inside and outside of the classroom. Accepting and understanding diversity allows a child to be able to express their creative side without being ashamed or embarrassed to stand out and be different. This understanding can help children learn from each other with an open mind. If we as educators express and stress the positive sides to being diverse I feel that we can achieve greatness not only during a chills young stages of life but better their future as well. In this clip Dr. Seuss is expressing diversity by using the sneetches with green stars on their bellies. All of the sneetches at first thought only the best sneetches had green stars on their bellies, the ones without the stars were simply not as great. When an opportunity arose providing a chance for all sneetches to have a green star on their bellies everyone jumped to the idea at once. All of the sneetches went round and round, back and forth to having green stars and to not having green stars when they finally realized it was all so silly. The reality set in that being different is best, being all alike does not make perfection. Being able to stand out and be unique is what life is about what makes the world go around. We must encourage and support each other for our different talents, interests, and abilities and not be close minded but accept each other for who we truly are.

C4K Summary

I was assigned to view Kristina's page. She and I had a lot in common. In Kristina's post she shared with her viewers her nickname, who her best friend is, her birthday, and her dream. I was very interested in Kina's dream to becoming a fashion designer, I once shared this same passion. I feel that this is a great career path for someone to express creativity and personality. I think Kristina has fantastic goals and has a very bright future ahead of her!

Alvin was another student whom I was assigned to view his blog. I shared with Alvin our National bird and symbol for the United States of America which is the bald eagle. Alvin had a very cool dragon in which he created on his page who talks and gives information about Alvin himself!

I was next assigned to Raymond. Raymond is a very intelligent young man. He provided very detailed information in his post and incorporated an image of the periodic table focusing on the important parts of the carbon tile. I enjoyed Raymond's page he made learning about the periodic table fun and easy.

I then randomly chose to view Emily's page. She had a widget named "Poe" the Panda Bear. This image immediately grabbed my eye, my sorority mascot is the Panda Bear. I shared with Emily my thoughts and feelings on using experiments in the classroom. I expressed to her how I feel that experiments are very helpful and make learning fun and sometimes easy to understand the topic being taught.

I next viewed Ty, Hailee, Payton, and Cole's posts in which they created their own animals! This blog post was definitely one of my favorites to view. I loved reading and imagining each of their animals in which they created. Ty created a "Choth", Haliee created a "Giraphant", Payton created a "Catdacke", and Cole created a "Chipliz". Each of these students used their imagination in the best ways possible. They provided full descriptions of what their animal eats and enjoys to do. I was beyond impressed by their ability to be creative and use their own ideas!

My next page assigned was extremely interesting. Maroroa spoke about the Cooks Islands, a place in which I had never heard of! The Cooks Islands flag is awesome. Learning about their relationship with New Zealand was very interesting. After viewing this page Cooks Islands has definitely been added to my list of places to one day travel to.

My last student I was assigned to was Mike. Mike is much older than all of my other students in which I was been assigned to. He was a very intelligent, smart young man. He explained and expressed the importance he felt of finding which learning style works best for you personally. He then explains the importance of applying the learning style which works best for you to your school work in order to better understand the material being taught!

Blog Post 11

First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class
After viewing this video, I felt a huge emotion of excitement come over me about my journey to one day having my own classroom. Seeing and hearing children use and talk about technology made me realize the importance of myself as a future educator learning and engaging in what technology has to offer. I hope to always be on the search for finding ways to incorporate technology into my future classroom!

Skype interview with Ms. Cassidy
Ms. Cassidy's approach to teaching while using technology in the classroom was very interesting to view and learn about. I personally felt inspired throughout this entire Skype session. Ms. Cassidy has a very interesting background of ten years covering her adventure to using technology. Starting out with only five computers Ms. Cassidy explored the world of the internet using websites, blogs, and many more technological tools. Ms. Cassidy is always adding new things on her own with support from her technology friends. Throughout her years of teaching Ms. Cassidy has had many different principals, some of which were more supportive in her use of technology more so than others. Ms. Cassidy still engaged in seeking her interests in technology in her classroom no matter what others might feel of her teaching tools. In my classroom if using a blog I would use her technique of posting pictures of the students but never matching the picture to their name and only using their first names, never their last names. I feel like this bit of information shared was extremely important and should be used by all educators who incorporate blogs into their classrooms. A benefit by using Ms. Cassidy's approach I feel is that the children love technology and being able to use it. The kids will actually engage more in learning and want to explore new things!

C4T #3 Summary

Jen Deyenberg's Trails Optional I explored the post Biodiversity in Antarctica- Wikis, Webs, and Penguins! in this post Deyenberg is stating the importance of exploring the ecosystem and finding places in which not many people know about. While exploring these sites using Wikis and the Web kids can learn interesting facts while keeping their information in an organized fashion to go back to for later reference. Jen did an example by exploring Antarctica, he used pictures, information on food webs, and much more. His point was to express the value of using the internet to research information creating a fun and exciting way.

In my response to Biodiversity in Antarctica- Wikis, Webs, and Penguins! I expressed my interest in learning about using Wikis to explore new areas of the ecosystem. I feel that this would be a great activity to incorporate into my future classroom. I explained how I think it would be very exciting for students to explore places in which they do not usually hear or think about it. I feel that this activity and tool can open students minds to another area of learning, giving them the desire to engage into more areas of learning. I feel that using Wikis and the Web is an easy and very helpful tool!

In Jen Deyenberg's post Wikis, Tagxedo and Science- A Forest of Words! he was sharing with us a tool to help children learn more about words and shapes. Tagxedo is a tool like Wordle, it makes shapes of words. You can organize your words into any type of shape such as; clouds, trees, cars, etc. This tool is a fun way for children to learn. It helps express creativity and engages students into social learning. It allows children to share their creativity with their classmates learning how to communicate and learn from each others experiences of creating their own Tagxedo.

In my response to Wikis, Tagxedo and Science- A Forest of Words! I expressed my interest in learning about this tool. I provided Jen with the information in our previous assignment of Wordle and how much I enjoyed participating in this activity. Learning about Tagexdo was something I found very helpful and beneficial. I feel that this activity will help keep students focused, excited, and interested in learning new things. Allowing your students to create their own Tagexdo and post to their personal blog I feel is a great assignment and one that I will keep in mind to use for my future classroom. This project allows students to learn the words and use their creative side while sharing and learning from other classmates creations! I enjoyed viewing and learning from this blog post, I feel it was very helpful and interesting!

Blog Post 10

Do you Teach or Do you Educate?
I really enjoyed watching this clip. I chose to fulfill the career path as an educator because I want to make a difference in children's lives. I intend to educate through creativity and inspiration. I hope to find ways in my educating to help students engage in a subject area fully rather than doing it just because they have to. I hope that I can give an assignment and due to my teaching have my students enjoy the researching process rather than it being a duty.

I hope my students will not look an assignment and the first thing they look at is the due date and wait until the night before to being the project. I want to educate my students in way that they are so intrigued and full of ideas for a project that they can hardly wait to being the assignment. I will try to find different ways to create an impact on all my students not just a few or half. I hope to never get comfortable, I want to always take risks and find new ways to educate keeping my classroom entertained, intrigued, and focused!

Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home! presents his argument in a humorous way yet keeping the topic serious and important. Johnson is stating that people feel students should not use pencil and paper outside of the classroom due to lower standardize test scores. The argument is many feel that if a child is creating at home for personal joy that they will share the same incentive while in a classroom, instead of having a serious learning mindset. Many feel that this will create a carefree personality in a student. By finding projects for students to do at home incorporating fun, entertainment, and learning Johnson expresses the importance of creating outside of the classroom. Even when faced with a situation of the child straying away from the assignment given and playing a game, he/she is still in some way learning. As educators we must not be close minded to different ways of learning! We must think outside of the box and explore, even in a game of tic-tac-toe a child is still practicing drawing, thinking, and analyzing a situations. I think Johnson's title is meant to be sarcastic yet intriguing for educators to think in a different way!

Blog Post 9

In Mr. McClung's post, at the teacher's desk What I've Learned this year 2008-09 he is sharing with his viewers his experiences during his first year of teaching. By doing this he is providing us with helpful tips for future educators. His first tip is how to read the crowd, he shares how he was always concerned with how he was being graded or observed that he was hurting himself by not letting his real teaching shine. He was thinking about himself, not his students or even his lesson focus. By giving your students more opportunities to interact it allows a lesson to be taught properly and be beneficial to the students! Next we must be flexible, when preparing a lesson before teaching have a mind set of it is not going to go as planned, because it never will. You must be open for questions and be prepared for anything and just go with it. Communication is another tip, he gives a sense of humor/sarcasm when stating that of course none of us have ever been involved in workplace drama, but if we might happen to stumble upon a situation in our near future talking the issue out will solve all problems! We must also be reasonable, as educators we should always expect the best from our students but we must also remember that they are learning and to not be too critical if it does not meet your "highest expectations". Instead of getting upset we must work with the students and give them the information in another format until they better understand the material. As educators we must not be afraid of technology. By having an open mind to learning how to use new tools we could help students succeed on another level. Listening to your students is essential. It is a very simple task but it is the one tool that will lead to the greatest success. By listening to your students it lets them know you care which will keep a child motivated for learning.
In Mr. McClung's third year of teaching in his post What I learned this year 2010-2011 he encounters many exciting new events in his career. He became the head coach for the schools cross country team and also became the teacher for computer applications. He provides us with tips for how to handle new challenges as a teacher. First we must know our boss. Trying to impress your boss should not be your goal, we should want to impress our students. We should be ourselves around our boss and find ways together to better our students education. Also not everyone will always hold the same exciting or interest in incorporating new things. Do not let it bring you down, staying positive will lead you in the right path. We must also be a leader and know when to follow. It is good to go with others at the appropriate time but we must also remember to be ourselves to do what works best for our classroom! When teaching we must allow our students to complete the task at hand on their own. As educators it is our job to guide them with instruction but they should be the ones physically and mentally completely the task, not us. If we do the work for them how will they ever learn? As educators we must never get comfortable, we should always incorporate new material. Using the same stuff over and over again can and will become boring for not only you to teach but your students may not be interested. I was very glad this was an assignment, I feel that I learned a tremendous amount of information from Mr. McClung that will be helpful for my future career.

Project #13 - SMARTboard

Project 12

Project 11

Blog Post 8

This is How we Dream Parts 1 and 2 By: Richard Miller, After watching this video I have a different view of dreams. I was not sure what to expect before viewing this video but I will say I was very pleased after watching it. I enjoyed it very much. I think it is a very important time to engage in the tools provided to communicate globally like Dr. Miller states. Although we do carry around our laptops and use the word documents to type, I feel that we must still keep and enforce the importance of using pen and paper. The internet provides us with amazing facts instantly at the click of a mouse, and can be saved and stored forever while paper copies are often easily misplaced or thrown out. I feel that this is true but with proper organization we can save our copies.
I feel that I am prepared somewhat to write with multimedia but I also stand strong to using the basics as well. The web can provide us with fast information and I think it is amazing. I of course will embrace this tool and use it but as a future educator I also want my students to have the knowledge and ability to search for information through a library on their own.
I think my students will be able to do this, slowly they will gain knowledge on it. I think it will take time for them to be able to search while learning and stay on task of their assignment verses searching for pleasure. I want to encourage and support my students with information of how to use this while still providing them with the knowledge of using the basic research searching tools in a library.

Blog Post 12 by Carly Pugh
I really enjoyed Carly Pugh's blog post. This post allowed her to truly let everyone see her creative mind! By creating an assignment of ten videos using YouTube creating what kind of teacher she wants to be, which is an inspiring teacher. Carly adds several clips from YouTube that are examples of the way she feels towards specific topics. I think she fulfill Dr. Miller's hopes for writing in multimedia, she incorporates so much from the internet as her examples. By doing this she is portraying a sense that the web offers fun, different ways to get your teaching points across to your viewers. I must say I agree with Carly's closing thoughts of videos. I also feel that they provide a fun learning tool for students and adults. I have enjoyed doing many projects preparing myself as a future educator.

The Chipper's Series and
EDM310 for Dummies
Ideas for videos I would like to create are videos that can help students or viewers better understand an assignment or lesson. Giving them better ideas to go off of before starting a lesson. The primary message of Chipper is to not put things off until the last minute, to be on top of things, not waiting until the very last second of a deadline date. Everyone has a busy schedule but finding ways to keep it all in order without being on crunch time. We must be ready to learn and be willing to put the time into it all. You cannot put a time limit on it, to learn you must be ready in the beginning to put whatever it takes into learning.
In EDM310 for Dummies it is showing that this class can be frustrating. We must be patient and ask for help or use the tools provided to seek answers. Following the directions given will allow you to actually be able to learn from the assignment given. This class can be great by staying focused and on task.

Learn to change, Change to Learn
I feel education should be just as affective for children as the outside sources are. Children learn outside of the classroom through the tools they use in technology. As educators we should recognize and incorporate the tools that interest kids into our classrooms. This could create a positive learning environment for learning. I agree with this video, students learn everywhere all day. By using outside forces in the classroom it can open doors and minds to great new things! This video is an awesome video for an impact on educators! Thank you Christie for finding and sharing this with everyone.

Blog Post 7

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture"
Before I began watching this lecture I must admit I was a bit nervous about the time limit of viewing it for an hour. After viewing this lecture I can now admit that I did not even look at the time and minutes remaining once. I found this lecture extremely interesting and inspiring. I found it to be interesting knowing his health situation is beyond inspiring. He gave me a feeling that nothing is impossible. As as a child he was a very happy young boy, who had dreams that most young boys share.

Experience is what you get what when you don't get what you wanted. Having experience is key to learning and growing. We learn through indirect learning, we want our kids to learn the details to the main task. By convincing people sometimes it works best to show them. The Aladdin project is what changed Randy, opening his eyes into situations with real people and putting artist and engineers together.

He created building virtual worlds, he wants to take your childhood dreams and find a way to make them come to life. Sharing what you know can be a great success for not only you but others as well. It can create excitement and eagerness to learn! Putting everyone together, not separating can create an amazing positive atmosphere with great results.

Being able to put on a show, creates excitment, involving the audience really attracts all viewers. Fulfilling dreams is an amazing thing to aspire to do. It is okay to do things differently than others. Finding what works best for you is key. I truly enjoyed viewing Randy Pausch's lecture, I feel that I have gained inspiration to follow my dreams and help my future students follow and achieve theirs as well!

Project 9b

My PLN Post 1

My Symbaloo
For my PLN I used symbaloo. Symbaloo really helped me add my favorite websites in a quick and easy fashion. Some of my websites include facebook, target, BCBG, and Nike. My PLN is very simple and plain right now but I plan to keep exploring and building to it!

C4T Summary 2

YouTube for Teachers
In this blog post Doug Peterson shares his thoughts and feelings on the importance of incorporating YouTube into the classroom. He gives a very helpful clip showing a presentation on a science experiment. He provides information to everyone that YouTube is actually blocked from many school districts computers. Many people feel that it is a distraction or causes problems in a classroom, and that it is something that is not needed. Doug shares that it is in fact a great learning tool to get students attention by viewing an interesting, exciting clip before learning out of a textbook. He shares a clip on how to teach a class how to use the technique of bubble sorting. By sharing this clip with students they may be able to understand the concept as a whole much better.

In my response to Doug I shared with him my feelings of importance in using YouTube in a classroom as well. I completely agree with Mr. Peterson on this topic. I personally have used YouTube throughout my career as a student not only in college but in middle school and high school as well. I shared with him how I have used YouTube clips in many of my powerpoint presentations over the past few years. I also told him I have ideas as a future educator of using certain Dr. Suess clips, or anything that involves the topic in which I am about to start teaching. I feel that beginning a lesson with a YouTube clip pertaining to the topic, can open a fun, positive, learning environment for your classroom.

OTR Links
In this post Doug Peterson is sharing with everyone a networking community involving information about education. It is a site in which you can share ideas, knowledge, questions, and basically any thoughts on education with other members sharing the same interest as you! This tool allows educators to provide helpful tips to others and also find ways to better their personal technology needs. This site has topics already being discussed, you click on them and can view the discussions taking place. In each topic you can comment, or if you would like to start a new topic you can make a new comment for others to view and communicate on!

In my response to Doug, I felt that this could be a very helpful guiding tool for myself personally as a future educator. I feel that I am always searching for answers or help with extra information on many topics in which I am learning or exploring. I feel that this is a very positive tool allowing learners to navigate their way to seeking their questions or opening a new idea to everyone to think about and discuss. I feel that it not only creates answers but it also allows your mind to keep exploring new tasks!

C4K Summary

My first child I was assigned to was Ilaivana, in her blog post she was explaining how well her schools team finished in competing in the New Zealand Aims Tournament by the Rugby 7s team. I shared with her my personal thoughts of not knowing what this tournament actually was until reading her entire post. I truly feel that it was a great activity for her school to compete in and would also be great for other children at other schools as well. This tournament was a week long event, I feel that participating in an event such as this one can help kids learn the importance of working together as a team when necessary. I shared with her how I feel that it is an awesome accomplishment for her school to have traveled and defeated everyone by winning all 12 games and bringing home the winning cup.
My second child I was assigned to was a little boy named Damien. Damien is a very talented young man, he provided his readers with that statement in the beginning of his post and I must say I strongly agree with him. Damien and his classmates created a video for the MTV Challenge. I was very impressed and amazed with the quality and amount of technology applied in these students video. It was shear entertainment and beyond enjoying to view. The choice of music in which Damien and his classmates chose to use was great, it created a positive, upbeat level of energy for the viewers and the performers. They showed the different ways to "jump" changing background sceneries, using different people, and creating illusions with the camera. These students truly did a fantastic job with creating this activity.
My third student I was assigned to was a little bog named Byron. I truly enjoyed reading Byron's blog. Byron and his classmates went the extra mile while doing assignments and took the time to look inside themselves for answers. I strongly feel, and I also expressed this to Byron, that if more people took the time to do this the world would be a much better place. Byron did a project in which he and his classmates has to describe themselves with as many different words you can think of. I personally feel that this activity is brilliant, it creates a positive environment and helps increase self esteem. I truly was engaged and interested in learning and reading all of my assigned students blogs and posts. I feel that by doing activities such as these helps me as a future educator see that children really enjoy certain exercises, if it works find other activities similar to the ones in which the majority of your students excelled in!

Blog Post 6

The Network Student By: Wendy Drexler
I personally feel that an online class can be affective for students, but I also think it can only allow students to gain knowledge is they are provided with great instructions, sources, and even a textbook for backup. I feel that Wendy Drexler's ideas are great, but I also think that this method should also provide alternate sources of learning for students as well. It is great allowing children to search the web personally to find sources and pages relevant to the topic being discussed but I also think that some guidance and rules one on one should be provided.

I feel that providing guidelines, rules, or instructions may help those children who like myself would sit down in front of the computer and say to themselves, "Great, where do I begin?" Allowing the children to communication together combining their thoughts and ideas is great but I think should be modified and corrected when they are straying off topic. Having instruction personally from a teacher can create a sense of comfort and also make a child feel as if they can engage and dig deeper into the information they may find. I think using the internet creates great options and adventures for children to explore but I also feel it could be maybe be too wide of a range of information and could possibly overwhelm some children.

Teachers do allow support in using this system. They still encourage each child when they achieve their goals. I personally feel I am not prepared or ready to be a teacher of networked students. I would be unsure of how to really connect to each child on a personal level to encourage or praise their talents, interests, and achievements.

Wendy Drexler's Blog, After reading more about her I now strongly admire her desires and passions for wanting to help children K-12 succeed by using online tools. I feel that she has properly planned everything out very well. By incorporating standard curriculum, providing choices for the students, and restricting certain websites to ensure the safety of her students.

I think it is great how Wendy states her awareness of possible issues that will occur. By stating this it shows that she can be open to changes and finding ways to fix and better her ideas! With more instruction and learning on how to use this tool I think I may possibly be able to succeed in teaching while using this.

A 7th grader's Personal Learning Environment or PLN
She has practiced in her 7th grade science class how to use these tools. Every morning in class she can view what needs to be done or has the option to do what she desires to work on. Although this allows freedom and creative learning I feel it might also hold a child back from engaging in social skills.
Although this PLE is great for providing anything and everything you might need by just the click of a mouse, I felt a downfall when she sent her paper to be reviewed by another student through email. I feel that by doing this activity in person face to face it allows a child and even an adult to connect and learn how to deal with fixing mistakes in a social communicating way. I think it is a great idea but I also feel using classroom basics can create just as much interest in a child's learning if the educator is willing to go the extra mile and spice up his/her teaching styles!

Podcast: Project 8

Project 9a

Blog Post 5

Don't teach your kids this stuff. Please?
I really enjoyed reading Dr. McLeod's blog post. Although There are many points I strongly agree with him on, there are also points to disagree with as well. I understand his sarcasm and humor being expressed while stating "Don't teach your kids to read and write online." I feel that it is very important for our children to be able to read and write using both pen and paper and online tools. I think both share equal importance. By using the web to learn to read there many fun learning tools which might attract a child's interest in a different light. I feel that books and social networking/ online tools both have evils and bad things, the difference is that it is much easier for a child to access these evils through the internet verses a book. With this being said we must stress, inform, and teach the importance of safety precautions that we must take while exploring and using the internet. Scott McLeod is an associate professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is the founder of CASTLE which stands for The Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. He is a man who is a leader in the technological world that we live in today and expresses his interests in doing his work focusing on children K-12.

The iSchool Initiative
Travis Allen is a brilliant young man. His school is experiencing many problems, our public education system needs help and he feels that he may have a solution to fix this problem. By creating the iSchool, the future of American Education parents, teachers, and schools will save money. By doing away with all textbooks, paper, copy machines in a school and using one handheld device to access all information needed. The iTouch provides Apps for all of the tools we use in the classroom now such as, formulas, calculators, graphing calculators, all textbook information the list goes on and on. Travis is saying that our iPhones, iTouch, and iPads provide the same information as textbooks and it is all combined into one small handheld device. This device allows and provides communication with teachers, students, and parents.

This idea of schooling can provide instant access for teachers to their class anywhere at anytime they personally want. There are ways to make the device in which a child uses to do their school work on to limit and personalize website suitable for only educational purposes. After watching this video of course it is an awesome idea which will save everyone a great amount of money, but realistically from personal experience of having technical problems with my computer it is a fact that being able to use textbooks/ pen and paper are always great backup plans. Also, I think it may enable a child to express feelings and emotions by always being on a cell phone or internet device. Having children interact with each other physically and verbally in a classroom environment I feel creates basic social skills that every child should possess. By only using a handheld device it could limit children to only interact with a manmade device verses a human just like them. Seeing Travis as a 17 year old student then hearing him at age 20 share his successes and progress to the iSchool was inspiring. I think he is a positive role model in the eyes of creating a dream and following it.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
In the beginning I was a bit confused, then it all started to make sense. I thought it was amazing how everyone was viewed from home or where ever they personally chose to be and all doing the same task. This video showed that we can stay in sync with each other visually and orally from different locations by using technology. I found it very inspiring and opened my mind to another level of creating and incorporating technology.

Teaching in the 21st Century
I think Kevin Roberts feels that teaching in the 21st century should be more than the basics. That it should be taken to another level and bring in new tools. The reality of it all is that present day and our future we are available to information everywhere. We should teach our youth how to use different sources to learn and gather information instead of just using textbooks. We naturally as adults turn to the internet to seek answers or advice. We should find out and teach our youth the proper way to research information and use technology in more ways other than just asking for tips, answers, or seeking advice. I personally agree with these positions, I think incorporating technology into learning is very important. I also feel that we must remember and use the basic tools as well.

My Sentence Movie: Project 6

Blog Post 4

LangWitches

After reading this post regarding first grade readers making their own read-along audiobook I felt like it was a great idea! Reading is a skill that everyone uses in their everyday life, enforcing the importance at this age is crucial. Taking the time to record a child can in my opinion increasing learning on many different levels. I think the booklet was a fantastic idea, while listening it allows the students to follow along and not only hear the words but visually learn them as well. In my podcast I think I will incorporate a special sound at the end of each main point to allow those who may have lost their place and give them a chance to catch up and begin the new section with everyone at the same time. Reading her personal thoughts on the children's experiences was awesome, it gave me a chance to hear positive results and feedback from using this tool in the classroom. After listening to "Dinosaurs After Dark", I feel that children have fun recording their selves which encourages them to read with expression and emotion!

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

After viewing this video I realized that podcasting can allow kids to use many of the following tools and skills; following directions, using emotion, and staying focused. I think podcasting is a great tool in the fact that it can be listened to anytime and anywhere for however many times you need to at your own personal pace and time. I realized since I was born technology has been a huge part of our world we are living in. Adding podcasting can help students and teachers in their classrooms. In my podcast I think I will use vodcast, by using a video it can create a better experience for the viewers and understand the material in a different form. Before watching this I did not think about if a student is ill and cannot go to school, this tool can allow the child to stay caught up in their schoolwork and not fall far behind. I feel that podcast can help express creativity and allow students to explore learning in a fun, organized way. I enjoyed hearing the reflections from the students on how they personally feel about using podcast. Receiving feedback from a principals viewpoint was also very helpful, it allowed me to see that students, parents, and teachers all benefit in a positive way from podcast!

The Education Podcast Network

This site really helped me grasp a full understanding of what the podcast network is about and what it has to offer. I realize now that podcast allows a child to create, learn, listen, and be confident while reading aloud. This tool can put all of the skills in which a teacher is trying to provide and instill in his/her students all together in one fun way of learning! When doing my podcast I will explore many other educators podcasts to get examples and open my mind to new thoughts and ideas. I will also incorporate in my podcast my own personal thoughts, feelings, and passions.

Project 5

Blog Post 3

It's Not About Technology By Kelly Hines:
In this article Kelly Hines focused on the fact of our future, how many people feel that technology is the main essential learning tool. She expresses her feelings that it is an important tool but not the most important tool for educational purposes in a classroom. She explains simple characteristics that educators must possess in order to maintain growth to new learners.
As educators, we must never stop learning. Being in sync with the latest trends, topics, and technology is essential for growth and success in a classroom. Going beyond verbally teaching and allowing a hand on feel to create assurance that each child is fully grasping each lesson being taught. Understanding the new technological tools used to teach can create a whole new world of success for students. If you do not properly understand the purpose of a tool you cannot provide your students with the proper amount of success available.

Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher? By Karl Fisch
Karl Fisch created a list stating that there are certain standards to uphold as an educator and realizing that technology is one of them. Understanding that it has been around for a long time and is only growing day by day is a tool we must accept and participate in using. Providing staff with the proper knowledge of how important it truly is can be essential. As educators we must be willing to make an effort and try new things, technology is one of them!

Social Media Count By Gary Hayes
Gary Hayes provides the growing statics of the world of technology. He shows how throughout the year more and more devices are added and created. As a future educator seeing the stats of 107 trillion emails sent during the year 2010 was mind blowing. I feel that this is an essential tool for educators to communicate with their colleagues, State of Education, students, and parents. Seeing the results from the amount of time spent on a computer made me realize the importance of incorporating and understanding the tools technology has to offer in my future classroom.

A Vision of Students Today By Michael Wesch
"If theses walls could talk" was a quote that opened the video, I feel a classroom has so much experience, and holds so much information. I think the walls sometimes wish they could talk, same is said for students. As educators we must listen to what students say. Making a change in the curriculum to educate your students, applying the lesson to help their everyday life could create a huge environment of success in education. Getting students interested and involved and relating the lesson to their lives is key. Realizing that our students need the tools of technology to better their future and applying them is something educators must realize.

C4T Summary 1

In blog post 1 my teacher, John Mikulski gave information on five online tools that many educators are unaware of that can help them succeed in many areas in their classrooms. He shared his personal experience with each of the five online tools and why he felt they are such a great asset to a classroom. He provided in his blog information about Edmodo, BoostCam, Etherpad, Crocodoc, and WallWisher. All of these tools he gave a great explanation and provided proper information to allow the viewer of his post to have the best understanding of each online tool.

In blog post 1 my comment that I left for John Mikulski I shared with him first information of who I am, and that I am currently taking EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I expressed to him how much I enjoyed reading his blog. I shared with him my thoughts of what comes to my mind when the words “online collaboration” is said. I explained to him how I put each tool to use navigating through each personally to gain a full understanding and personal experience of each of the five tools. I gave input on how I feel each of the tools could benefit students and parents in a classroom.

In blog post 2 my teacher, John Mikulski provided tips for how to make a great school year. He provided ten ways in which he felt could allow someone to have a great school year. He shared personal experiences and background knowledge of each of the tips. Mr. Mikulski is a very firm believer in using technology as a tool for success. Using a blog and twitter he feels it can create a positive form of communication between students, colleagues, classmates and parents. He expresses that trying new things can and volunteering can open your eyes and mind to a new level and create growth in your classroom.

In blog post 2 my comment that I left for John Mikulski I expressed my gratitude for him sharing his tips for a successful school year. I will incorporate many of his ideas in my future classroom, some of which being using a blog or a twitter account to communicate with students, classmates, colleagues, and parents. I shared with him my background of never using a blog or twitter account until now being enrolled in EDM310.

Blog Post 2

Video #1
Did you know

I found this video to be extremely interesting. It showed the importance of being able to think outside of the box and look at a things in a different perspective. While watching this video I felt shocked and very unaware by some of the facts said about China. Being informed of how much technology is being used and progressing and how little information I actually know and use about technology made many questions arise in my mind. It was mind blowing to me when the fact was stated regarding 31 billion searches on google every month. This fact really hit home to me in how much the world we live in revolves around technology. The thought that the number of text messages received and sent daily over passes the population of the planet gave me chills. Due to technology our world has increased tremendously.

Video #2
Mr. Winkles Wakes

My first thoughts on this video was thinking about our society, yes there are many elder citizens who are not as informed or up to date with technology, but I being only twenty-one years old am in many ways just as technological challenged as a man who has been sleeping for 100 years. I also feel comfort in a classroom, it is the same format of sitting in a desk area quietly, with pen and paper, open ears and minds in an organized setting. Where as new machines and medicines are presented and tested in hospitals everyday. In order for technology to succeed and advance we must use it and test it out. Same rules apply in a classroom, you must use the material in which you learned to succeed and grow. We cannot be close minded to technology or scared to try new things!

Video #3
Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

When I sat down to watch this video I first prepared myself because of the length, I quickly found myself not concerned with the time in the slightest bit. I was beyond interested and eager to listen to Ken Robinson speak. Creativity is in everyone and has no limit or guidelines to follow. Creativity and education are both huge parts of our lives. Children, education, and creativity all share equal importance and should be taught with equal importance. Creativity in a classroom allows a child to gain and express personal interest in certain topics.

When Ken Robinson stated that being wrong should not be a fear, I completely agree. We allow mistakes to be in a negative light the older we get when really the mistakes we make are what creates character. After watching this video I sat and thought of many artist like Shakesphere, if he were told to stop creating what would have happened? As educators we should not stop the creative flow of a child at any age. I was extremely interested when he stated dance should be just as important as math. I have never thought about it in the way he explained it until now. Our bodies are just as important as our minds, expressing and being in tune with our bodies is just as important as solving a math equation. Helping a child express their personal creative talents is what being an educator is about. Allowing the child to find their interests, and not categorizing them into certain groups keeping them contained in a way to not be able to create or find their passions.

Video #4
Cecelia Gault Interviews Sir Ken Robinson

While watching this video I had to pause it several times because my mind kept thinking in detail to many of Ken Robinson's responses. I also feel that all curriculum should be held at an equal importance level. Creativity is in everyone, everywhere and has the ability to be grow and learn to be more creative.

Video #5
Vicki Davis: Harness your students Digital Smarts

Vicki Davis involves technology in every form to her students which I think is awesome. Allowing kids all ages to learn in ways beyond pen and paper is very important I think. With technology new terms are everywhere making students want to learn the meaning when a new word comes about. Technology allows students all around the world to communicate and share information in which they have researched and learned. Not only are students experiencing things but they are learning as well.

Project Number 2 Wordle

Blog Assignment 1

My name is Hunter Hall, I am twenty-one years old and I am from Mobile Alabama. I have lived in Mobile my entire life. I am an Elementary Education major. I am an active member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority here at the University of South Alabama. I love to exercise daily, my main passion is running. I adopted a dog from SPCA around this time last year, her name is Miley Cyrus she will be two years old this February. I have a father and a mother, both of which live in Mobile. The one person in my life who means everything to me is my older sister Jordan. She has guided me through many tough times and has always set a positive example for me. I am in a way following in her footsteps, she is a third grade teacher and she also lives here in Mobile as well. One of the main reasons as to why I stayed in Mobile and attended college at the University of South Alabama is because of my sister.

I chose to enter the field of education for many reasons. It took me two years to finally realize this was the path I wanted to take. My eyes were opened when I started working at Joyland daycare, where I am still currently working at today. I have always loved being around kids, growing up school was not the easiest task for me. I had to spend extra hours on lessons that many of my classmates caught onto very quickly. There were many teachers throughout my childhood that used creative ways to help me better understand the material in which I was struggling with. After working at Joyland for a year I realized I wanted to help children learn in creative ways and better their future.

I have many things in my life in which I am very passionate about. My family of course is a huge aspect, my mother, father, sister, and my sorority sisters. Being a part of Alpha Omicron Pi has helped me grow as a woman over the past three years. It has taught me many things about myself and has shown me the importance of being unique and different. I am very proud and honored to say that I am a Southern Belle for the gentleman of Kappa Alpha fraternity here at the University as well. I am very excited and anxious about my future career as an educator!

Randy Paush on time management:

            After watching Dr. Paush’s video on time management I learned a few good tips that I feel will help me succeed throughout this course. I learned that it is okay to admit that everyone is very bad at dealing with time management. When starting an activity I must ask myself why I am actually doing that certain task. Instead of focusing on not making mistakes and wondering if I am doing the project wrong, I need to do the right things adequately. Over time I will gain experience often from the mistakes in which I have made. Beginning an activity with a plan is a great starting point. Breaking things down into small steps on my to-do list, starting with the task in which I feel will be most difficult instead of doing to easier projects first is the best way to go about crossing off things on my to-do list. This was actually the first video I have ever seen of Dr. Paush, I enjoyed listening to him speak and felt like I could learn a lot from him.  

Test Post

This is my practice post.