Final Post 15

AWESOME commercial!

I saw this commercial and was in awe! I think this is where the world of technology is going and EDM310 has really started grasping this!

Special Metaphor Assignment (Blog Post #14)

1. I read Johnson's post several times before I ever wrote on it. As I read it I found the anti-testing message and focused so much on it I missed the overall picture. Once the metaphor was pointed out to me, it was completely clear. I know the assignment was designed to make us think just like all the other assignments in this class, but if it asked us to identify the metaphor and write our feelings on it might have put more of us on the right track.

2. I use metaphors all the time! I have to use them most when talking to my boyfriend. When he doesn't understand something I often find ways to compare them to trucks, four wheelers, hunting or something else he is interested in. I talk to my sister the same way. She is an avid horse rider and I often compare life's struggles to her struggles with her horse.

3. Making students aware when they use a metaphor is a good place to start when helping students to understand metaphors. Finding ways to use them in assignments is another way. Students always love a good game. Using metaphors in a scavenger hunt would be a fun way to help students to learn metaphors.

4. We use metaphors because they eliminate communication barriers. It establishes common ground in subjects that are difficult to explain.

Project 15

Blog Post 13

ALEX is an amazing resource. My favorite feature is the lesson plans archive. It is an excellent place to get ideas for lessons if you are having trouble getting started. The lesson plans section also has a place where you can create lesson plans in your own personal workspace. There is also plenty of training links for teachers to use. The resources it has available could save a teacher so much time since they wouldn't have to search for it on their own! There is an array of podcasts stored on it too. They can be used for many different possibilities.

ACCESS is useful to so many different people. It really joins parents, teachers, and students together in a more convenient way. It can also help students from having trouble in school such as catching up from falling behind. My sister transferred from a Mississippi school to Saraland High School which put her behind in curriculum and instead of extending her time in high school she was able to take classes on this online site to help her catch back up. There is also modules for Alabama Graduation Exams. This will help students so much that fail the exam and don't understand why.

Final PLN Report

I'll start out by saying old habits die hard. I still use my shortcuts on Google Chrome more than my symbaloo page. I do make efforts to use it as much as possible while I am thinking about it. It has been a useful place to store links that I don't necessarily need in my shortcut list. It is really a way to organize internet clutter. I have saved links that have been shared by friends. I saved links to any videos or projects by other EDM310 students that I really liked. I have a teacher friend that shared some of her wisdom which I was able to store on my PLN. I hope that by the end of my years at South, I will have a well established PLN that can only continue to grow as I teach.