Project #8

C4T #2 Post #1

The teacher for my c4t is Jabiz @ intrepid teacher. The title of his blog was called, "teachable moment". In his post, Jabiz shared with me how he had to pull a student to the side because the student used derogatory language in his classroom. Jabiz overheard the student telling another student to, "stop being such a homo". Jabiz  explained to the student that the language he used was negative and that it would not be tolerated in his class. He also told the students that words were very powerful and when used in a negative way, they can make people feel bad. I thought that Jabiz handled the situation very well. In my comment, I stated that I appreciate him for not dropping a the ball. I commented that when things arise in our classrooms that we don't have a lesson plan for that we can only hope and pray that we say the right thing and that it will have a positive response. I also asked Jabiz, how did the student respond to his"teachable moment."

Blog Post #6 What questions do we ask? How do we ask?

Asking better questions in the classroom by Joan Chesley was the first video that I watched. In this video, Joan basically said that we should ask questions that structure the response for the student. These questions should be in a yes or no answer format. I think that this technique would be good for a group of twenty five students or more because you can cover a lot of ground with those single responses.  Another form of questioning that Joan used was the open-ended technique. This type of questioning leads to more thinking and a variety of responses. It also leaves the form of the question up to the respondent. I think this way would be good for challenging the students to think outside of the box.


The second video that I viewed was titled, "Questioning styles and strategies". This video stressed the importance of framing your questions to keep the students engaged. It stated that the student will be fully engaged by deepening and extending their thinking. It involved asking a question to provoke the student to collaborate, communicate and share answers.In this strategy, the teacher will probe to check for understanding of the material. One of the styles included having students to draw pictures for self expression.
The teacher also valued the feedback from the students. I think that I would use these styles and strategies during small group time.

Blog Post # 5 Icurio and Discovery Ed

>How Can Icurio and Discovery Ed be used effectively in my Instruction?I would use Icurio for learning games. I will also use Icurio to organize my lesson plans. I will allow the students to create and organize folders by using Icurio. I will utilize Discovery Ed when I need to get some free lesson plans. I will direct the students to access Discovery Ed for any homework help that they may need. Since Discovery Ed partners with e-readers, I will assign the students to read a story using a tablet.
Icurio
Icurio is a digital curriculum that creates personalized learning and delivers standard-aligned content to learners. It is a great organization tool for students and teachers. Some of the features of icurio includes the ability to save work automatically, a timeline and a directory. Icurio also have learning games and images
Discovery ED

Discovery Ed is a digital media service that includes the state standard content. The mission of Discovery Ed is to transform traditional classrooms into engaging digital learning environments. Discovery Ed is a great research tool for students and teachers. The site contains free lesson plans, images, videos and homework help. The images and videos are combined to create a great learning tool for the audio/visual learner.

My Passion/My Sentence

Project #3 Presentation

C4T #1 Comment 2

The first teacher that I was assigned to was Doug Peters. The title of his blog was, "Doug off the Record." In this blog, Doug was talking about the agree with terms of service conditions. He stated how people would agree without even reading the agreement. Doug said that most people just wanted to hurry up and download the material. In my comment to Doug, I stated that I have been guilty of doing that on quite a few occasions. I also commented that I had paid dearly for not reading the agreement and term of service conditions. I told Doug that from now on, I will read any and everything that I have to sign my name to. I also stated that as future educators, we should educate ourselves and students about these types of matters and their consequences if not taken seriously.

The second teacher that I was assigned to was Raisdana Jabiz. The title of his blog was, "Intrepid Teacher." In this blog, Jabiz was talking about reading for pleasure verses reading to challenge yourself. Jabiz stated how reading was exercise for the brain. He also said that reading can help you to become a better writer. Jabiz even said that in all his years of reading, he has only not finished two books. He stressed the importance of reading a book in it entirety even if you don't like and that is where I disagreed with him. In my comments, I told Jabiz that I am more of a pleasure reader and that I am not going to finish a book if I don't like it even though he made some good points about challenging yourself. I agreed that books are exercise for the brain. I also agreed to stop saying that I don't like a book if I haven't even read it. I guess you can say that I judge a lot of books by their cover. Jabiz asked the question of how could we get students to read a book they don't like. I commented that I would tell them to think of it as exercise for their brains and that reading will help them to become better writers. I stated that I will tell them that when they get in college that they will be writing a lot of papers.I will tell my students to make the sacrifice and challenge themselves now and when they get to college, all of their hard work will pay off.

Blog Post # 4 Why Podcast? How Do We Podcast?

Langwitches-Flat Stanley Podcast The first podcast that I viewed was The Flat Stanley Podcast . This podcast was presented by Silivai Rosenthal Tolisana and a group of eager 1st graders. This podcast described how these six year olds were inspired by their peers to create a podcast of their own. The children were allowed to be creative by relying on their senses in regards to how Flat Stanley would have smelled and felt during his travels. This podcast project also allowed parents to be involved by helping to get addresses of friends and relatives that Flat Stanley could go visit. I remember about six years ago, my husband's grandson sent Flat Stanley all the way from Houston, Texas to us here in Alabama for a visit. We took pictures of Flat Stanley with us at the beach and out to dinner and even at church. His grandson was so thrilled when he received the pictures. I was just thinking that if Podcasting had been around then, we could have recorded everything and my husband's grandson could have presented to his class via podcast. If your are interested in seeing the Flat Stanley podcast, I suggest that you check out the langwitches website at Langwitches.

Podcasting with 1st graders by Silvia Tolisano

In this podcast, I think that the children were more excited about receiving comments than anything else. Just like the children in this podcast, I was thrilled when a second grader knew that I existed when I was their age. I also liked this podcast because all of the children were treated equally. Everyone got to experience each part of the podcast. There were no teacher's pets. The children were able to engage constantly by being interactive. They were also learning how to be professionals through planning and organizing. I think that if podcasting and vodcasting was around thirty years ago, I would be able to speak in front of a group without may voice involuntarily changing.If you want to know how to incorporate a question and answer segment into your classroom podcast, check out this site with Tolisano and her experienced first graders.http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/12/11/podcasting-with-first-grade/">

Benefits of Podcasting by Joe Dale

Mr. Dale begins this podcast by giving us the definition of a millennial. A millennial is anyone who was born after 1980.I definitely don't fit the category. Most children these days are introduced to technology at the age of two. I was a college freshman when I experienced my first computer class. A couple of benefits of podcasting is that it allows for differentiation and project base learning. It is also a good lecture tool because when students have to miss class for circumstances beyond their control, they can still upload their podcast lesson and not get behind on their studies. Another benefit of podcasting is that the students are able to be creative . They can be actors while gaining higher order of thinking skills. I think that it is good to act some things out because somehow you are able to retain the information better. The last but not least benefit of podcasting is that parents get to see what their children are doing.

What is a Podcast?

A podcast is a recording that can be recorded and played on an IPod, computer or MP3 player. It is free to use and does not take long to download. I think that it would be a tragedy if we as future educators did not use it in our classrooms. I would definitely use it as a learning tool for my students.

Blog Assignment #3 Peer Editing

What is Peer Editing?

Peer editing is when a group of like individuals are assigned the task of critiquing each other's writings. The editing is done by complimenting, suggesting and correcting with a positive attitude. While editing your peers work, you should look for the positives, make sure there is clarity and check for grammatical or spelling errors. If you are still unsure about what to check for, I suggest that you watch the slideshow,peer edit w/perfection tutorial. 


Top Ten Peer Editing Mistakes

After watching the video top ten peer editing mistakes, I learned quite a few things about what not to do when critiquing my peers. . So, Let's start off by listing some things that you should or should not do when you are the editor. First of all, put your self in the other person's shoes.Begin your peer editing with a compliment. I mean wouldn't you want someone to compliment you before they start critiquing you? Don't be too picky, pushy or loud. Don't speed through the process. Show that you care about their work. Stay on the topic .Be specific when making suggestions. Give your peer your undivided attention. In other words, this is not a time to be sociable.. I also learned how to react when one of my peers is critiquing me. First of all, I will not take it personally. I will acknowledge any mistakes that may have been pointed out, but most importantly, I will stay positive.

Will you offer suggestions publicly blog or privately e-mail?

I would say that I would utilize both ways to offer suggestions depending on the subject matter that  I will be addressing. For example, if the student had a lot of grammatical errors and misspelled words, then I would do it privately by e-mail because it could be a case where the person is dyslexic. I would make suggestions by public blog if it was something like their word choice or organization of the content so that other people who may have trouble in those areas  can benefit from the suggestions.

Blog Assignment #2 Teaching in the 21st Century

Blog Assignment # 2

Mr. Dancealot

Talking about being stuck in a rut, Mr. Dancealot was the perfect example. I think he should have been bored with his job after doing the same thing for twelve years. In my opinion Mr. Dancelot failed his students miserably. He was not available to them for guidance. The students were not allowed to collaborate with one another. Mr. Dancelot did not engage the students at all. A dance class without dancing, is like not having sand at the beach. There are so many resources out there like videos, web sites, and even professional dancers that Mr. Dancelot could have utilize and taught his class to utilize as  well, but he chose not to. Because the students did not gain the experience needed, they did not learn how to dance. I don’t know if Mr. Dancealot did not want to take a risk,  which is what educators may need to do at times or if he was just, “stuck in a rut.”

Teaching in the 21st Century by: Tracy Armstrong

Teaching in the 21st Century according to Kevin Roberts means to put down the chalk and do away with the chalkboard and learn more innovating ways to teach your students. The question was posed on were teachers obsolete. I believe that Roberts was saying that if the teachers don't become educated about the various uses of technology that they will become obsolete. Teachers must be ever learning in order to be effective in their field.

Roberts's video, covered a lot of valid and vital information. It gave examples of the different tools that are available such as youtube, blogs, and google just to name a few. The video also introduced a lot of the lingo associated with this 21st century technology such as subscribing, editing, uploading, searching, posting, linking and locating. I must admit that all of this information is overwhelming. However, I do agree that we need some conflict in order to change.

If Roberts is correct about this 21st century teaching then that means that I have to become educated with the latest technology so that I won't become obsolete as an educator. I need to be able to give my students guidance and teach them how to differentiate between the various tools. The students need someone who can help them organize the information into ways that will help them in problem solving. I must engage the students so they may have long term, meaningful results. It would be my responsibility as an educator to teach the students how to communicate properly by being responsible and reliable.

The Networked Student by: Shakeya Andrews Watch Networked Student by Wendy Drexler

  I was amazed at all the resources that the networked student used without having a textbook. In most college classes students rely on their textbook to help gain insight of what they need to know about their class, but I learned that there are more resources out there other than the traditional textbook. While watching the video, I asked the question “If the teacher almost never lectures how does the student know what he should be learning?” As I continued to watch I found out that the teacher give the students the opportunity to find ways to enhance what they need to know such as blog sites and google. The student in the Networked Student used google scholar, which I have never heard before and he was also able to use Skype. The networked student also used blogs to help gather information and give his opinion of different topics.

Why does the networked student need a teacher? Every student needs someone to guide them to their resource. If I did not sign up to take EDM 310, I would not have thought about making a blog or all of the opportunities having a blog can offer. Having a teacher while being a networked student can be beneficial because students are able to go to the teacher for questions about unfamiliar networks and problems that may occur.

The student also used his MP3 player as a tool to gather information. He used Podcast and Itunes to access other college professors and their view on different topics. Not only do the student use the internet as a source for researching things, but he also shares his knowledge through videos.

Students Harness your students digital smarts by: Enmma Boren

This video was very eye opening, as was the whole website www.edutopia.org. The video “Harness your students digital smarts” was based in a high school setting. These students had a class a lot like EDM310. It was internet based learning. The teacher in this classroom taught these students everything they needed to learn and more. She also gave the children an opportunity to teach the other students and her things they may not already know.

While looking through the website, I also came across a video based in an elementary classroom in South Carolina. I was interested to see it because I am an elementary education major. These students had learning stations and each one was different, however they were all very technologically based. The students were assessed at the beginning of the year on the computer. The students had access to computers, and project supplies to produce all these cool projects. They were taught to teach themselves. They worked together in collaborative groups for learning and for projects. This way the teacher was more available to walk around and help the students who needed help.

Through this website, I also learned the importance of having an effective classroom. It is very necessary to have valid space so the students are not crammed and so the teacher can move around. The effect that technology and teacher interaction has on the interest of students became very clear. Technology is becoming more and more important in today’s world, and it is important for students to know how to work with this kind of equipment. The students in these videos were so excited to learn and work together to figure out the things they did not know.