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

Blog Assignment 1

About Me
My name is Robin Hendricks and I am a single mother who works two jobs, and goes to school. I was born and raised in Mobile and plan on being here forever. My lifestyle does not lend itself to much "me" time, but I do enjoy reading, watching movies, SEC Football, and spending time with friends and family. My son is five years old and requires much of my time, which I gladly give as often as possible. In fact, most of my interests are more on his level than on mine (Spiderman, Batman, video games, etc.). As chaotic as it is, being a mother is my greatest accomplishment thus far and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
My son is the person who inspired me to enter the field of Education. Teaching him has brought me greater joy than anything ever has and when considering a lifetime career, teaching and being closely involved in children's development felt natural. I am currently in Secondary Education for Social Sciences, but hope one day to enter into the Administration side of the Education field. I believe strongly in education reform and want to be part of the process and help make a difference, not just for children, but society as a whole. The children are the future generation and anything that we do now to improve their education and learning experience will have huge impact on the way the world looks in 10,15, 20 years and so on. I look forward to learning as much as I can in EDM 310 and how it will help me accomplish some of those goals when I am ready to enter the classroom.

Randy Pausch on Time Management
Dr. Pausch's video on time management is almost a blueprint for my life. I have always considered myself to be excellent at time management because in order to do all of the things I need to do in a day and fit in a little sleep time, I have to live by a list. More than anything, time management involves a drive to succeed and do things well. His video reinforced for me many of the things that I already know and live by each day. If not for time management, my days would be scattered and everything would be a mess! The first time I ever heard of Dr. Pausch was several years ago when I was e-mailed a link to his video, "The Last Lecture". I don't remember how many times I watched it, or how many times I cried, or how many "a-ha"moments that I had, but the video changed my perspective completely on how to live my life. The old saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff." speaks volumes coming from a man who is dying and has so graciously accepted his fate. Instead of anger and resentment, he decided to impart wisdom on those willing to listen, and so many are still listening. It is a truly remarkable video and he was a truly remarkable man.

Practice Post

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