Sunday, September 30, 2012
Blog Assignment #5
The iSchool Initiative
I was very impressed by Travis Allen's video The iSchool Initiative. Allen made several great points in his video and it definitely made me think. Allen believes that the current education system is broken and that his initiative will help move education out of its slump and into a updated, greener future. In this presentation, Allen discusses the ways in which the iTouch interface can be utilized in the classroom. He gives a list of useful apps that include basic things like Email, Recorder, and Scientific Calculator. He also provides more complex apps like Chemical Touch, WorldWiki, Star Walk and more. In his video, Allen describes how these apps could be used in classroom settings. The Email app would provide a paperless way to share assignments between teachers and students and the Recorder would enable students to record lectures for future use.
I totally agreed with the point Allen made about the amount of money that could be saved by schools and students. To think, Allen's initiative could save up to $600 per student. And it would only cost about $150 per student to make it all possible. Plus there is the added bonus of the positive environmental impact of increasing technology and decreasing the amount of paper in and out.
In Travis Allen's video Zeitgeist Young Minds Entry Allen discusses the ways in which his iSchool Initiative is revolutionizing the education world. I think Allen is spot on when he says that we need to "better prepare youth for the digital world they were born into." The fact is, children are surrounded by technology. Technology that they will learn how to use anyway, and that they enjoy using. So why not embrace this technology and put it to good use? Isn't it better for children to be using the amazing technology at their access to broaden and enhance their education, than to just let them waste it on Facebook?
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir was absolutely breathtaking. I'm a huge music fan and I know a lot of musicians so it is just fascinating to me to imagine how much work must have gone into this project. To think, 185 people who have never met each other and never practiced together, brought together through the internet into a gorgeous super-choir. Amazing!
Teaching In The 21st Century
In Teaching In The 21st Century Keving Roberts makes excellent points about teaching in today's world. His first point is one that I hadn't really thought about. Teachers are no longer the source of information, they are the filter. Students can now gain information from anywhere anytime they want. So it is our job as educators to teach students how to interpret and use the limitless knowledge of today responsibly. We should think of the resources the internet provides as a beneficial tool. I liked Robert's example assignment about having the student answer a question using ANY resource they choose, but they must justify and explain their answer and their resource. I think that is great! It gives the student room to think and explore the options for themselves. This way they can search and find out much more than just the answer to their assigned question. Roberts explains that, any lesson you teach must be relevant, challenging and engaging. This is true for any lesson in any subject. If lessons do not meet these three standards than they will not help the student in any way.
Many people think that this kind of learning cannot work in the classroom because children will be too preoccupied by the fun technology and too tempted to use their iPads, laptops etc. for noneducational things. Roberts makes an excellent point when he says that the tools "provide temptation but they are not the source of negative behavior." As long as students are taught to use these tools responsibly there will be no problem. In order to accomplish this, Roberts explains, we should realize that these tools are no longer simply for entertainment, but rather a source of relevant and engaging learning.
Flipping The Classroom
In the videos, Why I Flipped My Classroom, Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ- Flipping the Classroom, and Flipping the Classroom- 4th Grade STEM, three teachers explain how they flipped their classes. In a flipped class, students are required to watch videos made by their teacher at home and do practice assignments and come to class the next day prepared to discuss the practice material and apply the lesson in class. This enables teachers to spend more time helping the students with what they have learned. In this way, the class can be divided into groups based on the level at which they understand and can apply the material.
This technique is wonderful for several reasons. From a teacher's perspective, it would be so much better to be able to work individually, at a comfortable pace, with students who are struggling in a subject. It would also enable teachers to keep those more advanced students challenged. From a student's perspective, I can say that these types of classes are much more engaging. I have taken a few classes now in which I was expected to do a reading/practice assignment, or watch videos or presentations before class and be ready to work on that assigned material in class. I like it that way. Yes it is more responsibility, but I think it so helpful to be able to assess the lesson and figure out what questions I have and then be able to ask those questions and practice the difficult problems in class where the teacher and classmates can help. In high school, I was often in the struggling student group in certain subjects and it was difficult to sit through a lecture and be totally lost until I could get individual help from teachers and tutors. In other subjects I was the one who was bored and needed a challenge. Being able to work ahead would have been great.
I would definitely use this approach in my teaching. Not only would it be much more helpful to the students, but it would also make me feel like a much more effective educator. Not to mention it would be fun!
I totally agreed with the point Allen made about the amount of money that could be saved by schools and students. To think, Allen's initiative could save up to $600 per student. And it would only cost about $150 per student to make it all possible. Plus there is the added bonus of the positive environmental impact of increasing technology and decreasing the amount of paper in and out.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir was absolutely breathtaking. I'm a huge music fan and I know a lot of musicians so it is just fascinating to me to imagine how much work must have gone into this project. To think, 185 people who have never met each other and never practiced together, brought together through the internet into a gorgeous super-choir. Amazing!
Teaching In The 21st Century
In Teaching In The 21st Century Keving Roberts makes excellent points about teaching in today's world. His first point is one that I hadn't really thought about. Teachers are no longer the source of information, they are the filter. Students can now gain information from anywhere anytime they want. So it is our job as educators to teach students how to interpret and use the limitless knowledge of today responsibly. We should think of the resources the internet provides as a beneficial tool. I liked Robert's example assignment about having the student answer a question using ANY resource they choose, but they must justify and explain their answer and their resource. I think that is great! It gives the student room to think and explore the options for themselves. This way they can search and find out much more than just the answer to their assigned question. Roberts explains that, any lesson you teach must be relevant, challenging and engaging. This is true for any lesson in any subject. If lessons do not meet these three standards than they will not help the student in any way.
Many people think that this kind of learning cannot work in the classroom because children will be too preoccupied by the fun technology and too tempted to use their iPads, laptops etc. for noneducational things. Roberts makes an excellent point when he says that the tools "provide temptation but they are not the source of negative behavior." As long as students are taught to use these tools responsibly there will be no problem. In order to accomplish this, Roberts explains, we should realize that these tools are no longer simply for entertainment, but rather a source of relevant and engaging learning.
Flipping The Classroom
In the videos, Why I Flipped My Classroom, Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ- Flipping the Classroom, and Flipping the Classroom- 4th Grade STEM, three teachers explain how they flipped their classes. In a flipped class, students are required to watch videos made by their teacher at home and do practice assignments and come to class the next day prepared to discuss the practice material and apply the lesson in class. This enables teachers to spend more time helping the students with what they have learned. In this way, the class can be divided into groups based on the level at which they understand and can apply the material.
This technique is wonderful for several reasons. From a teacher's perspective, it would be so much better to be able to work individually, at a comfortable pace, with students who are struggling in a subject. It would also enable teachers to keep those more advanced students challenged. From a student's perspective, I can say that these types of classes are much more engaging. I have taken a few classes now in which I was expected to do a reading/practice assignment, or watch videos or presentations before class and be ready to work on that assigned material in class. I like it that way. Yes it is more responsibility, but I think it so helpful to be able to assess the lesson and figure out what questions I have and then be able to ask those questions and practice the difficult problems in class where the teacher and classmates can help. In high school, I was often in the struggling student group in certain subjects and it was difficult to sit through a lecture and be totally lost until I could get individual help from teachers and tutors. In other subjects I was the one who was bored and needed a challenge. Being able to work ahead would have been great.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Summary for C4T #1
The Evolution of Education
In Brian Nichols' post Are You Playing Buzzword Bingo?, he discusses the use of "buzzwords." Many leaders use these buzzwords in their speeches. Buzzwords are words that are meant to catch our attention for a moment and stick in our memory. They are shiny and sound good, but they are actually shallow and meaningless.
In my comment I expressed how appropriate I thought this post was considering all of the media attention surrounding the presidential election. I think that politicians often hide behind "buzzwords" that they rarely back up with any real action, as if they are just going by a script.
I liked this post because he is absolutely right. Buzzwords distract us and this is the reason why so many reform initiatives fail. Actions matter more than words, especially for leaders. This post really made me think. I don't want to be sold by someone who just says all the right things but can't back them up.
In Brian Nichols' post Are You Playing Buzzword Bingo?, he discusses the use of "buzzwords." Many leaders use these buzzwords in their speeches. Buzzwords are words that are meant to catch our attention for a moment and stick in our memory. They are shiny and sound good, but they are actually shallow and meaningless.
In my comment I expressed how appropriate I thought this post was considering all of the media attention surrounding the presidential election. I think that politicians often hide behind "buzzwords" that they rarely back up with any real action, as if they are just going by a script.
I liked this post because he is absolutely right. Buzzwords distract us and this is the reason why so many reform initiatives fail. Actions matter more than words, especially for leaders. This post really made me think. I don't want to be sold by someone who just says all the right things but can't back them up.
Blog Assignment #4
Podcasting
I visited Ms. Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano's blog, Langwitches and was so impressed. This blog is so fun and interesting. I chose to read about and listen to Podcasting With First Grade and the Flat Stanley Podcast. I enjoyed this podcast so much! I chose this because I was familiar with the story and thought it was so fun. Ms Tolisano's class had recently read the book Flat Stanley by Jim Brown. In this story, Stanley is accidentally flattened and then goes on an adventure through the mail. In Ms Tolisano's class' story, they become flattened by the smart board in their classroom and ask their teacher to mail them around the world. It was so fun to hear each student contribute to the podcast. My favorites were the girl who went to Alabama and the girl who went to London. They were all so expressive and believable! This project really inspired me. This would be such a fun project to do with any class. It is fun for small children, but it would also be a great way to get older students interested in subjects like History, Science and foreign languages. I think this project would really foster creativity in those areas.
In Mr. Joe Dale's video Podcasting in The Classroom, he discusses the benefits of podcasting for students. I love the idea of all lectures and class sessions being made available through a class podcast. This enables students to stay caught up when they are absent. This approach really takes the pressure off of teachers, students, and parents. With podcasting, parents wouldn't have to worry so much about their child falling behind in class and suffering a poor grade because of it. This would also be useful for students when preparing for tests. It is hard for elementary school students to take notes so being able to listen to the lectures over again would be wonderful. In this way, parents would also be able to stay involved in their children's education by listening along.
I thought it was awesome to hear some of the students talk about how podcasting and project based learning keeps them interested in school work and how one girl listens to her class podcasts in the car with her parents. Of course an obvious perk to this method is that it encourages children at an early age to self teach, work well with their peers, and be responsible for their own assignments.
At my church their are many families with babies and small children, so they provide a podcast of each week's sermon on the church website. Because of this, anyone who isn't able to make it to the service can still be involved and keep their families involved. I have used the church podcast myself so I know how beneficial it is.
In Mr. Joe Dale's video Podcasting in The Classroom, he discusses the benefits of podcasting for students. I love the idea of all lectures and class sessions being made available through a class podcast. This enables students to stay caught up when they are absent. This approach really takes the pressure off of teachers, students, and parents. With podcasting, parents wouldn't have to worry so much about their child falling behind in class and suffering a poor grade because of it. This would also be useful for students when preparing for tests. It is hard for elementary school students to take notes so being able to listen to the lectures over again would be wonderful. In this way, parents would also be able to stay involved in their children's education by listening along.
I thought it was awesome to hear some of the students talk about how podcasting and project based learning keeps them interested in school work and how one girl listens to her class podcasts in the car with her parents. Of course an obvious perk to this method is that it encourages children at an early age to self teach, work well with their peers, and be responsible for their own assignments.
At my church their are many families with babies and small children, so they provide a podcast of each week's sermon on the church website. Because of this, anyone who isn't able to make it to the service can still be involved and keep their families involved. I have used the church podcast myself so I know how beneficial it is.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Blog Assignment #3
What Is Peer Editing?
The What Is Peer Editing? video was very helpful, although I preferred the Peer Edit With Perfection tutorial because I like how it listed everything out in order and gave examples. Both pointed out the important steps of peer editing. The first point that the video stresses is that compliments are key. Always start off by telling the person your'e reviewing what you liked about their work. Be positive! Next are, suggestions and corrections. Suggestions is the part when you, obviously, make suggestions to your peer on some ways to improve their writing. Corrections is just the tedious part when you correct any spelling and grammar errors.
I think this tutorial is a very useful tool. I was happy that both the videos and Paige Ellis' blog discussed the conflict of correcting someone's writing in a public comment versus a private message. It is always difficult for me to make any criticisms in public comments, no matter how positive. I am always tempted to be overly sweet and not at all critical or constructive and that isn't helpful.
I absolutely loved the Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes video. Those kids are hilarious! They all depicted their characters so well and I was totally able to pick up on each "mistake". I think "Off Task Oliver" was my favorite. I hope I don't ever come across as a "Mean Margaret"!
Technology In Special Education
I thought that the Technology In Special Education video was wonderful because special education is a field that I am considering going into. I am so interested in working with children that have special needs such as learning disabilities, hearing loss, and possibly even autism.
It was awesome to see how this teacher was able to connect with and engage her students through there own personal technology. Some of them could not have interacted with her or their classmates at all without computers. Being able to make these students feel like part of the group instead of excluded from it is so important. I cannot even imagine the feeling of being able to make a difference in the lives of special education students like these.
How The iPad Works With Academics For Autism
This video was amazing. In the video How the iPad Works With Academics For Autism Braden, an 8 year old autistic boy is using the iPad to practice writing, recognizing and reading words, and counting. The iPad is useful for Braden because it gives him instant feedback and he enjoys the fast, direct interaction it provides. Something like this is so useful in the education of autistic children and can be useful in the education of all children from a very young age.
While browsing the iTunes library of apps I found one that I thought was awesome. Because I have taken some sign language and I love the idea of working with children with hearing loss or communication difficulties, the Sign 4 Me- Signed English Translator was my favorite. This app offers a library of over 11,000 words and a fully animated avatar to sign each one. This would be so useful in helping students to practice signing. This app can be found under the Special Education Seeing and Hearing section on iTunes.
Also because I am a total biology nerd, I found the Science360 app to be very fun. It includes high resolution images and video, weekly updates, and scientific discovery news via an app news feed. I would like to have this app just for fun so I really think students would enjoy it. It would be visually dynamic enough to really engage a special education class.
Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Wow Vicki Davis is awesome. I think it is just wonderful how she is teaching her students to interact with the whole world through technology. I actually envy these kids for getting this kind of education while still in high school. I wish that my high school had had this kind of class. I agree with what Mrs Davis says at the beginning of the video. If a class is only pen and paper, then only certain types of students are going to succeed. She is right! Some students just don't learn that way. I thought it was so great to watch all of her students working together to figure things out and collaborating on projects. I also loved that she admitted that she is still learning too and that her students actually teach her things, as well as teaching each other. That is a great classroom energy.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Blog Assignment #2
Did You Know?
I think that it is safe to say that Dr. Strange's Did You Know video blew my mind. I was astounded by the numbers. 25% of the population of India with the highest IQ's outnumbers the whole United States population? That is shocking! The fact that China is expected to become the number one English speaking country in the world, and has more people that are currently learning English than are in the entire US really surprised me. I knew that India and China were much more advanced than us, but I had no idea. I admit, I am a little ashamed. Our country is so prosperous. How are we this far behind?
Of course I know how totally surrounded we are by technology. I, like most people now, am I plugged into all sorts of social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest etc...) and they are all immediately accessible to me at any moment by simply turning on my Android smart phone. However, the number that were brought to my attention were fascinating. 1,097,220 YouTube videos are watched and 1,393,519 Google searches are made every minute! 11,453,577 SMS messages were sent every minute. I know I'm a "textaholic" but, wow. I definitely feel more aware of how advancing technology will affect my career as an educator. It is somewhat intimidating.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
I enjoyed the sarcasm of this video. In Mr. Winkle Wakes Rip Van Winkle awakes from his hundred year sleep to find the world entirely changed. He is shocked and frightened by what he finds. After seeing so much change, he feels ill and goes to a hospital. Here he is amazed to find machines keeping people alive and doing things he never would have thought were possible. He decides that the hospital is not going to help him so he leaves. He then makes his way to a school where he finally finds some comfort. He sees that this school is exactly the way he left it a hundred years ago. Students are still learning the same subjects the same way. They sit in rows and listen to their teachers lecture on. Even the computer in the back of the room is dusty and clearly unused.
The message of this video is not a good one. The fact that school is so stagnate is a sad fact that needs to change. By opening up the class room to more advanced forms of technology, we can finally expose children to learning about their world in many different ways. This is certainly something that my generation of future educators should be thinking about.
The Importance of Creativity
I thoroughly enjoyed Sir Ken Robinson's video The Importance Of Creativity. I thought he made so many awesome points. I completely agree with him that creativity should be nurtured in children. School should provide a creative outlet in every subject. It is called an outlet for a reason. Because it is in all of us and it needs a chance to come out.
I loved what he said about children not being afraid to be wrong. He's right! When we are children we are much more daring because we haven't been convinced that it is wrong yet. We are educated out of our creativity and become "disembodied", as Robinson put it. The education system needs a major makeover. We are no longer training our children to aid in industrialism, so why are we still educating them that way? That hierarchy is irrelevant now. Math first, then humanities and then art? This is why, unfortunately, school art programs often get cut.
I consider myself to be a pretty artistic person by nature, but I will admit that since starting college three years ago, I have lost nearly all of my creative energy. And I do in part blame school. As an educator I hope to teach an age group that still has a passion for creativity. I want to teach the way I enjoyed learning. By doing. By getting my hands dirty and having fun. I was fortunate enough to have a few teachers in my high school who understood the importance of this and I plan to educate my students the same way. Because some children are like Gillian Lynn. They can't sit still because they were meant to move.
A Day Made of Glass
A Day Made of Glass was an incredible video. The world is already so technologically advanced that it is hard to imagine it being more. The technology in this video has a familiar aspect because we are getting closer to it, but yet it is still so foreign. It is like something out of a movie or a science fiction novel.
I think the ideas about medical technology were the most amazing. Technology of this grade could be so beneficial to medicine. I thought that the children each having his or her own tablet to use in the classroom was wonderful and could already be an option to learning. I would definitely enjoy playing with all of those cool boards and the dinosaur simulations. I am a little slow when it comes to technology so it may take me some time to stop being so old-fashion and catch up to my students!
I think that it is safe to say that Dr. Strange's Did You Know video blew my mind. I was astounded by the numbers. 25% of the population of India with the highest IQ's outnumbers the whole United States population? That is shocking! The fact that China is expected to become the number one English speaking country in the world, and has more people that are currently learning English than are in the entire US really surprised me. I knew that India and China were much more advanced than us, but I had no idea. I admit, I am a little ashamed. Our country is so prosperous. How are we this far behind?
Of course I know how totally surrounded we are by technology. I, like most people now, am I plugged into all sorts of social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest etc...) and they are all immediately accessible to me at any moment by simply turning on my Android smart phone. However, the number that were brought to my attention were fascinating. 1,097,220 YouTube videos are watched and 1,393,519 Google searches are made every minute! 11,453,577 SMS messages were sent every minute. I know I'm a "textaholic" but, wow. I definitely feel more aware of how advancing technology will affect my career as an educator. It is somewhat intimidating.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
I enjoyed the sarcasm of this video. In Mr. Winkle Wakes Rip Van Winkle awakes from his hundred year sleep to find the world entirely changed. He is shocked and frightened by what he finds. After seeing so much change, he feels ill and goes to a hospital. Here he is amazed to find machines keeping people alive and doing things he never would have thought were possible. He decides that the hospital is not going to help him so he leaves. He then makes his way to a school where he finally finds some comfort. He sees that this school is exactly the way he left it a hundred years ago. Students are still learning the same subjects the same way. They sit in rows and listen to their teachers lecture on. Even the computer in the back of the room is dusty and clearly unused.
The message of this video is not a good one. The fact that school is so stagnate is a sad fact that needs to change. By opening up the class room to more advanced forms of technology, we can finally expose children to learning about their world in many different ways. This is certainly something that my generation of future educators should be thinking about.
The Importance of Creativity
I thoroughly enjoyed Sir Ken Robinson's video The Importance Of Creativity. I thought he made so many awesome points. I completely agree with him that creativity should be nurtured in children. School should provide a creative outlet in every subject. It is called an outlet for a reason. Because it is in all of us and it needs a chance to come out.
I loved what he said about children not being afraid to be wrong. He's right! When we are children we are much more daring because we haven't been convinced that it is wrong yet. We are educated out of our creativity and become "disembodied", as Robinson put it. The education system needs a major makeover. We are no longer training our children to aid in industrialism, so why are we still educating them that way? That hierarchy is irrelevant now. Math first, then humanities and then art? This is why, unfortunately, school art programs often get cut.
I consider myself to be a pretty artistic person by nature, but I will admit that since starting college three years ago, I have lost nearly all of my creative energy. And I do in part blame school. As an educator I hope to teach an age group that still has a passion for creativity. I want to teach the way I enjoyed learning. By doing. By getting my hands dirty and having fun. I was fortunate enough to have a few teachers in my high school who understood the importance of this and I plan to educate my students the same way. Because some children are like Gillian Lynn. They can't sit still because they were meant to move.
A Day Made of Glass
A Day Made of Glass was an incredible video. The world is already so technologically advanced that it is hard to imagine it being more. The technology in this video has a familiar aspect because we are getting closer to it, but yet it is still so foreign. It is like something out of a movie or a science fiction novel.
I think the ideas about medical technology were the most amazing. Technology of this grade could be so beneficial to medicine. I thought that the children each having his or her own tablet to use in the classroom was wonderful and could already be an option to learning. I would definitely enjoy playing with all of those cool boards and the dinosaur simulations. I am a little slow when it comes to technology so it may take me some time to stop being so old-fashion and catch up to my students!
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