I have enjoyed being in EDM 310 with everyone, and I hope that you all have learned as much as I did this semester. I wish everyone the best in their future schooling and career. Hope to see everyone again one day. Have a great summer!
Thank you Ms. Averitt for all the things that you have taught us. I think that you are a great teacher and I enjoyed being in your class this semester. I wish you the best of luck in the rest of your schooling!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
What Did I Learn?
I think that this class was a great experience. The class has taught me how to use the new technologies and how to incorporate them into my classroom. Some things that I have learned is how to create my own blog, how to write and record a podcast, and how to create an iGoogle page. I think that all of the things we have learned this semester will be beneficial to us as future teachers.
Blogging has become a new technology that is being used in classrooms worldwide. Through this course I have learned different ways to use a blog in the classroom. One thing that blogs can be used for is to communicate with other schools. Another thing that blogs can be used for is to communicate with parents. Blogs allow teachers to post information about upcoming events in the classroom and at the school. I will use classroom blog to communicate with parents, post newsletters, assignments, upcoming events, and communicate with other teachers and students around the world. I believe that a blog is a good technology to incorporate into the classroom because it teaches the students to communicate via the Internet.
I believe that iGoogle is also a great teaching tool to incorporate into the classroom. IGoogle allows teachers to post information that can be resourceful for the students and parents. Some of the features that are currently on my iGoogle page are upcoming events, birthday count downs, assignments, and learning tools. The learning tools include Math and Reading activities and educational games. The iGoogle website is a resource used to help the students learn while having fun. I plan to use the iGoogle website on a daily basis for my classroom.
Podcast were also a great tool that I learned about this semester. I think that podcast are great technologies to incorporate into the classroom. I plan to incorporate videopodcasting into my daily classroom lessons. Video podcasting not only gives the students the information on the subject, but also keeps the students attention by demonstration with verbal directions. I believe that by using podcasting in my teaching it will help keep the students interested while incorporating all of the different learning styles.
Overall, I think that this is a great class. I learned a lot of new technologies and how I can incorporate them into my classroom. I think that Ms. Averitt did a great job covering how to use all of the new technologies that will be available to us as future teachers.
Blogging has become a new technology that is being used in classrooms worldwide. Through this course I have learned different ways to use a blog in the classroom. One thing that blogs can be used for is to communicate with other schools. Another thing that blogs can be used for is to communicate with parents. Blogs allow teachers to post information about upcoming events in the classroom and at the school. I will use classroom blog to communicate with parents, post newsletters, assignments, upcoming events, and communicate with other teachers and students around the world. I believe that a blog is a good technology to incorporate into the classroom because it teaches the students to communicate via the Internet.
I believe that iGoogle is also a great teaching tool to incorporate into the classroom. IGoogle allows teachers to post information that can be resourceful for the students and parents. Some of the features that are currently on my iGoogle page are upcoming events, birthday count downs, assignments, and learning tools. The learning tools include Math and Reading activities and educational games. The iGoogle website is a resource used to help the students learn while having fun. I plan to use the iGoogle website on a daily basis for my classroom.
Podcast were also a great tool that I learned about this semester. I think that podcast are great technologies to incorporate into the classroom. I plan to incorporate videopodcasting into my daily classroom lessons. Video podcasting not only gives the students the information on the subject, but also keeps the students attention by demonstration with verbal directions. I believe that by using podcasting in my teaching it will help keep the students interested while incorporating all of the different learning styles.
Overall, I think that this is a great class. I learned a lot of new technologies and how I can incorporate them into my classroom. I think that Ms. Averitt did a great job covering how to use all of the new technologies that will be available to us as future teachers.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Eutopia Podcast
The first podcast that I listened to was "The Edible Schoolyard". The podcast was done at Martin Luther King Middle School in Burkely, California. The students involved in the podcast were in the sixth grade. The podcast was about using gardening to teach math, social studies, science, and life. The gardening was a daily activity performed one hour in the morning at Martin Luther King Middle School. The students at this school perform tasks such as planting and harvesting different types of food. After the food is grown the students go into the cooking lab and learn how to cook different types of food, such as pies. This experience teaches students how to cooporate well with others and how to build a community. "The Edible Schoolyard" concept was created by Alice Waters while trying to improve school lunches.
The second podcast that I listened to was "A Night in the Global Village". This podcast was done in Denver, Colorado by teachers and students from Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning. The students and teachers from the Rocky Mountain School became involved in the Global Gateway Program. This program allows students to feel what it is like to walk in someone elses shoes. This program was made to help students become aware of world poverty and hunger. The students and teachers who are involved in this program must stay a night in the village. The villages are made to represent different types of living conditions from different countries around the world. Some of the countries are Thailand and Guatemala. Some of the other living conditions are the Appliachian Mountains and a rufugee camp. Before the students and their teachers and/or chaperones stay the night they all visit the different villages. When visiting the villages the students and teachers learn about the various countries poverty, hunger, and sanitzion conditions.
The second podcast that I listened to was "A Night in the Global Village". This podcast was done in Denver, Colorado by teachers and students from Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning. The students and teachers from the Rocky Mountain School became involved in the Global Gateway Program. This program allows students to feel what it is like to walk in someone elses shoes. This program was made to help students become aware of world poverty and hunger. The students and teachers who are involved in this program must stay a night in the village. The villages are made to represent different types of living conditions from different countries around the world. Some of the countries are Thailand and Guatemala. Some of the other living conditions are the Appliachian Mountains and a rufugee camp. Before the students and their teachers and/or chaperones stay the night they all visit the different villages. When visiting the villages the students and teachers learn about the various countries poverty, hunger, and sanitzion conditions.
I enjoyed listening to both of these podcast. I think that these podcast were by far the most interesting that I have listened to this semester. I think that incorporating podcast, such as these into lesson plans is a great experience for all students. These podcast will help me to teach the students the information they should be learing while using a hands-on approach.
I think that podcasts are great technologies to incorporate into the classroom. I think that the video podcasting is more interesting than regular podcasting. Video podcasting not only gives the students the information on the subject, but also keeps the students attention by demonstration with verbal directions. I plan to use incorporate video podcasting into my daily classroom lessons. I think that podcasting will teach the students while keeping them interested in the subject. Podcasting allows teachers to incorporate learning into the classroom by other teaching methods. Video podcasting meets all students learning styles.
ACCESS Lab
I visited Robertsdale High School’s ACCESS lab. The ACCESS lab was created to provide students with opportunities that they might not have at their own schools. The ACCESS lab allows students from other schools to participate in classes that their schools may not offer such as advanced mathematics. ACCESS is a wonderful technology for schools and provides students with many opportunities.Robertsdale High School’s ACCESS lab consists of technology which is called the Tanberg system. This system cost $85,000. While ACCESS is a great technology to have in the school the biggest problem is that many schools cannot afford to spend that much money. To have an ACCESS lab in the school it requires many special items for the system to work properly. The ACCESS lab calls for many special items, such as tables, lighting, chairs, paint, phone lines, a fax machine, copier, and printer. All of these things are needed for the system to perform to its best ability. All of the items must be purchased separately from the system.
Like many technologies there is always a technology problem that interrupts use of the system. One problem with having this technology is that no other schools have it, so it is hard to make use of the system. Another problem is that there are not enough teachers to teach using this system. Finally budget cuts are reducing extra funding that schools need to purchase the system.
Robertsdale High School’s ACCESS lab consists of an instructor camera, student camera, twenty four laptops, an Elmo (which is a document camera), and two televisions. The instructor camera is always pointed at the instructor and it is used when the instructor is teaching a class. This allows the instructor to teach at one school and be broadcasted to another school via television. The student camera is always pointed at the students and it used at all times when the teacher is not teaching. This allows the students to interact with one another while in different schools. The twenty four laptops are provided for the students to use in the classroom. Most of the class work is completed on the computers. The Elmo allows the teacher to show students small items and project them on the screen instead of passing them individually around the class. The Elmo makes it very easy for students in another classroom to see the document through broadcasting. There is a television placed in the front of the class and the back of the class; this makes it easy for the teacher and students to see others (from another school) or things that are projected through the Elmo.
The ACCESS lab was created to give students opportunities that they did not have in their own school. At this moment ACCESS is being used in other ways since there are not many schools with this new technology. The other ways that the technology at Robertsdale High School has been used is through virtual field trips and teacher in-services. A class at Robertsdale High School was able to go on a virtual field trip to the Museum of Natural Science. This museum is thousands of miles away from the school and without the ACCESS lab students may have not been able to have this experience. Teacher in-services are another great way to use the technology because it allows teachers to have an opportunity to communicate and learn from other teachers throughout the United States. I think that ACCESS is a great technology to use in the school because it allows many experiences that students and teachers may not otherwise be able to experience.
I personally think that ACCESS is a wonderful opportunity for teachers and students. I enjoyed visiting the lab and being able to see how everything worked. As more schools begin to purchase the labs it will give students and teachers a better opportunity to become involved with students and teachers from other schools and communities. I think that ACCESS is a great technology to use in schools using the new technologies helps to broaden our horizons.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Electronic Contact
My electronic contact for this assignment was Ms. Dayle Timmons from Chet Creek Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida. Ms. Timmons is a Primary Inclusion teacher and a Literacy Coach. Earlier in this semester we had to find a blog from a K-12 school in the United States and write a summary about their blog. While searching the internet, I found Ms. Timmons blog. I thought that Ms. Timmons blog was very interesting and creative. When I posted my blog post about Ms. Timmons, she contacted me and said that if I needed any help on an assignment that she would be glad to help. I then decided she would be a great electronic contact since she was so willing to help me.For this assignment I asked Ms. Timmons, what types of technology she uses in her classroom and how is it used. Ms. Timmons answered back with many different technologies use in her classroom and at her school. Ms. Timmons’ school is up-to-date with all of the new technologies. The technologies are used daily in their classrooms.
The technology that Ms. Timmons uses in her class the most is an Elmo projector (this is a document camera, which is sort of like an overhead projector). I thought that the most interesting thing that Chet Creek Elementary uses the Elmo projector for was to broadcast in-school news programs. The news programs are broadcasted on a daily basis.
Other technologies that Ms. Timmons uses are various types of blogs (throughout the school and her classroom), and a wikispace. Ms. Timmon’s classroom blog can be located at http://curiouskindergartners.blogspot.com and she accesses the site often to keep the students updated on what is being posted. This blog is used to post different assignments and activities that the students complete. Another blog that Ms. Timmons’ uses is http://travelingchet.blogspot.com. This blog is to expose students to different places around the world. The theme of the blog is “Around the World in 180 Days”. The way the blog is used is when Ms. Timmons or her students travel they take Chet, the traveling bear with them. For example, if a student goes to Disney World they will take Chet and take a picture with him. When the student returns school he/she will write a blog post about their vacation and post the picture they took with Chet.
Ms. Timmons says “that on a professional development level their grade level keeps a wiki”. This site can be located at http://firstgradecce.wikispaces.com. Ms. Timmons say “this is where they house all of their resources”. Ms. Timmons told me that they just finished writing a new unit on persuasive writing and it is located on their wiki.
Chet Creek Elementary school also has a blog. This blog contains teachers that have done something interesting with technology in their classroom. The school nominates two teachers which they call “geeks” these teachers blog about their technology at http://ccegeeks.blogspot.com. The school also has a blog for teachers. Teachers use this blog to post information that they have learned from a conference that they attended. This blog can be located at http://livefromthecreek.blogspot.com .
Ms. Timmons told me that her school was constantly trying to look for interesting ways to use technology in their classroom. She said the major problem teachers have with trying to find new technologies is that many sites are blocked.
I really enjoyed the electronic contact with Ms. Timmons. I thought that all of the information she gave was very interesting and helpful. By speaking with Ms. Timmons she taught me to broaden my horizons. As a future teacher I now know that there are many resources available for me to use in my classroom. This contact with Ms. Timmons also taught me that although there are many technologies to use in the classroom, technology is always being updated. So as a teacher (when I become a teacher) I should stay up-to-date on technology. Technology is not only helpful in the classroom it is also another way to keep students involved and interested.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Pros and Cons of Blogging
For this assignment, I decided to view Lynda Rigsby’s complete blog. It was interesting to read Lynda’s blog to see her views about certain subjects. Since everyone in the class had the same blog assignment I was able to see other points of view besides my own. Lynda and I had a lot of the same views about technology. We both agreed that technology is great and we look forward to using technology as we become teachers.
I believe that there are many pros in using technology and blogging. I think that the major pro in blogging is being able to communicate with the students and their parents and/or guardians outside of the classroom. In using a blog, I as a teacher would be able to post students homework, assignments due and upcoming events to the classroom blog. This would be a great way to keep the parents and/or guardians involved in their children’s learning. Using a blog would also be convenient for students if they had forgotten to write down their homework assignments or to keep them caught up on the work if they are absent.
Another pro in using blogs is for the students to be able to communicate with other students from different schools around the world. A blog is a great way for teachers to communicate with other teachers around the world. I think that it is great for teachers to communicate with one another; it allows them to try different teaching strategies and find different teaching ideas.
I think that the only con in blogging and technology is that everyone may not have it available to them. Some students may not have access to a computer at home so it would be difficult for the student and parent to stay up-to-date on the blog. The way I will handle this type of situation is to make alternate ways available for the students and their parents and/or guardians.
Overall, I looked at the pros and cons of using technology and blogs in a classroom. I think using technology in the classroom gives students an advantage since our world is focused on technology. As a future teacher I plan to incorporate technology and blogs into my daily lessons and teaching.
I believe that there are many pros in using technology and blogging. I think that the major pro in blogging is being able to communicate with the students and their parents and/or guardians outside of the classroom. In using a blog, I as a teacher would be able to post students homework, assignments due and upcoming events to the classroom blog. This would be a great way to keep the parents and/or guardians involved in their children’s learning. Using a blog would also be convenient for students if they had forgotten to write down their homework assignments or to keep them caught up on the work if they are absent.
Another pro in using blogs is for the students to be able to communicate with other students from different schools around the world. A blog is a great way for teachers to communicate with other teachers around the world. I think that it is great for teachers to communicate with one another; it allows them to try different teaching strategies and find different teaching ideas.
I think that the only con in blogging and technology is that everyone may not have it available to them. Some students may not have access to a computer at home so it would be difficult for the student and parent to stay up-to-date on the blog. The way I will handle this type of situation is to make alternate ways available for the students and their parents and/or guardians.
Overall, I looked at the pros and cons of using technology and blogs in a classroom. I think using technology in the classroom gives students an advantage since our world is focused on technology. As a future teacher I plan to incorporate technology and blogs into my daily lessons and teaching.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
EDM 310 Podcast
The first podcast that I listened to was "The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch". This podcast was discussed between Jennifer Lenox and Lynda Rigsby. I thought that this podcast was interesting and informative. These ladies did a great job covering the information. I enjoyed listening to this podcast because I think that Randy Pausch is a wonderful role model. He tells everyone that they should achieve their dreams and strive to do their best. Overall I thought that Jennifer and Lynda had a great podcast.
The second podcast that I listened to was "Pick of the Day: Source Materials for High School Teachers on the World Wide Web". This podcast was discussed between Anne Gardner and Kimberly Hinojosa. I thought that this podcast had some very useful information for high school teachers. Anne and Kimberly did a great job covering their information and they gave some great websites that are very useful and informative.
The third podcast I listened to was "ACCESS-Distance Learning in Alabama High Schools". This podcast was discussed between Megan Morgan, Alicia Baxter, and Angel Jackson. These students are all from Dr. Strange's class. This podcast was made into a play. I thought that using a play to inform people of ACCESS was very creative. This podcast covered all the aspects and different components of ACCESS.
The fourth podcast I listened to was "Facebook: It's in Class! But Can It Be Useful In Class? Pros and Cons". This podcast was discussed between Peyton Ivey, Kendra Hill, Jessica White, and Jessica Courville. These students were also from Dr. Strange's class. This podcast gave useful information on how teachers can use Facebook in the classroom. These ladies also discussed the problems that can be caused from using Facebook in the classroom. I thought that these ladies covered their subject well and had much knowledge of the subject they were discussing.
Overall, I thought that everyone did a great job on their podcast. I noticed a few problems in all of the podcast. The biggest problem that everyone had, was that their podcast sounded more like a script than a conversation. Another problem in the podcast was the use of "um". It sound like everyone knew their material well, so I think "um" was used because of nervousness. The last problem that I noticed in everyones' podcast was pauses. The pauses seemed to be caused by losing place in the script. All of the problems that were face in these podcast could be fixed with more practice.
The second podcast that I listened to was "Pick of the Day: Source Materials for High School Teachers on the World Wide Web". This podcast was discussed between Anne Gardner and Kimberly Hinojosa. I thought that this podcast had some very useful information for high school teachers. Anne and Kimberly did a great job covering their information and they gave some great websites that are very useful and informative.
The third podcast I listened to was "ACCESS-Distance Learning in Alabama High Schools". This podcast was discussed between Megan Morgan, Alicia Baxter, and Angel Jackson. These students are all from Dr. Strange's class. This podcast was made into a play. I thought that using a play to inform people of ACCESS was very creative. This podcast covered all the aspects and different components of ACCESS.
The fourth podcast I listened to was "Facebook: It's in Class! But Can It Be Useful In Class? Pros and Cons". This podcast was discussed between Peyton Ivey, Kendra Hill, Jessica White, and Jessica Courville. These students were also from Dr. Strange's class. This podcast gave useful information on how teachers can use Facebook in the classroom. These ladies also discussed the problems that can be caused from using Facebook in the classroom. I thought that these ladies covered their subject well and had much knowledge of the subject they were discussing.
Overall, I thought that everyone did a great job on their podcast. I noticed a few problems in all of the podcast. The biggest problem that everyone had, was that their podcast sounded more like a script than a conversation. Another problem in the podcast was the use of "um". It sound like everyone knew their material well, so I think "um" was used because of nervousness. The last problem that I noticed in everyones' podcast was pauses. The pauses seemed to be caused by losing place in the script. All of the problems that were face in these podcast could be fixed with more practice.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Maine Department of Education Podcast
The first podcast that I listened to was Mathematics with Technology. This podcast was made by Judy Chandler with the Maine Department of Education. This podcast was used to demonstrate how technology can be incorporated into the classroom. Ms. Chandler said that the two main reasons that teachers do not incorporate technology into the classroom were because they did not feel that the technology played a significant role and the lack of time. The National Council of Teachers of Math said that “technology is essential for mathematics because it enhances the lessons that are taught and it makes learning more effective”. It has been proven that technology is one of six major principles creating a high quality mathematics education classroom.
The second podcast that I listened to was Thinking Mathematically. This podcast was also by Judy Chandler with the Maine Department of Education. This podcast showed that most mathematic lessons are taught traditionally. It has been proven that technology helps engage students in thinking mathematically. A lesson taught using technology could cover five to six chapters where a traditional lesson would usually cover one chapter. The technology not only allows teachers to cover more material, but it also allows many tools to help the students learn. Some tools available through the use of technology are “hands-on” experiences, visual models, different instructional abilities, and alternate ways to demonstrate learning.
As a future teacher, I think that technology is a good tool to use in the classroom. Technology helps teachers generate more effective ways of learning. I think that technologies are important to use in all subjects because it helps to keep students motivated and keeps their attention to task. New technologies allow teachers to use a “hands-on” approach, visual aids, different instruction methods, and alternative ways for students to learn.
This podcast taught me how important it is to incorporate technology into the classroom. Technology was proven to help enhance student learning and make teaching more effective. I hope that when I become a teacher I will have the newest technologies available in my classroom. Technology will allow me to make a greater impact in my students’ learning.
The second podcast that I listened to was Thinking Mathematically. This podcast was also by Judy Chandler with the Maine Department of Education. This podcast showed that most mathematic lessons are taught traditionally. It has been proven that technology helps engage students in thinking mathematically. A lesson taught using technology could cover five to six chapters where a traditional lesson would usually cover one chapter. The technology not only allows teachers to cover more material, but it also allows many tools to help the students learn. Some tools available through the use of technology are “hands-on” experiences, visual models, different instructional abilities, and alternate ways to demonstrate learning.
As a future teacher, I think that technology is a good tool to use in the classroom. Technology helps teachers generate more effective ways of learning. I think that technologies are important to use in all subjects because it helps to keep students motivated and keeps their attention to task. New technologies allow teachers to use a “hands-on” approach, visual aids, different instruction methods, and alternative ways for students to learn.
This podcast taught me how important it is to incorporate technology into the classroom. Technology was proven to help enhance student learning and make teaching more effective. I hope that when I become a teacher I will have the newest technologies available in my classroom. Technology will allow me to make a greater impact in my students’ learning.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
"Growth" vs. "Fixed Minds" podcast
This podcast discusses two different mind frames. The mind frames are growth versus fixed. The first mind frame discussed in this podcast was the fixed mind frame. People who have a fixed mind frame believe that intelligence is a fixed trait. People with this mind frame base activities on if they are going to look smart. Students with this mind frame believe intelligence is something that they can develop by studying or by obtaining an education.
The second mind frame, which was discussed, in this podcast was the growth mind frame. People who have the growth mind frame believe that the brain is a muscle and it gets stronger with use. They also believe that every time they learn something new, the brain connects new ideas. The growth mind frame allows people to grow in their skills, admit mistakes and correct them. This podcast shows that you cannot keep up with skills if you do not allow yourself to grow and learn.
This podcast described the growth mind frame ‘as the students being curious to learn’ and the fixed mind frame ‘as wanting to feel smart’. I believe that the student’s mind frames affect teachers because you want your students to be curious to learn. As a teacher, I will encourage my students to have the growth mind frame. It will be my responsibility to challenge and motivate my students to achieve their greatest potential.
The second mind frame, which was discussed, in this podcast was the growth mind frame. People who have the growth mind frame believe that the brain is a muscle and it gets stronger with use. They also believe that every time they learn something new, the brain connects new ideas. The growth mind frame allows people to grow in their skills, admit mistakes and correct them. This podcast shows that you cannot keep up with skills if you do not allow yourself to grow and learn.
This podcast described the growth mind frame ‘as the students being curious to learn’ and the fixed mind frame ‘as wanting to feel smart’. I believe that the student’s mind frames affect teachers because you want your students to be curious to learn. As a teacher, I will encourage my students to have the growth mind frame. It will be my responsibility to challenge and motivate my students to achieve their greatest potential.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
WGBH Video Podcast
The WGPH section of iTunes gives many great resources for teachers. The WGPH was referred to as teacher’s domain. The teacher’s domain is a free digital library. On the WGPH section of iTunes it states that “the library, as well as, new professional development courses, help educators to enhance their students learning experiences and advance their own teaching skills”.
I watched three video podcast on the teacher’s domain section of iTunes. I watched Why Doesn’t the Moon Fall Down, A Night in the Coral Reef, and Cloud Observation. The three video podcast were kindergarten through fifth grade. The longest podcast lasted two minutes. The other two lasted one minute. These video podcast were short, but very informative. I thought that the podcast would be a great way to introduce ideas and information to the class.
The video podcast that I thought was most interesting was Why Doesn’t the Moon Fall Down. This podcast was based on a first and second grade level. This podcast used a tennis ball to describe to student’s how the moon stays in the sky. The tennis ball was thrown and fell to the ground. The podcaster said that throwing the tennis ball shows that gravity pulls on everything, even the moon. The podcaster says that the moon is falling, but it is falling around the Earth. Speed and gravity combined, force the moon and the Earth into an orbit. The orbit is what keeps the moon in the sky.
I think that podcasts are great technologies to incorporate into the classroom. I think that the video podcasting is more interesting than regular podcasting. Video podcasting not only gives the students the information on the subject, but also keeps the students attention by demonstration with verbal directions.
I plan to use video podcasting in my classroom. I think that podcasting will teach the students while keeping them interested in the subject. Podcasting is a great technology that can be used to keep the student from becoming bored. Podcasting allows teachers to incorporate learning into the classroom by other teaching methods. Video podcasting meets all students learning styles. Video podcasting is a great way to introduce students to new lessons they will be learning before the teacher begins instruction.
I watched three video podcast on the teacher’s domain section of iTunes. I watched Why Doesn’t the Moon Fall Down, A Night in the Coral Reef, and Cloud Observation. The three video podcast were kindergarten through fifth grade. The longest podcast lasted two minutes. The other two lasted one minute. These video podcast were short, but very informative. I thought that the podcast would be a great way to introduce ideas and information to the class.
The video podcast that I thought was most interesting was Why Doesn’t the Moon Fall Down. This podcast was based on a first and second grade level. This podcast used a tennis ball to describe to student’s how the moon stays in the sky. The tennis ball was thrown and fell to the ground. The podcaster said that throwing the tennis ball shows that gravity pulls on everything, even the moon. The podcaster says that the moon is falling, but it is falling around the Earth. Speed and gravity combined, force the moon and the Earth into an orbit. The orbit is what keeps the moon in the sky.
I think that podcasts are great technologies to incorporate into the classroom. I think that the video podcasting is more interesting than regular podcasting. Video podcasting not only gives the students the information on the subject, but also keeps the students attention by demonstration with verbal directions.
I plan to use video podcasting in my classroom. I think that podcasting will teach the students while keeping them interested in the subject. Podcasting is a great technology that can be used to keep the student from becoming bored. Podcasting allows teachers to incorporate learning into the classroom by other teaching methods. Video podcasting meets all students learning styles. Video podcasting is a great way to introduce students to new lessons they will be learning before the teacher begins instruction.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
EDM 310 Fall 2008 Podcast
The first podcast that I listened to was by Erica Sledge, Ashley Cleveland, and Shyane Fant. This podcast is available at Useful Internet Websites for Elementary Teachers by Erica Sledge, Ashley Cleveland, and Shyane Fant. The topic of this podcast was "Pick of the Day: Useful Internet Sites for Elementary Teachers". The podcast discussed three different websites for Elementary Teachers. One of the websites that was discussed, on the podcast, that I found interesting was http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/. This website was discussed by Ashley Cleveland. The website teaches teachers how to incorporate technology into their classrooms. This website offers tutorials for PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Smart Boards. The main reason that Ashley liked the website was because of the PowerPoint link. The link allows teachers to make a PowerPoint or use a PowerPoint that is on the website. The PowerPoint's can be found based on subject and/or grade level. The problems that I noticed on this podcast was the use of uhh's and umm's and the speed of the girls talking. Both of these problems were probably caused by nervousness.
The second podcast that I listened to was by Tomeka Washington, Rosilyn Harris, and Marlena Marsh. This podcast is available at Useful Internet Websites for Elementary Teachers by Tomeka Washington, Rosilyn Harris, and Marlena Marsh. The topic of this podcast was also "Pick of the Day: Useful Internet Sites for Elementary Teachers". One of the websites discussed on the podcast that I found interesting was http://www.rainforestmaths.com/. This website was discussed by Marlena Marsh. This website was for grades kindergarten through sixth. The website offers exploration into math with a rain forest theme to keep the students interested. If the students have any problems with the work and quizzes, the website offers instructional help. I thought that the girls did a great job on this podcast. The problems that I noticed was noise in the background from papers being moved and the speed of the girls talking. Both of these problems were probably caused by nervousness.
I chose to listen to these two podcast because my topic is also "Useful Internet Websites for Elementary Teachers". I thought by listening to these podcast I would better understand what was expected of me. The way I will change my podcast is by practicing to try to avoid the use of uhh's and umm's. I will also state my website more through the course of the discussion. I will try to lay my papers across the table in front of me so that I will not have to flip through pages, this will cut out on the background noise. I will try to speak at a slower pace and with a louder voice so that the audience will hear me clearly. I think that by listening to these podcast it will also help me to improve my podcast.
The second podcast that I listened to was by Tomeka Washington, Rosilyn Harris, and Marlena Marsh. This podcast is available at Useful Internet Websites for Elementary Teachers by Tomeka Washington, Rosilyn Harris, and Marlena Marsh. The topic of this podcast was also "Pick of the Day: Useful Internet Sites for Elementary Teachers". One of the websites discussed on the podcast that I found interesting was http://www.rainforestmaths.com/. This website was discussed by Marlena Marsh. This website was for grades kindergarten through sixth. The website offers exploration into math with a rain forest theme to keep the students interested. If the students have any problems with the work and quizzes, the website offers instructional help. I thought that the girls did a great job on this podcast. The problems that I noticed was noise in the background from papers being moved and the speed of the girls talking. Both of these problems were probably caused by nervousness.
I chose to listen to these two podcast because my topic is also "Useful Internet Websites for Elementary Teachers". I thought by listening to these podcast I would better understand what was expected of me. The way I will change my podcast is by practicing to try to avoid the use of uhh's and umm's. I will also state my website more through the course of the discussion. I will try to lay my papers across the table in front of me so that I will not have to flip through pages, this will cut out on the background noise. I will try to speak at a slower pace and with a louder voice so that the audience will hear me clearly. I think that by listening to these podcast it will also help me to improve my podcast.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Podcasting
I thought that these podcast were very interesting. This assignment taught me other ways to use different technologies in my classroom. Podcast are great to use to determine how well a student understood the material that was taught, what the student already knew, and what the student learned. Podcasting allows students to research material, record the information they have learned, and let other students learn from the information that was recorded.
The first podcast that I listened to was #59 Kid Cast. I thought this was the most informative podcast of the six. This podcast taught how to incorporate podcasting into the classroom. This podcast was based on middle school teachers. It discussed how the teachers were trying to pull iPods into their daily classroom lessons. The teachers thought that the students would be more interested in the subjects that the teachers were teaching. One way the teachers incorporated podcasting into their daily lessons was, the students were required to listen to a podcast and determine the main content of the lecture, and after the lecture was completed the students were to write a summary on what they learned. When listening to the podcast the students were able to pause and rewind the lecture to make sure they captured all of the important information.
The second podcast that I listened to was #149 Smart Board Lesson. This podcast taught how a teacher could incorporate a smart board into his/her classroom. Smart Boards are a great new piece of technology. The Smart Board allows teachers to use a hands-on and interactive approach in their classroom. The Smart Board is connected to a computer and allows you to manipulate the screen without a mouse. The screen is projected onto the wall or a white board so it is easy for the students and teacher to read. The Smart Board is a great piece of technology, in that it allows the students and teacher to write on the board with a touch screen. The Smart Board also allows video conferencing in which you can talk to other teachers and students from schools around the world.
The Kid Cast and Smart Board Lesson were just two of the podcast that I listened to. I thought that these two podcast were the most interesting and informative on how to use technology in the classroom. I think that the use of these two technologies will keep the students interested in their school work; it allows student interaction with other students, teachers, and schools. I thought that these two podcast would be useful in improving student learning because the podcast taught how to incorporate new technologies into the classroom.
The first podcast that I listened to was #59 Kid Cast. I thought this was the most informative podcast of the six. This podcast taught how to incorporate podcasting into the classroom. This podcast was based on middle school teachers. It discussed how the teachers were trying to pull iPods into their daily classroom lessons. The teachers thought that the students would be more interested in the subjects that the teachers were teaching. One way the teachers incorporated podcasting into their daily lessons was, the students were required to listen to a podcast and determine the main content of the lecture, and after the lecture was completed the students were to write a summary on what they learned. When listening to the podcast the students were able to pause and rewind the lecture to make sure they captured all of the important information.
The second podcast that I listened to was #149 Smart Board Lesson. This podcast taught how a teacher could incorporate a smart board into his/her classroom. Smart Boards are a great new piece of technology. The Smart Board allows teachers to use a hands-on and interactive approach in their classroom. The Smart Board is connected to a computer and allows you to manipulate the screen without a mouse. The screen is projected onto the wall or a white board so it is easy for the students and teacher to read. The Smart Board is a great piece of technology, in that it allows the students and teacher to write on the board with a touch screen. The Smart Board also allows video conferencing in which you can talk to other teachers and students from schools around the world.
The Kid Cast and Smart Board Lesson were just two of the podcast that I listened to. I thought that these two podcast were the most interesting and informative on how to use technology in the classroom. I think that the use of these two technologies will keep the students interested in their school work; it allows student interaction with other students, teachers, and schools. I thought that these two podcast would be useful in improving student learning because the podcast taught how to incorporate new technologies into the classroom.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
I thought that Randy Pausch’s last lecture was very interesting. Randy Pausch started his lecture by stating that he had many tumors located on his liver. He let everyone know that his condition was not keeping him down; he said he was in better health than ever and could not be any happier. Randy Pausch had three main points that he covered in his lecture childhood dreams, to help others follow their dreams, and lessons learned.
The first point in his lecture was childhood dreams. Randy Pausch tried to achieve all of his childhood dreams. His first dream was to be in zero gravity. Randy Pausch did achieve this dream with a project that he and his class did for NASA.
The second dream was to play in the NFL. Randy had played football as a child but did not achieve playing in the NFL. Randy did learn many lessons from this dream. He learned that you must learn the fundamentals of what you are trying or nothing else will work. He learned important character traits such as team work and sportsmanship. Randy also learned that critics are the people who care about you and “experience is what you get when you did not get what you wanted”.
The third childhood dream was to be an author in the World Book Encyclopedia. Randy worked very hard to achieve this dream. He accomplished this dream with an article he wrote called Virtual Reality.
Randy’s fourth childhood dream was to be Captain Kirk. He did not get to be Captain Kirk but he settled for meeting him. Randy said that it was awesome to meet your childhood hero.
The fifth childhood dream was to win stuffed animals. Randy achieved this dream, he won many stuffed animals. He showed the animals on the PowerPoint and even brought some onto the stage.
Randy’s sixth and last childhood dream was to be a Disney’s Imagineer. The first time he tried to pursue this goal he was rejected. Randy hit a “brick wall”. He said that “brick walls are there to show how badly you want something”. Randy continued to strive to achieve this goal, he eventually succeeded. Randy was able to work in the Disney’s Imagineering Department due to his job. He wrote a paper on virtual reality which pertained to the Aladdin Project. After this paper was completed he was offered a job to be a Disney Imagineer. Randy turned down this opportunity stating that it would be to stressful, but he did continue to work as a consultant which allowed him to continue to be involved in the Disney’s Imagineering Department.
The second part of the lecture was discussing how to help others follow their dreams. In this segment, of the lecture, he discussed a student that he once taught name Tommy. Tommy’s childhood dream was to work on the Star Wars film. Tommy did eventually get the job opportunity to achieve his dream. Randy Pausch created a course at Carnegie Mellon called “Building Virtual Worlds”. The course turned out to be wonderful and each semester there is a long line of people trying to sign up for this course. This course allowed students to realize that they can accomplish their dreams. After ten years of teaching this course Randy Pausch handed down his position and moved on to what is called “The Dream Fulfillment Factory”.
The “Dream Fulfillment Factory” is headed by Randy Pausch and Don Marinelli. This was created an Entertainment Technology Center that allows students to receive a Master’s Degree in Entertainment Technology. The class requirements are to complete five virtual reality projects that promote Entertainment Technology. Randy Pausch accomplished another dream by helping others to follow their dreams.
In the last part of the lecture Randy discussed lessons learned. First, Randy talked of the people who are there to help us besides our parents. He discussed the roles that teacher, mentors, friends, and colleagues play in our lives. Randy said that students do not only learn from their teacher, that teachers learn from their students. He reminded everyone to never lose their child-like wonder. Randy also said that you should always have fun in everything you do. Another point was to be loyal and never give up. Randy also stated to always remember that you have to let people help you. You must tell the truth and when you screw up apologize and always focus on others instead of yourself.
This lecture taught me that you must always look for the best in everyone. Also, there is no need to complain you must work harder. Randy Pausch’s last lecture provided us with two “head fakes”, this is a lesson that someone does not know that they are going to learn. The first head fake was that people learn not how to achieve their goals, but how to live their life. The second head fake was that this lesson was not really for the audience, it was actually for his kids.
The first point in his lecture was childhood dreams. Randy Pausch tried to achieve all of his childhood dreams. His first dream was to be in zero gravity. Randy Pausch did achieve this dream with a project that he and his class did for NASA.
The second dream was to play in the NFL. Randy had played football as a child but did not achieve playing in the NFL. Randy did learn many lessons from this dream. He learned that you must learn the fundamentals of what you are trying or nothing else will work. He learned important character traits such as team work and sportsmanship. Randy also learned that critics are the people who care about you and “experience is what you get when you did not get what you wanted”.
The third childhood dream was to be an author in the World Book Encyclopedia. Randy worked very hard to achieve this dream. He accomplished this dream with an article he wrote called Virtual Reality.
Randy’s fourth childhood dream was to be Captain Kirk. He did not get to be Captain Kirk but he settled for meeting him. Randy said that it was awesome to meet your childhood hero.
The fifth childhood dream was to win stuffed animals. Randy achieved this dream, he won many stuffed animals. He showed the animals on the PowerPoint and even brought some onto the stage.
Randy’s sixth and last childhood dream was to be a Disney’s Imagineer. The first time he tried to pursue this goal he was rejected. Randy hit a “brick wall”. He said that “brick walls are there to show how badly you want something”. Randy continued to strive to achieve this goal, he eventually succeeded. Randy was able to work in the Disney’s Imagineering Department due to his job. He wrote a paper on virtual reality which pertained to the Aladdin Project. After this paper was completed he was offered a job to be a Disney Imagineer. Randy turned down this opportunity stating that it would be to stressful, but he did continue to work as a consultant which allowed him to continue to be involved in the Disney’s Imagineering Department.
The second part of the lecture was discussing how to help others follow their dreams. In this segment, of the lecture, he discussed a student that he once taught name Tommy. Tommy’s childhood dream was to work on the Star Wars film. Tommy did eventually get the job opportunity to achieve his dream. Randy Pausch created a course at Carnegie Mellon called “Building Virtual Worlds”. The course turned out to be wonderful and each semester there is a long line of people trying to sign up for this course. This course allowed students to realize that they can accomplish their dreams. After ten years of teaching this course Randy Pausch handed down his position and moved on to what is called “The Dream Fulfillment Factory”.
The “Dream Fulfillment Factory” is headed by Randy Pausch and Don Marinelli. This was created an Entertainment Technology Center that allows students to receive a Master’s Degree in Entertainment Technology. The class requirements are to complete five virtual reality projects that promote Entertainment Technology. Randy Pausch accomplished another dream by helping others to follow their dreams.
In the last part of the lecture Randy discussed lessons learned. First, Randy talked of the people who are there to help us besides our parents. He discussed the roles that teacher, mentors, friends, and colleagues play in our lives. Randy said that students do not only learn from their teacher, that teachers learn from their students. He reminded everyone to never lose their child-like wonder. Randy also said that you should always have fun in everything you do. Another point was to be loyal and never give up. Randy also stated to always remember that you have to let people help you. You must tell the truth and when you screw up apologize and always focus on others instead of yourself.
This lecture taught me that you must always look for the best in everyone. Also, there is no need to complain you must work harder. Randy Pausch’s last lecture provided us with two “head fakes”, this is a lesson that someone does not know that they are going to learn. The first head fake was that people learn not how to achieve their goals, but how to live their life. The second head fake was that this lesson was not really for the audience, it was actually for his kids.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
International Blogs
The first blog I found was Mrs. Cassidy from Moose Jaw, Canada. Mrs. Cassidy's blog had her students names posted and by clicking on a child's name it would lead to their individual blog. It was really interesting to read what the children had posted on their blog . The blog is another great way for the teacher and parent to stay in contact about the children's progress. What I thought was most interesting about Mrs. Cassidy's blog is that if the teacher and/or the students were near their computer you could instantly chat with them. The blog contained assignments for the students, videos, photos, newsletters, and links to other blogs around the world.
The second blog I found was Ms. Hayes class blog from New Zealand. This class blog is called the Navigators, it consist of fifth and sixth graders. The blog is much like the previous blogs, it contains learning links, class rolls, and upcoming projects. I think the use of blogs is a great advancement in technology that allows parents, students, and teachers to communicate. What I think is so wonderful about blogs is that it not only allows people in the school to communicate with one another, but also people around the world.Sunday, February 8, 2009
United States Teacher Blogs
The first blog that I found was Miss Lipsky's fifth grade English and Language Arts class from Jacksonville, Florida. Miss Lipsky's blog had information on why she became an English and Language Art teacher. Miss Lipsky's blog also had pictures and video of some of her classes performances. The blog also consisted of links to many other blogs in the United States and other countries. There was a new podcast uploaded welcoming their new friends to their blog from Saschatewan, Canada. I thought that Miss Lipsky's blog was very interesting because she not only included teachers and students from the United States in their blogging, but she included blogs from many other countries.
The second blog I found was Ms. Timmons class. Ms. Timmons is a primary inclusion teacher and literacy coach at Chets Creek Elementary in Jackonsville, Florida. Ms. Timmons blog consist of podcasts, lessons they do on a daily basis, and many pictures of the classroom and students. Ms. Timmons is also involved with blogs all around the world. I really enjoyed viewing the blogs, it is awesome to see how students all around the world can communicate with each other through technology.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Alabama ACCESS Program
The ACCESS (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide) program was created to help teachers and students through the use of technology. The ACCESS website states that their mission is “to provide an infrastructure that delivers quality learning opportunities for all citizens”. The goal of ACCESS is “to provide additional educational offerings for all Alabama public high school students”. Some of the objectives of ACCESS are to provide additional computers to schools, to provide access to advanced courses, provide access to additional courses, to provide access to dual enrollment courses and remediation courses.
Some programs that ACCESS offers are internet-based courses, interactive video courses and blended courses. The internet based courses are completely online and are taken during the regular school hours. The video based courses are interactive, both audio and visual, linking the student to the teacher. The blended courses contain both internet based instruction and interactive video. There are many benefits, but there are also challenges faced with ACCESS. Some benefits of internet based and video course are allowing students to take classes not offered at their school, students are able to interact with students from other schools, providing schools with additional teachers and allow students to access notes and class work online. Some challenges that teachers may face is learning to use new technologies, teachers must be well organized and prepared in advanced for class and technology problems.
Some programs that ACCESS offers are internet-based courses, interactive video courses and blended courses. The internet based courses are completely online and are taken during the regular school hours. The video based courses are interactive, both audio and visual, linking the student to the teacher. The blended courses contain both internet based instruction and interactive video. There are many benefits, but there are also challenges faced with ACCESS. Some benefits of internet based and video course are allowing students to take classes not offered at their school, students are able to interact with students from other schools, providing schools with additional teachers and allow students to access notes and class work online. Some challenges that teachers may face is learning to use new technologies, teachers must be well organized and prepared in advanced for class and technology problems.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Plagarism and Copyright Rules
Webster’s dictionary defines plagiarism as ‘to steal the ideas or words of one’s own: without crediting the source’. Plagiarism is also when you buy a paper off the internet, when someone else writes your paper, coping and pasting parts of papers or documents, or anything that you use that is not your own.
The best way to avoid plagiarism is by reading the document and then putting it into your own words. Another, way to make sure that you do not plagiarize is to cite anything that you use that may be someone else’s words. Citing a source makes your paper more informative and builds your credibility in your writing skills.
In order not to plagiarize you must understand plagiarism. Plagiarism usually occurs when you do not understand the meaning of plagiarism or the writer is search for an easy way out. Although, it may seem like the easy way out at the time it will end up earning the writer a zero and getting them into a lot of trouble.
Webster’s dictionary defines copyrighting as ‘the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell or distribute the matter and form of something as a literary, musical or artistic work’. Copyrighting is provided for both published and unpublished works. Documents with a copyright may only be reproduced and sold by the owner. Failure to follow a copyright law is illegal.
The best way to avoid plagiarism is by reading the document and then putting it into your own words. Another, way to make sure that you do not plagiarize is to cite anything that you use that may be someone else’s words. Citing a source makes your paper more informative and builds your credibility in your writing skills.
In order not to plagiarize you must understand plagiarism. Plagiarism usually occurs when you do not understand the meaning of plagiarism or the writer is search for an easy way out. Although, it may seem like the easy way out at the time it will end up earning the writer a zero and getting them into a lot of trouble.
Webster’s dictionary defines copyrighting as ‘the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell or distribute the matter and form of something as a literary, musical or artistic work’. Copyrighting is provided for both published and unpublished works. Documents with a copyright may only be reproduced and sold by the owner. Failure to follow a copyright law is illegal.
Information about ALEX
Alabama Learning Exchange or ALEX is a website for teachers. ALEX can be accessed at ALEX - Alabama Learning Exchange. This website contains great lesson plans and allows you to view Alabama content standards by grade level. This web site also provides several links to other websites where you can find additional lesson plans and activities. ALEX not only includes information for teachers, but also administrators and students. This website is extremely useful for new teachers; it can relieve stress on creating lesson plans.
ALEX not only provides lesson plans and help for core curriculum subjects, it also offers information for electives. Some examples of what ALEX offers in lesson plans are: Art Education, Driver and Traffic Safety, Physical Education, English, Language, Health, Social Studies and many others. When browsing for lesson plans on ALEX you first pick the subject and next the grade level. Each lesson plan provides you with step-by-step processes and also the materials that will be needed to complete the lesson.
ALEX not only provides lesson plans and help for core curriculum subjects, it also offers information for electives. Some examples of what ALEX offers in lesson plans are: Art Education, Driver and Traffic Safety, Physical Education, English, Language, Health, Social Studies and many others. When browsing for lesson plans on ALEX you first pick the subject and next the grade level. Each lesson plan provides you with step-by-step processes and also the materials that will be needed to complete the lesson.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Web Accessibility for All
I thought that Mr. Sullivan’s PowerPoint on ‘Accessibility for All’ was interesting and had useful information. I had no idea that there were so many advancements for people with visual and hearing impairments. The portable Braille machine would be good to use in the classroom, not only for the blind, but to teach other children. The Smartphone had capabilities to speak commands in-turn teaching the blind how to use a cell phone. I think that all teachers should view this PowerPoint because it demonstrates many technologies that are available for the blind and deaf individual.
There are many laws that were written in the 1970’s requiring all businesses and schools to be handicap accessible. Many of the laws were not enforced then, but are now enforced. These laws that were put in place were to help individuals with handicaps or disabilities access public and private places. As with laws being written and technology being developed individual with impairments are now able to accomplish the same goals as individual without impairments or disabilities. As technology advances teachers should stay informed of ways to help the blind and/or deaf child.
There are many laws that were written in the 1970’s requiring all businesses and schools to be handicap accessible. Many of the laws were not enforced then, but are now enforced. These laws that were put in place were to help individuals with handicaps or disabilities access public and private places. As with laws being written and technology being developed individual with impairments are now able to accomplish the same goals as individual without impairments or disabilities. As technology advances teachers should stay informed of ways to help the blind and/or deaf child.
Friday, January 16, 2009
About Me!!!
Hello, my name is Kristen Younce. I graduated from Robertsdale High School May 17, 2007. I began Faulkner State Community College the next week after graduation. I attended Faulkner for one year and a half where I took all of my basic classes. I then transferred to South this semester to finish my degree which will be in Elementary Education. I plan to graduate from South in December of 2010 with my bachelor’s degree. After, I graduate I hope to find a job teaching kindergarten.
Whenever I am not at school, I am usually at work. I work at Baldwin EMC in Summerdale, as a secretary in the Engineering Department. I have a great job because they work around my school schedule. If I am not at school or work, I love spending time with my family, shopping, or just being outdoors. I have two brothers and one sister. I also have two nephews, Marlin who is one and Landon who is four months. Playing with my nephews encourages me on how I want to teach school and work with children.
Whenever I am not at school, I am usually at work. I work at Baldwin EMC in Summerdale, as a secretary in the Engineering Department. I have a great job because they work around my school schedule. If I am not at school or work, I love spending time with my family, shopping, or just being outdoors. I have two brothers and one sister. I also have two nephews, Marlin who is one and Landon who is four months. Playing with my nephews encourages me on how I want to teach school and work with children.
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