Saturday, July 19, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
C4Tp
Copyright Flowchart: Can I Use it? Yes? No? If This…..Then…..
In this blog post by Ms. Sylvia Tolisano, she mentions that it is the responsibility of all educators to model good digital citizenship. Teachers are to teach their students the correct way to use copyright when it comes to the Internet. It is the teachers responsibility to teach students digital rights and responsibilities. The teachers must know how to do all of this so that they can teach it correctly to their students.
Building Good C.U.L.T.U.R.E.
In this blog post by Ms. Tolisano, she mentions that Dan McCabe mentioned her in a tweet. The tweet was what culture stands for. They came up with Collaborate, Understand, Love, Trust, Unite, Respect, and Empower. All of these qualities are important for educators to have. But it is so much more important to be able to teach or help our students to have them as well.
Syvia Tolisano
C4Ta
Companies and People Must Adapt in the Social Age
In this blog post by Angela Maiers, she discusses the book “A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive”, by Ted Coine and Mark Babbitt. Ms. Maiers had an interview with both Ted Coine and Mark Babbitt, where she asked them how they would define this new age and what it means for individuals and organizations. They said that the Social Age is not the Technology Age. Even though technology is important, it is simply a tool to communicate. What is the Social Age is our changing interactions. The way students are taught has changed. Students are taught in a way that will prepare them for careers. Socializing is key to being able to prosper in the work field. The Social Age benefits us because it gives us the opportunities to be a voice. We are able to communicate because of the web. We find people with similar interests. But technology is just the tool we use to be able to communicate.
#ISTE14 is Over but the Learning is Just Getting Started
In this blog post Angela Maiers discusses the things she experienced at the ISTE Conference in Atlanta from June 28 thru July 1, 2014. She shares her top ten WOW moments that she had while there. Number one was human connections where people were able to meet new and interesting people. Some will be lasting friendships. Her second WOW moment was just being able to see her friends shine in their expertise. Number three is that all the people in the room discussed “You Matter” when it comes to education. Every staff and member would get a “You Matter” t-shirt. For her number four Wow moment, Ms. Maiers was able to give her first ‘Naked Keynote’. She would not have been able to do that if her friends had not pushed her in the right direction. Number five was that there was a room full and they were honoring student passion and genius. Number six, Ms. Maiers took her first selfie. Number seven was that the food was great (chicken and waffles). WOW moment number 8 was that Twitter was very active. Number nine was “YOU Matter” is the most important words in education. WOW moment number ten is the effort the community puts in to keeping learning alive.
Angela Maiers
Blog Posts #14 and #15
Blog Post #14
What do you have to do in the next year and a half (or the time before you graduate) to get ready to be a teacher using Project Based approaches to learning in situations where students have the tools they need to participate effectively in such instruction?
I think the main thing anyone needs to do when they are unsure of something that they have to work with is practice, practice, practice.... A lot of things in my EDM 310 class were all new to me when I started class back in May. Through trial and error and a lot of practice, I was able to learn so much. Some of the things we were able to use were so much fun. That is the key to most things we like, it is fun! I have to admit I have not always been a big fan of working in a group setting. Especially when I have to depend on someone else to help me earn a grade for an assignment. However, I do like the idea of each member in the group being able to fill out a rubric for each member in the group. I will have to prepare myself to help students when it comes to working in groups. I am sure I am not the only one that has issues with group assignments. As for all technology and programs that are available and will come available between now and the time I become a teacher, I will always have a reason to learn something new. Students are not the only ones that learn, teachers have to continue to learn everyday. I look forward to learning new things and using some of the things I have learned this semester in EDM 310.
Blog Post #15
How to Make an Audio QR Code
In this video by Michelle Bennett, she discusses two websites that can help you make an audio QR and also can record a students voice as he/she reads. The web site that will record a student's voice is www.recordmp3.org. The teacher could record their voice as they read a book. It's just like the teacher is tutoring the students. After you click record, you will want to wait a second to begin talking. Then you would hit stop when you are done. Play it back and if you like how it sounds then hit save recording or hit start over if you do not like it. When you are done it will generate a URL. The site www.qrcode-monkey.com will help create a QR code. Hit the button set for URL.Then copy and paste the URL from www.recordmp3.org as your URL in the box on the web site www.qrcode-monkey.com. Hit create a QR Code. Then you will open Word Doc. and copy and paste the QR code into Word. You can then make the image smaller and type the student's name. You can make a copy for yourself and one for the student or the student's parents. Parents can get a free QR Scanner App and download it.
iPad Reading Center
In this video by Michelle Bennett, she discussed how Ms. Ginger Tuck, a Kindergarten teacher at Gulf Shores Elementary School, made a center in her classroom where the iPad records the student reading. Then the child can replay the recording as they follow along in the text. This gives the student the chance to see if they made any mistakes.
Poplet with Ginger Tuck
This is a free app that you can download. It makes squares and when you pick a word, you can make a web around the chosen word. The students used the word veterinarian and they uploaded pictures of a veterinarian helping a bird. Then the students would type in text "some vets care for zoo animals." It keeps what they learn on the internet.
AVL and Kindergarten Students
In this video by Michelle Bennett, the children first learn how to log on to the library. They download an app for the library. Then the students can pick a subject such as transportation. Then different types of transportation would pop up. They could then choose a bicycle. The child can then draw a picture of the bicycle and write a sentence about the picture.
Tuck iMovie Trailer for Kindergarten
In this video by Ms. Tuck, she discussed how she learned to make iMovie Trailers while at the Alabama Reading Conference. To begin, you would hit the new trailer button and at the bottom of the screen their music options will pop up. According to Ms. Tuck, it is not a good idea to show the children the genres of music because they will not choose by the songs that they like. They will pick the music that they like the most simply by listening to the choices. Once they pick the music they will hit create. Then the student would enter the movie title or the name of the book. The student would list the characters in the book and then enter their own name in the space for directed by. The author's name would be entered in the space by written by. After everything is filled out, the student would then go to the storyboard. When the students are taking pics of the book, they may need a second student to help them so that they can get the best quality pictures. The students can reuse pictures and words throughout the trailer. Take the pictures first and then add the words. The students can edit the trailer as they go. To add words to the trailer, the students would erase the example words and add their own text. This activity is so much fun for the students. It will make them want to read to create a book trailer. This is also a great way to do class projects. Once the teacher does this with the class, the students will want to do it by themselves.
Tammy Shirley Discovery Education Board Builder Moon Project
In this video by Michele Bennett, Ms. Tammy Shirley's 1st grade class at Gulf Shores Elementary School shows us how to create a Board Builder. After watching a video on Discovery Education about the moon, The students wrote facts about the moon. Then they worked together and created a board on Discovery Education. The students would log into Discovery Education and click Board Builder. Then they can choose the background and give it a title. The students then press continue and add. The students were able to create a board with the information that they found about the moon. They can also add videos or images. To search Discovery Education for images or videos they typed in what they were searching for. A list of videos or images popped up. The students would tap on the plus sign by the video or image that they wanted and could go to quick list to pull up all their videos and images. Then they would go back to their storyboard and press board builder to pull up the saved board. They clicked on the moon which led them to their board about the moon. They could then drag a picture from quick list and it went on their board.
Mrs. Tassin 2nd Grade Students Share Board Builder Project
In this video by Michelle Bennett, Mrs. Tassin's 2nd grade class shared a Board Builder Project. They did a project on whales. One of the resources that they used was Safari. They had fun doing the research for the storyboard.
Mrs. Tassin Students Share Board Builder Project
In this video, Mrs. Tassin's students created a Board Builder Project which they named "Loose Change for the Haven." They showed why it is important to accumulate loose change for the Haven. Some of the resources that they used were Word Hippo, Safari, and Google. In Word Hippo, they typed in the word and it gave them a bigger word for it.
Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten
In this video by Dr. Strange, he talks with Ms.Elizabeth Davis and Ms. Michelle Bennett. Ms. Davis is a teacher from Daphne Elementary and Ms. Bennett is from Gulf Shores Elementary. Ms. Bennett talks about Mrs. Tuck's Kindergarten class making iMovie trailers. The children writes scripts, takes pictures and writes a statement about each picture. The iMovie is one station in her classroom where the children get to reinforce their learning. Once they see an example, the children take off and make it their own projects. They do not want to quit editing their trailers. Ms. Davis then talked about the Alabama Virtual Library. It is free to any resident in the state of Alabama. It is a great way to teach the students basic research. Give them a list and each week they search a word.
Twitter for Educators
In this interview by Dr. Strange, Ms. Davis and Ms. Bennett discuss how Twitter is changing the way teachers are learning (teaching themselves). There are Twitter Chats every night of the week. They mention Jerry Blooingarten, who teaches others how to use Twitter. They also mentioned Tom Whitby, who talks about how educators have to learn the 21st Century.
We All Become Learners
This video was conducted by Dr. Strange as he interviews Ms. Davis and Ms. Bennett. Ms. Bennett said that using a device of some sort changes the way a classroom runs. Everyone becomes a learner and a teacher. Ms. Bennett said there was a student that showed her how to take a picture with the iPad. They discussed Poplet and taking a picture of yourself and putting it up. They also discussed Padlet where the student can make a poster board. In PBL everyone becomes learners in everyone's own learning network. It makes it more exciting.
What do you have to do in the next year and a half (or the time before you graduate) to get ready to be a teacher using Project Based approaches to learning in situations where students have the tools they need to participate effectively in such instruction?
I think the main thing anyone needs to do when they are unsure of something that they have to work with is practice, practice, practice.... A lot of things in my EDM 310 class were all new to me when I started class back in May. Through trial and error and a lot of practice, I was able to learn so much. Some of the things we were able to use were so much fun. That is the key to most things we like, it is fun! I have to admit I have not always been a big fan of working in a group setting. Especially when I have to depend on someone else to help me earn a grade for an assignment. However, I do like the idea of each member in the group being able to fill out a rubric for each member in the group. I will have to prepare myself to help students when it comes to working in groups. I am sure I am not the only one that has issues with group assignments. As for all technology and programs that are available and will come available between now and the time I become a teacher, I will always have a reason to learn something new. Students are not the only ones that learn, teachers have to continue to learn everyday. I look forward to learning new things and using some of the things I have learned this semester in EDM 310.
Blog Post #15
How to Make an Audio QR Code
In this video by Michelle Bennett, she discusses two websites that can help you make an audio QR and also can record a students voice as he/she reads. The web site that will record a student's voice is www.recordmp3.org. The teacher could record their voice as they read a book. It's just like the teacher is tutoring the students. After you click record, you will want to wait a second to begin talking. Then you would hit stop when you are done. Play it back and if you like how it sounds then hit save recording or hit start over if you do not like it. When you are done it will generate a URL. The site www.qrcode-monkey.com will help create a QR code. Hit the button set for URL.Then copy and paste the URL from www.recordmp3.org as your URL in the box on the web site www.qrcode-monkey.com. Hit create a QR Code. Then you will open Word Doc. and copy and paste the QR code into Word. You can then make the image smaller and type the student's name. You can make a copy for yourself and one for the student or the student's parents. Parents can get a free QR Scanner App and download it.
iPad Reading Center
In this video by Michelle Bennett, she discussed how Ms. Ginger Tuck, a Kindergarten teacher at Gulf Shores Elementary School, made a center in her classroom where the iPad records the student reading. Then the child can replay the recording as they follow along in the text. This gives the student the chance to see if they made any mistakes.
Poplet with Ginger Tuck
This is a free app that you can download. It makes squares and when you pick a word, you can make a web around the chosen word. The students used the word veterinarian and they uploaded pictures of a veterinarian helping a bird. Then the students would type in text "some vets care for zoo animals." It keeps what they learn on the internet.
AVL and Kindergarten Students
In this video by Michelle Bennett, the children first learn how to log on to the library. They download an app for the library. Then the students can pick a subject such as transportation. Then different types of transportation would pop up. They could then choose a bicycle. The child can then draw a picture of the bicycle and write a sentence about the picture.
Tuck iMovie Trailer for Kindergarten
In this video by Ms. Tuck, she discussed how she learned to make iMovie Trailers while at the Alabama Reading Conference. To begin, you would hit the new trailer button and at the bottom of the screen their music options will pop up. According to Ms. Tuck, it is not a good idea to show the children the genres of music because they will not choose by the songs that they like. They will pick the music that they like the most simply by listening to the choices. Once they pick the music they will hit create. Then the student would enter the movie title or the name of the book. The student would list the characters in the book and then enter their own name in the space for directed by. The author's name would be entered in the space by written by. After everything is filled out, the student would then go to the storyboard. When the students are taking pics of the book, they may need a second student to help them so that they can get the best quality pictures. The students can reuse pictures and words throughout the trailer. Take the pictures first and then add the words. The students can edit the trailer as they go. To add words to the trailer, the students would erase the example words and add their own text. This activity is so much fun for the students. It will make them want to read to create a book trailer. This is also a great way to do class projects. Once the teacher does this with the class, the students will want to do it by themselves.
Tammy Shirley Discovery Education Board Builder Moon Project
In this video by Michele Bennett, Ms. Tammy Shirley's 1st grade class at Gulf Shores Elementary School shows us how to create a Board Builder. After watching a video on Discovery Education about the moon, The students wrote facts about the moon. Then they worked together and created a board on Discovery Education. The students would log into Discovery Education and click Board Builder. Then they can choose the background and give it a title. The students then press continue and add. The students were able to create a board with the information that they found about the moon. They can also add videos or images. To search Discovery Education for images or videos they typed in what they were searching for. A list of videos or images popped up. The students would tap on the plus sign by the video or image that they wanted and could go to quick list to pull up all their videos and images. Then they would go back to their storyboard and press board builder to pull up the saved board. They clicked on the moon which led them to their board about the moon. They could then drag a picture from quick list and it went on their board.
Mrs. Tassin 2nd Grade Students Share Board Builder Project
In this video by Michelle Bennett, Mrs. Tassin's 2nd grade class shared a Board Builder Project. They did a project on whales. One of the resources that they used was Safari. They had fun doing the research for the storyboard.
Mrs. Tassin Students Share Board Builder Project
In this video, Mrs. Tassin's students created a Board Builder Project which they named "Loose Change for the Haven." They showed why it is important to accumulate loose change for the Haven. Some of the resources that they used were Word Hippo, Safari, and Google. In Word Hippo, they typed in the word and it gave them a bigger word for it.
Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten
Twitter for Educators
In this interview by Dr. Strange, Ms. Davis and Ms. Bennett discuss how Twitter is changing the way teachers are learning (teaching themselves). There are Twitter Chats every night of the week. They mention Jerry Blooingarten, who teaches others how to use Twitter. They also mentioned Tom Whitby, who talks about how educators have to learn the 21st Century.
We All Become Learners
This video was conducted by Dr. Strange as he interviews Ms. Davis and Ms. Bennett. Ms. Bennett said that using a device of some sort changes the way a classroom runs. Everyone becomes a learner and a teacher. Ms. Bennett said there was a student that showed her how to take a picture with the iPad. They discussed Poplet and taking a picture of yourself and putting it up. They also discussed Padlet where the student can make a poster board. In PBL everyone becomes learners in everyone's own learning network. It makes it more exciting.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Blog Post #12
What assistive technologies are available to you as a teacher? Select a few and discuss how they may be useful to you.
Blog Post #12
Blog Post #12
Monday, July 7, 2014
Blog Post #13
What Did I leave out?
I have been asked to come up with a blog assignment of my own. My question would be What are some great ways to help students that struggle with math? When I was in elementary and secondary school, I hated math class. Just the thought of having to go to a math class made me nervous. Since I have been in college, I have come to love math. I think that the number one thing that can make a student love or hate math, is the teacher. My teachers in college have been incredible. I could not wait to get to class. Not all students can learn the same way nor at the same speed so I researched a few things that may help a child that struggles with math.
IXL
This site is for PreK all the way through high school. The math goes up to 8th grade with additional help in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. It also has help for Language Arts. You can click on your state to find which standards are being taught. This is a great site for practice in both Math and Language Arts.
Math.com
Math.com is a great site to practice math skills and problems. It also has charts and formulas. It also has math worksheets, a calculator, and a problem solver. The problem solver shows how it came about the answer. This site goes from first grade through eighth grade with additional help in Algebra I and II, and Geometry. You can also play math games and you will have access to a math tutor.
Student Tutor
This site helps parents identify if their child is struggling in math. It has links to several sites that can help students with math. There is a blog associated with it. You can also find test prep information and college and scholarship information on this site. You can also find some great tips for helping students.
A+ Math
This is an interactive web site for teachers, parents, and students. It features free worksheets, math games, math flash cards, and much more. There is also a homework helper.
There are several great math sites for students struggling with math.
Hoodamath.com
Mathway.com
Algebrahelp.com
Coolmath.com
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I have been asked to come up with a blog assignment of my own. My question would be What are some great ways to help students that struggle with math? When I was in elementary and secondary school, I hated math class. Just the thought of having to go to a math class made me nervous. Since I have been in college, I have come to love math. I think that the number one thing that can make a student love or hate math, is the teacher. My teachers in college have been incredible. I could not wait to get to class. Not all students can learn the same way nor at the same speed so I researched a few things that may help a child that struggles with math.
IXL
This site is for PreK all the way through high school. The math goes up to 8th grade with additional help in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. It also has help for Language Arts. You can click on your state to find which standards are being taught. This is a great site for practice in both Math and Language Arts.
Math.com
Math.com is a great site to practice math skills and problems. It also has charts and formulas. It also has math worksheets, a calculator, and a problem solver. The problem solver shows how it came about the answer. This site goes from first grade through eighth grade with additional help in Algebra I and II, and Geometry. You can also play math games and you will have access to a math tutor.
Student Tutor
This site helps parents identify if their child is struggling in math. It has links to several sites that can help students with math. There is a blog associated with it. You can also find test prep information and college and scholarship information on this site. You can also find some great tips for helping students.
A+ Math
This is an interactive web site for teachers, parents, and students. It features free worksheets, math games, math flash cards, and much more. There is also a homework helper.
There are several great math sites for students struggling with math.
Hoodamath.com
Mathway.com
Algebrahelp.com
Coolmath.com
Saturday, July 5, 2014
C4Tp
In this post by Ms. Silvia Tolisano, Ms. Tolisano and her friend Andrea Hernandez discuss the possibilities children have with blogging. They describes blogging for students as a platform where they can talk to the world. They also said that their success depends on how open the platform is and how connected the teacher is. For the students to have a global audience, the teacher has to be connected. Students will get visitors to their blog by being invited in. The teacher must give them the opportunities. They discuss quad-blogging, which is where the teacher connects her/his class to three other classes. One class writes the blog for a week and the other three classes are their to read and comment on the blog post. Each class will take turns being the writers. The idea behind this is to see if quad-blogging will improve the quality of the writing from the students. They were able to use students from around the world.
If also gives students the chance to understand why someone has chosen to write something. Students write differently for teachers. What is the purpose of this writing? This also helps with the writing process because you get to edit and revise the writings as well. The possibilities for positive feedback, communication with a real audience, and conversation, is there as well. Blogs also give the students a chance to show their creative side. Each child’s blog is different. Students are able to learn by reflecting on the experience of blogging.
In the blog post, “documenting for Learning”, Ms.Tolisano describes how documentation can help the teacher, the student, and schools/districts. It helps teachers to reflect on their own work, help students learn outside of class, present their teaching portfolio, and evaluate the students’ progress. It helps students know their progress as well. It also helps students build their footprint in a digital world. It helps parents know what their child is learning and if they need additional help. It can also help each school and district with marketing efforts, or in finding potential employees. There are some great tools for documentation:
* Videos
* Photos
* Blogs
* Notes
* Tweets
I never stopped to think how important documentation is in schools. But in order to see progress you have to start from somewhere and document the journey.
C4Ta #3
Twitter for Educators: Higher Education Edition
In this post by Dr. Will Deyamport, he discusses how to begin using Twitter and the importance of using it. He mentioned beginning by building your own PLN. Look for people that teach and research in the same areas as you. Then you may want to ask yourself if their is a topic or interest you would like to develop. You will want to let that be a guide to look for people to add to your PLN. Next, what are your interests or some things you are passionate about. Let that guide you to find more sources to add to your resources.
Dr. Will also mentions having a picture and bio that lets readers know the real you. Always remember that you are a professional and therefore you need to act like one. Be considerate in the pictures and information you post.
Finally, share the information that you find with others.
Development with Sabba N. Quidwai
Dr. Will talked to Sabba Quidwai, a teacher at Fairmont Private Schools in Orange County, Ca. She loves to create innovative learning experiences as she leads the Technology-enhanced Curriculum Initiative. She provides a plan for iPad technology for Fairmont Schools. She has also been a Social Science teacher for the last eight years and teaches World History. She has a Master’s in Education/History, Social Science Teaching Credentials, and a B.A. in Social Science from the University of California, Irvine. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Educational Technology Leadership at George Washington University.
Her passion is integrating technology into curriculum. One of her first things she did as a teacher was have a class website as an outlet for students. Technology enables students and teachers to bring projects to life. In her school, they have focus groups that are able to help teachers with things that have been successful in their classrooms. The most successful aspect of this is that it brought teachers together to learn and explore from each other. They have one day a month designated for teachers to learn. This encourages teachers to learn and grow.
Ms. Quidwai, believes that you should not limit yourself to one tool or device. Each tool can benefit different skills. One of her favorite tools is Twitter because you have access to so much valuable information, speakers, and conferences. 
Blog Post #11
What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From These Teachers?
Brian Crosby
Children like to see things work (experiments). I liked that Brian Crosby had his students set goals or "High Hopes". By doing this and having his students blog about it, he was able to get many people involved in the project. The more you blog, the more you are likely to get responses from others. This is also a great way to learn what is happening in the world. By teaching students through PBL you are empowering them to be learners. Every child should have the same education opportunities. It should not be solely for those with money. Finally, I learned that on line learning can benefit students that are not able to come to class because of a physical disability or sickness. It is a great way for them to be involved in the class.
Paul Andersen
In Paul Andersen's video and his web site, I learned what a Blended Learning Cycle is. The teacher begins by asking an engaging question. This can also be a hook to grab the students attention. Then the students would explore by investigating and experimenting. Next, you would expand by watching a video or by using any other educational tool. You will explain and finish by evaluating the students to see if they understood what they were being taught.
Mr. Andersen's Learning Cycle is:
* Question
* Investigate/Inquiry
* Video
* Elaboration-More depth and more understanding
* Review
* Summary Quiz
Mr. Andersen said, "You haven't learned something until you can explain it to someone else."
I can remember thinking I had learned something but when asked to explain it I didn't know what to say. I agree with him on that. If you truly have learned something you can explain it to someone else. The best way to do that is by hands on and actually showing that you have learned it.
Mark Church
In the video "Making Thinking Visible", Mark Church has the students write down a theme question and posts them on the wall. He explains how you can come back to the questions later in the class year or even later in the lesson and see how the student's thoughts on the subject may have changed. This is a great way to see how much the students have learned and if they have changed their opinions, why have they changed their opinions.
Sam Pane
In the video "Super Digital Citizen", Mr. Pane has the children create a comic super hero for teaching students how to be safe, responsible, and respectful while using the internet. He taught the students that they are in charge of using the internet safely. Students should never give out personal information on the internet.
Dean Shareski
In the video by Dean Shareski, he mentions the use of technology enables teachers to enhance and share student learning. It allows time to blend ideas and content, it allows time to go deeper in to learning, it allows teachers and other students the time to give quality feedback to each student, and it allows teachers to teach beyond the curriculum.
Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Programs
PBL is:
* In depth learning.
* Integrated thematic instruction.
* Based on a "real-world" problem.
* Researched-based.
* Project and presentation.
PBL teaches students to think for themselves. It gives students the chance to solve real world problems and then show whether or not they understand something or not. Students are taught how to complete a project from beginning to end. It also gives students the experience of public speaking (This is the hardest part for me.). It also gives students different ways to learn. This is great because not every child learns in the same ways. When students are put into groups, it makes each member responsible to each other. If I was being honest, I would have to say that this is my biggest hang up to PBL. Most of the times I have been put into groups to do work, there is always someone who does not contribute to all the work. When you put students that work exceptionally hard in order to make good grades, in with students that don't care or does not apply themselves 100 percent, it effects the entire groups work. It is harder the older the student is because they hardly have enough time to complete their own work and if one of the group memebers does not participate, than they have to pick up the slack. On the other side, I have been in groups and have had some hardworking members. In PBL you can incorporate many subjects into one project. The ability to learn through these projects can be great. Children are naturally curious about their environments. This helps them to learn more about their surroundings. It gives them the ability to be involved in their learning.
Brian Crosby
Children like to see things work (experiments). I liked that Brian Crosby had his students set goals or "High Hopes". By doing this and having his students blog about it, he was able to get many people involved in the project. The more you blog, the more you are likely to get responses from others. This is also a great way to learn what is happening in the world. By teaching students through PBL you are empowering them to be learners. Every child should have the same education opportunities. It should not be solely for those with money. Finally, I learned that on line learning can benefit students that are not able to come to class because of a physical disability or sickness. It is a great way for them to be involved in the class.
Paul Andersen
In Paul Andersen's video and his web site, I learned what a Blended Learning Cycle is. The teacher begins by asking an engaging question. This can also be a hook to grab the students attention. Then the students would explore by investigating and experimenting. Next, you would expand by watching a video or by using any other educational tool. You will explain and finish by evaluating the students to see if they understood what they were being taught.
Mr. Andersen's Learning Cycle is:
* Question
* Investigate/Inquiry
* Video
* Elaboration-More depth and more understanding
* Review
* Summary Quiz
Mr. Andersen said, "You haven't learned something until you can explain it to someone else."
I can remember thinking I had learned something but when asked to explain it I didn't know what to say. I agree with him on that. If you truly have learned something you can explain it to someone else. The best way to do that is by hands on and actually showing that you have learned it.
Mark Church
In the video "Making Thinking Visible", Mark Church has the students write down a theme question and posts them on the wall. He explains how you can come back to the questions later in the class year or even later in the lesson and see how the student's thoughts on the subject may have changed. This is a great way to see how much the students have learned and if they have changed their opinions, why have they changed their opinions.
Sam Pane
In the video "Super Digital Citizen", Mr. Pane has the children create a comic super hero for teaching students how to be safe, responsible, and respectful while using the internet. He taught the students that they are in charge of using the internet safely. Students should never give out personal information on the internet.
Dean Shareski
In the video by Dean Shareski, he mentions the use of technology enables teachers to enhance and share student learning. It allows time to blend ideas and content, it allows time to go deeper in to learning, it allows teachers and other students the time to give quality feedback to each student, and it allows teachers to teach beyond the curriculum.
Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Programs
PBL is:
* In depth learning.
* Integrated thematic instruction.
* Based on a "real-world" problem.
* Researched-based.
* Project and presentation.
PBL teaches students to think for themselves. It gives students the chance to solve real world problems and then show whether or not they understand something or not. Students are taught how to complete a project from beginning to end. It also gives students the experience of public speaking (This is the hardest part for me.). It also gives students different ways to learn. This is great because not every child learns in the same ways. When students are put into groups, it makes each member responsible to each other. If I was being honest, I would have to say that this is my biggest hang up to PBL. Most of the times I have been put into groups to do work, there is always someone who does not contribute to all the work. When you put students that work exceptionally hard in order to make good grades, in with students that don't care or does not apply themselves 100 percent, it effects the entire groups work. It is harder the older the student is because they hardly have enough time to complete their own work and if one of the group memebers does not participate, than they have to pick up the slack. On the other side, I have been in groups and have had some hardworking members. In PBL you can incorporate many subjects into one project. The ability to learn through these projects can be great. Children are naturally curious about their environments. This helps them to learn more about their surroundings. It gives them the ability to be involved in their learning.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Blog Post #10
What can we Learn from Mrs. Cassidy?
In the video Little Kids... Big Potential, Mrs. Cassidy's students talk about why they like to blog. They like that people all over the world can read their blogs and leave comments. It is an online portfolio of their work that helps them become better writers. Mrs. Cassidy has told her students to be nice and positive when they blog. You do not want to hurt anyone's feelings. She has also given them tips to keep them safe (also discussed in Cassidy 13 Part 2& 3) on the internet. The students are not allowed to use their last names or post any pictures of themselves. The students are allowed to use the internet in their free time.
Mrs. Cassidy's students have also used Wikis where they will ask what a certain thing is and many people will give them answers. That sounds like a good way to do research or take a poll about something important to you. Her students take videos of what they have learned and are able to post them on their blogs. They also use Skype to communicate with the outside world.
Cassidy 13 Part 1
In the video Cassidy 13 Part 1, Mrs. Cassidy discussed how she started using technology in her classroom.
Her class was given five computers, which would be a center. However, she was unable to use them to benefit the students so she researched and made them usable with her students. She is always adding new things. To start her students blogging, she sent forms home for the parents to sign allowing the students to participate. Then the parents were also allowed to view their child's work online. The kids love to blog. Most children love anything that has to do with technology. The students blogs reflected their writing progress. Teaching today is so much different from when I was in school. Times have changed; technology has come a long way. It is important for teachers to continue to learn so that they can teach the students how to use these tools. It is a good idea to start developing an online network. Twitter is an excellent resource to use to start your PLN. Look for people interested in the same things as yourself. They can help point you in the right direction.
Cassidy 13 Part 2
In the video Cassidy 13 Part 2, Mrs. Cassidy answered the question: where should people start?
If you are interested in videos, use Youtube.
If you are interested in writing then blog. There are so many avenues you can choose depending on what you like to do.
Twitter may seem like it is not worth it from the start but it will get better overtime. People can leave you interesting links and answer your questions.
Cassidy 13 Part 3
In the video Cassidy 13 Part 3, Mrs. Cassidy answered questions from EDM 310 students. She was asked how often do you blog in the classroom? It depends on the number of students and computers available. If the class has rotation, where they go to different centers, then they can blog when they are in the Writing center. If there is a particular day where they all go to the computer lab then their blogging will be limited to that day. Some of the students chose to blog when they were at home also. Another question was how blogging can be used in PE? The teacher can post assignments and can let the students know if practice has changed. A student asked if Mrs. Cassidy had found that it was easier for students to cheat by looking at previous years' blogs. I liked her response, that students looking at past posts is like collaboration. The teacher will have to make assignments different or ask for something more so that students may look at past posts but they must add to it. Another concern was how do you keep the students safe in terms of what they look at on the internet? On Mrs. Cassidy's web page she has a list of links or games that the students are allowed to use. She talks to them about why other things are not good for them to look at. That is what the teacher is there for, to teach them what to do on the internet. I personally hope I get the chance to use blogs and other tools when I become a teacher. It is such a great way to help students with their writing, and creativity. It is also great for them to talk with students all over the world. That is a good way to know what it is like in other countries.
In the video Little Kids... Big Potential, Mrs. Cassidy's students talk about why they like to blog. They like that people all over the world can read their blogs and leave comments. It is an online portfolio of their work that helps them become better writers. Mrs. Cassidy has told her students to be nice and positive when they blog. You do not want to hurt anyone's feelings. She has also given them tips to keep them safe (also discussed in Cassidy 13 Part 2& 3) on the internet. The students are not allowed to use their last names or post any pictures of themselves. The students are allowed to use the internet in their free time.
Mrs. Cassidy's students have also used Wikis where they will ask what a certain thing is and many people will give them answers. That sounds like a good way to do research or take a poll about something important to you. Her students take videos of what they have learned and are able to post them on their blogs. They also use Skype to communicate with the outside world.
Cassidy 13 Part 1
In the video Cassidy 13 Part 1, Mrs. Cassidy discussed how she started using technology in her classroom.
Her class was given five computers, which would be a center. However, she was unable to use them to benefit the students so she researched and made them usable with her students. She is always adding new things. To start her students blogging, she sent forms home for the parents to sign allowing the students to participate. Then the parents were also allowed to view their child's work online. The kids love to blog. Most children love anything that has to do with technology. The students blogs reflected their writing progress. Teaching today is so much different from when I was in school. Times have changed; technology has come a long way. It is important for teachers to continue to learn so that they can teach the students how to use these tools. It is a good idea to start developing an online network. Twitter is an excellent resource to use to start your PLN. Look for people interested in the same things as yourself. They can help point you in the right direction.
Cassidy 13 Part 2
In the video Cassidy 13 Part 2, Mrs. Cassidy answered the question: where should people start?
If you are interested in videos, use Youtube.
If you are interested in writing then blog. There are so many avenues you can choose depending on what you like to do.
Twitter may seem like it is not worth it from the start but it will get better overtime. People can leave you interesting links and answer your questions.
Cassidy 13 Part 3
In the video Cassidy 13 Part 3, Mrs. Cassidy answered questions from EDM 310 students. She was asked how often do you blog in the classroom? It depends on the number of students and computers available. If the class has rotation, where they go to different centers, then they can blog when they are in the Writing center. If there is a particular day where they all go to the computer lab then their blogging will be limited to that day. Some of the students chose to blog when they were at home also. Another question was how blogging can be used in PE? The teacher can post assignments and can let the students know if practice has changed. A student asked if Mrs. Cassidy had found that it was easier for students to cheat by looking at previous years' blogs. I liked her response, that students looking at past posts is like collaboration. The teacher will have to make assignments different or ask for something more so that students may look at past posts but they must add to it. Another concern was how do you keep the students safe in terms of what they look at on the internet? On Mrs. Cassidy's web page she has a list of links or games that the students are allowed to use. She talks to them about why other things are not good for them to look at. That is what the teacher is there for, to teach them what to do on the internet. I personally hope I get the chance to use blogs and other tools when I become a teacher. It is such a great way to help students with their writing, and creativity. It is also great for them to talk with students all over the world. That is a good way to know what it is like in other countries.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Blog Post #9
What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning?
7 Essentials for Project-Based Learning
According to John Larmer and John R. Mergendoller,"some 'projects' border on busywork and others involve meaningful inquiry that engages student's minds." The project will need to be personally meaningful, as a task that matters and that the students want to do well. It will also need to fulfill an educational purpose.
In order to have good meaningful projects, you will need theses 7 things:
1. Need to Know- Start with an 'entry event' that will engage the student's interest and initiate questions. The 'entry event' can be a video, a discussion, a field trip, a guest speaker, etc. Students will not be motivated simply by being told they will need to learn something because they may need it later.
2. A Driving Question- A good driving question is the heart of the project. It should be the center of what you want the students to learn.
3. Student Voice and Choice- Students are able to choose how they will research and present their projects. If they are allowed they can also choose the topic related to the driving question.
4. 21st Century Skills- Collaboration is central to the project. Through these projects students work together (collaboration and communication) and have to use critical thinking and technology to answer the question. They will need these skills later in life.
5. Inquiry and Innovation- Students find projects more meaningful if it is real life based. They follow a path that begins with the question and leads them to resources to help them answer the question. With inquiries comes new answers, new products, and solutions to problems.
6. Feedback and Revision- Students are able to give feedback to other student's work by using a rubric.
7. A Publicly Presented Product- If students know that there work will be on display, they are more likely to make sure it will be of more quality.
Project-Based Learning for Teachers (Video)
If you want your classroom to be more student-centered and make learning more fun then Project-Based Learning is the answer. PBL has students working over a period of time. They work to answer a driving question that is deep and requires students to complete an end product that can be shared with others.
Common Core State Standards is what the students will be learning. They will use Project-Based Learning to solve the problems; while meeting the standards and creating an authentic product through collaboration skills, communication skills, critical thinking skills, and career and life skills. There is so much technology for students to use. Some example are Power Points, Popplet, Google Docs, and PB works. In PBL, students take charge of their learning. PBL includes : having a purpose, addressing an audience, crafting a driving question, identifying learning standards, creating a rubric, grouping students, brainstorming, branching questions, meeting deadlines, focusing on the process, and refining the end product.According to Tony Vincent,"all this is done while the student's have a voice and a choice in their learning."
PBL- What Motivates Students Today?
This was a post by Suzanne Ball. She interviewed several students to find out what motivates them to do go in school. A teenage boy answered that he liked to be praised in front of the class when he does something good. He also likes to be rewarded with food when he does good. That sounds like most teens. Several of the young boys and girls interviewed wanted to do good in school so that they can go to college and one day raise families. Some rewards that work for them were different activities on different days, outside time, and school money to purchase things in the school store. One child liked to get 'brownie points' because it not only showed that they did good but that they put the effort in doing right.
Project-Based Learning in PE
This gives students the opportunity to create physical activities not only for themselves but also for younger students. It shows them the importance of physical activities in both daily life and in PE. It addresses Physical Ed. Standards listed by The National Association for Sport and Physical Ed. (NASPE).
They are:
1. Student demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
2. Student demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.
3. Student participates regularly in physical activity.
4. Student achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
5. Student exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.
6. Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.
The older students analyze the age of the younger students, any previous physical activities, demographic groupings, and motivation. This is a good example of collaborating.
Ten Sites Supporting Digital Classroom Collaboration in PBL
According to Mike Gorman (21 Century Ed. Tech.), there are ten sites that support digital classroom collaborations. They are:
1. Titan Pad- This site is great for quick collaborations and sharing documents. No email or sign in is needed.
2. Wall Wisher- Collaborations with virtual post-it notes.
3. Cork Board Me- This site is like Wall Wisher but it can also support a group's collective activities.
4. Google Docs- The best of online collaborations.
5. Microsoft Live- Online collaboration tool.
6. Today's Meet-This site allows you to run a back channel in the classroom and engage learning. It gives an isolated room where you can only see what you need to see.
7. Will You Type With Me- This is similar to Titan Pad. It also has the ability to import additional files along with Word. It includes PDF and HTML. It allows output with the files and to open Doc., Plain Text, and even Wordle. It has the ability to create QR Code, and read only pages.
8. Linoit- An electronic classroom display board. It is visible on any computer screen anywhere. Create things in minutes using multi-colored post-it notes, pictures, drawings, web links, and videos. Kids can also contribute if they are given the URL.
9. Skype in Education- The ability to work together collaboratively. You can bring in experts from anywhere.
10. Screencast-O-Matic- This is a quick screen share site. There is no registration and nothing to install. It will work on Mac, Windows, and Linux. You are also able to control the mouse and keyboard from a remote area.
7 Essentials for Project-Based Learning
According to John Larmer and John R. Mergendoller,"some 'projects' border on busywork and others involve meaningful inquiry that engages student's minds." The project will need to be personally meaningful, as a task that matters and that the students want to do well. It will also need to fulfill an educational purpose.
In order to have good meaningful projects, you will need theses 7 things:
1. Need to Know- Start with an 'entry event' that will engage the student's interest and initiate questions. The 'entry event' can be a video, a discussion, a field trip, a guest speaker, etc. Students will not be motivated simply by being told they will need to learn something because they may need it later.
2. A Driving Question- A good driving question is the heart of the project. It should be the center of what you want the students to learn.
3. Student Voice and Choice- Students are able to choose how they will research and present their projects. If they are allowed they can also choose the topic related to the driving question.
4. 21st Century Skills- Collaboration is central to the project. Through these projects students work together (collaboration and communication) and have to use critical thinking and technology to answer the question. They will need these skills later in life.
5. Inquiry and Innovation- Students find projects more meaningful if it is real life based. They follow a path that begins with the question and leads them to resources to help them answer the question. With inquiries comes new answers, new products, and solutions to problems.
6. Feedback and Revision- Students are able to give feedback to other student's work by using a rubric.
7. A Publicly Presented Product- If students know that there work will be on display, they are more likely to make sure it will be of more quality.
Project-Based Learning for Teachers (Video)
If you want your classroom to be more student-centered and make learning more fun then Project-Based Learning is the answer. PBL has students working over a period of time. They work to answer a driving question that is deep and requires students to complete an end product that can be shared with others.
PBL- What Motivates Students Today?
This was a post by Suzanne Ball. She interviewed several students to find out what motivates them to do go in school. A teenage boy answered that he liked to be praised in front of the class when he does something good. He also likes to be rewarded with food when he does good. That sounds like most teens. Several of the young boys and girls interviewed wanted to do good in school so that they can go to college and one day raise families. Some rewards that work for them were different activities on different days, outside time, and school money to purchase things in the school store. One child liked to get 'brownie points' because it not only showed that they did good but that they put the effort in doing right.
Project-Based Learning in PE
This gives students the opportunity to create physical activities not only for themselves but also for younger students. It shows them the importance of physical activities in both daily life and in PE. It addresses Physical Ed. Standards listed by The National Association for Sport and Physical Ed. (NASPE).
They are:
1. Student demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
2. Student demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.
3. Student participates regularly in physical activity.
4. Student achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
5. Student exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.
6. Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.
The older students analyze the age of the younger students, any previous physical activities, demographic groupings, and motivation. This is a good example of collaborating.
Ten Sites Supporting Digital Classroom Collaboration in PBL
According to Mike Gorman (21 Century Ed. Tech.), there are ten sites that support digital classroom collaborations. They are:
1. Titan Pad- This site is great for quick collaborations and sharing documents. No email or sign in is needed.
2. Wall Wisher- Collaborations with virtual post-it notes.
3. Cork Board Me- This site is like Wall Wisher but it can also support a group's collective activities.
4. Google Docs- The best of online collaborations.
5. Microsoft Live- Online collaboration tool.
6. Today's Meet-This site allows you to run a back channel in the classroom and engage learning. It gives an isolated room where you can only see what you need to see.
7. Will You Type With Me- This is similar to Titan Pad. It also has the ability to import additional files along with Word. It includes PDF and HTML. It allows output with the files and to open Doc., Plain Text, and even Wordle. It has the ability to create QR Code, and read only pages.
8. Linoit- An electronic classroom display board. It is visible on any computer screen anywhere. Create things in minutes using multi-colored post-it notes, pictures, drawings, web links, and videos. Kids can also contribute if they are given the URL.
9. Skype in Education- The ability to work together collaboratively. You can bring in experts from anywhere.
10. Screencast-O-Matic- This is a quick screen share site. There is no registration and nothing to install. It will work on Mac, Windows, and Linux. You are also able to control the mouse and keyboard from a remote area.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Project #14 Project Based Learning Plan #2
Project #14 Overview,Calendar,Rubric, and Checklist
In this lesson students will use simple adding, subtracting, and multiplication facts to plan a party. They will research information on the internet and plan a surprise party, make invitations, research the history of money, and pay for the party using play money. They will learn the importance of money while practicing simple math problems. The children will be placed in groups of 3-4 students. They will present their finished projects to the class and also post them on the class blog. Each group will keep a journal or a log of all pretend purchases and activities.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Blog Post #8
What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?
Mr. Pausch started his lecture by talking about his illness. He knew even though he had the best doctors that it was inevitable, that he was going to die. He said " We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Wow! If only we all could look at our lives and truly do the best we can and not let anything bring us down. I learned that anything is possible. We should not give up. When you are learning and teachers are steadily correcting you, wanting your best, that means they believe in you. When they stop that means they have given up on you. Mr. Pausch said "Your critics are still telling you they love you and care." This is so true. I remember having teachers that pushed me to be the best I could be and gave me good advice. I am so glad that they never gave up on me, even when I felt like giving up.
Mr. Pausch made some great points : "brick walls are there to keep you out, unless you want it bad enough and are willing to fight for what you want. They are there to stop the ones who really do not want it. They really show our dedication." There have been many times where things have not always gone as I planned or hoped and yes, I wanted to give up. In the end though, my passion for it was stronger and I stayed in the fight. He also made the point that it is important to remember how you say something. If you ask nicely you are more likely to get a positive response than if you talk with an attitude. If you start off with a negative comment or say it in a rude way chances are you will lose the attention of the person you are talking to even before you ask for what you want. Mr Pausch also said "the best way to teach somebody something is to make them think they are learning something else." Many times I have thought I was being taught one thing and have left learning something else.
In one point of Mr. Pausch's lecture, he addressed the ladies that are romantically interested in a man; "When you are interested in someone romantically, ignore everything the guy says and go by what he does, how he acts." This advice can apply to any relationship with another person. We all say things when we are mad or things we do not mean. For the most part, you can tell by a person's actions how they really feel.
Randy Pausch's Advice, We Should All Live By
How to Get People to Help You
1. Tell the truth.
2. Be earnest.
3. Apologize when you screw up.
4. Focus on others, not yourself. ( For those of you married or in a serious relationship, Mr. Pausch took the focus off himself and brought out a birthday cake for his wife. They all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. This was a very sweet gesture.)
*It is important to get a feedback loop. Whether it is a group of people or one individual the important thing is to listen to them. After you listen to them, you may want to apply what they have said.
* Always show gratitude.
* Don't complain; just work harder.
* Be good at something, it makes you valuable.
* Work hard...
* Find the best in EVERYBODY; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show it.
* Be prepared : "luck" is where prepared meets opportunity.
If you lead your life the right way, the dreams will come to you.
Randy Pausch's lecture was very informative. I enjoyed it. Most of all, I like that he used his last lecture to leave great advice to his children.
Randy Pausch
Mr. Pausch started his lecture by talking about his illness. He knew even though he had the best doctors that it was inevitable, that he was going to die. He said " We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Wow! If only we all could look at our lives and truly do the best we can and not let anything bring us down. I learned that anything is possible. We should not give up. When you are learning and teachers are steadily correcting you, wanting your best, that means they believe in you. When they stop that means they have given up on you. Mr. Pausch said "Your critics are still telling you they love you and care." This is so true. I remember having teachers that pushed me to be the best I could be and gave me good advice. I am so glad that they never gave up on me, even when I felt like giving up.
Mr. Pausch made some great points : "brick walls are there to keep you out, unless you want it bad enough and are willing to fight for what you want. They are there to stop the ones who really do not want it. They really show our dedication." There have been many times where things have not always gone as I planned or hoped and yes, I wanted to give up. In the end though, my passion for it was stronger and I stayed in the fight. He also made the point that it is important to remember how you say something. If you ask nicely you are more likely to get a positive response than if you talk with an attitude. If you start off with a negative comment or say it in a rude way chances are you will lose the attention of the person you are talking to even before you ask for what you want. Mr Pausch also said "the best way to teach somebody something is to make them think they are learning something else." Many times I have thought I was being taught one thing and have left learning something else.
In one point of Mr. Pausch's lecture, he addressed the ladies that are romantically interested in a man; "When you are interested in someone romantically, ignore everything the guy says and go by what he does, how he acts." This advice can apply to any relationship with another person. We all say things when we are mad or things we do not mean. For the most part, you can tell by a person's actions how they really feel.
Randy Pausch's Advice, We Should All Live By
How to Get People to Help You
1. Tell the truth.
2. Be earnest.
3. Apologize when you screw up.
4. Focus on others, not yourself. ( For those of you married or in a serious relationship, Mr. Pausch took the focus off himself and brought out a birthday cake for his wife. They all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. This was a very sweet gesture.)
*It is important to get a feedback loop. Whether it is a group of people or one individual the important thing is to listen to them. After you listen to them, you may want to apply what they have said.
* Always show gratitude.
* Don't complain; just work harder.
* Be good at something, it makes you valuable.
* Work hard...
* Find the best in EVERYBODY; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show it.
* Be prepared : "luck" is where prepared meets opportunity.
If you lead your life the right way, the dreams will come to you.
Randy Pausch's lecture was very informative. I enjoyed it. Most of all, I like that he used his last lecture to leave great advice to his children.
Randy Pausch
C4Tp #4
Back to the Future Project: Life Cycle Snapshots in Target Language
In the blog post “Back to the Future Project: Life Cycle Snapshots in Target Language”, Ms. Tolisano discusses a teacher who had her students learn by creating a fake Facebook page. They were to create a fake person and show different stages of their lives. They were to post from birth to retirement. This gave the students the ability to show their creative side. They had to have snapshots and fake experiences. I think this is a great idea. Why not have the students learn by doing what most love to do?
Blogging as a Curation Platform
In Ms. Tolisano’s post “Blogging as a Curation Platform”, she discusses how content curation requires more than simply selecting information. It involves collecting,categorizing, commenting, and presenting the best information out there. This is how great blogging is done. By presenting the best information through blogging, we are able to make some great connections with others. You definitely want to use reliable sources when blogging. Nobody likes to be given misinformation. You want to establish yourself as an expert by sharing quality information. This is a great way to set up your network. Find people that have the same interests, goals, and expectations.
There are some great tips to remember whenever you present information as a curator in blogging: 1. find and acquire
2. select and filter
3. group, organize, and arrange
4. editorialize, contextualize, and annotate
5. create, present, transform, and remix
6. engage and customize
7. share
You do not want to simply copy and paste other people’s information. It is a good idea to post a little from their posts but then have a workable link so your readers can go to the author’s page and read the entire post. I think when presenting information to others, the main thing you want to do is make sure that the information is accurate and comes from a reliable source. Unfortunately, there is so much information on the web that is not reliable. You also do not want to take credit for something that is not yours.
LangwitchesC4Ta #2 Post
Getting to the Heart of Collaboration
Angela Maiers explains in the post “Getting to the Heart of Collaboration,” why collaboration is so important. People sometimes twist the meaning of collaboration to mean strictly cooperation, coordination, and communication. However the three parts of collaboration are: team, process, and purpose. She describes team as two or more people. Processes are those team members working together. Their purpose is working together toward shared goals. Just being able to come together and use technology does not fit the standards of a good collaboration. Everyone must work together toward the same goal. They must also know how to use this technology correctly. But they must also know how exactly they will work together. When you come together and work as a group you must share your ideas. People do much better collaborating than they do alone. Why? Because together, they are smarter. You can come up with innovative ways to solve problems and collectively solve the problem. I think back to my time in high school band. We would not have been a success if we did not all come together and work towards the same goals. Was it always easy? No, but it was always worth it.
Reflection on #Choose 2 Matter: Each student is a Masterpiece
In Angela Maiers post “Reflection on #Choose 2 Matter: Each student is a Masterpiece,” she discussed a meeting at Esthervile Central High School in Northwest Iowa. There were over 1500 students, staff, and members of the community present. The speaker had everyone look at the person sitting next to them and tell them, “You are a masterpiece.” I love that! I can remember when I began Pascagoula High School Band my sophmore year, my band director, Mr. Jerry Ball, had us all say “I am the most important person here.” He wanted us all to believe we mattered; we were important. Many children do not believe they matter. When things go bad, they tend to give up and stop believing. Angela Maiers discussed some things we should tell ‘our children’:
1. Be brave.
2. You matter and can make a difference.
3. Your contributions to this world make it better.
4. You have the power to change the world.
5. Together we can make a difference.
You never know what a student is going through. You may be the only one that shows the student that you care. As teachers, we need to keep that fire in each student burning. We need to help bring out the best in each student and show them we believe in them. We may be the torch that keeps their fires burning.
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