I have been in contact with both my step sister, Salley, and her husband, Kenneth. They both teach at Lawrence County High School in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Salley teaches English and Kenneth teaches History. I have lived in Baldwin County for about 9 years now and really didn't realize how far ahead they are from my home town of Lawrenceburg. While I was emailing back and forth with my sister, I realized she didn't really understand a lot about the technology that is available to the schools today. Besides using some computers, Lawrence County is still using most of the same technology they used when I went to school there 2o years ago.
When I asked Salley and Kenneth to explain some of the technology that they use today it was still mainly the basics like Overhead projectors with transparencies and CD's and DVD's. The most high tech they really get there is having a portable laptop computer lab with wireless Internet. Salley did say she liked to use PowerPoint with projection using her own laptop computer. She also uses instructional software. Salley felt that it was a great way to enrich the students who needed enrichment and offered remedial help for those who needed it. The con of the programs where some students wanted just to play and not really do what the program needed them to do.
Both Salley and Kenneth used the classroom management software. this is the computer based grade book program to manage their grades and communication with parents. This articular program offers the parents Internet access to their student's progress, assignments, etc. They said by using this program they could easily access progress reports for individual students as well as look at classes as a whole to see how lessons were received and if their goals were achieved. They both expressed the con as relying totally on the computer. They said it is imperative to have a backup for this in case of computer problems.
Kenneth more than Salley tried to use online textbooks in his class. Kenneth said he uses this tool with his students as enrichment to the regular classroom. This program offers quizzes and additional work that the students can use to help reinforce what is being taught in the classroom. He feels the main con with this that many students didn't use the tool from home wither because of lack of initiative on no Internet access in the home.
They did tell me that Columbia State College who has a building on our high school grounds is doing a computer based distance learning program with the advanced diploma students. This program is to help the graduating seniors earn college credits before they graduate. Neither Salley not Kenneth are involved with this program. Other than that the schools in Lawrence County are sadly deprived of the technology that most schools now have.
It is very sad for me to think about my hometown of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee being so deprived when it comes to their students learning. I have listened to Ms. Averitt and other teachers speak of the technology that is available and I don't understand why every school doesn't have the same opportunities. I am very glad though that I have my kids in a school system that makes this type of technology readily available.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
My EDM 310 Blog Assignments are Now Complete
To all my classmates, I would like to apologize for not being able to put forth the effort that I would have like too. Due to the way my life is at this point I feel very lucky to have made it at all. I really enjoyed meeting all of you and hope each of you have tremendous success in your endeavors. This is a time in life that is difficult for everyone but if you all dig deep and make it through the classes that you must take the rewards are incredible. Just make sure to never overlook the students in your class and realize they each are individuals and have a very different story in life. Don't judge them. Listen closely. There may be that one student who is reaching out to you and need you more than your teachings. This is an area that is the most important aspect in teaching. It is one that can't be taught. You must open your eyes to the students, close your ears to the other teachers and judge each student individually by what they show you not by what others are saying.
Good luck to all of you!
Thank you Ms. Averitt for giving me understanding when I needed it most. This has been a struggle but the issues that are about to hit my family is a battle I will continue to fight. Thank you for being what a teacher should be.
Good luck to all of you!
Thank you Ms. Averitt for giving me understanding when I needed it most. This has been a struggle but the issues that are about to hit my family is a battle I will continue to fight. Thank you for being what a teacher should be.
What I learned in EDM 310
Well considering the way my life has been for the last six months I am lucky to have even made it through the class. This has been very difficult for me considering I have always been an over achiever. The class was not exactly what I expected, I had never really heard of blogging or podcasting so that was very new for me. I'm not really sure how I feel about it because I never had the time to put forth the effort that needed to be. For me this was very time consuming at a time when I didn't need anything else added to my plate. Saying that I do want you to understand where I can see this would be very beneficial in several areas in today's classes. For me and my class, I would have to do some creative thinking on how to use it in a Physical Education Class.
When I took this class I was hoping to learn more about the actual computer areas like power point, spread sheets, and excel to name a few. I feel I am not where I need to be and feel almost computer illiterate. I enjoyed the work we did in those areas and feel more comfortable using them, I just wish we would have had the opportunity to get more in depth with the actual computer programs. I feel they will help me more in my area of expertise.
I did enjoy the class even though I was unable to be the student I would have liked to have been and feel I would have learned a lot more at a different time in my life. I will continue to learn how to use what you have taught me and try to teach myself more.
When I took this class I was hoping to learn more about the actual computer areas like power point, spread sheets, and excel to name a few. I feel I am not where I need to be and feel almost computer illiterate. I enjoyed the work we did in those areas and feel more comfortable using them, I just wish we would have had the opportunity to get more in depth with the actual computer programs. I feel they will help me more in my area of expertise.
I did enjoy the class even though I was unable to be the student I would have liked to have been and feel I would have learned a lot more at a different time in my life. I will continue to learn how to use what you have taught me and try to teach myself more.
Week 15
The first podcast was about Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School's gardening program. The name of the program is The Edible School Yard and it brings the teachers and student's together to plant, maintain and harvest a real garden. By implementing this program, the students are learning and don't realize it. All the students have to work together to make the garden be a success which teaches teamwork and responsibility on so many levels. The teacher's also use different aspects of the garden to teach the kids in areas that may not be possible any other way. This allows all the kids to stand out and shine while they are taking great pride in their work.
The second podcast, "The Global Village Activity," was about students walking in the shoe's of the less fortunate. I really liked the idea of this program because so many people don't realize just how good they have it and how hard life is for other people. This program puts students into small groups with limited suppliesto surviv. They have one night to experience life as a hungary, cold, less fortunate individual. This allows kids to have a liitle insight on how hard life is for the unfortunate around the world. i would love to think it would give them some understanding and really make them think about others instead of being so self involved. Maybe by doing this more individuals will consider helping instead of looking the other way.
I felt both ideas that were brought into the class room were very beneficial. I think they both taught a part of life that you can't learn by text books alone. I loved how both programs taught team work and made the students think beyond the class room. These programs allowed the students to go to a different level of thinking where it wasn't just about book smarts but was about how to live in an everyday life.
I really felt these two podcast could almost be linked to one another. On one hand at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School they were teaching how go grow a garden that is a necessity in life that most individuals have no clue how to do. Then by using it along with the Global Village Activity it would help people around the world survive a little easier. If some of these countries could to be more self sufficient maybe the world wouldn't be is such sad shape. They would at least be able to feed themselves and have an easier time surviving.
The second podcast, "The Global Village Activity," was about students walking in the shoe's of the less fortunate. I really liked the idea of this program because so many people don't realize just how good they have it and how hard life is for other people. This program puts students into small groups with limited suppliesto surviv. They have one night to experience life as a hungary, cold, less fortunate individual. This allows kids to have a liitle insight on how hard life is for the unfortunate around the world. i would love to think it would give them some understanding and really make them think about others instead of being so self involved. Maybe by doing this more individuals will consider helping instead of looking the other way.
I felt both ideas that were brought into the class room were very beneficial. I think they both taught a part of life that you can't learn by text books alone. I loved how both programs taught team work and made the students think beyond the class room. These programs allowed the students to go to a different level of thinking where it wasn't just about book smarts but was about how to live in an everyday life.
I really felt these two podcast could almost be linked to one another. On one hand at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School they were teaching how go grow a garden that is a necessity in life that most individuals have no clue how to do. Then by using it along with the Global Village Activity it would help people around the world survive a little easier. If some of these countries could to be more self sufficient maybe the world wouldn't be is such sad shape. They would at least be able to feed themselves and have an easier time surviving.
ACCESS LAB
Anne Gardner and I chose to visit Daphne High School to observe the ACCESS lab and speak with John Roh, who is the teacher that heads the facility. He gave a tour of the lab where he demonstrated the technbology and answered any questions we had.
The lab was set up in a rectangular room with rows of tables from front to back. There were two flat screen TV's, one in the back of the class and one in the front of the class. The TV in the back of the class was
used to monitor his students in the class and the classes at other school through video casting. The TV at the front of the class was for the student's benefit to view assignments and material being learned in the class.
Along with the two TV's was an Activ board at the front of the room. It can be interactively used by the teachers and students alon with their computer notebooks. This is very captivating for the students. The active board can be used in all areas of teaching. What I really found interesting about it was the fact you can actually
The lab was set up in a rectangular room with rows of tables from front to back. There were two flat screen TV's, one in the back of the class and one in the front of the class. The TV in the back of the class was
used to monitor his students in the class and the classes at other school through video casting. The TV at the front of the class was for the student's benefit to view assignments and material being learned in the class.Along with the two TV's was an Activ board at the front of the room. It can be interactively used by the teachers and students alon with their computer notebooks. This is very captivating for the students. The active board can be used in all areas of teaching. What I really found interesting about it was the fact you can actually
Monday, April 20, 2009
Pros and Cons of Blogging
Blogging was something I had heard very little about until this class. I never had really seen a blog before and had certainly never blogged myself. The only time I could even remember hearing the word blog was on a talk show and I guess I really didn't pay attention because until this class I had no idea what blogging consisted of. I'm not really sure how I personally feel about it at this point. My life has been so time consuming it has been very difficult for me to find the time to really put forth in this area. However, I do see were blogging good be beneficial to a lot of class rooms. Not really sure how beneficial it would be to a physical education class.
If I were a teacher in a subject like English, I could see were blogging would be very beneficial to both the teacher and the students. Students are more interested in working on a computer these days and what better way for a student to be creative than using their blogs to peak their interests. They are able to express themselves for not only their teacher but other students in their class, their school and basically other parts of the world. They can share their opinions, thoughts, and questions to make their learning experience more interesting.
Teachers can use blogging to monitor the progress a student is making in their class. She can ask the questions and have them write on the topic and expand their thoughts. They can then have the students read other classmates work and see how each student interprets what has been taught. By doing this it allows a more creative way of teaching where the students receive a more well rounded view of the subject being taught.
As for the negative, I feel blogging is very time consuming. The way school classes are these days, it doesn't allow kids to have a life. When you add blogging to the mix that gives them even less time. If you substitute the blogging for their creative writing it wouldn't be quite as bad but I feel like we are already losing so much by taking pen and paper away from students. Yes I know that today's world is a technology world but what happen to the golden days of making things personal.
I read Joyce Fisk's class blog and felt she had very interesting views on the subject matter from week to week. She seemed to take the needed time to research her material and write a well thought out blog. I enjoyed her opinions and views on the subject matter and felt that by reading her posts I found myself changing my thoughts and views on some of the related areas.
If I were a teacher in a subject like English, I could see were blogging would be very beneficial to both the teacher and the students. Students are more interested in working on a computer these days and what better way for a student to be creative than using their blogs to peak their interests. They are able to express themselves for not only their teacher but other students in their class, their school and basically other parts of the world. They can share their opinions, thoughts, and questions to make their learning experience more interesting.
Teachers can use blogging to monitor the progress a student is making in their class. She can ask the questions and have them write on the topic and expand their thoughts. They can then have the students read other classmates work and see how each student interprets what has been taught. By doing this it allows a more creative way of teaching where the students receive a more well rounded view of the subject being taught.
As for the negative, I feel blogging is very time consuming. The way school classes are these days, it doesn't allow kids to have a life. When you add blogging to the mix that gives them even less time. If you substitute the blogging for their creative writing it wouldn't be quite as bad but I feel like we are already losing so much by taking pen and paper away from students. Yes I know that today's world is a technology world but what happen to the golden days of making things personal.
I read Joyce Fisk's class blog and felt she had very interesting views on the subject matter from week to week. She seemed to take the needed time to research her material and write a well thought out blog. I enjoyed her opinions and views on the subject matter and felt that by reading her posts I found myself changing my thoughts and views on some of the related areas.
EDM 310 Podcasts
The first podcast I listened to was an interview of Dr. Strange. You could tell he has been doing this for years from the clarity of his voice to the way he kept the audiences attention. Dr. Stranges voice was loud and clear and his words precise. His interview flowed well and you could tell it was not being read or that it had to be thought out while it was being recorded. I felt he definitely kept my interest from beginning to end.
The second podcast I listened to was by Nikki Hunter, Christi Turner and Tiffany Blocker on the issue of "Burp Back Education: How it can be eliminated". I felt they did a very good job explaining what Burp Back Education was and why this type of teaching process needs to be eliminated. I did feel at times that they were reading the material and that their voices became monotone. There material was interesting and well thought out and although their were brief pauses I felt they kept the interest of their audience. Their podcast was easily followed and felt was a good job.
ACCESS Distance Learning: A Work in Progress by Henryetta Alexandra, April Jones and Ashley Reed was the third podcast I listened too. These ladies did a great job gathering their information on ACCESS and delivered it in a way that was easily followed. There voices seemed clear during most of the of the podcast and I felt it was a well thought out and shared lecture. I felt the group leader did a good job keeping everything flowing and bringing the rest of the group in at times that were appropriate. There were usual mistakes that would be corrected during preparation and practice but I feel they did a good job.
My last podcast dealt with technology used in the classrooms at the University of South Alabama. I was a little let down by this podcast. I didn't feel that they were prepared with the information they needed to make this an informative podcast. I didn't really learn what the technology is that is being used or how it benefits USA's teachers or students. This podcast could have been more informative and easier followed.
As for mine and Anne's podcast. I know that we could have done a much better job. We did not come in as prepared as a lot of the other groups and I had a tendency to talk faster than I should have. We made a lot of typical mistakes that could be corrected from practice and being more comfortable with he situation.
The second podcast I listened to was by Nikki Hunter, Christi Turner and Tiffany Blocker on the issue of "Burp Back Education: How it can be eliminated". I felt they did a very good job explaining what Burp Back Education was and why this type of teaching process needs to be eliminated. I did feel at times that they were reading the material and that their voices became monotone. There material was interesting and well thought out and although their were brief pauses I felt they kept the interest of their audience. Their podcast was easily followed and felt was a good job.
ACCESS Distance Learning: A Work in Progress by Henryetta Alexandra, April Jones and Ashley Reed was the third podcast I listened too. These ladies did a great job gathering their information on ACCESS and delivered it in a way that was easily followed. There voices seemed clear during most of the of the podcast and I felt it was a well thought out and shared lecture. I felt the group leader did a good job keeping everything flowing and bringing the rest of the group in at times that were appropriate. There were usual mistakes that would be corrected during preparation and practice but I feel they did a good job.
My last podcast dealt with technology used in the classrooms at the University of South Alabama. I was a little let down by this podcast. I didn't feel that they were prepared with the information they needed to make this an informative podcast. I didn't really learn what the technology is that is being used or how it benefits USA's teachers or students. This podcast could have been more informative and easier followed.
As for mine and Anne's podcast. I know that we could have done a much better job. We did not come in as prepared as a lot of the other groups and I had a tendency to talk faster than I should have. We made a lot of typical mistakes that could be corrected from practice and being more comfortable with he situation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
