My Final Post 15

Project 16

The idea for our final project was to share what we have learned in EDM310 and apply it to a real classroom setting. Our group consisted of Terri Hampton, Kristin Key, and myself. We had the great idea to Skype with a local elementary school.

Mrs. Lucassen, a third grade teacher at Elberta Elementary School in Elberta, AL, agreed for us to Skype with her class. She was very excited because she nor her class had Skyped before.

We worked with Mrs. Lucassen in regards to what she was teaching her class and came up with the idea of doing a short lesson plan on money. Watch our video to see the amazement of the children during the Skype session.




The class and Mrs. Lucassen were so excited and enjoyed the Skype session so much that they want to branch out and set up their own Blog and Skype. I think our group not only introduced a new form of technology to Mrs. Lucassen's class but also are excited to find blogging and Skyping buddies! We hope you enjoyed our video.

Summary for C4K 11/7 - 12/5

This has been an amazing journey this semester. I have bonded with several classes through blogging! I have also learned a tremendous amount from the children and their teachers and that I hope to use in my future class!

On 11/7 I was assigned to blog on Falefehi's blog. Falefehi is a 6 year old little girl that goes to Pt. England School in Auckland. The title of her class blog is Little Voices, Little Scholars. Her teacher is Ms. Jenny. Falefehi did an amazing job on her ship animation!

Ms. Jenny's students write stories and creates animations or movies that relate to their current studies! Ms. Jenny has done an outstanding job with her class! I hope to use some of the techniques she shared in my class.

11/14 - A4 at Papatoetoe E. Primary School, Good Things Come In Small Packages. Class A4 blog with The Springston Explorers. They decided to send their blogging buddies in Christchurch a small stuffed giraffe named Wally. The titled their post "Wally's Vacation"! What a great idea to send a small gift to blogging friends and follow his trip online! I will definitely use this in my class! Very creative!!

11/21 - Mrs. Conlin's Flat Stanley Project: Flat Matt Leaves Home. Very clever! Mrs. Conlin's students create their own Flat Stanley and sent their Flat's around the world! They have photos taken with the receiver and the Flat and post it to their blog! It's amazing where some of the Flat's have gone!

Flatt Matt left from Westford, MA and was sent to Florida. I wished him a safe trip to sunny Florida! Flatt Matt was dressed with a short sleeve, shorts, and sunglasses. He looked like he was ready for the beach!

12/5 - Mrs. Haugen's 6th Grade: Kyle's Blog, "Old Yeller". Kyle said, "Very sad but real book. I really think if you are into the outdoors and can relate to this story like me this will be a very interesting book for anyone".

I agreed with Kyle. Old Yeller is one of my favorites! I told him I could not wait to share it with my class one day!

My Final PLN

Screencasts and videos online

Summary C4T Teacher #4

My comment was in reference to David Warlick and his blog 2 Cents Worth. His post is very insightful and can be read here. http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?p=2810

David spoke about a Tweet he saw from Vicki Davis, someone I follow, about Bob Wise. He conducted research and gave some impressive information on his findings along with his views. One of the  pieces I enjoyed and agreed with most was this:

Bob Wise – We have 3 crises “declining fiscal state revenues, mounting teacher shortages, increased global demand for skilled workforce”

David responded: "These are all monumental challenges to schools, school administrations, and school governance. But I would add that there are also three crises that are (should be) challenging curriculum and pedagogy — that we are (1) preparing a new generation of learners, (2) within a new information environment, (3) for a future we can not clearly describe."

I agree! We are preparing our student's for a future that is unknown. We are amongst an information revolution. I have read several of David's posts, along with his website. I can't wait to read his books! I encourage others to check out his blog, website, or follow him on Twitter!

Blog Post 13

ALEX or the Alabama Learning Exchange is a great website that is full of resources for teachers, students, and administrators. There are several buttons that directs you to a library full of resources that correlates with the button you choose.

The Course Of Study button breaks down the course of study for every grade with the proposed objective for each course.  This is the guideline that is expected and required of the course taught.

The Web Links button shows links for teachers, administrators, and student resources. The Teachers Resource page shows lesson plans that are available, Profession Development links, Technology Education, and Special Education links.  The Student Resource page shows links for Arts Education, Career Technical Education, Math, Science, Social Studies, etc. The Administrator's Resource page shows links for AL Leadership, Professional Development, Technology Funding, and more.

The Lesson Plan Button shows links for teachers to download or upload lesson plans. Teachers are able to find lesson plans for every grade and every subject.

The Personal Workspace Button is a place where teachers can create an account so that they can store and submit lesson plans and teacher web pages. It is a great way to organize the resources found on ALEX.

The Professional Learning Button is where you can find access to Thinkfinity. Thinkfinity houses blogs, lesson plans, education news, today in history, interactive tools, widgets, and webinars. Also under the Professional Learning Button you can find Grant Opportunities. The Grant Opportunities Button shows grant writing tips and grant project planning framework. The Professional Learning Button also lists websites for professional development opportunities, teaching and learning tools, the latest news, best practices, and more.

The Podcast Treasury Gallery 360 houses a podcast library. You can find a podcast for every subject.

ALEXville is the newsletter for ALEX. You can find current information on organizations and groups to join.

ALEX is an amazing resource that everyone can enjoy!

ACCESS (Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators, and Studies Statewide) http://accessdl.state.al.us/

ACCESS is a distinct learning initiative that was started on November 1, 2004. The objectives of ACCESS is to:

• Provide access to advance diploma courses
• Provide access to additional course offerings
• Provide access to advance placement or dual credit courses 
• Provide access to remediation and supplemental resources
• Leverage existing resources and distance learning offerings
• Provide teachers with additional multimedia and technology tools to enhance instruction

ACCESS is a great website for all students and educators. There are many available resources for both to explore.
 

Blog Post 12

My idea for Blog Post 1 is:

Write a brief description about yourself. Include information about you: (what kind of person you are, where you live, your family and pets, your hobbies, and what you do for a living). Next, describe the type of teacher you plan to be and why you chose to be that “teacher”. What is your motivation behind your decision (i.e. is there a person or group that inspired you).

This is what I would write for Blog Post 1...

My name is Darlene Staimpel. I am 30 years old and live in Orange Beach, AL. I have two amazing children, John (5) and Mary Kate (3). I am a wonderfully caring person that is self motivated and enjoys learning new things. I love to spending time with my family and friends. I also love to travel and experience different cultures.

I plan to be an educator that helps children engage in all aspects of life. I plan to use technology, animals, an any physical element to help make learning enjoyable and interactive. I chose to be a more "hands on" teacher because I do not believe in standardized learning. I believe every child learns and tests differently. Since taking EDM310, I have broadened my expectations to include more technology in my class and develop a classroom where children can be children. My students will research, explore, and experience life!

There are several educators, like Ms. Cassidy and Ms. Vicki Davis, that I have encountered online through EDM310 that have inspired me. I have found the teacher I want to be because of this class!

Project 15

Screencasts and videos online

Additional Assignment # 5

This was an enlightening assignment for me. I think John Spencer is great! I love his ideals and his metaphors (pencils) and how he applies it to so many situations in life.

In his post, Just Teach Them To Solve For X, he speaks of metaphors and that "it's human's way of making sense of abstract". Metaphors require us to think. It allows us to express without being direct. We should allow our students to use their brains and participate in the art of learning. We should not always force feed them concrete thoughts.

In another one of John's posts, "Sketchy Portraits: 8th Grade Identity and Pencils", he writes about a conversation between a first grade teacher that pulled him aside. John uses the pencil as a metaphor (an emotional metaphor). The first grade teacher explains that a particular student was being mouthy. John explained to her that it's a typical behavior amongst the age. He explains to the teacher that they are so confused (even to themselves) and are trying to close the gap between childhood and adulthood. He further explains while being structured, you can write in ink, while the student's are sketching in pencil.

In "He Just Likes The Class For The Pencils", John truly touched my heart. He shows compassion for his students (when they need it). He shows how he earns the trust and confidence of his student. The other teacher that called him into the meeting with the student's parent should be ashamed. This teacher was trying to bash John instead of learn of him. The student shows his appreciation to John by explaining or not directly explaining that he likes his class, but not for the pencils. He appreciates John because of the teacher he is not for what he has in or uses in his class (pencils).

The Medium Shapes and Learning is an interesting post. I think he is comparing "old" learning with "new" learning. Learning the "new" things are not bad but we should always use the "old" as a base. We should build off the old and add to it using the "new".  I could be completely missing the point and if I am I would love for someone to let me know. My interpretation may be totally confusing.

Progress Report on Final Project

I will be doing my final project with Kristin Key and Terri Hampton. We will be doing a Skype teaching session with Ms. Lucassen's 3rd grade class from Elberta Elementary School in Elberta, AL. We are creating a lesson to teach that relates to what they are currently covering in class. We will also record our Skype session on Screentoaster.com and embed it into our blog. This will be Ms. Lucassen's first Skype session. We are all very excited! Stay tuned for the video update.

I created the above questionnaire and found that eight people completed the survey. On the first question I asked them surveyors to "rate on a scale from 1 to 5 (one being not important and 5 being the most important)how important technology in the classroom was before EDM310. Two people chose 2, three people chose 3, one person chose 4, and two people chose 5.

The second question asked: Since starting EDM310 has your views changed? Five people said yes, two people said no and one person said not sure. For the people that chose yes I asked them to explain.

One person said, "I am not sure because I look at the schools that my children attend and not sure if they are using technology to their full advantage. They just recently received smart boards and teachers are not fully trained and barely know what they are doing on the boards. I think the school's should pay for these teacher's to attend workshops, so they can be fully trained. It will probably take a few years for them to be fully trained anyway because I had a teacher show me some of the things a smartboard can do and it looks like there is way too much to learn. She even said she took workshops over the summer and did not even get paid for doing so. VERY DEDICATED TEACHER if you ask me!"

Another person said, "I realized how important technology is in the classroom and not just in our personal lives. I also became aware of how big of a role technology plays in our day and age."

Someone else said, "I didn't realize how many different things were out there." Another one said, "I have learned there are many ways to use technology in the classroom. You can learn through different countries and teachers as well." The last person that said yes to the second question said, "Google docs will be very important to me in the classroom".

I asked "How do you perceive technology to be advancing in today's classroom?" I used a scale 1 to 5 (1 being too slow and 5 being not fast enough). Five people marked 5, one person marked 2, and the other person marked not sure.

I also asked if they "feel it is important to be tech savvy in order to teach" Seven people said yes and one said no. I asked if they would incorporate what they have learned fro EDM310 into their classroom and six people said yes while two said not sure.

I asked, "upon completion of EDM310, do you plan on perusing additional sources of technology that will benefit your class". Three people said not sure, four people said yes, and one said no. I asked what types of technology would you like to use in your classroom. Most everyone responded with an interactive white board, scanner, webcam, computers, projectors.

My final question I asked, "is there a certain type of technology that you have not learned about from EDM310 that you know about and would use in your classroom?". Everyone said no.

The results showed that the majority of the people that took the survey plan to be tech savvy teachers. They plan to use technology in their class. I appreciate all the people that completed my questionnaire.

Project 14 Instructional Video

How To Create A Wordle

Record your screencast online

Blog Post 11

I thought that the Skype interview between Ms. Cassidy and Dr. Strange was interesting and impressive. Ms. Cassidy is the teacher I would like to become. I love how she took the initiative to form a plan to get the students involved with the computers she was given without the use of programs. She taught herself how to create websites and use blogs and then how to apply them to her classroom for her students to use.

Watching the video of her first graders, I was amazed at all the different types of technology they use in her class. You can genuinely tell that her students love her class. You can see their excitement in the video! I loved that they children blog, Skype, uses Wiki and other types of technology. They made comments how their writing improved the more they blogged. They also enjoyed using the Wiki's and especially liked the alphabet that the EDM310 student's posted.

I plan to use all the technology Ms. Cassidy uses. I think it's a great to have all of these wonderful tools the children can interact with. These tools help make learning much more enjoyable. I will educate my students on the safety of the internet as Ms. Cassidy did with her students. She gave them great advice about never using their last names or pictures of themselves.

Ms. Cassidy has done a wonderful job and I will be following her blog to learn more. I can't wait to see what she has her children use next. 

C4K #3-7 Summary

C4K #3 - The Big Damage at Christchurch by Hainte
Hainte wrote about an earthquake that hit Christchurch on 9/4/10 at 4:36am. He posted that is was a 7.1 earthquake and had 137 aftershocks. His post was very good.
 

C4K #4 - Why You Should Visit My Blog by Emily
I think Emily has the greatest little personality. Her post was about why people should read her blog. She said she liked to read, swim, camp, playing her DSiXL and Wii. She also likes to discover new widgets and Alt codes. Emily has been blogging for one year. It amazes me that she is so young and talks about widgets and alt codes! No such thing existed when I was growing up. It was Barbie or Strawberry Shortcake!

C4K#5 - Oh What To Do Next Today by Alicen W
Alicen posted on her blog what she would like to do with the rest of her day. She said that her friends were busy. She said her dad and sister were home but her sister does not play with anyone younger than her. She said she thought about playing with her Wii but knew her sister would be playing it. She decided she would play her favorite games on her computer.

C4K#6 - Riddle 1 by Jose C
Jose posted a riddle on his blog and wanted everyone to guess. His riddle was:
I can bend the ground
I have a desert color
I eat flies
What am I?
The comments were very funny! I guessed a lizard.

C4K#7 - What Should I Name My Photograph? by Alba Unisaur
I loved her picture! She took this photograph on the USS Alabama. She has a great eye for architecture. Several people commented that she should name it "wave". I thought a good name was "flow".

Smartboard Presentation

Summary Post C4T Teacher #3

I was assigned to Michael Kaechele's Concrete Classroom Blog. Michael always has very fascinating things to post. His past post  http://concretekax.blogspot.com/2010/10/alchemist-and-louis-lamour.html was one of my favorites. He spoke about a great book he read The Alchemist. He talked about how he feels today's teachers need to be more like Santiago in the book and less like the Englishman. His reason, Santiago was  free and learned and educated himself through learning from experts, reading, watching sheep and camels, and learning from nature. The Englishman stood for standardized learning.

I agree with Michael that we should stray away from standardization. We should help our students embrace the new way of learning. Let's teach our students to learn directly from the experts by asking them questions directly and not just by reading about what the experts have to say in  a few chapters of a book. Let's help them reach their goals and passion, like Michael suggests. Let's embrace technology and help get our student's more involved! Let's have them collaborate more with other classmates (either in their classroom or a classroom half way around the world). It's time to shed the "Englishman" and time to be "Santiago"! Our students need and deserve that!

We should never let school interfere with their education. We should encourage our students to pursue their dreams and passions and help them to embrace the new ways of learning.

Blog Post 10

Morgan Bayda's Blog with a summary post and video of Dan Brown.

Morgan Bayda had a wonderful blog. There were many things that she mentioned that I agree with. She talked about using different types of technology in her class. She mentioned PLNs, Twitter and blogs. She also talked about using multimedia.

She shared a great video on her blog that I also agree with. The video was done by Dan Brown and his opinions of schools and their need to change. Dan said that society is in the "information age" and our schools and educators need to embrace it. We need to change they way we teach our students.

This day and time the students respond so well to technology. It's seems like it's more of the teachers that have the insecurities and the willingness to learn, adapt, and change. I know there are fifth graders that know more about different types of technology than I do. I am having to work harder it seems to catch up to what comes second nature to them.

I do not agree with Dan dropping out of college. While college may seem overrated to some I think it is a must for me. I love to learn from direct professionals regarding the field I am entering. True, I could probably get the same connection online; however, I prefer to get one on one attention in person. I like putting the face and personality to the instructor.

 Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencil's Home!

I enjoyed reading this blog. I think we are often so quick to focus on the problem and not the solution. I loved that he used "pencils" as his example. I think teaching and learning are more than grades and test scores. Anyone can memorize something short term to make a good grade on a test. I think we need to focus more on getting our students involved, interacting more with technology, be more creative and change our style of teaching to accommodate the new revolution of the information age.

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life by Daniel Pink  
   
Daniel Pink made a great video asking "what is your sentence?". For some the sentence comes easy and for others, well, they are still thinking. Mine, luckily comes easy. My sentence has always been: She was kind and always helpful and always loved learning something new. Clare Booth Luce, one of the first women in Congress, states that every great man is a sentence. President Lincoln's sentence was "He preserved the union and freed the slaves". President Roosevelt sentence was "He He lifted us out of a great depression and helped us win a world war". Daniel said Luce worried Kennedy was trying to do too many things and that his sentence risked becoming a muddled paragraph. I think we should always go back to our sentence and make sure it stands for who we are and that we never let it become a muddled paragraph.

Additional Assignment # 3

Sir Ken Robinson Changing Paradigms

I think Sir Ken Robinson has some great ideas. I agree that we "society" medicate for everything now. I think we should let children be who they are and learn the way they need to learn. We as parents and as educators need to educate ourselves better to figure ways to reduce ADHD without the use of harsh medications.

I also agree that we should not have such a standard way of learning. Everyone learns differently. Technolohttp://www.blogger.com/comment-published.g?blogID=3460124872007067602gy can play such a huge role in helping our children learn more because learning can be fun! There may be a child that has trouble spelling but by playing games (even with other classmates or virtual classmates) on the computer will increase his ability to spell because he/she simply are having fun...while learning.

Sir Ken Robinson made an impressive statement. He said that we should collaborate more and veer away from standardization. I think we should let our students do more collaborative projects. I think there are more students that would learn more in a collaborative setting vs. learning individually. I know that I enjoy and tend to learn more feeding off my classmates, friends, co-workers, etc. Using podcasts, blogs and other forms of technology is a great way to get students to interact and collaborate with others from their school or with students from around the world.

I LOVED the way this presentation was put together. The message was great but the media that was used made it amazing! I will learn how to do this so I can use it in my classroom or on other assignments in my classes at South. I think it's impressive. If my group were to do a presentation using this media, I think I would play three roles: idea generator, narrator, and designer.

Google Docs Video

Found this and wanted to share. Compliments of E-Learning and Online Teaching by Dennis O'Conner.

Interview - Project 12

Blog Post 9

"What I Have Learned This Year" by Mr. McClung

Mr. McClung had a great post! He made several statements that I will always keep in the back of my mind as I develop my teaching career. It is important to understand we are teaching to children and while having high expectations are great we need to make them obtainable by our students. We also need to "listen" to our students. A simple skill can make all the difference. Mr. McClung was correct about communication. It is essential to not only communicate well with our students but also our fellow teachers and superiors.
Mr. McClung said that we should not be afraid of technology. If you have read any of my posts you would know I agree strongly with him. While it takes time and ambition to learn about technology I am confident the advantages will out way the disadvantages therefore giving a greater end result for our students.

I am excited to see what my comments will be after my first year of teaching.
I will use Mr. McClung's comments to help me in my first year.

Project 11 Short Movie

Blog Post 8

This Is How We Dream by Richard Miller

I enjoyed watching this video. I think Richard Miller expresses a good point about where we used to be, studying in libraries and using textbooks, to where we are going, the unimaginable. People used to spend hours in libraries studying and now people can grasp anything via the web in a matter in seconds.
Richard Miller also showed several documents that he put together that intrigues me. It's amazing all the different types of text, images, and film that he used. His example of Dr. Martin Luther King was incredible. Documents like this are our future.

It is mind-boggling to me how we are in such an enormous transition in technology. To think we can make simple documents and writings move, have audio and several images and text collectively is incredible. Richard Miller made an accurate statement that our society is changing and we need inspiring teachers with teaching visual literacy to help bridge the gap. Our would is changing through technology and I can't wait to be a part of it!

EDM310 is Different

In EDM310 is Different, the Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies I had some of the same issues. At first I was overwhelmed. I had no idea where to start. I read the syllabus and instruction manual and got more confused and stressed out. I had no idea how I was going keep all the assignments organized. The primary message is to not be overwhelmed and embrace the class and you will be amazed at what you learn.

The first two weeks were an adjustment. As time went on I fell into the grove of things and found myself learning more and inspiring to be more simply because of this class. Prior to EDM310 I had not thought much about technology in the classroom and now I can't find enough information. I want to be the teacher that keeps her student's involved and interacts with some of the best technology that is available. I have joined Classroom 2.0 to collaborate and learn from teachers that use technology in their classrooms. I am finding out what they are using and what works, what does not work and how the student's respond.

I would to create videos on the research that I have found in regards to technology in the classroom and information that has been passed to me from virtual networking and localized networking. I have been given helpful tips from teachers from all over about types of technology they use in their classroom and where they think technology is heading in our schools.

Why Smartboards Are A Dumb Initiative by Michael Straton and Why I Hate Interactivev Whiteboards by Bill Ferriter

Michael Straton's Why Smartboards Are A Dumb Initiative and Bill Ferriter, Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards are interesting posts to read. I do not agree with either one. I personally believe interactive whiteboards are awesome. All the teachers I have talked to said they love their interactive whiteboards and their students respond so well to it. The students have an increased desire to learn. The teachers I talked to used Symbaloo to incorporate different videos and web images into their lectures. They had the students come to the board to work out math problems while using other interactive tools that made learning math more enjoyable.

I went to my son's PTO meeting at his school and all the parents were instructed to stay in their child's classroom instead of heading to the school gymnasium. After viewing the classroom, the work my son had created and spoke to his teacher, the principal came over the intercom and announced that every parent needed to remain in the classroom for the presentation. The principal used the Promethean boards that were in each class for the presentation. During the slide show the principal showed all the testing schools over the past several years and the amazing improvement the student's had made. I noticed that the scores were low before each class received the Promethean boards and a tremendous improvement afterward. This could be a coincidence but I don't think so. Children loved to be involved and technology is becoming second nature to them. I definitely intend on using them in my classroom.

Additional Assignments #2

How Kids Teach Themselves by Sugata Mitra

This video was about the Hole in the Wall experiment by Sugata Mitra and I found it encouraging and interesting. I think motivated learners, even children, can teach themselves. All that is necessary to for children to teach themselves is a way of getting and gathering information and they will have the natural desire to figure out how to operate and learn. The same applies for adults.

Computers play a huge role in the process because one can find unlimited information in one simple and easy to use location. Problems, questions or multiple problems or questions play an important role. Without questions or problems I don't believe the children would have a desire to learn.

You motivate someone to learn by providing motivation and encouragement such as the "granny cloud" Sugata Mitra uses. Having someone support the children will motivate them to learn more. People that are not motivated can still learn but I think they are limited to the amount of information they will obtain. As Sugata Mitra said, children leaning in groups communicated and researched together, learning more.

I teach myself something new everyday. The internet / technology is my teacher. There is such a vast array of information available at the click of a button that it is hard not to want to learn more.

A teacher plays a huge role in learning. Children still need the motivation. If not, the granny cloud would not be needed or used. Children can learn on their own but with the motivation and guidance from a teacher they are encouraged to learn more.

I know the importance of technology and how easy it is to use. I have also realized that children have an alarming sense to gain knowledge.

I think teachers should keep embracing technology. Our children have proved that they can teach themselves using it. It should be our job to guide them and teach them using these amazing tools. We can enhance their knowledge and they seem to respond well to it.

I went to my son's PTO meeting earlier this year and noticed they do all of the announcements to parents via the Promethean boards that are located in everyone classroom. The principal went over the results of the last few years of testing scores. Prior to the daily use of the Promethean boards the test scores were relatively low. After using the Promethean boards and teachers encouraging the interaction the tests scores rose incredibly high. Most of the scores had reached an all time high. Is it coincidence?

Blog Post 7

I recommend Randy Pausch's last lecture to anyone. This is a man that has learned what living is all about. He has ten tumors in his liver and has about three to six months of good health left. He talked about his dreams as a child and what they each meant to him. We all have dreams that we aspire to achieve. Randy made his childhood dreams come true and gave a very inspirational speech on how we can achieve our dreams too.

After his introduction about his childhood and his dreams he spoke about his family and how much they meant to him. He talked about how important it was to help others achieve their dreams and how he set out to become that important person in their life. He talked about life experiences that he would use to help others.

He talked about his career(s) and how he became a professor. He knew this was his "place". This is where he could have the most impact on someone to help them achieve their childhood dream. He realized he would leave his "imprint" in a different way than other professors. He would reach them through technology.  His approached touch many and the results were better than he anticipated.

At the end of his lecture, Randy left some important thoughts that we should all live by. A person should listen to any feedback given to them and use it to better themselves. He mentioned  in the beginning of his lecture that brick walls are there for people who want "it" enough. If you let the brick wall defeat you then you obviously didn't want "it" bad enough. He talked about how important it was to have fun no matter what you do. He also said we should help others. One key point he point he made though his whole lecture was to not let you dreams go by the waste side. Embrace the opportunities, no matter how hard, and achieve your dream. He not only helped people achieve their dreams but achieved his as well. I think we should all make our lives count for something. Randy Pausch did.

PLN progress post

I took me a little while to figure out what a PLN is. I used Symbaloo to do my PLN and it is the greatest thing. One click and I can access my most use places on the internet. I have everything from my gmail, yahoo, facebook, USA homepage, news, sports, shopping (Ebay) and many others. I also have several networking icons like classroom 2.0 and plurk.

Project 9: My Timeline

Summary Post C4T Teacher #2

I was assigned to Ann Carnevale's Blog. She had a very interesting post in which I learned something that was very helpful. She wrote about bookmarking in large PDF files. I use large PDF files daily and I never knew this tool was available. It's amazing how much time it saves you. I was so excited about what I had learned that I shared this wonderful information with my fellow colleagues and they all new about it. I thought, where have I been all this time and why did not one tell me? Thank you Ms. Carnevale for teaching me what everyone else already knew.

Blog Post 6

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
I think Wendy Drexler's movie was very good and I loved the little stick figure she used. I think networking is great for our students. I network through Facebook and now branching out to other networking sites. I think networking is a great way for student's to connect with other students, especially for specific assignments.
I know several students in high school that network. They use networking to do everything from classwork, group projects, making new friends or simply keeping in touch with their family and friends.  Most of this is done on their own and I think if more teachers would incorporate it in their classroom their learning experience would improve dramatically. 
It does take a lot of time to find all the sites and set everything up. The movie made everything so simple but in reality it is quite time consuming to find sites, videos, groups, etc. to follow. I would love to hear from other teachers that are currently networking in their classrooms so I can possibly learn of ways to save time and learn the best way to network for my students.
A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
I loved the way this 7th grader had her PLE laid out. Ms. Drexler did a great job teaching her. She seems very organized and in touch with everything that is going on in her class. I think teaching our students to have a PLE is a great idea. I think students would become more productive, more engaged, and be more organized. Having all of the apps on one page is great. A simple click and the student can do anything.

The Machine is (Changing) Us by M. Welsch
I thought the Personal Democracy Forum by Dr. Wesch was very interesting. I have not personally used Youtube a lot. I normally watch home videos that people have posted. For me, it was a great way to entertain myself when nothing good is on tv. Since I have started this class I have been playing more and researching more on Youtube. Wow, people post anything. Dr. Wesch makes several great comments about how people post things and communicate because people can choose to be anonymous or they can choose to be heard. Media does impact our conversations. I loved the hand messages that was shown in the video. The "machine" is changing us and I hope it provides a positive movement just like the free hugs and the hand messages. I love the "coming together" of society.

Summary Post C4K comments 1 & 2

My first C4K was for Kenyas at Noel Elementary. His blog assignment was on judging others. He said that he would try to get to know someone before he judged them. He said, "in his opinion he thinks people judge others because people are jealous by the way you look or dress". I commented on how it is very important not to judge others.
My second C4K was for Katy and her blog was titled: Confessions of a future Kindergarten Teacher. Katy spoke how younger children have so much technology in their classrooms. She said that just because they are young does not mean that the student's do not use technology. I commented about my son, who is in kindergarten, and how much technology is in their classroom and how I was amazed at how many of his classmates know how to use it.
My other C4K was for WM Chamberlain and her blog titled: Reflection on Teaching in 2.0. He listed several goals that he made for himself that he felt he needed to achieve. He briefly spoke about student teaching and taking charge. He also shared his goals he had planned for his himself for the upcoming week. I agreed how important it was to have goals and something to build on.

Podcast

Google Presentation

Blog Post 5

Eagle Net Radio & Class Blog
As I look through all the ways of making a podcast, I found this one to be a great way to communicate a story, similar to this class. The class made their presentation fun and informative.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom by Joe Dale 

I enjoyed watching this podcast. I liked to see how Joe Dale used podcasts in his classes and to see and hear how the students reacted to it. I think podcasting is a great way for children to interact with each other. I loved his idea of getting other teachers involved to record a story via podcast to share with the class. The students seemed to enjoy it as well.



Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
I loved how this video showed instructions on how to do a podcast and what types of software to use. This was very informative.

Blog Post 4

Don't Teach Your Kids this Stuff, Please? by Scott McLeod
Dr. Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor at the University of Iowa. He believes in public schools and the advancement of technology. His concern is that the public education system (teaching) is not advancing as quick as the technology making it a danger to our students. Dr. McLeod is on a mission to create a new paradigm that works.

I enjoyed his blog and his sarcastic positioning of his post. His post expresses that parents, teachers, administrators, and board members should not teach their children technology. He points out the danger of technology and the incorrect use. Although there are people that share these views I believe in the advancement of technology. I believe we should teach our students and children the importance of the internet and technology and the proper use of it. We need to educate our children and students of the dangers and be more proactive in their viewing and create more restrictions to help ensure their safety.  I posted as a future educator, I will do my part in making the learning experience of technology as safe and healthy as possible.

The iSchool Initiative 
The video and the age of the creator is impressive. Developing the iSchool Initiative is an interesting concept. Having an entire school literally in the palm of your hand would be amazing. Using aps to assist with everything from talking notes, reading books, and doing scientific calculations is great.

Although the idea is impressive, I have to wonder if our society and schools are prepared to make such a drastic transformation. I don't agree that this would be a great concept to embrace. Although I believe in the advancement of technology and the use of technology in the classroom, there are several aspects that are important in the development of humans. It is necessary to socially interact with each other (body to body). It is important to embrace and experience different cultures. It is important to learn teamwork by working hand in hand (physically). An individual's character is determined by what he or she experiences in life in which the majority of these experiences arise in school. I also feel that everyone learns differently. Not every student will have the determination to be self started. While technology may come second nature to one student it may also choose to be an impossible feat for another. Having our whole world be virtual may be the future but I hope not.

The Lost Generation
Bravo!! I loved this video! The imagination of not only the unique technique that was used but the most powerful words spoken. I have shared this with my family and friends and all agree with the message that was presented. The delivery was brilliant!!


Eric Whitaker's Virtual Choir
After watching this video I was speechless! It amazes me that people believe technology is not our future. Jennifer Chamber's post was even more impressive because it provided a brief history of the video. It is astonishing to me how 185 people that have never met or preformed together put a youtube video together that sounded remarkable.

Additional Assignment #1

Google Squared and WolframAlpha
I have never heard of Good Squared or WolframAlpha until this assignment. I think both have an amazing educational implications. I love with Google Squared that you can add cells of information and compare several items at once. I think this will be a great tool to use when finding almost anything.
I was playing around with types of medications. In seconds, there were about 20 that popped up with everything you wanted to know about each. I compared aspirin, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen. I instantly found formulas, breakdowns and best of all I could add side effects. I also pulled up several populations of countries and was amazed at the amount of information.
WolframAlpha is another great tool. I like the instant search it provides. I typed in National Parks in the United States and instantly every National Park was provided. I found that this saved so much time and gave some accurate information for what I researched.
I read The Fischbowl: "Did You Know?" and I still agree with my comments that were made. I am constantly amazed at the amount of information and things available on the internet. Virtually, anything imaginable can be found.
Here is the Pitcarin Island's map I found on WolframAlph

Summary Post C4T Teacher #2

Ann Carnevale - Bits 'n Bytes

I loved reading Ms. Carnevale's blog. She has some great tips for large PDF files, open new tabs and great "ice-breakers" for a new class. She gave instructions on how to bookmark pages on large pdf files. She also shared how to open new tabs when researching information without losing the tab your on. I enjoyed reading her presentation about "14 New Ways to Get to Know Your New Class". There were some creative and helpful ways to break the ice and get children to intermingle with each other on the first day. I will plan on using some of these in my own classroom.

Summary Post C4T Teacher #1

Kelly Hines wrote an inspirational blog on Reflecting on Reflection. She states the need for reflection and how important it is in order to grow. Using blogs and other internet based tools are a great way to share ideas and inspirations. Assessing what we know and what our students need are crucial. I enjoyed her blog and look forward to reading more.

Blog Post 3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

After watching this short video I pondered over the message. Our current classrooms are transforming. We are taking what we have always known to what we are starting to understand. Most classes around the world operate under the basic setup of students in desks or table and chairs and the educator in front usually teaching from a text book. Sure we have added more computers and computer based classes. Some schools have started using smart boards.

I think our society is going through an awkward stage. We know we have to advance and embrace through technology but we have been taught the same for centuries. I think teachers are trying to find ways to mold both ways. Understanding what is beneficial in life and knowing how to apply it in the classroom is becoming a more difficult task. The basics are important: reading, writing, arithmetic, history, science. Life lessons: balancing a check book, paying bills, understanding insurance and mortgages are also important. Learning how to operate on a computer, use basic computer functions are also important. Our society is calling for the advancement. We must now add more in depth ways of using technology in the classroom because it is being demanded and it is the future whether we want to personally believe it or not.

"It's Not About Technology" by Kelly Hines

I enjoyed reading Ms. Hines post. Most everyone knows that our world is moving toward the "space age". Technology is advancing at a pace that is inconceivable. Ms. Hines makes an interesting point that no matter how much and how fast things change we must present a strong and educated way to effectively teach our students. Teachers are finding out that they have to learn how to adapt in this fast pace world we live in. As an educator it is cognitive to take the initiative and learn to use the tools available to produce successful students. The students depend on us.

Karl Finch: Is It Okay to Be A Technology Illiterate Teacher?

Mr. Finch makes very valid points in his post. We as educators and as a society we have to move forward. The basic parts of life that we are accustomed to has changed. By holding back and holding on to the past by the ideas and way things were done will hinder our future outcome. We can no longer bury our head in the sand and pretend our world is not changing. It is. Sure, it's okay to be technology illiterate...for now. Society, the world, is changing and the need to be technologically savvy will be as important as reading and writing, I believe. The mass sales of products such as computers, ipads, iphones, cell phones, etc. prove it.

Gary Hayes: Social Media Count

This was an amazing blog. The Social Media Count is a great way to comprehend the growth of technology and the direction, we as a society, are heading. It proves that our school systems require massive changes in curriculum and advancement in technology. Educators will be forced to improve in their own skills as the world demands it.

Blog Post 2

Did You Know?
I was amazed at the information shared during this short movie. It's almost scary to know how much our world is growing and the rate of which it's growing. After watching, I immediately thought of my children and the information and technology that will be available to them. What is difficult for me to do on a computer will be second nature to them.

Mr. Winkle Wakes?
I enjoyed this short movie. I think it is very important that society needs to adapt to new technology and embrace the growth of it. The days of teaching out of a book or lecturing in front of a podium are coming to an end. It's true some people, if not most, do not like change but change is happening faster than most realize. I think educating our children in technology is only preparing them for the future.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
There is just one thing to say about this movie. I AGREE, I AGREE, I AGREE. I believe Sir Ken Robinson hit the nail on the head by stating how important creativity is and how we ,as educators, should support and encourage our students to express what comes natural. Creativity is so important. I can't imagine what the world would be like without someone's creativity and imagination. Ancient tribes and the Egyptian's as well as thousands of other cultures all around the world have left their fingerprint on the world by their creative expressions. A reflection of life is simply through creativity. No one person sees any one thing the same. Besides the basic needs of food, water and shelter, I believe that education, creativity and imagination are all equal components that is needed to sustain life.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts
Vicki Davis has become my new inspiration! What an amazing woman!! I would love to adopt her way of teaching. I believe the children in "her classroom setting" learn more and work more than in the traditional classroom setting. Her students seemed more engaged, learned more about teamwork and learned more about different cultures by visiting people from all around the world without leaving their classroom. The students were able to express their creativeness in so many different ways. I thought this movie was a great combination of all of the other three movies. You are able to visualize how fast the world is changing through technology by just seeing their classroom. You are able to see the non-traditional way of teaching. Most importantly, the students are able to be creative and express themselves more than just staring at a book and note pad.

Project #2 My First Wordle

Blog Post 1

My name is Darlene Staimpel and I live in Gulf Shores, AL. I am native to Baldwin County. I have two wonderful children, John (5) and Mary Kate (3). I currently work full time with Fortis College in Foley, AL as the Registrar.

I am currently working on my degree in Elementary Education / Special Education K-6 at the University of South Alabama. My son is my inspiration for changing my business degree to education. My son had his heart re-built when he was 10 days old. Due to the lack of oxygen to his brain when he was first born, he now suffers some learning disabilities. I know school will be a struggle for him and I want to learn as many different strategies and tools that I can use that will benefit him.

This new journey to be tech literate is very exciting to me! I will have to say it is very different and I am definitely out of my comfort zone! This class has just began and I have learned so much in such a short amount of time. I know my blog will significantly improve in the next few weeks or at least I hope it does!! I have always shared a passion in education! I love to use technology and creativity to make learning more exciting and effective!