C4K 1 and 2 Summary

For the first C4K assignment, I commented on a student's blog named Zackery. I told him that I enjoyed reading his post, and even shared with him some things I like to do myself. One of our main topics that we discussed was family. He had much to say about family, and what family brings. I agreed with him. Our brief conversation had much meaning.

Blog Post 6

The Networked Student

The Networked Student video is all about learning. The video describes the act of learning as "part of a social network of many diverse connections and ties". This is a strong statement. The phrase "social network" shows the vast amount of learning that is possible. We learn much through other learners.
The student in the video uses many tools like Google scholar, social book marking sites, and a reader to build a knowledge base of his topic. Doing this beforehand is especially important because "not knowing" is being set up for failure. Once he has built this knowledge base, he uses other tools such as iTunes, Skype, and Wikispaces to learn more about the topic. Through his wide range of connections, many "new learning opportunities arise".
The question is asked, "Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" The answer is simple. A student cannot do everything by himself/herself. No one can be expected to accomplish incredible bits of learning without some guidance. A teacher is needed for support, answering questions, giving demonstrations, and acting as a mentor/coach in the world of learning.

Note: Someone once told me that "learning occurs when there is an increased awareness of what is."


7th grader's PLE

he 7th grader's PLE was a real eye opener. The fact that a 7th grader could possess the knowledge and skills associated with the organization of a PLE is astounding. When I think back to the 7th grade, the only thing I can remember about computers is a typing course, which was fairly new at the time. Looking at how far we have come, to have the ability and means necessary to incorporate these skills into students' education, it is quite clear that things can only get better from here, especially in regards to the main purpose of schooling; to further society.


The Machine

What really spoke to me in this video was the web cam idea. When you video blog or record something, there no fear at first thought because you are recording to an object. However, when you realize that what you do in front of that camera will be seen by many, you tend to act differently. For example, my trumpet professor has me record myself playing. Though it is not a video recording, it is still relative. During my recording session, I want to play to the best of my ability so as not to make myself sound bad. The question is, why should I only want to play to the best of my ability just because I am being recorded. I should want to do that all of the time. No matter what the case, everyone should have strength in their words and action and stand by them, despite who I watching or judging.
The free hugs campaign is amazing. More attention should be given to the message behind the free hugs. They are not simply hugs for sake of being hugs. The college experience can leave you weak, emotional, and seemingly insignificant. These free hugs offer much more than physical contact with another person that cares. It gives college students like myself a way out of this difficult life, if only for a moment. How does this relate to technology? While saying something like “hugs” online is not as effective as in person, the thought is still there. Having people that you can connect with on a daily basis moves students in a positive direction.
In the future, we should always strive for being the best we can. If that our best is not good enough, so be it. We should instill in our students that connectivity and communication is key, and we should always do our best to lead them in the right direction.

Blog Post 5

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

The video discusses many ways in which students as well as teachers can use podcasts. In the video, there is a clip of a girl who is sick. Because she cannot go to school, she will miss the necessary work needed for future assignments. There is hope, however. Podcasts offer the solution. Her teacher uploads podcasts of the lecture so that anyone can access them through the internet at any time.
I have always viewed podcasts as only informational. This video has expanded my knowledge by showing how podcasts can be used in creativity. Not only can you record audio with podcasts, you can also record video. This makes for a different representation of role play and gives visual to various circumstances. Also, with podcasts parents are able to “see and hear what their children are doing at school.”


Judy Scharf Podcast Collection

As I began to explore Scharf's collection, I noticed the amount of information on podcasting was larger than expected. Scharf has everything broken down into periods for students. This is effective because it gives the student a goal to reach that is not seemingly impossible. She also lists suggestions for podcast topics for the students as well as a detailed list of the layout and rubric each podcast should contain.
Using podcasts are not as simple as they appear. Sure anyone can make a podcast, but not everyone uses the amount of detail Scharf describes. In order to make podcasts fun for students, remind them that “the term 'podcast' is a cross between 'broadcast' and 'iPod.'” Students are aware that iPod's are fun as well as radio broadcasts, so when combined, why not convince them that podcasting is fun?


100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better

I knew that there were many uses for the iPod. However, I had no clue they extended this far. For such uses like extensive variations of studying, tutorials, multiple downloads, and connectivity between users, it's clear why the Apple is on top. With this rise in technology, soon everyone will use an iPod to and for its full capabilities, much like everyone uses a cell phone today. Things like the iPod as well as many other Apple products will become primary systems in the world of education.
What are we to think of this new idea that 'electronic' learning is better than what we have done in the past? Most could argue that by using more technology in education, children are exceeding their parents' knowledge of the subject. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. A great goal in life is to learn as much as possible every day, regardless of how. The iPod just makes things easier.

Blog Post 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

Scott McLeod is Associate Professor in the Educational Administration program at Iowa State University. McLeod directs the UCEA, Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. (CASTLE) McLeod also co-created the video Did You Know?(Shift Happens). It's a good thing Dr. McLeod chose to write about this subject. Where most people that should read this post will not, the ones that do might relay the message. We, as a younger generation, are lucky to have such people like McLeod who care enough about students to urge parents, teachers, administrators, and board members to use every tool possible to learn.

If you take a look at “older” people today, most of them have no clue what is going on in the world of technology. They are happy in their own little niches, and nothing anyone does can fix their stubbornness. However, we today, as technologically inclined students, will one day become those “older” people, and we will be more likely to open our eyes to learning what our children learn.


The iSchool Initiative

The iSchool Initiative is intended for improvement. The idea is to improve education in America by means of electronic devices and applications to replace books, calculators, paper, pencils, etc. The plan is to combine corporations, business professionals, and apple programmers. Almost anything that we can do today in education will be available in one device.

I believe this initiative is possible. There are certainly resources for such a dramatic change. The question is, “will it work?” This could be argued for years before something is actually put to the test. The only way to know if something like this is practical is to try it. The attempt should not be widespread, however. On the outside, this initiative appears convenient as well as productive, but there are always other factors that should be considered. As to what those factors are, until the iSchool Initiative is put to use, we will never know.


The Lost Generation

The Lost Generation video was outstanding. The video kept me on the edge of my seat, curious as to how it would end. I had no idea that by reading it backwards, it would completely reverse everything. This was a great technique to use. The message is quite clear; in order to change how our generation views life, we need to reverse how we see and do things.

Most of what was noted in the video, we don't want to admit. The fact is, almost all of it is usually true and not in the reverse order. Trying to accomplish everything in reverse all at once will usually result in failure, but if we take small steps toward achieving our goals we should strive to attain, we will be successful.


Virtual Choir

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir was interesting, especially for me. Being a music major, it was difficult to stay focused on the fact that there was something else behind the music. I did not like the way the choir was portrayed. If the choir had physically been there, more personality would have shown. Sure their facial expressions say a lot, but nothing says more than experiencing that sort of thing in person.

Nevertheless, a virtual choir speaks much about technology. The idea of a virtual choir is a great concept when you consider singing with multiple people from around the world. However, in a local setting, I do not believe it should be done.

Note: We are playing one of Eric Whitacre's pieces in the USA Wind Ensemble entitled “Equus”. Our concert is Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 7:30pm. (Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall)

Project 5

C4T Summary

The first blog post discusses interviewing tips and audio recording. In the video, there were five main tips: Make sure there is enough space on the recording device as well as battery power, search for a good location, use a microphone close to your voice and monitor as you go, don't talk over top of the interview, and keep to the point. These main points were quite helpful. They seem simple, but it is typically the simple things that we tend to forget.

The second blog post discusses how a teacher improves his students' writing with Jing, an online screencasting of "visual and aural feedback on their written work." The video shows step by step how the students learn through visual and aural communication instead of receiving a grade on paper with comments they don't fully understand. I only wish that I had this opportunity in high school. Not all efficient learning can be contributed to this method, but it certainly seems to work.

Blog Post 3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

To some extent, this movie has captured my college experience. While not everything displayed in the video was entirely accurate as it relates to myself, it does make many valid points. The fact that this video came from students' surveys of themselves in college life speaks for itself. The question is not what the problems are, but how do we fix them. There is no miracle cure for how we are educated. However, when a select few teachers consider other alternatives, things begin to change. Eventually, one person(of course multiplied by many) can and will make a difference in the way students are educated in the classroom.
I would add clips about personal lives affected by college. The movie breaks down the college experience, but does not include anyone's personal problems. While these clips do not need to be too detailed, a portion of them should elaborate on the general effects on students outside the classroom.


Read the post "It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

I agree with Hines' outlook. She stresses how important it is for teachers to learn as they teach. It is not good enough for a teacher to simply have a lesson plan and teach it from the book or a computer. I especially agree with her statement, “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.” Using only means of technology does not mean that a student will learn more efficiently or have more success.
Hines' statement, “These foundational components of a quality classroom experience will ensure that students value experiential and focused learning”, is very true. Experiential learning is the best kind of learning that can take place. Students and teachers alike learn through their own experiences. Also, if the students are having fun while this takes place, they are more likely to be more creative.


Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

When discussing whether being technologically literate is relative to success or not, Fisch makes an excellent point. It is getting much more difficult to go through life technologically illiterate. Technology will never stop, and neither should learning about it. Fisch's statement, “You need to demonstrate continual learning, lifelong learning – for your students, or you will continue to teach your students how to be successful in an age that no longer exists,” is very true. If students are not encouraged, they are being set up for failure.
There is much for a teacher to consider if he/she expects to meet Terry's standards. What the teacher must realize, however, is that you can only do so much. If at the end of the day you advance a student's knowledge in some form and they have learned something, then you have done your job. Nobody can expect any one person, teacher or parent, to teach a student everything. Hopefully, by the educated and technological guidance of the teacher or parent, that student will become well capable of excelling himself/herself.


Gary Hayes Social Media Count

Most of these changes have to do with technology in some way. As a future educator, I must be aware of the ongoing development of technology and the way we communicate. Because these counts are growing exponentially, they will have a great effect in the school systems to come. This information was quite helpful in realizing how much the world today relies on virtual means for virtually everything. No matter what anyone does, these numbers will keep growing, and the technological demands will never stop. I believe it best to join the world of technology, instead of shying away.

Blog Post 2

Did You Know?

There is certainly some truth to the video “Did you know?”. The content in the video was mind blowing. Many things in the video were well known, but until we are confronted personally with the issue, we do not think twice or even once. This video confronted issues worldwide as well as continental, which expanded the statistics.
While there can be some speculation on the factual content of the video, the sure thing is that everything described is true in some form or another. Those who do not believe this video is true simply have either not been affected by these problems or think they are invincible to statistics and likely future conflicts.


Mr. Winkle Wakes

The video, “Mr Winkle Wakes”, discusses how school systems have not changed for one hundred years. I believe that some things may have changed in the school system, but for the most part remained the same.
In trying to dispute the fact that some but not all classes should not contain multiple sources of information, independent learning strategies, and creative thinking ideas, I came up empty handed. I firmly believe that every class should be, in some form, the exact opposite of how Mr. Winkle remembers. More emphasis should be placed on various ways to learn and excel instead of sitting in class all day, listening to lecture, and taking tests.


Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

The Ken Robinson video was most intriguing. He made a great point when he said that nobody knows what the world will be like in five years, but we are supposed to be educating our kids for it. The question is how can we educated what we ourselves consider unknown. I believe the answer is creativity. As Ken Robinson describes, creativity is just as important as literacy and should be treated with the same status. Often times, students go through life with no requirements for creativity. If students cannot display their creativity in a way that is beneficial to their success in life, the teacher or parent is not doing his/her job.
Another point Robinson made is that kids take chances and are not afraid of being wrong. If we were all as courageous as younger kids, we might find that we are more successful in life. I also agree wholly with Robinson's statement, if you're not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.


Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

Vicki Davis' video was my favorite so far. Davis challenged the students on a much higher level than most teachers do. She stresses that when you have only pencil and only paper, then only certain types of children are going to succeed. I believe this is true, however, all students should be taught multiple ways to succeed.
One useful tool Davis uses is giving the students material that they have never used. When they encounter such material, she expects them to take the initiative to look it up. This is effective because it teaches the students to be self driven. Davis also explains that she does not have to know everything to teach it. I have to agree with her statement. If you have a strong base knowledge of computers, it does not take much more effort to figure something out for yourself, thus learning as you go.

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