Class,
I've had such a good time with all of you this semester! I love how by the end of the semester we all started to help each other and try different things!!! I hope everyone has an amazing summer!! See you in the fall!!
-Katie
Thursday, May 1, 2008
EDM 310
I think that this class has been very helpful. I really have learned a lot more than I thought I would. It has been very interesting using all the google resources, but I'm not sure that I will use them a whole lot in the classroom. I also really liked all the help Dr. Strange offered. He really did a great job of helping everyone feel at home and giving us many opportunities to complete all our projects.
Wikipedia
My freshman year of college I was writing my first ever collegiate research paper. I finished it and proudly turned it in, only to recieve a B. Okay, so I had some typos here and there but what got the mose points dropped was the big red X through my number one source, Wikipedia. I didn't understand that so I asked my teacher and all they said was that that was not a reliable source for a true research paper. I never really questioned it and just never used it again, but now I know why.
Wikipedia is not a reliable source of anything really. I mean sure the idea behind it was a great one. Everyone can write what they want and just coloborate so we can get all sides of the different subjects...but thats only theoretical. In real life people can change fact to be one sided, they can only upload propoganda. I think that what turned out to be a great idea has turned into something completely different. This website is not at all reliable so I can't help but wonder why its non-existent reliability can keep it online and running as an "encyclopedia"?
Wikipedia is not a reliable source of anything really. I mean sure the idea behind it was a great one. Everyone can write what they want and just coloborate so we can get all sides of the different subjects...but thats only theoretical. In real life people can change fact to be one sided, they can only upload propoganda. I think that what turned out to be a great idea has turned into something completely different. This website is not at all reliable so I can't help but wonder why its non-existent reliability can keep it online and running as an "encyclopedia"?
Growth Mindset
This video really brought up many different things I haven't really thought about it. It is very true that many students get discouraged when they believe that you are as smart once as you'll always be. It is really sad that some children have that mindset and in this video the lady talked about changing that. She explained that they did an experiment where they had half a class go into one workshop that explained this growth mindset. That if they work hard that they will be smarter, but in the other workshop they didn't mention this idea at all. The children that were in the first workshop started to improve with their grades while the other students stayed the same.
This is a very important idea for any future or current teacher. We must learn to tell our students just like the students in the first session were told "your brain is like a muscle, the more you work it out the more it grows". I think every child should be taught from the time they begin their academic career that they can always improve and their brain can always make new connections. I really like the way this lady explained it and I think that this video should be shown to as many classes as possible because the things she explain really do make a lot of sense and they have been proven to be correct.
This is a very important idea for any future or current teacher. We must learn to tell our students just like the students in the first session were told "your brain is like a muscle, the more you work it out the more it grows". I think every child should be taught from the time they begin their academic career that they can always improve and their brain can always make new connections. I really like the way this lady explained it and I think that this video should be shown to as many classes as possible because the things she explain really do make a lot of sense and they have been proven to be correct.
A Night in the Coral Reef
Once I made it to the Itunes store and began my search for WGHB I was immediately shocked be all the materials and lessons avaliable to teachers. It is amazing how many videos you can watch and the many many topics that they cover. Everything from science, to health, to history to math and back again are all a part of this amazing website.
I watched a video in the earth sciences field called "A Night in the Coral Reef". This video was very interesting and while it was very short there was a lot of great information in it. It explained the differences between the creatures that are awake during the day and those that are awake at night in the coral reef. This video explained a lot about sea urchins, porcupine fish, and other animals that you normally wouldn't come across.
I really think that this would help in the classroom. These would be great little videos that you could play prior to a discussion on the same subjec in class. They are just long enough that they would give all the students something to think about but they aren't so long that the children would get bored with them. It would also be a great way for them to see the different things instead of looking at some pictures in a book as a class. I think that this is a very great tool and I really plan to use it in my classroom in the future.
I watched a video in the earth sciences field called "A Night in the Coral Reef". This video was very interesting and while it was very short there was a lot of great information in it. It explained the differences between the creatures that are awake during the day and those that are awake at night in the coral reef. This video explained a lot about sea urchins, porcupine fish, and other animals that you normally wouldn't come across.
I really think that this would help in the classroom. These would be great little videos that you could play prior to a discussion on the same subjec in class. They are just long enough that they would give all the students something to think about but they aren't so long that the children would get bored with them. It would also be a great way for them to see the different things instead of looking at some pictures in a book as a class. I think that this is a very great tool and I really plan to use it in my classroom in the future.
iTunes U..yes please!
Wow. We need this. I think that iTunes University is an amazing idea. I really like the thought of being able to access my class information on my ipod while I'm busy running errands during the day. I think that this is a great idea. You could be listening to lectures you didn't understand while you pick up some groceries. You could prep for class by listening to the previous lecture on your walk to the room. I think that this is a totally important and ingenius idea.
In my previous blog I mentioned how it might be a distraction for students to have such a multi-facited device with them at all times, but I think once you reach the college level, that this wouldn't be as much of a problem. More mature students recognize that work must be done and so I think that having it with you at all times would be an incredible advantage.
http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu_mobilelearning/itunesu.html
http://alexreid.typepad.com/digital_digs/itunes_university/index.html
In my previous blog I mentioned how it might be a distraction for students to have such a multi-facited device with them at all times, but I think once you reach the college level, that this wouldn't be as much of a problem. More mature students recognize that work must be done and so I think that having it with you at all times would be an incredible advantage.
http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu_mobilelearning/itunesu.html
http://alexreid.typepad.com/digital_digs/itunes_university/index.html
ipods on k-12 campuses
To me an iPod has always been my workout buddy. A device that is great for listening to tunes while I'm at the gym, but recently the world has begun to see iPods in a new light. They are being viewed in some circles as instructional tools. In researching this topic I thought that it was a very interesting concept for a school to allow a child to walk around all day with a device that has the potential to be that distracting, I mean how many times have you seen teachers take up cell phones or other things that students tend to pay a lot of attention to? But in doing this research I realized that is beside the point
The iPod is potentially an incredible learning device. Students can record lectures, download presentations, and have all this at the tips of the fingers at all times. It is also an amazing way to make sure that every child knows exactly what they need to do. I think that using these devices on a k-12 campus wouldn't be such a bad idea. Sure the younger children would need a very simplified structure to work with and it probably wouldn't hurt to be able to have the music locked during school hours for the older kids, but hey you've got to let the bad in with the good and in this case I think the benefits definatly outweigh the disadvantages.
http://www.principalspartnership.com/iPods.pdf
eschoolnews.com
The iPod is potentially an incredible learning device. Students can record lectures, download presentations, and have all this at the tips of the fingers at all times. It is also an amazing way to make sure that every child knows exactly what they need to do. I think that using these devices on a k-12 campus wouldn't be such a bad idea. Sure the younger children would need a very simplified structure to work with and it probably wouldn't hurt to be able to have the music locked during school hours for the older kids, but hey you've got to let the bad in with the good and in this case I think the benefits definatly outweigh the disadvantages.
http://www.principalspartnership.com/iPods.pdf
eschoolnews.com
Best of April 07
"180?" was a great blog/presentation. I thought it was really interesting how the teachers both saw the differences in the classroom and how this project was inspired because of one classroom's reaction to the "Shift Happens" video. The slide show for 180? days simply takes a look at whether students actually get 180 days worth of instructional time. Once you subtract all the time that we take off for getting class going, wrapping it up, and everything in between, actual instruction time is cut down to 120 days. And is that really enough time to get everything that we're supposed to accomplish throughout a school year done?
It's an interesting question, and I really don't feel like 120 days is enough time to complete everything that needs to be completed in the classroom. Students need time to adjust and time to actually sit down and understand all the different aspects of their classroom, and with 60 days (on average) that each child misses instructional time, they really are given less opportunities to do their best.
It's an interesting question, and I really don't feel like 120 days is enough time to complete everything that needs to be completed in the classroom. Students need time to adjust and time to actually sit down and understand all the different aspects of their classroom, and with 60 days (on average) that each child misses instructional time, they really are given less opportunities to do their best.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Best of September
Honestly, I had to read this particular blog twice. I was really confused as to what exactly he is talking about but I think I have a better view on it now. A freshman language teacher, Anne Smith, has agreed to pretty much pilot a program concerning blogs and research in the classroom. She will teach her new students how to look up different feeds and at first she will show them exactly what to do. But eventually the students will have to look up their own and write a response on their personal blogs about the topic. The topics can be anything they want as long as it is a school-friendly topic.
I think that this is a very good idea and will help students to become more technology savvy at an earlier age. This is very important so that they can keep up and will better understand the world around them and even their own peers' views. It will be important for the students to see what each person and the teacher feels about their favorite topics and the issues surronding them.
I think that this is a very good idea and will help students to become more technology savvy at an earlier age. This is very important so that they can keep up and will better understand the world around them and even their own peers' views. It will be important for the students to see what each person and the teacher feels about their favorite topics and the issues surronding them.
Internationally Known
As I was recently exploring the web for different articles on blogs in the classroom I came across an English teacher who is teaching in Italy. She uses blogs so that her students can reflect on different activities and so they can better understand the world as a whole. The students add videos and pictures to the blogs to help illustrate exactly what it is that they did or saw and I really like that they are simply explaining how they feel or what they thought of different situations.
http://educational.blogs.com/edbloggerpraxis/high_school_blog/index.html
I also came across a blog about racism on international campuses. I really liked this one because it sheds light on things that many people don't really realize is going on. I think that it is very important and I like that people are using blogs in an educational society to get their point across. It is very important that people are posting ideas such as these, but it is also equally important that people from other countries can respond to what certain people think.
http://edwatch.blogspot.com/
http://educational.blogs.com/edbloggerpraxis/high_school_blog/index.html
I also came across a blog about racism on international campuses. I really liked this one because it sheds light on things that many people don't really realize is going on. I think that it is very important and I like that people are using blogs in an educational society to get their point across. It is very important that people are posting ideas such as these, but it is also equally important that people from other countries can respond to what certain people think.
http://edwatch.blogspot.com/
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Blogs in the Classroom
At Albany High School in Albany, NY they have a blog system for the students. Different students are allowed to write for it so that the general public can learn about the school and what all is going on. It is a great insight into the students and how they feel about their school. I really like how they are using the blog as a way for people to be honest about what they are doing and just openly is on the internet for all the world to see
http://blogs.timesunion.com/albanyhigh/
At educational.blogs.com many different schools and classrooms use blogging as a way to inform their students what they have going on and what is due. I really like the way this website is sort of a hub for many different schools to check in. You could easily see what everyone else is doing and get new ideas for your particular high school. It seems like its a great way to communicate to each other, whether you're a teacher or student, if things work or if you like different teaching styles and techniques.
http://educational.blogs.com/edbloggerpraxis/high_school_blog/index.html
http://blogs.timesunion.com/albanyhigh/
At educational.blogs.com many different schools and classrooms use blogging as a way to inform their students what they have going on and what is due. I really like the way this website is sort of a hub for many different schools to check in. You could easily see what everyone else is doing and get new ideas for your particular high school. It seems like its a great way to communicate to each other, whether you're a teacher or student, if things work or if you like different teaching styles and techniques.
http://educational.blogs.com/edbloggerpraxis/high_school_blog/index.html
Monday, February 4, 2008
ACCESS
I recently looked up ACCESS and was very surprised at what I found. The idea of having distance learning in K-12 rooms is amazing to me. I really like the many advantages like duel-enrollment and classroom support that this new technology offers. I also find the video-conferencing aspect of this program very exciting and can't imagine what my high school life would have been with it It is very important to make sure that students in this day and age can use the rapidly growing technology properly and in different ways. I also really like the different support groups that are avaliable for teachers too.
There are many websites from all over the nation that are there in order to better support teachers who are new to the different advances that ACCESS offers. Classrooms with this type of technology are also very different than everyday classrooms and would also need support from more experienced teachers. So with this type of technology avaliable for teachers one would be better able to reach out to teachers across the state that have been using such advances in order to fix whatever problems may arise. I really think that ACCESS is a very ingenious plan and will be a great tool in moving Alabama state schools further into the 21st century.
There are many websites from all over the nation that are there in order to better support teachers who are new to the different advances that ACCESS offers. Classrooms with this type of technology are also very different than everyday classrooms and would also need support from more experienced teachers. So with this type of technology avaliable for teachers one would be better able to reach out to teachers across the state that have been using such advances in order to fix whatever problems may arise. I really think that ACCESS is a very ingenious plan and will be a great tool in moving Alabama state schools further into the 21st century.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Using ALEX
As I mentioned before, I plan to use the ALEX website extensively throughout my teaching career. It will keep me on track as far as keeping up with my courses of study so that I can be sure that I cover all the subject matter that is required of my students. When I first learned that I had to cover every course of study I was very flustered and confused as to how I would get everything under control. I was really glad to find such a website that kept a running list of everything I need so that I can print it out and check it off.
I also really like the different lesson plans available to to teachers. I know that as a new teacher I will be super enthusiastic and motivated to create lesson plans, but can only imagine the problems that can and will eventually arise with the multiple lesson plans. I really really like this website and can't wait to have such a great tool at hand when I am finally in the classroom.
I also really like the different lesson plans available to to teachers. I know that as a new teacher I will be super enthusiastic and motivated to create lesson plans, but can only imagine the problems that can and will eventually arise with the multiple lesson plans. I really really like this website and can't wait to have such a great tool at hand when I am finally in the classroom.
Monday, January 21, 2008
ALEX
I just got through looking around at the website for the Alabama Learning Exchange and was amazed at all the reference material. ALEX is a great way to find basically anything you may need while teaching on the web. I was impressed by the very extensive lesson plans and classroom ideas. It is also very important that there is a place online that you can check the courses of study for your particular grade and subject. I really like that I will be able to check my work very quickly and easily to be sure that everything I cover in class follows state curriculum.
Seeing this website has really helped with the anxiety of realizing that I would have to come up with everything on my own. That is really intimidating to me and I'm very excited to find a website that was created for teachers in the state so that each child gets the full benefit of going to school in Alabama. I really will use this site many times I'm sure throughout my teaching career.
Seeing this website has really helped with the anxiety of realizing that I would have to come up with everything on my own. That is really intimidating to me and I'm very excited to find a website that was created for teachers in the state so that each child gets the full benefit of going to school in Alabama. I really will use this site many times I'm sure throughout my teaching career.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Shift Happens...
I just finished watching the youtube video developed by a high school teacher that explains the different and new technologies and growth in the world within the next 15 years. I really liked this video and thought that all the information was incredible. I guess since we've all been right in the middle of all this technological growth, we don't really realize just how much things are growing. It's very eye-opening to know that these really are "exponential time" and we really should realize this so that we can better able ourselves to take care of the many new things that are coming our way in the near future. It's very intimidating to learn all of this too because it seems like this growth and development has really just snuck up on people. We must prepare ourselves in order to handle all the shifts that will continue to arise within a matter of literally months.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
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