Final Reflection Part 2

Final Reflection Part 1

Blog Post #13

                                                           A Vision of Students Today
     This is one video every teacher should sit down and take a look at. It opens up many  new ideas on how we could make teaching a better experience for the students. Most of the questions teachers wonder about are answered in this video. The video shows teachers were to focus most of their attention and time in the classroom. Most of the time is being wasted on lectures  that have nothing to do with everyday life.

     The University presidents should sit and take a good look at this video as well. It would show them were most of the school funds should be going. Instead of buying all those school books, that money should be going on lab tops and portable tablets. Hundreds of dollars are spent on books and are never even used. Most of these problems can be fixed, the question is when.

     Michael Wesch and the students of Introduction to Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State University, make some great points in this video. There are lots of worthless teaching going on in classrooms. We as students need to speak up and let our opinion be heard. We sit in these large classrooms everyday were the teachers don't even know our names. Most of the lessons don't have anything to do with everyday life problems.

     We use our technical devices far more than we open or use books. Most of our time is spent on social networks sites like facebook and tweeter. With this being known, more of our lessons should be done through online sources. Most of us will be in over $20,000 of debt after we graduate because of schools wasting our money. By knowing this we should not have to waste money on books and any other worthless items. I feel there is to many teachers still stuck in the past with those old teaching ways.

     Technology is rapidly growing and if our schools don't push for changes we will not be ready for jobs in the near future. Most of the jobs we are in school for will not be available when we graduate. Computers have became a large part of  job fields in the world.

Final Report on PLN

My PLN  in is increasing more and more each day. I have enjoyed  having all my networking

in one place. I'm so happy that I don't have to open so many windows when interacting in

each one. This PLN is a great source. I told my wife about it and she has started one as

well. I love my PLN experience.

C4K Summary November

C4K Summary for November

 

 

C4K #7

 

My student visited St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra.  They discussed different situations of education in Ireland.

 

I commented:  I can't believe Ireland only takes the top 10% of the country into its elementary programs. I think it's kind of unfair to the rest of the country. I began to wonder do we as Americans take our education seriously. I mean someone really thought that through. This blog had really got me thinking about our country.

I really enjoyed all the pictures in the blog. I think Ireland is cool. I'm going to do some research about Ireland very soon.

 

C4K #8

 

My student was Quinna. She talked about animals of the grassland.  She really enjoyed them and her studies about them.

 

I commented: Hi my name is Byronn Brye and I am an EDM 310 student. I think your post was great. I enjoyed learning about the animals and the grassland. It's interesting to know what animals live there. Keep up the good work.

 

C4K #9

 

My student was Miguel G. He talked about the types of tricks he could do. He said that he could put his feet in the back of his head and a lot more things that flexible people could do.

 

I wrote: Miguel how did you come up with this. You are a very flexible person. Have you ever tried gymnastics? You make be a great acrobat. I’m sure there is somewhere you may use that talent you have.

    

C4K #10

 

Progress Report on Final Project

My group will be meeting this week to discuss our final efforts for our project. We will also be completing it early this week.

Blog Post #12b

                                                               

                                                                     Physical Education
     Physical Education ts a very important part of our everyday lives. Being fit helps to live a longer and healthier life. A child that is in shape tends to be more focused and has lots more energy during the run of a day. Also, health problems like Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease comes from being overweight. Children that have at least 60 minutes of developmentally appropriate activities a day seem to have a better management of their weight control.

     Physical Education is a required course in all schools across the nation. Adults as well as children, need some sort of  physical activities to live a healthy life. Even though it is required, everyone does not take exercise very seriously. By overlooking the required physical activities that should be done American's are becoming over weight. The number of obese children has doubled since 1980. Getting the correct exercise does not have to come from just running. There are many ways to enjoy putting the correct physical time in daily. You can ride a bike or play a sport like basketball to get your required physical active time in your routine.

Blog Post #12a (instructions)

Blog Post #12 Due 11/18/12

1.) Watch this video Physical Education2:08


 2.) Write a post in which you discuss the importance of Physical Education. Comment on what you have seen in the video. Discuss the benefits of Physical Education. Follow the requirements in Writing a Quality Blog Post

Summary Post C4T Teacher #3

C4T #3

The author of this post is about to begin a  six year study focusing on different areas of learning. In the first year they will focus on how our learning environment helps us to learn. The second year they will investigate the qualities of effective learners and how these can help us learn, individually and collaboratively. Year 3 will explore the information process… how we decide what we want to learn, formulate questions, locate, organise and evaluate information. Year 4 will inquire into what it means to be organised and how this can empower us, not just in our learning, but in life. Year 6 will explore individual and group decision-making and its impact, personally, in the classroom community and working outwards towards their study of government.

I commented:I find this to be very interesting. I'm so anxious to see how this actually turns out. I think it’s going to be a great process. I agree with anything that helps the learning process.

C4K Summary for October

C4K #3

I commented on Kiana. The title of her blog was PWA, Quality of Life. She discussed the how hard it was to be a PWA student, and how she was trying to get into the swing of things. She also touched on how important it was to have school sprit and cheer for you school teams.

I commented: You are right about having someone cheering for you, even if you are not the best player on your team. People cheering can make a person very happy. Keep up the good work.

C4K #4

The post was on corruption in the government. Also talked about how globalization can lead to poverty.  

I commented: You made some interesting statements. With all of this corruption going I think back to the old saying “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” I think your post was great and I really enjoyed reading it. Maybe it can be read by some people that care enough, and are in a high enough power to make a change for the better.

C4K #5

I commented on Nancy Drew. She’s in 6th grade soccer player. She is from Canada, and she discussed loving her friends. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. She thinks that her learning experience with blogs is wild.

I commented: Those were some amazing pictures. Keep up the good work. You have a bright future ahead of you.

C4K #6

I commented on Jared’s English 7 Blog. He discussed reading books and not leaving them on a shelf. He suggested we check out a book, read it, and then post to his blog.

I commented: I think that is a great idea to suggest you blog reader’s check out a book. The idea of someone so young being so enthusiastic about reading is great. You did a great job Jared! 

Blog Post #11

                                       
                                                                 Little Kids Big Potential

     Ms. Cassidy has some great  ideas when it comes to teaching our young kids technology. Computers have  become mandatory to learn how to use in today's world. Ms. Cassidy is teaching her students how to write great blog posts on their page very early in their learning career. Other skill have to be taken into consideration when commenting on blog posts. When making comments, you have to know how to comment on  posts without saying hurtful things. Web pages are also very useful to use in classrooms. These pages can be used to research any information you are looking for background information on.

     Wiki is another great computer site that can be used in research. This site allows you to ask any other people around the world their input

 on a certain subject. Skype gives you the ability to have group discussions and meetings without actually meeting face to face. Ms. Cassidy was rite on time when she said kids should not push technology aside, but take it very seriously. Technology should be one of the main focuses in every teacher's classroom.

     Looking at all theses skills Ms. Cassidy talked about in her videos makes me really think long and hard. In my future class room I can't see myself not using any of these great tools. I would strongly encourage everyone to adopt all of these skills into their classrooms. They will help the teacher communicate with the students and also would cut back on the actual in class time. By using tools like Skype, I could make sure all my students got there instructions for work even if they were not present in the classroom. These tools would  surely be something I would surely use in my future classroom.

Special blog assignment

                                        
                                             
         A world where grades will be left behind

     Sebastion Thrun, a professor at Stanford University in PALO ALTO, California has some great ideas to share with us. He starts off by saying education should be free and available to anyone. In his close to perfect world, no one would ever be late for class. On another note, he said that learning should be as fun as a video game. Thrun taught a free online artificial-intelligence course to more than 160,000 students. This method is also called flipping your classroom and introducing the students to more computer assignments. This also helps educators to update there teaching skills to meet the needs of today's computer driven world.

     In my opinion, Sebastion Thrun presents some great ideas to really consider using. I could surely see this method working wonders for classrooms all across the United States. Just think of the endless possibilities if everyone could earn a free education. There are lots of people that want to father their education, but they just can't afford to do so at this time. If schools would adopt Thrun's ideas students would love to come to school because it would be fun to them. When learning is fun, you can encourage more students to attend because it becomes exciting to them. I hope that one day Thrun's idea are introduced to schools all across the nation.

Blog Post #10

                                               I'm a Papermate. I'm a Ticonderoga.
     The cartoon by John T. Spencer, is really a great comparison between the PC and the Mac computers. Yes, the PC is a lot cheaper but it is no way in the same class as the Mac. The Mac can do things that a PC can only dream of doing. For one the Mac makes movies so much easier than struggling to do so on a PC. If you ever use a Mac u will never want to go back to a PC ever again.

                                                 Why Were Your Kids Playing Games

     Going straight by the book in classrooms my not give the students the best way to learn. The problem is that some people in the school system are so afraid of trying new methods. They have been stuck in the past for so long, till it is nearly impossible to help them move forward. Putting lesson plans in to games will help the students remember and understand what  the lesson plan was about.

     I believe using games in a classroom would be a great teaching method to use. By grabbing the attention of the students, this will allow the classroom to flow in a positive direction. Being able to keep the students focused, has become one of the biggest problems we encounter in classrooms today. Sometimes, if you are trying to move in the right direction there are going to be people that want to to hold you back. Some of our educators get in trouble trying to force material into the students heads. With games in the classrooms, the students will have fun learning

                                               Mr. McLeod's post

     I agree with Mr. McLeod's post on technology. Letting the kids learn on the internet is a great way for students to see just how the real world is. Why would we want to hide the truth form our students and future adults. Computers are taking over the world at such a alarming rate, till every student will have to have some kind of understanding of technology. The world is moving in a technical direction, and so should our educators.

Smartboard project # 14

Project # 11

Project # 10

I decided to use Symblos for my PLN. I have included all my social networks, and other sources I use as well. I also have links for Edm310 and Blogger. I found using this website very interesting. I know I will enjoy this website. I am eager to see it as it grows.

C4T #3 & #4 Summary

C4T #3

 

What Ed Said spoke of a theme box his family kept. In this theme box was article, pictures etc. He didn’t recall caring about the content or wondering about its relevance. The author then began to speak about geo-literacy. The central idea is: Understanding the interconnectedness of the world empowers people to make informed decisions for now and the future. They have, however, articulated some desired conceptual understandings for students to reach, as they explore the big idea through the lenses of connection and reflection.

 

I agree that engaging with and learning from people in other places helps us understand our interconnectedness. I also agree that individuals and countries are interconnected in many ways. It's great that Skype allowed them this experience. I really thought the invitation to other classes to engage with your class was a good idea. The students should find this very interesting.

C4K #4

Frank Buck was my teacher for C4K #4. He gave a link to get small clickable buttons to take my readers to my other outlets. He tittled the post Get Organized. Such a good tittle.

I commented: My name is Byronn, and I am a Sophmore at University of South Alabama College in Mobile Al. I think that is good information that you shared. My class had to do a PLN which was similar I think. Educational Media is so cool. I never thought so much media would be a part of teaching. I really like learning educational media.

Blog Post # 9

                                                         What I've Learned This Year (2008-09)

In Mr. McClung’s first year of teaching, he started out in Noel, Missouri as an elementary teacher. He came into the school with the wrong state of mind on how to be a great educator. Worried about what his superiors thought of his lesson plans, he steered away from making his students his first priority. Mr. McClung also had to learn that there is no such thing as a perfect lesson plan. You are only human and you are going to make mistakes. Mistakes are a very important stepping stone on the process of becoming a great educator.

Something else McClung also learned was the very important skill known as communication. No student relationship with his teacher will ever blossom without having great communication with each other. Being on the same page as your students makes all the difference in the world. In becoming a great teacher, you have to be able to recognize and help keep your students in some sort of comfort zone. With computers becoming a must have in the world, teaching technology is also mandatory in today’s society.
Teaching computer skills is a learning process for the students and the teacher. By that being said, teachers can’t be afraid to fail. Great educator can’t ever stop wanting to keep learning and better themselves.

I feel that Mr. McClung is no different from the average first year teacher. With the way things are changing in the world a future educator really dosen’t know what to expect in the future. As future educators, we must keep our heads clear and be prepared for what ever changes come our way. Reading Mr. McClung’s post really gave me lots of ideas that I can take into my future classroom. I also learned how a great relationship with your students can become so helpful.

                                               What I’ve Learned This Year- Volume 4

Mr. McClung use to worry about what his superiors thought of his teaching methods. Now that he got over that, he is starting to worry about what his peers are thinking of his teaching methods. Quickly realizing the only ones that really mattered to him are his students. He knows that as long as his students are enjoying his teaching skills then he is still on the right track.

Mr. McClung found himself repeating the same lesson plan he had been using for the past 3 years. He felt that his lesson plans had became routine like tying your shoes laces every morning. Before long, Mr. McClung was exploring other courses to expand his knowledge into. He knew he had to stay excited in order to keep the students wanting to learn. He was the first to realize that his lectures he was giving had become lazy and boring.

 I agree with what Mr. McClung wrote in his post number 4. You can’t worry about what other adults say about how you’re handling your business. There are lots of people in the world that feel if it isn’t done their way then it’s not right at all. Also if you don’t want to continue to learn and challenge yourself to get better you will not succeed in nothing. Your goals should be set high, even if you feel they are out of reach. Being stuck in your old ways and not wanting to open up and try new things only hurt your students in the end.

C4T # 1 & 2 Summary

C4#1


Cooperative Catalyst Educators talked about what kids could do if they weren’t assigned so much homework. They felt like kids didn't learn as well due to so much homework. Kids could use all the extra time to study. A small study was done and proved that when kids aren't loaded down with homework their grades were much better

 

I totally agreed with homework being deleted. My wife is in nursing school, and she has huge amounts of homework each day. She doesn’t get much rest, because she also has to study after completing her extensive homework. I believe studying is more important than doing homework in most situations.

 

C4T #2

For the Love of Teaching talked about the importance of listening. They preferred to teach the skill of listening separate from the skill of focusing. They wrote" Young children's listening and speaking competence is in advance of their reading and writing competence". Once a child is aware of listening as a specific skill, he or she is able to be metacognitive in its application.

 

I know that listening is a very important component. Listening does help with other areas of development. Listening skills are very useful in day to day life as well. It’s important for teacher to be very careful when teaching the skill of listening.

Project #12