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Blog Post #6

Wendy Drexler: The Networked Student

Connectivism is an excellent idea but only for technologically literate individuals. If the individual is not willing to learn new things daily then connectivism wouldn't work. I think EDM 310 is preparing The University of South Alabama students for this major change but what about people who hasn't been exposed to these different methods of learning? These people would be at a disadvantage and would put their students at a disadvantage also. In order to get everyone on board we must first have an open mind about technology. Technology is constantly changing and we must keep up in order to help our children benefit from connnectivism.

I think workshops and people working together would help present the idea of connectivism in schools. This is not a one person movement, everyone, including parents, must be involved to make it a success. I think EDM 310 is preparing me for this type of teaching. We are introduced to a lot of material dealing with technology. However, by the time I graduate new technology will exist. My role is to keep up with current technology post EDM 310 in order to be a networked teacher.

I think students would learn more from this experience than the traditional method. They would be able to voice their opinion and show their creativity instead of learning what the teacher knows. I've discovered that most teachers teach within their comfort zone. If they are uncomfortable with a subject they tend not to exposed the students to the information. Connectivism is a teaching method where everyone is learning.

A 7th Grader Personal Learning Environment

Responsibility is the characteristic that stood out in this video. The PLE teaches students how to be independent and responsible. It also gives the students their creativity back and shy away from learning out of an out dated book. I think this is an excellent way for students to learn how to think and problem solve.

The Machine is Changing Us

by Michael Wesch

It's 2010 and we haven't banned books, however books are rarely used. We are still required to buy books for our college courses but rarely open them. I love the way he used old quotes to refer to today's life. He covered a lot of information but it really didn't catch my eye. The motive of the video was unclear to me.

Blog Post #5

Eagle Nest Radio and Class Blog

This blog is an excellent teaching method. The students recorded a podcast about different topics. I think this help the student learn by actually participating and talking about the subject. I could tell the excitement in the student's voice while discussing the topic. Other students around the world could listen to their podcast and learn more than sitting in class listening to a lecture. I think by the students hearing other students their age discussing a subject would grasp their attention more. I love the idea of using podcast in the classroom.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

by Joe Dale

Podcasting in the classroom benefits students in many ways. This video discussed several real life situations that podcasting would come in handy. Students who are absent have access to the information they missed via podcast. Missing a day of school can sometimes set a student back and prove hard to catch up. The students can listen to the information as many times they need until they grasp the topics. Even if a student did attend class they still could go home and listen to the information again. The parents are exposed to what was covered in the classroom also. I think recording a podcast is a great teaching tool to keep the students interested and on track.

Podcast Collection

by Judy Scharf

This blog is a helping tool for people who are not knowledgeable of a podcast. I did not know much about podcasting before EDM310. Judy Scharf explains what a podcast is, how to devote time creating a podcast, and different subjects to record in a podcast. The tips to succeed helped my podcasting partner, Tiffany Morris, and I understand the concepts of podcasting. We used this blog for the foundation of creating our podcast.

Blog Post #4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

by: Dr. Scott McLeod

Dr. Scott McLeod is a teacher who is currently an Associate Professor at Iowa State University. He is also the Director of UCEA Center for Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He truly believes in public schools but thinks schools need a new paradigm. His work focuses on the leadership necessary to effectuate the new paradigm.

Dr. McLeod's post was intriguing. At first, I thought he was being serious about not wanting children to progress in technology until I found out he was being really sarcastic. I think children should be monitored using technology but not stopped from using it. I understand why parents freak out about internet predators, uncensored material, and cyber bullying but there's always going to be a negative aspect towards everything. Teachers and parents should always look at the positive aspects of things. Look at how the world has evolved since technology came about. We should want our children to be apart of the movement and not against it. I think every child should be introduced to technology and what it has to offer.

The iSchool Initiative

I think the arguments being made about iSchool comes down to people being afraid to embrace technology. I support technology in the the classroom to the fullest. This type of school would cut down cost per student instead of cutting teachers. We would actually have enough funding to pay for needed items. We wouldn't have to waste money on copiers, copy paper, books, pencils, pens and etc.

I think this is an awesome idea but of course there is always a downside to everything. Librarians would lose their jobs because there will no longer be a need for books. Teacher student relationship would suffer because of the dependence on technology only. I'm afraid classroom management would suffer also. However, this method of teaching would produce adults who are ready to face this fast pace world.

The Lost Generation

Wow!!! This video is by far the best I have watched. The reverse was brilliant. I agree with the reverse of the poem because no matter what happens in life happiness should always come for within. We as Americans tend to place our value in money, jobs, cars, houses, and etc. We should be happy for life in general.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

This is an incredible way of getting people all around the world involved in a choir. This choir had so many people in it that didn't have to be in the same place. They sound great and were in unison without being in the same place. This was an excellent idea I was shocked by this performance.

Addition Assignment #1

Google Squared and WolframAlpha are both great educational implications. Using these tools in the classroom will help broaden student's thinking towards the word. I was not aware of any of these tools before viewing Dr. Strange's video. A geography teacher could use these tools in class rather than out-dated textbooks. I am anxious about using these tools and learning more ways to manipulate them.

After viewing Did You Know 3.0, I was shocked about the statistics of India having more honor students than students in the United States. However, now I am at eased about that statement due to the population and Dr. Strange explaining what it really meant. I agree with Dr. Strange about comprehending what something really means instead of running with ideas that are being thrown out.

Food For Thought Comment: I think children are easy learners. Now if an older computer illiterate person in there 40s or 50s would have picked up the iPad they probably would have lost their mind.

Summary Post C4T

A Non-Techie Resource Bucket Fillers by: lthumann

Mrs. Lisa Thumann explained in her post how "Bucket Filling" made a positive impact on her daughters' life. Bucket Filling, is when students in the classroom write a compliment about another student and place it in that students' bucket anonymously. After researching this method she came across a book by Carol McCloud, which explained the idea behind bucket filling; it is about spreading love and good feelings towards each other. Mrs. Thumann and her daughters' teacher started a project documenting how the

students used "bucket filling". It proved to be a positive method in the student lives and a self-esteem booster.

I think every teacher should have some sort of method in their classroom that boost students' self-esteem. So many students are being bullied and tortured in the classroom today. These students need to hear a compliment from someone daily to keep their self-esteem high. I enjoyed this post and will incorporate this method in my future career as a Special Education Teacher.

Blog Post 3

Micheal Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

"I did not create the problems, but they are my problems!" This quote stood out to me while watching this video. The message in this video is powerful. In my classes teachers are still using chalkboards, whiteboard, and overhead projectors. I can't believe that teachers still want to write so much information on the board and then erase it. It's like they are writing for exercise.
We just recently received smart boards in our classes, but the teacher still use power points instead of incorporating new ideas to teach the info. My teachers are also still inviting speakers to the classroom instead of using skype as a way of communicating. They could create a podcast, video, or skype with others instead of creating a power point for every chapter. We as students pay so much money to attend college to only graduate and know nothing about technology. It's time that we jump aboard and get with the program. It seems as if school is the only place that is stuck in time. School is the foundation of our lives and we are not getting adequate information there.
This movie basically summed up my college experience. All of my classes, except for one, are lectures and power points. When I become a teacher, I hope to have resources to expose computer technology to my students.

"It's Not About Technology" by Kelly Hines

I definitely agree that teachers must also be learners. The state could provide all types of technology and equipment to schools, but if the teachers don't know how to use it then the equipment goes to waste. Some teachers don't feel the need to change. They think since they have been teaching for 25 yrs they know everything.This is so untrue. We never stop learning; new ideas and technology are emerging every day.

We just received smartboards in our education classes about a year ago. The teachers are still using power point presentation on them. I'm thinking if the teachers are not going to use it for new advancement then the university should be issued a refund. New equipment doesn't help at all if no one puts it to use. I think the teachers should be opened to new new ideas about technology into the classroom. One teacher was lost when she saw the smartboard. She did not know how to write on it, so she picked up a piece of chalk and began to write on the chalkboard. I thought to myself, why didn't she at least try to figure out how to operate the smartboard? After reading Mrs. Hines' post, the answer became clear to me, teachers must also be learners in order to prepare for the future.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

The answer to this question is of course not! It is ridiculous how some teachers think it is okay to use the same teaching method they've used for years. The world has advanced and the schools are stagnant. Students attend school for years and graduate knowing nothing. It's time for teachers to accept the fact that computers are here to stay. It's not a trend that's going away. Teachers need to realize it's not okay to teach students and have no clue about technology. Books, paper, and pens are becoming obsolete, so are the teaching methods.
The requirement for teachers should be technology literate. Why are the standards so low for teachers' certification? In my education classes, I rarely use a computer. I know the classes should require more technology, but the teachers are not incorporating technology into the curriculum. There is no need for finger pointing but we need to start learning from our mistakes.

Google Presentation: The Paws of My Heart

Blog Post #2

Did You Know 3.0 by Karl Fisch

Did you Know 3.0 was an interesting and informative video. After reviewing the video, I thought to myself, what is going to happen in the years to come? We as a country are not prepared for the future. We must change our teaching and learning methods or else we will be left behind like cavemen. Our students need to be well prepared to transition from high school to the fast pace world. However, most U.S. schools don’t have enough funding to provide computers to students.

Jobs are becoming more technical than physical. It is imperative for teachers to learn and start teaching up to date materials. Learning Microsoft Word, Excel, and access is cool but it's ancient. Teachers must acquire information to help our students compete globally. I believe if we don't change our system of learning soon, we as the United States will fade away as being a third world country.

Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman

Mr. Winkle Wakes was funny but the message was far from a joke. There are so many people wandering around lost just like Mr. Winkle. In order to survive in this day in time we need to become technology literate. Everywhere Mr. Winkle went was rolling on into the new day and age except school. School is where you suppose prepare students for the future, but it seems as if we are preparing them for the past.

I think teachers should incorporate technology into everyday lessons. The students would become comfortable and gain knowledge of what's actually going on outside of school walls. Incorporating technology into the curriculum will change the statistics of success in America. These videos definitely changed my view of technology and how it is affecting our Americans today.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

"If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original." ---Sir Ken Robinson
Sir Ken Robinson stated that students are being educated out of creativity. I agree with this statement. I remember being in elementary school and being told that my method of learning was inappropriate and unnecessary. I had a hard time remembering certain information so i use to make up songs about the information and dance to it. I was forced to learn the typical way. I became irritated and was no longer interested in the information. That semester I received my first bad grade. I was embarrassed and ashamed to participate in class because I thought of myself as being dumb.
I agree with Sir Ken about humanities and arts are just as important as math and science. Educators should realize that children are not mini teachers. Children should be able to express their thoughts and talents as well as the teachers express theirs. Public schools focus so much on academics and standardized testing than students’ logistics by participating in music, dance, art and etc. Please stop taking creativity from our children. As Sir Ken said, "It is our job to help them[students] make something of the future.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

I commend Vicki Davis for the effort she has put forth to educate her students in the rural area of Georgia. She has exposed them to things that most people didn't know exist. Prior to viewing this video, I did not know what avatar and terraform meant. Vicki not only spread knowledge to her students but to anyone who viewed her video. I think this type of learning should be required in all schools. This form of teaching helps the students broaden their horizons.
Educators should take the same approach in schools today. This would make school more interesting and informative at the same token. Pen and paper will soon be obsolete and the students who are not technology literate will be out of date also. Vicki Davis made a big step towards preparing students for the future, hopefully more will follow her footsteps.