Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
C4T #3
I had the pleasure of exploring the blog Dean Shareski, a Digital Learning Consultant in the Prarie South School Division (ideasandthoughts.org/about). Shareski's blog is entitled Ideas and Thoughts: Learning Stuff since 1964.
The first blog post I read was titled "Pimp My Slide" and in this post Shareski talked about how working together as a group and collaborating on a project could make it much better than just simply doing it by yourself. I related this to EDM 310 because on so many projects we have to work together in groups and often times, I may not know certain information but I may go to another group member for the answer.
The second blog post I read was titled "Don't Ask People What They Want." Shareski talked about how many people believe that parents, students and other taxpayers should be involved in the decision-making process of what happens in schools. But at the same time, many governments have the attitude that they should not ask citizens "what they want because they will tell you." Shareski quoted Steve Jobs when he talked about this. Shareski also discussed how some people often offer their input on topics that they do not fully understand. The bottom line that Shareski is trying to get across is that students, parents and other fellow taxpayers should be involved in the decisions that are being made for our schools, but as of now we should try our best to elect the right officials who will hopefully represent us in the best possible way and strive to make our schools better for us all.
Blog Post #10
Do You Teach or Do You Educate?
Let me start by saying that I always knew there was a difference between teachers and educators. Throughout my years in school and college, I have encountered examples of both and I know first hand the difference between the two. Many may disagree and say that teachers and educators are both the same, but after watching the video "Do You Teach or Do You Educate?", they will understand.
I can honestly say that I didn't always know that I wanted to be a teacher. Yes, I would play "school" when I was a child and teach lessons to my stuffed animals, but never did it occur to me that this would be my future career. Ever since I was little, I'd always wanted to be a nurse. That was my lifelong goal. However, when I got to college, reality set in and I realized it just wasn't for me. I happened to come across the education major when I was talking to a friend of mine who was majoring in secondary education. I was so enthralled in how she spoke about the career and how much she wanted to make a difference in the lives of every student she would come across. That conversation got me to thinking about it. I was at a crossroads in my life, I had just had a daughter and I was confused on what I actually wanted to do with my life. In retrospect, I think that this conversation was a sign of some sort. In the short amount of time that I'd talk to my friend, she'd sparked a fire in me that I never knew I had. From that day on, I realized that being a teacher was something that I REALLY wanted to do, I'd just never taken the time to explore all the possibilities. I can honestly say now that I am 100 percent sure that I want to be an educator and I can think of nothing else that I'd rather do.
I believe that many teachers leave college intending on making a difference in the lives of their students. However, this doesn't always happen for many. I've encountered so many teachers who seem like they hate their job and would rather be at home on the sofa watching soap operas. This is not the kind of teacher I want to be. Instead, I want to be an educator. One who inspires their students to reach their highest potential. I want my students to reach goals that they never dreamed possible. I believe that is what an educator should be. Someone who encourages a child when it seems as if no one else will. Of course, being an educator is about teaching subjects and lessons in the classroom, but a teacher should be so enthused about their career that they always take the extra mile. It is so important for educators to show their students the importance of life and finding your own way. So many teachers believe that their job stops when class ends, and that's not the case. I never want my ambition and my love for my future students to die. Hopefully, even after I've been teaching for 30 years, I want to have the same passion that I did on my very first day. I believe that to truly be an educator, you must be passionate about everything you do or say. You must lead by example and give students a reason to want to learn and explore. And when I become an educator, that is exactly what I intend on doing.
Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home!
I must be honest, at first I was a little caught off guard by the topic of Tom Johnson's blog post "Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home!" Were these two teachers really discussing the negative effects of students taking pencils home? It sort of disturbed me. However, after reading the post, I understood the argument that Johnson was trying to make. No matter what the problem, it is always important to offer solutions whether than arguing about who's right or who's wrong. Regardless of whether Javi or Johnson was right when it came to the fact of pencils influencing low test scores, Johnson offered positive ways that students could use pencils at home because after all, it was inevitable that some students would take the pencils home.
It seemed a bit silly to suggest that the idle use of pencils would influence low test scores, but hey, you can't argue with statistics, right? Johnson tries to explain to Javi that finding solutions to a problem is more important than simply focusing on the negative and trying to drill this into a child's head. I think it was important that Johnson got the parents involved, because after all, teacher's can't always be there. If they provoked positive learning and activities with their children using the pencil, then students would, in return, carry that mindset into the classroom and no longer think of the pencil as just a toy to scribble with.
Even though Johnson believe the statistics to be inaccurate, he still saw the problem and thought of ways to not only address the problem, but to solve it. I believe every teacher should find ways to implement this into their classroom. I can remember when I was in the 2nd grade and my teacher, Mrs. Strope, noticed that I would always finish my work early and as a result, I would begin talking to the other students and interrupt the completion of their own classwork. Instead of scolding me and writing me off as a talkative child, Mrs. Strope took the time to buy workbooks for me to complete on occasions when I finished my work earlier than the other students. When I'd complete an entire workbook, she'd give me a surprise. Because of this, she suggested to my parents that I get tested for the PACE program. I still remember that kind gesture all these years later. Instead of Mrs. Strope focusing on the negative and calling my parents to scold me about my talking in class, she noticed the problem and implemented solutions for it. I hope to do the same in my future classroom.
![Pencil man]( "Source: Google Images border=")
Let me start by saying that I always knew there was a difference between teachers and educators. Throughout my years in school and college, I have encountered examples of both and I know first hand the difference between the two. Many may disagree and say that teachers and educators are both the same, but after watching the video "Do You Teach or Do You Educate?", they will understand.
I can honestly say that I didn't always know that I wanted to be a teacher. Yes, I would play "school" when I was a child and teach lessons to my stuffed animals, but never did it occur to me that this would be my future career. Ever since I was little, I'd always wanted to be a nurse. That was my lifelong goal. However, when I got to college, reality set in and I realized it just wasn't for me. I happened to come across the education major when I was talking to a friend of mine who was majoring in secondary education. I was so enthralled in how she spoke about the career and how much she wanted to make a difference in the lives of every student she would come across. That conversation got me to thinking about it. I was at a crossroads in my life, I had just had a daughter and I was confused on what I actually wanted to do with my life. In retrospect, I think that this conversation was a sign of some sort. In the short amount of time that I'd talk to my friend, she'd sparked a fire in me that I never knew I had. From that day on, I realized that being a teacher was something that I REALLY wanted to do, I'd just never taken the time to explore all the possibilities. I can honestly say now that I am 100 percent sure that I want to be an educator and I can think of nothing else that I'd rather do.
I believe that many teachers leave college intending on making a difference in the lives of their students. However, this doesn't always happen for many. I've encountered so many teachers who seem like they hate their job and would rather be at home on the sofa watching soap operas. This is not the kind of teacher I want to be. Instead, I want to be an educator. One who inspires their students to reach their highest potential. I want my students to reach goals that they never dreamed possible. I believe that is what an educator should be. Someone who encourages a child when it seems as if no one else will. Of course, being an educator is about teaching subjects and lessons in the classroom, but a teacher should be so enthused about their career that they always take the extra mile. It is so important for educators to show their students the importance of life and finding your own way. So many teachers believe that their job stops when class ends, and that's not the case. I never want my ambition and my love for my future students to die. Hopefully, even after I've been teaching for 30 years, I want to have the same passion that I did on my very first day. I believe that to truly be an educator, you must be passionate about everything you do or say. You must lead by example and give students a reason to want to learn and explore. And when I become an educator, that is exactly what I intend on doing.
Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home!
I must be honest, at first I was a little caught off guard by the topic of Tom Johnson's blog post "Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home!" Were these two teachers really discussing the negative effects of students taking pencils home? It sort of disturbed me. However, after reading the post, I understood the argument that Johnson was trying to make. No matter what the problem, it is always important to offer solutions whether than arguing about who's right or who's wrong. Regardless of whether Javi or Johnson was right when it came to the fact of pencils influencing low test scores, Johnson offered positive ways that students could use pencils at home because after all, it was inevitable that some students would take the pencils home.
It seemed a bit silly to suggest that the idle use of pencils would influence low test scores, but hey, you can't argue with statistics, right? Johnson tries to explain to Javi that finding solutions to a problem is more important than simply focusing on the negative and trying to drill this into a child's head. I think it was important that Johnson got the parents involved, because after all, teacher's can't always be there. If they provoked positive learning and activities with their children using the pencil, then students would, in return, carry that mindset into the classroom and no longer think of the pencil as just a toy to scribble with.
Even though Johnson believe the statistics to be inaccurate, he still saw the problem and thought of ways to not only address the problem, but to solve it. I believe every teacher should find ways to implement this into their classroom. I can remember when I was in the 2nd grade and my teacher, Mrs. Strope, noticed that I would always finish my work early and as a result, I would begin talking to the other students and interrupt the completion of their own classwork. Instead of scolding me and writing me off as a talkative child, Mrs. Strope took the time to buy workbooks for me to complete on occasions when I finished my work earlier than the other students. When I'd complete an entire workbook, she'd give me a surprise. Because of this, she suggested to my parents that I get tested for the PACE program. I still remember that kind gesture all these years later. Instead of Mrs. Strope focusing on the negative and calling my parents to scold me about my talking in class, she noticed the problem and implemented solutions for it. I hope to do the same in my future classroom.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Blog Post #9
What I've Learned This Year
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mr. McClung's first post about his experiences during his first year of teaching. As a future teacher, I've always been curious to know what a teacher's first year would be like, because personally, I am TERRIFIED of beginning my first year of teaching. However, Mr. McClung's blog post about his experiences eased my troubled mind just a tad bit. He talked about how no teacher is perfect, and how we shouldn't plan to be perfect. One thing I've learned from both my professors at South and Dr. McClung is that no matter how much we prepare and plan a lesson, 9 times out of 10 it will always change, so teachers should be flexible. McClung also brought out a great point about the fact that a teacher's teaching should be focused around the student, and that teacher's should also be able to listen to their student. I agree. While it is extremely important to impress administrators, it is more important to focus on your students so that you will provide the best education possible for them. Another thing that Mr. McClung mentioned that is stressed very heavily in EDM 310 is that teachers should be less afraid and more open-minded when it comes to technology. After taking EDM 310, I know this all too well. I have become increasingly aware over the semester of how important technology is and how it can transform the classroom and the effectiveness of teaching.
I also read Mr. McClung's second post after the 2009-2010 school year. Mr. McClung talked about how, this year, he'd moved to a larger school and had to change from teaching 6th to 8th grade. Mr. McClung had to adapt to a new environment and new students, but this experience taught him how important it is to be able to adapt and how change makes us better teachers. This really got me to thinking about my future career. I am so set on wanting to teach 2nd graders, that I never even really thought about the fact that I might end up teaching kindergarten or even 5th graders when I start teaching! This post really opened my eyes to the fact that I need to be able to adapt and to take any curve ball that is thrown my way. One point that Mr. McClung made that I thought was so cute and heartwarming was that he found a "school mom" at the middle school where he was teaching. When he talked about this, I could picture teachers who had previously taught me that would be considered a "school mom" by other teachers and it brought a smile to my face. I can only imagine how scary it can be to be a new teacher, and I thought this piece of advice from Mr. McClung would be very helpful for future teachers.
An ego can be one thing that can prevent us from being great teachers to our students and Mr. McClung made sure to tell readers to "check your ego at the door." Sometimes we have to go above and beyond to make a lesson interesting for students, even if that means making a complete fool of yourself. We have to show a love and passion for what it is that we're teaching because if we don't, why should the students? I thought that this was a great point to make because many new teachers may be concerned about doing things wrong when it comes to teaching. I believe there isn't necessarily a "wrong" way of teaching, as long as it benefits you and your students in a positive way and provides learning for your students. McClung also advised us not to be such control freaks, and to allow students to have a little independence. Mr. McClung also encouraged teachers to not lost sight of what's important, the STUDENTS, and that even after we think we know it all, there's still a lot more to learn.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mr. McClung's first post about his experiences during his first year of teaching. As a future teacher, I've always been curious to know what a teacher's first year would be like, because personally, I am TERRIFIED of beginning my first year of teaching. However, Mr. McClung's blog post about his experiences eased my troubled mind just a tad bit. He talked about how no teacher is perfect, and how we shouldn't plan to be perfect. One thing I've learned from both my professors at South and Dr. McClung is that no matter how much we prepare and plan a lesson, 9 times out of 10 it will always change, so teachers should be flexible. McClung also brought out a great point about the fact that a teacher's teaching should be focused around the student, and that teacher's should also be able to listen to their student. I agree. While it is extremely important to impress administrators, it is more important to focus on your students so that you will provide the best education possible for them. Another thing that Mr. McClung mentioned that is stressed very heavily in EDM 310 is that teachers should be less afraid and more open-minded when it comes to technology. After taking EDM 310, I know this all too well. I have become increasingly aware over the semester of how important technology is and how it can transform the classroom and the effectiveness of teaching.
I also read Mr. McClung's second post after the 2009-2010 school year. Mr. McClung talked about how, this year, he'd moved to a larger school and had to change from teaching 6th to 8th grade. Mr. McClung had to adapt to a new environment and new students, but this experience taught him how important it is to be able to adapt and how change makes us better teachers. This really got me to thinking about my future career. I am so set on wanting to teach 2nd graders, that I never even really thought about the fact that I might end up teaching kindergarten or even 5th graders when I start teaching! This post really opened my eyes to the fact that I need to be able to adapt and to take any curve ball that is thrown my way. One point that Mr. McClung made that I thought was so cute and heartwarming was that he found a "school mom" at the middle school where he was teaching. When he talked about this, I could picture teachers who had previously taught me that would be considered a "school mom" by other teachers and it brought a smile to my face. I can only imagine how scary it can be to be a new teacher, and I thought this piece of advice from Mr. McClung would be very helpful for future teachers.
An ego can be one thing that can prevent us from being great teachers to our students and Mr. McClung made sure to tell readers to "check your ego at the door." Sometimes we have to go above and beyond to make a lesson interesting for students, even if that means making a complete fool of yourself. We have to show a love and passion for what it is that we're teaching because if we don't, why should the students? I thought that this was a great point to make because many new teachers may be concerned about doing things wrong when it comes to teaching. I believe there isn't necessarily a "wrong" way of teaching, as long as it benefits you and your students in a positive way and provides learning for your students. McClung also advised us not to be such control freaks, and to allow students to have a little independence. Mr. McClung also encouraged teachers to not lost sight of what's important, the STUDENTS, and that even after we think we know it all, there's still a lot more to learn.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Blog Post #8
This Is How We Dream
I can honestly say, after watching Dr. Richard E. Miller's "This is How We Dream" video, that although I am familiar with writing with multimedia, I am not fully prepared to write with multimedia in the advanced way that Miller discusses. His ideas and plans are very in-depth and amazing, but it would take a great amount of time and skill to master. Miller discusses how we should write in such a way that not only do we include text in our writing, but we add sound and video to compose a document. He encourages us to share our work on the internet for everyone to see and to pull different resources, such as videos and sounds, from numerous websites and use them as tools to enhance our compositions. Writing has changed over many years, and it is no longer just putting words onto paper. It is about interacting with what we are writing about, and showing our words, rather than just telling. Miller talks about how writing was once just a solitary activity, but now we have different online tools that can help us to collaborate with others.
Teaching this new method of composing in the classroom would definitely be a challenge at first, especially for elementary students. For so many years, students have been traditionally taught through books, but now technology has become more and more popular in the classroom and books are no longer the only (and most effective) way of teaching material. I do think it is a good idea to expose students to this new way of multimedia writing because at an early age, it can expose them to the necessary uses of technology and how helpful multimedia can be in helping students to learn and compose.
Composing with multimedia, in my opinion, is so much more interactive and appealing to students rather than just reading words on a page. I believe that if you asked any student if they'd rather read about a certain period in history in their textbook or watch a movie about it, most would choose to watch the movie. This is because most students are visual and would gain more knowledge by watching material. It would be such an amazing thing to see students composing different types of work using prints and moving images and to see how they develop and grow by using these tools. I believe it would open up a whole new world for them. As long as the teacher is well equipped to teach this sort of writing and is enthused about it, the possibilities are endless.
Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh
First I just want to say what a great and enthusiastic writer Carly is! When I was reading her post, I couldn't help but imagine that I was sitting right there with her listening to her talk. I think Carly's idea was so cool, and could be very motivating for future teachers in order to get them to start thinking about what are there goals and philosophies as a teacher? I know that as a student studying to become a teacher, I get so wrapped up in my classwork and classes, that I forget to sit back and think of what it will be like when I ACTUALLY become a teacher. What will be my purpose? What will I expect from my students? How will I go above and beyond in order to impact the lives of my students? These are the MOST important questions that should be asked, and we should start looking for the answers now. And I believed Carly hit the nail on the head with her blog post.
Carly came pretty close with meeting the requirements that Miller talks about in his "This is How We Dream" video. She discussed many topics without just her thoughts, but she shared videos that showed the ideas of others. Carly invited us into her world of thinking, and not only expressed how she felt about certain topics, but she SHOWED us also. I especially liked the video that she added at the end that asked the six questions. This really inspired me to ask myself these questions in my daily life, and if the answer was "no" to any of them, I should strive harder. Well done Carly!
The Chipper Series and EDM 310 for Dummies
Both The Chipper Series and EDM 310 for Dummies were such cute and funny videos that gave a little insight into what EDM 310 was all about. The most important messages from the video was that although EDM 310 can be a bit overwhelming at first, there is always a way to find help if you only look and ask for it. And idea for a video that I would like to participate in would be one that was a specific tutorial on how to use a tool that we use on a daily basis in EDM 310, such as Google Docs or Blogger. Although there are probably already thousands of tutorials out there, I think a tutorial from an EDM 310 student would give a fresh take on how to use these tools and would be very helpful to students.
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
"Learn to Change, Change to Learn" discussed many different topics about the way students learn. The people in this video talked about how students no longer learn in the traditional way, and how they should now be learning skills that will be necessary in their future. It is not just about knowing facts, but also being able to use the tools necessary to find information. Students should have access to many resources such as different laboratories so that they can have hands on experience with different subjects that they are learning about. Students should be able to interpret information as well as networking and being able to develop their own personal learning environments. Students should be able to freely use their creativity and individuality in the classroom.
I agree so much with this video. Most students no longer learn in the traditional way. They are so involved in technology and use it on an everyday basis, that this is the way that they've begun to learn. One comment on the video that I read asked where were the student opinions? I thought this comment was very valid. Hearing these thoughts from the mouths of the students themselves would be so much more effective, instead of hearing teachers talk about what students think. So speaking as a student, I completely agree and I think it is absolutely necessary for the classrooms to evolve from the traditional methods to methods that would be more effective for students' learning and preparing them for the future.
I can honestly say, after watching Dr. Richard E. Miller's "This is How We Dream" video, that although I am familiar with writing with multimedia, I am not fully prepared to write with multimedia in the advanced way that Miller discusses. His ideas and plans are very in-depth and amazing, but it would take a great amount of time and skill to master. Miller discusses how we should write in such a way that not only do we include text in our writing, but we add sound and video to compose a document. He encourages us to share our work on the internet for everyone to see and to pull different resources, such as videos and sounds, from numerous websites and use them as tools to enhance our compositions. Writing has changed over many years, and it is no longer just putting words onto paper. It is about interacting with what we are writing about, and showing our words, rather than just telling. Miller talks about how writing was once just a solitary activity, but now we have different online tools that can help us to collaborate with others.
Teaching this new method of composing in the classroom would definitely be a challenge at first, especially for elementary students. For so many years, students have been traditionally taught through books, but now technology has become more and more popular in the classroom and books are no longer the only (and most effective) way of teaching material. I do think it is a good idea to expose students to this new way of multimedia writing because at an early age, it can expose them to the necessary uses of technology and how helpful multimedia can be in helping students to learn and compose.
Composing with multimedia, in my opinion, is so much more interactive and appealing to students rather than just reading words on a page. I believe that if you asked any student if they'd rather read about a certain period in history in their textbook or watch a movie about it, most would choose to watch the movie. This is because most students are visual and would gain more knowledge by watching material. It would be such an amazing thing to see students composing different types of work using prints and moving images and to see how they develop and grow by using these tools. I believe it would open up a whole new world for them. As long as the teacher is well equipped to teach this sort of writing and is enthused about it, the possibilities are endless.
Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh
First I just want to say what a great and enthusiastic writer Carly is! When I was reading her post, I couldn't help but imagine that I was sitting right there with her listening to her talk. I think Carly's idea was so cool, and could be very motivating for future teachers in order to get them to start thinking about what are there goals and philosophies as a teacher? I know that as a student studying to become a teacher, I get so wrapped up in my classwork and classes, that I forget to sit back and think of what it will be like when I ACTUALLY become a teacher. What will be my purpose? What will I expect from my students? How will I go above and beyond in order to impact the lives of my students? These are the MOST important questions that should be asked, and we should start looking for the answers now. And I believed Carly hit the nail on the head with her blog post.
Carly came pretty close with meeting the requirements that Miller talks about in his "This is How We Dream" video. She discussed many topics without just her thoughts, but she shared videos that showed the ideas of others. Carly invited us into her world of thinking, and not only expressed how she felt about certain topics, but she SHOWED us also. I especially liked the video that she added at the end that asked the six questions. This really inspired me to ask myself these questions in my daily life, and if the answer was "no" to any of them, I should strive harder. Well done Carly!
The Chipper Series and EDM 310 for Dummies
Both The Chipper Series and EDM 310 for Dummies were such cute and funny videos that gave a little insight into what EDM 310 was all about. The most important messages from the video was that although EDM 310 can be a bit overwhelming at first, there is always a way to find help if you only look and ask for it. And idea for a video that I would like to participate in would be one that was a specific tutorial on how to use a tool that we use on a daily basis in EDM 310, such as Google Docs or Blogger. Although there are probably already thousands of tutorials out there, I think a tutorial from an EDM 310 student would give a fresh take on how to use these tools and would be very helpful to students.
Learn to Change, Change to Learn
"Learn to Change, Change to Learn" discussed many different topics about the way students learn. The people in this video talked about how students no longer learn in the traditional way, and how they should now be learning skills that will be necessary in their future. It is not just about knowing facts, but also being able to use the tools necessary to find information. Students should have access to many resources such as different laboratories so that they can have hands on experience with different subjects that they are learning about. Students should be able to interpret information as well as networking and being able to develop their own personal learning environments. Students should be able to freely use their creativity and individuality in the classroom.
I agree so much with this video. Most students no longer learn in the traditional way. They are so involved in technology and use it on an everyday basis, that this is the way that they've begun to learn. One comment on the video that I read asked where were the student opinions? I thought this comment was very valid. Hearing these thoughts from the mouths of the students themselves would be so much more effective, instead of hearing teachers talk about what students think. So speaking as a student, I completely agree and I think it is absolutely necessary for the classrooms to evolve from the traditional methods to methods that would be more effective for students' learning and preparing them for the future.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Blog Post #7
Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
In Randy Pausch's last lecture, he discusses his life and what he's achieved thus far and encourages his audience to pursue their goals and do everything in their power to reach them. Randy Pausch is such a remarkable teacher and human being. His lectures and life story are so inspiring and encourages me to be the best teacher I can be. He also encourages me to teach my students things that will better their education and that they can also use in their lives.
Randy Pausch begins his lecture by remembering his football coach who he said was hard on him in one particular practice and at the end of the practice, the assistant coach reminded him that it was for his own good that his coach was so hard on him. He taught him that when people stop telling you what you did wrong, then that means they have given up on you. I believe this is so true. It is so necessary for us as teachers to never give up on our students. Teachers, along with parents, are the guiding light for children and if we no longer have faith in them, who will? It is our responsibility to steer them in the right direction and if they make a mistake, we should teach them that mistakes are okay, as long as you learn from those mistakes and correct them in the future. I would not be the student, mother, and young woman that I am today if my teachers or parents had ever given up on me. I must remember that in my future career.
Pausch's most important piece of advice for us all would be to never give up. Of course, we've heard this so many times before. But coming from Pausch (knowing his terminally ill condition), it seemed to take on a whole new meaning. Pausch had been told by his doctors that he only had 3-6 month of a healthy life left. Many people in his position would just choose to give up on life, but Pausch continued on to lecture because it was truly his passion. He was such a leader and innovative in the classroom and implemented new techniques that had never been done before. Pausch knew how to inspire his students and to also have fun while doing so. I believe that is one of the most important aspects of being a teacher. You must know how to engage your students and make learning FUN for them. This is exactly what Randy Pausch did. I hope one day I can be half as great of a teacher as he was.
Lastly, Pausch's lecture makes me think about my own future goals and what I hope to accomplish in the future and what I have already accomplished thus far. What will my legacy be? I am young, and I still have my life ahead of me but as Randy Pausch so eloquently demonstrated, life can sometimes be shorter than we think so it is important for me to start working towards my goals now. I think my most important goal is to be a successful teacher who leaves a mark on my students. I don't want to be one of those teachers who students don't even remember once they graduate. I want to be an outstanding educator who goes the extra mile for my students, so when they graduate from high school and even college, they will remember me as their elementary school teacher who always pushed them to work harder and to do things that they never thought were possible.
In Randy Pausch's last lecture, he discusses his life and what he's achieved thus far and encourages his audience to pursue their goals and do everything in their power to reach them. Randy Pausch is such a remarkable teacher and human being. His lectures and life story are so inspiring and encourages me to be the best teacher I can be. He also encourages me to teach my students things that will better their education and that they can also use in their lives.
Randy Pausch begins his lecture by remembering his football coach who he said was hard on him in one particular practice and at the end of the practice, the assistant coach reminded him that it was for his own good that his coach was so hard on him. He taught him that when people stop telling you what you did wrong, then that means they have given up on you. I believe this is so true. It is so necessary for us as teachers to never give up on our students. Teachers, along with parents, are the guiding light for children and if we no longer have faith in them, who will? It is our responsibility to steer them in the right direction and if they make a mistake, we should teach them that mistakes are okay, as long as you learn from those mistakes and correct them in the future. I would not be the student, mother, and young woman that I am today if my teachers or parents had ever given up on me. I must remember that in my future career.
Pausch's most important piece of advice for us all would be to never give up. Of course, we've heard this so many times before. But coming from Pausch (knowing his terminally ill condition), it seemed to take on a whole new meaning. Pausch had been told by his doctors that he only had 3-6 month of a healthy life left. Many people in his position would just choose to give up on life, but Pausch continued on to lecture because it was truly his passion. He was such a leader and innovative in the classroom and implemented new techniques that had never been done before. Pausch knew how to inspire his students and to also have fun while doing so. I believe that is one of the most important aspects of being a teacher. You must know how to engage your students and make learning FUN for them. This is exactly what Randy Pausch did. I hope one day I can be half as great of a teacher as he was.
Lastly, Pausch's lecture makes me think about my own future goals and what I hope to accomplish in the future and what I have already accomplished thus far. What will my legacy be? I am young, and I still have my life ahead of me but as Randy Pausch so eloquently demonstrated, life can sometimes be shorter than we think so it is important for me to start working towards my goals now. I think my most important goal is to be a successful teacher who leaves a mark on my students. I don't want to be one of those teachers who students don't even remember once they graduate. I want to be an outstanding educator who goes the extra mile for my students, so when they graduate from high school and even college, they will remember me as their elementary school teacher who always pushed them to work harder and to do things that they never thought were possible.
Progress Report For PLN Project #10
I have created my Personal Learning Network (PLN) while enrolled in EDM 310. I organize all of my websites and blogs using Symbaloo. This program makes everything easy and so much fun, while right at my fingertips! On my Symbaloo I have links for my Gmail, EDM 310 class blog, the Mobile Register as well as CNN, Youtube, Twitter, Blogger, and Facebook. This tool is very useful to me now and I can only imagine how beneficial it will be in my future classroom by helping me to keep up with current events, as well as logging different websites that can be used to supplement my teaching.
C4T #2
I visited the blog of David Wees, a mathematics teacher at Stratford Hall in Vancouver, BC. Wees's first blog post that I read titled "New Math Equals Trouble, Education Expert Says" was a rant about an article written by Michael Zwaagstra. Wees was particularly disturbed by the comments that Zwaagstra made attributing student's lack of understanding of math based on the fact that teachers did not correctly teach the "new math" and that students should know basic mathematical skills. Zwaagstra made many accusations without the necessary resources to back it up. Wees wrote that having a complete understanding of math was about knowing both basic computational skills, problem solving and understanding the subject as a whole. I agreed with Wees and commented that as a student, I believe it is important to be well-rounded and to know various aspects and skills in a subject, rather than just the basics.
In Wees's second post titled "Math of the Game Portal" and in this post Wees talked about a video game Portal , a game which used math in order to win. Wees discussed how he used algebraic equations, strategy, logic and puzzle solving in order to win each level of this game. I commented and expressed how wonderful this could be to use in a classroom because it would be fun and engaging for students, while also reinforcing necessary mathematical skills.
In Wees's second post titled "Math of the Game Portal" and in this post Wees talked about a video game Portal , a game which used math in order to win. Wees discussed how he used algebraic equations, strategy, logic and puzzle solving in order to win each level of this game. I commented and expressed how wonderful this could be to use in a classroom because it would be fun and engaging for students, while also reinforcing necessary mathematical skills.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Blog Post #6
The Networked Student
After watching The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler, it caused me to learn a lot more about EDM 310 and why it is so important. I admit that when I first started EDM 310 I was so overwhelmed and often thought to myself, why is all of this technology talk so important? From my first day until now, I have learned TONS of new information that I would have maybe never known if I wouldn't have taken the class. I understand the advantages to being a networked student, and I realize that the skills I am learning now will last a lifetime and help me to become a technologically-literate and well informed teacher in the future.
Wendy Drexler asks the question "Why does a networked student even need a teacher?" I can understand why many people would think that a networked student would have no need for teacher. The student finds all of the information on his own and creates his own personal learning environment that teaches him things that he needs to know. However, what good would all this information be if the student did not know how to correctly use and interpret it? There is such a large amount of information on the internet, some of which is useless and can often be misinterpreted. In order for the student to learn as much as he can from his network, he needs the necessary skills in order to use this information. That is where the teacher comes in. The teacher is a guide for the student, there to help him learn the skills necessary to make the most of his network. Even though it is left up to the student to create his own network and learn from it, the teacher is the key fact in helping him to create it.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
The 7th grader's personal learning environment is similar and different in many ways from the blog that students create in EDM 310. In the 7th grader's blog, both her personal and school information is located on the blog. However, on our blogs in EDM 310 only school-related information is posted. In EDM 310, we have different assignments and posts that are due every week, while the 7th grader can choose what to do each day. In my opinion, EDM 310 blogs are more structured, and while we have freedom to write our own opinions about different assignments and topics, every post is one that is assigned to us and that we must do by the due date. The 7th grader talks about how she contacts different teachers and people in the education field about different topics, which is similar to our C4T assignments. Overall, regardless of what type of PLE we create, they are all useful in helping students learn and develop a network that will help us in the future.
After watching The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler, it caused me to learn a lot more about EDM 310 and why it is so important. I admit that when I first started EDM 310 I was so overwhelmed and often thought to myself, why is all of this technology talk so important? From my first day until now, I have learned TONS of new information that I would have maybe never known if I wouldn't have taken the class. I understand the advantages to being a networked student, and I realize that the skills I am learning now will last a lifetime and help me to become a technologically-literate and well informed teacher in the future.
Wendy Drexler asks the question "Why does a networked student even need a teacher?" I can understand why many people would think that a networked student would have no need for teacher. The student finds all of the information on his own and creates his own personal learning environment that teaches him things that he needs to know. However, what good would all this information be if the student did not know how to correctly use and interpret it? There is such a large amount of information on the internet, some of which is useless and can often be misinterpreted. In order for the student to learn as much as he can from his network, he needs the necessary skills in order to use this information. That is where the teacher comes in. The teacher is a guide for the student, there to help him learn the skills necessary to make the most of his network. Even though it is left up to the student to create his own network and learn from it, the teacher is the key fact in helping him to create it.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
The 7th grader's personal learning environment is similar and different in many ways from the blog that students create in EDM 310. In the 7th grader's blog, both her personal and school information is located on the blog. However, on our blogs in EDM 310 only school-related information is posted. In EDM 310, we have different assignments and posts that are due every week, while the 7th grader can choose what to do each day. In my opinion, EDM 310 blogs are more structured, and while we have freedom to write our own opinions about different assignments and topics, every post is one that is assigned to us and that we must do by the due date. The 7th grader talks about how she contacts different teachers and people in the education field about different topics, which is similar to our C4T assignments. Overall, regardless of what type of PLE we create, they are all useful in helping students learn and develop a network that will help us in the future.
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