Blog Post #15 Final Reflection Video

Blog Post #14

"Top ten tips for using technology in the classroom"

In our last blog post (I can't believe it's here!) we were asked to check out Mr. Picardo's blog "Box of Tricks" and his video "Top ten tips for using technology in the classroom". The tools he used were very effective and in my opinion, that's the perfect word for the point he was trying to get across. He had a very well organized list in his video that broke down each of his top 10 choices.

His video stressed the importance and roll technology has in the classroom. He went on to say "Use technology only when it helps you achieve your education objectives". I think that quote was very important because technology doesn't need to be forced. We've talked a lot about this subject and in my opinion it has been the focal point of this entire class. Having said that, technology doesn't need to be forced but it should play a much bigger role than it currently is. He also mentioned using iPods, iPhones, Facebook, music, and many other popular ways to connect with students. I hope local teachers and administrators take some of Mr. Picardo's points and find ways to implement them in today's school system.

Summary Post C4K (covering November comments)

"My student, Paris' Blog"

C4K 11/20/11

Hey I'm a student in Dr. Strange EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama and I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your blog Paris! Learning about space are some of the most fun times you'll have in school. That's very interesting what they did in the Assembly. They put the teachers faces over the actors faces? Like your teacher's face over Darth Vader's so to speak? Anyways, I enjoyed reading your blog and I can't wait to see how it all went next week! Bye!

C4K 11/13/11

"Mrs. Yollis' 365 Project"

Hey Mrs. Yollis! My name is Jonathan Giles and I'm a student in Dr. Strange EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I love the use of your blog and how well laid out it is. I'm assuming this blog post helps your students learn how to upload pictures to their blogs while also starting up good conversation by introducing a good topic (What kind of tree's we have in our yards). I have pecan trees in my yard! I look forward to checking out you and your student's blogs more and more and I'm truly flattered by how well and professional it looks and feels!

My Summary:

Doing C4K's was like a trip/blast to the past. I loved it. I remember so many that aren't listed here. But like Paris learning about space and what her school and teachers did for the assembly is so cool. It vividly reminds me walking through our gym in elementary school seeing the huge space center for "space week" and my mind was constantly racing about space, the sky, stars, rocketships, etc. It truly was one of my favorite weeks of school and I'm so glad I got to read about a child currently experiencing the magic of a time like that.

As for my other C4K, it's like a trip to the present and future (kind of). It let me know and see what teacher's are doing today with their kids in school. Seeing Mrs. Yollis and what she's done from a teacher's standpoint for her children is phenominal. Then from a professional and parent's standpoint what she's done with her website and how she broke everything down is nothing short of legendary. My mother would have loved a network set up for me at the time. The things she's been able to do are wonderful and I'm glad I got to witness it. I enjoyed each and every C4K and I hope I made that child's day better when they read my comment I left for them!

Summary Post C4T Teacher #4 Post #2

My C4T from 11/13/11

"This is Angela's Blog I commented on"

Hello Angela, back again! My name is Jonathan Giles and I'm a student in Dr. Strange EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Another very well written article and one I whole heartedly agree with. iPad's and many other forms of technology belong in the classroom, period. i had the opportunity of substitute teaching this entire past week for my old high school and it frustrates me in so many ways how technology is just so absent to this day.

I don't know exactly how it's going to happen, but I know it needs to happen. Me and my group in Dr. strange class are organizing a survey to send out to all the local schools that asks question about the use of technology in the classrooms and I can't wait to see the results. Hopefully something gets passed in the near future or anything that gets things like the iPad and many other things into the classroom as soon as possible. Your article did a fabulous job of introducing key reasons as to why this kind of technology belongs in the classroom. i'll see you again next weeK! Ha ha.

My C4T from 11/28/11

"Second blog of Angela's I commented on"

http://www.angelamaiers.com/2011/11/guest-post-connected-education.html

Hey Angela! Once again, my name is Jonathan Giles and I'm a student in Dr. Strange EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Kinect Education seems like an unbelievably awesome idea. I'm assuming it goes hand in hand with how Kinect works for Xbox 360? I've witnessed the technology and I've honestly thought it could be a wonderful tool to use in the classroom as well as gaming. It just seems like such a clean, hassle free, yet effective and fun way of teaching and learning.

If it doesn't have anything to do with Kinect for Xbox 360 (I'd be shocked) then it's still great. They are so much alike and show so many similarities! I also love your points about what your goals as an educator should be. I subbed (substituted for a friend of mine) 9th grade at my old high school a couple weeks ago and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait to have a class of my own, but my only problem was the fine line between discipline and becoming their friend. I guess what I'm talking about is the fine line between knowing when to be their friend and when to be their teacher. I think that's an area I could get better in. I will definitely stress some of your points that I agree with to my students such as learning the material first to help them flourish academically but also I want to get to know all my students personally. It's why I'm getting into teaching.

I love your ambitious style Angela and I hope I'm as good of a teacher as you are! I've absolutely loved reading your blogs and even when this class ends I've bookmarked you and will continue to read your posts. See you next time!

My summary of the two assignments above:

Angela has a way with words. Her blogs were a joy to read. She spoke about things that were relevant and about things that mattered. She doesn't beat around the bush long and gets straight to the point. She's also very interested in finding new and exciting ways for her students to learn, like Kinect and iPads in the assignments above. She's constantly learning herself and that makes it a joy to read her work. She practices what she preaches. Teacher's should never stop learning and learning new technology is a great way to do that. I look forward to keeping up with Angela's work in the future.

Final Report on PLN

I have found that I'm going to be sticking (at least for now) with tabs and bookmarking. For a specific time period like a semester for example, I usually have everything I need "tabbed". When a semester ends, or another season ends that I have tabs for, I delete the tabs and replace them with something relevant that I currently have going on. If there's a site that I don't think I'll visit often enough or I know I'll only need it for a couple of times, I'll just bookmark it. I wasn't used to doing this prior to this semester, but I've gotten better as time has gone along. My PLE or PLN might be simple, but it works and works well for me.

Project #10 - Person Learning Network (PLN or PLE)

Originally I thought I completed this when it was due earlier in the semester but I just realized I did not. My personal learning network started out with symbaoo. But as time went on. I kind of had a network of my own. Here and there I forgot to bookmark a thing or two but I started making my own tabs. Using Safari, I created a "tab" for all of my schooling and learning needs. I have a tab for the class blog, my personal blog, one that takes me to the instruction manual, to blog post assignments, to our project instructions, to our required activities, to twitter, and so much more. This, along with bookmaking has kept me organized and given me easy and fast access to the places I visit the most.

Final Project #16