Blog Post 5

Dangerously Irrelevant by Scot McLeod

Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He has received many awards and is known world wide for his expert teaching and technological skills. He has become respected by many people in the educational and technological world and has several blogs and websites where people can collaborate and connect with him. I think that this post is outstanding because it shows the importance of learning and teaching our students through technology in a creative way. He shows what will happen if we DON'T teach our kids how to use and collaborate with others through technology and warns parents and teachers that the students who do know how to use these computers will be a step ahead than others who don't.

This is the comment I left:
Hello my name is Sarah Clever and I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog because I absolutely agree. I think that is neat how you tell others not to teach their children/students about these things so yours will be a step ahead. If we teach our students about technology and the future of the world, they will understand when they are exposed to it later on in life in the real world. Thank you for sharing and I hope that it touches others the way it touched me.

The iSchool Initiative

This video is about the advances being made in technology for education. He explains that the syllabus and textbooks will be available through a device called iSchool instead of using natural resources that we desperately need. He goes on to explain how there are apps where teachers can take attendance and keep track of grades all on a machine. In addition, parents will have immediate access to their students progress. This solves ink, paper, and textbook costs. This would have a HUGE impact on our world and especially our environment.

This iSchool idea amazes me. I can't imagine how much technology is going to continue to become better and better for students. This is why it is necessary for teachers to make sure their students understand how to use the technology. The future of education is technology so we must make sure our students know about it. Like they say in the video, a touch of your finger will download textbooks so that there is no paper being used which helps save trees. It also better prepares our youth for the difficult world they were born into.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

This video is pretty amazing. We can now have a choir performance with people from all over the world while they are sitting in their own homes due to technological advances! People that never would have known each other or that never would have been noticed now have a chance to show their talents with others and reach out to other people who share their same passion through technology. I can definitely relate because I LOVE to sing and this would be really fun for me. I'm so impressed that there are people out there who want to notice others and share the same passion.

Teaching in the 21st Century

Due to the technology that students have at hand, the teacher has to engage the students in order for them to be interested because if the teacher were just to give facts, then the student could just look up the information that the teacher is saying. Everyone has limitless information at any time of the day no matter where they are due to technology which makes teachers no longer the main source of knowledge. The teachers job is to be the filter and teach the students HOW to handle these resources. Daily questions of life such as how to fix ones car or whether one should buy or rent a house can all be found through technology but it is our job as a teacher to help coach them on how to filter the responses they might get and help them make the best decision possible based on their life circumstances. In order for students to benefit later in life from what we teach them  in our classrooms, we must show them professionalism through technology so they can use those resources later on in life when they are needed for jobs and other life circumstances. That way, they can collaborate with others in both school and work using the tools we taught them. Some students learn orally, some are visual. With technology, both routes work. For students with disabilities, technology makes learning easier and extreme cases, possible. Students that have passions in art or music could benefit from the tools that technology has to offer. Creativity will no longer be pushed to the side... it will be encouraged with the tools that are available now. With blogs and other online collaborative tools, students will receive positive reinforcement through comments from other students and teachers around the world. Instead of entertaining students, we can engage them through technology.

Reading Rockets Website

This website has a large amount of information for teachers, parents, and students who are struggling with reading. It answers questions that people have about disabled students as well as students who are struggling with certain subjects. It has articles, shows, videos, podcasts, and books that can help everyone involved in the learning process. Not only does it help teachers and parents, but it also has links that can help librarians, principals, and other professionals.

Without technology, this website wouldn't be possible. Teachers and parents can both use this website as a tool to help their student/child learn the best way possible, especially if they are struggling with reading or other disabilities. With the free reading guide, blog, newsletter, and calender, this website is sure to help anyone who has any question. What an amazing way to collaborate and come together for each other in times of need. Technology is truly an awesome tool.

Individual Timetoast Timeline Project 9A

Project #6: My Sentence Video

Blog Post 4

1st Graders Create Their Own Read Along Audiobook

In this blog, the teacher tells us about her experience with creating a podcast with first graders. She talks about how she did it in small groups with the children one group at a time. The children were very excited and engaged in this project and it thrilled her to see the children were so interested in something. They liked hearing their voice and following along with the story. These were the skills that were addressed:

• listening
• speaking
• presenting
• comprehension
• storytelling
• performance
• voice acting
• oral fluency
• media
• technology

To me, this is such an excellent way to teach children a story in a fun way. They will remember the story and they will have something to keep to show their parents/family when they get home. Instead of just reading the story aloud and having them become bored with just sitting there, this activity engages them and helps them stay focused on the task at hand. It also gives them a worldwide audience so they can feel accomplished with the work they have done.

Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting

This blog explained the importance of podcasting. The author was a foreign language teacher so she encourages teachers to do podcasting because it helps students learn by saying the word and hearing themselves say the word. I think that podcasting is a wonderful tool especially when trying to learn to say things you have never said or heard before. It helps the children remember the words and put them together easier because they can get engaged and excited when they hear themselves talking over a speaker.

Flat Stanley Podcast

These six-year-olds brainstormed with their teacher to create a story they could each talk about in the recording and send to their friends and family around the world. They each picked a location from around the world, researched their location, and created a short script about that location. The script had to include how they got there, what they did, and how they got back home. This is such a creative experience for these children! It helps them learn and research other places around the world in a fun way! They could share their experiences with a world wide audience and get feedback. What a positive teaching method!

Benefits of Podcasting

This video explores the benefits of podcasting. It starts off by explaining that a Millenial is anyone born after 1980 and we must know technology in order to live in the modern day world. Because of the iPod, podcasting has become more popular and effective. Podcasting allows students to have something they can create and something they can keep and listen to over and over. The video shows that if a student has to miss school due to being sick, they can download their teacher's podcast of the study materials so that they don't miss too much. It also shows the importance of blogging in the classroom so that the students can have a worldwide audience and connect with other students all over the world. The video allows students to share their opinion on podcasts and how much they enjoyed the experience. They can tell the world who they have shared their learning experience with. The principal also has a chance to give her opinion on podcasting. She explains that it allows students to be innovative and creative and it also gives parents a look at what their students are doing in the classroom.

Podcasting is definitely something I would like to use in my classroom because I think the students would have fun with it and learn a lot about the subject I am teaching. I think that it is an excellent way to share their learning experiences with not only their friends and families, but also others around the world. I can't imagine how excited they will be when someone they don't know comments on it and tells them how excellent their work is! This creates positive reinforcement and also encourages them to learn.

Project 5: Google Presentation

C4K #1-4

C4K#1

I was assigned to a 14 year old girl named Sarah. Her most recent blog entry was about how much she loved to swim. She was very competitive and there was another girl named Miranda who was her arch enemy. Every time she saw Miranda, Miranda was very mean to her and called her a loser. She was excited to race against Miranda in their next competition and beating Miranda in the race motivated Sarah to go faster. Sarah won, and Miranda challenged her to another race. Unfortunately, at the next race, Miranda got attacked by a shark and didn't make it. Sarah talks about how this experience has changed her and has affected her in many ways.

This story brought me to tears. It's amazing how someone's life can just be taken in an instant. I was so happy to hear how passionate Sarah was about swimming and it broke my heart to hear that someone passed away while doing something she loved so much. I do believe everything happens for a reason and even though it was horrible, I do believe that it is something all of us can learn from. This is the comment I posted:

Hello! My name is Sarah Clever and I am currently attending the University of South Alabama to become an Elementary School Teacher. This story really moved me! I'm so sorry to hear that happened to you and I'm glad you shared it. Even though the situation was horrible, it is a learning experience. Each time we go through something like this, we learn to live more with love in our hearts even if others choose not to do the same. I wish you the best of luck on your journey with swimming and I really hope this doesn't stop you from pursuing your dreams. Let me know if you ever need help with anything or have any questions.

-Sarah Clever, EDM310, University of South Alabama

sarah4190@gmail.com

http://cleversarahedm310.blogspot.com/

Here is a link to her blog: Sarah's blog

C4K #2

I was assigned to a 4th grade girl named Emma. Her most recent blog post was about how excited she was that she was going to go to Mexico with her on March 10. She explains that they are going to do all kinds of activities while they are down there. They are planning to swim with the dolphins, relax on the beach, and swim in the ocean. She explains how excited she is because their hotel is on the ocean! She also says that this trip will actually be her second trip to Mexico but she doesn't remember the first one because she was too little.

I think her traveling to Mexico is such a neat experience for someone her age. She can learn about their culture by going there and relax with her family at the same time. When I was younger, I had the privilege of traveling with my family a little. I was blessed with amazing parents who took me to the Grand Canyon, Four Corners, New York (I have been to the top of the world trade centers before they fell), Ohio every summer, and Canada. I learned so much from these trips and I learned how to interact with other people who are in slightly different areas of the country and therefore can act slightly different in certain circumstances. I am so thrilled to have these experiences and I learned so much from them. I'm so glad that this young girl will also have the opportunity to experience a different place while she is young.

This is the comment I left:

February 17, 2012 at 11:19 AM

Hey Emma!

My name is Sarah Clever and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently in school to be an Elementary Teacher! I think it is so cool that you get to go to Mexico! I have never been but I have always wanted to go. In August of 2010 I went on a cruise to the Bahamas. Inside the Atlantis resort at the Bahamas I had the opportunity to swim with the dolphins and it was so much fun! They pushed me through the water with their nose and I got to swim beside them while they did flips in the air. It was such a neat experience! I hope that you enjoy your time there and come back to the United States with wonderful stories about your trip! You can E-Mail me if you ever want to talk or if you have any questions. Here is a link to my blog as well!

-Sarah Clever, EDM 310, University of South Alabama

sarah4190@gmail.com

Here is a link to her blog Emma's Blog

C4K #3

I was assigned to a 4th grader named Ysaiah. This student's blog post was about skyping with students from New Orleans. Since he lives in Canada, skype gave him the opportunity to connect with students across the world. The students were telling him a little bit about Mardi Gras and the history behind it. This hit close to home with me since we celebrate Mardi Gras every year and its always really fun.

I think that these type of collaborative exercises are necessary for children because then they can learn so much more about the world and what other students learn as well. They can collaborate and relate with other students they otherwise would have never met. I hope that Ysaiah one day has the chance to go to Mardi Gras and experience it for himself!

This is the comment I left:

Hello Ysaiah! My name is Sarah Clever and I am currently in school at the University of South Alabama to become an elementary school teacher! I think that is so neat that you had the opportunity to Skype with other students from New Orleans! I'm so thrilled that you got to learn a little bit about Mardi Gras. Some people say that Mardi Gras was actually originated in Mobile, AL and that is where I live now! So we celebrate it here, too. I like to go and celebrate it because I get to see all of my friends and we are all off of work and having fun. The parades are fun to go to. I hope you have the opportunity to go sometime! I think you would really like it and I'm really glad that you were able to learn about it! I wish you the best of luck on your journey and it was wonderful meeting you!

-Sarah Clever

EDM310, University of South Alabama

http://cleversarahedm310.blogspot.com/

C4K #4

The fourth student's blog I had the privelage of commenting on was a 5th grader from Iowa. His blog was named Ice Man and he wrote about playing the game "MASH" on his sister's iPod. Considering the fact that I used to play MASH all the time when I was in the 5th grade, I could definitely relate to being excited about it because it let me think about my future. Of course, we played it with a piece of paper and pen, but it was still the same game.

I think that this is an excellent game for students to play because it allows them to choose their careers, income, and offspring and it lets them dream. While some students may not be as fortunate as others, this game lets them know that they can change their stars. Even though it may seem silly, it still allows them to think of possible careers and possible outcomes their life may have.

This is the comment I left:

Hey Ice Man!

My name is Sarah Clever and I am currently studying to be a second grade teacher at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. What a cool name to have for your blog! What does it mean? I think that is so neat that there is an application to play mash on the iPod! I have an iPhone so I will have to check that out I didn't know it was out there. I used to play that when I was your age with my friends! I always wanted the mansion but I guess everyone probably does huh? It is definitely a fun game. It allows you to dream and think about what may come in the future. I always wanted to be a singer so I would always put that down as one of my careers! What do you want to be when you get older? I wish you the best of luck on your journey and as always, let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

-Sarah Clever
EDM 310
University of South Alabama
http://cleversarahedm310.blogspot.com/



Blog Post 3

Technology in Special Education

I think that the use of technology in education requires students to participate when they otherwise wouldn't have physically been able to. That is the beauty of the Technology in Special Education video. Without technology, these students would have struggled and wouldn't have been able to read and speak their mind the way that they were able to with the computers. For students that have special needs and have trouble writing and reading, computers allow them to be able to manipulate information in a way that is easier for them to learn.

If we didn't have the computers and machines we have today, it would be hard for us to communicate and teach these special needs children. The technology in the video was the missing piece to solve the puzzle of teaching these kids. I think it is wonderful that machines and computers like the ones in the video exist for the children to collaborate and connect with their classmates and teachers. In order to make learning for these children possible, we must all know how to use and operate technology so that we can better our classroom for the future.

How the iPad works with Academics for Autism

The iPad is such an amazing invention. It's almost like a hand held smart board. It does almost everything and it's portable which makes it possible for special needs children to learn on their own. With the iPad, the child in the video probably felt like he was playing a game and it was fun and interactive! Not only was he having fun, but he was learning to count and write by using the iPad. It gives me chills watching that video because I love seeing children understand and learn and the iPad has made this possible for this young child with special needs.

Apple Education Apps

In my classroom, I would like to use the Art, Music, and Creativity app because it allows children to bring out their creative side. Since I am passionate about singing and I never really had the chance or opportunity to pursue it, I would want to persuade my students to pursue their passions. Many children are passionate about music and art and I could help teach them the curriculum in ways that used their passions and interests instead of trying to teach them in ways they didn't understand. For example, if someone was passionate about singing, we could use songs to help them spell words correctly or learn definitions.



This is so neat to me! I can't believe how exponentially fast technology is growing! In order to succeed in this world, this counter proves that you MUST be technologically literate. Technology is growing at a rate that we cannot comprehend and new things come out each year that will help us collaborate and connect with others so that we, as teachers, can create the best learning environment possible. I think that the point of this class is to show us how many resources and amazing tools are out there for us to use in our classrooms. We have to better our knowledge of the tools that we have to use in order to be able to teach children effectively.

How could we possible teach our students if we don't stay up to date on the methods to do so? We wouldn't be able to! That is how important technology is. With these videos showing us that technology makes learning easier, we would be foolish to not use these computers as tools. We have to learn the technology before we can teach others the basics in our classrooms.

A Vision of Students Today

This video really hit home with me. After going to school for 4 years and changing my major several different times, I really could relate to the things these students felt. When the girl held up the sign that said only 26% of the readings assigned to her were relevant to her life, it really made me think about all the things that I have read and done in college. I believe that most students feel this way and that it is an issue that shouldn't be taken as lightly as it is. The fact that most students have too much to do in every day life and HAVE to be multi-taskers is scary to me.

At the end of the video, it explains that the problems of the world today were not created by us, but they are OUR problems. We have to figure out how to do things efficiently and effectively in a timely manner. It suggests that technology could save us. Maybe if we were able to teach students in a way they could each understand and help them participate in a way that makes sense, they would have more time to live their life rather than spending so much time trying to read and understand something that could be portrayed to them in a faster and more effective way (such as a video or podcast). Technology is something we can ALL learn and teach from.

C4T #1 & 2

C4T #1

The first post I read by the blogger I was assigned to was about Social Networking. I love how she explained the purpose of Facebook and how it's supposed to be used. So many people use it for the wrong reasons and I'm glad that someone is trying to educate young people about the purpose of it. It connects people of all ages from all over the world and helps educate each other about ourselves and things to do in our area. It also connects educators from all over the world so they can get ideas and use each other's ideas as a resource and also share their own ideas so that the children can get the best education possible. Here is a link to her blog http://www.leekolbert.com/

This is the first comment I left:
Hello! My name is Sarah and I am currently in school to become a Second Grade Teacher. I think that Social Networking is such a fabulous tool that people of all ages can use to connect to the rest of the world. I have not only learned a lot from other people around me that I did not know before, but I've also learned a lot about the city I live in and things to do that I never would have had the oppurtunity to enjoy if it wasn't for Facebook. I can keep in touch with my best friend from middle school, my cousins that live 1200 miles away, and also friends that I have worked with at previous jobs that live across the country! I love how you have social networking explained here and I hope that I can teach the children in my classroom the importance of it as well. Here is a link to my blog :http://cleversarahedm310.blogspot.com/
and also the class blog:
http://edm310.blogspot.com/
In about 2 weeks, I will be posting a summary of the things I have read from your blog and commented on if you are interested.

The second post I read was about how there are no teachers in heaven because they are all in hell for the day at a PD meeting.

This is the second comment I left on 2/6/12:
I love this! And I hope that when I become a teacher I am part of the solution. I hope that I can show my students how to use technology and blogging as a way to collaborate and connect with others. Technology is such a great tool to use in classrooms and meetings.

C4T #2

The teacher I was assigned to was named Martha Yim and she wrote a blog about homeschooling. I think that homeschool is great for children who have developmental disorders and/or conduct disorders and whose parents are capable of homeschooling. But as far as the general population, I believe students need to be exposed to people of different races, social statuses, and religions in order to be a well rounded individual and to be successful in the modern day world.

This is the comment I left:
Hello my name is Sarah Clever and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. While homeschool is a great option, it doesn't allow the student to interact with people of different race and social classes like they would if they would have gone to public schools. This was from the National Center for Education Statistics website: "More White students were homeschooled than Black or Hispanic students or students from other racial/ethnic groups, and White students constituted the majority of homeschooled students (77 percent). White students (3.9 percent) had a higher homeschooling rate than Blacks (0.8 percent) and Hispanics (1.5 percent)." Also "In 2007, students in households earning between $25,001 and $75,000 per year had higher rates of homeschooling than their peers from families earning $25,000 or less a year." They also aren't exposed to people of other religions so when put in social situations in the future, such as at a job where they will have to interact with many different types of people, they may have a harder time adjusting whereas people who were exposed to this since they were young would have an easier time understanding others. "Parents give many different reasons for homeschooling their children. In 2007, the most common reason parents gave as the most important was a desire to provide religious or moral instruction (36 percent of students)." Here is a link to the website:
http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=91

-Sarah Clever
EDM 310, University of South Alabama
http://cleversarahedm310.blogspot.com/

Blog Post 2

"Did You Know" Did You Know Strange Version

In this video, Dr. Strange has given us several things to think about. He states several statistics that make us aware of how much the world is advancing around us. I think the purpose of this video was to make us aware that people in India, China, and in our own country and becoming technically literate and are communicating with each other and learning and teaching each other through technology.

Becoming an educator in the modern world is very evolving. Not only do we have to keep up with the technology but we also have to be able to teach our students how to use it effectively so they can prosper when they leave our classrooms. I enjoyed the "Did You Know" video because it put things into perspective. Our world is constantly changing and growing and in order for our students to be successful we have to educate them and teach them how to use technology.

I think that EDM 310 is a crucial class in the education system because we must know what is going on in the technology world in order to be successful teaching our students. The "Did You Know" video should motivate each and every one of us to become aware of how fast things are changing and do our best to keep up with the technology so we can teach the children of the world how to better themselves with this amazing tool.

"Mr. Winkle Wakes" Mr. Winkle Wakes

In this video, Mr. Winkle wakes up from a 100 year sleep. He notices all of these changes in buildings where people work that have sounds and machines that he had never seen before. He goes to the hospital and notices machines that keep people alive, lasers and xray equipment, and other machines that he never would have thought were even possible before he fell asleep. The only thing that remained the same were the schools. The teachers were still teaching and the students were still sitting at their desks and learning just like 100 years ago.

This video is very interesting because it helps make us aware that we have no idea what is to come for this world. We can't even begin to imagine the technological advances that will come not only in our lifetime, but after as well. We have to be prepared for these things if we want to educate others younger than us about our world.

Even though at the end of the video the school was still the same, in today's world teachers are using smart boards, projectors, and having children do activities online to help them learn. We have to be aware of this tools so we can use them while teaching the students in our own classrooms.

"The Importance of Creativity" Ken Robinson's The Importance of Creativity

In this video, Mr. Robinson stresses the fact that we have no idea what is to come in the future. He says that everyone is interested in education and learning because after all education takes us into the future that we will never be able to grasp. There is no way for us to know what the world will look like in the future so sometimes it can be hard to educate younger children about things we know nothing about. He believes that creativity in children is as important as literacy and we shouldn't kill creativity in schools by criticizing their mistakes. By the time children reach adulthood, they are so afraid of being wrong they dont ever come up with anything original. Mr. Robinson wants us to encourage students to continue to be creative and not be afraid to be wrong. He believes that the purpose of education has become to create university professors because when children are young, they are told to steer away from creative professions such as art and music because they are told they will never be able to get a job. They are then told to steer more towards Mathematics and Languages. He believes that this is what has lead to degrees not having meaning anymore. He tells a story about a child in the 1930s that had ADHD but back then that wasn't "invented" yet. Instead of putting her on medicine and telling her to calm down, the doctor said she was a dancer and needed to go to dance school so she did and became a millionaire by dancing ballet. I think that what he is trying to say by this lecture is that we, as educators, can nurture creativity by not undermining children's passions and let them be who they are and to help them make something of it.

I can relate to this because when I was young I passionately wanted to become a singer. I had solos in church and I was in the choir at school but I was constantly told that that was just a childhood dream and I needed to think of something more practical. To this day, I still sing and write music but perhaps if adults wouldn't have constantly told me I couldn't do it, maybe I would have been able to accomplish my dream.

"21st Century Learning" 21st Century Learning

This video shows how much education has changed. Technology is what we use to educate our children. We must know about these technological advances in order to teach the next generation. Global awareness and technology is crucial in the modern education system. In the video, it explains how we can go deeper into civilizations by using video gaming systems and 3d technology in order to teach children history and other subjects. I think that we should all be aware of the technology around us so we can better our classrooms and provide more interactive atmospheres for our students to learn in.

"Vicki Davis" Harness your Students

This video is from a teacher in Georgia and she explains how she teaches her classroom. She believes that every child can learn but they struggle when they have only pencil and paper because of the world around us. We need to be able to teach our children through technology and teach them to use the internet through blogging and teaching students to use the technology as a tool. The teacher in this video helped collaborate and create DigiTeen so that teachers and students can connect, blog, and share ideas.

I believe this is similar to what EDM 310 is trying to accomplish. Educators need to be able to connect with other educators around the world in order to keep up with technological advances and empower students to have a better and more well rounded classroom.