Blog Post #6

1. The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler:

    I really enjoyed the video, The Networked Students. I thought it was put together very well and was easy to understand. I was unsure about what a personal learning plan was, but by watching this video it provided an insight. This video was about a student attending the 21^st Century High School. I couldn’t believe he only goes to school three days out of the week and the other two days online. He also has no text book and never has lectures.

    This shows a different kind of learning and yes in some ways make me nervous. As he had developed his own virtual textbook and personal learning plan which creates organization and new information at hand. This makes my job more intense because I have to keep up with the new tools and applications to keep my students up to date. I believe this kid of student will have an advantage when it comes to technology because he or she was exposed to it earlier.

    I am not sure if I am ready to be a teacher, let me rephrase that I am not ready to be a teacher in the 21^st century. I realized I have a lot of catching up to do and how tuff it is sometimes to keep up with technology. Still I think it is definitely worth it, because, as explained on the video, students in the 21^st century will need a teacher. They will need a teacher to show them how to build networks, communicate properly with others, to organize information that is valid and of course guidance.

2. A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)

    I really liked how organized and neat the seventh graders personal learning environment was. She organized her blocks into categories, for example class work and social networks. My personal learning network is just getting started, but is coming together very well. This is my first PLN and I am using symbaloo to keep all my information organized and up to date. I like how you can add whatever website you like to your personal learning plan and how all the information is kept together. I hope to expand my PLN and learn to use it better as time goes on.

3. Critiques of Smartboards

    Michael Staton has a couple of points when it comes to smartboards and why he does not like them. For example, he states how expensive smartboards are and how schools don’t have the money for them. He also goes into how interactive boards do not give students an adaptive learning environment and how it enables social feedback. What really caught my eye is when he stated smartboards do not reduce a teacher’s work load.

    Well I have a different opinion and agree with the k-12 Teachsters blogspot about smartboards. I agree with them, because I have seen students interact and use the smartboard in educational ways. Smartboards are great because they make information fun to learn and also get the students wanting to learn. It is not about the teachers and their workload; it is about getting your students involved in learning. The smartboard also brings technology into the classroom at younger grades, like kindergarten, which provides exposure to new tools that involve technology.

K-12 Teachsters blogspot  http://medt3401.blogspot.com/2010/06/interactive-smart-boards.html

C4K 1, 2 & 3

I have really enjoyed the comments for kids because it has given me a different perspective on teaching, when incorporating blogs in kids lives. I think it’s a great idea for them to have a class blog, as it can only benefit them in the future.


C4K #1


    My first comments for kids was someone in Mr. L’s 5th grade class. This blog was a little different because it had no information on the student or even the class. There blog was about Valentines Day and how much they love it. They talked about how Valentines Day was a special day and how their dad surprised their mom.
    I replied by stating how much I also loved valentines day. I told him or her a little bit about my Valentines Day and how I decided to get my grandpa a valentine because he has been very sick. I think there doing a great job blogging.


C4K #2


    My second C4K’s was Jordenne a student in 4th grade at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ. I think it is an awesome blog her teacher Miss King really seams to be into it. Her blog was about her first netbook. She described how much she liked using her netbook and how she got it. She was nervous at first but when she received her net book but once she started using it the nerves went away.
    I have never even herd of a net book and have never used one before. I told her it sounds awesome and how I would like to try a netbook. I also told her how I never used one in school and that I wish I had, so I would be prepared for future classes.


C4K #3


My third C4K’s was Jaylee Juliet Sifono Nouata a student at Point England School.
Her Post.
Last week was my first day at school and I was nervous at first but then I got use to it. During school I loved working with people I never worked with before. School was so cool because we got to catch up with things from last year. I wish I am a year 8 because I really want to go to university and study to get an awesome job and to have that moment of freedom away from the country. If I had 3 wishes it would be to have a family and to be an awesome teacher and to have a great experience though my life.


My response
    I introduced my self like usual. Her post was written well. I told her I liked her wishes and that my goals where almost the same; successful at work, a family of my own someday and to experience the world. I told her, I am glad you shared your first day on your blog. I also think your blog is so creative, keep up the good work.

Project 9b

Blog post #5

1. 100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better

    I found 100 ways to use your iPod to learn and study better very useful. I think this web page could really do some good because many people have ipods, iphones, and other apple equipment. This web page was all about what you could do with your ipod. For example, it gives you a category which contains a listing underneath, like applications, ipod learning support, and even podcast and more.  So what can you do with your ipod?

    I am still learning when it comes to my iphone and ipod. I feel like technology is moving so fast and that I am barely keeping up.  I learned so much from this site, for example did you know through the itunes store you can get audiobooks on any subject. I also learned that you can access information and other materials through The Education Podcast Network which could help me with my podcast.

2. Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog    This was so creative and brilliant. The Eagle Nest Radio actually sounds like a radio station that is ran by kids. The students who are on the radio fill you in on important subjects and information. The name of their audio this week was called Roamin' with the ancient Romans, it was basically all about Rome. It gave all kinds of information including historical dates, Roman architecture, famous people like Caesar and Cleopatra.

    I am very glad I decided to listen to Eagle Nest Radio because it gave me a lot of ideas that i could use in my podcast. I learned that you can put music to the background and make it stop when someone is talking. Also I learned a new technique I could use which is having one person talk about each subject, letting everyone get a chance to participate. 

3. Judy Scharf Podcast Collection

    This web page filled me in on what a podcast is, because to be truthful I really did not know the definition. Do you? Well a podcast is a radio styled talk show which puts out information about any subject. She provides a couple things you can do with your podcast, like adding music. The good thing about podcast is that it can be listened to in two different forms on the computer or mp3. A podcast is a good way to interact with a lot of people and provides something for people to come back to if they need.  

    I watched the video How To Create A Podcast on youtube which provided the step by step information you need to create your own podcast. I found out that you will need a microphone, a computer, and software, which you can find on the internet to download for free. I really found the video helpful and would recommend it to anyone.

Project #8 Podcast

Click here to listen to our download.

Project #9a

Blog Post #4

1. Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod.
    Dr. Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor in the Educational Administration program and the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. He has received numerous national awards for his technology leadership work and blogs regularly about technology leadership issues.
    I enjoyed his blog post Don’t teach your kids this stuff. Please? I found it interesting and true. I think you learn more when you actually participate in the activity or process. I think he makes his point that we need to teach are children about new technology because its just as important today as the essentials.

2. The iSchool Initiative (5:42) by a high school senior
    The argument the high school senor makes is about the Ischool. He believes the Ischool would change the entire schooling system and I believe it would. There would be no expensive copy machines, paper, pencils and ect to cost the schools money.
    I am not sure about the Ischool, because we are combining students personal live with school. Not saying that’s bad but with the Ischool teachers can contact there students anytime, I guess there is a lot of responsibility that comes with the Ischool. I also don’t know how it would fit into Elementary schools. I guess parents could print the coloring pictures their children did in school that day.

3. Watch The Lost Generation.
    The Lost Generation was very inspiring. I thought it was fantastic how she turned it around and started readying it backwards or from bottom up. I believe she is right happiness doesn’t come from money but from within and your family. If you have not watched the video The Lost Generation I advise you to its awesome.

4. Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir
    Eric Whitacre’s virtual choirs is awesome. It sounds so rich and beautiful. I think this is a great way to use the internet. By using the internet in this way it is very creative and I love it. It reminds me of YouTubes internet symphony, which I enjoyed tremendously.

5. Teaching in the 21st Century.
    This was a great video it addressed every question that involves teaching in the 21^st century. It mainly speaks to teachers and the ways they can teach. It even goes into extra circular activities like ART and P.E. This video makes me think about how I will teach in the 21^st century and the many things that involve teaching in the 21^st.

So will computers take over the world?

   

   

    That is a good question and I am not sure on my reply. Do I think we will destroy ourselves, yes and it will probably involve computers. I think merging computers with humans is scary. If many people today our not technology literate, how do you think they will be in the future? In reality many will still be behind, trying to understand new technology from years ago. So I guess I do think computers will take over the world, because people our going to solely reply on computers and obtain little knowledge on their own. I mean you heard it from inventor Ray Kurzeil, there already putting computers into humans, giving them the ability to know things that they are not having to learn.

    So look how far we have fallen, we will go through all the trouble to install a computer in our brain so instead of us having to think and do for ourselves we will be told by the computer what to do. Here is a question for you who is in charge of the main computer? This also leads to another question why go through all the trouble of learning something when you can easily download it?

Project #6 My Sentence

Project # 5

Blog Post 3

1. Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today (4:45)
    I like the film a Vision of Students Today by Michael Wesch. This video showed what students are really doing in the classroom and what evolves their lives. My life at college is not exactly like that but kind of close.
    I spend a lot of time sitting in a classroom, especially my first two years which consisted of long lectures. It sad to say but in college many teachers don’t know anything about their students or their interests. I never use my computer in class but definitely understand why students spend so much time e-mailing, face booking, and using other ways of communication. This video makes me think about my college experience and ways I could make it much more educational for my benefit.

2. Read the post "It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
    I found the post, It’s Not About The Technology by Kelly Hines interesting and in many cases true. She talks about technology and what it brings to the future and how teaching is highly evolved. Hines gives examples of the technology tools we use today and provides a list of things teachers must recognize to be effective in teaching.
    First on the list is teachers should be learners, I agree, this is very important because if teachers are not updated with the new tools and trends how can they relate to their students and teach something they don’t understand. She also gives three more ways teachers must recognize to be better educators. If you have not read Kelly Hines post, I think you should it is very interesting and beneficial.

3. Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
    Karl Fisch’s post, “Is it okay to be a technologically illiterate teacher?”, made me wonder if it is OK? I would say no, you need to be at least somewhat knowledgeable. What is a technology literate teacher ? I cannot answer this for I do not know. This brings me to Karl Fisch who gives a list of standards that he believes educators should know.
    This is one mans opinion and I will take it into consideration when teaching my students. I agree with his first standard, that all educators should achieve a basic level of technology capability. You have to know this to be able to teach it. Times are changing, and more, and more classrooms are becoming involved in technology. How will you be able to assist if you do not know the fundamentals of technology. Believe me I am not an expert on the subject, far from it, but I am learning as well.

4. Gary Hayes Social Media Count
    What do they mean for your professional career as a teacher? Gary Hayes social media counts shows how active and dynamic the social web, mobile industry, and gaming business is. This has a big impact on my professional career as a teacher because this is what I have to look forward to when I teach. This will impact the way I communicate with my students and their parents. I have to know all the new social networks and media available to better my teaching experience.

Project #3 Summary C4T #1

    
     My C4T the past 2 weeks has been Joe Dale, who is an expert on technology and language learning, his blog is titled Integrating ICE into the MFL. The most recent post on 12-19-2010 is titled celebrating ICT links into language, it is about him putting together an awesome event called ICT links into languages conference. The ICT links into languages conference takes place on the 12th and 13th of February at South Hampton University and consists of program seminars and hands-on workshops.
     I think ICT links into languages conference is a wonderful idea, because it gets you to try new things like blogs, winkis, digital voice recorders and much more.It kind of reminds me of my EDM 310 class and a conference like this could help benefit this class.

     My 2nd comment was on an earlier post (12-12- 2010) entitled Happy Days  Are Here Again For Languages. This blog was about how singing a  song could help you with vocabulary, reinforcing sentence structure, and hooking young people into language learning. He provided a couple of videos from his class that show how his students benefited by singing their foreign language to their favorite tunes.
     I think this a wonderful idea because it looks like a good teaching strategy I can use in my class room. I never thought about getting my students to sing their favorite tunes but I could see how it could help not only with vocabulary but memory too. This looks like a fun activity and I am sure the students would enjoy doing it.