To my fellow classmates in EDM310:
I enjoyed getting to know yall and I wish yall luck in pursuing your education and soon to be careers. I hope yall all have a great break and a Merry Christmas! Mr. Wakeman, I also wish you luck in your career and all the other aspects of your life. Merry Christmas as well!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Week 13, What I learned
I think that this was a wonderful class in preparation for me as a teacher and also to me as a student. Before I started this class I would have considered myself to be extremely technologically challenged. Now I feel that there are many things I can do and so many more resources available to me than I ever thought possible. The most important thing I learned in this class is how to use Excel. I never knew how to work it and now that I do I think that it is a great program. Excel is a program I plan on using for my grade book when I am a teacher. I love the fact that we learned to use formulas with it. It really makes things so much easier. Another thing I learned was how to use Publisher. I really enjoyed using publisher because it is a program I can use in all aspects of my life. I also learned a lot about Word. I thought that I knew everything about Word before I started this class but there were so many things I didn't and I am glad I know them now. I also learned how to use Access. I would have never attempted to even open Access until this class. While it can be confusing, it also can be very helpful. Again, I really enjoyed this class and I am glad I am no longer technologically challenged.
Week 12, iTunes University
Itunes University is a great tool that allows users to easily search, download, and play course content just like they do music, movies, and TV shows. It delivers easy, 24/7 accesses to educational content from hundreds of top colleges, universities, and educationally focused organizations across the country. And it’s accessible to anyone with a Mac or PC. It also is Engaging to students. It offers audio and video that make subjects more vivid than any printed page ever could.
I know that I myself own an iPod and I love using it for music. I never realized that I could also be using it as an education resource. I think that this is a great new way to get kids to become more interested in their education. I mean who wouldn’t when it’s that easy and that visual. I am very glad that I searched about iTunes university because I think that this can be a great asset to me as a student and also as a teacher.
I know that I myself own an iPod and I love using it for music. I never realized that I could also be using it as an education resource. I think that this is a great new way to get kids to become more interested in their education. I mean who wouldn’t when it’s that easy and that visual. I am very glad that I searched about iTunes university because I think that this can be a great asset to me as a student and also as a teacher.
Week 11, iPods
Most people consider the iPod as just a portable music player. However, the iPod now is making its way in many K-12 and college classrooms. It is being used for anything from foreign language and music lessons to slideshows and pod casts. I did not know this. This is amazing. I think that this is a wonderful thing for our classrooms. This brings about so many opportunities. While it might be a difficult concept to master at first, I think that if teachers can take the time to master this and become comfortable using the technology than this will be a great resource in education.
In fall of 2004, Duke University gave each entering freshman an iPod and invited faculty and students to explore how the devices could enhance both the academic and student campus life. After a full year of the experiment, Duke now is offering iPods only for students in specific courses where professors have targeted plans to use the tools. Again, I think that this is such a wonderful asset to the classroom. I would love to see this happening everywhere. This opens up so many opportunities for students and teachers.
http://www.addysg.org.uk/ipodined/news.php
In fall of 2004, Duke University gave each entering freshman an iPod and invited faculty and students to explore how the devices could enhance both the academic and student campus life. After a full year of the experiment, Duke now is offering iPods only for students in specific courses where professors have targeted plans to use the tools. Again, I think that this is such a wonderful asset to the classroom. I would love to see this happening everywhere. This opens up so many opportunities for students and teachers.
http://www.addysg.org.uk/ipodined/news.php
Week 10, Dr. Alice Christie
I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Dr. Alice Christies website. There were many parts to it that I found would be useful to me. The one that I found would be the most useful is the section about education technology. This section shows you what all types of things are available to you as teacher to use in your classroom. This is a website that I can see myself using in the classroom. I am the kind of person who wants to use technology in the classroom but just doesn’t know how to incorporate it. This will be a great tool for me so that I will be able to use technology in the classroom.
Another part of this website that I found very interesting was the part about GPS and Geocaching. This is an absolutely amazing concept. I have never heard of this before. I think that this is a great way to enhance the learning in grades K-12 and make it fun. If the school I end up working for offers this I will be thrilled.
Another part of this website that I found very interesting was the part about GPS and Geocaching. This is an absolutely amazing concept. I have never heard of this before. I think that this is a great way to enhance the learning in grades K-12 and make it fun. If the school I end up working for offers this I will be thrilled.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Week 9, Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that can be used and edited by anyone. While Wikipedia can be a great source to just read for fun it can never be trusted unless the facts are verified from elsewhere. While all of my teachers in college have informed me to never use Wikipedia as a resource I never fully understood why, until now. Wikipedia has been known for getting edited by politicians, church groups, and even big corporations to enhance their image. While the person who invented Wikipedia had a great idea behind it, it just didn’t quite work out. The idea of having a collaborative source for subjects would be amazing if you could actually trust everyone.
A college student named Virgil Griffith created a program to scan Wikipedia in order to tell who is editing posts. It traces the edit back to the computer to let you know where it is coming from. Therefore, if you are reading about a corporation and you see an edit by that corporation you know that it is not reliable. While this helps the source out a little bit it does not eliminate this issue because anyone could just go to different computer (in say a coffee house) and edit again. While this Wiki scanner does help the source become a little bit more reliable, Wikipedia should still never be used as a source for anything factual.
A college student named Virgil Griffith created a program to scan Wikipedia in order to tell who is editing posts. It traces the edit back to the computer to let you know where it is coming from. Therefore, if you are reading about a corporation and you see an edit by that corporation you know that it is not reliable. While this helps the source out a little bit it does not eliminate this issue because anyone could just go to different computer (in say a coffee house) and edit again. While this Wiki scanner does help the source become a little bit more reliable, Wikipedia should still never be used as a source for anything factual.
Week 8, Creating Personal Learning Networks
This blog is about a teacher who wants her students to set up personal learning networks. She wants to help them set up an aggregator and then seed them with a few feeds to get them started. Her plan is to get them comfortable and then have them find some feeds on their own of anything they are passionate about. This will go along with their personal blogs and they will be responsible for keeping up with theirs and commenting also on classmate’s feeds. The two goals of this idea are to help them foster critical thinking (and things along that line with in the curriculum) and to also help them establish their own learning network. She wants them to be able find trusted sources and to also learn how submit trusted sources themselves.
I think this is a great idea! I wish that my high school teachers had started something like this for me. This is such a different approach to learning and I am almost positive that it is effective. This idea is establishing skills for the students that they can essentially take with them to college and even further in life. I know that when I first started surfing the Internet for sources for projects and papers I trusted almost every source I found. I know it sounds silly but at that age I just didn’t know. I did not know how to tell the difference from a source that is legitimate and source that was not. I wish I would have had a project along these lines to help me. It would have been so useful and effective. Not only does this project sound useful it also sounds fun. I would have loved to be doing something like this in my high school classes. I really enjoyed reading this blog and I think this teacher is a very smart woman with great ideas!
I think this is a great idea! I wish that my high school teachers had started something like this for me. This is such a different approach to learning and I am almost positive that it is effective. This idea is establishing skills for the students that they can essentially take with them to college and even further in life. I know that when I first started surfing the Internet for sources for projects and papers I trusted almost every source I found. I know it sounds silly but at that age I just didn’t know. I did not know how to tell the difference from a source that is legitimate and source that was not. I wish I would have had a project along these lines to help me. It would have been so useful and effective. Not only does this project sound useful it also sounds fun. I would have loved to be doing something like this in my high school classes. I really enjoyed reading this blog and I think this teacher is a very smart woman with great ideas!
Week 7, Fischbowl
Week 7, Fischbowl
I really enjoyed reading this blog and thoroughly agree with him. I think that is beyond important for the teachers of this century to be able to work a computer and know how to well. If I as a teacher am technologically illiterate then I cannot teach anyone else how to use technology. He makes very good points about technology being a necessity instead of an addition these days. And I wouldn’t have thought of it that way until he said it.
The comment is made that teachers who are illiterate to technology today are equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who can’t read or write. While this is a brave post to be made, it is pretty true. If you think about it there are numerous things we use on the computer in the classroom every day. Half of them we probably don’t even realize. Think about all the power points for teaching, grade book, email between parents, etc. If you cant do these things I would imagine it would be a lot harder to keep up with the classroom. I think that if a teacher were technologically illiterate then it would be wise to go learn for the benefit of themselves and their class.
I really enjoyed reading this blog and thoroughly agree with him. I think that is beyond important for the teachers of this century to be able to work a computer and know how to well. If I as a teacher am technologically illiterate then I cannot teach anyone else how to use technology. He makes very good points about technology being a necessity instead of an addition these days. And I wouldn’t have thought of it that way until he said it.
The comment is made that teachers who are illiterate to technology today are equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who can’t read or write. While this is a brave post to be made, it is pretty true. If you think about it there are numerous things we use on the computer in the classroom every day. Half of them we probably don’t even realize. Think about all the power points for teaching, grade book, email between parents, etc. If you cant do these things I would imagine it would be a lot harder to keep up with the classroom. I think that if a teacher were technologically illiterate then it would be wise to go learn for the benefit of themselves and their class.
Week 6, International Blog
International School #1
The first international blog I found was by a teacher named Mr. Gary Coyle at The American Embassy School in New Delphi, India. It is used for his eighth grade Humanities class. He has them exploring a theme per quarter that addresses the concept of power. He posts a question each quarter and each student has to respond. He also includes a class hall of fame where he posts some of the best answers. In addition he includes links to his weekly assignments.
I think that Mr. Coyle has done a wonderful job with this blog and I find it very interesting that even children in India are blogging. He has done a great job with getting his students to use the Internet as an additional source to the classroom. He seems to really be getting them to think and I am sure in return his classrooms scores reflect it. I love the idea of having a class hall of fame. This makes the students want to do their best so that they can be included. It also allows students to feel proud of them for the good job they have done.
http://mrcoyle.edublogs.org/
International School #2
The second international blog I found was a website called epals. This sight allows students and teachers from all over the world to communicate. Not only is there blogging but also projects, email, and forums. I think that this is one of the best sights I have found. Using this in the classroom can take education to a whole different level. Teachers and students can exchange ideas with more than just the people around them but with some of the best teachers and students of the world. I find it very fascinating that in my classroom in the U.S. I can connect my students with another classroom in China or anywhere else. This is a great way to get new ideas and different perspectives on all types of subjects.
http://www.epals.com/
The first international blog I found was by a teacher named Mr. Gary Coyle at The American Embassy School in New Delphi, India. It is used for his eighth grade Humanities class. He has them exploring a theme per quarter that addresses the concept of power. He posts a question each quarter and each student has to respond. He also includes a class hall of fame where he posts some of the best answers. In addition he includes links to his weekly assignments.
I think that Mr. Coyle has done a wonderful job with this blog and I find it very interesting that even children in India are blogging. He has done a great job with getting his students to use the Internet as an additional source to the classroom. He seems to really be getting them to think and I am sure in return his classrooms scores reflect it. I love the idea of having a class hall of fame. This makes the students want to do their best so that they can be included. It also allows students to feel proud of them for the good job they have done.
http://mrcoyle.edublogs.org/
International School #2
The second international blog I found was a website called epals. This sight allows students and teachers from all over the world to communicate. Not only is there blogging but also projects, email, and forums. I think that this is one of the best sights I have found. Using this in the classroom can take education to a whole different level. Teachers and students can exchange ideas with more than just the people around them but with some of the best teachers and students of the world. I find it very fascinating that in my classroom in the U.S. I can connect my students with another classroom in China or anywhere else. This is a great way to get new ideas and different perspectives on all types of subjects.
http://www.epals.com/
Friday, November 7, 2008
Week 5, Blogs in the Classroom
Blog in the Classroom #1At South Valley Junior High in Liberty, Missouri a teacher named Mr. Langhorst is using blogs for his 8th grade History class. His blog contains ideas, pictures, videos, news items, and general thoughts about the topics related to his lessons. He updates it regularly to better help his students in his class and to simply get them thinking. Also in his blog he has links to “podcast” and “studycast”. These are both audio programs used to show videos and quiz his students on the material he is teaching. Everything he covers he uploads on the internet for not only his students to access but also their parents. Also he adds some fun into the blog by adding pictures and videos of the class itself.
After looking at this blog I am simply amazed. He has put so much time and effort in it and it really shows. This is a phenomenal way for the students to have further resources besides his lectures and the book. Not only is he going over the required material but also he is posting general news information to help keep them updated in their current events. He seems to make things very interesting and easy to access. I think that this is a great way to get students using technology and to also help them further their knowledge of the subject material.
After looking at this blog I am simply amazed. He has put so much time and effort in it and it really shows. This is a phenomenal way for the students to have further resources besides his lectures and the book. Not only is he going over the required material but also he is posting general news information to help keep them updated in their current events. He seems to make things very interesting and easy to access. I think that this is a great way to get students using technology and to also help them further their knowledge of the subject material.
Blog in the Classroom #3
At Hooper Elementary in West Hooper, Utah every teacher is using a blog to reach out to students, faculty and parents. This allows them to distribute information quickly and accurately. By making a blog, employees of Hooper elementary can dispense information to students and parents online, which allows them to access it during their free time and in the comfort of their own homes. Using text, pictures, and attachments the blog makes for an easy log of daily events, upcoming happenings and even can assist sick students catch up to work they may have missed.
Every teacher at this school is required to use a blog and I think that is fantastic. This makes things so much easier for everyone. The students have somewhere to go if they need help and the parents as well. I believe that this helps everyone to communicate smother and it also gets the students using technology. This is a great asset to a classroom and also a great way further the education of the students.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Week 4, Video
I found this video very interesting. After watching it I was truly amazed. I did not realize how far society had come technologically. The statistics were insane and it left me wondering how much further along our society is after that video was made, from 2007 till today. It also made me question whether I was using all these resources to my advantage. While I use the internet a good bit I could be using it so much more to further my education as a whole.
This video also made me think about how I as a teacher can help to advance my students to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st century. This is a really great topic to bring up because it is very important to think about. There are so many different jobs and majors being created every day and as an educator I need to do anything and everything in my power to make sure I can help students be more knowledgeable to the technological world. This video alone sparked over 5 million conversations. This proves that just one person can make millions be more knowledgeable and begin to think. Just think how far we could come if each teacher made this same effort.
I strongly believe that if Alabama’s schools could make sure that every school has complete access to things such as computers than Alabama will be even more successful at educating the future of our country. In these days, technological knowledge and skills are necessary for future jobs. I know that funding plays a huge role in this but I feel that this is one of the most important places each school should use their money.
I am very glad that I had a chance to watch this video. Not only was it very interesting it opened up my eyes to really think about how I can use technology to my advantage and to my students advantage.
This video also made me think about how I as a teacher can help to advance my students to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st century. This is a really great topic to bring up because it is very important to think about. There are so many different jobs and majors being created every day and as an educator I need to do anything and everything in my power to make sure I can help students be more knowledgeable to the technological world. This video alone sparked over 5 million conversations. This proves that just one person can make millions be more knowledgeable and begin to think. Just think how far we could come if each teacher made this same effort.
I strongly believe that if Alabama’s schools could make sure that every school has complete access to things such as computers than Alabama will be even more successful at educating the future of our country. In these days, technological knowledge and skills are necessary for future jobs. I know that funding plays a huge role in this but I feel that this is one of the most important places each school should use their money.
I am very glad that I had a chance to watch this video. Not only was it very interesting it opened up my eyes to really think about how I can use technology to my advantage and to my students advantage.
Week 3, ACCESS
Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, also known as ACCESS is a network based resource that provides opportunities for Alabama public high schools. According to the ACCESS site, “ACCESS— provides high-quality classroom courses & teachers, via technology.” In other words it allows students to be able to have access to things such as advanced placement and electives. This resource is used for those who might not have any other access to these types of programs. I think this is a great program that really helps our education system.
ACCESS is used because of many low income schools that are not able to offer the courses that are required by state. For example, numerous rural schools do not have enough money to allow courses such as physics and trigonometry to be taught in their curriculum. Therefore ACCESS is an alternative so that every student has the equal opportunity.
I believe that this new program will be phenomenal for the high schools of Alabama. This is a very powerful resource that was much needed throughout the state. I believe that this alone will help improve our education system and bring us further than ever before in education. There are many underprivileged students who have abilities that are simply wasted because their schools can not afford to offer the programs needed. This will no longer be a problem. Again, I feel that this is a great program for the state of Alabama.
ACCESS is used because of many low income schools that are not able to offer the courses that are required by state. For example, numerous rural schools do not have enough money to allow courses such as physics and trigonometry to be taught in their curriculum. Therefore ACCESS is an alternative so that every student has the equal opportunity.
I believe that this new program will be phenomenal for the high schools of Alabama. This is a very powerful resource that was much needed throughout the state. I believe that this alone will help improve our education system and bring us further than ever before in education. There are many underprivileged students who have abilities that are simply wasted because their schools can not afford to offer the programs needed. This will no longer be a problem. Again, I feel that this is a great program for the state of Alabama.
Week 2, ALEX
The Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) is a web site designed for teachers. Its purpose is to help improve the education system all throughout Alabama. This is such a great help to teachers because it allows them to refer to one location to find information that will help improve their effectiveness as an educator. It provides all types of resources including lesson plans, web sites, courses of study, and standards.
This network is an amazing tool to effective teaching. I would definitely use this in my career as an elementary teacher. Not only does this site give you specific activities for each grade and subject but it also gives you lesson plans and web links to further your research. I think this is a great way to keep teachers up to date on curriculum and certain things that need to be covered in each subject. I also think this is great for my creativity as a teacher. With the access to this site I will never run out of ideas. I am glad that I have been introduced to this site because I think that it will help me tremendously when I begin teaching.
I feel that this is a great resource for all teachers to use because there are so many standards that have to be met. With the help of this site it would be much more unlikely to skip over certain things that need to be taught. I also like the fact that other teachers all over Alabama can make posts to this site. As a new teacher I know I will rely on the help and advice of more experienced teachers to guide me through my many years of educating.
This network is an amazing tool to effective teaching. I would definitely use this in my career as an elementary teacher. Not only does this site give you specific activities for each grade and subject but it also gives you lesson plans and web links to further your research. I think this is a great way to keep teachers up to date on curriculum and certain things that need to be covered in each subject. I also think this is great for my creativity as a teacher. With the access to this site I will never run out of ideas. I am glad that I have been introduced to this site because I think that it will help me tremendously when I begin teaching.
I feel that this is a great resource for all teachers to use because there are so many standards that have to be met. With the help of this site it would be much more unlikely to skip over certain things that need to be taught. I also like the fact that other teachers all over Alabama can make posts to this site. As a new teacher I know I will rely on the help and advice of more experienced teachers to guide me through my many years of educating.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Hey Yall :)
Hey everyone my name is Genny Johnson and I am 22 years old! I am a senior here at South Alabama and I am an Elementary Education major. I love all the normal girly things including shopping, going to the beach, and reading celebrity magazines. I am very excited about a new semester and getting to know each and everyone of you!
I was born and raised right here in Mobile, Al. I attended McGill Toolen Catholic High School where I ran cross-country and track for 2 years. I absolutely love Mobile which is why I am still here attending South Alabama. Another reason I choose to stay here is because of my wonderful family. I have my amazing parents (Johnny and Alicia), an older sister (Ashley 27), an older brother (AJ 25), and a younger sister (Abby 13). I am pretty much attched to them and could never imagine not having them in the same city.
When I first attended South I pledged Phi Mu sorrority. It has been a very great experience that has taught me how to get involved in campus life and all kinds of extra cirricular activities. We volunteer for all kinds of charities including Childrens Miracle Network (CMN). This gave me some very rewarding experiences. I also met all of my best friends through my sorrority. It has definately been an experience that I would never change.
As I said, I am an Elementary Education major and I love it. Ever since I was very young I have loved children and have always known that this is what I am supposed to do with my life. I hope to eventually attend Graduate school here at South Alabama to help further my education. Again I hope everyone has a great semester and I can't wait to meet you all!
I was born and raised right here in Mobile, Al. I attended McGill Toolen Catholic High School where I ran cross-country and track for 2 years. I absolutely love Mobile which is why I am still here attending South Alabama. Another reason I choose to stay here is because of my wonderful family. I have my amazing parents (Johnny and Alicia), an older sister (Ashley 27), an older brother (AJ 25), and a younger sister (Abby 13). I am pretty much attched to them and could never imagine not having them in the same city.
When I first attended South I pledged Phi Mu sorrority. It has been a very great experience that has taught me how to get involved in campus life and all kinds of extra cirricular activities. We volunteer for all kinds of charities including Childrens Miracle Network (CMN). This gave me some very rewarding experiences. I also met all of my best friends through my sorrority. It has definately been an experience that I would never change.
As I said, I am an Elementary Education major and I love it. Ever since I was very young I have loved children and have always known that this is what I am supposed to do with my life. I hope to eventually attend Graduate school here at South Alabama to help further my education. Again I hope everyone has a great semester and I can't wait to meet you all!
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