Thursday, April 24, 2014

Blog Post #13

One thing that I think could be beneficial is looking up apps that help in the classroom. Each student can look up apps that they could use in the classroom. For example, someone who is studying to be a secondary history teacher can look up history apps and make a blog post about them. Since I'm a secondary English major I've found a couple of apps that I can use in my classroom. Swipespear is a Shakespeare app that has every work by Shakespeare in the original text and a modern text, so it is easier to understand. Another app I like for the classroom is an interactive Edgar Allan Poe app that I love. It's called iPoe. It has interactive illustrations for different Edgar Allan Poe works. Apps in the classroom can be very fun and educational. Having a blog post dedicated to them can be very helpful for future students.

Apple App Store

Apple Icon

Friday, April 18, 2014

April C4K Summary

Isaiah
Isaiah's blog post was a story about a calf who gets lost in the snow. It was a very creative story, and it had a happy ending. I told him that I enjoyed reading it and to never stop writing.
Talita
Talita's blog was about a celebration the girls in her class were participating in. They were able to dress in some very cool costumes and preform a dance. I told her that her blog post was very organized, and I loved the photos of their costumes. They looked like they were having a lot of fun.
Leilani
Leilani wrote a great story about a giraffe named Harold. Instead of writing a post, she told her story in a video. I let her know how much I loved the story. I also told her that the video was a great idea.
I think therefore I blog

Blog Post #12

Assistive technologies are designed to help individuals with disabilities or impairments. There are many assistive technologies out there for the classroom. There is everything from alternative keyboards to braille embossers. An alternative keyboard is a computer keyboard that is a little different to help accommodate the student. The keyboards can have larger keys or smaller keys. They can also be fitted so that they can be used with one hand. There are also braille embossers for the students who read braille. The braille embosser turns computer generated text into braille. There are also screen enlargers or magnifiers for the students that are hard-of-seeing but do not read braille. These are not the only assistive technologies available to teachers There are so many more out there, and the possibilities are endless. Assistive technologies are great tools for the classroom. They make it possible for all students to get a quality education.
Girl using an alternative keyboard
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Sunday, April 6, 2014

Interview Video



Song: "Perfume" by Britney Spears

Blog Post #11

Kayla
There are so many great points to Brian Crosby's Back to the Future lecture.Not only is he showing a perfect example of project based learning, he is showing that students are capable of so much more than we give them credit for sometimes. Even though some of his students don't know their addresses and phone numbers, they excel at the balloon project. They are even excited about it. He is so right. We need to stop racing kids through school. Let them get excited and learn at the same time, and the results will be better.

In Paul Anderson's video, Blended Learning Cycle, he begins with getting back to the power of the question. I love the formula he uses for his lessons. It begins with a question. That question is followed up with an investigation done by the students. He has a video lesson that the students watch on their own time, and that frees him up to help them elaborate and review before they have a quiz. I really like the idea of the students having access to the lesson ahead of time. This goes back to flipping the classroom. This allows for more class time to be spent doing hands-on activities.

Paul Anderson and Brian Crosby are not the only teachers that are utilizing the project based learning method for teaching. In these videos there are a few more examples of how learning is changing.
Making Thinking Visible
Project Based Learning
Building Comics

Jasmine
In Brian Crosby's Back to the Future video, he talks about his ESL class and shows a project that they did involving a balloon. This balloon project taught them the scientific side, pressure, and also helped the students further their knowledge for technology. Rather than it being a typical science class with homework and tests, they would have to write blog posts on the experiments that they performed in class and research information for experiments. One point I found very interesting was when he said that we shouldn't race kids through school, they should be excited about what they are learning rather than dread going to school everyday.

In Paul Anderson's video, the Blended Learning Cycle, he presents a way to combine blended learning (online, mobile, and classroom) and the learning cycle (engage, explore, explain, expand; which all four E's evolve around evaluation). His teaching method was "Quivers" : Question, Investigation, Video, Elaboration, Review, and Summary quiz. The question is what hooks the students and gets them interested in what he is teaching. The students investigate by experimenting and examining what is happening. The video is what the students watch on their own time to free up more class time for experimenting. Elaboration is when the students read about what they are doing. Then they review what they have learned before taking a summary quiz. This way of teaching ensures the students leave the classroom truly knowing what was taught.

In Sam Pane's video, Super Digital Citizen, he teaches his students about internet safety. They create comics about a digital superhero that they make. They create a situation that could happen on the internet that they could avoid by using correct internet safety. They include themselves in the comic and tell their story. This project not only teaches them internet safety, but it also lets them incorporate technology into their learning.

In Dean Shareski's video, Project Based Learning, three come together and combine their class as one. History, English, and information processing are combined to make a class that depends on project based learning for a unique learning experience. Project based learning is a very effective method of teaching which involves the students in the lesson more than regular lecture based learning. One interesting point I found in this video was that starting PBL at an early age can help students overcome the fear of public speaking. If we start students off early with presenting in front of their peers, then they most likely won't be afraid to stand in front of people and present later on in life. They would have already overcome that fear in elementary. school. Project based learning is very effective, even in the long run of life.

school books, graduation hat, and mouse

Saturday, April 5, 2014

C4T Summary #3

Dianne is a teacher who dedicates her blog to technology and using it in the classroom. The first blog post of hers that I read was about the changes that are happening regarding what students need to learn. Students today are needing to learn things that were not even thought of fifty years ago. I completely agreed with her. These are different times, so students are responsible for different things. I commented that times are definitely changing. Students need to be able to use the tools available to them, and they need to be able to use them responsibly.

The second blog post that I read had a link for a list of media etiquette guidelines. I think that this is so important because social media and things of that nature are a huge part of our student's lives. I commented that media etiquette is so important in today's society. Social media can be a great tool if it used responsibly. So many people do not use it responsibly, and that is when it can be a problem. As teachers, we want to make responsible global citizens out of our students, so we need to make sure they know media etiquette.

Dianne's Digital Discoveries is an amazing blog! It's full of all kinds of information about technology in the classroom.

Shakespeare Blogging

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Project #12 Part A

C4K Summary For March

I've commented on three student blogs during the month of March. The first student had written a blog post about a project she was doing for her English class. She had to find songs that went along with a book she was reading. I told her that this sounded like a lot of fun because I find myself doing that when I read a book. The second student was learning class room etiquette. I let her know how important it is to learn those things, and I said it looked like they were having a lot of fun with it. The last student's post was about cows. He stated many fun facts about cows and even had a picture of one. I agreed with him that cows are very interesting. I told him that I have some next door to my house and I get to pet and feed them sometimes.

I Love Blogging

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Blog Post #10

Sir Ken Robinson is so amazing! In his talk, Bring on the Learning Revolution he makes so many great points about education. He talks about doing things we are passionate about and making a revolutionary change in education. One of the points he makes that I like the most is that being a teacher should not be what we do, it should be what we are. A great teacher is a teacher who cannot wait to be back in the classroom. It's not the kind of job you do just for money. Teaching has to be a passion; otherwise, it is not going to be affective.

Another great point Sir Ken Robinson makes is that the change we need to see in the education system needs to be a revolution not an evolution. An evolution would simply be improving something that is broken. We need to completely change the ways that we teach and engage our students. We need to be nurturing their passions and talents as well as giving them knowledge.

Photo of Sir Ken Robinson

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Blog Post #9

Kathy Cassidy is an elementary school teacher who encourages the use of technology in her classroom. I love seeing young students blogging and learning how to use the latest technologies in the classroom. I think it is so much more important than some people realize to start teaching students technology at a young age. It just benefits them in the long run because technology is never going away, and there are so many great tools out there that they can utilize. Because of EDM310, I have decided that I will have my students blog. I have always thought that it would be a great way to connect them to the rest of the world, but I never thought about how it would benefit the parents. Kathy Cassidy uses it as a way for the parents of her students to be able to keep track of their students progress. That is such a great idea! With a blog, the parents can always be up to date with what their student is doing. There is so much to learn from Kathy Cassidy, and it is so great to see a teacher embracing technology in the classroom like she does.

Interview with Cassidy Part 1
Interview with Cassidy Part 2
Interview with Cassidy Part 3

Student and teacher at chalkboard

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Book Review Project #9

Project Based Learning Plan #2

Project Based Lesson Plan Two

Subject/ Grade Level: 11th Grade English Language Arts
Subject/ Grade Level: Edgar Allan Poe Visual Board
Subject/ Grade Level: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.9
Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century foundational works of American literature.
Project Details: Each student will be assigned an Edgar Allan Poe poem or short story. They will make a board full of visual representations of the particular work they are are assigned. Each student will present their board to the class and explain what every picture stands for.
Points Worth: 100
Challenge of the Project: The challenge of this project is for the students to associate themes in their assigned work with a visual representation and be able to explain to the rest of the class how those visual representations go along with the work.
Major Product: Visual Board
Skill: Reading comprehension
Skill: Using visual aids
Skill: Presenting
This project is done outside of class. I will make a visual board and show the students as an example, and they will do the work outside of class time.

Edgar Allan Poe

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Blog Post #8

Being teachers in today's world means we have access to a wide variety of educational tools. In order to be successful in our classrooms, we need to take advantage of all these tools. Most of them are only a key stroke away.

The first tool I find to be useful is called Pocket. Pocket allows you to save any web content you may find useful into an online folder and come back to it later. This is a great research tool. Web documents, videos, and even photos can be put into your Pocket for later use. I feel like this will be particularly useful for students who have no access to a computer from home. If a student is doing research from school, they can save all of the resources they may think to be helpful to their Pocket and be able to access it from any computer.

Another very valuable tool for education is Quizlet. Quizlet is one of the best online tools I have ever used. I use it every time I need to study. I think it is extremely helpful for students. It allows the student to make online flash cards for any subject matter. Quizlet also lets students access each others cards. One of it's best features, in my opinion, is the study options. Quizlet has three different study options. You can just review the flash cards one at a time, you can play a matching game, and you can take a test. There is even an app, so the students can access their flaw cards form their smart phones. I know from experience, this is a great tool!

Stcak of books next to an iPad

Thursday, March 13, 2014

C4T Summary #2

The Teaching Channel is a great resource for anyone in the education field. I read two different blog post from this website, and I found them extremely helpful and interesting.

The first blog post I commented on was about constructive feedback. I commented that feedback can be so helpful in the classroom. Sometimes, people looking in from the outside can see what we on the inside can't. If we accept constructive feedback from our peers, they may have some ideas on how to make certain aspects of the classroom better.

The second blog post I read was an argument for argument writing as opposed to persuasive writing in high school. I have never really given much thought to this until I read the blog post, but I completely agreed with it's author. I stated that being a college student, I absolutely think that argument writing is better for high school students to learn. I feel that it makes them better prepared for college and life after high school.

The Teaching Channel Logo

Project #13 Learning Plan #1

Project Based Learning Lesson Plan

Subject/ Grade Level: 11th Grade English Language Arts
Project Title:
Scene Interpretation Video
Standard: CCSS. ELA- Literacy. RL. 11- 12. 7
Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem, evaluating how each version interprets the source text.
Project Details: The students will be put into groups of four. The groups will be assigned a scene from one of two plays the class has already read. They will come up with two different interpretations for one scene and make a 5 minute video analyzing these interpretations.
The students will have access to a video that will show them how to use the video editing software and the grading rubric prior to starting the project. I will also share with them a sample video that I will make. After the videos are finished, we will present them to the class and post them to the class blog.
Points Worth: 100
Challenge of the Project: The challenge of this project is to make the students see past the surface meaning of the words on the page, and to come up with their own interpretation of what the author meant. The students also have to be able to use a wide range of technology tools in order to film and edit their video.
Major Product: Video
Skill: Reading Comprehension
Skill: Video Editing
Start Date/ Due Date: March 3, 2014- March 5, 2014

DAY ONE
Show the example video and pass out the rubric
Show the instructional video on video editing
Divide students into groups and assign scenes
Students discuss ideas for the videos
DAY TWO
Students begin to film and edit videos
DAY THREE
Finishing touches to videos
Share videos

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Blog Post #7

I really enjoyed watching the video of Randy Pausch. It was amazing and extremely motivating! There were two main points I took away from him. The first point is that anything is possible if you want it enough and work for it. The second is that is okay to let students have fun.

I have always been a firm believer in being able to do anything you put your mind to. I have noticed lately that there are so many students with so much potential, but there is no one motivating them to use that potential. Instead of telling all these talented and creative students they can, more people are telling them they can't or they shouldn't. I miss seeing kids and teenagers aspiring to be doctors and lawyers or even artist and writers. They have been told they aren't good enough to do those things, and they need to aim a little lower. As teachers, it is our job to do so much more than stand at a board and teach from a textbook. Parts of our job are to be motivators, to nurture our students talents, and to help our students discover new talents. The words "I can't" will not be allowed in my classroom because I am there to show them that they can.

I have always detested worksheets and written test. I want to have a fun classroom where my students actually retain the knowledge I share with them instead of just memorizing it. The best way to accomplish this is with project-based learning. Students need to be engaged, otherwise they aren't really learning much. When students aren't being actively engaged they tend to not pay attention. They will start doodling, passing notes, or falling asleep. Doodling isn't helping them learn anything. Instead of having them take notes, try letting them act out a chapter of a book. If they are acting out a certain chapter of a book they will be more likely to remember what that chapter was about because they link it to an active memory. They may even have some fun while they are learning, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Randy Pausch Quote

C4K Summary for February

My Comments for Kids assignments for February were very fun and entertaining. My first C4K was for a boy who's class was learning how to make comic strips online for a book. He did a review of two different websites that create comic strips, and he listed a couple of pros and cons for each site. He also decided that he liked one more than the other. I told him that I loved his blog post because it was very informative for anyone wanting to know more about creating comic strips.

My second C4k assignment was Braxton. Braxton is from Canada and his blog post was about a recent trip his class took to see a hockey game. His mom knows the mascot for the hockey team, so she was able to get the class tickets. I thought that sounded like fun because I've never been to a hockey game, but I told him that I've always wanted to go to one.

The third C4k I left was for Kylie. Kylie had to choose between two different projects to do for a book her class read. One of her options was to choose five song that have a similar theme to the book she read. I told her that option sounded fun. I tend to always think of songs that relate to the book I'm reading at the time anyway. Her blog was very well put together, so I've included a link to it below.

Kylie's Crazy Blog

Children playing on a computer

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Blog Post #6

A Personal Learning Network is made up of any person or tool that can help an individual learn and succeed. Almost anyone can be in a PLN. As children, before we are in school, our parents make up our PLN. As we grow and move through life our PLN changes. Teachers, advisors, professional contacts, and even peers can all be a part of a PLN.

Personal Learning Networks can be very helpful in any profession. Teaching is very creative profession, and a PLN can help teacher come up with new, creative ideas for the classroom. Also, education is always evolving, and it is very useful for a teacher to have a PLN in order to make sure he or she understands new laws or standards. A PLN can even be used to help solve problems in the classroom.

Perhaps the easiest way to establish a Personal Learning Network is through the internet and social media. With the internet we literally have the entire world at our fingertips. At the click of a mouse a teacher can communicate with a colleague via email in another city or state. Another way to establish and maintain a PLN is social media. With social media, we can be connected to anyone in the world. It really is a great tool when it's used responsibly. My PLN will being with my professors from college and maybe some of my classmate. Watching this video with Steve Anderson can be really helpful when thinking about building a Personal Learning Network.

Building Your PLN
Creating a PLN with Web 2.0 Tools

Personal Learning Network

Project #8

Book Trailer

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Blog Post #5

I have always been a huge supporter of project based learning. I preferred to do projects over worksheets and test even in grade school, and I think most students feel the same way. English classes usually consist of a lot of reading and a lot of writing. Those skills are very important, but I want my classroom to be a little more lively than that. Project based learning isn't just a way to teach students. It is a way to make them want to learn, and it can also be a great tool that helps the students get involved with the community on a local and global scale. Anthony mentioned that project based learning is always evolving, and that is so true. When a teacher takes part in project based learning, the options are endless. There are only so many ways to ask a student a question, but there are countless ways to involve them with a project. One of the points that stuck out to me the most when Anthony explained project based learning was the aspect of student interest. I am so passionate about doing whatever has to be done to make sure my students learn. If that means projects everyday then I'm all for it. I think that is what separates the okay teachers from the outstanding teachers. A teacher who is willing to be creative and go above and beyond just printing worksheets and typing up a test is a teacher who will leave an impact.

Anthony also talked about a couple of online tools that I agree can be very useful. The first was iCurio. It is a filtered search engine that students can use that only produces educational media. This is a great tool! There is so much on the internet that we do not want our students stumbling upon. I think this is also helpful when keeping students on task. If they are only given educational options, maybe they won't be distracted by random websites that come up in their search results. iCurio also has an online drive feature. This is important in preparing students for life after school. Technology is becoming more and more prominent, and we are responsible for preparing our students for more than just standardized test. The other tool Anthony utilizes is called Discovery Ed. I love how he described it. Anthony said, "It brings the texts alive". By using videos, Discovery Ed gives the students a way to visualizes what they are learning. Videos are great tools for the classroom. Studies show that people retain information better when they see or hear it as apposed to just reading it.

These tools are great, especially for project based learning, but we have to make sure we are integrating technology into our classrooms and not just teaching technology. Our students need to be able to apply all these technology tools and not simply know how they work. Only knowing how these tools work and what they do will only get them so far. They need to be as comfortable with the technologies we show them as they are with Facebook or their smartphones. Knowing this will help them in the future as students and long after they have finished school.

Project Based Learning Part 1
Project Based Learning Part 2
iCurio
Discovery Ed
The Anthony - Strange Tips for Teachers Part 1
Don't Teach Tech-Use It!

Project Based Learning Wordle

Project #7

My Sentence is...
My Passion is..

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Project #3 Presentation

Blog Post #4

What is most important for a teacher to remember is that we are doing a service. Teaching isn't simply a job. It is a duty to our students to make sure they learn as much as they can from us. With that being said, questioning is a very important part of learning. Since our obligation is to our students, we need to make sure we are questioning them effectively.

There are so many ways to ask students questions, but which of these ways is actually helping them learn? As an English teacher, my classes will partake in discussions. Those type of classes are perfect for using questioning methods. In a discussion setting, you want every student to be involved, and one way to get them involved is with questions. When discussing a book or a certain work in an English class, sometimes there are questions with no right or wrong answers. This can be really great for getting the students to think critically and form their own solutions. There are some tips on The Teaching Center website that I feel are very helpful in regards to questioning.

Having questions prepared ahead of time is very useful. In class discussions, sometimes students can get off topic. I want my students to be able to express themselves and think critically, but I also want to make sure they are staying on task. It is also important to ask only one question at a time. Sometimes one question can have multiple answers, so more than one student can share what they know. Another strategy I feel could be useful is to ask the students to elaborate. Asking a student how they came to the conclusion that they did encourages them to think deeper and not simply answer the original question.

The Teacher's response is also very important when questioning students. Perhaps one of the most important ways to respond to a student answering a question is to make sure they know you care about what they are saying. Pay attention to the student answering the question. It can be very encouraging for that student, and it can help them be more open to answering questions in the future. It is also important to not interrupt the student when they are answering the question. Students are more likely to open up in class when they feel comfortable, and following these guidelines can help the student gain that confidence.

The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom
Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom
Asking Questions to Improve Learning

Students raising their hands

Comments for Teachers 1

Educational Media
Students of all ages are spending more and more time in front of TVs and computer screens. Technologies can be great educational tools. There are educational TV shows, educational computer games, and even educational apps, but how much of that media is actually helpful to students? In addition, how many students are taking advantage of educational media? Parents are finding that their children are more likely to engage in educational media when they are younger. As the students grow older they begin to drawn to more media that is not educational. I found this blog post very interesting. I commented on the blog stating that I have noticed that once children get older there are not very many educational shows on TV geared toward their age groups. There are so many educational show for young children, but there aren't as many for the older children and teens.

Testing Kindergardeners
There has much debate over the decision to require kindergardeners to take standardized tests. Many people believe that these test are really being used to grade the teachers, not the students. Others are simply outraged because they feel like kindergarden is too early to being this type testing. In my personal opinion, I also believe kindergarden is too young for standardized testing. As stated in my comment on this blog post, I don't even see how a teacher can get a child that young to sit and concentrate long enough to take an exam. I feel that children that young are still learning what school is and how to act in a classroom setting.

Teacher standing at a chalkboard

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Blog Post #3

Peer editing can be challenging for both parties. It is so different from editing a student. The person doesn't want to embarrass the author of whatever it is they are editing because they are peers, and the author may be nervous to let their peer edit their work. It doesn't have to be a nerve-wracking experience. In fact, there are a few guidelines we can all follow when we have to edit our peers' work.

Anytime we edit a peer's work we need to remember these three steps: compliments, suggestions, and corrections. Compliments are very important. We want to be able to give feedback that is positive. The author of the work needs to feel like they are being helped and not feel like they are being laughed at. It is also important to remember to give suggestions and not simply tell the author what is wrong with their work. For some people, writing isn't their strong suit, and they may need a little push in the right direction. The last of the three steps is corrections. Corrections help the author learn from their mistakes, so they can learn to be a better writer. There is also one thing that the author needs to keep in mind when getting his or her worked edited by a peer. Do not take corrections or suggestions personally. Remember the person editing is just trying to help , they are not trying to be malicious or degrading. Remembering these tips will help the peer editing process go smoother.

What is Peer editing?
Peer Edit with Perfection
Top 10 Peer Editing Mistakes

edited paper

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Blog Post #2

Mr. Dancealot
Professor Dancealot is trying to teach a dance class as a lecture class, and his students aren't learning as they should. This video is a great example of how different classes need to be taught differently. Dancing requires practice, and if the students do nothing but take notes they won't be prepared for their final. I think the author of this video does a great job of showing how one type of teaching style doesn't work for all types of material, and I completely agree with his message. I think teacher should be diverse with their teaching styles according to the material they are teaching and the students they are teaching it to. That is what makes a great teacher.

Teaching in the 21st Century
Roberts believes that teaching in the 21st century requires heavy involvement with technology. As 21st century teachers, we need to be knowledgeable of the many different types of technologies available to us and our students. We need to be able to implement these technologies into our lessons, and we need to be able to show our students what resources are available to them. We will also have to make sure to teach our students to be responsible when using these technologies. Roberts also makes sure to point out that when using these technologies in the classroom we are to make sure we are engaging our students and not just entertaining them. I completely agree with Roberts. I am a huge supporter of technology in the classroom, and I think it is a great tool. Our students will all be used to using technology, so we should be used to it as well. Nowadays one can learn anything using technology, and teachers should embrace this. I intend to use any type of teaching method needed to help my students learn, and if that method involves technology then I will be prepared.

Network Student
This video makes understanding a learning network simple. Although learning networks are great tools, some people wonder why someone would still need a teacher if they have a learning network. Teachers are a part of the learning network. They are the person who shows the students how to develop a learning network. In fact, they are the one person a student can count on to be in their learning network.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Vicki Davis is an amazing example of a 21st century teacher. She is integrating technology to make sure her students are learning. Instead of only using paper and pencils, she is teaching with a wide variety of tools. With these tools she is connecting students in rural classroom to the rest of the world. It truly is amazing what we can accomplish with technology. She is teaching all the standards she is supposed to be teaching, but she is teaching them in a way her students can relate to and enjoy. In my opinion, she is a great role model for what a 21st century teacher should be.

Flipping the Classroom
Flipping the classroom allows the student to watch the lesson at home the night before it will be discussed in class. It allows for more time during class for questions, projects, and group work. It also teaches students responsibility. I think this is a great idea. There are so many standards that have to be taught and so little time spent in the classroom. If the student could go over the lesson the night before, and it is actually being taught by the teacher then it allows for more opportunities to make sure the student understands. My only concern is that some students may not access the lesson beforehand like they should. Other than that one concern, I feel like flipping the classroom is a great idea.

Mr. Dancealot
Teaching in the 21st Century
Network Student
Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
Flipping the Classroom

Technology Teacher

Sunday, January 19, 2014

What About EDM 310?

Because I am a transfer student I have heard nothing about this class prior to the first day. I have taken a technology and education type of class at my previous school, but I feel like this class is going to be a little different from that one. However, I am really looking forward to EDM 310. I am fascinated by technology, and I think it is very important in the classroom. I know from the syllabus that this class can be more challenging than others, but I am up for the task. I also know that this class is different from most classes I've taken, but I think it will be a great change of pace. I am excited that this class will be project-based. That's how I like to learn, and I feel projects are the best way to master new technologies. Because I know this is a project-based class, and I know there is a heavy work load; I feel like making time for all the work will probably be the hardest part of the course. I don't feel like it is going to be a huge problem for me though. Because I know ahead of time that this class will take up a lot of my time, I can plan accordingly. Knowing how important it is to be efficient with many different technologies in the modern classroom, I look forward to learning everything I can in EDM310.

How EDM310 is Different

Computer

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Practice Blog Post

I am from a small city north of Mobile called Citronelle. I have lived there my entire life. I come from a very large, loud family with seven brothers and sisters. I have been married for a little over a year and a half now, and I love it! My husband is amazing, and he is my best friend. We have three dogs we have rescued, and they mean the world to me. I am a dedicated vegetarian and animal rights advocate. In addition, I feel very strongly about doing my part to keep our Earth healthy. My favorite ways to spend my time are reading and yoga. I love to read! My most favorite thing in the world is a book. I also enjoy doing yoga. I just feel so healthy and calm after doing yoga.I also love to travel! I love seeing new places and meeting new people! I was previously a student at the University of Mobile, but I felt that USA would be a better fit for me, so I made the transfer this semester.

I want to be a teacher because I want to make a difference in the world. Teachers have a huge influence in the lives' of their students. I want to be able to make my students more knowledgable, but I also want to help mold them into better global citizens. I think it is so important for teachers to have a passion for learning, and a passion for making a difference. The reason I chose to be an English teacher because I want to show students how much fun reading can be. Books allow us to live through many adventures we may not have to chance to experience in our lifetime.

Collage of Alex and Kayla Powell