About Me
- Pamela Leasure
- I am always seeking to make the most of each moment. I love to read, play outside and steal a moment to enjoy my surroundings whenever I can!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
1st Progress Report on PLN
I am still learning to orchestrate my web resources. I hope to continue to streamline my Personal Learning Network (PLN). I have created a symbaloo account and posted links to all of the resources I use the most. I have created a twitter account and must admit while I continue to read posts by educators from all over the world I am still not a frequent contributor in tweets. I plan to keep reading and learning and some time soon jump into the information stream more often.
I had a PLN before I even realized it. I have several teachers on my face book account. I have asked them all questions at one time and had the ability to view all of their answers. I have used this to write two papers regarding education in my college classes. That has been an awesome resource.
My youtube account has given me the ability to share videos that I am excited about using to learn and teach. I am still a novice at most of these things. But youtube has proven to be an invaluable resource to me in learning to use the tools on the internet. Just as quickly as you can type in a procedure you will find videos popping up that explain the steps of the most intimidating technical procedures.
Of course I have also discovered the usefulness of blogging for a purpose. In my assignments I have traveled from blog to blog reading posts by both educators and students. This to me is an incredible platform to share ideas and get advice from others. I never before realized these resources in such totality as I have in the past months. I am encouraged to continue to learn about more resources that will give me access to the wealth of ideas that are out there. Ideas about teaching and learning and life lessons.
And last but not least the amazing google. By creating a google account I have in one place my email, documents, photos, and social network. I never have to worry about my computer crashing and leaving me crying over lost papers written or lost photographs.
I am delighted at the discovery of the valuable tools that are there for free on the internet.
Blog Post 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
Above is a link to a video on youtube called Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving your Childhood Dreams. I watched this video as a class assignment for EDM310 and was pleasantly surprised to find it moving, informative, and inspiring. Randy Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He gave this lecture with the knowledge that he only had months to live.
The lecture was not created simply because he had found out he was terminally ill with cancer. It was a lecture that was given by others before him but he was the first to actually be giving it under his unique circumstances. Initially Pausch adresses what he calls "the elephant in the room" and talks about his condition. He did this because he wanted to focus on the topic of the lecture and not his illness. Just to get it out of the way it seemed.
When he did move on he discussed the importance of achieving your childhood dreams. While listening to him speak knowing he wants to not focus on the fact that he has only months to live it is easy to realize how qualified he is to know what is really important about living. Randy Pausch had a list of dreams he wanted to achieve when he was a child. His list was: being in zero gravity, being in the NFL, publishing an article in the encyclopedia, being Captain Kirk, winning a stuffed animal as a prize, and being an Imagineer with Disney.
The remarkable thing about Randy Pausch is that he achieved most of these dreams before he found out he had any illness at all. He managed to overcome challenges at every turn. He says that brick walls were made to be overcome. His message is one of encouragement. A true American spirit of achievement seems to have really pulsed within Randy Pausch. He was always taking it to the next level. He didn't give up on his dreams and had a life full of achievements to show for it. He shares excellent advice and insight on how to tackle the problems life seems to throw at you.
With the exception of being in the NFL Randy Pausch achieved all of his childhood dreams. But from watching his lecture it seems pretty apparent that his greatest achievement is his family. He ends his lecture with a dedication to his children. Life lessons shared by Randy Pausch are a treasure. Click on the link above to watch.
Above is a link to a video on youtube called Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving your Childhood Dreams. I watched this video as a class assignment for EDM310 and was pleasantly surprised to find it moving, informative, and inspiring. Randy Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He gave this lecture with the knowledge that he only had months to live.
The lecture was not created simply because he had found out he was terminally ill with cancer. It was a lecture that was given by others before him but he was the first to actually be giving it under his unique circumstances. Initially Pausch adresses what he calls "the elephant in the room" and talks about his condition. He did this because he wanted to focus on the topic of the lecture and not his illness. Just to get it out of the way it seemed.
When he did move on he discussed the importance of achieving your childhood dreams. While listening to him speak knowing he wants to not focus on the fact that he has only months to live it is easy to realize how qualified he is to know what is really important about living. Randy Pausch had a list of dreams he wanted to achieve when he was a child. His list was: being in zero gravity, being in the NFL, publishing an article in the encyclopedia, being Captain Kirk, winning a stuffed animal as a prize, and being an Imagineer with Disney.
The remarkable thing about Randy Pausch is that he achieved most of these dreams before he found out he had any illness at all. He managed to overcome challenges at every turn. He says that brick walls were made to be overcome. His message is one of encouragement. A true American spirit of achievement seems to have really pulsed within Randy Pausch. He was always taking it to the next level. He didn't give up on his dreams and had a life full of achievements to show for it. He shares excellent advice and insight on how to tackle the problems life seems to throw at you.
With the exception of being in the NFL Randy Pausch achieved all of his childhood dreams. But from watching his lecture it seems pretty apparent that his greatest achievement is his family. He ends his lecture with a dedication to his children. Life lessons shared by Randy Pausch are a treasure. Click on the link above to watch.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Comments for Teachers
Last week I visited the blog, At The Teachers Desk (http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/). I read the most recent post by William Chamberlain. The title of the post was Posting and Commenting are Only the Beginning. In this blog post Chamberlain is telling of an upcoming presentation he has to give about his comments4kids blog and hashtag. He is voicing his frustration because he feels, while the comments4kids blog and hashtag are encouraging comments to be made on the student's blogs, that there is more growth needed in the way of meaningful interaction. I went a little further and read some of the comments that were left there for him by visitors to his blog post. Many of the comments were of encouragement. Some were letting him know how they were having success with their students. Some were encouraging him to move forward with the change that inevitably fuels any programs successful growth. It appeared to me that he has a great online community of educators collaborating with him. I think that alone is excellent.
I got the impression reading the post that William Chamberlain is looking to improve student's experiences with blogging and make them more fruitful on an intellectual level. I think that his drive to grow for the sake of the students is just what they need. I hope that thinkers like Mr. Chamberlain continue to have influence over the ideas that are applied in education.
This week I visited Mr. Chamberlain's blog again. His most recent post was an answer to some questions about his class blog. The first question asked how he felt his blog improves classroom instruction. Mr. Chamberlain responded saying that his class blog promotes consistency in his lessons and makes them available at home as well. He also sited the usefulness of internet tools such as definitions, spell checking, and fact checking for the students when they are composing their posts. The language barrier if present can be overcome with his blog as well. That could be very useful for students whose parents may speak another language. And finally Mr. Chamberlain mentioned what I like most about students using the internet, independent learning. In this world where humans need to be on the cutting edge in order to rise to success the drive to keep one's self informed is a necessity.
The second question he addresses is one that asks if he has seen increase in participation and interest with the implementation of a class blog. He answers that while working on the blog students are allowed to work at their own pace and that is beneficial for them. He says another plus is not having to repeat instructions. But in answering if interest is increased Mr. Chamberlain says that simply using the computer doesn't increase interest. He says that formatting a well designed lesson plan is still primarily responsible for interest level. I found his answer to this one to be very objective and honest.
The final question asks if there are any difficulties in using the class blog. He says the student's access at home and attitude in general (attitude is everything if you ask me!) can be an obstacle. Also when the internet or computer is slow or not working properly it is difficult. He says the solution to this problem is to always have a back up plan on standby so the lesson may go on.
I am thinking about some of the teacher posts I have read all the time now. I begin to imagine what type of classroom I will have when I begin teaching. I expect it to be very different from the job I have now. I am changing careers so I have a different perspective than many college students entering their careers for the first time. I have mixed emotions. I know that I will be happy to be doing a job that touches lives in a profound way (I pray). And I also expect that some challenges will await me. I am looking forward to staying in touch with teachers around the world for encouragement. I am filled with hope at the whole concept of idea sharing on the internet. I could go on and on so I'll close.
I appreciate the struggles and successes of these teachers. They are informative and inspiring. To Mr. Chamberlain I thank you for making your thoughts available to me and others. We may just become better educators as a result.
Mr. Chamberlain's Blog
I got the impression reading the post that William Chamberlain is looking to improve student's experiences with blogging and make them more fruitful on an intellectual level. I think that his drive to grow for the sake of the students is just what they need. I hope that thinkers like Mr. Chamberlain continue to have influence over the ideas that are applied in education.
This week I visited Mr. Chamberlain's blog again. His most recent post was an answer to some questions about his class blog. The first question asked how he felt his blog improves classroom instruction. Mr. Chamberlain responded saying that his class blog promotes consistency in his lessons and makes them available at home as well. He also sited the usefulness of internet tools such as definitions, spell checking, and fact checking for the students when they are composing their posts. The language barrier if present can be overcome with his blog as well. That could be very useful for students whose parents may speak another language. And finally Mr. Chamberlain mentioned what I like most about students using the internet, independent learning. In this world where humans need to be on the cutting edge in order to rise to success the drive to keep one's self informed is a necessity.
The second question he addresses is one that asks if he has seen increase in participation and interest with the implementation of a class blog. He answers that while working on the blog students are allowed to work at their own pace and that is beneficial for them. He says another plus is not having to repeat instructions. But in answering if interest is increased Mr. Chamberlain says that simply using the computer doesn't increase interest. He says that formatting a well designed lesson plan is still primarily responsible for interest level. I found his answer to this one to be very objective and honest.
The final question asks if there are any difficulties in using the class blog. He says the student's access at home and attitude in general (attitude is everything if you ask me!) can be an obstacle. Also when the internet or computer is slow or not working properly it is difficult. He says the solution to this problem is to always have a back up plan on standby so the lesson may go on.
I am thinking about some of the teacher posts I have read all the time now. I begin to imagine what type of classroom I will have when I begin teaching. I expect it to be very different from the job I have now. I am changing careers so I have a different perspective than many college students entering their careers for the first time. I have mixed emotions. I know that I will be happy to be doing a job that touches lives in a profound way (I pray). And I also expect that some challenges will await me. I am looking forward to staying in touch with teachers around the world for encouragement. I am filled with hope at the whole concept of idea sharing on the internet. I could go on and on so I'll close.
I appreciate the struggles and successes of these teachers. They are informative and inspiring. To Mr. Chamberlain I thank you for making your thoughts available to me and others. We may just become better educators as a result.
Mr. Chamberlain's Blog
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
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
My Timeline
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Blog Post Assignment 3
In reading a post by Karl Fisch on his blog, The Fischbowl, I gained some insight into the reason he believes that educators should be technologically literate. His writing in this post seems to be rather frank. He is stating that educators should not be allowed to be technologically illiterate and stay employed. He says that students deserve better than to be taught by educators that are not willing to learn to keep up with the material media they are teaching. If technology is to be a part of the future of educating our children then his statements certainly have a ring of truth about them.
I will quote a statement Mr. Fisch makes that summarizes his point of view on the topic:
"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write."
He has a point. You can link to his blog here and read it if you like:
http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-it-okay-to-be-technologically.html
I also watched the video below:
While I was watching the beginning of this video I recalled so many hours I have spent in lecture halls just like the one there. I have waited on the professor to write out a word, waited for him to repeat phrases over and over so everyone can copy what he's saying until their hands are cramping. I hated it. Class settings like that really make getting an education more like a chore than a learning experience. If it were a flow chart it might look like this:
Spend 1000 dollars on tuition and a book---->Show up for Class---->Listen to Professor Tell you facts---->Write them down---->Memorize as many as you can---->Take Test---->Forget it all (Oh, and hope you can sell the book for half of what you paid for it).
What are we paying for? Now that I am a sophomore in College I am mostly relieved that many of the prerequisites have been met for my undergraduate studies. There are a few left to trudge through. I hope my children don't face the same experience I have had. Increasing cost for college does not yield increasing value. I only hope that my graduate classes being more specialized will be more interesting.
I read a post by Kelly Hines on the Edurati Review website: http://eduratireview.com/2009/04/its-not-about-technology.html/
In her post she talks about how technology alone is not the solution to our current educational system's problems. Mrs. Hines says we need to change the whole thing. She discusses four major points in her post.
First she says that teachers need to continue to be "learners". She says they need to be self motivated and go above and beyond what is required of them by their employers. She has a good point here. What person in any profession with no enthusiasm for what they do can really excel at it? And don't our students deserve teachers that are enthusiastic? I feel that they do. My kids have had several teachers and we have been blessed with a few that are really great at what they do. Those were some of the best years for my kids in school. When their teacher is excited about getting them to learn they get excited about it too.
Second Mrs. Hines says that Learning and teaching are not the same. She declares that if learning hasn't occurred then teaching hasn't either. This I also agree with. If a contractor is hired to fix my electricity and comes to my house and works on my wires without fixing it, did he do his job? Nope. He sure wouldn't get my money.
The third point she makes is that technology is wasted with out good teaching. I can attest to this. I have been in EDM 310 for three weeks and have finally learned to use my computer! I am really excited about this. Just watching videos and reading articles like Kelly Hines' I have learned things about teaching that have me excited about my future career.
Finally she says that teachers of the 21st century need to first be able to teach important skills without relying on technology. One such skill she addresses is critical thinking. In a world that is more competitive every day with a rapidly changing political climate critical thinking skills are so important. People have so much information to process on a daily basis. In order to be a participant in our global community critical thinking is vital. With out critical thinking how can students make use of the great volumes of information available to them through technology?
The article by Mrs. Hines is worth taking the time to read. I hope that this movement towards improving education continues to gain momentum.
In looking at the figures below, I am definitely convinced that our future educators are going to have to learn to use technology in order to keep up with students. It isn't a bad thing. When I was little you had to have an expensive collection of encyclopedias to do a research project at home. And even if you had them, the material became outdated with no way of refreshing it. Now all information is available in all types of formats to suit all types of learners. It is awesome.
I will quote a statement Mr. Fisch makes that summarizes his point of view on the topic:
"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write."
He has a point. You can link to his blog here and read it if you like:
http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-it-okay-to-be-technologically.html
I also watched the video below:
While I was watching the beginning of this video I recalled so many hours I have spent in lecture halls just like the one there. I have waited on the professor to write out a word, waited for him to repeat phrases over and over so everyone can copy what he's saying until their hands are cramping. I hated it. Class settings like that really make getting an education more like a chore than a learning experience. If it were a flow chart it might look like this:
Spend 1000 dollars on tuition and a book---->Show up for Class---->Listen to Professor Tell you facts---->Write them down---->Memorize as many as you can---->Take Test---->Forget it all (Oh, and hope you can sell the book for half of what you paid for it).
What are we paying for? Now that I am a sophomore in College I am mostly relieved that many of the prerequisites have been met for my undergraduate studies. There are a few left to trudge through. I hope my children don't face the same experience I have had. Increasing cost for college does not yield increasing value. I only hope that my graduate classes being more specialized will be more interesting.
I read a post by Kelly Hines on the Edurati Review website: http://eduratireview.com/2009/04/its-not-about-technology.html/
In her post she talks about how technology alone is not the solution to our current educational system's problems. Mrs. Hines says we need to change the whole thing. She discusses four major points in her post.
First she says that teachers need to continue to be "learners". She says they need to be self motivated and go above and beyond what is required of them by their employers. She has a good point here. What person in any profession with no enthusiasm for what they do can really excel at it? And don't our students deserve teachers that are enthusiastic? I feel that they do. My kids have had several teachers and we have been blessed with a few that are really great at what they do. Those were some of the best years for my kids in school. When their teacher is excited about getting them to learn they get excited about it too.
Second Mrs. Hines says that Learning and teaching are not the same. She declares that if learning hasn't occurred then teaching hasn't either. This I also agree with. If a contractor is hired to fix my electricity and comes to my house and works on my wires without fixing it, did he do his job? Nope. He sure wouldn't get my money.
The third point she makes is that technology is wasted with out good teaching. I can attest to this. I have been in EDM 310 for three weeks and have finally learned to use my computer! I am really excited about this. Just watching videos and reading articles like Kelly Hines' I have learned things about teaching that have me excited about my future career.
Finally she says that teachers of the 21st century need to first be able to teach important skills without relying on technology. One such skill she addresses is critical thinking. In a world that is more competitive every day with a rapidly changing political climate critical thinking skills are so important. People have so much information to process on a daily basis. In order to be a participant in our global community critical thinking is vital. With out critical thinking how can students make use of the great volumes of information available to them through technology?
The article by Mrs. Hines is worth taking the time to read. I hope that this movement towards improving education continues to gain momentum.
In looking at the figures below, I am definitely convinced that our future educators are going to have to learn to use technology in order to keep up with students. It isn't a bad thing. When I was little you had to have an expensive collection of encyclopedias to do a research project at home. And even if you had them, the material became outdated with no way of refreshing it. Now all information is available in all types of formats to suit all types of learners. It is awesome.
Project 3
Last week I visited Mr. Scott Kemp's blog, The Radical Tactical Shift, and read his post concerning the preparedness of our teachers. He asks the question "What does it mean to be a prepared teacher?" I commented that I felt to be a prepared teacher one must keep an open mind and be ready to learn new ways of teaching and not get set in their ways regarding what types of format information is presented to students in. Of course I am not a teacher yet and am sure that many challenges they face are difficult to take on. I know it must take great dedication on the part of teachers to handle the daily difficulties and keep their eye on the goal. Mr. Kemp ends his post with a question: "Are we ready?" I think we have a responsibility to the future generations to make sure that we are.
I visited Mr. Kemp's blog again today, and the post I read told of conversations. Talking about education between educators. It seems that Mr. Kemp is feeling frustrated at the lack of change regarding education. His post says to me that he is ready to see an education revolution and is disappointed that he hasn't yet. He is wondering about his role in all of it as well. It seems to me that people like Mr. Kemp who are so willing and ready to do their part to facilitate growth and improvement in the field of education are too often not allowed to put into action some of their ideas. What is stopping them? The system? Resistance from others who are not willing to change? I truly hope that teachers with enthusiasm for their jobs will begin to find ways to put it to use before it burns out. It saddens me to see educators questioning themselves when they are trying so hard.
I left a comment of encouragement for Mr. Kemp. I hope that my few words give him encouragement, if only a little.
Scott Kemp's blog adress: http://mrkemp.tumblr.com/
I visited Mr. Kemp's blog again today, and the post I read told of conversations. Talking about education between educators. It seems that Mr. Kemp is feeling frustrated at the lack of change regarding education. His post says to me that he is ready to see an education revolution and is disappointed that he hasn't yet. He is wondering about his role in all of it as well. It seems to me that people like Mr. Kemp who are so willing and ready to do their part to facilitate growth and improvement in the field of education are too often not allowed to put into action some of their ideas. What is stopping them? The system? Resistance from others who are not willing to change? I truly hope that teachers with enthusiasm for their jobs will begin to find ways to put it to use before it burns out. It saddens me to see educators questioning themselves when they are trying so hard.
I left a comment of encouragement for Mr. Kemp. I hope that my few words give him encouragement, if only a little.
Scott Kemp's blog adress: http://mrkemp.tumblr.com/
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Blog Assignment 2
I recently watched a video about a teacher named Vicki Davis. This teacher is really in tune with her class. It appears that she is doing something new and it is working. By allowing the students to use the web to access information under her guidance she is not only teaching them the material but is also showing them how easy it is to discover answers using technology. There is no doubt in my mind that the future generations will be working more and more with technology. By using computers in the classroom students are not only utilizing an instrument that can help them learn the most recent material but they are also using tools they will need to know how to use in order to work and function in the world in general.
I also visited Laura Scott's blog (http://scottlauraedm310.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-assignment-12.html) and followed the link to a post about U.S. students in comparison to students from Finland (http://blogs.scholastic.com/kidspress/2010/09/breaking-creative-myths.html). According to the post by Cecilia Gault, a very young reporter from Finland, Finland's students appear to have a notable edge over students from the United States. It is indicated by the interview Miss Gault conducted with Sir Ken Robinson on how education needs to change for the better. It states that the United States would benefit from integrating more technology into the education of American children.
Robinson says that there are myths regarding creativity that prevent children's true capabilities from being recognized. I took away from the interview the idea that people each have something unique about them that indicates which area that they are gifted in. He suggests nurturing their strengths would foster a development of the individual child. I think that this is a superb notion. How great would it be for me to never hear my own child say "I'm just dumb.." when he isn't able to do school work with the ease of one of his classmates. These unfortunate words have actually come out of my own child's mouth when he felt he wasn't as good at a subject as he felt he should be. I struggled with him through kindergarten and first grade. His teacher would tell me things like "By the end of the semester if he hasn't gotten to this many words per minute he will be behind.." or "He just isn't paying attention." It is frustrating for me as a parent and for teachers as well to jump through the hoops our school system sets up for them. Gabriel, my son, loves to draw. He has literally hundreds of drawings that he compiles into story books. I love to encourage him in this and watching this video has given me some ideas about incorporating things he is learning in school into his "stories". He has infinite patience when drawing. The interview is very worth watching!
More on Robinson can be seen in his video where he discusses how creativity is discouraged in our schools.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html.
The video is of a talk given by speaker Ken Robinson on how children are taught in a single format, primarily, with the focus being on academics. Robinson goes on to discuss particular scenarios when children were given the opportunity to develop their given talents and flourished, really reaching their potential.
He also discusses the idea that our current system of teaching may not only be failing to introduce children to the entire realm of what their potential may be, but even be discouraging them from seeking to expand on their talents and dreams. This video opened my mind to several concepts that I had not previously considered. I found it very informative and recommend watching it to anyone in the education field and even parents.
Following are some youtube videos that elaborate more on the current state of education and the world in regards to technology:
Doesn't this movie speak to what kids are facing in schools? I have taken lecture classes and know exactly how the students this film is referring to feel. The sad thing about it is that much of what our children are learning can be presented in a fun and exciting format. It takes collaboration of many to pool the best ideas. These ideas can then be transformed (with adequate support) into methods for teaching the "same old stuff" that are new and exciting.
The journey of learning can be taken sleeping or awake. Let's not bore our kids to death, just trying to get through one lesson to the next, all with our eyes on the clock just waiting for the bell so real exciting life can begin. Let's bring real excitement into the classroom. Changes for the better require enthusiasm and commitment on the part of our Nation's teachers. I hope to bring that to my students when I get my first job, and keep it with me until the end of my career. I truly hope that when the bell rings it will seem like the day flew by because my students were all engaged mentally in the game of learning.
Wow. This video was very enlightening. I have spent the past 10 years of my life skirting technology and only dipping into the pool of resources on my own equipment when I had to in order to send a message or complete a task. I usually get pulled into using some new gadget due to the need to complete a specified task. After watching this video (and starting my EDM310 class) I am beginning to realize that if I don't get on board with technology and keep myself informed, I will certainly become obsolete in the teaching field.
enlightening in regards to the data about children in India and China. While the United States has been steadily falling behind over the last several decades academically it would appear that other countries haven't been wasting any time. It is definitely a wake up call for the United States.
All of these blogs and videos have a common theme. Educators and educational institutions need to be ready for change or left behind.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Blog Assignment 1
About Me
I am Pamela Todd. I live on the Gulf Coast in the beautiful state of Alabama. I have spent most of my life here in Alabama and love it dearly. I am 31 years old and have been married to Adam Todd for 13 wonderful years. We met in the 9th grade and have been best friends ever since. We have two sons. Our oldest, Samuel, is 11 and our youngest, Gabriel, is 7. They are a constant source of entertainment and inspiration to myself and my husband!
I am an education major at the University of South Alabama. I also own a grooming salon in Mobile which I operate full time with my sister. After I graduate I hope to get a job as a special education teacher. My mother has taught special education for over 30 years and she is my inspiration for wanting to become a special education teacher. I remember being in her room as a child and watching her teach kids simple skills that changed their lives for the better and helped them to feel a sense of joy and accomplishment.
I enjoy being outside. I love boating, beach combing, hiking, reading, writing, and being creative in any way. I desire to grow as an individual through knowledge and try to never feel like I have it all figured out. I like to write poems. I have had two poems which I wrote in high school published and would love to add to that some day by compiling a collection of my poems.
I am Pamela Todd. I live on the Gulf Coast in the beautiful state of Alabama. I have spent most of my life here in Alabama and love it dearly. I am 31 years old and have been married to Adam Todd for 13 wonderful years. We met in the 9th grade and have been best friends ever since. We have two sons. Our oldest, Samuel, is 11 and our youngest, Gabriel, is 7. They are a constant source of entertainment and inspiration to myself and my husband!
I am an education major at the University of South Alabama. I also own a grooming salon in Mobile which I operate full time with my sister. After I graduate I hope to get a job as a special education teacher. My mother has taught special education for over 30 years and she is my inspiration for wanting to become a special education teacher. I remember being in her room as a child and watching her teach kids simple skills that changed their lives for the better and helped them to feel a sense of joy and accomplishment.
I enjoy being outside. I love boating, beach combing, hiking, reading, writing, and being creative in any way. I desire to grow as an individual through knowledge and try to never feel like I have it all figured out. I like to write poems. I have had two poems which I wrote in high school published and would love to add to that some day by compiling a collection of my poems.
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