Classroom Blogs

This week I read Jessica Kiser’s Blog. Having to do blogs every week really opened me up to new things I had not yet experienced, let alone heard about, in the educational field. I had not yet seen how blogs were used in the classroom especially an elementary class! I think blogs can be wonderful tools for not only the students but for the parents as well. They can get a feel for what their child is learning in class, see firsthand how the teacher interacts with the students (whether or not her instructions are clear and precise ect.) and also have interactions with the teacher themselves.

We also were able to find out about how different technologies are being used in the class. We found websites such as ALEX that is used for a teacher resource that we will be able to use in our future career. We also learned about ACCESS which is internet based and used within the high schools throughout Alabama to allow students access to advanced placement classes that are not offered at their particular school.

The most impressive resource that I had not yet heard about was Podcasts. Not only is iTunes for your entertainment, but it is also for your education! iTunesU is full of wonderful free podcasts, both audio and video format. They have podcasts you can use in your classroom to aid in your subject matter. There are also podcasts on new technology that others use in the classroom and these podcasts are designed to help familiarize the teacher on how to use the new technology, or give you new ideas on how to use it.

I think these blogs were a great learning experience. The only downfall I see is for students who do not have daily access to a computer and/or internet. Students from low income families would suffer from not having this learning experience or feel left out on an educational tool and less motivated. All in all I feel like blogs are a great way to get ideas for educational activities and resources and a great way to stay connected.

Edutopia

This week I watched two podcasts from Edutopia on iTunesU. The first was “The Edible Schoolyard.” This podcast was about students who spend their first period class gardening. They grow the plants, harvest them, and cook them. The teachers use every opportunity as a chance to educate the children. They work the compost and learn the steps of how it works by hand.

The second podcast I watched was “A Night in the Global Village”. This podcast was about students who go on a overnight field trip to experience life for third world country citizens. The students get divided up into different groups all having different living conditions based upon what country they are and each group is given one supply, ( all except the refugee group). They then have to barter to be able to “survive” the night while the refugees have to try to survive by begging without using english. Throughout the event the students learn by walking in the less fortunate’s shoes.

Both of these podcasts use different ways to teach the students and really make them think about things. They open up fun ways that invoke the students curiosity and their want to learn. I think by watching these videos it opens the teachers up to different ways  of teaching the students. Different ways that might aid in grabbing kids attention that otherwise would not be interested in learning.

I’m glad that I watched these podcasts and would love to watch the rest from Edutopia to get more ideas. I think teachers should be exposed to different teaching ways that could help their future students.

EDM 310 Podcasts

The first podcast I listened to was the "Technology used in the Classroom at the University of South Alabama ss0216".

Nicholas Martin sounds very personable and interesting to listen to.  The group first described the personal response clicker in a way that people can picture even if they have never seen one before. They sounded like they were really having a conversation instead of just reading. They also addressed some key questions that students  might have concerning the clicker. The next thing they discussed was the projector. Gretta Dailey who was leading the conversation on projectors said um way to much. The third thing they discussed was the Internet use in Universities. Sarah Dockery addressed key uses for the Internet besides research. She discussed Online courses that are very useful for people who may have scheduling conflicts with work ect. They also discussed Foliotek, which as a education major, tends to be a pain for everyone. And different problems people have with it.

The second podcast I listened to was "Pick of the Day: Source Materials for High School Teachers on the World Wide Web Sp09JA0207" by Anne Gardner and Kimberly Hinojosa. They discussed all the useful tools available on the websites they discussed. They did not overly use the word "um" which is key in keeping peoples attention. The one thing I may suggest would be to sound more like they are discussing the sites rather than each doing their own part.

The third podcast I listened to was "Interview with Ms. Rand" by Jonas Cockson, Ms. Angela M. Rand, Anthony Capps, and Hannah Rogers. I really enjoyed the fresh sound of an interview rather than a discussion. It shows a different perspective in how things are helpful for students to use. Rather than just the students saying how much they use things such as networking sites, but also how members of the USA staff also feel they are very useful tools that aid in the students in learning. Keeping up with the technology the students education is kept interesting. The students didn't get as much talk time as Mrs. Rand, but that usually the case in an interview setting.

 

I would have listened to my own podcast as well, but it was not available. I do know after listening to others that mine might have sounded like reading and should have sounded more like a discussion.

Mathematics with Technology

This week i listened to the two "Mathematics with Technology" podcasts found under Maine Department of Education in iTunes U. The first one I listened to was episode one. At first the Speaker talks about the reasons teachers give for not wanting to use technology in their mathematics class room. Technology is one of the six critical principles for high quality learning. Tools provide alternative ways for the students to learn mathematics, and get immediate feedback. It engages them in a multi-sensory mathematic learning environment. She then gives a few resources to aid in using technology in the math classroom.

In the second podcast, episode two, thinking mathematically is what is missing in the mathematic learning environment. tools that give hand on experience and alternative ways help to encourage mathematical thinking but teachers still need to ask questions in the classroom to help guide and extend their learning. Teachers are told to challenge the students to learn by engaging them. Asking questions is a must in the classroom.

These podcasts can help teachers find resources and also be encouraged to use tools they find unnecessary but are extremely important to aid in the education of our students. These podcasts could be a little less monotone to make them easier to keep the listeners attention.