Adam Brining's EDM 310 class blog

Goodbye

2010-05-03T19:57:00.002-05:00

Hey guys, I just finished my exam. So I guess this is it. I hope everyone has a great Summer and I guess I will see most of you around the UCOM building.

Final Post

2010-04-29T19:18:00.003-05:00

It's been a long semester, but we made it. I think that although we covered a lot of things in this class that I was already familiar with, I have also learned a lot. Even the programs I was already familiar with, I learned how to use them more effectively. Voice Threads and Google Docs are the two things that I was the happiest to learn about. I will undoubtedly use both of them in my career as a teacher, and probably in my personal life as well.

The only thing that was not covered in this class that I had hoped would be was how to build a website. My brother-in-law had taken this class before me and talked about how easy it was after you learn. While I do wish this was still in the curriculum, I also realize that the stuff replacing it will probably much more useful in the classroom. If I really need to learn to build a site, I'm sure I can easily find that information using the skills I got from the class.

There is definitely nothing that I wish I had not learned. Even if there are items in this curriculum that I will never use, I am addicted to knowledge. The idea of unlearning something, or even wanting to learn something sickens me.

Not a lot really excited me. I guess I was pretty psyched when I saw the potential of Google Docs, but the best thing that came from this class for me is Steve. He has been a good friend to me this semester, and I hope to keep in touch with him.

I'm not sure that 'intellectually challenging' quite describes this class. It was 'intellectually interesting', but I think that the whole idea is to make technologically illiterate people, literate. In order to do this it has to be easy to understand. The only thing that was really 'challenging' was maybe keeping up each week, and that was just a matter of finding time.

A few of the blog posts were somewhat boring, but that was probably because they just didn't interest me. All in all the class kept my interest.

I did not feel overworked in this class. I think that the only problem was organization. It's not even that the assignments were unorganized, but the class didn't really understand the system until about halfway through the semester. At least that was the case with me. I got way behind, but as soon as I figured out where everything was, I had no problem catching up and now I'm finishing up slightly ahead of time.

By my definition, I consider myself 'technologically literate', but only because I believe the standard of literacy defines it. A literate person can read, but that does not define at what grade level. I think that I am a fairly computer savvy person that can navigate well enough, but I certainly have far more to learn. This class has definitely help me move up a few grades.

I plan to use these tools in other classes when applicable and when it is not to at least practice on my own. It should not be hard because it is fun to play around with these programs. I really enjoy playing around on the computer, so I will keep doing that, but maybe now I will be doing something more productive.

My Professional Blog

2010-04-28T19:41:00.002-05:00

Adam Brining's Professional Blog

Project 8

2010-04-25T22:19:00.002-05:00

How to Mix Cement (without a cement mixer)

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=dg3b34xx_26gwjq7ck

Google Tour

2010-04-25T19:37:00.006-05:00

Juarez Tour

This is a tour of places where I work and visit in and around Juarez, Mexico.

PLN 2

2010-04-25T17:47:00.003-05:00

I have learned a lot this semester by expanding my Personal Learning Network (PLN). I have been listening to some interesting podcasts on iTunesU, and I have been following many teachers, especially the one's I found through comments for teachers, on twitter. Using these tools I have really been able to get an experienced perspective on teaching, and an idea of what kind of classroom I would like to teach in one day.

However, I have to say that I have gotten the most benefit this semester from Skype. Not only do I use Skype to speak with my fiance, but now I use it to keep in touch with my classmates from EDM310, even those that are in other sections. While we may not speak in class, and the majority of them I haven't even seen in person, we have really been able to relate through Skype. They have helped me, and I them, with projects in this class, keep up in other classes we have in common, and even just let a load off our minds by sharing common frustrations.

I have been trying to explore more blogs, but to be honest it's just my favorite way to share information. Not to say that it doesn't have it's own strengths and purposes, they have just not really fit me this semester. Though I'm sure in the future they will play a more important role in my education, and much much more as a teacher.

Week Fifteen

2010-04-25T17:29:00.006-05:00

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment

This was truly impressive. Her PLE is far beyond mine. I can barely understand how this all works together, and I hope to be able to know enough to be able to teach my students this kind of information. The versatility of her page is incredible. I can't imagine how different my school experience would have been with this kind of access to information.

I was unable to post on her video. I keep getting a message that an error is occurring.

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

I really liked this video. I don't really think about my legacy much, but based on my priorities and the way I have lived my life over the past few years, I would want my sentence to say "He helped those who truly needed it." I have strived to do that as a missionary, I as a special education teacher, I should be able to continue that work.

Project 15 - Videocast Interview

2010-04-23T18:33:00.000-05:00

Skype

2010-04-22T20:37:00.003-05:00

How I've used Skype this semester

I have actually been using Skype for a while now. My fiance lives in Juarez, Mexico, and the only affordable way for us to communicate is via web cam. It has been great for our relationship, and I don't know that we would still be together without it. So obviously, I have continued to use Skype to speak with Nubia this semester.

I have also started to use Skype in my personal learning network. I have been able to keep contact with my classmates in this class, and even ones from other sections. We have been able to help each other with projects, blogs, and even just vent class related stresses to each other.

Timetoast Timeline

2010-04-22T20:35:00.002-05:00

The Evolution of My Facial Hair

Project 14

2010-04-22T18:52:00.006-05:00

Comments for Teacher's Weeks 13 and 14

2010-04-21T21:31:00.000-05:00

John Spencer - Indie Teacher

http://jtspencer.blogspot.com/

What Kids Can Teach Us About Community

I really enjoyed this post. He talked about the community you find within a neighborhood between kids. They seem to come together easily compared to our adult communities. I commented that I personally miss the community I had with my childhood friends, none of which I still talk to today.

Being a Parent vs. Being a Teacher

I really enjoyed this post. He wrote about the dynamic of being both a parent and a teacher, how they relate, and how they do not. One thing that I really liked was that he kept mentioning things that he could do as a teacher and parent, and never mentions what he couldn't do. I feel like his unwillingness to admit to inability really showed the power of his optimism. I hope that I can believe in my self as a parent and teacher the way that he does when I have the opportunity.

Comments for Kids - Week 14

2010-04-21T21:21:00.003-05:00

Operation Christmas Child

http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337&start=20

The kids posted about a charitable organization that they collect toys for. I told them that it was great what they are doing for the less fortunate.

Week Fourteen

2010-04-19T16:22:00.002-05:00

Comments for Kids - Week 13

2010-04-16T22:06:00.002-05:00

Thomas's Favourite Thing at Camp

Room 14 are AWESOME

I commented on a post by a kid named Thomas about camp. He talked about Kayaking and how much fun he had. He also said that without a kayak he could have died. I told him that I enjoy kayaking too.

Week Thirteen

2010-04-08T23:26:00.005-05:00

PS 22

Landslide

After watching the video in this post, there are several reasons that come to mind as to why teachers and students should post on blogs. Obviously, in the case of these students, it was a source of vast opportunities. They're youtube stars, they've been on national television, and now they get to sing in Madison Square. These are experiences that they will never forget.

On the other side of the blog however, are teachers reading it and seeing the possibilities. It may even encourage other teachers to take bigger risks with their methods and try something new. Find a way to get the kids involved and interested. I know that the biggest problem I had in school was that we never did much that I was interested in, so I didn't really care. I've never seen kids so passionate in school as the ones in that video.

Comments for Kids - Week 12

2010-04-08T18:21:00.003-05:00

My Best Mate

My Best Mate

This week I commented on a blog post by a boy named Henry. It was a picture of him playing with his brother called my best mate. It was a cool blog. Teachers had posted pictures that their five year old students had drawn.

Week Twelve

2010-04-07T14:45:00.009-05:00

Dear Kaia

http://is.gd/3WS1N
http://is.gd/3WSsnhttp://is.gd/3WSsn
http://is.gd/3WSzD

So this all starts with Mr. Chamberlain's class, and a post about a girl named living in Qatar named Kaia that the teacher stumbled upon that Kaia's father had put up for/with her about going outside and taking some pictures. After making a connection with her father, the class decided to create a video for Kaia thanking her for her post. What I really liked most about the video was that each part was spoken by different students in the class. I really feel like this will help Kaia feel a deeper connection to each student.

I think that this definitely has an impact on the future of learning. For starters, Kaia's father is very proactive in getting her, and I'm sure her little sister before long, involved in a learning and exploring process. He is also teaching her to share her ideas, which is ultimately the definition of education. More so than that, the fact that a connection across the world was so easily made is somewhat stunning. It really shows that there are no limits to the connections you can make for your education.

PLN 1

2010-04-07T14:42:00.002-05:00

So I finally got my PLN going by signing up on Twitter and invited some people who I can learn from on Skype. I obviously need to expand this, but I feel like I'm off to a good start.

Comments for Teachers - Morgan Bayda

2010-04-01T21:36:00.005-05:00

Evolving Perspectives on Self- and Peer- Assessments

This week I commented on a blog post titled Evolving Perspectives on Self- and Peer- Assessments. Morgan focused on self and peer evaluations and reflections. She told us about the need for them, and the impact that they have had on her own life. My comment focused on what she said at the very end, which was that we had to be willing to listen to our students comments, but at the same time we can't bow to their every whim.

Artifact #3: Tension Between Teachers and Parents – How does this affect my practice?

This post really concerned me. She talked about a Bar B Que dinner that the school held for what was basically a parent teacher conference. All of the other teachers were unwilling to interact with the parents or show them their classroom because they believed that they wouldn't care. It's sad to hear about teachers that are jaded and/or too lazy to deal with parents. I gave her some encouragement in my comment and told her that there are teachers out there who care just like her.

Morgan Bayda

Comments for Kids - Week 10

2010-04-01T21:01:00.006-05:00

!!!! Djibouti !!!! by Carly

Mrs. Kolbert's Class

I read a post on a Mrs. Kolbert's class blog by a student named Carly. Carly talked about how her teacher had picked the African country Djibouti for their team country on field day. She did a great job of citing her work. She had many facts, and then would follow them up with a link to the site where she found them.

Questionnaire

2010-04-01T20:11:00.012-05:00

Lost

I decided to create a questionnaire about the show Lost, because that's what I happened to be watching when I started this assignment. I asked basic questions mostly pertaining to whether or not the participants had ever, or regularly, watched the show. Based on the popularity of the show, I anticipated that there would be quite a few positive responses, but instead I found that less than half of the people who filed out the survey, 9 out of 27, had ever seen an episode. Only one of those nine did not enjoy it, and one thought that it was just 'okay'. Six of those who did enjoy it are now regular viewers. Of those who have not ever watched an episode, only five have any interest in starting to watch it, and three have friends who would like them to watch.

Thanks to those who took part in my survey. If you would like to see the results in greater detail, you can see the spreadsheet in Google Docs by clicking the link below.

Questionnaire

Week Ten/Eleven

2010-03-28T14:53:00.004-05:00

Open Letter To Educators

Morgan Bayda

First off I just have to mention that Dan Brown's voice, mannerisms, and level of drama totally remind me of Glenn Beck. Not to compare politics or anything, it just looks like he went to the Glenn Beck school of public speaking, and I thought that was funny. Unlike Glenn Beck, he had some pretty good things to share.

I think that he has some pretty cool ideas about the direction that education needs to begin leaning toward. I'm not sure that it is completely valid to say that schooling gets in the way of our educations. That very well may have been the case for him, and the educational system may have plenty of room for improvements, but it's crazy to think that school has nothing to offer you.

Comments for Kids - Week 9

2010-03-18T09:49:00.002-05:00

Day 116

The kids in this class went on a field trip to the Heritage Theater. There they learned about the history of some schools. They also posted a video of the class playing with tops.

Week Nine

2010-03-17T18:12:00.008-05:00

ALEX

http://alex.state.al.us

Alabama Learning Exchange(ALEX), is a tool that teachers can use in order to interact with other educators. It allows teachers all over the state to create and share lesson plans for various subjects and grade levels. They can also use the lesson plans that others have posted in their own classrooms.

I think that this is a great tool that I will definitely use in my classroom. My only concern is that it could possibly create a laziness in certain teachers, that would be willing to rely totally on the lesson plans of others, rather than create one that is perfect for his or her classroom. I think that ALEX can best be used by studying other plans and picking and choosing what will work best for your students' specific needs.

ACCESS

http://accessdl.state.al.us/

The Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide (ACCESS) is a great way to provide learning opportunities to students that would regularly not be able to receive them. For example, if a gifted child lives in a small town, and their schools are unable to provide AP or IB classes, the students can take a class with a teacher in another area using video conferencing.

I'm not sure that this will be very relevant in my classroom, since I will be a special ed teacher, but I am certainly open to new teaching ideas. In fact, there may be classes being used now involving video conferencing that I am unaware of. It truly opens doors to endless possibilities.

Comments for Kids - Week 8

2010-03-11T22:51:00.003-06:00

Kindergarten Days - Day 111

I commented on a post about a kindergarten classroom that has a blog post for each day. It was really neat. They posted a video of a play called 'The Five Little Ducks' and another video about George Washington where they had colored some pictures of him and the teacher asked for some facts about him. They did a really good job.

Comments for Kids - Week 7

2010-03-11T22:45:00.003-06:00

Sweet Alabama

This student posted a poem about Alabama and how it makes them feel. It was really nice, I love Alabama and feel the same way.

Health Poem

This student posted a short poem about the five components of health. Unfortunately they did not share what these components were, but it was a good effort.

Comments for Teachers - Joe Dale

2010-03-11T18:59:00.015-06:00

Week Seven

In the first post I commented on, Joe had been recognized as a 'Twitter Star' by Ken Royal from The Royal Treatment. This seems like a pretty cool acknowledgement, and also shows the increasing importance of social sites like twitter. As someone who currently has nothing to do with Twitter, I guess it's about time for me to give in and sign up.

Week Eight

This post was about an iPhone app call voice band. It is a really interesting tool that I think could be a lot of fun for anyone. In my comment I mentioned that I was interesting in music, and like to sing myself, but am unable to play any instruments very well, so it could be a fun app for me to play with. I also think that it could be a great way to nurture students who are interested in music programs.

Week Nine

In this post there was a video about the learning platform used at Gray's Infant and Nursery School. It seems like they are utilizing every opportunity to give their children the chance to learn about technology and use it in the classroom. I especially like that they let the children create their own podcasts. I think that this will be great for their confidence and public speaking skills.

http://www.joedale.typepad.com/

Week Eight

2010-03-07T17:09:00.011-06:00

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

http://tinyurl.com/mvy4oq

Randy Pausch seems like a pretty incredible guy. He has done all of these things that he wanted since childhood. Not only that, but he accomplished all of his goals with only half a lifetime. It seems that not only did he lead a fulfilling life, but also a pretty interesting one.

When he mentioned that 3-D ride at Disney that he designed, something spiked my memory. I actually got to visit Disney world as a child and it was around the time that they had just started that ride. Watching the video, you may look at it and think, 'man, these graphics are terrible, but I remember the experience, and at that time it was state of the art. I felt like I was actually there, which also shows you have far we have come in the short time since then.

Of all that Randy had going on in his life, I think what I found most fascinating was the way that he taught. I personally have a real issue with curriculums, and how they are instituted. I believe that they, more than any other single factor, can seriously limit the learning experience. I believe that work under the assumption that those who set up the curriculum know all that is worth learning, and that, I believe, is absurd. I don't mean that they are useless, in fact we need them, but we have to be open to integrating other material into the classroom.

It was also really cool to see the way that he was brought up. You can see that it is beneficial to allow your kids to express themselves. Randy is obviously someone who believes in doing what you love and doing it well. It doesn't seem to acknowledge the fact that he has a job, but rather acts like he gets paid to do this fun stuff. I think that is an attitude that he got from the creative freedom that his parents used to nurture him.

Goggle Docs Presentation

2010-03-01T17:55:00.003-06:00

Driving Through Mexico Google Docs Presentation Link

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AaY-Bl8ygOtaZGczYjM0eHhfMWZ2ZzNua2t4&hl=en

Week Seven

2010-02-28T19:29:00.012-06:00

Richard Miller: This is How We Dream

http://is.gd/2cfNk

I found this video very interesting. As I understood it, Richard Miller is suggesting a method of creating teaching materials in a modern world. He is able to create presentations that will inform his students while keeping them interested.

As someone who grew up in this age of technology myself, I understand that it is hard to keep the attention of a child with a book. I suffered throughout my school career due to an unwillingness to read what did not interest me. However, I always excelled at anything involving a visual stimuli. This seems to be more and more relevant as children are more and more exposed to and involved with technology at early ages.

What I really found interesting is that the teacher is given a bit more academic freedom in that they can create their own teaching materials. I do not mean to discount textbooks, but I cannot think of any class that I have had in my lifetime in which the teacher used every chapter of the text provided. Teachers do not teach the things that they do not have to and do not value, there is not enough time. This way the teacher can streamline their curriculum and teach in a way that they feel more comfortable, and more effectively.

Wendy Drexler: The Networked Student

http://is.gd/2cfNk

This was a really well done video. The little cutouts were kinda goofy, but all in all I thought that it was a creative way to present the material. I like the way that the voice over was done. I have kinda done the same thing in my podcast, so it makes me feel a little more confident in my choice to use that method.

I think that I am fairly prepared to teach networked students, since I am one. Maybe not to the extent of the students in the presentation, but throughout my college career, which has unfortunately been pretty long, I have used networking more and more each semester. Especially now that I am in this class, which not only encourages this behavior, but requires it.

It makes learning more interesting and more fun for the students. Not only that, but it broadens the spectrum of potential for what they can learn. Instead of saying, I am the teacher, this is what I'm going to teach you this semester, you open up a world of opportunity to them. I think that the best thing you can do as a teacher of networking students, is accept the fact that there is a lot that you don't know that is worth knowing.

Toward A New Future of Whatever - Michael Wesch

http://is.gd/3WVVZ

This was a really interesting video. What he said about 1984 and our lack of a need to be informed is frighteningly familiar. The shift of importance really seems to have shifted in our society to celebrity gossip and scandal. It drives me crazy to go through the check out line and see the crap that magazines write about. Who cares if Brad and Angelina are having relationship problems? It's just not our business, and yet these magazines sell.

I do not mean to seem preachy though. In other ways, I am just as guilty of misplaced priorities. Unfortunately, I not only had seen both of those clips from the Simpsons, but knew the scenes by heart. I also remember being obsessed with MTV back when it played music. Perhaps our generation was the first to find this preoccupation with media rather than real life and real issues.

Lastly, it was interesting to hear what he had to say about using webcams, or other types of technology, to disconnect. I can totally relate to this. For a few years now I have used Facebook as an excuse to not call people on their birthdays. I also love text messaging. Not because I like to chat or connect with friends, but if I need to let someone know something, but don't feel like talking, I can just text. It is the ultimate escape from socializing. It really makes you wonder how this is shaping and will continue to shape our society.

Comments for Kids

2010-02-21T19:24:00.007-06:00

Jessica E. Week 4

I posted a comment on Jessica E.'s blog on a post about the book "Peter and the Sword of Mercy". She did a very good job.

Year 5 Week 5

My comment was in response to a commenter named year 5. They had a really great outlook and hope for the future.

Lizara Week 6

I commented on a video blog by a girl named Lizara who was setting a goal to improve her math skills. I encouraged her to try hard.

Week Six

2010-02-21T16:04:00.019-06:00

Dr. Alice Christie's Google Earth Guide

Google Earth Guide

I decided to talk about the google earth portion of Dr. Christie's site. I am already fairly familiar with google earth and decided I could be a decent judge what she had to share about it. I really enjoyed her virtual tour. She highlighted some interesting spots around the globe that really made you interested in seeing more. It really shows another side of google earth, in that it is not only educational, but can also be fun in the classroom.

Her description of google earth was very basic and simple to understand, but at the same time quite comprehensive. It was not complicated or difficult to understand, and yet you could really get all the information that you need to know about the application from this one page. Not that there isn't much more to google earth, but she shares more than enough to get you interested.

iTunes U

iTunes U

iTunes U is a great tool that is available at the iTunes store. If you can download music on iTunes, than you can easily use iTunes U, and if you are not familiar with iTunes, you still should have no trouble learning, as it is very user friendly. This is great for teachers who are learning to use technology for the first time.

iTunes U offers a diverse selection of educational materials including podcasts and lectures. You can find information by topic, or you can search for materials by school or group. Once you have downloaded the track or tracks that you are interested in, you can put them on your iPod and view them whenever and wherever you choose.

As a teacher, we will be able to share these materials with our students, and even learn new things ourselves. You can easily bring this into the classroom setting, or have your students access the material at home. This is an awesome and diverse tool that I will definitely utilize in the future.

iPods in the Classroom

iPods in the Classroom

iPods are obviously amazing tools with several uses, and many that I'm sure are have yet to be discovered. They are already making their ways into the classroom. According to Robert Craven, education technology coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education in California, they are already making an impact on schools in his County.

As someone who grew up struggling with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I can clearly see the benefit of being able to hear or watch a class lesson more than once, or just being able to back up a few minutes to hear the part you missed. I really wish that I had these options coming up in school, and as a teacher I will be glad to offer them to my students.

You can find out in the article "iPods in the Classroom" by Susie Meserve at
http://www.schoolcio.com/ShowArticle/1014

Week Five

2010-02-13T23:11:00.009-06:00

Wikipedia

NPR article on Wikipedia.

These stories were interesting and it's cool that this guy found a way to find out who rights what, but what I don't understand is why they are talking like wikipedia was ever a reliable source. It has always been open for anyone to edit. Not just businesses and special interests, but fourteen year-old kids with nothing to do but play mad libs on wiki.

What I think is really valuable about this new tracking system, is that it tells us what is more likely to be true. Why would these companies be worried about changing entries that were untrue. So I think that we can safely infer that when Walmart feels the need to take down a statement about low wages, then that statement it true. Besides that, wikipedia is just a fun tool, but it is hardly an encyclopedia.

What I Learned this Year

What I Learned this Year

The one recurring thing that I see throughout this post is patience. He comes off as a teacher who has really worked on having a lot a patience with his kids, his coworkers, and even himself. It seems like that, more than anything, can create a fun and effective learning, and working environment.

The only problem I did have with this post is that it seemed to have a lot of errors. They were all very small, but they still stuck out to me. I feel bad saying something about it, as it was a very insightful and well thought out post, but I was thinking about what you said about your 'Internet footprint'. As an educator, you should be concerned with problems with grammar and punctuation, and all of his mistakes were small ones that could have been caught with just a quick scan before posting.

Week Four

2010-02-07T10:33:00.006-06:00

The benefits of podcasting in the classroom

I chose to watch "The benefits of podcasting in the classroom" video. It starts off talking about the millinial generation, of which I am a part. We have grown up with the constant presence of technology. They then use a great example of how useful podcasting can be. When children miss school, they miss valuable information. If we make that information available to them at home, it can help them keep up in the classroom.

Harry Dell was able to utilize podcast technology in his classroom by having others help him act out readings. This made reading more interesting, and the kids were much more willing to be involved. The students not only enjoyed the different voices telling the stories, they were also able to create their own podcasts. They made their own stories, enriching not only their experiences with technology, but their reading and writing skills.

Week Three

2010-01-29T17:19:00.030-06:00

Smartboard Lessons Podcast

First, I listened to Timmy's and a Tip #1: Wallwisher. It was a little tip about an application for your smartboard allows you to create post-it notes. You can make whatever notes you want and then move them around the board. It seems like a pretty cool program.

What really stood out to me in the podcast is that he recorded it while ordering a cup of coffee. By the time he got his order, he had explained the product and then wrapped it up. It really is a testament to how simple it can be to make our own.

The first clip was good, but it was very short, so next I listened to a podcast called Teachers Connecting 1: The Beginning with Ben Hazzard and Joan Badger. The first few minutes they had some friendly banter, then they started to talk about some sites.

Joan talked about surveymonkey, which has online surveys. Apparently she uses it to keep connected to all of her teachers. There is a free version that will allow you to create surveys with ten questions. She also found two other sites, the first was zoomerang basic, and then she used the spreadsheet on googledocs. They were all tools that she utilize in her work.

KidCast

I listened to Kidcast 62: Some Thoughts on Video Podcasting. It started with a little music, which to be honest I found a little childish and basic. It sounded like a beat track on a keyboard. Maybe I shouldn't be concentrate on such a trivial detail, but it really left a bad taste in my mouth. From the very beginning it made it a little hard for me to take the podcast seriously.

I did like the fact they he jumped right into the discussion. Not that hearing stories isn't nice, I just like the right to the point approach in a podcast. So he starts talking about video podcasts. He lets us know right off the bat that video is not necessarily superior to audio. You have to take the purpose of the podcast into consideration.

Next he helps us decide if a video podcast it right for us. Do you need to see emotions conveyed? Do you need to show a model or demonstration? This makes great sense to me. If this guy had chosen a video podcast rather than audio, it would probably be more awkward than anything. He has nothing to show us, only a message to tell us.

I did think that he made a great point that you need to be confident in order to pull off a good video. Not only are you concentrating on your words and eloquence, but you have to worry about how you look. So the biggest thing to determine if you are ready for a video podcast is not if you are technologically capable, but are you able to compose yourself.

ConnectLearning

I listened to Episode 90: A Conversation About Podcasting with Media Coordinators/David Warlick. At first I thought this would be a very straightforward video, but again it started with some really goofy music. It was actually like an eighties beat, and it was really corny. This just really leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Again, I do like that they went right into the topic after the intro. Within the first two minutes they were getting to the issues. It did seem like it was not that organized, but I guess you have to keep in mind that they are in what seems to be a town hall meeting.

As for the actual subject of the podcast, I like the idea of it, actual teachers sharing each of their own experiences. I feel like everyone in the room was able to get some insight, as well as us the listeners. I didn't really like the idea of using ipods in the classroom, because I think that it is way too easy for the kids to abuse them.

I also like the way that one elementary teacher was talking about relating to the children. I think that is very important. If kids don't know why they are learning what they are learning, why it is important, then why should they care? It is easy to understand that attitude.

EdTechTalk

I listened to Online-Course-Supplements-ID-Live-3-2010-1-29. I really like that they just jumped right in on this one and went without the intro. That helped me to take them very seriously and not be negative from the start. The sound quality is pretty good and they are well organized, unlike the last podcast.

One teacher talks about a program called blackboard. It sounds like a great tool, but I don't know what it is exactly. It's great that she is introducing us to it, but I feel like they should give a description rather than just a testimonial.

I really liked what they said about creating a learning community where the students rely on each other. I'm actually in a class right now where that is happening. Really the teacher has set it up so that we have no other option. At first I felt a little misguided, but I've just started to trust my fellow students and I think that it's gonna be a really good experience.

I also liked the netflix idea. I don't know how much relevancy it could really have to the class, but I'm sure she found a good way or she wouldn't have used it. Either way, I'll bet that it really drew the students into the experience. I love movies, and I know that this idea would peak my interest.

MacBreak Weekly

I listened to MacBreak Weekly 177: iPad. This one also had a little intro. The music was much better than the others, but the scripts was a little bit goofy. Also, it was pretty ad heavy. I understand that they need funding, but they could have maybe had the commercials throughout the cast rather than just a list of sponsors right off the bat.

They immediately start discussing the iPad and it's advantages. They really seem to have nothing bad to say about it, which is fine, but doesn't seem to real to me. One line in particular stood out to me, and that was "my biggest concern, is which one am I gonna buy." It seemed almost like an infomercial.

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that the iPad is a great product. I have heard about it and have been excited about it myself, but this kind of relentless praise it a little ridiculous. The only problem they seemed to have was with the name, which I really don't see a problem with.

At one point they had some difficulty with the audio, but they seemed to handle it well. They didn't panic, they didn't start over. They even mentioned it and made a little fun about it. They fixed the problem and then immediately moved on and got back to the issue.

This Week in Photography

I listened to 126: Racism in Photography - Don't Blink / This Week in Photography. Again, this podcast started with several ads. Followed by an intro with some very poor music. I'm sorry, but I just hate these intros, or at least most of them. Aside from the music, the verbal intro and the camera sound effects were good.

Next were the introductions, which went well. It is obviously a close and friendly atmosphere, but then they went to some more ads. I know that this shouldn't bother me, but maybe I'm just a little sensitive due to all of the podcasts I have listened to today.

The audio is okay, but kinda sounds like they are in an empty room. Like when you speak to someone on the phone who is in a bathroom. The bad apart about this, is that it had the worst effect on the host, whose audio is probably the most frequently heard.

So finally after several minutes of horsing around, they get to the subject. Apparently, there is some new facial recognition software that doesn't register dark skin tones and reads several Asian people as having their eyes closed. I agree with their initial conclusion that they did not do nearly enough testing, and that they most likely tested mostly white people.

Week 2

2010-01-21T19:14:00.017-06:00

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

A Vision of Students Today

This was a very interesting video. To be honest it told me a lot of things that I already knew. It may have given more accurate statistics, but every college student in America is aware of these issues. We have to be, we deal with them everyday. While I wouldn't say that all of the facts listed here apply exactly to me, I understand that I go to a fairly small college.

I consider myself lucky that I can count on one hand the number of classes I have had with over 100 students. When in those classes I have really felt the disadvantages, and can't imagine that being the norm throughout my entire college career. I also realize that this is not the only issue brought up in the video; However the fact that it was just one of many, and it alone is a serious problem really gives us something to think about.

It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

It's Not About the Technology

I really enjoyed reading this. I especially liked what was said about teaching not taking place unless learning takes place. That is an excellent observation. I do have a slight problem with it. While I do not think that she is wrong about teachers having to change the way they teach, I genuinely believe that there are teachers who are totally unwilling to change.

I know this because I remember them, they taught me. I have also worked with many as a substitute teacher. I am not saying that they are poor teachers, or even ineffective ones, but they are stuck in their ways and unwilling to look into new ways of thinking. That said, I think that this will be the biggest obstacle in evolving our methods of teaching. I think that new teachers like me are the ones who wanted to use our computers in the classroom, and will be the ones who are most comfortable with the new technologies in the future.

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

Karl Fisch

I can really relate to the sentiment behind this post. I feel like it actually talks about some stuff that I touched on in my previous comment. There are still teachers out there who refuse to learn. That really is unacceptable. I think that the statement about not being able to read was a bit of an exaggeration, but unfortunately it was not too far off. I think it may be more accurate to say that a teacher unwilling to use the Internet today, is like one who would not use a copy machine twenty years ago.

Without the copy machine, the teacher couldn't run off tests or worksheets, which are valuable tools in any classroom. Not using the technology that is available today is would have basically the same consequences, but on a much larger scale. There is just so much more available that you will be missing out on. Overall, I felt this post was something that needed to be said, and now has to be addressed in order for us to move forward.

Gary's Social Media Count

Watch the Social Media Count change every second when you click on this sentence

I definitely think that these stats should effect not only the way that we see teaching, but the way that we see the world. The advantage that some of us have is that these statistics don't surprise us too much, or it doesn't mean. Don't get me wrong, the actual numbers are astounding, but I have no trouble trying to believe them. We have grown up in the technology age and therefore we are aware of it.

Unfortunately, even though we grew up in this age, we didn't learn any of it in school. We are just now as a teaching community starting to really recognize the need for technological advancements to spread to the classroom. So I feel that it is up to us, as the next generation of educators in America, to take the reigns and use them to change the game.

Week one

2010-01-15T20:21:00.015-06:00

Mr. Winkle Wakes

Mr. Winkle Wakes

The video Mr. Winkle Wakes is obviously a takeoff of Rip Van Winkle. Mr. Winkle awakes in our modern world after a one hundred year nap. He is scared and uncomfortable in this technological society. His journey begins at an office building, where the computers were used to communicate throughout the world. When he went to the hospital, he was surrounded by machines that helped people to breathe and kept them alive.

Finally, he finds a place that he is comfortable in, a place that hasn't changed much since he fell asleep. Unfortunately, this place is a school. This video points out the lacking that exists in our school systems, and how we are behind the times technologically. Our entire society is reliant upon technology, and yet we are not teaching it to our children. So how can they be expected to handle this world if they are not exposed to it now and taught about it by technologically literate teachers?

Did you know 3.0

Did you kno2 3.0

Did you know 3.0 was an informative video about how technology is effecting the world today. More importantly, it is about the effect technology will have tomorrow, and over the next several years. It gave several statistics and a few predictions involving technology, for the most part in the United States, China, and India.

In the beginning, the stats mostly concentrated on the discrepancies, in size and growth for the most part, between India and China verses that of the US. Gradually, they worked more toward the trends that technology becomes outdated so quickly in our day and age. It also showed how global trends have become more and more quickly spread as we move forward.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

The Importance of Creativity

In this video, Ken Robinson addresses a crowd of educators. He is talking about the waste of creativity of in young minds. He tells them that children seem to be more willing to take a chance because they are not afraid of being wrong. And if you are not willing to be wrong then you will never be able to come up with anything original. Since we live in a society that discourages mistakes, we suppress creativity.

He also talks about the hierarchy of subjects in schools around the world. Math, Language, History, and Science are always at the top. The bottom rungs are are always the arts. He argues that dance can be just as important as Math. He says that schools are made this way to prepare people for jobs involving only those few subjects and is structured as an entrance to university. He then talks about an extremely successful dancer and choreographer who was thought to have a learning disability as a child, when she was actually just not made for the type of learning that they tried to force upon her. What he is saying is that we have to look at what we teach children with and open mind.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis is a teacher in Georgia that uses technology to connect her students to the rest of the world. This opens up the kids to various opportunities that they would never get in your standard classroom. She also realizes that she cannot know everything, and that by encouraging these kids to teach themselves, and even teach her at times, she is breaking down the limitations set before them.

These kids live in a very rural area, something that I cannot relate to. And yet they are more connected to the global society than I have ever been. This really shows what a difference technologies in the classroom can make on our young minds. It also proves to me that the kids will be teaching me while I teach them, and that I need to have an open mind about that.