Blog Assignment #2

Mr. Dancelot

   In the movie clip "Mr. Dancelot" ,the teacher tries to teach his students how to dance but he does not let them get involved. It is harder to learn something without being able to participate. Also, it is more likely to stick with you if you learn by hands on. Just memorizing something may be an easier way to learn but it will not stick with you. If you are taught something, showed how to do it, and then are required to do it, it is more likely to stay with you. The students in Mr. Dancelot's class took notes but they could not see his feet while he was showing them how to dance, and he would not let the students practice the moves. When it came time for the final exam, the notes did not help the students. I agree that if students are properly showed something and made to do it themselves, then they are more likely to understand what they are learning. I can remember learning History, Language Arts, and Science while growing up. I even memorized a lot of the information but I had to relearn all of it recently to take my Praxis exams. Math is one subject where the more you do it the easy it becomes. I remembered how do do some Math problems just because I worked the problems out so much when I was in school.

Mr. Dancelot



Teaching in the 21st Century

    In the post by Kevin Roberts (made into a video by Dr. John Strange), Roberts thinks that teaching in the 21st Century has changed so much. A student can find any information on the internet. With this being the case, why would students need teachers? Students would need teachers to help them learn if the information is reliable, to help them problem solve, to interpret the information, and so much more. Teachers are not there just to give information. They do so much more. Most of the teachers I had in school cared whether or not I succeeded. They made me think for myself. They were there to cheer me on and encourage me when I needed it. You cannot get that from the internet. Roberts stated that "entertainment is using the creativity of others and engagement is using the creativity of the participant", that is a great way to look at it. You can use the computer to find out anything but that does not make you think for yourself. I do believe that computers have a place in education but teachers are still so important. Children still need that person cheering them on and holding them accountable for their actions. I think it is important for teachers to stay up to date with media outlets because they are great tools to help in teaching. However, I still believe that the teacher is still the best tool for learning.



The Networked Student  

In the video "The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler, you can see how much you can learn by online classes. However, you also see the importance of teachers. You can learn all kinds of information on the internet but you will still need a teacher to teach you how to process this information and what to do with it. There is so much false information on the internet and if you do not have someone to help you through it all, you will not know the truth. Teachers are there because they care and want their students to be the best they can be. It is important to have someone on your side. I have taken both online classes and classes in person. It is nice to have someone you can go to when you need help.

Networked Student

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts   

                                                                                             

The thesis in the video "Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts" by Vicki Davis is that every student can learn but children are limited by just paper and a pencil. After watching this video and seeing rural schools connecting to other schools around the world, I agree with that statement. In our current world technology is every where. You fall behind without it. There are so many possibilities to teach and learn with technology. By using computers, you give students a hands on learning environment. I have not met a child yet that does not like getting on computers. It makes learning fun for all. It also can benefit children that learn at a slower pace than the other children.                                                                                                                          

Flipping Your Classroom

In the video "Flipping Your Classroom", I learned about new ways in teaching. Back when I was in elementary and high school, the teachers wrote on chalk boards or overhead projectors.Teaching has come a long way since those days. I found the 'Flipping the Classroom'  approach to teaching very interesting. I like that the students could also learn at home and being able to move forward in lessons more quickly. However, there may be a problem for those students that do not have access or the means to watch these videos. If the equipment will be provided to every student, I would love to use this approach to teaching in my classroom. This may also get more parents involved in their children's education. 
Flipping the Classroom