For my first Comments-4-Kids assignment, I was assigned Kenya's blog. I read her "About Me" post and commented on it with my thoughts. Kenya seems to be someone who places great importance on family. She also wrote about her friends and how she likes to hang out with them (or bother her little brother) when she's bored. Actually, in the first sentence of her post, she writes that she is someone who would like to reach her goals in life. In my comment for Kenya's post, I wrote that it is very refreshing to find a student who has set forth in accomplishing their goals. I also mentioned that I, too, place great importance on family and friends. Like Kenya, I am also enjoying school nowadays. I wrote that when I'm bored, I like to go outside or read a book.
In the second Comments-4-Kids assignment, I commented on Carmen's blog. Carmen wrote her "Learning Manifesto" and posted it on her blog, which I then commented on. Carmen has set some very nice goals for herself. What I gathered from her manifesto is that she values respect. I admired her for aiming to show the same respect towards her teacher that she expects from others. She also strives to turn her work in on time more often and ask for help when she doesn't understand. The latter can be very tough for young people, I think. So, I encouraged her to be the one student in the class to raise her hand and say, "I don't understand" because in that moment, she could become the hero to another student who was too nervous to admit that they weren't following the lesson.
I really enjoyed reading both of these students' blogs! I think it's really neat how we get to communicate with people of different ages, professions, and nationalities in this course. All in all, a new and fun experience.
I was really impressed with this third grade's class blog. I think it's great that the students are experiencing how to communicate with technology to the rest of the world. This is also a way to keep the students interested by giving them a type of long-term project to work on that is fun and educational. While visiting the Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog, I learned about Rome in their audio podcast "Roamin' with the Ancient Romans". I learned that Roman aqueducts were an integral part of Roman society. Also, the Colosseum could be filled with water to simulate sea battles. The students in the podcast also mentioned that watching gladiators die was a sort of entertainment for citizens in ancient Rome, like going to the movies is for people today. The gladiators trained in special schools, took a special oath, and fought for glory as well as their lives.
I was very impressed with this blog, and I hope I am able to do a similar project with my class(es) one day! The educational aspect of this podcast was very strong, and I think I'd like to include such a focus in the group podcast.
Langwitches
I really liked the writing style in this blog. I also liked the subtitle of "The Magic of Learning" for its connection to the blog's main title. I explored the most recent post titled "Space Real Estate Agents?". Again, I was extremely impressed with the work these students accomplished. The sound effects, music, quality of dialogue, and the creativity presented in this podcast by a class of fourth graders is truly inspiring. I appreciate how this educator has enabled these children to explore their opportunities for learning by teaching them about podcasting and technology.
I really liked the sound effects and music in this podcast, so I think it would be a good idea to include these in the group podcast.
The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom by Joe Dale
In this podcast (The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom), I really liked the idea of enabling students to review by listening to a recorded lecture. This reaches out to students who learn better through audio examples and repetition. I also agree podcasting can be beneficial as it addresses higher levels of thinking in Bloom's taxonomy. I like how podcasting can enable absent children to learn even thought they can't be at school.
In the end, I liked how the video switched back and forth between audio and video. I think this is a good idea for our group podcast, as well.
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod
In Scott McLeod's Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?, he talks about technology in the classroom. His way of getting the message across is quite interesting. After an initial read, I wasn't sure what Dr. McLeod was trying to say. It seemed as though he was discouraging the use of technology in the classroom. However, a few sections of his post made me think during this initial read where it seemed he was advocating technology in the classroom...that he was supporting it. In the end, I realized that this message had to do with understanding and learning about something, even if there are negative aspects to it. Technology presents many ways for students to be creative and to explore, so why not use it?
Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor at Iowa State University. He teaches in the Educational Administration program and is the director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He also co-created the video, "Did You Know? (Shift Happens)".
The iSchool Initiative
In this video The iSchool Initiative (Mobile Learning), a high school senior talks about his iSchool Initiative. This is definitely an innovative and revolutionary idea for how education could be in the future. I think that this type of a school would reach out to many of the modern students of today. However, I'm not sure how I, as a current student, would fare in such an educational environment. Sure, I would probably adapt and become accustomed to this method of learning (just as I have with the current methods), but I don't know if learning would have the same personal feel to it, if we took all methods of "old school" teaching and learning away.
I believe that a good balance of both methods would be most beneficial. I think that turning to a classroom with only an iTouch would be skipping that intermediate step of a good balance between "new school" and "old school". Also, I'll admit that the idea of so much change in a short amount of time is a little scary to me. Furthermore, being someone who is trying to reduce my carbon footprint everyday by recycling and being aware of my energy-use, this iSchool Initiative is certainly appealing in that area.
The Lost Generation
In "The Lost Generation", the speaker talks about the future, and what many believe to be true. In the end, the message literally rewinds to read the total opposite of the first message. I was very impressed with the creativity presented in this video. The ending message was very hopeful and optimistic, and I think that is extremely important. People need to believe they can change something they think is wrong. It is clear that this message says to believe in yourself, believe you are the change, hope for the future, stay true to yourself, keep loved ones close to you, etc. I really appreciate this video because its message could say something different for many people.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
At Jennifer Chamber's EDM 310 Class Blog, she posted a video of a virtual choir who recorded their performance via internet, having never met or practiced together. All I could think was "Wow" while listening to this virtual choir. I even got goosebumps! It was very relaxing, and it really amazes me in what can be accomplished via the worldwide web. It seems so unbelievable that this is possible. Clearly, it's possible. I think I may still be in shock that something so beautiful and amazing could be composed from all of the wonderful voices of these people who had never met or never even practiced together! It really makes me look at communication and connection via internet in a whole new way.
I thought that this film was very moving. I liked how it mentioned that a student's day can be pretty long. How a student spends these hours can be varied, however. I also liked how the project involved students filling out surveys for the purpose of providing the information in this film. I gathered that the statistics presented by the individual students was from this survey in the document.
What I saw in this video was a bunch of students questioning the quality of their education. Maybe some of them feel like the methods used by their teachers are a bit outdated and need to be geared towards their interests and learning styles, not the teacher's.
In a way, I don't feel like this video represents my college experience. If the sentiments of the students in the video are what I think they are, I don't think that my professors are too outdated or unwilling to modernize their teaching strategies. Almost all of my classes have a class website, we are suggested links and web pages for our intellectual development, and some of my classes even employ the use of a Smart Board (I really enjoy those lessons). I did like how the video allowed many students to speak out about their feelings concerning higher education.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Ms. Hines' post was about how the actual technology is not needed in the classroom to teach the students the skills necessary to use said technology. I like her approach to this area of educating students. I think that for many teachers, certain types of technology may not be available to them due to expense, for example.
In It's Not About the Technology, Ms. Hines mentions four things she believes teachers must embrace in order to truly teach their students in this new age of learning. First, she says that teachers must devote themselves to being life-long learners and keeping up with the times, in reference to technology and the tools associated with its research. Second, she uses a physics reference to explain that working harder is not necessarily working smarter. She believes that learning isn't the same for every student or every teacher, but learning is still learning. It has value for us all. Third, she emphasizes the importance of proper training and mindset of the teachers who will be presented with such innovative technological tools for the classroom, such as interactive whiteboards. Fourth, she states that an educator can be a 21st century teacher without technology. This can be done by identifying core outcomes for students which include different themes, skills, creative elements, critical thinking lessons, and media-focused objectives.
Karl Fisch: "Is It Okay To Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"
In Is It Okay To Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher? Karl Fisch explains his view and opinions about technology and education. I like the passion that Mr. Fisch demonstrates in his post. It's very clear that he feels strongly (in an alternating pattern, he admits) about educators educating themselves about technological innovations. I really understand where he's coming from when he states that it's something that needs to seriously be addressed.
I think that while I was in high school, I wasn't too concerned about being up to date with new technology. Sure, I knew how to work a laptop, use Microsoft Office, download a ring tone to my cell phone, and create a music play list. However, I don't remember really having the desire to explore. Now, being in this class, I realize the importance of learning on my own. I have a responsibility to my future students to be an example. It seems as though that will be pretty difficult, if I don't hone these skills now. Another thing, I know time can be as elusive to teachers as their roll list, but why wouldn't a teacher jump at the chance to learn something new? To have something they can relate to their students with?
Gary Hayes Social Media Count
Wow. This site is really astonishing. The high amount in each category and the rate at which they all increase is amazing. The message I get from this count is that technology plays a very active part in people's lives. It really makes me think about the technological savvy that most, if not all, of my future students may have. I think that this is another sign, of many, that as a future educator, it is my responsibility to realize that technology is becoming a larger part of people's lives everyday. In order to be the best teacher I can be, this means I will also need to make technology and the knowledge of its innovations a dynamic part of my life.
For my first C4T assignment, I was given the blog of Ms. Diane Krause. Her blog is called Diane's Digital Discoveries. Ms. Krause provides an astonishing amount of information on her site for how to bring technology into the classroom.
The first post that I commented on was a list of various links which I viewed and then I gave my opinion about them. I especially liked the website that featured 100 Ways Google Can Make You a Better Educator and A 21st Century Education Film Series. The film called "Designing Schools for 21st Century Learning" featuring Randall Fielding was very inspiring. He has so much passion for bettering the learning environments for students that it makes me want to do the same.
The second comment I made on Ms. Krause's blog was to another post which consisted of multiple links, as well. I really enjoyed these links provided by Ms. Krause. A couple of my favorites were two international news links The Paperboy and Google Regional Newspapers because they offered newspapers from all over the world, like Bhutan, Germany, Jordan, and Singapore. The National Geographic Kids website was fun because I was able to play games and learn about leather back sea turtles. Also, at the PBS News Hour Extra -- 7-12 Grade Level website, there was an article about how the "Venezuelan Youth Embrace National Orchestra Program". I thought this was a great article that described how much passion these kids have for their music. The other great thing about it is it actually had comments from the kids the article was talking about.
All in all, I thought it was really amazing how Ms. Krause made all of these great sources available for the public. I really appreciate the time she puts into her blog as a resource for students and educators everywhere.
In its entirety, I believe this video was quite overwhelming. I sat down to watch it, and I was suddenly bombarded with statistics! It's been said that providing statistics is the way to win an argument. Although, I did not check the numbers presented in the video, many of them were certainly believable. What's astonishing is the rapidity with which many of these numbers are occurring. The video said that we are living in "exponential times". Whether this is referring to the informal definition of "very fast" or the more formal math definition "of, containing, or involving one or more numbers or quantities raised to an exponent" (Dictionary.com: Exponential), either of them would convince me.
One of the statistics that really stuck with me was that the "amount of new technical information doubles every 2 years". The meaning this quote has for me is that we need to keep up. We will be educating our students about technology that will change in at least one year. "So What Does It All Mean?" is the ending message of the video. Well, I think it goes back to the idea that we will need to teach our students the skills necessary to learn about new technologies and to find information concerning such innovations.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
At first, I didn't understand what the message of this movie could be. It seemed very vague and subtle in the way it suggested its intent. I initially thought it would be a video about how people are too busy and consumed with technological devices instead of taking a break to go outside and breathe, for example. However, this message wouldn't have really made too much sense, keeping in mind which class gave this assignment. Once Mr. Winkle arrived in the school, it became pretty clear (especially once the movie ended) what was trying to be said.
To be honest, thought, I really didn't enjoy the video. Once the video had ended, I realized that this was a somewhat satirical view of the school system and how the classrooms need more technologically-directed lessons. I thought that the tone was somewhat negative, when a more positive solution or question could have been presented. One of my professors, Dr. Fresne, has said that "When educating children, you shouldn't always give them the answer. Rather, show them a small bit of the solution, and instill in them the motivation to learn on their own and discover the answer for themselves." So, I'm not asking for a solution to this problem of teachers not integrating technology into the classrooms and lessons. I thought that instead of being more proactive, this video was more of a complaint. However, I also realize that this video may have been a way to bring others to action.
Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
Overall, I really enjoyed this talk by Ken Robinson. I thought his stories were really funny and good examples of the points he was trying to get across to his audience. I agree with his idea of every child being born creative and this characteristic decreasing as children go through school. For instance, when I was in grade school, I really enjoyed art class, especially. In the eighth grade, I seriously considered being an artist following the presentation of my "Most" award, which was "Most Artistic". Going through high school, though, I realized that being an artist might not be a very practical career. Looking back, my life could have been very different. I like creating art as a hobby, though, and I plan to continue doing so.
This video made me reflect on the school system of today and how the "arts" are integrated into lessons and the atmosphere. I do believe more could be done to reach out to students who aren't as interested in the "main subjects" as other students. Isn't that always the case, though? More can always be done. My hope is that I can notice these interests in children and help them identify with said interests.
Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
I thought that this video was very inspirational to educators everywhere. It's great that Ms. Davis was able to take her class abroad to learn about different cultures and educational techniques. In the video, it really seemed like the kids enjoyed learning about using technology in the classroom. It was nice to see other students helping each other with procedures and learning how to work the computers. It seems that she really has a passion for teaching the students and learning from them as well. The students also seemed to be doing a lot of the learning on their own through independent work on the computers, as well as working together.
In conclusion, I think that I can learn many lessons from Ms. Davis. If you show passion for what you are teaching, the students will see that you really care about their education. It's good to learn a lesson or two from the students: teachers are life-long learners. Finally, keeping the classroom up-to-date (especially with concern to technology) is a good way to keep the students' attention.
