Sunday, October 31, 2010

c4T # 4

Hi Bill.
I'm a student from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the U. of South Alabama. In today's world of education, how critical would you say having a PLC? I'm still working on my PLN, but I'm failing to see the importance of it. I think that most of the time when people have questions, they just research and read blogs and websites and so forth when the question arises. I could be wrong, of course. I know that's how I think.
I'm following a few people on twitter for my EDM class, but again, I'm failing to see why it's so important. Maybe you can explain it better?
Even though this blog was short, it seemed very critical about pointing out these PLC networks.




The Tempered Radical

C4T # 3

Hello Russ.
I'm a student from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the U. of South Alabama.
You post was very insightful and informative. We also had to sign up for an account at Evernote for this class. I signed up for it, but I couldn't make heads or tails with it. I think I managed to make one memo inside of Evernote. I'm much happier just making memos on my blackberry.
You gave a good case for using Evernote. I think I will try again to explore that application. Being able to organize and record with it the way you do seems like a great tool for all teachers :)






Learning is Life

C4K # 7

Hi :) I'm Pauline, a student from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class, here at the University of South.

That's an awesome photograph you took :)
I would call it Timeless Steel or something like that. Because it looks as good as new, even tho it's an older ship, but it still has its presence and pride about it for when it was used to serve the country :) All heroes are timeless by their own right, after all.
Keep up the good work on your blog and your photograph career, you have a great eye :)

Blog Post # 9

What I've Learned This Year

Wow. I really liked his blog a lot. He was really honest about how his own preconceptions were in error. A lot of teachers never admit that they are wrong, they might think the students will see it as a weakness or something, but I think kids respect adults more when we can admit we were wrong. I think a lot of us have preconceived notions about how our first year of teaching will go. I'm all for being optimistic about our first day of school, but I think if we are not aware of the reality of the expectations and we get boom-sauced on our first day of school it could damage our spirits. I know when we have ideas in our heads and they don't play out the way we want, we feel very crushed. Crushed teachers wouldn't be helpful.



He has learned a lot. And he was opened to learning. He has a very teachable spirit and that is important for teachers, to always be willing to learn and to think outside the box. Warning us that the lesson plans we actually make and what we actually teach might be different, but that it's okee that they are different was nice. So it's not the end of the world if the plans are a little different. And remembering that our plans need to be student-centered. And our performance should be aligned with the kid's comprehension, not someone with a clipboard marking tallies.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Blog Post # 8





How writers used to dream and how they should dream collide in these videos. The first one was about incremental changes and the second video was about fundamental changes in how writers and teachers should approach this new era of creativity. Honestly, I didn't quite grip the new concept of technology he was talking about. I understand that audio helps with things and pretty visuals are alluring too. And I understand how a lot of books and journals are on the web as well as in hard print, more so probably on the web. It sounded like he was talking about somehow putting book books on the web too, I mean, I could be wrong, that's just how that one part came across. Using media tools and designs are great ideas for teaching and getting points across in short snippets. And the web is great for research and up to the minute statistics. I'm not quite sure how using those kind of tools would help a novelist though as much as it would help a teacher...








The CHIPPER video made some good points about not procrastinating and pointing out the struggle that a lot of us deal with in this class, like time management and not learning in the traditional way we are used to. Some of the other things seemed a little extreme. Personally I think online classes and online degrees take a lot more disciple to accomplish and self-manage, it baffles me that a character like her would complete it to be able to go back to school school for her Masters. I mean, i got the idea of it all, but they were still pretty extreme situations...and for the record, my dad did drive trucks, roadoff trucks, dumptrucks or however you would call them...garbage trucks, and no, my dad doesn't have a high school education, but while he was at work, he helped a lot of people and encouraged them and made them laugh, everywhere he goes, people love him. So even though most people consider jobs like that "low" jobs, someone has to do them, and some of them don't mind doing them or think they are "low" in society b/c they do have jobs like that. I know that's neither hear nor there b/c the point of the video was to not procrastinate and to be responsible, but as future educators we have to be aware of any and all plausible sensitive issues.



There isn't much to say about this video other than the fact that I concur :) I do feel extremely frustrated at times and I think my time management is a little better, but not great and I'm still confused about what to do and how to prove the progress for my PLN.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

C4K # 5

Hi Brad. I'm Pauline. I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. It's am educational technology class that is offered at the University of South Alabama. Every week we are assigned to a new student's blog. It is a great way to see how you students blog and express yourselves. As a future educator, I want to familiarize myself with things such as student blogs.
I noticed your previous blog post was about the movie Cars. I like that movie a lot too, and you're right, a lot about friendship can be gleaned from that movie.


Feel free to check out my blog also if you want: http://brownpaulineedm310.blogspot.com/
Keep up the good work and express yourself ^_^

Brad's Blog

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Sunday, October 10, 2010

C4T # 2

Hello, I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I looked at a couple of your blog posts and I really had no idea that all that went into making a good presentation. And a lot of you tips on what to avoid and what to do I really never thought about before, but they all make perfect sense. Thank you for sharing your insight and I hope to remember all your tips for future references.



The link to this teacher's blog: click here

Blog Post # 7




Randy Pausch's last lecture was a very sobering lecture. I believe him to be a wise man when it comes to teaching and encouraging others. A lot of people think they know how to motivate other people, but it is written that, "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." I know Pausch was a man of understanding that drew out a lot of people's potential and helped motivate them toward their own purposes in this life. Even now, his words are being heard and are touching people's hearts in a good way. A lot of people do forget about their childhood dreams once they get beat up and cast down just by living in a fallen world, but despite the facts of that, the truth of the matter is hope never disappoints.


I agree with his overall message and I believe that everyone should watch it, that it would bless them. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. So keep believing in your childhood dreams and keep hoping they will come to pass because with their fruition, life like you could have never imagined will most assuredly come.

C4K # 4

Hello Kat.
I'm Pauline. I'm a student at the University of South Alabama in the United States. In Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class, we are assigned to different student blogs to read and comment on every week.
This week I sure was certainly blessed to be able to read your blog. Your adventures on all your travels fascinate me. And your painting of the Grand Canyon trip certainly made me want to go see it for myself.
You have an excellent blog, keep up the good work. And I'm positive more people would love to read about your world traveling adventures :)