Blog Assignment 5

Scott McLeod:

Dr. Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He is also the co-creator of a video series called Did You Know? (Shift Happens). Dr. McLeod is identified as one of the nation’s leading academic experts on school technology leadership issues for K-12. He and a colleague constructed the first graduate program to prepare “technology-savvy” school leaders. Dr. McLeod, also, blogs regularly about technology leadership issues.

I read his blog post: Don’t Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? There were several concerns I agreed with. However, it sounded, to me, like he is completely against children coming into contact with technology. He seemed very concerned with all the temptation that comes with it. I understand wanting the best for your children, but providing too much of a sheltered environment could do more harm than good. I think kids should be exposed to technology, in moderation. I will have privacy settings on my children’s computers and television sets, and there will come an age when they will need a cell phone. But, I am not going to keep them away from all of it because there’s a lot of good that comes with it, too.


Travis Allen:

First off, I am an Apple guru. I love and own all Apple products from an iPod to a MacBook Pro. With that being said, I LOVE the idea of incorporating the iSchool into the schools. It will provide connivance for students, educators, and parents. All of the children’s textbooks can be on their iTouch device, so they don’t have to haul heavy books back and forth to school. As a future teacher, I like being able to have access to my student’s records on my phone. Also, I REALLY like the idea of allowing the parents the opportunity to monitor their grades without the constant e-mail or parent/teacher conference. I hope the iSchool comes to life; it’s brilliant!

We would have to increase the privacy settings to ensure security to the children’s records. Being able to access my grade book on my phone worries me, only, because I don’t want it falling into the wrong hands. Also, I don’t want my kids constantly texting or facebooking during class when their supposed to be working on their reading assignment. I’m sure Travis has taken that into account and has a solution for it. I know I would like to be a member of Travis’ team!


Eric Whitacre:

Okay, that video was so neat! First off, how did he go about choosing those 185 singers? Secondly, I wish I could have been apart of it! They never rehearsed, and never met. That absolutely blows my mind. Throughout this semester we have learned about blogging, podcasts, and social networking. I would never have thought to use the Internet in this manner. It’s nice to expand the use of technology and not just focus on how we can use it the classroom, but how we can use it in general.


Kevin Roberts:

Kevin Roberts is spot on when he says teachers aren’t the main source for knowledge anymore. You can get online and google any question you want answered. As future teachers, we need to incorporate different activities our kids can’t learn on their own. I think we should use wordle, podcasts, and blogs to expand their learning resources. Roberts was right when he said we have to teach them about copyrighting, plagiarism, and slander. Those things will help them throughout their academic careers and their futures. Children also learn by actions. Through our actions we need to demonstrate integrity, honesty, responsibility and reliability. Teachers don’t just teach multiplication, conjunctions, and the scientific method. They teach characteristics that mold children into young adults.


Reading Rockets:

This website has SO many teaching tools. I really liked the blogs about reading. Dr. Meier had helpful tips for parents and teachers when teaching young readers. I also really enjoyed the reading book list. It had a variety of different books that would attract all children. They had a statement that read: Sometimes it just takes one wonderful book to turn a kid into a reader. —I concur! I could definitely use the classroom strategies, especially as a new teacher. Overall, I thought this website was a very beneficial learning/teaching tool for teachers, principals, parents, and students. Thanks, Anthony!

My Timeline

My Sentence Video

Blog Assignment 4

Langwitches 1st Graders Create Their Own Read-Along Audiobook:

First of all, I think this is the coolest thing! Teachers are always trying to find a way to get kids into reading, and this is perfect. I liked how she had a different noise when they were starting a new chapter. Some children have a tough time following along, and this gives them the opportunity to catch up without having to ask the teacher or a fellow peer. The children seemed to enjoy hearing themselves. She also mentioned they were experimenting with their voices. I talk very fast; hearing myself recorded could help me with my speed. I listened to the “Dinosaurs Before Dark” and the kids had so much character in their voices. Although, you can hear some kids were strictly reading, and not get into it as much as others. Nonetheless, I thought this was a wonderful idea and I would like to try it with my class, one day.

Langwitches Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting:

I was very impressed with these students and their ability to pronounce these words and names. Their fluency was remarkable and inspiring. There are 8 year-olds that have trouble with English, and these kids are speaking Hebrew! I also thought it was neat that they recorded themselves out of order and had to arrange the sentences to tell a story. They really had to listen to the different clips in order to make sense out of the jumbled sentences. I never thought about using a smart board in this manner, but I would like to try it! I would have my students speak Spanish and maybe tell the story of Don Quixote. It’s nice to expand children’s knowledge about other cultures and languages. It’s something new and exciting to them, and they clearly enjoyed this activity.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom by Joe Dale:

I didn’t realize how popular podcasting was. One of the benefits I saw was that students could see their reviews or lectures they might have missed while being out of school. Now, I don’t think there are many “Emily’s” out there, but they can watch the podcast to review the night before the test and their parent’s could help them understand the hazy parts. Podcasting also allows the children to be as creative as they want. It gives them the ability to really use their imagination while learning at the same time. One student mentioned that she liked how the videos are exciting and it makes the sound effects come to life. They are more entertained and the videos are holding their attention, rather than boring them. I will definitely use podcasting in my classroom.

Project #5

Blog Assignment 3

Peer Editing

Staying positive while editing another peers paper is key. In fact, staying positive while editing anyone's paper is important. We have to be careful not to offend anyone. It's always good to address the good things about one's paper before you critique it. I know sometimes when I write I tend to write down whatever I am feeling at the time. With that being said, I have to be careful with the flow of my writing. I want someone to bring my scattered thoughts to my attention so they aren't getting lost when they read my work.

When someone is editing your paper, be open to suggestions! We all need to care about our writings and not be a "Whatever William". Oh, and we certainly don't need to be a "Mean Margaret". We don't want to discourage anyone from writing. Not only will it upset them, but it might make them not want to write anymore in fear of being criticized too harshly. This video was very cute, and helpful. Sometimes I can be a "Defensive Dave"; I need to work on that.

Technology in Special Education:

Technology is everywhere. It makes thing easier, especially in the classroom. For instance, Corbin has trouble reading and understanding the text. However, the audio books on his iPod touch makes him able to understand what he is reading and learn the words. Sometimes a book doesn’t cut it. Other forms of technology that are beneficial to students, specifically special need students, are computers.

Chris couldn’t communicate verbally with his teacher, but with his computer, he was able to type his thoughts. Also, they make it easier for the kids to communicate and they can magnify the screen so it is easier for them to read. There are so many options on the computer that can help these kids. Yes, they are different and require more attention, but if there is way for learning to be easier on them, why not incorporate it into the classroom?


How the iPad Works with Academics for Autism:

After watching the video and searching for different educational apps, I decided on "ABC Food". No matter if the child is autistic or highly intelligent, they all get the concept of food. This app helps children learn the alphabet by relating it to every day foods. That's an easy way for mentally challenged children to grasp the concept of letters and sounds. It also helps with recognizing different types of foods from all over the world.


Gary Hayes Social Media Count:

It is wild to me how fast something is uploaded on the Internet. There are more than 20,000 items shared on FaceBook, there’s an hour of video uploaded to YouTube, over a thousand tweets, nearly a hundred iPhone apps downloaded, at least 100,000 text messages sent, and there is someone new joining FaceBook or Twitter every second. All of those things happen every second. How were people able to function without technology?

Our generation is also changing every second. We become more dependent on computers, iPods, phones, and television every day. Social media has taken over, but it makes life more manageable. People are able to video chat with their family members all over the world. We can send a picture electronically overseas. There are pro’s and con’s to social media, but for the most part it’s not so bad and very convenient.

A Vision of Students Today:

I really enjoyed this video. Money is a huge factor with education. Some kids can’t afford it. One of the thoughts stood out to me: My neighbor paid for this class, but is never here. Why would someone want to waste that kind of money? One student mentioned their laptop costing more than what some people make in a year and another student will be dealing with their student loans for many years to come. I think as young adults, we take advantage of school and don’t see it as an opportunity or privilege, but rather an obligation. We would rather being doing anything else, besides going to class.

Students today also spend entirely too much time on the social networks or watching television. I know I spend countless hours hour on FaceBook, Pinterest, Twitter, texting, and watching T.V. But those are the things that entertain us and hold our attention. Computers are beneficial in the school setting because you take notes faster and some computers are capable of recording lectures. However, you have to be careful because of all the tempting this that comes with the internet. It is very easy to get distracted. If I bring my laptop to class, I’ll more than likely be on FaceBook and not taking notes.

Blog Assignment 2

Did You Know? 3.0- A John Strange 2012 Version

Firstly, I was unaware that the 25% of the highest IQs in India is greater than the entire USA population. I like to think that America is the smartest nation, but that is not an accurate assumption. Considering that there are thousands of recognized intelligent people in America, they do not even come close to those of other countries. The majority of doctors, surgeons, and engineers are from other countries. It is proven that English is the hardest language to learn and according to the video, China’s population is on its way to mastering it. It is beneficial to be able to speak English because it is the “international language.”

The video mentioned the use of computers and how common they are in households today. It’s nearly impossible to function in today’s society without a computer or a form of connecting to the Internet. Computers are more affordable than they’ve ever been. I wasn’t aware there was so many YouTube videos uploaded a day. I guess everyone is so fixed on becoming e-famous they’ll upload anything. I text pretty frequently, so I believe the statistics dealing with text messages sent. Technology has come a long way since I’ve been in school. I can only imagine where it will go by the time I am teaching in my own classroom. It gives teachers more options on how to teach and find a method that fits the learning style of all students.


Mr. Winkle Wakes

Mr. Winkle must have been freaked out when he woke up from his slumber. As I mentioned earlier, technology has changed drastically over the years. Society has come a long way, too. I mean, we’re able to keep people alive with machines, we can print documents without being in the same room as the printer, and we have vehicles that can park themselves.

Some things will remain the same, with a few minor tweaks. School is school. You go to learn and interact with your peers. School teaches you things that you can’t, necessarily, learn at home. Sure, there can be different methods of teaching, but the overall concept of “school” will always be the same.


Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

Ken Robinson had some very good points. We, as future educators, are supposed to teach our students on things that will happen ten years from now. The truth of the matter is, we have no idea what the world will be like in ten years. I mean, every year Apple come out with a new and improved phone. I, personally, have no idea how they could get better, but every year they surprise me. Where will education be in ten years? Will they even need teachers or will there be one teacher on video teaching an entire school? Young children are so unpredictable. His story about his son in the nativity play made me giggle. Actually, several of his punch lines made me laugh. But his point was if children don’t know the answer or don’t remember their line, they would say whatever comes to their mad and just go for it.

My boyfriend has a Masters in Civil Engineering and when he graduated, he couldn’t find a job. Robinson mentioned degrees not being worth anything. In Robert’s case, he eventually found a job, but it was absurd to think that someone so qualified and had more than the required experience couldn’t land a job, especially in such a broad field. Robinson said back in the day that if you had a degree, you had a job. I wish that were still the case. Nowadays you have to go the extra mile to be considered or to outdo your competitor. Also, I think children are over-diagnosed with ADHD. Most of the time they’re just bored or uninterested, like Robinson’s friend. The girl just wanted/needed to dance!


A Vision for 21st Century Learning

Children these days know how to operate a computer better than I do. But they allow the children to start learning at an early age. The iPad has so many different intellectual games that help kids learn and keep them entertained. I’m amazed when I see my younger cousins going to certain folders on their iPad and loading a game. They will sit there for hours just playing away. Like they stated in the video, they don’t even know they are learning.

Society today is so dependent on technology; we have to find away to incorporate in every aspect of our lives. It is hard to hold the attention of a 5 year-old if you’re just preaching at them. Give them a computer, and they can learn and be fascinated all day. I’m not saying we should do away with the old school teaching methods, but I do believe we need to integrate the technological side, as well.


Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts

I agree with Vicki Davis when she says if you only focus on pen and paper, only certain children will learn. She introduces different digital forms of teaching. I like that she has the students teach and that she will use a term and they will immediately have access to look it up. It allows them to reach down into their creativity and let it shine. A blog is a simple way for a student to let their creative juices flow.

These kids take pride in their hard work. They can interact with students all around the world and learn about their culture. She is making learning more fun, and that’s what every students wants. This also prepares them for the future. For instance, if on e of the students wants to pursue a career in education and they have to take EDM 310; it’s going to be somewhat easier for them because they have already been introduced to the curriculum.