Sunday, December 7, 2014
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Project #4 C4T
kindergartenlife
by, Sharon Davison
On November 13, 2014 I left this comment for Sharon Davison on her blog post A Celebration of Learning: Engaging Families Inside and Out!:
"Hi Sharon, my name is Kela and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I love your mindset and goal for getting families engaged. I think what you are doing is awesome and I am sure your students do as well. This is certainly a desire that I will pursue as a future elementary school teacher."
In this blog post, Sharon Davison explains why she believes encouraging family members to be active and engaged with students learning is helpful for children. She says that learning is an amazing opportunity to involve and engage others around you.
On November 29, 2014 I left this comment for Sharon Davison on her blog post, Being Grateful……:
"Teaching children the importance of caring and helping others is certainly a valuable, yet sometimes overlooked, lesson. There are so many things to be thankful for and having good teachers like you is one. Thank you for sharing." Davison starts this blog post by listing a few things that she is thankful for. One of the things that she is thankful for is her voice. She then goes on toexplain how she and her students are currently involved with a project based learning opportunity and how they are learning about empathy and helping others.
by, Sharon Davison
On November 13, 2014 I left this comment for Sharon Davison on her blog post A Celebration of Learning: Engaging Families Inside and Out!:
"Hi Sharon, my name is Kela and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I love your mindset and goal for getting families engaged. I think what you are doing is awesome and I am sure your students do as well. This is certainly a desire that I will pursue as a future elementary school teacher."
In this blog post, Sharon Davison explains why she believes encouraging family members to be active and engaged with students learning is helpful for children. She says that learning is an amazing opportunity to involve and engage others around you.
On November 29, 2014 I left this comment for Sharon Davison on her blog post, Being Grateful……:
"Teaching children the importance of caring and helping others is certainly a valuable, yet sometimes overlooked, lesson. There are so many things to be thankful for and having good teachers like you is one. Thank you for sharing." Davison starts this blog post by listing a few things that she is thankful for. One of the things that she is thankful for is her voice. She then goes on toexplain how she and her students are currently involved with a project based learning opportunity and how they are learning about empathy and helping others.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Blog Post #14
Teaching our children can be a profession: Column by Joel Klein
Published in USA Today on November 17, 2014
"We need a new approach to recruiting teachers."
- Recruit from the top third of our graduates
- Require a supervised internship for one to three years
- "national teacher examination" that tests mastery of pedagogy and content knowledge, akin to the entry exams now required for lawyers and doctors.
- establish standards/ provide mechanisms to remove incompetent teachers
- seniority should not matter
Recruiting from the top third of our graduates is a good idea. This guarantees that children in our society are being taught by the best. This will not only greatly influence the outcome from classroom and students but also increase college students desire to do better. With this in place, college students will strive to be the best and, simply, with that the outcome of graduates is the best.
Requiring a supervised internship of one to three years ensures that potential teachers are well equipped with the knowledge and experience with what it takes within a classroom. This is a great way for potential teachers to obtain the proper amount of field experience. Requiring this one to the three internship allows supervisors to come to the conclusion if the potential teacher is fit for the job or not as well. However, I believe that it would be more realistic to only require a one year internship with pay.
I completely agree that seniority should not exist within schools. I know from my past there were plenty of teachers who have been at my school for years who felt they could do whatever because they had been there so long. This type of teacher is sadly only hurting the students' education. By rewarding teachers on how well they perform in the classroom is a wonderful way to determine who stays and who does not when cuts are to be made.
Two powerful statements found in Teaching our children can be a profession: Column:
"We must change how we reward teachers."
"Professionalizing teaching means that excellence would be the guiding hallmark.Everything from education-school admissions, to course work, to
compensation and other employment rules, to self-policing would have to be realigned to this core principle. Such a radical transformation would not only
benefit students, it would also benefit teachers, who would be more successful and command greater public trust"
Published in USA Today on November 17, 2014
"We need a new approach to recruiting teachers."
- Recruit from the top third of our graduates
- Require a supervised internship for one to three years
- "national teacher examination" that tests mastery of pedagogy and content knowledge, akin to the entry exams now required for lawyers and doctors.
- establish standards/ provide mechanisms to remove incompetent teachers
- seniority should not matter
Recruiting from the top third of our graduates is a good idea. This guarantees that children in our society are being taught by the best. This will not only greatly influence the outcome from classroom and students but also increase college students desire to do better. With this in place, college students will strive to be the best and, simply, with that the outcome of graduates is the best.
Requiring a supervised internship of one to three years ensures that potential teachers are well equipped with the knowledge and experience with what it takes within a classroom. This is a great way for potential teachers to obtain the proper amount of field experience. Requiring this one to the three internship allows supervisors to come to the conclusion if the potential teacher is fit for the job or not as well. However, I believe that it would be more realistic to only require a one year internship with pay.
I completely agree that seniority should not exist within schools. I know from my past there were plenty of teachers who have been at my school for years who felt they could do whatever because they had been there so long. This type of teacher is sadly only hurting the students' education. By rewarding teachers on how well they perform in the classroom is a wonderful way to determine who stays and who does not when cuts are to be made.
Two powerful statements found in Teaching our children can be a profession: Column:
"We must change how we reward teachers."
"Professionalizing teaching means that excellence would be the guiding hallmark.Everything from education-school admissions, to course work, to
compensation and other employment rules, to self-policing would have to be realigned to this core principle. Such a radical transformation would not only
benefit students, it would also benefit teachers, who would be more successful and command greater public trust"
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Project #12 part B
Project: The 4 Seasons
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Standards: SC(K)9 Identify Seasons of the year. Describe seasonal changes in the weather.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Blog Post #13
What Did I Leave Out?
What would be a helpful lesson to teach in EDM310?
I believe that having a lesson or a few lessons on how to properly use a SmartBoard would be extremely helpful. I plan on being an elementary school teacher and I know that I will depend on using a smart board almost everyday in my future classroom. SmartBoards are a great resource for teachers to have and provides endless amounts of tools to use. However, all of these tools and this great resource is nothing or not as useful as it can be if a teacher does not know all that it has to offer. In high school and a few college classes some of my teachers were able to use and incorporate the use of SmartBoards. Therefore most of the knowledge I have about SmartBoards simply comes from my past observations of teachers. If we had a lesson that was all about SmartBoards I beleive everyone would benefit a lot. Learning the tools and simple actions to make to use SmartBoards can really help. As an inspiring future teacher I desire to gain as much knowledge as I can about everything that I know will help me be a great educator.
What would be a helpful lesson to teach in EDM310?
I believe that having a lesson or a few lessons on how to properly use a SmartBoard would be extremely helpful. I plan on being an elementary school teacher and I know that I will depend on using a smart board almost everyday in my future classroom. SmartBoards are a great resource for teachers to have and provides endless amounts of tools to use. However, all of these tools and this great resource is nothing or not as useful as it can be if a teacher does not know all that it has to offer. In high school and a few college classes some of my teachers were able to use and incorporate the use of SmartBoards. Therefore most of the knowledge I have about SmartBoards simply comes from my past observations of teachers. If we had a lesson that was all about SmartBoards I beleive everyone would benefit a lot. Learning the tools and simple actions to make to use SmartBoards can really help. As an inspiring future teacher I desire to gain as much knowledge as I can about everything that I know will help me be a great educator.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Project #4 C4T (3)
C4T Comments4Teachers - Project #4
Summary of two blog posts on 21st Century Educational Technology and Learning by Michael Gorman.
The first blog post on 21st Century Educational Technology and Learning that I commented on was Online Learning for Inclement Weather… 25 Ideas and a Free Webinar. This blog post starts out by Mr.Gorman explaining how he. "worked with a team of amazing educators in the district to help plan and implement this initiative." What is the initiative you wonder? He is referring to the challenge of using e-learning to make up cancelled school days due to snow. Mr. Gorman then lists 25 strategies and ideas that he hopes might help other schools that plan to look at e-learning as a possible solution for school make-up.
This is the comment that I left for him: "Hello, my name is Kela Miller. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post on inclement weather and reading all of the 25 ideas that you have provided. If you would like, I would love for you to check out my blog: Kela Miller’s EDM310 Blog."
The second blog post on 21st Century Educational Technology and Learning that I commented on was Ten Engaging Digital Education Sites For Any Social Studies Classroom. For this blog post, Mr. Gorman's main purpose is to provide his readers whether they may be teachers of students with reliable and engaging digital education sites for social studies classes and research.
I left this comment: Hello Mr. Gorman. I must admit, I have never heard of many of the digital education sites for social studies that you listed and discussed within this blog before. "They all sound to be extremely informative and useful. You provided your readers with what each site has to offer and explained each site very well. I hope that you may visit my blog as well and thank you for sharing. Kela Miller’s EDM310 Blog."
Summary of two blog posts on 21st Century Educational Technology and Learning by Michael Gorman.
The first blog post on 21st Century Educational Technology and Learning that I commented on was Online Learning for Inclement Weather… 25 Ideas and a Free Webinar. This blog post starts out by Mr.Gorman explaining how he. "worked with a team of amazing educators in the district to help plan and implement this initiative." What is the initiative you wonder? He is referring to the challenge of using e-learning to make up cancelled school days due to snow. Mr. Gorman then lists 25 strategies and ideas that he hopes might help other schools that plan to look at e-learning as a possible solution for school make-up.
This is the comment that I left for him: "Hello, my name is Kela Miller. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post on inclement weather and reading all of the 25 ideas that you have provided. If you would like, I would love for you to check out my blog: Kela Miller’s EDM310 Blog."
The second blog post on 21st Century Educational Technology and Learning that I commented on was Ten Engaging Digital Education Sites For Any Social Studies Classroom. For this blog post, Mr. Gorman's main purpose is to provide his readers whether they may be teachers of students with reliable and engaging digital education sites for social studies classes and research.
I left this comment: Hello Mr. Gorman. I must admit, I have never heard of many of the digital education sites for social studies that you listed and discussed within this blog before. "They all sound to be extremely informative and useful. You provided your readers with what each site has to offer and explained each site very well. I hope that you may visit my blog as well and thank you for sharing. Kela Miller’s EDM310 Blog."
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Project #14
For this project, we as a group decided to create a lesson plan for English and Language Arts for students in the second grade . During this lesson, students will be assigned a partner. After discussing lessons on different types of stories, characters, main points, and characteristics, as well as reading Officer Buckle and Gloria, each group will make a Prezi presentation. In their presentation, they must include a summary, pictures, and details about the characters.
Rubric
Lesson Plan
Calender
PBL Checklist
Rubric
Lesson Plan
Calender
PBL Checklist
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Blog Post #11
What can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?
Brian Crosby, Agnes Risley Elementary School, Sparks, Nevada, Back To the Future (17:43)
This video was very inspirational. Brian Crosby makes learning extremely fun and interesting for his students. I liked how he has all of his students write in their blogs and post the videos that they make instead of giving them a "25 question multiple test." The "high hope" assignment he gave his students is absolutely awesome. Watching the videos of the balloon going into the sky in his lecture made me want to be in his. The way Celeste is able to be a part of the class is great too. I hope to one day be the type of teacher Brian Crosby is. I learned that it is important to really engage children in the work that they are doing and to always accommodate to children's needs to the best of your ability. He says, "we can't keep racing kids through school. It can't be a race."
Mark Church, Making Thinking Visible (2:53)
Sam Pane 4th Grade (7:04) Building Comics
This was a very fun way to teach students how to be safe on the internet and it is also a good way yo engage students because they are creating something and they are getting to see other classmates' work as well.
Project Based Learning (5:35)Dean Shareski
I learned how teaching using PBL also allows teachers to teach beyond the curriculum. They teach the curriculum but also teach things about poverty in their country, volunteering, and things that they would not be able to teach and have students learn in an one hours class.
Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program (10:00)
Giving children choices and trusting them is very important because it gives them a sense of independence. It makes them proud to know that they're decisions and ideas matter. This video really just explains how imporant and effective Project Based Learning is in the classroom! It encourages the students to work together and while watching this video I leaned that it incorporates many different learning styles. I especially love hearing some of the students' parents to praise how well PBL has been for their child.
Brian Crosby, Agnes Risley Elementary School, Sparks, Nevada, Back To the Future (17:43)
This video was very inspirational. Brian Crosby makes learning extremely fun and interesting for his students. I liked how he has all of his students write in their blogs and post the videos that they make instead of giving them a "25 question multiple test." The "high hope" assignment he gave his students is absolutely awesome. Watching the videos of the balloon going into the sky in his lecture made me want to be in his. The way Celeste is able to be a part of the class is great too. I hope to one day be the type of teacher Brian Crosby is. I learned that it is important to really engage children in the work that they are doing and to always accommodate to children's needs to the best of your ability. He says, "we can't keep racing kids through school. It can't be a race."
Mark Church, Making Thinking Visible (2:53)
Sam Pane 4th Grade (7:04) Building Comics
This was a very fun way to teach students how to be safe on the internet and it is also a good way yo engage students because they are creating something and they are getting to see other classmates' work as well.
Project Based Learning (5:35)Dean Shareski
I learned how teaching using PBL also allows teachers to teach beyond the curriculum. They teach the curriculum but also teach things about poverty in their country, volunteering, and things that they would not be able to teach and have students learn in an one hours class.
Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program (10:00)
Giving children choices and trusting them is very important because it gives them a sense of independence. It makes them proud to know that they're decisions and ideas matter. This video really just explains how imporant and effective Project Based Learning is in the classroom! It encourages the students to work together and while watching this video I leaned that it incorporates many different learning styles. I especially love hearing some of the students' parents to praise how well PBL has been for their child.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Blog Post #10
What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy?
First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class (4:56)
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1 (14:37)
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 2 (4:55)
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 3 (12:46)
I loved the Little Kids...Big Potential video by Kathy Cassidy! The children did exceptionally well speaking about what they do in the classroom and about some of the technology that they use. I also liked how the children explained the importance of always being nice when leaving comments.
Kathy Cassidy makes a lot of good points in the video discussions between her and Dr. Strange. She did not start using technology until about ten years ago and started having a blog five years ago. After Dr. Strange states that some of his students do not see the importance in learning how to use and work with technology because they are going to be elementary teachers and that they will worry about it later down the road, Cassidy makes a lot of good points. She says that technology is not going anywhere and that it will always be around. She says we cannot teach children today in the generation with the ways in past years. She also says that by not taking advantage of some of the tools technology has to offer you are handicapping your students and yourself.
When asked about where she believes people need to start, she says that she does not really use technology in her personal life and that she only recently made a Facebook account. She says people should start where they are interested in.
I really liked how Dr. Strange was able to gather some of his students to partake in this video discussion as well. It was neat to see students like myself discuss technology with Cassidy.
I learned a lot from watching this video discussion and listening to what Kathy Cassidy has to say.
First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class (4:56)
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1 (14:37)
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 2 (4:55)
Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 3 (12:46)
I loved the Little Kids...Big Potential video by Kathy Cassidy! The children did exceptionally well speaking about what they do in the classroom and about some of the technology that they use. I also liked how the children explained the importance of always being nice when leaving comments.
Kathy Cassidy makes a lot of good points in the video discussions between her and Dr. Strange. She did not start using technology until about ten years ago and started having a blog five years ago. After Dr. Strange states that some of his students do not see the importance in learning how to use and work with technology because they are going to be elementary teachers and that they will worry about it later down the road, Cassidy makes a lot of good points. She says that technology is not going anywhere and that it will always be around. She says we cannot teach children today in the generation with the ways in past years. She also says that by not taking advantage of some of the tools technology has to offer you are handicapping your students and yourself.
When asked about where she believes people need to start, she says that she does not really use technology in her personal life and that she only recently made a Facebook account. She says people should start where they are interested in.
I really liked how Dr. Strange was able to gather some of his students to partake in this video discussion as well. It was neat to see students like myself discuss technology with Cassidy.
I learned a lot from watching this video discussion and listening to what Kathy Cassidy has to say.
Project #6 C4K October Summary
Summary for blog post "Crayons", by Londyn
This blog post was about a student's personal fovorite cgoice of colors. Her favorite color is purple and she also states that she likes other cold colors as well.
This is the comment that I left for Londyn on October 3, 2014:
"My name is Kela Miller and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. My sister and I both love the color purple too! Keep up the good work with posting on your blog.
I have my own blog if you would like to visit it. Kela Miller’s EDM310 Blog"
Summary for blog post "The Murphy’s" by Jack L.
I am not sure if this blog post was about a real person, a character in a book, or movie. Jack L explains and gives three reasons why he believes Carolyn is not used to her new family.
I left this comment for Jack on October 10, 2014:
"Hello Jack! My name is Kela Miller and I am in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. This is a very good blog post and it is well written. I hope whoever Carolyn is, whether she is real or a character in a book, gets used to her new family. I would love for you to visit my blog sometime: Kela Miller's EDM310 Blog."
Summary for blog post "Map Work" by Aaron
Aaron explains in this blog post how they were learning about reading maps in Literacy. He says he know he will use this skill later in life when he needs to read maps.
This is the comment that I left for him on October 24, 2014:
"Hi Aaron! My name is Kela Miller and I am also from Mobile, Alabama and go to the University of South Alabama. I am in a class called EDM310. I enjoyed your post and presentation! Your writing is very clear, so excellent blog post. If you would like, I welcome you to visit my blog:Kela Miller's EDM310 Blog"
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Blog Post # 9
What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning?
After reading Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning by John Larmer and John R. Mergendoller, I have such a better understanding of what a meaningful project is. Growing up, I was almost always handed a packet stating I need to have such and such project due on such and such date with such and such with it and more such and such rules, oh and can't forget such and such and such and such. It was always dry, clean cut directions for projects with little availability to incorporate my own ideas and opinions. I have had teachers that would just tell students a little about the project and that it is important because it may be on a test or because we will receive a grade for it. I personally loved projects when I was in school because I love to make things and figure things out. However, there have been PLENTY of times where I was so frustrated because I thought what we were having to do was useless, unimportant, and most of all meaningless. I hated to question, "will I ever really use this in life." Not understanding why something is important can be such a downer.
Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning really emphasizes on how important it is to make projects meaningful. Actually providing students with reasons why something is important to them and why it matters can make such a big difference in grasping their attention and to spark the "I want to learn more" attitude.
Here is the, very helpful, list of the 7 essentials presented in this article:
1. A Need to Know
2. A Driving Question
3. Student Voice and Choice
4. 21st Century Skills
5. Inquiry and Innovation
6. Feedback and Revision
and lastly,
7. A Publicly Presented Product
Project-Based Learning for Teachers
Awesome video to get teachers interested in Project Based Learning
Two students solve the case of the watery ketchup by designing a new cap
This is a prime example of how effective PBL is. These students were able to come together as a team and work together towards a goal they had set for themselves. I am very sure they took pride in their accomplishment. They both put forth an extreme amount of effort into something they both were interested and concerned in. This was definitely a MEANINGFUL project to them.
Two more videos that show how important Project Based Learning is and what motivates students within the classroom are High School Teachers Meet the Challenges of PBL Implementation and PBL: What motivates students today.
After reading Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning by John Larmer and John R. Mergendoller, I have such a better understanding of what a meaningful project is. Growing up, I was almost always handed a packet stating I need to have such and such project due on such and such date with such and such with it and more such and such rules, oh and can't forget such and such and such and such. It was always dry, clean cut directions for projects with little availability to incorporate my own ideas and opinions. I have had teachers that would just tell students a little about the project and that it is important because it may be on a test or because we will receive a grade for it. I personally loved projects when I was in school because I love to make things and figure things out. However, there have been PLENTY of times where I was so frustrated because I thought what we were having to do was useless, unimportant, and most of all meaningless. I hated to question, "will I ever really use this in life." Not understanding why something is important can be such a downer.
Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning really emphasizes on how important it is to make projects meaningful. Actually providing students with reasons why something is important to them and why it matters can make such a big difference in grasping their attention and to spark the "I want to learn more" attitude.
Here is the, very helpful, list of the 7 essentials presented in this article:
1. A Need to Know
2. A Driving Question
3. Student Voice and Choice
4. 21st Century Skills
5. Inquiry and Innovation
6. Feedback and Revision
and lastly,
7. A Publicly Presented Product
Project-Based Learning for Teachers
Awesome video to get teachers interested in Project Based Learning
Two students solve the case of the watery ketchup by designing a new cap
This is a prime example of how effective PBL is. These students were able to come together as a team and work together towards a goal they had set for themselves. I am very sure they took pride in their accomplishment. They both put forth an extreme amount of effort into something they both were interested and concerned in. This was definitely a MEANINGFUL project to them.
Two more videos that show how important Project Based Learning is and what motivates students within the classroom are High School Teachers Meet the Challenges of PBL Implementation and PBL: What motivates students today.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning.
"A recent study by Zogby Analytics reports several interesting findings regarding young people aged 18 - 24:
1. 87% say their smartphone never leaves their side.
2. 80% say the very first thing they do in the morning is reach for their smartphone.
3. 78% say they spend 2 or more hours per day using their smartphone.
4. 68% say they would prefer to use their smartphone instead of their laptop or personal computer for personal use.
5. 91% say that having a camera on their smartphone is important (61% very important)
6. 87% say they use their smartphone camera at least weekly. 59% use their smartphone camera at least every other day. 44% use their smartphone camera for still or motion picture taking every day." -Dr. John H. Strange
Part A
I believe that education, schools, teachers, and learners all benefit from technology. I personally absolutely love technology and my smartphone. Technology is an ever expanding tool for virtually anything. It is simply amazing that there are so many ways to use it and so many resources that come from it. Technology has, no doubt, made our world much easier and better in many ways. I love being able to grab my iPhone or computer and within just a few clicks learn and see new things within seconds. The use and availability of technology and smartphones will always broaden the horizon within classrooms and allows teachers to incorporate so much into their lessons. Students will always use technology and what they learn about it throughout life. However, with all the good technology and smartphones contribute to our world, some things about technology and smartphones bother me.
Some of the above data about smartphones bothers me. 80% of people reaching for their phone as soon as they wake up and 87% saying that their smartphones never leaves their side are both very large numbers. I understand that it is important to have them near in case of emergencies, work related communication, phone calls, etc. however, I do not want our world to be so involved within our technology that we miss the world. Some people would be completely lost without their phones, myself included. I hope that we do not allow our smartphones to lessen our ability to enjoy a beautiful day, a simple conversation with a child about their new pet turtle, a common courtesy right in front of us, or our family. Too often people are looking down playing a game, searching the web, tweeting, or watching videos. Instead of wanting to reach for our phone first thing in the morning we ought to tell our significant other, children, parents, roommate, or siblings "good morning." We all love technology without a doubt, but technology will never love us back. Moderation is key.
Part B
As a teacher I will use technology within my classroom because I think it is very useful and it will help engage my students more. Assuming that all of my students have either a smartphone or a tablet with a camera I have come up with a few ways we as a class can use them.
1. It would be awesome to give my students a project at the beginning of the year that allows them to introduce their self to the class and show the class and I a few things about them. My students will be instructed to make a video or slide show of things about them such as their family, what sports they like, what movies they love, etc. and include pictures.
2. I will instruct my students how to create QR codes.
3. After some lessons I will instruct my students into groups for them to create popplets on the subject taught.
4. My students will be instructed to take photos of certain objects at home to show the class during certain lessons.
5. My students will continuously be instructed to search things using their tablet or smartphone.
1. 87% say their smartphone never leaves their side.
2. 80% say the very first thing they do in the morning is reach for their smartphone.
3. 78% say they spend 2 or more hours per day using their smartphone.
4. 68% say they would prefer to use their smartphone instead of their laptop or personal computer for personal use.
5. 91% say that having a camera on their smartphone is important (61% very important)
6. 87% say they use their smartphone camera at least weekly. 59% use their smartphone camera at least every other day. 44% use their smartphone camera for still or motion picture taking every day." -Dr. John H. Strange
Part A
I believe that education, schools, teachers, and learners all benefit from technology. I personally absolutely love technology and my smartphone. Technology is an ever expanding tool for virtually anything. It is simply amazing that there are so many ways to use it and so many resources that come from it. Technology has, no doubt, made our world much easier and better in many ways. I love being able to grab my iPhone or computer and within just a few clicks learn and see new things within seconds. The use and availability of technology and smartphones will always broaden the horizon within classrooms and allows teachers to incorporate so much into their lessons. Students will always use technology and what they learn about it throughout life. However, with all the good technology and smartphones contribute to our world, some things about technology and smartphones bother me.
Some of the above data about smartphones bothers me. 80% of people reaching for their phone as soon as they wake up and 87% saying that their smartphones never leaves their side are both very large numbers. I understand that it is important to have them near in case of emergencies, work related communication, phone calls, etc. however, I do not want our world to be so involved within our technology that we miss the world. Some people would be completely lost without their phones, myself included. I hope that we do not allow our smartphones to lessen our ability to enjoy a beautiful day, a simple conversation with a child about their new pet turtle, a common courtesy right in front of us, or our family. Too often people are looking down playing a game, searching the web, tweeting, or watching videos. Instead of wanting to reach for our phone first thing in the morning we ought to tell our significant other, children, parents, roommate, or siblings "good morning." We all love technology without a doubt, but technology will never love us back. Moderation is key.
Part B
As a teacher I will use technology within my classroom because I think it is very useful and it will help engage my students more. Assuming that all of my students have either a smartphone or a tablet with a camera I have come up with a few ways we as a class can use them.
1. It would be awesome to give my students a project at the beginning of the year that allows them to introduce their self to the class and show the class and I a few things about them. My students will be instructed to make a video or slide show of things about them such as their family, what sports they like, what movies they love, etc. and include pictures.
2. I will instruct my students how to create QR codes.
3. After some lessons I will instruct my students into groups for them to create popplets on the subject taught.
4. My students will be instructed to take photos of certain objects at home to show the class during certain lessons.
5. My students will continuously be instructed to search things using their tablet or smartphone.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Blog Post # 8
What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?
Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
My how I was dreading watching this video after I saw that it was over an hour long. However, now I am so glad that Dr. Strange assigned this. This is truly a must see video that no one will regret watching. Randy Pausch is hands down a very interesting, successful, brilliant, and caring human being. I watched Randy Pausch's Last Lecture at 6:00 in the morning and I, surprisingly for me, never once got distracted, uninterested, and nor did I doze off any. He has a very naturally keen way of keeping people's attention.
Randy Pausch has some very important key statements in his lecture. Having Dreams in life are a necessity and boy did Randy Pausch have plenty. I love that he was able to share all of the dreams he was blessed to experience throughout his life. A really cool saying he said a few times in the lecture was about brick walls. Brick walls let us show our dedication. "Brick walls are there for reasons: They let us prove how badly we want things" He explains how throughout life there will always be brick walls trying to stop us and getting in our way. It is at that those moments when we find out how bad we want to accomplish something how hard we are wiling to work to achieve our goal. He tells a story that explains the importance of how we say "I don't know." When a student or anyone ever asks a question that you are not sure of or do not know the answer to, never just say that you do not know but instead try to understand where they are coming from and either figure the answer out together or point them into the best direction.
"When people give you feedback, cherish and use it." It is always nice to have someone tell you that you are doing a great job at something but it is also good when people care enough to tell you ways to improve something. Instead of rejecting or being hurt by negative feedback be grateful, accept it, and then turn around and use it. Show gratitude. Don't complain; just work harder. "Find the best in everybody; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show you." This is a good statement to always keep in mind especially in the education field. Never short someone a chance to show that they are good because there is some good in everyone. Lastly, always try your hardest to enable the dreams of others!
Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
My how I was dreading watching this video after I saw that it was over an hour long. However, now I am so glad that Dr. Strange assigned this. This is truly a must see video that no one will regret watching. Randy Pausch is hands down a very interesting, successful, brilliant, and caring human being. I watched Randy Pausch's Last Lecture at 6:00 in the morning and I, surprisingly for me, never once got distracted, uninterested, and nor did I doze off any. He has a very naturally keen way of keeping people's attention.
Randy Pausch has some very important key statements in his lecture. Having Dreams in life are a necessity and boy did Randy Pausch have plenty. I love that he was able to share all of the dreams he was blessed to experience throughout his life. A really cool saying he said a few times in the lecture was about brick walls. Brick walls let us show our dedication. "Brick walls are there for reasons: They let us prove how badly we want things" He explains how throughout life there will always be brick walls trying to stop us and getting in our way. It is at that those moments when we find out how bad we want to accomplish something how hard we are wiling to work to achieve our goal. He tells a story that explains the importance of how we say "I don't know." When a student or anyone ever asks a question that you are not sure of or do not know the answer to, never just say that you do not know but instead try to understand where they are coming from and either figure the answer out together or point them into the best direction.
"When people give you feedback, cherish and use it." It is always nice to have someone tell you that you are doing a great job at something but it is also good when people care enough to tell you ways to improve something. Instead of rejecting or being hurt by negative feedback be grateful, accept it, and then turn around and use it. Show gratitude. Don't complain; just work harder. "Find the best in everybody; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show you." This is a good statement to always keep in mind especially in the education field. Never short someone a chance to show that they are good because there is some good in everyone. Lastly, always try your hardest to enable the dreams of others!
Friday, October 10, 2014
Project #4 C4T (2)
C4T Comments4Teachers - Project #4
Summary of two blog posts on Venspired by Krissy Venosdale C4T
The first blog post of Venspired by Krissy Venosdale that I left a comment on is "What Inspires You?." This blog post starts out by Krissy Venosdale explaining how she just moved into her new office and she explains some of the items that she decorated it with. She asks her readers questions about what makes them think, inspires them, gives them ideas. She then states that once you have the answer to those questions, you will then be able to understand what inspires your students. This post is solely to help encourage people to dig deep and discover what inspires them in order to help them teach in a way that fearless and.. well inspiring.
I left this comment on "What Inspires You?": "Hello Krissy, my name is Kela and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I love your blog and I love the name “Venspired.” I think too often people today forget to slow down and think about what inspires them. I forone. Your post has not only inspired me to think of my own inspirations but of others’ as well.
Here is a link to my blog if you would like to check it out, Kela Miller’s EDM310 Blog."
The second blog post of Venspired, by Krissy Venosdale that I read and left a comment on is "It Starts Today." In this blog post Krissy Venosdale starts out by stating how she sometimes complains about some things within the US education system and then says how she knows that there is really nothing she can do to fix things such as that. The rest of this blog post is about how important it is to live each day knowing that there will always be mistakes made and that it is perfectly okay, it is important to take risks, share things, and enjoy learning.
This is the comment i left on this blog post: "I love this. Just like in teaching and in life as well, we will all be a part of mistakes that teach us valuable lessons. Knowing that we cannot change everything or fix what we do not like is perfectly okay. It is just important to make the best of each day just like you said. Thanks for sharing Krissy Venosdale!"
Summary of two blog posts on Venspired by Krissy Venosdale C4T
The first blog post of Venspired by Krissy Venosdale that I left a comment on is "What Inspires You?." This blog post starts out by Krissy Venosdale explaining how she just moved into her new office and she explains some of the items that she decorated it with. She asks her readers questions about what makes them think, inspires them, gives them ideas. She then states that once you have the answer to those questions, you will then be able to understand what inspires your students. This post is solely to help encourage people to dig deep and discover what inspires them in order to help them teach in a way that fearless and.. well inspiring.
I left this comment on "What Inspires You?": "Hello Krissy, my name is Kela and I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I love your blog and I love the name “Venspired.” I think too often people today forget to slow down and think about what inspires them. I forone. Your post has not only inspired me to think of my own inspirations but of others’ as well.
Here is a link to my blog if you would like to check it out, Kela Miller’s EDM310 Blog."
The second blog post of Venspired, by Krissy Venosdale that I read and left a comment on is "It Starts Today." In this blog post Krissy Venosdale starts out by stating how she sometimes complains about some things within the US education system and then says how she knows that there is really nothing she can do to fix things such as that. The rest of this blog post is about how important it is to live each day knowing that there will always be mistakes made and that it is perfectly okay, it is important to take risks, share things, and enjoy learning.
This is the comment i left on this blog post: "I love this. Just like in teaching and in life as well, we will all be a part of mistakes that teach us valuable lessons. Knowing that we cannot change everything or fix what we do not like is perfectly okay. It is just important to make the best of each day just like you said. Thanks for sharing Krissy Venosdale!"
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Blog Post #7
How do we all become learners?
How to make an audio QR Code. (6:23) by: Michele Bennett, GSES
This video shows step by step instruction to creating a QE Code. I always see QR Codes but I have actually never used one before or even simply scanned one before. I often wondered what they were and what exactly do the do. I think using QR Codes can be a very unique tool to use within the classroom and I think the students would be very excited to make them. Anything that makes a student's work different and special, such as this with their own voice, will make them feel very prod of their work. This can be used as a great tool for students to read and learn how to read because they can follow along in books and see the words as they are listening.
Ginger Tuck, GSES Kindergarten – iPad Centers (2:23)
iPad in the Reading Center:
What a cool way to help students learn! I think this is a very useful tool for teachers to use in the classroom. I think that this particular method for helping students learn will be fairly easy to use and also to instruct. Like Ginger Tuck says in the video, "It's no work."
Poplet as a Center (4:07) Ginger Tuck
Poplet is a new term for me. I have always been taught to create webs. This looks like it would be very fun for students to create and a useful tool to encourage students to work well well together. This type of activity can be very useful for students to use to study for tests as well. Poplets can also be printed and hung on the walls for students to see their creations and help them to remember certain subjects and/or lessons.
Alabama Virtual Library as a Kindergarten Center (4:02)
This center really introduces the concept of researching subjects to young students. This type of activity and using the AVL website can bring an endless supply of independent learning. Students can get on and learn almost anything about the subjects taught within the classroom. I love the idea of having worksheets for the students to fill out by drawing pictures and writing sentences demonstrating what they have learned. This makes for a great independent study center.
Mrs. Shirley’s 1st Grade Class: How to use and build a Board in DE for a Project Based Lesson (7:38)
This seems to be an activity that students can work on independently and collaboratively. I am still not very sure what all you can do with Board Builder just from watching this video but from what I learned while watching it also seems like a very useful tool for teachers to use inside of their classrooms. This is definitely something that I have no prior experience with and I hope that I am able to learn more about building Boards in my years at South in the education program.
Mrs. Tassin’s 2nd Grade Class
1. Students Sharing Board Builders (1:29)
2. Student’s Sharing Board Builder (2:34)
In the first video I think the two young boys were shy but very, very proud to show what they had made for the video. Anytime a student or students are able to make something I do believe it makes the learning process so much more fun and interesting and it gives the children to really engage into what they are learning about.
Oh the little girls in the second video are just precious. They certainly are proud and confident with their Board. With watching this video I was able to really see and undertand better what Board Builder is. This is a great tool for teachers to use in the classroom with students and I will certainly love to use it when I have a classroom full of digital learners!
Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten July 7, 2014 (8:05)
The excitement that Dr. Strange, Elizabeth Davis from Daphne Elementary, and Michele Bennett from Gulf Shores Elementary, is so encouraging to students like myself. It makes me excited as well to know that I will be a part of teaching young students how to use and embrace technology as well as all of which it has to offer. To know that students as young as 5 and 6 years old are using and doing almost the exact same thing that I, a 21 year old senior in college, is doing is just amazing.
We All Become Learners (7:18)
Michele Bennett is so excited and proud to be a part of this type of education. You can really tell that all three teachers love their job and are proud of what they do. It is awesome to watch teachers collaborate and discuss what their students and schools are being able to accomplish with the use of technology and applying project base learning.
How to make an audio QR Code. (6:23) by: Michele Bennett, GSES
This video shows step by step instruction to creating a QE Code. I always see QR Codes but I have actually never used one before or even simply scanned one before. I often wondered what they were and what exactly do the do. I think using QR Codes can be a very unique tool to use within the classroom and I think the students would be very excited to make them. Anything that makes a student's work different and special, such as this with their own voice, will make them feel very prod of their work. This can be used as a great tool for students to read and learn how to read because they can follow along in books and see the words as they are listening.
Ginger Tuck, GSES Kindergarten – iPad Centers (2:23)
iPad in the Reading Center:
What a cool way to help students learn! I think this is a very useful tool for teachers to use in the classroom. I think that this particular method for helping students learn will be fairly easy to use and also to instruct. Like Ginger Tuck says in the video, "It's no work."
Poplet as a Center (4:07) Ginger Tuck
Poplet is a new term for me. I have always been taught to create webs. This looks like it would be very fun for students to create and a useful tool to encourage students to work well well together. This type of activity can be very useful for students to use to study for tests as well. Poplets can also be printed and hung on the walls for students to see their creations and help them to remember certain subjects and/or lessons.
Alabama Virtual Library as a Kindergarten Center (4:02)
This center really introduces the concept of researching subjects to young students. This type of activity and using the AVL website can bring an endless supply of independent learning. Students can get on and learn almost anything about the subjects taught within the classroom. I love the idea of having worksheets for the students to fill out by drawing pictures and writing sentences demonstrating what they have learned. This makes for a great independent study center.
Mrs. Shirley’s 1st Grade Class: How to use and build a Board in DE for a Project Based Lesson (7:38)
This seems to be an activity that students can work on independently and collaboratively. I am still not very sure what all you can do with Board Builder just from watching this video but from what I learned while watching it also seems like a very useful tool for teachers to use inside of their classrooms. This is definitely something that I have no prior experience with and I hope that I am able to learn more about building Boards in my years at South in the education program.
Mrs. Tassin’s 2nd Grade Class
1. Students Sharing Board Builders (1:29)
2. Student’s Sharing Board Builder (2:34)
In the first video I think the two young boys were shy but very, very proud to show what they had made for the video. Anytime a student or students are able to make something I do believe it makes the learning process so much more fun and interesting and it gives the children to really engage into what they are learning about.
Oh the little girls in the second video are just precious. They certainly are proud and confident with their Board. With watching this video I was able to really see and undertand better what Board Builder is. This is a great tool for teachers to use in the classroom with students and I will certainly love to use it when I have a classroom full of digital learners!
Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten July 7, 2014 (8:05)
The excitement that Dr. Strange, Elizabeth Davis from Daphne Elementary, and Michele Bennett from Gulf Shores Elementary, is so encouraging to students like myself. It makes me excited as well to know that I will be a part of teaching young students how to use and embrace technology as well as all of which it has to offer. To know that students as young as 5 and 6 years old are using and doing almost the exact same thing that I, a 21 year old senior in college, is doing is just amazing.
We All Become Learners (7:18)
Michele Bennett is so excited and proud to be a part of this type of education. You can really tell that all three teachers love their job and are proud of what they do. It is awesome to watch teachers collaborate and discuss what their students and schools are being able to accomplish with the use of technology and applying project base learning.
Projects #13 Project Based Learning Plans
After collaboration our group decided to teach third graders about the Temperate Forest. We decided to teach them about the weather, location, animals, plants, and even ways that humans can help preserve it. We wanted to focus on project based learning and incorporated the use of technology to keep our young students 100% engaged 100% of the time. Below you will find our rubric, checklist, calender, and lesson plan.
Rubric
Checklist
Calender
Lesson Plan
Rubric
Checklist
Calender
Lesson Plan
Monday, September 29, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Blog Post #6
Video Conversations with Anthony Capps and Dr. Strange
1. Project Based Learning Part 1: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher (10:03)
2. Project Based Learning Part 2: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher (13:45)
3. iCurio (8:08)
4. Discovery Education (4:33)
5. The Anthony - Strange list of Tips for Teachers Part 1 (12:59)
6. Don't Teach Tech - Use It (8:49)
7. Additional Thought About Lessons (3:25)
What I have learned from the above video conversations between Anthony Capps and Dr. Strange
My first thoughts after watching the videos is about how amazing I think it is for students at such a young age are able to use technology. I immediately felt a little unqualified and embarrassed when Anthony talks about how his students have no problem using iMovie. I for one, could not figure it out for a long time. It was not until, finally, after time well spent trying every possible action, was I able to produce my videos. I enjoyed hearing everything that Anthony Capps had to say. He willingly shared some great stories involving his students, their projects, his students' parents, as well as his administers.
I think the path that education is taking is just fascinating and exciting to witness. In a classroom today at O'Rourke Elementary I was able to observe how 1st grade students use the smartboard. The teacher would tell them that they earned an award for something such as "good behavior" or "working well with others." The students would then walk up to the smartboard and add awards to their name all on their own.
The "Anthony-Strange list of Tips for Teachers Part 1" had 6 extremely good tips: 1.)Be a constant learner, 2.)Teaching never ends and it takes a lot of hard-work, 3.)Teachers should always be flexible and always expect the unexpected to happen, 4.)Start with a goal, 5.)Engage 100% of your students, in 100% of their projects, and engage them all 100% of the time, 6.)Always reflect back on your work to make revisions for things to be better. I find all of these very useful to know and important to keep in mind. Teaching requires so much dedication and hard-work! I know though, teachers like Dr. Strange and Mr. Capps will ultimately help shape the future of our world by expanding and utilizing project base learning, the use of technology, and teaching students like myself the importance of this new form of education.
1. Project Based Learning Part 1: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher (10:03)
2. Project Based Learning Part 2: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher (13:45)
3. iCurio (8:08)
4. Discovery Education (4:33)
5. The Anthony - Strange list of Tips for Teachers Part 1 (12:59)
6. Don't Teach Tech - Use It (8:49)
7. Additional Thought About Lessons (3:25)
What I have learned from the above video conversations between Anthony Capps and Dr. Strange
My first thoughts after watching the videos is about how amazing I think it is for students at such a young age are able to use technology. I immediately felt a little unqualified and embarrassed when Anthony talks about how his students have no problem using iMovie. I for one, could not figure it out for a long time. It was not until, finally, after time well spent trying every possible action, was I able to produce my videos. I enjoyed hearing everything that Anthony Capps had to say. He willingly shared some great stories involving his students, their projects, his students' parents, as well as his administers.
I think the path that education is taking is just fascinating and exciting to witness. In a classroom today at O'Rourke Elementary I was able to observe how 1st grade students use the smartboard. The teacher would tell them that they earned an award for something such as "good behavior" or "working well with others." The students would then walk up to the smartboard and add awards to their name all on their own.
The "Anthony-Strange list of Tips for Teachers Part 1" had 6 extremely good tips: 1.)Be a constant learner, 2.)Teaching never ends and it takes a lot of hard-work, 3.)Teachers should always be flexible and always expect the unexpected to happen, 4.)Start with a goal, 5.)Engage 100% of your students, in 100% of their projects, and engage them all 100% of the time, 6.)Always reflect back on your work to make revisions for things to be better. I find all of these very useful to know and important to keep in mind. Teaching requires so much dedication and hard-work! I know though, teachers like Dr. Strange and Mr. Capps will ultimately help shape the future of our world by expanding and utilizing project base learning, the use of technology, and teaching students like myself the importance of this new form of education.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Project #6- C4K Summary for September
Summary for blog post "Birds" , by Shanika
In her blog post, Shanika explains how after seeing a bird she began to wonder about different types of birds. She decided to look on Google to find and learn more things about birds. She then created a wonderful list of bird names she knows. Shanika also incorporated a nice picture of a bird in her blog post.
On September 14, 2014, I left this comment on Shanika's blost post named "Birds":
"Shanika, you know way more bird names than I do! My absolute favorite type of birds are hummingbirds. My grandmother and I sit on her patio and watch her hummingbirds all the time. She used to tell my sister and I that we were a lot like hummingbirds, quick and quiet. I love that you put a picture of a bird and how you centered the text."
Summary for blog post "Pizza chicken strips", by William
In this blog post William describes a new food that he would invent and he would call it pizza chicken strips. William's tasteful invention would include: chicken strips,cheese, ranch, and pepperonis. I personally think that this is very good idea and it shows creativity as well as realism.
On September 20, 2014, I left this comment on William's blog post:
"William, my name is Kela Miller and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I would love to try your invention! Pizza and chicken strips are two of my favorite foods and this combines them into one. Perhaps I will try to cook some pizza chicken strips soon. I would love to know of any other inventions that you come up with, especially food ones."
In her blog post, Shanika explains how after seeing a bird she began to wonder about different types of birds. She decided to look on Google to find and learn more things about birds. She then created a wonderful list of bird names she knows. Shanika also incorporated a nice picture of a bird in her blog post.
On September 14, 2014, I left this comment on Shanika's blost post named "Birds":
"Shanika, you know way more bird names than I do! My absolute favorite type of birds are hummingbirds. My grandmother and I sit on her patio and watch her hummingbirds all the time. She used to tell my sister and I that we were a lot like hummingbirds, quick and quiet. I love that you put a picture of a bird and how you centered the text."
Summary for blog post "Pizza chicken strips", by William
In this blog post William describes a new food that he would invent and he would call it pizza chicken strips. William's tasteful invention would include: chicken strips,cheese, ranch, and pepperonis. I personally think that this is very good idea and it shows creativity as well as realism.
On September 20, 2014, I left this comment on William's blog post:
"William, my name is Kela Miller and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I would love to try your invention! Pizza and chicken strips are two of my favorite foods and this combines them into one. Perhaps I will try to cook some pizza chicken strips soon. I would love to know of any other inventions that you come up with, especially food ones."
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Project #7 My Sentence Videos
Part A: One sentence videos.
My sentence is..
My passion is..
Part B Two Movies As a Teacher
My sentence is..
My passion is..
Part B Two Movies As a Teacher
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Blog Post #5
What are Personal Learning Networks (PLN)? How can they help you as a
teacher? How are they formed? How can you create your own PLN? Who will
be the first additions to your PLN?
The term PLN is very new to me because I have never heard of it before. After watching a few videos and reading about personal learning networks, I now understand how helpful they can be in broadening someone's learning horizon. According to my EDM310 teacher, John Strange, a personal learning network is those people, places, organizations and activities which enable you to learn. Project 6 - Developing A Personal Learning Network EDM 310 - Fall 2009. Basically, everyone is able to be in your personal learning network and some may say that you have always had your own PLN and not even realize it. Ever since all of us were little we looked for other people, whether it may be our parents, teachers, siblings, we looked to them for guidance and to teach us new things.
Personal Learning Networks can be extremely valuable and helpful for teachers! Obtaining a PLN gives you freedom to learn beyond your everyday circle of family, friends, educators, peers, and coworkers. Especially when you have established a personal learning network that involves the internet. The use of the internet is endless and so is the opportunities to learn new and exciting things. One great example of how teachers can expand their personal learning network is using Twitter. I never would have thought to use Twitter to help broaden my learning because I merely just use it to keep up with friends and to see news. I understand now though, that Twitter can be a powerful tool to use to find educators, experts, and others related to any given subject that I can contact in some way to learn more and collaborate with.
Here is a list of ways that educators are using their personal learning networks found on Once a Teacher…:
"– Professional development – learn from content-area specialists
– Locate resources for your classroom, such as free websites and software
– Get lesson plan ideas from master teachers
– Learn about new technology and how to integrate it into your teaching
– Find collaborative solutions
– Find interesting links to education news"
In order to create a personal learning network you must look for people and places that will help you learn. You can do this by using the internet to search topics that interests you. Searching will lead you to finding people who are well educated on the subjected and also those who are interested as well. Searching may lead to finding people on Twitter, Facebook, blogs about the subject, websites solely for the subject, etc. and then you can start connecting to those people and resources.
My first additions to my personal learning network will have be educators and teachers that I find on twitter. I plan to search and follow new people who have interests like me and others who are involved in education.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Project #4 C4T
C4T Comments4Teachers - Project #4
Summary of The Fischbowl by Karl Fisch C4T
The first blog post of The Fischbowl, by Karl Fisch that I read and left a comment on is "Leadership is a Choice, Not a Rank." This post contains a video of a speaker named Simon Sinek and the video is one of TED Talk. I enjoyed watching this video a lot. His key focus in this bog post is to provide sources that discuss trusting leaders, and explain the importance of having leaders that can be trusted and those leaders being able to trust us in return. He states, "I think that may be one of the two or three core problems in education right now."
I left this comment on "Leadership is a Choice, Not a Rank": "Awesome blog post. I do not watch or listen to inspirational speakers that often, nor have i heard of "Ted" and Simon Sinek, however, I enjoyed this video. Trusting others is certainly something people struggle with and having more trust within relationships and in the workplace can be a positive attribute."
The second blog post of The Fischbowl, by Karl Fisch that I read and left a comment on is "The Textbook Is Not The Curriculum." This blog post was created to inform and explain how he does not agree with how Littleton Public Schools Board is handling the matter of Agile Mind "Curriculum" (that is how the letter categorizes it, but is not a curriculum). His daughter is a ninth grader enrolled in Algebra at Arapahoe High School that is currently using Agile Mind materials. She, as well as other students were all sent home with a letter regarding the students to be able to partake in a survey regarding Agile Mind. Karl Fisch is not allowing his daughter to be involved with the survey and I do not blame him.
I left this comment on "The Textbook Is Not The Curriculum": "Hello Karl, my name is Kela Miller and I am a student at South Alabama. I am currently enrolled in EDM310 and I have been working on my blog, http://millerkelaedm310.blogspot.com/ . I must say that as a father and educator you are a prime example of someone who cares. I can tell that you want the best for your daughter and for the schools by reading this post."
Summary of The Fischbowl by Karl Fisch C4T
The first blog post of The Fischbowl, by Karl Fisch that I read and left a comment on is "Leadership is a Choice, Not a Rank." This post contains a video of a speaker named Simon Sinek and the video is one of TED Talk. I enjoyed watching this video a lot. His key focus in this bog post is to provide sources that discuss trusting leaders, and explain the importance of having leaders that can be trusted and those leaders being able to trust us in return. He states, "I think that may be one of the two or three core problems in education right now."
I left this comment on "Leadership is a Choice, Not a Rank": "Awesome blog post. I do not watch or listen to inspirational speakers that often, nor have i heard of "Ted" and Simon Sinek, however, I enjoyed this video. Trusting others is certainly something people struggle with and having more trust within relationships and in the workplace can be a positive attribute."
The second blog post of The Fischbowl, by Karl Fisch that I read and left a comment on is "The Textbook Is Not The Curriculum." This blog post was created to inform and explain how he does not agree with how Littleton Public Schools Board is handling the matter of Agile Mind "Curriculum" (that is how the letter categorizes it, but is not a curriculum). His daughter is a ninth grader enrolled in Algebra at Arapahoe High School that is currently using Agile Mind materials. She, as well as other students were all sent home with a letter regarding the students to be able to partake in a survey regarding Agile Mind. Karl Fisch is not allowing his daughter to be involved with the survey and I do not blame him.
I left this comment on "The Textbook Is Not The Curriculum": "Hello Karl, my name is Kela Miller and I am a student at South Alabama. I am currently enrolled in EDM310 and I have been working on my blog, http://millerkelaedm310.blogspot.com/ . I must say that as a father and educator you are a prime example of someone who cares. I can tell that you want the best for your daughter and for the schools by reading this post."
Project #15 - Search Engines
8 Different Search Engines That Do Different Things
1) If you are ever wanting to find a great source for news, Yahoo News is place to go. This search engine is an excellent search engine to find out what is going on in the world today. Yahoo News offers different categories to help search such as news involving the U.S., the world, Science, Local, and health news. I use Yahoo Mail so I search Yahoo News quite often when I check my mail or just when I here about a story or event I will get online to use Yahoo News to read articles or watch videos to learn more about the subject. This is a very informative search engine and can easily by used.
2) WebMD is certainly a search engine that we may all have to use at some point in our life. I know I have used it plenty of times. Whether it may be to do some sort of research for school, a personal illness, or to learn more about a sickness a loved one may have, WebMD is there to help. This search engine offers so much! "We provide credible information, supportive communities, and in-depth reference material about health subjects that matter to you" is a little of what WebMD believes of itself.
3) WolframAlpha. I personally never knew of this search engine but I am glad I do now. If you have never used it before, I recommend to click on "examples" to see all of the categories it has so you will understand what types of questions you can search for. If you have a question on how to calculate a problem you can simply type it in and WolframAlpha will either help you to learn how to solve it or give you the answer.
4) Going on vacation or planning a trip? Tripadvisor is the go to place. This search engine is so beneficial when wanting to plan the perfect get-away. You can look for hotels, flights, vacation rentals, restaurants, and destinations. It is known as the world's largest travel site. Tripadvisor also offers "reviews and advice on hotels, resorts, flights, vacation rentals, travel packages, and lots more!"
5) Fact Monster is a search engine that is geared more towards children. Fact Monster is ideal for a young student to use to learn more on a subject. This website offers games and quizzes as well to help teach various subjects. Very helpful and fun search engine for kids!
6)Cars.com is a search engine that is obviously all about vehicles. You can search for cars to buy or use this website to sell on. Cars.com sums up basically all it has to offer in one sentence: "Visited by more than 11 million car shoppers each month, Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible and easy-to-understand information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car."
7)YouTube is the seventh search engine on my list. This is an excellent source for searching for videos and music. I personally enjoy using YouTube on a daily basis. I love to get on this search engine and just see what I can stumble across. YouTube was founded in February 2005 and helps people connect all around the world with videos.
8)When shopping is on the agenda, Amazon.com is the perfect place to visit. This search engine offers thousands of things to buy and ways to sell as well. I personally like to use Amazon when buying textbooks for school and certain birthday gifts for people. I know a ton of people who use Amazon.com continuously to do all of their shopping.
1) If you are ever wanting to find a great source for news, Yahoo News is place to go. This search engine is an excellent search engine to find out what is going on in the world today. Yahoo News offers different categories to help search such as news involving the U.S., the world, Science, Local, and health news. I use Yahoo Mail so I search Yahoo News quite often when I check my mail or just when I here about a story or event I will get online to use Yahoo News to read articles or watch videos to learn more about the subject. This is a very informative search engine and can easily by used.
2) WebMD is certainly a search engine that we may all have to use at some point in our life. I know I have used it plenty of times. Whether it may be to do some sort of research for school, a personal illness, or to learn more about a sickness a loved one may have, WebMD is there to help. This search engine offers so much! "We provide credible information, supportive communities, and in-depth reference material about health subjects that matter to you" is a little of what WebMD believes of itself.
3) WolframAlpha. I personally never knew of this search engine but I am glad I do now. If you have never used it before, I recommend to click on "examples" to see all of the categories it has so you will understand what types of questions you can search for. If you have a question on how to calculate a problem you can simply type it in and WolframAlpha will either help you to learn how to solve it or give you the answer.
4) Going on vacation or planning a trip? Tripadvisor is the go to place. This search engine is so beneficial when wanting to plan the perfect get-away. You can look for hotels, flights, vacation rentals, restaurants, and destinations. It is known as the world's largest travel site. Tripadvisor also offers "reviews and advice on hotels, resorts, flights, vacation rentals, travel packages, and lots more!"
5) Fact Monster is a search engine that is geared more towards children. Fact Monster is ideal for a young student to use to learn more on a subject. This website offers games and quizzes as well to help teach various subjects. Very helpful and fun search engine for kids!
6)Cars.com is a search engine that is obviously all about vehicles. You can search for cars to buy or use this website to sell on. Cars.com sums up basically all it has to offer in one sentence: "Visited by more than 11 million car shoppers each month, Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible and easy-to-understand information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car."
7)YouTube is the seventh search engine on my list. This is an excellent source for searching for videos and music. I personally enjoy using YouTube on a daily basis. I love to get on this search engine and just see what I can stumble across. YouTube was founded in February 2005 and helps people connect all around the world with videos.
8)When shopping is on the agenda, Amazon.com is the perfect place to visit. This search engine offers thousands of things to buy and ways to sell as well. I personally like to use Amazon when buying textbooks for school and certain birthday gifts for people. I know a ton of people who use Amazon.com continuously to do all of their shopping.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Blog Post #4
Asking Questions: What questions do we ask? How do we ask?
The driving question for this assignment is what do we need to
know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?
I love how Ben Johnson stresses how important it is to ask questions properly within the classroom in his article,The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom. He also talks about how creative teacher may accompany the "wait three seconds after a question" technique with some sort of system used to call on students randomly. This way every student has a chance to answer a question. I know that a few of my teachers when I was growing up would use systems such as pulling pieces of paper with student names out of jar or simply marking student names off on a roll sheet. This is a very effective way to get everyone engaged in answering questions.
When I started to read Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom By: Maryellen Weimer, PhD in Teaching Professor Blog, I liked how she described a good question: "Good questions make students think, they encourage participation and I think they improve the caliber of the answers students give and the questions they ask." She goes on to recommend three actions that teachers need to take in order to improve on asking questions.
Her first of the three recommendations is to prepare questions. Instead of just preparing the lesson by gathering information and facts, finding relations to the book, and organizing everything, be sure to create questions ahead of time. By doing this, the teacher will be able to make the questions clearer by knowing when the best time to ask each question will be within the lesson.
The second recommendation is to play with questions. This can simply mean to ask the students a question, let them have to think about, and then answer the question later. The question could be asked in the beginning of class, a slide show, lesson, etc. and the students can write it down, discuss it with other students, and/or gather more information to answer as more information on the subject is revealed to them.
The last recommendation from Weimer is to preserve good questions. An example of this is when a teacher is asked questions, he or she writes them down to remember them and then when another class comes in or years down the road the teacher can present the class with, “While you are thinking of questions to ask me and the class, let me share one that a previous student of mine in class asked about this subject.” This shows the students that the teacher cares and remembers what his or hers students have to say and ask.
The driving question for this assignment is what do we need to
know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?
I love how Ben Johnson stresses how important it is to ask questions properly within the classroom in his article,The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom. He also talks about how creative teacher may accompany the "wait three seconds after a question" technique with some sort of system used to call on students randomly. This way every student has a chance to answer a question. I know that a few of my teachers when I was growing up would use systems such as pulling pieces of paper with student names out of jar or simply marking student names off on a roll sheet. This is a very effective way to get everyone engaged in answering questions.
When I started to read Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom By: Maryellen Weimer, PhD in Teaching Professor Blog, I liked how she described a good question: "Good questions make students think, they encourage participation and I think they improve the caliber of the answers students give and the questions they ask." She goes on to recommend three actions that teachers need to take in order to improve on asking questions.
Her first of the three recommendations is to prepare questions. Instead of just preparing the lesson by gathering information and facts, finding relations to the book, and organizing everything, be sure to create questions ahead of time. By doing this, the teacher will be able to make the questions clearer by knowing when the best time to ask each question will be within the lesson.
The second recommendation is to play with questions. This can simply mean to ask the students a question, let them have to think about, and then answer the question later. The question could be asked in the beginning of class, a slide show, lesson, etc. and the students can write it down, discuss it with other students, and/or gather more information to answer as more information on the subject is revealed to them.
The last recommendation from Weimer is to preserve good questions. An example of this is when a teacher is asked questions, he or she writes them down to remember them and then when another class comes in or years down the road the teacher can present the class with, “While you are thinking of questions to ask me and the class, let me share one that a previous student of mine in class asked about this subject.” This shows the students that the teacher cares and remembers what his or hers students have to say and ask.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Blog Post #3
How Can You Provide Meaningful Feedback to Your Peers?
1. Do the following after you read Paige Ellis' Blog Assignment #12 (Fall 2011)
a.) Watch the video, What is Peer Editing? Keep in mind that there will be no assignment or quiz as stated in the video presentation. This short video offers clear, simple advice on how to edit
effectively.
b.) View the slideshow, Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial.
c.) Watch the humorous video, Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes. Don’t be a Mean Margaret or a Picky Patty!
After reading Paige Ellis' blog post, watching all of the videos, and viewing the slide show, I must say I leaned a few things. I really liked how Paige was able to do her post. She was able to demonstrate how peers can properly go about critiquing another peer's work without causing any sort of embarrassment. I loved how in both videos and in the slideshow a very important key element was being positive when peer editing. It is like that is the butter of peer editing, without it the outcome might not be as good and can end bitter. Being positive and providing compliments is definitely an important factor.
I understand that peer editing can be difficult sometimes because I was even a little nervous about it at first. I just would hate for someone to think that I am being a mean Margaret or picky Patty. I know that it is never acceptable nor necessary to hurt someone's feelings while peer editing. I strive to only provide positive feedback and to uplift a fellow classmate while I am peer editing by staying positive and complimenting them on the good qualities of their work.
1. Do the following after you read Paige Ellis' Blog Assignment #12 (Fall 2011)
a.) Watch the video, What is Peer Editing? Keep in mind that there will be no assignment or quiz as stated in the video presentation. This short video offers clear, simple advice on how to edit
effectively.
b.) View the slideshow, Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial.
c.) Watch the humorous video, Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes. Don’t be a Mean Margaret or a Picky Patty!
After reading Paige Ellis' blog post, watching all of the videos, and viewing the slide show, I must say I leaned a few things. I really liked how Paige was able to do her post. She was able to demonstrate how peers can properly go about critiquing another peer's work without causing any sort of embarrassment. I loved how in both videos and in the slideshow a very important key element was being positive when peer editing. It is like that is the butter of peer editing, without it the outcome might not be as good and can end bitter. Being positive and providing compliments is definitely an important factor.
I understand that peer editing can be difficult sometimes because I was even a little nervous about it at first. I just would hate for someone to think that I am being a mean Margaret or picky Patty. I know that it is never acceptable nor necessary to hurt someone's feelings while peer editing. I strive to only provide positive feedback and to uplift a fellow classmate while I am peer editing by staying positive and complimenting them on the good qualities of their work.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Blog Post #2
What Will Teaching in the 21st Century be Like?
Mr. Dancealot (4:20)
The central message of the video, "Mr. Dancealot" is to show how the way a class is taught really matters. This video is of a teacher instructing a dance class but does not properly teach his students. All the teacher does is present to the students a power point presentation and talks the entire time. There is no feedback from the class, no chance for the students to engage in the learning process, much less actually get up to practice the dance, and there is no enthusiasm. Nevertheless, this video is simply showing how important it is to teach a class the proper way and any way that the subject requires to be taught. I agree that this is not the correct way to teach any class.
Teaching in the 21st Century (10:45) by Kevin Roberts (John Strange version)
Kevin Roberts thinks that teaching in the 21st Century needs to be brought more towards technology. Kevin Robert believes that teaching in the 21st should in fact be different from years prior due to all of the advancements associated with technology. Students now are constantly using technology on a daily basis and rely so much on it that the teacher now is not the only way they are gaining knowledge.
>Role as teachers
>Where students get information
>The filters
>How to teach students to handle these resources
>what creation means today
>Change in the classroom
If the only role that teachers have is to provide facts, formulas, stories, etc. to the students then Kevin Robert says that role is obsolete. Students get information from all sorts of technology sources such as blogs, Google, twitter, and so on. He says that teachers are now considered to be the filter instead of the main source of knowledge. Robert lists examples of how students may not know how to use these technology resources. Within this video Robert lists different forms of creations that people today use such as, blogging, designing, animating, and recording. Robert says, "we need to rethink the tools we use and the type of problems we ask students to solve." Kevin Robert wants the classrooms today in the 21st century to be the most that they can be for the students ans also for the teachers. He believes that with utilizing the technology available and teaching the proper skills to students will be the most effective way to better the education process. Teaching students how to analyze, research, validate information, synthesize information, are all important for teachers to teach students.
If classrooms are changed to this new form of teaching and learning then as educators things will be different as well. The format of teaching will change significantly. It will certainly be different from what I grew up in within the classroom. I do believe that this is a great idea and that it will have such positive and aspiring effects on students and teachers within the education process.
The Networked Student (5:10) by Wendy Drexler
After viewing this video I realize just how much I as a student can do with the use of technology. There are so many opportunities and resources right here at my finger tips. The way the video demonstrates just how broad one student can go throughout using various websites and blogs to further his education and contact other people is pretty cool. I completely agree with the video when the question, "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" is asked. The response is right on target. Having a good and caring teacher is always a good thing. A good teacher is always willing to help his or her students out with whatever it is that they be struggling with.
Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts (4:49) by Vicki Davis
The thesis for Davis' video is to demonstrate and explain how she is able to teach her students to learn for themselves and how having a digitized classroom enables them to connect to the world. My reaction to the video's argument is that I believe it is a great way to teach students to expand their horizon and that it helps them to become independent learners. With her not defining everything it teaches them to look up and research things for themselves, instead of being dependent on the teacher.
John H. Strange, Who’s Ahead in the Learning Race?
The question in John H. Srange's video is, "Who's ahead in the learning race?" and the answer is very surprising. After watching and listening to how he went and observed the classrooms in Gulf Shores the answer is elementary students! How awesome is that to hear that children of such a young age is able to use these wonderful works of technology. It is amazing how they are actually learning some of the same things that I am currently learning and even more. My position in which the video is referring to falls in the undergraduate.
Flipping the Classroom (3:49)
Flipping the classroom is definitely new to me. I never had a classroom that was like this in any way growing up. I definitely believe that this new way of instructing a classroom will be helpful to me as future educator. I like how this new way of teaching will allow more time for the teacher to help students and, like the video puts it, for the teacher "to serve as a facilitator."
Mr. Dancealot (4:20)
The central message of the video, "Mr. Dancealot" is to show how the way a class is taught really matters. This video is of a teacher instructing a dance class but does not properly teach his students. All the teacher does is present to the students a power point presentation and talks the entire time. There is no feedback from the class, no chance for the students to engage in the learning process, much less actually get up to practice the dance, and there is no enthusiasm. Nevertheless, this video is simply showing how important it is to teach a class the proper way and any way that the subject requires to be taught. I agree that this is not the correct way to teach any class.
Teaching in the 21st Century (10:45) by Kevin Roberts (John Strange version)
Kevin Roberts thinks that teaching in the 21st Century needs to be brought more towards technology. Kevin Robert believes that teaching in the 21st should in fact be different from years prior due to all of the advancements associated with technology. Students now are constantly using technology on a daily basis and rely so much on it that the teacher now is not the only way they are gaining knowledge.
>Role as teachers
>Where students get information
>The filters
>How to teach students to handle these resources
>what creation means today
>Change in the classroom
If the only role that teachers have is to provide facts, formulas, stories, etc. to the students then Kevin Robert says that role is obsolete. Students get information from all sorts of technology sources such as blogs, Google, twitter, and so on. He says that teachers are now considered to be the filter instead of the main source of knowledge. Robert lists examples of how students may not know how to use these technology resources. Within this video Robert lists different forms of creations that people today use such as, blogging, designing, animating, and recording. Robert says, "we need to rethink the tools we use and the type of problems we ask students to solve." Kevin Robert wants the classrooms today in the 21st century to be the most that they can be for the students ans also for the teachers. He believes that with utilizing the technology available and teaching the proper skills to students will be the most effective way to better the education process. Teaching students how to analyze, research, validate information, synthesize information, are all important for teachers to teach students.
If classrooms are changed to this new form of teaching and learning then as educators things will be different as well. The format of teaching will change significantly. It will certainly be different from what I grew up in within the classroom. I do believe that this is a great idea and that it will have such positive and aspiring effects on students and teachers within the education process.
The Networked Student (5:10) by Wendy Drexler
After viewing this video I realize just how much I as a student can do with the use of technology. There are so many opportunities and resources right here at my finger tips. The way the video demonstrates just how broad one student can go throughout using various websites and blogs to further his education and contact other people is pretty cool. I completely agree with the video when the question, "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" is asked. The response is right on target. Having a good and caring teacher is always a good thing. A good teacher is always willing to help his or her students out with whatever it is that they be struggling with.
Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts (4:49) by Vicki Davis
The thesis for Davis' video is to demonstrate and explain how she is able to teach her students to learn for themselves and how having a digitized classroom enables them to connect to the world. My reaction to the video's argument is that I believe it is a great way to teach students to expand their horizon and that it helps them to become independent learners. With her not defining everything it teaches them to look up and research things for themselves, instead of being dependent on the teacher.
John H. Strange, Who’s Ahead in the Learning Race?
The question in John H. Srange's video is, "Who's ahead in the learning race?" and the answer is very surprising. After watching and listening to how he went and observed the classrooms in Gulf Shores the answer is elementary students! How awesome is that to hear that children of such a young age is able to use these wonderful works of technology. It is amazing how they are actually learning some of the same things that I am currently learning and even more. My position in which the video is referring to falls in the undergraduate.
Flipping the Classroom (3:49)
Flipping the classroom is definitely new to me. I never had a classroom that was like this in any way growing up. I definitely believe that this new way of instructing a classroom will be helpful to me as future educator. I like how this new way of teaching will allow more time for the teacher to help students and, like the video puts it, for the teacher "to serve as a facilitator."
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