Blog Post 16 Final Reflection

If I Knew Then What I Know Now...

After rereading Blog Post #1, I realized that I knew absolutely nothing about the various learning tools that are available for me as an educator. Although, I did not reveal this in my first post, I really thought that power points would be the students’ favorite tool to use. I truly believed that power points were in the same league as podcasts. I was so technologically illiterate. Well, I know that I still have a lot of learning to do in regards to technology, however, I thank  God that I am not as technologically challenged as I used to be. Now that I have been educated, my whole outlook on my methods of teaching has drastically changed.

The methods of teaching that I will emphasize are collaboration and project based learning. Don’t misunderstand me, I highly recommend independent learning but since I will probably teach 2^nd or 3^rd grade, I think that collaborative learning will be more beneficial. I want my students to effectively communicate not only with each other but with students from around the world as well. I don’t want my students to feel inferior to their peers. I absolutely believe that collaboration evens the learning field.

I am a firm believer that people retain information better and longer when they engage in project based learning. That is why my students will create projects on podcasts and ibooks. One of my desires when I become a teacher is to write a book with my class. I have never written a book and I thought that this project could be something that I and my students create together. I thought that this would be a great way to collaborate, work on English language skills, and encourage reading .However, after the fun learning I experienced while creating an IBook with my classmates, I think that I will take that route instead. My students will most likely enjoy the IBook better since they will probably use ereaders and ebooks instead of traditional books anyway.

The tools that I will employ as part of the learning process will be classroom blogs, wiki, Skype, podcasts and of course, the smart board. Ms. Kathy Cassidy, Mrs. Yollis and her students are partly responsible for my employment of classroom blog. As I mentioned several times, about the little boy in Mrs. Yollis’s class who said that his writing has gotten better by blogging, I knew that I would adopt classroom blogs because if a 2^nd grader can make such a bold statement such as that then we need to pay attention to what he says work. Blogging also allows for the families of the students to see what they are learning and doing. I will use Skype when I am teaching subjects such as social studies or science so that we can invite experts into the classroom to enhance our learning. Podcasts will be used for lecture and video. Out of all the tools that I have learned about and used while in EDM 310, the Smart Board is the tool that I am most excited about. I know that it will play a major part in how I address and teach various lessons.

Looking back at what I said at the start of the semester regarding tools that I will use, My method of teaching , my idea classroom, and the activities that I said I will introduce was so far from reality. I can honestly say that I did not have a clue of what I was talking about but with help for Dr. Strange, EDm310, and my PLN, I now know better. The tools that I said I would use stayed the same. The only difference is that now I know how they really work. My method of teaching has drastically changed because I am no longer ignorant of the various learning tools. My idea classroom will still be built on a Ranch but it will be equipped with state-of -the-art technology even if I don’t know how to teach it because per my recollection, I remember being taught to use tech and not teach it. As far as the activities are concerned, my students will utilize sites such as Discovery Ed and Spree Learning. They will have access to audio, visuals, video and learning games that promote engagement and enhance learning.

At the beginning of the semester, we were asked to describe what our future classroom will be like. I described my future of class as one that will operate on very little technology. I said that I will hire a therapist to work with special needs children. I did not know about all the technology that is available to assist students that have various special needs. I will now employ assistive technologies such as ereaders, learning games for autistic children, and the IPad  which is equipped with apps such as voice over, text-to-speech and magnification of various subject areas. I also said that we will have a question and answer segment, but when I said that, I was thinking more on the lines of the students raising their hands to ask a question. Now, I know that the podcasts will engage the students more during that activity. The arts will still play a major role in regards to my method of teaching. However, I will now integrate them with project based learning. I understand that an audience will enhance and encourage learning. I plan to bring people from diverse backgrounds into the classroom to be a part of PBL.

Blog Post # 15

By: Tracy Armstrong

Wikipedia defines Assistive Technology as an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process

used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish such tasks.

A couple of assistive technology tools that I think will be available when we become teachers are the IPad and the EBook. Both of these tools can be used across all grade levels. Both will enhance learning for both the vision and hearing impaired student by involving them in the classroom assignments and making them feel apart of the classroom community. The IPad is equipped with  apps for communication such as voice over as well as apps for screen reading and navigating.. These features will make learning personal by enabling the students’ independence. The EBook also contains apps that can be utilized for features such as voice-over, text to speech, magnification and large text for all subject areas.

After watching The Mountbatten, we learned that the students who are identified as struggling learners rely on immediate feedback from their teachers as well as their peers.One of the best things about this type of technology is that the teacher does not need to know Braille in order to communicate with the student because the machine converts the braille text into print. The blind student is therefore able to research, explore and create on his own with the help of this assistive technology thus including him into classroom assignments.

Ipad Usage For the Blind By: Shakeya Andrews

Ipads are good tools to use in my classroom because they have what is called VoiceOver. VoiceOver is a resource that students with vision impairment and students who are deaf can use. This gives them the  opportunity to navigate through email, ibooks, itunes u, and more with just the click of a finger. Using VoiceOver on the ipad will help the student become independent. According to VoiceOver Accessibility “VoiceOver is a revolutionary screen reader that lets you know what is happening on your Multi-Touch screen and it helps you navigate even if you cannot see what is on your screen.” Voiceover is built into the ipad therefore, I will not have to worry about buying and installing this application to use on ipads in my classroom. There is also an application on ibooks called ereader that will be helpful for my students with disabilities. You can buy and read books to students to through this application. Students will be able to hear a description of items that are on their screen and from there they can choose where they want to navigate to on their ipad. Students can also use braille and international voices through VoiceOver. VoiceOver is accessible for almost any student.

Teaching Math to the Blind By: Shakeya Andrews

Instead of using the traditional method of teaching math by pencil and paper or using the whiteboard, I can use number blocks as an assistive technology tool. The blocks have braille on the back of them and the visually impaired student will be able use a barcode scanner to identify what the numbers are. All the student has to do is hold the button on the barcode scanner, then place the scanner over the block and the computer will identify what the number on the block is. Math is already a difficult subject to teach so I think it would be wise for me as the teacher to have a one on one session to teach the student math using this method.

Having a Great Time Teaching Mom- By: Emma Boren

The iPad has a lot of great tools that can assist blind children in using it. Blind children can use the iPad due to it’s talking feedback. You can use a finger to scroll over all the icons, and it will tell you exactly what you are on and how to open it. It also talks to you while typing. There are two modes for this, standard typing mode and touch typing mode. This way, the children know what letters they are typing, and it helps them know that they are typing the right thing. It also talks to you when you have apps open. If you scan your finger across the screen it will tell you what you are clicking on. This is a useful way for these children to get the same benefits of technology as the children who are not blind. The students would still be able to interact in the classroom with the iPads and not feel left out. They would be receiving the same education. I think this an excellent tool to have in a classroom where there are special education students that are visually impaired. I would use it in my classroom!

Blog Post #14

Write a post in which you discuss if texting should be allowed in the classroom for educational purposes. If you think it should, explain how you would use it if you were the teacher. If you think that it should not, give a reason for your answer.

1. read 12 ways to text message
2. watch Is texting killing our language?   a ted talk by John McWhorter
3. Answer the question below.  Use a bold header
     a. Should texting be allowed in the classrooms as a learning tool? Why or why not?
4. Include a link and a picture in your post.

Should texting be allowed in the classrooms as a learning tool? Why or Why Not?

My major is Elementary Education. In my opinion, texting should be allowed in the classroom because I think that it will enhance learning. I think if used effectively, texting can be a great learning tool. The reason why I say yes to texting is because it will capture the students' attention therefore engaging them in their learning. With a well structured curriculum stating when to use texting, I think that teaching by texting will work. For example, the teacher can ask and answer questions via text messaging scheduled at a certain time during the class period. The teacher may also want to break the class up into small collaborative groups and assign part of the group to ask questions pertaining to a particular assignment and the other part to answer the questions. The roles can also be reversed during the class period or on the next class time.

In giving his ted talk, Is texting killing our language?, John McWhorter stated that texting is another way of speaking. In other words, texting is not writing at all, it is speech. Therefore, we shouldn't concern ourselves about texting ruining our language because speech was here long before writing was and will be here long after writing is gone. From my aspiring teacher's view, I think texting will not only serve as a communication tool but as a teaching tool as well. I think it will lead to teachable moments regarding spelling, grammar, punctuation and the use of language.

Final Report PLN Project #2

After looking back at my first PLN report, I realized how much I have grown in regards to realizing what PLN tool and person would be most beneficial to me in my career. I have come to the conclusion that for right now, the answer is pretty much the same that is was in my first report except for the fact that twitter is the first on the list because with it, I can consult and collaborate with people such as Kathy Cassidy, Mrs. Yollis. Peter H. Reynolds, Anglea Maiers, Dr. Vitullis, Dr. Strange, Jabiz Raisdana, and Sir Ken Robinson. I am also followingTED Talks  and Fable Vision.  Some of the people that are apart of my PLN are educators at The University of South Alabama, some are Elementary Teachers who created classroom blogs, some were apart of my C4T and others created educational videos that I found to be relevant in regards to education, inspiration and information.

Discovery Ed is still apart of my personal learning network because as an aspiring educator, I know the importance of engaging the students and not only ensuring that they know the state standard contents but to be sure that I am adhering by them as well. The last but not least PLN that I will continue to utilize is YouTube. Like I stated in my first report, I am an audio and visual learner and I think that videos are one of the best tools that can be used to stimulate both of those styles of learning.

Smart Board Part B

C4T #4

My c4t on November 10 was Angela Maiers. The title of the particular post that I commented on was,"Around the world with Curran."  Curran is a seven year old blogger. He became interested in blogging by helping his mom document on a map all the comments she received on her blog from around the world. Curran liked the idea of interacting with people from all over the globe. He shared with Angela his dreams and intentions and she allowed him to make his first post on her blog. Curran began his comment by asking people where they were from and what was the best thing about their state or country. In my comment to him via angela's blog and on his own personal blog, I commented that I was from Alabama and I hope to teach school soon and that my state is known for its beautiful beaches and its love for football. I also commented that I will take Curran's advice a create a classroom blog for my future students.If you are interested in following Angela, follow her at http://www.angelamaiers.com/blog

On November 13,2013, I was assigned to Angela again for my c4t. I figured that since I am majoring in Elementary Education that I would read her post on bullying. The topic of the particular post that I chose to read and comment on was Bullying is not just a youth problem, it's a human problem. In this post, Angela said that a bully is a person of any age that causes physical harm or emotional distress to anyone. She also gave a couple of other definitions and that is when I realized that bullying does not stop after elementary school. Angela asked if we knew anyone that fit the description of a bully and that is when I felt compelled to comment.In my comment to Angela Maier, I stated that when she said that bullying is not just a youth problem, it is a human problem, that she could not have been any further from the truth. I told her that If she would have told me that when I got forty years old that I would be bullied, I would have told her that she was  out of her mind. I informed Angela that  the bullying took place on my job and I did not want to report it because I thought that telling would make me look weak. To make a long story short, I confronted the bully and a couple of other people followed suit. The bully apologized. I said all of that to say that if I, being a grown woman felt so helpless then how much more do our youth feel? We have got to put programs in place to empower them and let them know that they are not alone. I ended my post to Angela by saying that the students really do matter.

On November 19, I heard back from Angela and this is what she said,Tracy, Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is so inspiring and empowering to hear that you stood up to your bully. It takes great courage to do what you did. And I give the bully credit for being "big" enough to accept responsibility and apologize. I think this happens to adults much more that we talk about. Stories like yours are important to ensue that no one stays silent about bullying. Thank you!