Hello Classmates,
What a LONG semester. I'm sooooo glad it has finally came to a close. I don't know about most of you, but I did learn a lot in Dr. Strange's class. It was a pleasure meeting him as well as all of you. I hope we will see each other again and often as we try to finish our education at South. Good luck to all of you. Thanks again for your knowledge, patience, and understanding Dr. Strange.
Brandy
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Post #25: What I Learned in EDM 310
What I Learned...
How to set up a blog, make posts to it that include links as well as pictures.
How to participate in a pod cast.
All about Google, including iGoogle, Documents, and Gmail.
How to make a presentation using Google.
Almost learned how to do Spreadsheets.
How important technology is in the field of education.
For the most part, I enjoyed the class, as well as fellow classmates and Dr. Strange. The blogging and the many projects got tedious, but overall, it was a interesting class in which I learned quite a bit about technology and the part it plays in education.
How to set up a blog, make posts to it that include links as well as pictures.
How to participate in a pod cast.
All about Google, including iGoogle, Documents, and Gmail.
How to make a presentation using Google.
Almost learned how to do Spreadsheets.
How important technology is in the field of education.
For the most part, I enjoyed the class, as well as fellow classmates and Dr. Strange. The blogging and the many projects got tedious, but overall, it was a interesting class in which I learned quite a bit about technology and the part it plays in education.
Post #24: My Correspondence With Ms. Giardina
I corresponded with a fantastic teacher in Birmingham, Alabama. Her name is Steffayne Giardina and she is a first grade teacher at
Vestavia Hills Elementary East. Ms. Giardina attended collge at the University of Alabama Birmingham. She graduated from Vestavia in 1986. Ms. Giardina has a BA and a MA in Early Childhood
Education from UAB. She has taught K and 1st in Homewood at Shades Cahaba for 11 years. Her husband, Michael and herself have 3 children--Anna and Julia-4th
grade--Riley-Kindergarten. Ms. Giardina also has a 3 year old West Highland Terrier named Duffy.
She has been teaching first grade at Vestavia for seven years. I got in contact with Ms. Giardina through my cousin Allen who used to live in Birmingham. Her first grade class has a link from the elementary school's web page. It is entitled Giardina's Geniuses. The link includes a supply list for the class, personal information about the teacher, a wish list, announcements, and a list of helpful links. I asked Ms. Giardina how she utilizes technology in her classroom. She uses a Promethian Board, Document Camera, Clickers, laptops, and digital microphones. I can't imagine a bunch of 6 years olds around all this equipment. She says her students are always excited to learn to use the technology and she loves to show them how to use it properly.
I also asked Ms. Giardina if there was alot of difference in how technology is used in classrooms now and at the time of her graduation from college. She is very happy to pass the knowledge she has of technology on to her young pupils. I asked her if she had any advice for an up and coming educator. She said, "I would recommend brushing up on all of the new ways to implement in classroom--take workshops when available." I enjoyed my brief exchange with Ms. Giardina and hope to continue communication with her in the future.
Vestavia Hills Elementary East. Ms. Giardina attended collge at the University of Alabama Birmingham. She graduated from Vestavia in 1986. Ms. Giardina has a BA and a MA in Early Childhood
Education from UAB. She has taught K and 1st in Homewood at Shades Cahaba for 11 years. Her husband, Michael and herself have 3 children--Anna and Julia-4th
grade--Riley-Kindergarten. Ms. Giardina also has a 3 year old West Highland Terrier named Duffy.
She has been teaching first grade at Vestavia for seven years. I got in contact with Ms. Giardina through my cousin Allen who used to live in Birmingham. Her first grade class has a link from the elementary school's web page. It is entitled Giardina's Geniuses. The link includes a supply list for the class, personal information about the teacher, a wish list, announcements, and a list of helpful links. I asked Ms. Giardina how she utilizes technology in her classroom. She uses a Promethian Board, Document Camera, Clickers, laptops, and digital microphones. I can't imagine a bunch of 6 years olds around all this equipment. She says her students are always excited to learn to use the technology and she loves to show them how to use it properly.
I also asked Ms. Giardina if there was alot of difference in how technology is used in classrooms now and at the time of her graduation from college. She is very happy to pass the knowledge she has of technology on to her young pupils. I asked her if she had any advice for an up and coming educator. She said, "I would recommend brushing up on all of the new ways to implement in classroom--take workshops when available." I enjoyed my brief exchange with Ms. Giardina and hope to continue communication with her in the future.
Post #23: A Look At a Classmate's Blog
It was a hard decision to decide what classmate's blog I would read and write about in my own blog. After some thought, I decided on Daniel Griffin. Daniel, like most of us in the class, started out very strong and on time in his posts to his blog. in his first post, Daniel make it clear he had no idea what he was doing, but like most of us, he quickly caught on. But as time goes on, he seems to be a little behind schedule. And who can blame him? I looked at most other classmates' blogs and everyone seems to be feeling the end of semester blues.
The blog started out as something interesting to do; something to contribute to, but as time wore on, the blog became an element of satanical proportions. Dr. Strange, I really like the class, but I think that revamping what people are required to do with the blog needs to happen to encourage more student cooperation. Knowing about technology is extremely important and I understand that a new teacher must have a clear understanding of the computer and its constant evolution, but after 4 months of diligent school work, projects, trips, and of course blogs, it all kind of gotten stale.
The good thing about it is most of us have never blogged in our lives and hadn't planned on it. Now everyone in class seems to be on the same page. We are all capable of doing things on the computer we never thought possible. Blogging is a great way for teachers to introduce technology to their students and offer another means for the class as well as teachers and parents to stay abreast of what is going on in the classroom.
Of course I've already mentioned the negative aspects of blogging. It is very tedious and and time consuming. I think we as students should be given the option of blogging on a number of different subjects instead of what Dr. Strange has instructed us to do. Overall, I know the work on the blog was strenuous,but it has proved itself as a useful instrument of learning.
The blog started out as something interesting to do; something to contribute to, but as time wore on, the blog became an element of satanical proportions. Dr. Strange, I really like the class, but I think that revamping what people are required to do with the blog needs to happen to encourage more student cooperation. Knowing about technology is extremely important and I understand that a new teacher must have a clear understanding of the computer and its constant evolution, but after 4 months of diligent school work, projects, trips, and of course blogs, it all kind of gotten stale.
The good thing about it is most of us have never blogged in our lives and hadn't planned on it. Now everyone in class seems to be on the same page. We are all capable of doing things on the computer we never thought possible. Blogging is a great way for teachers to introduce technology to their students and offer another means for the class as well as teachers and parents to stay abreast of what is going on in the classroom.
Of course I've already mentioned the negative aspects of blogging. It is very tedious and and time consuming. I think we as students should be given the option of blogging on a number of different subjects instead of what Dr. Strange has instructed us to do. Overall, I know the work on the blog was strenuous,but it has proved itself as a useful instrument of learning.
Post #22: Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies
Duke University has a lot of different podcasts listed. These were products of the universities Center for Documentary Studies (CDS). According to the podcast, "The CDS is a program which teaches, engages in, and presents documentary work grounded in collaborative partnerships and extended fieldwork that uses photography, film/video, audio, and narrative writing to capture and convey contemporary memory, life and culture." The pod cast was a look back in time at different historical events that have transpired. It is very interesting and makes you feel blessed to live in these times.
Another pod cast from the Duke University's Center of Documentary Studies is a film called Broken. This is an educational film from South Africa about various people living with and dying from HIV. It was a short film that conveyed the reality of rape and sexually transmitted disease that children face every day. It was a film made by children, reaching out and sending the message that children are the future and they must be protected. I felt so bad for these orphans. These children need our help. It was a "MADaboutART" production. Mad about Art is an organization that uses art to educate people in South Africa about HIV and AIDS. They help children by building life skills and self-confidence, while educating them about the disease. They have a method called Children Teaching Children. The children use art and the pictures they draw and paint to educate others about their experiences. Children are becoming involved and are being empowered to make a change in the trends that are continuing throughout the world. This is a very touching look at how this terrible disease is afflicting our youth.
Another pod cast from the Duke University's Center of Documentary Studies is a film called Broken. This is an educational film from South Africa about various people living with and dying from HIV. It was a short film that conveyed the reality of rape and sexually transmitted disease that children face every day. It was a film made by children, reaching out and sending the message that children are the future and they must be protected. I felt so bad for these orphans. These children need our help. It was a "MADaboutART" production. Mad about Art is an organization that uses art to educate people in South Africa about HIV and AIDS. They help children by building life skills and self-confidence, while educating them about the disease. They have a method called Children Teaching Children. The children use art and the pictures they draw and paint to educate others about their experiences. Children are becoming involved and are being empowered to make a change in the trends that are continuing throughout the world. This is a very touching look at how this terrible disease is afflicting our youth.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Post #21: In-Class Blogs Were Fun!
Wow!! Everyone made some really interesting points. First, I listened to Theola Hines and Larrica Smith's pod cast entitled "Facebook as an Educational Tool?" During the pod cast, the ladies discussed how and why Facebook could be used in education. Their pod cast was the first one in our class, so I automatically think of them as the guinea pigs of our group. Actually, they did very well. As I remember, they were supposed to have a third member in the group, but they did not show. Theola and Larrica persevered and still took care of the assignment. I liked it because it was the shortest of all the pod casts I listened to and it was funny and infomative. I liked how Larrica asked all the questions and Theola had all the answers. The speech was a little monotonous, and at times, both students needed to speak louder. They also went around the moon to prove a point about Facebook. All in all, it was pretty good.
The second pod cast I listened to was Lisa Burke, Scarlett Moore, and Mandy Sullivan's discussion on "Technology Use at the University of South Alabama." It was very interesting. They discussed the classes and teachers that utilize technology in the classroom and the teachers and classes that do not. Of course at South, where mostly everyone, including myself, is about 10 years behind the rest of the free world, the technology could be used quite a bit more. They discussed Facebook, Moogle, E-Companion, and others that most of us use or have used. The only problem I saw with this pod cast was that it was a little long and monotonous. Overall, it was pretty good. You really don't realize how far behind South is until you have actually heard it. Good job guys!!! Maybe some good will come out of the broadcasting of this podcast.
The third pod cast I listened to was Chris Borchardt, Delana Bemis, and Heather Rogers' discussion on "UTube as an Educational Tool?" It was pretty good and offered alot of information about UTube and what can be found on it and how it can be useful in the classroom. They also dicussed the cons of having UTube in the classroom. Because of UTube allowing inappropriate material to be televised, it must be used in the classroom with extreme caution. Parents could be offended and upset, as well as students and faculty. The pod cast was a little long, over sixteen minutes.
I finally got an opportunity to listen to the pod cast I participated in with Daniel Griffin and Amanda Bentley. We discussed the positive effects Randy Pausche's Last Lecture had on us. I know we are not supposed to discuss how we can improve our pod cast, but ours needed very little improvement. Everyone spoke clearly and loud enough to be heard over the background noise. The pod cast was approximately twelve minutes and we stayed on track. We were funny, innovative, and we did not forget to mention where we found all of our research on Dr. Pausche. The only areas where I saw even the slightest improvement was that I could say "Umm" alot less, Amanda could just talk more, and Daniel could have left the beer remark out of it. Those are all very small things. I think we did very well. All in all I think all of the pod casts will be better next semester because they will be video casts!
The second pod cast I listened to was Lisa Burke, Scarlett Moore, and Mandy Sullivan's discussion on "Technology Use at the University of South Alabama." It was very interesting. They discussed the classes and teachers that utilize technology in the classroom and the teachers and classes that do not. Of course at South, where mostly everyone, including myself, is about 10 years behind the rest of the free world, the technology could be used quite a bit more. They discussed Facebook, Moogle, E-Companion, and others that most of us use or have used. The only problem I saw with this pod cast was that it was a little long and monotonous. Overall, it was pretty good. You really don't realize how far behind South is until you have actually heard it. Good job guys!!! Maybe some good will come out of the broadcasting of this podcast.
The third pod cast I listened to was Chris Borchardt, Delana Bemis, and Heather Rogers' discussion on "UTube as an Educational Tool?" It was pretty good and offered alot of information about UTube and what can be found on it and how it can be useful in the classroom. They also dicussed the cons of having UTube in the classroom. Because of UTube allowing inappropriate material to be televised, it must be used in the classroom with extreme caution. Parents could be offended and upset, as well as students and faculty. The pod cast was a little long, over sixteen minutes.
I finally got an opportunity to listen to the pod cast I participated in with Daniel Griffin and Amanda Bentley. We discussed the positive effects Randy Pausche's Last Lecture had on us. I know we are not supposed to discuss how we can improve our pod cast, but ours needed very little improvement. Everyone spoke clearly and loud enough to be heard over the background noise. The pod cast was approximately twelve minutes and we stayed on track. We were funny, innovative, and we did not forget to mention where we found all of our research on Dr. Pausche. The only areas where I saw even the slightest improvement was that I could say "Umm" alot less, Amanda could just talk more, and Daniel could have left the beer remark out of it. Those are all very small things. I think we did very well. All in all I think all of the pod casts will be better next semester because they will be video casts!
Post #20: My Trip To the ACCESS Lab
Wow! I'm speechless! I visited the ACCESS Lab at Satsuma High School a few weeks ago and had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Litaker, the ACCESS Lab instructor. The ACCESS Lab at Satsuma is used mainly as a way for students to get core classes needed to graduate, but it also offers students courses in Latin, Chinese, as well as others. This is Satsuma's second semester with the ACCESS program, and it works out very well for students as well as teachers. The lab in Satsuma has many features. They include: an instant cam, 25 lab tops, two flat screen TV's, a document reader, and the Tandberg. I asked Mrs. Litaker if she had any idea how much the ACCESS Lab costs and she replied anywhere from $50,000.00 to $80,000.00.
The ACCESS Lab has a limit of 25 students per class, but in Satsuma, the school got a grant to purchase 15 additional lab tops. These lab tops are now used in the ACCESS Lab so more students can benefit from this amazing technology. Mrs. Litaker told me that students that do poorly in a academic classroom setting usually do much better with the ACCESS classes. This seems like a great way to get students who are otherwise uninterested in class room activities to get involved and excel in academics.
The coolest part of the ACCESS Lab is the Tandberg. It is like the brains of the ACCESS system in a particular location. From this station, which I am pictured behind in one of the photos, you control what goes on with the lab and what the students are doing. The Tandberg allows instructors to make phone calls, play a DVD, it has the document camera, the instant camera, and it is equipped with a touchscreen.
There are a few issues that need to be worked out with the lab at Satsuma High. They simply do not have the instructors or the equipment to allow every student, freshman through senior, to utilize the ACCESS Lab. Next semester, Satsuma High School will try and implement that every student must have at least one half credit from an online course. Overall, it was a great visit, and an interesting trip. I expressed interest to Mrs. Litaker that I would enjoy becoming an ACCESS Lab instructor after I finish college. I am from a rural area and if I could bring this technology to small rural schools, the possibilities would be endless. Thank you Satsuma High School and Mrs. Litaker for taking the time to show me the newest and most innovative way to educate my future students.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Post #19: Technology Can Be Useful, Even In Mathematics
I listened to Maine's Department of Education's pod cast named "Mathematics with Technology" and it was kind of boring. It was relatively short, less than five minutes, and hosted by Judy Chandler a Technology Integration Specialist and Math teacher. She discussed why math teachers did not utilize technology in their classroom and why. Teachers are reluctant to use these new innovations because they feel they have to take time to learn to use the hardware and software, then take time out of their classroom time to teach it to their students. Math teachers are focused on having enough time to finish the text book and teach students what they must learn in order to pass to the next grade. They feel that time is limited and this overwhelms the teacher as well as the students.
What does technology bring to mathematics? It is essential to enhanced learning. It gives each student a high quality math education. It offers tools in media and gives examples of visual representation. Technology in a mathematics class encourages students to want to do better. It engages different students and offers advanced communication and collaboration with other students and instructors.
If I were a math teacher, this would be a great starting point to initialize technology in a mathematics class.
What does technology bring to mathematics? It is essential to enhanced learning. It gives each student a high quality math education. It offers tools in media and gives examples of visual representation. Technology in a mathematics class encourages students to want to do better. It engages different students and offers advanced communication and collaboration with other students and instructors.
If I were a math teacher, this would be a great starting point to initialize technology in a mathematics class.
Post #18: "Growth" vs. "Fixed" Mindsets
This pod cast, from Standford University News, was brief and to the point. It is a video cast of two women discussing how students use two very different mindsets to either grow or stay the same mentally. When a person learns a specific trade and not much more, this is known as a "fixed" mindset. One is not trying to understand more than they feel is necessary to successfully complete a job or task. This is how most of us are taught in school. We only want to do the bare minimum to get by. This is simply not enough if you really want to succeed at something, instead of just being good at something.
These women discussed an experiment that was tested at a local school in which students were introduced to an eight session workshop on how to improve one's study skills. Half of the students were simply given the study skills needed to complete a task, the other half were given the study skills and the growth mindset lesson. The second half were taught that their brains were like a muscle and that intelligence is something that can be improved. The first group of students had a steady decline in their grades at school. The second half showed a great improvement in their grades and overall attitude toward learning and life. The improvement was so great that other teachers at school began to recognize these students as participants in this workshop. This growth mindset was later applied to race car drivers. These drivers learned to admit their mistakes and overcome them. They greatly improved their ways of thinking on and off the track.
This discussion has affected the way I look at what and how a student perceives learning. It is simply not enough to learn how to do something. One must learn to utilize optimal performance in the way something is learned and the way a task is completed. This "fixed" learning closely resembles the dreaded "burp-back" education that educators, such as Dr. Strange, have profusely denounced. I want my students to be curious about learning and life. I don't want them to just feel smart, I want them to be smart, and to teach it to others.
These women discussed an experiment that was tested at a local school in which students were introduced to an eight session workshop on how to improve one's study skills. Half of the students were simply given the study skills needed to complete a task, the other half were given the study skills and the growth mindset lesson. The second half were taught that their brains were like a muscle and that intelligence is something that can be improved. The first group of students had a steady decline in their grades at school. The second half showed a great improvement in their grades and overall attitude toward learning and life. The improvement was so great that other teachers at school began to recognize these students as participants in this workshop. This growth mindset was later applied to race car drivers. These drivers learned to admit their mistakes and overcome them. They greatly improved their ways of thinking on and off the track.
This discussion has affected the way I look at what and how a student perceives learning. It is simply not enough to learn how to do something. One must learn to utilize optimal performance in the way something is learned and the way a task is completed. This "fixed" learning closely resembles the dreaded "burp-back" education that educators, such as Dr. Strange, have profusely denounced. I want my students to be curious about learning and life. I don't want them to just feel smart, I want them to be smart, and to teach it to others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
