Sunday, June 27, 2010
Blog Post #7
I found Randy Pausch's speech incredible and inspiring. Honestly, I was not looking forward to watching the video because it was an hour long, but I found myself intrigued throughout the entire video. I can not imagine knowing that I have only a few months to live and still being that motivated and at peace with life. I loved his style and techniques of teaching. When he started talking about the class that be began I noticed a few teaching techniques that he used that I thought were great. As he went continued talking about that class, it was obvious that the teaching techniques he used were working.
One way of teaching that he mentioned I really liked. When he began talking about the class that he started and telling the students that they have to work in a group to create something great, he did not give them guidelines. He only gave them two things that they could not use and he allowed them to be creative and decide what they wanted to create and how they wanted to create it. It was evident from his story that his students excelled with the little directions that they were given. The students were not limited on what they could create which allowed them to liberty to produce a new, fascinating project.
I also really liked that after his students blew him away with what they had created he responded to them by saying "you can do better". I believe it is important to encourage students' work, but it is also important not to make them complacent in the performance. By telling a student that he or she could do better you are encouraging them to work harder and dig deeper to create something that may even surprise them.
I am very much a believer in students being involved in what they are learning. I think that students should be hands on when it comes to everything that they are being taught. That is exactly what Dr. Pausch did throughout his career of teaching. He allowed the students to teach themselves how to build virtual realities. He did not stand in front of the classroom while the students took notes about how to build one, they actually did it.
I believe that this video will inspire anyone who watches it. I have never heard someone speak about having goals and trying to reach them like he did. I was absolutely inspired by watching it and it is by far my favorite video we have watching so far.
One way of teaching that he mentioned I really liked. When he began talking about the class that he started and telling the students that they have to work in a group to create something great, he did not give them guidelines. He only gave them two things that they could not use and he allowed them to be creative and decide what they wanted to create and how they wanted to create it. It was evident from his story that his students excelled with the little directions that they were given. The students were not limited on what they could create which allowed them to liberty to produce a new, fascinating project.
I also really liked that after his students blew him away with what they had created he responded to them by saying "you can do better". I believe it is important to encourage students' work, but it is also important not to make them complacent in the performance. By telling a student that he or she could do better you are encouraging them to work harder and dig deeper to create something that may even surprise them.
I am very much a believer in students being involved in what they are learning. I think that students should be hands on when it comes to everything that they are being taught. That is exactly what Dr. Pausch did throughout his career of teaching. He allowed the students to teach themselves how to build virtual realities. He did not stand in front of the classroom while the students took notes about how to build one, they actually did it.
I believe that this video will inspire anyone who watches it. I have never heard someone speak about having goals and trying to reach them like he did. I was absolutely inspired by watching it and it is by far my favorite video we have watching so far.
Comments 4 Kids 2
Scribes from Room 11 are learning to write reports. The post that I read is about mice. The students did an excellent job on including features and characteristics of mice. They included what they look like, what they like to eat and where they like to live. It is evident that they are understanding how to right reports.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Comments 3 Teachers
Miss She's blog was very inspiring to read. She does not blog that often, but she puts a lot of thought into what she does post. The first post that I commented on was a video that she had found. It was about the environment and waste disposal. It was very interesting and I encourage people to watch it. The second and third post of her that I read pertained more to education and teaching. Her second post was about Task Boards that she has in her classroom. I would like to take the ideas that she uses with her Task Board to implement into my classroom. In her third post she talked about Twitter and the great advantages that it has in the classroom. She discussed how she has so many resources because of Twitter. She sounds like a great teacher with a great classroom.
Comments 4 Kids
I would like to encourage other students to look at K2M's Blog. The have a Wordle posted that the class created about winter. I explored the site and went to the "Meet K2M" page. They have all of the students in the class and a fact about them. Their blog is very cute. I also like how they leave a question about winter on their blog.
Blog Post #6
This Is How We Dream
I thought that Dr. Miller did an excellent job with his videos. I thought that it was necessary for him to begin my talking about how we all dream of one day having a job that requires us to use books. I found it a little humerus in his video when he talked about the book that he has written about learning and how it is no longer being printed you can now purchase it for less than a dollar on Amazon.com. I like how he did not video himself, but showed video of different ways to use the internet to connect people and resources.
Dr. Miller made great points about the importance and access of teachers sharing information by use of the internet. I really like that he admitted that he knew there would be some complications and that he did not know how it would begin to work to the extent he was talking about. Books and reading are quickly changing. I think that with Kindle Readers and the iPad the number of books and the necessity of books is only going to decline. I have been flying every couple of months for the past year or so. Every flight that I am on multiple people on the plane have Kindles or iPads that they use to read books. I know that Dr. Miller was referring more towards newspapers, reference books and texts books, but I have been thinking a lot lately about the decline in the amount of leisure books I have seen.
I do not believe that I am ready to write with multimedia to the extent that Dr. Miller described. I feel confident in many areas of online research and sharing ideas; however, I do not think that I would be able to survive if that were my only means of writing. I am sure that with more understanding and help then I would be able to exceed. I hope that by the time writing solely with multimedia that I will be able to as well as teach my students.
The Networked Student
I do not know if I am prepared to be a teacher of a networked student. I think that this is a great idea and can work very well. I believe that it is teaching students at an earlier age how to find an implement great research that is available to them. I am curious as to what the students would do the 3 days that they are in the classroom. Do they talk about the research or lectures that they have found? Or does the teacher teach?
The question "why does the networked student even need a teacher?" really caught my attention because I had been wondering that same question earlier in the video. Once the video explained the teacher is there to help the students know where to find good research and to guide them more than just teach them I was better able to understand the teacher's role. Many students, especially middle school students, would not always know where to or how to ask for the information that they need. It can also very difficult at time to decipher between true research and fact and opinions.
I can definitely see the benefits of networked students. When I came to college I slowly realized that I had never been taught how to fully research something. As helpful and amazing as Google is, it does not always show you everything you need and it does not teach you what to do with the information that it gives you; however, the networked student is taught early on the proper ways and places to find good research. I love that iTunesU is incorporated into the learning process as well. I am very interested to see the outcome of the networked student.
Michael Wesch
I could relate to a lot of what Dr. Wesch said. It is evident that media has changed the way that people interact and communicate. I have also come to realize that through the use of media, people are becoming more socially connected yet they are not becoming more social. For example, I do no longer have facebook; however, when I did I stayed very connected and in touch with a lot of my friends. Now that I have deleted facebook, I can not recall the last time I talked to most of them. I also think about how many conversations I have with people through texting, but I can not remember the last time we spoke on the phone.
It is amazing to me how Youtube and other forms of media have created their own communities. It was evident in Dr. Wesch's video that people are more open and honest about themselves and their opinions on Youtube and to a webcam than they are having a conversation with someone. I know that I am more comfortable using text messaging, email and facebook to express my opinions than verbalizing them to someone.
I thought that Dr. Miller did an excellent job with his videos. I thought that it was necessary for him to begin my talking about how we all dream of one day having a job that requires us to use books. I found it a little humerus in his video when he talked about the book that he has written about learning and how it is no longer being printed you can now purchase it for less than a dollar on Amazon.com. I like how he did not video himself, but showed video of different ways to use the internet to connect people and resources.
Dr. Miller made great points about the importance and access of teachers sharing information by use of the internet. I really like that he admitted that he knew there would be some complications and that he did not know how it would begin to work to the extent he was talking about. Books and reading are quickly changing. I think that with Kindle Readers and the iPad the number of books and the necessity of books is only going to decline. I have been flying every couple of months for the past year or so. Every flight that I am on multiple people on the plane have Kindles or iPads that they use to read books. I know that Dr. Miller was referring more towards newspapers, reference books and texts books, but I have been thinking a lot lately about the decline in the amount of leisure books I have seen.
I do not believe that I am ready to write with multimedia to the extent that Dr. Miller described. I feel confident in many areas of online research and sharing ideas; however, I do not think that I would be able to survive if that were my only means of writing. I am sure that with more understanding and help then I would be able to exceed. I hope that by the time writing solely with multimedia that I will be able to as well as teach my students.
The Networked Student
I do not know if I am prepared to be a teacher of a networked student. I think that this is a great idea and can work very well. I believe that it is teaching students at an earlier age how to find an implement great research that is available to them. I am curious as to what the students would do the 3 days that they are in the classroom. Do they talk about the research or lectures that they have found? Or does the teacher teach?
The question "why does the networked student even need a teacher?" really caught my attention because I had been wondering that same question earlier in the video. Once the video explained the teacher is there to help the students know where to find good research and to guide them more than just teach them I was better able to understand the teacher's role. Many students, especially middle school students, would not always know where to or how to ask for the information that they need. It can also very difficult at time to decipher between true research and fact and opinions.
I can definitely see the benefits of networked students. When I came to college I slowly realized that I had never been taught how to fully research something. As helpful and amazing as Google is, it does not always show you everything you need and it does not teach you what to do with the information that it gives you; however, the networked student is taught early on the proper ways and places to find good research. I love that iTunesU is incorporated into the learning process as well. I am very interested to see the outcome of the networked student.
Michael Wesch
I could relate to a lot of what Dr. Wesch said. It is evident that media has changed the way that people interact and communicate. I have also come to realize that through the use of media, people are becoming more socially connected yet they are not becoming more social. For example, I do no longer have facebook; however, when I did I stayed very connected and in touch with a lot of my friends. Now that I have deleted facebook, I can not recall the last time I talked to most of them. I also think about how many conversations I have with people through texting, but I can not remember the last time we spoke on the phone.
It is amazing to me how Youtube and other forms of media have created their own communities. It was evident in Dr. Wesch's video that people are more open and honest about themselves and their opinions on Youtube and to a webcam than they are having a conversation with someone. I know that I am more comfortable using text messaging, email and facebook to express my opinions than verbalizing them to someone.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Blog Post #5
Critiques of Smartboards
I do not agree with Michael Staton's Why Smartboards are a Dumb Initiative. When I observed last semester the teacher I was observing had a Smartboard that she used multiple times a day. When she taught lessons on the Smartboard her students were able to interact with the lesson. For example, when the students were learning money she had a program that allowed the students to drag money on the board to create different ways to make up a certain amount of money. The students loved it. Students today love technology and allowing them to use and learn with technology in the classroom really gets their attention. Also, I do not think that his argument that Smartboards do not make lesson plan any easily or lighten a teachers workload should be strongly considered. I do not understand how you can expect teachers to do less work while students learn more. It is hard for me to understand where he is coming from when he has never had a Smartboard in his classroom.
As much as I love Smartboards, I do not believe that they make education better. I believe they it is a tool for teachers to take advantage of with programs and activities that help to teach. I understand how a Smartboard can be just an expensive whiteboard; however, if a teacher wants, then he or she can make a lesson more intriguing and interactive for the students. Teachers should be trained on use to use Smartboards. In Bill Ferriter's blog Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards he said something that really bothered me. He said "Sure, my students thought it was nifty, but it didn’t make teaching my required curriculum any easier". The students obviously liked the Smartboard, but he sounds to me that he does not see the need in Smartboards because he did not make his job any easier. Is it supposed to? I have never heard a teacher say that the Smartboard is supposed to make their job easier. It is supposed to engage and help teach the students in a new way.
James Tubbs about Smartboards I think describes the purpose of the Smartboard very well. In his blog ,How the Smartboard Has Changed My Teaching, he said "...That's the purpose of the Smartboard--it gets kids out of their seats to manipulate the objects on the screen". It allows students to interact and take more of an interest in what they are learning. I really enjoyed reading about how he used his Smartboard to change the way that he taught. His blog is http://misterteacher.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-smartboard-has-changed-my-teaching.html.
I do not agree with Michael Staton's Why Smartboards are a Dumb Initiative. When I observed last semester the teacher I was observing had a Smartboard that she used multiple times a day. When she taught lessons on the Smartboard her students were able to interact with the lesson. For example, when the students were learning money she had a program that allowed the students to drag money on the board to create different ways to make up a certain amount of money. The students loved it. Students today love technology and allowing them to use and learn with technology in the classroom really gets their attention. Also, I do not think that his argument that Smartboards do not make lesson plan any easily or lighten a teachers workload should be strongly considered. I do not understand how you can expect teachers to do less work while students learn more. It is hard for me to understand where he is coming from when he has never had a Smartboard in his classroom.
As much as I love Smartboards, I do not believe that they make education better. I believe they it is a tool for teachers to take advantage of with programs and activities that help to teach. I understand how a Smartboard can be just an expensive whiteboard; however, if a teacher wants, then he or she can make a lesson more intriguing and interactive for the students. Teachers should be trained on use to use Smartboards. In Bill Ferriter's blog Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards he said something that really bothered me. He said "Sure, my students thought it was nifty, but it didn’t make teaching my required curriculum any easier". The students obviously liked the Smartboard, but he sounds to me that he does not see the need in Smartboards because he did not make his job any easier. Is it supposed to? I have never heard a teacher say that the Smartboard is supposed to make their job easier. It is supposed to engage and help teach the students in a new way.
James Tubbs about Smartboards I think describes the purpose of the Smartboard very well. In his blog ,How the Smartboard Has Changed My Teaching, he said "...That's the purpose of the Smartboard--it gets kids out of their seats to manipulate the objects on the screen". It allows students to interact and take more of an interest in what they are learning. I really enjoyed reading about how he used his Smartboard to change the way that he taught. His blog is http://misterteacher.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-smartboard-has-changed-my-teaching.html.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Post #4
I really enjoyed watching and learning about the benefits of podcasting. I have made one podcast before, but I have never considered the benefits of making a podcast in a classroom. I especially liked the benefits that is.gd/2cd2l listed. The majority of my mom's family are teachers and have grown up hearing all about teaching and classrooms. From talking to my family and other teachers that I have learned that one of a teachers' biggest dilemma is make up work for students who are absent. Having a podcast of a lecture that is available to the students is perfect for a student who missed a lecture. It is also ideal for students who need to hear a lecture more than once or for a student who needs to hear a concept one more time. Podcasts allow students to have more responsibility in the work that they missed.
Students are more likely to understand and retain information and concepts that they take a part in in the classroom. For instance, most of things that I remember from elementary, middle and high school I remember because I had to do research, a paper or a project on the information. I believe that having students involved in making a podcast will help them to understand and remember the concept they are discussing in their podcast. I thought that the podcast "Roamin' with the Ancient Romans" done by Eagles Nest Radio was fantastic. The involvement of the students and the way that the music kept you engaged. It was evident in the podcast that the students put in a lot of hard work into the podcast and that they were proud of their work.
Practicalprincipals.net was very inspiring and encouraging for me. I was very impressed with how principals from different states have gotten together to make podcasts to help each other and other teachers. A lot of times schools and teachers know about technologies or strategies that other areas do not yet know about. By teachers or principals podcasting or blogging new information that they have learned will allow other teachers and principals to access this new information that they have yet to hear about. Podcasts allow for teachers gain new ideas for the classroom.
I like the different subjects and options that epnweb.org/index.php?openpod=16 gives on their site. There are podcasts for every different subject and each subject has different categories in which you can choose. There are podcasts that are beneficial for teachers and parents as well as for students. There are a lot of podcasts that teachers could assign students to listen to that relate to a specific subject or concept being taught in class.
Students are more likely to understand and retain information and concepts that they take a part in in the classroom. For instance, most of things that I remember from elementary, middle and high school I remember because I had to do research, a paper or a project on the information. I believe that having students involved in making a podcast will help them to understand and remember the concept they are discussing in their podcast. I thought that the podcast "Roamin' with the Ancient Romans" done by Eagles Nest Radio was fantastic. The involvement of the students and the way that the music kept you engaged. It was evident in the podcast that the students put in a lot of hard work into the podcast and that they were proud of their work.
Practicalprincipals.net was very inspiring and encouraging for me. I was very impressed with how principals from different states have gotten together to make podcasts to help each other and other teachers. A lot of times schools and teachers know about technologies or strategies that other areas do not yet know about. By teachers or principals podcasting or blogging new information that they have learned will allow other teachers and principals to access this new information that they have yet to hear about. Podcasts allow for teachers gain new ideas for the classroom.
I like the different subjects and options that epnweb.org/index.php?openpod=16 gives on their site. There are podcasts for every different subject and each subject has different categories in which you can choose. There are podcasts that are beneficial for teachers and parents as well as for students. There are a lot of podcasts that teachers could assign students to listen to that relate to a specific subject or concept being taught in class.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Blog Post #3
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
I think that Scott McLeod did an excellent job portraying the outlook of technology of so many adults; as well as tying in the importance of teaching technology to students. It is important to monitor younger students but keeping them away from the technology is only going to hurt them. Yes, there are some negatives on and about the internet, but can you not find a negative to any great thing? Students should be taught how to use the technology that they will soon be required to use for future jobs, universities, etc. Considering that Scott McLeod is the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education I believe that he has great credibility in regards to arguments concerning the needs and importance of technology.
The iSchool Initiative
This video was a very interesting outlook on how the fix the problems of budget cuts and larger classrooms. I have an iPhone and I use on a regular basis for emial, looking up information, directions, and many other things; however, I do not think it should be used in a classroom. I think that technology in the classroom is great and the Scott McLeod was absolutely correct about the advancement of technology; however, I think that iSchool goes a little too far. Technology should be in schools, but not to the extent of the iSchool. I agree with Travis Allen about the convenience and benefits of students and parents being able to look up assignment due dates, grades, lunch menus and such, but there are already programs that do that. My boyfriend's mom works at an elementary school in Georgia. At that school, teachers have to update students grades and attendance each day. On test days, teachers have to have that test grade uploaded for the parents to see by the end of the day.
One question that I have about the iSchool is what will happen to schools? If teachers can email students all of the assignments and notes and students can access all of the books on the iSchool, what is the point of even going to school? Why should it matter if class sizes continuously grow? And how would you integrate iSchool into schools? I do not know how possible it would be for iSchool to work considering how many teachers are already technology illiterate.
The Lost Generation
I liked this video. I especially liked how it was setup to say the exact opposite once it was reversed. I really like the technique she used and the points that she made. She really brought out brought out many peoples' views. For instance, when she talked about how our generation is dealing with problems in the world that we did not create and can not fix. Many people believe that; however, many people also believe when she reversed it and said that we can fix the world that we are given. I loved her ideas and the way that she expressed them.
I think that Scott McLeod did an excellent job portraying the outlook of technology of so many adults; as well as tying in the importance of teaching technology to students. It is important to monitor younger students but keeping them away from the technology is only going to hurt them. Yes, there are some negatives on and about the internet, but can you not find a negative to any great thing? Students should be taught how to use the technology that they will soon be required to use for future jobs, universities, etc. Considering that Scott McLeod is the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education I believe that he has great credibility in regards to arguments concerning the needs and importance of technology.
The iSchool Initiative
This video was a very interesting outlook on how the fix the problems of budget cuts and larger classrooms. I have an iPhone and I use on a regular basis for emial, looking up information, directions, and many other things; however, I do not think it should be used in a classroom. I think that technology in the classroom is great and the Scott McLeod was absolutely correct about the advancement of technology; however, I think that iSchool goes a little too far. Technology should be in schools, but not to the extent of the iSchool. I agree with Travis Allen about the convenience and benefits of students and parents being able to look up assignment due dates, grades, lunch menus and such, but there are already programs that do that. My boyfriend's mom works at an elementary school in Georgia. At that school, teachers have to update students grades and attendance each day. On test days, teachers have to have that test grade uploaded for the parents to see by the end of the day.
One question that I have about the iSchool is what will happen to schools? If teachers can email students all of the assignments and notes and students can access all of the books on the iSchool, what is the point of even going to school? Why should it matter if class sizes continuously grow? And how would you integrate iSchool into schools? I do not know how possible it would be for iSchool to work considering how many teachers are already technology illiterate.
The Lost Generation
I liked this video. I especially liked how it was setup to say the exact opposite once it was reversed. I really like the technique she used and the points that she made. She really brought out brought out many peoples' views. For instance, when she talked about how our generation is dealing with problems in the world that we did not create and can not fix. Many people believe that; however, many people also believe when she reversed it and said that we can fix the world that we are given. I loved her ideas and the way that she expressed them.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Post #2
A Vision of Students Today
I think that this video perfectly exemplifies my college experience. This is my fourth semester at South but before I attended South I was at Auburn for two and half years. While I was at Auburn I took core classes such as English, History, Biology, Sociology, Ethics etc. All of my History, Biology and Sociology classes were huge! All of my History classes had anywhere from 150 students to 200 and Biology had well over 200. In at least ten of my classes at Auburn, most likely more, the professors did not know any ones name. Just like in Michael Wesch's video students brought computers to class with zero intention of note taking and some students only showed up on test days. Just like students in the video, I too have bought hundreds of dollars worth of books for class that I have never used.
My experience at South has been a little different, but that is mostly due to the fact that I am now in classes pertaining to my major. I have found that more, but not all, teachers do know students names and the classes are a lot smaller. On a less positive note, I have already bought 3 or 4 books at South that I never opened.
Sadly, the video was completely true when it showed the chalk board that said "follow along". Teachers today are still standing in front of a classroom at a chalkboard or projector screen while the students are following the teachers' lead. Students are being told and fed what they need to learn instead of doing some of the work for themselves. I think that this video is great and shows a lot of flaws in the education system today.
It's Not about the Technology
I like how Kelly Hines views technology. I agree that it is incredible and can make learning and students much more advanced; however, there has to be a good teacher to demonstrate and know how to correctly use the technology. I think that Smartboards are amazing and are great in classrooms. I have seen some Elementary teachers do incredible things with them and teaching there students; however, I have seen some teachers, who are not fully trained or knowledgeable, miss an incredible opportunity. Those teachers simply use the Smartboard as a projector. The teachers are wasting, in my opinion, one of the greatest advantages in a classroom.
I completely agree when Kelly Hines says: "Teachers who want to be truly succesful must be voracious and self-motivated in their pursuit of evoloving understanding." Great teachers are great because they care and strive to be a great teacher. They continuously seek to understand their students and what they are teaching them. As helpful as technology is in the classroom, I also agree that the technology does not make a teacher great; however, it can give a teacher the tools.
The Fischbowl
Many teachers who have been teaching for a while have found a system that works for them and the students learn from as well. It is good to have routines and tentative systems; however, teachers have to be willing to make adjustments. Teachers can not form a system to use year after year that does not consist of editing or altering. For instance, teachers who have developed a "flawless" system have evidently been teaching for quite awhile. It is good to have teachers who have been teaching for many years; however, more times than not those are the teachers who do not evolve into the understanding and learning that students need today. They do not become familiar with technology that would greatly help students. They simply continue on with what they know.
As a stated previously, I do not believe it is technology that makes a teacher great; however, teachers need to teach what their students need to know. Students today are graduating and going into colleges or workplaces that requires that they know or are familiar with technology. I like how Fisch said that "Don’t forget, those Kindergartners that started school in the last month or so are the Class of 2020 – we need that 2020 Vision". Teachers and administration have to take into consideration who they are teaching. They are teaching children who will have to know technology and how to use it in order to get a job one day. It is understandable that many teachers do not know how to use or understand technology; however, they should still have to be taught and not just say "I am no good with technology" of "I don't understand".
Gary's Social Media Count
These rate are unbelievable. It is one thing to know that millions of people have a facebook and twitter account or text message; however, it is another thing to watch the numbers rise. The statistics make me think about how technology is going to be in two years when I begin teaching. It is going to be so much more advanced then and so much more apart of everyone's' lives. I believe that technology is going to have to be a huge part of an academic curriculum and a classroom.
I think that this video perfectly exemplifies my college experience. This is my fourth semester at South but before I attended South I was at Auburn for two and half years. While I was at Auburn I took core classes such as English, History, Biology, Sociology, Ethics etc. All of my History, Biology and Sociology classes were huge! All of my History classes had anywhere from 150 students to 200 and Biology had well over 200. In at least ten of my classes at Auburn, most likely more, the professors did not know any ones name. Just like in Michael Wesch's video students brought computers to class with zero intention of note taking and some students only showed up on test days. Just like students in the video, I too have bought hundreds of dollars worth of books for class that I have never used.
My experience at South has been a little different, but that is mostly due to the fact that I am now in classes pertaining to my major. I have found that more, but not all, teachers do know students names and the classes are a lot smaller. On a less positive note, I have already bought 3 or 4 books at South that I never opened.
Sadly, the video was completely true when it showed the chalk board that said "follow along". Teachers today are still standing in front of a classroom at a chalkboard or projector screen while the students are following the teachers' lead. Students are being told and fed what they need to learn instead of doing some of the work for themselves. I think that this video is great and shows a lot of flaws in the education system today.
It's Not about the Technology
I like how Kelly Hines views technology. I agree that it is incredible and can make learning and students much more advanced; however, there has to be a good teacher to demonstrate and know how to correctly use the technology. I think that Smartboards are amazing and are great in classrooms. I have seen some Elementary teachers do incredible things with them and teaching there students; however, I have seen some teachers, who are not fully trained or knowledgeable, miss an incredible opportunity. Those teachers simply use the Smartboard as a projector. The teachers are wasting, in my opinion, one of the greatest advantages in a classroom.
I completely agree when Kelly Hines says: "Teachers who want to be truly succesful must be voracious and self-motivated in their pursuit of evoloving understanding." Great teachers are great because they care and strive to be a great teacher. They continuously seek to understand their students and what they are teaching them. As helpful as technology is in the classroom, I also agree that the technology does not make a teacher great; however, it can give a teacher the tools.
The Fischbowl
Many teachers who have been teaching for a while have found a system that works for them and the students learn from as well. It is good to have routines and tentative systems; however, teachers have to be willing to make adjustments. Teachers can not form a system to use year after year that does not consist of editing or altering. For instance, teachers who have developed a "flawless" system have evidently been teaching for quite awhile. It is good to have teachers who have been teaching for many years; however, more times than not those are the teachers who do not evolve into the understanding and learning that students need today. They do not become familiar with technology that would greatly help students. They simply continue on with what they know.
As a stated previously, I do not believe it is technology that makes a teacher great; however, teachers need to teach what their students need to know. Students today are graduating and going into colleges or workplaces that requires that they know or are familiar with technology. I like how Fisch said that "Don’t forget, those Kindergartners that started school in the last month or so are the Class of 2020 – we need that 2020 Vision". Teachers and administration have to take into consideration who they are teaching. They are teaching children who will have to know technology and how to use it in order to get a job one day. It is understandable that many teachers do not know how to use or understand technology; however, they should still have to be taught and not just say "I am no good with technology" of "I don't understand".
Gary's Social Media Count
These rate are unbelievable. It is one thing to know that millions of people have a facebook and twitter account or text message; however, it is another thing to watch the numbers rise. The statistics make me think about how technology is going to be in two years when I begin teaching. It is going to be so much more advanced then and so much more apart of everyone's' lives. I believe that technology is going to have to be a huge part of an academic curriculum and a classroom.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Post #1
Did You Know 3.0?
Karl Fisch's presentation was very informative and really made me think about technology and it's rapid growth. I know that technology is constantly growing and changing at an unbelievable pace, but I never realized just how quickly that pace is. It is amazing that a student's knowledge and work with technology is outdated before that student finishing his fourth year of a four year school technology program. Myspace and facebook are both extremely popular websites; however, it puts the size into perspective knowing that if Myspace were a country it was be the fifth largest. By comparing the amount of years that tv, radio, ipods and facebook took to reach 50 million people, it showed how quickly technology is becoming more and more of a necessity for everyones lives.
I found many of Fisch's statistics shocking. I know that education in America is not as good or as progressive as many other countries; however, the statistics about the number of honor students in India compared to the population of students in America is unfathomable. I also found the statistic regarding China and the English language shocking. Fisch's statistics on education in other countries reinforces how behind America is falling when compared to India and China.
Mr. Winkle Wakes
Mr. Winkle Wakes was, to me, exactly how technology and education truly are. Technology is progressing at a rate that is impossible for people to keep up, while schools have not made much of a change at all. I believe it is safe to say that almost all businesses are like what Mr. Winkle saw. Many use Skype as part of their communication with other businesses in other countries and all have the internet and email. As true as it was about Mr. Winkle's office, it was sadly just as true about many schools being the same. A lot of schools and classrooms have one computer in the room that is rarely used, if at all, by the students.
Students are very up to date on technology and base a lot of their lives around it. They see facebook, twitter, text messaging, etc as their means of communication. For most students, the majority of their time is spent using some type of technology. That is what students know and are interested in using. Schools today need to integrate education and technology. Students learn better when they are interested in the material. By integrating the technology that students are familiar with with their academics, the students will take more of an interest in what they are learning.
The Importance of Creativity
I completely agree with Ken Robinson's idea on The Importance of Creativity. Not all children learn the same or are interested in the same thing; therefore, children should not all be expected to progress the same academically. Some students are more visual and hands on learners than other students in the class; but, because of many of the academic programs schools adopt, those students are not reaching their full potential in the classroom. Sadly, a lot of teachers stand in front of their class and just teach the lesson. The students may have a worksheet to complete or a related assignment, but in many cases the students are not involved in the lesson. There is no discussion and no chance for the student to find things out for his or herself. The students are being taught what they should know with minimal creativity.
Schools are becoming more and more focused on standardized tests forcing the teachers to have to cut out subjects such as art and music which leaves the students few opportunities to use their creativity. Students are being taught what they need to know to get a good grade on the tests that reflect the quality of their teacher. Many students never reach or even know of their potential in school because they do not have the subjects such as music or art in which they would excel. Schools are focusing on the here and now and not the future. More and more jobs today demand creative thinking that students are not given the opportunity to discover in school. If students' creativity is not practiced when they are younger, they will lack in creative thinking later in life.
Harness Your Students Digital Smarts
Vicki Davis is doing an extraordinary thing in her classroom. She is able to take a rural classroom in a rural community and connect them to the rest of the world. She has a classroom that actually allows her students to use creativity and independent thought. She introduces them to technology that they would not otherwise use. I like that she introduces and depends on the students creativity to do well in the class.
One thing that I really like about her class is that she allows students to find information and answers for themselves. If she uses terms the students do not know, the students Google the term or concept instead of her telling simply them. I also like that the students have the access to communicate and research with students around the world. It allows the students to gain research done by other students their age in different countries. This allows the students to depend more on themselves and helps build their confidence.
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