Tech Fancy Teacher's Podcast

Comments for Kids Summary (September)

Kids are proving to me that they like blogging.

All of my kid's blogs were really interesting. Kristina's Crazy blog was cool and pink. She had a lot of pictures to go with all of her blogs and did a great job writing about what her class was doing. Tamati's blog Where in the World is... helped me visualize where Sri Lanka and India are. Tamati highlighted the sports of these countries whicj included, hockey, football, and cricket. Elise, Cade, and Danielle did a great job making an interview video. Elise asked good questions, Cade did well answering her questions, and Danielle did fabulous capturing it all on camera. Devin is reading some fun and interesting books for school. Another person recommended Freckle Juice by Judie Blume and I seconded it to Devin. I think he will enjoy it.
All of the students have taken to their blogs very well and are beginning to make them reflect their own style and personality. I believe blogging is helping kids become comfortable with technology while teaching them valuable lessons about safety and manners as well as introducing them to people who live all over the world.

Four Generations Timeline

Comments for Teachers #2

I Teach in a Failing School and You Should Too by Tyler Rice was an enlightening post. Rice described his failing school and his students which needed a learning experience that was more than burping back facts. 90% of his students are ethnic minorities, come from undesirable homes, and definitely do not want to be in school. So Rice had to come up with a variety of ways to teach his students; rather, he had to inspire them to want to learn. He did so by giving them more freedom in the classroom and allowing them to explore what interested them. Rice has also had to explore in what interested him, teaching. Because of his predicament as a teacher in a failing school, Rice has become a lifelong learner and has really grown as an educator.
In my comment I wrote about my high school and my teachers. My teachers had walked out of a terrible situation and did not have many resources. But they pulled through and gave me an education that is priceless and unique. I truly believe sometimes it takes an extraordinary situation to bring out the best.

My Element Project is a very interesting approach to learn about the elements. Basically, his students will select an element and discuss how they are similar and different by describing the family, history, structure and  common uses. I commented on how it seems like a great way for students to identify with the subject material.  I believe it will help in interesting them and increase the appreciation for the subject. In another comment I saw a neat activity for students to do in groups or for individual study. Have them complete a periodic puzzle!

love it 

There was also a link for The Element Song. Very amusing and educational. Click it and see if you can sing along!!!

Blog Assignment 5

What are we without poetry? In some cases we are better off. However, Dr. McLeod's Blog is valuable due to the way it expresses many peoples' fear about technology, particularly the internet. His sarcasm throughout the poem is also important because it shows others' ignorance towards advancing our youth. I also appreciate how the poem was to teachers, parents, etc. This poem came across to me as a warning to these people. His ending, which was not sarcastic at all, claims he will have his kids on the internet and learning how to utilize it to their advantage.
Out of many of the comments, I agree with Katherine Perkins. She says, "the teacher or parent should talk with that child about the positives and negatives of the internet." Parents and teachers should be discussing these things with their children. This kind of discussion reminds me of sex ed. You were told what it was, the consequences of doing it, and why it's important to wait or use preventative measures. (Sadly, for many students this talk came to late or was the first time they had talked about it with an adult.) It also makes me think that just because we ignore technology doesn't mean it's not there or not happening. It's important to talk about it and LEARN from it. One way to do this is to learn from others in person or via socail networkings like facebook, twitter, and blogs! Technology may have a dark side, but the bright side far outweighs the dark. 
WHOA! Dr. McLeod is one of the co-creators of Did you know? 3.0. He is also a leading force behind technology in the classroom movements and was credited as one of the people who inspired Teaching in the 21st Century. His poem is probably a summation of experiences with people whose fears about technology prevent them from using it in a positive and helpful way.

WOW! That is the third time something has shocked me. I love this idea and that a high school student brought it to light. I think the ischool initiative by Travis Allen is great and has me thinking about investing in an ipad. The apps are great tools to use in the classrooms of kindergarten through college. I know many students who already use their ipads or pcs in class. They take notes and follow the lecture on these devices. I actually use my pc during organization meetings and for one of my classes. I believe ischool would be beneficial to schools and students for monetary, spacial, and technological reasons.
The other video by Travis Allen is inspirational. He is making a difference in the world today because of an idea he had back in high school. I really love how he held onto his idea. Now he has his own team, travels around the country, and is improving thousands of childrens' education, as well as improving the relationships between teachers and parents I'm sure. I am excited about ischool and I expect to work with it in the near future.

Guess what I'm listening to! A breath taking piece of art created in part by people with angelic voices and by technology. Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre is a beautiful example of the bright side of technology. The choir and director were not in the same location. However, due to technology, they were able to marry their voices to create a harmonious melody.
I wonder how much more difficult or easy it was in making this callaborative video versus traveling to a location and practicing and then having to record it. I know many hours of practicing is involved either way, but I imagine that not having to travel back and forth to a specific location only added to the choir's independent free time. I also think that the same amount of time was put into the technical work i.e. cleaning the voice recordings, combining different camera angles, and perfecting the video. However, I imagine that these things were easier to maintain because it could be done on just one computer.
This would be an interesting project to do with a classroom. Have everyone record themselves independently and then work together to combine the recordings into a sort of video collage. I will have to keep this in mind for the future!


Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts is eyeopening, as well as eye catching. The video asks many questions but I think the most important question is what does it mean to teach in the 21st century. What does it mean? I believe Roberts is telling us that teaching today doesn't mean teaching burp back facts. You can find those in books, on your smart phone, or your computer. I think he is telling us that teaching today means to teach children how to filter information and how to utilize the tools they use to gain information to their advantage in all aspects of life. Basically, teachers should not be teaching the same way they did 50 years ago.  However, teachers are still teaching the same way they used to teach hundreds of years ago. Even some of the material that is taught in schools, in my opinion, is irrelevant.
I realize as a future educator that my methods of teaching are not and should not be limited. Technology is being embraced by children half my age and younger now (I am only 19). They are using it to gain various tid bits of information, but is that information relevant? They are using it to create so many different things, but are they using the most efficient programs to do this? They are using technology, but do they really know how to use it for their best interest? This is my job to help them answer these questions. I am not saying to dissolve the old subjects like math, science, etc. I am saying that the way we teach these subjects should change.

Project 6

Blog Assignment 4

I love this!

Eagle's Nest Radio is sharktastic! I loved the music paired with each part of the broadcasts. I especially like the voice manipulation they use for the Vocabulary Vault. That is something I want to do in some video I make. The kids seemed really enthusiastic about interviewing each other and sound like real reporters. The shark facts were very informative, the explorers were quite convincing, and the road to Rome was a blast from the past! Rockin' Riddles was a great questionnaire and the beat was fun. The kids also did a good job focusing on both sides of history such as the negative view of Native Americans towards Columbus Day verses the view of most people. The fierce gladiator piece in the last recording taught me many things that I didn't know. I never realized gladiators went to a special school, nor did I realize people ate lunch after watching men and animals be slaughtered.I also learned that Cleopatra was not Egyptian but Greek! Who knew...I do now.
Eagle's Nest has filled me with inspiration when it comes to audio podcasts. I am actually looking forward to trying out my skills. At first, I was nervous about incorporating music. However, with thanks due to the Eagle's Nest I feel confident about using music and the podcast. THANK YOU EAGLE"S NEST!

I love the creative technique in Langwitches that makes kids enthusiastic about reading. I can hear the excitement in their voices as they read their scripts. The pictures revealed that the printed script helped children follow along with the story as well. The kids must have loved making the accompanying noises. I can imagine them giggling along with the recording as they read the printed script in class. Another component of this project that I thought was genius was how they used smartboards and the recordings; basically TECHNOLOGY.
I am absolutely sure that the kids gained multiple skills throughout this project and loved every second of the learning process. This project assisted with reading, communication, pronunciation, listening, comprehension, time lines, smart boards, and different programs that enhanced their learning experience. I always knew from babysitting that kids, even toddlers, love to record and watch themselves doing everything. They are proud of what they do and they want others to see them and be just as proud. I am extremely happy that someone figured that out and used it in the classroom. I will definitely remember this method to help kids read, write, and communicate when I become a teacher. I am very excited about this!!!!

I found Judy Scharf's Podcast Collection helpful and interesting. Her collection is on my bookmarks' bar. I know it will come in handy. The video that she posted, About Audacity, has me messing around with Audacity. I also loved her layout of the schedule and different guidelines to follow when trying this out with students. One point that really stuck out to me was number 7, "Invite the principal, department chairperson, or some other person to come in and see the presentations.  Students will be very proud of their work." This is similar to what I said about the Langwitches project. Children want someone to be proud of them. I guess I should say everyone wants someone to be proud of them. This inspires kids, and adults, to continue learning and trying new things out. I believe when I get into a classroom of my own and try out the Langwitches project with my pupils, they will truly learn something and gain the confidence to learn outside of the classroom. I imagine the parents and students will be extremely proud and happy. I know I will be! 

My Google Presentation

Blog Assignment 3

Remains of Enterprise High School after March 1, 2007.

     It's Not about the Technology by Kelly Hines made me think of my high school, EHS. On March 1, 2007, parts of my hometown were completely destroyed by an EF4 tornado. My high school was also destroyed and eight students lost their lives. However, in just a few weeks school resumed for the high school students in various locations of our mangled town. For three years following that horrific day, the high school students went to the junior college, an elementary school, the service station, trailers, and to the practice fields of our non existent high school building. We didn't have the resources to have smart boards, new computers, nice and new projectors, and many other up to date technologies. But we did have pencils, paper, and amazing teachers that pulled through a terrifying and scaring experience to give the BEST education anyone could ever want or ask for.
      Mrs. Hines' blog is absolutely true; I know because I have lived it. Would my high school experience had been better if all the latest technologies of that time had been available? I believe my education would have benefited if that had been the case. However, I would not trade a classroom full of technology for my amazing high school experience. My teachers taught me more than math or french. They taught me to learn for myself, to strive for the best, and to never forget where I come from. Can you teach that on a smartboard?
       If teachers and schools have the resources to provide technology then do it. However, make sure the quality of teaching does not decline as the value of technology increases. Practice what you teach, teachers! If you want your students to learn, do a little learning for yourselves!


      Mr. Fisch's blog post, Is It Ok to Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher? was fascinating to me because of the literacy comparison. This is part of my comment to him, "I found your comment comparing illiteracy fascinating. In the past I considered myself to not be the best at computers. However, I was usually willing to work through whatever technological issue I was having and most of the time I was successful. This process was the same for me when I was learning to read and write. The more I tried and practiced the better I became at it. I cannot imagine anyone without the ability to read today even though there are many people who can't. Twenty years from now I am going to have the same thought with one adjustment. I cannot imagine anyone without the ability to use a computer today even though there are many people who can't."
      One other major topic that stayed with me was how parents and teachers excuse themselves from being technologically literate. Teachers do have a lot on their plates; families, students, parents, policies, grades, lesson plans, and the list goes on. However, teachers have a duty to their students who will one day run this country and influence the world. Teachers also owe it to themselves to be up to date. Technology can help in lesson plans, organization, and communicating with anyone associated with the classroom. If it is beneficial to the students and the teacher then why not utilize it in the classroom? If you want you're students to work smarter, not harder then do likewise. Like I said before, Practice what you teach, teachers!

       Wow. Once again, I am shocked and it's all because of technology. How many times will it continue to amaze me? According to this chart by Gary Hayes, the numbers just keep on going. It's almost unbelievable how many people are using social media technology hundreds of times a day. I've always heard and seen sitcoms about people who can't live without their smart phone or computer. Now I know the movies are not just exaggerated portrayals of people. These people are real and are out there somewhere blogging, tweeting, sharing, watching, recording, typing, and face-booking. They might even be doing all of those things at once!
     I realize many of these people have to constantly be checking and updating everything for their jobs; but, do they ever have time for anything else? What about cooking or fishing? Those are two of my favorite things to do. However, many of those numbers are coming from people who are younger than I am. In a couple of years, some of these youngsters will be my students. It seems to me that both student and teacher will have many things to show, teach, and learn from each other.

       A Vision of Students Today by Michael Wesch shows my generation's attitude toward school, yet it was made nearly four years ago. Four years ago, I was a sophomore in high school. I didn't have facebook, twitter, or email. Today I have three different email accounts, facebook, twitter, skype, windows live, three internet browsers, a smart phone, and a laptop. A lot has happened in four years... But what has changed in the class room since the 1960's? Really, nothing comes to my mind. I wrote book reports in high school that my mother had to write in elementary school. History, math, most sciences, and English have not changed a bit and neither has the teaching style. However, people and technology are changing.
        As a future teacher, the video proves to me that my students will need to be prepared to face their technological tomorrows. I need to teach in a fresh and creative way to show my students that the other subjects are just as important too. I know that technology, as well as my own creativity can help me give the best instruction to my pupils.

Comments for Teachers #1

   The first post I commented on of Mrs. Palmer's was Knowing is easier than implementing. Her post was about a business book, rather the first 25 pages of a book, called Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matter by Douglas Stone. Mrs. Palmer summarizes why some conversations are more difficult than others, why we avoid them, and what we think about when having a conversation. Basically there are three topics that come to mind when having a conversation; what happened, feelings, and identity. The what happened idea involves truth, blame, intentions, and conflicts. You or the other person want to be right and disregard the other person's side of the argument. The feelings conversation occurs when you let your feelings get in the way of thinking and acting rationally, or you are afraid of hurting the other person's feelings. Lastly, the identity idea happens when people worry about their image. Mrs. Palmer then discusses how by reading this book teachers, principals, and students can benefit from this positive way to communicate.
    In my comment, I told my personal experience of having difficult conversations. I talked about my team and   how the three topics were always part of our conversations. After a conflict many members let their feelings, as well as the feelings of others, get in the way of progressing. As the captain, every time I had a conversation I was aware that my image was at stake. I really enjoyed Mrs. Palmer's post about difficult conversations because I completely understand what it is like to have one.

Definitely on my "must read" list!

  As an elementary student I must have been an extremely optimistic nerd because I really loved reading. Book reports was an extension of the enjoyment of reading. Required readings were new adventures for me. Generally, I enjoyed every part of reading...except writing according to MLA. This is similar to what Mrs. Palmer's blog, Mrs. Palmer has changed my life, is about. In her blog she discusses using the method in The Book Whisperer to help her students get better at reading. The book's method is simple. Do not have assigned/required books and do not assign book reports. The book says that "skilling and drilling" our students is killing their love of reading. Implementing required texts, reports, tests, and programs that are supposed to help children read actually negatively affect children's view on reading. So, Mrs. Palmer did away with reports, but required the students to read 18 books. The students had freedom to choose what books they read according to genres set by Mrs. Palmer. They also had a reading period during class. Mrs. Palmer's students loved the experience and many still read and love it. The parents were also very appreciative and pleasantly surprised by their children's new love of reading.
          In my comment I brought up my siblings' experience with DEBILS. It is a program designed to help students read by targeting seven different ares in one minute. For more information visit DEBILS. The program did not help my siblings at all. In fact, it actually negatively affected their reading. They could speed read but they could not remember nor comprehend the material they read. My parents had to work with my siblings to try and reverse the effect of DEBILS. Hopefully, as a teacher I will remember Mrs. Palmer's blog and use the method in The Book Whisperer to create a love of reading in my students.

Blog Assignment 2

       Wow. That was the first thing to come to my mind after watching Did You Know? by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. The video was just cold hard facts put to modern techno music. It had a very smart and technological feel, which just made everything I watched a little more frightening. Facts like China being the number one English speaking country in a few years and super computers being smarter than the entire human race by 2049 are alarming to me. Watching movies like The Matrix or Terminator might be the reason for my paranoia about the super computers. The other facts like the stuff we are learning now will be outdated in three years or educating people to fix problems we don't even know about yet is mind blowing. It makes the idea of going to school to learn something seem pointless if the information will only be good for a few years. As for problems we don't know about, I think, "great, I already know that I have to fix something that is not even broken yet." It just seems so overwhelming.
        So why does it scare me? It is probably the speed at which everything is improving so rapidly. I feel like I can't keep up. I feel like America can't keep up. What will happen to our country? With all the political and economic issues right now Canada is looking pretty good. However, EDM 310 gives me hope for our country and for our people. If we are teaching future teachers to strive to be technologically literate and to stay updated then that will pass on to their future pupils. Thus, future generations will be able to keep up. Besides, no one knows what the future truly holds except for the maker of it all. Therefore, these "facts" are really just predictions. I'm not saying they will not come true...just that people, countries, or even everything can change in the blink of an eye.

       Mr. Winkle Wakes by Matthew Needleman is an interesting take on what it is like for people who do not stay up to date with technology. It also shows the somewhat tragic side of a child's education, or rather lack of education. The video is about a man who has been asleep for one hundred years. He wakes to find the world very very different due to computers and other high tech machines. He cannot adjust to all of the changes and searches for a place to fit in. School turns out to be the perfect place for him. There are no computers, except for one that is really old, and basically no mention of the fast paced, technological world. Mr. Winkle may like school this way, but I think everyone else should see that school needs an adjustment.
       School, for me, was the way Mr. Winkle likes it. There were no computers, no smart boards, and no real mention of how the world was advancing. I use to not like computers just because I did not know how to use them. This only became worse in high school when I had to force myself to use computers for projects and papers. However, my understanding of the way computers work became better because of this. A lot of things in school could have been better if technology had been incorporated in the classrooms. Now that I'm in college I really do not see how anyone could make it through without knowing something about computers. I believe that technology should be taught about and used in elementary classrooms. By doing this, students will always be familiar with technology and will remain comfortable with it throughout their educational journey as well as their lives.

         My mother use to tell me, and still does, that you go to college to become one of three things; a doctor, a lawyer, or a teacher. My dad use to tell me to make good grades in school so that I could go to college to become one of these three things. Art, dancing, cooking, designing, and sewing were just hobbies. Mom told me that you do not make a living off of working your hobbies. But, in the world of today I am seeing so many people who have degrees struggle to provide for themselves and their families. Not only do I see struggle, I also see a lack of passion for what they do. It's like they forced their profession upon themselves. They ignored doing something that made them happy because they were told they would not make a living. This is partially what Sir Ken Robinson says about education in the video The Importance of Creativity.
         Mr. Robinson discusses how educational systems around the world are crushing the creative imagination of children. Schools are drilling mathematics, literacy, and science into the heads of students. But where art, music, and dance are concerned, schools do not stress their importance. Why are they not as important? Because academic ability and subjects that are considered more useful for work are more important. We associate success with how well you do academically in school. However, some of the most successful people in this world embrace their creativity and achieve greatness not from what they learned in school. His friend, Julian Lynn, is an amazing choreographer and very successful. She did not do well in school and people today would say she had ADHD. But, a doctor she had seen simply told her that she was a dancer and should enroll in a studio. Now she is a successful dancer and makes her living off of what she loves. This should be an example to everyone about the importance of art to children. Your child may not do well in school and grow up to be a doctor, lawyer, or teacher. However, they just might grow up to be the next Julian Lynn because of their talent and love of an art.

           I think it is wonderful that Cecilia Gault understands the importance of having a balance of the arts and sciences in the classroom. She also shows how children can impact technology and how they can use it to their advantage in her article on Scholastic News Kids Press Corps Blog. I believe children need a creative outlet. When I have my own students I want to create a relationship between them and their studies, technology, and the arts. I believe there are ways to incorporate all of these things into the curriculum. Most importantly, I think children need to interact and have discussions about math, art, computers, dance, sports, history, reading, etc. The teacher should not be talking the entire time of lecture. The students should be adding their input and asking questions. I want to lead and inspire my students to want to learn and explore their creative side.
        
          Camillia, Georgia looks a lot like my home town. However, there is a big difference. Vicki Davis has her students in that little town blogging and communicating with people all over the world as the video Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts clearly shows. My school did not have a class like that. Our technology class involved learning how to use excel, word, and powerpoint from a book. It was good to learn how to do that except for the fact that it was from a program that was four years outdated. We did not learn to blog or how to use avatar programs. Her students seem like they enjoy the class while learning to teach themselves.
           When I become a teacher, I would like to introduce my students to new programs and technologies. I want to have the students use these programs in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. Besides teaching them I want them to teach me. This will inspire both my students and myself to never quit learning.