SMARTboard Project #12 Part A

Blog Post #10

Bring on the Revolution-Sir Ken Robinson
Sir Ken Robinson states that our education system is in need of a revolution. A revolution will require innovation. If we continue to build on a broken system it will cause a downward spiral in the education system. Adding technology in the classroom can be a step in the right direction. One great point Mr. Robinson make is that we learn things according to our generation. The students we are teaching today live in a world of high tech devices. Technology can change our education system and reach students in a way that the past methods can no longer do. The difficulty with this new step is the lack of cooperation. This will require work, change and doing things you would not normally do. Teachers that have been teaching for many years will have to change what they know about the classroom and be willing to learn something new. When everyone is onboard, then the revolution can begin. Even though school is primarily about educating and preparing the students for college. My parents have instilled in me the importance of education and how vital it is to be able to get a successful job. After watching this video it made me realize that not everyone will attend college. We still need citizens to fill other positions in the community. Although I believe education is important it is just as important to enjoy your future career. When you do something that you love it becomes who you are.

"We have built our education system on the model of fast food." Sir Ken Robinson
I have never thought about that but this statement is entirely true. Every student must start and end at the same point in the same way and at the same time. Mr. Robinson explains that it is a standardized system in which there is only one way to the ending point. When it comes to learning students do not learn or comprehend the same way. I agree with Mr. Robinson, there should be a customized learning plan for students. Some students can excel in certain areas and others do not. Students should be taught with their passions in mind. We as teachers can help the students learn through what they love. I agree that we should make a movement to allow our students to thrive.

Project #15 Project Based Learning Plan #3

Crack The Code

Blog Post #9

Ms. Cassidy's use of technology in the classroom started when several computers were given to her class. The computers were able to access the internet but were not able to download software. She wanted to use the resources that were available so she researched about creating webpages and that carried her into blogging. Through her personal learning network she developed her skills to become a tech savvy teacher. Ms. Cassidy's first grade class uses the SMARTboard, webpages, blogs, Wikis, videos, video chat and the Nintendo DS as learning tools. Ms. Cassidy is correct, it will be difficult to teach the 21st century students with teaching methods from 10 years ago. Students today are engaged in technology outside of the classroom, so it is important to embrace it and use it in the classroom for learning purposes.

There are classes in which you may think technology is unnecessary but there are so many resources available. If a teacher has a webpage he or she can post updates to the students even if they are not in the classroom. I plan to have a webpage for my class to keep the students posted on current information. I will be teaching 6-12th graders so I can put reminders about test and also classwork required due to an absence. Students will be able to know what we did in the classroom that day even if they miss school. Also, if I will be absent I can post the classwork to the webpage and the substitute will know exactly what is expected of the students. Parents can also view the page and keep up with everything their student is learning. Another tool I will use in my class is the learning videos. Ms. Cassidy's students took videos of one another showing what they have learned. They were able to post it to their blogs and the parents can watch their children's progress.

There are several things that can hinder the use of technology in the classroom. One thing is the lack of support from administration, fellow teachers and parents. Ms. Cassidy discussed how some school officials do not discourage but they also do not encourage the use of technology. If I encounter this issue when I become a teacher I hope to show them how our classroom works and the success it has brought. A wonderful benefit of technology in the classroom is it is accessible to all the student's parents. They are able to view what their child is learning from day to day. Some people are not able to accommodate change but like Ms. Cassidy states in the video, "Technology is here to stay." Technology has made an impact on classrooms around the world. Students are engaged and excited to come to class and for a teacher that is rewarding. After watching the video discussion with Ms. Kathy Cassidy it made me realize not all tech savvy teachers started out that way. Learning technology comes through practice, failure and success.


Little Kids...Big Potential
Interview with Kathy Cassidy part 1
Interview with Kathy Cassidy part 2
Interview with Kathy Cassidy part 3

Blog Post #8

What are some 21st century communicating tools?
As technology evolves so does our ways of communication. Today's technology allows us to reach someone across the world in just moments. Some 21st century communication tools include:

• Email
• Text message
• Instant message
• Podcast
• Google Hangout
• Skype
• Facetime
• Facebook
• Twitter

What are some 21st century learning tools?
There are more ways to learn besides sitting in a classroom. Some 21st century learning tools include:

• YouTube
• Discovery Ed
• iCurio
• Khan Academy
• Teaching Channel

Khan Academy
Most of these tools are free and can be easily downloaded to your smartphone. Students, teachers and parents can access these tools at anytime as long as they have the internet. Some of these tools are used in our everyday lives such email, text message and facebook. With the power of technology students and parents can contact a teacher with any concerns they have outside of the classroom. Discovery Education and iCurio are filtered search engines for students to use while researching information. The students can use YouTube, Khan Academy and Teaching Channel to view instructional videos to familiarize themselves with additional information. One tool that really interest me was Khan Academy. It is a free tool made available for everyone. Students, teachers, parents, lifelong learners or anyone interested can access this website. Khan Academy is loaded with instructional videos of any subject. There are math tutorials, test preps, and information on computer programing. For the students studying a particular area of math they have a tab filled with many missions, or task, to complete. The teacher and parent can view the students learning flow at anytime. This tool is a great recourse for students to access from home if they need additional help. Since I discovered Khan Academy I have used it several times to fortify my math skills learned in class.

What use of technology will I use in my classroom?
"Flipped learning starts with one question: What is the best use of your face-to-face class time?"-John Bergmann
After watching all of Katie Gimbar's videos I fell in love with the idea of flipping the classroom. Ninety percent of class time is composed of lecture from the teacher and ten percent of class time is composed of application. Throughout my whole school experience I have found this statement to be completely true. When I get home it is up to me to apply everything I have learned in class to the problems assigned. Most of the time this means I will have to research the information over again because I do not know how to apply the information learned. Flipping the classroom is designed to flip that percentage so that ten percent is spent on reviewing material and ninety percent is spent on applying the material. The teachers record the lessons in advance and assign the videos to be watched the night before class. The students come prepared with questions and ready to apply what they have already learned. All students learn at a different pace so the videos can be watched over again until they understand the material. I will be teaching math so, this is an excellent way to free up time spent in the classroom on lecturing. This allows the teacher to prepare group activities and peer to peer learning. The teacher is also able to spend additional time with students that may be struggling. Parents can also get involved and watch the videos with their children to see what they are learning.


Flipped Classroom models rely heavy on technology
Katie Gimbar's Flipped Classroom-FAQ

Project #14 Project Based Learning Lesson Plan

What's your Motion?

C4T #2

Dawn DuPriest posted on January 10th a blog about the pros and cons of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). First she clarified what the Common Core Standards are and what they were not. She states that the standards have made things much harder for the teacher but in return made the students and teachers better learners. Comment#1 My name is Courtney Fields and I am also a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I am just now being introduced to the CCSS and your blog has defiantly shed some light on this subject. You stated that the use of CCSS has made not only the students better learners but also the teachers. In EDM310 we learn a lot about how teachers must learn continuously because it is never ending. It's great to see that you are putting that into action. I also agree with your statement about the use of technology. In my college math class we have a website that allows us students to work problems, take quizzes, and watch tutorials. I assume they do not have something similar but that would be a wonderful tool for middle schoolers. I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for sharing!

Dawn DuPriest posted on December 10th a blog called The Hour of Code Activities. In this post she explains that coding is no longer a thing of the past. The software has improved and is a great tool for math modeling. The students can receive instant feed back and they are able to revisit each topic to correct any mistakes made on their first attempt. The project has worked exceptionally well and the students have learned to be real life problem-solvers. I am not familiar with coding but after reading this post I intend to research and find out about the program. I thought it would be difficult to apply PBL to a math class but now I can see all things are possible through technology. Comment#2 I agree, visuals are rich and this project brings this lesson to life. Students love to be able to create things on their own and be good at it. Projects such as this one will help students in the future to become great problem solvers. The skills you are teaching will be essential to their future jobs and careers. Great job! Dawn DuPriest's Blog

Project #9 Video Book Conversation

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Project #13

Project #13 was a collaborative project where our team created a project based lesson plan. Our project is called Shapes of Life. This project allowed us to practice for many lesson plans to come. Below is a link to our google site.

Shapes Of Life