Blog Post #15 Final Reflection

Project #16 Contest

Project #13

For this project, my group and I were required to use products such as Skype, google hangout, google presentation, and google documents to collaborate the information for our project #15. With google documents, we chose to outline ideas that we would use or our project #16 as well. This use of collaboration made it easier for us to organize our thoughts and get information to each other in a quick and easy way. We are using google drive very much for both projects. Our project 15 has been shared and shared. We really like using google documents to write outlines and notes to each other without uploading anything. It was difficult using the collaboration for everything. We texted a lot and used google hangout once or twice. We did not use google presentation at all. Working on the notebook software was a trip. It slowed our computers down a great deal so we would alternate in the lab and work on it then share the file on google docs, so that we could easily open it anywhere. This project was fun and I loved working with Amy Archer and Quentin Morris.

C4T#4

For my third C4T assignment, I was assigned Mr. Michael Kaechele's blog Concrete Classroom. He is a high school social studies teacher from the state of Michigan.

C4T#1
The blog post that I commented on for part one of my C4T was Mr. Kaechele's blog post Why social studies should teach empathy. In the beginning of his post he discusses how the curriculum and the tools used to teach that curriculum, including teachers and books, is biased. He discusses that each different points of views need to be discussed in the classroom, not just the mainstream or dominant point of view. We see is everyday, teachers teach in a very biased way. When an educator teaches about Hitler, they focus on actions and things that were terrible and implying that he had always been a anti-semitic. There is more to Hitler's story than Auschwitz or the "Aryan" race. I am not saying Hitler was not an evil man, I am just stating that there is more to the story. Students should not take history that is taught at face value, they need to research information that tells of both sides and critically analyze that information. As educators, we need to focus on this. I am studying to be a history teacher and research is a must in this field. I need to work on researching topics in an unbiased viewpoint so that I may be able to understand the feelings and attitudes of others that are on the other side of the fence. We need to teach empathy in the classroom. Mr. Kaechele opened my eyes to this topic, because I had never thought of this issue in teaching. Empathy is necessary if we want our students to become more knowledgable about different cultures and issues that will be presented to them in their lifetime. The comment I left was as follows:

Mr. Kaechele,
Hello! My name is Nancy Nelson. I am a student in Edm 310 at the University of South Alabama. I was assigned your blog for my C4T or comment for teachers. I am required to read and comment on two of your blog post and later post on my blog a summary of your post and my comment. I found this post very interesting. I had never thought this before and now I see it. As I think back to my high school years, I was taught in a biased way. I was ignorant about so many points concerning topics that i was supposed to have learned about in high school that were being reintroduced in college. Your post has opened my eyes. I want to try and teach my students not only the general point-of-view, but the alternate point-of-view, or as you put is the views and attitudes of the winners and losers should be taught. If you would like to contact me please do so by twitter at NancyN91 and/or my blog at nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com.

CT#2
The blog post that I commented on for the second part of my assignment was Delicious. Mr. Kaechele discusses such an important part of every living thing's life; FOOD! Throughout his post, he discusses the different aspects of life that we do each second, but rarely think about it, like breathing for instance. Thanksgiving is a large part of American life. It means tradition, holiday, and great food. I know that on thanksgiving I love to eat. Macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, pecan pie, and turkey. Food is a pleasure, but when we eat the food is generally unhealthy. Mr. Kaechele discusses his family garden and the fact that since starting the garden, he and his family have began watching what they eat. This would really be a good idea for anyone who has the time, money, and space. After I read his post, I left a comment responding:

"Mr. Kaechele,
I very much enjoyed our post. I personally love food; whether the food is good for me or bad for me. I would love to start a garden to grow some of the veggies that I like to eat, but I do not have the space or the time. Eating healthy is on my to do list and now I just have to start doing it. I have heard of the book you are reading, but I haven't read it. Thank you for your post and I hope to read more in the future.
Nancy Nelson"

Project #15 Group Awesome

Blog Post #13

For my thirteenth blog post I was assigned to watch two videos. The first video I was required to watch was Back to the Future by Brian Crosby. The second video I was required to watch was A Vision of Students Today.

Back to the Future by Brian Crosby

Brian Crosby is an elementary teacher. He is using technology in his class and having his students become more interactive. In his class they begin to think out of the box. The children use many applications to share information that they are learning and information they are organizing. The students in his classes use their laptops, which are individual. The many applications they use are wiki, flickr, blogs, and skype. Children enjoy what they are doing in his classes. The children began interacting with people all over the world. These students began to expand their personal learning networks by sharing their projects and blogs around the world. The main point of the video is that we need to use the 21st century tools to empower students to learn.

These students looked like they were enjoying what they were learning. Mr. Crosby did something amazing, something I wish all teachers would do. He included his students in the teaching. Students took the information that was provided to them and organized it in their own personal way by blogging and writing their stories. I think students learn better while they are working with something, when they are included in something. Teaching this way enables the students to save the information in their brains, rather than learning and then forgetting it after they take their tests. The use of the technology in class was great. The students were using it in a productive manner. I think that if educators include technology in their classrooms they need to follow a few rules. They all need to be knowledgable about the technology they will be allowing their students to utilize and they need to set rules for the use of the technology.

A Vision of Students Today

This video was created by Michael Wesch with the help of 200 student at Kansas Stae University. This video points out many aspects of life that college students face today. Their schools make them do certain things that make no sense and hinder them. From buying textbooks they will never open to sitting in a class with one hundred other people. Education is changing. Education is expanding. Even though education is changing there are so many people who want it to remain traditional. This idea is out-dated and ignorant.

From the viewpoint of a student, the education system is in need of a serious overhaul. This is the 21st century, where most people have some type of mobile device in their back pocket. Why are we sitting in a lecture hall with one hundred student? Why is the teacher in the front of the classroom writing on a board the people in the back cannot see? Technology has improved so much, why don't we utilize it? I spend six-hundred dollars on textbooks this semester and I have rarely opened them. I have killed so many trees throughout my college careers. Technology is a part of our lives, school is a part of our live. Why can't we have both at the same time? Learning can be improved so much if more schools forked up the money to buy the technology that is desperatley needed and to train those to use it.

From the viewpoint of a teacher, I think most would like not having to develop a bigger right or left arm from writing on a chalk or white board. I believe that if an educator is trained or knowledgable about technology, they can use it to teach their students. Teachers do not have much say when it come to the money alotted to them. That needs to be dealt with. Presidents of universitites need to realize that technology is not a disease. Technology might be expensive and ever changing, but it will improve the student's live. Student who interact more with their education, rather than sitting in a classroom, learn better and more. They begin to foster their own abilities and strengths. They begin to focus more, because they become interested. Technology is the future, why not embrace it now?

C4K Summary for November

C4K#1

For my first November C4K, I was assigned Matthew K's blog post, Summer Event. Matthew is an eighth grade student in Mr. Boylen's class in Iowa. His post focuses on the many activities that he too part in during the Summer. He describes many things in great detail. Some of his descriptions were very funny and interesting. I did think he could have tried harder to write grammatically correct, though. I enjoyed reading his post. I can see some of the innocence that kids have within his blog. After I read his blog, I left him a comment:

"Matthew,
Hello! My name is Nancy Nelson. I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I was assigned your blog for one of my classes. I am required to comment on it and at the end of the month I will publish a summary about it. I must say that your blog post was very interesting. you were very descriptive about everything. I absolutely love Call of Duty Black Ops. I think that is the best Call of Duty that has been produced yet. I am a novice when it comes to the Xbox, but that doesn't stop me from trying to play. Which Xbox game is your favorite? I can honestly say that I have never played a Ps3 console. I still have the box0-like Ps2 console from the early 200's at home. Lame, I know. Did you try anything else other than the chicken cooked in soy sauce at the Samoan restaurant? I have never eaten Samoan food. It must have been a very different experience. I love the Fourth of July and fireworks. I have hit so many cars while shooting fireworks, this includes my own, that I have lost count. How was the movie, The Amazing Spiderman? I have yet to see it. i heard it was good, but I don't have much time to see movies anymore. Do you like writing blogs for Mr. Boylen's class? I enjoy writing blogs in my class. I would like to write like you though. Just free write. if you want to contact me, please do so. i have a twitter account @NancyN91 and my blog nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com. I enjoyed your blog!
Thanks, Nancy Nelson"

C4K#2

For my second November C4K, I was assigned the blog of IBelliej. The blog post I commented on was Veterans Day. This blog focuses on Veterans Day. The blog consists of what veterans have done for this country and and why is should be remembered. The blog also features a very moving picture. After reading the post I commented as follows:

"Hello!
My name is Nancy Nelson and I am a student in EDM-310 at the University of South Alabama. Your post is very provocative. You make great points that are straight forward. I can clearly see that your have a firm stance on what veterans mean to this country and to you. Do you have a family member that has served in the military? Did you attend any special services for Veterans Day? I agree with you completely that we should be thankful and salute those who died to give us what we have today, most importantly our freedom. Thank you for your post. I enjoyed reading it very much. If you would like to contact me, please do by my twitter account @NancyN91 and my blog nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com."

C4K #3

For my third November C4K, I was assigned DPEE Annual Fun Run 2012!. The post consisted of a short video of photos taken during the fun run. The children in the photos looked like they were having fun. After watching the video I left my comment:

Hello! My name is Nancy Nelson and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in EDM310. I was assigned your post to comment on. I found the video to be really nice. The kids looked like they had a blast and I bet they did. I wish more schools would do this with their students. I believe that my niece and nephew would love to have a fun run and they would definitely be involved in it. There was a fun run type activity at my grade school and I enjoyed it very much. I hope you do this every year and give the kids something to look forward to. If you would like to contact me please to so through my twitter @NancyN91 and my blog at nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com.
Thank you, Nancy Nelson

Progress Report on Final Project

Progress Report

My group and I have been working on our final project and we still have much work to do, but we work very well together. We chose to partake in the 50 years contest and we are enjoying ourselves. We have decided how we are going to set our video up for the best way to get the point of the video to the audience. I do not want to give anything away, so I am going to leave you with this. Group Awesome has great ideas and we are using those ideas to make a great video!

Final Report on PLN

My personal learning network has increased substancially during this semester. I have found many educators and people who can help me throughout my career as an educator. I believe that the most important part of my PLN is my fellow students who I have interacted with during EDM310. I continue to use my Twitter to meet and talk to educators. There are many parts of my PLN that will further my ability to learn and educate.

Blog Post #12

For this blog post, I was told to create my own. I am studying to be a history teacher or social studies teacher, I just think history teacher sounds better. I decided to focus on my favorite time in history and the most interesting historical figure, Hilter and the Nazis. The blog post I created is stated and outlined below.

1. Watch Hitler's 1934 Speech at Nuremburg.
2. After watching the video, write at least one paragraphs about how Hitler pulls the people in by introducing the topic of a "fixed pole" and how only the strong will be allowed to be in the "Party" in the new Germany under Hitler and the Nazis.
3. Read The Nuremberg Laws.
4. After reading the laws, discuss how the "Jews" were being pushed out of society and what constituted someone to be labeled a "Jew" in at least one paragraph.

After creating the assignment, I was required to follow my own directions and do the assignment.

1. After watching Hitler's 1934 Speech at Nuremburg, I found that Hitler mentions the notion of a "fixed pole" as it relates to a stable government or leader. The German people were unsure of who they were and what their country was. They did not like the Weimar Republic, because they had agreed to the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty caused Germany to be unstable and poor. The Republic did not have the support of the people, but when Hitler entered the picture. he was like a savior to the people, he was their leader. He was a man that would make their homeland strong again. The "Party" refers to the new Germany and the Nazi Party. Hitler was all about the "Aryan" race. He wanted Germany to be pure and larger. He wanted all the Germanic speaking peoples into his empire. He wanted the best and only the purest Germans to be a part of his country an his new Germany for the next 1,000 years.

After reading The Nuremberg Laws, the "Jews" were labeled and socially demeaned. Jew refers to those who practice the Jewish faith, but to Hitler and many before Jew was a separate race not a separate religion. According to Article two or the FIrst Supplementary Decree of November 14, 1935, one is not considered a Jew if one or two grandparents practiced the Jewish faith. A Jew is also one who is descended from at least three grandparents who practice the Jewish faith and were part of the Jewish religion community. Jews were not allowed to vote, because they were not considered citizens of the Reich. They also have no tight to hold public office.

C4T #3

For my third C4T assignment, I was required to comment on two posts from Dare To Care blog. This blog is written by Denise Krebs. The blogs motto is "Creating, Contributing, Communicating, Connecting, Collaborating & Curating."

The first blog post I commented on was Precious Water. This post provides many pictures that show people from Kenya using Hipporollers to carry water from their water sources back home. She provided a short discussion of the problems that people face because of water shortage. The comment that I left was:
"Denise
Hello! My name is Nancy Nelson. I attend the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Al. I am taking a class, Edm 310, which has assigned your blog to me to comment on. I am required to read two of your blog posts and comment on them. In a few weeks I will then post these comments and a short summary of your posts on my blog at, nelsonancyedm310.blogspot.com. I am so happy that your church has opened their hearts and pocketbooks to help these people who are suffering. I have never heard of hipporollers and I beleive they are a blessing to whomever uses them. Having the children of your church experience the weight of the barrels is a great way to get them more involved. Did any of the adults in your church do the same? I hope that your church will raise the money to provide hipporollers to those who desperately need them in Africa. If you want to contact me, please do at my twitter @NancyN91 and through my blog.
Thank you, Nancy Nelson"

The second blog post I commented on was Global Cardboard Challenge. This post reflects on what her seventh grade science class did in respect to the Global Cardboard Challenge. Her student created cardboard creations such as: catapults, cranes, hand bumper cars, and even basketball hoops. They were very creative. She also provided two videos, Caine's Arcade and Caine's Arcade 2:The Global Cardboard Challenge & Imagination Foundation. Caine is a young boy who created his own arcade. This arcade that he created is made out of cardboard! This is amazing. Caine seems like a very devoted individual. This is such an inspiration. If you are reading this, please watch the videos. They will surprise and interest you very much. The second video,Caine's Arcade 2:The Global Cardboard Challenge & Imagination Foundation, is about how the immediate changes began to take place for Caine and the video maker who was his first customer. Caine began a cardboard revolution by just using his creative mind. Its so wonderful. It made a difference all over the world. For my comment I was unable to leave one on this particular post. After discussing the issue with my professor, Dr. Strange, we came to the conclusion that I need to mention that there were some difficulties. I enjoyed her post very much, because it was meaningful. It pointed out dreams and the creativeness of children. We, as educators, should continuously nurture our student's creative minds. This creativeness may be their future! Why should we decide what they needs, when we can walk with them on their personal journey?

Blog Post #11

Little Kids...Big Potential

In this post I will discuss Ms. Cassidy and her approach to the use of technology in the classroom. I will discuss her techniques, the benefits, and the impediments of these teaching techniques. I watched Ms. Cassidy's video, Little Kids...Big Potential and watched the Skype video between Dr. Strange and Ms. Cassidy.

Ms. Cassidy uses many tools in her classroom for her students to utilize. They use blogs, wikis, videos, Skype, and even their Nintendo DS's. Ms. Cassidy provides her students with ways in which they can learn by using the technology that they are faced with each and everyday at home. She allows her students to create blogs. These blogs benefit the children by way of writing. The student's writing skills improve after using blogs, just as they would while writing with paper. They become more focused on what they write because others from around the world and just up the road will see them. Their parents are now able to discover how their children are utilizing the internet and how their writing is improving. Ms. Cassidy teaches her students that thee need to be careful when they use the internet. She teaches her students that they need only use their first name. She also teaches them what sites are safe and which sites they are allowed to use. The students use videos to learn about many aspects of their education including the alphabet and counting. The students also use Wikis to learn about topics such as tradition and rituals from people around the world. Her students also use Skype. Skype is utilized by communicating with professionals in a field of study to help the students learn about the topic they are discovering. They also use Skype to communicate with students from different states. Ms. Cassidy's students use their Nintendo DS's to learn about problem solving and sharing.

in her interview with Dr. Strange, Ms. Cassidy explains many things. She explains that she started using technology in her classroom because she was given five computers to utilize. She explained that students love to use technology and enjoy learning using it. The parents are able to see their students development. She explains that some educators are comfortable with the traditional way of teaching without the use of technology. This is an issue because technology is part of the lives of the kids in this generation and will become a larger part of the lives of future generations. I don't think there would be impediments with technology in the classroom. I thinks students need to be taught how to utilize it effectively without giving out private information. They ned to learn that some sites are not allowed. I think that teachers might become dependent on the technology. They might depend on videos about certain topics to teach their student, rather than do their job. I think many students would begin to use programs on computers that should not be used in the classroom. Students might become dependent on spell check. They need to learn how to spell and write if they are going to become bloggers. I think that the price of education would increase, because technology would be demanded more in classrooms. These are a few issues that I think might be consequences of the new technology era in schools.

Blog Post #10.5

A World Where Grades Will be Left Behind

For my 10.5 blog post assignment, I will be posting about A World Where Grades Will be Left Behind. This article was written by Mary Beth Marklein. This article focuses on free and individual learning. Udacity is a online start-up program that is overseen by Sebastian Thrun. This article explains the change that is happening in education. This vision states that there will be no grades and that each student will learn individually and have fun doing so. This idea is all about individual learning.

I can see that this has a lot of controversy, at least in my mind. This article states that one class will have tens or hundreds of thousands of students in that one class. Where is the instruction? Where is the teacher? Where is the relationship that is so important between a student and the teacher? Students learn in many different ways and making the learning fun is a great idea, but I think that this approach is stepping over the line. It is too radical in my opinion. Free classes is a great idea, I would love that. I don't see this as a possibility in such a capitalistic society.

As I have said so many times before in many of my previous posts, I believe there should be a decent median between traditional teaching and the use of technology to classrooms. Grades are a difficult topic for many educators and students. I have grown up in schools that use grades to decide practically everything. Grades can be seen as a hinderance in a student's education. Students begin to focus on their grade, rather than focusing on if they are learning the information. I think grades give students something to strive for. Sometimes that student goes too far and misses the point. I believe that grades need to be in school, but there needs to be a change in how they are perceived and handled by students, teachers, parents, and the educational boards. Overall, I do not agree with this very visionary approach to learning and teaching. This is my opinion and others will disagree with me and I expect that and welcome it. I love a little debate!

Project #11 Green Screen

C4K Summary for October

C4K #1
For my first C4K of October I was assigned Sopsha's blog post, How cats and dogs are similar and different. The title is self explanatory. Sopsha wrote about the differences and similarities of cats and dogs. I left a comment that looked like this:

"Sophia,
I love that you wrote about cats and dogs. I am an animal lover and I especially favor these two animals. Do you like both cats and dogs, or do you like one more than the other? Do you have a cat, dog, or both? I must say that your grammar was wonderful and your examples are very funny. The cats that I have owned have always scratched my furniture. Dogs really do not like heights, do they? I don’t think I have ever met a dog that liked heights. All the cats I have owned love to be high. Have you ever had any cats jump on you from a high shelf? I have! Thank you so much for providing this post for me and the rest of the world to read. If you want to contact me please feel free to on my blog at nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com.
Nancy Nelson"

C4K #2
The blog post Design Your Words is an explanation of how to do a presentation well and gives examples and tips. My comment was:

"Hello,
My name is Nancy Nelson and I am a student in Edm 310 at the University of South Alabama. I was assigned your blog post to read and comment on this week. I found your blog post to be extremely informational and very well written. I assume that you planned this post ahead of time. I very much enjoyed reading your post. I used to despise presentations that my teachers would present with each slide filled with only text. I wish all my teachers would read your blog post and learn how to present. After reading your blog, I will definitley use the tips that you gave when I present a topic. I am studying to be a teacher, so this information will help me exponentially when I begin. Once again, I enjoyed your post very much. If you wish to contact me please feel free to through my twitter @NancyN91 and my blog at nelsonancyedm310.blogspot.com.
Thank you, Nancy Nelson"

C4K #3
The blog post Uglies is a decription of the book Uglies. My comment was:

"Hailey,
My name is Nancy Nelson. I attend the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Al. I was assigned your blog to comment on this week. I have never heard of this book. Is the title “Uglies”? I was unsure. It sounds like you liked this book very much. I must applaud you on the fact that you made the book very appealing and interesting by your short summary. Were you required to read this book for your class or was it just for recreation? If you want to contact me please do by my twitter @NancyN91 or my blog at nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com."

C4K#4
The blog post October 19th from the blog Epic Alberta is a short video showing many aspects of Alberta, Canada. The comment I left for Carson was:

"Carson,
Hi! My name is Nancy Nelson. I was assigned your blog by my professor at the University of South Alabama. I really liked you animoto video about Alberta. I can see that you are very proud of your homeland. I have always wanted to travel to Alberta and see its beauty. I have heard so much about it. I read one of your other posts that said you liked hockey. Thats awesome. Are you on a hockey team or do you just play for fun? I have never played it, but I have watched it on televeision once or twice. So you live in the Rocky Mountains? It must be amazing in the winter! If you want to contact me, please feel free through my twitter @NancyN91 and my blog nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com.
Thank you for your video, Nancy."

C4K#5
For my final C4K for the month of October I was assigned the post Irish Blessing from the blog Vitulli and Santoli: Eyes on Ireland. This was posted by two professors at the University of South Alabama while they are in Ireland for the Ireland International Conference on Education. The post consists of a single picture. This picture houses a beautiful and meaningful Irish blessing. After reading the blessing, I left a comment for Dr. Vitulli and Dr. Santoli. The comment I left was:

"Dr. Vitulli and Dr. Santoli,
I am a student in Edm310 at the University of South Alabama and I have been assigned this post for my C4K. I have heard this Irish blessing before and found it to be very moving and meaningful. It made my day to read this because it is nice to read something that gives someone hope and put a smile on his or her face. it is worded beautifully and flows very well. Have you had much time to sight see? I have Irish blood in me and I have always wanted to visit Ireland. I am jealous! My family has a seriously Irish name. I do not carry the name, but it was the maiden name of my grandmother. Even though my Irish blood is small, I still feel proud to be part Irish. I hope the convention is going well and you both have a safe trip home. If you would like to contact me, please do so through my twitter @NancyN91 or my blog at nelsonnancyedm310.blogspot.com.
Thank you for the post, Nancy Nelson"

Project #14 SmartBoard

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.

My Sentence Video Project #6

Blog Post #5

The iSchool Initiative by Travis Allen

Travis Allen has started the iSchool Initiative which would severely change the look of education today. In his nearly six minute video, The iSchool initiative (Mobile Learning), he discusses how the iTouch could save school upwards of four to five hundred dollars. He explains numerous iTouch applications that already exist and numerous other applications that could be created. According to Travis Allen, these applications could help students and teachers.

He states that there would be no need for textbooks, pencils, paper, or expensive machines. In the youtube video, Travis Allen's ZeitgeistYoungMinds entry (Mobile Learning) iSchool Initiative, Travis Allen continues speaking about his iSchool Initiative and how he started a technological revolution in school. He advocates for people to join and experience the initiative he created.

I do not agree with this educational approach. I believe that the use of this kind of technology in the classroom must be limited. If this kind of approach did come about and remove writing utensils and paper from classrooms, I believe this would hinder students and their abilities. Abilities such as penmanship could become nonexistent in a school setting. There should be a controlled blend of the use of technology and traditional teaching techniques in the classroom. I have recently seen what the good and bad are when using technology in the classroom and I do not like it.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir is an amazing and incredible compilation of voices.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir consists of 185 voices from twelve countries. This use of the internet to create such beautiful music is phenomenal. I applaude Mr. Whitacre for providing this for the world to see. I was amazed at the clarity and amount of time it must have taken to make this project happen.

Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts (John Strange version)

The video Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts describes how the new and improved technologies in the 21st century are impacting students and teachers. He describes ways in which an educator can use the technology and the different programs that students use to their advantage. Roberts provides the viewer with situations in which this technology cannot provide someone with the knowledge and skills that would remedy them. He continues to explain that problems such as plagiarism needs to be explained and taught. I feel that the positions expressed in this video are well thought out and productive. The examples that Roberts gives in his presentation, provide educators a significant amount of information to solve the issues of technology in the classroom. If Roberts is correct about the changes in learning and education, then all present and future teachers will have to mold their teaching abilities around the technology that has been produced and the technology that will be produced.

Flipped Classroom

In the first video, Why I Flipped My Classroom, Katie Gimbar describes her process of flipping her classroom and the reason why she flipped her classroom. I saw this process and as a interesting and effective way of involving each and every one of her students. I could definitely use this approach in my classroom if I find that my students are not being challenged and if they are not absorbing the material. Katie Gimbar's approach is very efficient, because she places herself in the middle of her students, instead of her being in the front of the class.

In the second video, Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ - Flipping the Classroom, Dr. Lodge McCammon describes the process of FIZZ and how to implement it into the classroom. Students are now focusing on applying what they have learned while in the classroom, rather than that class time being used primarily for lecture. Students are able to see videos that are offered by their educators as many times as needed to learn the concept. This can cause them to come into the classroom with questions to be answered immediately. This challenges the students and engages them in the learning process.

In the third video, Flipping the Classroom - 4th Grade STEM, by Ms. Munafo, describes FIZZ or Flipping the Classroom to the outside world. This presentation is a great way for parents to see how their children are learning and the process of FIZZ. This new process is a great way to include technology in the classroom.

C4T #1

C4T #1 Topic
For my first post for comment for teachers I was required to read and comment on two blog posts. The blog I was required to read and comment on was the blog of Ms. Lara Bishop, Ms. Lara's Jungle.

Reaching out in the community, even in K - 4!

In Ms. Bishop's post, Reaching Out In The Community, Even In K - 4!, she discusses the importance of reaching out into the community and helping those who are less fortunate or those who are having hard times. She notes the importance that at having children at young ages help, the lessons they learn then will follow them throughout their lives into their futures. She discusses ways in which parents and teachers can get children involved and show that giving is meaningful. Most important, Ms. Bishop's discusses what her preschool class achieved during the holidays. Her class provided much needed food to a family who would not have had it otherwise.

After reading Ms. Bishop's blog post I commented on what she had achieved and her idea of having the children active in the community. To summarize my comment, I agreed with Ms. Bishop on the importance of having children help their community and that they would learn lessons that would follow them into their futures. I personally involve myself in my community, whenever I can, and find it very fulfilling. I applaud Ms. Bishop and her students on their outstanding contribution to the community and their dedication to provide food to a family during the holidays. After I finished my comment I included my contact information.

Dr. Strange I Owe It To You

The second post that I read and commented on was Lara Bishop's post, Dr. Strange I Owe It To You, in which Ms. Bishop discusses her thanks for Dr. Strange and his teaching. This post is very important because I am currently enrolled in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. She has taken a lead from Dr. Strange by including desktop computers and laptop computers in her 4K classroom. She continues to explain how much she learned and the fact that she was wary in the beginning. She has brought technology into her classroom with one desktop and four laptop computers and her school is now taking donations to provide the school with a computer lab. Ms. Bishop is excited about having her 4K students learn in this way.

After reading this post I left Ms. Bishop a comment. I explained that I am enrolled in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class and I concur with Ms. Bishop on the fact that it was intimidating when first beginning the class. I had heard good and bad things and that would make anyone worried. I stated that the student would like to learn by using the computers. Once again, I closed my comment by leaving my contact information.