Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Comments4Teachers Week 7, 8, 9
My teacher for weeks 7, 8, and, 9 was Ted Barrett. The first two weeks I participated in The Curriculum Catalyst. Mr. Barrett explained The Curriculum Catalyst as being a resource of which you can "crowd-surf topics." In order to make this collaborative Google Moderator was used. Stage 1 was used to gather topic ideas. I followed the link given to the The Curriculum Catalyst series and posted ideas and voted on other peoples ideas, it was a pretty interesting process to see people I don't even know contribute to this one source. Stage 1.5 was next. This was used to help Mr. Barrett decide on which "crowd-sourcing tool" to actually use for the rest of the project. "At the end of last weekend the Catalyst had over 280 topic ideas for the curriculum and over 70 people had voted more that 3000 times for a top topic." That is pretty spectacular to see, and just think that I am part of that number is pretty cool in it self. From my understanding this will be an ongoing process so maybe you should check it out!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
March 28, 2010
This weeks assignment was to watch Dan Brown's video An Open Letter To Education and read Morgan Bayda's blog post on the video. So, now let's break it down. I see that the world is changing and is dragging education along. It truly is sad to see people within the institution of education change their lives on the outside of the classroom but not inside the classroom. Personally, I enjoy listening to lectures, but I also like to participate in discussions but the way I like to learn is not the way others like to learn. I would never push what I like on others because my opinion is my opinion. As a future educator, I plan to use technology to its fullest in the classroom, promote creativity, and allow my students to think outside of the books.
My college education has consisted of different types of classroom settings. Lecture classes that I have taken much from and incorporated the information into my present career as a tutor and my future career as an educator. I have also taken an open discussion course where the floor was open to everyone's opinion and it brought new aspects to the atmosphere. I have been in a do it yourself classes, where it is left completely up to the student to either figure it out or don't and when questions were asked rarely were they answered. Then there is the hybrid courses where the information is given, but how to you use the information is left up to the student, however, any questions, concerns, or confusions have been cleared as immediate as possible. So, what have I learned from all of these courses; a) the assigned textbook really is not necessary to "get the grade," and b) there are professors that care about learning, and those that just want the paycheck.
Learning is the most important thing in my life. If I couldn't learn from what I experience what's the use of having a brain. I want to incorporate anything and everything that can ensure the best for my future students. If that means having books, labs, technology, power points, podcasts, videos, or whatever I will try to my full extent to make sure our future has what they need to be the best they can be, to do the best they can do, dream of change, and become the change. Since the internet has made most everything we need to learn "free" it will just take the time to find the best approach and use it.
My college education has consisted of different types of classroom settings. Lecture classes that I have taken much from and incorporated the information into my present career as a tutor and my future career as an educator. I have also taken an open discussion course where the floor was open to everyone's opinion and it brought new aspects to the atmosphere. I have been in a do it yourself classes, where it is left completely up to the student to either figure it out or don't and when questions were asked rarely were they answered. Then there is the hybrid courses where the information is given, but how to you use the information is left up to the student, however, any questions, concerns, or confusions have been cleared as immediate as possible. So, what have I learned from all of these courses; a) the assigned textbook really is not necessary to "get the grade," and b) there are professors that care about learning, and those that just want the paycheck.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Comments4Kids Week 9
This week I commented on Roberts blog. Robert goes to St. Pius C School, and he has been working with his teacher on creating videos. The video I watched is fabulous! He created a great video using moviemaker. I enjoyed watching his video, and visiting a new place on the web! Thanks Robert, keep up the great work!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Comments4kids Week 8
This week I commented on Hailey's blog. She is in Ms. Shetler's 7th grade class in Arizona. I hope she does very well in her writing, especially short stories and poetry which seems to be a topic that her class working on! Best of luck to Hailey and the rest of Ms. Shetler's class!
February 28, 2010
Richard Miller: This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2
After watching these videos, I'm stuck in awe. Like wow, everything I know will only be a memory if things keep changing as quickly as they are. Dreams are beginning to be blueprints of the future instead of aspirations that we might achieve. It's kind of scary but at the same time exciting and inspiring. I will be teaching the future and as of right now I have no idea what I can even expect to teach.
Almost everything is at our fingertips thanks to the internet. Books, lectures, movies, music, research, and the list goes on an on. I love to read and I've had my share in writing, but I'm not sure how I feel about making everything available to the public by a few clicks. I like paper. It's much easier on my eyes, but the keyboard is nicer on my hands. I'm on the fence I guess, but I will definitely give my students the opportunity to make their own decisions on the subject.
The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
Connectivism makes sense in theory but in practice, personally, I don't get much out of it. I'm taking an online class on USA Online right now that is using this approach to learning, and I can't tell you one thing I have learned this semester from doing my own research on the subject. I just do what I have to do to get the work done. Which I guess is partly my fault for taking an online class. I like to sit in on lectures, I seem to retian more information that way. I guess that's where iTunes U comes in handy.
Yes, through iTunes U many credible lectures are available through this tool, but I'm still stuck on the classroom setting. I'm in the zone when I'm in the classroom, rather than lounging around at home where I have a billion other things to do rather than my school work, but again that's my fault.
I understand the thought behind a connectivist approach to learning, and it can ork for many people. I also se that this is where the classrooms are going, and I will be prepared to teach with this method. However personally I would like to sit behind a desk, listen to a teacher, and take notes on the subject.
Michael Wesch
He says, that today's classroom is disengaged. I totally agree! I also loved the pictures he showed of a classroom and then American Idol Auditions. Today's generation you do see the "meh" mentality in so many people.
One thing Wesch said that I was like wow, that sums it up is, " the reason why they're (today's young people) are so miserable is because they think that theyre the next American Idol and then when they're not, they're shocked."
Another interesting thing Wesch and his undergraduates researched is "I'm not talking to you ( a person); I'm talking to this ( a camera)." With a camera you can try over and over again to get the version of you that you want to present instead of an actual person to person conversation. Talking to a computer, recording myself is still very new, different, and just awkward to me. Hopefully, I can get used to talking to "myself," eventually...
After watching these videos, I'm stuck in awe. Like wow, everything I know will only be a memory if things keep changing as quickly as they are. Dreams are beginning to be blueprints of the future instead of aspirations that we might achieve. It's kind of scary but at the same time exciting and inspiring. I will be teaching the future and as of right now I have no idea what I can even expect to teach.
Almost everything is at our fingertips thanks to the internet. Books, lectures, movies, music, research, and the list goes on an on. I love to read and I've had my share in writing, but I'm not sure how I feel about making everything available to the public by a few clicks. I like paper. It's much easier on my eyes, but the keyboard is nicer on my hands. I'm on the fence I guess, but I will definitely give my students the opportunity to make their own decisions on the subject.
The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
Connectivism makes sense in theory but in practice, personally, I don't get much out of it. I'm taking an online class on USA Online right now that is using this approach to learning, and I can't tell you one thing I have learned this semester from doing my own research on the subject. I just do what I have to do to get the work done. Which I guess is partly my fault for taking an online class. I like to sit in on lectures, I seem to retian more information that way. I guess that's where iTunes U comes in handy.
Yes, through iTunes U many credible lectures are available through this tool, but I'm still stuck on the classroom setting. I'm in the zone when I'm in the classroom, rather than lounging around at home where I have a billion other things to do rather than my school work, but again that's my fault.
I understand the thought behind a connectivist approach to learning, and it can ork for many people. I also se that this is where the classrooms are going, and I will be prepared to teach with this method. However personally I would like to sit behind a desk, listen to a teacher, and take notes on the subject.
Michael Wesch
One thing Wesch said that I was like wow, that sums it up is, " the reason why they're (today's young people) are so miserable is because they think that theyre the next American Idol and then when they're not, they're shocked."
Another interesting thing Wesch and his undergraduates researched is "I'm not talking to you ( a person); I'm talking to this ( a camera)." With a camera you can try over and over again to get the version of you that you want to present instead of an actual person to person conversation. Talking to a computer, recording myself is still very new, different, and just awkward to me. Hopefully, I can get used to talking to "myself," eventually...
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