Blog Post #6

This week we viewed a video online called "The Networked Student" by Wendy Drexler. 

 You can view it at:

                                 http://youtu.be/XwM4ieFOotA

The “cartoon style” video demonstrated how students are learning today.  Students today are learning on line through the method of connectivism.  Connectivism is a theory that learning can occur through social networking using many diverse connections and ties. 


The video explained how a student could learn about a particular subject matter by using many different internet tools.  The tools suggested were:                                             


PLN’s;  Google scholar;  social bookmarking sites;  blogs;  reader tubes to manage blogs updates;  Skype;  posted videos;  voice threads;  wiki;  etc.

 The teacher’s job is to offer support and guidance to the students.  The teacher shows the students how to build a network and how to communicate effectively.  The teacher also trains the students to differentiate between good information and propaganda.  She helps them with resources and web searches and shows the students how to organize their information.


I found the video to be very helpful and informative.  I can see that this could definitely be the “new way” of learning in the classroom.  This method is a great tool for learning, but I feel it is only appropriate for the older students.  I have not really seen anything that I feel is geared towards the younger grades.  Hopefully, in this class, we will get an opportunity to see some “technology at work” with younger students.

Secondly, we viewed a seventh grade student’s personal learning environment (PLE).   I was very impressed to see her PLE.  She had many different sites to help her learn.  She also had everything very organized.  She mentioned several times that she has to manage her time wisely in this student centered learning environment. 

I can definitely learn a lot from this student as I compare her PLE to my PLN.  I do need to do a better job of organizing my PLN.  I also need to make my PLN more meaningful to me.  I need to add more things that I am interested in, so that I will continue to use my PLN when I am through taking this class!

Time Toast Kathy's Life

Blog Post #5

The first assignment this week was to read a post by Dr. Scott McLeod called:
Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please

Dr. McLeod is an Associate Professor of Education Leadership.  He works at the University of Kentucky and is a national leader and expert in K-12 school technology.  He is listed as the nations  "Top 20 People to Watch" in the field of education.

In this article, he did a little "spoof" on not letting your kids or students get on the Internet.  He poked some  fun at all the reasons people use to keep kids off the Internet, instead of people realizing all the good reasons why kids should be on the Internet.   He really made an excellent point and the benefits far outweigh the negatives.  Basically, the students who have access to technology are much better off and much more prepared to work in today's world.

Our second assignment was to watch a video posted to Utube by a high school student named Travis Allen.
You can view it at:

The iSchool Initiative

I was really impressed by this young persons presentation on how to save money and resources by using iPads  and iPhones in the classroom.  He suggest using iSchool apps such as:
email- for communication between school and home; world wiki; USA Presidents; Star Walk-for astrology; formulae-for math and science formulas; recorder; notes; calculator; calendar; books and libraries on line; and even iHomework.

Classrooms would no longer need to spend money on paper, pencils, copiers, books, calculators, etc.  He even came up with how much money the schools would save if they just went green with iPads.  He is now in college and working as hard as ever to bring technology into the classroom.
You can even join his cause at
iSchoolInitiative or iSchooladvocate

We also got to view:

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

I really enjoyed watching this video of  "Lux Aurumque" being performed by over 185 vocalist.  What was really unique about this performance was that it was all done virtually.  None of the 185 performers had ever met or practiced before and they all came together to make this video via the internet and posted it on Utube. It is absolutely amazing and beautiful.  I was really blown away and I had no idea that this kind of production could be done!  I must say....I am learning a lot from this class.

Lastly, we viewed the following video by Kevin Roberts:

Teaching in the 21st Century

It is very hard to sum up this nine minute video because there was so much covered in it, but I will try to touch on a few points.  Basically, the author was pointing out that in todays world teachers are no longer the main source of information.  Teachers don't need to be teaching facts or content, they need to be teaching students the skills and the tools for finding information.  They also need to be teaching students how to problem solve.

Mr. Roberts really went into detail about the difference between the entertainment aspect of  technology versus the engagement aspect of technology.  Teachers really need to focus on engaging their students in the learning process and we need to take advantage of the internet and all the resources available.

Summary of Teacher Blog Post #1 & #2

For my first teacher blog assignment, I was to view and comment on a teacher named Elvira Deyamport. She teaches in the gifted program at her school and teaches an enrichment program in Spanish.

The first time we blogged with each other, I commented on a site that she had developed for teachers of gifted students. The name of the site is The Gifted Teachers Exchange Wiki.  It is a great site for teachers to collaborate and share resources. Teachers are encouraged to upload content and contribute to the resource library. I thought it was such a great idea and very important for teachers to have a special place to share ideas on how to best meet the needs of the gifted students.  I told her I would recommend her site.  She told me that they have a huge following on Skype and she thanked me for spreading the word.

I also viewed her blog post about  "Math Skype Buddies".  The students played a place value number game with another class via Skype.  Each student was given a job.  They even made a video of the game being played by the two classes and posted it with their blog.  I really enjoyed watching the video and you could really see the idea in action and you could tell that the students were really learning and enjoying themselves.  I thanked her for sharing the fun learning game and the video.  She also shared a link for some ideas for math games.
Mega-Fun Math Games: 70 Quick and Easy Games to Build Math Skills by Dr. Michael Schiro and Anna Walker 
She told me that the class really had fun and they looked forward to playing more learning games via Skype throughout the school year.

Project #6 My Sentence Video

Blog Post #4

If a dog can do it...anybody can do it!

I have just been viewing and reading several blogs about podcasting.  I am so glad to have this assignment because I have a podcast project due very soon for my EDM310 class.  I have never heard or seen a podcast, so I found these assignments very helpful!

First, I viewed:

Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog   This site showed many examples of classroom children using podcasts.  The kids were quite good at podcasting.  You could tell how much they were improving with every podcast.  You could also see how much information they were learning about the subject matter of each particular podcast.  The children were also able to use their creative abilities.  It was very interesting to see podcasts in action and it truly is a positive learning tool.

Next, I viewed:

Judy Scharf Podcast Collection    This site went into detail about how to create and use podcasts in the classroom.  It was kind of like a tutorial and I found it to be very helpful for the classroom teacher.  There were also many links that were available for further assistance.  I know I will be referring back to this site often while I am working with my group on our podcast.

Lastly, I viewed this site by Joe Dale:

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom  This video described the benefits of using podcasts in the classroom.  Mr. Dale gave many examples of how helpful podcasts are for the students, as well as, for the teachers.  For instance, students can listen to classroom podcast and get information and assignments when they are sick at home.  Podcasts are also a great tool for parents to keep up with their children and what they are learning in the classroom.  Podcasts are always available and they can go with you anywhere.  Plus, podcasts are relatively inexpensive and easy to make and can be a fun and  interesting activity to do with your students. 

So, if it is this easy.......then..... maybe..... I can even do it!

Google Presentation Kathy's Critters

Blog Post #3

We had another wonderful week of learning about technology and how to incorporate it in the classroom.

A.  We began by reading some material and watching a video on peer editing.  When students are working in collaboration, they should feel free to offer advice to other students on their work.  I learned that there are three steps to peer editing.  First, you should always offer positive compliments on what you liked and what they did well.  Next, you should offer suggestions by giving them ideas on how they can make their writing better.  You can also give suggestions on their organization, their topic, and their details.  Lastly, you should give necessary corrections on spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.

Not only should you encourage students to do peer editing on assignments, but I also feel that teachers are obligated to edit other teachers where ever they see a problem or mistake.  Teachers, as well as vice-presidents, are not perfect!  We need to feel free to gently correct them, especially, before they send something out to the classroom parents.

B.  We also read an article called It’s Not about the Technology.  The author made some very interesting points.  My favorite point that she noted was that technology is useless without good teaching.  We need to keep up with the current trends, research and tools. We have to be able to learn and show the students how to use all of these new materials and tools in our classrooms.  Both the teacher and the student need to learn how to work smarter by using critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration.

After reading this article, it was clear to me that teachers today need to be more of a facilitator to their students.  We are not just to fill them up with information and instructions.  We also need to be able to figure things out with the students.  Technology is moving so fast that it is impossible for teachers to know everything.  The teacher just needs to be willing and try.

C.   We were then instructed to go to "Fischbowl", a 2007 award winning blog post by Karl Fisch.

The link is
http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-it-okay-to-be-technologically.html

He made some really good points about teachers and technology.  First, no school should hire a teacher unless they have some basic level of technological capability.  The head teachers, the principals, and the school inspectors should all be held accountable if their teachers aren't technically literate.  Furthermore, schools and universities who are not preparing students to use technology should loose their license and be forced to give full refunds.

Basically, Karl Fisch summed it all up when he said

"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write".  


This is definitely a bold statement, but if you really think about it.....he's right.  Technology is not going away, so if you can't beat them......join them!


D.  Probably my favorite assignment this week was viewing Gary Hayes Social Media Count.  It can be viewed at 
www.personalizemedia.com/garys-social-media-count


It is so amazing to watch how much technology and social media is being used as the seconds and minutes tick away.  I had no idea that the numbers were so large.  It really is kind of hard to wrap your mind around those kind of numbers.  


This counter shows the public that people today are definitely using the internet and doing a lot of social networking.  As teachers, we need to take advantage of these resources.  We need to realize that young people love spending time on these social networks and we need to find ways to use them to motivate and teach our students.


E.  Lastly, we watched a video called "A Vision of Students Today". 
 It can be viewed at
youtu.be/dGCJ46vyR9o


This was a very interesting video about modern college students and how they spend their time any given school day.  They can definitely multi-task and they spend a total of 9 1/2 hours on media, music, and cell phones each and every day.  Thats more time than they spend in class or studying.  Thats more time than they spend eating and thats more time than they spend working.  Its even more than the 7 hours they sleep at night.  


This is a new generation and the schools need to take another look at the education system.  We need to make our schools more in tune with the technical learners we have today.

Blog #2

Dr. Strange had EDM310 read some articles and view many different videos this week that dealt with technology and the classroom.  I would like to comment on each one.

A.  The first assignment was watching a video called "Did you Know?"  It was amazing and really described how fast we are moving with technology.  Today,  we have over a billion internet devices.  We are moving so fast that technology is doubling every two years.  It is projected that by 2013 a computer will exceed the computational capabilities of the human brain.  In a few short decades, by the year 2049,  the computer will exceed the computational capabilities of the entire human species combined!

It is truly mind boggling how much things are changing.  I actually found the video kind of startling and it was very hard to comprehend this much change.  Never before in history have we been changing and growing so quickly. We are definitely in a technology revolution!

B.  We also watched a video called "Mr. Winkle Wakes".  It was in comic strip form and Mr. Winkle wakes up after 100 years of slumber to see so many changes in the world.  However, when he goes into a school, it is exactly the same!  There is no new technology, only a dusty computer on a shelf.

The video was definitely a satire and it was making fun of how far behind the school system is when it comes to technology.  I have always felt that the classroom is the last place to get the money and the resources. It always seems like the little children (with no voice) are always the ones who get looked over.  I definitely know that the children in the classroom were the last ones to get air conditioning.  Fifty years after air conditioning was invented, I was still teaching in a non air conditioned classroom!  I must say that computers are very expensive, so there is no wonder that the classrooms are so far behind on technology!

C.  We also watched a video where Sir Ken Robinson talks about creativity in the classroom.  He was a very entertaining fellow who said that schools are killing creativity.  They are just educating kids with intellectual knowledge from the neck up, but we need to rethink the fundamental principles of education.  There are more people who are graduating from school than ever before and we need to remember that intelligence is not just academic ability.  We are creative beings, who have the gift of imagination, and we must never forget that intelligence is very diverse, dynamic, and distinct.

We really are getting too technical to still be teaching our students a bunch of little facts about a bunch of different things.  That really serves them no good in a world that has too much information.  After they have learned the basics, we really need to concentrate on each kids gifts and steer them in the right direction and  let them go!  I really do like the idea of magnet schools and I think it is the school of the future.

D.  We watched a video where a student named Cecelia Gault  interviews Sir Ken Robinson.  It was really cute to see this young girl using technology so well.  She asked him several questions about schools today.  She noted that Sir Ken Robinson believes that schools today need to be teaching creativity, intelligence, and problem solving, so students can make sense of the world around them.

I also believe that in today's world, we need to be teaching children through interactive learning.  There are so many tools in the classroom today and students can explore, design, create, and learn with so many different technologies and hands on activities.

E.  Lastly, we watched a video called "Harness Digital Smarts".  The video shows a very interactive classroom where a teacher is using computers and technology to help her students learn.  The students are exploring and learning by doing a lot of self paced work on computers.  The teacher also notes that there are no absolutely right or wrong answers.  They are all exploring and learning as they go along, even the teacher!

That gives me hope because I feel I will also be doing a lot of learning with my students, as well.   I'm not to proud to say that they might even teach me a thing or two!

I really found all of these assignments to be very interesting and very helpful.  As future teachers, we really need to understand the role and importance that computers and technology will play in the classroom with our   students and their education.

Assignment #1 Part 2

I enjoyed listening to the Time Management video featuring Randy Pausch. I remember seeing him on TV. He had a terminal illness. He left behind a wonderful legacy for his children....a collection of thoughts, lessons, and information on how to live a meaningful life.

We do need to manage our time because there is only so much time in a day. We also never know how much more time we will have on this earth. Randy suggests that everyone makes a plan....a plan for the day, for the week, for the semester. Always ask yourself why you are doing something and if you don't have a good answer, then don't do it.

My favorite advice from Randy on time management is...
It is always more important to do the right thing, than to do the wrong thing well!