BLOG POST 10

Yes, I am glad to see that Morgan commented on the most important and concise message in the Dan Brown video. She reminds us that education is not only "free", it's liberated. Knowledge doesn't necessarily cost money to have and it's everywhere!
This is most important for educators to keep in the front of their minds because students live in this fact every day. I am a student who is becoming a teacher. Yes, I want to be liberated and I want to liberate. So, I have to remember that facts are easy to come by. I, as an educator, must provide motivation and a forum for idea sharing.
Morgan says that she has felt cheated in the classroom. Well, I completely understand. I don't ever want any student of mine to feel that way. And that is why I will keep in mind that I am not just a bank of facts for students, but a healthy example of someone who is hungry for knowledge.

DON'T LET THEM TAKE...

This blog post confronts an issue that is, to me, an even bigger one than people not using technology in the classrooms. Mr. Johnson wants to speak candidly about how testing leaves certain people behind within our education system and it is like a Pandora's Box that every one avoids. If it weren't for a lack of money that the less dominate cultures and classes suffer from then they may have better access to the internet that we hold so dear. If, say, low-income societies had REGULAR access to the internet, they may be able to generate enough ideas to aviod poor test scores. I know this statement takes a little thought. And it probably won't do you much good if you have not taken "Education in a Diverse Society" (sorry, I forget the course number), but this issue of poor people suffering in the classroom is bigger than no technology in the classroo.
Don't worry reader. I do understand that fancy things in the classroom won't make things automatically better. I did read "Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards". I don't think that money is the answer. I do know that without this thought provoking thing we call regular access to the internet, low-income societies are suffering.  And, I'll say it again, they don't have it!! They don't have the money for it. The teachers don't have it. They don't have the money for it. I have one hope. Now that there is a revolution that involves the liberation of education - the liberation of knowledge, maybe there will be a real liberation of the people on this Earth; maybe people will see how access to education isn't the only thing that has been and is being hoarded by dominant cultures. It will, no doubt, be a slow one, but it might be one that is starting.

2 QUESTIONS...

A good person is summed up in one sentence? Notice the people who had sentences were already passed away. I am guessing it would be very easy to think up a sentence for someone who is no longer active. But if I am put to the challenge and it is insisted upon, then, here it goes: "I am, first a mother, second a wife, and third a student, who takes all of her roles extremely seriously, even though she likes to play." And I already ask myself on a daily basis if I had done more, got more accomplished, or feel better than the day before. So, I guess I don't have to tell ya what great advice I think that is.

SKYPE INTERVIEW

POST #9

WHAT I'VE LEARNED THIS YEAR...
This is exactly the kind of reading that I need to do. This blog is a list of  lessons a new teacher learned about himself during his first year of teaching. I have to say that it is refreshing and encouraging to be reminded that I am not the only one with fears. I am scared to think about the possibility that I could be less than excellent to my employers and my students. I am scared of computers. I want more than anything else in the world to be a good listener, communicator and team player. Mr. McClung's blog has helped to get my perspective back in check.
He tells teachers to be focused on student comprehension and in order to do this we must be flexible with, have an open line of communication with, and have the utmost respect for all of our students. I truly believe that if this advice is not taken, teacher could do more damage than good. If we can't make changes on the fly opportunities for learning can be missed. If we don't know and respect our students how do we expect for them to know and respect and learn form us?
I felt as if he was speaking directly to me when he advised against a fear of technology. I have made it no secret that computers and other gizmos scare me. They make me wonder about the very direction of humanity (that's no joke), but I have to admit, computers and the concept of a PLN are potentially unmatched by any other methods of learning that I am aware of. This blog reminds me that this is a fear that has to be completely overcome.
Finally, and most importantly, Mr. McClung tells teachers to never stop learning. We, as, not only professionals, but people, must learn and grow. Without a fresh mind we cannot advocate our students.

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POST #8

THIS IS HOW WE DREAM 1&2

Dr. Richard Miller of Rutgers University tells the Presidential Forum about the fundamental change in the way we must teach. Today we have to be tech-savvy. As teachers and learners we are forced to share and discover ideas by way of the world wide web.
Dr. Miller refers to the web as a rich store of knowledge. This knowledge is at our finger tips. The way we compose our work and our thoughts is changing. The way people share ideas is transforming into something we can hear, see and read instead of just one or the other. And this is the way teachers and learners are, before long, going to be expected to produce their work all of the time. This way of composition is going to be the common way.
He goes on to say that it would be the common way if we only had more inspiring pedagogy and resources. But I believe there is plenty of that. He is inspiring and there is more where that came from. I just believe that since we are in the middle of a transformation, it's going to take some time for everyone to catch on. All in all, I understand that this speech is an example of the way teachers today must be thinking and doing in order to help the students of today be all that they can be. We have to offer them our imagination.

THE CHIPPER SERIES AND EDM310 FOR DUMMIES

Who knew the key to my success in EDM 310 is to watch a bunch of tutorials. I don't operate quite like that which is why you see me in the lab often. Coming to the lab plus watching the tutorial might get me through this and good enough to teach my kids.
Chipper is a perfect example of someone who has to learn the hard way that procrastination is not worth it. When a person finally realizes that taking care of business ahead of time ensures you plenty of goofing off time later, then that person will try to avoid procrastination at all costs. Although there is a difference between me and someone who has their parents paying their tuition, I don't feel that anyone should be allowed to procrastinate. However, being forgiven every once in a great, great while is different in my opinion.
I would love to create something at least as impressive as The Chipper Series or EDM 310 For Dummies (ha,ha). I think a revised version of "Dummies" would do all students some good and then require it to be watched, like, the night of the first lecture.

WHY SMARTBOARDS ARE DUMB AND WHY I HATE...
Well, there is just no end to the knowledge I gain from these blogs and videos in this class!!! I was one of those easily dazzled parents who just got into a feel good frenzy when I saw the smartboards at my daughter's school. There are just some things in this life that I don't think twice about. I didn't think of a smartboard as being almost the same as a projector or chalkboard. I am being honest when I thought it was a miracle tool. But I have never used them, so I don't know why I thought that. Just naive I guess. I will learn.
It is so sad that a teacher can't just say to an administrator: "Hey, I need some money to work on this awesome idea I have for interactive learning that doesn't involve a physical object." But something is lost there. I guess it's trust. Whatever it is, I'm sure that any determined teacher could use the abundance of information on the internet either to use their smart board more effectively, or to get around having to spend money on one in the first place. Like, both the blogs said; it's not the money but the pedagogy that matters.
When trying to find a link to something positive about smartboards, I didn't find anything that seemed as informative as an article from Educational Leadership by Robert J. Marzano called Teaching With Interactive Whiteboards. It has the point that the other two blogs are trying to make laid out in it among the good and the bad; a good teacher plans ahead and becomes familiar with the materials they use.http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov09/vol67/num03/Teaching-with-Interactive-Whiteboards.aspx I hope you find it most informative. Thanks for reading. Oh yeah, one more thing. Isn't Jamie Lynn such a good, no, wait, great actress?

PERSONAL TIMELINE

MY PLN

Well, I believe that I am doing well with making my PLN bigger and more efficient. I am positive that there is way more that I could be doing. I am also aware that I am behind when it comes to all of the technical issues involved with using different programs. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed the blog assignments. Especially the C4T. With this assignment I have been exposed to the type of exemplary thinking that I thrive off of. The videos are so thought provoking. This class is steering me in the right direction when it comes to developing and understanding the necessity of having a large and efficient PLN.

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C4T #2 SUMMARY

Dr. Strange, where do you find these teachers?! They are geniuses. My teacher #2 was Mr. Joe Bower of Alberta, Canada. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mr. Bower's many posts on effective, empowering teaching. I have laughed and cried each time I visited his blog. I am aware that just sounded kind of movie criticesque, but it's just the truth.
Mr. Bower shares excerpts from articles he has read on the education of today. He questions the goals of educators today. He makes us aware, rather he reminds us that there is a system in place for teachers to use and we must embellish this system little by little in order for it to empower our students.
None of that is directly quoted, but this is how my mind has wrapped around all of the information he provides. I told him thanks for sharing his thoughts because they help me make sense of my own and I will be visiting his blog for as long as I can.
I am starting to see very clearly how learning and teaching methods have changed. They run smoother this way.

POST #7

RANDY PAUSCH'S LAST LECTURE...

Wow! What a mind this guy had. He is so full of inspirational quotes and thoughtful analogies. His outlook is unmatched by any dying person that I have known; and believe me, I have known a few. He has a big positive side, but the best part is that he is not stingy with his positivity. He expresses and shares himself so well.
He obviously understands what a dad and a husband's responsibilities are and he intends to fulfill those even when he is not physically here. Pausch understands; he gets it. He tells us that we just have to live life  right and carma will take care of itself; dreams will come to you. I am living proof of this. I don't have all of my kinks worked out and some of them that I do straighten will sometimes kink back up, but I do totally understand and believe this man's philosophy. The best thing about this man is that he is not only willing but wanting to share his happiness and common sense in order to help others.
I was feeling so crappy. For what specific reason, I couldn't say. I could speculate but I really didn't know what was bothering me. Thanks to this video that feeling is gone. Well almost, maybe I should watch it again.

C4K SUMMARY

The student I was to comment on was a very well-rounded 13 year old named Wade. The first thing he wrote was an "About Me" blog. He was proud to talk about his school life, the sports and fun things in his life, as well as, his family. He seemed like such a dedicated student and someone who knew how to balance the fun with the serious parts of life. Also, Wade wrote a short story about becoming a metamorphic rock which had me hoping that I have a classroom of students with his interest in learning. I was happy to read his blogs and I told him to keep up the good work.

POST # 6

THE NETWORKED STUDENT

Well, is this an example of how paper will be used by the time I am teaching? Ha, Ha. Anywho, this video was very well put together. It surprises me that people are doing this in the classroom. I say this because when I graduated high school in 1999, there wasn't even a computer in every classroom. Really, the only person I remember having a computer at Murphy High School was the secretary. So, this is all new to me.

This does not mean that I am not up to the challenge. I am actually quite excited. I do believe that although I do not have that many technical skills or inclinations, I am learning. Also, I am ready to learn whatever I have to in order to do my best teaching. Much like the teacher in the video, my heart is in my interest in the field of teaching.

I know that as long as my heart is in my job, I will do well. Like I mentioned before, I am excited. Because of the technology available, my students and I will learn so much more than I did when I was young. It seems to me that having a networked classroom is a task that needs constant modification. I am prepared to be that kind of teacher.

7TH GRADER'S PLN

This student is amazing. I was nowhere near as organized or knowledgeable as she when I was in 7th grade! I know that we are, as a people, becoming more technologically intelligent. But, her work is exemplary. I know that she had some guidance but the amount of information that this 7th grader takes in is surprising. When I was in 7th grade mostly what we did was busy work. I did go to a low-income school, but I believe that even if I had a teacher that ran herself ragged, I still wouldn't have been exposed to the amount of information that this young lady has been. I can't wait to be a part of the new classroom.

THE MACHINE IS CHANGING US

This was the most interesting video we have watched so far. As a matter of fact, am going to watch it again and maybe a third time. That's not a joke, by the way. I am only 2 years younger than  Mr. Wesch. I am so impressed with his work, the questions he is asking and the knowledge of he and his students. A lot of what he says hits home with me. I have often had these same thoughts and wanted to answer the same questions about the generations in my lifetime.

I guess this is why I want to teach multiple subjects; a little bit of everything interest me. But technology has always scared me. I never thought of it as an outlet for expressing ourselves as humans. I always thought of mass communication as taking away from our sensibility. But while worrying about what bad was going to come from this ability, I hardly ever considered what greatness can come from it.

The idea of recognition, or a new way of thinking about a thing has not ever been scary to me. On the contrary, it has always enticed me. I do not know why my thoughts about technology have been so different, but I believe that I am ready to think about this everyday and hopefully evolve into a the teacher I want to be.