Project #12

Blog Assignment #9

What I Learned This Year-Volume 4

Mr. McClung is currently an assistant principal in Fayetteville, Arkansas. After exploring his blog, I discovered that he has taught in both Missouri and Arkansas. He is in his sixth year of teaching. In his post, What I Learned This Year-Volume 4, we learn that Mr. McClung got the inspiration to write a reflective blog post recounting his first year teaching from one of his mentors. He liked the idea so much, and received so much positive feedback that he has continued with his end-of-the-year reflections.

For his 4th year reflective post, Mr. McClung made the comment that he couldn't think of anything new to say that he hadn't said a previous year. That he hadn't really learned anything new. He said only two underlining themes stuck out to him. The first, he has titled, "You Gotta Dance With Who You Brought to the Dance". Mr. McClung talks about how he is concerned with how his peers view him as an educator. He says he was never really concerned before with how they view him, that he only cared about how his students and superiors viewed him. After worrying about this matter, he finally realized that he cannot change who he is as a teacher and he needs to stay true to himself. He has, after all, gotten to where he is today by doing just that. He sticks to one simple rule, and that rule is to make sure his students are having fun while learning.

The second theme is "Challenge Yourself". Mr. McClung has taught the same two subjects at the same school for three years and he noticed he was getting too routine with his teachings. He reused old lesson plans and he realized his creativity was slowly leaving him. He says he was becoming too comfortable as a teacher. Luckily for him, he was able to teach a more challenging subject at a different grade level the next year. He wants his students to look forward to coming to class every day and if he is teaching the same material each time, the lessons are going to suck (his word, not mine). So he says, challenge yourself as a teacher and do your students a favor by making the lessons fun and interesting.

After reading Mr. McClung's blog post, I have a better understanding as to the type of teacher I need to be. My main focus needs to be my students and I need to challenge myself constantly as an educator. Both go hand in hand. If I want my students to take away anything from my class at the end of the year, I need to be creative with my lessons and challenge my students. They will appreciate it in the long run.

What I've Learned This Year-Volume One

I decided to read Mr. McClung's blog post reflecting his first year teaching. In his post, What I've Learned This Year, Mr. McClung starts by saying that he did not fully know what to expect from being an elementary school teacher. Over the course of the school year, he matured as both a teacher and a person, and learned a lot from his first year teaching.

The first piece of information is on how to read a crowd. He says throughout college and his teaching internship he focused on himself as a teacher and how his superiors viewed him. He would see teachers deliver lessons that were not student-centered, meaning they didn't focus on student comprehension. Mr. McClung made sure his lessons were driven by his audience.

Mr. McClung says being flexible is also very important. At the beginning of the year, he would try and be overly controlling with his lessons. He realized that his audience is a crowd of elementary school children and he doesn't need to worry if his lessons go off course. How you plan your lesson is always different than how it is actually delivered. Nothing is going to go perfectly so teachers need to be flexible and work with the situation in front of them.

Communication, says Mr. McClung is one of the hardest skills to develop, but it is the most important. He says build strong relationships with the students and other teachers at your school. When there is good communication, issues can be resolved easily and the focus can return to the students and the classroom. Mr. McClung also makes a good point when he says we, as teachers, should remember to be reasonable. Don't hold too high of expectations for your students. Don't be upset when they fail. The teacher's job is to pick them back up, dust them off, and continue to encourage them. Never stop encouraging.

Mr. McClung's next piece of advice is one I find humorous. He says not to be afraid of technology. I couldn't ever see myself being afraid to use technology, but I suppose that's because I am around it constantly. In fact, I'm eager to use technology in my classroom. Mr McClung also says technology is out friend and we shouldn't be overwhelmed before we even begin to use it.

Mr. McClung's last two vital tips are to listen to your students and never stop learning. Both of which are extremely important. Teachers must listen to their students in order to receive respect from them. Professional educators must always continue to learn and grow.

I really enjoyed reading Mr. McClung's post about his first year teaching. He really seems to enjoy teaching and learning new things every year. I plan to remember all of the tips he shared on his post. It's important to stay positive, continue to learn and grow, and remember that the students should always be the center of focus.

PLN Progress Report for Project #10

PLN Progress Report

I decided to use Symbaloo as my Personal Learning Network. I like how every website I use is neatly displayed on my home screen and all I have to do is select the tile for whichever site I want to access. As I find more interesting sites, I can add them to my Symbaloo web mix. Some of the sites I already have are Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Google, Gmail, Huffington Post, and YouTube, to name a few. My PLN will continue to grow, of course, and there are plenty of tiles to fill up. It only took a couple of minutes to set up my account and it's free. I would suggest this site because it's easy to use and it's a fun way to organize your websites.

Blog Assignment #8

Richard Miller: This is How we Dream, Parts 1 and 2

In part one of Richard Miller's This is How We Dream, Miller talks about how the writing process has changed in the classroom and in the culture. He starts by saying how he thinks this is the greatest change in human communication in history. Today, we are able to communicate instantly with others from all over the world. We are gradually moving away from only using pen, paper, and textbooks, and beginning to see more use of technology in the classroom. We are no longer restricted to visiting libraries and reading books to find information. We have it at the touch of our fingertips, and, amazingly enough, it is constantly being updated. We can now compose print, film, and sound documents through the internet. Once material has been shared on the internet, it will remain there forever, and can be shared with anyone.

In part two, Miller continues with his lecture about how "writing with multi-media" is important and why teachers should use this method in their classrooms. Dr. Miller is passionate about the change from a reading/writing culture to a listening/watching culture. He mentions iTunes U as a way to compose academic information. One of the things Dr. Miller said that really stood out to me was that ideas do not belong to us individually, rather they belong to us as a culture, and should absolutely be shared.

I firmly believe in having a 21st century classroom where my students have full access to the technology they will need to receive the best education. As I have said before, textbooks are outdated and limited, whereas the internet is full of endless sources and possibilities. My view of a 21st century classroom is one where the students are kept busy with hands on activities that use technology to its fullest, and they actually are enjoying learning.

Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12

After reading Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12, I became inspired by Carly's enthusiasm for becoming an educator and all of the dedication she has put into this blog. After exploring this post in particular, it appears that we will soon be creating our own blog post assignment for Dr. Strange to use. I don't know yet what type of assignment I will create but I want it to be different and useful for the classroom. I can see that Carly took a lot of time to think and plan out what her assignment would be. I know students would have fun finding all of the videos she asked for. I will definitely come back to her blog for future reading and guidance.

EDM 310 is Different

In the video, The Chipper Series, Chipper is a college student who was in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama but dropped because she disagreed with Dr. Strange's teaching methods. Her work was never turned in on time, either. Her first plan of action after dropping out was to start her own pilot school. After she failed at that, she got a job teaching. She was fired not long after she was hired for not showing up. After many failed career attempts, Chipper finally comes to the realization that it is in her best interest to return to the University and earn her degree.

The video, EDM 310 for Dummies, is a humorous video about two EDM 310 students who are having a difficult time understanding how to do the required assignments. Viewers can see the students becoming frustrated and on the brink of madness from struggling with this class. They do, however, have the option to buy the book "EDM for Dummies" which gives tutorials on how to use Twitter, Blogger, Skype, Delicious, etc. After the students buy this book, they begin to excel with their assignments and actually enjoy them.

I found both videos to be very educational. I believe I am getting better with procrastinating on my schoolwork but there is always room for improvement. Also, if I don't understand an assignment or I need extra help I will try and utilize the EDM 310 lab more. I think it would be a neat idea to make a video explaining how the lab works and all the ways students can contact the staff for help. That way, students can get the help they need right away instead of stressing out about an assignment.

Learn to Change, Change to Learn

The video, Learn to Change, Change to Learn discusses the need for change in the classroom. The teachers in the video are promoting the use of technology in the classroom and 21st century learning. They are saying that students will be more successful if they are allowed to use technology in school and for assignments and activities. Times are changing so why should students be forced to learn by outdated methods. Who actually enjoys listening to lectures and taking noted everyday? No one! Students are already using all forms of technology every day. They use cell phones and computers to email and explore the internet. They are living in an age of global communication, so we need to adjust our teaching styles to keep up with our ever-changing culture.

I enjoyed watching this video, because I agree with what was being said. I believe that we need to change our teaching methods to accommodate our students. They are thirsty for new and exciting ways of learning. Technology is the answer! There are so many activities and learning exercises students can do using all different types of technology. I personally enjoy Blogger, Timetoast, Skype, and Twitter, to name a few. I almost feel like we are failing our students if we don't adopt a 21st century classroom where they can learn and grow.

Scavenger Hunt 2.0

The first tool I discovered is called Edmodo. This site is a great way for teachers and students to communicate. It has a similar layout to Facebook except it is specifically designed for the classroom. It literally took a second to join and it seems like a great tool for the classroom. I would use to keep up with the school calender and upload assignments. There's a wall one can write on if need be, just like Facebook. Students can post comments or questions and others can respond. This would be a safe, effective, and fun way for classroom communication.

A tool I have never used is called Smilebox. This website allows you to organize your pictures into collages, slideshows, or scrapbooks. You can make invitations and cards, as well. I would enjoy using this site in my classroom to organize class pictures or have my students work on their own collages and scrapbooks. How fun!

Poll Everywhere is a great tool that I used to create my very own poll. It literally took less than 30 seconds. I can see myself using this tool in my classroom. I would have my students create their own polls and ask everyone to vote in each one.

C4T #2

Primary Preoccupation

For my second C4T assignment, I was asked to comment on Kathy Cassidy's blog Primary Preoccupation. The first post I commented on was called, "Is There an App for That? Word Work Edition". In this post, Kathy Cassidy shares some useful apps that she uses in her classroom. She says teachers should find apps that focus on a specific area in a subject. Some of the apps she shares are Draw Free, Magic Ink, Skywrite, and Word Wizard. These apps are obviously for spelling.

My response is the following:

Hello Mrs. Cassidy,

My name is Elizabeth Mims and I am a student at the University of South Alabama, which is in Mobile, Alabama. I find your post to be very helpful. I am so excited to become an educator and make use of iPads and other forms of technology in my classroom. I have an iPad and I find myself looking through apps trying to find useful ones for educational purposes. The apps you have displayed for spelling seem to be fun and helpful. I agree that we need to remember to ask the question, “what do we want the app to do?” We have to make sure the app fits the level the students are at and what we want it to do. I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future!

Elizabeth Mims

The second of Mrs. Cassidy's posts I commented on was called, "Making the Cafe Make Sense for Primary Students." In this post, Mrs. Cassidy shares an idea she discovered about how to help her students with literacy by having an individualized reading program. She created a bulletin board called, "Learning to Read" and it included the four reading strategies: comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and expand vocabulary. However, she discovered that her students were not understanding this vocabulary. She changed the wording to: right words, explain what you read, able to read smoothly, and discover new words. She credits Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, authors of "The Daily Five" and "The Cafe Book" for the idea. Teachers can modify this idea to fit their own students and curriculum.

My response:

Hello Mrs. Kathy,

Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea! I especially like the changes you made to your board. I plan to save this idea for when I have my own classroom. I also might like to introduce my students to the more difficult vocabulary in time. Again, Thanks for the idea and I plan to buy the two books you mentioned. They will come in handy.

Elizabeth Mims

Project #8

Blog Assignment #7

The Networked Student

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler is a very thought provoking video about connectivism. This video replicates our EDM 310 class to a T. We learn by exploring and connecting through technology on our own. Using connectivism in the classroom, we learn more than we would from textbooks. The Internet is full of articles and websites with endless learning material. Blogs, podcasts, Wikis, and Skype are just a few of the learning tools we can access through technology.

I personally like the idea of network learning, however, I have some inquiries. For one, is network learning suitable for elementary students? I can see ways to use this method of teaching in the classroom, but there will have to be some revisions to the original idea. In the video, we learn that the students are learning on their own with little or no help from the teacher. They aren't going to class everyday either. I feel that this age group would need to, or actually, have to attend class every day. They could still focus on network learning but with more assistance than it says in the video. In fact, this concept is probably more suitable for high school and college aged students. Another concern of mine is whether elementary aged students are capable of this type of learning. I suppose with enough training and guidance this age group could master the technique of connectivism, or enough to successfully use for future reference. Overall, I do like this approach for it will offer endless sources of knowledge and it will train students to be "networked students."

"Why does the networked student even need a teacher?", that is the question. Well, it depends, first, on the age group of the students. For elementary students, yes, I believe the networked student needs a teacher. I feel like this age group would show more success with a teacher overseeing the work, but the students trying to learn on their own. This way, the students are being trained to learn independently but with a teacher showing them the ropes and getting them familiar with technology. For high school and college students, the answer to the question is debatable. I believe that these students are absolutely capable of learning on their own without a teacher. Of course, they need a teacher to check their work, if needed, and answer any questions they may have. The ultimate goal would be to rely less and less on a teacher and be able to find the answers through other sources. Any teacher can stand up and lecture in front of a class, it's up to the students to actually want to learn and grasp new material. That's why networked learning is becoming increasingly popular and very successful.

Welcome To My PLE!

This 7th grader did an excellent job on her PLE,or personal learning environment. Her video, Welcome to my PLE! is so organized and engaging. I plan on using some of her tools for my PLN. I will definitely return to her presentation for reference when I do my PLN. I wish network learning was around when I was in middle and high school. I feel so far behind compared to this 7th grader. Overall, she did an excellent job and she has really inspired me to learn more about network learning.

C4K September

Miriam's Magical Moments

For my first C4K assignment, I commented on a post from a girl named Miriam. Her blog is called Miriam's Magical Moments. I commented on one of her posts called, "Visiting the LACMA Museum" which was about her visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Miriam posted pictures and a description of three of her favorite paintings. She even got to see several interesting Egyptian artifacts, including a mummy. Miriam and her family did not get to see all of the exhibits because the museum was so big. After her visit to the museum, she and her family visited family in the area.

After I read Miriam's post about her trip to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, I commented that I liked how she picked three of her favorite paintings to share on her post. In her post, she asked the question, "Which painting is your favorite?" so I told her that I really enjoyed the painting, Two Girls Reading. I enjoyed this painting because it reminded me of when my cousin and I were younger. I also loved the hats the girls were wearing. I enjoyed seeing the photo of the mummy on Miriam's post, as well.

Faaiua @Pt England School

My second C4K assignment was to comment on a post from the blog of a girl named Faaiua. Her blog is called, Faaiua @Pt England School. The post I commented on was called, "My Family" and it was all about Faaiua's family. In return, I told her a little bit about my own family. I told her all about my brother and sister. She is a middle child like I am. I read through some of her other posts, and told her I enjoyed her stories and writings.

Blog Assignment #6

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

When I noticed that Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams was an hour long, I dreaded watching it. Not because what he had to say would not be interesting, but simply because I can barely sit still that long. I was pleasantly surprised to find the hour quickly go by, and me wanting more! I can be classified as a "dreamer" easily. This video was so fitting to my life, and everyone's, for that matter, because we all have dreams. This blog post assignment is my favorite so far (and the easiest to pen). The only part of the lecture that I didn't like was that I wasn't in the audience!

For those who are not familiar with Randy Pausch, I will fill you in. Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon who passed away from cancer in 2008. He wrote the book The Last Lecture for his children but it has received worldwide recognition. This lecture is all about Pausch's childhood dreams and how we can achieve our own career and personal goals. At the beginning of the lecture, Pausch addresses the elephant in the room by showing the audience his CAT scan of the ten tumors in his liver. The doctors gave him only roughly 6 months of good health left. He did not, however, want to talk about cancer, spirituality and religion, or his wife and children. He believes that, "we cannot change the cards we are dealt; just how we play the hand." I really admire Pausch for how he lived his life after learning he had only a short time left.

For this lecture, Pausch talks about his childhood dreams and how we can achieve our dreams and enable the dreams of others. The following is a list of Pausch's dreams: being in zero gravity, playing in the NFL, being Captain Kirk, winning stuffed animals, authoring an article in the World Book encyclopedia, and being a Disney Imagineer. The last one is my favorite for obvious reasons, and I noticed Pausch is wearing a Disney cast member name badge (I have one too!). Pausch did end up achieving many of his childhood dreams, and the ones he didn't quite achieve he says he, in a way, achieved more than what he could have imagined.

Randy Pausch gave me some great ideas for teaching. He believed in project based learning, which I love. I abhor the traditional textbook learning. When he taught at Carnegie, his classes were made up of projects, and only projects. He shows the end results of his students' work, including making a virtual world using technology. I thought it was cute because the bunny went from living in a plain world to a world full of trees and sunshine. Pausch loved the idea that "millions of children can have fun while learning something hard." I want my students to always have fun in my classroom while receiving an excellent education. I want my teaching methods to be fun and memorable!

I took a lot away from this presentation, but the most important thing Pausch said was to always keep the child-like wonder. Some other advice I took away was to have fun every single day of your life, because life is so short and fragile. Be a Tigger, not an Eeyore. Tell the truth. Be earnest. Apologize when wrong. Focus on others, not yourself. Help others. Okay, at this point of the presentation, I am starting to tear up a little. Overall, Pausch's presentation was very inspiring and I got a lot out of it.