Project #15 Final Reflection

Project #13 Report

Report on Collaboration

As an assignment we had to create a lesson plan with our group without actually meeting in person. We accomplished this by using Skype, Google Docs, and texting. What was interesting about using Skype was that we could not see each other, but we could hear each other. This was good for me because they couldn't see my messy house. What was also interesting was to see the other group members type at the same time using Google Docs presentation. It would have been much easier to meet and work together in person, but using Skype is a good way to work together if it isn't possible to get together. When we got together we were able to complete the video for the assignment and everyone already knew what to do and what their part was. We had a couple of bugs to work out, but overall it worked out well.

Final Report on PLN

I have added a few tiles to my Symbaloo account. I added Pinterest and a couple more. I am glad that I have this PLN and hopefully will be able to find more tiles to add though my journey of school and when I become a teacher. This has been helpful thus far and I know it will continue to come in handy in the future. I'm glad this is a project that we had to do, because it makes having everything I need all in one place easy to find what I need. I'm sure that along my journey I may add some and possibly change others. I enjoy using my Symbaloo.

C4T #4

Post #1

I posted a comment on, "What kids know and can do or just how they compare to others," on"Dangerously! Irrelevant" by Mr. Scott McLeod. He said that parents care more about how their students compare to other students in the state and nation than to what they actually know and can do. He posted a link to "Taking Stock of Unbridled Learning Results" by Doc. H. This report talks about school report cards comparing schools in Kentucky to other schools in the nation. He relates this to his statement that parents, even though they don't understand the state test scores they just want to know how their child compares to others. I told him that I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I also told him that I am a parent of two girls, one in the third grade and one in the sixth grade. On the comment I told him that I care more about the education they are receiving than what scores they make on the FCAT. I’m not worried about how they compare to other students. I worry about how much they know. I want them to do their best and learn everything they can to prepare them for the future, not if they can test well. I hope that their school and teachers will teach them the most up-to-date information they will need to know.

Post #2

I posted a comment on, "Is Computer essay grading groundbreaking?," on "Dangerously! Irrelevant" by Mr. Scott McLeod. The quote basically stated that grading using technology for essay writing is the same as humans that are underpaid and overwork. He also had a link to the blog he got this from called "for the love of learning" on the post, "Ravitch: Should Computers Grade Essays?" This originated from the blog post, Diane Ravitch's blog,"Should Computers Grade Essays?" I told him that my name is Amanda Rice and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM310. I also told him that it is sad to think that students would get the same test scores from using a grading system as they would being graded by humans that didn't really care. I asked why students would even try. I said that I read in a link that he added that gifted students who think out of the box would be penalized. This makes me said. I ended my comment by saying that I want to be a teacher that encourages students and not just teach them enough to get by.

C4K Posts for the Month of November

C4K #8

I commented on "The Runner's Nightmare" by Zoey F. This post was a great story. She wrote about how a girl named Lily loved to run. In this story, Lily moved to a new school. She made two great friends Sam and Sarah. She talked about going to a dance and how much fun she had. Then Lily had a track meet, but her mom wasn't there. After her track meet she wakes up in a hospital. She realizes that her legs have been amputated due to a wreck while she was in on the bus. This is sad for a 13 year old to go through, but her friends were very supportive. She went back to school and everyone was glad that she had returned. I told Zoey that I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's class, EDM310. I told her that I enjoyed reading this story and how lucky Lily was to have supportive friends during this time in her life. It is scary to think that this could happen to anyone. I was glad that Lily didn't just give up, but did return to school. I asked Zoey F. if she watched the Olympics this summer and if she had seen Oscar Pistorius that had a double-below knee amputee. Even after his legs were amputated he still ran track. I ended my comment by telling her that I thought her story had a good lesson in it. That we shouldn't take for granted what we have, because it can be gone in a blink of an eye.

C4K #9

I commented on "IBMcClean02's" blog post about the French Revolution. He explained that the world would be much different today if the French Revolution hadn't happened. I told him that even though the world isn't perfect today are we glad that things happened like they did. He had several links in his blog to help tell about the information he was writing about. I told him that I was a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I told him that we are making links in our blog post too! I told him that I think that he did a great job and shared some good information.

C4K #10

I commented on "The State Capitol" by Ms. Yim. They went to the State Capitol on a field trip. They were allowed to take their iPads for the trip. They took video and pictures during their visit to the capitol and recorded their visit with the Governor of Alabama. I told them that my name is Amanda Rice and I am in Dr. Strange's class EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I told them that I watch their video of the trip to the State Capitol. I said that it looked like they had fun on their trip and I think it was a great idea that they were allowed to take their iPads. I told them that I had never visited the capitol of Alabama, but I enjoyed seeing it through watching the video that they made.

Project #15 "Smartboard Lesson"

Final Project #16

Final Project Progress Report

I am in the group “January Jags.” The members include: Molly Reynolds, Amber Clukey, Keiko Ito, and myself, Amanda Rice. We have been working very hard to prepare our final project. Hopefully this will be a helpful video for new EDM310 students. We have met several times to plan and record the video clips. We haven’t put it together yet, but we will as soon as we shoot our final video on Tuesday. The group that I am in is working well together and I am enjoying getting to know them. We have made it fun working on this project together. It's like taking a road trip. It has been a long ride, but it will be worth it when we get to the end. I hope everyone will enjoy it!

Blog Post #13

Back to the Future

In the video "Back to the Future", by Brian Crosby, I learned some interesting ideas for my future classroom. Mr. Crosby did several science projects that were fun for the students and then blogged about them. They also embedded video showing their projects. The videos were then viewed and commented on by many people around the world. This is a great idea to allow students to interact with people from all over and not just from their surrounding area.

In this video Mr. Crosby talked about how his fourth, fifth, and sixth grade classes have mostly students of poverty. Most of his students didn't know their city, state, or country. Only a few knew their own address or phone number. He said students are disconnected and teachers shouldn't narrow the curriculum. Since these students haven’t been many places, blogging can help them be more globally aware. Giving them the world as their audience through blogging is a great way to help them with these problems. He said that, “Good education is the birthright of every child.”

A Vision of Students Today

In the video, "A Vision of Students Today" by Michael Wesch, it shows situations students face while going to college. It cost a lot to go to school. Some of the cost could be avoided with technology. The class sizes are larger than normal, and some students feel like they are lost in the crowd. If the teacher could come up with ways to use the technology to teach the classes, then it would be a much more productive way to teach. Students already use technology in their everyday lives, so incorporating it into the curriculum would be beneficial.

I believe that this is what EDM310 is teaching us as future teachers. Not only is this something that a college professor or a University president should hear, but as future teachers, we all need this message. All students no matter what their age should understand the importance of what they are learning and how it relates to their life. When a student doesn't feel like the subject applies to their life or what’s going on around them, they don’t usually care. If we use technology to reach them where they are in their life, then they will get more out of it and learn more.

I am a single mother of two girls. I have a hard time trying to juggle home life and school. Like the girl from the video in the picture above, I am a multitasker, because I have to be! I have some help paying for my classes, but I try my best because I cannot afford to take the same class twice. It’s hard to be a student and a mom, and sometimes I wonder how the class I’m taking will pertain to my future career. If more classes were like EDM310, giving us many tools to use and meeting us where we already are by using technology, it would be great. I’m not meaning the long grueling hours or the stress, but mainly just the use of technology instead of using costly books. Having more classes online helps me a lot too because I drive an hour to school each day. The occasional meeting in class is good, but driving everyday can be costly! This is why I think that colleges should take these types of students' concerns into consideration and teach using more up-to-date styles of technology than the old ways of teaching.

Blog Post #12

A Blog Post Dr. Strange Should Have Created

This is a set of instructions, like Dr. Strange gives us each week, for our Blog Post assignments. I was assigned Mr. Richard Byrne as a C4T in October. I actually got a little ahead and did my C4T a week early that week. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a cute program. I liked it so well that I also tweeted about it. That is why I chose this as an assignment that Dr. Strange should give to EDM310 students. While looking for the post I commented on, I discovered that Mr. Byrne has found some other interesting free technology ideas for teachers. This is how I decided to add the task of finding two more programs and writing about them. Maybe while the students are looking for these programs, they will see many ideas that they could use in their future classrooms.

1. Read the post and watch the video from "Richard Byrne's" blog post about "ScootPad." Create an account for ScootPad and sign up as a student to be able to check out the program as a student would do. Write your reaction about this program and if you would use this in your future classroom.

2. On Mr. Byrne website "Free Technology for Teachers," find two other programs that would work well in any grade K-5. Try the program out and post what you think the appropriate grade level would be. Post the link of the program and write about why you think it would be a good program to use. Send Mr. Richard Byrne a thank you tweet @rmbyrne and #EDM310.

ScootPad

I watched the video from "Richard Byrne's" blog post about "ScootPad." This is a good program to use when I become a teacher. I liked the idea of the reward system for an incentive for students with high scores. Either parents or teachers can reward students for their accomplishments. Parents can be involved with the teacher and students. I created an account and set up two unit lessons. One was in reading and one in math. I made up a student and went back in the program to try it out. I thought it was a great way for students to get extra practice for what they are already learning about in class. I think that I would use this program in my future classroom.

"Teach Your Monster to Read"

I found a good program to use on "Free Technology for Teachers" called "Teach Your Monster to Read." This is another cute program to use. I think this would be a good tool to use in grades K-1. This is a program that teaches the sounds of letters. A student can create a monster and a narrator tells a story. After they hear the story, it becomes interactive, and they win prizes for their accuracy. Teachers can log in at any time to check the progress of their students. This would make a great center idea or a "Fun Friday" game. This is an easy program to sign up on, and it's free.

Math Landing

I found another good program to use on "Free Technology for Teachers" called "Math Landing." Since math is my favorite subject and I want to teach fourth grade, I checked out a fraction game called "Bridge Builders." This particular game is for fourth graders. There are other games that you can find on "Math Landing." These could be for any grade K-6. The fraction game I found was using different size fraction bars to build a bridge so the lizard could cross the empty space. The student is required to build the bridge using the parts that the instructions say to use. For example, it would say to use 4 equal parts to make the bridge and the student would have to use four equal 1/4 parts. In my opinion, this would make learning fractions more fun for the students. I would like to use this type of program in my future classroom.

Summary Post C4T Teacher #3

Post #1

In "Unfiltered and Unfinished-My Musings" by Scott Kemp, he post quotes. This quote was from Terry Fails in Up and Down. It basically said that he knew what he had to do. It may cost him everything, but when you follow your heart, you shouldn't allow the small insignificant things stop you from doing what you know is right. He also wrote some brief thoughts along with this quote. He said that we don't always do what is right because we do what is easy. We know what's right in our hearts so why don't we do what's right? I posted a comment on his Mr. Kemp's post telling him that I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM310 and that I agreed with the quote. I said that it is hard to do what's right and that we like to take the easy road instead sometimes. We know what's right in our heart and should always stick to it and not let the small worthless things stop us. I also told him that I would strive to always do what is right when I become a teacher. I will not try to take the easy road out of doing what is right. I will try to not let the little things that don't even matter discourage me from doing what is right. I thanked him for posting this quote!

Post #2

In "Unfiltered and Unfinished-My Musings" by Scott Kemp, he post quotes. The quote I commented on was from, Junot Diaz. It basically said that without getting lost first, how can you find something new? He asked a question below it about how can we get "lost" and find something new. If we are lost our eyes should be open. He also asked how universal curriculum hindered or supported this. I told him that I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I said that I agree that we need to get "lost" sometimes to find something new. I compared when I lived in Okinawa, Japan and learning new places by going down unfamiliar roads to education. Sometime you have to go down unfamiliar roads to learn something new to teach. I told him that I think universal curriculum hinders this because administrators don't like change usually. I told him that I think that teachers should be given a more flexible guideline to be able to branch out on.

C4K Posts for the Month of October

C4K #3
In Ms. Dunlop's class, I commented on"Braedan's post". Braedan is a fourth grade student. He wrote his post about his trip to Florida. On this trip his i-touch was dead and he didn't seem to have a great ride there. He went to a hotel and luckily he was able to have some fun swimming. I told him that I was a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strang's EDM310 class. I also told him that I live in the panhandle of Florida. Braden didn't seem to have much fun on this trip other than the swimming, so I commented on that. Being that his i-touch was dead for the trip to Florida, I told him that I hope he was able to charge it, for the rest of his trip.

C4K #4
I commented on"A New Type of Learning"written by John on "The USHRS Blog". He explained how his first week in US History class went surprisingly unexpected. This hasn't completely changed his outlook on school, but he is optimistic about this class. The class this year will be more technologically centered. Not only will he connect with other students, but students will also connect with the teacher. Students will have a chance to figure out information on their own. He seems to be excited about this style of learning. I told him that I was a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class and that I enjoyed reading his post. I also mentioned we are learning to be the type of teacher he had described. I told him, that knowing students will get more out of a class like this, is encouraging.

C4K #5
I commented on "The Living Branch" by Angela. This is her first draft of this story. She wrote about a "living branch" on a living tree and how it goes through the different seasons. She was very descriptive about how the branch felt going through the seasons. The branch thought the summer was very hot and then it enjoyed the cool breezes of fall. Angela wrote about how harsh the winter was on the branch and how it wondered if it would survive and live another year. In the comment I left for her, I told her that I was a student at the University of South Alabama and in Dr. Strange's class, EDM310. I also told her that fall is the season that I enjoy most. I told her this was a good first draft.

C4K #6
I commented on "Quiana's post". She is a student from Alberta, Canada. She said in her post that she like to do gymnastics. She said that she lived in the Rocky Mountains in Rocky province. I told her that I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's class, EDM310 and that I live in Florida. I told her that was about an hour away from Mobile, Alabama where I go to school. I asked her if she had ever been to the United States. I told her that I had never been to Canada, but hope to go there one day. I told her that I had two daughters who also enjoyed doing gymnastics. I asked her if she watched the Olympics this summer, like my girls enjoyed doing. I visited her favorite links and found that she had posted the song "Beautiful," by Christina Aguilera. I told that I had seen that she posted that song and I like that song too.

C4K #7 Special Edition

I commented on "We Finally Viewed the Original!" by Dr.Paige Vitulli and Dr. Susan Santoli on their blog, "Eyes on Ireland." This post is about them finally getting to view a painting that is only allowed limited exposure to light. They did however get a chance to take a picture of it without using a flash. I told Dr. Vitulli that I am a student at the University of South Alabama in EDM310 and that I commented on her page at the beginning of the semester. I told her that I was glad they were enjoying Ireland. I also mentioned that I never knew that some paintings had certain viewing hours for limited light exposure. I told her that the picture they were allowed to take without using flash was awesome. I could only imagine how it may look in person. She asked a question below the picture of the painting, asking if something in your life that you have read, seen, or heard has changed you as a person. I told her that I have had a few things that have happened like that to me. I couldn't think of one example at the moment, but I know that it has happened.

Blog Post #11

First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class

In the video,"Little Kids...Big Potential," by Kathy Cassidy, first grade students share how they learn by using technology. They use blogs, a web page, wikis, videos, and Nintendo DS games to learn in their class. These students enjoy this way of learning.

Ms. Cassidy, a first grade teacher in Canada, uses technology in her classroom. In the "Skype Interview with Ms. Cassidy," she talks about how ten years ago she received five computers that did not have programs on them. She had to figure out a way to use them and decided to use the internet. She had great support from a technology coordinator who was looking for someone to try this style of learning. Even though he may have not been looking for first graders, it has worked.

The children enjoy writing on their classroom blog for the world to see. Ms. Cassidy uses "Class Blogmeister," and it shows how many people visit the blog and where they are from. The students get excited knowing that people from all over the world are reading what they write.

Parents seem to enjoy being able to see the students' work on the blog. On the first day of school Ms. Cassidy sends home a permission slip explaining what they will do in this class and gets permission for them to participate in this style of learning. Students are protected by only using their first names.

Like Ms. Cassidy said, technology isn't going anywhere. Using technology is a way of life for students, so they should be able to keep using it in schools, as well as at home. She mentioned that the students should be guided on how to use the internet in a positive way. The students are also taught to be nice to each other in their comments. She also recommends PLNs (Personal Learning Networks). She said that Twitter and other types of PLNs are very useful.

In my future classroom I hope that I can use blogs and Skype. I think writing a blog would be a great way to teach students to write and make it fun for them, knowing that the world is their audience. Skype would be a neat way to connect to students around the world to see what they are learning and share what we have done in our class. This takes show and tell to a whole new level. I will remind the students to stay positive and nice in their comments that they leave for each other. I will inform the parents and try to protect the students, much like the ways Ms. Cassidy mentioned. I think the students will have fun using technology to learn in my future classroom.

Special Blog Assignment

A World Where Grades Will Be Left Behind"

In the USA Today article, "A World Where Grades Will Be Left Behind" by Mary Beth Marklein, Google's Vice President and Stanford research professor Sebastian Thrun talks about Udacity. Udacity is his education company in Palo Alto, California, that is seeking to make a radical change in education. This change includes a fun, game-like learning style, which is free and has no grades. The courses are online and are taught by great professors across the world.

Udacity is a high-tech experiment, like many others, to take education to new levels. His friend, Sal Kahn, inspired something that we already have learned about this semester, how to "flip" the classroom. Other schools are also teaching game-playing curriculum at a cost as low as a cell phone bill.

Thrun said that technology has enabled educators to personalize education and make it better. At Udacity there are no more "one-size-fits-all" classes. The education will be tailored to fit the individual student. For example: a student can decide how much more or less instruction they may need to show that they understand a certain skill. He also said that grades will not exist, because he believes that grades are "the failure of the education system." The courses will be free, but there may be certification and exam fees that will be conducted separately from the learning process.

Even though this new way of learning may take off and be great, Thrun doesn't think that regular school will be going anywhere. He used the analogy of how movies didn't completely replace live theater, but movies can reach a larger crowd for a lower price. This is like the internet; it can reach more people than a school, located in just one spot, for a much lower price. He said that his vision offers "a message of hope, of aspiration--not of destruction."

My reaction to this article is mixed. Even though this concept sounds good, I have a few questions that concern me about this new way of learning. I like the idea that it will be mostly free, but somewhere in this process, money will have to be involved. Where will it come from? I also like the fact that there are no grades and individuals work at their own pace. The question I have about this is, where does the motivation come from? Some students are not self-motivated. If there are no grades, what makes them strive to do their best? I think the game-style curriculum will make it fun for learning, but real jobs are not always just playing games. I am interested to see Udacity's progress in the future.

This is an article that is celebrating USA Today's 30th anniversary. Along with Sebastian Thrun, they made a video of other visionaries, asking them to talk about how they think the world will be in "The Next 30 Years." I am excited about my future in teaching with technology and all the changes that will be made over the next 30 years.

Blog Post #10

Papermate vs. Ticonderoga

In the blog "Adventures in Pencil Integration" by John T. Spencer, the picture shows two characters who represent two different types of pencils: papermate and ticonderoga. In addition I think that they represent different styles of learning as well. The papermate character represents the old way of using paper and pencil in schools. The Ticonderoga represents the new style of learning through using technology. The old style, using only pencil and paper, is a cheap and out of date way of learning. Like the papermate says, he cost less, but always breaks. The Ticonderoga is more expensive, but it’s a one time buy. In my opinion, this is saying that investing in technology to teach and learn is more efficient and beneficial, than just using traditional pencil and paper style of learning.

Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?

"Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?" by John Spencer is a blog post about a conversation between a teacher and his principal. The principal tells him they need to talk. The principal is so stuck on his policies that he doesn't bend the rules for anything, even if it’s beneficial to someone else. For example, when he was meeting with the teacher, the principal won't close the door because of his open door policy.

The principal seems to be stuck in his way so much that he questions this teacher about playing games with the students. The “game,” as the principal refers to it, was having the students draw what they read about. The teacher argues his point by using examples of soldiers and surgeons using games and simulations as a part of their training. The principal doesn't agree with this analogy because the students aren't surgeons or soldiers, yet he compares it to the “Hang Man Fiasco of 1895.” What the principal doesn't understand in this conversation is that the students are engaged in learning by doing a project that seems to be a game. It is a fun way of learning for these students. They will eventually get more out of this way of learning than possibly the boring, out of date, pencil and paper style of learning the principal likes.

Taking what he has talked about with the principal, he decides he will continue to use “games”, which are fun ways of learning for the students, but will call it something different. The children will benefit more from this style of learning. This type of scenario is how I view of district level administration. They are not as connected to the classroom, yet they make rules and regulations for them. In theory what they come up with would work in a perfect classroom, with perfect students, and in a perfect world. This is not the case in most classrooms. Sometimes you have to accept change in order to accomplish more!

Are Pencils Making Us Narcissistic

I read the post "Are Pencils Making Us Narcissistic" by John Spencer which discusses how pen pal networks and plogs need to be viewed as education tools and not how someone who doesn't like change perceives them. The principal in this discussion is still reluctant to change.

Mr. Tom Brown is talking to the principal, and the principal warns him not use pen pal networks, plogs or the newspaper he created in his teaching. The principal said it’s making students self-centered. Tom then argued that mirrors make students more self-centered than “Pencils” do. Middle school age students tend to only think about themselves anyways. Whether they have “Pencils” or mirrors, it’s a stage that they go through.

The principal's only knowledge of what he is trying to stop is something that he read on how pencils are making people narcissistic. Once again this is an example of someone not in the situation and just in an office wanting to change something because of what they read. The teacher agrees to ask the students their opinion and change some of the descriptions to help the students, mainly the principal, feel better about it.

Mr. Brown ends with how it’s not a problem with the technology, but it’s what tone of voice is used. This is very true. I have said many times that you cannot hear the tone of voice using text messaging or blogs or other forms of writing. When a person reads it, they read it how they think it was intended. It may have been intended to sound different than how the person interpreted when they read it. With this being said, using different words to explain something may create a better environment for students.

Don’t teach your kids this stuff. Please?

“Don’t teach your kids this stuff. Please?” by Scott McLeod, is a great example of someone not wanting to change. In my opinion, the person is asking the schools and everyone involved in the students’ lives to not allow them to use anything to learn other than pencil and paper. Keeping them sheltered now doesn't mean they wont get into anything bad. One day these students will be out on-their-own and if they are not taught rules about technology, then they are more likely to get themselves in trouble. Teaching technology and guidelines for it today will help prepare students for the future. Even if people tried to shelter students from technology, they will access it somewhere. If they don’t have leadership of it now, how will they know what’s right or wrong in using it. Teachers are using technology to teach and it works, so why stop?

Project #11 Green Screen Project

Project #14 Smartboard

Project #10

Personal Learning Network
In this project I have learned how to create a PLN. I am currently using twitter with several of the recommended teachers from the list we have received. I have made a delicious account to collect links from twitter. I have joined Symbaloo and added teachers' blogs that will be helpful in my future teaching career. I hope to find more sites to add to Symbaloo. Having information I could use that I may need in my future classroom,all in one place, like Symbaloo, is awesome. If I have a question I can simply ask and possibly get several answers from different perspectives. I have included a few pictures of my PLN. I will continue to learn how I can change this to better suit me in the future.

Project #12

Blog Post #9

You Gotta Dance With Who Brought You to the Dance

In, “What I Learned This Year – Volume 4”, Mr. McClung has written a reflection about his fourth year of teaching. Mr. McClung has written a reflective blog post each year, beginning with his first year of teaching. In this post he said he did not learn as much as he thought he had.

Mr. McClung wanted to define himself as a teacher, but took the wrong approach. He started caring more about what the other teachers thought of him rather than caring what the students thought of him. He is there to make it a fun learning environment for students to learn. His superiors didn't have a problem with him, so he shouldn't have changed the way he was teaching.

I agree with Mr. McClung in this post. This is why we are striving to become teachers, to teach students, not worry about what other teachers may think about us. Students learning should be the most important thing to a teacher. If it takes stepping outside the box to teach students, then a teacher shouldn't fear what others think. I hope to become a teacher who doesn't care what other teachers think about how I teach, but that I am teaching the students in a fun and educational way.

Challenge Yourself

In this part of Mr. McClung’s post, he talks about how he has fallen into a rut because he has used the same lesson plans too many times. He has taught the same subject for three years. He figured out that becoming too comfortable causes his lesson plans to suck. Luckily he was given the opportunity to change grade level and subjects. Now he will be able to come up with new lesson plans. Even though it will be difficult and timely, it will be beneficial.

The valuable lesson that he learned was that getting into a routine can make him a lazy teacher. His creativity started to vanish. He didn't want this to happen, so he said he will strive to do better next year. This has given him an opportunity to help his students enjoy school in a way the he did not.

I think it is great that he shared this information. When I become a teacher, I will be more aware that things like this can happen. I will strive to stay up-to-date with new ideas to keep my class interesting for students. I will also, like he said, want to challenge myself to become a better teacher each year.

”What I’ve Learned This Year (2008-09)” In Mr. McClung’s blog post “What I've Learned This Year (2008-09),” he shares some great advice that he has learned during his first year of teaching. Mr. McClung said to remember who your audience is and not teach to impress your superiors. He also said to be flexible with the lesson plans that you prepare. Things need to be able to change to fit what the students need. He said not to stress over how the lesson plans should have gone, but work on improving them. He mentioned that communication with other teachers and students is very important.

Mr. McClung continues to say that we shouldn't expect students to be perfect, because we are not perfect ourselves. Don’t set the bar too high. We as teachers should be motivators. He advises that teachers should not be afraid of technology. These are tools that we can use to enhance the students' learning process. He says to listen to what students say. Students sometimes just want to be heard. He had given a survey, and one student responded that he felt like his teacher listened to him. This speaks volume that we should listen to students in our future classrooms.

He ends this post of his first year by saying that teachers should never stop learning. He said, “We owe it to our students.” This is very true, and I think that this is great advice for first year teachers. Just because you start out a certain way doesn't mean that you can’t change and try new and improved strategies for teaching.

C4T #2

C4T #1 I posted a comment for "Richard Byrne" on his post about "ScootPad". The ScootPad is a free program that connects teachers with students and possibly with parents. Teachers can teach common core curriculum on mathematics and reading using this program. Teachers can post homework assignments with activation and deactivation dates. It monitors students and their progress. ScootPad shows charts and scales of students assessments. Parents can see what their children are learning. I told Mr. Byrne that I think this is an awesome way for students to do homework. I think this is a great program and I would love to use it in my classroom when I become a teacher!

C4T #2
I posted a comment for Richard Byrne on his post about "Six Multimedia Timelines Creation Tools for Students". In this post he mentions six timeline programs. One that he mentions is Time Toast that we have learned about in EDM310. The other programs are Meograph,Dipity, XTimeline,myHistro, and TimeGlider. These are different from Time Toast. In Meograph you can create a timeline that not only timeline based, but also map-based. Using Dipity, the timelines you create can include text, images, and videos. The program myHistro also can include maps with the timeline like Meograph, but using google maps. He said that XTimeline would be better for teaching high school students. TimeGlider compares to XTimeline and it accepts A.D. and B.C. dates. I told him that I wasn't aware of all of these programs, but I had learned about TimeToast. I told him that I was excited to try some of the timeline creators that included the use of maps and videos! I think these will be great tools to use when I become a teacher!

Blog post #8

This Is How We Dream
In this two part video,"This Is How We Dream" by Richard Miller,he discusses how writing with multi-media will soon be the common thing to use like word processing is now. Not so long ago the common thing to use was books, pen, and paper to read and write. We still use them, but now we are using word processing programs to write and the internet to research information. Within a matter of seconds, information can be accessed on the internet, without having to step foot in a library.

When we go to the library, we can check out books. Once those books are checked out, they are no longer able to be read by another person until the books are returned. Reading documents on the internet makes it easier to share information. When a person is accessing the information on the internet, it can still be accessed by others at the same time. This is what Mr. Miller said is an incremental change.

A multi-media document can be composed collaboratively with video, text, and audio. I think this is an awesome way of teaching students because it teaches with three different learning styles. Instead of just reading information, students can hear it or watch a video to understand it. Students can learn not only history from a multi-media document, but they can be created to show current changes of information. For example, the presidential election can be shown on multi-media document and can show reactions of the voters when the election is over. The information can change right in front of you. I think that is an interesting way to use a multi-media document.

Dr. Richard Miller says, “Ideas don’t belong to us individually, they belong to us as a culture. We as educators must be in the business of sharing ideas freely.” This is such a true statement. I think that teachers should share helpful information with other teachers. When I become a teacher and find a new idea that will help me teach or my students learn, I will be glad to share it. He also said, “The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves.” The possibilities of technology are limitless, we just have to be creative and try the new possibilities. Students will eventually compose in this collaborative way and not use word processors. This is fundamentally different. This idea has taken off very fast. There are people that are composing by using the web without the use of the alphabet. These concepts of working in this way are mindboggling. I’m excited about this new way of learning and processing. I will try my best to not limit myself in learning new ideas and stay on the leading edge of technology.

Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12
In "Blog Post #12" by Carly Pugh, she makes a playlist of YouTube clips and pieces them together in her post. This is a great example of what Dr. Miller described about writing with multi-media. Carly added video clips in multiple sentences. These were of examples for her ideas or thoughts she wrote about. These video clips from YouTube totally brought her post together. Like writing with multi-media, Carly’s post is great for students who learn by different learning styles. Some students learn more by audio or video than just reading. This makes learning more interesting for them. I think she did an amazing job on this post!

“The Chipper Series”
In the video “The Chipper Series” I learned some valuable lessons about EDM310. Some of these lessons I already knew, but I learned about other concepts from watching this video. We don’t need to procrastinate like Chipper does in this video. We need to get our work done on time. The excuses that we use about why we procrastinate are always going to be around. They may change some, but there will always be something we can blame. If we change our habits now, then we have a chance at being better teachers. Teaching jobs are demanding in terms of time and effort and have deadlines much like EDM310. This class is like crash training in the teaching jobs we all want.

In the video Chipper says that she can predict the future, and that the future is present. From that, I understood that we don’t know exactly what tools (technology programs) we will use when we become teachers, so gather all the tools you can in this class. They will come in handy when we become teachers. We shouldn't waste time and money hoping for a chance to win the lottery. Getting an education will be a more sure way of getting a job.

Chipper mentions how her pilot school wasn't going well because the pilots couldn't get their licenses unless they actually flew the plane and not just completed the simulation. This made me think about how the programs that we use in EDM310 are the same ones we will use in our future classrooms. If we don’t understand and learn how to use them now, how will we expect to just walk in a classroom and figure them out? This is like a crash course on the leading edge of technology for the classroom. We will understand more if we do something rather than hearing about it and not trying it.

Even though this class seems overwhelming at times, Dr. Strange is giving us all the tools available to succeed in the future when we become teachers in the technologically advanced times we are living in today. All the excuses about why we can’t do something now will still be there when we become teachers and have to put in diligent hours of work. They may not be the same, but if they don’t change others will take their places. When we become teachers we will have to be in classrooms Monday-Friday and spend extra time at home to prepare for class. If we can’t do what we learn in EDM310 with the nine hours recommended, then will we be able to do what we need to do to teach a class? The habits concerning self-discipline we create to get our work done in a timely manner, meet deadlines, and do it right, will carry on throughout our careers as a teachers. If you quit like Chipper did in this video, then that is the pattern you will continue until you decide that what you were pursuing is what you wanted all along. You then have to make up for lost time. So fix it now and make time to continue with what you started.

This is a list of helpful ideas I learned from this video:

• Make punctuality a priority.

• Get as much out of school as you can.

• Don’t procrastinate and go to school when required and on time.

• Go above and beyond what is expected of you.

• You are training yourself for your future job.

EDM310 for Dummies
In the video "EDM310 for Dummies” I sometimes feel the same frustration demonstrated by the girls in the beginning of this video. They said they were going crazy and didn’t know much about the programs that were mentioned. Unlike them, I do know about some of the programs that we are learning, but did not have the desire to use them. I now understand the importance of these programs and I’m beginning to see the potential these tools have to enhance my future teaching ability.

I would like participate in, or create a video of how students in EDM310 feel when they receive comments on their blog post from Dr. Strange. We learn in peer editing to leave comments with encouragements and how to fix mistakes on our peer’s posts. When we receive comments from Dr. Strange they are not always encouraging. They simply point out our mistakes, and how to fix them. You can’t tell tone in text or e-mails. It sometime seems like he is being harsh, but in reality he may just be in a hurry. This sometimes can be discouraging. With this video I could assist others in understanding how his constructive criticism is beneficial.

"Learn to Change, Change to Learn"

In the video, “Learn to Change, Change to Learn” suggested by Christie Odom, many teachers from different backgrounds talked about how we need to change the way we teach to reach students.  Students are already using many types of technology for learning.  Most of these are banded from the schools.  Teachers need to be able to meet the students where they already have interests and use it for teaching purposes.  In this video, they said, “the U.S. Department of Commerce ranked education at the bottom of the list of I.T. intensiveness.”  This is even below coal mining.  I was shocked to hear that education was ranked number fifty-five out of fifty-five.  We need to change that.  Education should be more towards the top for sure.  

These teachers were talking about how we need to teach students by using technology. Standardize test are no longer preparing them for jobs they will have in the future. Students may be tested on their artist abilities, their creativity, and many other technology based abilities for jobs. Students will need to know how to find information, how to use it, and how to problem solve with the information they find.    They said this is a different style of learning than how we were raised.  Teachers also need to learn how to use these different programs and connect and share with other teachers.

"Scavenger Hunt 2.0"
In this scavenger hunt I found three tools I can use when I become a teacher on "Discovery Education 2.0 Web tools". I found a tool similar to Twitter/Facebook for teachers, parents and students called "Edmodo". I think this would be a great site to connect students with teachers and with parents. Most students already have a Facebook account. I could use this in my future class for the students to be able to connect with other classmates and me. If they needed help with a homework assignments they would be able to ask questions from home. I could ask random questions on this to possibly spark the students interests of what they would be learning for the next day. If parents had questions they could ask me on this site. Grades could also be accessed by parents and students. I think this is a great tool to use when I become a teacher.

The second tool I found on this scavenger hunt to use in my future classroom is "Slideshare". Their prices are kinda high, but teacher the pricing is 50% off. The silver plan for the education pricing is $114 a year. This isn't a bad price for this use of technology. If you want the next level, which is the gold level it's only $294. The platinum level is more expensive at $1494. I think that the silver level would be enough for a teacher to use this in his or her classroom.

The third and final tool I found on "Discovery Education 2.0 Web tools" was how to create a poll anywhere and at anytime. You can ask a variety of questions. This would be a great tool to use as a teacher to ask students questions and teach them about polls.

These are some interesting tools that I hope to use when I become a teacher. I think it will be useful and fun for the the students to use. With the tutorials they provide it makes it easy to learn how to use these programs. I'm glad I had an opportunity to experience this scavenger hunt.

Blog Post #7

A Networked Student
In the video "A Networked Student" it showed how a twenty-first student used networks to learn. I think this is a great way to learn. This 21st century student is not only connected to other students, but connected to great college professors around the world. Learning from being connected to other students gives him a more rounded view of many topics. This student knows that some of the information from the internet are opinions. He can form his own informed opinions and post them on his blog. It can start a sort of debate or discussion about a topic simply adding to the learning experience of the topic posted. I think he will be able to keep up with the comments he posts on much easier by subscribing to them. His research on Google Scholar will be a more reliable source to use while learning from the internet. I think it is a great idea to share certain sites that he finds that are valid and post them to a central website to share them for other students to use.

With his mp3 player, he can subscribe to podcasts from some of the greatest professors in the world. I have thought many times, since I drive an hour to and from school each day, that it would be awesome to be able to study while driving. That is an hour wasted each way, every day, that I could use this lecture style mp3 player system. Instead of listening to songs on the radio, or talking on my phone I could be learning valuable lessons that pertain to subjects that I’m already studying.

Teachers are important part of a student’s life. Students need to be guided, encouraged, and motivated in the learning process. Teachers also teach the students proper etiquette for asking authors questions and encourage them to ask questions. The internet can be overwhelming sometimes. Teachers can help students refine their topics so that searches are more effective. They can also help students use a variety of search tools other than Google, especially Wolfram Alpha and other specialized search tools that can be found on this list. The student can still branch out from there, but the teacher would give a student a good place to start.

Connecting with other students from many different states and countries can be an interesting way to learn. Teachers are still going to be needed, even though the internet has many ways of learning. Not all parents teach their children respect and the proper way of asking questions. Parents usually work and don’t have much time to motivate their children everyday like teachers do. Teachers can teach children without boring them with lectures and the students can feel that they are accomplishing many things on their own with some guidance. I understand some of the challenges that a networked teacher faces are difficult. I'm not sure if I am ready to be a networked teacher, but I am open-minded to the opportunity.

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
In the video, "A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment" the student is learning in a very similar way to the way we are in EDM310. She is a networked student in her science class. At the beginning of the year, she learned how to find certain information using the internet. Then she has learned how to blog the information. This is same thing we do, other than the fact that the sites have already been determined for us. Like our class, she also has a checklist to let her know what is due and when. She is using many of the same technology tools that we are learning about and using in EDM310. This student mentioned that if she does special reports, she can be certified to hold certain classroom animals. In EDM310 we don't have special reports to do and animals to hold. I'm sure that is a motivation for her to learn about an animal, to be certified to hold and physically learn more about them. This is awesome that a 7th grader is basically learning in the same way we are in EDM310. She will be better prepared for the future and especially if she goes to college to become a teacher.

Project #8

Blog Post #6

Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture
In the video, ”Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture”, I learned some valuable lessons that I can use in my classroom. When I become a teacher, I need to have a positive attitude. Not only towards the students, but also people who are giving me constructive criticism. I should take to heart and express to my students that we should listen to people who critique us. The people who give us constructive criticism, do it because they care. I will try to be earnest and listen to a "feedback loop", which are suggestions that others may have.

We all will come to “brick walls” in life. "Brick walls" are there for us to realize how much we want something. I need to teach my students that when we come to a brick wall, figure out a way around it or over it to proceed with our goals in mind. I need to be a leader and work hard. Randy mentioned that teachers need to learn how to "head fake" students. This is while teaching students one thing, they do not realize that they are learning something completely different. Sometimes they might think that they are merely having fun.

I will try to not get into an argument with a student. There are ways to tell a student they are wrong in a nice way. I need to motivate my students when showing them how they are wrong, by using different words. There is a good and bad ways to say, “I don’t know”. Sometimes it's not what you say, it's the way you say it that matters most. When I don’t know an answer to a question, I can offer to help them find the answer. As a teacher, if I am wrong about something, I am human and should admit my mistakes. Loyalty is a two way street and I need to be loyal to my students as they should be to me.

As a teacher I will need to encourage children to think about their goal and dreams they may have. I can give them projects to work as team mates and spark their interest. Being a teacher I need to set the bar of expectation high and the children will hopefully to achieve the standards I set. If you are patient enough with a student and believe in them, they will soon impress you. I need to look for the best in everyone and focus on the good not the bad. When my students do projects or something worth sharing, I need to share it with many. The classroom as a whole needs to bond with one another.

Randy mentioned using a video game technology to teach students. Making learning fun is a positive way of teaching. As a teacher I also need to help students have fun when they are learning something hard. I need to listen to my student’s ideas they may have and learn from them. I need to have fun and help others. I will pay attention to what my students do and not just to what they say.

My reaction to this video is that I am sad that this was his last lecture. Although it was his last one, he went out with an awesome lecture. He made some very valuable statements that I hope to use when I become a teacher.

Time Toast Time Line Project #9

C4K Summary for the month of September

C4K #1
I posted a comment for "Ajani's Diver Story". Ajani wrote a detailed story about how a deep sea diver named Tom, who fought an octopus for a treasure. Ajani wrote how Tom shared the treasure with his friends. I told him, I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class and that I enjoyed reading his story. I told him that I could picture Tom fighting off the octopus for the treasure. He did a great job!

C4K #2
I posted a comment for "Kennedy" a seventh grade student in Iowa. She posted a picture of a piece of a "Kentucky Coffeetree". I told her, I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class and let her know that I thought it was a cool picture she has posted. I also let her know that I checked out the sweet search that she mentioned. This is a great way to have students research and blog about plants they are learning about.

Project #6 My Sentence

Blog Post #5

The iSchool Initiative
In the video,"The iSchool Initiative", Travis Allen, a 17 year old senior from Georgia, gives his solution to America's education problem. In his high school, like many schools, they experience budget cuts, teachers being let go, and class sizes getting larger. His solution to these problems is allowing technology to completely take over the class room by using the iSchool. The iSchool will eliminate cost of books, paper, pencils, and copy machines. Apple iSchool would be built based off of the Apple iTouch and would cost around $150 per student. He states that iSchool will connect parents with teachers and what their students are learning. There are many apps he mentions that would teach students many subjects, including usage of scientific calculator app for math. The iSchool would be a more environmental friendly way of learning.

In the video "Zeitgeist Young Mind's Entry", Travis Allen said, he was 17 when he made the first youtube video,and at 18 years old he formed the iSchool Initiative, which is student lead and non profit organization that revolutionize education. Now that he is 20 years old and in college, in this video, he has a team of 25 people that travel the country to motivate school to try mobile learning. This revolution has been publicized around the country with many schools adopting this new technology. He states that we have to change the way we do things to prepare our youth for the digital age they were born in.

I think this is a great way to teach school, be more environmental friendly, and save money. The students would benefit from learning in a different and a more fun way. It would prepare students to be more technology savvy, considering that is the direction we are headed in. My questions to iSchool are, unless there is an app created for writing with a digital pen, how will students learn to write? What would happen if the power went out, if they were not in a solar powered school? And what would happen if the internet crashed? Is a solar powered school, for this technology, necessary and would it still be cost efficient to change the schools for this purpose? These are just a few concerns that I have, but if these were not problems, I think it is a great idea.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
I watched the video "Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir". Wow! That is an awesome way of utilizing the internet. I cannot fathom how we have got this far in technology. It seems like, not too long ago, we advanced from cassette tape players to CD's, VHS to DVD's, and now to blue rays. Technology has came a long way in a short time, it seems. To be able to connect peoples voices, that have never met, and put them together with a harmonization like that, is amazing! The people looked to be in many different locations including their home or office. This is awesome!

Teaching in the 21st Century
In the video,"Teaching in the 21st Century", by Kevin Roberts (John Strange version), Roberts is saying that we cannot merely teach the basics we need to teach students how to use technology. Yes the students have access to all kinds of knowledge on the internet with many resources, but they need to know how and how not to use them. Students need to understand what are the proper ways to use the internet. I think that the need to teacher will always be around.

Teacher are essential for encouraging and motivating students to continue learning and doing their best. Teachers also can give more non-bias opinions about topics on the internet. Just because the internet is out there and accessible, it doesn't meant that people are just going to use it or know how to use it. That is where teacher come in, they teach students to read and how to write to be able to use the internet. I think there will always be a need for teachers.

Flipped Classroom
In the videos,"Why I Flipped My Classroom",by Katie Gimbar, "Dr. Lodge McCammon's FIZZ-Flipping the Classroom",by Dr. Lodge McCammon, and "Flipping the Classroom-4th Grade STEM, by Ms. Munafo, they flipped their classrooms. I like the idea of making videos, teaching lessons, for student to watch at home. The student can learn at their own pace and ask for help in the classroom if they are not understanding what is being taught. I like this because I ask my own children what their teacher said about a subject that they are struggling with. If their teacher flipped their classroom, I could watch the video with them to understand how the teacher wants them to do something and help them with it. It truly does seem to be able to connect the teacher to the students and even can involve the parents.

I think that I could use this in a classroom. It would be a great way to teach a lesson. I would be nervous to make my own videos, but I think it would get more routine and less nervous. I think making the videos myself for my students would be more personalized and sincere, than just using prerecorded ones. This is a great idea.

Blog Post #4

1st Graders Create Own Read Along Book
In "Langwitches, 1st Graders Create Own Read Along Book", Ms.Tolisano shows how first graders benefit from creating the audio books. The teacher records the student reading the story chapter by chapter. As they read the story the 1st graders wanted to re-record to make it sound more theatrical. They wanted to put more emotion into their recorded readings. I think this is a great way to have kids involved in technology that sparks their interest. This does not teach them technology, but it uses technology as a tool for advances in learning and promotes a more exciting ways of reading. There are sounds used between the chapters for students that are following along to find their place, if they have lost it during the reading.

In one of the audio book examples, students used sounds of the animals that they were reading about. This is called garageband. This is a great way to get children interested in reading. Making it fun with animal noises and then hearing themselves read aloud with the sounds in appropriate spots during the story would be very exciting for a first grader.

Flat Stanley Podcast
In "Lanwitches, Flat Stanley Podcast" students make a podcast of the story they read, "Flat Stanley". The students in the podcast of this story seems excited about reading. I think this is a great way to excite the students about reading. Posting it for the world to connect is also exciting for the students to know that people all over the world is interested in their reading skills. My daughter and niece have both participated in a "Flat Stanley" project. They sent a "Flat Stanley" to each other houses in the mail and then had to write about his adventures on his trip. If they have made a podcast it would have made the project even more exciting for them.

Podcasting With 1st Grade
In Podcasting With 1st Grade, students made a podcast talking about the story they read, telling the story and pretending to interview the characters in it. This makes it fun for the first graders to hear their podcast with the added sound affects. When the podcast is posted on the internet, to be viewed all over the world, it makes it even more exciting for them to know that people around the world listen to their story. I know that my daughter, when she was in first grade, liked to talk about how people are famous and wanted to be famous one day too. These first graders having the world as their audience can almost feel as they are also famous. Students that may never get a chance in life to leave their state now have a way to connect with the world through reading with podcasting.

Project #5 Presentation

C4T Post #1

C4T #1 Post
For the C4T project #1, I commented on Paige Vitullis' blog post "Pondering Paige". In this blog, her most recent one, was on the day before the semester started. She has a positive outlook for what is to come in this semester. She also has a very busy schedule this semester. Ms. Vitulli will be traveling to Ireland, via a grant, for a conference. She will also be studying different cultures by connecting with them. I left her a post that I liked her outlook on the semester and wish her well on her trip and her study of the cultures.

C4T #2 Post I posted my second comment on Ms. Vitullis' blog post "Pondering Paige" on her post about, "NAEA Proposal Accepted: Connecting Communities with Chopsticks". In this post she shared a link about how she was accepted for this conference. This conference will be held in the spring in Texas. I congratulated her on being accepted and wished her well in this conference. I posted on a later post because there were no new post.

Blog Post #3

Peer Critiquing
For this blog post we were required to read "Paige Ellis' Blog Assignment #12" and view the slide show "Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial" and watch the video's "What is Peer Editing" and "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes". After learning from these videos, slide show and blog post we were required to critique a peers blog post entry. I was going to leave a comment though e-mail, but since I did not find an e-mail address listed on the post, I critiqued the post by leaving a comment. I think the post was well written with a few grammatical errors. I agreed with much of what was written in the post. If there would have been more errors and it wasn't well written, I would have taken more steps to send an e-mail instead. I feel like an e-mail gives a person a chance to fix their mistakes without having to feel like they were, "called out" in front of peers. Since there were only minor mistakes and it was well written, I felt comfortable leaving a comment.

In the before mentioned blog post, video, and slide show, I have learned a nice way to critique my peers. I learned that you need to start out with a compliment. Stay positive and peers will not feel like they are being attacked. Make suggestions about what they wrote and how it might enhance it, if it was written differently. Give them different word choices, details, and see if they stayed on topic.

After making suggestions if there are any punctuation, grammar, or spelling errors tell them specifically where they are and how to fix them. Continue to remain positive. Constructive criticism is better than being negative. I believe people will get a better response when they are nice about it and not making the person feel that their work is not worthy. I learned that when critiquing a peer to not be over critical. I will try to treat others with the same respect that I would like to be treated with.

Technology in Special Education
In the video "Technology in Special Education" , Ms. Cook explained the importance of technology in a special education class. She showed examples of how students worked with and without advanced technology. The children seem to respond to using technology with better attitudes and seemed to be more productive. These technologies used also benefits the teacher. When a student can't read well it takes someone to help with reading, but with an ipod students can listen to audio books which makes it fun for the student. The students have more fun with the technology and have better attitudes about learning. This also benefits the teacher.

In the video we saw students that aren't able to speak. Using laptops gives these students a way to communicate more efficiently. A student that is special needs, handwriting isn't always legible. The use of lap tops the students can type or click words to communicate. Students with vision problems, a program called "zoom text" can magnify the words on a computer for students to see clearer. This is basically breaking down barriers of communication between students and teachers.

Teaching special needs students how to use computers and other types of technology will prepare them for jobs they may possibly have in the future. Keeping them up to date with technology gives them more opportunities to actually get a job. I would use as much technology as I could for my students to give them a fun learning experience and prepare them for possible jobs. I can communicate with the parents by way of e-mail or a website listing what the lessons are and how to help their children with homework. I have worked with a special needs child that could not speak and the computer she used helped tremendously with communication.

How the iPad Works with Academics for Autism
In the video How the iPad Works with Academic for Autism" parents were working with an autistic child using toddler counting, my first word, and kids writing pad. All of these apps would work in a classroom depending on the age and skill level of the student. I found an app called MathBoard at "Apple.Education Apps.com". With MathBoard I could teach them how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. This would be a fun and interactive way of learning. Math is my favorite subject and there are also apps as Math Bingo that would be a fun game to help them learn as well.

I like the counting exercise that was the toddler counting app. For lower level learners I could use that to teach them how to count before teaching them to add and subtract. In the use of iPads the students could hopefully have on at home to be able to work with parents to keep them involved in their education. A student could show parents what they have learned for reinforcement of encouragement. I believe if school have funding of this kind of technology it will greatly benefit students with special needs.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
In the video,"Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts"by Vicki Davis she shows us how she teaches students using their interest and strengths. She focuses on which group of students like what kinds of technologies and then allows them to teach the rest of the class. I think this is an awesome way of learning. She uses vocabulary that they have to research on the internet. This is using a creative way of teaching literacy. Sometimes the students even teach her something new.

The students on this video were from a small time in a rural area. Some students aren't able to travel, but introducing them to blogging is a way to connect them with the world. It gives them a chance to look at other cultures without having to leave home. I think this is a great opportunity for students to connect with other cultures and a learning process that isn't offered in books alone. It is the most current and up-to-date information about what a country or culture is experiencing.