Shea’s Blog

My personal learning network (PLN) has not grown at all during this semester. One thing, I did not have time to get on Twitter and talk with people, I did not have time to post things on my blog left and right. Secondly, when I tried to use Twitter, I asked a question about a research topic I was working on and got nothing in response so, I just did not use it again. Thirdly, I honestly did not find an educational value to all of the things shown us in class, other then a wikispace and google docs; which have been very useful. Nothing against the teaching but I think this class could of been used in a different way, maybe just with creating a web page/online portfolio, since most of us are getting to the stage of having to create one. This course was focusing on too much and I truthfully did not get anything out of it other then the google docs and wikispaces. To sum it all up my personal learning network did not grow and the reason for it being I did not have enough time along with all of the lessons and other assignments that I had.

I was looking through my hometown paper; Traverse City Record Eagle and saw this article. Thought it was interesting what is all on Twitter now, and how it has just snowballed into something much larger then I think expected.

Hysterectomy shown live on Twitter

I found this blog post very interesting about the 10 disruptions that could transform your classroom. You never think about all of the technology in today’s world that is advancing everyday. You ask yourself will there be a need for actual schools and classrooms in the near future. Since teachers are being replaced by computers and online courses. As well as, all that a cell phone can do for you now, other than just calling someone. This blog also talks about Google applications and how schools are using these more everyday. It concerns me in the fact that with the use of these applications students are loosing the interaction that they have with actual classmates and teachers because they can do everything online. For example, you have a group project that you are working on together but are not able to meet. You just put it up on Google Docs and everyone makes there corrections. I have to say that I am guilty for doing this, however, I have found that you do not build that much trust with people in your group when you do things like just posting online. These are just my views and thoughts on the way that technology is transforming our world. It is not in a bad way, just think though what the world of technology will be like in just twenty years?

Some interesting articles that I found around the web. They all deal in some way or another with using technology in the classroom and I thought they were interesting. Hope that spark something in you as well…

Second Graders Twittering in Maine

K-12 Technology Activities that Work. This site gives you ideas in which you can integrate technology into your classroom in all the different levels of K-12 education.

TECHtorial. This website is awesome for those teachers out there that you know that are not said to be “tech savvy”. This website is a tutorial to help them with the most up to date applications being used in the tech world. For example, Podcast, Skype, Audacity; just to name a few.

The first video that I watched was Bill Gates I found it very interesting the two world problems that he was going to try and fix or at least decrease. The question/problem that he raised was “How do you make a teacher great?” He said that he funded scholarships, libraries etc. trying to educate students. However, the one thing that was needed was the teacher. I found the KIPP schools very interesting and it made me look into them more. It was a school that I would love to be involved in. Every student is involved in some type of way, whether it be a small role or a big role it does not matter they are all involved.

The second video that I watch was Sir Ken Robinson it was not only entertaining he made some good points. Such as, all kids have talents they just seem to be squashed in the classroom. The students are not able to be adventurous. They do not mind if they screw up that is how they learn. For example, he talked about the Christmas pageant in which the little boy said “Frank sent this.” They don’t care if they screw up! He also mentioned that where ever you go and visit a school there education hierarchy is the same, which I found very interesting.

The third video was on Twitter I found it very interesting that Twitter was used in very unexpected ways such as when the wildfires broke out in California. How the American Red Cross and all other programs that were giving updates were placing information on Twitter so that they could reach a larger group of people. That was very interesting to me. I also found it interesting how when gas prices were high people would place the price of gases on Twitter, then when people searched for “low gas prices” for example they would come to that tweet.

I found all of the videos I wanted very informative and I did learn a lot from them.

Here is the link to my screencast, enjoy!!

In Lindsey’s blog she talked about resizing images. With a moderate technology background I knew that there was a way to resize pictures because of prior knowledge. However, the easy step to step process that Lindsey created in Jing was very helpful, easy to hear, and gave me something to look at and remember when I am working on my wikispace for my final project.

In Don’s blog he talks about an awesome program where you can take video and convert it into JPG. This was an awesome blog to read because the way that I have been doing it before I found this software was much more in depth and difficult. This way is so much more user friendly and quick.

In Kendra’s blog she talks about a very interesting new thing that I probably should not of gotten introduced too because I love pictures and I love making gifts or scrapbooks with them. This “new technology” would be wonderful for just that as well as Kendra’s suggestions of how to use it in the classroom, those are excellent ideas as well.

A technology tool that I have been actively using would be my wikispace. I have found it very helpful to have everything in one area. I will be using this as my final project. I have set it up so that if in the near future, a prospective employer wants to see my technology skills and my use of the internet. I would be able to show them this site and they would be able to then see a little bit about me, my educational background, lesson plans that I have done, my work experience, and other websites that I have found useful in my career thus far as a professional educator. For example, say that I am in an interview and they ask how I would present a subject in an interactive non textbook way. I would show them my wikispace and the link to the video in which my methods class performed “The Planet Party.” It was a play about the planets giving the students information into the planets, however, in a way that was not just reading from a textbook. I could to show them lesson plans and from photos that I place on my wikispace what the final project or assessment looked like. These are just some examples of how I would use it, there are of course many more that are yet to be discovered!

Visit my Wikispace and let me know what you think. It is a work in progress!

Alright finally here we go! A sunset over Lake Michigan during

my summers at home.

Since I finally just figured out this whole “Jing” thing I am not sure how I really feel about it. Maybe once I start to actually sit down and work with it I will understand it. However, I thought it was supposed to be user friendly, and I did not find that to be the case. It caused me more of a headache then it did pleasure. I will give it another try but it better not fail me this time or else!!!

Here are mine:

1. Standardized tests are overrated in my eyes!
2. I dislike chalkboards, I would rather have a marker (white) board in my room.
3. I believe that teachers should try and help students learn by coming up with assignments in all areas of the learning styles.
4. Worksheets are not a way of assessment!
5. A school building that has a positive atmosphere is a key to success in students education.
6. If you are in the area of education for money, you are in it for the wrong reason.
7. Even though technology is the way to go with grading and attendance. It is still necessary to keep a paper copy in case the technology fails on us. Which it sometimes does.
8. I still get a twisted stomach when I start a new semester of classes.
9. If you show interest and engagement in a subject, most likely your students will be engaged as well.
10. Teachers never stop learning!
11. Try to go to conferences or professional development days with an open mind. That way you can take away a lot more information.
12. My favorite quote and what I live by would be: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” ~Ghandi
13. Textbooks are just a part of the learning resources, not the end all be all.
14. Learning technology needs to start when young and build on top of previous skills. Do not give too much in one sitting, students are unable to process it all.
15. Allow your room and teaching to be organized. That way the students do not lose value time during transitions to another activity or subject.
16. I believe if you are able to look the information up on the internet, why should someone have to memorize it. Students will memorize the information and after the test is done, they will forget it all.
17. Use as much technology in your classroom as possible.
18. Teachers while planning out lessons and units, shall try and use the cross curriculum idea and include as many subjects as possible. Make learning fun!
19. Every teacher should be involved in at least one activity or organization within the school (ex. attends technology meetings regularly)
20. Allow students to get to know you and you get to know them. This way they feel like you care about them as a person and not just another kid.
21. Make sure to have sub plans that are detailed enough, the substitutes can teach from them.
22. Allow students to expand on an area that interests them. Make changes if needed to the plans if students need to have more time working on a subject. BE FLEXIBLE!!!!!
23. Dealing with students at summer camp and then hearing how well they are improving during the school year, makes all of the sweat and hard work worth it!
24. You will not be able to change every student, so make sure not to get down on yourself (as a person and their teacher) if you do not feel like you have made a difference in their life. You probably have it just does not show as much as another student.
25. Some coaches should not be teachers! They are there just to coach and not to teach. Which affects all the students that they come in contact with. However, some coaches are awesome teachers do not get me wrong. I am just saying some schools keep coaches on staff because they need for example, a football coach and a math teacher. They feel like they can kill two birds with one stone, even though they are hurting the students.

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