Blog Post #4

Eagle Nest Radio and Class Blog

This is a podcast I listened to done by a third grade class about Rome. These students did a great job providing information. They spoke clearly and precisely for third graders. Had I not known that they are third graders I would have thought they were a little older. I like how the music relates to what they are talking about. It is very professional in my opinion. I learned new information although some of it was a repeat. Gladiators were talked about and I did not know that some were slaves trained to fight with no choice. I use to think this was a decision made be the individual to become a gladiator. Another interesting thing I learned is that Cleopatra was Greek and not an Egyptian. I enjoyed this podcast and how it is like a radio show. I have never done anything like that so I look forward to learning how. I will incorporate this in my classroom so my students will know how to do it as well.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom By Joe Dale

Podcasting is a creative and fun way to grab and keep students attention in the classroom. It allows for interaction among the students outside the traditional classroom. After watching this podcast made I learned that students today are called millenials. Millenials are students born after 1980 that have never experienced life without computers. Podcasting is an audio recording or video that can be listed to or watched anytime. 

Recorded lectures from the teacher can be played back when ever the student needs to review. It allows sick students to remain caught up even when they are not inside of the classroom. Students in the classroom would be more alert and attentive listening to stories on podcasts because the lecture would be more interesting. It is also exciting. Not only do students listen to the podcasts but parents can as well to keep up with what is going on inside of the classroom. Podcasting will demonstrate higher order thinking skills and allows project based learning for the students.

The Practical Principals with Melinda Miller and Scott Elias

I enjoyed listening to this podcast. It was very professional and sounds just like a show aired on the radio. It is interesting to hear the topics discussed in their podcast. One topic they talked about was improvement plans for teachers and when they are needed. Hopefully I will never need one (lol). Their podcast definitely makes me want to invest in a good microphone one day so that I may have clear sounding podcasts available for my students. I am excited to learn how to podcast. I can not wait to add music in the background and sounds to make it interesting. I like the thought of acting out a story on a podcast with different voices for the characters. It beats the old fashion "pop in a cassette  tape and play it" way. 

Project #6 "This is My Sentence" Video

Project #5 Google Presentation

Blog Post #3

It's not about the Technology by Kelly Hines

Teachers must be learners. As a professional in any career one must keep an open mind and be willing to learn new things. This is especially important in the profession teaching because teachers are teaching students how to learn and what to learn. They must be able to learn themselves in order for the process to work. One may ask "What is it that the teacher must learn?" Well teachers must learn to use new technology and use it in their lessons. Kelly Hines pointed out many advantages in learning to use new technology and applying it inside the classroom. Some core outcomes of the students are creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration and many other positive outcomes.
I look forward to learning how to help my students and help myself by being more aware of the technology used   daily. I will keep an open mind and and try to learn as much as I can so that I will be an effective teacher. I find it easy to say no to things that are new or not traditional because it is habit and what I am use to. However, when it comes to being able to help the students receive the best education possible and preparing them for life outside of the classroom I can not say no but ask "what else?" All future teachers and present teachers should have this attitude as the world is changing and our students becoming the future. We must prepare them for it.

Karl Fisch: Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

In today's generation it is not okay to be a technologically illiterate teacher. As Karl Fisch said "In order to teach, it we have to do it." Teachers can not think it is okay to stop learning. The profession is education which goes along with learning. One must continue to learn and not be so afraid of failing. I believe people who refuse to try out new things are unwilling to learn something new are afraid they will not get it. One has to get over that fear and go for it. Practice makes perfect. As a student I can be the first to admit that I am not extremely excited about learning new things. I feel this way simply because I already have a very full uncompromising schedule. When it is brought to my attention that I have to learn something new I cringe lol. How ever I am learning to get out of this mindset and just do what I have to do to be as successful as I possibly can.
Teachers must stay caught up with what is going on around them and what is new. Technology is constantly changing and is changing how we live. We can not continue to say "I am not good with computers", but get good at using them. Computers and technology itself is just as important as money. An individual as a child is not good at counting money but as they get older and deal with it daily one learns how to count it and how to use it.  One does not just say "I can't count money" and expect to buy things or pay bills. Teachers and any one in any profession must be open minded and willing to learn how to use computers. We must utilize the technology today because tomorrow there will be something else out and we will have to learn how to use that also.

 Gary Hayes Social Media Count

The social media counts are astounding. These drastic numbers mean that as a future teacher I must know what I am doing when it comes to technology inside my classroom. It means that most the students inside my class will have access to all of this technology. I must be caught up and able to utilize the things they will be professionals at using. It is exciting to see how the world is changing and how it is growing.
People are using these sites all the time. More sites are being added or updated by the second. Everything is related to or revolves around technology. As a person whether in teaching, another profession, or just living period, one must learn about technology and be willing to learn. One can barely breathe with out it. No excuses can be made, we just have to do it!

 Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

Awesome! I loved this video because it tells me I am not the only one that feels this way. I would love for classes to be more hands on and less book work. Utilizing technology and the outdoors would help me as a student. From the teacher perspective I will do my best to create more projects and things that get the information needed across to the student. I will also get with other teachers in my field and incorporate ideas of what we feel is the best way to teach our students besides just using power point.
It is important we begin to look at what is not working and what will. Our future depends on 'us' to find out. Waiting for a survey to be done is not enough. We already know what did  not work for the majority of people so we need to figure out now what will work and how we change it. Right now the next couple graduating classes make up the future presidents and administrators. Together we must do our best to incorporate new policies into how the curriculum is taught in public school systems today.

Blog Post #2

Did you know 3.0 by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod

I did not know hardly any of the information presented on this clip. This is an obvious statement but true. (I guess not just for me though.)  It is amazing however to learn it. I am sure most people in the US would be surprised to see the comparisons made with our country and others. To me the video wants us to see that EVERYTHING is based on technology. It also says that the US is not #1 as we like to think of it. The most interesting thing to me is that India had more honor students than the US has students. That makes me uncomfortable to know that and as a student and future teacher it means I have to continue to learn. Learning will never end, unless Google shuts down lol. We as people do rely on computers a lot. It is easy to believe that  a computer will be made to do more than our brains could even imagine. That is  a little sad to think about in my opinion at first because sooner or later we will not have labored jobs because a computer will do it. Although, the up side to that is the word computer meaning connection with electricity.

I also believe that this video is showing us how important teachers are. Not only how important teachers are but how we teach our students. Learning hands on is the way all students need to learn. Incorporating this into our schools could bring our students to honor levels. Just like in the video the students today are the future. Everyone attending college right now is the near future. We must work hard and study hard to make sure our future as a country is secure. We must stay updated and not fall behind. I love this video and I will watch it over and over so I can give others around me something to think about.

Mr. Winkle Wakes by Matthew Needleman

Mr. Winkle is an old man that wakes from his sleep after 100 years have passed. He never knew of any technology and is discouraged by all the new changes made. He does not like computers with video chat or phones. He eventually finds a school that has not changed at all. The teacher just stands in front of her students lecturing all day while the students take notes. He likes to see that after 100 years some things just stayed the same.

 This is not good at all however it is true. Some methods used in school should be eliminated. All old things are not bad for students to learn. Just standing in front a class lecturing on endless information does not help the student grasp what they actually need to learn. Hands on objectives will help the child to use their mind while they are actually doing the assigned project or work. No one will learn to ride a bike reading it or having someone tell them how to ride it. It takes the teacher to tell them how to ride it while they are getting on the bike practicing. 

The Importance of Creativity by Ken Robinson

This was the most interesting video I have watched thus far. Ken Robinson discussed how children are born artist with many different talents. As they grow up and go to school they are educated out of their creativity. According to Ken Robinson, creativity is the process of original ideas that have value. It also involves intelligence which is diverse, dynamic, and distinct. Things students may excel in are stigmatized and not valued if one feels they will not get a job in it. We must rethink the principles of education.

As a future teacher I will do my best to keep these things in mind. I would not want to hinder my students at all. I will allow my classroom to be a place where their creativity will never be limited. Ken Robinson also pointed out how education is based on industrialism. Math and sciences are ranked first, then humanities, and last but not least the arts. Music and art are also favored over drama and dance. All subjects should have the same focus of attention because each individual excels in different things.

Cecelia Gault (Young Student in Finland) Interviews Sir Ken Robinson

In this article and short video it is obvious the U.S. falls behind extremely. The dropout rate in the U.S. compared to Finland is unbelievable. In order to bring our country’s education level up we must balance our curriculum between science and art. It works obviously because Finland has no failing schools and uses this method. Pure focus on math and science leaves no room for a student that is not as good at these subjects to show their creative side. These two subjects do not determine how intelligent a person is. Sir Ken Robinson said intelligence is making since of the world around us. It is gained through experience. Individuals experience more than math and science in their daily lives for sure.

Including art, music, drama, dance, and technology classes as core subjects would give each student a more diverse culture and experience. Meaning they would be "intelligent". I hope as a country we are able to catch up soon. It will take more advocates for a new curriculum for things to change. People play it safe and stick with the usual because they are use to it. No one wants to step out of the box. However it is time to try a new approach. The old one is not working, especially since the dropout rate is rising. I am sure some of the students that feel they are not good in math or science are creative in some type of art course. We have nothing to lose going about changing the curriculum. As a future teacher I will push for a new diverse curriculum that favors no one subject and is balanced. 

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

I am very impressed by what the students are capable of doing. It makes me want to learn more so that I will be caught up with the latest things going on in the world of technology. I like what Mrs. Davis said about learning along the way. She talked about how most teachers try to learn things ahead of time so that they will be able to teach the students. As Dr. Strange said we must always be willing to learn. Things will change and it is ok to learn along as well as from our students. I have two daughters and I am sure they will be teaching me about new gadgets in the future.

I like how she teaches the students how to learn. I will customize my classroom to my students as well as she does for her students. I believe that is the key to having success in the classroom. Getting to know the students and adjusting to their learning methods will allow them some control in the class. It will make the learning experience fun and not so dry or boring. 

C4T Project #3

The blog I followed over the past week belongs to an amazingly talented art teacher, John Burrows. The first blog I saw contained sculptures from his Art I class. The class had to research, sketch, and sculpt a mythical creature. The sculpted mythical creatures were made from clay. All of the students may have used clay once before but it did not show in their work. The sculptures he posted gave me a chance to see how truly talented these students are. Most importantly I was able to see how talented Mr. Burrows is. In order to help the the students create what they saw is amazing. In Mr. Burrows next blog I saw he posted a painting of his own. The painting was of a coke-a-cola bottle, a lemon, and a lime. This painting allowed me to see his work and how professional he is. It allowed any viewer a chance to see what he wanted them to see in their own way. Through his work one is able to see his love for art.The passion he has allows him to be a wonderful art teacher. I feel as a future teacher I should be just as passionate so that I can easily help my students grasp important concepts that will lead them into their aspiring futures.

Project #2 Words describing my life