Podcast Reviews
When I typed in Smartboard lesson it download a short podcast titled Timmys & A Tip, so I listen to it first. I was not impressed with this podcast. Ben Hazzard, the podcaster, was at a coffee shop waiting to order, while he was doing this podcast. There was a lot of background noise, which was distracting. It was short, and really didn't give very much information. The caster was promoting a website called dimdim.com, which is a web meeting site. I was confused why it would come up under the search for the Smartboard Lesson podcast, until I double clicked the icon for the podcast and it pulled up a list of podcasts. In this list was the Smartboard Lesson podcasts. Mr. Hazzard was one of the hosts of the podcasts. I chose to listen to episode#149, which was titled the " Top 5 Smartboard Misuses. I listen to 18 minutes of this podcast and I never heard any of those misuses mentioned. I have to say that this podcast was much easier to listen to then the first. They did list six different websites for teachers to checkout. Since the podcast's target listeners are teachers wanting to learn how to properly use smartboards, and not the general public I didn't see the need for needless chatter before they even got to the topic.
The next podcast I listened to was Kidcast episode#62. This podcast was comparing audio podcasting and video pocasting. This podcast was easy to listen too, it was clear and gave detailed information. The caster stated that video podcasting, while needed in some cases, requires more production time. I felt like if had listen to the entire podcast I would know what lesson or subject would require a video and which an audio, and what was required to make a successfully video podcast. This was my favorite podcast.
I listen to three different episodes of ConnectLearning, episodes 90,92, and 96. None of these podcast were very clear, there was too much background noise. I honestly think that the background noises were hard to control, since all of this were recorded at conferences or workshops. All of these podcast were in a question and answer format. I think that these podcast are good for getting ideas, or good for people who wanted to see what they missed at the workshop or conferences, but not that informative.
EdTech Talk was a podcast that focused on helping teachers who are teaching online classes. I know I sound like a broken record, but once again I taught there was to much background noise, and open "space" sound. I think the topic of this podcast is an important one,since I think a lot of classes are moving from the classroom to online. I know a middle school teacher that taught her classes online during a two week period during a flu outbreak so the students and teachers wouldn't be at risk. I would hate for K -12 to switch to online classes, because I like they need the social skills we learn during those years, but I can see how It can help during medical or weather problems, just think, if the schools are closed due to bad weather, they just move the class online until the danger passes.
Listening to Macbreak Weekly and This Week in Photography, were very much alike. The photography podcast had more information for the general public, but I didn't like the format. It sound like a couple of buddies getting together and talking about their shared hobby. I didn't like Macbreak at all. The focus was on the ipad, and that was all they talked about. They spent a good 5minutes on the name alone. I think this podcast was for all the apple fans out there, not the general public.
Over all I learned that its hard to make a podcast that doesn't have background noise, since most of them had at least a little bit. I liked a podcast that gets to the point, and gives me the information I'm looking for instead making me listen to chit chat. I hope when I have to do my podcast I'll be able to cut out the background noise and get to the point.
Ms. Cassidy's Class and tech baby videos
The video about Ms. Cassidy's class made me see red! I have a daughter in the first grade, and I can tell you they are not doing anything close to the kids in her class are doing. I let her watch the videos too. She wanted know why she didn't have computers in her classroom. She wants to put her pictures and class work on the computer too. We sat down together and set up a blog page for her and this week as she brings home work I am going to scan it in for her. How are our kids going to compare to other kids across the world once they are grown if they do not get the same level of experience. My daughter is lucky me and my husband can take the time to teacher her everything we know, but what about the parents out there that work two jobs just to pay the bills and buy the necessities. It isn't fair to our kids to not have every learning tool available to them so they can succeed. I wonder how many of our schools here in mobile county have smartboards in every classroom? Is there something as parents we can do to hold the schools accountable for what they aren't teaching our kids? The government doesn't test for technology skills levels, and in this technical world shouldn't they? Consider the baby with the iPhone, if he can master it now, what will he be capable of when he is six, if he is given the chance and the tools.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Added Assignments 1/24
Gary Hayes Social Media Counts
I think that this count just proves that we as future teachers have to stay on top of how the world of media is changing. We have to be ready when we step foot into our classrooms; we won't have time to play catch up. I not sure how I will use media in my future classes, but you can be sure I will figure it out before I'm finished here at South. I don't think I ever thought about using media in my future classroom, other than powerpoint, before this class. So, I know I have some work to do before I can consider myself a tech-literate teacher.
I think that this count just proves that we as future teachers have to stay on top of how the world of media is changing. We have to be ready when we step foot into our classrooms; we won't have time to play catch up. I not sure how I will use media in my future classes, but you can be sure I will figure it out before I'm finished here at South. I don't think I ever thought about using media in my future classroom, other than powerpoint, before this class. So, I know I have some work to do before I can consider myself a tech-literate teacher.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Video #1
Mr. Wesch's "A Vision of Students Today" brings up some very good questions.
Is the current system of higher education working? College is suppose to teach
students not only subject matter, but also how to use or apply that knowledge to
solve problems they will encounter in the future. Most of my classes just pump you
full of information, but don't show you how that information can be used. How many
of the courses required to get your degree are still relevant in today's society?
Technology will solve all our problems? I don't think so. For those few students who
type faster then they write I can see them taking note on a laptop, but the students I know
that take their laptops to class they do anything but take notes with it. Online class are suppose
to be the future of education, but having taken a few online classes; I honestly would prefer
to go to regular class. I think that online class are great of some personality types, but not so good for others.
The cost of higher education is astronomical;it takes between ten to twenty years to pay off most student loans. What is going to cost in thirteen years when my daughter will be going off to college? Can the cost of higher learning be lowered? Why does a ebook cost almost as much as the hard copy textbook? Why is the international textbooks cheaper then the US textbooks?
I don't have the answers to these question, but I hope there is a way to fix the ever grow cost of college.
Video # 2
"It's Not about the Technology" by Kelly Hines, was a very insightful article, posted at www.eduratireview.com. Ms. Hines, who is a tech-savvy teacher,tells us that it's not the lack of technical tool, but the mind set of the teachers that need to be changed first. I agree completely; what good does it do to put a smart board in a classroom with a teacher who can't check their email, or doesn't know what a blog is. Number one on Ms. Hines' list of things to change
is that teachers must be learners! I love it. Teachers should always stay as updated as possible in their subject, research,tools, and the world around them. Kelly wrote "If a student has not learned, no matter how much effort has been exerted, no teaching has been done." I could not have said it any better, if the student didn't learning anything how can you say you taught them, start over and try teach the subject in a different way. I think Ms. Hines got to the root of the problem in most of today's schools. Most teachers I've encountered since my daughter and nieces have started school have been good teachers, but there have been a few that gave me cause for concern. There are too many out there that don't want to change the way they've been teacher for years, I think that some of that is on the administration as well as the teachers. The principles should know which teacher need to go to workshops to learn new tools and make sure they use them, and which ones should retire. If you are no longer passionate about sharing your knowledge with your students then it is time to get out of the classroom.
Video# 3
Mr.Fisch's blog "Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?" was the best blog I have read so far in this class. He's statement that" technologically illiterate teachers today, is like a teacher not knowing how to read and write 30 years ago." made a few people mad, but nobody really disagreed. The general consensus about the reason that there is some tech illiterate teachers out there, is that they are afraid of making mistakes. I think that is a cope out, nobody can learn something new without making a few mistakes along the way. They don't expect their students to be mistake free when learning a new topic, at least I hope not, so why should the expect it from themselves. I also think that it is the responsibility of the administration to hold their teachers accountable for not using new technology in the class room. My daughter started taking computer class in preschool at age 3; so my husband, a programmer, built our daughter her own computer when she was 4, and now at age 6 she is more computer literate then some of the teachers she had since starting school. I was personally appalled at her teacher's lack of computer knowledge last year, however that teacher and the rest of the kindergarten teachers took a summer workshop on how to use smart boards, which they had installed during the summer. I have always considered myself a computer literate person, but since starting this class, I think I have a few things to learn before I'm ready to embark on my teaching career.
Mr. Wesch's "A Vision of Students Today" brings up some very good questions.
Is the current system of higher education working? College is suppose to teach
students not only subject matter, but also how to use or apply that knowledge to
solve problems they will encounter in the future. Most of my classes just pump you
full of information, but don't show you how that information can be used. How many
of the courses required to get your degree are still relevant in today's society?
Technology will solve all our problems? I don't think so. For those few students who
type faster then they write I can see them taking note on a laptop, but the students I know
that take their laptops to class they do anything but take notes with it. Online class are suppose
to be the future of education, but having taken a few online classes; I honestly would prefer
to go to regular class. I think that online class are great of some personality types, but not so good for others.
The cost of higher education is astronomical;it takes between ten to twenty years to pay off most student loans. What is going to cost in thirteen years when my daughter will be going off to college? Can the cost of higher learning be lowered? Why does a ebook cost almost as much as the hard copy textbook? Why is the international textbooks cheaper then the US textbooks?
I don't have the answers to these question, but I hope there is a way to fix the ever grow cost of college.
Video # 2
"It's Not about the Technology" by Kelly Hines, was a very insightful article, posted at www.eduratireview.com. Ms. Hines, who is a tech-savvy teacher,tells us that it's not the lack of technical tool, but the mind set of the teachers that need to be changed first. I agree completely; what good does it do to put a smart board in a classroom with a teacher who can't check their email, or doesn't know what a blog is. Number one on Ms. Hines' list of things to change
is that teachers must be learners! I love it. Teachers should always stay as updated as possible in their subject, research,tools, and the world around them. Kelly wrote "If a student has not learned, no matter how much effort has been exerted, no teaching has been done." I could not have said it any better, if the student didn't learning anything how can you say you taught them, start over and try teach the subject in a different way. I think Ms. Hines got to the root of the problem in most of today's schools. Most teachers I've encountered since my daughter and nieces have started school have been good teachers, but there have been a few that gave me cause for concern. There are too many out there that don't want to change the way they've been teacher for years, I think that some of that is on the administration as well as the teachers. The principles should know which teacher need to go to workshops to learn new tools and make sure they use them, and which ones should retire. If you are no longer passionate about sharing your knowledge with your students then it is time to get out of the classroom.
Video# 3
Mr.Fisch's blog "Is it Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?" was the best blog I have read so far in this class. He's statement that" technologically illiterate teachers today, is like a teacher not knowing how to read and write 30 years ago." made a few people mad, but nobody really disagreed. The general consensus about the reason that there is some tech illiterate teachers out there, is that they are afraid of making mistakes. I think that is a cope out, nobody can learn something new without making a few mistakes along the way. They don't expect their students to be mistake free when learning a new topic, at least I hope not, so why should the expect it from themselves. I also think that it is the responsibility of the administration to hold their teachers accountable for not using new technology in the class room. My daughter started taking computer class in preschool at age 3; so my husband, a programmer, built our daughter her own computer when she was 4, and now at age 6 she is more computer literate then some of the teachers she had since starting school. I was personally appalled at her teacher's lack of computer knowledge last year, however that teacher and the rest of the kindergarten teachers took a summer workshop on how to use smart boards, which they had installed during the summer. I have always considered myself a computer literate person, but since starting this class, I think I have a few things to learn before I'm ready to embark on my teaching career.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
January 17th Assignments Video # 4
Sir. Ken Robinson's message in his video "The Importance of Creativity" is right on target. I agree that all of us learn differently, and we all have our on strengths. My daughter does well in school, but she loves acting out stories she's made up or play games she's invented. People use to educate their children in academics and in the arts so they would be "well rounded", but somewhere along the way as a society we've come to focus on the academic subjects and left the arts behind. I try to expose my daughter to the arts so she can decided where her passion lies.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
January 17th Assignments
Did you know? by Karl Fisch was an interesting video. He talks about how the US has a smaller population then China and India, and he thinks that China will one day be the largest English speaking country. Video # 1
According to the information I found India has a larger percentage (10.66%) of English speaking population then China (.77%) does. The next part of the video he talks about how as teachers we are preparing students for the ever changing workforce; trying to teach them not only our subjects, but how to use their knowledge to function in an ever changing technological world. The next segment of the video talks about how the internet has changed our world. We have changed how we approach meeting new people, and keeping in touch with exist friends. Social networks, online dating, texting, gaming, and cell phones have changed how we live, play, and work. The amount of available information is crazy, we can access information with a touch of a button, it beats sending a week at the local library after school to work on a paper or project. My six year old asked my husband what it was like when he was a kid, he told her he didn't have a computer until high school, no cell phone, and no internet, her response was "No internet that's just crazy! Your making that up" she asked me if Daddy was telling a joke. If we have 5 times more words now the Shakespeare did can you imagine what he would write today. The author of this video states that in our lifetime that computers will advance to the point were they will be better then the human brain. I don't know enough about the computer industry to know if that's true, but that's kind of scary if it is.
I did know some of the facts on the video, and others I didn't. I think the video's producer's a little concerned about the population difference between the Us, China, and India.
Video # 2
Mr. Winkle Wakes by Matthew Needleman is a cute video. Mr. Winkle wakes up and goes out and explores his surroundings, he is a little overwhelmed by the changes he sees. The computers, phones, and other electronic devices seem to scare him, so he goes to the school and is happy because it seems to be the same as it did hundred years ago. I know that all schools are not where the should be, but this video is an insult to schools everywhere. I have a six year old and I am involved with her school, They are always raising money and applying for grants to improve the school's equipment and computers. They are currently working on getting smart boards for every classroom, every classroom has at least two computers, and the is a computer lab, which the students go for
computer class, even the kindergarteners. Mr. Needleman, I don't know who you are, or what you do for a living, but if you are worried about the state of you local schools, do something about it, call they and ask them how you can help; trust me they well take all the help the can get. If your problem is that the schools aren't teaching students how to use technology; that's a harder problem to fix. The school administration are the ones who enforce the teaching standards and the older administrators don't know how to use the technology themselves so the don't require their teachers to use it; I think that as the older administrators and teachers are retiring and new ones are coming in the problem will fix it self.
Video # 3
Vicki Davis video was very informative. I agree with her in that there is a way to teach any student, and that you just have to find out how to reach them. I think she has done a great job and I thank her for all her hard work in connecting students and teachers from around the world. I look forward read more about the flat class room project, I think her approach of having the student teach is great, I know I have always learn better my doing something then just hearing about it.
According to the information I found India has a larger percentage (10.66%) of English speaking population then China (.77%) does. The next part of the video he talks about how as teachers we are preparing students for the ever changing workforce; trying to teach them not only our subjects, but how to use their knowledge to function in an ever changing technological world. The next segment of the video talks about how the internet has changed our world. We have changed how we approach meeting new people, and keeping in touch with exist friends. Social networks, online dating, texting, gaming, and cell phones have changed how we live, play, and work. The amount of available information is crazy, we can access information with a touch of a button, it beats sending a week at the local library after school to work on a paper or project. My six year old asked my husband what it was like when he was a kid, he told her he didn't have a computer until high school, no cell phone, and no internet, her response was "No internet that's just crazy! Your making that up" she asked me if Daddy was telling a joke. If we have 5 times more words now the Shakespeare did can you imagine what he would write today. The author of this video states that in our lifetime that computers will advance to the point were they will be better then the human brain. I don't know enough about the computer industry to know if that's true, but that's kind of scary if it is.
I did know some of the facts on the video, and others I didn't. I think the video's producer's a little concerned about the population difference between the Us, China, and India.
Video # 2
Mr. Winkle Wakes by Matthew Needleman is a cute video. Mr. Winkle wakes up and goes out and explores his surroundings, he is a little overwhelmed by the changes he sees. The computers, phones, and other electronic devices seem to scare him, so he goes to the school and is happy because it seems to be the same as it did hundred years ago. I know that all schools are not where the should be, but this video is an insult to schools everywhere. I have a six year old and I am involved with her school, They are always raising money and applying for grants to improve the school's equipment and computers. They are currently working on getting smart boards for every classroom, every classroom has at least two computers, and the is a computer lab, which the students go for
computer class, even the kindergarteners. Mr. Needleman, I don't know who you are, or what you do for a living, but if you are worried about the state of you local schools, do something about it, call they and ask them how you can help; trust me they well take all the help the can get. If your problem is that the schools aren't teaching students how to use technology; that's a harder problem to fix. The school administration are the ones who enforce the teaching standards and the older administrators don't know how to use the technology themselves so the don't require their teachers to use it; I think that as the older administrators and teachers are retiring and new ones are coming in the problem will fix it self.
Video # 3
Vicki Davis video was very informative. I agree with her in that there is a way to teach any student, and that you just have to find out how to reach them. I think she has done a great job and I thank her for all her hard work in connecting students and teachers from around the world. I look forward read more about the flat class room project, I think her approach of having the student teach is great, I know I have always learn better my doing something then just hearing about it.
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