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.

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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.