Sunday, February 26, 2012

Blog Post #5

Snape

Don't Teach Your Kids this Stuff. Please? Response

The above blog post was authored by Scott McLeod who is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky and founder of CASTLE, which is "the nation’s only academic center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators" according to his website.  He is a huge advocate of incorporating technology in the classroom, as can be seen by his post "Don't Teach Your Kids this Stuff. Please?" above.   This post is actually an overly-sarcastic poem to parents, teachers, administrators, and board members. The message he wants to reiterate is that by not teaching students skills like writing online, social networking skills, and other tech-savvy abilities, we are putting them at a disadvantage for their future endeavors.  I completely and totally agree with his ideas.  However, I think that using over-the-top sarcasm to communicate his point is completely ineffective.  This is what I wrote as response to his blog post:
I am a student in the EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. While I understand your position, I don’t completely agree with your method of communicating it. Yes, the world of education needs a serious update technologically speaking. However, I don’t think that sarcasm is a device we need to use to highlight that fact. I have found that sarcasm usually “turns people off” to the true message. They focus more on the tone than the content. Presentation is always important in communication. Perhaps there is a better way to communicate the lack of technology in our classrooms.

This accurately details how I feel about sarcasm as a tool for change. He is not going to persuade anyone of the validity of his argument with this method.  I would never teach my students that sarcasm was an appropriate or effective way of communicating their ideas, and I don't think that educators should use this method either.  Also, I would like to say that he seems to trivialize children looking at pornography and/or the threat of online predators.  I know that this post is meant for adults (parents and educators), but has he considered the repercussions of a child reading this post. What would a student take from this post?  He needs to consider these things.


DISCLAIMER: I appreciate sarcasm as tool of comedy or humor.  In fact, I find myself being a "smart-aleck" pretty much on a daily basis.  I don't think that people take you seriously when you use it to make a point or to persuade someone in an argument. 


The iSchool Initiative Video Response

"If we are going to thrive in the information age, we must rethink, retool, and rebuild our educational institutions to better prepare our youth for the digital world they were born into." This quote by Travis Allen (as a 20-year-old) in his short video ZeitgeistYoungMind Entry totally encompasses his original proposal for the iSchool Initiative.  This initiative, which Allen put forth when he was a 17-year-old high school student from Georgia, outlines in detail what he calls the iSchool. This program centers around Apple's iTouch device.  All aspects of a traditional school would be incorporated into this curriculum but enhanced with features like email and online chats. Online applications tailored to specific subjects like Chemistry and History would be the backbone of the program.  However, applications such as Recorder would enhance traditional lecture experiences for students.  The iTouch would replace textbooks, handheld calculators, and calendars.  His argument is that this would save money, create more accountability for students and teachers, and create more involvement for parents in the education process.
When I first watched Travis Allen's video, I was very impressed with the innovative and complex ideas coming from a 17-year-old student.  The applications that he highlighted in the video, such as Chemical Touch and WorldWiki, could revolutionize teaching methods in my opinion. However, I don't necessarily think he should limit his plan to the iTouch device.  With the popularity of tablets (including, but not limited to, the iPad and Kindle Fire), in the last few years the possibilities for this project have expanded to other devices.  Students could also get these applications on iPhones or other smartphones.  Since kids spend so much time on these devices anyway, I think this could be a really great idea. I think that implementing this in the schools could be tricky.  Would it be up to the individual student to purchase these items, like they have to provide their own graphing calculators? Or would the taxpayers get stuck with the bill? Perhaps they could integrate the iSchool in stages, a little at a time. Either way, I think Travis Allen is definitely going places and is a front runner in educational innovations.

Virtual Choir Response
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir video was breathtaking.  All I could think about while watching this was my high school's small choir.  We were a 5A school but only had about 15 people in the entire choir.  A project like this could give smaller schools an opportunity to a part of something bigger and more complex. Also, with budget cuts starting with the arts, perhaps one music teacher could conduct and combine the choirs of several schools over the Internet.  Thanks to Jennifer Chambers for sharing this video!

Teaching in the 21st Century Response
What does Roberts thinks it means to teach in the 21st century?
If I could sum up Mr. Roberts idea about what it means to teach in the 21st century, I would say that he thinks it is not enough just to teach using technology but to teach how to use technology.  He emphasizes  the importance of engaging students with technology and not just entertaining them.  He thinks that teaching has changed from a profession that transmits knowledge to students, because knowledge is readily available at any time on any subject.  Now teaching is a what he considers a "filter" of this knowledge and information. We have to teach skills not just mere facts.  I would have to agree with Mr. Roberts for the most part.  Although I understand that this is the information age and students have all the fact-based knowledge they want at their fingertips, that does not necessarily mean that they will access that information. Teachers will still have to serve in that capacity on some level. However, I do agree that   skills have become more important than content.  Engaging students with a relevant and practical education that they can actively control is important for today's teacher.

Reading Rockets

Reading Rockets website is comprised of a variety of resources not only for educators but for parents and other professionals such as Librarians and Principals.  It contains classroom strategies, lesson plans and guides, and tips and suggestions on reading exercises.  One strategy I found that I would use in the classroom is called Jigsaw.  Jigsaw is described on the website as a "cooperative learning" technique that involves several groups of students to research different aspects of the same topic. For instance if we were studying the Civil War, one group would be investigating the causes, while another looks at the aftermath.  These group members go back to their "home" group and teach them what they learned about their aspect of the topic. Therefore, the "home" group pieces together the whole topic like a Jigsaw puzzle.
Another tool I found on this site that I thought would be relevant to teaching History is the themed book list.  This organized catalogue of books for a wide range of ages includes specific and precise topics that teachers can easily browse through to find book ideas that would relate to the subject they are teaching.  The only problem I see with the website is that it is geared more toward elementary school teachers. Those of us teaching secondary education are sort of "left out."  For example, the reading list goes from Kindergarten to age nine reading levels.  I would still consult this site, because it has other great tools for students who struggle with reading, and projects and activities that could be modified for upper-level classrooms, such as Jigsaw.


Timeline Project #9a

Sunday, February 19, 2012

My Sentence Movie (Project #6)

Blog Post #4

ipod

First of all, let me say that Langwitches' Blog  is a wonderful resource for teachers that includes How-To Guides available for download and easy-to-use information on numerous class projects involving modern technology.  The site's author, Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano, is a trainer and what I would call an "educator of educators."  Her blog seems to fit perfectly with the projects for this class, even those other than podcasting.  These particular posts about first grade podcast projects that she oversaw were surprisingly instructional for our upcoming podcast project.  I say "surprisingly" because I honestly did not believe that first graders could put out such quality work as the podcast about "Vacation Under the Volcano" and the read-along book.  Ms. Tolisano's reflections showed that she shared my sentiment of shock.  She detailed how involved the students became in each project, critiquing their performances and embracing the "technical side" of editing.  I think that our group should definitely try to use her model of the process to do our podcast, including reflection on what we could expound upon or do differently. 


kids talking into microphoneJoe Dale's video clip about podcasting not only describes what he sees as benefits of using podcasts for instruction but also describes some basic aspects of podcasting, including the difference between a podcast and a "vodcast" which is very helpful for those who are unfamiliar with this technology.  This clip also provides links to how-to's on creating podcasts on Mac's and PCs at the end of it.  During the course of the video, he also shares other helpful links such as podbean.com which is a helpful tool for teachers.  I personally enjoyed this video because of Mr. Dell's classroom, a social studies teacher who used podcasts for his History lessons.  I thought the idea of using other teachers to voice different characters was a great way for students to have a more in-depth experience with the lessons. It's an exciting idea for any future History teacher.  The portion of the video where students give their reactions to the podcast lessons was powerful. They used words and phrases like "exciting" and "keeps my attention." One student even said her family listened to the classroom podcasts in the car on trips! I am sold on using this tool in my classroom some day.   

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Blog Post #3

Technology in Special Education Response
This video was created by a special education teacher to demonstrate the importance of technology in the life of her students.  She uses examples of nonverbal children using computers in order to communicate effectively.  Even students who have trouble with seeing or reading are using advanced technology like Zoomtext to complete their assignments. By demonstrating some of the ways her student's lives are drastically enhanced by technology, she is advocating the use of technology in not only the education of students with special needs but in their everyday functioning.
What I took from this video was not only an understanding of how technology can be used in a special education setting but how technology has increased the self-esteem and quality of life of some of these students.  I was struck with the vast difference in a child using a computer versus just pointing at letters on a chart. It magnified the fact that some nonverbal children are not impaired but simply inhibited by the lack of means to get their point across. I thought the teacher did a great job not only showcasing the new technology but letting the students themselves explain how it affects their lives.  If I had a special needs child in my classroom, I definitely use technology to better educate them. Depending on the nature of the need, for instance if a child had trouble seeing or reading, I could use tools that were shown in the video like having books downloaded to an ipod for children to read along with during Reading time.

How Ipad Works with Academics with Autism

I have seen first-hand how this technology can be used in a classroom with Autistic children when I did an observation at Woody's Song here in Mobile. Woody's Song is a day school specifically for children with autism.  The children there went from nonverbal to completely verbal.  The nonverbal students were using Ipads to communicate and complete their assignments.  It was an amazing sight to see.
owl


If I had to pick an app to use for a special needs student in my classroom, it would be Proloquo2Go.  This application helps nonverbal children to speak by showing them symbols such as "I want" and then giving them options such as "snack" or "ball."  With the point of their finger, they are communicating and their choices are translated into a voice of their choice.  I could use this app in so many ways in my classroom, including interactive learning and reading.  The possibilities are endless with this application when it comes to enhancement of learning. For children (especially those with autism), learning can be frustrated and one-sided. With Proloquo2Go, kids can take control of their education and interact with teachers and other students like never before.

Social Media Count Response


There is no denying that the world around us is changing... and changing rapidly.  Watching the counts of posts on social media sites like Facebook and Youtube really puts that change into perspective. As a future educator, I do feel like I should keep up with the advancements in technology in my personal and professional life.  The younger generations of students take advantage of these changing technologies more than do the older generations and in some cases are more tech-savvy.  In order for my assignments and lessons to be relevant to these students, I must utilize the ever-changing medium of computer technology.  While staying up-to-date on the latest devices and trends can seem like a daunting task, I think that as a professional I should want to be at the top of my field. In order to be the best and most effective educator I can be for my students, I know that I will have to fully embrace technology including social media.  If this means taking continuing education classes or attending conferences on technology in the classroom throughout my career, then that is what I purpose to do.

A Vision of Students Today Response

In this video, an Cultural Anthropology class makes a statement about the relevance of traditional lecture-based learning as opposed to the lives they actually lead.  Students reveal things like, "I spend 100's of dollars on a textbook that I will never open," and "I will write 42 pages for class and 500 pages of emails."  The intention is to magnify the vast expanse between what is required of them in the college classroom and what is applicable to the "real world" outside of college.  For the university professors and  administrators, this video should make them take a long, hard look at the quality of students they are producing for a functioning society.  I have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from UAB, but I find myself back in school to become an educator. I found that even though I had a degree, I had nothing to offer in terms of quality employment. College did not equip me with any real world skills. My tale is not an uncommon one. More and more college graduates are taking jobs they are overqualified for or cannot find a job at all.  I also found I had no real control over my education; in other words, I could not personalize my own education to fit me as a student and how I learned.  These are concerns that universities around this country should take up these concerns.  The administrators of universities should see this video as a challenge to make higher education more accessible to the student of the future.... a student who has never touched a piece of chalk.

Project #5

Friday, February 10, 2012

C4T#1 Post #2

St. Elmo
St. Elmo

Post #1 Summary
The blog that I was assigned for this post was that of a teacher at St. Elmo's Elementary school called St. Elmo's Explorers.  The first available post was a link to a video on Teachertube about the Underground Railroad.  I commented that I was interested in tools like this because I plan on being a History teacher, and that this video could serve as a great introduction to Black History Month, slavery, or Harriet Tubman.  I also thanked the teacher for sharing this video because it introduced me to Teachertube for the first time. I remarked that Teachertube has already proven itself to be a valuable tool for me and will continue to be an asset in the future.

The Mitten Book Cover


Post #2 Summary
The second post that I commented on was from January 8, 2012.  The post was requesting constructive comments on narrative essay contest finalists' entries. In the contest, students had to comment on a book called The Mitten, in which the author did not explain why his characters chose to get inside the mitten.  The students were to imagine what the world was like inside the mitten and write a narrative that would be adapted to a stage play.  Commenters were encouraged to pick one of the finalists and leave suggestions for revisions of these entries. I chose finalist six's essay to critique. My comments stated that this child's essay was imaginative and descriptive. I thought that the adjectives used were appropriate and   captivating. Also, this child used rather advanced literary devices such as similes and onomatopoeia, which ignited all of the reader's senses.  I thought it was one of the better written of the essays.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Blog Post #2

Did You Know? 3.0 Video Response


Dr. Strange's video Did You Know 3.0 stresses his reasons for the importance of future educators to use advanced technology in the classroom.  Using a list of facts and exciting action-adventure motion picture music, Dr. Strange seeks to impress that the teachers coming out of EDM310 in 2012 will be preparing their students for jobs in the technology field that do not even exist yet.  He attempts to deter any of the classic arguments against heavy technology based curriculum by giving statistics about K-12 computer use and access, computer availability amongst minorities, advancement of other countries such as India and China, and reports predicting a massive influx of computer-based careers coming in the future.  The effect this video intends to incite in his students an appreciation for the techniques we will learn in this class.
I take some issue with the content of this video.  While I do recognize that we live in a vastly different world from even five years ago and the importance of technological advances in that world, it doesn't mean that every one has "caught up" with the curve.  He stated in the video that minorities such as African Americans and Hispanics now have computers in their homes; however, what he failed to mention was if these households have Internet access, which would be a huge part in his advanced technology education methods proposition.  Also, it seems to me that this video uses a few statistics picked from only three sources to back up an argument for what seems to be his philosophy on an entire overhaul of the way traditional classrooms function.  Should we step into the future using these new techniques in classrooms?  The answer probably is "yes." However, the immediate feasibility of this endeavor is still unknown.  I think you could make the argument (and I think Dr. Strange is making it with this video) that the United States is behind the rest of the world in educational advances. I would agree with that, but I don't know if giving every American child an Ipad to download their textbooks onto is the answer.  Before I get the "you are anti-technology" response, let me restate that I agree with Dr. Strange that as an educator of the future workforce we should stress the importance of changing technologies.  How we are going to integrate technology across a vast, debt-ridden nation is another issue entirely. 


Mr. Winkle Wakes Response

This video takes us on the all-too-familiar man-wakes-up-in-the future cliche.  Mr. Winkle has woke from a 100-year slumber and is memorized by the assortment of unfamiliar technologies he finds.  In fact, he is so overwhelmed by what appears to be a high-tech office where computers and video-chat are being used that he must go to the hospital.  At the hospital, Mr. Winkle finds himself immersed into yet another world of strange machines doing extraordinary things.  However, when Mr. Winkle visits a local school he breathes a sigh of relief.  He finds familiarity. The students are using pens and papers to take lecture notes from their teacher, apparently just as they did when Mr. Winkle was in school.  He sees what we know is a computer, but it is not being used for teaching.  The purpose of this video would be to contrast the disparities in technology within schools compared to other businesses or professional establishments. 
Despite the low-quality animation of "Mr. Winkle Wakes," the point comes across loud and clear.  I would agree that technology is not used to its fullest efficiency and potential in most public schools in the United States. I do think that technology should be used to enhance not overhaul traditional teaching methods.  Other than EDM310 and few other exceptions, most of my college experience has been with lecture-based learning, or what Dr. Strange would refer to as "burp-back" learning.  While computers have also been a large part of my college experience; if I did not know how to take notes from a lecture, I would be struggling to have an acceptable GPA right now.  Balance and diversity in techniques seem to be the most efficient method for teaching today's students. 

The Importance of Creativity Response

Ken Robinson, the dynamic and witty lecturer on this video, postulates a bold and arguably controversial premise for his speech within the first 3 minutes of this post: Creativity is as important as literacy.  Between the casual joke-making and comic examples reminiscent of "Kids Say the Darndest Things," he brings real insight into why he believes the above theory. He proposes that, "If you aren't prepared to be wrong, you will never be original." To him, our education system so greatly discourages the "wrong answer" that creativity has been stifled amongst children who only seek that "right answer" for fear of mistakes.  He goes on to say that education around the world progressively educates "above the waste" as children age, until we (as educators) are only interested in their brain and particularly one side of it (math, language arts, etc...).  His idea is that our current education system only places value on certain skills and subject, leaving creativity by the roadside.



A Vision for 21st Century Learning Response

The main idea for this video was to create video games that could be used in the classroom to replace traditional education methods.  They argue that the current education system is a "mass standardization response to industrialization," and that to remedy this there must be huge innovations in learning methods.  First, this video speaks to the future History teacher in me.  The 3D navigation through a recreated Rome really sparked my interest.  I agree a tool like that could be a huge asset in my class; words and pictures in textbooks could become a navigable reality to students with the software highlighted in this clip.  The popularity of educational video games has risen in the past few years, as can be seen with things like LeapFrog toys.  Integrating specific and personalized computer games for classroom curriculum seems like the natural progression.  I like the idea that "If we get it right, kids won't even know they're learning." 

Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts Response
Self-described teacher-preneur Ms. Davis, takes a high-tech and highly personalized approach to educating her students in Georgia. Her classroom has been converted to a paperless computer lab with no notebooks or pens in sight.  Her idea of education is teaching children to "learn how to learn" through blogging, computer software, and other cutting-edge technologies.  She says that this method allows her to personalize each child's education experience in her classroom.  The students in her room become the teacher in many cases which fosters team-building and camaraderie.  Her student's are involved with other all over the world, especially with the Flat Classroom Project.  This allows her students to keep up with technology trends and connect with people on the other side of the world.
When I saw this video, I could not help but relate it to what we are doing in EDM310.  As a post this blog even now, I am aware that this class (only in the third week) has taught how to do many different and new things with my computer which I can later use for my classroom.  I envy the student's in Ms. Davis' classroom their experiences.  I wish that a class like that could have been offered in my high school.  Of course, I was in high school eight years ago, which is a lifetime when considering the advancements in technology.  Her philosophy on personalizing the experience for each child and allowing the students to "teach" portions of the class resonated with me. I hope to implement the spirit of what she is doing in my own classroom someday.