Project # 9a

Blog Post #4

I really enjoyed listening to all of the podcast by Eagle's Nest Radio and Class Blog. The children spoke very well and they took a lot of interest in their topics. I really enjoyed the podcast interview the students did with Mr. Ward about sharks. The students were very excited and had great questions. My absolute favorite podcast was Roamin with Ancient Romans. It is so amazing to see third graders present detailed information of their subject. In doing my podcast the only thing I would change is the volume to the background music. It takes a way a little from the students discussion.


Langwitches


This post was about first grade students who learned how to use podcasting in their classroom. They created their podcasts from scripts their teacher wrote for them. The scripts were based on books that were read to them in class, and their teacher designed the books so that the students could read along as the podcast was being played. Once their teacher finished writing the scripts, she allowed the students to record them in their own voice. The blog mentions how the students enjoyed rerecording the podcast, if they did not like the way their voice sounded. It seems to me the students really enjoyed this activity, and will benefit from it in the future. Teachers such as this one really encourage me to incorporate tools such as podcasting in my future classroom. This will introduce my students to using technology at an early age, and give then the courage to be involved in classroom activities. 


 The Benefits of  Podcasting in the Classroom, by Mr. Joe Dale was very informative. The benefits he discuss are as listed: 

• An effective way of interacting with students outside of the classroom 
• a form of learning students of today are familiar with and therefore makes it relevant to them 
• it allows for differentiation and project based learning students can access the higher order thinking skills in Bloom's taxonomy 
• it promotes creativity and innovation
• it can offer distance learning opportunities for absent students 
• the process of creating and uploading audio files is easy students can record role plays in character making their learning more memorable 
• parents can see and hear what their children are doing at school I believe pod casting can be very useful in classroom. 
• From personal experience, I was introduced to podcast by communicating with a teacher on a day to day basis, listening to lectures outside of class. The students explained the information they learned with your fellow classmates through podcasting. To me, pod casting is way better than typing long emails, with a disadvantage of getting your entire point across. For example, at a previous college, any questions the students had from the lectures, we were required to ask them in a podcast and post them in a discussion board. From here the entire class could hear them. Anyone who was able to answer the question was allowed to explain it in a responding podcast. This way we were able to get a clearer understanding of our questions and responses, and we were able to incorporate fun into learning. I think methods such as this should be used in all classes. If so students will learn another great way to incorporate technology in learning.

Project #6

Project #5

The presentation is also viewable at "Uniquley Me".

BLog Post # 3

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
 
Before I read the post ,"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines, I thought I would totally be against this idea. After reading the post, I kind of agreeded with Kelly Hines's article. She believes there is nothing wrong with technology and it is great to use and learn, but "If a teacher can find ways to prepare students with the capacity to be creative and innovative, those children will be well prepared to face the future. Teachers who customize the learning experiences of their students to involve critical thinking and problem solving are doing their students a greater favor than those who misuse technology as a means of facilitating learning.(direct quote)"
I believe  if a teacher has what it takes to teach her students to be great students and teach them the things to prepare them for their future, then technology may not be that necessary. Ms. Hines mentioned four things that should charaterize a good teacher, and they are as listed:
1) Teachers Must Be Learners
2) Learning and Teaching are not the Samething
3)Technology is useless without good teaching
4)Be a 21st Century Teacher without the technology

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

The social media count was a great visual aid to see how technology is increasing. To see the rate these counts increase by the minute was mind blowing. Keeping up with technology in todays world is somewhat manditory because technology will increase more in the future at a much faster rate than it is doing so now. The only Media Count that I really questioned is the comments made on Facebook within the first few seconds. I personally thought the numbers would actually be higher. Facebook is a huge social network and there are not  many people who are not Facebook users.

Michael Wesch A Vision of Students Today

In Michael Wesche's Video, A Vision of Students Today,I realized that many of the statements written, relate to me. For instance,the ratio of students to teachers in my past classes, were outrageous. One semester, I took a economics class that had more than 100 students present. I was so aggravated when I realized, I was not going to receive much help from my professor. I went to the professor's office during office hours, to get help with an assignment, only to find a line of students waiting for help also. After about 45 minutes, I gave up and returned home to get prepared for my next class. Situations such as these are very discouraging and eventually becomes a problem. Its also scary to actually raise your hand to ask questions with more than 100 students directing their attention on me.

 I agreed with the statements about the prices we spend on books and computers. I find it to become very stressful, having to spend over 600 dollars on books that I hardly  open. When it is time to sell the books back I never get over 150 dollars back; thats if they decide to buy of the books back. In my opinion, technology, helps students in great ways of research, note taking and many ways of preparing for the future ahead of us. We as students spend more time socializing online than anything. I feel that if teachers made some classes a little more interesting using more exciting ways to incorporate technology into our lessons, we as students will probably actually pay more attention and be interested in learning by choice rather than by requirement. School to me is over rated!

Project # 2 Wordle