NSCS Toolbox | The National Society of Collegiate Scholars

NSCS Toolbox | The National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Project 9b

This is a timeline that chronicles some of the early American writers I am learning about. I have read all of the texts referred to here. You can follow the timeline and with the progression of time observe the progression of ideas and collective change in the ideals presented by the authors. I have included some links in the timeline for curious minds. I am planning to add more to the timeline as I read more. I love to read!
My Timeline

Blog Post 6

The Networked Student

After watching the clip composed by Wendy Drexler (http://techliterateteacher.blogspot.com/2009/06/networked-student.html) titled The Networked Student, I see a clear picture about how networking between teachers, students, and professionals can help the 21st century student compose, discover, share, and learn.  I think some teachers might be concerned at the prospect of information and technology causing their role as the teacher to become obsolete.  I am assured that is not the case.  While the role of teacher is changing with the use of technology I believe that their supervision and guidance is needed now more than ever.

The Teacher will become a coordinator.  They assign, encourage, question, organize, and set standards for students to adhere to and follow.  The educator should remember to keep learning along with students as well.  This video pushes a concept called connectivism.  Pulling data from different sources, validating that data's authenticity, incorporating that data into conclusions of their own.  This is what the students of the new millennium need to be able to accomplish.  Sources like online articles and journals, skype, wikispaces, pb wiki, itunes,email, google search, are all examples of resources students need to learn how to use when researching and collaborating.

The tools are ever changing when it comes to technology.  But they are undeniably an advantage over traditional material due to their continual updates and evolution.  Learning has gone global.

Comments4kids

My first student blog to comment on was Taylor's. She is a bird lover. She has two birds, McNugget and Mr. Spock. The post that I first commented on was about her birds. I told Taylor about my dog's Termite and Betty. The second post on Comments4kids that I checked out was also Taylor's. In this post she listed her favorite movies. We have very similar taste in movies actually. I shared one of my most favorite movie titles with Taylor as well. It is really cool to interact in this format with students. It is less personal but seems much more direct.

My last student blog to visit in February was PK2011's post on Mr. Wolfe's Class Blog: http://kidblog.org/MrWolfesClass2/

In PK2011's post she tells about the book Shoe Shine Girl.  She gives a short description of the main idea of the book.  It was a little vague so I asked her a couple of questions.  I'll check back later to see if I get an answer from PK.  I think that posting questions on student's blog posts encourages them to think more about what they are posting.  This is a great idea if you want to draw more information out of a child.  Often they don't seem to know which things to include and asking questions helps define things like a book report or other descriptive writing.

Project 8

https://www.opendrive.com/folders?4296997608_FGLn9

Blog Post 5

This weeks lesson was all about podcasting. Podcasting is a way to put digital recordings on the Internet for replaying on computers or iPods. It is cool to see students and teachers utilizing this to facilitate learning.

Eagles Nest Radio & Class Blog is hosted by some pretty amazing 3rd graders.

I listened to their podcast about ancient Rome and was impressed to say the least. These students incorporated music and dialog to bring an amazing podcast to listeners. I listened to students tell about ancient Roman architecture, Julius Ceasar, Gladiators, Cleopatra, and even the Roman's use of plumbing! I completed recording my podcast for my project 8 already, but if I do another I will definitely incorporate some music. The musical element adds a theatrical theme to their podcast and set an interesting tone. (http://blog.woodward.edu/ps_edmison/?cat=103)

The Benefits of Podcasting in The Classroom

I watched this clip about the benefits of podcasting in the classroom and felt it was very informative and demonstrative about how students can use podcasting to increase their understanding of the material they are learning. I understand after watching this clip that the students I will be teaching have grown up in an environment that incorporates technology into their everyday lives.
One of the ways that podcasting is being utilized to help students is the recording of the lessons given in class being posted for students who miss due to illness. If the student is at home they can access the lesson without risking spreading their illness to classmates. Anyone with children in school can appreciate that! I also loved the idea of parents being able to listen to what their children are learning. If parents wish to keep abreast of what is going on in the classroom then their children will be a step ahead. Being able to quiz children at home can really be helpful for parents. It can reinforce what educators are teaching and also encourage the student to stay engaged while in class because they anticipate their parent will be asking them about specifics regarding their lessons. The last thing I loved about it was the concept of students creating a podcast to communicate their lessons to others. This encourages their creative thinking and forces them to view the lesson from a new point of view.
I am sure after all I have learned to date that I will do podcasts with my students one day!




100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better

This article found at
http://www.bspcn.com/2008/02/16/100-ways-to-use-your-ipod-to-learn-and-study-better/
tells you just what the title implies. Apparently there are 100 ways to use an iPod to study better! I can say that I do not have an iPod and never wanted one, until now! I do currently record my notes for lecture classes and listen to them when driving, exercising (I draw the line at sleeping-that is a study free zone) and it really helps on exams. I seldom realize how much I have learned until I take my tests and more often than not I get an A. I am not naturally knowledgeable but study skills are what I have found to be key in achieving academic success. So now I can add to the list of things I want, an iPod. Thanks EDM310.

Project 9a

The Todd Family Timeline

Blog Post 4

This weeks readings and videos are furthering my education on being an educator. I began my journey into becoming an educator with a huge challenge for me, College. I knew I wanted to teach. I have two sons and love to interact with them, read to them, and learn from them. I am excited about teaching in a new way now that I am finally beginning to enter some of the courses in the College of Education at South Alabama. I felt as if my undergrad courses have been a chore and a challenge. I work full time so I am often tired, sitting in lecture halls, trying to absorb info as well as I am able. Missing nights with my boys has been the hardest part. Now in this EDM310 class a ray of sunshine has illuminated what I have been searching for in my education. New things I am learning are like seeds planted in my mind. I am confident that these seeds will grow if only I continue to nurture them by learning more and doing more. I love this class :)
Below are some of the lessons I learned this week and my thoughts on them.

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff

I visited Scott McLeod's blog and read his post called Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. This post is in the form of a poem and lists many things that students could be learning with the aid of technology. He is saying don't teach your kids this stuff and they will be left behind. He ends his poem by saying he will teach his kids "this stuff" and see who gets ahead. This particular post seems to be intended to provoke a response for or against the incorporation of tech in educating children. He ends his poem with a clear declaration of his opinion on the matter. The last lines are "can't wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two
can you?" What a challenge Mr. McLeod is laying before parents, administrators, and educators.

Who is Scott McLeod to issue such a challenge? He is an Associate Professor in the Educational Administration program at Iowa Stat University. He is also the Director of CASTLE (Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education). CASTLE is a academic center with the purpose of meeting the technology needs of school administrators. McLeod has not only got an opinion, but an informed one. He is active in the world of education in regards to bringing the nation's students the tech they need to thrive in the global community.


The iSchool Initiative

I also watched the iSchool Initiative video by a 17 year old student. In this video concepts of change, total revolution, in how we format education are presented. It is a really great argument for the use of technology to completely renovate our students classroom experience. The use of Apple's itouch technology to replace books, paper, pencils, calenders, you name it. The savings is computed to be about 600 dollars per student! One of the aspects I liked best from a parent and future educator's point of view was communication and accountability. Menu's, homework assignments, and test dates would no longer be sent home on papers that may or may not make it into parent's hands. I love it.

Lost Generation

In the youtube video Lost Generation a poem is read aloud by a young woman. In her initial reading the girl is stating a hopeless prediction about the future. She goes on to state that all of the predictions will come true unless we change things now. At the end of the poem she reads it again, in reverse order, and it tells a tale of refutation. It refutes the depressing predictions asserting that the outcome can be one of hope not loss. I found this to be a very moving poem. I was initially so sad about what was read. Definitely calls for us to think about our part in the grand scheme of things.


Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

Wow. This is an amazing use of the internet! This video clip showcases 185 people, from 12 different countries, singing alone, and recording themselves. While they are singing they are being conducted by Eric Whitacre's virtual instruction. Whitacre then takes the individual pieces and puts them together in a most amazing use of technology. He has taken something good and made it amazing! It brought tears to my eyes. I am so impressed with his genius. I am including the video below and strongly urge you to take a moment and absorb this feat of technology!



What Does It Mean To Teach in The 21st Century?



The question is a good one. I hadn't thought about it when I decided to become a teacher. I am excited by the idea of teaching in new formats with new tools. Why should we do the same thing? It is amazing what can be achieved by the use of modern technology. Engaging students in learning by allowing them to express their creativity with all that is available to them is a natural next step in the evolution of modern education. How much faster can we tap into a students potential? I believe if we give them the tools to create they will amaze us!

This is My Sentence