C4K Summary Post #2

Commenting for Kids is very fun! It is inspiring and allows me to see what kids in this generation of capable of doing with technology versus where I was, technology wise, at their age. It makes me realize how important it is to stay on top of what is going on around me so that I can relate to students today and teach them in the best way in which they learn. For the second Comments for Kids Summary I commented on five students blog posts, all of which were very interesting.

The first students blog I commented on was Kali. She is a 7th grade student in Canada. Kali's blog was about some cool places she would like to go. She listed New York's Empire State Building, the Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, the Olympic Stadium in British Columbia, the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, and the Figge Art Museum in Iowa. She has some very distinguished places in which she would like to visit. I think it is awesome she is thinking big and wants to see different parts of the world. I told her about my visit to New York where I was able to look up at the Empire State building. She was very descriptive in describing these attractions and she reminded me of a young travel agent.

Next was Lanzie from Auckland, New Zealand. He is a first grade student that was required to write a story and draw a picture. He chose to make his story about the New Zealand flag. In order for others to hear part of his story and learn about it he recorded it on iMovie. While a little hesistant he described his flag and for a first grader he did really well. It has four stars and is rectangular. I commented on his video by encouraging him on a job well done. I also described the U.S. flag. I think it is neat children in schools get that opportunity now to learn using technology.

The next students blog I had the pleasure of viewing was Jordan. Jordan is a 2nd grade student in Auckland, New Zealand also. His blog post contained an animation of a rugby player named Teddy  going across the screen. This was one of my favorites because it contained a drawing of his and it allows me to see how well he is able to manipulate technology. He did a good job. It's amazing he is in 2nd grade creating animations while I recently learned what blogging was and how to blog (lol).

Another students blog that I commented on is Rosa. She is a 8th grade student. Her blog is informing and engaging. I found myself going and researching the topic she was blogging about. Her blog was about a science lesson she would teach. It would require students to learn vocabulary and involve them doing an activity that would better help them understand. The vocabulary she would have her students learn is Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic Eras. She then would have them to match pictures to each era. I believe this is a great idea because it would reinforce the definitions and help them understand a bit more. I encouraged her to keep using technology to learn and to help others learn.

The last comment I left was on a blog presentation using Google docs by a student named Shoal. Shoal used Google Presentation to inform others of Bitterns. Bitterns are an extinct group of birds that existed before in New Zealand. Shoal's reading group had been reading about Bittern's so the choice to do the presentation is a reinforcement for him. It definitely is informing and interesting. I actually think using the presentation is a great way to engage others because it grasps their attention.

I enjoy learning from all of these children. Commenting on their blogs is not only encouraging for them but it is informing. One can still learn things from them and even see new ways of introducing information to others. I want to learn how to make animations and allow my future students to engage in activities like this and to even use Google presentation. Also allowing children to utilize these technologies they will have fun while learning which is easier for everyone involved.  I hope to learn more and encourage more children in the days to come.

Project #15 Smart Board Part 2

Project #14 Skype Interview

Blog Post #12

1) Watch this video How The U.S. Education System Fails Kids Think about the message. Do you agree with what they are saying?  How do you feel about Harvard's program? Think this is a good idea?

2) Now watch this video Why Education in Finland Works Write your response to this video and what you feel the U.S. should do to improve the Education system.

Blog Post #12

Here in the US many questions have been raised about our education system. Is it working for our students? Do we have a balance in the content our students learn? The answer is no. Finland has been increasing their statistics in how their students have been passing in math, science, and reading scores. Beginning with focusing on a child's preschool experience and small classes is where they first began to succeed. Their education system calls for all teachers to have a Master degree. The teachers are also treated as professionals just like other individual doctors or lawyers. They should be respected the same. The teachers feel appreciated and valued in their society. They mean something to those around them. The community supports them. They teachers teach 20 lessons a week. They are not in the classrooms as long so that they are able to prepare for their week a lot better. Also they have more to offer than just the focus on math and science. Music, drama, cooking, and industrialism are focus content areas.

Our country can do better. I believe changes need to begin at the top. We need to get the administrators and superintendents to see the big picture besides all the politics involved and take things seriously. Changing the curriculum required is the where another change can be made. We need to get out of just focusing on testing. Children can learn so much more besides what old testing requires. Making drama, dance, music, and even trades in school more important will improve the way in which our children learn and make them better citizens in the long run. All the over exaggerated testing discourages our youth from even wanting to attend school or learn at all. So they drop out and want nothing more to do with it. Then without a diploma let alone a college degree they do not find jobs putting another burden on the country as a whole. Things have to change. America needs to see the picture and not only just incorporate technology in the classrooms but learn to LEARN differently. When we are able to change the testing and find another way to make sure our students are getting the lesson needed maybe then we will succeed. Appreciating teachers and listening to their ideas will definitely help. They spend the most time with the students versus the presidents and superintendents, who do not and are eager to fire and rehire with the same thinking, teach to the test. When teachers receive appreciation and support their job performance will increase and the rate in which they give up and burn out will decrease. I also think that the offices in which the superintendents work should have teachers and students in there to help and give their opinions and thoughts on important matters they handle. They need to get views from those at the bottom in order to get a real understanding of what is happening, instead of focusing on test scores while the children, at the end of it all, learn nothing because they were engorged with "burp back" education. I will definitely do all I can to learn how to learn and what best practices work for my students so they leave with a real education instead of cramped hands from bubbling tests.

(Sources obtained to create blog: Dr. John Hadley, Why Education in Finland Works, and How the U.S. Education System Fails Kids)

Blog Post #11

Skype Interview (2010) with Ms. Cassidy!

Ms. Cassidy is a first grade teacher that learned on her on to incorporate technology use inside of her classroom. Her introduction into technology came along when she was given 5 computers with monitors, keyboards, and internet access. The down side to having the wonderful gifts added to her classroom is that the computers had no programming on them in which the 1st grade students would be able to use them. Cassidy then made her own decision to learn how to make web pages and blogging so that she could make the computers a useful center in her classroom. With funding from the federal government for professional development and time off she was able to learn more and help herself with technology. She has a webpage for about 11 years and her class blog about 6 years (now). Her own determination to be technology literate allowed her to develop her skills as well as support from administrators at her school.

In this interview Dr. Strange asks Ms. Cassidy for advice for future teachers that feel learning about technology now is not useful. Cassidy's response is that teachers should learn all they can. She goes on to say that we cannot expect students to learn with tools from years ago today. "We have to change, because the world is changed." She says to learn now and interact with the world or you will be "handicapping" yourselves. Students love using the computers and blogging. Getting views on their writing is encouraging. Insider her classroom students are able to learn writing, video usage, and audio usage on top of the other curriculum. I feel these students are very blessed in having a teacher as eager as Ms. Cassidy because other teachers may feel no need to change and their students may miss this opportunity to be on board with the direction in which education is going. Ms. Cassidy feels all teachers should be technology literate. Word processing and working a spread sheet is not enough for today's students. She advises future teachers to keep up with technology going on around them and to network. She likes to use Twitter for networking and blogging as a way to keep up but she advises you do what works for you. Learn through what you are interested in. One can access links through Twitter and share information and even assignments through twitter. Finding people who want to be teachers is a way to use twitter for networking. She also says that Facebook could be used for putting out information for students instantly. Cassidy also helps the students learn to use the computer for what links to go to and how they should not use their last name on the blogs or websites. Teachers have to explain usage to the students and accessing educational sites.

I found this interview to be very helpful. It allows me to truly understand how important it is that I as a future educator prepare myself as much as possible for what lies ahead. That is to keep blogging and accessing twitter for educational usage, as well as my PLN and other sites. I do not want to be behind my students but ahead and able to teach them things about using computers for learning and not just entertainment. I myself must learn this and practice it first. I like how Ms. Cassidy pushed that one should learn in the best way that interest them on using technology and I will take her advice. I have not really found my way yet because I can be honest and say that I do not make as much time as I could to learn. However my future and the future of my students depends on me learning so that I can help them learn, so I will truly continue on with my journey and maybe one day Dr. Strange can interview me and see how well this went for me (lol). ;-)

(Information for this blog was obtained from Dr. Strange's interview with Ms. Cathy Cassidy.)

Blog Post #10

Do You Teach or Educate? 

For me as an individual and aspiring teacher of a new generation of students I will educate! So easy to type it or say it but not exactly easy to do. However going through the Education program at the University of South Alabama has taught me or should I say educated me on what it is to educate rather than just teach. Educating involves a relationship between the students and the teacher. (I will use the word teacher because it is what educators are referred to at the moment, bare with me.) It is not just walking into the classroom or learning environment provided, taking notes, and testing, but it is a way of life. I say this because education will go on after classrooms and graduation simply because you cannot go far without obtaining a diploma, or let alone having the skills to simply learn.

I will educate my students so that they will be able to use the tools I instill in them in life outside of my classroom walls. Learning will never stop. So I would begin by educating them on how to learn and why it is very important in our society now. Through educating them they will do more than just memorize a topic or lesson but they will know it. It will be something I make sure is hard to forget by doing projects with them and making their learning experience fun and interesting. I choose to go into education because I want to make a difference in the lives of students whether it be 2 or 3. I want to help them learn science but also develop into successful adults after leaving my class. I will guide them and help them understand anything they do not and help them learn to love and care for their futures in our country so that they will want to push themselves to the next level. Educators are needed in our classes today. We need people who care about the students and not just test scores or having a "good" class. We must not forget these students are humans with feelings not robots. With that in mind we can make a difference by caring about them and pushing them to do better by attempting to solve problems inside of our class instead of quickly sending students to the office or OCS (on campus suspension). Believing in education and remembering our purpose will lead to success and will pay off in the long run by creating brighter futures for our students. Education alone will open doors for them.




Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home

I must begin by saying Mr. John Spencer's entire blog is very interesting. In this particular blog Mr. Johnson writes about a conversation between two teachers. They are discussing the idea of students being allowed to take home "pencils". Tom is approached by the "School Curriculum Instructional Interventionist Academic Specialist", Gertrude, about the test scores being lowered due to "pencils" being taken home. Her job title is hilarious! I'm sure in the school system there are a lot of teachers that feel the way that she does. Tom argues that the research done to come to that point is not measured accurately. He also speaks on the fact that in low income areas where the families do not own "pencils" or do not know the correct use for them see them as use for entertainment. He goes on to say how he meets with parents to show them how "pencils" can be used for learning. He says he will teach them things the students will do on them through developing a program for them to learn.

The argument being made is obvious. The "pencils" being discussed in the blog are actually computers or laptops. Schools today are allowed use of laptops inside the classroom and some schools even provide the laptops. I feel the use for computers by students is a good idea.  Teachers can instruct the students how to use the computers for educational use. Things like blogging, podcasting, iMovies, and more can lead to success in the classroom for the students. With help provided for family members as well lifelong learning can be pushed and the entire family can be educated. Students may still use the technology at home for fun use such as Facebook, Twitter, or Skype. However they will learn to manipulate the computer and how to upload different things. As with anything there are pros and cons with the use of technology, but with how developed the world is today technology cannot be overlooked when it comes to education. How Spencer made his point is very clever and I feel we should have programs for parents to learn. Things are always changing and the parents and students should all be aware and have access to such technology and education, and as educators we can help.