Blog Assignment #5

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

Joe Dale describes the benefits of podcasting to students. By using technology that the students are familiar with, we are giving them a reason to get excited about learning. I really like the idea of Vodcasts.  Both Vodcasts and podcasts would be especially helpful to students who are struggling with a particular subject. If they had access to the lectures outside of the classroom, they could watch and/or listen to the lecture again to reiterate the lesson.

 100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better

This article was very enlightening. I am new to the whole podcasting idea, and I had no idea all of these applications were available for the iPod. Since almost everyone has an iPod, it makes sense to utilize some of these tools in our classrooms. This article also reiterates the environmental impact that using iPods can have. There are so many apps that eliminate the need for paper and traditional study tools.

Judy Scharf Podcast Collection

This article highlights the fact that podcasts allow students to hear missed lectures. Podcasts also allow parents to be more involved in their children’s education. This site also gave some good information to get students started on podcasting.

Blog Post #4

Don’t Teach Your Kids This Stuff Please

Dr. McLeod’s post on technology was very interesting. Sadly, I think there are parents and even educators out there that agree with his sarcastic points. If we don’t allow students to explore technology, then we are not preparing them for life. Being technologically literate is imperative for a student to succeed.

Dr. McLeod is an Associate Professor at Iowa State University in the Educational Administration program. He is also the Director of the nation’s only center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators – the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE).

The iSchool Initiative

Travis Allen provides a very good summary of how the current iPod Touch can transform the classroom. He believes that all classroom activities can be carried out through the iTouch. Cost savings for school systems and students are two main points of his argument for the iSchool. There is also an environmental impact of students and school systems not having to purchase textbooks.

Honestly, I did not know that the iPod Touch had all of those capabilities already. There are some apps that would be useful as substitutes or enhancements to traditional classroom materials. The graphing calculator and some of the textbook apps would be especially helpful. There are definite benefits of having teachers, students, and parents connected. I don’t think the iSchool can completely take the place of the traditional classroom, but there are many apps that can be used to enhance the classroom experience.

The Lost Generation

This presentation was very interesting. It reiterates the fact that we are in control and apathy will get us nowhere. The technique used was even more powerful than the message. It was very creative and really made me think about what the message was saying. I had to watch the video twice to make sure that none of the words changed on the reverse message.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

This ensemble is quite amazing. The fact that people all across the world can collaborate and put together a piece like this proves the power of technology. This also reiterates the fact that we live in a global world and you do not have to be face-to-face with someone or a group of people to accomplish a common goal.

Additional Assignment #1

Additional Assignment #1

The educational implications of searches such as Google Squared and WolframAlpha are quite significant. The additional information provided by the Google Squared can be helpful to educators when researching topics for our classes. Google Squared searches can also be helpful for students. The information provided by the Google Squared search is helpful in comparing topics or digging deeper into a subject. I also like the fact that you can add items to the search. WolframAlpha was very interesting as well. The graphs, charts, and additional information provided are very helpful when researching. I had not heard about Google Squared or WolframAlpha before this class.

My comments on the Did You Know video are the same. Yes, there were lots of facts and statistics throughout the video, but my thoughts are still the same. I still think our world is becoming smaller, and students need to be prepared to compete on a global level.

Statistics are easily manipulated, and they can be easily misconstrued. As educators, we must remember to keep our perspective when passing along statistical information to our classes. We also need to help our students understand statistics and make sure that they use this information appropriately.

Food For Thought: I don’t think that anyone can deny what Steve Jobs or Apple has done is genius – they have created demand for products that we didn’t know we needed, and they have made these products so user friendly that a six-year-old can pick it up and use it without instruction.

Blog #3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
This movie does not capture my college experience. After an eight-year “break” from college, the classroom definitely feels different to me than it did the first time around. My college experience was more traditional with classrooms consisting of lectures, studying, and tests. In my first few weeks back in school, I have discovered that my classes at South Alabama are definitely more technology based than my classes eight years ago. Based on the way that our world is changing and becoming more dependent on technology, I understand the need for classes to be conducted this way.
To make the movie more realistic, I would use a more diverse student population (i.e., more varied races and age groups). I would expand on the multitasking part of the video to include activities outside of school that might affect a student’s performance in a traditional classroom setting. It is becoming more common for older adults to go back to school, and they usually have families and full-time jobs that place additional time demands. This could be highlighted in the movie as well to give it a more realistic feel.

“It’s Not About the Technology” by Kelly Hines
Ms. Hines made very valid points in her post. School systems could spend unlimited amounts of money on the latest and greatest technology for students. However, if the teachers are not equipped to use the technology appropriately, or if they are lacking in fundamental teaching techniques, then the technology is useless.
As educators, we must focus on continually improving our teaching skills and our presentation skills – especially as it relates to technology. It is no longer acceptable to teach students the same way that teachers did even ten years ago. The fundamentals are still the same, but we must utilize different delivery techniques to match the way that students learn. To be good teachers, we must be willing and able learners.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
It is refreshing to read a strong opinion by someone who is passionate on a topic. Although I do not share the same passion for this subject in particular, I agree with the points that Mr. Fisch makes. As educators, we are committing ourselves to learning for our students and ourselves. It is not OK to be satisfied with the “status quo” – even when it comes to technology.
The lack of a willingness to learn is more of an issue than the technology illiteracy itself. There are many available resources specifically for educators wanting to use more technology in their classrooms. Simply stated, if you are willing to learn, the information is available. It just requires some time and effort.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count
Although we are all aware that our world is changing at an astounding rate, this counter is a great visual tool to help you see what is really going on. This is exciting and scary at the same time. This counter reiterates that our world is becoming a smaller place. As educators, we must be prepared to teach in a global environment. It is imperative for teachers to focus on the fundamentals of learning, but technology cannot be ignored. This is true while we are in school preparing to become educators, but it is even more important once we are responsible for facilitating the learning of others.

C4T #1

1C4T #1: I was assigned Lisa Thumann who is a Senior Specialist in Technology Education at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She works with educators to improve teaching and learning through technology. The first blog post that I read was about her becoming a Google Aps Certified Trainer. Reading through her post and the comments and responses from others "in the field", it was exciting to see all that there are always new things to learn.
1C4T #2: On Lisa's second post, she gave some information on free courses for teaching with technology. Again, it was very motivating to read through this information and see that there are so many opportunities available. This link provides information on free professional development opportunities: http://www.onlinecollegesanduniversities.com/2010/09/05/50-excellent-open-courses-on-teaching-with-technology/

All About Me

Blog 2

Did You Know 3.0?
The facts presented in this video reinforce the fact that we must prepare our students to succeed in a global world. Google, Facebook, and the internet in general have made our world a smaller place. To stay competitive, our students must not only be prepared to succeed locally or even nationally. They must be ready to compete on a global scale.
This video is a reminder that our world is constantly changing and there is always something “in the works” that will be bigger and better than the current technology. It was interesting to read the information on students getting a four-year technical degree. It is hard to believe that the information they learn in their first year will be out of date before they even complete their degree.

Mr. Winkle Wakes
This video is a reminder that we must prepare students to succeed in life in addition to teaching them the academics. If students only came to school and learned the academic knowledge, they would not be prepared for the real world.
As educators, it is our job to stay current on technology so that we can pass the information along to our students. They will need more than just the academic knowledge to be successful in the future.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
This speaker had a great presentation. His humor and wit kept the audience engaged. At the same time, he got his point across. His real-world examples helped bring this subject to life.
It is interesting to think that schools actually “kill” creativity, but after watching this video, I see where the thought comes from. As educators, it is important to encourage creativity among students. We also need to recognize different learning styles instead of labeling students as learning disabled.

Harness Your Student’s Digital Smarts
It is refreshing to see teachers thinking outside of the box and not being afraid to try new technology in their classrooms. I like the fact that she doesn’t always give her students the answers, and she makes them figure things out on their own.
This video also confirms that we are moving towards global learning and collaboration. With technology, the world is becoming a smaller place. I like the fact that she created an environment where the students were not only learning but teaching each other as well.