Comments for Teachers/ Kids/ Classmates Week 7

Comments for Teachers: I visited http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/02/28/should-have-could-have-what-parents-regret-about-high-school
I commented: I only wish I had had a teacher that gave me this questionnaire. I do think back about things I could have done better or differently in high school. This would have given me a chance to step back and take a look at what I could change when I was in high school instead of wishing I had done things differently in some areas (12 years later!). Great tool for teachers! Thanks!

Comments for Kids: I visited http://melvilleroom8.blogspot.com/
I commented: Hi class! My name is Leigh Ankersen and I am in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. Your Mihi's were very interesting! I have never heard of one and I have been in school for a very long time. It was neat trying to notice words in your presentations. I did catch "principal" once I think. You were great!!!

Comments for Classmates: I visited:
Haley Green (Class A)
I commented: I really enjoyed Dr. Christie's site too. She has a lot of useful links and materials available. The iTunes U is pretty neat! I would have never thought that you could "attend school" via your iPhone...what's next? Great post!

Brittany Ellison (Class C)
I really enjoyed Dr. Christie's site too. She has a lot of useful links and materials available. The iTunes U is pretty neat! I would have never thought that you could "attend school" via your iPhone...what's next? Great post!

My PLN this far....

I have been working on my PLN since the beginning of the semester. It is difficult to find things that I think are important enough and interesting enough to add as part of my PLN. I have the following as part of my PLN:
1. I am on Twitter and Facebook
2. I am a subscriber to the following podcasts:
EdTech Weekly
SmartBoard Lessons
3. I am a follower of the following blogs:
At the Teacher's Desk

I will continue to look for things to add to my PLN throughout the semester.

Blog Assigment #7, February 28, 2010

Richard Miller: This is how we dream (Parts 1 & 2)
Richard Miller speaks about how much writing has changed. We have evolved from writing on paper to using word processors to write and communicate. There are constantly changes in technology and improvements being made to everything around us. Pretty soon there will be no need for human beings to do any job because a computer can do just about anything!

Mr. Miller made the statement that technology is an incremental change, not a fundamental change. Technology is only making things easier for us and not trying to change things all together. Computers are making students' lives easier in enabling them to "write" papers with ease and being able to correct mistakes without starting over. I can remember in high school when I would make a mistake writing a paper and I would have to start over again from the beginning because we could not have white out on our papers! Wow! How times have changed.

Technology is a blessing for today's society. I do not think we could live without technology and the benefits it gives. We have become entirely too reliant on technology to go back now! There are a million opportunities and benefits and if we use our resources wisely and to their maximum potential the possibilities are endless!

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
This video actually made connections between networking and learning. Connectivism is learning from networking. Networking is available through Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter! Students are networking and half of them are not even aware of it!

The video had steps for the "networked student" They were:
1. Using Google scholar to search for peer reviewed articles
2. Social bookmarking sites which are sites that are used to share URLs with others that you have bookmarked for future use
3. Search for blogs (they are opinions rather that hard facts usually) which you can comment on and follow
4. Once the student has established a Knowledge base they create their own blog to publish thoughts of what he has learned and have others read and comment on

The video also referenced iTunes U. With this new technology courses can be downloaded to iPod and students can have access to best professors in world! Skype can be used for interviews with other people and also as a communication tool. There are a wide range of connections in 21st century student and we have endless opportunities available if we just use them! RSS feeds make it possible to subscribe to changing content on Internet and stay up to date on information you are subscribed to.

Ms. Drexler asked why need teacher? A teacher is the one who is responsible for teaching how to build networks and how to take advantage of opportunities that may arise. They are also responsible for pushing students to do their best and become the best. Without teachers we would not have our "guide" to success!

Another Video by Michael Wesch
This video was very interesting. It showed not only how "old" I really am but how much things have changed over time. Reality television evolved in 1992 (wow, that was a long time ago) and the question is "why would all these people want to be famous and taped?" All the media is produced is created by millionaires just for consumers. People are looking for identity and recognition. In return, they will do just about anything.

American Idol has become not only a talent searching show, but there are more and more people that get on the show to "show off" when in all actuality they have NO talent. The network and producers will push those through that are just plain bad just for television ratings.

Mr. Wesch states that people are looking for self awareness and recognition. This would explain a lot of why people will do the things they do on television. I have always wondered what people are really thinking when they get on television and make complete fools out of themselves. I really enjoyed watching this video. It was very entertaining and insightful!

Comments 4 Kids

Comments for kids #1:
I went to http://meresideblog.wordpress.com/ and commented on Safer Internet Day 2010. My comment was:
Hi! My name is Leigh Ankersen and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. After reading your blog, I have to say that I believe Internet use in schools is VERY necessary. The Internet is a powerful tool and can be used to acquire knowledge of new things and kids LOVE computers! If the Internet is monitored as it should be, then children will be able to safely “surf the net” and learn new things in the process!

Comments for kids #2:
I went to http://avoca37.org/grade5/student-blogs/ and commented on Kameron V http://avoca37.org/13kameronv . My comment was: Good job Kameron! I have never read this book, but I feel like if I decide to read the book I have a great background of the book. I have a great understanding of what I would be reading and what the book is about! I think I might read this book. I really enjoy biographies and I LOVE Coca-Cola!!!

Comments for kids #3:
I went to http://owsart.blogspot.com/2010/02/2nd-grade-flowers.html . My comment was: I am amazed! Actually, I am a little jealous because these are so much better than what I would ever be albe to do! Great job!!!

Presentation

Blog Assignment #6, February 21, 2010

Dr. Christie's site

Dr. Christie's section on integrating digital media into the classroom could be very useful to a teacher. A teacher could use digital media in the classroom to document class projects and/or activities and to keep a scrapbook of the year. This site would help in instructing the class and teaching them how to use digital cameras, camcorders, and podcasts. Students will be able to create digital portfolios of things they have done throughout the year. (there is a section for this as well).

Classroom projects can be recorded and filed for future years using. A teacher can always have lessons/projects at her fingertips. Digital media can be very useful. Knowing how to use these devices can not only help the students create memories that will last a lifetime, but they will also have the knowledge of these technologies to use in later endeavors.

iTunes University

iTunes University would be very useful to both teachers and students. Today's society is very mobile. Everyone is always on the go and if you could send (teachers) and receive (students) lessons on your cell phone then the possibilities would be endless. Students could have access to all information for classes at their fingertips and they would never have to worry about finding a computer or Internet access to get classwork.

Teachers on the other hand would have the chance to give last minute assignments or messages to students and know that they get the message. Teachers will be able to communicate with students at all times and have access themselves to all lessons and assignments given. I believe that in a couple of years, there will be no need for classrooms because everything can be done with a handheld phone or on the computer. There will be no need for classroom instruction because everything can be done by technology!

iPods in Instruction

http://www.principalspartnership.com/iPods.pdf
This site talks about how schools are going to iPods for delivering instruction. The iPod can be used as said above, for teachers and students to receive messages and lessons. iPods are becoming study aids for students too. They are able to review lessons and fast-forward to sections of lessons that they may not understand or need to hear again. This is a great tool for visual and auditory learners. Students can not only "see" lessons, but they can "listen" to them as many times as they need in order to get the full message.

Duke University has been using iPods in instruction. The site "http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2005/12/ipodupdate.html" states that the number of students using iPods on campus has quadrupled and the number of classes using iPods has doubled in the second year of the University using iPods for instruction. The iPods are used to enhance classroom assignments and lectures.

In 2004, Duke University gave free iPods to all incoming freshmen but have since modified it to giving free iPods to undergraduates enrolled in a class that requires the use of iPods. Duke has expanded technology use to not only iPods, but to using digital audio and video, online collaboration tools and tablet PCs. The university is utilizing technology to its fullest potential!

Blog Assignment #5, February 14, 2010

Wikipedia

Wikipedia is always the first thing that comes up when you do an Internet search. I find it really annoying that it is even on the Internet because somehow when I am doing an Internet search I ALWAYS end up on some Wikipedia page. I do not think that it is a reliable source and do NOT recommend the information on it's site be considered valid. If I am searching for information on something I want information that I know to be true. I don't want to have to do research on "research information" to make sure it is valid information.

I believe the scanner will make it a better source because people will be less likely to "embellish" if they can no longer change information anonymously. I do not however believe that is should be used as valid information because as the WIRED article said, "editors can go to a coffee shop or Internet cafe and still make changes and protect their IP addresses." So, even if IP addresses are tracked there is still and always will be a way around it. One suggestion would be to make Wikipedia users register and obtain a registry number they will have to use to edit anything on Wikipedia. So, even if someone was to go to a coffee shop and use WIFI they would still have to put their registry number in.

Wikipedia is a great tool to start your search. I usually click on Wikipedia and I can find other "reliable" sources from within that site. The articles can give key ideas to research about a topic. You can then decipher if the information on Wikipedia is valid. So, I guess what I am trying to say is that Wikipedia should be used as a starting point, not a source.

"What I've learned this year, " by Mr. McClung

I found this article to be not only very interesting but to be very helpful in the upcoming semesters and my future endeavors as a teacher. Mr. McClung gave six important points in
order to successfully teach your class. The six keys are: Be flexible, communicate, be reasonable, don't be afraid of technology, listen to your students, and never stop learning. Each one of these makes perfect sense.

A teacher must be flexible. There will be times that things come up and your schedule must be rearranged. School speakers and assemblies will interrupt your daily schedule and you must be flexible in order to fit this into your day and still accomplish a well rounded day of teaching.

Next, a teacher must know how to communicate. Communication is very important in any relationship, not only as a teacher. You have to be able to communicate with people in order to avoid confusion and to resolve any issues that may arise. It is very important to not only communicate with your students but also with fellow teachers. You need to have good rapport with fellow teachers so that you can have help and support.

A teacher should always be flexible. You need to hold expectations for your students, but not too high. The higher the expectations, the more likely your students are to "fail" in reaching those expectations. Teachers should always keep their students in mind when planning lessons and the desired outcome.

Technology can be a powerful tool when teaching. Teachers should embrace technology, not run from it. Not only can technology make teaching easier, but it can also help students become engaged in learning. Students will be able to be part of the lesson instead of sitting there listening to a lecture.

Next, you should listen to your students. Your students thoughts are important because you can find out what interests them and incorporate that into your lessons. If your lessons involve things that interest them then they are more apt to pay more attention. Also, if you listen to your students, they will think you care about them as a person, not just one of your students.

Lastly, teachers should never stop learning. Teachers should be life-long learners. The more you as a teacher learns, the more you have to pass on to your students. There are always new ideas and ways of teaching discovered and a teacher should not be afraid of change. A teacher should strive to learn all they can and pass it on to their students. How can a teacher expect their students to pay attention and learn if they are not willing to do it themselves?

I believe everything in this post is very important to remember. A teacher needs to be willing to learn and change with the new times. Technology is evolving and it can only enhance education, so why not jump on? I believe that these points are key factors in being a successful teacher.

Blog Assignment #4, February 7, 2010

http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Coll_jpsrolls/PodcastCollection
by Judy Scharf

This article was very interesting to me. I never realized that the term podcast came from "broadcast" and "iPod." Podcasts in the classroom can be very useful. The article states that using podcasts can give students a chance to share what they have learned with others. Students will be more interested in what they have learned if they have the chance to use technology to "show it off!"

The tips to succeed section will be very helpful for teachers in the classroom. They listed the following:

1. Make sure you spend enough time learning Audacity (or the software you use) to feel comfortable with it.
2. Give students a choice of topics
3. Let students pick the people they want to work with
4. Have some exemplary podcasts for them to listen to
5. Include a list of criteria for research
6. Allow plenty of time to complete the project. Everything takes longer than you think it will!
7. Invite the principal, department chairperson, or some other person to come in and see the presentations. Students will be very proud of their work.

This site as a whole would be a great tool to use when creating classroom podcasts. There are several links to use such as a Podcast Rubric for grading. I have bookmarked this site to use in the future.

Eagle's Nest Radio Episode #3: Roamin' with the Ancient Romans

The 3rd grade class podcast on Ancient Rome gave me a lot of ideas for my own podcast. I like the intro with the music and the fact that the music continued throughout them talking. The music faded out just enough to hear the children's voices but you could still hear the music. I have several ideas now that could help me when creating my own podcast. :)