Response to "Did You Know" Presentation

This presentation has started me thinking and almost worrying about where I will be sending my children to school. They just turned two and I know it seems early, but now is when I should start thinking about it, especially when there are waiting lists at some schools. Up to this point, I have been focused on being able to send my children to a private school because I went to a private school and loved it and would want them to have the same opportunity, but now I think I need to reconsider.

After viewing this presentation, my thoughts have shifted to a whole new thinking process. I am now questioning if the private school I want to send my children to is equipped with the skills my children will need to make it in this world successfully. I think that public schools are probably more equipped now than private schools for our changing world. Now, I feel like I am going to have a hard time deciding whether to send my child to a private school and hopefully protect them from some of the negative behavior they would be exposed to in a public school or send them to a public school where they might be better prepared for what is ahead. I am thankful that I viewed this presentation because now I know the types of questions I need to ask the administrators before deciding to send my children to a particular school whether it’s private or public.

iTunes University

I feel iTunes University would be a very helpful tool to me as a student in many ways. If I was in search of a University to attend, I would be able to go to itunes University and within minutes I would be able to find lots of information about that Unviersity. I also feel the recordings of class lectures to be a very big pro for iTunes University. If I need supplemental information on a particular subject, I could put in my key words in the search tool and within seconds have many lectures to choose from. The best part about it is that the lectures are free, as well as audio books. Books are expensive these days and as a student and a parent, I need to save as much money as possible.

Another great feature for iTunes University is that you can be anywhere to access it. You can access it through your IPod, phone, Mac, or PC. This would be a great way to maximize your time and educate yourself while in the car or in an airplane. There are great organizational tools available as well. You can organize your tracks in folders for easy access. I know how crazy and full my days are, but knowing I can go to a specific folder and find everything I need in one place makes for a better day.

My Response to Karl Fisch's Blog Post

After reading the post titled, Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher from Karl Fisch’s staff development blog for Arapahoe High School, I have formed several different opinions regarding the statements made. I do agree with some of the statements made, but some were a little extreme. Because of their bluntness, I do see how the staff at this school would be annoyed by the statements made.

I realize that there are many teachers that have been teaching for 20 or more years that did not grow up with or get any schooling on the use of computers or many other technologies today, but with today’s technological advanced society, it would be an injustice to your students if you didn’t try your best to get educated. I do think that there is a general feeling among older generations of teachers that it’s okay to be technologically illiterate, but I think the younger generations of teachers feel that it is not okay. I do not see how today’s student’s of the colleges of education would be able to graduate if they were illiterate when it comes to technology or even the basic functions of the computer. There are many useful tools that can be obtained from the computer to enhance your student’s learning. Almost every job out there requires some sort of use of technology and it is our job as teachers to prepare them for it.

Podcasts by EDM 310 Classes Spring 2009

My EDM 310 class will be doing our own podcast in a few weeks, so I listened to two podcasts from Bob Wakeman’s EDM 310 class from last semester to get familiar with how they are done and to see how I might introduce improvements in my podcast. The first podcast I listened to was titled, The Last Lecture of Randy Paulch BW0119W and the second was titled, Shift Happens and How it Affects Me as a Teacher BW0818.

By listening to these podcasts, I identified some weaknesses that I will try to improve on in my podcast. Some of the podcasts I listened to jumped right into talking and I was lost because I didn’t know the topic. I noticed that in one of the podcast, someone started talking about a video, but I had no idea what the video was about because there wasn’t an explanation about a video. I will let the listeners know what the discussion is going to be about and not just say the title of the podcast. Also, some students sounded like they were reading and not having a conversation. I will try to talk with emotion and not in one tone so my listeners will not go to sleep. These are just a few ways I will try to improve my podcast.

International Schools' Blogs

Zurich International School is located in Switzerland. The school’s website uses a blog on its site which can be found using the following link:Click Here
The main focus of this blog is to raise awareness to the students, their families, and the community of the impact we have on our environment and ways we can help our environment. The blog contains questions, further readings, speakers, and a calendar of events.




North Jakarta International School is located in Indonesia. The school website uses a blog mainly for the parents that can be found using the following link: Click Here

The main focus of this blog is to keep the parents informed about what is going on at the school. It also updates the parents on the results of recent events as well as solicits help from the parents for events that are coming up. There is also a place for parents to make comments.

Podcast

This weeks task was to go into iTunes and listen to various podcasts to get an idea how podcasts are produced. I listened to the following podcasts: Smart Board Lessons, KidCast, Connect Learning, EdTech Talk, MacBreak Weekly, and This Week in Photography. I found podcast can be done in different ways.

In this particular Smart Board Lesson podcast, there are two hosts, but they are not in the same room or even in the same state. They are thousands of miles away in their own office co-hosting together. As soon as the posdcast begins, one of the hosts introduces the topic that is going to be discussed during the session, which is math movies. Then he introduces the co-host and ask what specifically she is going to be discussing. Once the other co-host is introduced, they start talking about random things that have happened to them recently then they get into the main discussion of the math movie topic. For the remaining time of the podcast they discuss different math movie links and ways to incorporate them into lessons with the class.

With this particular KidCast podcast, there is only one host talking in conversational form but with just the listeners. The host jumps right into the topic after introducing the topic. The topic for this podcast is video podcasting which is basically audio podcast using video as a medium. He basically discusses the myths of video podcasting as well as the pros and cons. The entire session is very informative dealing only with video podcasting.

ConnectLearning episode 90 consists of a host on special location with an audience of thousands. The host starts off by introducing himself and giving the date. He lets the music play for several seconds and then introduces the topic of podcasting in the classroom. He immediately opens the floor to his audience allowing them to ask questions they have regarding using podcast in their school. The host then gives the audience his take on the question given.

MacBbreak Weekly podcast consist of two hosts in the same studio. The podcast starts off by giving credit to their sponsors. Next, they start talking about things that have been going on with them and what is new in the Apple industry. The hosts basically go back in forth with each other discussing the topics at hand and their experiences.

EdTechtalk podcast consist of several host. The hosts incourage the listeners to chat along with them during the podcast. The main host welcomes everyone and then the other hosts start discussing their topics. They basically talk back in forth about issues they have been having and the other hosts share their ideas on the subject.

This Week in Photography podcast consist of several hosts as well as a special co-host. The co-hosts are all in different locations. They start off by giving credit to their sponsors. Next, they talk about what’s in the news concerning their topics which has to do with photography. They ask questions back in forth to each other concerning these gadgets and give their ideas on the matter.

My Presentation

Use of Blogs in Schools

Shepard Elementary School, located in Columbia, Missouri, uses a blog which can be accessed through the school's website. You can get to the website by following this link Click Here

A teacher of this school, Mr. Villasana, uses a class blog for many reasons. He provides family information, information about him, information about the school, student pages, and student projects. He also provides a secure login for his students to post items that they might only want him to see. He gives them each a user login id and a password.




Eugenia Porter Rayzor Elementary School, located in Argyle, Texas, also uses a blog which can be accessed through the school's website. You can find the website by following this link Click Here

The school uses this blog mainly for the parents of the students. It is a classroom assignment blog for parents. The school involves the parents by posting questions that they would like their feedback on regarding assignments for the students. They have a form listed for the parents to fill out including their name, email, and comments that is to be submitted once completed. Their comments have to be approved by the school staff before being posted on the site.

ACCESS Distance Learning

ACCESS stands for Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide. This is a web-based program that allows students to take advanced placement courses, electives, or other courses that are not offered at their school. ACCESS Distance Learning provides every student an equal opportunity to achieve their goals no matter what their limitations are at the school they attend.

There are many benefits for students who choose online learning. Students will get instruction from highly qualified teachers who are provided with multimedia and technology tools for effective teaching. Not only will students interact with teachers, they will be able to interact with other students. ACCESS offers web-based courses as well as interactive video conferencing courses. The online courses can be synchronous or asynchronous. Using ACCESS will allow students to reach for the stars.

Picture Test

My University

Take a look at the University I attend Click Here