tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45962722235907044122024-03-05T09:35:10.380-08:00Kaitlyn Burgess's EDM 310 Class BlogKaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-85262343522952742292012-12-08T20:34:00.004-08:002012-12-08T20:34:53.586-08:00Blog Post #15 Final Reflection<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E1ZVkR_2pIw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-22889164276953381172012-12-08T19:05:00.000-08:002012-12-08T19:05:12.522-08:00Project #13 Using Collaborative Tools<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xh7CLgDoYUk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
My group, the November Jags, decided to communicate through Google Docs and Skype to plan our SmartBoard project. We used Skype to talk about what kind of lesson plan to create and how to divide up the work. It took several tries for us to figure out how to use Skype properly. We had a few problems along the way. First, each time we tried, at least one of us could not be seen and/or heard by the rest of the group. We finally got it to work for one conversation, but then the video part stopped working. We decided to just keep talking anyway since everyone could still hear each other. This conversation can be watched/heard in the video above. I recorded it using <a href="http://www.screenr.com/">Screenr</a>.<br />
<br />
Next, we decided to talk about the project a little bit more through a Google Doc that Stacy created and shared with Mary Angela and myself. On this, we finalized plans for the project as well as a time to meet to record the lesson. After we were finished with it, I shared the document with Dr. Strange.<br />
<br />
I thought communicating through technology only was kind of difficult for a group project. This might just be because of the difficulty we had with Skype. I think it is easier to just meet in person so we can be all together looking at the same thing at the same time. However, it is good to know that there are other options available for communication and how to use these options.Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-7169431977220796452012-11-30T08:33:00.002-08:002012-11-30T08:33:50.876-08:00Project #15 SmartBoard Part 2<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3aqRW3CaOJk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-34004659372493929762012-11-27T21:11:00.000-08:002012-11-27T21:11:08.678-08:00Blog Post #13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdljYeB6lqWMyLk38dVyPshkuYlO3YGYrOMyhT3tdcM-jolNzkWyPHPkusLKhz3lies1piJ9drHpWpJHh_aKqE_ONRNPUrkTSQAD_hj2Rm9RWsxrAYfPLgsDzbZZO4miS6ARIsoqbR9qO/s1600/L5_balloonfiesta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="hot air balloons" title="Source: propertiesofmatter.si.edu" border="0" height="209" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdljYeB6lqWMyLk38dVyPshkuYlO3YGYrOMyhT3tdcM-jolNzkWyPHPkusLKhz3lies1piJ9drHpWpJHh_aKqE_ONRNPUrkTSQAD_hj2Rm9RWsxrAYfPLgsDzbZZO4miS6ARIsoqbR9qO/s320/L5_balloonfiesta.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Back to the Future</b><br />
<br />
I just finished watching Brian Crosby's video, <a href="http://learningismessy.com/blog/?p=854">Back to the Future</a>, and all I can say is WOW! This is a video of Brian presenting a project he did with his fourth grade class at Agnes Risley Elementary School in Sparks, Nevada. Most of his students are second language learners as well as at risk students. When asked some basic information at the beginning of the school year about where they live, the results were alarming. Out of 24 students, only 9 knew what city they live in, 12 what state, 3 what country, and 7 their address. Brian decided that his teaching would have to be extremely engaging to help these students out. So, he has the class keep blogs, make wikis, and use Skype. He incorporated all of this and more into the class's hot air balloon project. They learned about the science of hot air balloons through hands on experiments, and they also learned about the history of them. They then applied this knowledge to begin writing a story from the balloon's point of view about traveling through the atmosphere. Students reading the class's blogs wanted to get in on the action too, so the High Hope project was started. Students all over the world sent their high hopes, and they were all sent off into the atmosphere attached to a hot air balloon. <br />
<br />
I was so impressed with Brian's determination to teach higher level thinking, not just facts for a test. If all students were taught this way, I think there would be much more excitement about school. Like Brian says, if students have an audience that they know is reading what they write, there is more motivation to do a good job. To me, this is a much better motivator than only writing in order to receive a grade. When academics are made to connect with students' lives like with the High Hope project, information starts sinking in and making more sense. Students are no longer just learning random facts. They are learning to make connections with and think critically about material. To me this form of learning is a lot more valuable in the long run than learning in order to pass a test.<br />
<br />
<b>A Vision of Students Today</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftechliterateteacher.blogspot.com%2F&feature=player_embedded">A Vision of Students Today</a> is a video about the realities of attending college in today's world. A group of 200 students were surveyed over a Google doc about their college experience, and the results are not surprising to me. Many students don't bother to read the expensive textbooks they pay for. Tons of papers and emails are written. Between eating, using cellphones, watching television, spending time on computers, sleeping, work, class, and homework, students often have to multitask just to complete everything. Class sizes are large, and teaching has become impersonal. They also presented the negative sides of using technology in education. For example, students reported bringing their laptops to class, but not doing anything related to the class on them. Many students report browsing Facebook throughout most of their classes. The video ends by presenting the idea that teaching with just a chalkboard will no longer be enough. Students should be taught through what they know best--technology.<br />
<br />
I think many of the ideas presented in this video are very true. I used to see students doing anything and everything but school related things on their laptops when I was in 100 and 200 level courses. Maybe I am just not paying attention to what people around me are doing during class, but it seems to me as students progress to 300 and 400 level classes, they take school more seriously and cut down on not paying attention. Nevertheless, I still think it is a good idea to incorporate technology into education. Looking at things from the point of view of professors instead of students, technology can make classes run a lot smoother. Through the internet, teachers can post numerous resources for students to use and benefit from as well as assignments and tests. With so many great possibilities out there, I don't think educators should let students who misuse technology stop other students from enjoying the benefits of it. For example, I personally enjoy the fact that I can work on completing assignments for EDM 310 anywhere I have access to a computer and internet. This makes learning easier and more flexible to me. I can't imagine going through college without technology being utilized. <br />
<br />
Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-36960435307246842572012-11-27T19:32:00.000-08:002012-11-27T19:32:04.630-08:00Final Report on PLN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HxCBR0oqYlzYekYLn_ztPwFSGLNDvjGXOvFiWXN1FY9fHocbm6w9wlgxtUh3TvETBCa9d31V7KiKvhA5SzlUY1v8OJlKorVgs_LVAY__iC6EOzjHx89xTLP3S8kjrdZyrfnnQquFp2go/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+9.15.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img alt="symbaloo" title="Source: http://www.symbaloo.com/" border="0" height="241" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HxCBR0oqYlzYekYLn_ztPwFSGLNDvjGXOvFiWXN1FY9fHocbm6w9wlgxtUh3TvETBCa9d31V7KiKvhA5SzlUY1v8OJlKorVgs_LVAY__iC6EOzjHx89xTLP3S8kjrdZyrfnnQquFp2go/s400/Screen+shot+2012-11-27+at+9.15.11+PM.png" /></a></div><br />
Since my last report on my PLN in October, I have been busy adding all kinds of resources to help me be a good teacher. I have found three new blogs to add that I think are really great. These teachers are so creative, and I have already found a lot of activities on their blogs that I plan to use in my teaching. In addition to the blogs, I have added several other great resources including PBS Teachers, Family Fun, SMART Exchange, Teacher Tube, School Tube, and Discovery Education. Now I can access all of these fabulous resources in one place. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I have been finding many of these resources through Pinterest. This site has really helped me build up my PLN, and I know it will continue to do so throughout my teaching career. I even have extra room to grow my collection of resources. Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-42680766983418115352012-11-27T17:25:00.000-08:002012-11-27T17:25:34.845-08:00C4T #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfbpfzdNxhA9DhapDGARRPbicOaF6xqnhXSXwkF2zNWidssXcPSLHtvy5yO0NpJssNXB1xJN52DDomSlijhKRwWzIBwat3BbY5wpIaHrve28j2_FX8LXOAlaVJ4H7YoCbJWmfBpLuJf3q/s1600/physics.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="atom" title="Source: http://newspaper.li/physics/" border="0" height="288" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfbpfzdNxhA9DhapDGARRPbicOaF6xqnhXSXwkF2zNWidssXcPSLHtvy5yO0NpJssNXB1xJN52DDomSlijhKRwWzIBwat3BbY5wpIaHrve28j2_FX8LXOAlaVJ4H7YoCbJWmfBpLuJf3q/s320/physics.png" /></a></div><br />
The teacher I was assigned to for C4T #4 is Frank Noschese, a physics teacher. The first post of his that I read, <a href="http://fnoschese.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/vpython-sceencasts/#comment-11256">VPython Screencasts</a>, is about an assignment he gave his AP Physics class. They were to make a screencast about their VPython program they created. The post includes a video tutorial for the students showing exactly how to make a screencast for the assignment. There are also videos showing an example of a good screencast as well as a bad one. For my comment, I began by introducing myself. I then said that I never knew how to make a screencast before watching his tutorial, and I now understand it better. I then said that I would like to use screencasts in my classroom one day. I think they would be useful for showing how to accomplish a task on the computer. Finally, I thanked him for the tutorial, and wished him the best for the rest of the school year.<br />
<br />
The next post I read, <a href="http://fnoschese.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/metacognition-curriculum-lesson-1-of/#comment-11358">Metacognition Curriculum</a>, is about a lesson plan on metacognition that he taught his students. He included all of the aspects of the lesson from beginning to end. These components include a survey, video segment, dry erase board activity, and a packet of articles on the subject. He said that next year he will probably split the lesson into two different days. For my comment, I began by introducing myself again. Then I told him that the lesson sounds really engaging for students, and appears to have taken a lot of planning. I then said how I think surveys are a great tool to see where students stand in an academic area. Finally, I said that I hope to deliver great lesson plans like his when I start teaching, then thanked him for sharing this one with everyone. Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-87728544477297514652012-11-27T12:40:00.001-08:002012-11-27T12:40:25.692-08:00November C4K<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvDz2E24juo8EP6ejBtd41cbDOhAljpPUZcMCLCyposH6Tf3DtJUGntBt6SWd5JfeQq3AWBZntzvD9ynzrQ_EM3UrcLrHFj4JxmrvP1GgVt5PQfkznz6K8G_s8AeNFTxDM9fvjSQXD5VW/s1600/ireland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="seafood chowder" title="Source: http://usaeyesonireland.blogspot.com/2012/10/then-theres-food.html" border="0" height="213" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvDz2E24juo8EP6ejBtd41cbDOhAljpPUZcMCLCyposH6Tf3DtJUGntBt6SWd5JfeQq3AWBZntzvD9ynzrQ_EM3UrcLrHFj4JxmrvP1GgVt5PQfkznz6K8G_s8AeNFTxDM9fvjSQXD5VW/s320/ireland.JPG" /></a></div><br />
My first C4K assignment for November was an unusual one because it was not for a kid's blog. Instead it was Dr. Vitulli and Dr. Santoli's blog about their adventures in Ireland. The post I commented on, <a href="http://usaeyesonireland.blogspot.com/2012/10/then-theres-food.html">Then There's Food</a>, is about all of the fabulous meals they were enjoying throughout the trip. They included photos of several of the meals, and they all look delicious. At the time this post was written, they both agreed that their favorite meal was the seafood chowder at Gus O'Connor's Pub (as shown in the picture to the right). For my comment I began by saying how delicious all of the food in the pictures looks. I talked about how I am not very adventurous with food usually, but it might be a different story if I ever find myself in a foreign country. I asked if "rocket," a specific food mentioned in the post was good. I ended by wishing them the best during the rest of their trip.<br />
<br />
The next post I commented on was for <a href="http://amazingalberta2.weebly.com/1/post/2012/10/october-25th-2012.html">Loreli</a>, a student from Alberta. Her post is a virtual poster about the Rocky Mountain region of Alberta. The poster includes text and a map of the region as well as photos and video of animals found in the region. For my comment, I began by introducing myself. I told her that the poster looks great, and that I like how she included a video. I then asked her which animal from the video is her favorite. I ended by telling her that I learned a lot about Alberta from her poster and to keep up the great work.<br />
<br />
The next post I commented on was for <a href="http://kidblog.org/MrSeliskar2012/df5e9fdb-33e7-44df-bb57-97aef315832a/james-and-the-giant-peach-4/#comment-330">Nolan</a>. His post is about the book, <i>James and the Giant Peach</i>. He wrote a paragraph summarizing what I am guessing is the beginning of the story. I am not positive about this though, because I have never read the book. For my comment, I began by introducing myself. I then let him know that I thought his post was interesting to read. I said that I have never read the book, but his post makes it sound like an exciting story. I ended by asking what his favorite part of the story was, and to keep up the good work.<br />
<br />
The last post I commented on was for <a href="http://harvillebrandon-english.blogspot.com/2012/11/blog-post_8.html">Brandon</a>, a tenth grade student at Baldwin County High School. His post is actually a video of himself interviewing another student in his class, Alexis, about her life. For my comment I began by introducing myself once again. I told him that I enjoyed watching his video. Then I mentioned that I had never tried cheese toast with ranch dressing, but listening to Alexis talk about it made me curious about it. I then told him that my favorite subject in high school was also math just as he mentioned it is his favorite. Finally, I told him that he did a good job on his post and to keep up the good work. Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-14634151556982233942012-11-26T09:18:00.000-08:002012-11-26T09:21:13.088-08:00Final Project Progress Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_ofZT44Ak6mz3XKCHO_Hc9QFCG9dAdQwA1Agucnd7nd0oVq9Fru691SbhzOvPvpeg5HN_vZhSAVwrio5OYLHGMhcDaAi5aN0pkE1lU3_4B7H1hM-ZcJjCRagZwgns1Ug9Z6rc2FFZiCU/s1600/underconstruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img alt="under construction" title="Source: maleikie.blogspot.com" border="0" height="225" width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_ofZT44Ak6mz3XKCHO_Hc9QFCG9dAdQwA1Agucnd7nd0oVq9Fru691SbhzOvPvpeg5HN_vZhSAVwrio5OYLHGMhcDaAi5aN0pkE1lU3_4B7H1hM-ZcJjCRagZwgns1Ug9Z6rc2FFZiCU/s320/underconstruction.jpg" /></a></div><br />
My group, November Jags, is coming along quite well with our final project. We chose to make an iBook. So far, we have gathered almost all of our individual components. We also have most of the group components. We are only missing a portion of our Smartboard lesson plan and an audio introduction. We also still have some work to do on our group produced text. Once we finish gathering these few things, all we will have left to do is put it all together in an iBook. Overall, I think we are where we need to be on this project to meet the deadline.Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-86463803722066718562012-11-17T12:50:00.002-08:002012-11-17T12:50:43.434-08:00Blog Post #12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FxyEMypHg3xGOnhvhUD6BnrfWF5Wpgks-K6WJbDj9gxMaOckwByTJ82tOGbVtlKPhKMKRWcSMh0Jd68oeDuFv1mqHK5Oq_SbdcpJkHKyq9wSDcMF6gMJwcwRBb9mkm0XJV3YWyGjolXh/s1600/Pinterest-in-the-classroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img alt="pinterest in the classroom" title="Source: Ohsopinteresting.com" border="0" height="200" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FxyEMypHg3xGOnhvhUD6BnrfWF5Wpgks-K6WJbDj9gxMaOckwByTJ82tOGbVtlKPhKMKRWcSMh0Jd68oeDuFv1mqHK5Oq_SbdcpJkHKyq9wSDcMF6gMJwcwRBb9mkm0XJV3YWyGjolXh/s400/Pinterest-in-the-classroom.jpg" /></a></div><br />
When I read that for this week's blog post assignment I am supposed to create and complete my own assignment, I immediately knew what I was going to do. What better assignment could there possibly be other than one involving the one and only <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>? I am a huge fan of Pinterest, and I enjoy looking through the boards in the education category. I think it is a really helpful website for teachers to know about. So, without further ado, here is my Pinterest assignment!<br />
<br />
<b>Blog Post 12 Due 11/18</b><br />
<br />
1. Go to <a href="http://pinterest.com">Pinterest</a>, and create an account. Explore the website, especially the education category.<br />
<br />
2. Read <a href="http://www.pearsonschoolsystems.com/blog/?p=424">Four Ways to Use Pinterest in Education</a>. Watch the video at the end of the article. Would you use any of these ideas in your classroom? Which ones? Why or why not? <br />
<br />
3. Read <a href="http://edudemic.com/2012/10/pinterest-education-technology/">The 20 Best Pinterest Boards About Education Technology</a>. Visit each of these boards, and follow any that seem useful. Write one or more paragraphs about which boards you chose to follow and why.<br />
<br />
4. Begin pinning to your own boards. What kinds of resources are you pinning, and how will they be helpful to you as an educator? Could Pinterest help with building your PLN? Why or why not? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5cGp39ykbCri8_b2mxGOZbfWsVyuLvHfeW-qCIwZZAabMdIZG9hdHD7rfI41PXWIvtX-sn6YYXWt6fjF6zTHlFX5dlPaJEpkPOBrJzJ0QXqeEsa1mDFteeSc3wYrUwWR_tb6bTdml9uj/s1600/keepcalm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="keep calm and pin on" title="Source: Keepcalmandposters.com" border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5cGp39ykbCri8_b2mxGOZbfWsVyuLvHfeW-qCIwZZAabMdIZG9hdHD7rfI41PXWIvtX-sn6YYXWt6fjF6zTHlFX5dlPaJEpkPOBrJzJ0QXqeEsa1mDFteeSc3wYrUwWR_tb6bTdml9uj/s320/keepcalm.png" /></a></div><br />
<b>My Completed Pinterest Assignment</b><br />
<br />
After reading <a href="http://www.pearsonschoolsystems.com/blog/?p=424">Four Ways to Use Pinterest in Education</a>, I am so excited to continue with my pinning! This article gives teachers four suggestions on how to use Pinterest to help with their teaching. These ideas are lesson plans, sharing ideas, organization, and student use. For lesson planning, there are so many activities and crafts posted on Pinterest that you are sure to find the perfect one for your lesson. So many teachers share their ideas through blogging, and Pinterest is the place where all of these ideas come together in an organized way. Any teacher knows that organization is key to a classroom running smoothly, and Pinterest is just the place for ideas and inspiration. From storage tips to classroom management strategies, there is something for everyone. Students can even get in on the pinning action too. Boards can be made to be edited by a group of people, so maybe each of your students might have to find an article or video on a specific science topic and post it to a shared board for an assignment. Group projects can be easily organized with sources pinned all in one place. There are just so many possibilities.<br />
<br />
I would definitely use all of these ideas in my classroom. As I mentioned earlier, I am a huge fan of this website. I am already finding so many great ideas for teaching, and since they are all in one place, they are easy to go back and find. I have always liked the quote, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." While this quote is absolutely terrible in the grammar department, I like the message. There are so many amazing teachers with fabulous ideas they are willing to share. Why should I try to reinvent the entire wheel when there is so much fabulous material already made just waiting to be modified to my preferences? That is not to say that I will never make up my own lesson plans and activities because I know I will. I think we should just take advantage of having access to so much inspiring material. As for organization, I'm just obsessed with it in general, so of course I would use ideas from Pinterest. Finally, I love the idea of using Pinterest for student assignments. I had not thought of it before, but I think it is genius! Although, I would probably only use it for this purpose if I teach older elementary students. I think it is a really organized, easy, and visually appealing way to keep track of student finds. <br />
<br />
The next article I read, <a href="http://edudemic.com/2012/10/pinterest-education-technology/">The 20 Best Pinterest Boards About Education Technology</a>, is just what the title suggests. The author picked out the best boards about using technology in education, and put them all in one convenient place complete with descriptions of each. I chose my two favorite boards off of the list to follow. The first board I chose to follow is <a href="http://pinterest.com/coolcatteacher/teaching-ideas-and-apps/">Vicki Davis's</a>. Not only does she pin amazing technology resouces for the classroom, but also many other clever teaching ideas. Some of these include bulletin board ideas, science experiments, and printables, just to name a few. I already follow Vicki on Twitter, so I knew a Pinterest board from her would be just as great. The second board that I chose to follow is <a href="http://pinterest.com/mel_dillard/smartboard/">Melissa Alonso-Dillard's</a>. She posts tons of great resources to use with Smartboards such as games, videos, websites, tips, and more. I chose to follow her because I am new to using Smartboards, and it will be helpful to have a few pointers for where to find good resources for them.<br />
<br />
So far, I have 64 pins on my education board. Many of these are crafts, classroom management ideas, lesson plan resources, links to teacher blogs. I plan to use my education board as inspiration for lesson planning and classroom management. There are so many wonderful resources to be found on Pinterest. To me, the best part is that there is always something new on the website so it never gets old or boring. I think using Pinterest is a great way to build up my PLN because I have found so many amazing teaching blogs on it that I probably never would have seen otherwise. Pinterest brings teachers together, and it makes it easier than ever before to share teaching ideas. I love Pinterest, and I know it will help me as a teacher for years to come. <br />
Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-86643588847872783232012-11-11T19:59:00.000-08:002012-11-11T19:59:04.281-08:00C4T #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhQtfkPzOSyVu1TgUCh99kE7qlBnp07D4fJpoM67Y6y20RpI_I2yYNi4Woz9tG-RXMI-6JZ4UKc5Jsfc4ah_h5uiJqEL1UPsZuHAj0misTHZW57aY-UoJlmKRTIqh7Mgl4nuKRzRfrr6I/s1600/gifted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="children holding a gifted sign" title="Source: Vagifted.org" border="0" height="171" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhQtfkPzOSyVu1TgUCh99kE7qlBnp07D4fJpoM67Y6y20RpI_I2yYNi4Woz9tG-RXMI-6JZ4UKc5Jsfc4ah_h5uiJqEL1UPsZuHAj0misTHZW57aY-UoJlmKRTIqh7Mgl4nuKRzRfrr6I/s320/gifted.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The first post I read and commented on, <a href="http://languagejourneys.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-21st-century-gifted-educator.html">The 21st Century Gifted Educator</a>, is by Elvira Deyamport. The post is a video of a lecture given at a conference by she and her husband about creating a personal learning network. They focus on using Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Using a PLN is useful because teachers can collaborate with other teachers to share their ideas and learn new strategies. For my comment, I began by introducing myself as well as leaving links to my blog and the class blog. I told her about how this lecture was the first time I had heard of LinkedIn, and how I would like to learn more about it. I then told her about how I am working on building my own PLN in this class. Finally, I thanked her for all of the useful information.<br />
<br />
The second post I read and commented on was <a href="http://languagejourneys.blogspot.com/2012/08/celebrating-global-connections-during.html">Celebrating Global Connections during the #IWG12</a>. This post is also by Elvira Deyamport. It is about the importance of incorporating technology into the classroom. She talks about how important it is for students to make connections with people around the world using technology, and how necessary this is in today's world. She also included a video of her students throuhout the school year connecting with students around the world via Skype. My comment has not yet been approved to show up on her blog, but I began by agreeing with her that it is very important for students to make connections with people from around the world using technology. I went on to tell her that I enjoyed watching the video of her students learning through Skype throughout the year. The children looked like they were having a great time as well as learning. Finally, I thanked her for all of the great ideas that I found on her blog.<br />
Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-20296592604301022962012-11-11T19:14:00.000-08:002012-11-11T19:14:13.247-08:00Blog Post #11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKl8vLrXznevcPuw7_YfRoEou1EAq8pG_1_yVEP_rV-26l7v_qpiLyqVaM4JY8wlkwGxn_kI8UbslHXUw_6tG7jVYMc3jchOiOnEWZGY3ze_etlmyMPO_1EDf9eXXvqwVORqMJgzv7sb5/s1600/FirstGrade+bear.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="1st Grade and bear" title="Source: eoccstech.blogspot.com" border="0" height="283" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKl8vLrXznevcPuw7_YfRoEou1EAq8pG_1_yVEP_rV-26l7v_qpiLyqVaM4JY8wlkwGxn_kI8UbslHXUw_6tG7jVYMc3jchOiOnEWZGY3ze_etlmyMPO_1EDf9eXXvqwVORqMJgzv7sb5/s320/FirstGrade+bear.gif" /></a></div><br />
<b>Ms. Cassidy's First Grade</b><br />
<br />
Watching <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPZtTej0jQ&feature=player_embedded">First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class</a> and <a href="http://edm310.com/cassidy.m4v">Skype Interview with Ms. Cassidy</a> gave me some great ideas about how to use technology in my future classroom. Ms. Cassidy says that she began learning about technology for the sole purpose of using it in her classroom to benefit her students. She says that technology is part of modern day students' everyday lives, and it needs to be incorporated into the classroom in order for successful learning to occur. She implements the use of technology in several ways in her classroom including blogging, wikis, video, Skype, and even Nintendo DS. I think the most important piece of advice that she had to offer in her interview is that each year will be different, so technology use will also be different. What works for your class one year might turn out to be disastrous the next year.<br />
<br />
I think I will use several of her techniques in my classroom. The first of these is a class blog. I love the idea of parents being able to follow their child's progress, and see examples of their work from anywhere. This would be a really awesome tool for a child whose parents do not both live in town. Both parents could keep up with their child's progress instead of only the parent in town who receives the daily folder of papers that get lost anyway. Another technique of Ms. Cassidy's that I will use is video. I think making videos of children demonstrating new skills gives them an immediate, short term reason for learning the material thoroughly. This in turn, helps the children in the long run, because they now thoroughly understand the topic because of a fun activity. I also think it would be neat to use Skype in the classroom to talk to experts like Ms. Cassidy's students were in the video.<br />
<br />
I can't picture myself using a couple of the techniques the Ms. Cassidy uses (although who knows what I will do one day). One of these is wikis. I have always found these to be a bit confusing, so maybe that is why I am not as eager to use them. I think if I take the time to learn about them like I have with much of the technology in this course, I might find them more useful. However, for now, I don't think they are for me. Another technique that I am a bit skeptical of is the use of the Nintendo DS. Again, this might be due to being unfamiliar with this technology. I have never heard of these being used in classrooms, but I bet the children really love it. I would love to learn more about this technique, and hopefully change my views about it. Overall, I think Ms. Cassidy has fabulous ideas on incorporating technology into education, and I can't wait to put some of these ideas to use.<br />
<br />
Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-53882896511925444502012-11-11T12:42:00.001-08:002012-11-11T12:42:44.254-08:00C4K October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5ZZnb3V3kBzl79Lxwg2jIdDhx55w7UIoiwmzLv9Ifd-nQFk9CW885sqfR1SH_-JzM08oC2jkT4VovlgDx9DP6S0Zcc_SmTPF6LvS09q0gNzCt4bD3ctAkPitMkMgo3PraLNSr1CBxiIA/s1600/The_Outsiders_book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="The Outsiders book" title="Source: En.wikipedia.org" border="0" height="320" width="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5ZZnb3V3kBzl79Lxwg2jIdDhx55w7UIoiwmzLv9Ifd-nQFk9CW885sqfR1SH_-JzM08oC2jkT4VovlgDx9DP6S0Zcc_SmTPF6LvS09q0gNzCt4bD3ctAkPitMkMgo3PraLNSr1CBxiIA/s320/The_Outsiders_book.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The first C4K I did for October was for <a href="http://kidblog.org/pwa9b/77ec5dec-c742-4237-ab0f-ab39180a713d/pwa-changes-my-life-p/#comments">Larissa</a>, a freshman at Peace Wapiti Academy (although my comment still says "awaiting moderation"). In her post she talks about why being a student at PWA is great. She mentions the education, infrastructure, and environment of the school, and how all of this is beneficial to her. For my comment, I first introduced myself and told her that PWA sounds like a great school. I told her that it is great that teachers are teaching material thoroughly, and that she is comfortable with the environment. All of these factors play a role in the quality of education she receives. I ended my comment by wishing her the best for her freshman year.<br />
<br />
The next post I read was by <a href="http://ageofex.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/success/">Scott</a>, a tenth grader who is blogging for his world history course. His post is about success. He talks about how the level of success one achieves depends on the level of work ethic. He uses Michael Jordan's success story to describe his own progress when it comes to presentations in his world history class. His first presentation did not go as well as he hoped because he did not put forth full effort. His goal for his next presentation is to push himself to do the best he can. For my comment, I began by introducing myself. I then told him how much I enjoyed his post, and that I completely agree with him. People don't succeed in life by sitting back and waiting for things to happen. You have to chase your dreams no matter how much work it takes. <br />
<br />
The third comment I left was for <a href="http://chocolatecookieparty.weebly.com/7/post/2012/10/my-idea-of-a-hero.html#comments">Courtney</a>, a seventh grader from Surrey, B.C. Her post is about what a true hero is to her. She talks about how a hero does not have to have a silly costume or name. Rather, a hero is someone she can trust and depend on. She mentions that the heroes in her life are her parents and her teacher. For my comment, I once again began by introducing myself. I then told her how I think it is great that she recognizes the characteristics of a true hero, and not just superheroes from movies and whatnot. I told her that the members of my family are also some of my heroes as well, and that it is great that her family is so supportive of her. She even wrote back to me thanking me for my comment. She wrote that it means a lot to her.<br />
<br />
Finally, I left a comment for <a href="http://kidblog.org/English7Blog/9b946ed3-e016-4d59-9c20-c0a50baf140e/the-outsiders-characterization-cherry/#comment-826">John</a>, who is blogging for his seventh grade English class. His post is a characterization of Cherry from <i>The Outsiders</i>. He talks about how she has friends in both gangs of the story, so this causes her views of things to change throughout the story. He also talks about a quote she says, a significant action in the story from her, and the other characters' views of her. I began my comment by introducing myself as always. Next, I told him that I remember reading <i>The Outsiders</i> when I was his age. I had noticed on another post I read that this is his favorite book, so I asked him why it is his favorite. Finally I told him that I could get a sense of who Cherry is from is characterization, and that he did a great job. Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-15538673647981917312012-11-05T14:39:00.001-08:002012-11-05T14:39:40.152-08:00Special Blog Assignment #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw3qrrBUYAMto7RzO4VHCiVsdWaoWx3myQCBo_6Bx-AgSm9Aah-A2MRNiNOMJ77_y0QcFHDG5RGO786kjJLquVbuG6PWz9O63m3YF-j64yAS195zUqU9z_4IOUH-q32C_X7Yw6JCat5Li/s1600/Udacity_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="Udacity logo" title="Source: En.wikipedia.org"border="0" height="200" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw3qrrBUYAMto7RzO4VHCiVsdWaoWx3myQCBo_6Bx-AgSm9Aah-A2MRNiNOMJ77_y0QcFHDG5RGO786kjJLquVbuG6PWz9O63m3YF-j64yAS195zUqU9z_4IOUH-q32C_X7Yw6JCat5Li/s320/Udacity_Logo.png" /></a></div><br />
<b>A World Where Grades Will Be Left Behind</b><br />
<br />
In this <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/14/a-world-where-grades-dont-exist-and-learning-is-free/57778420/1">USA Today article</a>, Sebastian Thrun's ideas about how education might change in the next thirty years are described. Thrun is a Google vice president as well as the founder of Udacity, which is an education company. He used to be a professor at Stanford, but after creating an online course and experiencing that style of teaching, he could not bring himself to go back. He says once one experiences this form of education, there is no going back. His goal is to make education available online as well as free all within a very flexible environment filled with playing games for lessons. These courses would be taught by the best professors all around the world. Certifications and exams would require a fee.<br />
<br />
As for grades, the idea is quite simple. There wouldn't be any. Students would be allowed to take as much time as they need to master each lesson. Classes would be large, reaching thousands of students all at once. These ideas are not meant to push education as we know it out the door, but rather it would be to allow as many people as possible to receive a quality education. This change in education is compared to the invention of film. Movies have not replaced live shows, but they have allowed more people to experience the stories. <br />
<br />
I think there are both good and not so good points made in this article. For example, I have mixed feelings about his idea that learning should be as much fun as playing a video game. I absolutely love the idea of making learning fun and students being enthused about learning. I just worry that lessons in some schools would become more about fun and less about being engaging. Basically, I'm all for the idea, but I also think teachers would need to be very careful about making sure students are still learning the material.<br />
<br />
I agree with his point that grades have become the focus of education instead of the actual learning. However, at the same time, I do think that students need boundaries. The whole "take as much time as you need to learn this" thing would probably backfire with many students. No matter how education is set up, I think there will always be that group of students who aren't interested at all in learning. Telling this particular group of students that they have as much time as they need to master a skill or lesson will probably translate to, "If I just say I still don't understand, I won't have to do more difficult lessons." Having said this, self-paced learning can still be a good thing. I just think it would work best if there is some sort of deadline at the end of the course that all lessons should have to be completed by. This way, we could still be sure that the students are getting all of the information they need to succeed in later courses.<br />
<br />
I think this style of learning would work very well for many people who try to attend college with already established careers or families. A self-paced program would allow these people to learn on their own schedule. Also, since the learning is free, it would not be a big deal to drop a course and try again the next semester. Overall, the ideas presented in this article have their pros and cons, but I think this could be a really effective way to improve education as we know it.<br />
<br />
Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-11370319090393195272012-11-03T12:35:00.000-07:002012-11-05T12:31:52.529-08:00Blog Post #10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4KF6WRNPlKH8E7D_Q5uHj-RyEr3s6PsDzz1Lk8XN3FqAAburWZV4regnjU-7hr08AZGFBphJKkkAzPavB0blcNpQn9boZFaeLMyY42Slk2nyHjNuFdH4JA9XAj2nf8TB4v7_667d_4TD/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-02+at+11.34.08+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img alt="cartoon" title="Source:http://pencilintegration.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-papermate-im-ticonderoga.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+AdventuresInPencilIntegration+%28Adventures+in+Pencil+Integration%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher" border="0" height="197" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4KF6WRNPlKH8E7D_Q5uHj-RyEr3s6PsDzz1Lk8XN3FqAAburWZV4regnjU-7hr08AZGFBphJKkkAzPavB0blcNpQn9boZFaeLMyY42Slk2nyHjNuFdH4JA9XAj2nf8TB4v7_667d_4TD/s320/Screen+shot+2012-11-02+at+11.34.08+AM.png" /></a></div><br />
<b>John T. Spencer's Cartoon</b><br />
<br />
The first thing I thought of when I saw this <a href="http://pencilintegration.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-papermate-im-ticonderoga.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+AdventuresInPencilIntegration+%28Adventures+in+Pencil+Integration%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher">cartoon by John T. Spencer</a>, was Macs versus PC's. I think this cartoon is comparing a Papermate pen to a PC and a Ticonderoga pen to a Mac. PC's, like Papermate pens, are the cheaper option when it comes to buying a computer. However, often times people end up having many problems with PC's such as viruses. Macs are obviously an expensive option when buying computers, but many people, including myself, think they are worth it. Macs tend to get less viruses and have less problems in general. Basically, I think this cartoon is saying that you get what you pay for.<br />
<br />
<b>Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?</b><br />
<br />
In <a href="http://pencilintegration.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-were-your-kids-playing-games.html">this post</a>, Mr. Spencer wrote a dialog between himself and the principal at his school. In this dialog they are discussing the teaching methods of Mr. Spencer. He has been using a game to teach and the principal does not approve of it. He says that students should be taught through rote memorization skills. He says that using a game to teach is a stretch. They argue back and forth for a while about this until the end when Mr. Spencer states his solution for the problem. He says, "I'll create an algorithm factory and integrate it into our Conflict-Oriented Reading and Writing Project (a.k.a. The Factory Game)."<br />
<br />
In this post I think Mr. Spencer is saying that there are ways to get around strict standards. Teachers can adapt standards into engaging lessons that do not only involve rote memorization. Basically, according to the principal, as long as students can pass their rote memorization tests, they are learning, and the teacher is doing his job. This is not enough for Mr. Spencer though. He wants his students to not only memorize facts, but really be engaged and learn the material. I hope to promote this philosophy in my classroom as well.<br />
<br />
The second post I read, <a href="http://pencilintegration.blogspot.com/2010/09/show-and-tell.html">Show and Tell</a>, Mr. Spencer talks about how show and tell can be an effective learning strategy for students of all ages. He tells about how he created an assignment for his older students involving show and tell for an item that has special meaning to them. None of the students wanted to present first, so he began with his own item, a rock from the western frontier, and tells his story about the significance of the rock to his life. The lesson ignites from there, and many of the students present their own items and stories. After seeing all of them, Mr. Spencer wonders why more lessons in school can't be this personal for students. Through show and tell the students related their knowledge about the world to an item, and that takes critical thinking skills.<br />
<br />
I think show and tell for older students is a great idea. As I mentioned earlier, it promotes critical thinking skills about what they are learning. You could take a history lesson and tell the students to bring in an item that relates the period of time to something in their own lives. To me, this sounds like a lot more fun and engaging than just memorizing dates and other facts. In fact, in my public speaking class we had to do an assignment similar to the one Mr. Spencer describes. We had to bring in an object and give a short speech about how the object relates to us and describes us. It was one of my favorite assignments in that class, and I really learned a lot about my classmates.<br />
<br />
<b>Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff Please</b><br />
<br />
In <a href="http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/08/dont-teach-your-kids-this-stuff-please.html/comment-page-11#comment-325645">this post</a>, Scott McLeod wrote a sarcastic poem about children's use of the internet. He sarcastically tells parents, teachers, administrators, and board members to not let kids anywhere near the internet. They will end going down the wrong path such as viewing pornography and cyberbullying. Since there are so many evil things out there, children need to be banned from using the internet at all costs. Although he says he will allow his own children to use the internet, and take his chances on how they turn out. <br />
<br />
I found this poem really humorous to read and all too true. Children need to experience what the internet has to offer. There are so many powerful learning tools available on it. Yes, there are also negative parts of the internet, but that fact of the matter is that kids are going to experience the internet at some point no matter what. Don't we want our students to know how to use it properly to find relevant information and make connections? In my opinion, the internet is all too powerful of a tool to brush aside because of a fear of the negative sides of it. The truth is there is potential for inappropriate content no matter what the chosen material for a lesson is. Bullying happens outside of technology just as easily as online. So are we going to ban children from all social interactions in school period? No recess, silent lunches, no group activities, the whole nine yards? As you can see, it is impossible to shield students from all negative happenings. We need to expose them to the internet and teach them what is good about it and bad. <br />
Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-4359967956240166222012-11-02T10:26:00.001-07:002012-11-02T10:26:34.537-07:00Project #14 SmartBoard<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ibanb5-cwgU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-26075951575922430982012-11-02T10:04:00.001-07:002012-11-02T10:04:14.586-07:00Project #11 Short Movie<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9ri5QA6fOXA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-18391384945977724182012-10-28T19:39:00.000-07:002012-10-28T19:39:33.385-07:001st PLN Project #10 Progress Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH3k2EGZJU-5h0nv7-BWvtAzNWIPdtjXfayOQtOw4t484kr3e6Ne5WL6dWy7iBLfFuORBgF4kPls5hwxfI9X2wmuLMNKRox2cxQNvFs7xPskB5Q41I6pVvf_z5oPz0Xb0KAx3AJ0lIzoT/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-10-28+at+9.16.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="192" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH3k2EGZJU-5h0nv7-BWvtAzNWIPdtjXfayOQtOw4t484kr3e6Ne5WL6dWy7iBLfFuORBgF4kPls5hwxfI9X2wmuLMNKRox2cxQNvFs7xPskB5Q41I6pVvf_z5oPz0Xb0KAx3AJ0lIzoT/s320/Screen+shot+2012-10-28+at+9.16.38+PM.png" /></a></div><br />
For my PLN, I chose to use Symbaloo. I like Symbaloo a lot because of the layout. You can color code the tiles in order to easily keep different topics separate. I have my social networking sites, Netflix, and other enertaiment sites such as these across the top. I have several resources from Scholastic in the bottom left-hand corner. In the bottom right-hand corner I have several educators' blogs. I plan to add more resources to help me in my future teaching career. I think Symbaloo will help me keep all of my education resources organized throughout my career as a teacher. Through blogs I will be able to learn from teachers with more experience than me.Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-81654011521669821162012-10-28T18:54:00.001-07:002012-10-28T18:54:39.117-07:00Project #12 Book Trailer<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tGR94XEAtVw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-18416446496685824242012-10-27T14:14:00.000-07:002012-10-27T14:14:05.788-07:00Blog Post #9<b>Mr. McClung - What I Learned This Year</b><br />
<br />
At the end of each school year, Joe McClung writes a blog post detailing what he learned during the year about himself as a teacher and how he can better his teaching skills. I think this is a really great idea because he can watch himself grow as a teacher as well as pinpoint how to be even better.<br />
<br />
The first of these posts that I read was his reflection for the <a href="http://mcclungsworld.com/2012/06/13/what-i-learned-this-year-volume-4/">2011-2012</a> school year. He gave two main points in his post, "You gotta dance with who you brought to the dance," and, "Challenge yourself." For the first one, he talked about how he fell into the trap of worrying about what other teachers thought of his methods of teaching more and more throughout the year. He goes on to say that after some thought he realized that it does not matter what the other teachers think of him as long as the kids are having fun and learning along the way. For the second point, he talked about how he had become too comfortable with his ways. He had always taught the same subjects each year, and he was using the same lesson plans each year. He found himself not being as effective of a teacher because of this. Luckily, the subjects he teaches are now different for the 2012-2013 school year, so he was forced to think of fresh ideas.<br />
<br />
I think I am really going to have to try hard not to fall into the trap of worrying about what other teachers think of me. I have been sort of bad about worrying about such things my whole life. However, I am gaining more and more confidence in my teaching ability with every class I complete in college, so hopefully this will not be a problem. Like Mr. McClung says, as long as the kids are enjoying the lessons and learning from them, it does not matter what other teachers think. I think the second point he made is super important. Students can tell if a teacher does not care about what he or she is teaching. If the teacher is not enthusiastic about learning, how can the students be expected to be excited about the class? I believe that changing things up and challenging yourself can keep the teaching profession fresh and exciting.<br />
<br />
The second post that I read from Mr. McClung is from the <a href="http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-i-learned-this-year.html">2008-2009</a> school year. This was his very first year as a teacher, and he seemed to learn a whole lot throughout the year. First, he talked about reading the crowd, or making sure that students are comprehending a lesson. He says he learned that not only is the delivery of a lesson important, but also student comprehension. It is so important for lessons to be student centered. The next thing he learned is to always be flexible with lessons. Any time you plan something for kids, you need to expect for it to not always go as planned, and that is okay. Reflect on the situation and what could have made it better, and try again next time. <br />
<br />
Next, he talked about how communication with both students and other teachers is a crucial skill to develop. Fourth, he talks about being reasonable when setting goals for students. Sometimes they will reach the goal successfully, and sometimes they will not. However, no matter what the outcome, they still need encouragement to try again. After this, he talks a bit about not being afraid of technology. I think EDM 310 is definitely helping me with this one! Next he emphasizes the importance of listening to your students. It is important for teachers to care about what is going on in students' lives. Finally, he mentions that we should never stop learning.<br />
<br />
This post contains fabulous advice for first year teachers. As a teacher, I want to know my students. I want my students to know that I expect their best from them, but at the same time I don't expect perfection. Their is no such thing as a perfect student, and I think teachers often forget this like Mr. McClung says in his post. Like I mentioned earlier, teachers need to focus on what is important--that students are learning and comprehending. Students need to know that their teacher cares about them. This will create trust and a comfortable teaching and learning environment. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy47p_BxPLFvbI55WJjcQ0rxvp1rzSLuAXN4HXR2FNLNiSwdRJTaxY6eoblsDo4SXyRdyf-n3Dma8ABS6h9Ai6cn-aRmDTMlAYlVfX_mQPZAHa1yiV-yP7rFUE2udZLHnnqn3_KNRkMfrY/s1600/blog9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img alt="An important decision I have made this year is to stay positive" title="Source: http://attheteachersdesk.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-i-learned-this-year.html" border="0" height="69" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy47p_BxPLFvbI55WJjcQ0rxvp1rzSLuAXN4HXR2FNLNiSwdRJTaxY6eoblsDo4SXyRdyf-n3Dma8ABS6h9Ai6cn-aRmDTMlAYlVfX_mQPZAHa1yiV-yP7rFUE2udZLHnnqn3_KNRkMfrY/s320/blog9.JPG" /></a></div>Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-25102251703457593562012-10-21T12:47:00.000-07:002012-10-24T18:28:06.458-07:00Blog Post #8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA1hKBpJdYP9zxDb5xUelq1tTnBPmqbbGVucuc2UPC4AsjfFO6i5tCE-Kt_CYSFvSAurS0C8b7f8t4orY6M3MUSA5mtQnZMMDnBabfR81VhknSBDAFsNCNMxZ3zWEId8jq1c99E4Z2ASa/s1600/mac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="macbook pro" title="source: store.apple.com" border="0" height="174" width="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA1hKBpJdYP9zxDb5xUelq1tTnBPmqbbGVucuc2UPC4AsjfFO6i5tCE-Kt_CYSFvSAurS0C8b7f8t4orY6M3MUSA5mtQnZMMDnBabfR81VhknSBDAFsNCNMxZ3zWEId8jq1c99E4Z2ASa/s320/mac.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>This Is How We Dream</b><br />
<br />
In Dr. Richard E. Miller's lecture, <a href="http://techliterateteacher.blogspot.com/2009/07/dr-richard-e-miller-discusses-writing.html">This Is How We Dream</a>, he discusses how writing has changed with technology. First, he points out that pencil and paper are not the most popular materials used for writing anymore. Instead, people use word processing programs on computers. This opens the door to research being done on the internet instead of in a library. Next, he talks about how collaboration through technology is now possible and about composing documents through videos. Other resources for composing documents include iTunes U and educational productions. Not only have the ways we write and compose changed, but also where and how documents are published, that is, through the internet. This allows information to be pushed to many more people than through print alone. Finally, he talks about composing with the web itself.<br />
<br />
I find Dr. Miller's thoughts very interesting to think about. It is hard for someone like myself, who has grown up with traditional writing styles, to imagine composing a paper for school without text. It is such a foreign concept to me in fact, that I had to watch the lecture a second time to make sure I was understanding it correctly. However, just because it is a new concept does not make it wrong by any means! In fact, I think this method of composing can make students think deeper into topics. Not only do they have to research and discover what the topic is, they also have to string together different forms of media to make a valid point. This means they have to choose which pieces of media to use very wisely. Therefore, I think this style of composing is genius.<br />
<br />
I think I am definitely prepared to write with multimedia. I understand the concept and purpose of it, and I think with a little practice I could write in this new way. Furthermore, I think my students will also be able to do this (probably with even more ease than I ever could!). Children adapt to new technology pretty easily. I can see this being successful in elementary school beginning in about third grade. These students are just beginning to write longer pieces, and they don't know any different than writing with multimedia. It would probably come across as second nature to them! It is exciting to think about the possibilities for the future of education!<br />
<br />
<b>Carly Pugh's Post</b><br />
<br />
After reading Carly Pugh's <a href="http://pughcarlyedm310.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-post-12.html">Blog Post #12</a>, I am truly inspired. In her post, Carly described an assignment which she believed should have been assigned in EDM 310. The assignment is to make a playlist on Youtube that illustrates the student's teaching philosophy. She created a list of ten categories of videos, at least five of which would have to be represented on the playlist. Finally, the student would describe how the videos describe their teaching philosophy as well as what the student could use the videos for and how they relate to what they learned in EDM 310. As the last part of the post, she gave an example of what the completed post should look like.<br />
<br />
I can definitely see how close Carly came to composing like Dr. Miller talked about. She not only used words to write her posts, but she also left plenty of content to be explained by videos throughout. She did not write about the videos and include the link. She simply let the videos speak for themselves. I thought this made the post interesting because I was not only reading her thoughts, but also watching them. This goes back to the point I made earlier about this type of composing making students think harder. Not only did Carly come up with her own teaching philosophy, but she also searched for and applied videos to illustrate her thoughts. She had to evaluate many videos then decide which ones fit the situation best.<br />
<br />
<b>EDM for Dummies & The Chipper Series </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhMRj-Ne38&feature=player_embedded">EDM for Dummies</a> is a commercial that students in EDM310 created, advertising a book called <i>EDM for Dummies</i>. The book contains helpful instructions on how to work the different websites used in EDM310 including Twitter, Google Docs, and Delicious. <a href="http://edm310.com/edm310/chipper.m4v">The Chipper Series</a> is about a lazy student in EDM310 who always wants to get out of assignments, and do things the easy way out. This continues throughout her life as she tries to establish a career. She finally figures out that she will have to put effort into life, and returns to school.<br />
<br />
I think the main message of these two videos is that quality work in EDM310 does not come with ease. The more you put into assignments, the better your grade will be. I think the message extends beyond EDM310 as well, especially in "The Chipper Series." If you only give half of the effort you are capable of in your career and other areas of life, you will also get results that are only half as good as what they could be. Basically, most things good in life don't come easy. You can try to do things the easy way, but it probably won't work out, and you will end up back where you started, just like Chipper. <br />
<br />
An idea for a video that I came up with is showing the positive outcomes of working hard in EDM310, and how assignments seem less confusing as the course goes on. I could show a teacher who is completely technologically illiterate and how frustrating this is for the teacher. The teacher could say, "If only I had worked harder in EDM310 and not taken the easy way out!" I could then show the teacher dreaming what life as a teacher would be like with the skills that she should have learned in EDM310. <br />
<br />
<b>Learn to Change, Change to Learn</b><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHiby3m_RyM&feature=player_embedded%23!"><br />
Learn to Change, Change to Learn</a> discusses the importance of technology in education. The speakers point out that kids live in a very enriching environment with all of the technology they encounter. Yet, most of this enriching technology that kids can learn from is banned in schools. Using more technology in schools could create a community system rather than the current classroom system. Jobs that students today will have one day will entail more than just cut and dry, right and wrong answers. Jobs will require critical thinking beyond what standardized tests can capture. Students need to know how to find, validate, and use information properly.<br />
<br />
I think this video makes some great points. The world as we know it is changing very rapidly, and that means that education should also. Why should we ignore all of the technology out there when students need to know how to use it effectively, and they are excited to learn this way? To me, it makes sense to teach in the most engaging manner, and technology is just that. No matter how much schools try to fight it, technology is here, expanding rapidly, and not going away anytime soon. In short, I think we as teachers need to embrace technology and the endless potential it presents to the educational world.<br />
<br />
<b>Scavenger Hunt 2.0</b><br />
<br />
#3 Comic Strip<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm2m80MdF7mcyVe9JfkwvmGR2egdI5KsVQDbFOfAt6rh3bmFdqbaWOcLU6XXtqcg0Rhs4X-cFUYz68RXyLyO5Ia0NP1ATXB8CFkIC6scN1rSAjYtTFNmNE0XOVdFl0lJmttXz8dL6QYOl/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-10-21+at+2.13.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="156" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm2m80MdF7mcyVe9JfkwvmGR2egdI5KsVQDbFOfAt6rh3bmFdqbaWOcLU6XXtqcg0Rhs4X-cFUYz68RXyLyO5Ia0NP1ATXB8CFkIC6scN1rSAjYtTFNmNE0XOVdFl0lJmttXz8dL6QYOl/s400/Screen+shot+2012-10-21+at+2.13.20+PM.png" /></a></div><br />
#4 <a href="http://animoto.com/education">Animoto.com</a><br />
<br />
Animoto is a powerful video tool. As an educator, I can use this tool to make exciting lessons. Making videos for use in the classroom is made easy through three simple steps: choose pictures, choose music, and share your video. That's right, no complicated steps in between! Animoto makes your photos and music into a professional looking video. This is done through cinematic technology much like a director and editor would put together a major film. You can also add text to explain important concepts, as well as choose pictures to be featured for a longer time than others. Your video can be customized even more by choosing from one of the many themes offered. I know, I know, you are probably thinking that a program as great as this must be expensive to use, but think again! Educators can apply for a free account for use in the classroom! I know that I will definitely be taking advantage of this website when I begin teaching!<br />
<br />
#5 Poll<br />
<br />
<script language="javascript" src="http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTYwNzk3NjYwNg/web.js?height=250&results_count_format=percent&width=300" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-81627644559852104032012-10-20T23:26:00.000-07:002012-10-20T23:26:05.892-07:00Project #9b<div class="prezi-player"><style type="text/css" media="screen">.prezi-player { width: 550px; } .prezi-player-links { text-align: center; }</style><object id="prezi_uowyhtlls4ra" name="prezi_uowyhtlls4ra" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="550" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://prezi.com/bin/preziloader.swf"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="allowFullScreenInteractive" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="direct"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"/><param name="flashvars" value="prezi_id=uowyhtlls4ra&lock_to_path=0&color=ffffff&autoplay=no&autohide_ctrls=0"/><embed id="preziEmbed_uowyhtlls4ra" name="preziEmbed_uowyhtlls4ra" src="http://prezi.com/bin/preziloader.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowFullScreenInteractive="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="550" height="400" bgcolor="#ffffff" flashvars="prezi_id=uowyhtlls4ra&lock_to_path=0&color=ffffff&autoplay=no&autohide_ctrls=0"></embed></object><div class="prezi-player-links"><p><a title="Awesome Children's Books!" href="http://prezi.com/uowyhtlls4ra/awesome-childrens-books/">Awesome Children's Books!</a> on <a href="http://prezi.com">Prezi</a></p></div></div>Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-2337310375764640522012-10-18T21:00:00.000-07:002012-10-18T21:00:12.100-07:00C4T #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR72E_m0AX2nyORc1C2ajWfSWzxuhv9Ax4LDbRe2Dc_XIB5un2-p_gymVyVVUzjrHlzrzwAg_mAgvPoeQWiNYujgnRFY_CnbV2T8HfTOG_rRyV92srgcL8p5VCYPM31g6nWQ0cVlsUUXL/s1600/zinio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="zinio logo" title="Source: goodereader.com" border="0" height="159" width="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR72E_m0AX2nyORc1C2ajWfSWzxuhv9Ax4LDbRe2Dc_XIB5un2-p_gymVyVVUzjrHlzrzwAg_mAgvPoeQWiNYujgnRFY_CnbV2T8HfTOG_rRyV92srgcL8p5VCYPM31g6nWQ0cVlsUUXL/s320/zinio2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The <a href="http://diannekrause.edublogs.org/2012/05/22/daily-digital-discoveries-05222012/comment-page-1/#comment-627">first post</a> I commented on by Dianne Krause is very short, sweet, and to the point. Basically, it just has a link to Zinio, which is a mobile reader. On this website you can subscribe to the digital version of tons of different magazines. You can read them on iPhones, iPads, laptops, and desktop computers. Digital magazines are special because they can include interactive features like videos and live links to other resources.<br />
<br />
As always, I began my comment by introducing myself. I told her that I had never heard of Zinio before reading her post, so I went to the link she provided and looked around. I told her my thoughts on how this changes magazines for the better in a lot of ways with all of the interactive elements available. I also let her know that I thought it would be a great resource for teachers to use for educational magazines in their classrooms. Finally, I thanked her for introducing me to this wonderful resource.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiypJIGNePeV6NTvBfNfEn-JNi9Bp3hWaoabCMoumNZZLGdoizkBZ0BmS2fEYQjiJuHJLooJdmUtjjhjkq-HYpZVClAYbluB64lgE4b0lZmAUjxJJBEVvLE-qeRaZr3jv0-lARCMEXvBI9/s1600/prezi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="128" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiypJIGNePeV6NTvBfNfEn-JNi9Bp3hWaoabCMoumNZZLGdoizkBZ0BmS2fEYQjiJuHJLooJdmUtjjhjkq-HYpZVClAYbluB64lgE4b0lZmAUjxJJBEVvLE-qeRaZr3jv0-lARCMEXvBI9/s320/prezi.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The <a href="http://diannekrause.edublogs.org/2012/05/12/daily-digital-discoveries-05122012/">second post</a> I read is also by Dianne Krause. This one is a link to a presentation on Prezi that explains the National Educational Technology Standards in an easy to understand way for kids. The presentation features seven actions for kids to accomplish when using technology. These actions are "make it," "say it," "share it," "find it," "solve it," "protect it," and "use it." I really like the design of the presentation and how it flows. It is done in an entertaining way that will keep the attention of kids.<br />
<br />
For my comment, I only briefly introduced myself since I already did on the other comment I wrote to her. Next, I thanked her for sharing the presentation in her blog. I told her that I think that kids will enjoy the presentation and be able to understand it. I also mentioned how it is also good for teachers to watch too to get a clearer understanding of the standards. Finally, I said how I think that this video reminds both teachers and kids that learning can be fun and interesting. Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-25602151153968574032012-10-14T19:17:00.002-07:002012-10-14T19:17:18.785-07:00Project #8 Podcast<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ju1f6LviFjY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-18804465684219467992012-10-11T19:44:00.003-07:002012-10-11T19:44:24.013-07:00September C4K<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wbwSuBhlAX34sk3wLA5uJiIRNXe9sq9d0NOTyE2C09NAiG62OeONAVJ_ge13e9ftehsW9wnk_YsGVW_TWPbVJieTxl8CzeIkQ-H2qZl_tmimVd4mw1addMnyVwWwdXmvPieEEkdQUl4P/s1600/EverydaymathActivities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="apple with school supplies" title="Source: k12.ginet.org" border="0" height="320" width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wbwSuBhlAX34sk3wLA5uJiIRNXe9sq9d0NOTyE2C09NAiG62OeONAVJ_ge13e9ftehsW9wnk_YsGVW_TWPbVJieTxl8CzeIkQ-H2qZl_tmimVd4mw1addMnyVwWwdXmvPieEEkdQUl4P/s320/EverydaymathActivities.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The first post that I commented on is by <a href="http://mathwise.edublogs.org/2012/09/20/mrs-cutters-class-likes-to-eat/comment-page-1/#comment-3">Anthony Capps about his third grade class in Gulf Shores</a>. It is about an activity that the class completed with their math teacher, Mrs. Cutter. The class was studying data, so they were paired with a partner to create a poll about where their classmates like to eat. Each pair created a chart to display the data they collected, and a picture of each of these is included in the post. Some of the questions polled include eating outside versus inside, eating at a restaurant versus at home, and fast food versus "sit-down" food.<br />
<br />
I began my comment to the class by introducing myself and providing the links to both the class blog as well as my own blog. I went on to tell the class that the questions they came up with are great, and how I would like to answer each of them myself. Finally, I wrote an answer for each pair's question. <br />
<br />
The next post I commented on is also by Anthony Capps about his third grade class. However, this time the post was about a <a href="http://readingadventures.edublogs.org/2012/09/17/summary-of-results-for-write-to-read-assignment/#comment-36">Language Arts "Write to Read" activity</a>. The students were to answer a question asked in a previous post about their reading assignment. Anthony began with a disclaimer paragraph for the parents. He said that most of the students did not have time to finish their post due to time, but he still wanted to post them for progress tracking purposes later in the year. He went on to suggest that parents find one area of improvement to discuss with their child. The rest of the post is the students' answers to the question.<br />
<br />
I began my comment by introducing myself once again since it had been a couple of weeks since my first comment. I then told the class that I enjoyed reading their work, and they did a great job describing the character's feelings about the situation from the story. I let them know that their posts were great, especially for the very first post of the year. Finally, I told them that I am looking forward to reading more of their posts.Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4596272223590704412.post-45156287967961518692012-10-10T19:31:00.001-07:002012-10-10T19:32:08.565-07:00Blog Post 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPpAlY5vwmWDIMQDpbaDVd5GNbMz2eMP1P2tPK8lqU_6_1125jbkpBK_FmMgthhCrWYSmoBrJPa2GavPF1FPATaIaPga1SK3IkKuIw056vtBRqb2mFdVqw0objuFvNiKfTbAHKyRjqhdU/s1600/connectivism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="Social media logos around the word connectivity" title="Source: ci484-learning-technologies.wikispaces.com"border="0" height="207" width="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPpAlY5vwmWDIMQDpbaDVd5GNbMz2eMP1P2tPK8lqU_6_1125jbkpBK_FmMgthhCrWYSmoBrJPa2GavPF1FPATaIaPga1SK3IkKuIw056vtBRqb2mFdVqw0objuFvNiKfTbAHKyRjqhdU/s320/connectivism.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>The Networked Student</b><br />
<br />
Watching <a href="http://techliterateteacher.blogspot.com/2009/06/networked-student.html">The Networked student</a> by Wendy Drexler really got me thinking about the way students are taught in today's world. This video presents the idea of connectivsim, which is using social media to establish a learning network. Instead of learning information from the teacher, students are expected to use technology to build a knowledge base for the particular subject on their own. They can do this by using Google Scholar to find peer reviewed articles, reading blogs on the subject, listening to educational podcasts, interacting with professors and other professionals from around the world, and much more. When valuable information is found, the student can post it on his social bookmarking site. The student can also use the social bookmarking site to discover additional sources of information that other people have found. Once the student has built up his knowledge base, he is ready to create his own blog on which he will express his own opinions on the subject for the world to see. Finally, the student uses all of the information he has learned to create a project. This project can be many different formats including, but not limited to, a video, a wiki, or a voice thread.<br />
<br />
Naturally, you might want to know what the point of having a teacher for a class like this would be. Well, much like in EDM 310, the teacher is more of a guide for the students instead of the only source of knowledge. The teacher instructs the students on how to decide if a source is credible or not. She teaches the polite way to ask experts for help. She can clear up any confusion the student may have. As you can see, teachers are still a necessary component in the learning process for connectivism.<br />
<br />
I personally think that this is a great method of teaching and learning. No longer does a student receive his information from only one source (the teacher) in one main way (through lectures). Rather, the student can find different perspectives and opinions on topics and use these to form his own opinion. Another benefit is that students can choose which types of resources he learns the best from. One student may learn best from reading numerous articles on a topic while another might learn better from listening to podcasts. Still, another student may learn best from watching videos. With this style of teaching and learning, all of these preferences can be accommodated whereas with a lecture, only those students who learn best from listening are benefited. Another advantage of this teaching and learning style is that the students can return to information at any time during the course to review. With a lecture, if a student misses something while taking notes, they are just out of luck unless a friend wrote it down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyftjR0HfhYVMck9EkriLGIQSr8x8X2chMqEKh67A9UM4UAg1ulFoNAFE6i5e9uzlqtmfHYCKFHZQ8z1LxpJFH-YJvibvnrJFXqXY4IFP7PCX5w-t9i3nH62QeGj6WjroQal6PWBlkyII9/s1600/symbaloo-webmic-collections.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img alt="symbaloo" title="Source: maketecheasier.com" border="0" height="212" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyftjR0HfhYVMck9EkriLGIQSr8x8X2chMqEKh67A9UM4UAg1ulFoNAFE6i5e9uzlqtmfHYCKFHZQ8z1LxpJFH-YJvibvnrJFXqXY4IFP7PCX5w-t9i3nH62QeGj6WjroQal6PWBlkyII9/s320/symbaloo-webmic-collections.png" /></a></div><br />
<b>A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment</b><br />
<br />
I must say, I was very impressed with what I saw in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEls3tq5wIY">A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment</a>. This video walks you through the tools used in a 7th grade science class. Each day, students log onto their class blog (much like we do in EDM 310) to see what they will be doing in class that day. Sometimes the students have an assignment to complete or a video to watch, and other times they have the freedom to choose what to get started on. They use a social bookmarking site to keep everything for class organized and together. Like we do in EDM 310, students have a blog for the class to post reflections and other assignments on. Students are expected to conduct research and present the information in a project such as a glogster, a virtual poster. A glogster can include text, graphics, and videos. After completing a project, students interact with scientists from around the world, and get them to review their work. This is sort of like our Comments for Teachers assignment.<br />
<br />
I thought it was very exciting to hear a middle school student being enthusiastic about science class. This approach to learning seems so much more fun and interesting than the lecture style classes I was taught in middle school. I think teachers would be smart to take advantage of all of the new technology out there! <br />
<br />
As I pointed out earlier, EDM 310 seems to be very similar if not identical to the class presented in the video. Like the student in the video said, I also enjoy having the freedom to complete whichever assignments I want whenever I want to do them. However, with freedom definitely comes responsibility, and that is a wonderful skill to teach to students! They will learn quickly that time wasted in class means more work at home!Kaitlyn Burgesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961417586514695199noreply@blogger.com2