January 31 Homework

Before I was given this assignment, I was not sure what a podcast was or how to find them. I thought you had to have an Iphone or Ipod to get them (don't laugh at my technological illiteracy). I can see how very useful they can be. What a great tool for a teacher to be able to use especially if she has to be out of the classroom for some reason. Students can stay up to date on work if they are sick. Lots of possibilities.

Smart Board Lessons was informative and made the most of his time. On www.wiki.answers.com, it said Americans wait in line about an hour a day. Why not make the most of it and share some great ideas? On the Kidcast podcast I listened to, I felt like I was listening in on a telephone conversation. I may have enjoyed it more if it was giving me useful information. It showed me that you have to have interaction from both sides to have a good podcast.

I like how Connectlearning included the audience in his podcast. It gave several viewpoints from teachers. I felt involved in the conversation even though I was not speaking. EdTechTalk featured a conversation between someone here in the US and someone in Austarlia. How amazing is that. The fact that you could create a worldwide conversation to be used and heard around the world is wonderful and could be a great asset in the classroom.

MacBreak Weekly and This week in Photography both seemed like talk radio. I am not a big talk radio listener. I am not saying this is a bad format, but for me and my classroom a think a different format would be more interesting. I also thought they were both very long. I think a shorter podcast with a very specific subject may be a better option for students.

Iphone used by 1 year old
It does not take long for young children to catch on to new technology. It is amazing that this 1 year old can operate an Iphone. This child will be in Kindergarten in 4 years. I am sure he is not the only child that can do this, and they will all probably be in my class in 4 years. I have alot of homework to do!!

Brenda Fluker
I agree!!! If you shut your students out of the class by not letting them participate (whether it is 1st grade or college level)in a classroom discussion they will eventually shut you out and not learn. No one will benefit...not the teacher, not the students. As for the 'ah ha' moments, that is why I am going into the teaching field. I taught 2 year olds in a preschool and I loved it when they finally learned to sit Indian style. A seemingly small thing that was huge to me and them. I could almost see the light bulb flicker on in their eyes.

1st graders in Mrs. Cassidy's class
Look at their classroom. All the computers. My daughters classroom has only 2 computers for 19 students. Most of the time they are only in use for taking AR test. Her class doesn't have a Smartboard and will not be getting one this year. Third grade is the only grade level at her school that does not have Smartboards. My children are not learning the same way Mrs. Cassidy's class is learning. They do not have the technology or the equipment to learn this way. My son is in the 1st grade. How far behind is his class compared to Mrs. Cassidy's? How will this affect him in college and in job opportunities? I have alot of teaching to do to my own children.

Media Literacy
I am so proud of the students! They seem to think this is just the way it is. The do not seem to think they are doing something that, to me, is amazing. I hope to do half the job Mrs. Cassidy has done in teaching my students and getting them excited about learning.

January 24 Homework

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
I think students today learn differently today than students did 20 years ago. I know this because I was a student 20 years ago. People starting college today grew up with the 'world at their fingertips' literally. They have not known a world without cell phones or internet. Cell phones and internet are great learning tools. These tools need to be integrated into the classroom as much as possible. I think so much more is expected of students today than 20 years ago. Students today are required to do so much more work. Most of that work is computer work; blog, threaded discussions, Powerpoint presentations, ect. EDM310 would not have even been a requirement 20 years ago. To this video, I would add a video made 20 years ago with college students and compare it with today's students.

It's Not about the Technology by Kelly Hines
I agree with Kelly. Teachers need to be learners, especially in this day of advancing technology. You can not be an effective teacher unless you can connect to your children. If you can not connect with your students, you can not teach them. If you have to learn new teaching methods, how to use a smartboard, anything that will improve your students learning, you should be willing to do it. People today going into the teaching profession grew up with ever changing technology and the need to learn it. They had to. I think we will begin to see a wider gap in teachers who are willing to learn and teachers who are not through test scores and overall effectiveness in the classroom.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
I agree with this post and several of the comments. What is the definition of technologically illiterate? I think at this time, it depends on who you are around. If you are the one called on when someone has a computer question, you are the literate one. Even if it is something very easy to figure out(at least to you). It just goes to show, we are not all on the same page yet. Until we are all willing or have the means to learn about technology, we will have technologically illiterate people. I think the reading/writing analogy was great. Looking back at the beginning of the 20th century, students had to leave school at an early age to help out on the farm or work to help their parents out. There was more illiteracy. Once students had more opportunities to stay in school, you had less illiteracy. I think the same will be true with technology. Once it is avaliable to all, you will have less technologically illiterate people.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count
Those numbers are moving very fast. I just tend to think they may be a little exaggerated. If not, it proves, as a teacher, I will have to be constantly learning new technology and adapting it to my teaching. Even as early as 2nd grade (the grade I would like to teach) students will have access to this technology. I will have to keep children engaged and that will only be done through the technology they are familiar with.

January 17 Homework

Did You Know? 3.0 by Karl Fisch
Wow!!! The world seems to be changing and growing at a faster pace than ever before. I was surprised to see that India has more honor students than America has students. I would like to know if that statement is based on percentages or a student to student ratio considering how much faster the population of India is growing versus America's population. I do hope the information about jobs is incorrect. I would hate to think that people are changing jobs every year to year and a half. I also find it hard to believe that 1 in 8 couples married last year (2007) met online. I am curious to know if that number is based on worldwide marriages or just marriages in the U.S. I do agree with Mr. Fisch that technology is growing and evolving at a rapid pace. I have seen how much technology has evolved over the last 20 years. This video definitely gives me something to think about as I move forward in this technology class and in my teaching career and, for that matter, in life.

Mr. Winkle Wakes by Matthew Needleman
Unfortunately, I think this video was on target. Mr. Winkle woke to find new technology in businesses and hospitals, but schools had not changed in the last 100 years. Our students do not have access to the same technology that is a requirement for many jobs. It is a sad commentary on the state of our education system in the United States. I think there are some cost effective ways to bring some of the new technology into the schools. Most students have cell phones and instead of banning them from campuses, they could be used as a learning tool. For example, I think students could use their cell phone and text answers for a test to their teachers. Not only would this save paper(a huge expense), but keep students more engaged in the classroom.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
I found this video fascinating and insightful. I completely agree with Sir Ken Robinson and his viewpoint on the relationship between creativity and academic education. I think that when the creativity is taken out of the education experience, you tend to lose students individuality and they become more robotic in their learning. I think part of the problem is that teachers have had their creativeness taken away by strict education standards and the time frame in which these standards have to be taught and tested. There is no time to 'stop and smell the roses'. I also agree with the notion that we tend to medicate our children instead of finding alternative outlets for their energy. I think there are better ways to keep them focused and involved in the learning process without medication. Some children will need the medicine, but I think it should be the exception and not the rule.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
I really enjoyed watching Vicki Davis and how she took her class out of the classroom with leaving the building. There is so much information available to our students if we just have the means of getting it to them. I also like and respect the fact that she was open to learning from her students. I know as a mom, I am learning something new from my own children all the time. I think it is important for students to understand that what they have to say can be valuable and can even teach the teacher.