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.

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/

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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Not Excited

I forgot that we were taking pictures today. Gosh...

First Class

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