Hooray! Another semester is coming to a close, which means we're one step closer to the end!
Best of luck to everyone in class! I'm sure I'll see many of you around.
Dr. Strange, thanks for everything!
Enjoy the summer!
Helen :)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
My EDM310 Experience
I have learned so much more from this class than I ever expected to!
Google Documents (docs, spreadsheets, forms, database) - I had no idea that these applications existed. Beside the fact that they're FREE, I love the accessibility. The ability to access them from any computer with an internet connection is awesome. Since learning about these programs at the beginning of the semester, I have taken advantage of them many, many times! I plan to spread the word about these programs... more people need to know about them.
Picassa - I had never heard of this program, but find it easy to use and really good! It's another program I plan to keep using.
Delicious - I didn't even know there were programs like this out there! It's one of the things we touched on that I still need to become more familiar with, but I do plan to take advantage of it.
Blogging - I had some experience with blogs, but after this semester, I know so much more, (especially about formatting them). I plan to use blogs in my classroom, I now see them as almost a necessity.
iTunes / Podcasts - I was pretty familiar with iTunes and had listened to a few podcasts before, but I didn't realize how many educational materials were available through iTunes (such as iTunesU). There's a lot of information available, certainly something to keep in mind for use in the classroom.
RSS Feeds - I always wondered how these worked, it's good to know how to take advantage of them now!
The only topic I wish we would have covered was creating websites, but in some ways, that's exactly what a blog is.
There's really nothing I wish we hadn't learned, I may not continue to use everything, but I'm glad I know about it.
Overall, my view of technology in the classroom has greatly changed. It's not that I felt it was completely unimportant, I just didn't realize how important it was! For that, I am grateful. I've seen how much is available on the internet (resources, information, ideas, etc.) and now know it may take a little time and patience to find what you're looking for, but it's there somewhere! I also see where networking can be very valuable. Being able to share ideas and stories helps keep us from constantly having to reinvent the wheel, we can become better teachers through each other.
I loved this class! :)
Google Documents (docs, spreadsheets, forms, database) - I had no idea that these applications existed. Beside the fact that they're FREE, I love the accessibility. The ability to access them from any computer with an internet connection is awesome. Since learning about these programs at the beginning of the semester, I have taken advantage of them many, many times! I plan to spread the word about these programs... more people need to know about them.
Picassa - I had never heard of this program, but find it easy to use and really good! It's another program I plan to keep using.
Delicious - I didn't even know there were programs like this out there! It's one of the things we touched on that I still need to become more familiar with, but I do plan to take advantage of it.
Blogging - I had some experience with blogs, but after this semester, I know so much more, (especially about formatting them). I plan to use blogs in my classroom, I now see them as almost a necessity.
iTunes / Podcasts - I was pretty familiar with iTunes and had listened to a few podcasts before, but I didn't realize how many educational materials were available through iTunes (such as iTunesU). There's a lot of information available, certainly something to keep in mind for use in the classroom.
RSS Feeds - I always wondered how these worked, it's good to know how to take advantage of them now!
The only topic I wish we would have covered was creating websites, but in some ways, that's exactly what a blog is.
There's really nothing I wish we hadn't learned, I may not continue to use everything, but I'm glad I know about it.
Overall, my view of technology in the classroom has greatly changed. It's not that I felt it was completely unimportant, I just didn't realize how important it was! For that, I am grateful. I've seen how much is available on the internet (resources, information, ideas, etc.) and now know it may take a little time and patience to find what you're looking for, but it's there somewhere! I also see where networking can be very valuable. Being able to share ideas and stories helps keep us from constantly having to reinvent the wheel, we can become better teachers through each other.
I loved this class! :)
I've tried to use Twitter; I wanted to like it, wanted to feel the same way about it as I do facebook, but so far... well, I see it's potential but I haven't been bitten by the Twitter bug.
I logged into my Twitter account just about daily, read updates, casually looked at the some of the links being sent out and then logged back off. I sent a few messages including a few direct messages and replies, but I just couldn't seem to get 'connected'. I'm not saying this isn't my own fault, I could have sent more messages out there to solicit responses, and often I had that intention, but I found myself more often than not starring at the update screen wondering "what do I say"? I felt a bit overwhelmed with Twitter, I just never found a way to get clicked in.
BUT... I still see how Twitter could be very beneficial, especially as a networking tool. Most of those I follow are centered in the education community. Being a 'future' teacher, I don't have the same thoughts going through my head as many of them, for instance, I'm not looking for classroom tips and lesson plans, I'm trying to figure out how to finish my homework and study for an upcoming exam, all while cooking dinner, chauffeuring kids and trying to maintain some order in my house. I thought there were many good ideas thrown back and forth, they just weren't relative to me at this point. Once I am teaching in the classroom, I think Twitter could be a huge asset to search for information and learn new ideas.
I am interested in is sites like GroupTweet (www.grouptweet.com) that allow you to form groups of twitter users and then read posts from members only within that group. I like this idea. For instance, setting up a group of teachers at your school, or a group that teaches the same the grade level would allow you to isolate your comments and form a group discussion relevant to that group. Then you wouldn't need to filter through the dozens of comments that may or may not interest you, but concentrate on a smaller group. Using this feature, students could be setup into groups for class discussions. There are many possibilities, you just have to find them!
I logged into my Twitter account just about daily, read updates, casually looked at the some of the links being sent out and then logged back off. I sent a few messages including a few direct messages and replies, but I just couldn't seem to get 'connected'. I'm not saying this isn't my own fault, I could have sent more messages out there to solicit responses, and often I had that intention, but I found myself more often than not starring at the update screen wondering "what do I say"? I felt a bit overwhelmed with Twitter, I just never found a way to get clicked in.
BUT... I still see how Twitter could be very beneficial, especially as a networking tool. Most of those I follow are centered in the education community. Being a 'future' teacher, I don't have the same thoughts going through my head as many of them, for instance, I'm not looking for classroom tips and lesson plans, I'm trying to figure out how to finish my homework and study for an upcoming exam, all while cooking dinner, chauffeuring kids and trying to maintain some order in my house. I thought there were many good ideas thrown back and forth, they just weren't relative to me at this point. Once I am teaching in the classroom, I think Twitter could be a huge asset to search for information and learn new ideas.
I am interested in is sites like GroupTweet (www.grouptweet.com) that allow you to form groups of twitter users and then read posts from members only within that group. I like this idea. For instance, setting up a group of teachers at your school, or a group that teaches the same the grade level would allow you to isolate your comments and form a group discussion relevant to that group. Then you wouldn't need to filter through the dozens of comments that may or may not interest you, but concentrate on a smaller group. Using this feature, students could be setup into groups for class discussions. There are many possibilities, you just have to find them!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
EDM Podcasts
Listening to the two podcasts I participated in, I thought they went well. In our interview of Dean Hayes, there were a few spots where we lagged a little and the silence appeared to go a little too long (while we were gathering our thoughts) but overall, I hope it was informative. Dr. Hayes brought some interesting topics to light, but it probably would have been helpful to discuss his topic in more detail prior to our recording, so that we had more time to prepare for better, more direct questions.
The second podcast I participated in, discussed blogging in the classroom. We seemed more prepared for this discussion and I believe it helped deliver the point we wanted to make. It's easy to critique yourself, and I found several places where I wished I would have said something a little differently, but I believe improved fluency probably comes along with experience. Overall, I was happy with our performances.
I also listened to a discussion with Dr. Harold Dodge, former Superintendent of the Mobile County Public Schools. I found this podcast very informative. They were well prepared and asked good questions, many focused on our current tough economy. There was one participant who must have been further from the microphone, because she was a little hard to hear, but everyone else was clear and easy to understand.
The fourth podcast I listened to was about the last lecture of Randy Pausch, a professor who delivered an incredibly moving speech after having been diagnosed with a terminal cancer. This group seemed very comfortable with each other, their conversation flowed as it should and they even seemed to joke with one another throughout. The highlighted some of their thoughts on the lecture and how they felt about it. At times they seemed to get off the subject of the actual lecture and could have focused a bit more on it's content. Overall, they still performed a good job.
The second podcast I participated in, discussed blogging in the classroom. We seemed more prepared for this discussion and I believe it helped deliver the point we wanted to make. It's easy to critique yourself, and I found several places where I wished I would have said something a little differently, but I believe improved fluency probably comes along with experience. Overall, I was happy with our performances.
I also listened to a discussion with Dr. Harold Dodge, former Superintendent of the Mobile County Public Schools. I found this podcast very informative. They were well prepared and asked good questions, many focused on our current tough economy. There was one participant who must have been further from the microphone, because she was a little hard to hear, but everyone else was clear and easy to understand.
The fourth podcast I listened to was about the last lecture of Randy Pausch, a professor who delivered an incredibly moving speech after having been diagnosed with a terminal cancer. This group seemed very comfortable with each other, their conversation flowed as it should and they even seemed to joke with one another throughout. The highlighted some of their thoughts on the lecture and how they felt about it. At times they seemed to get off the subject of the actual lecture and could have focused a bit more on it's content. Overall, they still performed a good job.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Blogging in the Classroom
I selected and read the blog of a student from another class and found it interesting how, although the subjects were the same and many comments were similar, there was still another perspective to be seen. Things that captured her attention, were not necessarily the same things I had written about, even though we watched the same material. Blogs can be a source of expression, whether it's our random thoughts or information on a particular subject, they allow us to glimpse inside someone's thoughts, experiences, or ideas and learn something.
I was familiar with blogs before this class, but had very limited experience. Once I began to see how they are being incorporated into today's classrooms, I was fascinated by all their uses. I believe it is a very useful learning and informational tool, one I fully plan on taking advantage of in my 'future classroom'. I see two major functions for the use of blogs in the classroom, as a source of collected information for parents and students to view and as a way to incorporate technology into the classroom by student involvement to create the blog information.
As an informational tool, blogs can contain homework assignment information, class calendar, school announcements, upcoming project dates, etc. Parents who want to stay up to date with classroom affairs have a place to learn what's going on and feel apart of their child's learning. There could be links in place for additional learning sites, places for further information on subjects currently being studied.
As a technology learning tool, students can have the chance to learn about computers by blogging and having fun at the same time. There are endless possibilities to how they can be used, for all age groups. They can help to establish a sense of community in the classroom, a group project that everyone is proud of.
Today's classroom needs to be exciting and adapt to teach kids in a changing world. Blogging helps to bring technology into their academic realm and teaches them to embrace the opportunities available. I really cannot see any negatives to their use, I plan to not only use them in the future, but continue to find new and improved ways to learn from them.
I was familiar with blogs before this class, but had very limited experience. Once I began to see how they are being incorporated into today's classrooms, I was fascinated by all their uses. I believe it is a very useful learning and informational tool, one I fully plan on taking advantage of in my 'future classroom'. I see two major functions for the use of blogs in the classroom, as a source of collected information for parents and students to view and as a way to incorporate technology into the classroom by student involvement to create the blog information.
As an informational tool, blogs can contain homework assignment information, class calendar, school announcements, upcoming project dates, etc. Parents who want to stay up to date with classroom affairs have a place to learn what's going on and feel apart of their child's learning. There could be links in place for additional learning sites, places for further information on subjects currently being studied.
As a technology learning tool, students can have the chance to learn about computers by blogging and having fun at the same time. There are endless possibilities to how they can be used, for all age groups. They can help to establish a sense of community in the classroom, a group project that everyone is proud of.
Today's classroom needs to be exciting and adapt to teach kids in a changing world. Blogging helps to bring technology into their academic realm and teaches them to embrace the opportunities available. I really cannot see any negatives to their use, I plan to not only use them in the future, but continue to find new and improved ways to learn from them.
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Growth vs. Fixed Mindset in Learning
Standford University has published a podcast titled 'Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets in Learning. This short five minute video briefly discusses a program created to teach students to develop a growth mindset, an understanding that learning is a process that is constant and forever; it's a part of life. They setup a workshop of eight sessions, where half of the students received information on study skills and a growth mindset, the other half only received the study skills. The group only receiving the study skills, continued to decline in school, there was no benefit seen through these sessions. The other group, receiving both, performed much better and at the end, there was an obvious difference between the behavior of the two groups. There was a direct correlation to the growth mindset instruction and the top performers.
One statement from the video that really impressed upon me, was that we cannot be expected to keep up with a changing world if we cannot grow and learn. This is certainly true, stagnant behavior cannot be expected to yield greatness. We will always have the need to learn and understand more. We NEED to have this desire to pursue our full potential, without it, we're just treading water.
As a teacher, this is a powerful idea to try and teach to our students. We should help them want to learn for the sake and enjoyment of learning, not solely for a passing grade (even though we want that too!). We need to teach them to be inquisitive, to question things, to pursue understanding not just information. We want to help set up our students for a lifestyle of learning.
One statement from the video that really impressed upon me, was that we cannot be expected to keep up with a changing world if we cannot grow and learn. This is certainly true, stagnant behavior cannot be expected to yield greatness. We will always have the need to learn and understand more. We NEED to have this desire to pursue our full potential, without it, we're just treading water.
As a teacher, this is a powerful idea to try and teach to our students. We should help them want to learn for the sake and enjoyment of learning, not solely for a passing grade (even though we want that too!). We need to teach them to be inquisitive, to question things, to pursue understanding not just information. We want to help set up our students for a lifestyle of learning.
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