Friday, November 30, 2012

Project 13

Project 13


Project 13- Interacting through technology

For Project 13, My group and I communicated through Skype and Google docs. We really enjoyed communicating at home because it is sometimes hard for us to meet in person. I have never used Skype before and found it very enteraining and cannot wait to do it with my friends. Overall, we had a great group and were able to get alot done through these technology tools. Also, we found great meeting times and figured out exactly what our plan was going to be. We shared our google docs file with Dr. Strange and I put our Skype inerview on my blog.

This is a picture showing a way in which my group communicated

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Smartboard Project Part 2

Blog Post 13

Back to The Future Video


After watching Brian Crosby’s Back to the Future video, I was amazed that the statistics of students that are not aware of what is going on, were so low. I completely agree with him that it is because they are not involved enough with the outside world. They have been in a structured environment and have not be involved. He talked about how his class does experiments and works with blogging and wikis. He tells the students to write stories and to imagine if they were the balloons and discuss their experience. He tells them to remember they are a balloon and summarize their experience which allows them to think outside the box. After, they learn how to post these stories to the blog and embed it to YouTube. The students become amazed when they realize that people actually look at their blogs and comment on them. They start to understand what is going on in the world because students from other countries are beginning to comment on their blogs. They also learned how to use Google maps and learned how to find the location and time of the air balloon falling. The kids were so excited to open their laptops and write their reactions on this experiment. Other classes across the countries were jealous and wanted to do the project. The classes got to Skype them and explain to them how to achieve this project. These activities allowed them to be more connected globally and understand their surroundings. It allows them to be able to learn on their own and collaborate in the room and outside. I found this video very motivating and interesting to see how technology can enable these students to be so involved. They are enjoying learning and being able to teach other students and involving them in the learning process.
This represents the back to the future image that this article represents.


A Vision of Students Today


After watching the video, “A Vision of Students Today”, I was very touched because it was different and something that I have never seen before. I have sat in class and wondered the same thing, “What is the point of this?” I do not use my book in majority of my classes and as the teacher just lectures, I zone out. I feel like this is a different message being sent. This video is very realistic.

Throughout the video, students are holding up signs and writing statements on them. The statements are stating facts like how many hours they spend on the internet, the issues in the world, and the amount of times they read books, etc. I feel like the statements being written are very powerful. They are trying to send a message to the teachers and the university. They are trying to get out the message that sitting in a classroom with a lecture and not interacting is not catching their interest. They are using technology almost the whole time during class anyways so they need to incorporate it into learning. With students just sitting in a classroom, they are not being involved in the world. Textbooks will not solve all the students’ problems and they need to learn how to face their problems and figure out how to fix them. The world is becoming so advanced and I feel like teaching is not advancing with the world. Teachers are sticking to their old ways and it is only harming the students in the long run. I know from experience that when a teacher starts lecturing, I start wondering off and getting on my phone. If teachers start using these resources that students understand the most, then they will not get distracted and be able to apply what they learn.

I think that this video had a major impact through the silence of the students. I enjoyed how they wrote it all down and did not speak. It is scary to think about all the problems in the world and learning is one of them. Students are starting to lose interest because teachers are not changing their methods of teaching. Students are starting to learn differently and teachers need to understand that and change their ways. I really enjoyed the message and it really got to me.

This image represents the child or students holding up signs in class and they were saying nothing

Summary Post C4T #4

Ms. Lara’s Blog

I was assigned to read and comment on Ms. Lara’s blog. I cannot say how happy I was to be assigned to this blog because I feel like we have a lot in common. The first post I commented on was about her students reaching out to the community. She discussed how she feels like it is important for her students to get in touch with the outside world and help those in need. She stated that when she first talked about the can food drive the students were so excited and wanted to help out right away. I loved this idea because I feel like students should realize that there are other children in the world who need our help. It also allows the class to get closer and feel like they did something to really help out. I commented and told her how I thought this was a fabulous idea. I told her how I also would love to get my class involved with the outside world and make them feel special. I love going out and helping the community, so what better way than doing it with my students.

The next post I commented on talked about South Alabama’s EDM 310 students. In the blog post, she welcomed the students and talked about how thrilled she was to see them commenting on blogs and finding teachers across the world and studying their blogs. She also talked about how she took this class and how she loved it when she was able to comment on teachers blogs. She told us that she went and told her students all about it and read them our comments. In my comment, I told her how amazed I was that she took the time to mention us on her blog and loved how much she enjoyed it. I told her how I loved writing on teachers’ blogs because it gives you a different experience. I was thrilled to know that they read the comments and really take in what we have to say. I informed her that I felt like we were a lot alike and loved being assigned to her blog.

This image is representing children reaching out the community

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Progress on Final Report

Progress Report on Final Project

We are doing the IBook project. We have really made a lot of progress so far in these past two weeks. Each student in our group has collected all their information. We have picked out our blog post, taken our pictures, and filmed our videos. We have also wrote our groups paragraphs and taken our group picture. We have completed everything and have it all saved together. We are meeting two days this week to put all the information and resources in IBook. We are almost finished and I feel as though it is going to turn out great.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

C4K Last Summary of November

C4K Last Summary

The fist person I was assigned to comment on was Hunter from Mr. Boylen's class. In his blog Summer Vacation, he talked about all the exciting things he did this past summer. He talked about going down lazy rivers, water slides, camping, and playing in the sun. He went to Glacier Canyon Lodge with his entire family, but he did not have the experience that he was expecting. He talked about how the room and t.v. were dumb and they were useless because he never spent time in there anyways. In my comment, I told him a little about my vacation on the lake this past summer. I also told him about how I enjoyed going down water slides and lazy rivers. I asked him why he felt some things were pointless and would he ever want to go back. I enjoyed reading his post and it was long and gave a great story.

The second person I was assigned to was









The last person I was assigned to was Mariah. In her blog post Expression, she talked about how she has many different expressions. She said how when she is sad or mad, then she will act sad or mad. She said her expressions include how she dresses, talks, and walks. She also said how she wished she could just have one expression and that was it. I commented and told her how I also have many expressions. I told her how we were alike because if I am sad, then I act sad and I feel like that is just natural. I thought her post was very meaningful and took time to really make it how she wanted. I told her to keep blogging and keep up the good work.


This image shows a little girl blogging which explains the kids blogging in C4Ks

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Blog Post 12

My Blog Assignment

It took me awhile to find the perfect assignment to do for this project. I thought of many different ideas. After all my thinking, I feel as though I came up with the perfect one. This assignment will help students view technology from all different aspects and realize that it can be useful in all different ways. I also want students to choose their own articles and videos and be able to go out and explore the internet, not just have to watch a certain ones. I want them to pick the one that makes them learn the most and has an impact on them.
The first task is to find a video on helpful tools to keep active and discusses exercise. After you have found this video, you need to provide a link to it and write a paragraph summarizing the video. You need to talk about what the video discusses and how it impacts you. Also, talk about how it teaches you how helpful technology can be. Make sure you follow the instructions in Writing a Quality Blog Post.

The next task is to find a website that you think would be most beneficial to you as a human being. This website can be about anything like school, eating habits, hobbies, etc. I think this task will help you realize that exploring the web can also be great for personal reasons and not just to look up information or get on gaming sites. I think you should take this task seriously and use it to your advantage. Also, write a one paragraph summary on the website and do not forget to provide a link so I can view it.

The last task is to find the best educational website or video that you think would help you most as an educator. You need to use this task and take the time to really explore different sites and find the perfect one that provides you with helpful tools that will help you in the classroom. Think about your students and what might they be interested in and see whether these tools will get them involved and wanting to learn more. Also, write a one paragraph summary on the source and provide a link so I can view it. Follow the instructions in Writing a Quality Blog Post

Last, talk about what you think is the purpose of this assignment and why you think I assigned it to you.

Me achieving the assignment!

The First Task
I choose the video, 5 minute cardio workout, I thought this video was perfect because it was not too much but it got you off the couch and moving your muscles. In the video, the lady shows you five different exercises and you repeat them three times for a minute each. She also tells you to repeat the workout throughout the week. I thought this video was useful because it showed you that technology and your PLN can be used in so many different ways. Not only can you learn all different kinds of knowledge from the web, you can also learn to use it in ways that can help your body and keep you active. It is interesting to realize that many people say technology makes people inactive, but it can also make you active and give you workout videos.

The Second Task
I choose the website helpguide.org, I choose this one because I have problems with eating healthy. I wanted to use the internet to learn different diet ideas and how to eat healthier. This website showed me different tools to start a healthy diet. This site talked about not cutting down right away and gradually making yourself cut down little at a time. It also talked about smaller portions instead of just cutting meals or eating different foods. I am allergic to a lot of different foods and this website gave me different options with the correct food choices. It gave great advice and helped me with something I struggle in which is my eating habits. This website mad me realize that you can find almost anything on the web and you just have to understand that it is useful if you use it the right way. It is very neat to see how the internet allows you do view so many helpful sites and you can find the perfect one for you.

The Third Task
I found an exceptional education site; Interactive site for Education, this site allows you to work through your smart board or white board in your classroom. It is designed to get the kids and students interacted in learning. It has all different kinds of subjects, including holidays and typing activities. For example, it has an English/Art button, when you press on the button different activities pop up like your ABCs. These buttons allow you to work with any tools. The teacher can use these tools to play games or even get the students to come up and work the smart boards themselves. I feel as though students will enjoy this site because it will help them understand that learning and teaching is enjoyable. I really enjoyed going out and looking for websites that will help me interact my students in the methods I am trying to teach them. I have already saved this site as a favorite and look forward to using it one day.

Last, I believe the purpose of this assignment was to understand that the internet is a helpful tool and it can not only help you in the classroom but also at home. I feel as though it is important to show students that technology does not make you lazy, it can help you exercise not only your body but your mind. This assignment was great because it showed me that if you use technology in the right way then you will be amazed at the possibilities it has for students and everyone.

This laptop illustrates that technology can be used anywhere and for everything

Sunday, November 11, 2012

C4T#3 Summary

Kelly Tenkely’s Blog

I read Kelly Tenkely’s blog and found it fascinating. In the first post I commented on it was about using MyHisto. This is an internet tool that allows students to find out their heritage. She talked about how fascinated the children were when they found out where they came from. She said they started using the application at home and showing all their friends. I told her that I actually used this application myself and figured out where I was from. I am part Indian which I did not know. I told her how it is always fun seeing students enjoy something and taking it to the next level.

The next post I commented on was about the election. She shared a website in which you could go on and look and make your predictions about the swing states. I told her if I would have known about this I would have loved to make my predictions. She talked about the annoyance of all the political ads and how they made her want the world to end. I completely agreed because we were not even a swing state and I wanted the ads to end. I also told her that if I’m teaching during election time, I will definitely get my students to check out this website and make their predictions.

This is an image that shows itec technology and its symbol


C4K #2 Summary

C4K Summaries

I read Mac’s blog about Monkeys. He talked about how monkeys can swing, eat fruit, and act really crazy. I told him about my trip to the zoo when I first saw a monkey. I talked about how they are crazy and run and jump through the trees. I told him I loved his image and it fit perfectly with his post. I really enjoyed reading his blog.

Next, I read Susan Santoli’s blog, I really enjoyed it because she was writing from a different country. I found this very interesting. She talked about how she could find out what was happening in America through a TV station. She was thrilled to find out she can still keep up with American news. She talked about how the times were bad and the economy was struggling. I commented to tell her that she was right and the economy is also bad in America. I told her I was fascinated to find out her facts were correct, so she can really rely on Ireland to give her the American news.

Next, I read kkrysztofowicz blog, I really thought this one was creative. He talked about his weird dream he had. He made his dream into a poem and I found that very neat. In his dream, he talked about so many different things happening and they were crazy things too. I really enjoyed this post and told him how I also have crazy dreams sometimes.

My last C4K, was mschmitz’s blog, which was a poem about monkeys. This post talked about how creative monkeys were and I really enjoyed the creativity. I told her that I also loved monkeys. I also told her I enjoyed reading her poem and found it very fascinating that she was so good at poetry. Overall, I love reading these C4Ks and find it very fascinating to learn about them.

This is an image of children using their blogs




Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Special Assignment

A World where Grades are left Behind


In the Article, “A world where grades are left behind” by Mary Beth Marklein, it starts off talking about how learning should become free and available to anyone. There will be no failure or tardiness to class because all the lessons will become games and enjoyable. It talks about how students would learn more if learning became a game.

He talks about how there is a blue and red pill. The blue pill is more like the teachers who just want to sit in a classroom and lecture all day. The red pill is more for teachers who want an adventure or seen a wonderland. Thrun talks about how he oversees the online start-up Udacity. This incredible tool will hopefully develop a catalog of free online sources taught by professors around the world. In one room, the students can create videos and use special effects with the instructors’ hands. In the other room, they are creating courses such as Making Math Matter that will engage students. These courses will allow students to play games while learning the subject of math.

Thrun talks about how the classrooms will eventually flip and learning will come from technology. He talks about how students should watch videos at night and then work on homework during the day. Classes will start to focus on more challenging exercises or quizzes that will help the students understand the concept. Also, grades do not need to come into account and education should be free. Grades are the failure of the educational system. Thrun wants education to come to you, whether than be forced to be educated.

After reading this article, I formed a completely different view on education. I feel as though Thruns’ ideas are brilliant. I would much rather learn from a game then a 20 minute lecture. If we were not forced to study and take test, then students would not mind actually learning and would enjoy it. If we were not graded on everything we accomplished or critiqued for it, then students would learn to find their limit and understand their potential. Thrun made some exceptional point s and understands the students’ minds and willingness to learn. If teachers allow them to learn the way they will understand, then students will start to enjoy being educated. Overall, I feel as an educator it is important to incorporate technology in your classroom. I hope that one day the classrooms will flip and students will start discovering new information on their own.

This is a picture of grades and showing the different grades

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Blog Post 11

First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Classroom

After watching Ms. Cassidy’s Classroom video, I found it very entertaining. I feel like she is right on target with learning. The kids look very involved and eager to learn more about their topics. In the video, it showed the kids making blogs and watching learning videos on the web. It also showed a tool called Wikis. This tool would allow the kids to post the topic or idea they wanted to learn about and allow people from other places comment about the topic. The peoples’ comments would help explain to the children what the idea truly meant. I loved this idea because that is how I learn better is through hearing and viewing different examples. Another fun thing Ms. Cassidy did in the classroom was she allowed the students to take videos. These video would help them learn by being able to view themselves later on and see their examples of the topics. Also, she talked about having a class webpage and on the webpage include different links that allowed the students to view them. These links included educational games and fun sites in which the kids loved to use. She turned learning into something the kids enjoyed at home and were eager to engage in their topics. I believe that kids learn more by being involved in the process rather than just being lectured.

The Skype between Sr. Strange and Ms. Cassidy


After watching the Skype video between Ms. Cassidy and Dr.Strange, I learned a lot about technology. I learned that anyone can do it. Dr. Strange asked her about here first time working with technology or what made her want to incorporate it. She talked about how when she was younger in a classroom, it was never used and that upset her. I completely agree about how technology was barley used when I was a child. I think that if I had the hands on technology and entertainment to learning as students do now, then I would have engaged way more and learned more. She talked about how her students now use their blogs to improve their writing skills, make videos, and use audio skills. Her students have enjoyed communicating with students around the world and learning the amazing things the web can teach you.

I found it very interesting that only one other teacher at her school uses technology to teach. I think that it will be very difficult to change, but it will be more beneficial in the end because that is what the world is working around. I thought it was great how she had the support of the parents and administrators during her teaching process. It also helps that she sent out letters explaining that she will keep the children safe and wants to help them learn through technology. I enjoyed her quote, "We must always keep learning," because the web is full of new information and students can always research new material.

I loved Ms. Cassidy's advice about start using technology where you are interested the most. She also talked about the use of social media. She uses twitter often which I found very interesting because I love twitter. I found it very neat that Dr. Strange actually found her on twitter and maybe I can find someone helpful tools on there too. I enjoyed that fact that depending on the assignment will determine the amount of times the children use their blog. It was interesting that she did not get them to blog daily, but I like that because they also use different tools in the classroom.

Overall, I really enjoyed Ms. Cassidy's blog and felt it was very useful. I loved listening to how she teaches and tools she uses in the classroom. It really opened up my eye to a new way of teaching and I really enjoyed it. I think that if more technology was incorporated when I was a child, then I would enjoy learning more. I feel as though I will use these methods in my classroom. I find that the most helpful tool that Ms. Cassidy described is to find out your students' interests. I will make sure I figure how they learn the most and use that to get them involved.

This is an image showing that the world must change through technology