This video really has me thinking about where the future of teaching is going. It is almost overwhelming but exciting at the same time. This will take a completely new type of teacher and student. Students will have to be dedicated to wanting to learn and have the discipline to do the work. The teachers would also have to put much more effort into motivating the students into wanting to learn and working hard.
As far as why a networked student needs a teacher, it is the teachers role to instill the urge to learn into the hearts of her students. He or she must teach the students the one thing the internet won't and that is how great it is to learn. We must also teach them proper internet etiquette and how to respect others who are also using the internet to learn. There will be much to be taught to students on how to become a networked student.
The students will have to learn how to conduct themselves properly on the internet. They will also have to know how to find factual information, and know the difference from opinions versus facts plus how to use both.
2. A 7th Grader's PLE
I realize now this student is in a class much more advanced than what I'm used to. I'm still having trouble getting used to the PLN that has been given to us for this course. I must say it inspires me. I just have to learn more about how to utilize the resources I have more like her. It was interesting to see how it is working in public schools. I now have a lot to think about.
The first comment for kids blog I commented on was by Lucy A. She was in the Crozet class. Her blog was very sweet. She wrote about the adoption of her cats and how much she loved them. I was able to comment about how nice that was and my similar experience. She never commented back so that I could correspond with her some.
The second comments for kids blog I commented on was for Mr. St. Pierre's class. The blog I commented on was a collaborative work from his students. They had made a video that was their first episode of the "209 News Network." It was very well informed and it was obvious it was well prepared for. It talked about the news going on with their school from budget cuts to the movie project the class was working on.
My third and last comments for kids for this summary was for one of Ms. Helen Squires students. Her name was Jayden and she wrote about her vacation from school. She visited her grandmother during her break. She wrote about the bus trip to get there and then the shopping trip they took once she was there. It appeared she really enjoyed her little trip.
I must say I liked the different aspects they used for their podcast. The particular podcast I listened to was episode 2 in which they spoke about explorers. I liked the way they began each episode with a rehearsed introduction just like a news radio show. It was also interesting how they used the approach of being in a time machine visiting each explorer. They interview each explorer and "travel" to the next. It showed great creativity and really impressed me.
Podcasting in the classroom
I love the idea of podcasting lectures in order to keep absent students from falling behind. This would be beneficiary to both teachers and students. It saves the teacher from having to catch the student up and it keep the student from falling behind.
My favorite option was the book reading the classroom recorded. I would love to do that when I become an English teacher. It really lets the book come to life when the students are reading it that way. It looked like so much fun!
Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
I must say her posting defining what a podcast is helped me more than anything. I've heard the term podcast used often put I was never sure of its true definition. All I knew was you could listen to them on the ipod and people talk about them all the time. After reading the post "What is a Podcast?" it really helped me to understand.
I also liked the tutorial videos offered. They helped one gain perspective of how to even begin on making a podcast.
Scott McLeod works at Iowa State University. He was the co-creator of the video "Did You Kow" that we watched for Blog 2.
I found his approach to the problem in technology a better eye-opening tool for those who oppose certain aspects of technology in schools and don't realize the negative effect of the opposition.
It is easy for someone to oppose something they don't know enough about and this happens often in the debate of technology entering schools. What the opposer doesn't realize it the benefits of the technology and focus on the negative press that surrounds the internet. McLeod uses sarcasm to show how ridiculous some people can be and the importance of them realizing the benefits of technology.
2. The iSchool Initiative
There can be negative and positive aspects to the iSchool initiative. I'm not sure I am completely convinced it is a good idea. I feel some of the information he shared can be implemented now, but I'm not sure a complete replacement of all traditional school processes is necessary. He didn't consider the cost of a replacement itouch if one is stolen or the glass screen in broken, or the cost of the additional applications needed to make his idea work. In theory, it can be a very good idea. The idea of putting text books on the itouch is a very good idea. This eliminates the use of backpacks and lockers, and it keeps all there information together. As long as the children have the itouch they can't forget a book at school. The cost of a graphing application versus a graphing calculator could save a parent volumes and that is another major benefit.
I am very worried about the potential dependency that may develop from implementing the iSchool. Children wouldn't learn to be versatile with them only using the itouch and nothing else in school. When I was in high school, I was required to do some assignments on paper, in the library, or using the internet. It is important for students to be aware of all their resources and know how to use them. The use of the itouch could hinder that.
3. The Lost Generation
I must first talk about the technique used in the video. It really impressed me. I loved the reverse effect that was used. At first, I didn't like the way the video wash just a black and white background with only words on the screen. It didn't really spark my attention until the reversal, which I loved.
The information shared in the video helps one to exam the way our generation is going and the changes that must be made. It is hard to see where our generation is taking the world if we stay on the path we are on now, considering the values I was raised with. It is important for us to realize that we can change the world with our actions and those actions must be assessed.
4. Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
I've never seen anything quite like this! It was hard to believe that so many people that don't know each other could take part in such an exquisite thing! I even went on to watch the introduction video where Whitacre explains where the idea came from. It was hard to believe it all started with a girl that liked his music so much she sent him a video of her singing it.
I felt it necessary to share the introduction video for those who may not have seen it and where wondering just where the idea came from.
5. Teaching in the 21st Century
This is a challenge to all teachers and those aspiring to be teachers. I liked the comparison of teachers to a technological filter. The ideas it gave me really had me thinking of new ways to incorporate the resources of technology and how to teach it. Being a 21st century teacher will require new techniques that include knowing as much about the resources and how to use them best.
I was chosen to follow Jenny Luca and her blog Lucacept-interpreting the Web .
The first blog post of hers I commented on was about the usefulness of twitter and hashtags. I found this particularly interesting since we were assigned to broaden our use of twitter this week. She wrote about how many news stations were able to post on a tropical cyclone (#tcyasi) on twitter with the use of a hashtag, and she was able to follow more current news than her local station was able to deliver to her. I haven't used twitter for more than keeping up with friends until I entered into EDM 310 now I am beginning to realize that there is much more this social network has to offer. Its amazing to see it being laid out for me from several different sources the more I begin to open up to it.
The second blog post I commented on was entitled "Digital Trends to Watch." It contained at set of 25 slides on slideshare to watch about the trends and recommendations for them as laid out by Steve Rubel and David Armano. The slide show is for business but she is able to look at it from an education perspective. She believes incorporating the tools used in the "real" world into the classroom will help students be ready for when they get there. I must say I couldn't agree more. She feels it is important to stay in touch with the world outside of education in order to prepare students for it.
1. Michael Wesch: A vistion of Students Today
After watching this video, I feel like I can relate. The fact that a student's daily task load totals 26.5 hours seems very correct. I have to multi-task in nearly everything I do in order to get everything I need to do in one day accomplished. I was able to fit my role as a college student into many of the other statistics too.
If I were to add anything I would also add statistics of how much time being spent on homework and exercise, both are part of the average students daily life. I would also like to approach the issue of some teachers feeling their class is the only thing we partake in during the entire semester. I often struggle to have enough balance of my time between class time, homework, and my work, not even considering my scarce social life. It is very hard to be well-rounded enough to enjoy the experience when so much is asked of us. I feel it is also important to stress college students financial situations. Some students are lucky to still be supported by their parents, but for those working "part-time" at minimum wage in an attempt to support themselves it is an everyday struggle.
2. "It's not about the Technology"
I could not agree more with Kelly Hines. While I know that technology is a major tool for the future, it is important to realize it is just that a tool. Many teachers have began to hide behind technology as the solution to education problems when really it is only a tool to help solve the problem and the teachers are the solution. The solution to the problems in the education system is the passion of teachers. If the teachers don't truly want the children to learn, the children won't try.
I don't have enough fingers on my hand to count up the teachers that I've seen come to class and not appear any more interested than the students. I have no will to learn in a classroom when the teacher stands in front of the class appearing to not want to be there. Teachers need to grasp that going over material is not the only aspect of there job. It is also important to get the students involved. In my opinion, a student's involvement is the most important role in a classroom, considering they are who is responsible for learning.
3. "Is It Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"
I find it completely ironic that I wrote my opinions on technology only being a tool then read Fisch's blog to only see that he has written the same thing. He is absolutely write right that even though it is only a tool, it is still indispensable. I do feel his comparison of a technologically illiterate teacher to a teacher who can't read or write is a bit extreme, but it is necessary.
The student's teachers are preparing them for a future where they must be technologically literate, and if the teacher isn't how can the student learn to be? Although teachers must teach it not hide behind it. Technology cannot teach the students for the teacher; the teacher must teach the technology to the students.
4. Gary Hayes Social Media Count
As a future English teacher, I think the use of technology recorded on the social media count is potentially destructive. Children are using technology in a negative way and it is detrimental to their education. They are not spelling words correctly and are drastically losing communication skills. They uses shorthand to communicate instead of using proper English when they are sending SMS messages and making comments on facebook. It has also become apparent that children struggle to have face to face communication when they are able to use channels of technology instead.
I do believe it will be important to incorporate these forms of technology into the class room but it is important to be sure they are used in a productive way. It is important to break the negative habits they have developed and replace them with uses that will help improve their education.
