Sunday, May 1, 2011

Special Assignment


Why did so many of us miss the metaphor in Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home by Tom Johnson? Although I cannot speak for the whole class, this is my answers to our special assignment:
I missed the metaphor in this assignment because didn’t think outside the box, I looked too deep into it. I tried hard to find out what this post meant but I never thought to replace the pencils with technology or anything else for that matter. I really overlooked this post. After looking back at the post and watching the video again, I see the point and how it all fits together.
What metaphors have you encountered since I asked you to create a blog of them?
It’s raining cats and dogs or the cup is half full. I could go on all day with these but I hope these two will let you know what they are.
What other things can we do as educators to help our students to understand and to use metaphors?
I believe as educators, we can teach them to look deeper into the meanings of post so that they see what is really being said in them. I don’t know how to even go about making or how to start to teach students but I do know. It needs to have more attention brought to it because most of us in the class missed it in the class. We need a specific post on metaphors to where it makes it clearer to us and others who missed it.
Why do we use metaphors?
This is a great question! I have thought about the question and to be honest with you, I am just as lost with this question as the one before. I don’t know the answer to it but I hope to read up others post and see how they answered these questions and learn from the others and maybe next time I have to read or watch something with a metaphor in it. I will be able to pick it out with no problem.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Final report on PLN


Throughout the term, I have added so many things to my PLN. As the term went by, there were so many useful pages that I have added. I created blog, on which I have posted all of my work throughout this spring term. I also have accounts for YouTube, Skype, Time Toast, Twitter, and Facebook. I never knew how useful these events could be to someone going into to the teaching field but I know that I will be using them throughout my career.

Monday, April 25, 2011

C4T Summary


I Don't Need Another #Chat Right Now
I was assigned you as my teacher of the week to comment on. Sounds like you have been trying to get this out for a long time. It is good to have the space and all but too much space can leave you lonely. Technology has enhanced our world as we know it but it also can pull people apart. Instead of just calling someone up to see how they are doing or going over to see them, we can just send them a tweet, chat on Facebook, or send them and email. This to me distances myself from people i know. I love the technology and all if we use it for the best but sometimes to me, it is not always that way. This post was deep. I enjoyed what you were wanting back into your life. Good luck man.


Why I Hate Writing as a Kid
In this post i read about reasons why kids don't like to write.
I agree with what you have said in this post. No one should be stressed out while they are writing. You should write what comes to you right as it does so you know what you are wanting it to say even if it does come out wrong in grammar. I am a kid and i know i would rather txt and use my ungrateful misspelling habits than to be told just how bad of grammar i have. I see no harm in it as long as u makes you clear and get the point across.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

C4K Summary


#7 Mr. McClung, I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 Class at the University of South Alabama. I was assigned to watch the Talent Show video, 8th grade weezer song. I watch all the videos of the kids and they were all great. The kid on the guitar really knew how to play. He did an excellent job with his song choice as well as vocals. I have always wanted to learn to play but i never too the time to. Keep up the good work students. If you want to check out my blog, you can go here: http://SmithJohnedm310.blogspot.com


#8 Hi Lucy,
My name is John Russell Smith and i am a student at The University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class. I was assigned you as my student to learn about this week. I really like this painting. Even though i am not a big fan of bats because they seem a little creepy to me, I still like this one because he has a smile on his face. Keep up the good work on your painting skills. If you want to check out my blog, you can go to; http://SmithJohnedm310.blogspot.com

#9 I was assigned to Mrs. Yollis' class for my comment for kids. She is a very organized blogger in the way she teaches blogging. After checking out the blog out, it shows how she interacts with her students and how they use blogs in the class. She keeps the students on a positive track and she also interacts with their parents and with other classrooms around the world. Mrs. Yollis even has a list of time zones of different places to which they interact with. As I searched Mrs. Yollis' blog, I got to read about her background and what she also enjoys out of the classroom. I also got to meet her "bloggers" and read what they enjoyed as well. She has a video on How to Comment on her class blog that gives a set of detailed instructions for bloggers to be able to comment on her blogs properly. She has a link on "Learn HTML Code" which gives instructions on using the HTML code as well. Mrs. Yollis has fun games and homework links to click on also. She is a really innovated teacher that I someday would love to be like when I start my teaching career.


#10 Dear Jaden,
My name is John and I attend the University of South Alabama. I have never been to and NBA basketball game but I do watch the games on TV. I would love to see the Clippers play but if they had to play my favorite team “The Boston Celtics” which I personally think they are the best, I would have to go for the Celtics. No questions asked. To answer your question in the post, the Mavericks scored 31 in the third and the Clippers scored 30. I have been to a couple of my college’s basketball games. It was pretty awesome to see the game up close like that. I need to upgrade and go watch the pros. How did you like the game? Was it what you thought it was going to be like? Was this the first NBA game that you have ever been to?

Monday, April 18, 2011

blog post 13

Alabama Learning Exchange=ALEX


ALEX is a site from which advisors can gather a variety of information or educational materials for the educators, students, and whoever else would like to obtain this material. It includes everything from lesson plans as well as interactive activities to Web links. It also has a variety of podcasts from which you can look up the arts and sciences to professional development and many more. It also offers and excess amount of information about other educational programs in action in Alabama. I feel like this program well most definitely be and asset to my teaching in the future. I would be able to see how other teachers have their lessons set up and what they do so that we as teachers can get ideas from them so we all can become the best teachers possible. It will surely help new and upcoming teachers that are getting started in a field by giving a basis from which to start teaching from.



Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide= ACCESS
The idea behind the distant learning program is to let students have access to a course from which they may not have a teacher in their school so that they can learn it. Say for instance, a student who is required to take Trigonometry to graduate with honors may not have a Trigonometry teacher at his or her school. This program allows that student to take the class from which isn’t at their school with another teacher who works at another school.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Blog post 12

Watch this Clip: Timeline of Technology,
It is really not the clip that that caught my attention but the name of it. I want you to think back from when you were learning in grade school and the methods from which you were taught with using technology and compare it to the technology that can be used in today’s class.

Thinking back from when I was in school in my younger years. I really don’t recall using much technology for too much of anything. I remember using a tap player to let use listen to how words were pronounced. I remember playing just a few times on the computer usually when we read books and had to take an accelerated reading test to make sure we had read the books or when we had to do or speed times table in math class. Most of the time we were not allowed to even come close to the computer in the class room because the teacher claimed it as her personal property. We use to use projectors to project images from which were usually printed off the computer to learn from.

Just thinking back, almost everything that we did in grade school is completely different. The teachers now incorporate the computer skills into the kids’ activities. Almost everything can be done from not only with the advances of smartboard by being able to surf the web and finding the information from which you were trying to obtain. The computer now days take places of everything that I have mentioned that i use to use when I was younger. It is all in one device that is easier to use and more efficient to the learning process. It is amazing when you really think back to how much technology that you used in the class and just watching a few of the videos of the way kids are being taught today is amazing to me. This is making for a better and brighter tomorrow for the future students.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Teach someone project

How to make a European Skull Mount. I this video, I tell you the steps and tools you will need to make you own skull mount. If i would have read this assignment the week before i could have made it a complete show. Like the actual process. This was the deer i done for a kid who killed his first buck this year. Hope yall enjoy.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Special assignment


On Mr. McClung’s blog, He has many useful links to access. I have just recently acquired one by joining this class. I never knew how useful this could be to me. The most helpful and used link by me would have to be the Gmail link. It is something that I have come to check every day. It is by far the most useful to me from checking up on my school work to keeping in touch with my family as well as friends.gmail me

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Little Kids...Big Potential

I really like this video. I was so amazed by these kids skill on the computers and with the use of technology already. These are thing that I am just now learning in college and these first grade kids are already accessing this. There are so many advances with starting these kids early in the technological field. It helps with the association and communication skills as well as writing and also gets them familiar with how useful technology really is. I like the way that she had the kids to where they had their own blogs where their families and friends could look and leave comments for the students. They also done Skype with other classes with was a cool interactive project for the kids. I see where they were also using the smartboard in a couple of photos. Like I said, I am a college student just now learning how to do all these things and they are already starting to master it. When I become a teacher, I want to have sort of the same style teaching as she does. She gets the kids more involved with the work and anything that can keep a first grader interested has to be great. I really liked this video with the kids.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

An Open Letter to Educators…

This was a very interesting post. I know almost all of us have had the teachers who just ramble on about the subject they tech whether it is boring or not and try to make you just remember the facts of it. Most of my teachers were this way and I know from experience that it needs to be changed. This is not the teacher I would want to be. We as future teachers in the making need to think back to our teachers and remember how they taught and what got the attention of the student more into what was being taught instead of going on and just reading for the book. We need to incorporate new ways to keep the kids more interested in learning. We have to change the attitude of what are job is. Our job is to teach and teaching may be some memorization skills but we have to make it fun and keep the kids wanting to learn instead of dreading the lectures. It needs to be more devoted to making the kids active with learning. We can make learning fun and all we have to do is make a guide line on how we teach and remember what keep us interested from when we were taught!!!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Blog post 9


I really got a lot out of this post. It was inspiring to me as a future teacher and things that I need to do. He covered so much in this post on how you to read the crowd, how to be flexible, how to communicate, how to be reasonable, how not to be afraid of technology, how to listen to your students, and finally to never stop learning. He had in his mindset that it was all about him as a teacher. He was quickly to learn that teaching was not only about him but it was also about the audience he was teaching. He said you have to be flexible when you make up plans for teaching lessons. I agree with him about keeping the good attitude and smile on your face no matter what you do or how things may come out. I also agree with him as he says communication is the best medicine. Being able to communicate is very critical when trying to earn respect and trust with people. Being reasonable is important as well. I know how I was when I was a kid that I was hard of listening and wanting to learn just what I wanted. I realize that we all make mistake and all you can do is your best so if they don’t want to learn, you just got to keep pushing them. Technology is a great aspect to us as teachers. It helps use with being able to find topics we are researching as well as being able to create interesting topics to teach. Learning to never stop learning is the best thing anyone could do. I hope when I become a teacher I can easily adjust the way he did in response to all the situations he has come upon. I really learned a lot from this and I hope I can be like him when I start my career.

C4T summary 3


The last teacher I learned about was Royan Lee. He had an idea about making a table to where you could sit down and draw and be able to erase while at the table. I think this is a good idea. For people who love to draw and make art work. This would be handy to them. I think that maybe you can do like a smartboard like table to where you could draw and erase while having other thing to look at while at the table. This way you could be more creative with your works.


In the post I had to read from Royan Lee was about slang terms in class. I agreed with him an 110percent. If the kids make the words easier for them then who does it hurt? If it is understandable to all of use then why is it such a big deal? Kids today have their ways of innovation with things. I don't see what it hurts a thing. I have been using slang terms for a long time especially since I am from the south. I really liked this post.

Smart Board Instruction Project13

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

C4K summary


The first kid I was assigned to learn about was Havea. She didn’t have a lot posted except that she was a year seven student at Pt England School in Auckland, NZ and your teacher is Mr. Harris. I tried to find more out about her but she never posted back.


The second kid I was assigned to learn about was Glennes. She was in between the age of 3 to 5. She drew a lovely picture of her house. It was really colorful and I hope she keeps up the good work. I really like the picture of your house.


The third kid I was assigned to be was the Melville Intermediate girls basketball team. They were really good and had a very successful team. In the last two years, they went to the semi-finals have finished fourth and the second year they won the whole tournament going undefeated. They were crowned the national champions. They were an awesome team.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Blog #8





In these two video clips it shows how online sources are being used to share information and make information more understandable. We as students today have more advantages in using the technology to make the level of understanding more comprehendible to others. Some things that can’t be expressed in words as easily can be show through different educational sources online. I believe that with using the technology in the classes today helps with the capability of student’s success in the future. They will not just read and write sources, they will be able to research them with endless results and facts to present their topics. They will have a better understanding of how to find and make things more understandable.

Chipper and EDM310 for Dummies


Both of these videos utilize creativity when trying to get a message across to the viewers. They use real life progression as a means of bring the message across to the viewer in terms that he or she may relate to, understand, and remember. The Chipper video shows how procrastination and denying personal educational responsibility can lead a student astray. In the end, it is made clear that all Chipper needed to get through it was to work harder and be more dedicated to her work. The second video shows how frustrating it can be if one is trying to go through the course with no foreknowledge of which will be called for in the class. The students had to apply themselves and learn about the various tools utilized throughout the course. Both of these videos exemplify how difficult it can be if one expects everything to come naturally to him or her in this course. The student must work hard and be dedicated to learning and applying him/herself to make it through not just EDM310 but also school in general.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn

The title of this video sums up what it is about. I personally believe that technology is a choice. I know it is and everyday use for most people but I know from experience that you don’t have to use it every day. I do believe that in the education field, technology is a must because the way of learning has changed. It makes for easier comprehension in the class by being able to find endless research on the topics you are looking for.

The Secret Powers of Time: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us



These two videos where had some really interesting facts. I like the way that it showed the way that most of us manage our times and the way we don’t push ourselves enough to do better. We just settle for ok when we can do so much better with just a little more effort. I do think that people that do strive to do better should get rewarded when they take the time to make the difference. I really enjoyed when in the first video when the man was talking about spending so much time on video games because I have two roommates that fit the perfect description of everything he just said. I see that they spend so much time trying to do their best in these games and I know if they put half the time that they spend here on them in the classroom, they would succeed with no problems. It is the lack of motivation that keeps most people from making better of themselves.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

C4T summary


The first post I had read was Planning a Year of Technology PD. I really liked the plan she had devised. This plan seems to have all the assets to being well prepared. Im glad you posted this for all of use to take it and help with our teaching techniques. It is important for us to have our own goals that we set as teachers. I am glad for people like you giving us advantages in developing and enhancing curriculum to maximize student authorship, and creativity.


The second post i read about was Students as Teachers: 6th Grade Tutorial Designers. I read your post and I think this is a great idea. I like the idea of the MYP Technology Design Cycle: It lets the students learn on their own as well as learn from each other tutorials. I like the way that she wanted to help the kids with the learning skills as well as share what they already know. It was cool how she gave the students the three pieces of paper and had them to draw something on it and then write down the steps the just went through drawing the picture on the other sheet. This makes them realize that there are fundamentals to everything they do or create. A process to where or what they are making. The tutorials will help the kids to learn from each other as well as learn how each individual learning process is different. I really enjoyed this post.

My PLN



In this video a 7th grader gives a tour of her Personal Learning Environment (PLE). She set up her page by using symbaloo. I like the way that she converted her PLN onto the page. Symbaloo allowed her to be able to set up her page the way she wanted and put what she wanted where she wanted. I like how you can your page they way that you want to. I like how you can get your information checked by someone that knows what they are doing on the topic we are looking into or reviewing. I need to work on organizing my PLN so that mine will look more like hers. She did a great job.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Blog Post 7



This is a really inspiring video. This lecture is probably the best in that it reflects yourself and makes you want to understand how you would like to live your life. If you are like me, you probably are still in the process about how you want to be. Most of us don’t know what purpose we serve in our life. This video shows us how Randy Pausch was effected by others around him and a how his methods can be a guide to our lives. He talks about the importance of dreaming as well as the importance of leadership in our life and how it can be helpful, he also talks about the importance of how we can’t do everything on our own.

A fundamental to me is something that sets a basis by which you would go by. The importance of fundamentals in life is something that every one of us will experience through our learning process whether it is from family or friends. You will see the importance of it. I feel like teaching to me is really all a fundamental process. I want my students when I become a teacher to know how this is the basis that they will use in their work. Pausch made me really see how important fundamentals are.

Leadership is an important role in life to. I feel like that was one of my stronger points in life, being a leader. After being the team captain on our baseball team in high school makes you realize that you are not only helping out yourself but making others who are with you see what they need to accomplish. Being a teacher to me is a leadership role. You have to be a leader to be a teacher since you have students that look up to as a role model. If you don’t have a leader than whom can you follow?

We can't do everything ourselves! In this video, Randy Pausch talks to us about how he couldn’t have accomplished what he has today without the somebodies help. I know this is true because I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of my family, teachers, and friends. I would like to thank everyone that has ever helped me to get to where I am and when I do become a teacher. I am going to return the favor to my students and anyone that needs help that I can offer. It is to me a part of leadership and it is fundamentals. The people that help you are the leaders and they had to learn it from someone which is fundamentals so everything ties together. I really enjoyed this video.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Networked Student
In the video, the student will use networking as a source for information. The student will research topics and share the findings with others. The student will still need a teacher’s guidance but in a different way. The teacher will teach the kids how to make these networks. The student want be able to start there process without a starting point. The teacher will have to aid in the process by helping the students navigate through there sources and make sure they are reliable ones to use. This will allow the teacher to keep tabs on how the student is doing.  The teacher will know if the student is being proficient in his or her work and the teacher will be able to assist the student with any problem or question they may have. The teacher will not have to teach all the time but will still be needed throughout most of the course.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
The concept behind student’s PLE or PLN is endless. The way the system works allows the student freedom to do assignments anytime. The way in which it works allows a student the freedom to take an assignment and venture in any direction the students desires. The traditional learning style limits the student’s accessibility to learn new material and information on the web that can’t be found in books. Students can research information from many different sources. Students can choose from a wide range search to a direct approach on the subject wanted and also can make sure the information obtained in the search is not out dated. The students can access all this at any time, from anywhere. The student will be able to keep all there information in one place and will be able to look back if needed at any time. The student will be able to work at his or her own pace and will be able to use their resources for a reference. The teacher will be able to keep up with the progress the student has made and see what the kid has done throughout the day. The student will also be able to obtain information if they have to miss school. The student can do the assignments in any order they choose, as well as take more time with the harder assignments to make sure they understand. This is a good way to keep organized and keep on the right track in the learning field.
On this website, It shows you tips about smartboard as well as challenges, games, lesson plans, adding animation, and other ideas. It also gives you a grade level that you can base your search an lessons on. It has so many ways in that smartboard can be used.


Why Smartboards are a Dumb Initiative and Why I hate Interactive Whiteboards
In this post by Michael Staton, he mainly focused on how expensive the smartboard is and how it is not worth the money spent. I have never personally experienced with using smartboard in a classroom but I do see where it can be useful in class. I took the time and looked at videos about smartboard and I believe it is well worth the money. I think that using it will not only help the kids in learning the program but it will also let the kids interact better with other students.
In the second post I think it is just opinioned based and his thought about Interactive Whiteboards are like many others but there are people whose opinion is different than his. This person seems smart and probably likes to use technology. He also makes the statement: Do you really want to spend thousands of dollars on a tool that makes stand-and-deliver instruction easier? It seems to me that both smartboard and whiteboards come back to the same things. They are both opinionated and the both cost a lot of money.

www.Teacherslovesmartboards.com

On this website, It shows you tips about smartboard as well as challenges, games, lesson plans, adding animation, and other ideas. It also gives you a grade level that you can base your search an lessons on. It has so many ways in that smartboard can be used.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

C4K summary

The first student I had in C4K was Liam. I had to read a blog on eight random things about him and post a comment.  The first random thing was that he could wiggle his ears. I have always wanted to do that ever since I watch the movie “The Little Rascals.” The second thing was that he had a dog named Ozzy because his mom loves Ozzy Osborne’s music.  The third thing he said was his favorite actor witch is Eddie Murphy. The Fourth was that he lived in Canada B. C.  The Fifth thing was his favorite movie that I have never seen called Hot Rod. The Sixth was that he has never broken a bone in his body. Wish I could say the same about myself but I can’t. The Seventh was that he isn’t allergic to anything that he knows of and the last thing was that his favorite TV show is MTV live. That is definitely eight random things.
The Second student I had in C4K was Gloria. Gloria attends Pt England School in Auckland, NZ and her teacher is Miss King.  She is a 4/5 year student.  On her blog she talked about Tamaki Music School that she goes to every Saturday. She has played the recorder for two years and decided she wanted to try another instrument so she signed up for the clarinet class. She really enjoys her music and wants to keep doing more. She seems like a determined kid in the way she wants to do more and more the better she gets.  
The last student was hc2011. He or she wrote a story about Sherlock Holmes and one of the mysteries that he encounters. The student done a good job on writing the story by keeping everything secretive until the very end. It keeps you on your toes as well as guessing what could have happened. He or she done an excellent job on their writing.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

C4T

C4T#1 I was assigned to read Mrs. Andrea Hernandez’s blog entitled, “Sharing our learning.”
Mrs. Hernandez devised a method in which teaches the kid by getting them interested on what their topics are. It makes the projects for the kids more joyful and they learn better by doing something they enjoy. Setting up visual aid and letting the kids read aloud and understand what they are posting makes their reading and writing skills better. This also allows the kids start early in the technology field.
C4T#2 I was assigned to read Mrs. Andrea Hernandez’s blog entitled, 10 thought after educon day 1.”
I enjoy the randomness of the post on how you spoke your mind. I believe if more people should just let out the feelings inside of them. This would clear the mind for new thoughts and ideas. This also lets you remember how you felt when you put it into words so when you come back to finish your post, you will know where you left off. Thank you for the post.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

blog post #5

Eagle Nest Radio and Class Blog

The way in which the students outlined their Roman podcast is very appealing. The setup of the background music and the changing between topic deliveries charm the listener and introduce tolerable anecdotes that are memorable from was start to the finish. This podcast captured the attention of the listeners and is well designed.

The benefits of podcasting in the classroom

This clip shows how much podcast can help students out. When people are sick or can’t make it to school, they still can get the lecture right at home with podcast or vodcast. The video tells you the difference between podcast and vodcast. Vodcast is the same as podcast with the exception of having a video with the chat. Teachers can record lectures for students who miss school or need to review for a test or any other information needed. Students can send a podcast or vodcast back to the teachers as needed to obtain valuable information.

100 ways to use your ipod to learn and study better

This list contains many new ideas on how the ipod could serve as an educational device. The list has lectures and guides that help you to be able to add materials to your ipod. This would allow the user to have access to these additions anytime and anywhere. It shows you not only the material to add, it also gives you the information to create podcast and add them to your ipod. The list makes for so many possibilities with using the ipod.