Blog Post #16 -Final Reflection

Blog Post #5 Part 2

Final Summary of My PLN
Before EDM310, I did not realize the importance of having a Personal Learning Network (PLN). Now, I know how to expand my PLN and how resourceful it can be. Through my blog alone, I have been able to connect with so many of my EDM310 classmates. Because of our C4C assignments, we are able to help one another and connect through our blogs. The C4T and C4K assignments have also been very helpful in terms of building my PLN. By commenting on teacher/student blogs and sharing the link to my blog, I have been able to communicate with teachers and students all around the world. The more contacts you make, the better and more useful your PLN will be. Another way I have expanded my PLN is through Twitter. Through Twitter, I have connected with classmates and educators all around the world. Twitter is a great way to receive instant information and feedback. I definitely need to be more active on Twitter, but I see the potential it has for growing my PLN. As a future teacher, I think Twitter will be extremely beneficial. YouTube is another tool I have used in EDM310 to expand my PLN. YouTube has the ability to reach a wide range of people. By sharing my videos for EDM310 on YouTube and my blog, I have received lots of views and feedback. I hope my PLN continues to grow, and I'm glad we were able to learn about this great tool in EDM310.

C4T #4

Mrs. Sandi's Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes

Comment 1: "Poppies for Remembrance Day"
My final C4T is Mrs. Sandi, who is a Kindergarten teacher in Canada. The first post I commented on was titled "Poppies for Remembrance Day." Each year, Mrs. Sandi's students discuss why they wear poppies on Remembrance Day. She explains the significance of wearing poppies in honor of those who risk their lives so we can live in peace. Mrs. Sandi let her students make their own poppies by using red and black finger paint. In my comment, I introduced myself and explained the comments we do in EDM310. I also expressed how much I loved the poppy projects and the sweet lesson about Remembrance Day. At the end of my comment, I left the links to my blog and the class blog. Mrs. Sandi replied to my comment, and she explained how working with your hands helps you learn concepts as a young child. I will share Mrs. Sandi's photo of the poppies below.

Comment 2: "Starry Night Sensory Tray"
For my second post, I left a comment on Mrs. Sandi's post titled "Starry Night Sensory Tray." She created a sensory tray for her students containing blue and purple decorative sand, glass gems, plastic jewels, turquoise prisms, yellow gems, and silver bead garlands. Mrs. Sandi and her class have been talking about Van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting, and the sensory tray was a perfect representation of the painting. In my comment, I told Mrs. Sandi how much I love this activity. I also mentioned how simple, yet beautiful the sensory tray is. At the end of my comment, I thanked her for sharing. I will share Mrs. Sandi's photo of the sensory tray below.

Blog Post #14

In Albert Klein's Teaching Can Be a Profession, he states that teaching should be professionalized and treated with more respect. I could not agree more with Klein, because I think teaching is a very underrated profession.

To professionalize teaching, the following problems must be addressed:
-Academic training for prospective teachers
-Approach to recruiting teachers
-How teachers are rewarded
-Job Security
-Seniority

The first problem, which Klein addresses, is the academic training for prospective teachers. In his article, Klein includes a recent report from the National Center on Teacher Quality. The report found that 23 states cannot claim a teaching education program that provides solid math preparation, and fewer than 20% of training programs can equip candidates in the basics of reading instruction. These statistics completely blew me away. Educators should be fully prepared and trained before they are allowed to educate young minds. Does this mean that teachers should know the answers to everything? No. Should teachers have better training to become more successful educators? Yes. So, how do we provide better academic training? The NCQT Teacher Prep Review suggests that we should discard our system of ratings and provide a system of rankings. This new system would raise the bar for academic standards among teachers and provide more, well-trained educators.

The second problem Klein addresses is the approach to teacher recruitment. Currently, anyone who receives a college degree in education is qualified to teach. In a Washington Post article, Sandra Feldman suggests that the U.S. should adopt the same approach as Singapore, Finland, and South Korea. In these three countries, the system is much more selective. Only the top third of each graduating class are recruited into the school system. Yes, it is a way to cut out "mediocre" teachers, but I think problems will arise with this system. I do believe those who work hard should be rewarded, and those who don't should not be given the same amount of credit. But, I don't necessarily think that there should be a cut off or percentage of students recruited. Whose right is it to determine how many people can be recruited? There might be a really bright student who barely missed the top third cut off range. I don't think it's a fair system. I agree that the process should be more selective, and the program should be held to a higher standard. I just think the selection process should be done differently. Rather than selecting a set percentage of students based on class rank, I think each student should be carefully evaluated.

The next few problems Klein addresses go hand in hand. To professionalize teaching, there must be a change in the way teachers are rewarded, seniority, and job security. Klein says that teachers are "interchangeable." Because of this, he explains that the only fair way to make distinctions is by basing everything off of seniority. This creates a problem, because time does not measure performance quality. For instance, a teacher who has been in the system for ten years is not necessarily a better teacher than someone who has only been in the system for five. It simply means they have more experience. Klein made a very true statement when he said, "Job security and seniority dictate the way our schools operate." Job security is a huge problem in the teaching profession. Teachers are laid off based on the amount of time he/she has been in the school system, rather than their performance level. At the same time, there's really no incentive to increase performance, which is a serious problem. Teachers are given the same pay, regardless of how great of a teacher he/she might be. This article discusses the teaching salary, and it also explains why teachers should be paid differently. All of these problems make it practically impossible to get rid of an incompetent teacher. Once you are tenured, your job is basically set in stone. Albert Shanker, one of the most influential teachers-union leaders, explains that a radical change has to take place in order for these problems to be solved.

I think Klein pointed out some great issues in his article. I completely agree that all of these problems need to be addressed in order to better the teaching profession. After reading this article, I see why so many people think becoming a teacher is so "easy." I don't think educators are given enough credit, and I am hopeful that this will change one day. Great teachers should receive the recognition they deserve.

C4K Summary for November

C4K #8: Breena
Breena was my first C4K assignment for the month of November. She attends Brampton School, and she is in Mr. Wigmore's class. Breena's post was titled "The Cursed Sculpture." She wrote a story about her and her friend, Chloe. It was about a sculpture she saw when she was eating smores with her friend by a fire. I commented and introduced myself. I explained how we comment in EDM310. I told her that I enjoyed reading her story, and encouraged her to keep up the good work with her blog posts. At the end of my comment, I left the links to my blog and the class blog.

C4K #9: Amaya C.
Amaya is a student in Mrs. Mena's 5th grade class. She lives in Chula Vista, CA. Amaya's blog post was about Compare and Contrast. In her post, she compared and contrasted herself with her mom. She shared many of their similarities and differences. In my comment, I introduced myself and explained how we leave comments in EDM310. I told Amaya how great her post was. I also told her a few similarities and differences between my mom and me. I encouraged her to keep up the good work and wished her good luck with the rest of her school year. At the end of my comment, I left the links to my blog and the class blog.

C4K #10: Veteran's Day Holiday- No C4K this week!

C4K #11: Emily
Emily was my final C4K for the month of November. She attends Kingsland Middle School in Kingsland, MN, and she is in Mrs. DeBuhr's 6th grade class. I commented on her 1st Quarter Review blog post. In her post, she talked about the many different things she has already learned this year. For example, she listed vocabulary words and National Days, such as Teddy Bear Day, National Dessert Day, and Elephant Appreciation Day. She also wrote a little story using a vocabulary word in her post. She discussed one of her goals, which is to read 40 books by the end of the year. At the end of her post, she asked the reader to leave a comment about his/her own goals. In my comment, I told her one of my goals and encouraged her to keep up the good work with her reading goal. I also introduced myself and discussed EDM310. I wrote about how I enjoyed her story, and I also mentioned how much she already seems to know after just one quarter. At the end of my comment, I left Emily the links to my blog and the class blog.

Blog Post #13

Instructions

What educational apps are available to us as teachers? In EDM310, we have thoroughly discussed the benefits of iPads in the classroom. Find at least five educational apps for the grade you desire to teach, and summarize them in your blog post. Answer the question in a post that adheres to the standards found in the ACCRS and in Writing A Quality Blog Post.

My Post

My dream job is to teach Kindergarten. I think Kindergarten is a great age, because they are so eager to learn. Assuming I will have iPad access in my classroom, I hope to have a center set up where my students can play and learn from different apps. Thanks to Top Ten Kindergarten Apps for Little Learners and this blog post, I have discovered many new apps available for Kindergarten students. I will summarize my favorites below.

1) Sight Words List- Learn to Read Flash Cards and Games
I will definitely be using this app in my classroom. It allows you to create your own word list for flashcards, and it also provides pre-made, age appropriate lists. In Kindergarten, children are learning to read and focus on sight words. With this app, students would be able to improve their reading skills at their own pace.

2) Word Wagon
This is another app that will improve reading skills. It is a game where animated animals reinforce spelling words visually and verbally. It deals with phonics and combining different letters to make new sounds. I had never heard of this app before, but I think Kindergarteners would love it. It's a fun game for them to play, and they learn something along the way!

3) Teach Me: Kindergarten
Teach Me: Kindergarten is a fun app specifically designed for Kindergarteners. The purpose is to enhance early math and spelling skills. This app offers age appropriate learning activities, where the kids can earn "rewards" for correct answers. I researched this app, and it has great reviews. I think this would be a great app for my Kindergarteners to use.

4) Grow Your Garden
Grow Your Garden is an adorable app where students can work on their mental addition and subtraction skills. In order for your garden to grow, you must correctly answer different addition and subtraction problems. When a plant receives enough water, it moves to a virtual garden to keep track of the child's progress. I think this app would be a very fun and engaging way for students to learn math.

5) Toca Store
Toca Store is an interactive game that teaches children about spending money. Students are able to put their playful imaginations to the test and create their own virtual store. Through this app, they are able to be creative and work on their math skills at the same time.

Project #12 SMARTBoard Part B

Blog Post #12

What assistive technologies are available to us as teachers?
Robin Hinson and I collaborated on Blog Post #12. Together, we found different assistive technologies available to us as teachers, and we organized our information into a Google slide presentation.

C4T #3

Mr. Kaechele "Concrete Classroom"

Comment 1: How to Get Students to Own their Learning.
Mr. Mike Kaechele is a high school Social Studies teacher in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a strong supporter of Project Based Learning, and he wants his students to be in the driver's seat of their education. The first post of Mr. Kaechele's that I commented on was about how we can help our students take control of their own learning. He discusses "The Water Project," which is a project he did with his class, and you can read about it here. So, how do we get our students to own their learning? Mr. Kaechele says, "Challenge them with real work for real people for a real purpose." He believes we, as teachers, should get out of the way and allow our students to take control. In my comment, I introduced myself and talked about EDM310. I thanked him for sharing his project, and I also discussed how important it is to have meaningful projects. I explained how much we are learning through EDM310 about Project Based Learning, and I expressed how much I enjoyed looking over his project and blog.

Comment 2: #MyParty14 Results
Mr. Kaechele's students participated in a project dealing with the political process. Each student created their own political party based on issues that mattered to them. You can read all about the project here. The top ten commercials of the school were shown to local congressmen, along with a stump speech. Mr. Kaechele's students came in second place for the statewide competition, but his class was able to get excited about politics and issues that matter. In my comment, I told Mr. Kaechele how much I enjoyed reading the post and watching his students' commercials and speeches. I also shared that it was a great way to get students excited and involved in the political process. I explained how I would have loved to do something like this when I was in school. I thought this project was a great way for Mr. Kaechele to show his students that they do have a voice.

Project #10 Interview

Blog Post #11

What can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?

Back to the Future
I found this video very encouraging. I have often wondered how difficult it would be to teach children who are second language learners. After watching this video, I believe I will be just as capable teaching second language learners as students who primarily speak English. In the video, Brian Crosby discusses different activities he does with his students. I personally loved the balloon activity. I thought it was a very fun and creative way to teach students about pressure. Mr. Crosby uses Blogger, Wiki, and other online resources in his class to engage his students. They are able to use technology to connect with people all over the world and to improve their language skills at the same time.

Blended Learning Cycle
I had never heard of the Blended Learning Cycle before watching this video. I learned that it takes the compelling parts of online, mobile, and classroom learning to blend them all together in a classroom. Paul Anderson explains Blended Learning Cycle by using the acronym "QUIVER." This stands for question, investigation/inquiry, video, elaboration, review, and summary quiz. Mr. Anderson does a great job incorporating technology into his teaching. I really like the Blending Learning teaching style, and I hope to use it in my classroom someday.

Making Thinking Visible
Mark Church explains how his students create headlines for driving questions in this video. I think this is an interesting way to make students think and enjoy learning. Once the students have researched their topic more in depth, Church asks them if they would change anything about their headlines. It's a great way for teachers to see what their students have learned.

Sam Pane 4th Grade
In this video, Sam Pane's students create digital superheroes who protect the internet from hackers and cyber bullying. I think this is a very fun way to teach internet safety. The students discussed safe and unsafe internet situations with Mr. Pane. Then, they were able to create their superheroes on the computer. It was very obvious how excited the students were about creating their own projects. I definitely want to use this idea to promote internet safety in my classroom.

Project Based Learning
In this video, three different teachers discuss how they have restructured a typical day in their classrooms in order to incorporate Project Based Learning. Rather than going to three different classrooms for three different subjects, the students stay in one classroom all day. One teacher shares that the students are able to bring content to life by using technology. The teachers say that their students learn so much more because they are given more time to teach them. This was a new concept to me, because none of my classes were set up this way. At first, I thought it would never work. After watching the entire video, I see that it is a very interesting and effective teaching style.

Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program
Throughout EDM310, I have learned so much about Project Based Learning. Roosevelt Elementary is a true testament to what PBL is all about. At Roosevelt Elementary, they teach their students how to become independent learners. They are taught at a young age how to think and speak for themselves. They ar able to collaborate and learn many other social skills that will help them throughout life. I think Project Based Learning is a great way to get students excited about learning. Roosevelt Elementary definitely proves this in the video.

Project #14- Project Based Learning Plan 2

Group 3 TT11

"Zoo Animals" Project Design Overview
Project Calendar
Project Rubric

We used the PBL Essential Elements Checklist to evaluate our project.

Blog Post #10

What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy?

Mrs. Cassidy has done a great job incorporating technology into the learning environment for her students. I think the technology based atmosphere really keeps the students engaged and excited to learn. From the video, Little Kids...Big Potential, I learned some new ways to use technology. For instance, Mrs. Cassidy uses iWiki and Skype with her students. This is a great way to show students how to connect with people all around the world and also to teach them about internet safety.

Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1
In the first part of Mrs. Cassidy's interview, she explains how she got started using technology in her classroom. It is very inspiring to hear how she only started with five computers, but she has been able to come such a long way in the world of technology. Mrs. Cassidy also discussed how much her technology coordinator has helped her with the growth of technology in her classroom. With the tools and resources constantly changing, we need to be able to adapt as educators. I love how Mrs. Cassidy pointed out that we are handicapping our students by not taking advantage of the resources given today. I love how Mrs. Cassidy uses a blog for her classroom. This is something I definitely want to incorporate when I become a teacher.

Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 2
In the second part of Mrs. Cassidy's interview, she explains how to get started using technology and how it can be beneficial to your Personal Learning Network. She says, "Find something that interests you." This makes the process more exciting if you are interested and eager to use the technology. I think Twitter is a great way to expand my PLN. I use Twitter all the time for my personal life, and I can see how it would be useful in my professional life. Through Twitter, you are able to be connected to the world and access information so easily. I know that I will take full advantage of Twitter, Blogger, and other great tools for my classroom someday.

Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 3
In the final part of Mrs. Cassidy's interview, she answers various questions asked by Dr. Strange and previous EDM310 students. I'm glad one of the students asked about web safety. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to keep our students safe while they are under our care. I think it is very smart how Mrs. Cassidy teaches her students to only use their last names. It seems like she has done a great job teaching her students how to navigate the web in a safe way. I can see how some people would have concerns with children using the internet, but I think teaching them how to be "internet safe" will minimize those concerns. I will definitely go over the "do's" and "don'ts" of the internet with my students.

C4K Summary for October

C4K #4: Nadia

My first C4K assignment for October was Nadia. She is a student in Mrs. Madame Thomas' 8th grade English class. The post I commented on simply said "It seems like some of my friends aren't getting along...oh well this is going to be interesting." I introduced myself and explained EDM310. I also told her that I hoped her friends started getting along. I left the links to my blog and our class blog at the end of my comment. I also wished her luck with the rest of her school year.

C4K #5: Jacob C.

My second C4K assignment for October was Jacob C. from Madison, Wisconsin. He is a seventh grader in Mrs. Ripp's class at Oregon Middle School. I commented on Jacob's "About Me" post. He shared some information about his family, his hockey team, and various places he has visited. In my comment, I introduced myself and explained EDM310. I also shared about my sister, who is around the same age as Jacob. One of the states he has visited is California, so I talked about my trip to Los Angeles that I took last summer. I also congratulated him and his hockey team for making it to state. Lastly, I invited him to check out my blog and our class blog.

C4K#6: Bennett

My third C4K assignment for October was Bennett who lives in Canada. He is a first grader in Mrs. Philipenko's class. Judging by the amount of posts, I think they are just getting started in the blogging world. His post simply said, "I like school." I commented and introduced myself. I explained EDM310 and how we comment on student blogs all around the world. I tried to keep my comment as simple as possible, considering Bennett is only in first grade. I commented on the fact that he liked school, saying I was glad. At the end of my comment, I left the link for my blog and the link for the class blog.

C4K#7: Zack

My fourth C4K assignment for October was Zack from Auckland, New Zealand. He is in year 5, and he is eight years old. He attends Pt. England School, and he is in Mrs. Jacobsen's class. I commented on Zack's "Genius Plans" post. In the post, Zack wrote a story about an airplane and the FBI. I commented and introduced myself. I explained EDM310 and the comments we leave on student blogs all around the world. I told him how creative his story was and what a great imagination he has. At the end of my comment, I told him where he could find my blog and the EDM310 class blog.

Project #12A Mastering SMARTboard Tools

Blog Post #9

What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us about Project Based Learning?

Seven Essentials for Project Based Learning

I encourage all educators to read this article about Project Based Learning. I learned a lot of new information about the importance of PBL and how to create a meaningful project. The article explains the difference between dreadful "busywork" and a meaningful project. In order to have an effective project, certain criteria must be met. For instance, a good project should make students want to do well and fulfill an educational purpose. There are seven essentials for Project Based Learning, which I will be summarizing below.

1) Need To Know
The article states that a good project should have an "entry event." The purpose of this is to engage student interest and encourage questions. An "entry event" can be anything from a video to a guest speaker. The sky is the limit, so get creative! You want your students to understand the purpose of the assignment and feel excited about the work they have created.

2) A Driving Question
As I mentioned above, it is important for students to have a sense of purpose when creating a project. One way to ensure a purpose-driven assignment is by asking a good question. A driving question "captures the heart of the project." I think the article sums it up perfectly when it says, "The question should be provocative, open-ended, complex, and linked to the core of what you want students to learn."

3) Student Voice and Choice
I believe this is also a very important element in Project Based Learning. When we allow the students to make choices regarding their final product, they feel a greater sense of pride and accomplishment. By allowing them to choose how to design, create, or present their project, we are encouraging rather than limiting their creativity.

4) 21st Century Skills
It is also crucial to incorporate 21st century skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and use of technology into the Project Based Learning curriculum. The article explains how important these skills are in the workplace, which is why we should be instilling them into our students at an early age.

5) Inquiry and Innovation
"Students follow a trail that begins with their own questions, leads to a search for resources and the discovery of answers, and often ultimately leads to generating new questions, testing ideas, and drawing their own conclusions." I think this statement summarizes Project Based Learning perfectly. We want our students to be excited about asking questions, finding answers, and able to draw conclusions independently.

6) Feedback and Revision
This element of PBL emphasizes creating high-quality work. It explains the importance of revising and accepting feedback. Most work classified as "high-quality" has been edited, reviewed, and revised several times. As educators, we should teach our students how to follow a rubric and peer review. These skills will be extremely necessary once they enter the workplace.

7) A Publicly Presented Product
When projects are presented publicly, the students care more about the quality. If they know a large audience will be viewing their work, they tend to put more time and effort into the assignment. By presenting the work to a public audience, our students will have a sense of purpose.


Project Based Learning for Teachers This short video by Tony Vincent shares a great overview of the standards for Project Based Learning. In the video, he includes the qualities of Common Core Standards and Project Based Learning along with different skills students will learn, which I have listed below.

Common Core Standards- The "What"
- Rigorous content
- Aligned with college and work expectations
- Clear and understandable
- Application of knowledge
- Evidence-based

Project Based Learning- The "How"
- Inquiry based
- Open-ended
- Problem solving
- Personalized
Project Based Learning also includes "having a purpose, addressing an audience, crafting a driving question, identifying learning standards, creating a rubric, grouping students, brainstorming branching questions, meeting deadlines, and focusing on the process."

Skills Developed by Students
1) Collaboration Skills
2) Communication Skills
3) Critical Thinking Skills
4) Career and Life Skills
What Motivates Students Today
This super cute video offers a look into the perspectives of students. I think it is extremely important to listen to the feedback from students in your classroom. You have to know what works well, what doesn't work, and how you can adapt. The students in this video were asked to discuss the different reasons they are motivated to do well in school. They replied with acknowledgement from the teacher, good future, successful career, and college. My favorite answer had to be the little boy who simply said, "I don't want to be grounded." The students were also asked to discuss the rewards that work. These answers included surprises, eating lunch with the teacher, candy, working outside, school supplies, food, stickers, and "brownie points." I loved this video, and I think interviewing the students is a great way to receive necessary feedback.

Two Students Solve the Case of the Watery Ketchup by Designing a New Cap
I thought this video was super creative. Two North Liberty High School seniors, Tyler Richards and Jonathan Thompson, came up with the idea for this project when given the prompt, "It really bugs me when..." They were tired of the watery substance ruining their food, so they each put their problem-solving skills to the test. They demonstrate everything that Project Based Learning is about in this video. They collaborated, used technology to design a new cap, and solved a real-world problem. I believe this project turned out great, because the students were so invested. As educators, we should be creating projects that get our students as excited about learning as these seniors.

Project Based Learning in PE
I never thought of connecting Project Based Learning to PE. When I think of PBL, I automatically think of a typical classroom. Certain standards must be met for Physical Education just like standards for Math, Reading, Social Studies, Science, etc. In this blog post, the different PE standards are discussed along with a project example. For the project, high school students were given the task of creating a physical fitness plan for middle school students. I think this is a great way to incorporate all of the standards, and it seems like a project the students would enjoy. From this blog post, I learned that Project Based Learning can really be implemented in any subject.

Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning

Part A
The data listed in the Zogby Analytics Study was not surprising to me at all. I felt that the data was a very accurate description regarding people ages 18-24. Having a smart phone is almost expected in our society today. It has become the new normal. I will admit that I fall into the "87% say their smartphone never leaves their side" category. I check my iPhone right when I wake up in the morning, carry it all throughout the day, and check it before I go to bed each night. With social media being as prominent as it is today, it didn't surprise me that many others have their smartphones by their side at all times. I am also part of the 91% of people who believe having a camera on their smartphone is important. I use my camera just about everyday. The quality of a smartphone camera is basically the same as a real camera, so it is very convenient to have a phone and camera all in one. It is no wonder our world has become so infatuated with our smartphones because of all the different ways they can be used. Whether we need to make a phone call, take a picture, send a text message, write an email, or search the internet, we have the ability right at our fingertips 24/7 with a smartphone.

People have different opinions on the implications for education, school, teachers, and learners using smartphones. I believe that smartphones, or any form of technology, has the potential to be very beneficial in an academic way. The world is becoming more and more technology based whether we like it or not, so why try and fight it? There are so many ways we can use smartphones to enhance a child's learning capability. The educational apps and tools available on smartphones are endless. I think it is important as educators to embrace these tools and use them to our advantage in the curriculum to help our students be the best they can be.

Part B
I think incorporating technology into the curriculum is almost necessary to keep children engaged today. Kids love iPads and smartphones just as much as adults do. When children are engaged, they are learning. This is why I feel so strongly about technology in the classroom. There are endless possibilities with the things you can do on a smartphone or iPad in the classroom. For example, you can have the students record themselves reading with the camera on an iPad. They can play it back for themselves to hear and improve their reading skills by following along and taking note of their errors. Another tool I have learned about in this course is Board Builders. I think all children enjoy doing hands-on activities and projects, and Board Builders is a great resource to use for any subject. Through Board Builders, students are able to organize and create a project using the information they have found. I also think that technology is essential to any Project Based Learning curriculum. Students are able to come up with their own research with an iPad or smartphone. Overall, I believe the use of technology has the potential to have a very positive impact on education.

Blog Post #8

What Can We Learn about Teaching and Learning from Randy Pausch?

I really enjoyed listening to Randy Pausch's Last Lecture. He was an extremely inspiring human being and professor, and I applaud him for the many accomplishments he made during his lifetime. He was a very influential person, which can clearly be seen in his Last Lecture video. I was in awe of how encouraging and passionate Pausch was throughout the entire lecture. His love for teaching, learning, and Carnegie Mellon was very evident. During his lecture, he shared all of the dreams he had as a child, ranging from playing in the NFL to becoming a Disney Imagineer.

I was very inspired by the story he shared about his NFL dream. Pausch never made it to the NFL, unfortunately, but he learned so much through his football career. One quote that stuck out to me from Pausch's lecture was, "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." Although playing football didn't take him to the NFL like he had originally hoped, he learned teamwork, perseverance, and the importance of fundamentals. I think all three of these things relate to learning in a huge way. Teamwork is an important skill for everyone to learn. Whether it's on a group project or in the work place, it is important to know how to be a team player. Perseverance is another extremely important factor when it comes to learning. I felt very inspired after listening to Randy Pausch discuss his triumphs and "brick walls." No matter how many times Pausch was told "no," he simply viewed it as a way to show his dedication and kept going. After Pausch graduated from Carnegie Mellon, he sent his applications off to Walt Disney Imagineering. He ultimately received rejection letters, but he chose to use that "brick wall" as a way to show how badly he wanted it and was willing to work. Pausch said, "The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough." He proved he was not one of "those people" when he began working on Disney Imagineering's Aladdin project. I believe perseverance is key in teaching and learning. As future educators, it is important that we push ourselves and our students to be better everyday. With learning, we should not limit our students to what we think they should know. We should be that driving force for them to learn more and more each day. I enjoyed the story Pausch shared about his first year teaching the Building Virtual Worlds course. He gave his class an assignment related to Virtual Reality, and the students had two weeks to complete the project. When the two week deadline was over, Pausch was blown away by the work his students were able to create. But rather than applauding the class for their work, he told them it was "pretty good, but you can do better." The students' projects continued to improve throughout the semester, because Pausch did not set a bar for his students to shoot for. He let them determine how far they could go, and the success demonstrated through the projects was extremely inspiring.

Pausch also mentioned how to handle self-reflection and feedback during his lecture, both of which we are currently learning in EDM310. It is important to be able to honestly reflect on our own work, so we can improve ourselves as teachers and learners. It is equally important to view feedback as a positive tool in teaching and learning. Pausch discussed how we should get a "feedback loop" and listen to it. We should cherish and use all of the feedback given to us as a way to make corrections going forward. Overall, I learned a lot by watching Randy Pausch's Last Lecture. He was a very intelligent man who has impacted and inspired many, including myself.

Project #9- Video Book Conversation

Our group was assigned Topic #8: In Teaching Digital Natives, Marc Prensky asks "How should we connect technology to the curriculum?" ... "How could we teach for the future?" Our group discussion regarding this topic is embedded below.

C4T #2

C4T #2, Comment 1

For my second C4T assignment, I was assigned to Lana Gerin. Mrs. Gerin is a fifth grade teacher here in the United States, and her blog "4 the Love of Teaching" can be found here. For the first week, I left a comment on her post titled "International Dot Day." When I looked over her blog and saw this post, I thought, "What in the world is International Dot Day?" After reading Mrs. Gerin's post, I learned that International Dot Day is inspired by Peter Reynold's book The Dot. It is a day to celebrate creativity and courage. Mrs. Gerin's class was asked to do a craft project in honor of this day. Mrs. Gerin did not have the book, so she showed her class this video from YouTube. The story is about a girl named Vaski who is inspired by her art teacher to "make her mark and see where it takes her." Mrs. Gerin discussed how she was pleasantly surprised that her class picked up on the theme of the story. She talked with her class about encouragement, having courage, and making "marks" in the world. After the class discussion, each student made his/her craft project to go along with the story. The students drew their dots on coffee filters, sprayed the coffee filters with water, and let them dry. Then, they displayed their projects in the cafeteria. The picture below is the finished product.

In my comment, I simply introduced myself and EDM310. I left her the links to my blog and our class blog. I talked about how I had never heard of International Dot Day before, and I also commented on how cute the crafts turned out.

C4T #2, Comment 2

For my second comment, I went back to an older post titled "Student Showcase Night." This night is similar to an open house, but the parents are able to see what their children have been doing in class. Mrs. Gerin set up stations in her classroom, and the students were able to take their parents through the different stations. Her first station was a simple game that each family could play. She had a jar filled with candy, and whoever guessed the right amount in the jar took home the candy. At her second station, she had a Smartboard review game for the novel of the week. The students were able to show their parents the game, and the parents were able to see if their child needed to spend more time studying. I thought this station was really great, so I told Mrs. Gerin that I would love to do this in my future classroom. Other stations included computer related topics, letters of encouragement for upcoming tests, and "Helping Hands." In my comment, I thanked her for sharing all of her great ideas.

Source for all photos: Lana Gerin

Project #13- Project Based Learning Plan #1

Group 3 TT11

"The Four Seasons" Lesson Plan
Project Calendar
Project Rubric

Project #7 Part B: Classroom Videos

Parent Video


Student Video

Blog Post #7

How do we all become learners?
Before this class, I had little to no experience with Project Based Learning. We did projects throughout school, but the project always came after the lesson had been taught. Projects were never used as the actual teaching method. I hope to be able to incorporate everything I have learned about Project Based Learning into my classroom as much as possible. After EDM310, I am confident that I will have the skills and knowledge necessary to implement this style of teaching. As far as personal strengths go, I have always had a creative personality. I enjoy coming up with new projects and ideas, which will be extremely helpful for the Project Based Learning method. My greatest weakness is probably the way in which I ask questions. I have a tendency to ask closed-ended questions rather than open-ended questions. In order to be an effective teacher, I need to be able to present my students with engaging questions. There is always room for improvement, and I am eager to learn new things to better myself as an educator.

Video Summaries

How to make an Audio QR code

In this video, Michele Bennett explains how to create a QR code. This skill is new to me, and I was surprised at how simple the process actually is. She discusses how Kindergarten teachers use QR codes in their classroom for reading purposes. The teachers record themselves reading a story, and the children are able to listen the story before going into their reading groups.

iPad Centers
From this video, I learned a new way the ipad can be used in a classroom. Students can record themselves reading, and then they can play it back to catch any mistakes they may have made. This is a great tool to help students improve their reading fluency, and I hope to use this in my class.

Poplet as a Center
This video demonstrates one of the many tools that can be used for Project Based Learning, Poplet. Poplet is a free, downloadable app that allows students to create webs of information. Mrs. Tuck uses Poplet as a learning center to help students improve their reading and typing skills. This video is also a great example of how students are able to operate technology without a lot of instruction.

Alabama Virtual Library as a Kindergarten Center
The Alabama Virtual Library is a tool I am familiar with. We used AVL for many research projects throughout high school. From this video, I learned that it can also be used for elementary aged children. These kindergarten students have learned how to use AVL, and the teacher is able to give them topics to research. AVL is great for younger children, because it can read the information to them.

How to use and build a Board in Discovery Education for a Project Based Lesson and
In this video, Mrs. Shirley explains how her first grade class built a board using Discovery Education for their moon project. I have never heard of Board Builder prior to this video. I think this would be a great tool to use for student presentations and Project Based Lessons.

Sharing Board Builders Video 1 and Sharing Board Builders Video 2
In these videos, Mrs. Tassin's second grade students share the Board Builder projects they have created. The group in the first video explains The Haven in their Board Builder project, while the group in the second video explains what they have learned about whales. Board Builder is a great tool for any type of presentation.

Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten
This video really proves how technologically literate elementary aged children are today. Michele Bennett discusses how kindergarteners at Gulf Shores Elementary are able to create trailers using iMovie. I think it is amazing that a five year old can learn and operate a new program so easily. Elizabeth Davis concludes the video by discussing the Alabama Virtual Library and how it is used. It's a safe, great resource that children can use for research.

We All Become Learners
In this video, I learned that Project Based Learning changes the dynamic of learning. Not only are teachers teaching students, but students are teaching each other and the teachers as well. I've learned that students can teach us just as much as we can teach them.

C4K Summary for September

C4K #1

My first C4K assignment was Asena from Auckland, New Zealand. She is a "year 6" student at Pt England School, and she is in Miss Clark's class. In her blog post, she posted her Week 8 math work. The math consisted of about 20 standard decimal subtraction problems and nine word problems. She completed all of the math exercises in her post. I began my comment by introducing myself, explaining EDM310, and discussing why I was leaving a comment. I wrote about how interesting it was to be able to connect with someone all the way in New Zealand. I also told Asena how amazing it is to already have so much knowledge about blogging. I gave Asena the links to my blog and our class blog.


C4K #2

My second C4K assignment was Cole, and he is from Nebraska. Cole is a fourth grader in Mrs. Timm's class. Mrs. Timm instructed her class to invent a new food and post it to their blog. They also had to describe the taste, smell, look, and feel of the food. In Cole's post, he invented the "Steak Burger." His post was very short, but I commented on how great and creative his new food seemed. I also introduced myself and our C4K assignment. At the end of my comment, I included the links to my blog and the class blog.


C4K #3

My third and final C4K assignment was Camyla from Massachusetts, but there were no posts available for me to leave a comment. I chose to leave a comment on Avery's blog. Avery is a fifth grade student from Connecticut in Mr. Salsich's class. In Avery's post, he talked about a golf tournament that his family hosts in honor of his uncle every year. He seemed very excited about this year's 19th annual tournament, saying, "This is what I look forward to all year!" The money raised from the tournament goes toward scholarships for the high school and other community needs. I introduced myself and explained EDM310. I talked about how much my family enjoys golf as well, and how great it is that the tournament proceeds benefit the community.

Blog Post #6

Conversations with Anthony Capps

Project Based Learning: Experiences of a Third Grade TeacherPart 1 and Part 2

I learned a lot of new information about Project Based Learning through the video conversations between Dr. Strange and Anthony Capps. Mr. Capps explained that Project Based Learning is a way to encourage students to learn, not a tool to display what they have already learned and achieved. He also discusses the requirements for an effective project. A good project should include all of the following components: authentic audience, student interest, community involvement when appropriate, and content driven. As teachers, we want our students to be motivated to do their very best. It is important that we create projects that allow our students to reach their full potential. I learned that we should not limit the minds of our students, but we should encourage them to go above and beyond what we think they will be able to accomplish. You never know what you are capable of until you are presented with a challenge. I enjoyed the examples given by Capps of the projects he has done in the past with his students. He explains how beneficial Project Based Learning can be for the teachers as well. By creating projects, you are able to incorporate a variety of the standards which are required to cover by the state. Another aspect of Project Based Learning is student choice. By allowing your students to have an opinion, you are giving them a feeling of pride and ownership of their work. Students are more likely to stay engaged when they get that feeling of accomplishment. As Mr. Capps stated, "When students are engaged, they're learning."

iCurio

Before this video, I had never heard of iCurio. I was interested to find out more, and now I see it as a very helpful online tool for the classroom. Mr. Capps explains the different features of iCurio and how useful it is for his students. iCurio is a tool that searches websites that have been filtered for educational purposes, so basically it serves as a search engine for students. It also acts as a storage capacity, where you are able to store content that you find valuable. It is great for virtual organization, which is a feature I think I would personally enjoy. According to Mr. Capps, it is a very kid friendly search engine. iCurio can also block content that would be inappropriate for a child to see. Overall, iCurio sounds like it would be a great addition to an elementary classroom.

Discovery Education

Discovery Education is another resource that I had no knowledge of prior to these conversation videos. It is another useful tool for Project Based Learning, which provides a visual to go along with text content. This is extremely important, because you are more likely to retain information once you have actually seen it with your own eyes. Mr. Capps explains the benefits of Discovery Education for students and teachers. It brings text to life and enriches research experience for students. Mr. Capps encouraged his students to use Discovery Education for a project on plants. They were able to research the type of plants they needed information about, and Discovery Education gave them videos to strengthen their knowledge. I think this is a great example of how helpful this resource is, because sometimes a video can give a greater explanation than a teacher.

Anthony-Strange List of Tips for Teachers

Five Key Tips for Teachers:
1) Be interested in learning.
2) It's hard work, but fun and rewarding.
3) You must be flexible and creative.
4) Start with the end in mind.
5) Reflect- How can I make it better?

Don't Teach Tech- Use It

Technology should not be a part of the curriculum. You can incorporate the use of technology without wasting time and teaching it. Technology should be used in the classroom to get students excited about what they are doing and as a way for them to share their work. I was sort of shocked/embarrassed to hear how Mr. Capps' third grade students could work iMovie with little to no instruction. It took me a while to get used to the program before I could use it effectively. It's amazing that third graders are able to grasp new technology so easily. Mr. Capps pointed out three very important points about using technology. First, we should give our students opportunity. They should be allowed to explore different technology resources to assist them with their work. Also, we should not expect perfection. If it doesn't go right on the first try, encourage your students to ask questions and put their problem-solving skills to the test. His last point was, "Do it yourself, first." If we already have experience, we will be able to understand why a student might be asking a certain question. If we don't know the answer, we can figure it out together. Mr. Capps also explained how to introduce technology to your students. The best way to do this is by introducing one tool at a time, and build on it each week. I think the statement Mr. Capps made sums it up perfectly. "Never teach technology, but introduce it smartly."

Additional Thought about Lessons

Anthony Capps shared the four components required to make one lesson:

1) Year Plan- Will I cover all of my content standards?
2) Unit Plan- Have I devised unit projects in a meaningful way?
3) Week Plan- Will I be able to get everything done each day of the week? Will I reach my goals for the week?
4) Daily Plan- How should I deliver to my students? (hook to gain attention, how to keep them engaged, measure what they have learned, etc.)

Project #8 Book Trailer

The Rainbow Fish

My Sentence Videos

My Sentence Is...


My Passion Is...

Project #3 Presentation

Blog Post #5

Source: Photo by Teachers Using Tech

Personal Learning Networks

A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is "a set of people and tools that you can call upon for help, consultation, collaboration, or other assistance." By building a PLN, we will be able to expand our network and become better teachers. Vicki Davis explains how beneficial a Personal Learning Network is for students in her blog post. She says, "Constructing a PLN is the essential skill that moves my students into the driver's seat of their own learning." Davis also discusses RSS technology (website that puts together information in an easy to read format), which enables her students to create a PLN. We have already began creating our PLN in EDM310 by connecting with students and teachers across the globe and forming relationships with our classmates.

By building a Personal Learning Network, we are able to reach out to people all across the world for new ideas and feedback. Michael Fawcett explains the benefits of a PLN in his blog post. With a PLN, Fawcett is able to discuss ideas, exchange comments, suggest new sites and blogs, and make connections all around the world. He shared an example in his post of how having a PLN helped him solve a problem. A student asked Fawcett a question regarding Neil Armstrong and the moon landing. Fawcett reached out through social media, tweeting the question to his followers. Within 30 minutes, he was given a definitive answer. Because of his PLN, he was able to gain knowledge about a topic of which he was unsure. I think this is a great example of how a PLN will be beneficial for teaching purposes.

C4T #1

C4T #1, Comment 1
Source: Photo by Kathleen Morris

I was assigned to Kathleen Morris for our first C4T Project. Her blog can be found here. She is a teacher at Leopold Primary School in Victoria, Australia. Mrs. Morris is currently on maternity leave, so she discussed motherhood and how she will continue to stay in the education loop at the beginning of her blog post. She explains how twitter and other online sources make the education community available at her fingertips. In her post, she shared some great tips for graduate teachers which you can find here. Mrs. Morris also included some tips for getting started with blogging in her post. She shared the idea of a classroom blog, and I definitely want to incorporate this when I become a teacher. In my first comment, I introduced myself and explained how our class is interacting with teachers across the globe. I also talked about how a classroom blog would be a great way to keep the parents informed in their child's education. I left Mrs. Morris my contact information such as my Twitter, personal blog URL, and class blog URL at the end of my first comment.

C4T #1, Comment 2
For my second comment, I chose her post about blogging and the literacy curriculum. In this post, she explains how blogging is incorporated into her curriculum. She uses student blogs as digital portfolios rather than using a traditional method such as reflective writing or journals. I commented about how much I liked the idea. I thought it was a very creative and modern twist on an old technique. She has also incorporated blogging into literacy rotations. It is very similar to assignments we have in EDM310, such as C4C. Every week, her students read a post on the class blog or another student's blog and leave a comment/summary on their own blog to practice their literacy goal. Children are so much more advanced when it comes to technology now, so I commented about this and how much they probably enjoy the assignment.

Project #15

Search Engines

WolframAlpha
I have never heard of WolframAlpha before, so I was interested to find out about this search engine. I did some searching on the site, and I have come to the conclusion that is is mainly useful for mathematics and science related problems. You can type in mathematical functions, and it will compute the problem for you instantly. I wish I had known about this site throughout high school, but I will definitely be using it in the future.

Bing
Bing is a popular search engine, and it is very similar to Google. It is a good search engine for everyday use. You can search pretty much anything on this site, and a large amount of information will be available to you. I personally like this search engine because it is easy to use, and I feel comfortable with the information's credibility.

Yahoo!
Yahoo! is another common search engine. It is useful for many topics and questions. It is also easy to use and provides plenty of information. I have used this search engine before, and I would recommend it to everyone.

Bloglines
Bloglines is a new search engine that I came across today. It is a great resource for local blogs, news, and events. It is a fast way to find and track websites and blogs. I have never used this site before, but I think it is an interesting tool that I may find useful in the future.

Ask
Ask is a site somewhat similar to Google, Bing, and Yahoo. You can search practically anything and an answer will be given to you. It is more of a Q&A site. In my opinion, this site does not provide credible answers. You never know if the information given is accurate or inaccurate. I do not trust this site enough to use for my academics, therefore I try to avoid using this search engine unless absolutely necessary.

WOW
WOW is a search engine enhanced by Google, which means they have the same searching techniques. It does a lot of the same things as Google, but I don't think I will be using this site. It doesn't seem as credible as other search engines that I am accustomed to using. I think this site is okay for basic questions, but it should not be used for academic purposes.

Dictionary
Dictionary is one of my favorite search engines. It gives you definitions, examples, and word origin. It also gives you access to a thesaurus. It is very user friendly. You simply type a word in the search box, and information about the word appears. I always use this site when working on a paper or anything school related.

RefSeek
RefSeek is an academic search engine, which means the sources are credible. This site is very useful for writing papers or doing research for a class. It provides a large amount of feedback, which is necessary for certain topics. I highly recommend this search engine.

Blog Post #4

What do we need to know about questions to be an effective teacher?

Why do we ask questions? Is there a right or wrong way to phrase a question? How do questions help you become an effective teacher? Before reviewing the material for this blog post, I never thought about "how" a question should be asked. According to The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom, there is a method to asking questions which causes students to really think about the answer. In this article, Ben Johnson explains that we should ask a question, pause for three seconds, then call on a specific child. I think this is a great way for teachers to engage students. By using Johnson's method, all of the students will be formulating an answer in their mind while they wait to see who the teacher calls.

Another tip educators should be aware of about asking questions can be found in the article Asking Questions to Improve Learning. It states that responding effectively is just as important as the question itself. We should allow our students time to think on their own, be respectful by not interrupting, and act interested in their answer whether it is correct or incorrect. I believe this is very important, because students will stop engaging in conversation if we act like we do not care. I also found the diagram in this article very beneficial, so I have shared it below.

Source: The Teaching Center

According to Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom, there are three things we must do to improve the way we approach a question. First, we must prepare questions. I personally think this is a great idea. If the teacher asks a list of prepared questions rather than questions that come up at the spur of the moment, it will create less confusion for the students. Also, planning to ask a question at a certain time can make a huge difference. Secondly, we should play with our questions. Playing with questions simply means leaving a question unanswered and then coming back to it after the students have been given time to think. This encourages them to seek information for themselves. Finally, we need to preserve good questions. For example, if a student asks a good question in one class, share it with your next class when the time is appropriate. This shows the students that you value their opinions and questions. I will definitely be using the tips I learned from this source and the sources mentioned above for asking questions in my future classroom.

Blog Post #3

How Can I Provide Meaningful Feedback to My Peers?

Peer editing is a great way to receive positive feedback and helpful hints on assignments. Throughout elementary school and most of high school, I hated peer editing. I thought it was pointless, because I did not understand how beneficial it could actually be. I didn't realize how helpful peer editing could be until I reached my senior year of high school. During my senior year, I was in a dual enrollment English class where we had to write a paper each week. We were able to let fellow classmates read and review our papers before we turned them in to the teacher to be graded. I proofread every paper myself, but there would always be at least one mistake that I didn't catch. Luckily, the person reviewing my paper would usually point out the mistake and make corrections. Peer editing made me a much better writer, and I think it is very important for students to learn this skill at a young age.

In the video, What is Peer Editing?, I learned that each review should contain compliments, suggestions, and corrections. By starting off with a compliment, it lessens the harshness of suggestions and corrections. For example, "That is an absolutely terrible word choice" is not the right way to correct someone. It would come across much better if you say, "Your first paragraph was great, but if you use a different word choice in the second sentence it will be even better!" I believe we will be able to provide meaningful feedback in EDM 310 on blog posts, activities, and projects of our fellow classmates now that we have watched this video. The Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial really reinforced what was said in the video mentioned above. It discussed how peer editing is beneficial because it helps you improve, revise, and edit your work. For peer editing to be successful, students must know that there is a right and a wrong way to give someone feedback. Writing Peer Review Top Ten Mistakes shows all of the ways peer reviewing could go wrong. For example, peer reviewing turns into a mess if someone is overly picky, doesn't care about the process, can't provide suggestions in a kind way, or cannot take constructive criticism. If done correctly, peer editing can be a very powerful and helpful tool. I think providing feedback to each other through our blog posts will be very beneficial in this class.