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

Project #8

Book Trailer

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 #7

My Sentence is...
My Passion is..

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

My Test Post

This is my First Post. I clicked the HTML button which I should always do in EDM310. I am now a Blogger!