Blog Post #9

Mr. McClung's Post- What I've Learned This Year (2008-2009)

     In Mr. McClung's post, he discusses different things that he has learned over the year teaching. Many of the things that he mentioned in his post are things that I have taken time to think about as a future educator. Mr. McClung discusses the fact that the classroom is not all about him, the teacher. I am humbled that as a teacher, I have the duty to help, guide, and mentor my students. I see that every student comes to the classroom with prior experiences and knowledge, and I am to guide them to think deeper.
     Perfection is something that Mr. McClung says that all teachers want to achieve with lessons and overall classroom time. I think about my future classroom, and how I will execute discussions and lessons. Let me put it this way....I know that I will never be perfect. The perfect teacher is Christ, and through him I will be the best educator I can be.
     Being a student and part-time worker, I can relate to Mr. McClung's mention of work tension. He says that communication is key. That is right! I see time and time again that communicating and talking the issue out can relieve stress and solve the problem quicker. He also talks about how teachers set the bar of expectations high for students. I know that as a future educator and parent (one day), I will set expectations that my students and children will not always achieve. Encouragement and care when those expectations are not met are important. I will never belittle a student or child, I will always encourage hard work and perseverance.
     I was wondering when Mr. McClung would mention something about my old friend, technology! (Or should I say, new friend..ha ha) He explains not to be afraid of technology! I am warming up to all of the cool and exciting things that technology does and will continue to do in the classroom.
     Throughout his school year, he has learned to listen to his students. Doesn't every student have a different view and opinion? Doesn't every student learn in a different way? In order to understand our students, we need to listen to them. The last point that he talks about is to never stop learning. We have to be a sponge in this word, soak up all we can!
     I really enjoyed reading what Mr. McClung learned that year of his teaching career. It was neat to read the thoughts of a teacher in the beginning years of his career.

Mr. McClung's Post-  What I Have Learned This Year (2009-2010)




     This year is Mr. McClung's second full year of teaching, and his refection is as interesting as the last! The first point that he discusses is to adapt to situations. He explains that he was forced out of his comfort zone this particular year because he was teaching junior high, and on top of that- Social Studies and History classes. He saw that the junior high students were more independent compared to the 6th graders that he taught the year before. Mr. McClung mentions to never get comfortable, and that change makes teachers better. I see that as a future educator I will be faced with many things. I know that I will have to adapt to the school I work in, and be able to adapt to the subjects and students that I will be teaching. Change is a good thing!
     He realized this year that his students had never been taught to "think for themselves". I look back at my passive high school experience, and see that I was not encouraged to think for myself. I will encourage my students to see a problem or issue, and THINK through it! School moms....I believe that my mom would be considered one of those. He says to become good friends with a school mom, they can really help you out. I see this play out in my husband's work situation. My husband teaches and coaches at a high school, and he has become great friends with some of the cute little old ladies in the front office. They take care of him! I will keep this advice in mind!
     Don't be afraid to be passionate about a subject! Back to my husband... he is VERY passionate about Math- and his students know it. He is a handsome, crazy, Math nerd. Mr. McClung says that he is "willing to do anything to make the sell". I must let my students know that I am excited and care about what I am teaching them.
     I am not much of a control freak, but who knows what will happen when I step into my classroom. I am taking this nice man's advice- seeing what is important and deciding what is not so important will save me time and headache. Also, I need to be consistent. It is important to be consistent with everything in life, I feel. I am a work in progress, just like Mr. McClung, and I always will be!


     

Book Trailer- Click, Clack, Quackity- Quack

Project #11 Short Movie

My Favorite Teacher

Blog Post #8

This is How We Dream, Parts 1&2


     In the videos, This is How We Learn Parts 1&2, Dr. Richard Miller gives presentations on multimedia writing. I was in awe of his presentation itself, I had trouble listening to what he was discussing! I feel that technology is definitely shaping many aspects of our lives, especially writing. When watching these videos,    I can't help but to ask myself am I ready? I remember back to when I first used word processor. Man, was it cool! Little did I know I would enroll in a class called EDM 310, that is constantly introducing programs and such that word doesn't hold a candle to! As a future educator, I think that with experience with such programs would prepare me for writing with different multimedia technologies.
     As for my students, I think that there is no doubt that students are ready for this type of learning, thinking, and writing. It seems word processor is becoming a thing of the past! Students are always eager to learn when it involves something- such as technology that they are interested in. Now that I think about it, I really wouldn't call technology an interest, I would go so far as to say that for today's youth, technology is life!
     While watching Dr. Miller's video and hearing so many other's thoughts, I am confirmed more and more of how serious I need to be about technology and how it is implemented in the classroom. If I plan to teach effectively, I will need the skills and attitudes of a technological literate educator. I do not have to sacrifice my old-fashioned way of thinking, I can mix it up with technology!



Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12


     After reading Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12, the first thing I thought was wow! This gal can write. If she wrote a book, I would read it! Her wit and intelligence is something I feel makes a great writer. I too see why this came very close to what Dr. Miller was discussing in the videos. Carly devoted her time to see that this post was a display of her educational philosophy, and threw in some cool things. The assignment that she came up with was a great representation of multimedia writing because while doing the assignment/project, the student would be able to write their own story about their teaching philosophy through pictures, video, links, etc. This is truly awesome!

The Chipper Series & EDM 310 for dummies


     In the The Chipper Series Video, Chipper and Dr. Strange are having a conversation about EDM 310. Chipper has not been doing her assignments, and has not been on time with her work. I have realized that EDM 310 is and should be one of my top priorities this semsester, not just because of the amount of work, but the importance of my time management. 

 
      Likewise, in the EDM 310 for Dummies Video, some students are explaining the ins and outs of EDM 310. This  video is hilarious, and making a EDM 310 manual would be fun! These two videos did give me a glance of what I should expect while taking EDM 310 this semester, and how to succeed!

     As far as my interest in making videos, I think that it would be fun to make a video portraying a "traditional" classroom without technology, and compare it to the classroom of the future. I would have the video focus on the engagement of the students in the classroom, and how technology is shaping the lives of young students today. I see the teacher asking the students to turn their books to page 30, and the students asking the teacher what a "book" is. I think it would be a funny video, and it would also show how education is developing into a tech-savy field.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn


     In the video, Learn to Change, Change to Learn, distinguished educators  discussed the reality of how  education is changing. Throughout these weeks in EDM 310, I have seen and heard many things that point educators in the way of the change of education. I as a future educator see the importance of that change that is happening everyday. One thing that I loved about this video was that they not only talked about the changes in technology that are effecting education, they talked about the way students are reacting to the "traditional" classroom.
     The individuals in the video mentioned that the classroom should not be confined to just the four walls of the classroom, but to the whole world! They mentioned museums, and active learning. Walking around, gathering information...  being active. My high school experience was passive, I have said that many times. I will strive to be the best educator I can be with my student's interests in mind.





Scavenger Hunt 2.0


#1--- Locate a tool that is similar to Twitter/Facebook and provides a social platform for teachers, parents, and students. Create an account as a teacher and write a paragraph or two about how you could use this site in your classroom. Check!


Edmodo is the tool that I have found that is similar to Facebook and Twitter. I have created an account as a teacher, and I see all the cool things that I could use in my classroom! With this tool, I can write notes, alerts, post assignments, quizzes, and polls. I can create a group discussion with my students and their parents. Also, I am able to connect with other teachers. This tool would be great because it is very organized! I am able to send notifications out to my students and parents, and they are able to reply back. Also, I can upload or create a quiz for my students to use as homework or a home review for a test. This is would be very helpful for the students to have a fun review of material at home.

#2---Find a tool to make-your-own comic strip. Create a comic and post a picture of it in your blog.
Check!


The tool that I have found to make my comic strip is Make Beliefs Comix. Here is my comic!

#3----Find a tool that you have never used. Summarize some of it's special features. Check! Gizmoz and Digimi are video tools that I have never used before. With these tools, you are able to create your oen avatar with expressions, clothing, hair, eyes, and makeup. Every setting has a different transformation and morph. Some of these tools are used for game developers, and they offer game developing kits! 

PLN Post #1- Progress Report

   Over the next few weeks, I will be gathering resources for my PLN.These resources will be tools and mostly people that will be in my Personal Learning Network. My learning network will extend out of the 4 walls of the University.  So far, I have been researching on Health Education. I am trying to compile all of my information to make a few lists to maybe contact these people by email, twitter, and Facebook. I have been thinking, and it would make sense to make note of professors here at the University to include in my PLN. When I find someone that I think would be a great resource, I will gather their contact information. For websites that I want to use as resources, I will research them to see if they are credible, and research the people who are behind the websites. Here we go!

Project #9b

C4T #2

Post #1


This week I am assigned to Mrs. Dorothy Burt's blog, Manaiakalina. Her most recent post was about printing individual blog out into a book. Dorothy has done this and given the printed blog to people as gifts and keepsakes. This is a very interesting blog post! Below is my comment:




Hi!
    My name is Lindsay Curtis, and like the students above, I too am from the University of South Alabama, majoring in Health Education. I would have never thought of printing out blogs! Now that I think of it, it really would be a great gift, and a keepsake. Even though I am required to keep this blog for my class, EDM 310- I feel that I will keep blogging! I like reading and exploring the thoughts and ideas of others all around the world!  By printing out the blog, it kind of tells a story! I know that at the end of the semester, I could probably print out my blog, and see how my posts improved over the semester! Thank you for your post and ideas!

              Have a great week!
                Lindsay Curtis



Post #2

This week, I returned to the teacher's blog, and read her most recent blog post. I was pleased to see a post on Netbooks, and the effect they are having on students. Here is the link to her blog post: Netbooks Post

Below is my comment:

Hi! It is Lindsay Curtis, once again, from the University of South Alabama Education Dept. I really enjoyed reading this post. I haven't had any experience on a Netbook, but I am aware of the impact that technology in general can have on education. Just by taking this technology class, EDM 310- I see how interesting and fun schoolwork and homework can be! As a future educator, I will strive to make learning fun and exciting for my students. Thank you for your post!

-Lindsay Curtis

Podcast: The Freedom Writers

Blog Post #7

The Networked Student- By: Wendy Drexler

   In the video, The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler, the Networked Student is introduced. This student does not use textbooks, and does not attend many lectures. Connectivism is a concept that I was introduced to for the first time while watching this video. The networked student learns through all means of technology. He/she blogs about opinions, and what they have learned, and they listen to podcasts from any professor they want.
     I think that this video is very interesting, but at the same time, gloomy. I use the word gloomy because of the role that the teacher plays. The question at the end of the video is "What role does the teacher play?", and the answer is guidance, communication, and helping distinguish good from bad resources. I have very mixed emotions on the concept of the networked student. I might as well say that the concept of a networked student is a reality. I take college courses where the teacher is no more than for guidance and communication. I benefit from technology, we all do, but the teacher , teaches. I appreciate technology, I really do... but too much of something can have negative effects.

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment 


     In the video A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment, a 7th grader practically gave you a tour of what a day at school entails for her and her classmates. I can see how this video relates to Wendy's video above because this shows a day as a networked student. The student walked through how she made presentations and how she is able to organize all of her work.
     When I compare her PLE to my PLN, it is very different. (Except for this class, EDM310.) In all of my classes, I have bookwork, professors who lecture, and tests to take every few weeks. Believe it or not, I am satisfied with my current PLE. Granted I am a 90 year-old woman trapped in a 20 year-old body...call me old-fashioned, I don't care. I like lecture. I also like technology---- just in moderation. I like this video. It depicts the networked student perfectly.