Farewell Classmates!

I have enjoyed the journey of completing this class with you all! Goodbye! Hope to see you guys around!

-Jessica

What I Have Come Away With After EDM 310

Between my blog, the presentations we did, working in Google docs, the Comment for Kids assignments, and being introduced to Foliotek, I have truly come away with a substantial amount of new and useful information. I enjoyed the Comment for Kids assignments the most because I felt like I was really making a difference in those kids' days and their outlook on learning. My blog has actually been fun to keep up with and share my ideas and opinions. My very first podcast was created this semester and I must say I really enjoyed making it! At first I was a little nervous, but eventually I saw that these were useful because you can communicate and receive opinions on all different types of subjects. When I initially chose Education to be my major I did not think about how important the role of technology advances would play a part in it. Luckily, after taking this class I know the importance of it. It was extremely exciting to be able to skype with people and students around the globe! I really loved doing that and I feel like it was great motivation. I plan on researching new technology advances and sharing what I find on my blog. I will definitely keep that maintained so that I can continue to communicate with other students and helpful resources. I definitely feel like I am "tech literate" and I am thankful for that because initially I didn't even see the importance of it!

Important Things A Teacher Must Know!

Out of these three list, the two I found to be most important were Seven Stupid Mistakes Teachers make with Technology and Seven Brilliant Things Teachers Do With Technology. I chose these because Mr. Johnson brings up some excellent points and some good food for thought. You can check these lists out Here. Mr. Johnson basically points out seven stupid things teachers do with the access of technology. I agreed with the one about not backing up your data the most! Probably because I have made this mistake before myself. Also, he is right about teachers really needing to watch their students when they are working on the computer because kids will be kids and they do not need to be exposed to things they shouldn't be looking at.I also agree with the seventh one, that it is foolish to think that technology will go away.
According to the seven brilliant things teachers do with technology, kids can better channel their inner creativity and I am a big believer in this. I think that the use of computers is a very brilliant resource and it can only benefit the students. I also agree with the positivity of it putting kids in touch with people of other backgrounds and learning styles. This exposes the students to new ways of looking and comprehending things.

My Personal Learning Network (PLN) Project 6

Goodness, I have absolutely learned so much in this class. My opinion about the importance of technology has changed tremendously! In this EDM class the most frequent form of technology I have used has been my blog! I have enjoyed posting my opinions of others' work's and also having them share their opinions with me! To be given the chance to communicate with people around the globe such as Mr. Dale, meet with a class of kids from Auckland, New Zealand, and meet a very smart little girl named Kaia and her father could not have been done without the use of technology advances. I am happy I got to share my thoughts with others about these experiences through my blog. When I become a teacher I would definitely like to incorporate the use of a class blog and I will continue to blog my opinions in the future. I encourage others to do the same. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to watch all of the great videos posted by Mr. Wesch and also to get to view the wonderful web page created by Dr. Alice Christie to name just a few. You can view all the wonderful videos and also my reactions to those videos Here! Your opinions and comments are always welcome!

Project 11 Presentation

My project 11 presentation was done with my classmate LaChandra Lett and we focused on the ever popular debate: Tech Literate Teachers vs. Non-Tech Literate Teachers. During this presentation we talked and reinforced the fact that our school and education systems are changing and that teachers need to be the first to recognize and adjust so that they and their students will benefit rather than fall behind. We put up a few background slides made on Google Documents Presentation and talked about each of the slides which were titled: Benefits of Tech Literate Teachers and Possible Reason Someone Might Not Be Willing to Update Technologically. We then discussed all aspects of why or why not a teachers would decide to become or not to become tech literate. I think we and the class found that there really is not going to be much of a choice for our teaching generation, we all need to face the fact that technology will be prevelant in our society and most likely in our classrooms.

At the Teacher's Desk

Wow, I found at the teachers desk to be an extremely useful source! Here teachers can share ideas and collaborate with each other. You can check it out for yourself Here!

This website is very useful and seems to be a good place to turn to for information, insight, or a helpful hint. The information is easily obtained and it really seems like they are truly there to help if you need assistance with anything, especially any technical assistance. All teachers should partake in this especially if they are not exactly tech savvy, because this sight really seems like it could help turn that around and benefit the teachers and the students.

I thought the part about the Banning Pencils and Crayons to be interesting...or a bit scary! :) All in all what I found at The Teacher's Desk was positive and something I will refer back to for sure!

Michael Wesch: Toward a New Future of Whatever

This video by Michael Wesch, once again, was very interesting to me and I could really relate to what he was saying. You can watch it HereHis idea, and what he says energizes him, is the idea of Media Ecology. This says that media mediates our conversations and I agree. Television and the way people speak on television directly influence our culture and even our everyday lives, at least mine anyway. MTV was a great example because this type of television definitely influenced my youth and many of my friends' youth. My college experience is similar to what he describes, I thought the brief history of whatever was funny and it was true although it took me a minute to really let all the meanings of the different time periods set in. He makes great points and good examples. I think everyone should give it a listen.

Why Is It So Important to Post Your Work?

Posting your work is so beneficial to everyone that is involved. I think that there is a lot of importance and a lot to be gained from posting your own work and having others post their work. I can give four great examples of what I am talking about:




The first is a site by Dr. Alice Christie. You can view this site Click Here. This site was extremely useful to me as I explored all she had to offer. She is respectable because she has been in the field of educating for forty years! Now, I personally need advice sometimes and this site is perfect. She really is able to communicate with all kinds of people from actual teachers to students who plan to become teachers just through the thoughts and words she has made available through her blog. It provided resources on educational technology, web design, photography, her research publications, and even gives workshops to meet your specific needs. This is definitely an awesome resource to have.



My second example is of a school from New York City with an awesome children's chorus. You can check this out Click Here. This chorus, PS22, actually re-did Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" and made a video and posted it. Fleetwood Mac's tour manager Stevie Nick's caught wind of the video and actually invited the chorus to sing the song at their next show in Madison Square Garden! I found this to be so interesting and exciting! The power of blogging is unlimited and this is evident that everyone should be proud of their work and post it because you never know who is watching and where it may take you!



My third example is from the video by Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today. You can watch it yourself Here. In this video my eyes really opened to how students, I included, really are without really realizing the importance of it. I think many students just accept the way they are because of their age bracket and that they should just sit back and do nothing. In reality we really have a lot more say than we willingly acknowledge and I think we should all recognize this. One example from the video is the money wasted on text books. I think that students can influence a putting a stop to this tremendously. This video impacted me and I would have never seen it had Mr. Wesch not posted it and made it available to me.



And lastly, I really think Randy Pausch's Last Lecture was such a good assignment and blog to explore. This was truly my favorite assignment to watch. You can watch it Here He was a definite inspiration and his work definitely needed to be posted and heard around the world. The quotes here are so inspiring and can truly help if you need an extra boost of encouragement. This would not have been available to me halfway around the world and I would never have even known that Randy Pausch even existed if his work had not been posted. To me, it is very important to post your work because you never know who it is helping, inspiring, or benefiting.

Believing, Inventing, and Implementing Technological Pedagogies

I read the post by Anthony Capps and really respect his opinions on the subject. He really seems to know alot about this subject and his views on media production. You can check out more of what Mr. Capps has to say Click here

ALEX

The Alabama Learning exchange (ALEX) website, is very intriguing. The substantial amounts of information available to the classroom and to the teachers is absolutely remarkable! It is very simple to use and includes things such as classroom lesson plans and podcasting material. All you have to do is simply select which grade and which subject and lesson plan ideas are made available to you. This aids in benefiting the teacher as well as the students.

The site allows you to participate more actively with the Personal Workspace Option. Here you can set up an account and participate and interact more closely with the site. The ALEX site is genius for teachers and can be of tremendous help.

Dear Kaia

I really thought the blog post by Dr. Chamberlain was interesting and can really appreciate the passion and enthusiasm that my instructors have for what they teach. I plan to be just as passionate so my students will be involved also. The video on Kaia was so cute and such a great idea.Click here to see!

I thought it was so cool that Dr. Chamberlain took the video and made it into a voice thread! He also explains to listeners how they can create voice threads. The father of Kaia did have some concerns, which were understandable, because obviously this video is made available to everyone around the world. However, it is safe and this little girl has a very bright future ahead of her!

MIT New Media Project

MIT's Comparative Media Studies Program has a new research project called Project New Media Literacies. This project is designed to examine the most effective ways to teach students how to posses the appropriate skills they need to keep up with our ever changing media world. The position the group is standing behind and perhaps whats most important to them is that we all get a good understanding of the skills it takes to be literate in this world of technology advances.

New Media Skills

This video by the NML staff Click hereis full of information that makes the viewer think. I believe these new media skills are valuable and should definitely be put to use! I believe that everyone especially students should recognize, appreciate, and utilize these skills!

Most of the technology advances that I use are things such as laptops, ipods, and of course my cell phone. Personally, I value multitasking, visualization, and judgment. These are all most definitely the 21st century skills that will be needed to be effective artists, workers, and even citizens.

I imagine that as I get older and farther into my profession, I will acquire the other skills listed because I will definitely make it a point to keep up with new ways of learning and embrace new technology that will help me along my way.

The Networked Student

Click here The Networked Student is certainly interesting. I think that the learning world for students could very well be like this in the future. I believe that this is what we need to prepare for because this is going to be the best way for everybody to learn.

As for teaching goes, this video only proves that we better be ready because our 21st century students are going to be expecting that we know, and are current in, the latest technologies and information.

I think that students do need teachers and guidance because we need to be the ones to teach them how to communicate effectively and organize important information. Although information is made available to them at anytime and at anyplace, students still need teachers to help them utilize this information in the most effective way possible.

How we dream Parts 1 and 2

In part one, Click here Mr. Miller gave us information on his likes and dislikes in the world of accessing information. There were tons of online resources that I didn't know about that are available on the web. It is great that so many teachers are dedicated and taking the time to explore these options to not only benefit themselves, but for the benefit of their students.

Richard Miller explained that research is now less fundamental, more incremental, and definitely more visual. It is great that teachers are recognizing this and realizing that this is how our young generation learns and this is how information is made interesting to us.

Part two was definitely interesting to me. The way in which we communicate with each other, learn new material, and get the motivation to look up new material is all electronic now. I agree with Mr. Miller that this is the best and soon will be the only way to keep up with the ever growing population around us.

Ipods in Instruction

Using Ipods in instruction at Duke is an excellent idea in my opinion. I think we should all have to do this! It is super convenient for students and can be used to hear lectures and do assignments electronically! This could really catch on, I think the concept of renting and returning could really take off and should be an option here at South! Here is the link so you can check it out and read more. Click here

Ipods can be useful in classrooms and also to school faculty and staff members! Robert Craven, the education technology coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education in California shares his opinions on the significance and importance that ipods in the classroom can have. He explains that administrators can point out development activities, record meetings, and even keep contact information on all students, faculty members, and local businesses. But, he says, the real benefit of incorporating ipods in the classrooms will benefit the students. To read more Click here

All About iTunes University

iTunes University Click here is very interesting and I actually learned alot about it while doing this assignment. iTunes University makes it easier for students to learn while living also fulfilling their other priorities. If students need information then it is made available to them free anytime, anywhere. You can imaging how convenient this is to students especially as our lives become more hectic.

Hours of spending time daydreaming in a classroom while time is wasting and nothing is being recalled is reduced at iTunes. Students can download whatever they need to their ipod or iphone and listen to the information whenever and wherever it will be most convenient and probably most beneficial to them.

What I learned from Dr. Alice Christie

On Dr. Christie's website Click here there are many tips and tools that can be useful to any teacher. My favorite part of the website, and the one that I thought could be really useful to teachers, was her digital camera project ideas. These ideas can be really useful to not only teachers, but also students.

She organizes this part of her website by listing the ideas and also giving a photographic link. Her ideas are great and include using images in multimedia presentations to introduce students to new subjects, taking videos and pictures of class field trips, and recording new experiences such as community service projects so that the students can reflect on them. These are all great ideas because students are interested in stuff like this and being able to watch themselves later on a digital recording may motivate them a little more!

Comment4kids Week 4

I loved listening to Lisa's story about the beach! He was very descriptive and good at storytelling. He used the word "idyllic" in the story a couple times which is a word I think he learned while participating in this assignment! Very creative I must say!

Comment4kids Week 3

On this post I commented on a child named Ray's blog. He described his favorite superhero as being red and yellow so I immediately thought Superman of course! Hope I was right! He was very good at descriptive writing in my opinion!

Comment4kids Week 2

Mrs. Kathy Cassidy's Classroom blog was terrific! She has a very creative and enthusiastic class. I commented on a picture they took of some of the kids standing on a monkey bar type piece of playground equipment. The question under the picture asked "What types of patterns do you see in the picture"? There were tons of course with the lines of the steps and the colors of the playground itself. Very nice!

All About Wikipedia!

I was warned early on by a former teacher that Wikipedia could not be trusted, so this did not come exactly as a shock to me. The fact that anyone can change any information is reason enough to avoid it for things such as writing papers. I was shocked to know however, that even Wal-Mart has begun to change stuff about themselves! Wikipedia in my opinion is not a source to be trusted. I think if you use a piece of information from that website you should probably research it a little bit more!

"What I've Learned This Year" Mr. McClung

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this because it is something I am in agreement with. I liked his thoughts and opinions on what the future teacher should possess as qualities. I think it is important, like he does, that we as teachers are to be forever encouragers not discouragers. It is important that we understand children need guidance as well as academic advising. Telling a child that he or she can not do something can scar them for a lifetime so we need to be cautious of that.Patience will be something we teachers will have to practice daily!

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Mr. Pausch's lecture was so inspiring. This was by far my favorite video that we were required to watch. I loved the quotes and hearing about his thoughts and hopes for his future as a child. His lecture was inspiring and I thought it was the perfect choice.

My favorite quote that he said was "Brick walls are there for a reason: to show our dedication and to prove how badly we want things". It is the perfect choice of words to describe how you feel when you want something really bad and then there is a set back and you push through it and end up getting what you wanted. You then realize that the obstacle was there for a reason, to show you how badly you wanted whatever it is that you wanted and how strong you are that you obtained it.

Another quote I became fond of was "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted". This is true in so many ways. When we want something really bad, we generally go after it. We dont necessarily always get exactly what we want however, and that can leave us with negative feelings. It is important, and this quote reminds us, that our efforts are not wasted just because we didn't get what we wanted. We got experience which sometimes is better and may have been just what needed instead.

Mr. Pausch's video and quotes will definitely stick with me. He seemed like such a sweet man and I am sad that this was his last lecture. I am so glad to have watched this and I think it was so great to hear all about his dreams and the dreams of others he helped achieve.

Did You Know 4.0?

Did you Know 4.0 was again very interesting. I really enjoy these little videos because the information is intriguing and helpful. Many young people today overlook the drastic changes in technology and it is so unimaginable to think what is to be done and what is capable of being done with these resources at our fingertips in the near future. These videos help to remind us that technology advances are only going to get more advanced and I predict that the new age resources are going to be ten times more advanced then what we are accustomed to now!

Back to Minnesota and South Dakota for a visit! My presentation!

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

When reading Mr. Fisch's post, I must say that he was a bit harsh in the way he stated some of his opinions. Of the 7 standards, he really emphasized and made it clear his thoughts on each. It is true that "all teachers should achieve a basic level of technological capability", but in no way should a teacher be embarrassed if they are just now becoming familiar with it.

Our generation of teachers will have that basic understanding, but I think he should have an understanding that some of the teachers that have been around for a while need time and good reason to go back and learn everything that they need to learn to keep up. If they are a good teacher they will, if not then they will struggle. However, I think making a point and motivating people to start a movement can be done a little more tastefully.

"Its Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

I agree completely with Mrs. Hines' post. In order to incorporate change in our future classrooms we all need to be willing to learn everyday. This is not to say that it is all about technology, it definitely begins at the learning level. Technology however, is very helpful and will elevate each of our learning experiences. In my opinion, being a great hands on learner is just as important as being a great hands on teacher.

Being on the lookout for new ways in which students can benefit and learn material more efficiently is excellent, but it is truly what is behind a teacher that will make the most difference. Being a great teacher is more important than having new technology resources, and when the two go hand-in hand it can make a world of difference to a student.

Michael Welsh: A Vision of Students Today

After watching A Vision of Students Today, I will have to say that this movie definitely captures my personal college experience. I do exactly what some of the people in the video do, and they are not exactly good habits. I spend way too much time on social networking sites such as facebook, and not enough time as I should be on studying. To add to the video and make it more accurately describe these situations, I would include more about the money college students waste when they become lazy and stop going to classes.

I can definitely relate to the sign one of the guys holds up about buying hundred dollar text books and not even using them. I have done this countless times and sometimes it was because my professor did not prefer to teach out of the book. This was aggravating because I wish that if they anticipated not teaching out of the book, they would have told us and we could have saved a considerable amount of money. Incorporating technology in the classroom will hopefully eliminate some of these problems.

Comment4Kids Comments

After commenting on Moturoa's Blog last week I actually learned alot! The kids in that class all seem so enthusiastic and smart! It seems as though the teacher has a really hands on way of teaching and it is effective! They really seemed to be excited about the comments we posted and I loved reading their feedback!

What I learned From Reviewing Podcast Material

I chose to watch the link to "Integrating ICT into the MFL Classroom" and listened to Joe Dale explain the importance and significance of Podcasting in the classroom. I have learned a great deal from reviewing these materials on podcasts, and agree with what he says. Podcasting can help tremendously in the classroom because children these days are used to these type of technological advances in their everyday lives. Integrating them in the classroom helps to utilize and make interacting with students outside of the class room easy and more effective.

Podcasting in the classroom enhances students creative natures and allows them to be individualists. Also, another great point and perhaps the best point and reason for podcasting to me, is that when a student is absent he or she can have access to what the class did that day and can watch the lesson just as if he or she were there. Mr. Dale also points out that parents have easy access to see exactly what their children are being told and taught in the classroom at the tip of their fingers.

Tech Literate Teacher Videocast

This videocast on Tech Literate Teachers was very informational and interesting.This podcast, from the EDM 310 summer class was very good and I enjoyed listening to each of their points. What would make this videocast a little better would be if the group that spoke were a little more lively in their answers and their responses. The insight they gave was very sufficient and left a memorable impact on the watcher.
Also, another thing that would make this videocast even better would be if the group talking conversed more in the video with each other. I think informational conversations are always better if the group members are feeding off of each other. One improvement that I would like to incorporate in my podcast would be to supply a ton of information on the subject assigned so that I could leave the listener with great information like this podcast left me with!

Video in the Classroom Introduction

This was a very creative video and I thought that the style of teaching was very interesting. It also seemed to be very effective.

Learning about Podcasts

Listening to these Podcasts definitely helped me to understand how they were made. I found them interesting and some of them were very entertaining and funny. I watched all the Podcasts listed and decided to share what I was enlightened with on four of them below.

MacBreak Weekly

Watching episode 55 of Macbreak weekly “When Your Ready to Compromise Call Me”, was very informative. This podcast began with a couple of advertisements and then the hosts came in and introduced the show as being about all things Mac. They covered all the things that are new or are coming out soon under Mac.The host for this podcast was Alex Lindsey, and this particular segment was more conversational then anything else. They inform the listeners about different new technologies coming out and share their own stories about what they think after using some of them. This was informational and helpful because the two men hosting talk back and forth and the listeners are able to form an opinion while listening to their conversation. This one also didn’t get boring because they were able to make it funny in the process.

KidCast Podcast

The KidCast podcast was very entertaining to me. I sensed that this one was probably more scripted than the other ones and was very fun. Unlike some of the other ones, this one had a lot of different sounds and music to entertain kids in the classrooms. Keeping kids interested in the material seemed to be the main focus and this was done by having various stories and jokes told. I definitely got a sense of how this podcast was done and that it was specifically designed to keep the interest of kids.

This Week in Photography

While listening to this podcast I really got a sense of how they were produced. While watching episode number 104 in “This Week in Photography”, the host was able to speak to a woman who lived in Utah and a couple people who were in the studio. He was really funny and kept the listener wanting more, he also advertised a couple things such as audiblepodcast.com and some different camera accessories. The lady from Utah was also able to tell listeners what she preferred while using her camera. This talk show is very helpful to people interested in photography and kept listeners interested the whole time. I think it was definitely a fun podcast and I would say it was unscripted.

What I learned about the SmartBoard Lessons Podcast

In episode number 11 of SMART Board Lessons, the host was really upbeat and the vibe of the conversational was very laid back. This podcast was more conversational and was easy listening. Year end school stuff was the topic of this particular podcast, and I think that this one engaged the listeners a little more than the others. He and his co-host were able to entertain listeners with stories about their personal experiences before they started the actual episode. They also were able to talk about links that help people with math. These math movies incorporated helpful modules to helps kids keep their interest in math at young ages. This podcast was very helpful and thorough in getting listeners started and motivated with this idea.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

I think Mrs. Davis' teaching methods are exactly what our public school systems need. The fact that most of today's jobs require people to be "technologically literate" is reason to adopt the methods of teaching presented in this video. The student's in Mrs. Davis' class work individually but also they collaborate and help each other inside and outside the classroom. By using language that the students don't already know, she if forcing them to look up the words on Google which is like an updated in-depth dictionary and a very good idea.

This kind of training is necessary because it is inevitable. The old fashion pen and paper way of teaching and learning can be used, but is usually not nearly as helpful or beneficial to anyone, not even the student. I do not agree that making students memorize facts and definitions and repeating them is helpful in any way. I understand that my choice to major in education in today's world will mean that I will have to be a constant learner so that I can keep up!

My Thoughts on Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

This movie was very interesting to me especially because I plan on becoming a teacher. He makes a good point about the unpredictability of our future generation. I agree that creativity is just as important as literacy in the classroom and he makes a good point that in today's society it is being severely limited. I agree, as I am reminded, that kids are not afraid to be wrong and likes when he states that, "If you're not prepared to be wrong then you will never come up with anything original". I agree that by the time kids become adults they are scared to be wrong and this limits their creativity severely.

The blame can easily be put on the educational system as more and more children are being "educated out of creativity". I encourage and believe that we need to incorporate more creativity in the classroom and give more freedom to student so that they may explore their creative potentials. As the rapid development of new technology is emerging it is more important than ever that our youth be able to keep up. That being said, creativity and originality are are key things to remember and focus on in the classroom.

My Reaction to Mr. Winkle Wakes

The video on Mr. Winkle Wakes was funny to me and I think it really stressed the point that children in this day and age need the reality of the outside world incorporated into the classroom. If we are not constant learners, than I predict that most of us will fall behind when it comes to doing things technologically in the future. This can makes our lives and careers more stressful. The idea behind technology to me is to make our lives easier. I think it's a privilege that such technology advances are available to us and that we would be crazy not to utilize these resources.

Keeping up with new technology and being open to learn constantly can really make a difference in a person's future and there really is no telling where such advances could take us! In today's work place technology is everywhere and if someone is in school preparing to fill these future positions than it is obvious that the school systems should soon become more "technologically literate". This can make a huge difference in many lives and many careers. Everyone, in my opinion, should be open to learn about these advances so that they do not fall behind.

My Reaction to Did You Know? 3.0

Watching Did You Know 3.0 was extremely interesting to me. I had no idea that the majority of the facts given were true. Most of the numbers and percentages absolutely shocked me. It is certainly interesting how times have changed. It is also a little frightening because it is hard to imagine what else could possibly be invented in the future. A machine that can compute information faster and more effectively than the human brain by the year 2013 is remarkable!

I find it very interesting and also odd that the number of incoming and outgoing text messages exceeds the population of our planet! Being only 20 is a little frightening because there is absolutely no telling what is to come as far as technology advances are concerned. Even at the end of the video it is interesting that we are able to estimate how many babies were being born in the United States and China in the 5 minutes and 16 seconds that the video was playing.

A Little About Me!

Hello everyone, my name is Jessica Parker and I am a Junior here at South Alabama! I am a transfer student from Faulkner State and this is my first semester here at South. I am here to major in Secondary English Education and plan to become a High School English teacher. My interests include playing tennis, hanging out with my roommates, cooking, going to concerts, and spoiling my dog!

welcome!

welcome to my blog everyone!