Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Blog Assignment #13
My Teacher is an App
This article discusses cyber schooling and the online learning experiences. It details trends in American public high school education and some of the changes that are occurring within the profession. It also compares and contrasts traditional versus blended or completely online classrooms and schools.
I really enjoyed this article. I personally advocate blended classrooms and curriculums where students meet in person with a teacher on a regular basis, but the work for the class is predominantly online and learning is enhanced by technology. This article however made some strong arguments for why complete cyber schooling could be a better option. A lot of the points made sense and I personally feel that I would have thrived in attending a high school like that. I don't believe that all students can succeed this way though. While cyber school is an awesome concept, I believe some children will be better suited to learning in the traditional or blended educational environment. The article alluded to this point as well, but overall the verdict is still out as far as which system is the most effective. I look forward to seeing how the future of education develops as more and more of these cyber schools pop up and continue to develop.
This article discusses cyber schooling and the online learning experiences. It details trends in American public high school education and some of the changes that are occurring within the profession. It also compares and contrasts traditional versus blended or completely online classrooms and schools.
I really enjoyed this article. I personally advocate blended classrooms and curriculums where students meet in person with a teacher on a regular basis, but the work for the class is predominantly online and learning is enhanced by technology. This article however made some strong arguments for why complete cyber schooling could be a better option. A lot of the points made sense and I personally feel that I would have thrived in attending a high school like that. I don't believe that all students can succeed this way though. While cyber school is an awesome concept, I believe some children will be better suited to learning in the traditional or blended educational environment. The article alluded to this point as well, but overall the verdict is still out as far as which system is the most effective. I look forward to seeing how the future of education develops as more and more of these cyber schools pop up and continue to develop.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Blog Assignment #12
For this blog assignment, make a youtube music video playlist with a minimum of 5 videos that portray important life concepts or ideas you would like your students to learn, exhibit ideals pertaining to your teaching philosophy, or a mixture of the two. Write a blog post describing why you chose these particular songs and what you would like your students to learn from them.
The Songs I chose for this assignment (in no particular order of importance) are as follows:
1. The Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love.
I chose this song because it highlights a lot of major social problems the world is currently facing. I believe it is important for students to realize these problems for two major reasons; the first so that they may identify with others going through similar struggles or to appreciate their situation in relation to others. The second reason I believe it is important for students to become familiar with these issues is so they can think about ways to improve them in the future.
2.Rage Against The Machine: Renegades of Funk
There is a saying that goes, "In order to move forward in the future, you must first learn from the past." I chose this song because I believe it is important for students to learn about influential figures throughout history that have affected the social construct of our world today. This song also portrays the idea that in order to have continual and lasting positive change we will need renegades to continue to push boundaries. I believe it is important for students to realize that they have the power to make lasting change in the world with the causes they support if they really dedicate themselves to it and this song is a positive reinforcer of that message.
3.Sick Puppies: Riptide
I chose this song because I like the message it portrays. It encourages everyone to follow their dreams and do what makes them happy regardless of extrinsic pressures. I believe it is important for students to follow their dreams and feel free to express themselves. It is also important for them to feel comfortable with their own personal development and growth which this song is a strong advocate for.
4.Jack Johnson: Cookie Jar
I chose this song because it sends the message that people need to accept responsibility be accountable for their actions. It also shows that if people don't do these things that blame just passes around and nothing gets accomplished. I believe this is an important ideal for students to learn that not only applies to school work and behavior, but also to future job and career environments. Employers and bosses look for people who are willing to take responsibility for their actions and be accountable for the work that they must do. This song promotes those concepts and I believe students can benefit from these practices.
5. Brett Dennen: Ain't No Reason
The final song of this playlist was chosen because it portray's the idea that there are some unfortunate things in the world that everyone has to deal with. It exemplifies that everyone has struggles and adversities that they must try to overcome. However it also portrays that there are some terrible circumstances and situations in the world that have yet to be conquered and changed. It shows that there are some socially devastating barriers that we have still yet to break, and that until we can overcome them, there will be some situations that everyone must simply endure and deal with to the best of their ability.
The Songs I chose for this assignment (in no particular order of importance) are as follows:
1. The Black Eyed Peas: Where is the Love.
I chose this song because it highlights a lot of major social problems the world is currently facing. I believe it is important for students to realize these problems for two major reasons; the first so that they may identify with others going through similar struggles or to appreciate their situation in relation to others. The second reason I believe it is important for students to become familiar with these issues is so they can think about ways to improve them in the future.
2.Rage Against The Machine: Renegades of Funk
There is a saying that goes, "In order to move forward in the future, you must first learn from the past." I chose this song because I believe it is important for students to learn about influential figures throughout history that have affected the social construct of our world today. This song also portrays the idea that in order to have continual and lasting positive change we will need renegades to continue to push boundaries. I believe it is important for students to realize that they have the power to make lasting change in the world with the causes they support if they really dedicate themselves to it and this song is a positive reinforcer of that message.
3.Sick Puppies: Riptide
I chose this song because I like the message it portrays. It encourages everyone to follow their dreams and do what makes them happy regardless of extrinsic pressures. I believe it is important for students to follow their dreams and feel free to express themselves. It is also important for them to feel comfortable with their own personal development and growth which this song is a strong advocate for.
4.Jack Johnson: Cookie Jar
I chose this song because it sends the message that people need to accept responsibility be accountable for their actions. It also shows that if people don't do these things that blame just passes around and nothing gets accomplished. I believe this is an important ideal for students to learn that not only applies to school work and behavior, but also to future job and career environments. Employers and bosses look for people who are willing to take responsibility for their actions and be accountable for the work that they must do. This song promotes those concepts and I believe students can benefit from these practices.
5. Brett Dennen: Ain't No Reason
The final song of this playlist was chosen because it portray's the idea that there are some unfortunate things in the world that everyone has to deal with. It exemplifies that everyone has struggles and adversities that they must try to overcome. However it also portrays that there are some terrible circumstances and situations in the world that have yet to be conquered and changed. It shows that there are some socially devastating barriers that we have still yet to break, and that until we can overcome them, there will be some situations that everyone must simply endure and deal with to the best of their ability.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Blog Assignment #11
Little Kids...Big Potential
In this video, students in Mrs. Cassidy's first grade class talk about how they use technology to help them learn. They detail what they like about the technologies that they use and the how it benefits them.
This was a really interesting video. It was really refreshing to see how the kids were interacting and learning with technology from such an early age. I'm actually a bit jealous that I didn't have that same kind of technological learning environment when I was a first grader because of how much fun it seemed they were having while learning so much. I definitely believe that getting involved in internet enhanced learning so early in their educational careers will pay exponential dividends in their continued development. It was also really cool to hear them talk about getting comments from edm 310 students. They seemed to really enjoy that and it feels good to have a small impact on their lives and know that they appreciate our comments. My favorite part of Mrs. Cassidy's curriculum however is incorporating Nintendo DS games into the school day. I remember the days when I used to get in trouble for playing video games in grade school when in reality I often learned more from playing them than what the teacher was lecturing on on any given day.
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Skype Interview with Ms. Cassidy
In this video Dr. Strange interviews Mrs. Cassidy as she answers questions about her teaching methods and how she has incorporated technology into her classroom. I definitely plan on using blogs in my classroom. I want my students to be able to critically analyze health articles and write about them as well as be able to write health articles themselves based on the information I teach them as well as information they will gather from health videos, podcasts, and projects. I also plan on allowing them to use their own personal handheld devices for supplemental learning as there are vast excellent health related apps as well as new ones being developed each and every day. I believe this approach will benefit my students because it will make learning some difficult health concepts easier than with strictly traditional lecturing. I also believe it will help them to become more engaged in the learning process as well as retain more information as it will make concepts more tangible. The main concern as far as impediments go however is that with there can be some subjects, such as sex education, that certain people may be sensitive due to religious affiliations or personal moral conflicts. These may inhibit some of the media I would want to show to these students, but I believe alternative assignments could be issued for these special circumstances that would satisfy the curriculum by communicating with these students, their parents, and the school system so we are all on the same page.
In this video, students in Mrs. Cassidy's first grade class talk about how they use technology to help them learn. They detail what they like about the technologies that they use and the how it benefits them.
This was a really interesting video. It was really refreshing to see how the kids were interacting and learning with technology from such an early age. I'm actually a bit jealous that I didn't have that same kind of technological learning environment when I was a first grader because of how much fun it seemed they were having while learning so much. I definitely believe that getting involved in internet enhanced learning so early in their educational careers will pay exponential dividends in their continued development. It was also really cool to hear them talk about getting comments from edm 310 students. They seemed to really enjoy that and it feels good to have a small impact on their lives and know that they appreciate our comments. My favorite part of Mrs. Cassidy's curriculum however is incorporating Nintendo DS games into the school day. I remember the days when I used to get in trouble for playing video games in grade school when in reality I often learned more from playing them than what the teacher was lecturing on on any given day.
Skype Interview with Ms. Cassidy
In this video Dr. Strange interviews Mrs. Cassidy as she answers questions about her teaching methods and how she has incorporated technology into her classroom. I definitely plan on using blogs in my classroom. I want my students to be able to critically analyze health articles and write about them as well as be able to write health articles themselves based on the information I teach them as well as information they will gather from health videos, podcasts, and projects. I also plan on allowing them to use their own personal handheld devices for supplemental learning as there are vast excellent health related apps as well as new ones being developed each and every day. I believe this approach will benefit my students because it will make learning some difficult health concepts easier than with strictly traditional lecturing. I also believe it will help them to become more engaged in the learning process as well as retain more information as it will make concepts more tangible. The main concern as far as impediments go however is that with there can be some subjects, such as sex education, that certain people may be sensitive due to religious affiliations or personal moral conflicts. These may inhibit some of the media I would want to show to these students, but I believe alternative assignments could be issued for these special circumstances that would satisfy the curriculum by communicating with these students, their parents, and the school system so we are all on the same page.
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