My Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this class and think that I have taken a lot of knowledge with me when I exit. Mr. Tashbin relayed so much information that I will use throughout my career as a teacher, I'm truly glad that I have taken this class. I like how Dr. Strange thinks and agree with almost all his thoughts on how education should be taught. I wish that all classes were this beneficial if they were then I believe that a college education would much more valuable. I am going to end this blog and class with three positives and one negative comments, I hope that someone, someday, somewhere will read them and see how much this class meant to me.

Let me get the negative comment out of the way.
I have come to realize how a class should be taught and the benefits of this. Mr. Tashbin has spoiled me in the ways I am going to judge other classes and hope they will be taught like this. So I would say this is a negative thought to me but I hope that it shows how much I enjoyed this class.

Onto the positives!!

1. Podcasting, I loved this project not only was it fun but I also learned how to do a podcast. In doing this project I developed a friendship and hopefully educated someone on the benefits of the military and education. I think in the longer semesters there should be more than one podcast.

2. Google presentations, this was really exciting because I got to show my fellow students and Mr. Tashbin a brief view of my life which I am very proud of. I also learned how to use Google Documents which I believe I will using a lot in the future.

3. Blogs, I learned so much things doing the blogs from ALEX to cell phones in the classroom. Writing my thoughts on the multiple topics and then getting to share them with the class was great. I think everyone took something from these conversations.

I am extremely glad I took this class, and in the same glad I took it with Mr. Tashbin.

Burp Back Education Podcast sso513

I liked the way this podcast flowed it sounded like the three got together and had a conversation on Burp Back Education, I liked that. I agree with this podcast and the thought behind it, I think that Burp Back Education does not help the student it hinders them. The way the this three gave ideas of how to teach so that students will learn what they are thought instead of using Burp Back Education. The only problem I had with this podcast was that it was so casual, maybe the could have sounded more professional. Overall I liked this podcast, good job.

Using Wiki's bwo430w

The group that I listened to talked about the use of Wiki's, it was a good podcast I only have two complaints the repetition and I believe they should have talked about the downfalls before praising it. Though they did repeat themselves throughout the podcast it was informational if you do not know about Wiki's. I just wish that they would have started the podcast with the downfalls of Wiki's I think if this would have been done the listener would know what to look out for when using Wiki's instead of hearing how good Wiki's are and thinking this before knowing the downfalls, especially with credibility. Overall good podcast and think they did a good job talking about Wiki's can help us.

Texting is that BAD!!

I honestly had no clue that texting has become that bad in schools, I know I text on average a couple times a day but it dos not cause problems in my life and to think that it causes problems in schools is crazy to me. I think that instead of trying to stop students from texting in schools maybe educators should try to incorporate texts in the classroom. One idea would to have students keep their cell phones where teachers can see them and have students use texting to help find answer to their school work by texting questions to parents, family and friends. Maybe with the quickness that texting happens students will recieve instant help with problems they are facing. No matter how many rules you have against the use of cell phones, students will try to find a way to get around the rules. I think technology is advancing so fast around us that instead of resisting change we should embrace it and find ways of using it to our advantage. We should also encourage the use of proper English and discouraging the texting language, maybe this will help the problem of proper English. Let us as educators think outside the box and inside the cellphone to find a solution to a common problem that I really don't see an end to.

Optimistic

As I was reading this post I found myself getting upset, I cannot believe that there are teachers out there not encouraging their students to be whatever they want to be. I am lucky in my life that I am able to go back to school at a latter time and have plenty of support. Before I started going back to school I was in the Army, I joined the Army even though I had a scholarship to college and I was encouraged to do what would make me happy in life. My teachers, counselors, parents and role models all helped shape my life into what it is now and luckily for me there wasn't any pessimism. I know when I start to teach I will encourage my students to do whatever will make them happy and not hinder their dreams.

Brave Things

Wow just reading this list got me excited, I started thinking of the possibilities of what I want to do when I start teaching. The field trip form is great, I remember most field trips I took as a kid, I loved them and though not knowing at the time I learned a lot from them. Changing the responsibilities of the students would be very neat, to let your students help in the learning process probably will get them more excited about class. As far as the cell phones I am not to excited about that idea, I think students would try and take advantage of this and use them for entertainment not learning. I think the community service idea is a good one, I know some schools in our area do make seniors in high school do some type of community service in order to graduate, I think this is great because it makes students realize life is more than just them. The brave thing I would like to do is to have my students get in touch with lawmakers either local or national and have them challenge policies within the U.S. that they believe to be wrong. Maybe they can get lawmakers to look more into how students are affected by their decisions.

I Love Teaching

I was very moved and touched when I read this. This teacher is what I strive to be an educator and a role model. It is true that some teachers just want to get through the day, but I believe we all start out with the desire to change and challenge our students. I love the idea of making this list when I start teaching just to remind why I wanted to teach in the first place. I hope I have a "Destiny" of my own one day. I think making this list will make us better teachers, we will not forget why we get up everyday. I taught a fire safety class to a group of girl scouts in Alaska an they sent me some cookies and a card, in the card they wrote their thanks but more importantly what they learned I still have that card and look at it every n0w and again and feel good. When I start leaching I will love students telling me what they have learned not just a general thank you but actually what they learned.

5 Things to Unique

What impressed me most about this blog was not the way the school was unique, but how excited Mr. Beatti was about his school. I think that his excitement is shared by his fellow teachers and this leads to creation of unique ideas for the school. I like the idea how they get together each week and plan and share ideas, this is great not one teacher has all the ideas but sharing you can get close. Its also nice to see technology getting implemented I am afraid that some schools will be afraid of trying new technologies. Overall I think this school isn't so unique but instead intelligent. To make my school I would like to trade students with another teacher for a week or so once a year and have the students teach me on what they have learned. I think this would be fun for the students because they would be able to recall the things they like the most, and fun for me because I can see what other students are learning and what excites them and incorporate that into my teaching.

The 6cs

Once again I believe Dr. Strange is onto something with this post. Changing the way we teach students is vital way for the youth of the world to progress in the future especially with the way technology is shaping how we interact. I think Dr. Strange is correct in that we must keep students curious and creative, this will encourage students to learn without trying to memorize information. I also believe that classSpace and collaboration is another tool for students to work together this will help students learn more, as they work with other students they will develop new ideas. Hopefully half of Dr. Strange's ideas will make their way into the classroom in the future. AS far as shifts that are happening in schools today, I see the difference of importance put on computer use and skills since I was in school. Students today are taught a wide range of computer skills that prepare them for entering the work force or college after primary education and that is great, I just wish they would teach them how to use computers more creatively.

Just Say NO to "Burp Back" Education

Dr. Strange is really on to something on what he wrote about "burp back" education. I know I have personally been taught stuff that I could not remember today even if I tried as hard as possible to remember, I just learned til I took a test then dumped all I learned. I think teachers don't do this on purpose I think it's just been the traditional way of teaching. Or teachers are so passionate about the subject they teach that they want all their students to know as much about that particular subject as they do. The problem with this is that students who don't share the same passion just learn what they need to know to pass a test. I agree with Dr. Strange that we should be teaching students the knowledge of how to ask question and willingness to find an answer. If we were to do away with test and teach till students understand the skills, then we will accomplish more and students will learn more and more importantly retain the knowledge they are taught. While on this subject I think it worth mentioning the "No child left behind" act, this is just a burden on teachers and students to pass a test, we should revamp this program so that what students really learn in school will be used by them. Lets stop teaching how to pass a test instead how to survive once they are outside the school.

Room 18's Sharing Space

http://room18space.blogspot.com/
Room 18 is a Year 5 and 6 class at Balmoral School in Auckland New Zealand. In this blog we learn what the students are doing in school. This blog also post about about where the students have visited. There is a post for students to write about whats going on in the news and what they think about it. They also blog about places in the world and what they have in common with them. This is a good blog for people to go to and see what students on the opposite side of the world are doing.

Kathy Cassidy Canada Blog

http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337
Kathy Cassidy is an elementary teacher from Moose Jaw, Canada. Mrs. Cassidy's blog is a good example of what teachers do everyday in the classroom. She post blogs on what she is having the students do and what they are learning. She also post about guest speakers she has and provides clips of the speakers. Mrs. Cassidy also post links to sites that her students want to visit and learn from. Overall she has a good blog for her students, parents and others to visit so they can see what is going on in her classroom.

Seven West Math Blog

http://jsgeometry.edublogs.org/
Jeanne Simpson a math teacher in Decatur, Alabama teaching at Cedar Ridge Middle School has developed this blog for her math students. Mrs. Simpson makes the most of this blog, it is a tool for her students and parents to help with math homework and test. Mrs. Simpson has a different blog for her multiple math classes and in each one she has set up links, posted power points and given extra credit. Her blogs have made it easier for her students to go over what they learned in school each day and how to solve their homework problems. I like this blog, its a way students can learn more and parents can help their children with their math homework.

Wilson's Whiskers

http://wilsonwhiskers.blogspot.com/

This is a blog from Charlotte Wilson a kindergarten teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary East, in Vestavia Hills AL. I found this blog to be neat in that Mrs. Wilson talks about things she is doing with the students and tells how she feels about these activities. It makes reading this blog feel more personal, you almost feel the excitement she has. Mrs. Wilson post the activities she is doing, she likes to have her students help do things for the community and in the process she teaches her students things based on what they are doing, for example she collected canned foods and while she did this she had the students counting the cans learning how to count to 100. This blog can help other teachers learn some activities they can do for their students as well as how a blog can be helpful.

U.S. Army warns of twittering terrorists

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10075487-83.html

GDrive I'm not sure

Though this product does sound convenient, I agree with the concerns. I am not sure that I would want someone I don't know to have access to all my personnel information and data stored on my computer. I like to believe that my computer is mine and that no one else owns it, I am not just using the neighbors p.c.. However to be able to access all the information stored on my computer from wherever whenever does sound nice (no more jump drives). I think I will just wait and see how this works out, it might turn out to be the next big thing then again it could turn out like Sony's mini disc it just didn't catch.

Is Google "Changing the Way We Think"

With all due respect to Bill Thompson, I believe he is just like many other people who throughout the world find faults in technology. This isn't a new concept since man has began creating new technologies there has been another man to debate whether it's for the good of the human race. Lets take for example the automobile when it first was invented many people felt that it would lead to a worse life, but I think it's safe to say most people would completely disagree with that today. Google and other search engines that bring us bite size chunks of information I believe enhance our lives and in some cases fulfill our desire to obtain information when and wherever we choose. I think Mr. Thompson can go back to following FOX but then maybe one day he will write a story condemning modern news agencies for writing biased stories based on an editors desire.

ACCESS (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, & Students Statewide)

ACCESS is a way for students throughout the State of Alabama to take classes that might not be available to them through the schools they attends. Teacher's must be certified before they can offer these courses to their students. It is a blend of online and virtual classroom settings. This program allows teachers to offer and further educate students in fields that schools may not have the funding or resources to teach. Enrollment will be at an estimated 40000 students for the 2009 year. This program is made for the 21st century student and teacher.
Wow is all I can say to this program, I wish that while I was in high school there was something even remotely close to this. For students to be able to take classes that are not available in their school system puts them in an advantage to other students without this resource. Alabama is really stepping up to ball in trying to further education with this program. And to think we didn't have a computer lab in my days of high school. I am truly am impressed I hope more students throughout Alabama take advantage of this.

Alabama Learning Exchange

Alabama Learning Exchange is a web based program to help assist student, teachers, and administrators in everyday learning situations. You can look up a course of study and review multiple topics in each field of study for example, Geometry under Mathematics. There is also a section which is just devoted to web links which will help the teaching field in finding and locating resources for the classroom and studying. The Professional Learning site also allows people to access tools for classroom and outside the classroom to better understand materials.
I believe that this is a very useful website for students and teachers, I have never heard of this website but I am sure I will use it in the future. I believe this website will help me as a one stop access point for multiple subjects I am wanting to learn more, or to use in the classroom once I become a teacher. I am glad that the State of Alabama decided to pull together all these resources for the good of the teaching field.

Hello from Mark Collins

Hello to all my name is Mark Collins, I am 29 years old with a 4 year old son and another on the way. I was in the Army for 6 years and disabled because of my service. I am now going to school to be an elementary teacher though one day I would like to teach history on the high school level (teaching has and will always be my passion).

Mark Collins