My EDM 310 Blog Assignments are Now Complete.

During the course of this class I really enjoyed learning more about Web sites and Blogging. I am happy to now know how to create my own websites in an easy way. I had made my website on my sister's wedding because there were so many family members out of town that didn't get to see it. They were all thrilled when they got to see all of the pictures from the showers, rehearsal, and wedding day. It was like they were there! The blogging was a fun thing to learn about, too. I have noticed that "blogging" has become something that people talk about more often and it is good to have learned how to create my own. I really liked the instructional videos they were very helpful and I wish I had those in my other computer class. It definitely would have helped me learn things tremendously faster!
I can't think of anything that I would have liked to learn in this class. I am sure there are MANY things I should learn about computers but I think the basics we learned in this class will help me for a future of learning more.

Thanks for reading my blog! I really enjoyed class with everyone this year! Good luck on exams!

The Stanford Challenge

This video basically showed me that obviously we don't always know what we are getting into when we sign up for classes. And, we will never know what we are getting to until us as future teachers actually start teaching a classroom. There is so much to find out in school about teaching. But, there is even more that we will find out once we get in a classroom with all these little children under our care.

I would hope to be a teacher who wants my students to go for the gold. There is never a stupid question. Practice only makes perfect. Even though there is no perfect. It was enlightening to see that I will always be learning more about different types of students and how they learn.

(More) itunes University

After clicking on the PBS section of itunes university I came across some videos. I clicked on a science movie about the sun. The movie was very interesting. I liked it alot. I can see how this could help in the classroom. It gives the students a time to listen to someone other than me.
I think the website was pretty well layed out and easy to find. I think that using this site may be something I would do in the future. I only wish it would be a little faster when trying to use it. I had to refresh it a few times before it finally worked.
The sun was the video I watched. I only got through about 3/4 of it if I have to be completely honest. The video kept cutting off. What I got to watch was very interesting. I think I would have enjoyed to have this feature available when I was in school before now.

itunes university

I think that itunes university is a great thing. The people who thought of this were definitely thinking about the busy college student. It is hard to have enough time to study when I only have limited amounts of free time. Going to school almost every day of the week, having a job, and having any type of personal life takes up alot of a college student's life.

This itunes university, brings the studying in your car, while you walk, eat... basically while you do anything. I think it should be used at every University. This was a very interesting thing to learn about. I enjoyed it very much.

ipods in educational instruction

When looking up information on instruction and ipods I decided what better website to go to than the apple site. There was a 41 page document on why to use ipods in education and I really was interested in what all they use it for. It seems to me like using an ipod in class would be very helpful. There is such an ease in having all your documents needed to pass out, all the audiobooks you want the students to have, and also the lectures you think are helpful to be in one area for the student to access them.

I think one of the best things about the ipod and education is that the children will have all of the lectures on the ipod to go back and listen to. So many times have I wanted to go back in time and listen in on a lecture when studying for tests or quizzes and now with the ipods they have it in their hands to listen to whenever. This would also be helpful with students who get ill or have to miss class for any reason. They could listen or even watch a lecture that they missed and keep up with the class.

The link to the pages I found this information is:
http://images.apple.com/education/products/ipod/iPod_Getting_Started_Guide.pdf

Best(?) of the Fischbowl 2007 (May)

I decided to read the blog for the month of May. David Pogue writes about Customer Service in more than one way. A video is shown at the beginning of the blog which shows a customer calling the customer service for help on their computer which in the end he was hung up on. David talks shortly about customer service as in technical support then gets into customer service in education.

David brings up ideas that students are there to meet teacher's requirements. Also, that teachers are there to meet administrator needs. When really the service should be coming from the person higher on the pole. Teachers need to serve students and be there to give help when they need it. Administrators should be there for the teachers and listen to their problems or complaints with and help towards fixing them.

Pictures With Title and ALT Modifier

One of my favorite pictures is a picture of water.

Technology and Teachers

I can understand both sides of the argument. The problem I would see is that there are so many teachers already out there who would not be happy having to go back and learn about technology and the computer. I personally think it would be great if every teacher could be technologically literate but in my opinion that will not be possible until I, being 21 now, am about 40 or 50. (People are very stubborn and lazy is basically what I am getting at.)
Another area in the blog that I noticed to be interesting is how he compared teachers not knowing technology now to not being able to read thirty years ago. I think that statement was a little extreme. I know that there are many teachers now who are not technological in the least, whom I have learned more from than people who know the computer backwards and forwards. Both arguments are understandable. Children want to learn up-to-date things and we want to make sure teachers are keeping up with them. Yet, there is still a way to teach without involving the computer that will satisfy the mind.

International Class Blog 2

The second International Class Blog I found was a group of primary school children. They were participating in a blog that was called "Arty Reflections." The site was designed to promote critical thought and creative thought in visual arts. They post their artwork on the site but the main reason for the site is to use their "six thinking hats." These six hats help them put more thought into creating and shows them how to look at art more intuitively. This picture was used on the "6 Thinking Hats" page as the Heading. The website was http://mshearman.edublogs.org/

International Class Blog 1

This blog was made for young writers at a Public School in Australia. This Mullumbimby Public School wanted to make a site where they could showcase one student a month who did exceptionally well with a piece of writing. They represent different levels of students and different genres of writings. They encourage emails and comments on all the student writing. This picture was one of their special guest storyteller's who visited the school. The picture was shown in one of the older posts. The website was http://mullumwriters.blogspot.com/

Class Blogs 2

The second class blog I found was made for a computer class. The teacher's name is Ms. Mercer and she teaches at Oak Ridge Elementary. Her class blog was made for her fourth grade class. The blog gives information about assignments. It also gives links and explanations of activities with resources that help in the class. This blog had the entries and the assignments posted. The teacher mentioned on one of the pages that one reason they made this blog was to promote the internet for school use.
This picture was used for one of the class assignments.
It was to make a fairy tale up that would go along with the picture.
The website was http://oakridgefourthgrade.edublogs.org/

Class Blogs

The first blog I found was called "The Electric Pencil." It was a teacher named Mr. H who taught sixth grade at Norris Elementary School. The site was for the students to share their work. The teacher provided examples of all the different assignments he gave the class on the site. The students who used this site were in a writing class. This gave them a place to share their writing with everyone.
The website was http://epencil.edublogs.org/

ACCESS

ACCESS was made to provide additional education by internet to students and to help teachers. It is not just online courses it is using technology to help enhance instruction. There are alot of schools already participating.

Teachers in the future will be able to mentor online. Extra funds will be provided for teachers plus better computers and equipment. Videoconferencing will be used for different teachers to be able to teach anywhere. E-teachers will be available online for students which is a help when they study.

ALEX and Teaching.

I know that I will be usin ALEX when I become a teacher. It is an easy to navigate site that has useful inormation that is vital to a classroom. The course of study section seems like the most important. This will be something that is used when figuring out what standards need to be met in each grade I will be teaching. It is great they have it online like this to help teachers.

The lesson plans section is also another great section that I will surely be using. All I have to do when planning a lesson is go to this website and find all these different options. I like that there is a library section under the professional learning. It is nice to have easy access to the Alabama Virtual Library.

ALEX

Alabama Learning Exchange has eight different sections when you log on the website. You can click on one section and find any subject to look through. The web links tab brings you to a section that helps you choose between teacher or student help. There are lesson plan, search, personal workspace, distance learning, and help tabs also.

Once you click on any one of the tabs you will be brought to a second page with lots of information on each subject. Any information you need to know about what you should be teaching. There are many tips and helpful hints to have you able to find your information quickly.

Shift Happens...

The fact that technology is growing is not a new concept to me. When hearing this on a regular day I would see it as exciting. The way the information was shared in this video made everything sound intense and almost scary. Knowing myspace and text messaging are growing so much shows me that people want to find any way they can to get out of interaction with others. Also, to know that India and China are far more advanced and smart than any other country seems frightening. This especially seems frightening seeing as how the United States Government acts like our country is the "powerhouse" of all countries. I realized that was a dramatization in the past but never knew the extent until this video. All in all, the video was an eye opener showing me that everything I just learned and will learn soon to come will be outsourced in a very small amount of time. I would sum it up as discouraging.

First Post!

Welcome to my EDM 310 blog. Have a great semester!