Blog Post #10

I have been assigned to explain the above cartoon provided by John T. Spencer's blog. I believe this comic strip represents the old and the new. For example the differences between a Dell laptop and a Macbook. The Dell is cheaper, but usually won't last as long as the Macbook which is more expenive and usually built to last longer. I you could also see the cartoon as saying that the old way is changing and the new era is coming. They are both pencils and I found this assignment to be on the strange side. I could also say that this cartoon could represent education. The papermate could be high school, which is inexpensive and the ticonderoga could represent college, which is very expensive, but it will last longer and provide you with better outcomes.

Why Were your Kids playing Games?

In Mr. Spencer's blog post, Why Were Your Kids Playing Games, he makes a point through his dialogue that I find very important and interesting. His dialogue is between himself and the principal. He is being reprimanded for playing a game that allows his students to learn and he is getting in trouble for moving away from the norm. His students were no longer just sitting at their desks taking notes that they would forget in a few days. They were interacting with their subject and internalizing the information instead of having burp-back education. I find this teaching technique to be a great way to teach students. Too many times I sat in a class taking pages and pages of notes and not remembering a thing. In some of my classes, by playing a game or doing a interactive project, I was able to LEARN. We are educators, so we need to EDUCATE our students. We need to give them the tools which will make them want to gobble up as much information as possible.

Avoid Social Networking

Another post by Mr. Spencer that I found to be interesting was his post,

Avoid Social Networking. After reading the dialogue in the post I am shocked. Avoid eye contact if you see one of your students at the grocery store, resign from coaching a non-school affiliated baseball team, and stop using social networking sites to keep in touch with your youth kids? This sounds so stupid to me. I don't have any other way to say it. Communication with students is a top priority in my eyes. I want to have a relationship with my students, because I want them to trust me and ask for help if they need it. I am involved in church and I would love to talk with kids from my church about God, I could not imagine not talking to them about that subject if they were students in my classroom. If I followed this Avoid Social Networking idea I would have to find a church and market where my students wouldn't be. This is a terrible policy to make and a rather ignorant one at that!

Don't teach your kids this stuff. Please?

The blog post, Don't teach your kids this stuff. Please?, by Scott McLeod is very amusing and totally true. The post is about the use of technology. It is very sarcastic, but makes a good point. Parents, teachers, and schools usually do not want their students to use technology when learning. This type of thinking needs to end. Technology has become a staple in everyday society and the older generations need to embrace the technology. They also need to learn about it so that they can protect their children in certain ways. The usual teaching has risks, just like the new teaching with technology. If one is educated about these risks and takes advantage of the avenues of learning with technology, they can protect their children. The technology revolution in school is already beginning and if everyone does not jump on the train, they will get left at the station and fall behind.

Who is Scott Mcleod?

Scott Mcleod is considered a expert on K-12 school technology leadership. He is the founder of CASTLE or the Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. He is also the author of What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologues and Social Media.

Blog Post #9

What I've Learned This Year 2008-2009

Mr. McClung writes about his first year as an educator in his blog post What I've Learned This Year 08-09. This post is a must read for any future educator. Mr. McClung explains many important aspects of teaching. While teaching in Noel, Missouri as an elementary school teacher, he expains that he has "grown and matured" in many ways. He learned to read the crowd, be flexible, communicate, be reasonable, not be afraid of technology, listen to students, and never stop learning.

First, he explains that, as a teacher, one should be sure that the students are comprehending the information that is being taught. An educator should not focus on what his or her superiors see how the students are being taught, but if the students are getting it and learning the information. Second, Mr. McClung explains that one's plan will change and that it will not be perfect and instead of dwelling on that he or she should accept it and "work with it." This is a great point to make. I will have to work on this when I begin teaching and even now. I am a perfectionist when it comes to presenting something. When I mess up or go off track I tend to reprimand myself and get lost.

Third, he explains the importance of communication. I completely agree with Mr. McClung. Communication is extremely important and should be practiced with teachers and students at every turn. This will provide a relationship with the students and this relationship is a must have if one is trying to reach the student intellectually and personally. Students spend most of their days in school, with their teachers. I personally want to have the type of relationship with my students in which five years after graduating they come to visit me. Communicating with other educators is also important because they can provide experience and help with a particular question. If you are a new teacher, a relationship with other educators will definitely come in handy.

Mr. McClung also explains that being reasonable in the classroom is important. He uses goals to describe this classroom aspect. He points out that teachers should not become "upset" if a student does not meet a goal that has been set for them. I believe that there should be expectations in the classroom, but I also believe that those expectations should not be to high. We should set a bar for students, but not push them to acheive it. We should lead them and hope they will excell with our help. He continues to explain that technology is everywhere and that educators should not be afraid of it, but accept it and learn to use it without getting discouraged. This EDM310 class is providing me with numerous new tools that will help me with this particular aspect of the 21st century classroom. I intend to use technology in my classroom and I expect that my students will know even more than me and they will teach me new things.

I find his discussion on listening to students very important. As I said above, I want the relationship between me and my students to be a good one. I want to be a part of their lives, because I will spend most of my time during the day with them and vice versa. Finally, Mr. McClung reflects on the fact that a person should never stop learning. This is a great topic to discuss because this world is changing every second and new learning materials are becoming available. As an educator we have to learn. Since the technology is changing, we will have to learn all about that. So why not just keep the mind open and pour every ounce of information in?

What I've Learned This Year 2011-2012

Mr. McClung has continued his What I've Learned This Year blogs every year since the 2008 school year. The most recent post, I've Learned This Year Volume 4, by Mr. McClung focuses on only two lessons that he says he learned at his current job in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He first explains how he began to focus on how he was viewed by his peers. He continues to point out that he has done well as an educator, not because of the views of his peers, but because he has cared so much about his students. He says that his number one rule is to focus on his students. I applaud him for this stance, because it makes tha most sense. An educator should focus on how they are teaching their students in a way that his or her students are having fun and actually retaining the information. Eduators are there, not to be at the whim of their peers, but they are solely responsible for their students learning path and education.

His second lesson he learned was that one needs to be challenged. He explains that he was losing his normal ferver in the classroom because he was becoming comfortable using old lesson plans. He points out that he was not being challenged and that would therefore mean that his students were not being challenged. I believe that students need to be challenged in the classroom, because this will further there cognitive development and their education. They need to push themselves to succeed, but their teachers need to be right there with them and lead them. I hope that my classroom will have an atmosphere that will allow my students to enjoy where they are and what they are doing.

Project #12 Book Trailer

Project #10

PLN Progress Report

So far my PLN is coming along very well. I have chosen to use Symbaloo to help me organize my PLN tools. I have many applications to help with presentations and social networks. I have included tools I have used very much and a few that I will use more in my career as an educator. I still have much more to add. My PLN will provide me with much help in my future in school and after.

Blog Post #8

Richard Miller: This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2

For this blog post I was required to watch two videos by Richard Miller. The videos, This Is How We Dream Part 1 and This Is How We Dream Part 2, focus on using technology to communicate. In his first video, This Is How We Dream Part 1, Richard Miller explains changes. He explains the change of text. No longer do you have to go to the library to research inforamtion to use, you only have to use the internet and find the information there. He also explains that now you can collaborate with others using text and images. Technology has opened many doors for writing. In his second video, This Is How We Dream Part 2, he focuses on what is available out there for educators, students, and anyone to use. He explains that educators should share the ideas that are out there with our students. Culture is a huge topic in his second video. He states that everything that we now have to use and the ideas that are out there is part of culture and that we need to use it and take advantage of it.

Wow! These ideas and actions that Richard Miller is giving in his videos are amazing. There is so many changes that are happening because of the introduction of technology throughout the world. I can honestly say that I have not set foot in a library to research unless I was specifically told to use books in my research. It has become so much easier to exchange ideas using technology as the gateway. I have a friend that went to the University of Alabama and by using skype he was able to help me with a project that I was assigned in junior college. Collaboration has become significantly easier, because someone from the United States can enhance their research or project by speaking to a expert 3,000 miles away. Richard Miller makes numerous points that are important to note.

There has been a huge amount of information put out there in the past 20 years. This information has been a huge help when researching or just trying to find a reference. Writing with multimedia has not been something I have done before. I usually just use word processors. This kind of writing can make a boring topic much more interesting and useful. I believe I am prepared to write with multimedia. By knowing how to do this I can teach my students to do so in the future. They might even teach me new aspects of this process. The videos by Richard Miller introduced a new topic to me that I found interesting and profound in this new technological age and culture.

Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh

Carly did a fantastic job with her Blog Post #12! Using multimedia, Carly has accomplished what Richard miller discussed in his videos, This Is How We Dream Part 1 and This Is How We Dream Part 2. The videos that she uses to describe what she has written throughout her blog are perfect. These videos makes understanding what she wants easy. Many of the videos are just too cute and hilarious. Carly has enhanced her writing by using different aspects of multimedia. She shows that other peoples ideas can be utilized in her writing. Wonderful job!

The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies

THe Chipper Series is a funny video. The point of the video is to submit your work on time and stop procrastinating. EDM310 for Dummies is another humorous video. This videos main point is that there is much to learn from the class and that the many applications that are taught can help with projects. I would like to either produce or participate in a video about the changing of the classroom from the traditional books and pencils to the new technological ways of macbooks and ipads.

Change to Learn, Learn to Change

The video Change to Learn, Learn to Change is about how classrooms today need to change. We need to enhance our classrooms and make them more enriching. They are not interested in how they are being taught in school today. I agree that we need to take advantage of technology and use it in the classroom to catch the interest of the student. They love to text, take videos, take pictures, and many like to blog. All these can be used to enhance their learning. Traditional teaching has become nearly non-existent. Our students today and in the future are taking part in a new culture.

They are learning everywhere and we have to take advantage and provide tools that can teach those student how to use their pictures effectively and educationally. The technology that we have now can be used to make a classroom more interesting and more interactive. We want our student to enable their minds and skills to prepare them for their futures, both educationally and worldly. The traditional teaching approach is gone. The non-tradititonal teaching approach is emerging more and more. Our students are not blank slates when they come into our classrooms. They have knowledge that we can use and mold. We, as educators, need to be open to new approaches to educating the next generations and opening doors for them to succeed. That is the goal!

Scavenger Hunt 2.0

For my last entry on this post I am to do a scavenger hunt that was made by Justin Cometti. For his Blog Post #12 Justin decided to make a Scavenger Hunt. Using Web 20.11 and Web 2.0 Tools I am told to find three out of five of the list of things to find:

1.) Locate a tool that is similar to Twitter or Facebook that provides a social platform for teachers, parents, and students. Create an account as a Teacher and write a paragraph or two about how you could use this site in your classroom.
2.) Locate the tool that most likely created this presentation. Once you find the site, look at the top right and click Pricing. Write a paragraph about the nice deal they make for students/teachers.
3.) Find a tool to make-your-own comic strip. Create a comic. Post a picture of it in your blog.
4.) Find a video tool that you have never used. Summarize some it's special features.
5.) Find a tool to create a poll anywhere and at anytime. Create your first poll and post it here.

I have decided to do numbers 2, 4, and 5.
2.) The tool that was used to create the presentation, Teaching in the 21st Century, was Prezi. The great deal that Prezi offers for students and teachers is well: free. Prezi offers 500 megabites of storage space, ability to make your presentation private, and it allows you to use your logo instead of the Prezi logo.
4.)Animoto is a great video tool that i found. It makes videos for you which makes this program very unique. The videos can be viewed on many stages.
5.)My poll I created using PollEverywhere is below.

Project #9b Prezi

Bill of Rights on Prezi

C4T #2

C4T #2 Topic

For my second C4T assignment I was once again assigned to read and comment on two blog posts. I was required to read and comment on Lisa Thumann's blog, Thumann Resources.

For Edcamp Newbies

The first blog post I was required to comment on was Lisa Thumann's blog post, For Edcamp Newbies. In this blog post, Lisa Thumann describes what happened at the event called edcamp Common Core. This program brought together New Jersey educators. These Edcamps bring educators together to talk about a common theme. The teachers that come do sessions where they learn and participate. After reading Lisa Thumann's post, I commented. To summarize my comment I inquired about a "unconference." I have never heard this and liked to know what it is. I, also, remarked that I like how the educators came to the edcamp expecting to sit on the sidelines and not speak, but in actuality the educators were some of the speakers! In the beginning I identified myself and I concluded with my contact information.

NY/NJ Mobile Learning Summit

The second blog post I was required to comment on was Lisa Thumann's blog post, NY/NJ Mobile Learning Summit. In this blog post, Lisa Thumann describes what she has accomplished during her eleven months at Kean University. She describes the Mobile Learning Summit. She lets the reader know which district will be there and will be the main speaker. After reading her blog post, I left a comment in response. I first introduced myself once again and described that I will be posting about her blog. Afterwards I explained that I would like to experience the conference and explained that mobile learning is becoming more and more important. I ended the comment with my contact information.

Blog Post #7

The Networked Student

For my seventh blog post I was required to watch The Networked Student. This five minute video was written and directed by Wendy Drexler. This video explains the thought of connectivism. Connectivism is a theory in which learning occurs as a part of a social network with many diverse connections and ties. The importance of this is not the technology that is used. Possibilites and different avenues that are out there to be used for learning is the most important aspect of this theory. This video explains the aspects of a PLN or personal learning network. This network makes it easy to connect with people and schools all over the world to learn. Information management plays a huge and necessary role in networked learning.

This short video was interesting and has a substantial amount of informtion about the networked learner. I see this type of learning becoming more and more prominent in schools and I like it, to a certain extent. This video explains that the teacher rarely lectures to her class and the student does everything. I believe in more of a blended education. As a future educator, I would very much like for my students to use technology in the classroom to enhance their knowledge and learning skills, but I want to teach them too. I want to experience their learning as they experience it. I will use this thought of networked learning in my classroom as a tool for my students to learn in various ways and experience the different views of others all over the world.

One very important question was raised in this video. Why does the networked student even need a teacher? According to the narrator, the student needs a teacher for many reasons. Among those reasons is instructions on how to build the student's personal learning network. Another is to provide the student with the tools to take advantage of the learning opportunity that exists. The teacher also needed to provide the student with help to communicate something properly. The most important of the reasons a networked student needs a teacher, in my opinion, is guidance. The teacher is a resource that a student can ask questions and receive interactive help. This allows students to be pointed in the right direction if they leave the correct path.

Welcome to My PLE

The youtube video, Welcome to My PLE, was made by a seventh grade student in which she gives a description of her personal learning environment. This student PLE is extensive and she has organized it very well. Compared to this seventh grader, my PLN is lacking very much. I currently use more traditonal learning avenues than the more modern avenues. Currently, I am learning more and more about the different ways I can learn using the internet and different products like Delicious and Blogger.

Project #8 Podcast

Blog Post #6

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

This week I was required to watch Randy Pausch's Last Lecture. Randy Pausch's video has three points that are made. These points are childhood dreams, enabling others dreams, and lessons learned. Throughout his lecture, Randy Pausch discusses many methods and lessons that can be used in the classroom.

The first part of the lecture focuses on childhood dreams. Dreams are a large part of the life of children and these dreams influence their future lives. I believe that educators can inspire their students in many ways and these dreams that children have can be enhanced exponentially by inspiration. Inspiration can come from many avenues; among those are parents, teachers, and friends. As educators we should not set the bar in a particular place, but move it as needed. This bar will allow student to aspire to be more and achieve even more. We should expect much from students, because we should believe that they can do great things. Our expectations should be great, but we should not push those children too much because it may not be good for them.

Randy Pausch then discusses enabling the dreams of his students. He achieves this using many different ways that he believes in very much. Among the ways to enable students, is to instill certain values in children. Not only students, but anyone can grow by telling the truth, being earnest, apologizing when you are wrong, and focusing on others and not yourself. I find this information given by Randy Pausch as extremely intuitive. Educators need to make their classroom a place where students can enhance and further these important qualities. We do not see this as often as we should in the classrooms. We as educators should also try and further a child's acceptance of criticism. As students accept criticism, they can learn gratitude. This also teaches students that complaining will not get them anywhere, but by working harder they can achieve more. Randy Pausch also focuses on the importance of being prepared.

Students can learn many things through immersion. I believe that students can learn more by interacting with the subject they are learning. For example, by taking students to Holocaust museums they can learn more than they could by reading about that subject in a book. Another example is physics, students can learn much about this subject when they learn to build a rocket. These processes can make students learn hard things by having a great deal of fun at the same time.

Many issues and problems face students throughout their lives and education. They may hit a "brick wall" for instance. This wall, according to Randy Pausch, is meant to keep out those who do not try hard enough. This wall proves whether a person has dedication. People see others in certain ways. This view is important because how someone is seen influences their future. As educators, we want children to succeed and this is something we aspire to do.

Randy Pausch's lecture was very interesting and provided me with a lot of information. His purpose of this video was to give an explanation of how to live ones life. I enjoyed this video very much. I would have been honored to meet this man before he passed, because he is an inspiration to anyone who watches this video or reads the corresponding book about his lecture.

Project #9a Timeline

C4K Summary for September

C4K #1

For my first C4K, I was assigned Santi's blog and "the best tries of the world" post. The video in the post by Santi was about tries to score in international rugby games. The comment I left was;
"Hola Santi,
Hello! I am excited to have the chance to comment on your blog. I have never played rugby and I know only a few rules about the game. I like this sport very much and this video shows how amazing the players are. Do you play rugby with your friends or family? I am from Mobile, Alabama, United States and I do not get the chance to see actual rugby games played here. I hope to see more in the future! The quickness that thee players on these teams exhibit it wonderful! Thank you for posting this video to share with the rest of the world! Feel free to contact me through my blog at nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com.
Gracias, Nancy!".
The video was, Rugby 2010 Best Tries of the Year.

For my second C4K, I was assigned Cooper's blog post Homecoming Week. In this post Cooper explains homecoming week at his school. He describes what they are allowed to wear each day. The comment I left was;
Cooper,
Hello! My name is Nancy Nelson and I attend the University of South Alabama. I was assigned your blog to comment on by my professor and I was happy to have recieved your blog. Homecoming week? I remember homecoming week when I was in middle and high school, it was always fun to dress up in different ways. I was wondering if your school is Catholic? I saw that you mentioned mass and I was curious. I noticed that your school is in Iowa. I have never been there, is it nice? I love the idea of the "50 Nifty Things Day," that sounds so awesome. I would probably where fifty clothespins or something like that. What did you wear? It was a great honor reading your blog post cooper! I hope that homecoming week has been amazing and you have had huge amounts of fun! I hope that your school wins the football game.
Go Spartans, Nancy Nelson
P.S. - If you want to respond to me please feel free to contact me through my twitter account @NancyN91 or my blog at nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com.