Martha Yim's EDM 310 Class Blog

Moving On...

2010-08-23T11:24:00.004-05:00

I have moved on to my personal blog so if you would like to keep following me and I would love for you to do so please join me on My Blog .

Final Reflection

2010-07-19T09:28:00.012-05:00

(You know this picture makes you laugh, admit it)

I signed up to take this class for two reasons. The first was because I thought that it would be completely online and I would not have to actually go sit in a classroom and second because I thought it would be easy. I walked into the class on the first day with an air of confidence thinking that this was really just going to be a breeze. I never anticipated what I actually experienced. I never could have imagined how EDM 310 would change my view on technology in education or the relationships that would be created through this class.

When I began EDM 310 I believed that all teachers needed to be technologically literate and I still do believe that, what has changed is my view on where technology should be used in the schools. I thought that technology education primarily took place in the computer lab and those activities needed to be related to the classroom curriculum. I now understand that a computer lab in a school is of very little value. The real technology education has to be incorporated into the regular classroom everyday and in every subject possible.

Before a teacher jumps into technology in their classroom they first and foremost need to be learners. They need to be taught how to set up a PLN so that they have a place to go look for information and examples. Teachers need a system of communication where they can express ideas and learn from one another. If they are taught how to become learners then they will be able to find all of the technology for their classroom that they want. They will know how to seek the information, how to find other teachers who are doing great things and learn from them.

Through EDM 310 we were introduced to many online free applications that can be used in the classroom and that is fabulous but for me the most important thing that I learned was the PLN. If it were not for the PLN I would not be aware of other great applications that teachers are finding and using. I would not know that there were students in New Zealand who are blogging. I would not be able to keep track of blogs of people that I feel are producing great information concerning education. I did not know the concept of a PLN prior to this course and now I don't know how I functioned without it. I had always just googled and searched in that manner but the PLN gives you information that you did not even know that you were looking for.

I have to say something about Anthony Capps and Jamie Lynn. They are wise beyond their years and are an incredible part of the course. I have learned so much from Anthony and they will both make outstanding teachers. I will keep them both in my PLN and hope that they will keep me in theirs.

I have never left a class and actually had classmates that I wanted to keep track of and continue to exchange information with. After EDM310 I have several. This is an amazing class and should be required for ALL teachers who are currently in the classroom.

I can't wait to see what the next session discovers that our class did not.

The only thing that I would add to the class because I certainly would not take anything away would be to require students to explore other students work more often and to require students to engage each other not just the ones that they have become familiar with. Discuss together, collaborate together and work together with all students.

If I could say a couple of things to the next group coming it it would be:

When you are recording something to be posted on your blog FOREVER wear professional clothing.
Set aside enough time to put your heart into your projects because it does show.
Think outside the box like Laura Ashley did in her final presentation.

I WILL be a better teacher for taking this course!
I want to be Googled in appropriate attire! LOL

I hate to see this class end. I will miss it immensely.

I has been a wonderful journey.

Goodnight Everyone

Teach Someone

2010-07-18T22:15:00.006-05:00

(This image has nothing to do with this post. It just makes me smile.)

How to adjust the size of a You Tube video so that it fits properly in a blogger post.

Another way to adjust the width of something that you want to embed in a blogger post like Timetoast Timelines or Screenr Videos

Blog Post #13

2010-07-17T18:58:00.006-05:00

Comments 4 Kids-Alba Middle School

My comment:

Martha Yim (student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 @ the University of South Alabama) I know you had so much fun making the movie. It is great to see kids your age using technology to tell your story. Great Job!

My comment:

You made a very touching video. What a terrible tragedy to the Gulf. I hope that you get lots of viewers.

Comments 4 Classmates

Alissa Logan-Smartboard Project

My comment:

Alissa, you did a great job. I know that this was a smartboard project but I loved your interactions with the students. You have a very calming way about you that will be very pleasant in the classroom.

Jillian Legrouge-An Open Letter to Educators

My comment:
Jillian, I agree with you that the kid dropping out of school was not the best idea. Our society is not ready to accept people who do not have a degree from a university for high level positions. I do feel that the method of educating people does need a revolution and soon but my solution would be a type of education that requires proof of knowledge not just the regurgitating of information that was dumped on the student. Working for a grade is pointless and does not prove that you understand the content of the information that was dumped on you. If you can do hands on projects and experiments of various types then you have the opportunity to prove that you learned the lesson. How many tests have we all taken in various subjects and earned good grades but by the end of the course you really could not prove that you had retained much of the information at all.

Meaghan Whitmire-Final Thoughts on my PLN

My comment:

As someone recently reminded me do not forget about all of the contacts that are around you like your classmates, libraries and other local resources. I am with you, I love my PLN and it will be a great asset from here on out.

Summative Project

2010-07-17T17:25:00.005-05:00

Best viewed in full screen HD. Be sure to adjust your resolutuion to HD.

Personal Learning Network

2010-07-15T09:07:00.004-05:00

Social Networking: Facebook

Microblogging: Twitter

Professional Profiles: LinkedIn

Wikis: Wikispaces for Educators

Blogs: My PLN

Rss Reader: Netvibes

Nings: Classroom 2.0, Future of Education

Social Bookmarking: Delicious

Webinars: Classroom 2.0 Live!, EdTechTalk Live

My PLN consists of all kinds of different areas which are listed above and then I have provided links to the ones that I use. Click on MY PLN to see my netvibes public page of rss feeds.

This is only the beginning!

Blog Post #12

2010-07-15T08:09:00.007-05:00

Fablab4teacher's Channel on YouTube

These students are getting an opportunity to do something that most never get to do. They get to design, print and actually fabricate their design. They are using applications that most adults have not had an opportunity to use. This is wonderful. My favorite part of these videos is that you can see and hear the students working together to figure things out. That is something that I could very easily use in my classroom. The math skills that these students are learning is just awesome. The ability to conceptualize something and then to actually see it as a 3D model. WOW!!!!

Model Maker & Fab@School 3D Printer

Digital Fabrication: Through the eyes of a Five-Year-Old Boy

Kris-Applying Images & Color to 3D Shapes in Tabs

Mr. McClung Year 2 Reflection

Alot of what Mr. McClung reflected on in year one he also reflected on in year two and his sentiments were pretty much the same. What I noticed the most was the depth of his comments had changed. For example: Listen to your students in year one and in year two he goes into great depth to tell us that his methods were not working with his older students and he did the research and implemented the change that was best for him and his students. His section on Never Stop Learning in year one was put to the challenge in year two. Mr. McClung goes on in year two to discuss scope and sequence and how he had concentrated more on topics that he liked and did not spend enough time on some other topics.

Mr. McClung has learned a lot of valuable lessons and I am so glad that he is sharing his lessons with the world because for those of us that have not yet entered the classroom they are invaluable. These are things that you typically have to learn as you go as Mr. McClung is doing but because of his blog post maybe I will be a little more prepared to tackle these things than if I had not read his post.

My Comment on his post:

I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. Thank you so much for posting your classroom experiences. I enjoy reading your struggles and solutions and I am sure that I will be better prepared to enter the classroom because of your posts. It is obvious that you are a wonderful and caring teacher or you would not go to the lengths that you have to make sure your lessons are interesting and appropriate for both you and the students. You persevere not to be "professionally stagnant" and I think that is wonderful. You are the kind of teacher that I want for my children. Keep up the great work and I look forward to reading more posts.

Dealing with HTML

2010-07-13T20:08:00.003-05:00

After much much frustration I have learned a very valuable lesson. Always edit your html in a text editor and not where the code is being used.

Blog Post #11

2010-07-12T00:50:00.004-05:00

(click image for Mrs. Cassidy's class blog)

Mrs. Cassidy is a wonder in the classroom. I am amazed that she has been using technology in her classroom for 10 years and blogging for 5 years. I love her attitude about school and technology. I agree with Mrs. Cassidy that technology is here to stay and that we are handicapping students by not teaching technology in the classroom.

Mrs. Cassidy mentions that they do not use last names which is smart but the tip that I really thought was fabulous was not matching up pictures to names. I hope to use all of her techniques and I am sure that I will watch this video more than once as well as keep up with her blog so that I can see what she is doing in the classroom.

I am sure that I will encounter a lot of impediments including: parents and administration not wanting students on the internet, counties not allowing access to certain website from the school network and I am sure there are many others that I won't know until I run into the brick wall. I would address these issues by starting with administration and direct them to other schools, blogs, videos and anything else that I can find to support my position.

By using Mrs. Cassidy's approach I think that my students would be interested, excited and on their way to becoming a true learner. Which in my opinion is the basis of education. Mrs. Cassidy's students are already way ahead of students in our area who have not even touched all of the resources that are available to teachers and students on the internet.

Comments 4 Kids #4

2010-07-12T00:31:00.004-05:00

Turtle and Bunny

My Comment:
My name is Martha Yim and I have just watched your video as an assignment for Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I have to say that I loved it. I loved the different style of presenting the video that you used and the John Wayne type accent. I can't wait to try it out myself, the video that is not the accent. Thank you for listing the application name. Great Job!

Smartboard Presentation

2010-07-08T14:35:00.012-05:00

Ashley and I had a wonderful time making this video. We hope you enjoy.

Blog Post #10

2010-07-07T21:17:00.011-05:00

7th grader's PLE vs my PLN

Well, I have to admit that the 7th grader has a better grasp on her PLE than I do on my PLN. I am still in the process of gathering resources to use but I guess that is a never ending process. The 7th grader's PLE is very interactive and very well organized collection of sites and information. I aspire to have a PLN that is not only a source of information but a tool to gather, collaborate and share information as well. I hope to get there soon.

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

What's my sentence? A sentence is so short. Can you really sum up a person in one sentence? I suppose you can because it has been done. I don't think this is something that you can come up with on the fly. It's funny, if you had asked me this question back in 1997 when I was graduating from college I could have easily told you that my sentence was, I WILL change the world, being naive can be such a wonderful thing. My sentence now is not completely different only brought into perspective with a slight focus change. This is a sentence that takes time and thought to come up with. So after much consideration this is my sentence.

I will raise two children who will be compassionate, caring, generous and true learners.

Was I better today than yesterday? Being the parent of two young children this is something that I am faced with daily. Everyday I see something that I want to change the next day. Something that I either want to stop doing or start doing with my children. At this point in my life my children are my motivation. I want to be the best mother possible because you can't start over with your children the way that you can with a career, you can only make changes as you go. I want to be a spectacular teacher for a few reasons but the major reason is for my children. I want their school to be the best and I want to be part of that movement. So, was I better today than yesterday? No, probably not but I certainly wanted to be. The question is not difficult, it is the action behind the question that is the mountain to overcome.

2 Person Discussion Podcast

2010-07-05T22:38:00.004-05:00

(Click the image to hear our podcast)

Martha Yim and Ashley Johnson: Technologically Literate Teacher

We published our podcast on iTunes. I encourage you to try this is you haven't already. This is not a perfect podcast. This was more of a learning experience than I expected it to be. Publishing to iTunes is not the easiest thing in the world if you have not done it before and you get a much better idea of how silly you sound after you listen to it. After hearing this I plan to make a lot of changes to any future podcasts that I attempt but I would not trade this one for anything because it was a great lesson.

Comments 4 Kids #3

2010-07-05T22:17:00.005-05:00

Mr. McClung's World: Reconstruction Review

My Comment:
Hello, I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class and I will be commenting on your post as part of an assignment for the class.

Your class was very interesting. I have never seen a method like yours, where after some discussion the students went into a quick session of review with their peers. I can see how that would be very effective. I think what you are doing is wonderful. I love the fact that the students have so much class information at their fingertips. I look forward to reading more of your blog and keeping up with all that you are doing in the classroom.

Blog Post #9

2010-07-02T19:09:00.008-05:00

Morgan Bayda: An Open Letter to Educators

Although Morgan is a recent graduate and I graduated in 1997 we have some similar experiences. I too had problems staying awake in classes where I was only lectured to and not engaged in any way. I loved any class where I was encouraged to participate and collaborate with my peers.

The video by Dan Brown was very interesting. He is obviously a very intelligent young man but unfortunately the system has not changed yet and I feel that his dropping out of college is going to pose a problem when he attempts to get a job. Back in 1996 my brother, who only had a high school diploma and one year of community college was able to get a job for a tech company several states away due to his desire and passion to learn what he loved. He has worked very hard and is a self taught engineer. He has worked for many large companies including Sony, Apple, Cisco, Itochu and Juniper Networks. What my brother has accomplished would be very very difficult today without a college degree. It used to be that if you had a college degree you were guaranteed a job. Now bachelor's degrees are a dime a dozen and to get that same job you need a master's degree.

Her volunteer work has taught her lessons that could not have been learned any other way and she is lucky to be living in a time where she can use technology so easily to find opportunities to participate in. When I graduated I would have loved an opportunity to do something like that and even though in a lifetime that was not so long ago in the age of technology it was forever.

The liberation of information has completely changed how students seek information and this is true for both myself and Morgan. It is so easy to find other people on the internet who have the same views and opinions that you can learn from.

Morgan's attitude towards learning and her experiences will carry her far. I hope that she keeps blogging so that I can continue to follow your work.

Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)

ALEX is basically a way to connect all of the school districts and teachers in the state of Alabama. Alex provides teachers a way to create and share lesson plans, as well as, view lesson plans from other teachers. It offers websites that might be useful based on subject area, professional learning opportunities where teachers or administrators can enroll in classes and interactive activities. ALEX also has a space for podcasts that have been created and submitted from schools within the state.

I might use ALEX occasionally however, I don't see it being my main source of information. I could see it being useful to see what other schools in my area are doing but I would be more likely to get information from other sources on the internet. The site does offer lesson plans but minimal compared to what is available all over the internet. Apple has a policy of hiring people and not encouraging them to stay at the company long term. They want their employees to leave, go out into the world, learn something new and then come back. I feel this way about searching for information to use in my learning journey and what I use in the classroom. I don't want to gain the majority of my information from my state. I want to see what teachers are doing all over the world and learn from them.

Technology changes so fast I can't see this site being able to keep up with all that is going on and all of the wonderful tools that are out there for teachers. I noticed that most of the application tutorials that they offer are for applications which have to be purchased, all of which have a free alternative on the internet.

Just from taking this one EDM 310 course I have more resources at my fingertips than are offered on this website. Granted it does offer some links that I plan to explore and I might check back once in a while to see if there is anything new but I don't see this as a wonderful site if you are already on the technology track. However for those teachers who are not jumping on the technology band wagon and see this as more of a struggle this site might prove to be a very gentle introduction.

C4T #4, 5, 6

2010-06-30T23:08:00.005-05:00

What's In a .com Name

Mrs. Cassidy, I have just read your post as an assignment for Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I have had many domains over the years, two of which I still own mybluecow.com and bluecowbaby.com but until reading your post it never occurred to me to register my own name. I just looked up one that I used to own many years ago teachtechnology.com and the price is listed at $1600.00. Boy I should have kept that one. I just might have to register my name as well now. Thank you for the intriguing post. All of my posts will be summarized on my blog in a couple of weeks.

Let's Do It: Planing for Tech in the Primary Classroom

What a wonderful presentation. If any teacher was skeptical about using technology in the classroom, all they have to do is watch this video. To see such very young children talking about their experiences with skype, blogs, twitter, wiki's and using laptops and video cameras, it is just wonderful. Technology has truly bridged the gap between the various continents to make learning a world wide opportunity.

If You Give a Child a Tool...

After reading your post I checked out Storybird and it seems like a wonderful application. I love the fact that they would not publish the story with the word "killed" in it. I can't wait to give it a try. Thank you for sharing all of the wonderful things that you are doing in your classroom.

Blog Post #8

2010-06-30T21:27:00.008-05:00

What I've Learned this Year by Mr. McClung

Mr. McClung starts off by telling us that many teachers have forgotten, who their true audience is, and are not doing the students justice by teaching lessons geared at getting the approval of their superiors versus their students. He goes on to discuss being flexible and the disappointment of not being able to teach that perfect lesson the way that he had it written, holding students to expectations that they can't meet, not being afraid of technology, listening to students and being a life long learner.

I agree with McClung. First of all, I agree that some teachers have forgotten how to deliver a lesson that would best benefit the students rather than creating a lesson that is to impress superiors or the norm. I also agree that content comprehension is sometimes missed or passed over too quickly. I have a different opinion about trying to create the perfect lesson. I don't think that a perfect lesson exists and I look at a lesson as simply a guide not a path set in stone. We create lesson plans to keep us on track so that we don't forget anything.

Expectation, this is just a nasty word. You cannot expect people to live up to a certain standard or you will always be disappointed and so will they. You need to encourage students to set and reach for goals but expecting it is the wrong way to go. You want your students to reach higher and if there is a set back that is all that it is but failing to meet an expectation is devastating. I completely agree on the last two of not being afraid of technology and being a life long learner. What else should you EXPECT from a teacher. I will probably be let down because that is not the case.

U.S. Presidents-Timeline

2010-06-27T23:32:00.015-05:00

Blog Post #7

2010-06-27T19:59:00.010-05:00

Dr. Randy Pausch lives on in Alice!

Randy Pausch-Last Lecture

I have watched this video many times since it first aired and it always tears me up for 2 reasons. First, I have children and I can't imagine the pain that that mother must feel having lost her husband and for their children who are so young that they will probably not remember their father. Secondly, because pancreatic cancer is what took my dad in 2001.

This entire video is a guide to Dr. Pausch's children on how to lead their lives. This is the way that all people need to lead their lives. I have taken many statements from the video that I felt were pertinent and would be beneficial to any parent or teacher.

I think the part of the story about Randy dreaming of becoming a professional football player was very important. Randy tells us, " I learned more from failing at that dream than I learned from all of the ones that I accomplished." Failure is our ultimate road to success.

"When you are screwing up and no one tells you, you are in a bad place because that means that everyone has given up." Think of your students who are struggling. You may have kids in your class that are screwing up and other teachers have given up on them. These are the ones that you need to make sure you encourage, support and assist so that they know you do care.

"The brick walls are there for a reason. All right, the brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough." This statement shows that if you truly want something bad enough you will make it happen.

"Enable the dreams of others." What better way to do this than by being a teacher. I want to be able to show kids that their dreams can become real and if they do not have any dreams I want to show them that dreams are possible.

The students in Dr. Pausch's class worked hard and had a great time. Learning can and needs to be fun.

Dr. Pausch did things in a new way, he used completely hands on activities to inspire and excite his students.

Students need to be able to be self reflective and work with others.

head fake-"The best way to teach someone something is to have them think they are learning something else." Learning does not have to be a boring and painful process.

From a parents point of view: Think before you scold your kids for some of the things that they do. Are they doing something that will hurt them or someone else. If not then does it really matter? Let your children paint on the walls who is it going to hurt.

As a teacher you need to be excited and have fun, lead by example.

Feedback is a good thing cherish it and use it to become better.

Always show gratitude to those who have helped and inspired you.

"Don't complain just work harder." Complaining will get you know where.

"Be good at something it makes you valuable."

Think positive and find the good in everyone. It is there if you just wait long enough.

Comments 4 Kids #2

2010-06-27T19:34:00.008-05:00

Pt. England School-Room 10
Hiwarau's Volcano Animation

To watch Hiwarau's annimation just click the link above.

My comment on Hiwarau's video:

Hiwarau,
You did an excellent job with your animation. I would love to know how you did that. I hope that I will have students of my own soon and I can teach them how to do an animation like you did. Keep up the great work.

Mac vs PC Collaborative Project

2010-06-24T20:48:00.006-05:00

Martha Yim (Mac), Gina Pace (vs) and Ashley Johnson (PC)
We had a great time creating our collaborative project. Click on the link above to listen to our project.

Comments 4 Kids #1

2010-06-23T17:17:00.008-05:00

Pt. England School-Room 10
An Earthquake by Sela

To watch Sela's video just click the link above.

My comment on Sela's video:

Sela,
You did a great job. I really like the example that you gave about a jigsaw puzzle. Your example makes it so much easier to imagine the tectonic plates.

PLN (Personal Learning Network)

2010-06-23T16:20:00.012-05:00

I have started my PLN with the various blogs that we have been directed to during this EDM 310 course. I will use these as a jumping off point to learn about other blogs and websites that interest me. I am mainly looking for information that relates to new and creative ideas and tools in the classroom and anything else that I happen to find interesting. This is just the beginning and I expect it to grow rapidly as this class proceeds.

Here is an image from my PLN.

Here is a link to various sites that I use for my PLN. This list is ever growing and changing so check back often. My PLN

Blog Post 6

2010-06-19T15:28:00.017-05:00

Richard Miller: This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2

You know, now I understand why my grandmother had so much trouble operating her DirecTV. The technology is changing and growing at such an astounding rate. The possibilities for our schools are endless. One item that sparked my interest while watching this video was the document that had a video about Dr. King embedded in it. How wonderful would it have been when you were back in elementary school or middle school and while you were reading your text book you could come to a point where you just hit a button and watched a video on the same topic.

I am glad to know that there are people out there in the world who are thinking of these things and trying to figure out how to make them a reality for our entire educational system. Did anyone else notice that he was using a Mac?

There were 3 key points at the end of the video that sum it all up, we need inspiring teachers, creativity and collaborative learning environments. These same three items are true for all teachers even today. Without these we are failing our students. Am I prepared to write with multimedia? I am definitely up to the challenge. Will my students be able to do this? They will if I do my job and give them the foundation that they need.

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler

I am going to start with the question. "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" All students need someone who can guide them, demonstrate how to interact with experts on a professional level, show them the difference between good legitimate information and junk, how to verify that a resource is acceptable or reliable and finally what to do with all of the information that has been collected. These are all requirements of a teacher with a traditional student and there is no difference for a networked student.

It is wonderful that students now have the technology and the opportunity to learn in such a way. I feel that it offers the students a much more intriguing and useful means of education that they will truly remember and not forget the minute the class is over. I am absolutely on my way to being prepared to be the teacher of a networked student. I think that connectivism offers a much more rich learning environment.

I look forward to hearing the results of trying this out in a middle school science class. I imagine that the kids will thrive and remember the class forever. I am sure that Mrs. Drexler will encounter many obstacle so I am excited to see how she overcomes those. I am adding Mrs. Drexler's blog to my PLN.

Toward a New Future of Whatever by Michael Wesch

I definitely think that our connections are deep and that was obvious in some of the video clips that Mr. Wesch showed. As far as me personally it is much easier to discuss topics or have conversations with people using the various tools like email and You Tube because I can proof what I say before I say it and if I don't like it I can delete it. I can go through my own thoughts and say everything completely. I don't leave something out that I wanted to say and if I do I can just redo it.

However, I need social contact and I don't mean through Facebook. I need to talk to people. So I definitely see the need for people to use all of the great tools that we have available but we do not need to seclude ourselves. Talking into a camera is NOT talking to a person. That is why I came to class on Tuesday. I needed to see, talk, discuss and participate with other humans not just my machine.

Students will have experiences similar to mine and different than mine I am sure but I will encourage my students to have a balance between what they do online and what they do offline. Students still need to know how to interact with people not just a computer.

Assignment # 6

2010-06-17T22:07:00.014-05:00

(notice in the image the teacher is still standing at the front of the class lecturing not interacting with the students)

Critiques of Smart Boards

This is a blog that I found that was created by a teacher and he shares various ways that you can use an Interactive White Board in your classroom.

Teachers Love Smart Boards

I have absolutely no experience with Smartboards other than what I have just read and watched while researching this topic. I had always thought that the Smartboard must bring something valuable to the classroom at the rate they were being added to my son's school. You do not talk to a teacher anywhere these days that either does not have one in their own class or some in their school. I did ask a teacher at my sons' school what the benefit of the Smartboard was and of course the number one answer was that it was interactive.

After reading the two sites Why Smartboards Are a Dumb Initiative and I Hate Interactive Whiteboards I see that the two do state some of the same things but is your view on these things good or bad. Here are a few:

Good:
1. Interactive
2. Colorful
3. Keeps students interested

Bad
1. Interactive-there are many many ways for kids to be interactive in a lesson that do not cost 2K per classroom and can also include many other lessons like collaborative work.

2. Colorful-Wow, didn't know that this was something special to technology. Walk into any classroom and the learning materials that are taped to the walls are ALL COLORFUL.

3. Keeps students interested-They are interested because it is a shift from the normal daily regiment of the teacher lecturing to the kids. I remember having the same interest when the teacher would turn on the projector and put something need up on the screen. I guarantee you if you offered a hands on experiment they would be even more excited and interested.

Based on what I have just learned and no I am not an authority on Smartboards by any means and I have not actually used one myself but I just don't see how they are worth 2K. It seems that the money that schools are dumping into Smartboards could be used in a better way. How about paying for training on using online technology in the classroom or buying a projector to connect to the classroom computer. Wouldn't that be almost the same thing and a lot cheaper. My summary is that the Smartboards seem like an over glorified power point presentation.

Here is a link from my C4T that addresses IWB.
Moving at the Speed of Creativity
A few statments jumped out at me from the video like the woman who states that she can look for lessons online, reuse lessons, recreate things as she needs to reteach them, the man who says he can create a lesson this year and then build on it next year and the ability to see what else is out there instead of being tied to a text book. Have any of these people ever seen a computer? Those were absolutely the most pitiful reasons for using a Smartboard. They could have been doing all of those things with a regular classroom computer and I am sure that they have one if they have a Smartboard.

The Chipper Series

EDM 310 for Dummies

After watching these two very funny videos there are two videos that I would love to do.

The first one concerns the fact that students do not seem to know how to go out and find information on their own they are waiting for someone to give it to them. Even though Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class is completely hands on I see the same thing happening here. Students are waiting for instruction on how to do something rather than finding the information for themselves.

The second video would be about elementary students and how they would thrive from technology in the classroom not just the computer lab.

Assignment #5

2010-06-16T13:08:00.020-05:00

My short video: Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman

TimeToast Timeline

Blog Post #3

Eagle's Nest Radio & Class Blog

It is so exciting to hear these students as they tell the story of Cesar. I love the fact that they all dressed up and used that picture to aid in the illustration of their story as well as to entice people to listen.

I do wonder if the students are getting an opportunity to see how their audio and pictures come together to create the podcast or if the teacher is doing all of the behind the scenes work. No matter, I think that it is great that they are getting their feet wet in technology at such a young age. Could you imagine doing a podcast when you were in elementary school? I also wonder why they have not reached out to classrooms and teachers from around the world to share their podcasts with. From the comments that I read they are mostly from other teachers inside their school.

Integrating ICT into the MFL classroom by Joe Dale

I loved this podcast. I thought that it gave wonderful examples of how podcasting could be used in the classroom including the students and principals thoughts on the idea. Mr. Dale includes a lot of great links on his blog page to assist teachers.

I really was unaware that pod casting was already being used as much as it is in the various school systems. From a parent's point of view it makes me want to move to an area of the country where more technology is being used in the school not just smart boards. I also had not thought about having a podcast scripted out for the students to be able to tell a story. I was thinking of it more as using podcasts for lessons like in the end of the video where the student was sick and could not come to school or students telling their experiences with various lesson but scripted I had not considered. See you learn something new everyday.

Practical Principals

I loved the fact that they are principals and they are podcasting. Fabulous! I can't imagine that any of the principals in Baldwin County even know how to podcast. However, at 6 minutes into the podcast I just wanted to bang my head against the wall. It was like talk radio where they were really just talking to each other and not providing any relevant information to the audience at all. I really don't care that you had key lime pie on your birthday.

Finally, 11 minutes into the podcast they started giving real information concerning their school district and technology. I love the visual aspect of their blog page. It is clean, clear and easy to read. I would really be interested in attending a teacher tech conference to teach and learn from other teachers about podcasts and other technology in the classroom.

Curriki

This site as well as all of the others do contain great resources for teachers who want to learn how to create a podcast and the various ways that they can be used in the classroom. I did like the fact that you could find information by various categories like subject. However, I had a hard time getting into the information due to the overwhelming appearance of the page. It does not matter if you have wonderful content if no one is going to look at it.

The Curriki homepage has way too much on the front page. Keep in mind this is a webpage not a blog. You scroll down for what seems minutes to find the end of the homepage. The information all be it valuable is very very bland. Chances are I would not stay on this page long enough to find any information, I would skip on to the next that was more visually appealing. The entire site reads more like a text book than a webpage.

Overall Summary

My overall opinion of these sites and podcasts are that they all provide a lot of very useful information for any teacher who decides that they want to take a stab at including more technology in their classroom. I can also tell you that if a teacher is remotely apprehensive about technology this is all going to be very overwhelming. That is why I feel that it is so important for the sites to be well organized, simple and visually appealing. I really don't think that students are the only ones that don't like reading text books so if your site looks and feels like a text book do you really think these apprehensive teachers are going to dive in.

I learned a few things from my review of these sites including that I can do audio with GarageBand which I have but have never even opened. I also learned about scripting stories for children to read for their podcasts. I am sure there are a hundred more things that I could learn from these sites because they all offer so much information.

Google Docs Form

2010-06-13T23:26:00.012-05:00

(click on the image to view all responses)

Assignment #4

2010-06-13T21:39:00.013-05:00

Below you will find my reaction to 3 videos and 1 blog post. To watch the videos or view the posts click on the title of each section.

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff, Please?

Okay I have to say this is targeted at the parents who absolutely just don't have enough experience with technology. Their kids know more than they do. It is called being a good parent. There are many applications that you can install on your machine that will let you keep tabs on what your kids are looking at. Sit with your kids while they are online. I keep my computer on the kitchen counter so that I can see everything that is going on. Disconnect from the internet unless you are sitting with them. Install child safe browsers like Kidzui. There are many websites that offer great information about child safety on the internet including Netsmartz.org

Dr. McLeod lists descriptions under his name including idea generator and catalyst. Both of these describe what he is doing with the post "Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff, Please?". Dr. McLeod is showing the extreme, which some people do believe that the internet is all bad but what is going to happen if you don't teach it to them. All of the ones who are not scared but actually embrace the internet as a tool and use it respectfully will be far ahead of those who do not. The internet is here to stay and you might as well get comfortable with it now. Use it respectfully! Watch your children and teach them what is safe and what is not but always check up on them. They are still just children.

The iSchool Initative

The iSchool Initiative while it might seem innovative, the idea of a more virtual school type environment has been around for a while. There are a few initial problems that I see with the iSchool Initiative. First of all, the Initiative has changed gears since the release of the iPad which is now their focus. The iPad is in a completely different price category than the iPod Touch at least for now since it is new. The $600 price tag that Mr. Allen has estimated would be the savings per student would be a wash considering that the iPad entry level model starts at $499 each. Secondly, I feel that the technology should be used in the classroom at the right time where there is a purpose. What happens if a student takes that iPad home and a little brother breaks it? Who will be responsible for replacing that one because there are many many families in public school who could not afford to do that and then would they just be out for the rest of the year. Not to mention this would take a massive change in mindset of current teachers and I don't think that is going to be easy to do.

While I do think that the iSchool Initiative is a lofty idea there are other options that I feel are more reasonable. The school could purchase Apple MacBook Learning Labs or iPod Learning Labs. Teachers can bring the computers out when it is appropriate for a particular lesson but they are left at school where they are protected. There is a virtual public school already online and working called K12. This program is associated with a traditional public school but all of the courses are offered online. K12 has highly educated and highly experienced professionals creating online curriculum for the various courses. They even have a virtual science lab that is very impressive. Students have the benefit of meeting with their teacher and classmates at various times throughout the year. So my assessment of the iSchool initiative is that it still has a lot of hurdles to overcome.

Lost Generation

I have to say that I absolutely loved the technique. It was a treat to watch. As far as the lost generation, I feel that we have to teach kids to take risk, to take the road that is not always the easiest but in return has the highest rewards. Teaching is a selfless profession, you are paid very little for what you do and receive very little recognition. After being on my first job for a few months I asked my boss how he could continue doing what he did. He was baffled and did not really understand what I was asking. I asked him how he could continue to do a job that just made someone else more money. Keep in mind that I had studied to be a teacher. Not to make money but because it was a passion. It was what I was supposed to do. I wanted to change the world. (I was only 22). After graduating, I moved across the country with a round trip ticket and gave myself 3 months to find a job or I would return to Alabama and begin teaching. I took a risk and in the end it turned out to be the best decision of my life.

Students these days are not given the opportunity to fail and try again. When these kids enter into marriages as soon as they start having trouble they rush to get a divorce. They were never taught to work through problems to figure things out to try again. All of these thing apply pretty much to everything. If we fail in some environmental disaster then try again, take some risk, work through the problem. You will eventually find the answer. As teachers we have to lay this foundation NOW!

Eric Whitaker's Virtual Choir

Absolutely amazing! To think that those people are in their homes all over the world and singing the same song together so beautifully in a choir. Only in the 21st century would something like this be possible. This makes me think of my dad who died in 2001. He loved new gadgets and learning about new technology. What would he think if he could see something like this. All of the things that have been created in such a short time span. He would have loved them all. Your mind cannot even imagine what you will see next.

Google Presentations

2010-06-09T08:14:00.008-05:00

Google Presentation using Screentoaster

Screencasts and videos online

Separate Google Presentation and Audio using Audacity

C4T 1, 2, 3 Summary

2010-06-08T20:24:00.021-05:00

C4T #1

Want to Inspire Creativity? Invite LOTS of opportunities to CREATE

I have just read your post as part of Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class. I loved reading your post. Initially while reading it I did not think that the students using the quantity method would come out with the best pot. I was imagining the quality pot students to begin their pot and methodically work and work until it was the best. I have always believed that failure is a part of learning but wow is it a hard part to take sometimes. After reading your blog I see more clearly the reasoning behind failure and how it makes you better. I can relate to the statement about quality time with your kids because we definitely have more quality time when there is a quantity of time. I completely agree that art should be a part of learning through out the process and not just a cumulative at the end. I look forward to reading more. Thank you for the post.

As part of my class assignment I will be summarizing my visits to your blog with a post on my blog on June 30.

My Blog: http://yimmarthaedm310.blogspot.com/
Class Blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com/

C4T #2

Podcast350: Leading Schools with Digital Vision in a Bubblesheet World (part 1 of 2)

I have just read your listened to your podcast as part of Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class.It was very exciting to hear such a wonderful speaker discussing technology in our schools. I laughed out loud at some parts and thoroughly enjoyed the entire podcast. It is wonderful to hear that there is a huge movement concerning creativity. Sir Ken Robinson’s lecture at the TED conference was wonderful. I look forward to more great podcasts.

As part of my class assignment I will be summarizing my visits to your blog with a post on my blog on June 30.

My Blog: http://yimmarthaedm310.blogspot.com/
Class Blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com/

Wesley Fryer
June 17th, 2010 - 00:28

Thanks so much for commenting and letting me know you found the audio recording worthwhile, Martha! I’m honored Dr. Strange is recommending my podcasts.

Sir Ken Robinson will be one of MANY great speakers addressing creativity at the World Creativity Forum in Oklahoma City this coming November. I had seen his “Schools Kill Creativity” TedTalk a few years ago, and that may be the one you’ve seen too. TED recently released a follow-up presentation to that one titled, “Bring on the Learning Revolution” which is also great.

I heard Sir Ken in person in February 2009 at the ITSC conference in Portland, and that was a real thrill. He inspires me to take action to promote creativity, and that is what our Storychasers project is all about. It’s so wonderful to empower others to creatively share their voices and perspectives with technology, and to make time to listen to those ideas.

I wish you the best of luck in your educational career! There’s so much we can learn and share together!

My Reply:

Mr. Fryer,

Thank you for the second Sir Ken Robinson video it was just as wonderful as the first. My brother was actually working the TED conference the first year that Sir Ken Robinson was there. I look forward to more interesting topics to come.

C4T #3

A visual contrast in old and new

What a fantastic photo. How often do you get to see the contrast between the old and the new. Instant communication has absolutely changed our world. I can't imagine living without being able to see what is going on around the world from my living room.

I realize after my posts with Mr. Fryer that I am not using enough links in my posts. He has wonderful content on his site and I have added his blog to my PLN.

Assignment #3

2010-06-06T22:54:00.027-05:00

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

Dr. Strange's class EDM 310 is a perfect example to go along with this video. How would you feel about this class if you had to attend several times a week and listen to Dr. Strange lecture about creating blogs, HTML code and Google presentations? What would you think if you were required to purchase a book and read chapters pertaining to these same topics? Would you be bored? What would you think if you had to put in a report the information that you are able to post to your blog for your assignments? This class would be very very different if it were not presented in the manner in which it is by allowing students to be hands on and participate in class in a manner that is more fitting like using the blogs. In the video the students are telling you what they are doing with their time during the day that is actually engaging to them. Students should not have to conform to an antiquated way of teaching instead the teachers should be conforming to the tools that the students are using. The teachers giving lectures are not utilizing these methods to present the information in a current way. They are using an outdated method and can't seem to see what is appealing to the students and a better way to get their information across.

When I attended and graduated from college in 1997 I was the only person in my class who arrived with a laptop to take notes instead of pen and paper. After graduation when I moved to California and began working in the tech industry I did not have any trouble getting my first job at Concentric Network because the internet business was still new and you did not have people graduating from college with degrees that were appropriate for what they were being hired to do. You jumped in with both feet and learned as quickly as you possibly to stay on top.

All of the really huge technology geniuses of our time created their products outside of a classroom. The classrooms of today teach students to memorize but they do not give way to any kind of innovative thinking. Students are not taught how to think outside of the box and to create something new.

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

Mrs. Hines makes a point in her post that should be most obvious but sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees. Teachers are in a rut and and many do not want to change. To truly incorporate technology into our classroom and be successful we need a change in mindset with the way that we teach students. This change needs to occur at all levels of education. Mrs. Hines points out in her post that if you give a teacher technology but they are not innovative in their methods then you have just wasted your money.

I agree with Mrs. Hines in all aspects. Teachers do need to be voracious in their attainment of knowledge concerning education and teaching methods. After being in Dr. Strange's course for only a few days I wish that all of the teachers at my son's elementary school were required to take this course or some other course like it but would that really do any good. Are his teacher's innovative? I certainly hope that they are.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

Do I think that teacher's need to be technologically literate? Yes, but the next question is what does technologically literate mean to me? I do feel that it is extremely important for teachers to be technologically literate being that almost all jobs require some level of technology to be used on a daily basis so why would we allow teachers to not be technologically literate. Teaching is the only profession where you have job security and you are allowed to become stagnant in your methods.

Now, does being technologically literate mean that I think that all teachers need to be able to code UNIX? Absolutely not. To me being technologically literate means that you can use technology in your classroom in an innovative way to make students become critical thinkers and experimenters. Teachers need to provide students with the know how to figure out something that they have never faced before. Teachers need to use technology to lay a foundation of information from which students can build on the rest of their lives. That is what being technologically literate means to me.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

The social media count just shows us how far behind as an educational system we are and that teachers have got to get in gear and join the wave that is so clearly our future. Our students are becoming bored more so than ever before because now kids are starting on computers at the age of 2 where most of our current teachers did not send their first email until their 20's. Just as an example my son is learning how to sell things on eBay to make a little extra money and he just turned 7.

Things are not the way they used to be and therefore teaching should not be the same either. If teachers are not willing to change, if they cannot learn a new way of doing something then it might be time for them to retire. We as a population have to keep pace or we will fall behind and it starts with what we are teaching our kids.

Assignment #2

2010-06-01T23:49:00.029-05:00

Wordle

Below you will find my reaction to 4 videos. To watch the videos click on the title of each section.

Did You Know 3.0 by Karl Fisch

Shocking! This is my reaction. Of course, you know that technology is ever changing and at a rapid rate however when you see it in the context of facts, which have been gathered over the years of the technological age and put all together, it is in fact shocking. People are the ones who are driving this rapid change in technology. We want more, need more, expect more out of all of the tools that we use therefore we are in a constant state of creation on how to get those things out of our tools whether that be a car that is more efficient and better for the earth, a computer that is faster and will hold more data or a telephone line that can push more data faster.

Our educational system cannot keep up with the progression at such a staggering rate because it is not priority. Other countries want to be on the cutting edge of technology, they push their students and encourage their students to create these new and exciting products and the U.S. is getting farther and farther behind. The majority of other countries teach English by default to their students knowing that they will have to understand more than one language to be on top in the technology race, while the U.S. expects everyone else to learn their language and puts little emphasis on a second language.

Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needlemen

Mr. Winkle visits places such as the hospital and sees all of the technology, which he does not understand or recognize but then when he enters the school everything is as he remembers. It is familiar. If the entire world around him was not familiar then how could school possibly be? This is the place that is supposed to teach the world. The world is ever changing and why should the classroom be any different. Processes change, tools change, curriculum changes and teachers need to change as well to address the current trend in technology so that students are prepared for the world, which we do live in today.

Can we teach them everything that they need to know, no but we can give them a foundation from which they can successfully build. We have to teach what is current at the moment so that kids will have the knowledge and ability to add on to that information as new technology arises. That is the part that was missing from the school that Mr. Winkle visited. There was no foundation being put in place.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

I absolutely unequivocally agree with Ken Robinson and have for a long time. I feel that the arts are as equally important to the education of the human body as reading and mathematics. Humans are whole beings not just heads as Mr. Robinson used in his example. Therefore we need to educate the entire body. I am currently feeling this frustration with my own son who is in the 1st grade. He loves to draw, sing and dance among other things but due to the under emphasis of the arts in the public school system he only gets 30 minutes of enrichment every week.

Due to the lack of arts programs in the schools parents are resorting to over scheduling their children after school and during summers to try to fit that missing gap in education into their children's lives. As much as I agree with Sir Robinson unfortunately I don't see anything concerning this topic changing in our public school systems during my children's duration.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

This video is a perfect scenario as to how our current schools should view and use technology. Students should have the opportunity to connect with other kids from around the world to share, learn and experience what is available to them today. In the video Mrs. Davis does a wonderful job of requiring the kids to google information to learn about new terms. If you can give a student a basic understanding of applications and how they function then when they are encountered with an application that they have never used they will have the foundation to figure it out.

It is my opinion that the classroom, which Mrs. Davis has established offers students the most realistic educational setting that I have ever seen. When the students in her class leave to enter college or even after to a career they will have an understanding of how to work with people of varying personalities not only in their department but different people from around the world. They will have a basis of knowledge on how to work through an application that they are not familiar with and be able to come out successfully on the other side.