Alexandria Hayes' EDM310 Blog

Paperless Classrooms: A chat with Dr. Strange!

2009-12-05T11:48:00.006-06:00

Paperless classrooms. Can you imagine a world with them? Can you imaging a futurisitc world without them? We, my group members and I, sat down with Dr. Strange and discussed different view points behind this fastly approaching phenominon, The Paperless Classroom!

Project 11 : Useless Textbooks

2009-12-05T10:48:00.002-06:00

Most college students understand the how expensive a college textbook can be. Then the anger continues on when you don't even use the book in class. Yet what really sets you off is the fact that when you sell it back its not even half of the purchase of the book. I am one of the students who has experienced this and decided that I need to get the point across. So, I interviewed a fellow student and asked her opinion on textbooks and some alternatives to the issues. Hope you enjoy!

Saying Good Bye...for Now!

2009-12-03T00:30:00.002-06:00

I enjoyed everyone and everything.

To Dr. Strange, you have truely opened my eyes to the importance of being technologically literate and set me on the path of becoming that way. I am truely honored to have you as a professor.Everything that I have learned in this class I will try to continue, not only as I continue school, but as a teacher. You help me take the first step into what is the future. I don't know what lies ahead but at least I will be some what prepared.

To my classmates, this is only the beginning of a wonderful, techno-filled journey. We are future teachers who will post our marks on students who will be the doctors and teachers of tomorrow. I wish nothing but the best for you all and more. For those who are ending the college journey, good luck as a teacher, and for those who just beginning, lets embrace all that we can.

Hope to see everyone soon and keep in touch!!!

End of EDM 310 and the Journey.

2009-12-02T23:27:00.003-06:00

It has come to the end of the road here in my EDM 310 class. I enjoyed every minute of it. Learning more than I could have every thought of. From blogs to everything that is Google (my now favorite search engine), to comments4kids, iTunesU and PLNs. I would never started my own blog, and love it, until I took this class. I enjoyed using all of these different sources and applying them to the way that I learn in other classes. I am going to challenge present and future professor to become more technologically literate and use blogs and other ways of getting there lesson across, especially the history department. I will definitely use these methods and what ever else develops later in the future in the classroom. As long as it engages the students and get them excited about learning.

In all actuality, I learned everything that I wanted to and more. Especially, with the use of Google. I have always heard about the amazing features that it poses and now I know how to use them and plan on using them more frequently. There is definitely nothing that I would "try" to forget about from EDM 310. The learning experience was great, my fellow students where great, and the teacher or "guider" was wonderful and very helpful. The class was exciting. Everyone was in the same boat when it came to learning something new like blogs and setting up PLNs and Foliotek. A few things that I really enjoyed was making the podcast and interviewing Dr. Strange. Also, using Window Movie Maker and editing audio and video. That was my first time editing a video using movie maker and I enjoyed. Probably would not have had the opportunity if it was not for this class. Something else that made the class exciting was the fact that you never knew who would skype in or who would respond to my blog.

Didn't really find anything really "intellectually" challenging. Some of the videos for the blogs just needed to be watched more than once just to make sure I got all of the information and the jest of what the video was about. Dr. Strange kept the class exciting and everyone was really into it after getting comfortable with everyone else. The only things that I would really change about the class is the organization of the assignments and clarification of them. Like grade a teacher comments say, he changes some of the assignments around. Also some of the instructions you may have to read a few times before you understand. Other than that I would keep it the way it is.

At the moment I feel that I am on the right path to being fully technology literate. I know more than the average student now but not nearly as much as a tech savvy teacher or student. I feel that I can always learn more and expand my knowledge of technology from what I have learned in EDM 310. I will try to keep my blogs, both EDM310 and professional, updated as well as creating another one for college students. I will also try to stay updated on my PLNs. I love my personal learning networks. Twitter, Skype, and Pluck are my new best friends, yet I will always keep Facebook and Youtube in my pocket.Hopefully, by the time I begin teaching, I will have more exciting ways to engage the students learning, by introducing them to blogs, podcast and other multimedia functions other than PowerPoints.

Reactions to Wesch

2009-12-02T11:54:00.005-06:00

First off I enjoyed watching the video. I always enjoy reading up or watching anything that Micheal Wesch's post. He touched on many topics, from the timeline of the meaning behind "whatever" to the Youtube community. As I watched, I reflected over it and figured how this video related to my personal life, my college experience, and my future as being a teacher.

As for my personal life, I do understand where he could get the narcissistic generation theme from. We are a generation where we want to have own our identity and basically become know for it. He explains it very well when comparing his classroom to the American Idol frenzy, which I will talk about in a minute. I do believe that my generation is very self centered. Not to say that I am all the way, but I strive to get myself to the top, but I understand that I can't do it alone. With being self centered, everyone develops their own views and opinions which in its on deep meaning a paradox. Why a paradox? Well its good because no one is afraid to express their opinions and views but bad because of the contrast of everyone having their own personal views.

Remember when I mentioned the the American Idol frenzy and how Wesch compared it to his college class. While he compared them you can tell that one group, American Idol contestants, where more engaged than his classroom. Not saying that his classroom is boring its nothing like that all. From my understanding, he was saying that we are not as ethusatic as we could be about learning. He used the term "one in a million". That's how I feel in some of my classes. The teacher doesn't really know my name and wouldn't really help if I asked. This applies to SOME of the teachers I have had not all.

How would expand my students minds using PLNs to learn. Personal Learning Networks appear more effective and hands on and there are endless possibilities. From my experiences in my EDM class, the PLN is actually very interesting and the deeper you get into it the more addictive it can be. Especially since I have been using twitter, skype, facebook, youtube, and a few other websites. Hopefully, I will be able to apply what I have learned to the classroom for my students to enjoy.

For more information on Michael Wesch click here

Blogs: What a learning experience!

2009-11-30T09:43:00.008-06:00

I was given a question to answer. The question being " Why is it important for students to post their works to blogs? Honestly, the reason we should is to show off what we can do. Not only just college students, but all students should participate in the blogs. In my opinion, I take it as showing my creative side of things. For example, my first presentation I created for my EDM310 class; I was so excited to show everyone what I did. If I felt that, one can only imagine a young child posting something they created on their blog and sharing it with the world. (Kaia's Blog). Another example was project 11. I wanted to try something new with it. So, I used Windows Movie Maker to put together a video interview on purchasing textbooks and the alternatives to this topic. I enjoyed working with movie maker and learning how to edit audio and video. This was the first time I used movie maker to that extent.

In the end, I believe blogs are an exciting way of expressing not only the creative side of a student (myself) but also getting the students point of view on a topic.

ACCESS it!

2009-11-22T21:37:00.004-06:00

ACCESS is Alabama Connecting Classrooms,Educators, and Students Statewide. According to the website, its vision is to "provide equal access to high quailty instruction to improve student achievement through distance learning." It is a website designed for high school students and teachers. The information provided is useful for a successful high school career. It is also created to help teachers with multimedia tools to teach the students.

I knew about ACCESS my freshman year of high school and always founded it helpful in one way or another. The teachers are online and the work is online. If you have any questions about the website you could find it with no issues. I think everyone should learn from ACCESS and how they configured the website to helping not only high school students but students in general.

Alex meets ALEX!

2009-11-22T21:31:00.003-06:00

What is ALEX? ALEX stand for Alabama Learning Exchange. On the website, you can find all types of useful information, such as lesson plans and podcast. They also provide links to other websites dealing with education, from history to science, from around Alabama. For example, if you are a science teacher and you are discussing space, you can go on ALEX and view a lesson plan and also view some podcast related to the topic. One can also click on a link, found on ALEX, called the U.S. Space and Rocket center.

I believe it would be very beneficial to me as an up and coming history teacher. It provides local and stat wide information in which I can incorporate into my lessons. It also provides a professional learning link which teachers can find websites for development opportunities, teaching and learning skills, and tools, as well as updated news. I enjoyed the link and roaming the website and find things suck as the AVL, or Alabama Virtual Library, and Alabama Library Media Online.

Technology and a Young Girl

2009-11-18T10:15:00.004-06:00

First, let me start off by saying, you have to experience technology to understand it. Kaia is an inspiring little girl, who can't even ready yet, but understands the importance of pictures, cameras, computers, and technology. Basically, these blogs are based around her and a father's urge to educate on the beauty of your surroundings. He was reading a book called "The Last Child in the Woods" and felt his daughter was missing the true beauty of the outdoors. Giving her permission to take pictures of anything and everything. This would lead to a proud father and a video post on twitter.

The events that took place were remarkable, but hopefully in the future, wont be uncommon. The photo essay began its networking trip from Missouri to New Zealand. First I reviewed Dr. Chamberlin, who always is coming up with something creative, and the special video he and his class put together for Kaia. Knowing that she can not read just yet, they created a voice thread video with pictures. It was excellent. As I replayed it a few times, I thought about how elementary students, that are just learning to read, would enjoying learning by videos like this. Teachers could incorporate this into the lesson, making it easier on them and more exciting for the student.

In the end, Kaia is just a small piece of what we see from students of the future. Imagine, if she can do this now, what could she do when she is 10?

New Media Literacies

2009-11-17T22:02:00.004-06:00

Judgement, negotiation, appropriation, play, transmedia navigation, simulation, collective intelligence, performance, distributed cognition, visualization,and multitasking; this list are the essential to learning to become a media literate student or teacher.They will not only helping you develop not only technological skills but social and networking skills for the workplace. As the video says, these skills were not important 20 years ago. They are really 21st century skills that will be needed for not only learning but also life. Everyone should develop judgement skills and multitasking is something that is beneficial.Out of this list I have about eight of the eleven listed, but everything takes time to learn. I have good judgement, negotiation, multitasking,appropriation, play simulation, visualization, and collective intelligence. Check out the video http://www.youtube.com/user/NMLstaff08 and make your own conclusion.

The Networked Student: Are we ready?

2009-11-15T11:38:00.002-06:00

What is a networked student? Am I, as a college student, networked student also? As a future teacher, will I be prepared to teach an already networked student? These are questions that flew thru my mind as I watched the video. As I was watching the video one of my brother, who is in the 8th grade, asked what I was watching and I told him. He made the comment "Who doesn't know about PLNs?" I looked puzzled because I am in college and did not really know what it was until I got in EDM310 and here is this 13 year old boy who knew all about it. Since that evening, I have been more aware of what they do online and I notice that they,my brothers, along with other youth are already networked, and I need to be there also.

My first reaction, before I even saw the video, was "Sure, I am a tech literate and a networked student. I know who to use the Internet, other word processing systems, and how to look up reliable sources." Then I started to look at the video and my thoughts slowly changed. I am knowledgeable about somethings but not all things. I have learned a lot from EDM310, especially PLNs. They are very useful not only for this class but also for my other classes (history, public speaking and french). I look up research not only on google but on iTunesU and wonder off from there. Now, my perspective on a networked student has changed and I see myself striving to become one because of how efficient it is to the modern day student.

I don't believe now that I have everything it takes to teach a "networked" student but hopefully as I learn my class will learn. We can all help each other grow. Which leads to another question presented in the video: " Why does the networked student even need a teacher?" It be like another Dr. Strange, as I stated earlier in this blog, as a guide. The video plainly says that the teacher is there to help you, encourage you, and is basically your guidance to helping you with future learning. Being networked is basically a new method of learning, and I am slowly see and believing that its going to be and already is the best way to learn.

This Is How I Dream

2009-11-11T13:00:00.003-06:00

I must say the title threw me off when I first started this assignment.After watching it a few times, just to make sure I didn't miss anything,I finally caught the catch of what Richard Miller was talking about. The basics of the video is how we are going from hard copy to using technology.

In the first portion of the video, Miller talks about how we are experiencing the change of writing and literacy in human history. Basically, books are starting to becoming virtual. Honestly, I spend more a lot of time on the computer; if and when I am not at work or school, and I do both business and play on it. I already read my assignments, listen to music, check emails, and chat with friends and family all at the same time. So, it would be more efficient and less expensive for me to have my textbooks, or any other books for that matter, on line than to purchase them.

Then the second part of the video talks not only about iTunes U but also how science and humanities should collaborate for the a new way of educating. Present times, you usually can not use one without the other. ITunes U is something that all college students will eventually use. This leaves me with a question: will this omit textbooks and teachers in universities and colleges and will we all be doing work from online?

As of now I do believe I am preparing, not fully yet, to write with multimedia. Using other multimedia sources other than PowerPoint would be an excellent way of getting the lessons across, not only for the student but for me as the teacher also. At the rate we are going with technology now; students will be way more advanced with it by the time I begin to teach.

iTunes Univeristy and ME!

2009-11-01T22:18:00.003-06:00

iTunes University is basically and endless source for information provided by some of the best universities, museums, and other places. Basically, learning from the best without the cost.As a student, I can look up a topic and get podcast/vodcast from other universities to further my education and knowledge about the topic.I recently used it as a resource for a speech for another class.

As a high school history teacher, I can utilize iTunes University for research papers and further try to further my students interest in the topics. I am trying to get their mind from just google but other sources of information and ways to view it. iTunes University is also a way to show them [students] about other places in the world and their prospective on the topic(s).

Demanding Times Calls for New Learning!

2009-10-27T14:14:00.004-05:00

I enjoyed reading Dr. Christie's entire website. I was reading over the site and article about how new times demand new ways of learning. Since being in Dr. Strange's class,and learning what are learning about technology in the classroom, it automatically struck my interest. The article first starts off describing how traditional learning no longer works or is not effective to the student. Of coarse, I agree that technology is essential in the work place and should be taught in the schools. A few point that were made;such as how the learning environment has a lot to do with effectiveness it has on the student not just technology alone. I view technology as not only a necessity but also as an accessory to learning. It takes a dedicated educator who engages the classroom and makes the learning experience enjoyable and beneficial. I would definitely try to keep my classroom interesting by relating the topic to my students lives and also by incorporating relevant computer information with the lesson.

Then it continues on talking about seven variables developed by Barbara Means. It indicated effective teaching and learning in the classroom. "These variables are :children are engaged in authentic and multidisciplinary tasks, assessments are based on students' performance of real tasks, students work collaboratively, students are grouped heterogeneously, the teacher is a facilitator in learning, students learn through exploration." Out of these seven, in which I approved as effective teaching/learning tools, where the collaborative learning and students that learn thru exploration. In my own experience, my learning and observation of elementary and high school teachers, group learning appears to be more comfortable to students and helps them develop not only social skills, team work, but also problem solving. I would try to have at least two group assignments a week. With that Would place my stronger students with my weaker students so they could help each other in a comfortable atmosphere.Also hands on experiences give a student the know how when entering the work field.

Dr. Christie's website has a lot of useful information that future and present teachers can use when it comes to effective learning in the classroom.

Advice for a First Time Teacher

2009-09-27T23:07:00.002-05:00

While reading Mr. McClung blog called "What I've learned My first year.", it reminded me of how would my first time in the classroom be like. Will I be exciting or boring, engaged or just there? I did not even know where to begin with commenting on his blog. Mr. McClung provided a lot of good advice coming from his first year of teaching elementary school.

He hit on a few things that I have always thought to have be essential when teaching: communication, being reasonable, technology, never stop learning and most important (to me) listening to the student. Communication is something that can be used inside and outside the classroom for both the student and the teacher. It helps the classroom and, as stated in the blog, work place run smoothly. Then there is being reasonable. I set high goals for myself because I believe I can do anything I put my mind to. Yet when my goals aren't reached I am disappointed. So I understand why Mr. McClung says be reasonable. Not everyone will reach the goals you want he or she to reach. Also a person learns something new everyday. So teachers will never stop learning because wither they know it or not they are learning also. That goes for technology also. Everyone is using them now. There is no way to get around them! Last but not least, the most important advice provided was listen to the student. As a student, I feel that at larger universities with classrooms of 150 students, the teacher will never know your name and how passionate you may really feel about the subject. Listening to the student lets them know that you care about them and their success.

All in all, I enjoyed reading the blog and will keep what I have learned with me. I feel these are all very valid points that most teachers should agree with. Glad I read it and surely will past this on to future teachers.

Wiki is Wack!

2009-09-27T21:16:00.009-05:00

From my research experience, I have always been taught not to use Wikipedia as a source for a paper. Reading this article and listening to the podcast, it only confirms the reason why I do not use it. I am glad Virgil Griffith created the Wiki scanner.Now, one can not change anything on the website without being traced unless they use an unknown IP address. I am happy someone finally made something to track them down. The information in the article was not really shocking to me because these companies, politicians, etc. are making themselves look better, even while everyone knows they aren't what they say.

Honestly, I don't believe Wikipedia will be credited as a reliable source anytime soon. As long as it stays free to editing, we can not even think about it.A way that it can become reliable is if the information is provided by professionals (doctors, specialists, professors, etc.) Wikipedia then can open up comments instead of having the entire article be edited.The reward is that at least its constant information. Until they come up with a solution, I will continue to not use Wikipedia.

Keepin Busy

2009-09-22T14:36:00.000-05:00

Randy Paush Last Lecture

2009-09-20T23:50:00.003-05:00

I enjoyed watching the video by Randy Paush. He was very funny and he kept me engaged in the topic about how to for fill your dreams. He also makes a lot of valid points about achieving your dreams in some way.

The first thing that caught my attention was when he said something about the brick wall. The brick wall determines how much a person wants it,yet it also separates those who want to for fill their goals from the ones who do not. It is so true that some people get half way to their dream and something comes up and they choose to stop and no continue to strive for it. If I really wanted to become a doctor and a money stood in the way of me getting; I would work my butt off trying to pay for it myself;especially, if I really wanted it.

Another thought he brought up was that experiences is what you get when you don't get what you want. When you do not achieve a childhood dream, you should look at the expedience and journey you had to get where you are now. There is a lesson to be learned behind every experience wither good or bad.

A term that Paush constantly uses is "head fake". This method of learning makes it fun for the student while teaching them the material needed. It is like the example of football that he used. Its the lessons that you want your child to learn that materials not just give the child more interest in the topic. If you really want to make it fun just relate the topic to the students.

There was a lot tat I learned from this video not only for myself but for teaching in the classroom and trying to achieve you dreams and goals i life. I learned a few thing that I will be applying to my life. Glad I had the opportunity to watch this video.

Karl Fisch: Hmmm?

2009-09-14T00:06:00.003-05:00

I have mixed feelings about his blog post. As I began to read. I as right on board with him and the fact that all teachers need to be technology literate. Then as the blog continued on he we went into teachers and administrative staff should be held accountable for not be tech lit. I do agree that teachers and all who work in the school system should have a base of technology knowledge but as far as them losing their jobs for, I do disagree. Anyone can be taught or learn technology; that goes from computers and emails to smart boards and PowerPoint's (Google Presentations).

Then I strolled down to read some of the comments. In which I also agreed with them. Some say that we should give the younger generation a better shot than we had and its (from my understand of the comment) should be technology in the classroom. Going back to Fisch's blog post, he made a comment about how people should not be proud of their inability to use technology. I know many people who just do not have a use for it and enjoy their lives. I am not and have no right to judge them in anyway. Yet, I do believe that everyone should know how to use the Internet, send and receive emails, and surf the web.

I really enjoyed reading this blog post and it sparked a lot of thoughts and comments.

It's not about the Technology... Comments

2009-09-13T23:36:00.002-05:00

I agree with the blog post by Kelly Hines. There is a lot more to teaching and education than just the technology. Teachers have to be more than just tech savvy. Students need to not only be engaged in the work using just technology. There is more to the story than just smart boards, computers, and blogs, in my opinion.

Hines makes many valid points that I agree with. I really agree with "Technology is useless without good teaching". Technology is only a tool to better teaching. It should be considered more as a crutch. Good teachers make the information interesting so that the student will understand the concept with no problems. That's where the technology can be used as a tool not a necessity. Just because a student is using a 1200 dollar computer to do his or her english or math assignment does not mean that he or she is learning the material.

I also like the statement of "Teachers must be learners." I will admit that I do not know everything. So, I ask question and try to understand what I do not know. Its apart of life to learn. Everyone learns something new everyday wither we know it or not. It can even be small, such as learning someone's phone number or directions to a friends new house.

I did enjoy reading her blog and the very important points that she makes. There is more to teaching than just being tech savvy. A lot more!

A vision of students today....ME!

2009-09-13T23:17:00.005-05:00

Remarkable...That is all I can really say. People just do not realize how useful technology can be in the classroom. Wesch made a lot of valid observations that not only I, but many college students, can relate too. I enjoyed the fact that he used his class to get his point across, by having them raise sheets of paper with facts on them. I give him props for that one. It was a very creative outlook on things most college students, sooner or later, will think about.

The video shows a lot of information and opinion. I say its all facts. Especially, the one about buying books that you probably wont even use. I had an experience where I purchased close to 500 dollars worth of books and only used one and a workbook. Also the fact that most teachers wont even know your name is something that stands out to me. When I think about it, what teachers/professors will remember my name after I have taken there class? Always a question I should keep in the back of my head...Laugh out Loud!

I did enjoy this video and recommend any future, present, and grad student to watch.

2009-09-07T11:13:00.002-05:00

This podcast was enjoyable. They started by introducing themselves and their links and contacts. The conversation is very upbeat yet informational. They are basically holding a regular conversation just like they would on a radio show. They did stay on subject the entire cast; which I can relate to the subject because they talk about things such as cell phone connections, keyboards, and other software.

I did enjoy the podcast. They were very organized and did not really go off subject. Should have added music or other audio graphics but other than that I loved it. Can not wait to start doing my own podcast and/or video cast. I learned that to just be yourself and stick to the subject. Also try to stay up beat and enthusiastic.

Emprovements to a Podcast/Videocast

2009-09-07T10:47:00.002-05:00

I enjoy watch some of the podcast that I had to view for class and out of class. Some where very interesting,informational subjects and others where just fun. There are a few things that I would change if I were making a pod/video cast. A podcast can have a very interesting subject but be boring. So, to keep my audience entertained, I would try to add graphics but keep it on the topic at hand. Also, the introduction could be a little more lively. Speak like I have life in me. I would also try to make more contact with the camera instead of looking down.

All in all, the video cast was enjoyable even with the small changes. Like I said, try to keep the audience engaged into the conversation and make them think. Do small things to keep their attention on you and the topic. Use graphic to help enhance the video cast.

Beginner to the world of Podcasting

2009-08-30T22:27:00.005-05:00

I never knew what a podcast was until I entered this class. I never thought I would have to create a podcast of my own. I watched a few video and audio podcast from iTunes and other sources and gathered some information on how to create and keep my podcast interesting and fun. I enjoyed a few of them but a good bit were boring.

The first podcast I reviewed was from SMARTBoard Lesson. It was an audio podcast that was in an informal setting. It basically sounded like a radio talk show. It reminds me of the Micheal Baisden or Tom Joyner shows. They pick a topic and speak about it. Yet on SMARTBoard, the conversations where very boring. Maybe if I would have listened to the whole thing it would have gotten better but as far as the first ten or fifteen minutes it was not very interesting.

I enjoyed watching many of the video podcast. I viewed the PBS videos posted on iTunes. They were basically like discovery channel videos. I did enjoy them and they kept me engaged into the topic unlike the SMARTBoard Lessons. I continued on watching some of the Podcast from the University of Alabama. They had one posted under the history department. I really enjoyed the topic and how it was like a regular news broadcast.I can not wait until University of South Alabama gets there iTunes podcast up.

All in all, I have a clear understanding of how to put a podcast together. I know that I need to talk about a topic that is interesting and will keep the audiences attention. I would add in a few things that will make it really spark ( music, graphics, etc.). I am very excited on making my first podcast.

Harness your student's digtal smarts

2009-08-23T23:31:00.002-05:00

I really enjoyed watching this video about Vicki Davis. She is the type of teacher that I aspire to be one day. As a secondary education major, I want to encourage my students to look beyond what you see around you. There is more to the world than just the America frontier. Vicki Davis uses computers and other technical gadgets to help her students learn more efficiently. I agree with Davis when she talks about how teachers do not have to learn everything. We learn something new everyday and that's the way it should be. As you learn, the students learn. The ways we are learning are changing everyday and I plan on be on board to find new ways to educate students.

This video reminded me of the others that I watched and how we should be more excepting to have new technical teaching methods in the classroom. How can we expect to create a new, more high tech world, when we do not even use the present technologies in the classroom? For example, a touch screen board and some fun computer programs can make a big difference a subject that a student just can not understand. I was in that situation when it came to math. Until my teacher found exciting ways for me to retain what I was having trouble learning. Like Davis, I hope to use any technical method of teaching to get the lesson across to the students wither it be blogging, emails, class chat rooms, etc. My goal is to influence every student I teach.

Sir Ken Robinson: The importance of creativity

2009-08-23T22:46:00.002-05:00

Ken Robinson was very entertaining and his point of view on creativity and education was very well-received. He makes a lot of remarks that I agree with. Even though his speech was very comical, I saw the underlining message, that creativity should be treated with the same respect as math and science. We put such focus on math, science, and reading that we have forgotten about the arts. When I say "The Arts", I mean dance, music, painting, and drama. I would have never considered them to be so important to a child's life as Robinson made it out to be. We are basically "teaching them out of creativity" as he roughly put it. Robinson also stated something that I did not consider until after I played the video, and its that an Educator is teaching the creativity out the the youth. We are so hell bound on sending everyone to college and getting really careers. What is considered to be a real career? To most people, being a musician (not like Beyonce or Brittany Spears) or an artist is not a big money maker. Basically,we are , from my understanding, are putting those who have creative genius down and making them think that there is no real career in the arts.

This video really opened my eyes to how important we should take in all aspects of education, which includes, the arts, PE, and the general knowledge classes. Everything should be taught equally. Everyone is this world is different and has gifts and talents that should be expressed in its own personal way wither it be by dance, poetry, or paintings.

Did you know? 3.0 and Mr. Winkle Wakes: The Reactions!!

2009-08-23T00:26:00.007-05:00

My reaction to both videos was very moderate. I enjoyed the information provided from both of them. They really put a lot of things into prospective, as far as the growth of technology and education over the years. They both brought out some very interesting points and statistics that really enlightened me, such as the constant use of the Internet and the stand still on technology for educational development.

"Did you know?"3.0 made a lot of valid points that are obviously true. For example, the rapid use of the Internet for dating is something that is continuously growing. Also, shopping and find answers can be found easily by pressing a button. Myspace has become one of the top social networking sites with Facebook following behind in the shadows. Who can not forget Google? Who does not use Google? Every question that I needed answered, was successfully found on Google. It appears that we are shying away from encyclopedias and libraries for old-fashion research. Something that really hit me was that India has more honors kids than America has kids. The few kids that we do have are not even receiving half of good education. Information like that pushes me to become a teacher and try to challenge others to help develop and push education as a fundamental aspect of life. With education, we can grow technology and with technology we can create new jobs everyday. It is shocking to know that by the age of 38, as stated in the video, most people would have held 10 to 14 jobs. Seems like education would be the center of everything.

My viewing of "Mr. Winkle wakes" was also a very strange yet informing video.It was funny because the main character, Mr. Winkle, awakes from a 100 year slumber to a fast-past, technology driven present. I watched the video a few times and every time I saw it, the true purpose slow started to come to me. Everything was changing except for how education was taught. The office had computers, fax machines, copiers, and web videos. The hospital had computers, x-rays, and other equipment. So, the video continues on to the school where everything was still the same; not distorted by computers or any other type of technology. Well why hasn't technology been introduced into the classrooms? I believe that by introducing computers and other technological forms of learning, we can gain and keep the interest of education with all youth. I think this is the reason why drop out rates are so high in secondary schools.

I enjoyed watching both videos and recommend that everyone watches them, students, non students, teachers, and administration. As I become a future educator, I hope to keep these videos with me so that I may do my part in educating others in a fun, new way. Both provided information on how technology in the classroom could expand the minds of the youth of our time. They are our future and they are the ones who will continue the careers that we have now.

Enough about Me... Maybe!

2009-08-19T00:44:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone, My name is Alexandria Hayes. I am going into junior here at USA. My major is Secondary Education Social Studies with a minor in French. I work at Bel Air Mall. I am originally from Mobile (Theodore). I graduated Class of 2007 from Theodore High School. GO BOBCATS!I love college football! ROLL TIDE and Florida State University! I also enjoy texting, movies, food, and hanging with close friends and family. I am a big fan of Guitar Hero and Super Mario Brothers on the Wii and Madden on the PS2. I am constantly on youtube and facebook. If your looking for me that is probably where I am. I am a big history nerd and always enjoy learning anything about American history during the Civil Rights, Biblical, and Great Depression eras.