Stephanie Ellis’s EDM310 Blog

My EDM 310 Blog Assignments are Now Complete

2008-11-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Finally!! I hope you guys enjoyed this class as much as I have. Thank you Dr. Strange for all that I have learned from your class and I hope your podcast video works out for next time. It's been real.

What I Have Learned

2008-11-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

Nothing!! Just kidding. I actually learned a lot. I feel like most of the things I learned, my high school sisters probably could have already schooled me in.

1.Blogs: I have learned how to make blogs and why they are useful to use as a teacher.I can post class/homework assignments, tests that are coming up, projects, etc. And parents can view what their child is doing in my class.

2.iGoogle: I think having an iGoogle is great because not only can I use it for email but I can use docs which contain slide show, spreadsheets, notebook, etc. which are all very useful. I like that I can personalize it too.

3.iTunes: I didn't even know iTunes was free and that it had more than just music, a lot more than just that. I find that it can be helpful to use as a teacher.

4.ACCESS:I had no idea that this was even going on that schools had specialized equipment that allows their students to take a class from a different school that's not available at their school and likewise.

Classroom Blogs Reflection

2008-11-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

This year was my first experience with writing, as well as having to keep up with, blogs. I would sometimes do it on my myspace but never for the purpose as I have done with this class. I learned many things in doing our class blog such as adding links, gadgets, pictures, etc. I honestly like doing these assignments rather than writing analysis, papers, and figuring out problems(math/chemistry).

I can see why and how blogs can be useful to a teacher and the students. For one, a teacher would not have to make their own website but just make their own blog home which takes you step by step on how to create one. Another advantage in using blogs instead of websites is that it is easy to find all the posts because they are organized under the months and therefore a teacher wouldn't have to create more links on a website because it's already done for them. Blogs are good to use to posts a syllabus, homework/classwork assignments, as well as projects. Not only can one posts such things as these but one can add links to other websites and such to your blog. It is very professional to use and anyone can be able to look at it without having to be a member and it will not cause any harm if one is a member. Students can post comments to ask questions about certain posts from the teacher. I am pretty sure that I will at least use a blog if not create my own website for my classroom.

There are some disadvantages to using a blog. The main one would be that not all students having internet access in their own home, which would defeat the purpose of using blogs if they can't even access it themselves. It would not be fair to that student if all other students are able to know what is going on presently and ahead and may be embarrassing as well to them. I suppose it would just add on to the teacher's work load of having to keep up with posting these blogs but it honestly shouldn't be too bad.

Of all the other classmates blogs that I chose to view, it was Patricia Robbins. I don't think anyone has done their blog as well as she has done hers, and in so many ways. She writes her blogs very well thought-out and usually, if not always, posts at least one picture,most of them interesting to look at. I honestly have to say that when it comes to blogging for this class, she's an overachiever. Not only does she post links and pictures that are assigned but she goes over and beyond what she has to do in that she put's up things that she honestly has interest in and what other students in our class or wherever may find helpful. I say she did a very fine job.

Electronic Contact Teacher

2008-11-25T08:30:00.001-08:00

It took a long time to finally get someone to contact me back. My electronic contact teacher is Josh Grove who teaches Spanish and French at Williamson High School in Lansing, Michigan. This was his first year using his website which he regrets to say that he didn't get to truly use it as he had hoped. He said at the beginning of the year, he would get his students to print out the syllabus from his website as extra credit but he found that a lot of them have the 56k modem at home so it took so long to upload and even more surprising to him was that some of them didn't even have internet access.

He does use some new technology such as SmartBoards, digital projectors and document viewers. He says he doesn't use the document viewer much but loves it when he can put student work up there as an example without having to make a transparency. He said he does use his SmartBoard almost 100% of the time in class. He says it allows students to interact with the board and has allowed him to present some grammar lessons in a more effective way. What it does is project the image of his computer onto the board and it has certain pens to write on it. It's kind of like a stylus on a blackberry or an itouch phone. You use your finger like a mouse on it and the students can use it in front of the class. I saw how it was used in different videos on YouTube and I think it's very neat and clever.

His overall thoughts on technology was that it's politics. He's not sure if there is any significant evidence that says that technology in the classroom has actually improved student learning except for in "sterile university studies". He says he's not sure if students are smarter now than they were 40 years ago and as far as history, literature, and so on it seems that they are the opposite. To end with, he thinks that technology in the classroom is not a bad thing but he believes that he can be just as an effective teacher without it, and it only changes the WAY he does things. I honestly can agree with him because as far as my history professors go, the most technological thing any of them have used is showing pictures and I learn a lot from them and I think they're brilliant.

Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies

2008-11-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

This one seemed like the more interesting podcast to listen to because our generation has their own experience of 9/11. It consists of different people's,who live in the U.S. but not all are Americans, accounts of their own experience with 9/11, their thoughts and reactions to it. When some were saying that it was so unreal of what they were seeing that it was like watching a movie, actually one girl thought it was a movie,I have to admit that I felt that way too because I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was like what I see in movies. Another guy said that he didn't really grab a hold of what had happened until he saw more videos that showed people jumping out of the building, firefighters running, and smoke everywhere. People talked about how they were more cautious about where they go, but to me it sounded like paranoia.
Most of the people talked about how more patriotic they feel after this terrible event. People who've never put up an American flag outside their house or wear American flags before suddenly feel the pull to do so because now they've come to a realization of what this flag means to them. I can also attest to this. Of course now, I don't really feel that way since then because of our government's will to try and conform Iraq into America; wait, Afghanistan was the real source to the attack, wait not even Afghanistan but a group of men who belief in extreme Islam and have a hatred for America...how are we to fight that?

I like how it ended the remainder of the podcast with people's opinions about what our government should or should not do. It would be fairly good to use this for a high school political or history class because it would give students more of an idea what to even discuss about, that is, if they agree or disagree what other people were saying and their own thoughts. I like people brought up how others have acting very ignorant to the situation and taking it out on people who LOOK like a Middle Eastern. It can show to other students that discrimination is very looked down on,no matter what the situation.

Our Podcasts

2008-11-15T16:28:00.000-08:00

Of the four videos that I watched I liked the group that did the topic on Randy Pausch's Last Lecture. Before I talked about their podcast I will discuss the other three that I listened to. The first one I listened to was the one I was in which was "Can Facebook Be Used as an Educational Tool?". I will first state that all of the podcasts, including ours, sound good when it's conversational rather than hearing just one person say what they need to say and that's it. I was pretty annoyed at myself with how I spoke when it was my turn to talk. I felt good about it while we were doing it but after hearing it I was feeling annoyed with my overuse of "ugh", "and", and "um". I bet I said it every 5 seconds. That is something that I think anyone should really avoid, especially me. Constantly using those words while talking makes it sound unprofessional and uninteresting. I thought Danielle and Jalissa did a better job. I know that the speaking sounds better when you are going with the flow, at least for me.
I chose to listen to the other people that did the same topic as ours. They did a question and answer type of conversation with each other which was okay but it could have been better. When there are long pauses(5 seconds can be long on a podcast)or there are signs that the podcasters do not have their stuff together in front of them then it makes it rather boring to listen to. Drawing out words such as (this is made up)"He was goiiingg to ggoo" is annoying to listen to as well. I did like that they didn't agree on everything. It's interesting to hear pros and cons, or objections, rather than just a one-sided argument.
Another one I listened to was about YouTube being used as an educational tool. I think you would have to be clueless of what YouTube is to want to listen to the first part. It sounded strange when the guy would ask a question and then immediately answer first instead of hearing everyone's answers first. It sounded like they were running out of the things to talk about. Well, I did find a podcast that was hard to criticize and that was the one on the topic about Randy Pausch. You could tell they were well prepared and they spoke very good without the "ugh", "um", or "like"'s and no pauses either.

Mathematics with Technology

2008-11-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Judy Chandler, a math teacher and member of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, did a podcast about math with technology. In the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, each 7th and 8th grade middle school student and their teacher are provided with an Apple iBook laptop for classroom instruction. She talked about coming across math teachers who say that the technology part is just an add-on and that they don't have the time to learn it much less try and fit it into their lesson plans. However, they are aware that there are students who just don't get it. She says that technology is essential in teaching and learning mathematics and that it influences the math that is taught and enhances students learning. Such tools engage them, uniquely support differentiated instruction, and critical thinking, and provide visual representation, etc. A way to engage students is to ask them questions in which they would have to think more critically and thus will they remember better because they're having to think hard. Overall, technology's use promotes greater understanding. There are provided programs that can cover up to four to five textbook lessons. The benefit of this is that its "instructional minutes as students gain connections with past ideas and explore new relationships that sets the stage for what's to come".
I can attest to this as far as my least favorite subjects go...that is, math and science. I've always had a hard time with those subjects, it's why I'm a history major, and I believe if I had these type of tools available for me then I would have had better understanding which would result in a better experience with it. Teachers should be more open to what's available out there if it means enhancing learning and understanding, and fun too. It's not really great for a teacher to prevent students from being able to get something more out of the classroom just because it's going to cramp their style.
I think it's great that such schools provide really great laptops for their students to be able to use their minds in such a way that many students would have to wait until college to get an effect of it. The MLTI testify that it has given students more of an edge in doing environmental projects and oral histories. I can see how I can be able to use technology as a history teacher because just reading from a book shouldn't be the only means of learning from the past. For me, I always find it weird if people don't understand what happened in, for example, World War I. Technology can be used in finding videos and such that can be more understandble for students and asking them questions to make them "think".

The Stanford Challenge

2008-11-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

The Stanford Challenge was an experiment based on how students can be able to do better in school implementing study skills with a growth mindset for half of one class and just study skills for the other half of the class. They were aware that there are a multitude of students who think they have only a certain capacity to be able to learn. Before they do a task, they think about whether they'll look smart and base their activities on whether their intelligence will be show to advantage. And there are other students who believe their intelligence can develop through interest, study, and the education given. The experiment was an eight session workshop. They thought that the study skills were great but it didn't do any good for the students. The other students who got the growth mindset lesson were taught that their brain is like a muscle, and like a muscle, in order for it to get stronger it has to be used. Every time they learn something new, their brain forms connections every time and can increase their intellectual level.
The students read an article about it and they had a pretty "heated" discussion about it and how they can apply it to their schoolwork. Their grades went up dramatically at the end of the semester. Their teachers could pick out who were in the growth mindset. These teachers didn't even know there were two workshops. A racecar driver coach read her book and saw the connection between growth mindset and optimal performance. It's also important for the business world because one has to believe in growth of skills, admit mistakes and overcome them. It's hard to keep up with this world if cannot grow or learn.
This discussion affects me as an oncoming teacher because it let's me know why some of my students could not be living up to their potential as far as schoolwork goes if it happens, and I know it will. I'm aware that when a subject is interesting and even some may be passionate about it then it's easier for them to get into the subject and do good at it. Since they really didn't go into too much detail about how the brain growth lesson was done I'm not sure how I can get my students to apply it exactly only teach them generally how their brain works and that it's not just about study skills necessarily.

WGBH Teacher's Domain K-12 Classroom Resources

2008-10-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

Grades 9-12
The first video I watched was "What is a Planet?" for the Grades 9-12. It was quite interesting and it reinforced how much I hadn't really been keeping up to date with the news. It was talking about some disputes of certain planets like Pluto. IAU says that a planet is a body that orbits a star, has enough mass to create its own gravity, has a round shape, and has cleared its neighborhood. So because of what they said, Pluto is now considered not a planet because it hasn't cleared its area around its orbit cause it crosses its paths with Neptune so it has been reclassified as a dwarf planet. I was pretty astounded by that...the science books will shift some because of that. Confusion continues because Neptune has not cleared its path from its orbit as well. Even though IAU gives a definition of what a planet is, scientific understanding is always evolving and with new discoveries being made, planet qualifications will continue to change. The second video I watched was "Why Doesn't the Moon Fall Down?". I guess it wasn't as interesting because it mostly showed a lady bouncing a tennis ball whereas the other video showed the digitally constructed video of the planets and such.
Such podcasts as these are actually pretty great to use for the teachers who want students to watch certain things pertaining to the class as a homework assignment I guess without having to tell them to go on to YouTube. The great things about using these podcast videos is that you can pause, rewind, and fastforward thereby giving you more leverage to watch and listen to the video better if you missed something. I think the best kind of homework is to watch videos rather than do written stuff. These videos weren't long at all so that's always a plus because then you can keep a person's attention if they know it's not terribly long.
I know this would be great for me to use as a teacher because it's free, for one, and it doesn't take up class time to watch it. It's a great assignment to give and then have them be prepared for questions to ask the next day to have a class discussion about it. And it's great that teachers won't always have to buy videos or dvds or have as much trouble finding things relevant to the class. It also expands the students minds to search for things on their own on the computer.

Edible Schoolyard and Night in Global Village

2008-10-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'd like to say that it is really awesome that some schools give kids the opportunity to really learn outside of the classroom and without using a computer either. It kind of makes me jealous that I never had those experiences in grade school. So for the Edible Schoolyard, it is about these 6th graders who get to spend 1st period planting, harvesting, and eating "organic delights". Wow, that sounds like the best class anyone can ever take. The other cool thing is is that they are learning the whole time about different things such as social studies, math, and science. They don't think it's school, so it's definitely ,as Randy Pausch said before, a "headfake".
Night in the Global Village. Students are trading their life style completely for someone who is very poor from a different country. They discuss sanitation issues and hunger. They cook their own food and make their own fire. They are assigned to certain habitations and learn what it's like for people who really live like this is for them. They see how they can take action and change these type of living conditions for those people. I also wish I had this opportunity when I was younger but I hope more and more schools will do things for their students to learn outside of the classroom.
I didn't know that you can make podcast "videos" so that's a really neat thing to get to do and watch. As an emerging teacher, I see that using these podcasts can expand students' minds outside of the four walls a bit better if they could not actually get to do such things themselves. Rather than tell them to go to YouTube, I guess this is a more professional way of going about things. And not just getting to watch these videos but teachers can make podcast videos themselves for or of their class. Parents can see what their children are doing at school and hopefully approve.
I honestly like podcast videos better than podcasts talkshows just because you can see what's going on and younger students may feel the same way. You can use it during lecture and let them watch certain things that pertain to your topic. It's a great innovative tool to use in the classroom and in their home and the best thing is is it's free.

Strange's Pic

2008-10-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

Podcasts

2008-10-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

It seems that more and more educators are jumping on the bandwagon of technology use in the classroom. One of those devices is the podcast. Podcasts can really be used for any reason, from discussing this year's campaign to gossiping about Hollywood to promoting or advertising for things. College professors have been using it more but K12 is catching on. Teachers today use them to have an opportunity to discuss topics from the subject their studying or just to have it on their website to go over lessons so that the student can check for things that were discussed in lecture.
From the different podcasts that were assigned to be listened to, I noticed that all of them have a different flavor. Depending on who your audience is, the topics that you talk about, and how many people or what kind of people you're talking with makes the flavor. When there is more than one person hosting you don't just hear only one individual speaking but the other shares comments while they're speaking. Some may sound professional while others are more laidback. Something that most of them share is that they have introduction music. Podcasts don't sound that much different from the talkshows on the radio.
Whether the podcasts "more professional say business-like" or "laidback", they all have the professionalism going for them because the hosts have their topics and their Q & A's ready to be discussed. It sounds as though, and probably is true, that when someone asks the other a question, they already know the answer to it, which I sensed when listening to MacBreak Weekly. They would introduce themselves and their co-hosts or guests, maybe say where they're are located from where they're doing the podcasting, and tell what things they are goig to talk about and how they feel about those things. When discussing anything they don't just give short and straight up answers but they tend to elaborate; I suppose it's to make it sound more interesting and so it will go on longer. Some may try to involve their using with sentences like "That may be something for you to think about..." which was done on Kidcast. One can tell that they are on the computer while they are talking. They may tell you the websites that someone can go to to see what they are talking about just like EdTalk had done.
With podcasts becoming more widely used, it seems that they are here to stay. Overall, to do an effective podcasts, one must be prepared properely so that you can get your message across more efficiently and quickly. Try and make sure that your information is clear and up to date so that it will be relative to the timing. It's good to keep in mind who your audience is as well and that way you will know what to say to them. And nobody like sitting through something that bores them so try and keep it interesting.

The Last Lecture

2008-10-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture was truly inspirational. When I watched this video, for some reason I was thinking that an older gentlemen was going to come out and give this lecture. However, I was taken back when it was a fairly young guy who was also funny. When I was assigned to watch this, I was kind of adamant about it because it was an hour long. But I realized why Dr. Strange said it will be worth the hour and it definitely was.
I honestly cannot recall to my memory that any professor had ever lectured and it be moving. But then again, I guess since one of the topics was how to achieve your childhood dreams would somehow have to be inspiring. After his message, I was thinking "How can I apply this as a teacher of history?" Especially when it's those type of history classes that EVERYONE is required to take so it does not matter if you like history or not. But I did learn some teaching methods to apply to the classroom. First of all, the "headfake", which is to learn something indirectly. An educator can be teaching a class one thing while they are learning to do something else. An educator should tell them how to have fun with the subject. It is really good when they are having fun while learning something hard. And here again my thoughts go to "How can you do that for history? Math? or English? Unless the student already has interest in it then it is not much of an issue. Sure, programming games or doing graphic design can apply for the 'having fun and learn something hard' idea". Another thing that I learned is that the best gift an educator could give is to be self-reflective. I definitely agree and can attest to that. I would hate to disappoint any of my history professors in anything I thing so I try real hard to do what they expect of me.
Other things that I have received was to get feedback and listen to it. You can not really grow as a person if you don't try to better yourself and it isn't as easy to look at yourself, or your projects, etc., and see what needs to change better if someone else does not tell you. As an educator, I should also keep in mind that I need to find the best in everybody and not to give up on someone so soon because they may surprise you. I envy that he can honestly say that he vowed that he would have fun everyday. Not many people can say that much less think that. Of the two Winnie the Pooh characters, Tigger and Eeyore, I cannot say that I'm either one. I'm really more like Piglet, innocent and emotional. Randy may have some things to say about people like me who stress easy and get emotional easily. It seems that indirectly he was saying also that teaching was not a job but a privilege.

I'm sure that many if not everyone could take what he said and go with it, whether it is applying what he said in the classroom, in your career, or with your kids. Really anyone can use what he talked about in achieving your childhood dreams. Even if you don't get to do exactly what you had in mind when you were young, you can try to get close enough to it. I would recommend anybody to watch this lecture because it changes your perspective on life. Thank you Randy.

Presentation About Me

2008-09-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

ACCESS Lab Visit

2008-09-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

I visited Mary G. Montgomery's ACCESS lab where the one of the four lab instructors, Mr. Roger Rose who teaches AP Psychology for it, gave me the lowdown about it. The time that I arrived in the lab, the class in there was not one of the classes that use this lab. Nevertheless, Mr. Rose showed me some things that the other equipment can do and how they are used. One thing that was pretty neat is the Elmo. It can be used to do math problems and instruct as you're doing them but it only shows underneath the "scope" as the instructor is doing the problems seeing only his/her hand working on the paper. Other schools who use this course can see him doing this as it it being broadcast. DVD's can be sent to other schools from one school. In his second block class, in which the lab is actually being used, students select a course, any course, to take for this lab. It seems pretty cool that there are not any limits really to what you could take. Mr. Rose praised the technology for being amazing, fun, and innovative.

With all the positive things about these labs there are also negatives, for which there are always going to be flaws in life. Mr. Rose let me know that it is ALOT of work for the instructors who teach these classes. These instructors have to keep communication with directors (for them at Troy University), kids, their parents, etc. There's potential thinking that it takes time away from their own students. He also admitted that it is just not the same as having the instructor there in front of you and having to do what is necessary to do an online class. Some students are rather annoyed because they think that the students who get to take these classes will cheat. Well, I think if there's a will then there's a way so it doesn't really matter anyway. Even though there's a shortage of teachers it seems that, at least for Mobile County, that they will rather put their money into technology rather than having a teacher there. But this is the 21st century so things are going to change even more so later. In words of Mr. Rose "It's the future...no...it's the present". That one cannot argue much with anymore.
My experience is that the equipment is so sophisticated and impressive. I think it's great that schools who cannot afford having AP Psychology, for example, can have this kind of access to online courses and be given that same, almost, opportunity. Yes, it sounds like a lot of work for the instructor but if the students enjoy it and find it effective and useful then it should be worth it.

iPods Use in the Classroom

2008-09-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

The iPod has gained momentum since it was introduced back in 2001 by Apple Computer. What has also intrigued people about this small device is it's effective use in instruction and in the classroom in general. Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia started to experiment with its use in their classrooms. It worked for Dr. Hank Edmondson and Dr. Daniel Fernald who used it for a course titled "War, Politics, and Shakespeare". Being able to include audio recordings of an introduction to Shakespeare and his works and use music as well as other things made the course more successful. The availability to use music has provided a "missing link" for the students' world in which they are immersed with discussions of art, literature, and architecture. Dr. Robert Viau and Dr. Gregory Pepetone felt it "helped achieve the goal of accomplishing interdisciplinary correspondence and connections."
At Duke University, in 2004 Duke gave 1,650 iPods to incoming freshmen for free as "part of an initiative to foster in innovative uses of technology." In Fall of 2005, more than 600 first-year students enrolled in at least one course that iPods are having to be used in. Many of the courses were for music or a foreign language. Students began using them for "gathering field notes, conducting interviews, podcasting or audio blogging" etc. It's effective for its use in theater studies class in which students could skim through audio recordings of performances being discussed in class to find specific reference points. iPods will be used, it seems, from now on for it's uses that no other device as small could give.

Dr. Christie's Site

2008-09-21T13:27:00.001-07:00

Alice Christie has a pretty useful site for emerging or current teachers. I chose to really look at her "Educational Technology Guide" site. I figured that any teacher could find this useful and informative. There's a section dedicated as a resource for teachers who want to incorporate digital cameras and camcorders, iMovie or MovieMaker, podcasts, or digital photography into their classroom environments. She created links for digital cameras, tips for camera, tips for buying a digital camera, and reviews about them. There's even a presentation about why digital cameras are better than film ones.
This particular site helps teachers make use of technology in their classrooms. There are online research links such as "Readings for Teachers" which give links to articles from different people about the use of technology in the classroom and for the teacher. It encourages teachers to adapt to new things so that their students can get used to it too. One thing I thought was cool is how you could make a video of a project you want your students to do and show them through the video how to do it and the materials needed for it. A powerpoint can be used as a class syllabus with links. Overall, it's helpful to know how you can save time and paper.

Wikipedia

2008-09-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Pretty interesting articles written about Wikipedia. Wikipedia is virtually used by so many people and the fact that just anyone can make edits does raise some concern. Lucky for us who do like to use it that there's a way to track those who make edits in it. I sometimes use it to look up information concerning historical facts. There's not to many stuff to spin off when it comes to the 100 Years War but I can see why companies such as Diebold will. I never really thought about how people who want to make themselves look good, like for the Church of Scientology or The New York Times, would make changes. It only makes one look worse when they're editing their "profile".
I think it's very clever that Virgil Griffith made the Wikipedia scanner so that people can trace the editors. Hopefully he or someone will be able to do more than just that with it. Wikipedia should probably try and tighten up its use of editing some so it can be a bit more reliable. Even with its flawed users, Wikipedia still seems okay to use, but with caution, if it is "100 times of an encylopedia and 90 percent of the accuracy.

Why Wireless?

2008-09-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

In the Novemebr blog of the "Best of 2007", I read the blog called "Why Wireless?" and thought it was interesting. I agree with Karl Fisch about letting students have a wireless access to the internet. It's great to be able to learn outside of the building that you would have to go to five days a week for what it seems like forever. This is a society in which we easily can have this kind of access that we should embrace it and train younger people to learn what they will need for almost the rest of their lives.
This is a world in which information and communication technology helps them be successful. Students will need a different mindset for learning in this century than those in the last century. I like the quote from Alvin Toffer because he's right and it makes sense how people need to "learn, unlearn, and relearn". Students will need wireless to learn outside the classroom and maybe it will help them or encourage them to do so on their own.

New Handouts

2008-09-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

Ms. Averette has distributed some interesting articles on RSS Feeds and Podcasting. I have added them to the list of handouts on the right but here are links anyway:
The ABC's of RSS Podcasting: Just the Basics

Best Blog of September 2007

2008-09-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

Karl Fischs' issue with teachers, as well as professors,about their technology ignorance is one to be raised, especially nowadays. I can see why it would have won the award for most influential post. As years go by, technology becomes more apart of our lives. Just think about how advanced cellphones have gotten over a couple of years or how i-pods have completely replaced portable cd players. He's right on technology being a part of life not an add-on. Computers themselves have been around long enough that teachers of this time should know how to use them.
People should be embarrassed if they are technologically ignorant and should do something about it. The world will pass them by in a different way if they cannot learn more things. It was bold that Fisch said that school inspectors who are technologically illiterate should find alternative employment. I think they should find out how to be more savvy with technology then they already were.

International Schools/Teachers Using Blogs

2008-09-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Korean School using ESL teaching for Korean Public schools. It has an ESL daily news for teachers made by teachers. The blogs includes worksheets,almost elementary looking, to practice vowel recognition. These blogs are for sixth graders. Lessons involve using pictures with a dialogue next to the picture to practice grammar. There are links to Korean schools, teaching in Korea, jobs in Korea, and ESL programs in Korea.CLICK HERE

Raenette Taljaard's blog talks about 'Web 2.0 tools in the classroom'. One of her blogs titled "21st Century School Speeches" says that the students will "integrate sources of information, processes, and strategies with developing confidence to identity, form, and express ideas..". She made a video so she can share her student's work. She also talks about the reading programs that she uses.CLICK HERE

Teacher Bloggers

2008-09-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

In Virginia, Mrs. Smillie's Business and Tech New weblog has a box of categories that includes "General News", "Intro to Computer Applications", and "Make it Your Business". The news covers things such as who was chosen as "Eagle of the Week" for their work effort and positive attitude. The introduction link includes assignments given with a link to view the assignment and rubric. "Make it Your Business" covers events and contests the school is engaging students in. She provides links as well.
CLICK HERE

In Florida, Mr. Roemer's blog is about his fifth grade 'Polar Bears. There are posts, really just links, of the syllabus divided up individually into separate detailed policies such as homework and behavior policies. There is also provided pictures of the students, which you have to be logged in to view, material information, news and homework information. There is also a page about Mr. Roemer. There is also a link for frequently asked questions for those who have students in his class or attending the school.CLICK HERE

Did You Know?

2008-08-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

I was amazed and almost not surprised by the facts that were presented in this video. I was probably more surprised how English is, it seems, a pretty important language in India and China. All of the facts about Great Britain was interesting as well. The information about Myspace did not come as a shock either since I'm an advent user myself. It was neat to know how big a country would be if it consisted of Myspace users.
To know that computers are superior, or at least will be superior than the human brain is very neat and almost scary. With the intelligence man uses to create such things, my mind goes to the movie 'I-Robot' because maybe three or four generations from now, society could be close to that. It's interesting that technology has felt people feel more secure and safe and it's people's fears and beliefs that will use technology to their benefit. However, how far will people go to make them feel like they live in a safer world? Microchip implants anyone? People have to be very ignorant and fearful to want to stoop to that.

ACCESS

2008-08-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

The Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide program is for web-based courses made to be available in high school classrooms. Such courses will include advanced, AP courses, additional course offerings, and dual enrollment courses. ACCESS wants to solve the problem of lower-income areas to have the same type of access and opportunities to expand their student's learning and improve student achievement. It will be able to revise and upgrade existing online courses and be used as a "learning management system". This program involves a interactive videoconferencing that will be located in Alabama High Schools with videoconferencing labs. Information is given about when these establishments take place. Teacher training and information sessions will be available with this system. Teachers will have access to the materials they need for such courses. They will be able to share information with schools as well. Other benefits is it will provide additional teachers to the school, allow teachers to grow professionally, and extend faculty resources. Students will benefit with easy access to the syllabus and class notes. Institutions such as the University of Alabama are available as support centers to help E-teachers. There are supporting materials available for school counselors, teachers, and displays at meetings. Just as great, these courses are FREE, which is beneficial to both parties. Its supporters include the Governor of Alabama and the Alabama legislature.
I think that this program sounds great and it seems to work just as good as if the students were being taught in person but with more resources available to them. It sounds that there are different ways that these E-teachers will be able to interact with students. The courses are not limited and most, if not all, subjects are available for this program to be used. It sounds like a great way for students as well as teachers to be involved more with technology that will benefit them in the present and the future.

Alabama Learning Exchange

2008-08-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

The Alabama Learning Exchange web page is very useful for emerging and current teachers. When you go to the "Courses of Study" link, you can click on the link to which subject you are or want to teach. It will provide grades K-12 in which you can look to see lesson plans, if any available, web links, and the course's main objective. Beneath the grade links, you can click on the specific subject's available. If a person wanted to teach ninth grade history, they can click "Social Studies" then "9" and review the available information in which that person can use to know what they will be teaching. There's a link called "Professional Learning" where the teacher can find professional development opportunities as well as teaching and learning tools. If a teacher wants to teach a course that is web-based, then there is a source called "ACCESS Distance Learning" in which they can used it to be able to set up a web-based course and students can engage in this learning in a refreshing way. "Lesson Plans" are available as its on link on its web page where a teacher can create a lesson plan are find one. On the "Web Links" page, there are Teacher, Administrator, and Student web links that they can use to find websites that may be helpful to them.
I think ALEX is fairly useful, especially when a teacher needs to know what is required for them to teach for the specific course and what students are suppose to learn and receive from that particular course. It suggests to teachers how to engage students into the subject as well which is very helpful.

Inserting a Picture

2008-08-23T16:42:00.002-07:00

A picture

About Me

2008-08-23T16:42:00.001-07:00

This is my fourth year at South. I'm a Secondary Education and History major. I'm at South because I can live at home and I really had no other desire to go anywhere else, not that I desired to want to be at South either. I'm a devoted Christian and I will share my faith but never push it on anyone. One of my special interests is reading, especially the Twilight series (I'm kind of obsessed actually) and the Harry Potter series. I'm very interested in traveling outside of the U.S. I've only been to Canada, Honduras, and Guatemala but I really have a desire to go to Scotland and Ireland, and basically anywhere in Europe. I have half of my family living in South Korea, whom I've never met yet but hope to real soon. I'm very much into music. My favorite band is AFI. I had the very awesome experience of seeing them play live. I like a variety of music from bag pipes to speed metal but I cannot tolerate country music whatsoever. Well, here's a picture of the first three covers of the Twilight series combined.

Hello!

2008-08-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my post!