Blog Post #10

After watching the interview with Mrs. Cassidy, I learned a lot about how she uses technology in her classroom. Through her video, Little Kids...Big Potential, she gives the audience her insight on the best ways to use the technology of the 21st century. She tells the audience about how the use of Skype and Wikis can help her students grow their own personal learning networks. It was also great to see how the children's writing improved from participating in posting blogs. In the next video, Interview with Mrs. Cassidy, Dr. Strange and Mrs. Cassidy discuss how important the usage of technology in the classroom is. I have to agree with this. I know that technology will only keep advancing and as a teacher, we should have an open mind. Mrs. Cassidy makes it clear that one should begin with his or her own interest. For example, if one is interested in sharing videos then YouTube and DiscoveryEd would be great resources. One thing I will use very often as a teacher is the SMARTboard. After completing Project 12, I have learned that the SMARTboard is capable of many fun activities and can be very helpful in the classroom. Another use of technology I will use will be blogging. I feel that this blog has made me a better writer and I have also learned so much about myself. I feel that this will be beneficial for my students because they will be able to improve on their writing skills. Some problems I could have with these techniques is that sometimes technology will not be working. I may have to change my lesson due to students not being able to use the internet. I feel students will like to be able to use technology in the classroom because they will have fun while learning.

Project #12 A

Blog Post #9

Projects in the classroom have all been very similar. Teachers hand out project assignments, a rubric, and then expect the students to enjoy the project and understand. In Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning, I enjoyed reading the tips on how to effectively promote projects in the classroom. I really enjoyed how the teacher introduced the topic. I feel that the students would be very interested in doing the project. The discussions also led to the students being even more excited about being this project. In the end, the standards were met, the students enjoyed the project, all while learning.
Next, PBL for Teachers  showed me that driving questions can change and invent new outcomes. Also, teachers can engage students in serious questions. Secondly, I watched, What Motivates Students?. One student explained that positive feedback helped motivate him. Awarding students for a good job makes students want to continue to do well. Even in adulthood, everyone likes to be praised. One video title that caught my eye was, Students Solve the Case of the Watery Ketchup. It was amazing watching this video and seeing students solve and invent through project based learning. I can not wait to see what my future students can create. Finally I read PBL and Physical Education. I thought the tips were very interesting and will put them into good use. I really liked how the students were given the opportunity to invent an exercise program for middle school students. These examples of project based learning show how important projects are at any age. I can't wait to involve my students in critical thinking.

Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning

After reading the statistics, I fall into all these percentages. My phone has become very essential in my daily life. I use my phone for music, social media, an alarm clock, and a variety of other things. Smartphones defiantly help with quick communication. With my sister living in Alaska, it makes it easy to text and call her throughout the day. Another use of my smartphone is for research. I constantly look up questions I may have or looking up the news. As future educators, our students are growing up with access to technology. When I was in school, phones and laptops were not allowed in school. Some uses for technology in the classroom is through the use of Poplet. This will allow students to research. Another way that students can make technology useful is through blogging. However, I do believe there is a time for technology to be used. Technology should be kept and monitored in the elementary school. In daily life as well, smart phones and the use should not be the only thing that a person focuses on during the day.

Blog Post #8

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?

After watching Randy Paush's last lecture, I took away a lot of great advice. From the beginning, Randy makes a great point that the cards we are dealt may not be what we had in mind, but it is how one reacts to situations that makes one stronger. Everyone has obstacles but it is by that person's choice on how to overcome. To start with, Randy Paush tells the audience about childhood dreams. When, he was a child he dreamed of being a NFL football player. I remember when I was a child that I loved to dance. My parents paid for lessons and I enjoyed it, but in the long run I got a lot more out of dancing than just learning the moves. I know that as a teacher I would like to not only teach the required lesson material but also the life lessons are important.

Project #9

C4T Post #2

In the first post of the series, I commented on Mrs. Angela Maier's blog. She advocates the "YouMatter" program. I was really inspired by her post and even signed up for her online workshops. The second teacher's blog I posted on was, Mrs. Diane Dahl. A quote she posted on her blog from a book "Five Big Ideas for Effective Teaching", was truly inspirational.

"Thus, the fixed mindset prevents individuals from achieving their potential in life - or even acknowledging what their true potential might be. People with a growth mindset, on the other hand, are more likely to keep trying until they achieve their goals, more confident that they will succeed."  

I posted on Mrs. Dahl's blog stating that she makes wonderful points on how we should all have a growth mindset, not only with children but with adults. I look forward to reading more of her blog posts.

Project #7 Part B

Video for Parents




Video for Students

Project 13 Part 1

Age of the Enlightenment and Scientific Revolution 

This project introduces important people from the Age of Enlightenment and also the Scientific Revolution. Students will be placed into groups. After the groups are selected, each group will create a presentation addressing important facts about the person that has been assigned. The creates will present these to the class then have a handout of the other students to complete. 

Lesson Plan
Calendar
Checklist
Rubric

Blog Post #7

How Do We All Become Learners?

Strengths: experienced use with computers, I pads, camera 

                  Observed technology such as Icurio,  Istation in  Baldwin County Schools
                  Open-minded 

Weaknesses: students are more familiar and adapted to this technology at a younger age

                       Unfamiliar with QR codes
                       Unfamiliar with AVL

These videos have made me more knowledgeable of technology that is used in the elementary school. Also, these videos allow students who are on the way to become an educator, to learn how to use the technology in activities for students. 

In the first video, How to make a QR code, I learned many different uses of QR codes. For one, teachers can use these to record themselves for reading lessons. These videos can be used as a study tool. The teacher can become a virtual tutor at home. I feel this could be beneficial for future classrooms because the students can access these sources at home. Another great point is students can create their own and are learning how to use recent technology. The second video I watched was, iPad Reading Center, this showed students in kindergarten using a resource to help them learn how to become a better reader. Ginger Tuck shows one of her students reading while recording himself. This allows the student to be able to playback the recording and improve on reading skills. In another video with Ginger Tuck, she shows the view about a free app called Poplet. Poplet allows students to make a map of books based on the topic. It keeps searches organized and specific. Ginger Tuck gives teachers very effective step-by-step videos to show teachers sources to use in the classroom. With the resource of Alabama Virtual Library, teachers can allows students to research easily topics on their own while learning how to find information and what to look for. In Ms. Shirley's First Grade class, the class used Discovery Education Board to create a project about the moon. Ms. Shirley even shows views how the board works. It was very simple! Another great example of the use of technology is shown in Mrs. Tassin's 2nd grade class. These students learned  how to use Board Builder to create projects. Finally, in Using iMovie and AVL, Michelle Bennett and Elizabeth Davis share how even kindergartens can use these. Michelle explained how much the students enjoyed using iMovie.  After learning about several different resources, it is extremely important to use these to the students advantage. Elementary students love using tools for learning and as a teacher I will want to encourage them to be a LEARNER.