Progress Report on Final Project

Progress Report

Our group consists of Mary Angela, Kaitlyn, and Stacy.  We have been working on our final project for the past two weeks. We have most of the information gathered and all we have to do is put all the material together in our iBook. We first met to discuss what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it. We looked at another iBook and got a few ideas. Last week we discussed what we needed to finish getting together, took our group picture, and recorded our most important technology tools for our classroom. This Tuesday we will meet and start work on building our iBook. Then Thursday we will finish our Smart Board presentation so we can add it to our iBook. I have to finish getting my pictures together for my family tonight. I have enjoyed getting to know my group members and working on technology. I look forward to the finished project.

Blog Post #12

Pinterest is one of the fastest growing social medias available today. Your assignment is to go to Pinterest and create an account. Find four different pinners that you can use to help you in your classroom. Find a particular item from each pinner and tell how it can be used in your future classroom. Then explain how you feel using Pinterest in the classroom and if you feel that these items are useful or not.

Ideas for ELAR

This is a worksheet that I can use in my classroom to teach contractions. I found this on Diane Dahl's page. She has many great ideas to use in the classroom. The students will cut out the contractions at the bottom of the page and glue them in the correct box.

A quick review for long division

Source: youtube.com via Stacy M on Pinterest

In this you tube video, Michael Kennelly demonstrates how to use long division. He starts out by explaining to us what divisor, dividend, and quotient is. Next he explains the 4 steps in long division. They are find, multiply, subtract, and bring down. To help students remember the steps he gave them the tip of the family. Father (find), Mother (multiply), Sister (subtract) and Brother (bring down). Next he demonstrates how to use the steps in long division by working out a problem. When he is finished he goes over the steps one more time.

Snowman Craft

Alison is the pinner who shared this snowman craft with us. In this craft you mix equal amounts of shaving cream and elmers glue. Create a snowman with the mixture on blue card stock.  Form the eyes, nose, mouth, buttons, hat, and arms with pieces of card stock. Allow time to dry. Adorable craft that is inexpensive and fun. This is a fun and creative activity that kids in many grades would enjoy doing. I would definitely do this with my students.

Cute Video to Teach Skip Counting by 5's

Source: youtube.com via Stacy M on Pinterest

Ashlee Rhoades shared this you tube video that uses music and movement to motivate students to learn to count by 5's. I could use this video in my classroom if I teach K-2nd graders. This activity would give my students as opportunity to have fun and move around while also learning how to count by 5's. I love to incorporate music into the classroom.

Pinterest is a valuable tool for teachers. Especially teachers that will be teaching in K-6. It provides a vast amount of information that teachers can use to help teach curriculum, make lesson plans, choose books, make bulletin boards, crafts, and party ideas. The list seems to be endless. These teachers share different materials that they created or found with other people/teachers. This can save a vast amount of time for the teachers. It provides unique and fun learning opportunities for the students as well. I have provided you with four easy ways to use Pinterest in the classroom. I would recommend that all teachers get signed up now and start pinning ideas for their future classrooms. I know that is will be a GREAT asset to my classroom. I look forward to using these ideas and making memories with my students.

Blog Post #11

First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class

In this video Ms. Cassidy's 2025 class from Moose Jaw, Canada invited us to see how they are using technology in their classroom.  In this classroom, Ms. Cassidy, their teacher is teaching the students how to use laptops to blog, build portfolio, make videos, and skype. The students stated that writing on the blogs made them better writers. They also explained how to properly comment on posts by saying nice things and not mean things because we could hurt someone's feelings. They demonstrated how to safely use the internet by only using their first name and not their last name. The students showed us how to use Wikis to find out information we don't know.  They even used Nintendo DS to play games while learning how to problem solve and share.

Where do I begin?  I am utterly and completely amazed and astonished. I am also amazed and astonished that these 1st graders are so far ahead of the majority of junior high and high school students. As exciting as it is to see these kids learning technology at an early age, it is also very embarrassing that they are so more advanced than even most college students. It makes me really think about my stand on technology in the classroom and how much more I need to know to be a successful teacher in the 21st century. I must admit I have a lot to learn. It also makes me very angry in some ways that we are not teaching more technology in all of our schools. It even makes me sad to think about the students that we are sending out into the world each year. We aren't even giving them a fighting chance!!!!! So how do we change this terrible travesty? Is it realistic to think that one teacher can really make a difference? It's time we get our heads out of the sand and start making the necessary changes to equip our students for the real world. I love Ms. Cassidy's approach to using technology in the classroom. I would love to have my students blogging. Who knows they might even be involved in a skype interview with future Edm310 students and Dr. Strange. I would also like to have blogging partners, so that my students would get plenty of feedback and comments on their blogs. I think that would be very important. I guess my biggest concern would be that the administration would not see the importance of technology and therefore feel like I wasn't using my time appropriately. Another concern I have is that there is no money to assist in equipping my students with the necessary technology. I really don't know exactly how I would address these issues. I guess I would first talk with the principal or technology coordinator (if there is one) and discuss what my options are. I would possibly put a tweet out asking for any information on how to get grants for technology. I'm sure that if the administrators are willing to work with me, we can get something worked out.

Skype Interview with Ms. Cassidy

The Edm310 class got to enjoy a Skype interview with Ms. Cassidy. In this interview Ms. Cassidy stated that she has been involved in technology for the past ten years. She became involved because five computers had been donated to her classroom and she was trying to find out how her students could use them. She started first with a web page and eventually began blogging. At the time of the interview she stated that she had been doing videos for two years. Ms. Cassidy mentioned that she had received some federal funding and received some professional development to help on her journey to becoming technology literate. She also stated that her technology coordinator had also been very beneficial on this journey. Ms. Cassidy explained that each student was required to have a form signed allowing the students to participate. She also does not put last names of the students or their name with their picture for safety purposes. Parents and kids love technology being used in the classroom. The parents are able to monitor what their child is doing in the class and to see their progress in writing. The students love working with technology and the fact that they don't have to "power down" when they come to class. In the interview Dr. Strange expressed some of the students' opinions about technology and it's necessity. Ms. Cassidy was quick to say that they are wrong if they think they don't need technology in the classroom. She explained that the world is changing and we are only "handicapping our students and ourselves" when we don't use technology in the classroom. When Dr. Strange asked her if blogging was making any differences in learning, she explained that the students love to blog because they know that they have an audience. There is someone, other than the teacher, to read what they have written. She shared that often her students will have 100+ views. Not only do they know others will see it, but they also get comments about what they've written. When she was asked about other teachers at her school using technology, she said that there were some that saw the need to teach technology, but there were also those that didn't. Ms. Cassidy suggested to the class to start by developing their own PLN. She mentioned they needed to find a network that represented their interest. After Dr. Strange finished asking his questions, he allowed several Edm310 students to ask Ms. Cassidy questions. One question that I liked was the one that asked about blogging be too accessible for cheating. She explained that really that was the professor's responsibility to be creative in their assignments to deter cheating. She also mentioned that often it provides opportunities for others to piggy back. She stated that she didn't consider this to be cheating but rather a collaborative effort. At the end of the interview, Ms. Cassidy showed the class her back yard which was covered in beautiful, white snow.

I just have to say "You Rock Ms. Cassidy"!!!!! I want to be just like you when I become a teacher. I just can't find the words to describe how amazed I am that she has first graders using technology in such a powerful way. A true example of how it can be done, if we will only make the effort. I am so glad that she has people who have supported her. I have to admit that I am concerned that I may not have that support when I get my teaching position. With funding in education being so tight, is there money available to use for training in technology? I'm not even sure if most schools even have a technology coordinator. In the school that my 8th grade son attends, they barely have enough computers for his online course. Even those computers are in bad shape. I guess what I am trying to ask is .... What do we do when we see technology as necessary, but we are placed in a school where either the administrators don't think it's necessary or there is no money available for technology? I find myself torn on this subject . In some ways it makes you wish you didn't know how crucial technology is for the students to succeed, if only to find out that there is no way to provide it for them. I am so excited that Ms. Cassidy's students are getting this awesome opportunity. I just wish that it was being provided to all kids and unfortunately that is not the case.
I also wonder how these students are affected when they learn how to use technology in first grade, but have teachers in the next few years who don't teach technology or allow them to use it.

Special Blog Assignment

In With The New

Out With The Old

In the article, A World Where Grades Will Be Left Behind, Sebastian Thrun talks about a revolutionized education system. In this new system "learning is free, no one is late for class, failure is not an option, and lessons look like Angry Birds". Where do I sign up? Who wouldn't want a class like that?  Sebastian Thrun, a very successful 45 year old, taught an online class about artificial-intelligence. This experience affected him in such a way that he felt he could no longer teach in a traditional classroom. The result would be the creation of, Udacity, an education company. Thrun created Udacity because he felt the current education system needed a complete make-over. This is not the first attempt at changing the traditional education system. Thrun's friend, Sal Kahn, created the "flipped classroom". In this system students use computers at home to obtain prior knowledge about the upcoming lesson. When the students return to school the next day, they already have some knowledge about the lesson and the teacher spends less time explaining the information and more time on the application process. Thrun emphasises that he has no desire to completely do away with the schools themselves. He just wants to change the ways the students learn.

I personally do not believe that I will see a education system "where grades will be left behind". At least not one where the vast majority of students attend. This theory might work in a system like the one Thrun created. However, I also believe that too much emphasis is placed on grades today.  I don't really understand how practical a school system like Udacity would be for the majority of people. I understand that there are some professions where this type of education system that promotes creativity could be beneficial. However, as Thrun stated there isn't a class or education system where "one-size-fits-all". Where this education style might be beneficial to some professions, I don't believe that it can be applied to all. Where this style of teaching could be beneficial to some students, it isn't for all students. I agree that the education system that exists in most schools today needs a make-over. I like and understand the flipped classroom. I think that it would be much more practical for the majority of the schools.

Comments for Kids in October

C4K # 4


USHRS

My C4K assignment was to comment on a USHRS blog post. The author is Noah and he is a part of a group called USHRS. This stands for US History Research Seminar. The Quad103 group is made up of students from Portland, Oregon; Baltimore, Maryland; Iowa, and France. In Noah's post he states that his group has been working on a project. In this project they are to answer questions about American Identity and to report to the class. His group decided to do a documentary style video of interviews. Noah explains that in the past he has been a procrastinator and that this year he decided that he wanted to change. So when his group started to meet about the project, he expressed firmly his desire to work really hard to get things done early so they wouldn't have to be rushed and stressed at the end. By the first weekend of their three week period, Noah and this group had already gathered all the video interviews they needed for their project. Noah had figured that it would take four to five hours of video editing max. to produce a seven to ten minute video. However, it took one whole hour just to produce the first thirty seconds. He could have completed the project in the time he had allotted but it would not have been the quality video he wanted. Noah said that he learned two lessons from this experience. First, always allow yourself  extra time  and second, figure out how much time you think you need and double it. 

In my comments I explained who I was and where I was from. I commented that I was surprised that he was concerned with changing his bad habits in the 11th grade. I explained that it took me a little while longer to figure that one out. I also told him that I wished I had figured it out earlier so that I wouldn't be 41 years old and still in college. I told him that I thought this project was a wonderful way to gain learning experiences. Noah and his group would be learning time management, teamwork and organization skills. I told him that I was having to work with two groups here at school, and that I was lucky because both my groups work together well. I knew that not all groups were so lucky. I praised him for his decisions and commitment. I also encouraged him to continue and reminded him to don't let up.

C4K#5

You can’t expect it…it just comes

You can’t expect it…it just happens

You can’t expect it…it just starts

Whether a teacher tells you, or a parent tells you, you may never know when it happens.

For this so called thing that I am talking about could be a phone call, or maybe a visit from a friend.

But what I am talking about, does not have anything to do with a phone call or a visit from a friend.

What I am talking about, is RAIN

The above is the post from my C4K . Her name is Hannah and she is in the 5th grade. I started out by asking her if she was sure she was in the 5th grade. I thought she used a lot of thought when preparing her post for a fifth grader. I agreed that rain is so unpredictable that even weather men can't predict it correctly sometimes. I shared with her that my kids like to get out and play in rain when it is not thundering and lightening. I told her that I like to take a nap or read when it rains. I asked her what she liked to do when it rains. I told her that I don't like the thunder and lightening. I encouraged her to keep up the good work. I complimented her on her creativity. 

Hannah

I wonder what pets think about and how there perspective is to the world. Do they have the same thoughts as us?  Do fish and  hamsters think we’re giants? What do they think about us walking on 2 feet? They’re probably like, “Wow, are those creatures weird. Why don’t they walk on 4 feet instead of 2? I mean, it’s  just creepy!” But they could always think different about that and wish they could do it all day.  Do they ever wish they could find out how to make a vacuum be quiet? Well, to them it’s probably just a really big   thing that makes a scary sound. Do they ever wish that they could open a refrigerator and take all of the delicious food and eat it behind their owners backs? I think it would be really interesting to find out what they think. That’s why I sometimes wish to be an animal but I would be able to turn back into a human whenever I wanted to.
I also commented on another post of Hannah's. I expressed that I thought her comments were very creative and thoughtful. She really puts a lot of thought into her writing. She thinks about things that I haven't really given much thought about. I asked Hannah if she thought that animals ever laugh at humans. I also asked her what animal would she choose to be. I explained to her that I would have to think about that one a little while longer. I closed by encouraging her to keep up the good work and that I looked forward to hearing from her again. 

C4K #6

Canadian Grace

My C4K is Brianna and she didn't write a post but had created a slide show on Animoto. The pictues in the slide show were amazing. I explained that I had also completed an assignment using Animoto. I asked her if she had ever used Prezi. I told her that I wished she lived closer because I might could use her to help me get my project done. I asked her if she had ever been to Montana since Alberta, Canada is not too far from Montana. I encouraged her to give a little more details about her pictures on her next slide show. I closed by encouraging her to keep up the good work. 

She responded by saying that she had not heard of Prezi. She also shared that she liked learning about technology. She answered my question by saying that she had not been to Montana but would like to go there one day. She also explained that the pictures in her slide show were just some pictures that she liked. She closed by thanking me for commenting on her post. 

C4K #7

Ireland in October

It simply stated that the blog had been set up to allow us to follow their journey through Ireland during the month of October.

I again explained who I was and what I was doing. I looked over the other posts and saw some amazing pictures they took as they traveled. I shared that when I first saw the post St. Patrick, that I automatically thought of the holiday. I now understand there is so much more to the name. I expressed my desire to be traveling with them and learning about Ireland's history. Learning things that I wouldn't forget about in a weeks time. I closed by thanking them for sharing their journey with us.

Comments for Teacher # 3

Learning with Robots

C4T#3

Steve Wheeler

My teacher to comment on this time is Steve Wheeler. In his post he starts out by referring to his previous post, Learning by Making. In this post he discussed the theory of constructionism. This theory promotes student learning by students placing themselves in and with different situations. This allows the students to learn in their own unique way. He also mentions Seymour Papert who created the Beebot. The Beebot is a floor robot that students can program to follow simple instructions. This tool is effective because students love robots and it's use of technology. He states that it encourages them to experiment, learn from their mistakes, and develop higher cognitive process.  

In my response to his post I explained who I was and what I was doing. I expressed that I thought the video was amazing and how I would have loved to had a Beebot when I was in school. I also commented on how I thought technology was a great and fun way to teach students. I stated that I was learning about technology in my Edm 310 class. I said I couldn't imagine all the technology that is available to use in the classrooms. The tools are limitless. I shared how this was my first time to see the Beebot and how much my little girl would love to have one. I asked him if they were available and how much they cost. I warned him that I would continue to follow him so I could learn more about technology. I can use all the help that I can get. 

This is how he responded and the link to purchase a Beebot. I thought the price was really reasonable. 
Hi Stacy, and thanks for commenting. Bee bots can be purchased from Amazon for about £50 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bee-Bot-Programmable-Floor-Robot/dp/B001CVKYAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351057475&sr=8-1

Digital Learnscapes

Nov. 6, 2012
In this post Steve is talking about the Pelecon (Plymouth Enhanced Learning Conference) that is held each year in April at Plymouth University. He expressed how successful this past year's conference was and that they were working on the one for 2013. The Pelecon conference is used to energize delegates and challenge perspectives on education, learning and development, and the role of technology. He also stated that the Pelecon provides the best atmosphere of informal debate over major issues concerning technology. This conference attracts teachers and learning professionals from all over the world. 

In my response I talked about the success of the last Pelecon and how exciting the next one would be. I stated that I would love to be there to witness all of the teachers from all over the world discussing the future of education and how technology is being used. I know that there would be some great information that I could apply to my future classroom. I thanked him for sharing the information and wished that one day I could be a part of this amazing opportunity.

This was his response to me.
It was indeed Stacy - and we are really looking forward to hosting Pelecon 8 next April. We have some very exciting things planned for the event next year, and some world class speakers too! Would love to see you and the rest of your group at a future Pelecon, and you can also visit the original Plymouth Rock, where the Mayflower and the Pilgrim Fathers set sail from in 1620 - so one day .... who knows?

Blog Post #10

I'm a Papermate. I'm a Ticonderonga

Well, I must say that I was a little confused to begin with. I am only familiar with Papermate as a pen. I had no idea what a Ticonderoga was. I now know that Papermate makes pencils also. I also know that Ticonderoga is a brand of pencil. After reading the comments listed on the post, I now realize the comparison of the two is "a mock of I'm a PC and I'm a Mac."  I would guess that the point would be ..... what is the purpose of spending less money on a PC plus the cost of repairs when you could have spent the same amount to begin with and bought the MAC. Or you could say "you get what you pay for".
So spend the money and buy the MAC!!!!!!!!!!

NO GAMES! NO GAMES! I don't care if your students are learning the objectives. 

Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?

In the post Tom, a teacher, was getting questioned by his principal, Mr. Brown. Apparently Tom had used The Factory Game as a method of getting his students engaged in the curriculum he was trying to teach. Mr. Brown, however, felt that this method was inappropriate. He had a strict "NO GAMES" policy. Tom fights for his methods by comparing them to how soldiers and doctors use simulation and games to prepare them for their jobs. Mr. Brown still would not allow the use of games, but did suggest using worksheets and algorithms. After going back and forth and discussing the matter for a few minutes, Tom figures out a way to incorporate the worksheets and algorithms while also using "The Factory Game".

I found the post to be very typical of the classroom today. Often teachers are criticized for their teaching methods without any regard to the students' learning. I know that you have to be careful because many teachers use movies and games to fill their teaching time. Often these games and movies do not teach the curriculum. I feel, as long as the teacher can show how the games/movies are being used to teach the curriculum and the students are learning, the teacher should be allowed to use those teaching methods. I know that, as a visual learner, I often learn better when I can see it. Recently a teacher showed the movie The Alamo. I'm sure that some teachers would find that completely inappropriate. I enjoyed it because it was a visual picture of the events in the history book. I am more likely to remember the events, because I watched the movie  not because I read about it in a book. I commend Tom for fighting for what he knew to be a useful and engaging teaching method while also trying to abide by the rules. Often we try to fight for what we want without any consideration for the reasoning of the other person. As future educators, it is essential that we are willing to work with principals, teachers, students, and parents to reach an agreement, if at all possible. We will be better teachers if we are able to compromise and work together.

The Con Academy
In this post Mr. Johnson, a teacher, is being encouraged to use a flipped method in his classroom. But this is not the flipped classroom where students use technology at home to prepare for the next day's lesson. The principal and salesman want Mr. Johnson to buy into this program where the students get to choose their worksheets and activities. Mr. Johnson knows that although this method might sound good, in actuality, it's not worth much.

Again, I agree that this is typical of the education system today. There are many people making decisions about education that have absolutely no idea what happens in the classroom. And we wonder why our education system is so messed up. Often things sound good until you try to put it into practice.

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

In this post Mr. Scott McLeod was using sarcasm to make his point. He started out by saying that we shouldn't allow our students to use technology because of cheating, sexting, cyberbullying, porn, and predators. Which also denies our students the ability to create, share, think, and learn using technology as well.  Then at the end he stated that he was going to let his students use it and see who's students were better prepared for the future.

Once again I have to say that I understand the importance of technology. I have learned that this semester if I haven't learned anything else. Most students know far more about technology than I do. Much of that is because they grew up in a time where computers are easily accessible and I did not. I want to use technology in my classroom. I also think that students are more willing to learn when technology is being used. However, I also have to say that I also believe there are real threats associated with technology. Cheating, sexting, cyberbulling, porn, and predators are real concerns. These threats can have life altering effects when technology is used inappropriately. I strongly feel  when we, as teachers, choose to use technology in our classrooms, we are also responsible for what our students do with it. If we are able to monitor and guard against these threats, then I am completely for technology being used in the classrooms.

Project #14

My Smart Board Presentation

Project #11

Green Screen Project