2009-2010
This blog was a reflection on Mr.McClung's second year as a teacher. In his first paragraph, he talks about how his blog started out as something small and grew to something he does every day. He even mentioned Dr.Strange and EDM 310 students! Yay!
He explained in the beginning that the past school year was full of "firsts". Meaning, he went from teaching middle school to teaching Jr. High. This is a pretty different area because the children in this age group considerably more independent than most middle schoolers. He had to take on a whole new mentality with his 8th graders. He had to learn to provide moments of independence for these kids.
He also went from teaching to science to teaching history and social science. Every teaching experience he had in the past allowed him to use discovery learning and work in groups to complete tasks. He was unsure of what to do with a subject that is mainly composed of note taking. He went into "survival mode", assigning his students busy work that was a waste of time. He was not excelling in history as he had done in science.
He decided to make social studies and history fun and relevant as he had done with science. He researched classroom management styles and finally began figuring out his teaching style. He recommends to never get to comfortable and states that change is good and ultimately makes us better.
Being relaxed when teaching was important when it came to Mr. McClung teaching these new subjects. He realized that it took time discussing current events that often included controversial or debatable topics. He had a problem though. His students were never really taught to think for themselves. They always answered his questions fishing for the right answer. There was no right answer just a matter of opinion. He learned that in order for his students to form their own ideas, he would have to leave his opinions and bias at the door. He wanted his students to think analytically and assess each situation on an individual bases.
Mr. McClung also mentioned how important it was to have a school mom. He explained that a school mom was someone who was kind and patient. They would help you with problems and knew the school well. It's hard to pick up on routines and norms and finding someone who is willing to help and is a veteran of the system is useful. It's important to have someone who is willing to fight for you when the time comes.
He also recommends that teachers check their ego at the door. Teachers are guilty of trying to keep every situation under control. They are so used to planning out their lesson plans and having everything in perfect order that they lose sight of the fact that every day wont be as they so strategically planned it. Also, don't be afraid to go nuts over a good example or lesson. He wants students to know that he cares so he is not afraid of acting passionate about what he is teaching. He doesn't even care if he comes off as "nerdy" or "lame". It helps to show the kids that you really care. Have an adequate plan in place for how much time you are going to spend on a particular lesson. Don't concentrate on the ones that YOU particularly like. Make them all equal.
No matter how bad things get as a teacher, don't lose sight of what's important. You can not let surrounding factors effect how you conduct yourself in the classroom. The students are what is important and it's about bringing your best efforts to them. He states that he was definitely humbled during his second year. He didn't know as much as he thought. Experience is important and there is always an opportunity to learn.
What I Learned...
I learned so much from his blog. It was interesting to see a teachers reaction to the first few of years. I've never really thought about the first few years because I've always imagined myself as being a veteran when it comes to children. Teaching is different than babysitting and I must keep that in mind. I loved reading about the problems he had and how he fixed them. It seemed like his problems are common amongst new teachers and I hope that I remember his methods when I run into any difficulties.
I remember from my middle school years that the transition into Jr.High was difficult. It was a whole new crowd and a different way of thinking. It was a little easier though because I was among peers. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone to teach an age group when they had no prior experience. Props to Mr. McClung for managing to be successful and take it all in stride. I loved reading his blog because it gave me insight on what I can expect when I finally become a teacher.
2010-2011
This was a post about Mr. McClung's third year teaching. He began this post by listing the changes that were made in the past year. It was the first year for him to teach at a school for more than one year, he became head coach of cross country and also began teaching computer applications.
He remembers having to people please on a daily basis. He states that in the end, our decision making process should always be student centered and not centered around pleasing adults. It is very important to keep in mind that whatever may be going on in your professional or personal life, your students deserve your complete attention. Teachers should never let the extrinsic factors affect their performance for the students.
He also warns to not always expect people to be excited about change. You cannot allow others to stifle your excitement and joy that you experience in teaching or any other thing in life. The teaching landscape is full of individuals that once had a passion and fire for teaching, but somewhere along the way they joined the darkside. Embody the aspects of teaching that you enjoy.
Don't be afraid to be an outsider. It's something that goes hand in hand with teaching. People won't always agree with your methods and may not like you if you choose not to be drug down by the negative energy some teachers have about their students.
Never take over an activity for a student. Often time he mentioned that he would be teaching a task and one student would have a problem. Instead of taking over completely, let the student figure out the problem with your hands-off guidance. This is important because they will never learn to fully master the skills if we do it for them. Don't control their activities.
He also recommends that teachers should not get too comfortable. While routines are good, they can also be bad because they foster apathy. Mr. McClung never wants to catch himself "coasting" through his daily work. He joined committees and volunteered, meanwhile picking up ideas and lesson plans. He did not want to become stagnant so he keeps challenging himself in order to move forward professionally.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
C4K for March
Klaudia #5
Klaudia is a student in Class 12 in Hotspur. She is part of the first class to have a blog in their school. Her fellow classmates plan to link up with schools all over the world, as well as couple of schools very close to home.
Klaudia wrote a request to her classmates asking them to post blogs everyday. Her teacher promised a party if the class managed to write 550 blogs by Easter. She is incredibly excited about this and pledges to write up to 3 blogs a day to help reach their goal. I told her how exciting it must be to strive for something that ends in a celebration.
Melanie G. (World Blog Challenge)
Melanie wrote a bog about The Hunger Games! I love that series. It's a huge sensation right now. She stated that her friends made her read the books and she ended up liking it. I asked her if she had read the entire series and told her to finish them if she hadn't because they are that good! Melanie likes playing softball and she enjoys partying, which I find amusing. I am excited to continue keeping up with her blogs for the next two weeks.
Klaudia is a student in Class 12 in Hotspur. She is part of the first class to have a blog in their school. Her fellow classmates plan to link up with schools all over the world, as well as couple of schools very close to home.
Klaudia wrote a request to her classmates asking them to post blogs everyday. Her teacher promised a party if the class managed to write 550 blogs by Easter. She is incredibly excited about this and pledges to write up to 3 blogs a day to help reach their goal. I told her how exciting it must be to strive for something that ends in a celebration.
Melanie G. (World Blog Challenge)
Melanie wrote a bog about The Hunger Games! I love that series. It's a huge sensation right now. She stated that her friends made her read the books and she ended up liking it. I asked her if she had read the entire series and told her to finish them if she hadn't because they are that good! Melanie likes playing softball and she enjoys partying, which I find amusing. I am excited to continue keeping up with her blogs for the next two weeks.
C4T Post #2
Teacher Tom
Fluttery and Colorful
Tom Hobson is a preschool teacher in Seattle, Washington. He also wrote the book "A Parent's Guide To Seattle". He is the only employee of the Woodland Park Cooperative Preschools. The cooperative preschool allows him to work very closely with families in a true community setting.
"If you have alot of anything, you can use it in the classroom". Mr. Hobson was describing how her always had balloon scraps left over from the balloon cage that his students made in class. They craft these leftover materials into a collage by gluing them onto cardboard. Over the years, he has revised they ways in which they attach them and what they attach them to. His latest develop was tacking the balloon pieces to donated squares of corkboard. By using the corkboard and tacks instead of glue, he would be able to keep the balloons for his project in the making that he calls the balloon pillow.
What I Had To Say...
I commented on how wonderful it was to see someone with such heavy influence on children teaching that anything can be used to make everything. For instance, kids don't need shiny new materials to create something amazing. They can use the same things year after year and always change it into something new. With our world turning into a "green" earth, it is important to start teaching children early to save and not be so wasteful.
Around We Go Again
In this post, Mr. Tom talks about the "cycle of life" he goes through with his teaching. He states children ask him the same questions year after year. Unlike parenting, which is linear, teaching the same age group is a cycle. He teaches through the same ages and same stages during the 3 years each group is with him. He begins with tottering 2-year-olds who grow out of the diapers and baby songs into toddler life. He states, "finally, where they enter toddling, they leap into the linear world out there, leaving me behind with a couple dozen new 2-year-olds tottering and scattering...and around we go again.
What I had to say...
I told him it must be fun to know exactly what you are getting into year after year. Although he may have some similarities with the stages his children go through, kids at that age can be so unpredictable. I think that is totally FUN. Although you know how to handle several situations, you never know what your students personalities are going to be.
John Mikulski: Classroom in the Cloud
John Mikulski teaches 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts in a semi-rural district outside of Niagara Falls, New York. In Mr. M's most recent post, he talks about one of the most important things when it comes to having your own classroom: a library. He answers a series of questions pertaining to how, when, where and what his library is all about. I was so excited to read his post because I always looked for a teachers bookshelf on the first day of class. I was an avid reader all through grade school and I still enjoy a good book every now and then (when I have time).
His post was answering a survey that Sarah Chattin posted on English Companions website.
His library contains about 150 books varying from historical fiction to non-fiction in different subjects like history, science, language arts, etc. He always tries to make a point to add books throughout the year so his collection will stay pretty up to date and continue to grow. His library is made enitrely of books because he has not yet acquired the funding to obtain magazine subscriptions. He is currently working on trying to recieve a grant from Barnes and Nobles to do so.
Do you have suggestions for how a new teacher can build a library?Keep an eye out for public library book sales. While these books usually aren't on the bestseller's list, they'll give you a foundation of materials from which to build on. For teachers looking for funding to purchase books, I would suggest Donors Choose. Many teacher have great success is securing funds for books through this site.
The excerpt above was taken directly from the survey. Add the link to your PLN for use in the future. I highly recommend you do this immediately before you forget! Mr. M does not use a check out system but, instead requires that his students verbally request a book. More of his books get ruined from overuse and wear-and-tear than they do from vandalism or theft, so he doesn't bother with a formal means of signing them out. As far as he is concerned, students reading his books too often is a good problem to have!
He continues to go into detail about what types of books he uses and what he hopes to accomplish by providing them access to his library. I really enjoyed reading his post and I have already added his blog to my PLN because I hope to learn more from him in the future.
Fluttery and Colorful
Tom Hobson is a preschool teacher in Seattle, Washington. He also wrote the book "A Parent's Guide To Seattle". He is the only employee of the Woodland Park Cooperative Preschools. The cooperative preschool allows him to work very closely with families in a true community setting.
"If you have alot of anything, you can use it in the classroom". Mr. Hobson was describing how her always had balloon scraps left over from the balloon cage that his students made in class. They craft these leftover materials into a collage by gluing them onto cardboard. Over the years, he has revised they ways in which they attach them and what they attach them to. His latest develop was tacking the balloon pieces to donated squares of corkboard. By using the corkboard and tacks instead of glue, he would be able to keep the balloons for his project in the making that he calls the balloon pillow.
What I Had To Say...
I commented on how wonderful it was to see someone with such heavy influence on children teaching that anything can be used to make everything. For instance, kids don't need shiny new materials to create something amazing. They can use the same things year after year and always change it into something new. With our world turning into a "green" earth, it is important to start teaching children early to save and not be so wasteful.
Around We Go Again
In this post, Mr. Tom talks about the "cycle of life" he goes through with his teaching. He states children ask him the same questions year after year. Unlike parenting, which is linear, teaching the same age group is a cycle. He teaches through the same ages and same stages during the 3 years each group is with him. He begins with tottering 2-year-olds who grow out of the diapers and baby songs into toddler life. He states, "finally, where they enter toddling, they leap into the linear world out there, leaving me behind with a couple dozen new 2-year-olds tottering and scattering...and around we go again.
What I had to say...
I told him it must be fun to know exactly what you are getting into year after year. Although he may have some similarities with the stages his children go through, kids at that age can be so unpredictable. I think that is totally FUN. Although you know how to handle several situations, you never know what your students personalities are going to be.
John Mikulski: Classroom in the Cloud
John Mikulski teaches 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts in a semi-rural district outside of Niagara Falls, New York. In Mr. M's most recent post, he talks about one of the most important things when it comes to having your own classroom: a library. He answers a series of questions pertaining to how, when, where and what his library is all about. I was so excited to read his post because I always looked for a teachers bookshelf on the first day of class. I was an avid reader all through grade school and I still enjoy a good book every now and then (when I have time).
His post was answering a survey that Sarah Chattin posted on English Companions website.
His library contains about 150 books varying from historical fiction to non-fiction in different subjects like history, science, language arts, etc. He always tries to make a point to add books throughout the year so his collection will stay pretty up to date and continue to grow. His library is made enitrely of books because he has not yet acquired the funding to obtain magazine subscriptions. He is currently working on trying to recieve a grant from Barnes and Nobles to do so.
Do you have suggestions for how a new teacher can build a library?Keep an eye out for public library book sales. While these books usually aren't on the bestseller's list, they'll give you a foundation of materials from which to build on. For teachers looking for funding to purchase books, I would suggest Donors Choose. Many teacher have great success is securing funds for books through this site.
The excerpt above was taken directly from the survey. Add the link to your PLN for use in the future. I highly recommend you do this immediately before you forget! Mr. M does not use a check out system but, instead requires that his students verbally request a book. More of his books get ruined from overuse and wear-and-tear than they do from vandalism or theft, so he doesn't bother with a formal means of signing them out. As far as he is concerned, students reading his books too often is a good problem to have!
He continues to go into detail about what types of books he uses and what he hopes to accomplish by providing them access to his library. I really enjoyed reading his post and I have already added his blog to my PLN because I hope to learn more from him in the future.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Blog Post #8
In Part 1 one of the two videos, Mr. Miller is talking about how writing has changed. He makes a very valid point by stating that writing used to be a solitary activity. He claims that he was a person of the book when he began his education and always imagined himself spending alot of time around and with books. He describes how writing has changed by calling its transition into the present an incremental change.
He states that writing today is freely available. This I mostly agree with. Unlike text available online( which is almost anything ever published), a library does not allow you to access information whenever you want. We are limited by the fact that the text may not be available due to it being checked out or the library not carrying it at all. The online world allows to have unlimited access to the materials we need and we can share knowledge infinitely.
I agree with his statements on how it is now possible to collaborate using this technology. We can now collaborate with video and film, not just text. I would like to try his example of including text, film, and sound into one publication and see how far it can go. I realized while watching this video that I am gaining a little bit of practice in this because I try to include these materials in my blog post each time I go to publish.
In Part 2 of the two videos, he begins to touch on how we work. There is so much new material that can be published and accessed faster than a few years ago. Not only can we compose presentations through things online, we can now distribute them globally and freely because we have so many free publishing options. We only limit ourselves when it comes to sharing information. Publishing is different than it used to be.
Now we have sites like iTunes, YouTube, Google and many others that making sharing our interests and research possible without having to wait several years to find it on paper. The sharing will go farther and it's immediately pushed into our culture faster. People are now composing things using the web itself. I find this to be extremely interesting because everything is moving so quickly. Information is literally at our fingertips.
The more I progress through this class, the more confident I feel about using multimedia projects to teach and get a point across. I see more and more everyday how important it is for me to be knowledgeable in the online world because more and more people are using it as their sole source of information. I am hoping that I will pass this information down to my students because they will absolutely grow up in a world that is enveloped in technology. They will have no other choice but to be proficient with networking and multimedia presentations because this will dominate their studies as they progress through school. The world is changing faster and faster everyday. I hope I can keep up.
Carly's Blog Post #12
This was an exceptionally fantastic blog. I feel now that my blogs are incredibly inferior and I think they need some improvement. I loved the way she incorporated links throughout her post and didn't just include one near the end. I feel as if I have tons of improving to do!!!
Carly's post is right on the money. It epitomizes the exact ideals that Richard Miller described in his video. She used every opportunity she could to lead us to something elsewhere and in doing so, gave us more insight in to what she was writing about. This is what Mr.Miller was talking about. He stated that the only limits people have when it comes to collaborating via the internet are the limits they impose on themselves. THERE ARE NO LIMITS! It is truly incredible what she has done here. Carly put real effort into her post and shared wonderful ideas for different activities in the classroom. The amazing thing being that this was all shared at the drop of a hat. It was easy for her to do so because our technology allows it.
The Chipper Series
Haha, how funny! I liked how Chipper's "do the bare minimum" characteristics came through in every scenario. This was a great way to show students that quitting and being lazy gets you absolutely nowhere. My favorite line had to be when Chipper told Dr.Strange in exasperation that he was making her "do all the work". DUH! Students are supposed to be doing all the work. We are the ones responsible for our own learning. Our instructors give us the material and guidance, but we are in charge of where we take that information.
EDM 310 for Dummies
This was a pretty good video. You can tell a good bit of work was put into it and there seemed to be a great deal of editing involved.
One video that I would really enjoy creating would be some type of good teacher, bad teacher mini-film. I would like to show the difference between a teacher who loves her job compared to a teacher who isn't happy with her career. I've had too many teachers who are burnt out and don't want to bother with teaching their students anymore. I would like to create this video using the following steps:
1. I would first show a future teacher choosing her career choice in the College of Education office. She would be bright, cheery and clearly very confident in her decision.
2. Next, I would show the opposite student. This would be someone who gloomily walks into the office with an "I don't care" attitude. When asked by the advisor why she wants to be a teacher, she would state simply that it looked like the easiest thing to do.
3. Next, I would show the two students trying to find a job as a brand new teacher. I would show how successful the first student is and how hard it is for the second.
4. Eventually, they both find jobs. The first one has a great attitude and never seems to stop smiling. She appears to be in the exact place she wants to be. The second teacher has a poor attitude and this is reflected in her students work and their lack of progress.
5. In the end, we see how badly the students suffer because the second teacher puts barely 50% of her time and effort in to trying to teach her students.
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
This video was completely right in my opinion. We are 55 in technologically savvy. 55! BELOW COAL MINING. I guess education is stuck in the dark ages. I especially liked when a lady was stating how phones, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking devices are banned from schools. Facebook is used in almost every business in the world. Every place I can think of right has a sign or sticker somewhere saying "like us on Facebook". So why are children not allowed to use these resources in school. Under a controlled environment, we can teach kids how to use these sites properly.This video is an eye opener and I wish that somehow the members of the Mobile County Public School Board could see this video. Maybe they would push for more of this kind of learning in our schools.
Scavenger Hunt 2.0
I really enjoyed playing around on the Discovery Education's WEB 20.12 site. There were do many options for different presentation tools, video tools, mobile tools and even a link for community tools.There were many sites that were free and several asking for a fee that was next to nothing.
1. Locate a tool that is similar to Facebook/Twitter...
I found the website classroom 2.0 to be very helpful. It is a free community supported network. Classroom 2.0 is a supportive and comfortable place to start being a part of the digital dialog. They even approve all memberships to avoid scammers so the security is pretty tight. It's a great site to add to any PLN and an easy way to connect with other teachers.
2. Find a tool that you have never used. Summarize it's special features...
I especially liked animoto. This is a site that allows teachers to enhance their classroom with videos and presentations. It goes beyond the regualar slides. It creates stunning quality and wonderful pictures. They even have different options for images, music and sharing. The program is free for any thirty second video and it's only 30 dollars a year for the next step up.Check out what animoto can do with plain ole pics!
3. Find a tool to create a poll anywhere and at anytime.
I loved Poll Everywhere. How fun! This is a site where people can take or create a survey at the blink of an eye. It's the easiest way to give live presentations in any venue: classrooms, radio, tv, print-anywhere. It works internationally with texting, web or twitter. Its simplicity and flexibility are earning rave reviews.
Build television sms voting polls at Poll Everywhere
Monday, March 12, 2012
Personal Learning Network (PLN) Project #10
Using a PLN is a fantastic way to keep track of sources and information that you find along the way. I think that using this tool as an educator will allow me to share my ideas with other teachers and maybe encourage them to take up technology in their lesson plans. It's so simple, it almost takes no effort. Their is nothing to be afraid of because this site is so easy to navigate and it makes searching the web easier. This would be a great introductory tool for someone new to using a computer outside of grading and Google.
I have added all of the sites that were previously listed in my bookmarks, such as the project instructions, blog instructions, EDM310 website and the list of class blogs to my webmix. I have also listed Shelly Terrell's 23 Resources About Personal Learning Networks because it is full of information on the benefits of using and sharing a PLN. I've also found a useful site that tells you how you can use Twitter to help build your LPN.
I now view an LPN as a neccessity. Without, I would be lost because there isn't an efficient way for me to remember all of these important sites. There are no tabs, no folders or having to type something into a search engine. It simply requires setting your webmix to open up when your browser does. Very simple.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Project #4: C4T #2
Ramsey Musallam
Embedding Educreations Profile Into Site
This was a video created to teach people how to embed their profile on Educreations somewhere else so it was available publicly. This was a very useful video considering that I have never heard of Educreations before. Ramsey uses this tool to create demonstrations, examples, etc on his iPad and can post them online so his students will have access all the time. The students don't have to take notes and there is no worrying about running out of space on a chalkboard.
What I Had To Say... I commented on how great it was that I learned about something else I could use in my classroom. I stated how excited I was to start teaching and using these skills in the classroom.
Reflection Apps and Flip Teaching
This was a video and a list of instructions on how to use Reflection. This is a new app that allows you to take your iPhone 4S or your iPad 2 (on a Mac) and mirror that display using the airplay technology built into the iOS devices. It allows you to mimic the screen online. You begin with a frame of the iOS device being used and it shows exactly what is on the device.
This is great not only because SmartBoards aren't always available, but there is no more crowding around a tiny device to see what is going on. This app also allows you to present this as a video that can be recorded on a laptop. In other words, since the device is being seen on the computer, you can video record the computer screen so you won't have to hold your device up to the camera for it to be viewable. I have included a link to this blog where I was able to view the video. I have also included a site where the app's information can be found.
What I Had To Say...
I was very impressed with this application. I like the idea that something can be viewed on an iPad or iPhone without having to hook the device up to a larger viewing screen. I stated that my favorite part of this application was the fact that whatever is on the device can now be recorded in a video without having to hold it up to the camera!
Embedding Educreations Profile Into Site
This was a video created to teach people how to embed their profile on Educreations somewhere else so it was available publicly. This was a very useful video considering that I have never heard of Educreations before. Ramsey uses this tool to create demonstrations, examples, etc on his iPad and can post them online so his students will have access all the time. The students don't have to take notes and there is no worrying about running out of space on a chalkboard.
What I Had To Say... I commented on how great it was that I learned about something else I could use in my classroom. I stated how excited I was to start teaching and using these skills in the classroom.
Reflection Apps and Flip Teaching
This was a video and a list of instructions on how to use Reflection. This is a new app that allows you to take your iPhone 4S or your iPad 2 (on a Mac) and mirror that display using the airplay technology built into the iOS devices. It allows you to mimic the screen online. You begin with a frame of the iOS device being used and it shows exactly what is on the device.
This is great not only because SmartBoards aren't always available, but there is no more crowding around a tiny device to see what is going on. This app also allows you to present this as a video that can be recorded on a laptop. In other words, since the device is being seen on the computer, you can video record the computer screen so you won't have to hold your device up to the camera for it to be viewable. I have included a link to this blog where I was able to view the video. I have also included a site where the app's information can be found.
What I Had To Say...
I was very impressed with this application. I like the idea that something can be viewed on an iPad or iPhone without having to hook the device up to a larger viewing screen. I stated that my favorite part of this application was the fact that whatever is on the device can now be recorded in a video without having to hold it up to the camera!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Blog Post #7
The Networked StudentI've always wondered why online classes had instructors. This was before I had even taken an exclusively online course. When I enrolled in my first one, which was my public speaking requirement, I realized that without an instructor, I would have no idea what to do. Everything can't be taught through written instruction and even if that is somehow sufficient, students will always have questions. In this video, I find it interesting how online learning is portrayed.
Most people think it's a course in which you succeed by "going through the motions" where little thinking is involved. This is definitely not true. I find some of them to be harder than most courses taught in a classroom because there is a lot of self-learning involved. By this I mean that students must put everything they can into understanding and completing assignments because the majority of the instructions are written out instead of being verbalized and temporarily absorbed.
In EDM 310, I have found that reading the detailed instructions over and over again causes me to remember how to do certain things permanently. It takes several times before I have an assignment memorized so I won't have to switch back and forth when trying to accomplish each project. In doing so, things have stuck. I agree with the idea of connectivism.
Connectivism is a type of learning that occurs as part of a social network of many diverse connections and ties.This type of learning helps students to connect with others and take control of their education. In turn, they strengthen the learning process. Over time, the student in this video builds his blog and adds topics he has researched. His blog slowly became a source for information and opinion on his topic of study. Others could then go to his blog for facts or other information and have access to a different perspective.
So the big question: Why does he even need a teacher? She is the one who teaches him how to build this network and take advantage of learning opportunities. She offers guidance when he gets stuck and shows him hot to communicate properly and respectfully to get help with experts. She also helps differentiate between real information and propaganda.
7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
Her PLE was similar to my PLN. I chose Symbaloo to create my PLN because I like having everything out in front of me. Some of my tiles are school related and others are sites I visit everyday unrelated to class. I have all of class assignments and class relevant sites in the top, left-hand corner. I know exactly what icon to hit and I do not have to go through the steps of bookmarking or pulling up my favorites. I organize my tiles based on what they represent. I try to cluster relevant tiles together so I can access them quickly. I am always adding to my PLN. It makes schoolwork easier and much faster because I can get what I need at the click of a button. I will have this PLN as I long as I can.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
C4K Summary for February
Nate: Christmas in Florida
I truly enjoyed reading Nate's blog. He wrote about which holiday he would spend on vacation. he chose Christmas in Disney World. I can say from personal experience that this is a wise choice. He wrote about what he would like to do and what he wanted to see when he arrived.
What I had to say...
I commented on the fact that I have actually been to Disney World during Christmas and it was splendid. I also told him how close Mobile was to Orlando and that it was an easy drive. I explained what I had seen and compared with his idea of what it would be like and the two were very similar. His blog was so much fun to read!
Caitlyn: Christopher Columbus
Caitlyn is in the 5th grade in Mrs. Huebner's class. Her blog was a brief history on Christopher Columbus. Mrs. Huebner's class had a chance to speak with Christopher Lee and gain insight on his voyage. Christopher Columbus is an ancestor of Christopher Lee and is very familiar with the Columbus history.
What I had to say...
I stated in my comment how her fact were very informative. I didn't even know that a known relative of Christopher Columbus was living. Her blog was exciting and I found the information she provided to be very interesting.
Millie: Holidays
Millie lives in Australia and her blog was about how she spent her Christmas break. How cool! She wrote about the warm weather, having nothing to do and she even wrote about going surfing. She said she enjoyed her six weeks and was glad to be out of school. She wrote about how her birthday was in January and that she wanted an ipod touch! It was fun to read about a student in a different country.
What I had to say...
My comment stated how enjoyable it was to read her blog. We actually have a few things in common. I told her about my birthday in January and how I don't get many presents because Christmas was only a few weeks before. I don't mind though. I also told her how familiar it was to hear about warm weather during Christmas. I told her Mobile's weather is unpredictable and we never know what the temperature will be on Christmas day!
Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog: Fire Safety with Ellie's Dad
Mrs. Yollis ' class had local firemen visit their classroom and teach them about fire safety and what it was like to be a fireman. They learned basic safety techniques like stop, drop and roll and what to do in case of a fire. The firemen taught them the importance of having and practicing an escape route with their parents and never to hide from a fireman. The children also learned that it was important to stay close to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation. They seemed to have tons of fun and the video of the fireman getting dressed in under a minute was fun to watch!
What I had to say...
In my comment, I talked about how this kind of presentation was always my favorite when I was in grade school. I loved it when the firemen came to visit because we always had so much fun. A few of the safety techniques have changed a tiny bit, but mostly they seem pretty much the same. This was good to know! I stated how much fun it must of been and how happy I was to see that they still do this sort of thing in schools. I can't wait for them to visit my school when I finally become a teacher.
I truly enjoyed reading Nate's blog. He wrote about which holiday he would spend on vacation. he chose Christmas in Disney World. I can say from personal experience that this is a wise choice. He wrote about what he would like to do and what he wanted to see when he arrived.
What I had to say...
I commented on the fact that I have actually been to Disney World during Christmas and it was splendid. I also told him how close Mobile was to Orlando and that it was an easy drive. I explained what I had seen and compared with his idea of what it would be like and the two were very similar. His blog was so much fun to read!
Caitlyn: Christopher Columbus
Caitlyn is in the 5th grade in Mrs. Huebner's class. Her blog was a brief history on Christopher Columbus. Mrs. Huebner's class had a chance to speak with Christopher Lee and gain insight on his voyage. Christopher Columbus is an ancestor of Christopher Lee and is very familiar with the Columbus history.
What I had to say...
I stated in my comment how her fact were very informative. I didn't even know that a known relative of Christopher Columbus was living. Her blog was exciting and I found the information she provided to be very interesting.
Millie: Holidays
Millie lives in Australia and her blog was about how she spent her Christmas break. How cool! She wrote about the warm weather, having nothing to do and she even wrote about going surfing. She said she enjoyed her six weeks and was glad to be out of school. She wrote about how her birthday was in January and that she wanted an ipod touch! It was fun to read about a student in a different country.
What I had to say...
My comment stated how enjoyable it was to read her blog. We actually have a few things in common. I told her about my birthday in January and how I don't get many presents because Christmas was only a few weeks before. I don't mind though. I also told her how familiar it was to hear about warm weather during Christmas. I told her Mobile's weather is unpredictable and we never know what the temperature will be on Christmas day!
Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog: Fire Safety with Ellie's Dad
Mrs. Yollis ' class had local firemen visit their classroom and teach them about fire safety and what it was like to be a fireman. They learned basic safety techniques like stop, drop and roll and what to do in case of a fire. The firemen taught them the importance of having and practicing an escape route with their parents and never to hide from a fireman. The children also learned that it was important to stay close to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation. They seemed to have tons of fun and the video of the fireman getting dressed in under a minute was fun to watch!
What I had to say...
In my comment, I talked about how this kind of presentation was always my favorite when I was in grade school. I loved it when the firemen came to visit because we always had so much fun. A few of the safety techniques have changed a tiny bit, but mostly they seem pretty much the same. This was good to know! I stated how much fun it must of been and how happy I was to see that they still do this sort of thing in schools. I can't wait for them to visit my school when I finally become a teacher.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Blog Post #6
Randy Pausch is one of the most inspirational speakers I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. He is wonderful at grabbing the audiences attention, especially in this lecture. I've never seen an audience respond to someone the way they did to him. His speech lasts a little over an hour, but it's so engaging that the time is the last thing on your mind. After the first five minutes, I grabbed a snack and buckled down because I definitely wanted to hear the rest without any interruption.
Once I settled in, I realized that Randy wasn't speaking as if this were his last speech. He barely made the speech about himself at all. He spoke of everyone else who had an influence in his life. He was full of humility and never bragged about himself. He made sure the listeners knew how wonderful these people were. Randy was full of enthusiasm and love for Carnegie Mellon and his students.
As I was listening, I couldn't help but have a smile on my face. Not only was he funny, but he spoke lightly of everything. The speech was far from morbid and the fact that he was sick never crossed my mind because he was so full of life. I think this factor makes it hard to believe that someone like this is no longer on this earth. He was passionate about virtual reality and about teaching his students using hands on methods. He even stated that he had no patience for the book learning thing. He believed in getting down and dirty your work and really experience what your trying to learn.
I've seen his time management speech and found it to be amazing. I learned so much from that lecture and even more form this one. I am so sad to know that he is no longer with us, but I find comfort in knowing that he will make a difference forever with the incredible legacy that he's left behind for students everywhere. I wish I could have been an actual student of his, but I am truly thankful that I found out about him and was able to experience what he's left behind.
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