Blog Post #3

   Peer editing is working with someone your own age to help improve their writing skills and your critiquing skills . The best way to peer edit is start by complimenting the post and then providing helpful, constructive suggestions and corrections. I intend to follow the advice provided in the slideshow and videos while peer editing in EDM 310. Peer editing is an important step of the learning process for both the editor and the student whose work is being edited. It enables the editor to gain experience in constructive criticism which will be useful as a teacher grading students work.It helps the student being edited to become a better writer and perhaps will help them organize their thoughts a little better as well.
    I found the videos and slideshow helpful and even entertaining, particularly Social Sammy on the Youtube video Writing Peer Review (Peer Critique) TOP 10 Mistakes. I can relate to having a hard time focusing on the topic at hand when there are other activities going on around you. That video pointed out that different personality types will be challenged with overcoming different obstacles when peer editing and was a good reminder that once we become teachers we will have to learn to effectively teach different personality types and tailor our instructions to their needs.

 

Blog Post # 2

What will teaching in the 21st century be like? 


Mr. Dancealot- The message conveyed by this video points out the absurdity of expecting students to learn practical application by writing notes about the subject instead of participating interactively with the material. The author makes the case by portraying students in a dance class sitting in a lecture hall looking at slides and book pages about dances. At the end of the semester when they are expected to perform the dance, the students instead have their noses in books and are confusedly asking each other what dance they are doing. I fully agree with the author's conclusion because in my  experience learning theory does not always adequately prepare you for the subject you are studying. For example, while I attended cosmetology school the first few months were spent in a classroom studying theory out of the textbook. The day we picked up a mannequin head and started trying to perform on it, we were anxious and completely inept. That can be applied to the field of education. As educators our job will be interactive. We will be trying our hardest to inspire and encourage students to become thinkers and life long learners. That can not be solely achieved by rattling off a power point lecture.

Teaching in the 21st century outline
 I. Teacher' role
     a. traditional functions such as teaching content, dates, facts, stories, formulas, theories, research ,information
      b. useful functions for today's society such as validating, leveraging, synthesizing, communicating, collaborating, and problem solving information

II. Information resources available to students
     a. google, twitter, blogs, facebook, cellphones, Wikipedia, You Tube, Ipods

III. Tech skills necessary to current times
       a. searching, paraphrasing, attributing, linking, reflecting, networking, bookmarking, experimenting, sharing, locating, commenting, tagging, editing, twittering, mashing

IV. How technology could benefit students
      a. data gathering tools such as cellphones, Twitter, Facebook, crowdsurfing, RSS feeds, online surverys
      b. the discussion of reliable sources using Wikipedia, Google, Delicious, podcasts, blogs
      c. evaluation/publishing with Nings, wikis, website creators, video, audio, graphics, programming
      d. collaboration using Skype, Chat, Google Wave, Google Docs, Twitter, Facebook
      e. struggling students could utilize Wordles, virtual manipulatives, Audacity, video lessons, dynamic graphic organizers
      f. e-portfolios to store and reflect on work
V. Engagement vs. entertainment
     a. engagement is active learning
     b. entertainment is passive enjoyment
VI. How to start
      a. research, try software, find sites
      b. start small
      c. collaborate
     d. take risks


Roberts feels that in the 21st century teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge, rather they are filters. I agree with Roberts' view except that teachers are not only filters, but organizers and inspirational leaders. After all, Google has features to narrow a search. It has already affected me as an educator. Before taking this class I had never blogged and never used Google Docs or Twitter. Tools Roberts mentioned such as Wordles, Nings, and Audacity have never been introduced to me either. I never knew there was so much out there that can help me become a better, more relevant teacher.

The Networked Student- This class sounds very similar to EDM310. Because I am so used to the traditional format, this new way of learning seems intimidating because it so hands on. Ultimately I feel that it will be much more beneficial than the old way of teaching/ learning for exactly those reasons. It forces the student to be active and involved with their learning as opposed to passively listening to a lecture trying to pull information that seems like test material. No matter how technologically helpful a class is, a student will always need a teacher. The teacher provides support and direction. The teacher will help the student with any concerns or technical problems that may arise in the class.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts-  Davis' thesis is that the traditional pen and paper style of learning is only conducive for certain types of students. She teaches interactively, where students are responsible for learning, and in turn teaching, new material. She focuses on teaching them how to learn, and customizes their education to their needs. I find her style fascinating. She assigns students topics and then helps them help themselves learn and teach the rest of the class, and in some cases Mrs. Davis herself learn something new. I would be interested in learning how to apply this to my field of study, history.

Who's Ahead in the Learning Race?- Undoubtedly elementary students.This video makes me feel like the way I grew up learning has become so antiquated. I am an undergraduate and have never used a MAC, and as I have previously stated am just beginning to blog. Maybe I could get some lessons from the third graders.

Flipping the Classroom- I have never heard of flipping the classroom until watching this video. I think it will be useful to me as a teacher because it prepares the student before class time with what they will be learning and since they will be watching the lesson before class, they can prepare questions they may have allowing a more in depth learning experience during class time. However, it does seem problematic that if a student does not have access to a computer at home they will have to watch the next day in or before class. It seems that may cause a bit of embarrassment or teasing.

test

test

Blog Post #1

   I have heard that EDM310 is a somewhat difficult class if you do not own a Mac and that the course load is manageable though time consuming. Though I would not use the word fear to describe my feelings towards this class, I am a bit apprehensive simply because this style of learning is new to me. I am more accustomed to being taught in a traditional lecture/testing format and this way seems like it will take some time to grasp. However, I believe in the long run this format could be more beneficial because it takes the stress off of memorizing facts only to lose that information after the test is over in order to start trying to memorize new material for the next test.
   The most difficult aspect of this class will probably be navigating the new technology that will be introduced to me and getting used to being graded in a nontraditional format. I have never blogged, or used any form of social media other than Facebook. The best way to address those issues is to not stress and ask questions as they arise, and also to get acquainted with these new technological avenues. I hope by the end of this class I can report to my friends who have taken this class before me that I have new ideas about how I will teach my future students and that I am now more tech savvy thanks to EDM310.

Practice Blog Post

Outline

• Personal information- Where I'm from, what I do

• Educational info-  How I came to attend USA,why I want to teach, what I think an educator's job entails

    I am from Grand Bay, Alabama where I still live today along with my husband. Currently I am a full time student and salon owner.  My major interests involve my current career in the cosmetology industry, and even more so the field of history. History has been a passion of mine since childhood and thanks to my current career I am able to pursue my goal of becoming a history teacher.

    My husband is also a student at USA, where he is pursuing a degree to become a music teacher. I began attending this university because it was the most logical choice as it is where my husband attends, is the closest college to where I live, and I was already familiar with the campus before beginning classes. My main reason for becoming a teacher is that I want to instill a passion for history and help students to realize that history is relevant and important, not just old stories that have no place in today's world. With all the information available at one's fingertips today, a teacher must be able to do more than google, which is to provide answers. Along with having to comply with administration requirements and state testing, a teacher must be able to inspire students and instill a desire to ask questions. It is a teacher's job not only to teacher subject matter, but also to spark an interest in learning.