We Have A Lot To Look Forward To

Man, we as students studying to become teachers really don't know what we are getting into. I feel like it takes a lot to be acome a great or even a good teacher. It seems like this guy has a got a pretty good understanding of what it's all about after just one year. In my opinion, the student always comes first. The end result is helping your sttudents learn, and work toward a degree. And i'm sure that nothing makes Mr. Mcclung happier than to see all his principals come together to produce a great student. I think that my favorite of his ideals has to be the fact that all teachers must be flexible. Sure, you are handed a sylabus at the beginning of the semester by your boss, but it's up to you to mold that basic gameplan into what and how exactly your students need to learn.

Wikipedia...definitely not a valid source

Ever since i have been writing research papers, or around the eighth grade, i've known that my teachers were not big fans of Wikipedia. This is understandably so due to how the articles are edited and composed. Anyone, at any time has the right and ability to put his or her two cents in on a wiki article. This means that if a certain politician feels that he has been badmouthed on wikipedia, he can simply get online and put a positive spin on things. Strides have been made to counteract the reliablility of wikipedia by making the computer of the writer of a post traceable. This, however does nothing at the time. All the politician would have to do would be to run across the street to Starbucks and go to town. The author tracing system doesn't hold much power now, but it's a step in the right direction.

One Life To Live

By far the best video to blog about so far. I loved the video. The guy's outlook on life was exactly what everyone's should be. Randy Pauch's teaching style wasn't stated clearly; but if it is parallel to his personality and beliefs, then his students should be honored to learn from him. However, there were some teaching styles he did discuss briefly. Mr. Pauch obviously believed in setting goals, leadership, participation, different forms and appoaches of learning, and also having fun while doing so.

Most teachers in today's learning environment simply follow the curriculum. These teachers produce children who aren't exactly on fire for their education. The students affected simply stroll through their time as students meeting the "average" requirements set by their average educators. Pauch, on the other hand, seems to be a believer in believers. He says setting goals and sticking to them for your entire life is the way to achieve them. What a surprise, right? He also is a big fan of fundamentals. Afterall, what dream isn't complete without a fundamental gameplan?

As for the basis of his students' learning experience, he seems to be right on point. But it is hard these days to actually keep a dreamer dreaming, what with all the professional criticism out there. Exactly how are tomorrow's leaders expected to stick to their dreams of being whatever it is they would like to become one day? Pauch believes several forms of indirect learning and student involvement are key to a good learning experience. As for indirect learning, most students would make a more valiant attempt if they didn't feel like the material was being shoved down their throats. And as for student involvement, that's pretty self-explainitory. Any educator must keep their students involved and intrigued in their education.

Randy Pauch had many great theories and beliefs about education. But the one that truly inspired me was the man given six months to live saying, "don't let the brick walls keep you from achieving your goals." We all only have one life to live. Why not spend it in the pursiut of happiness, and at the same time trying to help eveyone else a little as we go.

My Reaction to the Fichbowl Blog

i did use the same example that i used in the previous blog but now that i think back on the situation it makes me mad to think that my school recived funding for those computers and didn't even use them.

Mr.Fisch, a little full of yourself, but you make a good point. computer-based learning is a great way of staying up to date as an educator. However, most educators aren't as computer savy as other.

I graduated in 2006 and mostly all of my teachers relied on boring notes and worksheets to teach the material. my science class was given four brand new Apple desktops, but were rarely ever used for teaching purposes. The teachers had no idea of what utinsils they had available at no cost. (such as youtube, podcasts, etc.) Not beacause they didn't know, but because they chose to be ignorant of technology. This reading this assignment was arequirement of my EDM 310 class and i feel like it was a good assigment. I particularly liked the part about 2020 vision.

My comment to Kelly Hines' Blog

My EDM 310 class is all about technology-based learning and i'm loving it. However, new technology is worth nothing without the proper training and equipment. My high school science class recieved four brand new Apple desktop computers and the most action they saw was facebook and the occasional youtube video.

I came from a rural community where most students didn't have home internet access so they wern't familliar with it when a computer was introduced into the classroom. But in my opinon, this could have all changed if the teaching staff would have taken advantage of the teaching instruments they had in front of them.

The opportunities for computer-based learning are limitless, and are only expanding as I type. You can take a class and totally turn it around using a computer to enhance the learning experience.

I Am A Multitasker

That video was pretty much right on point for my life. The first few weeks i have spent at South, I haven't had much down time. My classes take up my whole day. If im not actually in class, I'm doing work that corresponds to that class. I have to check my email two or three times a day to check if my EDF teacher hasn't dropped any late assignments or extra readings on me. By the way, I have yet to have a test or quiz or any assignment that covers what we were assigned to read.

Thats not to mention the fact that I simutaneously try to keep up a social life and worrk at the same time. I have a girlfriend. We try to talk for a good hour or two before we go to sleep evey night, but that doesnt happen a lot beacause we are both so tired from our day. On top of that i work around ten hours a week and play in a club football league which practices three nights a week. However, contrary to the videolucky to find the time to get on facebook or just play video games or watch TV.

picture modifiers

Podcasts: Likes and DIslikes

After listening to about five of these podcasts i have come to the conclusion that i am not a big fan. Podcasts to me are a more finite version of talk radio. I'm sure that some podcasts are different but these particular technology talk shows and interviews just aren't that intertaining. However, I suppose they can be somewhat informative if you make yourself listen and pick out the various pieces of information. But for the vast majority of the time, the hosts are trying thier damnedest to be funny while simultaneously maintianing thier best radio host personality

I did get a lot out of the "kid casting" podcats. The host was explaining to the listeners about "vodcasting" or video podcasting as he preferred. He stated that podcasting in the classroom is a good way to reach your students. I believe he is correct in this asoect. Most students watch television every day. Some watch it as opposed to doing thier homework. So now that there is a way to fuse the two together into such things as studying through a vodcast, or learning activities just to familliarize students with new technology such as these videocasts.

The smartboard learning podcasters believed that video podcats "gets kids engaged" and "are a great spot to start conversation". This is true in some aspects but I, on the other hand, feel different. What is wrong with the traditional, face to face style of teaching? It is true that some kids nowadays are intrigued by technology based learning, but some are not.

One of my teachers here at South gives all her assignments online as well as some of her lectures. im guessing that this is simply the result of a work load that is too big for her. If this is the case, then what is the point of teachers? Theoredicly, students could all be sent to school or even stay at home where they do nothing but watch videos and take online exams on what they have learned. Where do we draw the line?

my first picture

my first link

click here to go to my university homepage.

Empowering Students

With a ton of funding, Mrs. Davis might have something. I came from a rural school and i know that a lot of my old classmates would have loved to have technology and resources such as these in high school, that is if some of them could even pay for basic school supplies. To achieve a goal such as this, some drastic contributions would have to be made in my community.

However, I feel like today's school system is headed in this general direction. Students are obtaining a surplus of knowledge and interest in computer technology. Most kids that i have known not to have a facebook or myspace are simply not able to update their status because the nearest computer is in their local library. But if someone were to ever go to one of these local computer labs, they would find that about half of the computers are taken up. Obviously today's students are anxious learners when it comes to computers, not to mention the growing demand for computer literate individuals. So it would be a win win in that aspect. But a computer lab in every classroom? That would take some serious restructuring of today's education process.

that brittish guy was funny. and he made a good point.

We as teachers face a tough future. With an increasing population, there will be a rise in all types of students, as well as types we have never seen before. Most of this is happening right before our eyes. The responsibility that we bear is tremendous. People who grow to be influential figures had to be molded by some sort of teacher/mentor. The decisions we all make everyday, unconsciously, are due to 12 years of learning. So that's where we stand, in a position to help or just become another by the book, colorless, unimaginative molder of future leaders.

So what can we do about it? Well, I've always heard that everyone is different. So cater to your students assorted interests and beliefs. It is imperative to involve the entire class in every aspect of your classroom. So first, find out what your students interests, hobbies, extracurricular activities, etc might be. This part is easy. Kids talk, all the time, even when they aren't supposed to. They talk about movies they've seen sports stars they love. But the key is finding a way to relate this information. Find out these things as well as things they don't appreciate or might consider boring. Of course with a curriculum as your primary guideline, you will have to stick to that for the most part. But, for example, if a student has expressed interest in dinosaurs while in middle school, then the teacher should deviate from the required agenda for one day and do his best to catch up. After all, that student could have grown to become a prize-winning paleontologist or flipping burgers at burger king, but that student will always remember that favorite teacher who taught him or her the difference between a t-Rex and a brontosaurus

Technology Is Becoming A Nesscessity

It's true, times are changing. Humanity has come an unthinkably long way in an increasingly short amount of time, and will continue to do so. It's thrilling, but at the same time frightening. If the worlds population continues to increase, how will our people afford to feed these extra mouths with an increasing demand for food and other natural resources already? Where will they all go? Most of the countries that are currently growing so fast already have an overfill of people living there. How can we survive? That is, if computers don't outsmart and overpower us first. Eventually, our overwhelming desire to grow will be our old planet's downfall. I come from from a small rural community, where my family owns over 700 acres of land. And after watching that video, I've never been so happy to drive 35 minutes to go to wal mart.

Matthew Moorer's EDM 310 Blog

Well, today we have all overcome. I think Dr. King would be proud. Tonight has had nothing to do with race, bigotry, or biast. However, we have all endured slow and stupid computers and blazing tempuratures in the lab. So congrats on that. My name is Matthew Moorer. Most people call me Matt, so i guess that would be all yall. I graduated from Washington County High in 2006. Then went on to Faulkner State Community College where i got suckered into spending three years at a junior college. But now im at South and i really like it. This is my first semester and first web-oriented class. So i expect at least 50% of all my assignments to be done by my fellow classmates! That's about it. See yall in class.