Blog Post 16 Final Reflection

Final Reflection

Blog Post #5 Part 2

PLN Summary

          My PLN is doing great. I have added some people that I did not expect into my group. I added a friend that goes to the University of Alabama and  a retired vice principal. I think I can add more people in the PLN. I need to use more connection with technology. I think I could tweet and connect more with people in the education field. I am happy with my PLN because I have added many people that I have looked up too. I think the most beneficial to any PLN is to have a group that brings good ideas and can help you think outside of the box. Teaching can always be improved. I think my PLN will help improve my teaching until I retire. I was some nervous when assembling my PLN. My additional adds were because they are very knowledgeable. Grant Allen is a future history teacher and he is my age. I met him when I went to Alabama. I like the add because it helps for someone my age to bounce ideas off of. I think my PLN has to still improve, but I am on the right track. The PLN is there to be a learning network. I have to make sure  I learn in the network. I am sure there are many changes to come before my PLN is completely done. 

Teacher Comments Summary #4

Teacher Comments Summary #4

        We were given the option to choose who we commented on this month. I picked Anne Palmer and Nathan Horne. Anne Palmer is a elementary school teacher. Nathan Horne is a PE teacher. I chose to mix it up because I like to see other teacher's opinion. I think it will help give me ideas out of the box. 

    Anne Palmer's blog called for more in depth reading. It was really informative of how kids do not read comprehend the material. I think it is because most students read to pass the standardize test. Nathan Horne's blog was a great read for a future PE teacher. He created a PE cook book. He did not incorporate in his classroom, but I thought it would a great PBL project for PE. I enjoyed reading all of the teacher's blog because of the information you receive. We have not been in a classroom yet. It gives everyone a idea of the classroom. 

C4K Summary November

C4K Summary November

     

        My last month of kid comments had me feeling like it was 2002. 2002 was the year I was in the 5th grade. All of the blog's I commented on was the 5th grade. The difference being that I commented on a 5th grader's blog in Ontario to Chula, California. The girl in Ontario had the best blog I read this month. She wanted to end Taylor Swift music. It might be personal to me but I totally agree. All of the blogs this month was great. I enjoyed all of them. I think this month was the most fun to read. I was introduced to Greek mythology. The blogs all had a clear agenda and was stated with facts. I have been thoroughly impressed on how well written every blog was. It did not matter the age of the author. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

     

Blog Post 14

Teaching Can be Professional

     The article stated three problems with teaching. The article was written by Joel Klein. The article was titled, "Teaching our children can be a profession."The three problems being teachers need better academic training, recruit more teachers, and reward teachers. The solutions for the three problem that were proposed was that teachers make their own board to police the profession, setting

standards and providing mechanisms for removing bad teachers.

   I agree with the problem of better academic training. I think that if the teachers had a board to police the profession it would help the future teachers. The board could police the teachers who are teaching the future teachers. The board could also help prepare better ways to incorporate technology to help prepare future teachers for when they get into the classroom.

  I do not agree with recruit teachers. I think teachers are all natural teachers. I think recruiting more teachers will only lead to more bad teachers. I think you will bring in people that will not really wanting to be teachers. I do know we need more teachers but I think you cannot openly recruit teachers. If you are going to bring in more teachers you need to find a way to encourage them by showing how teachers are appreciated. I think most teachers feel under appreciated. I do not agree with recruitment of teachers. I think if you are not 100% committed to teaching then you cannot be a teacher.

 I think you do have to reward the teachers. Rewarding teachers will lead to more teachers. You can reward the teachers by showing them how much they are worth. Good teachers do not come along often. You reward these teachers by giving them raises. They deserve raises because teaching is one of the toughest job. If you remove the bad teachers that is reward to the good teachers because bad teachers being removed will help encourage that only good teaching is accepted in the field of education.

  They many other problems in teaching. Teaching has not met expectations for the past years. Not meeting the expectations has lead to many holes in education. Teaching can be the base of helping a lot of problems in the world. Everyone has to be taught and everyone has to learn. We have to help decide who is teaching the teachers. Teachers can never quit learning.

Blog Post 13

Physical education has changed in the last 20 years. 

Teaching has changed in the last five years. 

Use the source of the interview with the teacher Charlotte Wiggins to answer the question.

 What do you think will change the most in PE in the next 20 years?

Back to the Future: What will PE be in 2034?

     I interviewed a teacher who has been the field for 28 years. Charlotte Wiggins is an 1985 graduate of South Alabama. Mrs. Wiggins taught elementary PE for 25 years. She now teaches high school PE. I think what is interesting is the year she started teaching which was in 1986. Computers were finally becoming "personal computers." The interview was only five minute video. I had much more questions that was asked and answered. The most important I asked was, "Did you ever think you teach in such a technology classroom." She shook her head no. I think no one did. Especially, PE I think most people still do not think technology can be used much in PE. 

  I think you have to be adaptable every day. So in sense do not be concrete. I think abstract is what everyone needs to be. The classroom will change in the next twenty years. I think PE can get somewhat more modern technology in it. I think PE will become more of an intro to health and kinesilogy. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States. I know one of the best way to combat this problem is with exercise. I think though it would be more beneficial to the student to learn how to become more healthy. I know most people would say that is why they take a health class in school. I think health is better taught with a hands on approach. Science class takes you in lab to do experiments. They take you in lab to show you what you cannot. I think PE will and can become a lab experiment. We will teach the student about how the body works and show them. You have PE every school day. I know you can do so much with this teaching style because you can have a "lab," everyday. I do not think they will take away basketball or dodge ball. The brilliant thing about this is you can use any physical activity to teach this. You can also have the students blog about the activity. They can document what they consumed that day. They could see how they performed. I think PE does not have to teach you just how to eat. I think PE will and can be an actual educational class instead of just outside or inside play time. If PE does this in the next twenty years. PE can start to actually benefit people for years to come.

Project 12 Part B

Blog Post 12

Project 10 Interview Movie

PE: 20 Years Later

Teacher Comments Summary 3

   

   Teacher Comments Summary 3

   
   I had the pleasure of reading a teacher's blog by the name of Brendan Jones. He is trying to put PE in the 21st century. I am going to be a PE teacher. Mr. Jones' blog appealed to me very deeply. PE is the one subject where change is not expected. I guess technology is not expected in the classroom.

   Mr. Jones is using his PE class for exercise and experiments. The last blog I read talked about how he is using the myth buster approach in his class. He thought it will be a good idea to have the students myth bust sports skills. Some of the impossible to decide if it is skill or not. In his first blog post, I read he was talking about the importance of preparation compared to a play. How a play is not perfect? I thought he was right because no play is perfect.You practice to do the best you can in that situation. You cannot practice for every particular situation. Mr. Jones made me excited about becoming a PE teacher.

Blog Post 11

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning from Students?

Back to the Future

         

     Back to the Future is the perfect video to show you the modern classroom and all what can be achieved in the classroom in this generation. The video shows you one thing that has never changed and that is you have to make your student's want information. You have to engage them in order for them to want information. Mr. Crosby does this with his science projects. He also has them blog. The blogging helps you make connections. The student's collaborating with blogs and group projects will help them learn more by learning from each other. Future teachers can learn that you have to sell the information to your students, but more importantly make sure they buy it. 

Blended Learning Cycle

  Mr. Paul Anderson teaches biology. Biology is one of the most interesting subjects. Biology is also really in depth and contains quite a bit of information. He relies on the "power of the question." We have learned how important a question can be in the classroom. The blended learning cycle helps the "deep question." It revolves around a cycle of experiencing, reflecting, thinking, and applying. The teachers can take away from this video how their questions make the students use the blending learning cycle. 

Making Thinking Visible

  Mark Church has his class work in groups. He ask them a prediction of the group. He will ask them later to see the outcome of the group. The groups once again use collaboration learning. I think it is one of the best way to teach. Many people think the teacher has to lecture to teach. The teacher setting these groups up are teaching more with the group then with a lecture. I remember hearing other people's opinion on a story when I was younger. I remember hearing their points and wondering who is right. The students are thinking. Thinking leads to learning. Future teachers can learn to teach outside of lectures in the classroom from this video. 

Building Comics

  The best video I watched. It showed me how creative a teacher can be. Internet safety needs to be a concern to everyone. Student's have to be aware of the dangers of the internet. The cool part of the video is the students made their own comic book. The creativity is off of the charts. The comic book making engages everyone. It can engage the whole school district. The comic book strip teaches safety too. The student are pushed to be so creative in this project. Teachers everywhere can learn to be creative and original. Always be brand new or strive to be in the classroom. 

Project Based Learning

  It was another original idea. It combined three subjects into one project. PBL is already one of the most out the box teaching methods. The video showed how you can go past the box. It is no limit to teaching, Students get bored in school. It will happened, but it will rarely happened if teachers can continue to go past the box. We can learn that there is no limit to how you can teach material in today's school systems. Technology is limitless and so is teaching and learning. 

Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program

  Once again another great video of what PBL can do for the students. PBL not only shows how the students learn more. It shows how it build you into a better student. PBL done correctly no matter the grade will make you a better student for years to come. We can learn from this video that you have to make sure you are making your students better even after the bell rings for the last day of that school year. 

C4K Summary for October

Kids Comment for October

  October gave me the chance to read some interesting blogs from students. I ranged from third grade to 7th grade. I went from Ohio to New Zealand. I read topics of the student's book to the student's view on changes that could be made in the school. I started off in the sixth grade reading Trinity's post. She was in the sixth grade recommending the book, Hunger Games: Mockingjay. I know it was recently a movie made on this book. I have heard great things about both the books and the movies.  then moved to Madison, Wisconsin for Mrs. Ripp's 7th grade. Caroline talked about changing the school rules. She made some big points about dress code. It does always seem dress code is an ongoing issue in schools. I then went to Michigan. I read Ruby's blog who is a third grader in Ms. Essenburg's class. She had a great introduction blog about her family. She was the middle sibling. She was getting aggravated with her brothers. It was a great grammar used for a third grader. I finished my last comment in New Zealand. I read a sixth grader's blog named Tihi. She had an informative post on how to protect your skin when you are in the sun. It was very well written. I think it was one of the best post I read. The structure was really good. I enjoy reading everyone's blog because it does not matter what the topic may be you find yourself meeting this students. Happy Halloween. 

Blog Post #10

What Can We Learn From Mrs. Cassidy?

  Mrs. Kathy Cassidy is a first grade teacher from Moosejaw, Canada. Mrs. Cassidy wanted to bring technology in her classroom about ten years ago. She did not have any experience with technology. Mrs. Cassidy did not have much backing from her school or the school district. Mrs. Cassidy started with five computers. She also started using video about three years ago. She has a class blog that everyone in the class can stay up to date on assignments and every thing that is happening in the class. The students have to do their own blog post. Mrs. Cassidy uses the technology of Skype to bring guests in to talk to the class.

  I am going to be a physical education teacher. I know as teachers we can learn how Mrs. Cassidy did not have much support from other people, but she knew she had to improve as a teacher. I am will love to use her class blog idea. I think as a PE teacher it would benefit the students, teachers, and the parents. The students should not have any questions about what we will be doing or what is expected from you in each class. The parents might be wondering what the child is doing in PE. They can find anything they want on the class blog. The teachers have to work together to use the school facilities. It seems to be a common problem. They can go see where our PE class will be. It will help the planning of other teachers. I know I have learned that you have to change every year. I will use Mrs. Cassidy's technique of adaptable to change. Every future teacher can learn a great deal from just these videos: First Grader's in Ms. Cassidy's Class, Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1, Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 2, and Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 3. 

Project 12 Part A

Project 12 Part A

Blog Post #9

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

    Student and teachers can teach us anything and everything we need to know about project based learning. Teachers can help teach you what the students can learn with project based learning. The students can help teach you how much they learned. All of these things are important for the learning process. I have already learned the base of project based learning. Project based learning has to be centered around a driving question. The driving question is the heartbeat of project based learning. The driving question has to have no yes or no answer. I learned about the driving question from the seven essentials for project based learning article. Project Based Learning for teachers video I learned how to take the driving question and make it into a critical thinking challenge. Critical thinking is one of the best ways for anyone to learn. The question has an answer that no one knows including the teacher. The students and teachers get to partake in a learning experience.

  I am  going to be a physical education teacher. I really enjoyed the articles PE in the classroom, Project Based learning in PE. Since, I learned about project based learning I  was wondering how I could insert project based learning into my PE classroom. I found out that the PE is one of the best classes to do project based learning. The environment is really one of the natural open environments of all the class room. The projects that can be accomplished in the classroom our endless. The image I used below is to help PE teachers use PBL.

 Project based learning is a great way for everyone to learn. I think the key is for students to be motivated. I watched "What motivates Student?" The most important thing that I learned from the video is that everyone at any ages have goals. The children were very young and were already career obligated. I think it is our job to use PBL to help keep children motivated.

 

Project 14

 This week, my EDM 310 group created a lesson plan for a 3rd grade English class! The lesson is to help the students better understand the main components of a story and use their imagination and creativity to create a story of their own.  The lesson for this is in the Project Based Learning Format where the students will be put into groups in order to create a story using StoryBoardThat.com! Check out our Google Site to see the lesson plan, calendar, checklist, and rubrics for this project.

Blog Post Assignment #8

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?

            I think there is almost nothing we cannot learn from Randy Pausch. I did not know you could learn something from your childhood dreams. I learned from Randy Pausch that childhood dreams are lessons. I remember being young and wanting to be an NBA player. I am now twenty two years old. I did not make it. I think what Prauch was teaching us about childhood dreams is that look back and see what you participated as a child to achieve that goal. I was in YMCA basketball until the sixth grade. I learned teamwork, responsibility, and passion. Passion is something that some say cannot be taught. I think it can be taught to you at a young age. You particpate in a sport for years. You practice everyday as a child. You are constantlly outside shooting. You get in arguments with your mom about when to come inside. You have learned and developed a passion for something. We have learned all of these thing from what Pausch termed the "head fake." Pausch is exactly right the best teaching method is the "head fake." Children will learn so much more when they do not know what they are being taught. 

        Children have so many great qualities when you observe them. They are quick learners, creative, and passionate. The main thing I need to carry from Randy Pausch is to be childlike. Teacher's tend to be boring and not to creative. We have to change this because if your are these characteristics children can only learn the minimum. We have to be energetic and passionate. We have to be childlike. We have to believe that tomorrow is coming but not today. We have to get the maximum out of each and every class we teach. The technology is so much now. We have no excuse to be boring and lame. We have it the easiest then most teachers ever had to be creative. It is no excuse not to be childlike. Childlike, we all say was some of the best time. Let's relive the best times to teach the children so they can learn more than they should. We should make the sponges look for some more water every day. 

Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning

Part A

 Smart phones have become a common part of the classroom. I think it is will decrease the learning because while you teach you cannot control what every student is using their smart phone for. Student have to be engaged. It is already hard enough to engage the students without using technology.

 I think the you will have to incorporate their phones in the teaching lesson. I think if everyone including the teacher will be using their smart phone. I think you have to use it in a "smart" way. Many people use their phone's for hours a day. I think as a teacher we have to educate them on how to use a smart phone in  a resourceful way.

Part B

 I will be an PE teacher so we could use our smart phones or tablets for many things. I think a step o meter would be the first thing to record how many steps each student will make . A app for different exercise.  We could have a student use their phone to teach different and new exercises such as zumba or yoga. I think one of the best apps would be the health plate app. The health plate  has taken over for the health pyramid. It is the portion of what every one should eat everyday. This would be a great way for the students to track and see if they are eating healthy. They could also give a power point presentation using Discovery Ed. They could use Alabama Virtual Library for the research. They are many apps to help turn your smart phone "problem" into one of the most creative learning classes ever.

Teacher Comments Summary 2

  I was assigned John R. Sowash's blog. He has a blog called the "electric conductor." He writes a lot about Google account. He blog is set up for educational technology. He encourages questions or thought on the subject. He reminds me a lot of Dr. Strange. I learned some really cool thing on his blog about Google. 

  

   The first post was about how Dr. Sowash has started a newsletter for teachers to stay up to date on the new teaching technology. I think it was a great idea because technology is constantly changing. Teacher are so busy that they have no time to check for new technology updates. I think it was just a great service provided by Dr. Sowash. The second post I read was about Google privacy settings. I found it the most helpful because I discount how important privacy is. I never noticed the secure account settings. I have now secured my Google account. I found that Dr. Sowash is blogging to help every teacher he can with the new technology. I found him to be a quick 1-800 line if you will. 

Project #9 Book Commentary

Project#9 Book Commentary

Project 7 My Sentence Videos Part B

Parent Video



Student Video

Blog Post Assignment#7

How Do We All Become Learners?

  I think every one is learners it comes natural to everyone. My example is when you see something you do not recognize. You will ask someone who is near you what that object is. The person answering your question is teaching you. It can be as complex as qua tam physics or as easy as video game. I think it is possible to be become better learners. The first step in becoming that better leaner is you have to want too. You have to be eager. I would then evaluate yourself. I evaluated myself on the learning qualities. My strengths are the following: fast learner, positive attitude, punctual, and good with technology. My weaknesses are the following: procrastinator, does not like new technology, and my attention span is too short. My current preparation is getting better. I started this class for example waiting till Sunday to do all of my work. I now am finished with my work before Wednesday night. I wanted to become a better student in my Edm 310 class. I self evaluated my problems. I found out it was that I was procrastinating my homework. It is a classic example of how we all become better learners. We are already learners. We just have to be better learners. 

 Video's Summary

 I learned many new things from the videos. I know I downloaded Poplet on my Ipad before I was finished watching all of the videos. Poplet is an app. It allows you to build projects easier and organize your thoughts. It is a blank screen that allows you to drop anything you want in it. This video will give you a example of a student using it. The Ipad is a great way to teach children to read. I watched the Ipad reading center video. I was blown away by two things. One, the kindergarten student knows how to work and Ipad and two, the student by hearing his voice helped him correct his mistakes. Teacher who are not lucky enough for every one to have an Ipad can use the QR code. The QR code can be used by using a computer. You go to recordMp3.org. You then simply record the student reading or yourself reading. Group based learning projects are important to your classroom as I learned last week. Discover Ed is a really cool tool to help your group present your project. The research can be done on Discover Ed or AVL. I remember when they created Alabama Virtual Library. AVL is a great tool to teach kids how to research. Research is important is very key to to learn any subject. I learned the most from the last video. The video was, "We All Become Learners." The video consisted of Dr. Strange, Elizabeth Davis Daphne elementary, and Michelle Bennett Gulf Shores elementary. They talked about how everyone is learning in the classroom because of technology. Mrs. Bennett made a point about  how technology breaks down all of the barriers and makes everybody one. I think that stood out the most to me because if everybody is one learning becomes breathing. It is also when I saw the importance of all of the other videos. Technology makes everyone a learner and we are more learners now then teachers. You have to become a better learner to become the almost perfect teacher. 

Project 13

   My EDM 310 group designed a lesson using the Project Based Learning format.  We decided to teach a third grade class about natural disasters.  In order to teach the students about natural disasters, we created a project that engaged the students in the learning process through individual and group research as well explained the real world application of their activity.  The project has the students use technology in order to describe a specific natural disaster, explain the cause and warning signs of the disaster, then create and demonstrate a safety plan.  Here is our lesson plan, calendar,checklist, and two rubrics (group project and individual assessment) describing the project and how the students will be graded.

C4K Summary for September

C4K Summary for September

    I had the opportunity to read three great elementary student's blog this month. The three I read were from Nathaniel, Morgan and Noah in that order. Nathaniel wrote his blog on President Barrack Obama visiting Stonehenge. I was impressed how he used his punctuation marks. He used a direct quote and exclamation points. I think not many people use enough exclamation points. It really helps make the blog interesting. Megan wrote about her birthday weekend. She was excited about staying up late and texting her friends. Megan's blog was the shortest of the three. The last one I read for the month of September was Noah's blog. Noah was given the task of "What would he change about his school?" Noah explained how he wished the school was more flexible. I think Noah did a great job of giving supporting evidence for his opinion. It was really cool to connect to other people around the world through blogging. I enjoyed it and look forward to next month's C4K comments. 

Project 8 Book Trailer

Blog Assignment #6

What did I learn from these conversations with Anthony Capps?

   Teaching is hard. You have to be a learner. This thought really stood out to me. I think most people's initial thought is as a teacher you are not learning anymore. Anthony discusses how you have to be learning the different programs. Programs can only be used if you can teach them to your students. So, you have to be able to learn how to use these programs. Technology is there more importantly to help your students and not the teacher. Icurio is an excellent program that is a search engine. A search engine that only shows you information that is factual and can be used in a education setting. I did not know a program like this existed. Icurio also has a storage capacity. The storage capacity is will help promote organization. Organization is a key for getting anything accomplished. I'm glad I learned about this program because it will make sources for projects easier to find. The video of Icurio is a great watch for any body that does not know about it. 

  

  

   Technology is every where. I know every body knows that. I learned from Anthony that technology is natural. It should not be taught. He does not set aside days to teach technology. Instead, slowly present the technology to your students. They will learn by just using the technology given to them. Have you ever watched a four year old use a smart phone? They can get to the apps. They want to use. Point being technology is so natural it is like learning to walk. Practice with new technology will lead to knowing that technology. The flexibility of teachers is something you expect a teacher to need but Anthony gives you a clear definition of it. I thought the example used in the video, "Strange Tips for Teachers Part 1," is shows you exactly what is flexibility and more. Flexibility is being able to teach when surprises occur. They will occur so be ready. I took away that if I have my four things that is most important for teachers prepared then it should help me with my flexibility and surprises. The four things are year, unit, weekly, and daily. It should be organized with what you want to teach on a yearly basis to the exact unit and so on and so forth. 

  

 The most important thing I took away from the Anthony conversations is learning has to be fun. The students need it to be fun. I have in the past hated group projects because I never saw the meaning of them. I saw a whole different world when I watched, "Project Based Learning Part I." Group projects is a great way to make learning fun. They are not easy. You have to make sure each project is content driven. The content has to be interesting to you and the students. Group projects is a great tool. The students get to learn the best way. The best way being by themselves. The project has to be in the situation that they are creating something by learning how to create it. Discovery Ed is an awesome program. It gives the students a visual. Discovery Ed will give you an illustration and background information. I loved history. I found out I like it more on the history channel. I think that was mostly because it gave me a visual of history. If you want to learn more on Discovery Ed, I provided a link to it, "Discovery Ed." 

  

  I learned so much in each video. It was hard to decide the key points to me. I would like to know other people's key points. Every person thinks differently and might have a different perspective on the video's. I know all of which I learned will benefit when It is my turn to take the reigns of a classroom. 

My Sentence Videos

My Passion

My Sentence

Blog Assignment #5

What are Personal Learning Networks?

Personal Learning Networks is a set of people and tools you call upon as a teacher to help you grow and deal with problems as teacher. The tools can be twitter or any other social media outlet.

How can they help you as a teacher?

A teacher is like any other career you need help from people. Teacher is a trial and error job. You have to learn by experience to deal with situations that you are not accustomed too. You have been taught how to deal with situations in college, but they are many situations in which you you are not prepared for. Your PLN will help you overcome this situations. They do not have to be teachers because sometimes the best advice come from unpredictable sources. The tools such as twitter can help you stay connected to the people. Twitter or Facebook will help you deliver information fast.

How are they formed?

PLN is formed by the person who developing their own PLN. The PLN is formed by people you respect and listen too. It can also be college student or teachers that you have connected with during your college career.They are just peers who you value their opinions on subjects. They have to be highly valued because you are dealing with your career. You will pick your number of people. It can be a large number or small. I think the smaller is better because if it is large many opinions can make your decision harder. Do you feel like the bigger the number, the better PLN will be?

How can you create your own PLN? You create your own PLN by deciding who is in your PLN. I would add three to five people to my PLN. I would go ahead and tell them that they are my PLN. It will help the members to know why I keep asking their opinion on my career decisions. PLN is very easy to create because everyone has peer or should have peers or tools that will help you. The tools of twitter handles or phone numbers need to be exchanged so information can flow fast.

What will be the first additions to your PLN? My first additions to my PLN would be my mother and my friend Grant. My mother has taught school for twenty five years. I think she would be really good addition to my PLN. My other addition Grant is also becoming a school teacher. Both his parents taught school for over 30 years. Grant has always gave me straight advice. I think these two addition would help me almost instantly.

Summary of Developing My PLN

My PLN is quickly coming together. I have two members already in my PLN. The two are my mother and my friend Grant. I will be adding three more people. I am adding a teacher that taught me in high school. He is Marty Hanks. He is currently the principal at my former high school. He has been in the classroom situation and in the office situations. I will also be adding my friend Matthew Rowell. I respect his opinion very much. We always have the same look on things but we arrive there differently. I believe this will help me very much so and he has no teaching experience. He can speak as the best outside source of information. I will also add another teacher that influenced me a lot. Angelia Harrison who was my junior college math teacher. She brings the college voice to situations. All of these people will help me in my PLN. I will be always looking for ways to improve my PLN. I need more college students in my PLN. I will be looking to make some more connections.

Project #3 Presentation

Blog Assignment #4

Asking questions: What questions do we ask? How do we ask?

I have never thought about how this topic before. I read the "Right Way to Ask Questions," by Ben Johnson. The main points I took away from the article was the open ended questions and how kids get left behind in class. I have been a student for seventeen years. The article made me think about the teachers I have taken. The teachers that asked questions that provoke thought and those that asked simple yes and no questions. I was never one to ask questions in school because I thought the questions did not pertain to me. I think the open ended question are good but they have to be asked to pertain to the whole class. The article showed me the importance because the students will become lost. I though of myself getting lost in high school when I thought the question did not pertain to me. The question needs to make at least over half of the class provoke real thought about something.

I now have found out the importance of the teacher being prepared to ask the class questions. I watched the youtube video, "Questioning Styles and Strategies." I wanted to see the different styles techniques. The video was really interesting for me. I watched the teacher use all of the different style and techniques to get the whole class participating. I think the one style called "random name calling," can be the most effective. It keeps all of the students listening in the class room. They have to pay attention in case they are called on. The kids listening for their names make them listen to the question very intently. They start thinking of their answer immediately.It causes thought provoking every time and deep answers because most kids are competitive.

I found out that teachers need to be prepared to ask questions. Anything said in the classroom is important. Every word is used to teach. The teacher's question is as important as the book and the presentation. The student's have to think about the subject in order to learn. You learn things because you think about the things being taught to you. The teacher has no plan for the questions than he or she loses the students. The technology has now become a distraction to every student. The teacher is now battling that as well as the attention span of their students. The questions that are being asked by the teacher has never been this important. Once the students become disinterested with you they become disinterested in the subject also. Questions are the answer to thoughts.

Work Cited

1. Question style and straties. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uKqs3D0Z0M

2. Johnson, Ben. The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom

Project #15 Search Engines

Search Engines Review

Ixquick search engine is supposed to be the most private engine. It provides people with privacy on their search. It also will help block you from cookies. I ran four searches on different things. The only question is how private is the search engine. It advertises that it is the most private. I think there is not really a good way to tell. I think you would have to run this search engine for months to see how the privacy works.

About is an index search engine. The search engine provides expert's advice. I searched for some top restaurants in Mobile. The results came back very great. It gave you a few web sites where they offer you their top ten places to eat in Mobile. I think ask is a very helpful search engine. The expert's on the side gives you comfort. It is almost like having a guarantee.

Bing is becoming one of the most popular search engines. It is the search engine used for the new xbox systems. Bing provides you with quick and effective search based on your history and your social media history. I found Bing very useful because most of the time when you search for something you have to scroll because the search provider does not know what exactly you were asking. The social media aspect also helps because every one in the world uses social media now.

Excite was one of the most popular search engines in the 1990's. It is still feeling the affect of a company called, "Google." Excite was an ok search engine. I searched for south alabama university on one of the practice searches. The results came back for Phoenix University. I would not use this search engine. It should have ended in the 90's.

Lycos.com is one of the oldest search engines. It advertises accurate information. Lycos is a really great search engine. I ran some practice searches and found it the accuracy to be true. It also when I got to the site it had Mobile's weather dead center. Lycos is still a great search engine. The only negative to Lycos is only having four links to a page pop up on your search. I think it might be Lycos trying to show off it's accuracy too much.

Yahoo search engine is the cousin of google. It advertises to have the most relevant information for you. I have used yahoo search for the relevant information before for paper's. I found it a better news provider than google. Yahoo too me is like an iPhone to an Android. Yahoo being close to google. Google is just made by Apple. Yahoo can try to keep the race close. Yahoo relevant news and searches with less advertisement is why I would use their search engine again.

Mywebsearch.com is a search engine powered by google. It will bring you to their site because of the less advertisement and the quick links on the home page. I found it to be very efficient. It just felt like Google with another website. I did not care for this site too much. I feel if I wanted to use google I would have went to Google. I do not really understand how this search engine can stay alive because it is Google in another wrapper.

The last search engine I reviewed was Info Space. Info Space has been around since 1996. It offers one of the fastest keyword searches on the internet. I searched for "roll tide." The results were fast and effective. It brought up two Alabama web sites. It was helpful. I just think it could have been better if I had a link to the history of roll tide. Info Space has been around for a while and will continue too because of the keyword searches.

After reviewing the search engines, I have come to the conclusion that everyone is fighting for seconds. Google is the best most effective search engine ever. I know my project was to review eight search engines not using google. It was tough not to compare everything to Google. I used Google to find my eight search engines. The search engine is no longer a race for the best. Google is just waiting for everyone to finish the race.

Teacher Comments Summary #1

Teacher Comments Summary #1

I was assigned Dr. Fryer's blog. Dr. Fryer teaches at STEM school in Oklahoma. He teaches the fourth and fifth grade at the school. STEM stand for the following: science, technology, engineering, and math. Dr.Fryer is very much up to date with the new technology.

The first post I read was about the mini maker fair coming to Manhattan, Kansas. The fair is the technology version of the DIY channel. It features small companies selling products such as robots, 3D printers, and many other things. It is a great way to learn new things about technology. It also will teach you creativity. The second post I read was about Dr. Fryer's fourth and fifth grade popsicle catapult project. Students were given four days to complete it. Two days for creating the catapult design. The other two days for testing. The end of the four days the students will have a competition to see who has created the best catapult. After reading the two posts Dr. Fryer stresses creativity and imagination. The two are integral part of discovering and learning.

Blog Assignment#3

How Can You Provide Meaning Feedback to Your Peers?

I think I can provide meaningful feedback to my peers by being positive. I am a very positive person. I think I can help my peers by just encouragement. I feel when you go to college you do not get much encouragement. College can make you feel alone. You feel as if you only have yourself. The classmates are my peers. We are on the same team. Peer editing is meant to improve your team. Negativity will only bring down your team. I think encouragement will also bring unity to my peers because we are all in it together. Everyone needs improvement but no one needs negativity.

The video "What is peer editing?", offers great idea on how to comment on your fellow peer's blog posts. I loved the word peers because if you have a peer. The peer is on your team. You have to stay positive when working with your team. I know I have grammatical errors or sentences that does not sound right. It is hard to put your thoughts from your head in words.Peer Edit with Perfect Tutorial slideshow really helps you improve your peer editing by showing you the steps. It is a good way for me to improve my peer editing because I know I have never had to read other peer's work. Peer editing is brand new to me.

The video "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes," was really great. It was a fun way to show how not to act when peer editing. The video was fun to watch. The slide show was great because it gave you instructions but this video actually showed you how you sound when you edit someone's post. It is a fine line between being mean and helpful. I hope will not sound like a "Picky Paty!"

Blog Post#2

What Will Teaching in the 21st Century Be Like?

1. Mr. Dancealot

The video was a video of the professor trying to teach his students different dances. The central message of the video was that students have to learn things by themselves. The students become restless because they know you can only learn dancing by dancing. The author makes his case for this conclusion at the end of the video. The students are not able to perform the dance that was taught. I absolutely agree with the author's conclusion. I believe there is a difference between teaching and learning. The teacher can only present you the information. The students has to learn the information on their own.

2. Teaching in the 21st century.

Robert believes that teaching in the 21st century is all about the challenge. You have to challenge the students to create. My definition of create is building or making something new by your self.
I. Technology has made it possible
a. Internet with all the information a person needs to learn something.
II. Teachers have to show the students how to use the technology
b. Everyone can "google" something. Not many know all of what google offers
III. Information travels fast
a. Students can communicate with everybody in the world.

I feel Roberts is correct on how to teaching is changing. The teacher's only have so much time with the students every week in class. The student's have to find ways they can teach themselves. The beauty of this is that everybody owns the means to teach themselves. If Robert is correct my job as a teacher is to becoming more difficult. The teacher will have to constantly push themselves to learn about technology. They will have to do this so they can teach their students the new technology. People crave information. Information is knowledge. Knowledge is power. The teacher has to get the power to the students.

3. The Network Student

Why does the network student ever need to be a teacher? A teacher has to learn thing on his own. The student will have to learn much information on his own. The teacher with the information they have learned never know when they will have to teach someone. The student never knows when they will have to teach someone to use the technology they have learned to use.

4. Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

The thesis of this video is that when students are encouraged and provided with technology there are no limits. My reaction to this video is a new perspective on teaching. Teachers do not have to "hold the students hand." The teacher Mrs. Davis is exactly right the students have to be thinkers. They have to find out the methods to accomplish something. I have found over the years that when you teach yourself to do something you remember for a long time. The students after learning to push themselves were teaching the teacher new things.

5. Who's Ahead in the Learning Race?

The learning race is being dominated by the elementary students. The younger you are when showed to use 21st century technology; the farther you will be ahead of everyone else. I am currently an undergraduate at South Alabama. I find problems using a computer very regular. I can barely use a Mac book. I cannot upload an I Movie. The elementary students will be learning to type codes when they reach undergraduate codes. We did not have this technology when I was in elementary school. We are essentially running behind the education race. It is a race that only the elementary students will win.

7. Bringing the Locker Room Into the Classroom

I can use many of the methods used in the article. Coaching is exactly like teaching. Teacher have to encourage learning. Coaches encourage everyday at practice. I think the method used in Coaches is the best way to teach. I will teach students on how to do it. I will not show them step by step. The students will learn better by teaching themselves. I will use the "collaboration method." Students learn better as a team. The team can use each others skill to help everyone learn and become a better student in my classroom.

Blog Assignment #1

What About EDM310?

The picture at the bottom is what I have heard about EDM310. It holds a reputation for a hard class. I asked a few students that have already completed the class. The common thing said about the class was a head shake with the words "get ready." I think many people think it is a hard class because of the pace of the class. It requires a lot of work out of the classroom. EDM 310 puts the learning in the student's hands. I think many classes do not do that, therefore we are not prepared for this class. I think many students are hoping for the "spoon" approach. We normally do not push ourselves to learn on our own.

What fears do you have about EDM 310?

I fear that I could get left behind and lost. I will say it again the pace of this class is laser quick. You have to be prepared for each class and prepared to listen intently. I did not read the blog manual before the second meeting. I was not prepared for using HTML line breaks. I learned by reading the manual in the class. You cannot do that because I missed critical learning about other information containing the practice blog. The information that was being taught was most likely the building blocks of completing a professional blog. The class also shows you that information can be learned by yourself. Preparation is the key to not having this fear. I know now the importance of preparation.

. Compare and contrast EDM310 with other courses you have taken in college or high school EDM 310 is not like any other class I have taken. I will compare the blog assignments to my first English Composition class. We had to write a page consisting of an overview and opinion of the story we read each week. It is similar of having to put down your thoughts each week on a subject you just covered. It is different because our blog makes us show the teacher if we can use the things we have learned during the week by using them properly in the blog. The practice blog made us show the teacher we had a working blog. Project one was to complete a working blog. The blogs have to with s subject and will correlate with the projects and activity of the week. EDM 310 is making you give an original idea about education and using the technology at hand in the world.

What do you think will be the most difficult thing for you in EDM310?

The most difficult thing for me to do in EM310 will be creating a trailer. I have not had much experience with an video camera. I have never uploaded a video on the internet. A trailer is also editing of the video. I have never edited any video. I think that will be the most difficult. I have created rubric before. I also have used twitter for some time. I have not much experience in trailer creating.

What is the best way for you to address this “most difficult” aspect of EDM310?

The best way for me to address my problem of having not much experience is by making trailers. I do agree practice makes perfect. I think I should start uploading "practice" videos first to Facebook or Youtube. I think after I get use to it. I should use google and find out how you can make a trailer. I should then practice uploading them. I think these methods and going to lab for some feedback will help me turn this difficult task into a easy one.

What questions do you still have about EDM310? What ideas do you have about how to address those questions?

I have a few questions regarding blogs. I still do feel comfortable doing blogs yet. I also have questions regarding the projects. The best way to address the questions regarding the blogs is by reading the blog manual and the links to writing a blog. My question is mainly about the format. The questions I have about the projects is how to complete the projects. I will ask Dr. Strange or go to lab to answer those questions. All of my questions are minor ones. I just need to become clear on them because you cannot get behind in this class.

Blog Assignment # Practice

I. Who I am?

II. Why I want to be educator?

III. What a teacher's duties are?

IV. My Passions.

I am Isaac Wiggins. I am currently a junior. My major is physical education.I am a transfer from the University of Alabama. I transferred to be closer to my home. I am from Excel, Alabama. It is a small town south of Mobile. I always wanted to be an educator. I found teaching and coaching fascinating.My mother was a coach. I guess watching her work as I grew up was big influence on my career choice.

I really am looking forward to the opportunity to coach and teach children how to better themselves. The teacher's duties are to help children learn ways to better benefit themselves for the rest of their life. The teacher when around all of the children has to be ready to teach. Children are always a sponge. They soak up so much information. My passions are sports. I love sports. I think competition brings out the best effort for people. I grew up in a family that had a passion for sports. I think the sport discussions really made me developed a passion. My other passions are history. I love history because it repeats itself. It is one of the best subjects to learn. History will teach you many lessons.