My EDM 310 Blog Assignments are now complete.

Yeah! My blogs are complete, at least I hope so anyway. To my classmates, I really enjoyed having this class with you and learning about you in your presentaions. I hope that everybody had a good time and learned a lot of stuff that you can use in your future carreer. I think we were a good class that had fun and worked very well together. Thanks to all the people who brought in cookies and candies during class, I really enjoyed it! Good luck to everybody in everything you do!!

Wed. Dec 3

1. We really did learn a LOT in this class. I really appreciate Dr. Strange and his method for teaching this class. We covered so many things from using google presentation, to spreadsheets, to word processing, podcast, blogs, igoogle pages, and itunes. I did not have a google acount before entering this class, I love how all of this is free, and I even used Google presentaions in another class for a short slideshow in fear that my USB drive would not work when I got in the room. What an easy alternative, preparing my presentation online in Google and if needed, sharing with someone else online or collaberating if I needed help with it. Even though I will be teaching younger children, which may not be able to deal with computers as well as literate students, I may want to add computer in my class as far as childrens learning games and so on to give the children a feel for the computer.
2. I can't recall anything that I wanted to learn and did not. I really had a good time and believe I can actually put to use the material that I learned.
Thanks Dr. Strange

My classmates blog

I read Ashley Cleavland's blog, she and Shyane Fant were my partners in our podcast assignment. Ashley did a good job on her blogs. In each one I noticed she answered the questions and put down the information that Dr. Strange requested of us in our instructions. Her blogs were informative and I picked up certain things from different posts and assignments that I maybe did not realize when I did my posts.
I never really knew what the purpose of a blog was or how they worked until I entered this class. I think that they are a cool thing and teachers in middle and high school settings should use them. Blogs could be used as an evaluation type thing for teachers to view say what students should be learning about, or they could be used to bring classmates together by having them communicate with one another or with students from different countries, cities, or states by commenting or discussing certain topics.
I want to teach elementary school, so I don't think that my students will be at the computer level, but if I were to move up in grade levels or for some reason my students are really advance I would have them make and obtain a blog for my classroom. There are many ways that blogs can be used, I guess you could just experiment and decide which way you like best.

ACCESS visit

Today I visited the ACCESS lab at Baldwin County High School. Misty Morries who is a technology coordnator and also a teacher of government, history, and AP government assisted me in my visit to the lab. In adition to teaching regular classes at the school, she also teaches classes on ACCESS which involve students completing assignments, quizzes and so forth but it is all web based. I really enjoyed my visit and learned a lot about the many different things that can be done in the ACCESS labs. The part of ACCESS that allows students to have class in a room but not with the actuall teacher, but more of a mediator to make sure that they are completing theri work reminds me a lot of our online classes here at South, and ecompanion. In other classes, students can actually see their teacher on a screen along with sound and any other audo the teacher wants to use such as power point or video. The teacher can also see the students and here questions if they may have any. Mrs. Morries also showed me that there are many classes offered to students through this program. Something that I thought was very interesting was that in some schools there are only a few students who want to take a certain class, lets say german. The school can not hire a teacher fore just a few students, so if avaliable to the school, they can allow their students to take this class online with a teacher from another school through the ACCESS lab. This was very cool and probably helps students who need these classes but can not get them from a regular classoom setting. This lab also helps the student be responsable, having to submit assignments to a drop box and learn how technology works in diferent ways. I hoe to learn more about the ACCESS lab and maybe even sit in on an actual class, or maybe even teach one some day.

Our Podcasts

As I listened to the podcast from my class, overall I think that everyone did a goood job, but there were areas that we could have improved in. The first podcast I listened to was Randy Pausch's Last Lecture I myself really enjoyed this lecture as well as those creating this podcast. I like how on every podcast Dr. Strange describes what the classes are doing, and the numbers of podcast and the people involved. I noticed that just about all podcast start out the same by Dr. Strabge, I really enjoy this, because of course we know what is going on but some one may just listen to one podcast, not all of them so they need to be informed as what is going on as well. Dr. Strange also knew what he was going to say, no long breaks there where no long breaks. The podcast for the most part went very well, they started with giving us information on Mr. Pausch, and what his lecture was about then moved on to his dreams, road blocks and so forth. We need to be sure that we do not repeat what has already been said, so the audience or listiner dose not get bored. Quotes were used and how this lecture could be used by theachers was a plus, good job guys.
The next podcast I listened to was You Tube as an educational tool. I like again how the audience is informed on what you tube is in case some one may not know. We are told what is avaliable on you tube and who can get on you tube and that it is free. The way that teachers could use you tube is discussed so maybe a teacher could boaden thier view on this subject if they did not realize it before. This was a good podcast with good information on how to use this online source, but did not really describe in detail how teachers could use it.
The third podcast I listened to was how Facebook could be used as an educational tool. There was less interaction, because of the two people involved instead of our normal three. Other than their shortage of woman power, I think they did a fine job describing what face book was and then how it could be used.
In my podcast discussing sites for elementary school teachers, I think my group did a fairly good job. There where a few sites covered and hopefully anyone who listens and needs help in this area gains some good information and can use this podcast and maybe even share it with other teachers. What I wold like to see in all of our podcasts, is more of a conversation rather than each person discussing something and moving on to another subject.
Overall, I think we did a pretty good job in creating out very own podcast. Maybe we should have practiced in front of class, becasue in some measure I could tell some of us were nervous. We were able to use notes, which was a good thing, but maybe we could have organized them a little more because I noticed that while we knew the material, it was not really in good order. There was jumping around and a few pauses because we din't know were we should go next or who was going to start it off. The only other thing I noticed but I think it's just habit for some people is the umms... try not to say umm while presenting or in the process of being recorded.
GOOD JOB CLASS!!!!

Electronic Contact Assignment

I contacted a teacher in Georgia her name is Jessica Zeback. Mrs. Zeback believes in using technology in her classroom. While teaching elementary special needs children, she tells me of the many different ways that computers and other devices can help these students. Different types of educational games such as the Leap pad and V tech equipment are in her classroom ranging in help from numbers, to the alphabet, shapes, colors, then reading, and sentence work. Everyone has seen these things on tv and in the stores, I think they are really neat, and believe that they can help these children to. While in the class, if a student is behind or needing assistance in a certain area, these technological tools are used to keep other students occupied so the teacher can solely devote that small amount of time to insuring that the student needing help understands what is going on. There are also a number of things on the computer that help students in the class. There are web sites with games, videos and powerpoints that assist the children in many different areas. Mrs. Zeback has not used ACCESS labs or Smart boards, but these are avaliable to the school.

Education/Math with Technology

As we all know, technology is our future. In the classroom there are a number of ways that technology can be used in helping students. Does any one watch tv, there are so many tools that come on commercials that that are designed to get the younger generation focused on technology. There are Leap pad, V tech and many many other things that involve children in technology. Of course these are out there to help them with the alphabet, shapes, colors, and so much more, but actually learning to use them and remembering is great for these kids. I know parents whose small children know more about the computer than they do.
There are many ways that I want to use technology in my class, I think it will be a good learning experience for the kids I want us to learn how to use equiptment, how to take care of it, and then the varity of ways we can use it as informal and educational tools. It's just really great, when I was in school there was not as near as much technology as there is now and that was only four years ago.

Fixed vs. Growth

In the podcast by the University of Stanford, they tried seeking solutions to how children learn and what we can do to help. You see there are two types of learners fixed and growth their names kinda describe them. Fixed is when the person is set in their ways they do not care about trying to learn anther way. Having a growth learning style is wanting to exercise your mind to gather more information or just having a wide range of ways that things can be done. This pocast was very interesting as well as informative, for I had never heard of this before.
I think that future educators should use this information in our classes. If we have students are set in their ways, we should promote different activities and exercises that could help expand their view of what ever we may be studying at the time I think it could enhance their overall learning experience. For those who are already in the growth learning style maybe they could help the others by talking about how they like to study and how they look at things in their work ect. I know that I did learn from this podcast and hopefully I can use it in my future teachings.

Science Podcast's

We have been looking at a variety of pod casts lately. This week I watched some video podcast dealing in the area of science. There were beautiful pictures and great videos that can be used in the classroom as well as at home. There are a number of ways that we as future teachers can use these video podcast in the class also assigning them to go along with homework if students have the ability to go online while at home. One way that I just thought about was maybe creating your own podcast just giving the information that you picked from the text. Then in class you could play it and let everyone listen instead of a lecture, you could add a PowerPoint with it or pictures or even do the video podcast with something you put together yourself or that you find online. Let's use our imagination, and come up with new ways of teaching so that our students will not get bored, and want to learn. Maybe they can even come up new ways or have different ideas that can help us help them.

Video Podcast

There where all kinds of video podcasts in iTunes. From science to history and many other subjcts. Video podcasts could be a plus in the classroom if the equiptment is avaliable for the whole class. You could have assignments to do at home, or watch them in the room as a class and discuss or give a quiz on what the video was about. After everything is going good, you could even have the class make their own podcast or video podcast to post online so others can see what is going on in your school. I think this is a neat idea to use in the classroom for the students. While at home, students could explore and get in some extra studying or learning time when they know that resource is avaliable and know how it works.

October 19

The Edible Schoolyard was very interesting, I have never heard of anything like that before. I really enjoy hands on activities, and this school really puts that to use. There was a garden outside the school, planted by the students, and once everything had grown, they even got to prepare and eat the finished product. Not only does this creative way of teaching teach agriculture, but more importantly. it teaches math, and science. This was really cool and I could use ideas like this.
A Night in the Global Village, WOW that was awsome. Who ever thought of having different towns from different parts of the world set up in a large area and have the kids divided into families and for a night they had to go around and trade and communicate with others to get the things that they needed to "survive." While this adventure didn't last long, hopefully it left a lasting impression on those involves, and maybe their stories were shared with friends and family.
Those where some very interesting and creative ideas to help students to really see what work and the real world is all about. I hope that I can come up with ideas and lessons as good as those to help my students not only learn what they will be tested on, but to learn and remember, to learn and be thankful for what has been given to them.

Podcast

The first podcast I listened to was the Smart Boards by Be and Joan. They do a great job, and explain stuff really well. I read some of the reviews, and everyone who replied, really seemed to like these episodes. and Ben and Joan. They reall know a lot about the Smart Boards and everything else they may discuss. They are fun, cover lots of stuff, and talk to the audiance and each other.
Number 56 on Kid cast, by Stan was pretty cool. He started by telling where he was, and what he was going to be discussing. In this podcast, teachers where learning stuff in science, and then doing what we where doing, creating podcasts about it.
Kidcast was fun to listen to also. Although there was only one caster, it was very informative and gave out a lot of useful tips that could be used in the class room.
EdTechtalk was very helpful with some good ideas and question and answer segments. You can post a question and they can answer it on air. They had a lot of fun during this podcast talking with one another back and forth.
The last two podcast's MacBreak Weekly and This Week in Photography where very informative podcasts. I learned somethings from both of these casts. If you like photography This Week in Photography could benefit you some, and even if you don't like it it could still help you out.
Podcast are a very interesting thing that I have become introduced to. They could be used in the classroom as a big help to students and teachers. A lecture class could be recorded, a song, an oral test, anything, and the students could go on iTunes and listen for notes, to review, or just have fun. I think this is a great tool, and the more teachers that find out about it the more they can enefit as well as their students.

Dr. Strange vacation photo

 

Randy Pausch "Last Lecture"

After I read the "Last Lecture" I was thrilled to see a man with such a horrible disease and about to die so ok with it. Mr. Pausch seemed to be an incredible person with lots of talent, and full of inspiration. He seemed very popular, and loved by so many people. During his lecture, I learned some things, things that maybe I could instill in my students when I become an educator. I lisened to a few related segments on Mr. Pausch and his death, and it was said that his lecture touched so many people, but was actually meant for his three children.
One thing I really liked about Mr. Pausch, was that he used props during his lecture. I am all about hands on oppurtunities, I feel that it helps students to remember what was being taught or to help them remember how a certain thing works. In his presentation, there where appropriate photos, and there was not any lengthy slides with many words, just straight and to the point. He tells us that anything is possable, and I believed he proved that. Almost everyone of his childhood dreams came true, and there where brick walls, but it didn't matter, because they are just there to show how bad you really want something. As a teacher, when a student encounters a brick wall, we should be there to tell them that it's there for a reason, and if you want it bad enough, it will show by the way you choose to go around it.
There where many things that I can say I learned about teaching in this lecture. One being, to enable the child hood dreams of my students. Help them, push them, if they want to give up, don't let them. When they do exceptionally well on a project or assignment, tell them it's great, but "I know you can do beter" don't be satisfied, seek for more make them think. Teach the children fundamentals of things, just like Mr. Pausch's childhood football coach did. Don't use the balls, first begin with the basics.
My favorite, the "head fake" the best way to teach is to have the kids think they are learning something else. The Alice program, describes this well, kids thought they were having fun and making video games, while in reality, they were learining something hard. That's what we could do in the classroom, think of ways to allow the kids to think they are having fun, but really learning something that they may have though would be to difficult to do. Mr. Pausch really believed in computers and technology, he kinda reminds me of Dr. Strange, wanting his students to suceed and helping them any way he can.

iTunes University

There are many ways to use iTunes in the classroom, or as a student. As a teacher, you could assign different things to listen to that are found on iTunes. This could be done in the classroom, or at home. If someone is absent because of sickness, they could simply look up stuff on iTunes so they won't be behind.
As a students, iTunes has different connections with Universities to help students. This unique feature allows us as students to search, download, and play content from class just like music or videos. It is actually kinda cool, it keeps teens focused because the computer is way better than paper. It allows us to stay motivated, have an open mind, you can do it anywhere, and it is always open.
As students and teachers become more aware of iTunes University, I believe that it will help many people in a cool kinda way.

http://www.apple.com/education/itunesu_mobilelearning/itunesu.html

Ways to use an iPod in class

Duke University used iPods in a variety of different ways. Some academic examples include: having course content with you where ever you go, class recording, Field experience recording, studying, and storing files and being able to transfer files. This sounds like a good idea, students given a iPod to help with their success of school. 1600 students received an iPod in the beginning of the 2004 school year, and the Center for Instructional Technology created an evaluation to see just how this new experience would work. Just about everyone loved this new concept and it pretty much went well. http://cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf


http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/item.php?itemID=10668
This site describes how using an iPod can help troubled math students. In this lesson, the teacher allows each student to have an iPod, and what the student does, is come up with rhymes or songs to help with certain math facts. Students learn faster when they can make up stuff to help them, or hear what they need to know over and over, so by using this activity, the whole class will have different songs ect. to help each other memorize their math facts.

My Presentation

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=ddr7j2j8_23f5bhw8dr

Dr. Alice Christie's WebQuest Resources

I chose to read about Dr. Alice Christie's WebQuest. The WebQuest is a place that teacher's can create to help their student's in many ways. WebQuest allows students to search the web, to complete different tasks, receive help for those tasks, and share with others about what they are doing, or their progress. Dr. Christie has had her students to create WebQuests as their assignments according to their level of teaching.
I thought this was interesting, their are so many ways that the Internet can help connect students to students, and students to teachers. I believe this helps the students in case of emergency or absences. The WebQuest can be used in my classroom to enhance my students learning and increase their ability to complete certain tasks. I see it as if it where like my second classroom where students could go and get extra worksheets ect. to help them or just let them know they have the information they need to complete what needs to be completed.

Wikipedia

Once I finished reading our assigned websites, I came to the conclusion that Wikipedia would be an awesome source for teachers, students, or anyone looking up something online. Notice I say would, if anyone can go into this site and alter the information, I do not think I would trust it when needing information. There are many other ways to get information on just about anything these days.
If the site could come up with a new way to keep this information from being altered once it is posted, everyone would get better results, and maybe Wikipedia could have a better name. I don't think that I have used this site much, but I recall being told it is not very reliable. Now I know why I was told this. I hope that everything can work out for this website.

The Best of the Fischbowl (november)

Today I chose to read the Best of the Fischbowl for the month of November. The title is Why Wireless. The blogger was asked by his principal to submit something in their school newsletter on why they where offering wireless at this highschool. This should have been a very simple write up on why the school chose to offer this technology. Instead, the writer wanted to be sure that everyone who read it, was aware of exactley what was going on and why it should be offered.
In this letter, a main point that he wanted to discuss was why this technology was being offered. It is important for students to understand, and to be informed about the new advacements that are happening so they won't be lost. He states that the children are growing up in this century and things are only going to become more advanced, so why not go ahead and learn these things. I agree, even though sometimes technology aggervates me it has helped in many ways and I sure it will only get better. At the end of the newsletter it says "Why wireless? Because their century demands it."

Fischbowl

Yes, everything these days has to do with technology! It's like eveyday something new comes out and I'm sure the really smart computer people are coming up with new stuff daily. About teachers and technology, I do believe that it is very important. Just think about it, there are so many ways technology could allow a teacher to help a student say they where sick or something.
As we advance into this new era of computers and technology, instead of just talking about people who have no clue how to turn a computer on, we need to help them. Just the other day I attended a PTO meeting, and the school purchased a certain website, and the students and parents can log on and click their teacher, and worksheets ect. will appear. It's kinda like extra work to help improve kids knowledge. There was also a website that children/parents could go to and review for the number of tests they have to take each year. This will allow the students to get more practice, than besides the classroom. I think it's neat the variety of ways people can communicate, and get help all through one little device, the computer.

New Article

Ms. Averitt has located two very interesting articles about RSS feeds and Podcast ibg.. I have posted them under Syllabus and Handouts, but I am also going to put the links in here.
technology website

the abcs of rss feeds

Chinese and English schools connect through their Activboards
Schools in London and Houhai use what is called an Activeboard. This thing is super cool. Students are able to teach other students across the country different lessons, ect. they are also able to ask and answer questions about themselves. I found a blog that teachers shared ideas on other ways for students to communicate, and also telling how cool they thought this lesson was. This idea was brought about by a teacher who visited different countries, and found out about all this technology, she wanted to start it in her schools, and so she did.


http://blog.prometheanplanet.com/?p=221



Brendan Smith, an educationalist and an environmentalist had a great idea of putting fresh water aquariums in the classroom. Some schools in Galway Bay, Ireland had tanks put in, but not only did these tanks inhabit water creatures, but they inhabited water creates from their very own Galway Bay. This gave the children an opportunity to see what their actual surrounding were. The children loved it, and were able to notice how an ecosystem works and what creatures have what jobs. I thought this was a special way of allowing the children to really see what happened right out side their homes and schools.
Marine Aquarium in a School Classroom, Connemara
http://brenspeedie.blogspot.com/2006/01/marine-aquarium-in-school-classroom.html

Monday Sept. 1st

Wow, that was pretty cool. I didn't realize how advanced our technology really was. I learned a lot in this video, I learned that lots of people either don't like their jobs, or either it's hard to keep a job. And the Internet is growing, growing, growing more and more people each day are gaining knowledge through the computer, and some are creating new soft wares and all kinds of cool stuff to help others who need it. Something I didn't realize was that China is really full of smart people, and they probably do all kinda stuff online that I don't know about.
The main thing purpose to this video I think, was to show the viewers how technology has progressed through the years. This shift happens is really neat, if I understand it right, computers are sent to other countries, and by the Internet children/adults can basically "have school." That gives these countries who are not as advanced as we are an opportunity to grow. I just know that through the years there are going to be so many new things that come our way it's crazy!

The ACCESS program

ACCESS otherwise known as the Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide is a very unique program designed to connect student and teachers across the state. This program allows students to engage in certain enrichment programs and advanced placement classes that otherwise may not have been able accessible. Many different types of classes are available for students on this online program such as: Math, English, History, Biology, Creative Writing, Sociology and Health. This is a very wide range of topics and very helpful to students
I believe that this ACCESS program will help students now and in the future. It must be cool to be able to connect with other students and teachers during school hours maybe for some help or just a regular class. When I begin teaching, I will probably use this new technology to improve my and my students skills of what all can be done on a computer.

Monday 8-25 ALEX

The Alabama Learning Exchange also known as ALEX is a very useful resource tool used by educators as well as parents and students to enhance the learning experience. ALEX is a website designed to present teachers with a variety of lesson plans to fit their style of teaching. This program includes a variety of curriculums to choose from including: Art Education, Drivers Safety, Health, Language, Physical Education, and Technology Education, as well as the basic studies such as Math, English, History, Science and so forth. These massive amount’s of lesson plans are provided by the teachers for the teachers.
There is also another resource tool that is helpful to improving the education system as we know it. It is the ACCESS program or the Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide. This program allows students and teachers to communicate from different locations via the internet. It gives the students an experience like no other they are able to attend a virtual classroom or even go on a virtual fieldtrip!
I think that this boost we are having in technology is great. Many teachers and students can help each other accomplish things that in the past would have been impossible. When I become a teacher, I believe I will put these wonderful tools to work. I can go to a website and browse through a significant number of lesson plans and ideas until I find what is right for my class.

About me

Hi everyone, my name is Erica Sledge. I live in Perdido Alabama. I graduated from Baldwin County High School in 2005. Right after graduation, I began working at Subway where I am still employed. My first two years of college I attended Faulkner State Community College, my major was Pre-med, but I changed it to Elementary Education. I love kids, and I have been teaching Sunday school and Children's church going on 4 years. I believe that I will really enjoy being a teacher, because I am good with children and I have a lot of experience in the classroom with younger children as well as special education children. This is my second year at South, and I chose to come here because it is only about 45 minutes from home, and some of my family graduated from here. So far I have really enjoyed it here at South.