Final Project!!

C4T Summary

For my final C4T I commented on Joe Bower’s blog. He updates his blog almost everyday, so I’ve had several different posts to choose from. The first week I read his blog entitled Redford’s Broken Promise? This post was about Alison Redford who was running in the 2011 Progressive Conservative Leadership Race. Joe voted for her because she promised to eliminate the 3rd and 6th grade Provincial Achievement Tests. This election was over six months ago and the tests are still there. He mentions holding up his end of the bargain by voting for her, but she has yet to abolish these tests. He makes a good point at the end of his post: “And if she doesn't and this is indeed a broken promise, what good are Alison Redford's promises in this new election?” I replied back with agreeing with what Redford said about these tests. They are too stressful on these students and they are not the best tools for determining these children’s performance. I was apologetic towards him for the lack of progress. I also agreed with him about her being filled with broken promises going into this new election.

This week Joe wrote a post about social networking. This post was called The Denial of Social Networking. This post is about blocking YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter from schools. People are under the impression that children come out of the womb knowing how to use all the different social sites. That is ignorant. Children have to learn how to use them just like everyone else. He makes a valid point about the repercussions of banning these sites: “If a school blocks YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, how are teachers suppose to learn about social networking? If a school blocks YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, how are teachers suppose to teach students how to use social networking appropriately? If a school blocks YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, how are teachers suppose to teach students how to NOT use social networking inappropriately?” Teachers can educate their kids on how to navigate these sites properly and responsibly. I responded with getting rid of these sites is going to do more harm than good. When children are told not to do something, they’re going to find a way to do it. They’re rebellious and curious. As teachers we should take advantage of the opportunity to teach them how to use these sites in a responsible manner.

Final PLN

For my PLN I used Symbaloo. I really liked how organized it was! It was convenient to just click on the website I wanted to go to. Safari already has a window that has all of your latest wesites that you have viewed, but not as the homepage. I made Symbaloo my homepage, so I was one click away from my desired website. It's nice to not have the hassle of typing the website into the browser. Another characteristic I have enjoyed about Symbaloo has been the fact that I can arrange my icons any way I please. All of my popular sites are on the right, and the ones I don't use as much are on my left. I will definitely encourage my students to use Symbaloo, or a website like it, when we are using the computers for projects, blogs, or podcasts. The great thing about it is that they can use it at home or at school!

Blog Assignment 13

E-Media Fast:
I started my 24-hour electronic restriction Friday night around 10 o’clock. The reason I started this late was because I went to the Shinedown concert and I knew I would need my phone/camera. It wasn’t as bad as I thought because I went to sleep when I got home and I was pretty busy all day Saturday with family events. However, it was rough not getting on FaceBook or taking pictures. Lucky for me, my mom is an amateur paparazzi and managed to take lots of photos. Another struggle for me was no television. I can’t go to sleep without the T.V. I wasn’t sure if this was cheating, but my boyfriend turned on his audio book of “The Hunger Games” and that’s how I fell asleep. Technically, it wasn’t me using the electronic device, just mooching off of someone else’s. Those were my only struggles. I kept my phone upstairs in my room while I spent the day with my family out on the boat, and I went to sleep around 9 o’clock on Saturday since we woke up at 5 o’clock in the morning to go fishing. I didn’t realize how dependent I was on electronic devices, until I couldn’t use them.

When I was in elementary school, I remember doing a no television challenge for a week. Your parents had to initial next to each day their child did not watch television. I completed the challenge, but mainly because parents wouldn’t let me watch T.V. If it were up to me, I would have given in the moment I got home from school. I hate to be a pessimist, but if I were to give my students this task today they would, more than likely, fail. I don’t know how children survive without their video games, cell phones, television, or MP3 players. Often times, parents encourage these electronics to keep their kids from acting up. Whatever happened to good ole fresh air and hard copy books? I would challenge my students to restrict themselves from a certain electronic device a week. Once they have successfully completed each task, I would have an optional assignment to restrict themselves from all electronics for 5 school days. Whoever completes this task would be rewarded with no homework for a week, or something along those lines. It’s not a bad idea to get them to resort to other forms of entertainments.

Project 15-- SMARTboard Presentation Part II

Creativity and Curiosity: My Thoughts-- Special Post #12A

     Dr. Strange asked us to come up with questions related to creativity, curiosity, and education. He got lots of great questions back, and I want to address them. I will be answering questions dealing with curiosity with students and how teachers can maintain that curiosity in the classroom, can a curriculum be developed to increase the creativity of students, and can other educators help out with getting children more curious.
     When asked the question: Do schools in the United States systematically destroy (or inhibit) the development of curiosity and/or creativity in students? If yes, why does that happen? If no, how do you counter the argument of Sir Ken Robinson that schools do undermine the development of creativity in students? No, I don’t think the schools prevent the children from being creative. Sure, there are rules they must follow that may not allow them to achieve their most creative ideas, but they can use their creativity to modify it and make it acceptable. Some kids don’t necessarily lack creativity; they’re just lazy. I struggle with this, myself. Almost all children are curious, and I don’t think the schools cripple them from wondering or prying.
     Can a curriculum be developed that increases the curiosity of students? If so, what would be the key components of such a curriculum? Teachers do everything they can to spark interest in their students. It takes a very creative educator to be able to target the interests of all their students and make them interested. Children would rather do anything than sit in a classroom. When I was in high school, my English teacher would take us outside and we would read. Sometimes that’s all students need—a little fresh air. As I’ve mentioned before, I think using games to get children involved is a great way to hold their interest and ignite their curiosity.
     Can a teacher's actions increase the curiosity of students? If so, what would be those actions? Absolutely! If I was to walk into my classroom with a box in my arms and I was be very protective of it, my students would definitely be curious. Inside that box could be their favorite math game, or a movie that could relate to our history lesson. It’s not so much what is in enclosed in the box, but the fact that I have a “surprise”. I could also “bribe” them with a surprise at the end of class if they behaved. That surprise could be 5 extra minutes of recess or homework passes. Children need incentives every now and then to hold their attention and keep them interested.
     What would help you become more creative? What role would teachers and/or schools have in that process? I think creativity is a gift and not everyone is blessed enough to have it. However, there are ways to apply new, creative ideas in the classroom. I also believe it is a group effort. There is always going to be a teacher that goes the extra mile and does have the creative juices flowing constantly. They can use this to their advantage and inform other teachers so they can get involved as well.
   These responses are my opinion, of course, but I appreciate the questions because it really got me thinking. I think teachers get too wrapped up in teaching the material, and don’t pay attention at whether or not the children understand it. We need to mix it up a bit and try new things. I’ve learned several different ways to hold the attention of my students. I just hope they wont be the only methods and I will continue to learn and/or create new ways to educate.

Progress Report for Final Project

Brooke, Jeanette, Shaun, and myself skyped Saturday morning at 11:30 and we'll be getting together on Thursday, April 26th, to finish everything up. We decided that we are going to teach a math lesson for kindergarten students. I have learned several different games in my HS class, and how to modify them for all ages. We are going incorporate the use of beanbags and hula hoops to help keep their interest. There are two different games we are going to play that will help the children with their math skills. You will have to stay tuned to see what the mystery games are!