Blog Assignment 5

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff!
I agree with Dr. McLeod 100%! I also loved the sarcasm in his post. I understand how parents and teachers might be apprehensive or even afraid to allow their children access to the internet. The problem is that they do not understand the internet and the wealth of resources available to the kids. You only have a reason to fear it if you do not understand it. It is the future and by denying children the opportunity to use technology, they are also denying them the opportunity to get better jobs, be more competitive and make more money. Plain and simple.
Dr. McLeod seems to be a leader and advocate for technology and education reform. He uses a lot of sarcasm in his posts to get his point across which I thoroughly enjoy. I think that his approach is real, refreshing, and all about common sense. I am now a follower of www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org. See, even his website has a hint of sarcasm. I love it!

The iSchool Initiative
I didn't realize how uninformed I was about what is already available in regards to technology and the classroom. WOW! I am blown away. I agree with everything Travis said, especially about the cost reduction in the public school system. Teachers are losing their jobs everyday causing class sizes to swell to unmanageable numbers. The administrative costs associated with education keep rising as well. Art and music programs are being cut. This is a solution to all of the problems. I'm sure that it won't come without it's own set of problems and issues that will have to be worked out, but it is a step in the right direction instead of inaction or ridiculous budget cuts. It reminds me of the old saying: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result." Things just have to change!

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
AMAZING! I think I've officially seen it all! This choir was completely virtual, yet it sounded as clear as if I had been in the same room. The performance itself was spectacular, but trying to imagine the logistics behind it is just mind-boggling. How would you even begin to put together a performance like that? And if something of this magnitude could be put together on the internet and thrown on youtube, what else awaits to be done? I never would have thought something like that would be possible. It kind of makes my "my sentence video" look like a box of tinker toys. Absolutely brilliant! I'm still in shock. This is definitely a video that I will have to share with others.

Teaching In the 21st Century
I have asked myself this question since beginning this class. With technology so available, what will my students need me for? Afterall, they will have access to all of the answers for any question they will ever have. I came up with an answer similar to that of Kevin Roberts. They will need me to be a filter. They will need me to point them in the right direction, teach them how to validate information, process information, and utilize it at the appropriate time. I think many people fear technological advancement because they are unable to see where they will fit into the picture. Teachers are invaluable.
Facts and dates, formulas and equations aren't cutting it anymore. I am a huge believer in complete curriculum change. If students don't know how to use the information given to them, it is pointless to have them memorize it for a test. For example, in EDM310 I am not asked to take tests, or memorize information. I am asked to take action. I am asked to think. I have been supplied with a host of information that I never would have stumbled across on my own. Then I am asked to process it, analyze it, and think about it. In turn I can see a path of how to use this information in the future to help me be a better teacher. Learning through self-discovery is more effective than anything else, in my opinion. Has someone ever told you not to do something because they think it's a bad idea, but you do it anyway? We all have. We have to learn for ourselves. Again, nothing is more powerful than self-discovery. This is how I see education in the 21st century and this is how I would like to run my classroom.

Project 9a Timetoast

Blog Assignment 4

Eagle Nest Radio
The one thing I have become accustomed to in EDM310 is total shock at what a group of children can accomplish. In this podcast a group of third graders are doing things that I never would have thought they were capable of. The topic they were discussing was age appropriate and would be useful to other third graders as a learning tool. Kids love to learn from other kids. Perhaps it is because they don't feel so intimidated, but podcasts are a great way to allow that learning process to develop.
I loved the fact that they had "mood" music in the background and that is something that I would consider doing in my podcast. They also used inflection in their voices which made it more interesting. The tempo and rhythm of the podcast changed as each different topic was discussed, just like watching the evening news. It is so impressive what this group of students have done and podcasts are something I feel like I could really incorporate in my classroom.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom
There were many benefits of podcasting discussed in this article and video. I think one of the most important is that children are encouraged to think for themselves and engage in a higher system of learning. A podcasting assignment is more than just a research paper. It involves more of the senses and therefore requires more creativity, preparation, and thought. Students will also learn more from each other and important interaction and communication skills that will carry them through life regardless of what career they choose.
Another important key to podcasting is that it allows the parents to be more involved in their child's school experience. As a mother myself, I want to know everything I possibly can about what my child is doing during the day. Unfortunately, it's impossible for teachers to give that kind of information on a consistent basis. This would give parents one more way to be involved. There is so much talk now about reforming education but very little of that talk ever speaks about the fact that parents are not as involved as they used to be. Some parents seem to think that sending their kids to school is a free babysitting service so they can go to work. Podcasting provides an easy solution to being more involved.

The Education Podcast Network
This website provides invaluable information on how to podcast and also serves as a directory of podcasts for a wide range of educational purposes. From this site, I learned how easy podcasting really is and how if used correctly it can be a continued source of information. As I said earlier, parental involvement is a child's education is incredibly important. Podcast feeds can be updated every time new content is added. This could be a way for teachers to let parents know what is going on in the classroom, what assignments are due and many other things. It could be considered like a mass voice mail message sent out.

My Sentence Video

Blog Assignment 3

Peer Editing
I found the information in this section of the manual very helpful. I am not a critic and I try to look for the positive side of everything. Constructive criticism is a great tool to be able to improve your personal skills, and I need a lot of work in being able to critique honestly. I looked for such things in the C4C Assignment this week and couldn't find anything other than positive things to say. I will continue working on this throughout the semester though. If I do find something that could use a little help, I would probably send it in a private e-mail. I was raised to "Praise in public and punish in private." That is not to say that punishment and critique/editing are the same things, however if I am able to say what I need to say, that's all that matters. The platform I use is just a choice.

It's Not About the Technology
This blog says everything I have ever wanted to say about the technology in the classroom debate. I agree completely that technology has a place in the classroom, but it does not stand alone. Teachers have to be more willing to be life long learners themselves if they plan on creating them in a classroom. This includes staying on top of all of the current trends, tools, and resources available. Technology is not going to be the saving grace in a classroom. Teachers still have a prominent and viable place.
All technology has a specific purpose. Learning and teaching how to use it effectively will produce the best outcomes especially when it is reinforced with newer ways of teaching or even traditional ways. Creating well-rounded individuals that are able to think for themselves is the goal and there is more than one path to get there.

Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Mr. Fisch makes several valid point in his blog. The one that stands out to me the most is the comparison he made to being able to read and write in the 20th century vs. the 21st century. If someone was unable to read and write in the 20th century it was still possible to be successful. However, that changed in the 21st century. Being able to use and understand technology today is similar. In order to be successful, you have to use it. That was not the case 20 or more years ago.
Embracing technology is not something to question. It is a fact of life in this day and age. For just a moment he pointed out that technology is not the only way, but it is a very useful tool. When combined with other forms of learning, it's results are exponential.

Social Media Count
It's almost impossible to conceive that different forms of social media are growing so rapidly. In the same respect, it is almost impossible to conceive how this is going to impact my career as a teacher. I know that my classroom will look very different from the one I was used to when I was in school. I also know that in order to be a successful teacher, I will have to use these tools in.
Until EDM310 I had not considered how much technology would impact my career. I have always taken my technology in small doses and steered clear of some of it completely. I hope that by the end of this semester, the picture will become more clear to me.

The Vision of Students Today
This video by Michael Wesch is one that I can definitely relate to. As a student, I see and feel this everyday. The message that I think it should send to professors and University Presidents is that they are losing their students. Not physically, but mentally they are losing them. By not engaging students where they are, they are not teaching to the best of their abilities and in many cases wasting time. Students should have to work hard to make good grades but if they are not interested or being challenged then they will forget everything they have been taught.
The students are doing the right thing by embracing technology and using it. Afterall, they will need it in their future careers. This is a fact of life for them. Educators are doing themselves and their students an injustice by not following suit.

Presentation Project 5

C4T 1 Summary Julie Vincentsen

The first blog post of Julie Vincentsen's that I read was titled "Unpacking My Invisible Backpack". In a nutshell, she was talking about preparing herself for the new school year and all that it had to bring. There was a link to the placement letter (which explained what an invisible backpack was), and a link to her first presentation to her staff in which she would unpack her own invisible backpack. The letter explained that an invisible backpack is all of the extra baggage that we all carry around with us everyday. We can't avoid it, we all have it. To be able to settle into the new school year and be focused, it is necessary to unload that backpack.
I responded by talking about the invisible backpack. I feel like it was such a great metaphor and a non-intimidating way to get to know her staff. Also, it was a way to illustrate to them that we all have this baggage. That way, it is nothing to be afraid of but it is something that needs to be handled in order to have a successful year where focus is where it should be. I personally loved the metaphor and plan on using it myself one day.
The second blog post that I read was titled, "Happy New Year". In this post, she talked about the opportunities that a new school year holds. Reflection and making plans for the new year is her favorite part. She encourages other educators to do the same.
In response I let her know that I also enjoy reflecting on the year that has passed and making plans for the future. It is very liberating for me to put a year behind me and look at all that was accomplished. More than that, I like making plans for the next year. I always strive to improve myself and my situation in any way that I can.

Blog Assignment 2

Did You Know
The video "Did You Know?" by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod is a fast paced video filled with facts about technology from the past, present, and future. The video does a great job of illustrating how much technology has changed, how competitive it has made the job market, and how ultimately, things will not be slowing down. It also brings up a very important point that the entire world is involved in the technological revolution, making the market even more competitive.
The most interesting fact, (which is something I hadn't even considered), is that we are teaching and preparing children now for jobs that do not even exist yet. I can't think of another period of time when this statement could be true. Just as technology becomes available, a bigger, better version comes along that makes the old version obsolete. This is something that we see happening right now and can attest to. This alone proves how important technology is because if these "products" were not s useful, newer versions wouldn't be necessary.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
The video "Mr. Winkle Wakes" by Matthew Needleman is a thought provoking video that illustrates how the world has changed drastically over the past 100 years, but the education system still looks very much the same. I am a huge advocate of education reform from the way we teach, to the standards we set at every level: local, state, and federal. Simply put, the way we conduct business has changed, the way we communicate has changed, and the way we conduct daily life has changed mainly due to technology. Why then are we teaching our children in the same way?
I have heard teachers complain over the past few years greatly that their hands are tied. They have standards to meet which some call "teaching to test". I am not a part of that system yet, so I cannot speak from experience, but I will say that this approach to teaching leads to one place. A generation of adults that need to be spoon-fed information and are unable to think and react for themselves. In my opinion, this is a terrifying place to be.

Sir Ken Robinson
The video "The Importance of Creativity" features Sir Ken Robinson who is speaking about the current education system and how it kills creativity as opposed to nurturing it.It is a powerful video that speaks volumes about the future of education and almost shows that there is a "movement" to change it. Several important points are made. One point he made was that we are educating children for futures that we don't know about yet, which was a point also made in the video "Did You Know".
I have a five year old little boy who is not yet aware of what is socially acceptable, what is considered "cool" by his peers, and often times what his limits are when talking to authority figures. It is something that amazes me everyday and I refuse to stifle him in anyway, other than what could be unsafe or disrespectful. My goal as a mother is to raise my son to think for himself and one day be independent. I am here to support him on his journey, not to lead him in the direction I want his life to go. This video spoke volumes to me.

Cecelia Gault
As Cecelia Gault is interviewing Sir Ken Robinson, it seems as if nobody told her to be intimidated by adults. She appears to be very comfortable having a conversation with him on such an adult topic. She asked very good questions and has excellent communication skills.
To insure that students in my classroom have as good of an education as Cecelia Gault, I plan on encouraging participation and open communication. I think that children learn just as much from each other as they do from teachers and other authority figures. In the right environment where children feel comfortable to express themselves they begin to engage in "self discovery" which is, in my opinion, the best way to learn.

Vicki Davis
Vicki Davis has taken a group of students from a rural part of Georgia and connected them with people all over the world. What an amazing experience for the students to learn from their peers in different countries and other parts of the United States. The fact that these children could absolutely run circles around me in regards to technology is embarrassing to admit, but this is the future and they should be ahead of the game.
Vicki Davis is a leader in the movement for education reform. In my experience, teachers do not like to admit when they are wrong. Not only does she admit that she doesn't know everything, but that she learns from her students everyday. This is sound advice for current and future educators.

Project 2