Blog Post #16 Final Reflection

Part B of Blog Post #5

At the beginning of this semester I had no clue what a PLN was or how to even begin making one! Now, I have been making one without even noticing I am building it! I started out with getting a twitter account. I followed not only those that were required/suggested to me but I also started following different teaching pages and individuals that could give me advice or resources for my future in education.

One of the main things I love about my PLN is that I have built relationships with my team members in this class. I have also added one of the lab assistants to my network because lets be honest, if it weren't for her I wouldn't be able to do as well in this class. Not only her, but all the lab assistants are heaven sent! I believe that their help could also go beyond this class, so that's why they are an important part in growing my network. I also think that my professors for all my classes should be a part of my network. They all have information and wisdom to share, whether it be from personal experience or from some other source. Their input can help greatly in my future!

 I have learned that a PLN is exactly what you make it. You can add anything and everything to your network. It involves anything that will help you with whatever you would like to know. Of course, this semester, my PLN has been focused on education and my future career in teaching. I am glad I was able to learn about personal learning networks and start building one of my own. It will definitely help with my life as a student and as a future educator!

Project #16 Part A

Technology and Teaching

Technology is always changing, transforming and improving. We believe that technology in the classroom is key for success in getting students ready for college and a career. The earlier we start teaching them technology and working with it consistently, the better. When the students reach college and career level they will need to know technology skills to keep up. The main issue right now is that most schools are unable to provide students with the necessary technology tools. If schools were equipped to aid in technology and teaching, it would revolutionize the way students learn and communicate.

Using Technology and PBL in the Classroom

As a team we discussed how using technology in the classroom has come a long way.  No longer is there just a chalkboard and  notebooks and pencils.  Technology has moved into the classroom. Technology has entered the classroom in two outstanding forms such as smart boards and computers device with all the capabilities that go along with them. With the smartboard, an oral presentation now can have visual material to go along with the lecture. The smart board still has the capabilities of a chalkboard but it gives the student and teacher options of pictures and shapes and even sound to go along with their written material. The computer device in a classroom also changes the dynamics of how learning can be achieved. With the computers devices the students can go to the internet and explore material that their teacher has assigned to them. The internet not only has written material, but the students may also be able to see pictures or even videos on the assigned material for their class.

A smart board and computer devices in the 

classroom has definitely changed the way we perform teaching, but using project based approach to learning is one of the main reasons this technology works so effectively in the classroom. Project based learning approach can be the format to which teachers guide their class through the assignments that she would have given them. The project base learning approach has many benefits.  It can be used by individual students, small groups or even by the entire class. There is no limitation on the degree to which a student can engage in the topic because the internet has a vast amount of information on the subject and related topics given to any assignment. Project base learning has moved the class from pencil and paper to the internet. The class is no longer limited to just the knowledge of the teacher but to the unlimited vast material on the internet concerning the assigned topic. The teacher, as well as the students then both become learners of the given assignment. Technology and project base learning have started an ever changing transformation in the classroom. The only sure thing about technology and project base learning is it will continually be changing the way our students will find new ways to learn.

Blog Post #14

Joel Klein's article, Self-discipline and High Standards Can Secure the Future of Public Schools,  points out a few problems and solutions dealing with the future of teachers.

• The first issue is that there is not appropriate training for future educators. Prospective teachers need to be better equipped with training programs.
• I agree that future teachers need better training programs. I believe that it is getting better but we still aren't all the way there. The teaching program is great but I don't think that some professors go above and beyond to equip us with the knowledge that we need to be a great educator. In all honesty, I think that unless we fix issue number two, this issue won't be resolved.
• The second issue is that teachers aren't chosen wisely. He believes that they let anyone become a teacher. His solution for this is to pick from the top third of education graduates. 

• If teachers were chosen more wisely, students would get a better education. In part, this goes back to the first issue, if future teachers had more training available maybe their would be more skilled people to choose from. I realize that not everyone is cut out to be a teacher and some people shouldn't even consider it but for those that really have a passion for it should have as many resources and training as possible! 
• Finally, we should change how teachers are rewarded. Right now it is based on seniority but it should be based on the teachers performance in general. 
• I agree with this 100%! Teachers should be evaluated and given rewards based on how well they are doing, not just how long they have been teaching.  You could be a mediocre teacher and still get rewarded just because you have been in a certain school for a certain length of time. I believe that you should be evaluated throughout each year that you teach and be rewarded based on that! 

I think Klein brought up some very debatable topics but he makes some good points to back up his thoughts. I hope that one day these issues can be addressed and resolved. If the quality of teachers is low then how do we expect our students to get a good, quality education?  If we fix the issues with teaching then education can can exceed expectations. 

C4T #4 Post #1

C4T #4 Post #1 

Betsy Hubbards blog post, Writing Day and Night, was awesome! She talked about reading (and writing) month which was the month of March. Her school was able to get a local author to come to the school twice to talk to the students about reading and writing.The author, Ruth McNally Barshaw, was able to teach the kids several ways of making a book. She also showed them demonstrations on some of her illustrations for her book series. One of her visits was on family night so the students and their families were able to meet her and get books signed. All of the students made their own books and displayed them for their peers and family members to view!

My Comment:

Hi Betsy!

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog.  You will be able to see the post no later than April 26th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me at lydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.


I absolutely adore your post! It makes my heart smile reading about your school's reading (and writing) month! I am  an avid reader so any time I see kids getting excited about reading and writing it makes me happy! I think that is so awesome that y'all were able to have Ms. Barshaw come speak to the kids and demonstrate some illustrations. I'm sure this made the students even more excited about reading, writing, and sharing their work!

C4K Summary for April

C4K #8 

Alexa L.

Alexa's blog post, Spring Breakin' :)), was a summary of the trip her family, friend and she took over spring break. They went to Breckenridge, Colorado to ski. They had an eventful trip! Her friend, Henley fell while skiing, they witnessed a boy falling and breaking his arm, and they got a flat tire on the way home! She missed her friends back home but she had a wonderful time and she wants to go back!

My Comment:

Hi Alexa,

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog. You will be able to see the post no later than April 26th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me at lydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.


It sounds like you guys had a ton of fun on your spring break trip! Your post makes me want to visit Breckenridge! I always miss my friends too when I go out of town, but its nice to know that they will be waiting for you when you get back home! I enjoyed reading about your trip! Keep up the great work on your blog posts!

C4K #9 

Remonda

Mr. Gardner asked his students to write a blog post about why some people are left handed. Remonda said she thinks that they were either born that way or learned how to.

My Comment:

Hey Remonda! 
My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog. You will be able to see the post no later than April 26th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. 

Great post! I believe that people are born left-handed. Some people can use both hands to write or perform other activities such as playing sports! My dad writes with his right hand but plays golf with his left hand! I think it is so neat that some people have that ability!

C4K #10

Sulaman

On Sulaman's blog post, Helping fit in, he talks about helping an undercover cop fit in. He would help him by letting him know where he should and shouldn't go. He would also make sure he knew what to wear and what people to hang out with.

My Comment:

Hi Sulaman! 

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog. You will be able to see the post no later than April 26th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. 

It is nice that you would help the undercover cop fit in. I’m sure the cop would appreciate you telling him where he should and shouldn’t go. Everyone needs someone to be nice and friendly when they are new. Keep up the good work on your blog!

Blog Post #13

Blog Post #13 Instructions


Watch Edgewood Teachers Work to Incorporate Project-Based Learning and tell how they are incorporating health/physical education and what are your thoughts on what they are doing.


Blog Post #13 

In Edgewood Teachers Work to Incorporate Project-Based Learning they incorporated health/physical education by creating a project for students to create a playground for their school. In creating a playground they had to think about the equipment that is needed to be put in the playground and what physical activities will be done on the various aspects of the playground. I think it is a great project for the students to be a part of. Not only are they creating a means to be physically active but this project includes many other subjects too. I believe it is a wonderful introductory project to help get the students excited about PBL. Creating their own playground and seeing it come to life creates a sense of pride and accomplishment of all of their hard work.

Blog Post #12

C4T #3 Post 1&2

C4T #3 
Post #1


Aaron Eden wrote a blog post on Cooperative Catalyst called Teaching without Knowing and Finding Problems to Solve. Eden states that there needs to be key paradigm shifts in education. One being that Education must be real. He follows that statement up by tying in two more shifts. First, teachers need to be expert learners with their students and two, teachers don't need to hand out problems and there solutions.

My Comment:

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog.  You will be able to see the post no later than April 12th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me at lydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.


I completely agree that teachers need to be expert learners along with their students. They need to lead by example and be role models for their students. Teachers won't always know everything there is to know so why not figure it out alongside the students!

C4T #3
Post #2

Pamelamoran's blog post, Connected Learners, Connected Educators, Learning Together, talks about how her community of connected educators tries to constantly invoke the interests and passions of young people. Connected learners share their experiences instead of just living them. Connected educators, "Create multi-age connectivity, value learners' entrepreneurial spirit and otherwise, honor the power of authentic global audiences for passion-driven project work, and recognize that young people have voices of influence and expertise outside their school".

My Comment:

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog.  You will be able to see the post no later than April 12th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me at lydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.


I love this post! One thing that stuck out to me the most was that students have voices and expertise outside of the classroom and school. I believe that connected learners have the ability to go above and beyond what we would expect to happen in a normal classroom environment. When given opportunities to connect with people globally students learn a sense of purpose other than trying to get a good grade.

Project #14

Healthy Choices vs. The Media

Students will explore and research how the media influences people's eating habits. They will work in groups to make a commercial to influence their audience to eat a healthier snack
. The commercials they create will be presented to the class and posted to their blog along with a summary. After presentations the whole class will review and reflect.

Here are the links to my project materials:

Project Overview
Project Calendar
Checklist
Group Rubric
Individual Rubric

Blog Post #11

In Brian Crosby's video, Back to the Future, he gives us insight to what his students and himself do in the classroom. He talks about how his students are from low income households and that at the beginning of the semester he conducted a survey on how many of them knew their address, city, state, phone number, etc. The numbers weren't high at all. He then goes on to show you the blogs, PLN's and projects that these students did over the course of the year. The work that these students accomplished was astounding! He also shows you that he had a student with Leukemia that was unable to come to the classroom but through technology they were able to include her in their daily lessons right alongside her classmates! It speaks volumes that he took the time to make sure she was getting the same quality education that the other students were receiving. I think that it is amazing that he proved that it doesn't matter what each students background is, everyone has the potential to achieve greatness if they are provided with the right tools and motivation.

Mr. Paul Anderson's, Blended Learning Cycle, has six components: Question, Investigation/Inquiry, Videos, Elaboration, Review and Summary Quiz. Paul shows you what blended learning looks like. Blended learning mixes online, mobile and classroom together. There is also the learning cycle of the five E's which includes engaging, exploring, explaining, expanding, and evaluating. He mixed blended learning with the learning cycle to come up with the six components of the blended learning cycle. I think that his method is a great way to ensure that students stay on the right track with their learning. It seems to work well for him and I am going to keep this in mind when I have my own classroom!

Mark Church's video, Making Learning Visible, shows us the thinking process of students that are conducting a project. Church says "How has the story changed? How has their thinking changed from that moment in time when we had this talk?" It is always a good thing to track students progress so you can know what you need to work on and what needs to be fixed. It also is fun to know what their thinking process is throughout the whole project and not just at the beginning and end!

Sam Pane's video, Super Digital Citizen, pointed out that you should always try to make the projects about the students that way it is more interesting and they feel like they are actually a part of it. I love that he got his students to create comic books! They seemed to have fun with it and understood what they were learning. Not only do they know what not to do on the internet now, they can stop others from making those mistakes too.

Dean Shareski's video, Project Based Learning, tells you about three high school teachers that have blended their classes together and are using project based learning to teach the curriculum. They combined English, History, and Information Processing into one class that is longer than the average class. The English teacher, Melanie Delorme, points out that she likes that the blended class allows them to teach beyond just the curriculum. It helps the students learn more than what they would learn in an average classroom.

Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program shows you that project-based learning is a self motivated way of learning. The students are a big part of the decision making process. This helps majorly since each student learns in their own way. Giving students ownership of their projects helps create motivation. PBL allows students to learn life skills outside of what is required for the curriculum. This video proves that if you incorporate public speaking at an early age then they will be more comfortable with it as they get older.

Project #12 Part A

C4K Summary for March

C4K #5

Pedro 

Mrs. Maslowski asked her students to reflect on one of two things, the PLAN test or Job Shadowing Field Experience. Pedro decided that he wanted to reflect and give tips on the PLAN test. He gave some great tips for preparing and taking the test.

My Comment:

Hi Pedro,

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog. You will be able to see the post no later than March 15th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me atlydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.

Great post! You gave some helpful tips for the PLAN test. Some of the tips can be helpful for taking any test, not just the PLAN test. For instance, the tip about making sure you get plenty of rest and making sure you eat a snack or drink something to boost your energy. It is very important to get the rest and nutrients your body needs, especially before a big test so you are more prepared and focused!

C4K #6

Luke H.

Mrs. Maslowski asked her students to complete the Black History Month Photo Challenge. Luke H. decided to choose Will Smith for his post. He talked about how Will Smith is his favorite actor and stars in one of his favorite movies, "I Am Legend".

My Comment:

Hey Luke, 

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog. You will be able to see the post no later than March 22nd on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me at lydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.

Will Smith is a great actor! "I am Legend" happens to be one of my favorite movies too! I am glad that there are inspirational people like him to help motivate young people to succeed and achieve their dreams! Great post! 

C4K #7
Drew N.

In Drew's blog post, Eagle Strike, he is talking about the book. He has really enjoyed the suspense that this book holds. He draws you in and makes you want to know more by explaining a little about the book. He didn't reveal too much though! He really likes the book series and recommends that his audience should read it!

My Comment:

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog. You will be able to see the post no later than March 29th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me atlydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.


I love suspenseful books! I may just have to check this one out! I like how you make your audience want to know more about the book by not revealing what the best part is! Keep up the good work and I hope you continue to like reading as much as I do!

Blog Post #10

Mrs. Cassidy seems to thoroughly enjoy using technology in the classroom. In the Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1, 2, and 3, she gave some great insight into how to incorporate it into your classroom. I love that she embraces the changes in technology. Technology is constantly improving and she follows along with it.

One of the things that I would like to use in my classroom one day would be blogging. The students seem to enjoy it and like that people other than just the teacher and their classmates can see it and comment on it. I think that blogging for students is good motivation for them to do their work and do it well. It also holds them more accountable to know that their family and people all over the world can read their post and comment on it. I could see where it could be an issue where students aren't motivated to post but you could easily come up with a way to help motivate them.

Embracing the changes in technology like Mrs. Cassidy has done can be very beneficial for you and your students. Like I stated before, technology is always improving and to be an effective educator, I believe you need to be up-to-date with the latest and greatest. This is not always easy due to what is available in your classroom but you must try to be creative with what you have. Being educated on how new technology works and how to integrate into your classroom is going to make your students happy and more eager to learn. I have never heard of a student that wasn't excited about getting to use technology in the classroom. I know I would much rather use a computer or some other device than use pen and paper any day!

Blog Post #9

Project-Based Learning is an amazing way for students to think outside the box and push themselves to go above and beyond what they would do in a normal classroom. According to John Larmer and John R. Mergendoller there are Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning. If you follow the seven essentials you should have the best results with PBL. The seven essentials are:

1. A Need to Know
2. A Driving Question
3. Student Voice and Choice
4. 21st Century Skills
5. Inquiry and Innovation
6. Feedback and Revision
7. A Publicly Presented Project

Project-Based Learning for Teachers points out that PBL makes learning more meaningful. It helps students question, investigate, share, and reflect. Students are given a driving question and asked to work collaboratively to create a solution to the question. Once they have completed their project, they will present them. Students are to critique their own work and the work of their group members periodically to better themselves and their work.

I have always wondered if PBL could be used in PE and Project-Based Learning and Physical Education proved that is possible. I love that the high school students were asked to create exercise units for the teachers and students in middle school. Andrew Miller points out that PBL in physical education classes can prove how valuable PE actually is.  Using PBL in PE helps the students see that there is a reason to learning what they are being taught.

PBL: What Motivates Students Today shows that students want recognition no matter what. It proves that positive feedback and encouragement helps students work harder to do well. PBL allows students to be proud of what they have accomplished because they get to show off their work to not only the teacher and classmates but to the whole school and community too.

I was really impressed with Two Students Solve the Case of Watery Ketchup by Creating a New Cap. It is amazing what students can do with a driving question. It all started with the phrase "It really bugs me when..".  They took that phrase and turned it into a solution that they were proud of! That is why I always say that you should never underestimate what your students know and can do.

Project #9 Video Book Commentary

Blog Post #8

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams was an inspiration! He has great advice not only about teaching and learning but on life in general. I took several points away from his lecture. First, dream BIG! Your dreams are never out of reach. If you set your mind to something you have the ability to make it happen.

Second, never underestimate your students ability to learn and produce amazing work. You will never know what your students are capable of if you don't let them prove it. Give them a chance to use their imagination and wow you.

Teamwork is also a key ingredient in teaching and learning. Teamwork isn't just for your students, it is for you and your students together. You teach them how to work together and lean on each other for support. I believe mentoring is a necessity for success. It is always easier to have guidance. Learn how to be a mentor for others, especially your students.

C4T #2 Post #1&2

Post #1:
Principal Shawn's post, A Digital Window is Priceless, was about making movies in the school. He talks about something we all know very well, the fact that when you ask a student what they learned, their response is, "I don't know". He creates digital windows (movies) to be put on a weekly digital newsletter that is sent out to families of his students. To make the digital windows, he films students and teachers engaging in day to day activities. Since he started sending the digital windows to the families of students he has gotten a lot of positive feedback.

My Comment:
Hi Shawn,

My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog.  You will be able to see the post no later than March 15th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me at lydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.

I absolutely LOVE this post. I had no idea that teachers/principals were creating digital windows for family members and the community. I have heard about teachers posting pictures and bits of important information on a Facebook page for parents but never a digital window. It makes perfect sense and I think it is a great way for parents to stay connected with what their child is learning and what activities they are participating in at school. I have a nephew that is in Kindergarten and every time I ask him what he learned in school I get the same response, "I don't know" or "I can't remember". Even though his teacher speaks highly of him to his parents, I would love to be able to see video of how he is doing in the classroom.

Post #2:
Richard Bruford's post, Getting the most out of your school's technology coach, talks about what the technology coach should focus on. School's hire technology coaches to help the students, teachers, parents and visitors in the school with various technological skills. Their job can be overwhelming and can become difficult to prioritize and focus on the right tasks. Mr. Bruford believes that the coaches should focus most of their time with the teachers so in turn the teachers can help the students and parents, making their job more effective.

My Comment:
My name is Lydia Lynch. I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I will be posting a summary of your post and my comment on a post for my blog.  You will be able to see the post no later than March 15th on my blog lynchlydiaedm310@blogspot.com. You can email me at lydiaruth118@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at @lydiaruth118.


I couldn't agree more that technology couches should focus on the teachers for the most part. If the teachers know the solutions to problems dealing with their technology in the classroom, they can help the students and parents. When the teachers are able to help then this makes it easier for the coaches to make the most out of their job. It is always good to have a support system ready and willing to help and learn!

Project #7 Part B

To My Students To the Parents of My Students

Project #13

The Timeline Leading Up to the Declaration of Independence

Students will be taught about the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. After instruction, students will be divided into groups and each group will create a presentation of one of the events. Once the presentations are complete they will present them. Following all presentations, a student from each group will come represent their group for the signing of the Declaration of Independence.



Here are the links to our project materials:

Project Overview
Project Checklist
Project Calendar
Individual Evaluation Rubric
Group Evaluation Rubric

Blog Post #7

Classroom instruction is constantly changing and improving due to technology. In order for technology to be effective an educator must be willing and anxious to learn and teach with it. For me as a college student and future educator, it is important to me to know all that I can about the technology that is being used in schools today and could be used in the near and distant future. In order for me to learn more about the technology being used for classroom instruction I need to not only research them but also use the tools myself. I need to get familiar with how they work and all the features that they contain.

In the video, Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten, it is said that kindergartners are already using iMovie to create book trailers for books they have read. Being a Senior in college and knowing that I just learned how to do this myself makes me realize that my generation, is in fact, extremely behind. I think it is absolutely wonderful that kindergartners are allowed to be so creative with technology and that they love to edit their book trailers. When a student is eager and excited to learn, it makes an educators job not only easier but more rewarding too.

We All Become Learners was a great video! I believe 100% that even though we are educators, we are also learners. Just like the student teaching Ms. Michele Bennett about using the camera on the iPad, she was a learner in that moment. We never stop learning from others, even if we intend to or not.

I enjoyed watching iPads in the Classroom. Seeing educators taking advantage of the new technology provided to them and their students is proof that it is a good thing. I hope that all schools will be able to implement the technology used in the video soon. I especially loved that the iPads were used for special needs learners who have trouble speaking.

I like that the video, Top 10 Reasons to Use Technology in Education, pointed out that using technology in the classroom is an initial cost up front but it is worth it in the long run. The first reason that is given is one of the most important to me, which is that students love it. Since students tend to always be up-to-date with the technology outside of the classroom, it is fun for them to be able to use it in the classroom too. This gets them excited and more willing to do the projects assigned to them. It sounds silly now, but when I was in grade school, I remember being thrilled to use a computer, even if it were only to take a test on a book that I read. I can only imagine what it is like now for students getting to work with technology to complete projects and other tasks in the classroom.

C4K Summary for February

C4K #1
Keiana

Keiana's blog post was about Senator Crawford coming to visit their class. She talked about how Mrs. Crawford spoke to them about her job as a senator. Keiana learned how she passes bills and that she works at the Unicameral. She loved that Mrs. Crawford's favorite color was blue because their school color is blue.

My Comment:
Hi,Keiana,

 It seems like you were excited about Mrs. Crawford's visit! It is always fun to have visitors come into the classroom to teach us new things. Knowing how bills are passed is important in learning how the government makes decisions for our country so I am glad you had the opportunity to learn this from a senator! Thank you for sharing this post! I really enjoyed reading it!

C4K #2  
Hanna D.

In Hanna's blog post, two classmates and herself made a video for nouns. The video consisted of them walking around the school showing the audience examples of nouns. They visited the library and showed you everything including the actual library were nouns. They even went to several classrooms and asked teachers if they knew that they were nouns and what they thought about that.

My comment:
Hi Hanna,

Your video was awesome! I like how you guys walked around the school showing examples of what nouns are. Great job on making learning fun and creative! It seems like you guys had a great time making the video!

C4K #3
Hailey S.

Hailey talks about homework in this post. She believes that homework is a good thing in small doses and that it will get you into good colleges. Too much can really stress a student out! Being assigned homework doesn't bother her like most others. She actually likes doing some homework so she can be prepared for upcoming tests.

My Comment:
Hi Hailey,


Great post! I agree that too much homework can stress you out! You are also right that having some homework is a good thing, though. Doing homework shows initiative and proves that you want to succeed.

C4K #4
Jorge

Mrs. Maslowski asked her students to participate in the Black History Month Photo Challenge. Each student was to write 100-200 word post about a person or event that was an example of Black History Month. Jorge chose to go with an influential black male, Martin Luther King Jr. He explained that he was an inspiration to everyone, especially African Americans. He said that he was thought of as a god and made African Americans feel safe and happy. He also pointed out that he is still remembered today and will never be forgotten.

My Comment:
Jorge, this is a great post! You are right, Martin Luther King Jr. will never be forgotten. He was a brave man that changed so many lives by speaking up for African Americans. He made the world a better place by fighting for what he believed in!

Project #8- Book Trailer

Blog Post #6

I enjoyed getting to know more about Project Based Learning, especially since it is coming from a current 3rd grade teacher that is close to home. The fact that I just started hearing about PBL, it makes me happy to know that it is being implemented in classrooms near here. PBL is the future for educators and I must say that I could not be more on board with it. I can see that Anthony has a blast using it in his classroom by how he explains his class' projects in Project Based Learning Part 1 and Project Based Learning Part 2. That makes me excited to learn more about it and use it when I become an educator.

The Anthony- Strange Tips for Teachers Part 1 was my favorite video. What really spoke to me the most was the first two tips that were given. The first being that in order to be an effective educator you need to love to learn and the second being that you need to make learning and teaching your hobby outside of the classroom too. I truly believe that you do, in fact, have to love to learn to be an educator. If you didn't love to learn, how could you expect your students to effectively learn and be able to use what they learned in a positive way. Making learning and teaching a hobby outside of the classroom helps you become a better educator as well. Having those as a hobby can help you come up with innovative ideas and projects for your students.  

Project #3 Presentation

Project #7 Part A My Sentence Videos

My Sentence is...

My Passion is...

Blog Post #5

Before now I had no idea what a Personal Learning Network (PLN) was, much less how to start one. A PLN is an ever-growing, ever-changing web of learning through others around the world. You can start a PLN by connecting with others through technology and sharing ideas and thoughts about whatever topic you want to know more about. Although, I still don't know much about PLN, I am looking forward to researching more about it.

Little did I know, I have already begun work on my very own PLN! By signing up for a Twitter and Delicious account I completed a big step in the process. Following the staff members and lab assistants of EDM310 was my next step. My first topics that I want to research and create a PLN for is project based learning and becoming a reading specialist. I cannot wait to see what information, tools and people I come across for these topics!

I believe that having a PLN is a great way for educators to stay connected with new and improved teaching methods and ideas to bring into the classroom. Having a network of people that share your same thoughts and opinions and that give you access to new ideas is a great tool to have. Since you are staying connected it helps you broaden not only your own education but your students education as well.

Project #15 Search Engines

The internet is an endless array of search engines. There are different types of them to help with basically anything you need or want to know. From finding a job to what hotel you will stay in for your family vacation, don't worry, there is a search engine for you!

Bing: Similar to the Google search engine, Bing is an all-purpose search engine. You start by typing in a question or word/phrase. When you hit the search button it gives you a list of websites where the information you are seeking can be found. You have the option to view webpages, images, maps, news and more. On Bing's homepage you have links to access, MSN, Outlook.com, and Office Online. I like that Bing has a photo in the background on the homepage. This makes it more appealing to look at. Also, if you slide your mouse over the picture, little boxes pop up with information about the picture.

Wolfram Alpha: I had never heard of this search engine before but I am thoroughly impressed by it. Not only does it give you a basic answer/definition for what you are searching for, it also shows you formulas and calculations. You can input data and images and it has the ability to create a rotatable 3D animation. This could be extremely useful for math and engineering fields.

ChaCha: ChaCha is a search engine that uses what is called "social searching". This site pays people (guides) to answer your questions. You can create an account and ask questions through their app, website, or text message. The answers that you receive are free and are given to you in real time. When you ask/send a question on ChaCha, there are 60,000+ smart guides waiting to answer it. This search engine seems like a fun, sociable way to get information. This would be helpful for when you don't have internet access but are able to send a text message when in need of information.

Craigslist: This search engine is a perfect way to buy/sell items, find a job and/or discuss different topics with others in your area. This site is basically a free online add column for anyone to post to. It is set up in a way that is user friendly. On the main page, it breaks it down into many different categories. You can click on a specific category or subcategory to browse that section. To find what city/county you would like to search in just choose one from the list that is provided on the main page. I personally use this site from time to time. I have used it to find items for sell such as furniture and appliances. I have also used it to find real estate in Mobile County.

Indeed: Finding a job is made easier with Indeed. This search engine does the hard work for you by searching newspapers, job boards, etc., for any jobs that are available in your area. The main page has two search bars, one to enter a keyword specific to the job you want and the other one to enter the area (city, state) that you want to search in. Once you enter the information for what and where, it gives you a list of links to jobs in the area specified. This would be a great option for someone in need of a job, especially if they will be moving and need to find something in a different location.

MapQuest: MapQuest is a search engine used to get you from place to place and to look at activities and attractions in whatever location you would like to look up. Not only will it show you a map view, it will also give you step by step directions to and from the location you are traveling. You can even look up gas prices in your current area or the city you are traveling to. In my opinion, this search engine isn't needed as much any more due to everyone having navigation either on their phone or in their vehicle. It is still a cool way to look at where certain places are located.

WebMD: If you have an ailment or you just simply want to know something about health, this search engine can more than likely provide you with what you are looking for. You can search for symptoms of various illnesses, get information on medications and vitamins/supplements, and browse news articles on health related topics. This site also allows you to chat with others in a forum specifically for what you are researching. WebMD could be good for anyone who wanted to get more information on signs, symptoms, and treatments.

Kayak: Kayak is a travel website that searches hundreds of other travel sites for you to get the best rate for hotels, flights, and rental cars. It allows you to make reservations and purchase tickets on one site. I think that this website is great because it simplifies the searching process but it can still get overwhelming. It opens a new window for each website that you want it to check for comparable rates. That may not bother some people but it drives me crazy to have so many tabs open. Overall I believe this search engine could be extremely beneficial to someone who travels often and needs the best possible rate.

Blog Post #4

Questions, whether they come from the student or the teacher, help generate class discussion. To be able to effectively ask questions we need to understand what we are asking but be open to different opinions and ideas. In order to be a more effective teacher, you need to master the use of open-ended questions. Doing so will allow the students to think and formulate a better response to the material being covered. To me, using open-ended questions opens up more discussion and opinions among the entire class opposed to just one student answering.  Like Ben Johnson said in his article, The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom, "On a more serious note, as teachers, we need to come to grips with the fact that we really do not know everything, and there is no reason to assume that the students know nothing."

C4T #1 Post #1&2

Post #1: Cathy Jo Nelson's Professional Thoughts was the first teacher blog I read and commented on. In her post she explained that her school district had chosen to implement ItsLearning into the schools instead of Google Classroom. Trainers were provided for the staff to learn how to utilize the Learning Management System (LMS). She stated that instead of mandating the skills training ItsLearning was optional. Since participation was optional only about 30% of the staff had started using the program. The staff that is participating is mostly using the system as an online filing cabinet and as a means of transferring papers to and from teachers and students. Being that there is only 30% using the program, she is hoping that others will get on board and start utilizing it soon.

My Comment: Since this was my first comment on her blog, I made sure to introduce myself and my intentions. You could tell that she had a great passion for implementing this program and training others to as well. I told her that I loved that her district was trying to embrace change by adopting this new LMS. Since technology is ever-changing it is detrimental that we all get on board so we can learn new skills and grow.

Post #2: In this post on Cathy Jo Nelson's Professional Thoughts she talked about how a few student helpers and herself were weeding out the biography section of the school library. Being the librarian in the school, she wanted to make room for new graphic novels. She created a system to document what books needed to go and had teachers come in and adopt any books that they needed/wanted. She wanted to remove most of the books that had a copyright date before 2004. They pulled roughly 1,000+ books to evaluate and possibly get rid of.

My Comment:
Hi Cathy,
I loved reading this post! I am very passionate about reading and have actually always wondered what it would be like to work in a library. I think I would love it! I like the fact that you take pride in your career and work space. Being organized is not always an easy, fun task as you have demonstrated with weeding out the biography section of your library. It seems like you make the library a place where students and teachers can find what they are looking for a breeze. It's great that you had student helpers to make the task a little less stressful for you! 

Blog Post #3

Peer editing is when you give constructive feedback on a classmates work. When peer editing you always want to be considerate and informative. You should always approach peer editing with a positive attitude. Think about how you want them to edit your work. I view peer editing as a chance to better my writing as well as the person's that I am editing. If you aren't honest with them then their writing may not improve.

I think peer editing is a great way for students to connect and learn from each other. It can be less intimidating to have a classmate view and critique your work instead of just turning it into the teacher for review. When you peer edit, you learn from the other person's mistakes as well as your own so it helps you improve. I intend to edit my classmates' blog posts the way I would want them to edit mine and follow the three rules stated in Peer Edit with Perfection! Tutorial.  

Blog Post #2

1. The main message in Mr. Dancelot is that you can't just feed students info all day (especially a subject like dance) and not have demonstrations and hands on activities to coordinate with the information. It is more effective to try things for yourself in a hands on manner. The author of this video rests his case at the end when all of the students had no clue how to dance because they weren't allowed to practice a hands on approach, they were only given diagrams and information about dancing. I agree fully with this conclusion. You will never learn by just listening to someone teach, you need to learn from applying the information given and executing the task on your own.

2. To me it seems like Roberts is trying to convey that teaching in the 21st century means that we need to stop underestimating the power of students ability to self teach and engage in a more meaningful way. We need to aid them in learning through the resources given to them through technology. Stepping outside the box of the normal "burp back" learning.

 I. Teaching in the 21st century
      a. "Burp back" vs. technologically advanced teaching
       b. How will students engage and apply
         c. What are the resources available
  II. How will you teach in the 21st century

I love the message in this video. I believe that this way of teaching can greatly impact and improve upon how I have always been taught. Students should step outside of their comfort zones and ENGAGE in all of the resources and information that is so easily available to them. We should have discussions and hands on projects instead of just receiving information and trying to prove that we listened by answering multiple choice questions. I think that this will be challenging at times but it will make teaching more interesting and more effective.

3. The Networked Student really made  me think about if a teacher was even needed with students having the access to so much information and resources. I have had the thought before that online classes would become more abundant and teachers would become obsolete. Why would educators be needed when we could just teach ourselves from the resources and ever growing amount of information available to us? This video made me realize and understand that we can never get rid of educators. If it weren't for them we would struggle to understand our resources and how to put them to good use. We definitely need the guidance and help to be effective in networking and sharing information.

4. The main focus of Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts is that students have the ability to design and execute by engaging in the information and resources provided to them. The students in the video were able to blog and network with other students around the world to share ideas and figure out solutions for their project. I like that she talks about not knowing everything and that the students teach her. She is right, students and educators should learn from each other not just the students learning from the teacher. This creates a better learning environment because students feel like their thoughts and ideas matter and are greatly appreciated by not only their teacher but their peers in the classroom and around the globe.

5. It is very obvious that elementary students are ahead of undergrad and grad students in the learning race. I am currently an undergrad student and I have not worked with half the technology that the elementary students are using. It has always been apparent to me that this is this case. Yes undergrad and grad students hold more knowledge in most things but these elementary students are learning new and improved ideas and technology every day. For instance, my nephew, who is in kindergarten, knows how to do certain things on a computer that I had no idea even existed. I blame this on the fact that when we were elementary students these things weren't available to us so know we are making up for lost time. It's no excuse though, that we aren't on the same level. We should be miles ahead of them in this race.

6. The concept of flipping the classroom is new to me. I do think that this is a creative way to not only save time in the classroom but to help get parents involved in knowing what their child is learning and what is expected of them. I definitely think this could be useful for me as a future educator. It gives students time to actually think about the lesson and the different strategies that can be executed to get answers. It would be convenient for them to be prepared to discuss these strategies and this creates the opportunity for them to teach me something I may have not thought of.

7. As a future educator I believe that team work is very important. We are all striving for the same goal in each class that we take so learning from each other plays a significant role. I want to make it a point to incorporate having the students discuss concepts and ideas as a class. I don't want to be their main focus and just stand there spitting out facts. I actually experienced this type of class last semester. It seemed irritating at first but it actually was effective for me in the end. We as a class discussed the material and threw in our opinions for everyone to comment on. It helped me retain the information and go beyond what was written in the book and what the professor had to say. That class was one of the only classes I have actually enjoyed and was not bored in.

Title

Test

Blog Post #1

I honestly didn't know anything about EDM 310 until the first day of class. After attending class this past week I am extremely overwhelmed by how much goes into this class. A part of me is terrified of this class but I am also excited to learn new things. After I read the syllabus and checklist and watched the videos it gave me a sense of ease. I am the type of person who likes to stay organized so the fact that there is a checklist to follow helps me tremendously. I was worried at first that I would forget about posting a blog or finishing up a project but I believe that if I reference the checklist frequently and make sure I spend the required amount of time I will be just fine.

I am mostly afraid of the fact that we have to post blogs often for everyone to read. It makes me feel better though, knowing that I am not alone in doing so and that I have the support of fellow classmates, lab assistants, and professors. I am still, of course, nervous but, I am trying to keep an open mind and have fun learning what EDM310 has to offer!

Practice Blog Post 1

Outline:

 I. About Me

         A. My Hometown

         B. My Job

         C. My Family and Fiance
II. Future Educator
          A. Why I Chose USA
          B. My passion and Main Focus

Hi!

        My name is Lydia Lynch. I was born and raised right here in Mobile, AL. As of right now, I commute about thirty minutes to school and work from Satsuma, AL. I will be moving to the city of Mobile soon to cut back on my commute to work and school. I have worked at dressbarn as a sales associate for over three years now. I was an assistant manager at one point when I had taken some time off from school but I decided to come back so I stepped down to focus on my school work. This was my first retail job and I actually love it! I definitely don't want to work there for the rest of my life but it is a good job to get me through school. I have two siblings, a brother and a sister who are both married. They both have a son of their own. My sister's little boy is turning six soon and my brothers little boy is turning two soon. Being an aunt is one of the most amazing experiences in life. I am the baby of the family. My parents have been happily married for 36 years and are a perfect role model for my fiance and I. We have been together for 8 years next month and engaged since July 4th 2013. He just graduated from USA with a bachelors degree in Computer Science. We will be getting married this May! We couldn't be more excited!

        USA has always been my number one option when thinking about college. My main reason for choosing it was because it was close to home. Since I am extremely close to my family I didn't want to go too far. I have been attending classes at South since Fall of 2009. I took a year off because I was unsure of what I wanted to pursue. When I made the decision to come back I knew exactly what I wanted to do and I am determined to reach my goal. I ultimately want to be a Reading Specialist. I need to have a teaching degree to do so and I had the most credits towards Health Education so that's what I decided on. Once I get my bachelors in Health Education I will go on to get my masters and get certified to be a reading specialist. I have always had a passion for reading. Ever since I was little I loved to read any chance I got. I would love to be able to spread my enthusiasm of reading to students and other educators. Helping others learn how to read and to love reading is my main goal and I will do  anything and everything to do this effectively.