It was very interesting to look over the class blogs from my fellow classmates in the Tuesday/Thursday EDM 310 class. I did look at each blog, but I read Sandy Presley's blog from top to bottom. I found that each blog was different just as each of my classmates are different, which made it that much more appealing to peruse.
I did notice that some bloggers were better or more detailed in their blogs by pasting pictures for each post. I enjoyed looking at the pictures and it helped me connect more to what the person was blogging about. One thing I did not like about this blogging program was the graphics. We were all limited on the style that we were able to choose. I am big on graphics and enjoy seeing different colors and shapes on the websites that I often search. Although each person had their own blogging style, the basic format and graphics were the same throughout.
I also noticed that the blogging seemed to be a fun way to communicate with others and each classmate found that it would be a useful tool to use as a teacher. However, I did notice that during the course of the semester the blogging became shorter and shorter. I know for me it became harder and harder to talk about a subject using 3 or 4 paragraphs without repeating something that I said in the previous post. I wanted each post to be original, but I feel my posts became redundant.
All in all, it turned out that our class blogs enabled each student to view different aspects of the web that our professor wanted us to be able to utilize as teachers and gave us a way of expressing how we would use these tools and sometimes NOT use a tool. A classroom blog would definitely be a tool that any teacher could use in his or her classroom, whether they are communicating with the students themselves or their parents.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
EDM 310 Podcasts
WOW what an exciting event was our classroom podcasts. Not only was it adrenalin filled and nerve racking to participate in, it was really fun to actually sit back and listen to the results of these podcasts.
A few thoughts for future podcasters from me would be to keep the talk more like a conversation. Try your best not read off of a note card or paragraphs on a paper. Get to know your team and sit and talk about your topic together so that your conversation will flow naturally. Another idea that I think would help would be for each team to have maybe two practice podcasts first before your actually taping onto the web. I think being able to listen to yourself on a tape recording or video recording several times before the actual taping will enable the student to know how he or she sounds and how the group sounds together. I believe this practice time will allow the podcasts to sound less rehearsed and more like a conversation between future teachers.
I guess just a personal preference would be to change the podcast to a videocast. I am one who likes to see who I am listening to. It's always fun to try to picture what the person looks like that you are listening to, i.e., how many times have you pictured what that radio disc jockey looks like. Well with a videocast you would not have to wonder, because you could see the groups as they spoke, see their body language and it would be much more interactive with the person(s) watching.
With an education major, one required course is a public speaking class. Even if you are not one who likes to speak publicly, there are lessons in this course that help you eliminate some mistakes made often during speaking to an audience. For instance, one thing I have noticed on these podcasts is the use of the word "um", if you can even call it a word. I don't believe it is in the dictionary. The use of this non word and others is very distracting when listening to someone on a podcast. Again, I go back to practicing of these podcasts and/or videocasts to help, if not prevent, but to limit the number of these non words.
All in all, I enjoyed being involved in this first podcast and I believe it will be quite helpful for me to use as a future teacher and to try to stay up-to-date with technology.
A few thoughts for future podcasters from me would be to keep the talk more like a conversation. Try your best not read off of a note card or paragraphs on a paper. Get to know your team and sit and talk about your topic together so that your conversation will flow naturally. Another idea that I think would help would be for each team to have maybe two practice podcasts first before your actually taping onto the web. I think being able to listen to yourself on a tape recording or video recording several times before the actual taping will enable the student to know how he or she sounds and how the group sounds together. I believe this practice time will allow the podcasts to sound less rehearsed and more like a conversation between future teachers.
I guess just a personal preference would be to change the podcast to a videocast. I am one who likes to see who I am listening to. It's always fun to try to picture what the person looks like that you are listening to, i.e., how many times have you pictured what that radio disc jockey looks like. Well with a videocast you would not have to wonder, because you could see the groups as they spoke, see their body language and it would be much more interactive with the person(s) watching.
With an education major, one required course is a public speaking class. Even if you are not one who likes to speak publicly, there are lessons in this course that help you eliminate some mistakes made often during speaking to an audience. For instance, one thing I have noticed on these podcasts is the use of the word "um", if you can even call it a word. I don't believe it is in the dictionary. The use of this non word and others is very distracting when listening to someone on a podcast. Again, I go back to practicing of these podcasts and/or videocasts to help, if not prevent, but to limit the number of these non words.
All in all, I enjoyed being involved in this first podcast and I believe it will be quite helpful for me to use as a future teacher and to try to stay up-to-date with technology.
The South in Black and White
I was able to listen to Tim Tyson and Tom Rankin on the topic of The South in Black and White under the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. I chose this topic not knowing what it would be about, but interested because of the topic and the fact that we live in the South and in fact it was definately worth listening to.
These two gentleman are starting a class where you can look into the history of blacks and whites in the South without having any connection to racism. They are interested in looking into the history of blacks and whites and be able to see differences without someone taking anything as if it was a racist statement or act. Unfortunately, they stated that with a couple of men and a few dollars, you could burn a cross and immediately it brings up a negative connatation towards racism. They also mentioned the Duke Lacrosse team and their issues with racism on the news in the past several years.
This would be a great class to be involved in if you are someone who teaches or even just lives in the South. Statements and actions can be taken out of context very easily nowadays and we all need to be aware of this. We are not here to be harmful to those around us and if we are uneducated in this area, we may well step into this trap. We have all be created by one maker, God, and he loves us all the same, equally, whether black or white, red or yellow. We, as a community, need to realize that and accept each other as different people created in the image of the one true God and leave any differences and troubles in the past.
These two gentleman are starting a class where you can look into the history of blacks and whites in the South without having any connection to racism. They are interested in looking into the history of blacks and whites and be able to see differences without someone taking anything as if it was a racist statement or act. Unfortunately, they stated that with a couple of men and a few dollars, you could burn a cross and immediately it brings up a negative connatation towards racism. They also mentioned the Duke Lacrosse team and their issues with racism on the news in the past several years.
This would be a great class to be involved in if you are someone who teaches or even just lives in the South. Statements and actions can be taken out of context very easily nowadays and we all need to be aware of this. We are not here to be harmful to those around us and if we are uneducated in this area, we may well step into this trap. We have all be created by one maker, God, and he loves us all the same, equally, whether black or white, red or yellow. We, as a community, need to realize that and accept each other as different people created in the image of the one true God and leave any differences and troubles in the past.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Mathmatics and Technology
I am one who does not do well in mathematics classes. I was eager to hear what Judy Chandler had to say about integrating mathematics and technology. The one common factor in most math classes is the fact that most students are guided through chapter by chapter lessons in a book. With this type of teaching, many students get lost (like me). Being one of those "lost" students can quickly discourage one from wanting to learn mathematics.
Ms. Chandler went on to tell how we, as teachers, need to integrate technology in our teaching skills. She went on to tell how most students have a higher level of technology education before they walk into the classroom and that the math technology integration would widely benefit their learning. Not only does this help in learning one concept, but it can further their critical thinking skills. Many times this technology gives visual aids and explains uses for the skills they are learning.
I know in my math classes it was hard for me to comprehend the uses for the skills I was learning. If we can show our students how these skills will be used, through technology, it will allow them to open up to learn a skill that they might otherwise feel is useless.
Ms. Chandler went on to tell how we, as teachers, need to integrate technology in our teaching skills. She went on to tell how most students have a higher level of technology education before they walk into the classroom and that the math technology integration would widely benefit their learning. Not only does this help in learning one concept, but it can further their critical thinking skills. Many times this technology gives visual aids and explains uses for the skills they are learning.
I know in my math classes it was hard for me to comprehend the uses for the skills I was learning. If we can show our students how these skills will be used, through technology, it will allow them to open up to learn a skill that they might otherwise feel is useless.
"Growth" vs "Fixed" Minds
What an interesting listen with The Stanford Challenge: “Growth” vs. “Fixed” Minds podcast. This podcast told about a study that was done where two sets of students were given a set of study skills, however, one set of the students were told that their brain is a muscle that grows with its use. The more you use it the better grades and results you will receive.
This study resulted grades continually dropping in the students who received only the study skills. However, those students who received the study skill and told that their brain needs to be used to grow continually received grades higher and higher. The professor who spoke, tried to explain that some students feel nervous or apprehensive about a task and wonder if they will look smart or feel smart when they are doing it, but there are another set of students who think, how can I use this task to make me smarter.
This pod casts shows us future teachers how each and every child in our class will be different. Their mind set will be different as they come in our doors. We must, as teachers, give them this knowledge that their brain is a muscle that needs to be used to “keep those neurons connected” as stated from the professor in the video. We must be there for our students as they feel they may have reached their “peak” of smartness and inform them that there is much, much more for them and to keep on striving for growth.
This study resulted grades continually dropping in the students who received only the study skills. However, those students who received the study skill and told that their brain needs to be used to grow continually received grades higher and higher. The professor who spoke, tried to explain that some students feel nervous or apprehensive about a task and wonder if they will look smart or feel smart when they are doing it, but there are another set of students who think, how can I use this task to make me smarter.
This pod casts shows us future teachers how each and every child in our class will be different. Their mind set will be different as they come in our doors. We must, as teachers, give them this knowledge that their brain is a muscle that needs to be used to “keep those neurons connected” as stated from the professor in the video. We must be there for our students as they feel they may have reached their “peak” of smartness and inform them that there is much, much more for them and to keep on striving for growth.
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