Blog Post 5

The iSchool initiative

Travis Allen, a 17 year old high school student in Georgia, talks about a solution to America's Education problem. Allen tells us about his idea of having an iSchool which will eliminate books, pencils, paper, printers, and calculators. Students will only need an iTouch with certain apps like e-mail, U.S.A. Presidents, Formulae, Recorders, and the Graphic Calculator app. According to Allen, this will save 600+ dollars per student. Although I'm not an apple fan, I think this would be a good idea to bring into the classroom. Students and teachers will be able to attend field trips and therefore will be less money out of the schools budget. My main concern is that no two students learn the same way, and  it might be best if there were both books and the iTouch.


Virtual Choir.

I really enjoyed watching Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir video. It's amazing to see 185 people across the world sing together in unity via the internet. The group never met each other, they only practiced in the comfort of their own homes. I would have never guessed that something like this would be possible to do, with so many people.


Teaching 21st Century students.

What does it mean to teach? Kevin Roberts asked in his video Teaching in the 21st Century. I hadn't really thought about what it means to teach besides to have a passion to help others want to learn. He also stated that "students can find information on anything, anytime,and anywhere"; which means teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge, they are the filter. I think the technology that's being made each day will allow students to become more creative by using Blogs, Twitter, and Facebook. I'm glad students have other resources and can look up all types of information. I'm excited about becoming a teacher and this video encourages me to find new and creative ways to teach my students.



Flipped Classroom
Why I Flipped My Classroom was a very informational video. Katie pointed out excellent points about how she and most teachers have their classrooms set up. I like how she arranged her classroom and put herself in the middle. This gave her an opportunity to focus on everyone's needs not just one particular student or group. Also, having students get content before class allows them to ask questions and become more involved and interested. I would use this in my classroom to keep my students involved and focused.

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Project 5 "Presentation"

Blog Post 4

Langwitches Blog

Ms. Tolisano talks about the podcast she made with her first graders. In the podcast, Podcasting with First Graders , she talks about her students creating a podcast for the book they were reading in class. Ms. Tolisano made up questions for the students to ask each other. Students took turns interviewing one another on the podcast, and if they didn't like what was said or how they sounded they asked for second and third chances to redo it.

This was a great exercise for her students. They were eager to record their own voices to get them "into other people's computers and iPods". Students learned new skills and improved the skills they already had. Shy and quiet students came out of their shell and their classmates were impressed with their podcasting voices. I believe this activity will cause students to be more involved in class and more attentive.


The Benefits of Podcasting


Podcasting is an effective way of interacting with students outside of the classroom. The Benefits of Podcasting by Joe Dale is a very informative video for teachers and upcoming teachers. Mr. Dale tells us how podcasting is beneficial to Milenials (people who were born after 1980). Podcasting is a form of learning which students of today are familiar with. Podcasting promotes creativity and innovation, it can also offer distance learning opportunities for absent students. Parents also have the opportunity to communicate and hear what their children are learning.

Podcast Collection

Judy Scarf refers to podcast as a "radio talk show" on Podcast Collection. She discusses how to use a podcast and how its beneficial. In the blog post there are several instructions on how to create a podcast. There's also a list of projects that teachers can utilize. I will use this post and other refrences as I prepare for my podcast.

C4T Assignment

C4T Assignment

For the C4T assignment #1, I commented on Wesley Fryer blog post CDR Electronics in Oklahoma City. In this blog he tells us about an electronic store in Oklahoma that sells used apple products for a reasonable price. I left him a comment saying how awesome this place is and it's to bad that we don't have one in Mobile, AL.


His second blog post was titled Copying the Textbook is NOT an Acceptable Assignment. He talks about his daughter who is in the 7th grade and her teacher makes his class copy chapters out of the textbook for homework. I commented saying that its not acceptable to do this in a classroom because its an easy assignment for the teacher, but the students don't learn anything.

Blog Post 3

Peer Editing

What is Peer Editing? Peer editing is working with someone your own age, usually sommeone in your class to help improve, revise, and edit his or her work. The Peer Editing Video and The Peer Editing with Perfection Tutorial slide show listed three steps to peer editing. Step one: compliments--always stay positive. Step two: make suggestions--such as: word choice, details, organization, sentences, and topic. Step three: corrections--punctuation, grammar, sentences, and spelling.


The Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes was funny. The video introduced us to several different peer editing characters. For example, "Picky Patty" too picky, picked out the smallest details in the paper that were irrelevant. "Social Sammy"-- wanted to socialize instead of revising his peer paper. "Loud Larry"--does not know what "use your inside voice" means, and last but not least "Off Task Oliver"--wanted to discuss everything but the task at hand. From watching these videos I learned that "it is not always what you say, but sometimes how you say it."


Technology in Special Education

Technology in Special Education by Lacy Cook. Ms. Cook shows others how technology has enhanced her special needs students abilities to learn. The students in Ms. Cooks class are willing to participate and are less frustrated when using computers. "Technology captivates the students attention"....priceless. There were two students in the video who caught my attention. The first student, "Corbin", needed a teacher assistant to read to him in the hallway during silent reading, but with the ipod touch audio books it makes silent reading stimulating. The student, "kris" had difficulty communicating while doing a crossword activity, but when using a computer it enhances his communication skills.


I would use all the latest technologies in my classroom such as zoom text and Jaws. Zoom text enlarges the print for students who can't see small print and Jaws reads text to blind students. I will alswo communicate with parents through e-mail and give links for certsin assignments that will help students learning ability. Technology is very important for special needs students because it enhances their learning and communicated skills.


iPad for Autism

How the iPad works with Academics for Autism shows Braden, an eight year old boy, with Autism. He is motivated to do his homework because of the apps on the iPad. There are so many apps out today and more being made daily to help children with all disabilities. Working with special needs students who are visually impaired I will use an app on the iPad called "Voice Over" that I came across on Apple.Education Apps. Voice Over is an advance screen reading technology that will read students assignments out loud. They can also use this feature to send and receive e-mails, and to chat with other people.


Harness Your Students

"Harness Your Students" is about a teacher in Rural, Georgia by the name of Vicki Davis. Ms. Davis introduces her students to new technology that has them think beyond their imagination. Technology gives students a better learning experience and learning does not have to be centered around pen and paper. This video was informative and educational. I like the idea of students being able to work with other students around the globe. I was impressed with the way students helped each other in class. It is vital to our future that students today learn how to support their classmates. Teachers should always know what their teaching to students, so I disagree with her when she says "the teacher does not have to know everything before she teaches it."

Blog Assigntment 2

1.)Did You Know 3.0
I was completly shocked after watching Did You Know. It's very sad to see how far the United States is behind China & India. From the video I learned that India has more K-12 honor students than the United States, and there are 18 million people in China that speak english and 300 million are learners, 25% of the population in India with the highest IQ's outnumbers the entire population of the United States.

The sad part of the information is that, two years ago 93% of all 8-18 year olds had computers in their homes and i think today the precentage is higher. The website also stated that the "top jobs 10 years from now do not exist and will use technologies that are not invented. This is interesting to see what what technologies will i be required to use when i start teaching.

2.) Mr. Winkle Wakes.

Mr. Winkle Wakesis a cartoon by Mathew Neddleman, which is about an old man that wakes up after he has slept a hundred years into time. He walks into an office building where he sees many things have changed from the time he was working. There were computers, printers, and computers with webcams.Disturbed Mr. Winkle goes to the hospital but little did he know things changed there also. He see's patients connected to machines that will help keep them alive, nurses and doctors viewing patients bones thorugh x-rays.

Mr. Winkle still disturb goes to school where everything is still the same. There was one computer but it looked as if it was barely used. I think that children in all schools should use some types of technology to keep up with the generations to come, so no one is like Mr. Winkle.


3.)Sir Ken Robinson: The Imporantce of Creativity.
I enjoyed watching Sir Ken Robinson The Importance of Creativity. He discussed how important it is to have some creativity in the schools. I think Schools are so focused on doing the lessons and making sure the students meet the requirments which the teachers should, but they forget that sometimes children can learn things in a different ligh.

If we dont allow students to be creative they'll never want to experience new things. It's always good to have an Art class, Drama class, and Dance class because kids can express differenet things and can learn a little more in a certain subject if its being taught in a fun way. Which will improve grades and students achievements.

4.) A Day Made of Glass 2

While watching A Day Made of Glass I was very amazed by the technologies used, in the classroom students were able to see what the teacher was writing on the board right on their desk. Students could watch movies and enjoy field trips about distinct animals and other animals. If Mr. Winkle walked in this classroom he would have a heart attack!

Technology has come very far today, classrooms have gone from blackboards, to whiteboards, and now smartboards. I am very excited to see what comes next in this world of technology. A Day Made of Glass made me want to have the pick and choose closet.

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