Today’s Teacher

I’m going to ease on down, ease on down the road, I won’t carry nothing that might be a load, I’m going to ease on down ease on down the road.

Dorothy in the Wizard Oz, visited a place she had never been.  It was unfamiliar, scary, challenging, there was uncertainity, confusion, & yet there was an element of comfort.  Well that describes my  EDTS experience.  Whew, I made it. 

At the beginning of the semester we were asked to complete a survey.  The survey’s questions revolved around how much technology knowledge we acquired over the years.  What was our level of expertise and more info.  Of course my responses were skimpy, because most of the terms were unfamiliar (Oz). 

Today at the end of the semester I may still be in Oz, but I now can communicate & use most of the technology that I’ve been exposed to.  I will need more opportunities to practice using the technology before implementing them all in the classroom.  Hands on activities have proven to be the most effective methods and observing how my peers (the network) created projects was useful on this journey. 

Through the podcast (I enjoyed), webquest (interesting), powerpoint (wow), wiki (informative), blogging (thought provoking), inspiration/kidspiration (links, pictures, active participation, oh my), google docs (projects completed over the net), social networking (facebook, myspace), cyber safety, & consistent checking of e-mail.  Some of my peers were glad, because I would check my e-mail once every other week.  Who knew this was an important form of communication. 

It is my goal to review a great deal of the information covered in class & find some creative ways to use it in the classroom.  I like free…how can I make available for those students in urban areas to have the same freedom and access to technology and internet as their suburban neighbors. 

 All students deserve the opportunity, using every resource available to learn and grow. 

Tags: class summary, reflection

Well almost lights, camera, action I enjoyed working on the podcast.  It had meaning, purpose, and will be published.  It was great to have time to work on individual projects and to receive assistance on the spot.  Talk about interactive learning.  I can understand a student or anyone getting excited about creating something that connects with their schema.

However, it is apparent that working from a PC & working from a Mac offer different challenges in application.  As I worked on the podcast, I realized I had less frustration and more successes than in previous classes.  My podcast focused on after school martial arts.  What has martial arts and teaching have in common?  Both are interact active, instruct, guide, encourage, promote, challenge, structured, flexibile, and are open to a diverse group of learners.  Both can incorporate and acknowledge Gardner’s intelligences.  Differentiation is essential if all students are going to progress and grow.  Both will build students abilities and skills to critique, analyze, and interpret.  

As I began to search for pictures that would correlate with the script I began to think of radio broadcasting and reaching people who I would not meet personally, but because of a podcast they would be introduced to some of the benefits of the martial arts. 

Now I am wondering how can I create a web page and include podcasts.  However, I will need someone who can teach, guide, encourage, and praise.  Oops, I guess that is what teaching is all about.  Each one Teach One

It has been a great learning experience to work with 3 S’s team.  Wehave taken the strengths of each member and used them to build or create a power point.  Educators need to understand, experience, and model the expectations we have for students.  It is unfair to students when we give them assignments that are too demanding and the expectation and requirements seem impossible to achieve.  Why do we encourage group work, pair share, or collaboration?  We, educators understand that in today’s world…success is spelled t-e-a-m.

Each of my team members on the power point presentation have brought their expertise and experience to the project.  It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Steve & Sue.  I have once again learned from each of them.  We have laughed and shared frustrations, but what a wonderful time to connect with two teachers. 

I am now able to add them to my network of resources.   My network will be bigger than verizon’s.  You won’t see them nor will you know them, but I will. 

Wemust be able to identify the strenghts of each member and use it to the betterment of the project.  The old saying, “two heads are better than one”, may prove to be true when using differntiantion in the classroom.  When we encourage students to step out of their comfort zone and embrace or challenge the status quo…that is the future of innovation, critquing, and change.

Together we stand…divided we fall.

Tags: change, collaboration, excellence, powerpoint, team

I like gifts and today’s gift was beneficial, we were given a site on bibliography’s.  Now that made my day and it isn’t difficult to use…you want to know the name of it?  Some of you perhaps already knew about it.  For the rookies or newbies it was like a chocolate bar with nuts and peanut-butter freshly made.  OK the site is bibme a bibliographer maker. 

The newseum site was great, imagine getting unbiased headline newreports from newspapers around the world.  It allows you the oppourtunity to read the worlds thoughts on news events.

The dreamweaver was fun, I began to create a page on martial arts.  The page was beginning to look good.  I was inspired to transfer it to this blog, but of course that was a no can do.  Oh well, you should have seen it.

Podcasts, iTunes, or iTunes U (free classes from colleges/universities), now I will admit I didn’t know anything but iTunes.  I am amazed at what podcasts are capable of doing.  Do teenagers know that they can create podcasts?  Do teachers know they can use podcasts to assist in their teaching?  What is the limit of podcasts, I would say it would be us.  Assignments completed creatively, students being encouraged to create using their learning abilities, classrooms and homes quiet as students focus on their next creation.  Students tapping into a realm that reaches across the world.  Communicating with someone of another culture who has similar ideas, suggestions, or dreams.  Wow, it would be a shame for this wealth of knowledge to pass by students who are under served, underprivileged, and over looked.

Teachers of today and tomorrow do your part include technology and watch your students grow.

Tags: bibme, dreamweaver, newseum, podcasts

As we began our wiki project, I thought the subject matter would be interesting to research, because I figured that sooner or later I would encounter some children with emotional & behavior disorder.  Wow, I have observed a 12:1:1 classroom, where most of the students were ebd. 

It is often amazing how information learned and gathered for one reason will be beneficial and useful in another venue.  Learning and using information for more than one purpose makes learning meaningful.

I find technology useful and essential in many instances.  My point, what I learn today in class will prove beneficial perhaps not now, but at some later point…  It is my hope that the technology of today will open a door to a child who is unable to maintain themselves emotionally, physically, or any other disability.  My question is how can I be effective and instrumental in offering or discovering methods of guiding children?

Technology is available, but to whom?  I realize google & others offer a wide and vast amount of information that is free.  When families or communities don’t know or realize that there may be information available that would give them support and suggestions when interacting with children of disabilities how can I assist?  Teaching involves working with the student and their family.  How can you teach when so many other barriers are preventing the student from learning? 

A teacher plays many roles to students…which roles will you play?

Tags: emotional & behavior disorder

This was my first blog, that was entered on 10/24/08, however I think I pushed unpublished.  Sorry.

Alright so I used PowerPoint in the past.  At least I thought I did.  After Wednesdays class on powerpoint, there is no doubt in my mind that when I used powerpoint or witnessed its use it was at an amateur, novelist, beginner level.  Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps, OK that’s better.  I just needed to remind myself that the only way to go is up.  We covered a great deal of information, now I need to see which tidbit I can implement now.

I have a new respect for powerpoint and many of its gadgets.  Never mind all of the bells and whistles, but demonstrating my knowledge with the help of powerpoint how wonderful that will be.  OK now its time for me to refer to the tutorials so I can understand what we just covered.

Tags: Add new tag, powerpoint, tutorial

This is my second post on powerpoint, my first was entered on 10/24/08.  O Where o where did my blog post go?

To use or not to use is not the question.  The question will be how to use power point that will be the most effective for student’s learning.  I realize that I will need to review the tutorials offered.  My previous introduction to power point was so basic it was embarrassing to state that I even used power point in the past. 

However, as one of my peers stated: when you learn from someone who continues to learn you are accessing a flowing river.

It is great to learn and embrace things that are unfamiliar and yet offer a wealth of opportunity to reach the diverse population of students in the classroom.  Some students will embrace the “new” things they will learn about power point, and some will be similar to myself.  They will have the desire, drive, and ambition to use the technology, but may be hesitant because of the lack of knowledge.

I am the type of person that if something could go wrong with a computer I would hit that “right” button.  The computer would crash, documents lost, and people who did not want me near their computer.  But ahhh, that’s when a Dr. Ransom steps in and says baby steps.

Here is to the savvy techs, the geeks, and the newbies…ready or not power point here I come; willing, ready, and able. 

To my peers, thanks for the encouragement!

Tags: newbie, power point

After researching information on cyberbullying, it has occurred to me that more adults who are not techno savvy will need to be enlightened and informed of the detrimental effects of cyberbullying.  Children have been known to commit suicide and parents have been devastated because they did not have a clue that their child was a victim of cyberbullying. 

The “net” generation are taking advantage of the many forms of virtual or cyber communication.  From websites to blogs and videos the net generation has gained access that reaches across and around the world.

It is disturbing to know that children in this day and age remain hesitant and defenseless in fighting a bully.  A bully is a bully no matter what the methodology of approach is or the environment.  Adults experience bullying in the work place.  If you have been a victim of bullying as a child and did not resolve the issue, I believe you will be a victim as an adult. 

Children need to know how to protect and defend themselves against unwanted and unwarranted attention.  Suicide, isolation, and hiding are not options.  Children face enough obstacles that interfere with their education and growth.  We as adults, educators, administrators, police will need to be aware and stay abreast of children being harassed, threatened, and stalked.

All teachers need to establish protocols and expectations in Internet use in their classrooms and in their homes, and in your social networks (virtual & real).  Share with parents some of the guidelines you the teacher have shared in the classroom, where every child can remain safe.  Remember do not give out your personal/private information on the Internet.  You never know who is watching or waiting (children & adults). 

Keep the internet safe…talk to your children, students, and peers.

Tags: Add new tag, cyberbullying, guidelines, safety

Today’s class covered a wealth of information, as usual.  However, I find myself excited about what will be introduced each class.  Now please don’t misunderstand I enjoy learning, but the human mind can only accept so much information.  Today there was instruction on firefox add-ons, google gadgets, i google, songsterr, social bookmarking, delicious, wiki tools, social networking, voice thread, webkin 2, power point poisoning, mentalsoftness, and my favorite rubistar.

Whew!  When Dr. Ransom talked about Rubistar, it was the first website that I have had previous experience with and knew how to use it.  Of course I didn’t know about all of the benefits of Rubistar, but that’s why he’s the professor.

I relate this class to a student’s first day in the martial arts.  There is so much to learn, however you can only learn it, apply it, and remember it one step at a time.  As Ransomtech says, baby steps.  Imagine being encouraged to take baby steps and you want to master it all.  Through my years of growing physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, academically, etc. I have learned the art of “patience”.  

All of the above mentioned applications I hope to become more familiar with and apply as we continue down this road of knowledge.  Using baby, baby, baby steps.

Tags: comparison martial arts, growth, Rubistar

Today’s class was informative as always.  However, it was encouraging as we began to look into different blogs and discovered a former student of our current professor has created a blog. 

It’s ironic, because I ran into this student the week before and I asked how did he like the class when he took it.  He said it was one of his most challenging classes, but he learned so much.  His words of encouragement to me was stick with it, you will learn so much. 

I have heard and learned a great deal of information.  The blogging advantages have captured my desire to create my own and watch it explode.  A network more powerful than the support team on the mobile phones.  Whoa!  A network of people from around the world with similar interests.  I am imagining that my base of knowledge is about to explode!

When we visited a few sites and some were so similar to a web page I began to think that a non-geek could actually pull it off (a blog with a great deal of information).  After listening to a teacher with little techno knowledge, who suggested take it one step at a time. 

Watch out I could be the next techno geek…it’ll be a while so relax.

Tags: Add new tag, blog techno geek