Final Post!!!

Final Report on My Personal Learning Network

This course has been an adventure. The first week I knew I was going to forget to do something. But thankfully, Dr. Strange shared the checklist which saved my life! I can rarely accomlpish something if it isn't organized. I enjoyed the projects and blog assignments, at least most of the time. Sometimes the videos required to watch seemed so long. Other times I shared the video with family because it was interseting. I previously used Symbaloo to explain my PLN progress report earlier in the semester. I still use Symbaloo! I have YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TimeToast, Screenr, ESPN, local weather, Amazon, Ebay, my blog and the class blog. My PLN is a time saver and it makes navigation simpler and more fun. My favorite part of the class was looking at the kid's blogs. Usually this was because they were short and sweet like, "Betty got a new bunny yesterday! I am going over to her house to see it!" Not only did it make commenting easy and fun, but it also brought back the simplicity of childhood!

Project 16

Project 7: Kid's Summary

For my C4K #8 I was assigned to look at Kale's blog. He drew the following picture and said "This is me as the Star Wars guy on Halloween." I left the following message for him: I love you picture! Did you do this in the Paint program? I hope you had a great time trikc-or-treating this year! I bet you scared a lot of little kids with your Star Wars outfit! Hope you got lots of candy, and your blog is really neat, too! Have a good day.

Comment 9 was for a boy named Brian. He left the following on his blog: "These native animals helped the natives very much because they hunted them for food. These animals live in landforms,climate and vegetation is a region effect to attract animals around them (birds and fish too.)The caribou,buffalo,moose and white tailed deer are the most common animals to hunt daily. Most are located in the middle of North America. In the winter time , the common animals flee away to hibernate. So they most likely hunt bears and foxes for the winter situation. They add salt on top to let them stay the same during all winter. After winter time is finished they eat the animals they saved and use the fur to sell. The natives mostly use all the leftovers so nothing goes to waste. For an example; they use the fur to sell or clothing, food to feed, teeth for weapons (claws too). The natives respected the environment so much because they use what they only need, they don’t let anything go to waste, wooden houses. After the natives respected the animal cycle also because the food was depending on their life and they assumed that the animals were letting themselves die. The animals were causing themselves to die as if they wanted to feed them on purpose. They created strong weapons to kill animals. There are some guns to kill but it is very expensive. They also use knives with animals teeth, attach a sharp rock to a stick to stab. The natives were very resourceful."

I left the following response: You have so much information on this post about animals! It’s all very informative and well written. Hunting is a little sad to me, but everyone has to live, right? I’m glad to hear that the Natives were being resourceful and logical about their targets.

My comment 10 for kids was on Brianna's blog. She posted the following: "Whenever I have a test I study the night before. I work out different problems from the book that are the same. I check the outcome of the problem in the back of the book. Another thing I do is ask as many questions as I can. I find that that’s the best way someone learns somthing. Then I write down all of the problems and how you solve them, if I asked them or not. In the end, all people learn in many ways but whatever you do to study as long as you put the effort into it then you are bound to learn something."

My response: I used to study math the same way. Some people say there is no way to study math, but I disagree! I would always try to look for similar problems in the book as we did in class. Then I’d work them and then view the answers in the back of the book.

Comment 11 was for Amy. She said: "Rocio is coming over to my house today for the first time! We are going to have so much fun. First, we are going to play with my kittens and dog. Next, we are going to play in the snow. Then we are going to ride the 4-wheelers around the yard, then on the trail. I am going to show her my secret fort. I cant say where it is. Then if we are lucky, I am going to ask my dad if he can take us to Camp Foster. To see my horses. The horses names are, Naddie and Miracle. They’re really fun horses. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST WEEKEND EVER!!!!!!!! :)"

And I left the following: Hi!! I bet you two had a great time! Were you able to go the Camp to see your horses? I used to have a cat but now I just have a dog named Nike! I live in Alabama so I wouldn't be able to go play in the snow at all over the year!

Project 3: Teacher's Summary

I was assigned to comment on Kelly Hines' blog titled Keeping Kids First. The following was her post: "Over the past few weeks, I have been disconnected from my regular PLN (Personal Learning Network). For reasons that are difficult to explain, I had to bow out of an online chat group that holds many of my dearest colleagues, friends and greatest professional supporters. I knew my disconnect would be temporary, and I knew that I would miss this interaction. What I didn’t know was what we would all learn from it.

I think I can sum up what I learned by saying “The value of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” This seems contrary to the traditional phrase of a similar nature, but seems to fit more along the lines of real life. Have you ever noticed that you can eat way more of those mini-candy bars than you would if it were just one regular sized one? It’s the same idea. When I left my online group, even knowing that it would be temporary, I left a parting note that I hoped to continue conversations with each member of the group. The dysfunction seemed, at that time, to fall within the lurking and misinterpretation of the group as a whole. From the moment that I posted that note and left the group, I was inundated with emails, messages and other forms of contact from the same people that I interacted with daily. I was still in contact with many of the same people that enriched my personal and professional life, yet something wasn’t right. I was carrying on a series of meaningful, individual conversations, but there was no longer a group dynamic for me. I realized that the power of this group wasn’t in the individuals that composed it. It was in the collaboration that stemmed from the group interaction. The sum of each individual chat was less than the value of the whole group. To find the same value I was seeking, I wasn’t able to carry on conversations, no matter how meaningful, with individual members of my group. It has to be the whole, not just the sum of the parts."

The following was my response: "I’m also a tad confused but that’s because I’m still learning about blogs, twitter, and other social networking on the WWW. I’m not familiar with PLNs either. Thankfully, I’ve had Dr. Strange to corrupt my brain with everything!! I do find your post interesting and informative for little technological brains like mine!"

Blog 13

The Alabama Learning Exchange is an easy resource center for teachers to use. Teachers can find many things on this site. One helpful link is a section titled "Lesson Plans." With this, teachers can get new ideas from other professionals for lesson ideas. They can add to the lesson plans provided and they can pick and choose certain areas. There's also a section titled "Course of Study" and "Personal Workspace" that assist teachers in creating more efficient class time.

I think that ALEX is a very resourceful website to know about. When I begin teaching I will be definitely be using it for ideas or use my own and then grab a few sections from other teachers. The Professional Learning area will comfort me knowing that I'm up to date with technology in the classroom. ALL teachers should be using this site, regardless of the age level.

Additional Assignment #5

Adventures in Pencil Integration

I've seen this blog many times before. This is a page I've been assined to look over through teacher comments. I really enjoy reading what he has to say next. His kids are pretty funny! He seems to really have the ability to reach out to elementary students and connect with them.

He shared four different experiences he's had. I love the sentence that he uses: She's writing the world in ink and I'm sketching it out in pencil. He uses this sentence to show that the world is changing, education is changing. We cannot have the same old practices; they will no longer work in our society and schools. Spencer is able to see the importance of change and the ability of a teacher to conform with this change. In another post, he shows the importance of teacher-student mutual respect. Your students have to be able to trust you. We have to stop and realize that learning begins with this mutual understanding and respect. I loved his post "Just Teach them To Solve for X"! This interaction is so typical. Education seems to be all about the banking system now- put information in and spit it right back. But students do not learn from this type of "education"!

Project 16: Progress Report

For our final project we have decided to do a movie. We are going to interview teachers about what they think about smart boards and how they think that smart bored are beneficial for the children. My partners are Kindra Blackwell and Stephanie Belletty.

Form Summary Response

Click the image above to view the form summary.

Project 15: The Rainbow Fish

Blog 12

Blog Post Assignment Instruction

Watch the video A Vision of K-12 Students Today by (4:09) B. Nesbitt on YouTube.com. This video is similar to A Vision of Students Today but it’s coming from another perspective. View this video and really think about what it means to you as a future educator. In your blog post, write about your thoughts from the video, how it made you feel, and state a personal technological goal that you’re determined to meet to help your future students.


Post Response

This video is so sad to me. Fortunately though, it's also a positive wake-up call. When I have children that are under the age of 10 telling me in my face that their teacher isn't updated enough for them to learn, I know I need to step up my game now. Once we get behind, it's hard to catch up. We are cheating our students if aren't capable of using new technology or features to further our students' education. Teachers are there to help, not hold back. My goal as a future educator is to become more knowledge about everything I come across. Thankfully I am in this course! Because of this course, I am more familiar with the multiple features of Google, blogs, and other things like iMovie and the Flip Camera. What I have to do now is stay determined; I won't be in the class forever. I must be involved in the latest, more innovative products.

Blog 11

This video was so cute! It's so important to use technology for the future of these students. Even one child said that it helps their spelling. The kids seem to be having fun. When kids have fun learning, you can't go wrong!

Blogs and videos would be what I would use in my classroom. Students learn from seeing something over and over again. Also, I think students learn better by seeing classsmates to something or talk about something. A teach may come across students not completing their blogs or not participating in an activity or video. If students are making a video as a group, it teaches them to work together and plan out what is going to be done.

Project 7: Kid's Summary (Comments 3-7)

My third kid's comment was for Lorenzo. He made produce a 29 second video about Captain Cook. The video directly under it was short and sweet and basically said "My video was supposed to be longer." I thought that was so cute! His mom and teacher encouraged him with both of their comments. I told him that I was glad I was asked to view his production because I know little about Captain Cook. I think Lorenzo will be known one day! He seemed eight years old and already he produced at least two videos!

The 4th comment I left for was on a blog belonging to two people: Sheridan and Margaret. The usually used this blog to write letters to eachother. Sheridan posted about a trip to Thailand! "It is Sheridan, I guess you have noticed that I haven’t been at school for a while, that is because I have been in Phuket! It is great here I can’t wait to tell you all about it! I will start off by talking about the plane, we were suppossed to be in premium economy but my mum and dad got upgraded to business class so Tara (my sister) and I went in business class too! It was the best flight ever! We had a chair that folds down to a bed, a touch screen TV and I watched about 3 movies and 2 TV shows! I watched flicka 2, diary of a wimpy kid, Toy Story 2, suite life on deck and suite life of Zach and cody. One of the men working on the plane let us have ice cream and cranberry juice! When we arrived, we went on a bus to a resort called Club Med in Kata, Phuket which was 1 hour away from the airport . On the bus was our groups tour guide, her name was Jennifer. It is a bit hard to understand what Thai people say because when Jennifer was teaching us how to say hello in Thai (which is sow-ard-i-kah, and the proper spelling is sawadee kah and boys say sow-ard-i-krab and the proper spelling is sawadee krab) I got a bit confused and said something else! As we got to Club Med we hopped out of the bus and had many staff welcoming us. They were from all over the world including Australia, France, Italy and a whole lot more. The staff gave us necklaces made from flowers. The next day we went on a safari and watched a monkey twist coconuts off trees and steal my mums thong! After that we saw how a coconut was cracked open. After that we smelt and tasted Thai herbs and foods, it was very yummy! Then we saw how our thongs and rubbers are made from rubber trees. Finally, (the exciting thing I have been waiting to tell you!) we rode on some elephants! It took about 25 minutes to go back to the start. It was a great experience! Three days after all of that we arrived at the Sheraton Grande Laguna and we got the best room you could get in the hotel (which is what the lady said!) and the bath is really cool! It’s a shower and a bath in one that has stairs you need to walk down. The water comes out of the roof from a massive shower head, oh it is so good! There are 2 baby elephants here called Lilly and Lucky and they are so cute and smart! On the second day we went to kids club and met some girls from Melbourne called Tori and Lilly. Tori is 7 which is my sisters age and Lilly is 10! The drinks are so different here they have apple smoothies and milkshakes as well as grape, mango, guava, grapefruit, coconut (served in a coconut) and watermelon juice. I will update this post with more info soon! I miss you and wish you could all be here with me in beautiful Phuket, Thailand." I responded with: "The only interesting plane ride I’ve had is when I went to Belize, Central America. Yours sounded a lot more relaxing though! I’ve never flown in business class but after reading about your experience, I look forward to the opportunity! We also saw monkies in the jungle! The only difference is that the monkies you saw seemed to be talented and entertaining! The monkies in Belize were very loud and obnoxious! We too were welcomed with open arms. It’s different being in a different country, or even just a different culture, but I hope you had a good experience as I did! Welcome back to the great USA! Have a great remainder of the year!"

The 5th comment for kids was Claire's. She wrote the following: "My mum was away druing perent teacher, but went to talk to Mrs Spencer. I don’t know what they talked about…
I reckon if mum went in to talk to Mr Clark, he would of said that i should cut down on talking in class." I responded with: "I enjoyed reading your posts! I can defintely relate to this one! It’s always a little scarey when you know mom is going to the school. Sometimes I think teachers overreact on students talking in class. Talking is natural! I think there should be more time for students to socialize during the school day! Hopefully you won’t get into any trouble Have a great remainder of the year!"

Comment 6 was for Jackson L. He posted: "Longest Word in the World!
This is how you spell the longest word in the world:
Pnuemonoultramicroscopicsylicovalcanoconiosis
It is 45 letters and has 19 syllables." I responded to the post with: "This word is crazy! My brother has always told me that the longest word is “antidisestablishmentarianism!” I guess he was wrong! I’m assuming that “Pnuemonoultramicroscopicsylicovalcanoconiosis” is some sort of disease or illness. Do you know? Your blog is very interesting!"

Comment 7 was on Ashleigh's blog. It read: "We went to the GEELONG SHOW!!!! We got in to the show and we walked around and Dad saw the tracker pull so we watched that for a while.Me,Mum,Dad and Riley went for another walk. We went to the Barwon Water tent and got free water bottles. I got a Showbag and it was NZ Style it is really cool!!! I had a FANTASTIC time!" I had no clue what the Geelong Show was! So I had to ask a few questiosn: "I’ve never been to the Gleelong Show. In fact, I’m not sure if I even know what it is! What is the show like?" She did respond to it but it still had no information about the show! So, I'm stil hanging!

Project 14: Teach Someone

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Project 3: Teacher's Summary

I was assigned to comment on a history teacher's blog. Over the summer we was involved in a lengthy seminar in Mount Vernon. He documented everything through podcasts, writing, and photographs. His students were able to view these in class in August or in the summer directly through his blog. He posted everything. Even for us he gave links for the lesson he created called "George Washington's Big Decision." He did a brillant job in creating this lesson through his experience. The lesson was mainly about Washington's decision on growing and using tobacco. It's a helpful site for teachers and I suggest you see it! His blog is titled "Speaing of History" and the following is the link: http://speakingofhistory.blogspot.com/

Additional Assignment #3

What do you think is the most important thing Sir Ken Robinson says in this presentation?

One of the most important things to get from this video is the following: Brad Pitt may be rich, but that doesn’t make him smart. John Doe may be in the streets, but that doesn’t make him “dumb” or incapable of learning. I like that he mentioned that there are many brilliant people that just don’t consider themselves smart. Anyone can be successful.

Is there anything you disagree with in this presentation?

I don’t think I’d say that one of the two reasons for reforming education is for cultures identity. Yes, there are many different cultures in just the Unites States. Yes, the number of people who speak only Spanish is growing. However, I still don’t think this could be a top 10 reason.
Also he mentions that long ago people assumed that certain kids did not benefit from education; they’d never learn. I don’t think that’s completely changed.

How congruent are Sir Ken Robinson's positions with those which you are being taught in the College of Education. In other words, where is there agreement? Where is there disagreement?

Different classes have different arguments, even with each other. In Dr. Fregeau’s course you learn that there is so much diversity even within a classroom that there’s a course for it! This course is the most difficult one I have because of the intensity of studying this subject. Obviously Sir Ken Robinson agrees. The discussion of ADD & ADHD is very true in the college of education. We are constantly talking about modifications for students and IEPs and other “rules” we have to go by for every student. Does ADD is exist? Are we quickly diagnosing kids with this disorder just because they’re struggling? This topic is up for debate in the Ed. building.

What can you do to address the issues Sir Robinson raises?

I would really like to do more research and look into the ADD & ADHD issue. I’m not sure how to go about that, but I am definitely interested. I really like the topic of classifying kids by age and the lack of freedom they have. When they hear a bell, they go.

When they hear the next bell, they come. The next is for lunch. They can only wear blue pols, khakis. “Is that a logo on your shoe? You’re suspended.” Isn’t it stupid to take a child out of school because their shirt tail came out? Aren’t we sending the wrong message? When I really think about it, it seems so military. And yes, is age really the most important thing? I would want to encourage my students to be themselves, their “civil” selves that is. I hope they’d fight for their own rights as people. I did when I was a student and I won’t hold another back.

What do you think of the presentation? If you had to do a presentation with others like this, what role on your team would you like most to play?

Author: This is very well-written. It completely grabs you from the beginning with the choice of words. This is the person I’d like to be. I don’t have “the voice” and I am no way artistic. I am creative in my head but I can’t lay it out. I think I have good points to make about education and I’m always thinking, always thinking. I’m thinking of all my opinions about education and turning them into arguments with some authority I’ve made up in my head.

Narrator: I enjoyed the narrator’s voice. Not only the accent, but he wasn’t monotone. He had my attention for all 11 minutes.

Designer: Whoever designed or came up with this idea is brilliant! (Maybe he doesn’t think he/she’s smart.) It’s very catchy and once again, eye-catching.

Artist: The artist was great! I like following the marker across to figure out what was coming next and where. The idea of only using a couple of colors was also a positive feature.

Sound Effects: They were so real! At first I had to turn down my volume because it was like nails on a chalkboard. But I liked the realness to it.

Project 13: Smartboard

Blog 10

Morgan Bayda

This video had good arguements about education. Truthfully, I agree with Morgan.
Public school system: Why is the United States so behind in education? Why are we not more knowledgable about what to do in order to acheieve greatness in the school system? The only time you hear about education in the US is when someone is talking about how bad it is. In fact, just Tuesday I went to lunch and mom told me she knew a mom and son from Brazil. The boy is a junior at Fairhope High School and he doens't have any courses to take because he's taken all of them. Yes, the system is screwed up. What are we supposed to do to fix it? I do not have any answers!
College education: I couldn't wait for my undergrad classes to start because I was so sick of learning things I'd never use in my career. I've spent 13 years doing that. However, I guess I'm not done with classes that do nothing. This semester I am in diverse society. All I've done in that course is do history research about myself. This is never going to help me in the classroom; I don't care what anyone says! It's unfortunate that I'm spending ALL of this money for nothing.

Pencil Integration

I'm glad this blog was assigned to everyone. I've been assigned this teacher as my teacher comment guy. I tihnk his posts are very itneresting, funny, and worthwhile!

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

1. What's my sentence?
"I do everything in my power for others to help their lives be easier and a little happier."

2. Was I better today than yesterday?
Oh goodness! This seems like a very difficult question. In fact, I kind of feel like a reject because I'm pretty sure my answer is "no." I really don't think I can consider yesterday. I think that because days are up and down for everyone, it's hard to get better and better with every passing day. Am I better than six months ago? Yes. Will I be better tomorrow than I was today? Now that I've been asked that question, I will be more aware of that going troughout my day in order ot better myself!

Project 12: Skype Interview

Blog 9

What I've Learned This Year

It's scary going into the profession. I am glad to hear that not all lessons are perfect though! I also hear that what you'll learn 10x more in the classroom than you'll learn in classes to prepare. It's encouraging to know that our nerves are not alone! Our first year of teacher will be the most stressful. We will be learning so much through experience and we will be frustrated with USA for having to pay thousands of dollars to learn stuff that did not prepare us! I am very excited and anxious to find a job and get in a classroom! It's very comforting to know that not everything we will be perfect, especially year 1!

Blog 8

Smartboards

Wow! Some people have very strong feelings about the Smartboard. One says that they may be cool, yet they're expensive and don't fix and education problems. Another agrees that these cost way too much. She says that she only used two or three cool lesson plans with the Smartboard. Yet, she still had to the same amount of work if not more with having to learn how to use it.
I found a blog that talked highly of the Smartboard. This site listed the benefits of a Smartboard. Those positive characteristics include project computer displays, presntations, saving your work, and there's no need for dry-erase marker or chalk. This means it mess free! I agree in that they're expensive, but I think that's the only downfall of the Smartboard. The price is worth it with these benefits! The following is a link to the beenfits page:
http://www.ehow.com/list_5905361_advantages-using-smart-board.html

EDM for Dummies


Well I'm glad I'm not the only one! I really liked this video. It was very eye-catching and entertaining! I liked that the actual characters were not the students producing the movies. It seemed like this was Poppy's video. Even though it was a rehearsed video with lines, it didn't seem staged. It was well acted out. Anytim the Jaws-like msuic played it grabs my attention and sends chills down everyone's spine! This movie was for sure informative and I think I should have looked at this video when it was encouraged!
JAMIE-LYNN: 2011 Emmy Nominee!!!!

The Chipper Series

I enjoyed the "rawness" of this video. I was hoping that the YouTube video didn't have to be too technical! I like that they used the same people in one day. I enjoyed the actual context of the video too. Every now and then we all need another review on procrasination. I liked the point made about her dropping out just because of Dr. Strange's class. Students, including myself, need to be constantly reminded that one poor test grade is not going to end their life. On the other hand, other students should be more stressed about their test grades. (this is where the video froze and I could no longer view it) Because the video messed up on my computer, I am actually pretty anxious to find out from a classmate what ends up happending to Chipper. I think at some point in the video, she will not be so "Chipper" anymore and really think about what she's done with her life and where she wants to go. Hopefully she'll head down the right path.

Richard Miller

I am partially prepared to write with multimedia. I use technology resources more than I do physcial paper. I will probably not incorporate THAT much technology in my classroom as Richard was saying. I want my kids to be successful in all areas. This means I will do some assignments one way, some another, and some that may be a little odd to them!

Richard Miller talked about all kinds of changes. As he was talking, images and words were popping up on the screen. Some of it, I could do on my Mac and I don’t even know how. Richard E. Miller shows what can be done to change the “reading and writing with products” people to “multimedia” people.

An incremental change is how we have taken writing with pen and paper and going to the library, and we are now doing virtually everything without having to touch paper or step foot into a library book. As he was talking about this, a Mac laptop came up and showed someone with two Word documents and one Safari page open at the same time, and he could see all three. It showed him simply research what he needed and copy and pasting it into the document. He then went on to talk about collaborating.

In the second part, he talks about how he can compose writing on the web, and he shows his colleague’s tool, and it is an application on a Mac that searches blogs as they are written moment by moment. It looked really cool and pretty with all the colors and visual effects. But then he says we don’t have the way to teach what he just described to us in that video. He says “technology articulates our dreams and allows us to shares them with others.”

Project 11: My Favorite Teacher

Project 9b: TimeToast on the Southeastern States

Additional Assignment #2

1. What do you think? If learners are motivated, can they teach themselves?

I think if someone is motivated to do something, they are in good shape to do it! However, maybe not all people are teachers. Yes, you are the one that knows how your brain works. But, you may not know how really get the information into your brain either!

2. If those motivated learners are kids, can they teach themselves?

Regardless of an age, anyone can do anything! They say that the best teacher for a third grader is a fourth grader. I can’t agree more. So my answer to this question is: absolutely!!

3. What conditions are necessary for kids to teach themselves? For anyone to teach him or herself?

I think that all a child needs is the will to learn. It’s very difficult to sit yourself down and tell yourself that you have to sit there until you get it. If someone is determined enough, I truly believe it’s possible.

4. What role do computers and internet access play in the process?

The internet can help someone so much! When I have to teach myself, even to this day, I usually end up referring back to the internet for backup and/or assistance. Even my twelve-year-old brother yesterday was looking up definitions of parts of speech. I can’t imagine education without the web and I’m thankful for it every day!

5. What role does motivation, a desire to learn?

I don’t understand the question, but I will answer it to the best of my ability! I motivation plays a large role in learning. Without it, I can’ imagine how many kids would still be in school. Most people’s motivation comes from their college of choice or their career of choice. Kids that come from wealthy families see the positive that comes from having money and then they are motivated to do well because they want the same benefits. It also works if someone comes from a low-income family. That person may think that is not what they want from themselves so they’ll be motivated to do more.

6. What roles do a problem, a question or multiple problems or questions play in the process?

Coming along questions and problems can damper the process! If I’ve done all of this research on one topic for a paper and still can’t find some of the assigned criteria, I would get down. In fact, I do get down! It’s hard, at least for me, to get motivated for the same thing again. Even now I think, “this is stupid.” And other times I’ll think, “one day at a time…” It all depends on the outlook. Mine is usually a poor outlook! However, about twice a week and I will try to get back into the positive side of my brain and truly realize what I will get out of my education.

7. How do you motivate someone to learn?

When I’m working with my little brother, I will try to encourage him. I explain that learning how to add fractions may not be used in your career, but it will be used in the next seven years of his education. I try to help him understand that even though he may not use it forever, he will have to know it and use it in order to graduate. In order to be successful and live the college life, he’ll have to graduate. It’s one big cause and effect cycle!

8. How are you motivated to learn?

There aren’t a lot of things outside of my own head that can motivate me to learn. There’s nothing so extravagant that is helping me now. I have always wanted to do well in school. That being said, I am also realistic. Let’s say it’s 11:00pm and I’m studying for a midterm that is at 8am the following morning. I’m probably exhausted yet I still have other study material for another class to look at and still have six questions I can’t find on the original study material. Knowing that I’ve done well in this class so far and from the previous tests in the course I will assume that the exam will be multiple choice. I will probably settle with what I already know and not worry about the six I can’t find. I’ve always been an A-B student and I’ve worked hard. However, I am not going to get only three hours of sleep to make a 100% when I can sleep seven hours and make a 92%. I’ve been my own motivator. Nothing outside of me has ever pressured me or motivated me to learn. It’s just my own goal.

9. Can anyone who is not motivated to learn, learn?

Even if you are determined to not be knowledgeable, you will learn something new frequently. For example, let’s say there’s a high school dropout. She’s 17-years-old and she’s driving around town today. She gets pulled over and the officer informs her that she’s receiving ticket for her music being too loud. She may have never known that loud music could get her a ticket. Even though this is a small example that doesn’t have much to do with school knowledge, still she learned something. People learn through experience. As long as you get out of bed everything, you will learn.

10. Do you teach yourself? When? Why?

Sometimes I’ll have to go home and review things to completely understand what we went over in class that day. Usually I will do this when I’m at home; I will do this before going to bed at night. I do this because if I don’t help myself out at all, I will struggle. Sometimes teachers don’t explain things thoroughly or you asked them a question in class and they didn’t answer the right question. If I don’t teach myself, I will probably not succeed in the things I want to succeed in. I will have to teach myself in those ways. In others, I may teach myself without intentionally doing so. For example, interacting with others throughout the day teaches my valuable lessons. This also is not necessarily school knowledge, yet people and problem-solving skills will help me throughout my life.

11. What role does a teacher (either answer generally or use a specific example) play in your learning?

(Dr. Strange… this is not referring to you!) Some teachers motivate me and they don’t even realize it! I have two in particular teachers this year that are terrible instructors. We don’t do anything at all in the actual class time given, yet we are expected to know how to do all of the assignments when we learn nothing in class. One of the two to who I am referring is really instructing a history class. Surely this is not part of the Elementary Education curriculum. I can’t relate any of her assignments to education. Everything in that class is a pain. The other teacher to whom I am referring is funny, but that’s it. She’s so scatter brained and everyone is left hanging, confused and frustrated! Because I don’t these teachers are good in any means, they’re motivating me to be better. I can’t stand teachers that “just don’t get it.” It’s frustrating as a student, regardless of the age. I want to be the teacher that the students and parents are not talking badly about at the dinner table!

12. What is the most important idea, question or emotional response you take away with you as a result of watching this video?

Teachers are needed everywhere! I do think it’s good that teachers have an incentive to teach in a inner-city school to get good teachers in there and not just richer places. Even though it may be more challenging to teach in one place than another, all students deserve the best!!

13. What other questions or issues are raised by this video that should be considered and discussed by aspiring teachers?

The same I just talked about in #12 I think is so important. Teachers need to realize that every child has an opportunity. Most of those chances come from their knowledge. If those kids aren’t receiving the bet education, they may not get to do everything they were capable of doing. What if Billy, current age five, from African has the ability to cure cancer? Yet, because of the small chances we will be given in the future, we don’t allow Billy to do so?

Blog 7

Randy Pausch: Dreams

 

I thought this was very interesting! Randy Pausch spoke how the steps to achieve your dreams and to help others achieve their dreams! This is nothing but positive. Everything in the world today seems so down and negative. It’s refreshing to see something uplifting every now and then. Mr. Pausch spoke about his personal dreams and aspirations. He is a very inspirational guy and seems to have gone down the right path in life. He says that experience is what you we get when things may not go your way.

Asking for help should never be a shameful act. Always know that not everything is going to go your way. Stay upbeat, be positive, and keep your head up! He believes that parents, mentors, and even educators have the ability to help others achieve what they want to achieve in life. Hearing that makes me nervous and also excited. I will be a teacher/mentor soon. I will be in that situation in just a couple years. Hopefully it will be a while before becoming a parent, yet I will still have people around me that need help, children and adults.

Randy explains that it’s not really about how to achieve your dreams. Instead, it’s about how to lead your life. It reminds me of the saying “Life is not about how many breaths you take but about the moments in life that take your breath away.” If you believe this is true and you continue on the right path, your dreams will come true!

Project 10: PLN

Project 9a: TimeToast on My Family

Project 3: Teacher's Summary

I've been commenting on John Spencer. His title is "Tom Johnson: Adventure in Pencil Integration." I love ready his posts! The first was a conversation he has with his students. He told them they were to substitute their paper and pen for slates that day. The students were so confused! Here is what I left under this post:
"I too was puzzled at the reason for slates when I just saw your title. It is intereseting that students at any age respond with, "But this is a pencil classroom." It's interesting how even students know how cut and dry our mediums are. Hopefully technology is changing that. I absolutlely love the idea of the human voice as being old school! That's exactly what I am really trying to develop in my brain before becoming a teacher. It seems like you are doing great things with these kids."

I was anxious to see what his next story was! The second post I commented on was also a conversation he ahd with students concerned with the future! He took pictures of his students. Most of the facial expressions of the kids' faces were pretty serious. One student thought this may not be the best pictures because 200 years from now, someone may look at these pictures and get the wrong impression. Mr. Spencer explained that documentaiton and artifacts are important and that people make their own judgements. He said that there are gaps in history and we may have the wrong idea about a lot of things. The following was my thought:
"I love the conversation you had with your students. Kids are so funny and I can’t wait to be in your shoes one day! The children bring up a great point. When I go to Cracker Barrel and look around, there are the strangest pictures of children, adults, and whole families throughout the store. I’ve always noticed that none of those people in the photos are smiling; they aren’t even smirking! I asked mom why she thought that was and she suggested that it may have been because the dental services weren’t the best! It’s funny that I, 20, would be wondering the same thing as your kids are wondering. I am impressed that your kids knew to think so far ahead into the future. I constantly worry about what’s to come but I was definitely living in the moment before I hit the age of 16! Selective memory has its pros and cons. I wish we all knew what the past was actually like. I guess it’s our job to do the right things, in technology and other aspects of life, and to leave the right things so future generations will better understand us." 

Project 7: Kid's Summary

My first and second kid's comment were for Trystan. The first blog I commented on was his "About Me" section. I left the following response:
"This is not very important but I love the name of the kids in your family! I'm always trying to come up with different names for my future kids. I'm not a huge reader but I do love listening to music. I always have to be listening to something when studying. Craziness is very important in a family! I also agree in that every teacher can explain things a tad more! It is difficult when you go home with an assignment, thought you understood it and all of it a sudden it takes up your whole night! But hang in there; I'm sure you'll do great in and outside of school! Look forward to reading more about you! Have a great remainder of September!" I really wanted to try to encourage him. All students, regardless of the age, struggle with teachers that maybe aren't fit for the job or that level.

The next post I commented on of Trystan's was his manifesto, which I really enjoyed! I left the following comment:
"Committing yourself to being a better student is always good! Most students, including myself, should be promising this to themselves also. My little brother, a seventh grader, hasn't come across this phenomenon yet! Television is always interesting. I have my shows that I either DVR or watch as it comes on. When they're DVR-ed, I usually watch those while I'm in bed, after everything has been completed. Television is not a bad or evil thing, but we can make it evil with the amount of time we put into it. It's difficult for me to set my own bed time. Some days are just more intense than others. But I always try to get in bed at a REASONABLE hour! Basically, before 11:30 is good enough for me! Good luck with pushing through your wish list!" I really hope that Trystan tries to stay with his desire! Those are all important things to edit for a positive outcome. Hopefully he will stick with it and I took will develop my own determinations!

Project 8: Podcast

Here is a podcast on Delicious.com with Leah Davis, Leslie Roberson, and Tommie Nguyen

Blog 6

The Networked Student

First and foremost, I love the professional music provided at the beginning! I’m glad I heard the part where he said the actual tools are not the target of importance. However, what the tools provide in communication is the most important thing. The student being portrayed in the presentation seemed to really grasp the point of his course. He made connections needed and used others’ knowledge and findings to help him as a student. Sharing knowledge is the key! No one knows absolutely everything. But with communication, knowledge is empowered!

I am personally not a Skype user. However, I do have a username that I made when I first got this laptop and saw Skype on the desktop. My dad will Skype me sometimes when he’s sitting on the same couch as I am. Other than dad being annoying, I have to really use it. I do have a friend that moved to England in middle school. I know Skype isn't for just people for across the world, but my friend is someone who I obviously don't get to see often with whom I would like to reconnect.

Teaching students how to use these tools at hand is so important! If Dr. Strange was not available everyday by email or our student assistants were not frequently in the lab willing to help, I just may have dropped this course! I would be a lost little duckling with nowhere to go and no one to which I could turn. But because I have people willing to help, I now know many more things than I had August 23, 2010. Thanks to everyone for helping!    

A 7th Grader's PLN

This video is making me feel terrible! Knowing that she is doing this as a twelve-year-old is really making me realize I have got to get serious about technology! I love the home page with all the “apps” available at hand. One interesting thing about her video in particular is that she showed a Pakistan Leopard Gecko. My little brother and big sister both have one; it is funny because no one has ever heard or seen one of those! Her PLN is so neat! I may have to review this video when completing more projects in the future. She mentions freedom in her video. I never thought of it that way. As a student, regardless the age, it is empowering to know an assignment and you are set free to do it on your own while using your own creativity. I am hoping to see more of these PLNs from her class. Like I said, I really enjoyed the page that contained everything she’d need. I too would benefit from such a source.  

The Machine is Changing Us

I particular quote that really got me was "We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us." Regardless of what the "tool" is, this saying is true! It is so interesting that the guy from 1984 says that we will choose to do nothing! I was not alive in 1984 but I was alive in 1995, and I know how much the world has changed since '95! For example, in 1995 I was in kindergarten. My class played a math game. Everyone stood while Mrs. Brunson verbally gave the next individual a math problem. If the student answered it correctly, he/she was still in the game. If not, Mrs. Brunson held her fingers as if it were a gun, pointed it at the wrong student and said, "pow!" The student was dead and had to sit down. Could you imagine if that happened in the world today? My mom had a conference with her and Mrs. Brunson's response was, "Well it's not a real gun!" Trust me, we are not sitting around, at least now. Whether it's a behavioral issue or it's about a technology, everything is changing; the world is changing among us!  

Blog 5

The Education Podcasting Network seems like a great source for all teachers. For new teachers, things can be overwhelming and there could be things that we are unsure about. We all need new ideas to incorporate learning. The EPN is trying to bring all teachers together for more information and ideas of podcasting. I love being able to find new strategies and using someone else’s creativity when my brain is struggling! As a new teacher in a few years, I will for sure be looking back to EPN.

The list of benefits of using podcasts in the classroom goes on forever. Children of this generation are already familiar with many types of technology. Whether it be at schools or at home, kids of all ages are highly qualified technological users. Using podcasts in the classroom allows students to use higher level thinking skills. Paper and pen are limiting to the imagination, possibilities, and creativity. Also, students can either present a project using podcast or even teach about their information on the podcast.




Judy Scharf describes a podcast as the following: "The term "podcast" is a cross between "broadcast" and "iPod." A podcast is a "radio-style" talk show. It may include music as well." The best thing about producing a podcast is that it invited so many different elements into a presentation. Instead of standing in front of the class with note cards, podcasts allow us to incorporate music, video, pictures, and additional audio! It is the newly stylish way to present and receive information at the click of a button.

Additional Assignment #1

A./B. As a visual learner, Google Squared and WolframAlpha were much simpler to view exactly what was being searched. Charts and tables are some of my best friends! I wasn’t given 990,000 underlined titles that all include the word “India.” When searching for a simple something and then having to choose an appropriate link, these search engines worked very well! It gives you just what you need. And if it doesn’t, as in the population example, adding the search is simple. It is much more efficient.


C./D. I knew nothing about Google Squared or WolframAlpha before this assignment! I’ve come to realize there is a lot more out there than I started this course. During the activity that we have to download 15 programs and become a member or create an account of all of them, I quickly saw that I am living in a small, small world! I didn’t know anything about these searches; I guess you could say I live in a Google kind of world! Even though I say that, I still didn’t know much about Google, like the calendar and documents.


E.The “Did You Know” video really got my attention. When the facts about China, India, and Bermuda were flashed, I had all kinds of thoughts! I knew that China was much bigger than the United States. However, when the fact “China will soon be the number one English speaking country,” the first thing I thought of was, “Wow! We are so behind!” Now that I’m supposed to be thinking about this, I kind of felt pressured to think this way! Yes, I seriously believe these words flashed in my face influenced my thoughts! The music was also pretty scary! I do feel better looking at population. However, if this assignment were still assigned but it did not say “this assignment has to do with the “Did You Know” video,” I probably never would have thought about it still!


F. I am usually pretty good with looking more closely at statistics before making a judgment. As an athlete, if Betty game stats were better than mine, surely something had to be wrong! I will always look into it. I’d go to minutes played, what those minutes were, who was on the court with them (same and opposing team), and also who we played. If I was 38% from the field and Betty was 82% from the field, it looks like Betty is just a better player! However, what we don’t realize is that I played thirty-two minutes and Betty played a total of nine minutes. I had more opportunities to shoot. I think I do a poor job of really analyzing statistics when they don’t have to do with my own performance. Make a judgment without knowing all of the information could be a false judgment.

The Stable Boy and the iPad: It is important to create useful, helpful devices that can be used by all people just by experiencing it themselves.

Blog 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

Dr. Scott McLeod works at Iowa State University as a professor. He and Dr. Joan Hughes established a national technology program, CASTLE, for secondary and college education. It helps to make sure that the education system is fulfilling technological requirements in the schools. Castle stands for the following: Center for the Advanced Study of Technology in Education. Also, the following was my comment on his blog post, "Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?": Mr. McLeod,
I’ve been assigned by Dr. Strange to read this post. I really enjoyed reading what you have to say about technology! I agree to an extent. My parents got my brother a cell phone when he was 10. My parents did not do it because he is spoiled rotten. He never asked for a cell phone. My brother is very active and is always somewhere! When he goes to a friend’s house, we hate having to call the home phone to get in touch with him. When he goes to a football game with some friends, my parents don’t like having to give up their own cell phones so he can call us for any reason. So like I said, I completely agree on most levels! But for some things, I think it’s okay to incorporate technology in children’s lives. However, too many technical things is a little too much! Thanks for your post! I look forward to reading more from you. The following is a link to my blog: http://davisleahedm310.blogspot.com/
Leah Davis

The iSchool Initiative

I love the idea of iSchool! I am currently observing at Foley Elementary School. On Friday, I was in Mrs. Davis’ kindergarten classroom. Included in center time are four iPod Touches. In this particular center, four children are given each an iPod Touch and a set of headphones. Downloaded on the iPods are educational games for kindergarten students. Also included are songs that go along with learning like, “The Days of the Week” and “There Are Four Seasons and I Know Them All.” This provides the five and six-year-old kids with education and technology.
In college, we are already using “iSchool,” as all of our assignments, grades, due dates, and communication are through the internet. To avoid a complete culture shock and overwhelming feelings when students enter college, why not already have them introduced by including some of this in high school? It seems easier to navigate the iSchool than going to Google.com for everything we are assigned. For example, when sixth graders need to know what all of the numbers are on the periodic table, they no longer have to Google or Ask Jeeves anything else! All that is necessary is pulling it up on the iSchool and clicking on the elements! This is so much more convenient and less time consuming.
What is also nice about this is the fact that everything is in the kids’ hands. When a teenager goes out of town for Thanksgiving, they are certain to an assignment over the break. No more excuses on the following Monday! This way, kids can work while during the eight hour drives and not have to lug around four binders, enough paper, all of the handouts, the dictionary, and the necessary mediums. This is a great idea!

The Lost Generation

Wow! I am posting these first few sentences on the first twenty-three seconds. So far, it seems to be unfortunately true. Every time I meet someone new, I assume their parents are not together. When I meet a new adult, I assume they are recently divorced. How sad is it that we automatically assume that people get caught up in other things and their families are breaking apart? I just now hit play and quickly pause once again! “Experts say that in thirty years I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.” According to statistics, yes, I will not argue that statement! What’s worse is that we will probably be “celebrating” it, and not still be in mourning over it.
I absolutely love that she reversed the speech! I was wondering if that was going to be done or not; I was wondering if she was going to go along with the statistics and the predictions, or she would fight them.
When I am sitting at the computer with the television behind me and all of a sudden I don’t hear anything, I always turn around. When I do, I see that it is a commercial that has no visual actors or images. The commercial is just flashing up statements. For example, there’s a commercial with a lady that walks into her home, locks her door, eats a piece of cake, and then pulls out a cigarette. At the end it says, “Now it’s time to protect yourself… from yourself.” How moving is that?? The advertisements without the most attractive women, the six-packed men, and the beautiful hair are the most eye-catching. This video was a great way to get attention. There aren’t any distractions; the message is easily getting across.

The Virtual Choir

This is so neat! To have anyone from anywhere be involved in this is so unique. This is truly showing that internet can really take away from being face-to-face. They say e-mails, text messaging and social networking are diminishing our ability to have people skills. I was never really sure I totally agreed with that. Yes, we are using them for convenience. However, we still run into people every day and still interact with others on a daily basis as we lives our everyday lives.
Seeing this video really is suggesting that it could happen! “It” being not having to see people every day for the rest of our lives! Even though it may allow us to be cooped up in our homes and on the computer, never in a million years did I think this could be performed by using technology! I think it is a positive regardless of what everyone else says! Bravo!!

Project 5: Google Presentation

Project 3: Teacher's Summary

I have been assigned to read David Hopkins' blog posts. His first post was so neat! The post was about an iPhone application called "Streetmuseum." Created in London, it allows anyone with the app to view historical photographs in different parts of the particular area in which you are. The app uses a GPS to lead you to different locations. Once you've reached your coordinates, select the "3D View" button and a photo of a past time will appear. It gives you a glimpse of what life was like during that time period. I am not an iPhone owner but if I were, I would be all over this! Not only does it teach us more about technology but it teaches about our history! It allows us to remember that we are not the only people on the planet!

David Hopkins' second post was on the topic of blog security. I have never even heard of WordPress and here I am trying to apply it. Hopkins gives a list of the best tools and programs to protect our blogs. He also lists "Top 10 Ways to..." to further security on the internet. I love the idea that people around the world are sharing how to protect ourselves! I don't know much about blogs in the first place. So, reviewing his posts has helped me get in tune with the Apple and blog world!

Blog 3

A Vision of Students Today

I love the comparison between the student and the desk. No, those chairs can’t talk, but we can. Just after the words were shown they camera moved to the students sitting in those chairs. To me it looked so military-like. Why are we forced to sit still and listen? It’s funny that teachers tell us to put our cell phone up when in fact our phones probably provide us more street knowledge, the most important knowledge, than what the professor is writing on the board. I, along with most of my peers I assume, also feel like I’m reading only 18 percent of actually apply to my life.
I can’t agree more with the hours spent in a day. I don’t think I spend two hours eating or spend 150 minutes listening to music per day, but I do feel like I have to compile 28 hours worth of to-do’s in a 24 hour day. All college students, part or fulltime, have to be multi-taskers to stay sane. I’ve always hated Scantrons. What in the world will that do for me except get my numbering messed up and fail the test? No, the world is not my problem or my fault, but yet I have to live in it and one day solve these problems.

It’s Not about the Technology

I completely agree with Ms. Hines that technology is not the only or first thing to be taught in the classroom. I, as a twenty-year-old, am already overwhelmed. I can’t imagine bringing in blogs and twitter the first week of fourth grade! Also, yes, teachers have to be learners. There are so many new things coming and going in the technology world that can be used in the classroom, in the real world, and in the work place. As teachers, we have to stay ahead of the game; we have to be willing to learn! I loved the following quote and her point: “I don’t know why these kids don’t get it. I’ve taught it a hundred times.” In Dr. Clark’s class, I learned that there are two fallacies as a teacher. The first is that groups of students are mostly the same. The second is that the students should adjust to the teacher’s technique rather than the teacher adjusting to the students’ way to learning. There is a huge difference in teaching and learning!
She also says that technology is not very useful if we don’t teach it well enough. For example, I have always had a Google e-mail account but I never knew anything about Google Documents or the other neat gadgets it offers! If Dr. Strange had told us, “Go to your Google account and there will you find the checklist and comment checklist,” I would be completely frustrated! Even though this is a small example, it is important to make sure students being introduced to new things completely understand the purpose and its ability. I had no idea that the documents by Google existed and I have already introduced it to my dad who will frequently use it at work as an attorney.

Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

Once I saw the title of this post I immediately thought, “I sure hope it’s ok to be technology illiterate!” It is a little scary to go into this profession and know only to use the Smart Board! Obviously this class is helping in the field of technology. I once have used another program at a former college that will help in the classroom. Other than that experience, I have nothing! After this course I hope I will be considered to have a basic foundation of technological capabilities. This is because I agree with his statement that all educators should be at least somewhere literate.
“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.” All I have to say about this is, “Wow!” That completely hit home for me! It is insane to think that knowing how to use technology is becoming as useful as is it to be literate. The world is changing more and more everyday. As educators, and citizens, we have to keep up! We may one day be the reason why one of our students will not get the job versus someone who knows all about using technology. We are a direct result of how students do in the real world.

Project 2: Wordle

Blog 2

Did You Know?

How can something be so informing and also depressing! I've seen a video similar to this in a previous technology education class. However, this one hit a little harder! It is so scary to know that my students will probably be ahead of me as far as technology goes. We never want to think of ourselves as getting old and not "being in the know". Yet, already I'm not too familiar with an iPad and I still don't know all of the things I can do with a Smart Board.

Everything in this video is completely eye-opening. It's frightening to see the numbers and statistics that actually say, "Yes. Children in America are way behind in education." It is crazy to see the rate of memberships on things like in computer, the iPod, and Facebook. As teachers, we will really have to incorporate technology consistently. If we don't, one of our students may not get a full opportunity at an interview because their fifth grade teacher never told them about using ouch screen palms!

It will certainly be challenging to stay ahead of the game when it comes to bringing technology into the classroom.

The Importance of Creativity

It is very interesting that everyone has different creativity. Three people could all have an idea about how to demonstrate something in the front of the classroom, yet they could all be different. I love being creative; it makes me happy when I get to use colors and dot my “I” with a swirl! Somehow, life is a little less stressful when I am allowed to be creative. I love that Sir Ken Robinson said that creativity is just as important as literacy. That is so empowering! Children seem less afraid to use their creativity. “We don’t grow into creativity, we grow out of it.” He gave an example with a child drawing God and the teacher reminded the student that no one actually knows what God looks like. There is a prime illustration of adults closing their creativity brain.

I love the point he made about math being hammered into our brains but not dance. “Dance” could be anything. It could be gardening, skipping, or volleyball. It is interesting how we decide that “A” is more important than “B.” Who gets to determine that Betty Lou should know about the solar system, but not about storytelling? I agree when Sir Ken Robinson says that creativity is being taken out of school. For example, when I was a senior taking anatomy, the teacher was walking around the class. We were doing a lab that involved about ten sheets of computer paper with a title and picture. My brain was hurting and I got out my colored pencils and drew “anatomy pictures” around the edges of the paper. She saw mine and said, “No. Stop that. Just do the work. If you’re done you can turn it in.” Lastly, I love the accent and yes, a man can still be wrong when he talks with no one around.

Mr. Winkle Wakes!

I completely know what Mr. Winkle feels like: I too am completely lost after the first week of class. I can't imagine walking into a world without knowing absolutely anything! Even though I feel a little bit of that myself at USA, at least I know how to access a computer to ask all of my idiotic questions. My great grandmother is walking around just as Mr. Winkle is, only she hasn't been asleep for 100 years; she has for sure been live! Mimi, as we call her, will be 100 on August 29. She will die not ever touching a computer, talking on a cell phone, or anything else about the crazy world technology. The previous video said: "To whom did we address all of our questions B.G.?" Well, just ask Mimi. In fact, Mimi is outraged at the world we live in today! She would be furious knowing that I am in a course completely online. When she gives her opinion, it is obvious she was born in 1910.

The interesting thing about the Mr. Winkle Wakes video is that it doesn't take 100 years to not understand what is going on these days. If someone went into a coma in February and wakes up in a week, he/she will not understand why the Kindle is selling more. We all know, however, that it is because the iPad came out quickly after and it can do way more than what the Kindle can do. This person would be saying "What oil spill?", and "I can't wait until the iPhone4 comes out!". He/she will be completely behind in all aspects, not just technology. The world is changing rapidly and it is very overwhelming!

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

Vicki Davis and Dr. Strange should be best friends. I guess I didn't realize the technology phenomeun within schools. However, I completely love it! Not only does it help us as the future of America, but it helps students so much to be able to learn in a different way. Not only students do well on standardid testing or with in a pen in their hand. This is a way for ethose students to learn something in a different, more appropriate way.

She mentioned that they were turning school upsidedown. Well, I agree! Being aware of how quickly technology is being reinvented, I do think it is important to incorporate these uses in the classroom. If not, the students will just know how to play XBox360 and how to comment on a friend's Facebook picture. I love that more and more teachers are implmenting this field into kids' daily learning. Life isn't all about the pythagorean theorm and knowing the time of day that the Declaration of Independence was signed. Of course these two things will help when the report cards come, they will not be the only we will need to know when we go out for careers. Like Did You Know said, "The Top 10 In-demand Jobs for 2010 Did Not Exist in 2004."

Blog 1

Who I Am!

I'm Leah. I've lived in Spanish Fort for the 20 years I've been here! I went to Daphne High School my freshman year where I followed in my sister's footsteps starting on the varsity basketball and volleyball team. After that year I was part of a group that had to transfer to the newly established Spanish Fort High School where I continued my athletic career. I then played both sports at the junior college level where I was an Academic All-American in baketball. This is my first year without playing something so I am trying to get accustomed to being a regular student! I decided to come to USA because I could go to school and still see my little brother grow up.

My family consists of two amazing parents and four very different kids! Mom beat breast cancer in 2008 so we are all very thankful! My brother Rick (26) just graduated from Alabama School of Law and will be working with my dad's firm in Daphne. My sister Laura (24) played college basketball at UM and UWF and is now the assistant coach at UWF. I am next in line, and finally there is Will! Will was our 10th foster baby. CSS called us on April 6, 1998, saying that a 40-day-old boy needed a home! Being my birthday, my mom left my school party to go pick him up from the hospital. We completely fell in love with him. After spending many, many months with him, we adopted him just before his first birthday. He is now a stud athlete at Spanish Fort Middle School. For Will's eleventh birthday, mom and dad got him a Morkey. Will suitably named him Nike.

I love kids so I am majoring in Elementary Education. I love the feeling of helping others. Even though most eight-year-olds will not go home thinking about how much their teacher have changed their lives, I still want to make even a small impact. I look back now and realize that I had great teachers and wish I had them at a later time in life so I could appreciate them.

My favorite season of the year is March Madness! Nothing can come close! I am glad I am taking this course this semester because I will be at the Women's 2011 Final Four in Indianapolis in April. I started an earring line called "scoobeadooz" in spring of 2009 and I love it! I love listening to music, staying active, and making others feel good! I stress too much but I think that can also be a good thing!