Sunday, October 23, 2011
Blog Post # 9
At the End of Teaching 2009 – 2010
As a teacher we are never done learning. I think Mr. McLung can relate to this. During the year 2009 to 2010 he went from having to teach 6th grade to 8th grade. He said that he had to take on a new way of teaching. Eighth graders have more independence and have to be treated more like adults. He also had to teach new curriculum for history and science. He felt that he was successful when teaching science but had some difficulty with history. He had to do research to find how to make history current and fun. He also didn’t want his classroom discussions to be as scripted, the way most teachers try to plan them. He then faced the problem of kids not being able to state their thoughts. This means that Mr. McLung had to find a new way of teaching information. He doesn’t want his students thinking that that have to name a right answer, but that they can express their own opinion.
He gives advice to teachers who are new, that you should get to know the “school moms.” He says these are women that have been involved with the school for a long time and are helpful. Being a teacher is not an easy job. You have to give lectures everyday and are an influence to your audience. For this reason we must stay humble. Also we must present topics in an enthusiastic manner even if isn’t something we find to be interesting. We have to stay focused and not get caught up in control. At all times we must keep in mind what is most important. We want to give our students everything we have to offer. He had a successful year where he has learned many things about what it takes to be a great teacher. His journey is complete though as he realizes there is still a lot to learn!
At the End of Teaching 2010- 2011
This year would be his first to continue on at the same school for longer than one year. Once again he is not done learning and has gained a lot from the 2010 to 2011 school year. Teachers must always remember that the main focus of learning is the students. It is easy to get side tracked pleasing everyone, but our primary concern should be kids. Maintaining a positive attitude is important. Some ideas may be presented that you are fond of and others may not be. In this case you not let the lack of excitement from others effect you. We need to be aware of how much work we are doing for the student. If the student isn’t doing the work then they are not learning. Even if the work is difficult we must not do it for the student. “This means that our students will struggle a little bit in the front end but it will help them excel in the end game.” I’m sure that may teachers who have been teaching the same subject matter for a while have the tendency to get “comfortable.” He has found it helpful to join committees and picking up new tasks so that he doesn’t get caught in a routine. Getting comfortable can cause a lack of motivation. He believes education should be willing to exceed the eight to three work hours.
In such a short time Mr. McLung has learned so much. Every here he is picking up new skills that will benefit his students. He sets a good example for upcoming teachers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Blog Post #8
Richard Miller: This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2
Dr. Miller starts out by talking about books. They are very common and as he grew up he was surrounded by books. He one day hoped to have career involving books. Today we work less with pencil and paper and more with our laptops. Mostly are workspace consist desk top. You can access so much information from the web and can do assignments without ever having to step into a library. The computer makes it easier to collaborate with others and share information infinitely. Not only can you share text, but your can work with images and video. Dr. Miller was able to put together a document with sound text and visuals. This is possible because of the internet.
The information you can find on the internet is limitless. It is updated instantly. There is a great amount of academic lectures and information that can be accessed. To be a successful educator we need to be willing and able to share ideas. Using the internet you can share your ideas not only with the students in your classroom, you can share ideas with people around the world.
The web applications that were shown in this video were impressive. The way his videos were put together was appealing and helped keep my interest the entire time. He is very knowledgeable about the possibilities of technology. Technology allows us to demonstrate and share our dreams. You can use technology to help visualize the ideas you may have. In conclusion we as teachers need to increase our use of the web to make our ideas more clear and so that can reach a larger audience.
Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh
The introduction into this post was different. It did get your attention which I thought was good. Carly has good ideas that are similar to the ideas of Dr. Miller. Her idea is to use YouTube and create a playlist with videos all on topics about what kind of teacher you will be in the future. Dr. Miller also likes the idea of using technology to express your thoughts. Carly made her own playlist which I thought was well put together. She included links in her description of what she wanted to do which enhanced her blog post. Both Carly and Dr. Miller explain that they find visuals to be useful. I can agree that visuals can help you understand after reading someone else’s thoughts more clearly.
The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies
These videos were very entertaining. It is interesting to see the videos people have made from previous classes. We all know that edm310 can be overwhelming at times, however it is important to remember we are gaining a lot from it. I have been stressed with this class and it is good to see I’m not alone. The people who put together these videos looked like they enjoyed it. I would like to create a video similar to edm310 for dummies but maybe more like a survival guide to edm310. I think that would be fun to create so that next group of students could see.
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
Education was ranked number 55 by the U.S. Department of Commerce based on IT intensiveness. Kids are using social media, communication, texting, and social networking everyday which is banned in schools. They are getting more outside of school than inside school. I like the man who talks about children living in a different space. It is like their own zone where they can update facebook, get on twitter, reflect, and research. This is where a student isn’t pressured and a wonderful place for students to learn. Teachers and students need to make global connections. We need to start expanding our way of learning, and keep from being stuck inside the classroom. Students can learn more about collaborating and finding information rather than memorizing material. We need to get on board with 21st century learning. Standardized testing isn’t the way we should measure a student’s knowledge. In their future careers students won’t have to have a right answer. They will need to be able to work with context and work as a team with others. Technology is a way where we can make a change in education so that we no longer fall behind and in fact can stay ahead.
Dr. Miller starts out by talking about books. They are very common and as he grew up he was surrounded by books. He one day hoped to have career involving books. Today we work less with pencil and paper and more with our laptops. Mostly are workspace consist desk top. You can access so much information from the web and can do assignments without ever having to step into a library. The computer makes it easier to collaborate with others and share information infinitely. Not only can you share text, but your can work with images and video. Dr. Miller was able to put together a document with sound text and visuals. This is possible because of the internet.
The information you can find on the internet is limitless. It is updated instantly. There is a great amount of academic lectures and information that can be accessed. To be a successful educator we need to be willing and able to share ideas. Using the internet you can share your ideas not only with the students in your classroom, you can share ideas with people around the world.
The web applications that were shown in this video were impressive. The way his videos were put together was appealing and helped keep my interest the entire time. He is very knowledgeable about the possibilities of technology. Technology allows us to demonstrate and share our dreams. You can use technology to help visualize the ideas you may have. In conclusion we as teachers need to increase our use of the web to make our ideas more clear and so that can reach a larger audience.
Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh
The introduction into this post was different. It did get your attention which I thought was good. Carly has good ideas that are similar to the ideas of Dr. Miller. Her idea is to use YouTube and create a playlist with videos all on topics about what kind of teacher you will be in the future. Dr. Miller also likes the idea of using technology to express your thoughts. Carly made her own playlist which I thought was well put together. She included links in her description of what she wanted to do which enhanced her blog post. Both Carly and Dr. Miller explain that they find visuals to be useful. I can agree that visuals can help you understand after reading someone else’s thoughts more clearly.
The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies
These videos were very entertaining. It is interesting to see the videos people have made from previous classes. We all know that edm310 can be overwhelming at times, however it is important to remember we are gaining a lot from it. I have been stressed with this class and it is good to see I’m not alone. The people who put together these videos looked like they enjoyed it. I would like to create a video similar to edm310 for dummies but maybe more like a survival guide to edm310. I think that would be fun to create so that next group of students could see.
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
Education was ranked number 55 by the U.S. Department of Commerce based on IT intensiveness. Kids are using social media, communication, texting, and social networking everyday which is banned in schools. They are getting more outside of school than inside school. I like the man who talks about children living in a different space. It is like their own zone where they can update facebook, get on twitter, reflect, and research. This is where a student isn’t pressured and a wonderful place for students to learn. Teachers and students need to make global connections. We need to start expanding our way of learning, and keep from being stuck inside the classroom. Students can learn more about collaborating and finding information rather than memorizing material. We need to get on board with 21st century learning. Standardized testing isn’t the way we should measure a student’s knowledge. In their future careers students won’t have to have a right answer. They will need to be able to work with context and work as a team with others. Technology is a way where we can make a change in education so that we no longer fall behind and in fact can stay ahead.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Project #10- PLN Progress Report
For my PLN I am using the website symbaloo. This is one of the most convenient and useful websites I have ever seen before. With symbaloo I am able to create a page with the links to every site that I use frequently. Everything I need is all on one page and easily accessed. I have always done better in school when I am organized and symbaloo makes it very easy to stay organized. Not only do you have and icon for every site that you would like but you can group them in categories. You can select what color you would like for each one also. I have really enjoyed symbaloo so far and I am excited to continue doing so!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Blog Post #7
Randy Pausch’s introduction was very shocking but inspiring. He is being faced with something very tragic and yet he has such a positive outlook. I really liked his saying “We can not change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” He seems like a very outgoing and nice guy. I think he has a great sense of humor and does a great job of giving a presentation. He chose such a great topic to talk about. Some of these things we have heard before, but I think they sink in more when you hear them from someone in his condition.
It is so amazing that e was able to accomplish his first childhood dream by being in zero gravity. His idea of learning more from the dreams that he didn’t accomplish really caught my attention. He said that a football coach would always drill him really hard because he was messing up. An observer pointed out to him that this was a good thing. When someone is taking the time to correct you on your mistakes that mean they haven’t given up on you. This stood out to me and I think it is important for anyone who feels like they are constantly being corrected to keep this in mind. Another wonderful quote came from this section, “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”
Pausch was a motivated person from a very young age. Not many kids go to Disney Land and think about creating the rides and other things rather than just enjoying it. Even though Disney denied him of a job at first he still continued to pursue Disney for a career. This paid off for him.
Not only has he accomplished his childhood dreams he has become a professor where he can help others to reach their dreams. The advice he was given by a friend was well given. If you don’t know where to set the bar for your class don’t do the students a disservice by putting it anywhere. You should continue to pus the students forward by asking for more.
Randy Pausch has accomplished a lot during his life. Unfortunately his life was cut short. I think he has so much to be proud of and people will still continue to learn from him. He was able to meet so many successful people and lead others to success. I am pleased that I was able to view this video and will spread the word to others. He has taught me so much as to what are the important duties of being a teacher.
It is so amazing that e was able to accomplish his first childhood dream by being in zero gravity. His idea of learning more from the dreams that he didn’t accomplish really caught my attention. He said that a football coach would always drill him really hard because he was messing up. An observer pointed out to him that this was a good thing. When someone is taking the time to correct you on your mistakes that mean they haven’t given up on you. This stood out to me and I think it is important for anyone who feels like they are constantly being corrected to keep this in mind. Another wonderful quote came from this section, “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”
Pausch was a motivated person from a very young age. Not many kids go to Disney Land and think about creating the rides and other things rather than just enjoying it. Even though Disney denied him of a job at first he still continued to pursue Disney for a career. This paid off for him.
Not only has he accomplished his childhood dreams he has become a professor where he can help others to reach their dreams. The advice he was given by a friend was well given. If you don’t know where to set the bar for your class don’t do the students a disservice by putting it anywhere. You should continue to pus the students forward by asking for more.
Randy Pausch has accomplished a lot during his life. Unfortunately his life was cut short. I think he has so much to be proud of and people will still continue to learn from him. He was able to meet so many successful people and lead others to success. I am pleased that I was able to view this video and will spread the word to others. He has taught me so much as to what are the important duties of being a teacher.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
C4T #2
Learning with ‘e’s
1.) Business Games
This post discussed the topic of sharing information freely. Since teachers share their information with one another, is it smart for a business to do so? If a business were to give out there information this could be risky because the business world is very competitive. A business could lose income. I don’t think this is the same in the teaching world. So much improvement needs to be made in education and it would be beneficial to access the ideas of other teachers. By sharing your ideas as a teacher you are helping out so many others. If we all keep are ideas to our self, how will we ever see changes in education? For a business it is wise to give out a cheap version of their product for potential users to sample and sell the updated version for a steeper price. These way potential buyers can use a sample of the product before making a large purchase and companies aren’t losing income. Also each company has an idea of what the other one is doing.
2.) In the Same Boat
As teachers we are all “in the same boat.” While this can be comforting, it is an issue. There are changes that need to be made in our education system. People can me be hesitant to change and it is hard to get the message across to such a large crowd. In this post the topic of making a change globally in education was discussed. Technology offers so much to people who are willing to learn. Information on the web can be overwhelming at times. Even if we can not attain all the information provided from the internet, we can learn more than we would from one text book. Having students use technology, such as the Japanese schools did stated in the post, can allow a student to use many skills. This is also intriguing to the student and keeps them focused. If we want to see change than it is up to each individual to do so, as said in the final remark. We can start making changes little by little till eventually we all “row in the same direction.”
1.) Business Games
This post discussed the topic of sharing information freely. Since teachers share their information with one another, is it smart for a business to do so? If a business were to give out there information this could be risky because the business world is very competitive. A business could lose income. I don’t think this is the same in the teaching world. So much improvement needs to be made in education and it would be beneficial to access the ideas of other teachers. By sharing your ideas as a teacher you are helping out so many others. If we all keep are ideas to our self, how will we ever see changes in education? For a business it is wise to give out a cheap version of their product for potential users to sample and sell the updated version for a steeper price. These way potential buyers can use a sample of the product before making a large purchase and companies aren’t losing income. Also each company has an idea of what the other one is doing.
2.) In the Same Boat
As teachers we are all “in the same boat.” While this can be comforting, it is an issue. There are changes that need to be made in our education system. People can me be hesitant to change and it is hard to get the message across to such a large crowd. In this post the topic of making a change globally in education was discussed. Technology offers so much to people who are willing to learn. Information on the web can be overwhelming at times. Even if we can not attain all the information provided from the internet, we can learn more than we would from one text book. Having students use technology, such as the Japanese schools did stated in the post, can allow a student to use many skills. This is also intriguing to the student and keeps them focused. If we want to see change than it is up to each individual to do so, as said in the final remark. We can start making changes little by little till eventually we all “row in the same direction.”
Sunday, October 2, 2011
C4K Summary Post (September)
C4K #1
My comment was to Kaylee who wrote a biopoem about herself. We had some things in common. We both consider ourselves to be fun, loving, and athletic. Kaylee had goals that she set for herself that I hope she will reach. She knew exactly where she wanted to attend college and that she wants to own her own vet clinic in Colorado. She loves the summer and to read. She seems like a very motivated child and I hope she continues forward on the right track. I think Kaylee has a bright future ahead of her.
C4K #2
This video was called “First Day Success.” This classroom of students were given iPads and learned how to do some neat things on them. In my comment I told the students they should feel very privileged to have this opportunity. I also said that hey first day would not be the only successful day.
C4K #3
I had to leave a comment on a video from the students of St. Elmo. In the video each kid held a picture up of themselves and stated something that they had in common with the rest of the students from their class. They also each named a fact about themselves that made them different from every other student. I enjoyed the video and thought this was unique. Students learn that they all have something in common with each other, but they are also unique individuals. Each characteristic, the common and different one, made each student special.
C4K #4
In this post Kali posted the top 5 places she would recommend to visit. She chose some very neat places including: Empire State Building, Figge Art Museum, Capitol Reef National Park, 2010 Olympic Stadium, and West Edmonton Mall. I have never been able to visit any of these places. She also asked for recommendations in a response to her post, therefore I suggested three places. I suggested Dubai, San Alfonso Del Mar and the Eiffel Tower. Dubai is the holder of the tallest building in the world. San Alfonso Del Mar has the world’s biggest pool. The Eiffel Tower just has a one of a kind view. I hope one day both Kali and I get to visit these places.
My comment was to Kaylee who wrote a biopoem about herself. We had some things in common. We both consider ourselves to be fun, loving, and athletic. Kaylee had goals that she set for herself that I hope she will reach. She knew exactly where she wanted to attend college and that she wants to own her own vet clinic in Colorado. She loves the summer and to read. She seems like a very motivated child and I hope she continues forward on the right track. I think Kaylee has a bright future ahead of her.
C4K #2
This video was called “First Day Success.” This classroom of students were given iPads and learned how to do some neat things on them. In my comment I told the students they should feel very privileged to have this opportunity. I also said that hey first day would not be the only successful day.
C4K #3
I had to leave a comment on a video from the students of St. Elmo. In the video each kid held a picture up of themselves and stated something that they had in common with the rest of the students from their class. They also each named a fact about themselves that made them different from every other student. I enjoyed the video and thought this was unique. Students learn that they all have something in common with each other, but they are also unique individuals. Each characteristic, the common and different one, made each student special.
C4K #4
In this post Kali posted the top 5 places she would recommend to visit. She chose some very neat places including: Empire State Building, Figge Art Museum, Capitol Reef National Park, 2010 Olympic Stadium, and West Edmonton Mall. I have never been able to visit any of these places. She also asked for recommendations in a response to her post, therefore I suggested three places. I suggested Dubai, San Alfonso Del Mar and the Eiffel Tower. Dubai is the holder of the tallest building in the world. San Alfonso Del Mar has the world’s biggest pool. The Eiffel Tower just has a one of a kind view. I hope one day both Kali and I get to visit these places.
Blog Assignment #6
The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
This video shows a networked student who is getting a lot from using the internet. He is able to find out information on different topics, see other people’s ideas, and post his own ideas for others to see. All of these things he is able to do on a computer at any time. "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" A student can find a large amount of information on the internet. A teacher has to guide a student so that they can determine what information is credible and realize that blogs are mainly people’s opinions and not cold hard facts. Students learn from a teacher how to use all the information they are given to form their own opinion. A teacher guides a student and shows them how to properly find information and respectfully gain help from experts. A mountain of information is not useful to the student if they do not know how to organize and interpret it properly. I think I am ready for a “networked student.” I know that I can still increase my knowledge of using the internet, so that I can be more beneficial to students in the future.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
This video was very impressive. I was shocked that this was done by a student in the seventh grade. This student knows how to navigate through the internet very well. I looked up the page symbaloo thanks to her and I am creating my own. All her information that she found was very well organized. She used websites that I hadn’t heard of. The note taking program she used seemed like it would be helpful to many students. It keeps track of information and where you got it from. I learned things from this video that I will probably start using.
This video shows a networked student who is getting a lot from using the internet. He is able to find out information on different topics, see other people’s ideas, and post his own ideas for others to see. All of these things he is able to do on a computer at any time. "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" A student can find a large amount of information on the internet. A teacher has to guide a student so that they can determine what information is credible and realize that blogs are mainly people’s opinions and not cold hard facts. Students learn from a teacher how to use all the information they are given to form their own opinion. A teacher guides a student and shows them how to properly find information and respectfully gain help from experts. A mountain of information is not useful to the student if they do not know how to organize and interpret it properly. I think I am ready for a “networked student.” I know that I can still increase my knowledge of using the internet, so that I can be more beneficial to students in the future.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
This video was very impressive. I was shocked that this was done by a student in the seventh grade. This student knows how to navigate through the internet very well. I looked up the page symbaloo thanks to her and I am creating my own. All her information that she found was very well organized. She used websites that I hadn’t heard of. The note taking program she used seemed like it would be helpful to many students. It keeps track of information and where you got it from. I learned things from this video that I will probably start using.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)