Blog Assignment 5

When I first found out that I was going to have to make a podcast for this class I was a little worried because before this week I didn't know what a podcast was. As part of our blog assignment this week I had to listen to and watch some podcasts, which definitely helped me understand more about my project. I listened to Eagle Nest Radio and Class Blog which is a blog and podcasts by a third grade class. I was pleasantly surprised by how good they were. Those third graders are doing a great job and I commend their teacher for making the blog and podcasts available to them.
 
I also read Judy Scharf Podcast Collection. She had a lot of great information about creating a podcast. She included a link to a youtube video on making a podcast using audacity which I found extremely helpful. I have audacity downloaded on my laptop but before watching that video I wasn't familiar with using it. She also had a section titled "What Is A Podcast?" which answered my question because I really didn't know.

I watched The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom and learned more about how I can use podcasts as a teacher. One of the best things I found out about using podcasts in the classroom if that i is exrtemely beneficial for students who have to miss class, especially if they will be out for an extended period of time. Also when a tacher uploads lectures to a blog or itunes students can watch the lecture and pause it or rewind it which gives them a chance to write down something they might have missed in class.

Blog Assignment 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod

I appreciate Dr. McLeod's sarcasm in presenting his opinion of kids using technology. I think it will definitely get people's attention. I feel that the use of technology in schools as well as at home with kids, can be taken too far, but Dr. McLeod presents the other extreme of no technology. The way our world is advancing today students need to know how to use technology properly. Technology isn't bad, kids just need to be taught how to use it for good. Also, I found that Dr. McLeod is Associate Professor of Educational Administration at Iowa State University and the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He is also co-creator of the Did You Know? (Shift Happens) videos.


The iSchool Initiative


I think the iSchool is interesting, however, I do have some questions. Knowing people who iPhones and iTouches, the monthly costs for operating those are [pretty expensive. How does the school system plan to pay for that? Also, those devices can be broken fairly easy. Just how much money will students and schools actually be saving when those things start having to be replaced?

On the other hand, I do see the plus side of the iSchool. It would be nice to have so much information in the palm of your hand and to also the great convenience of students and teachers and parents being able to communicate. However, something is missing. What about the personal relationships between the students and teachers? When things start to get too technical the teacher becomes less involved. A teacher A teacher isn't just an educator, he or she is someone that their students should view as a confidant.


The Lost Generation


I LOVED the video The Lost Generation. It was inspirational and it shows how looking at something from a different perspective can change everything. I think it is a video that everyone needs to watch. I loved how when the words scrolled backwards it read something totally opposite of what it originally said, that was neat and a creative.





Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

Wow, that was my reaction to the virtual choir. I was in absolute awe at the magnificence of this performance. Technology is an amazing thing and it was awesome to see it used that way.

C4T Summary # 1

I was assigned to read posts by Matthew Needleman. In the first post I read Mr. Needleman had links to videos that students had made, all the way from elementary school. The videos were cute and a great way to get students excited about their work. My comment to Mr. Needleman basically explained that I think the videos are a fantastic idea and a great way to get students engaged in their school work.

The second post I read by Mr. Needleman was about effectively showing videos in classes. He gave detailed instructions on showing videos, including how to keep students from shouting out and what the teacher should be doing during video time. He also explained that students need to learn that video time isn't a treat or is less rigorous than reading a book or doing paper work. In my comment to Mr. Needleman I thanked him for the great information and stated that I found the post helpful and that I will definitely remember this information when showing videos to my future students.

I enjoyed reading Mr. Needleman's posts and I will will continue reading his blog. I recommend everyone to read at least one of his posts. He is informative and shares great ideas and techniques for teachers.

Project #5 Google Presentation

My Google Presentation


I have the slides set to change every fifteen seconds because some slides require some reading, so your computer isn't being slow, that's just how I have it set :) Also, if you click on open in new window you can see the presentation better.

ENJOY :)

Blog Assignment 3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
I guess I'm lucky, because so far my college experience has been great. After watching the movie "A Vision of Students Today" I see that not everyone is as lucky as me. I have been blessed with small classes throughout college. One of the things that caught my attention most was he fact that one girl said her average class size is 115, another said that only eighteen percent of her teachers know her name. Now, this semester has just started but so far all of my teachers have known my name. So, this video does represent a college experience different from mine, however there was something that applied to me. One student said he spends hundreds of dollars on textbooks that he never opens. I have been frustrated a few times by teachers calling for a textbook and then not teaching from it.
I think the point of the movie was that we should use technology to improve student's college experiences. I definitely think that offering more online classes could help. However, I would never want all classes to go online. I'm not the type of person who wants to go to school online, I enjoy the classroom experience. Having to go to class provides discipline that I need to keep my grades up. The movie was great though, and if I could ad anything to it I would show how technology can be used more in the classroom, instead of just a plain old chalkboard.

It's Not About The Technology - Kelly Hines
The title of Mrs. Hines blod really caught my attention. As someone who is not toally engulfed in the technology world it sparked my interest. I agree with Mrs. Hines that technology is important in the classroom, but it's not the main focus. As Mrs. Hines stated, there are other things about our teaching systems that need to change in the twenty first century, not just technology. One thing Mrs. Hines pointed out is that teachers should be learners, and I completely agree. What good is a teacher who has quit learning? There is always new information, and not one person can ever know everything. We as future teachers need to realize that if we do not put in time and effort to continue learning we will not be very valuable to our students.
Mrs. Hines included a list of four things that teachers need to recognize to be effective and positive. I personally found her blog to be helpful and inspiring. As a future teacher, and someone who is already working in the filed of education I think Mrs. Hines perspective on teaching is excellent and her blog is definitely one that I will continue to read.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

I do not think that it is ok to be a technologically illiterate teacher, however, I do not feel quite as strongly about it as Mr. Fisch. Technology is definitely important in the classroom but saying that a teacher who is technologically illiterate is like a teacher thirty years ago who could not read or write is extreme in my opinion. Which Mr. Fisch did say that it is an extreme statement. I agree with him that teachers do need to be educated in technology and being "technologically illiterate" really isn't acceptable, teachers need to at least know basic computer skills.

Where my opinion differs from Mr. Fisch's is... there are teachers in schools who specifically teach technology, so I don't feel that a teacher in another subject who isn't totally in the know is harming students. Middle school and high school teachers do need to be able to incorporate some technology into their classrooms, but just because they don't keep up with everything going on in the technology world I do not feel they are bad teachers. Elementary teachers need to use technology as well, just on a smaller scale. So yes Mr. Fisch is correct that technology is needed in school, and like I said, a teacher needs to have at least basic computer skills, but I don't feel that a teacher should be condemned for not having more than that.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

Wow, so I never realized how fast the online world is moving. Watching the live statistics was an eye-opener for sure. Going into the education field future teachers like us need to keep in mind the rate that technology is advancing. Within the few short years that we graduate and start teaching so much will have changed. We have to remember that and try our hardest to do whatever it takes to reach our students and that is going to mean having an open mind and trying our best to stay in tune with where technology is going.