Blog Assignment #6

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
The video was entertaining and informative. I love the characters and how the video was operated, how the characters came to life. When I first started watching the video I was not sure what a networked student was. It sent questions to my brain. Then watching the video I learned that the networked student is a student who uses more than one network to learn and study. With all this technology now days you would not expect a student to ever need a teacher anymore. With all the information floating on the internet then why do we need teachers?? Well, they answered that. In order for students to find that information or even use the technology to search for it you must have someone who already knows how, who can teach to the students their know hows. The teacher is the one who teaches the student how to build the network and take advantage of learning opportunities. The teacher offers guidance when the student gets stuck, how to communicate properly and ask respectfully for help from experts, how to differentiate between good information and propaganda, how to event a resource, how to turn a web search into a scavenger hunt and get excited when the students finds the content. The teacher helps the student organize all that information in hopes the student will maintain his/her learning network and use it to navigate his/her future and creatively solve problems.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
I believe this 7th grader is using technology to its advanatge. She has been taught to use and navigate through the internet and put her PLN together well. She has everything she needs a click away. It was really great to see someone else's PLN and see how they are using it to better themselves and learn. I think it was a well presented PLN. Keep up the great work.

Project #8 Podcast

C4K Summary #1

Commenting on kid’s blogs was very fun. It is very interesting to see a 2nd or 3rd grader writing a blog and using it very well. I commented on four children and those children were Dominic, Elsie, Cade, and Danielle, Sione, and Jephte. They all had great blog posts.

DOMINIC
The first comment was on a child named Dominic. Dominic is a 2nd grader and he read Smarter than Squirrels by Lucy Nolan. In his story Down Girl and Sit steal a bag of donuts and run off with them and their owner then runs after Down Girl and Sit. Dominic then says that it reminded him of when his dog stole some donuts. I posted the following comment: Hello Dominic,
My name is LeeAnn Bone and I am in a class called EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. In my class we write about so many different things and post it on our blog, like your teacher has done for you on your class blog. While looking at many different blogs I came across someone who loved animals so much. She loved all her animals, especially her dogs. When I read your story I thought about her blog. I wonder if her dog ever stole some doughnuts from her? I love your story. Do you know why they stole the doughnuts? Think they were just hungry or wanting to play? Keep up the great work Dominic! ^_^

ELSIE, CADE, and DANIELLE
The next comment was on a group of kids named Elsie, Cade, and Danielle. The kids were put into groups of two or three and then the children were given a couple minutes to talk with each other on which story they wanted to use for their interview book report and last they were instructed on how to use the notepad app on the iPad to create their interview questions. After reviewing how to interview each other and practice they began to interview. One student would operate the camera; one child asked the interview questions, while the last child answered the questions. I then posted the following comment: Hello. I am a student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. This was a great video. It made me smile. It is good that the children are getting a use out of this iPad. I am looking forward to more videos. Keep up the great work!

SIONE
The third comment was on a a girl named Sione. She posted a video about a sports highlights. The sport was rugby. The game was very neat. She really loves that sport also. I then left the following comment: I am glad you posted this Sione. It was quite interesting. I have never watched this sport before, or have ever heard of the Roosters and the Dragons. That was a great game from the look of the highlights. Both teams had some really good shots to score. Watching and reading your post makes me want to watch this type of sport. Is it called rugby or football?

JEPHTE
The last comment was on Jephte's blog post. He had posted what they had been doing in class. They made furniture from paper and colored it. I found it to be quite awesome. I then left the comment: Hey Jephte, my name is LeeAnn. I am in a EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. These furniture design ideas are really great. I love how creative you could be with these. I probably will do one myself from the instructions you gave up above. I like your piece, the color blue is really beautiful. How has the furniture been working out?
I found all these posts to be really great. Kids are learning so much from technology and how to use it properly. I hope they keep going and learn as much as they can. For it seems that in the future technology will be used quite often.

Project #9a

Blog Assignment #5

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?
I see what he is saying. Finally. When I was trying to read his blog my eyes kept getting out of focus and made my head hurt. I think technology can overload us and be too much on us at a point. Technology can be very useful yes, but lets not let it run our lives. I do not think kids should just depend on technology when in the classroom. There are many ways to get across what you are trying to get them to learn. Technology is one…of many. I think humans rely too much on technology. I think we should know about technology and how to use it but lets not depend strictly on it. What if all of a sudden technology did not exist?? Think everyone could go about their lives? No, probably not and to me that is a problem.
I found out that Dr. McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky. He also is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the nation’s only academic center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and was a co-creator of the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? Who would have thought.

The iSchool Initiative and Zeitgeist Young Mind's Entry by Travis Allen
Wow, that device look like a really interesting useful piece of technology. It looks as if it can really save on money for books and calculators and such. I like that he is taking a step forward and trying to help out our education. I think it is a good idea. My question is though, Will it work correctly? I don't want to depend on this item and it let me down. I want to know before hand i it will work right and if it messes up when I get it can it be fixed or do I have a useless piece of technology now that I spent about 100 dollars on.
I like that he has gotten his idea out in the open and has a team of students working with him going to different school to help out in the education department. Showing everyone how useful this item will be in the future. Having his idea out in the open gives people to see this and help make it work. Give their opinions and also help out with education. I like the idea behind this, but I do not want to strictly depend on it to help with homework and calculations and such. I want a back-up plan.

Jennifer Chamber’s post and Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir
That was truly amazing. The fact that they have not met each other and this will be the first time performing together. It was really amazing. I loved it. What a way to use the internet. I would have never thought to even try anything like this at all. That actually inspires me to go out and try something like this with a group of friends. Maybe not singing but something similar with the usage of the internet and video.

Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts
I think Robert's thinks teaching means to be engaging not entertaining. He wants teaching to be active, leaning, has long-term results, is meaningful and applicable, solves problems, and uses the creativity of the participant. He does not want it to be entertaining.
I think I have to agree with him. Teaching needs to be engaging not entertaining. Since teachers are no longer the source of knowledge we as teachers need to show children how to use the technology,how to handle to resources out there, how to use the information to help them. Since there will be so much use of technology in the future we need to teach or children how to properly use it and where and when to use it correctly. We need to teach them about technology and everything that comes with. I don't like to depend on technology, but it is good to know how to use it since it will most likely be around for a while.

Blog Assignment #4

Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog, Langwitches, and 100 Ways to Use Your ipod to Learn and Study Better
I listened and/or read The Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog, Langwitches, and 100 Ways to Use Your ipod to Learn and Study Better. Each provided me with valuable information. I really liked each of them too. They were well put together. I really liked how the 3rd graders made a Read-Along Audiobook. I liked the story that was put together, it was very creative. The 3rd graders really used their imaginations. It was really neat. I wouldn't mind doing something like that.
The Eagle Nest Radio was really inspiring. They did such a great job putting it together. The way they started out with one child then passing it too the next was neat. I actually learned some facts about sharks and the Romans. The 3rd graders really got into what they were doing. They had fun which made it even better. I would use this in a podcast also. Also when useing just their voices, the reader, has to visualize what they are doing and saying. The 3rd graders did a great job telling where they were and describing it. As i listened to them I made a movie in my head. This was a great way to do a podcast.
Lastly, I do not own a ipod, but I know the basics about them. I never knew their was so many ways to use a ipod effectively. I never imagined you could learn and study better with useing a ipod. I just thought it was for music. Some of the programs I found interesting was Mogopop in which you use this program to enhance iPod learning by adding notes, video and illustrations to audiobooks and study notes, Portable Notes in which you use this guide to help you install Portable Notes on your iPod, making it easy to review class notes and study guides even if you’re away from your computer, and Books on Board in which you can search for ebooks and audio books on this site, in categories ranging from Women’s Reading to Textbooks to Classics to Business. Those are just a couple that I like. There are many many more you can use and learn from. There are some in which you can use in your classroom and tutorials.
I really liked listening and/or reading this material. It was interesting to see or hear how 3rd graders used technology and they did it so well.

C4T #1 Summary

I was given a Art Viewer blog page for my Comment for teachers project. The most recent post was a painting of a cola bottle with a lemon and a lime lying next to it. The painting was almost life like. It was truly a magnificent piece of art work. I left the following comment:

The Art Viewer page


This time it was sculptures. They all looked so good. Each inspired with creativity and imagination. I really loved them and might try to sculp something myself and let my creative juices flow from my head to my hands to the end of my fingers. I left the following comment:

The Art Viewer page

Blog Assignment #3

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
I liked what Mrs. Hines had to say. I think she is right. I believe technology is not the most important thing in our world for children to learn. Yes, it is going to be a great asset to use, but it is not the most important. I think teachers need to be great learners before trying to teach childen and they learn from the teacher.
When I go to teach my kids, I hope they can learn from me. I want to inspire them to do the same in the future. Learn rather than forget. I want to change up the way some schools are teaching their kids. Give the children information, they memorize it, and then write it on paper and forget what was taught. I want the children to learn and it is up to me wether that happens or not. Mrs. Hines Post

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
I would have to say that what Karl says in his blog makes sense. Teachers need to be technology literate. They need to be able to understand the technology themselves before trying to teach it to others. Especially whe it comes to children. A child will take everything in you say and pass it to others, so you want to teach them correctly. Teachers need to learn the information about technology first before trying to pass it on to children.
I think teachers should be able to understand technology but not focus on it as a main priority when teaching. I think technology helps to teach but you yourself has to know the information before letting technology help out. You must learn before you can teach others. Karl Fischs Post

Gary Hayes Social Media Count
When watching the count change I realize their is a abundant amount of people in this world using technology for any amount of reasoning. The number changes so quickly and climbs higher and higher. So much technology been used in a a few seconds, a minute, and the numbers constantly go up. It makes me think that people are very dependent on technolgy. It also makes me think, "What would happen if technology suddenly no longer existed?" How would people handle it and what would they do.
To me it means that technology will be a great way to teach in the classroom if used properly and correctly. Do not depend on it, but let it help you out while teaching and get children involved in what your doing so they learn. Since their is so many people using technology round the world, it would be great for finding sources and useing them to interpret ideas ina classroom and such. I do not want to rely on technology though. It is useful yes, but there are other ways for childen to learn rather tha just by technology.

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
Thouh this video shows students and what they are dealing with, have you wonder what about the teachers? Teachers have been in our situations before, they were once students also. A student goes to college to get a education, to learn. Not to facebook, twitter, skip class, or not do work. If that is all they do then why pay to get a education, move over and let someone who wants to get a education take your spot.
I really liked this video. It was put together really well. There was a lot of situations to think about. Why does a student get on facebook when in class? Why does a student skip? Why does a student cheat? If they are here to learn and get a education that should not be there main focus when in class. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftechliterateteacher%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

Blog Assignment #2

Did You Know? by Karl Fish and Scott McLeod
This video helps you see just how big the rest of the world is compared to the United States. It looks as if we are running behind. Our technology is changing fast and everyday and is not letting up. Technology has exploded out of water and is now used for everything in everyday life. Without it, I do not believe there would be much running in the world.
The video shocked me because I did not know just how much the United States is slacking in. China is becoming the #1 English speaking country. The United states should be #1 considering we have the majority of English speaking people. In India, 25% of its population with the highest IQ’s is more than our total population in the United States. The United States needs to better educate our young ones. We need to better adapt to technology rising and being part of our everyday lives. We need not to take it for granted. Did You know?

Mr. Winkles Wakes by Matthew Needleman
I think in this video it seems as if our education is going to always be the same. 1000 tears from now our educators will still be using the "Burp back method" which is when your kids are filled with information and then burp in back up on paper just to pass but never actually learning the information. I don't think this is working for our kids for the best. Now there is also technology involved.
We need to start intergrating technology more in schools since it is becoming more and more involved in our lives. Soon that is the only thing students will be learning from. We need to start getting our students involved with technology and have them actually learn in school, not just memorize and forget. Mr. Winkle Wakes

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
I think some of what Mr.Robinson is true. I do not think schools crush creativity, but they do tell children through the years that if you make a mistake it is the worst thing you can make. I find that not to be true. I think it is ok to make mistakes. I think it helps you and teaches you in the long run to be better at what you do. If you make a mistake, no problem, just try again.
I agree that we grow out of creaivity rather than into. Over the years my creativity has went down because of school. I make a mistake in my creativness and it made me feel I never needed to do that again ever rather than rearrange it and learn from it. I think the arts shouldn't be lower than any other subject. I think it should be equal instead. We need to get our creativity back. Sir Robinson

Cecelia Gault (Young Student in Finland) Interviews Sir Ken Robinson
I agree with Sir Robinson. I think that everyone is creative and they do have the ability to be creative. I do not think that only certain people have the creative abilities, I think that the ones who can perform on a higher level is because they make mistakes and learn from it.
You just have to get into. Make mistakes, it is ok. I would want to teach the arts as a equal to other subects. I think the arts are as just important. Cecelia Gault Interview

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
I like what this video implies. Get students involved with all technology. Help them improve their ways to learn. Know how to use technology to the fullest. Technology is advancing so quickly and will keep growing. It shows how important technology is in classrooms and we need to get our students more involved with it. Students will be able to put all effort into something they like to do and we can learn from it.
Vicki Davis