Blog Post #6

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

In the video Randy Pausch's Last Lecture he was very enthusiastic even as he was dying. While ill he continued lectures helping students and teachers learn more about technology,learning and teaching. He was very encouraging. He made a good point about the football coach practicing without the players touching a football. Randy knew not all players touched the football. He knew those players who did not touch the football needed skills that were just as important as those who touched the ball. Those skills were new for some not so new for others on the team.

Leadership was another skill Randy talked about. He used the example of Capt. Kirk on Star Trek and how he lead the spaceship and the crew very well. Capt. Kirk had a cool personality and used cool technology.

Randy talked about how books were becoming extinct because of all the ways available to download books on technology from many different websites. We currently have the iPhone, Ipad, Nook, Kindle, Laptops, Notebooks, and many other electronic devices to enable students to download books. It's amazing when you think of all the money saved by schools districts by not purchasing textbooks.

Lectures and student assignments are being posted on the internet. There are blended classes available where a student meets for a short period in a classroom and the remainder of the time is spent outside the classroom working independently. This is a great way to learn and can meet the needs of all of the students. It does require responsibility on the part of the student. Students who learn fast,are not held back and can work ahead at will. Some schools are talking about turning classroom labs and classrooms into virtual rooms. This is a great idea! Virtual classrooms would allow opportunity for sharing of ideas from people of different cultures and brainstorming would reach a new level with so many ideas discussed and the reasons for them.

Randy Pausch continued his quest to encourage use of technology in our schools so we ...the world would all be on the same page some day.

Blog Post #5

The iSchool Initiative

Travis Allen thinks all aspects of learning can be totally technology deliverable.He feels schools could save money on the cost of textbooks and teacher salaries.Travis knows the shape of our schools and the money issues today and feels he knows the solution. He is convinced the school based apps available today are the solution to the money woes of schools.
As I listened to Travis, it was easy to believe he was right in his thinking. He demonstrated and talked about apps I did not know existed. Interactive books and electronic formats would allow for immediate updates to curriculum for teachers and more effective learning for the students. The iSchool may very well be the way of learning in the future and would prove beneficial where money is concerned but what will happen to the quality of learning? If only everyone was as technology literate as Travis seems to be. What about the people who are not? I actually like the way he thinks, however, I see the other side of the coin also. There are different learning styles of people to keep in mind. Everyone does not learn in the same way. As teachers we must remember that when we deliver information. The educational apps are all great... but some people need face to face interaction and they should not suffer because the world is so focused on technology. Technology is a good thing and I am not knocking it,I just think everyone should be considered when making a decision to become an iSchool. I also feel very strong about calling the school an iSchool. Does that mean Apple would be the only contributor to the school as for as educational apps or pieces of technology? Would there be room for any other competitors to compete? Just my thoughts.

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir

This video was excellent. It was a perfect use of the internet. The idea of a virtual career is amazing. Anyone who wants to try out for the choir has the opportunity to do so. The video was inspiring and the music and voices Heavenly. The voices were beautiful and soothing to the ear. While listening to the choir, I closed my eyes and it felt as if I was inside a cathedral. This video gave me goosebumps. I loved it and it has so much potential. Imagine a worldwide virtual choir bringing us all together! The concept is phenomenal.

Teaching in the 21st Century

Teaching in the future will definitely not be so rigid and scripted as it is now. While creativity is not encouraged and included in the way academics are taught... it will be an integral part of classroom academics in the future. Creativity will be encouraged because without it discoveries will not be made. Freedom of expression will allow new ideas discussed and a freedom to learn environment. Art will be used to inspire and explore mindsets. The use of your imagination will be a part of everyday learning while making learning fun. Science will be as important as Dance. Math will be as important as Art and English will be as important as Technology. It's a small world with lots of different people and if we learn together, the world will become a better place.

Why I Flipped My Classroom and Flipped Classroom

I enjoyed watching these two videos. I really became excited watching them because I could visualize myself using the techniques in my classroom. The Flipped classroom would allow time to teach all of the students. Every classroom will have those high achievers, the middle of the road student and some who are struggling. This approach allows pre-loading the content, working ahead, self pacing, and remediation. It also allows time for more application of the content and less time delivering the content. Struggling students have more of an opportunity to get one on one instructions and there is more time to work with all groups of students. The Flipped classroom is such a wonderful approach to teaching with many benefits for the students and the teachers.

My Sentence Video Project #6

Project 9 Keynote

My Gulf Shores Vacation

Project #5 Presentation "About You"

Blog Post # 4

Langwitches Blog

Ms. Tolisano talked about the podcasts she made with her class. In the podcast  Podcasting with First Graders, she talks about the class creating a podcast about the book they were reading. They discussed questions to ask the main characters in the book as if they were going to interview them. Ms. Tolisano used the questions and answers to create a script for the children to use in the podcast. Students took turns recording specific parts of the script.

This was a great exercise.The students enjoyed listening to their voices on the podcast.The students learned new skills and improved skills they already had. Continuous learning was certainly taking place in this activity. The students were unaware of the sills they were learning new like voice acting, oral fluency and media technology. I can see how easy it would be to incorporate this activity into any of their subjects. I believe this activity would cause students to want to participate and knock out boredom in a classroom. I love this!

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

Joe Dale talked about the benefits of podcasts in the classroom. In his video  Benefits of Podcasts in the Classroom  he talked about many benefits and gave examples. Creating podcasts helps students become excited about learning subjects that may otherwise be a source of boredom. There is quick access for students who may miss a class or two. Learning becomes fun. Parents also have the opportunity to communicate and hear what their children are learning.

Judy Scharf's Podcast Collection

The Podcast Collection describes a podcast as a"radio style" talk show. She discusses using podcasts in the classroom and how they are a benefit. In the post you will find instructions for creating a podcast. There are many teacher resources on making podcast included within this post. This post is very beneficial to teachers who would like to include podcasts as part of their class. I will refer to this post often as I prepare to make my podcast.

C4T #1 SUMMARY

Summary: Mr. Jabiz is a teacher struggling with how to connect with his students at the beginning of the school year. He is feeling all the anxiety that most teachers feel during that time of year. It has been a very long week for him. He wants to get to know his students, learn their names, understand their needs and explore their personalities. He’s ready to find his groove with his class. He’s trying new things and using words that inspire and empower. He has begun using ideas from other teachers and encourages others to share.

  Response: Young children are very smart. They know when adults don’t want to be around them. I advised the teacher to talk, listen and observe the students. Try walking in the students’ shoes to connect to them. Talk openly about what you observe and hear. Allow students to express how they feel and this should help you connect. This could possibly be an ongoing activity.

 Response to another viewer on this blog. Students know when you are real or fake with them. It may not not be anything you’ve said or done. A child’s inner spirit kicks in when they are around adults. They instinctively know when adults don’t want to be around them. I believe you can reach all children, some sooner than others. Try getting to know the world they live in through conversation with the children. Talk, listen, observe as much as you can. Listen and observe more than you talk. Talk openly about what you observed or heard. Allow them to express how they feel about what you have observed and heard. Take a walk in their shoes and you will connect on some level. Unconditional acceptance is the key.