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!