Project #6

Blog Assignment #4

Podcasting

Podcasting is a fun and exciting way of learning. It allows students to learn more productively. When I first read Listening, Comprehension, Podcasting I thought, "That is so true!" I did not realize how much we learn words just by hearing and repeating them for understanding. Langwitches made the statement that, "It gives the learners the opportunity to see their voices, read the sounds, manipulate the sequence of sentences, sounds can be deleted, edited, emphasized and re-arranged similar than a word processing program can do this with the written word." Those words answered my question of "Why do students need this?". I think it is excellent that students are learning and even writing other languages such as Hebrew. That is mind blowing. It is amazing the thing that this generation of students are learning to do with technology.
When I read Flat Stanley Podcast I realized just how convenient it is for students to go and read another country's literature. Kids who are just starting their educational journey can record, listen, stop, pause, and play themselves while listening to their peers across the country. I am beyond shocked and it kind of makes me want to go back to grade school and start all over. Langwitches did give us a link that list a number of benefits of podcasting in classrooms that I thought was very useful for up and coming teachers. One of the benefits that stood out to me was the fact that kids spend more than 10,000 hours talking on the phone and playing video games, and has spent more than 20,000 hours watching t.v. So, podcasting is just an innovative way to educate them in a form this generation is used to. I think podcasting is fun and only helps students with their studies. One way is kids are able to record lectures and play them back as a review or study method. Cool right?

Blog Assignment #5

iSchool Initiative

Okay, this is so crazy to me. Mainly because I did not think our technology would ever be this advanced. It is really mind boggling. I think Travis' iSchool idea is exciting, fun, and brilliant. It is mobile learning at its best; this can be the solution to the educational system problems of budget cuts, larger classes, and teacher layoffs. Travis makes the argument that iSchool can and will take the place of books, printer, papers, and even #2 pencils.
Apps such as Email, Star Walk, Formulae, Recorder, and Scientific Calculators are all helpful applications that are energy efficient and resourceful tools that are easy for all teachers, parents, ans students. The iHomework application will able all students to communicate with massive texts and even allows students to save their work in a mobile device. The ischool argument allows all of its users to keep up with classes, assignments, grades, lunch menus, and allows its users to make agendas for themselves. It gives the students a sense of responsibility, it gives the teacher a sense of organization, and it gives parents security in their children's education.
Parents are able to monitor their kids with the apps that iSchool offer. The mobile learning idea is lockable to schools, so only those in the school system have access in the educational system and allows kids to personalize their iTouch so their style can shine through the uniformed clothing. This idea saves the education system at least $600 per student. I really love that this creates a positive impact on the environment and involves corporations, business professionals, and Apple iTouch producers.

Virtual Choir

My reaction to Virtual Choir is just like "WOW!" Their voices are amazing and its so beautiful. The fact that all of these people are on their PC, at home, and in different countries just proves to its viewers that technology advances are coming and it will be slapping the none believers in the face! Smart move!

Teaching in the 21st Century

Kevin Roberts views education in the 21st century as a challenge to the youth and to the future teachers. He makes the statement that "Teachers are no longer the source, we are the filters." This is so true. We as aspiring teachers/ already teachers no longer have to answer the questions of "Who wrote this?", or "Why is this?" Every student question that is asked in the classroom can be found with on click of a button. Teaching will no longer be the method of teaching others common knowledge. It is about creativity, evaluation, and applying ones self. Students will not slide by doing the bare minimum anymore. They will actually have to learn how to paraphrase, reflect, subscribe, comment, tag, post, search, upload, link, network, and a lot more. I feel that this will teach our future generation responsibility, reliability, and integrity, while at the same time creating professionalism for the world. However, I do feel as if this will be a huge change and a major challenge for the those who are having trouble keeping up with their education now.

Flipping the Classroom

Flipping the Classroom is basically a method of teaching that reverses the usual classroom attention span. Normally, a teacher would spend 75% of the class time teaching a lesson and 30% exercising that lesson. Well flipping the classroom turns that around. With the help of technology, teachers can spend only 30% of the time teaching and 70% excercising. This is an excellent approach to the common classroom problem of different levels in one class. Teachers can not teach different lessons in a classroom that is on three different levels. By combining the flipping the classroom method and technology allows the impossible and that is the problems stated above. I would most defiantly use this method in my class because it has proved to be effective for the teacher in the video.

Project #5 Presentation

Blog Assignment #3

Peer Editing
The videos and powerpoint on Peer Editing is an excellent example for aspiring teachers. It gives us an example of how to grade our classmates' paper without being so mean or straight forward and lets admit, some of us are too straight forward. Well I know I can at times.
The video also gives students/aspiring teachers a solid Technology in Special Education. This brought a happiness that I could not explain. I think that the job of special educationn teachers are hard, mainly because of their student's handicap. I think techonolgy in our classrooms are very smart ideas that not only helps the teachers spread information fast, but help students communicate as well.
Not everyone is technology literate. Technology in the schools gives people the opportunity to become literate in the field. For example, I, myself, am learning how to tweet,blog,set up clickable links, etc. Never would I imagine doing these types things and I probably would not be if technology was not entered into classrooms. Now, lets imagine how hard it is for people with special needs. I admire special education teachers. May God bless them all.

Apple's Education Apps
I would like to thank you for this video Dr. Strange for How the iPad works with Academics for Autism I think its excellent that Brandon is learning Math and Reading through technology in a home environment, and in a fun and creative way. If it was up to me to choose a method of teching with an Apple app, I would choose the app that teaches students how to read.
This is a way that students can hear the world and see it at the same time. It is a faster way for the students to learn through visual and audio skills. Just like Brandon, alot of kids suffer with autism. So, for him to listen and repeat while looking at the material made his brain work in a way unimaginable. Great work APPLE!!!!

Edutopia
The video Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts was interesting. I am very "old fashion". I like the paper/pen method of teaching. However, the creators of this video gives plenty of insight as to why technology has been added into the education system. One,alot of students learn in alot of different ways; and as a teacher I have to be open and knowledgable of those ways. Its nice to have different methods of teaching other than the lecture method.
The teacher thats in this video made it her business to say that you, as a teacher, can learn at the same time as the student, but I beg to differ because I feel as if that would be a hinder to the students. For example, if students have questions to how or why something works a certain you would not be able to answerthe questions. I think this is an incovenience to the students. However, the technology does seem to connect the students to the entire world which can be a bit FUN!!

Project #2

Blog Assignment #2

Did You Know??
The information given in this video Did You Know?? is amazing. Never, would I have thought that India had these kind of statistics. This really encourages me to stay on my toes. The fact that only 25% of their natives is smarter than the whole United States makes me wonder if the U.S. is really the world's leader??
The video also sheds light on the huge technology epidemic and coming from a background of little to no technology knowledge really has me worried. Yet, I believe in myself and my dream of becoming a teacher, so this video only pushes me to reach that dream. I appreciate Dr. Strange's efforts in releasing great teachers into the world! Two thumbs up.


Mr. Winkle Wakes
Okay, I have to start by saying that I most definitely feel like Mr. Winkle! This is a great video Mr.Winkle Wakes for the older technology illiterate student like myself. It gives a comedic example of how we feel. Technology and life as we know it changes everyday. So waking up a hundred years from now would be an eye opener.
However, this video does have a lesson for its viewers. That lesson is that no matter how much our surroundings and methods seems to change, one thing that has remained the same since its been started is the school or place of education. There will always to the teacher and the student whom is being taught by the teacher. Now that, I can deal with rather it be now or a hundred years from now!


Ken Robinson

Ken Robinson is a very important video that should be viewed by all aspiring teachers. It encourages educators to educate their students by using the students own creative thought process. Ken Robinson, a creativity expert, makes the point that teachers should encourage the imagination and creativeness is students at a young age. An idea I would have to agree with.
So many teachers and school facilities rejects a child's creativeness, which in turn, subjects the children to one way of thinking and viewing the world. I believe that is the reason God gave every person their own set of eyes and mind. So each individual can see and intemperate the world, their views, and their experiences for themselves. Ken is an amazing speaker and I would one day like to be present for one of his lectures.


A Day of Glass
The ideasA Day of Glass presents to its viewers are unbelievable, yet it holds the possibility of one day becoming true. There is no way with all of the recent technological advances that our world could not be the way executed in this video. Seeing this gets me excited about learning, teaching, and future experiences.
It's a leap of faith but it's a leap that could lead the world into a whole new world. Future educators and students should take the chances being offered by the amazing people behind the genius ideas that help inform/educate our future society. Look out India!