Blogfolio

1.Introduction video

Our first assignment in IT 365 was to get into groups and make introduction videos. We took turns recording each other and uploaded our videos to our blogs. This assignment taught me how to introduce myself in a more professional way, as I would on the first day of class as a teacher. However, I did find that it was much more difficult to talk about myself rather than write about myself. Prior to this assignment, I had never made a video introducing myself, and I had no clue what to say. I have written numerous introductions in my lifetime, but when I was required to give a vocal introduction while being recorded, I had difficulty finding the right words to say. Since we only had a short amount of time to complete this in-class assignment, I only had one chance for my introduction to be recorded. Although I was far from pleased with it, I posted it to my blog and moved on to the next assignment. To make up for the awkwardness of my video, I wrote much more in the written part of my introduction to make up for it. If I could do this assignment over, I would make my introduction video for my future elementary students focusing on what they would want to know about me; this is how I would use this assignment for my future teaching. The NETS-T standard that this assignment met was standard 2: design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. This standard was met because we used our own cell phones, which allowed us to “incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.”

 2.TED Video

The TED videos that we watched in this class gave me so much inspiration as a future educator. My favorite one was about John Hunter and the World Peace Game. John Hunter is an extraordinary educator, dedicated to helping children reach their full potential. This video taught me how big of a role teachers truly have in the lives of students. The TED videos taught me that I should be more open-minded to other opinions even if I don’t fully agree with them. The only problem I encountered with the TED videos was that I initially had no interest in sitting through a video in class. I prefer to being doing something with my hands rather than sitting and watching someone talk. I overcame this by actually listening to what the speakers had to say. I found that there was a lot to be taken away from each of the videos, and they certainly left me feeling inspired. One way that I plan to use these videos for my future teaching is to share them with other future educators who may need some inspiration. I also plan to stay up to date with any other TED videos that relate to education. These videos met NETS-T standard 5: engage in professional growth and leadership. Each teacher that spoke in the TED videos offered advice that will help other teachers to grow and become better leaders. The speakers in the TED videos met standard 5 by “participating in local and global learning communities”, “developing the leadership and technology skills of others”, and “contributing to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community”.

 3.Concept Map

My concept map was my very first lesson plan experience. I learned how to use the Inspiration tool and discovered that lesson plans require a lot of work. This assignment taught me how to base lessons off of the Common Core Standards, and I had no clue how I was going to do this at first. I changed my mind about which standards I was going to use several times, but I finally decided to go with two Literacy standards for first graders. The big problem I had with this assignment was that I was not pleased at all with my concept map once I had finished. When others began presenting theirs, I realized that I wanted to completely start over. Luckily, I did not get the chance to present on the first day. I fixed this problem by downloading Inspiration on my laptop and completely starting over. I used the same standards, but I came up with different activities for each day and made my concept map more visually appealing. I found this assignment to be the most useful for my future teaching since I learned how to use the Common Core to create a weeklong lesson plan. There are two NETS-T standards that this assignment met. The first is standard 1: facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. This standard was met by using “technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation”. The second standard met is standard 2: design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. This standard was met by “developing learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context”.

 4.Do Not Track Me

Our class was assigned to download DoNotTrackMe onto our personal computers for homework. The purpose of the DoNotTrackMe download is to block websites that track what you search for on the Internet. After downloading this onto my laptop, I surfed the net as usual and was surprised to discover that I had at least one or more tracker on each of my daily visited websites. I wasn’t expecting to have any trackers, and I was a little freaked out by how many I had on Facebook and Vine. DoNotTrackMe blocked these trackers from following me, and I still have it installed on my laptop. Every time I search the web, it shows me in the top left-hand corner how many trackers have been blocked. This assignment taught me that there truly is no privacy on the Internet. I had no clue that my activity was being tracked, and this was a huge eye opener for me. I have actually had zero problems with this download, and I plan to keep it installed on my laptop. DoNotTrackMe will help me in my future teaching of Internet safety. It is extremely important that children learn about Internet safety at a young age so that they can be aware of the many dangers. This download would also be helpful to have on classroom computers to block trackers. This assignment met NETS-T standard 4: promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. This standard is met because the DoNotTrackMe assignment teaches “safe, ethical use of digital information and technology”.

 5.Augmented Reality

I had never heard of augmented reality prior to reading Laura Devaney’s article “Augmented Reality Snags a Coveted Spot in Classrooms” for homework, so I learned what augmented reality is and how it is being used to enhance student learning. Augmented reality takes learning to a whole new level as it allows you to find information about anything by simply scanning whatever item you wish to find information on. A problem that I encountered was with the augmented reality iPhone app. I downloaded the free version, but I was unable to find much information about the items I was searching for. This free version could definitely use some improvements. However, advanced and working augmented reality apps can certainly be beneficial for student learning. Students are able to use hands-on learning and are allowed to be as creative as they’d like. I plan to use the knowledge I obtained about augmented reality in my future classroom by allowing my students to experiment with it for projects. Hopefully, by that time, the free app will be improved and can be easily used in the classroom. The NETS-T standard that this particular assignment met was standard 1: facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. This standard was met by advancing “student learning in virtual environments”. Augmented reality also “promotes student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes”.

 6.Voki

For this assignment, we created an account on the Voki website and made our own avatar. We were told to address our students and their parents as if we were the teacher. I learned how to introduce myself in a way that appeals to both students and parents. I had never thought of having a place online for parents to stay on top of what their child is doing each week, and I think that this is a great idea for my future teaching! The only problem I encountered was getting my Voki avatar to speak. With the help of my classmate, I was able to figure out what I was doing wrong and fix this problem. This activity got me excited for my future classroom since we were able to pretend that we were already teachers through an avatar. I plan to use what I have learned through this assignment to create an online environment for parents and students in the future. This is a great way for parents to get involved in their child’s academic success and stay informed on what their child is learning. This assignment meets two of the NETS-T standards. First, it meets standard 1: facilitate and inspire students. This standard is met by “advancing student learning in both face-to-face and virtual environments”. The second standard met is standard 5: model digital-age work and learning. Standard 5 is met by “collaborating with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation”.

7.Web 2.0 Sites

We were each assigned one or two websites to explore and think about how we could use them in our future classrooms. Out of the list of websites, I had only heard of a few of them, but I still didn’t know much about them. I learned what each website was created for, and discovered that some of them could be pretty useful to me in the future. I was assigned to explore Vimeo and Wordpress. The only problem I encountered was getting Vimeo to work, but I overcame this obstacle by being patient with the website and focusing on the positive aspects of it. I didn’t have any trouble with Wordpress, and if I ever become interested in blogging, this is the website I will use. Some of my peers had problems getting their websites to work at all, but this was only because these websites were ineffective. However, there were several websites that I was impressed with and plan to use for my future teaching career. The websites that impressed me were Instagrok, Glogster, Wordpress, Edmodo, and Socrative. This assignment met NETS-T standard 3: model digital-age work and learning. This standard was met by “demonstrating fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations”, “collaborating with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation”, communicating relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats”, and “modeling and facilitating effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning”.

8.Website

I created my website on cyber bullying and learned so much more about this topic that I wasn’t aware of. Through my research, I discovered that I have witnessed cyber bullying several times and never even realized it until this assignment. My website discussed the effects, frequency, and different ways to prevent cyber bullying. I learned that there are many ways that cyber bullying can be prevented before it occurs. Some problems I had while creating my website were with getting the layout, font, and images to look right. Nothing looked put together and my website looked sloppy. I was able to fix this problem by inserting tables and changing the form of the layout on each page. The knowledge I obtained from this assignment can be used in my future teaching career to teach my future students about cyber bullying. It is important that students understand exactly what this is and know what signs to look for. I also learned how to create a website through Google and how to use the different tools offered. The NETS-T standard that this assignment met was standard 4: promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. Not everyone’s website was on cyber bullying, but everyone was required to make theirs about something relating to digital citizenship. Through this assignment, we were able to “advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources”. We also promoted and modeled “digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology information”.

9.Movie

The last project we did for this class was to create a movie using the Movie Maker application. I had never done anything like this before, so I learned how to do several different things. I learned how to import pictures from my phone to the computer through email, download and save mp3 songs, and how to put these things together to create a movie. I came across several problems for this assignment, and these problems caused me a great deal of frustration. When I was choosing my pictures for the assignment, I didn’t think about how I would use them to tell a story. Luckily, I came up with an idea I could use to tell a story through my ten random pictures. After I had posted my finished movie to my blog, I discovered that my song wasn’t working. My movie hadn’t saved properly, so I had to start over. This didn’t take too long, and I was able to finish and repost before time for my presentation. I could use the knowledge I gained from this assignment to make short slideshow presentations for my future students. Movie Maker is a great presentation tool, and I certainly think that it will come in handy someday. The NETS-T standard that this assignment met is standard 1: facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. Through creating our own movies, we were able to “promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness”. This assignment advanced our “student learning, creativity, and innovation”.

 Course Reflection

This class has taught me that there are both positive and negative aspects to the increasing use of technology in the classroom. At first, I was extremely close-minded about ideas such as the Tech Common Core. Most students at the high school I attended abused technology in the classroom by using it for all of the wrong reasons. They would rarely stay on task and didn’t use any of it to advance their learning. In one of my high school technology classes, more than half of the class was constantly on social media sites instead of focusing on the lesson being taught. This teacher didn’t care, so the class continued to abuse the Internet rights. This experience was all I thought about when we started reading articles in this class about technology in the classroom. The more articles and opinions I was exposed to, the more open minded I became. I came to realize that there are so many positive aspects to integrating technology in the classroom that they might outweigh the negative. Technology wasn’t the problem in my high school class; the teacher was the problem. I was allowed several opportunities to use the iPad in this IT 365 class, and I have truly been able to see what a great teaching device this is. Through each assignment we have completed this semester, I have learned something new and useful that will benefit my future teaching career. I would say that my strongest point in this class has been listening to other opinions and allowing myself to be more open minded. The class discussions we have had taught me how to be a much better listener. I am also strong in my organizational skills because I always make sure to keep my assignments organized and always write down everything in my planner. My weakest point would have to be vocalizing my thoughts and opinions. Although I didn’t speak up much in this class, I have learned much more by simply sitting back and listening to the thoughts and opinions of my peers. I think that I have a difficult time vocalizing my thoughts because I am more of a writer than a speaker. A future learning goal of mine is to vocalize thoughts aloud that I would normally write and keep to myself. This will force me to step out of my comfort zone and speak up. Another future learning goal of mine is to allow my creativity to flow. I claim that I am not a creative person, but I believe that everyone has a creative side. As a future educator, it is important that I tap into my creative side and use my ideas to their fullest potential. This class has taught me numerous ways to integrate technology into the classroom. Two devices that I definitely plan on using everyday in my future classroom are an iPad and a Smartboard. The Blogspot website we used for this class was great for posting all of our work in one place. Blogs are great educational tools for older students, but younger students should stick to regular paper for assignments. Overall, this class has definitely benefited my future teaching career, and I have gained knowledge that will stay with me forever.

My Movie

A Conversation With a "Bad" Teacher

This article interviews John Owens, an educator whose career didn't turn out the way he had hoped. Owens taught at the Latinate Institute and failed to participate in a workshop for writing teachers because he didn't want to take time away from his students. The principle was not pleased with this, and his teaching career ended in less than a year. However, his experience at Latinate stuck with him, and inspired him to write an article about it for Salon. Thousands of people reached out to Owens, and MSNBC asked to interview him. He has now published a book called "Confessions of a Bad Teacher: The Shocking Truth From the Front Lines of American Public Education". In the interview, Owens is asked why he calls himself a "bad" teacher. He responds, "Because I was constantly told that if I were a good teacher, the kids who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder would sit still and learn...the kids who didn't speak English would speak English...all the problems that these kids faced would be solved in my 46 minutes a day with them...and good teachers could solve these problems." The entire interview really shows how schools will do anything to make them look like they are doing a good job. It is extremely frustrating when teachers get in trouble with the principle when they are trying to do everything they can to help a student. When Owens was a teacher, the school's main priority was showing data and proving that the students were passing. With the implementation of the Common Core, I worry that more schools will become like this. Owens believes that teachers should be teaching good behavior and character to students along with subject matter. I certainly agree with this because these traits will carry you far in life and should be enforced at a young age. All of the answers that Owens gives in the interview are very real, and educators should consider reading his book. I am certainly interested in reading his book since it provides real insight from a former teacher who went against the grain and was punished by the school.

Kids Can't Compute

This article discusses how far technology has come since back in the day. When computers first came out, so much had to be done in order to simply save a file. Apps were never used to help with papers; they were simply written out then typed. Programs had to be memorized in order to find saved files, and many steps had to be completed in order to accomplish anything on a computer. Children today do not have to worry about any of this because they already have it done for them. With today's advanced computer systems, all you have to do it click save and you are done. Computer skills are no longer necessary to operate programs. The article suggests that with a decrease in knowledge, kids are less likely to comprehend how anything on the internet will remain there forever even if you delete it. The article also suggests that students should be able to build their own computer by the time they graduate high school. The high school I attended did focus much on computer skills, and I barely knew how to type when I graduated. I had to teach myself how to do these things because my computer teachers simply did not care to teach. I think that computer skills are vital to have before students enter college. I struggled my Freshman year of college because I had to type papers like crazy and had no idea what I was doing. However, my friends that attended different high schools had been taught these things and had to teach me. Children today need to know how to use computer programs in order to be prepared for college. All of this starts with teachers, and teachers who care about their students' success, are the only ones who should be allowed to teach.

From Advisees

There are several different things that advisees believe are beneficial for teachers to utilize. First, there is the ability to operate an LMS. Doctorate students think that anyone who aspires to be an educator should know how to create a class from this in order to benefit their students' future. Second, they believe you should have an extended understanding of Smartboards. Future educators also need to be educated about the new BYOD concept and how to handle this new idea in the classroom. Lastly, you should be familiar with the SAMR model. This is simply a model to illustrate the progression of technological learning that offers framework for teachers to follow as they integrate technology in the classroom. There are four aspects of the model which include the following: substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition. Prior to reading this article, the only term I was familiar with was BYOD which stands for Bring Your Own Device. I had to research LMS and found that it stands for Learning Management System. This is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of e-learning education courses or training programs. The advisees suggest that teachers learn how to use tools that align with the age level of their students and learning content. I can certainly agree with this because not all tools are suitable for every grade. For example, BYOD would not work in a first grade classroom because first graders are much too young to own a cell phone or iPad. However, in a 7th grade classroom, this idea may work because most students at least have a cell phone by the time they reach junior high.

EDUCAUSE Sprint 2013: Beyond MOOC's

The transition that most higher educational facilities are making to MOOC's is explained in this article. This transition is basically massive online classrooms that offer more room for change than traditional lecture style classrooms that we see on college campuses. MOOC's allow professors to work on the class at any hour. These classes also benefit the student because they are able to work at the rate which they are most comfortable. For example, an advanced student may finish in three weeks, whereas a slower student may finish in twenty weeks. We have made an obvious shift from the informational age to the connected age. While there are numerous benefits of the MOOC's, there are also negative aspects that seem to be swept under the rug. I have taken several online courses here at USM over the past few years, and I haven't had many problems. The biggest problem that I've had with an online course is getting in contact with one of the professors. It was difficult to communicate with him since he didn't have office hours on campus, and email was the only form of contact. Also, I have found that I learn much more in an actual classroom interacting with other students than I do taking an online class. Online classes are becoming more popular among students, and this makes me a little worried. I think that interaction between teachers and students is so vital for learning, and online learning simply cannot compare to the interaction that actual classrooms provide. It is great that online classes are becoming more advanced, but it is important that we do not lose sight of interactive learning.

My Website

https://sites.google.com/site/cyberbullying102/

Web 2.0 Site

Mindmeister- concept map like Inspiration, but it has many more features such as slideshow
Spiderscribe- concept map where you can insert locations and images; used for business more than teaching
Bubbl.us- simple concept map similar to Inspiration; easy for kids to use
Linoit.com- Site where you can post notes, calendars, word documents, and much more; there is also an app for iPhone, iPad, and Android that you can download; this would be a good website for students to do group activities
Photobucket- combination of Instagram and Pinterest; you can upload all of your photos and videos. and people can like and comment; you can also see what is trending
Quinturakids- search engine for kids; has potential but needs improvement; K4- 3rd grade
Duckduckgo- kid friendly search engine like google; has a filter bubble
Gogooligans- safe search site for kids and teens; educational/ academic search engine
Padlet- blank wall where students can post questions and leave sticky notes; allows you to post on blog
Text2mindmap- concept map similar to the others; doesn't work as well as the others but is free
Stormboard- you can create different boards and add questions and comments; you can also vote on which questions you like
Kidtopia- kid friendly search engine developed by a school library; safe for kids so that they don't stumble upon inappropriate material
*Instagrok- mixture of a concept map and search engine; gives key facts, videos, images, and concepts related to the subject; you can adjust the difficulty level at the top of the pag; there is also a journal and quiz area for students; very cool and interesting website to use in the classroom
Slimekids- search engine/directory for kids; has useful information such as book trailers, book reviews, games, and author information
Wikisummarizer- search engine that gives you and summary and ample information; you can also edit information in a text box
Pearltrees- website similar to pinterest where you can organize and share things that you like on the web; also a concept map
Netvibes- dashboard intelligence platform; you can collect all of your thoughts in one place; gives summary of website and allows you to connect to the website
*Glogster- you can create online posterboards, assignments, and history timelines; you can add images, videos, and audios
Audacity- free audio editor and recorder; you can record music, speeches, etc; one of the best recording websites; can use this in the classroom by having students record educational songs or speeches
*Wordpress- this is a blog website similar to blogger where you can create, share, and reblog posts
Vimeo- video sharing website similar to youtube; you can upload and share videos
Evernote- website where you can search words from documents; good for taking notes
Compfight- free website where you can search for images
Diigo- website where you can store bookmarks, highlights, sticky notes, and any other information that you find
Blabberize- website where you can create an image and make it speak; similar to voki, but you can choose your own picture on blabberize
Easelly- website where you can create and share visual ideas; teachers can use this for meetings or to show ideas to students in the classroom
Animoto- cloud based video creation service that produces videos; you can change the theme, style, and add pictures and songs
Bookbuilder-webiste where you can create, share, publish, and read digital books; good website for kids and teachers
Weebly- place where you can make your own website; you can add audio, videos, images, slideshows, and more
Storyboardgenerator- Austrailian website where you can create storyboards and share them with friends; you can also search for different stories, videos, and education themes
Tagul- website similar to wordle; allows you to create word clouds
*Edmodo- seems like facebook for teachers that connects all learners with people and resources needed to reach their full potential; has different categories like Facebook; very useful website for educators
*Socrative- very interesting website where teachers can create quizes, tests, and more; lets you see which students answered correctly
Podbean- similar to iTunes; you can listen to podcasts and even create your own; you can make money off of this website by selling your content
Pixton- website where you can make comic strips; you can choose characters and make them interact with each other
iCloud- cloud storage that can store documents, music, photos, apps, and much more
Infogr.am- free website where you can create charts, graphs, and much more

Common Core in Action

This article explains the Literacy Design Collaborative, which goes along with the Common Core. The LDC helps students with developing better literacy and comprehension skills, and it focuses on the subjects of Science and History. Two teachers implemented this into their very own classrooms and had amazing results. Personally, this idea seems a little overwhelming to me. Science is not only a difficult subject to learn, it is also a difficult subject to teach. It is great that these two teachers were able to grasp the concepts even though it took time. The article ends with advice for teachers who are struggling to incorporate the Common Core in their classroom. The advice is to take things in small steps rather than leaps and bounds, and set goals for what you want to achieve in your classroom by the end of the year.  

Evolving Classroom Education

This article discusses technology that is growing and being used in today’s classrooms. “Bring your own device” or BYOD, seems to be a great idea and beneficial to both teachers and students. Most students today have a cell phone or iPad, and many schools cannot afford to provide such technology for all students. However, not all students can afford this. The second shift the article discusses is the “natural user interfaces” such as Wii and Xbox Kinect. The last shift is towards “personal learning environments” which aims to get students to create their own learning success.

A downfall to “bring your own device” would be that not all students can afford to have a smartphone, or any phone for that matter. If classrooms are going to use devices such as iPads, the school should provide every student with one. If there were a classroom where every student but one had a device they could bring, how would that one student learn? I also believe that so much use of technology in the classroom is limiting students to social interaction with their peers. Social interaction is important especially for Elementary students. Overall, I think that there is too much trying to be implemented at once, and this isn’t fair to students or teachers. 

Voki

Bullying

Bullying is an issue in schools all across the worlds. Most bullying takes place during the school day, and most victims remain silent. Although classmates know that bullying is wrong, they do nothing about it because they aren't the ones being victimized. It broke my heart to watch the victims being bullied when we watched "Bully" in class. I witnessed a lot of bullying in high school, and nothing was ever done about it. Teachers would act like they were oblivious to what was going on when they were actually just too lazy to take an action. At my high school, students were not only verbally abused; they were physically abused as well. It truly is heartbreaking to know that bullying often results in suicidal thoughts and sometimes even results in suicide. Bullying may never truly stop, but teachers can help a lot with this issue. When I was in the tenth grade, I witnessed a special student being verbally abused right in front of the teacher's desk. This teacher not only sat there and did nothing; she laughed at the student being bullied. This is not okay, and teachers like this should not even be teachers. As a future educator, I will make it a top priority to get to know everything I can about my students. Many students have a terrible home life and come to school as a way to escape. When these students get bullied when they come to school, they have no where else to turn. Bullying is something that should not be taken lightly, and there should be serious consequences for these people.

Augmented Reality Snags a Coveted Spot in Classrooms

Laura Devaney discusses how augmented reality is becoming increasingly common in K-12 classrooms. Augmented reality blends the real world with interactive and enhanced content through the use of technology. With an augmented reality application, you will be directed to abundant information by scanning something such as a historical landmark. This app can enhance anything that a student is learning. Theresa McGhee, a K-5 art teacher, uses this app with her students and says, "The kids think it's amazing that they can just hold something in their hand and see that something is going on in front of their screen". McGhee loves using the app in her classroom because her students are able to explore and "really dig deeper into their own learning". Augmented reality is a great way to incorporate technology in the classroom.

Surprisingly, this is a technological advance that I am excited about for educators and for students. I downloaded the free 3D Augmented Reality App on my iPhone. It had trouble figuring out how to work it, but I did get a better understanding of what augmented reality actually is. With access to augmented reality in the classroom, students will truly be able to dig deeper into their own learning as McGhee suggested. With iPads being brought into more classrooms everyday, this app will become more popular in schools. Many students learn through interaction, and this app allows them to interact through technology. I have two more years until I have my very own classroom, so there is no telling what new inventions for the classroom will be created by then. I think that augmented reality will quickly a big thing for learning in the classroom.

Five Essentials to Create Connected Students

Full time teacher and IT Administrator, Vicki Davis, suggests that technology in the classroom is a must for having well-connected students. She says that there are five essentials that students need to be: a connected author, a connected publisher, a connected conversationalist, a strategic disconnector, and a curious, lifelong pursuer of ingenious solutions. Davis encourages teachers to shift this generation from being consumers to being creators. As she concludes, she writes, "We must take time for inventing and programming and using technology. Technology isn't vocational; it is college prep, vocational and life skills, all rolled into one. And it's everywhere: not just in every classroom or in every school.

Davis made some good points in her article about technology in the classroom. Technology is becoming more important for students everyday. It makes me wonder just how much technology will be used in the classroom once I graduate and have my own students. Although I am still wary of so much technology use in the classroom, I am becoming more open-minded about it. I agree with the five essentials that Davis discussed in her article, and like how she encourages educators to shift this generation from being consumers and creators. With technology advancing everyday, it is vital for future educators to make time to understand the positive and negative that comes with excessive technology use in the classroom.

21st Century Skills

President of the 21st Century Skills, Ken Kay, discusses how important 21st century skills are in the classroom. He believes that students would be more successful by learning these skills, and they should be taught the skills of creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking. With 21st century skills, Kay says that students will be prepared to "think, learn, work, solve problems, communicate, and contribute effectively throughout their lives". Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have already started implementing this program. 

I certainly agree that 21st century skills are extremely important and should be taught in today's classrooms. In my opinion, these skills are more vital for success than what is currently being taught in classrooms. If these 21st century skills could be combined with what is already being taught, students would certainly benefit. The Common Core Standards have already been introduced, but I think that 21st century skills should be a higher priority. Most of what students learn in school isn't going to help them in the real world, and a great deal of what they are taught will quickly be forgotten. However, if students were taught 21st century skills, they could carry these skills with them for the rest of their lives.  I definitely think that these skills are vital for success and should be taught in today's classrooms. 

Inspiration comments

Erika
- visually appealing and great pictures for "Where the Wild Things are"
Jacqueline
- good illistrations and creative activities for "Dick and Jane"
Mary Katherine
- could use more pictures, but good activities and links for the book "Corduroy"
Jennifer
-well organized with plenty of pictures and good activities for learning about the Earth's Biome
Amanda
-great lesson about "Context Clues" with good activities, but pictures look cluttered
Jordan
-very organized, visually appealing pictures and activities on "Hurricane Force"
Johnathan
-interesting topic and information, but there are too many colors and pictures, which make it difficult to look at

Why Tough Teachers Get Good Results

In Joanna Lipman’s article “Why Tough Teachers Get Good Results”, she talks about her “tough teacher” that she had growing up. Mr. K, her former orchestra teacher, taught his students by calling them “idiots” when they made a mistake and showed little sympathy. When Mr. K died, he was celebrated by forty years worth of former students and colleagues. Lipman believes that Mr. K’s teaching style is the most effective way to teach and that it results in wonderful results from students. With this tough teaching style, students become more confident since they have been taught to never accept failure and to always try again. Lipman says that the following eight principles should be applied to today’s classrooms: a little pain is good for you, drill baby drill, strict is better than nice, creativity can be learned, grit trumps talent, praise makes you weak, stress makes you strong.

Although tough teachers may indeed get better results, there are parts of Lipman’s article that I do not agree with. I disagree that “praises make you weak”. When I was in Elementary school, it gave me confidence and made me want to do even better when I was praised by one of my teachers. The teachers that made the biggest impact on my life were the ones that encouraged a positive classroom environment and lifted students up instead of tearing them down. I definitely think that it’s important to be “tough” on students, but teachers should be tough in a positive way. Lipman’s former teacher, Mr. K, called his students “idiots” when they messed up, and his biggest compliment to students was “not bad”. I think that positive reinforcement and encouragement is extremely important for elementary students. When I become a teacher, I want to be a positive role model for my students, and I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with any problems that they may have. However, I will still be a “tough teacher”, just not in the way that Mr. K was. Although this teaching method may have worked for him, I believe that students need encouragement and positive feedback from their teachers. 

Do Not Track Me

Before downloading “Do Not Track Me”, I never really considered being tracked by anyone while surfing the internet. Once I downloaded this onto my computer, I logged in to my Facebook account. It showed me that it had blocked 1 company that was tracking me on Facebook. This kind of freaked me out and made me wonder why anyone would want to track me on Facebook. I then logged on to my Twitter account and saw that it had blocked three trackers from following me. I honestly didn't think I would have any trackers on any of my social media websites. I’m glad that I now have “Do Not Track Me” on my laptop to block any other trackers that I may have, and I think that all computer users should download this to protect their privacy.

Concept Map- Pumpkin Time!

 

Pumpkin Time

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses. 
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

I.        Story and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Each student will have a bag of roasted pumpkin seeds for them to snack on in the "story corner". Each bag will have easy directions for making roasted pumpkin seeds that the students can take home with them to make with their parents. I will read "It's Pumpkin Time" by Zoe Hall and show the class the pictures in the book as I read them the story.

A.   Students will gather in the story corner to listen to the story.

1.   Each student will have a bag of roasted pumpkin seeds to snack on during the story.

B.   I will read "It's Pumpkin Time" by Zoe Hall.

II.       Illustrate the story!

After story time, the students will go back to their desks and draw three pictures to illustrate the beginning, middle, and end of the story. There will be a chart in the classroom entitled, "It's Pumpkin Time!"with three columns that say First, Then, and Finally. Each student will hang their picture for the beginning, middle, and end of the story under the appropriate column to illustrate what happened in the story. 

A.   Students will illustrate what happened in the story.

B.   Students will hang their finished illustrations in the appropriate place on the story chart. 
       1. The story chart will be called "It's Pumpkin Time" and will have 3 columns: first, then, and finally. Students will hang their pictures under the appropriate column so that their pictures retell what happened in the story. 

III.      Mini Pumpkin Senses 
          I will have miniature pumpkins for each student to observe and think about how the pumpkins appeal to their five senses: taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. I will ask for volunteers to describe the pumpkin's taste (pumpkin seeds), texture, smell, sound, and the way it looks. I will make a chart on the board for the 5 senses and write down the student's description under the appropriate column.

A.    Students will observe miniature pumpkins and think about how they appeal to the 5 senses. 
B.    Students will volunteer to help me fill in the chart on the board. 

IV. Painting with Pumpkins!

Once the students have a good understanding of how their pumpkins appeal to their 5 senses, they can decorate their pumpkins with paint. They may paint faces, their names, or anything they'd like on their pumpkins! At the end of the week, the students may take their decorated pumpkins home.

A.   Students will use paint to decorate their miniature pumpkins.

B.   At the end of the week, they may take their painted pumpkins home!

V.       Story sheet

Students will make up their own stories about pumpkins and write them out on the worksheet. After they have written their stories, they can color their pumpkins. When they are finished, students will hang their pumpkin stories in the "Pumpkin Patch" on the front door of the classroom.

A.   Students will come up with their very own pumpkin story.

B.   After they have written and colored their story, students may hang them in the "Pumpkin Patch"

 

Common Core State Standards for ELA and Literacy

1. What is the purpose of the college and career readiness standards? 
To prepare students for their future.
2. What are the benefits and challenges of the shift reading and writing no-fiction test?
The ability to read well also comes with the ability to write well. Students will learn how to argue and find evidence from a text. They will have more knowledge of language. One of the problems with this was that it didn't work with children that have special needs. 
3. What are the benefits and challenges of having standards for Science, Social Studies, and technical subjects?
The students will gain more knowledge about each of these subjects, which will benefit them in the long run.

Safe Practices for Life Online

1. Facebook, Twitter, and Linked in
2. I found an article on CBS about cyber bullying. A Southbridge student was expelled for cyber bullying his English teacher. Because of this incident, the student had serious consequences that will effect his future.
3. Sexting- sending sexual messages or pictures
cramming- trying to finish everything in a short amount of time
cookies- small piece of data stored on computers
trojan horse- a hacking program
phishing- trying to acquire information such as usernames or passwords
spyware- a software that helps gather information
rootkit- a stealthy type of software
zombie-a computer that has been connected to the internet and compromised by a hacker
4. These screen names are poor choices becasue they are extremely unprofessional as well as inappropriate.
5. Someone might harrass students with such screen names because they draw attention and make it obvious that the person who chose the screen name is young and naive.
6.These screen names reveal too much information about the users because their names are included.
7. i8sushi2- not professional
Soccerstar- good for a child, doesn't reveal personal information
Puppygirl1234- shouldn't have numbers in numerical sequence
Keke1995-too much personal info
Bookworm-good for a child. not too personal
2BorNot2b-unprofessional
Choco-holic-unprofessional
CapitlOfens- confusing
AmrcanIdol2-unprofessional
BellaIsabella-reveals name
DarkAngel666- very unprofessional and number is not okay
Karla-Love-1996- reveals name and date
SimpyMe-unprofessional
gUn4hiRe-very unprofessional
babyfaceLA-target for harrassment
Watup?-same ^^^
8. LA_290
L_22
_LAA_
9. My score was a 2, I need to pick stronger passwords and screen names
10. One of the main reasons that students' passwords are hacked each year is because students share their password with their friends. This means that they can also share it with anyone.
Many think that the main reason passwords get hacked is because someone saw their password being typed in, but this isn't true.
11. I learned that ads that lead to computer viruses can be on ANY website. I have never had to deal with a virus on my computer, but I now know that there are visual signs to look for in an infected computer.I also learned that mal-ware is a software that is intended to damage or disable computer systems. This can download random junk onto your computer. Anyone can get a virus on this computer, and I think that people need to be more mindful of what they click on and what websites they view while on the internet.
12. Are you protecting your identity? Medium Risk
Are you an unwitting accomplice in a crime? Low Risk

 Authentic or Counterfeit? Low Risk

13.Beta Bot mal-ware blocks users anti-virus programs. This article made me feel a little unsafe because if my computer were to get hacked, I would be in a big mess. I use my computer for almost everything, and I want to make sure that it is safe and protected. 

Arts Integration

This article discusses how education trends use Arts Integration to enhance Common Core. Although the most talked about integration approach is STEM, Arts Integration is just as effective. The article highlights the following main points for Arts Integration: Process Produces Product, Access Points, True Equity, and Analytic Practice. The reason that Arts Integration seems to be hidden from view may be because teachers aren’t confident with their artistic abilities. The teachers may also be nervous to facilitate a lesson that includes authentic arts standards. However, there are keys to using Arts Integration successfully. They are: collaboration between arts and classroom teachers to find naturally-aligned objectives, using an arts area in which the classroom teacher is comfortable, creating a lesson that truly teaches to both standards, and assessing both areas equitably. A few quick sample arts strategies are mirroring, stepping into painting, and call and response. “By fostering a community within our schools where authentic Arts Integration is taking place, we can meet and exceed expectations set by the Common Core and move into a culture of true inquiry and learning.”

I found this article to be very insightful. I had no idea that STEM and Arts Integration were so similar. Although Arts Integration is often looked over, it is just as effective as STEM. I have just recently become interested in art this semester. I am taking Art in the Elementary Classroom, and it is one of the most interesting classes that I’ve ever taken. I have already developed this great appreciation for art in this short amount of time that I’ve been enrolled in the class. Furthermore, I think that it is a great idea to use Arts Integration. I agree with the article where it says, “by taking a traditional approach, we are shortchanging our teachers from the true art of their craft.” This certainly does lead to burnout, and this must change in order for students to succeed. Overall, I think that Arts Integration could be a positive thing and be beneficial to students. As the article states, “Arts Integration allows us to build chefs who make choices—not cooks who merely follow the recipe.”

John Hunter and the World Peace Game

An extraordinary educator, John Hunter, has dedicated his life to helping children realize their full potential. Hunter is the inventor of the World Peace Game, a hands-on political simulation. At his first job interview, he asked the superintendent what he was supposed to do. The superintendent replied with, “what do you want to do?” This gave him the freedom to do whatever he felt would best benefit his students. The World Peace Game started out on a 4x5 piece of plywood in 1978. Hunter had his fourth grade students solve the problems of the world. This game had the students so engaged and interested in what was going on all around the world. John Hunter is such an amazing inspiration to me as a future educator. He is changing the lives of these students, and he is doing it in a remarkable way. Whenever I was in the fourth grade, I knew nothing about other parts of the world. My world consisted of school, church, and my life at home. The fact that these children are learning about the problems of the world and solving them is amazing. Teachers should be able to teach material that students are actually interested in so that they will have a desire to learn. Most teachers today simply lecture and ask the students to take notes, but students want more than this. Interactive and hands-on activities really benefit students this young and allow them to think and learn better. John Hunter's invention of the World Peace Game has definitely been an inspiration to many including myself, and I hope that he will continue to inspire future educators all over the world.

The Common Core's Fundamental Trouble

Valerie Strauss examines how a lot being said about the Common Core standards is inaccurate, but she first discusses the positive claims made for the Common Core. Strauss then points out that the “Common Core State Standards” are misnamed because they actually are not state standards; she explains, “they’re national standards, created by Gates-funded consultants for the National Governors Association (NGA)”. Like Ravitch, Strauss points out that these Common Core standards haven’t been tested in real schools anywhere. Therefore, there is no evidence that they prepare students for college and the real world. Strauss says, “the new Common Core tests will be considerably harder than current state assessments, leading to sharp drops in scores and proficiency rates”. She brings up the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) forum that failed in both raising academic performance and narrowing gaps in opportunity and outcomes. “In reality, NCLB’s test scores reflected the inequality that exists all around our schools.” These tests showed that millions of students weren’t meeting existing standards, and the sponsors of the Common Core concluded that more challenging tests would be the answer. Strauss strongly disagrees with this and believes that it will cause more high school dropouts than it will prepare students for college. Overall, she does not think that adopting the Common Core Standards will change the game for the better.

Although there are many positive claims made for the common core, there may be just as many negative claims. Of course it would be revolutionary if this “Common Core project” could help students be better prepared for college and change things for the better in schools across the world. However, this truly may not be the answer. Both Ravitch and Strauss pointed out that there is no evidence that the Common Core standards are going to be successful. If the No Child Left Behind forum showed so many failing schools, why would it be a good idea to create more difficult tests? There are numerous schools that are considered poor and failing. If students in these schools are unable to pass these tests, what makes anyone think that they are going to pass harder ones? This doesn’t make much sense to me. I do agree with Strauss that this would only cause more dropouts. The Common Core standards certainly have many positive aspects about it, but as Ravitch said in her article, they may not be for everyone. Every school should use what works best for them. 

The Biggest Fallacy of the Common Core Standards

Diane Ravitch argues that the Common Core standards are not the most revolutionary advance in the history of American education. Forty-five states have agreed to adopt the Common Core national standards. According to Ravitch, the state of Massachusetts agreed to this “in order to win millions in new federal funds”. Common Core promoters advertise that the adoption of the Common Core standards is absolutely vital for this success of students. They also insist that the Common Core standards “are all that stand between us, and economic and military catastrophe”. Ravitch disagrees with these promoters since there is no evidence of any of these claims. She states, “there is no evidence that those who study these standards will be prepared for careers, because there is nothing in them that bears any relationship to careers”. Diane Ravitch makes clear, “the biggest fallacy of the Common Core standards is that they have been sold to the nation without any evidence that they will accomplish what their boosters claim”.

Prior to reading this article, I was completely for the adoption of the Common Core standards. However, Ravitch made some excellent points that caused me to think about it more. It is true that there is absolutely no evidence of any claims that promoters have. So many are completely ready to jump into the adoption of the Common Core standards without thinking twice about it. Is it really necessary for ALL states to adopt this? I agree with what Ravitch said, “states should do what works best for them”. She also points out, “as more money is allocated to testing and accountability, less money is available for the essential programs and services that all schools should provide”. I agree that our priorities are confused. I do not disagree with the Common Core standards, however, I do agree that they are not for everyone. 

How Teachers Are Integrating Tech Common Core

Fred Sitkins, Elementary School Principle in Michigan, explains how teachers are integrating tech common core. Schools all around the world are straying from using traditional educational models and beginning to incorporate more technology. Sitkins explains how students are able to dig much deeper and learn more with devices such as iPads and iTunes U. He believes that adopting this new common core allows teachers to “focus on teaching students how to learn opposed to remembering”.

I believe that this article provides great insight about integrating tech common core. I also believe that this is the perfect time to adopt the Common Core State Standards. With devices such as iPads, for examples, students can expand their learning far beyond the classroom. However, some negative aspects to this could be students becoming distracted and logging on to social media websites. The positive outweighs the negative, in my opinion, and I am excited for what the future holds concerning the Common Core State Standards. 

Introduction

My name is Lauren Ashlee Alford, and I am from McComb, MS. I am an Elementary Education major here at the University of Southern Mississippi and hope to someday teach English to Elementary students.I am a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and love being involved here on campus.In my free time I enjoy spending time with my friends, swimming, shopping, crafting, and doing anything outdoors. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. When I was a child, I loved playing "school" with my friends and especially loved when it was my turn to be the teacher. After I graduate, I will finally be able to live out my dream job of being a teacher.