Amani Alloul's EDM 310 Class Blog

Blog Assignment 15

2010-12-15T04:24:00.000-06:00

I'm trying extremely hard to get my video to upload, but it's just not working! I have emailed Dr. Strange about it, let's just see what he has to say... =(

Project #16

2010-12-07T22:46:00.001-06:00

Project #14

2010-12-07T22:45:00.003-06:00

Project #13

2010-12-07T22:45:00.000-06:00

Blog Assignment 12

2010-12-05T21:16:00.000-06:00

As for Blog Assignment #12, students will watch this video and write a paragraph about their response. They will analyze themselves on whether or not they are ready to be a mentor and not a teacher and whether or not they will allow themselves to stand to the side and let the technology do the teaching.

As for my response, I'm excited to be a mentor! I want to push students in the right direction, but allow them to teach themselves. I will present the material and allow them to fall in love with using the computer, blogging, or other forms of technology. Like young students, if I like something I'm more interested and eager in getting it done! So if we present students with things they like, and mold them with an educational purpose, I am positive they will be more inclined to learn!

Blog Assignment 11

2010-12-05T20:23:00.002-06:00

   I absolutely love Mrs. Cassidy's techniques in the classroom! She allows students to learn in a way that they are interested in. I find it amazing that students that young are capable of using technology like that. I wish I had teachers like that when I was younger. What's sad is that at 20 years old I'm learning the same things about technology these young 1st graders are.

   As for including technology in my classroom, I'd love to include every bit of it! But, let's be realistic...It all depends on which school I end up teaching at, whether they have the technology readily available, whether they can afford the technology, and most importantly if they believe technology is vital for students to want to learn! But, if the answer to all those above statements is yes, then I'd love for my students to be interactive with SMART boards, blogging, and Flip Cameras. Blogging would be a great way for students to communicate with one another, learn from one another, and improve their technology literacy. Allowing access to the internet may be harmful for such young students if you do not teach them how to use it properly. If taught properly, they can use all sorts of tools to help expand their minds. Giving students the opportunity to use flip cameras to record and present their material is also a great idea!

   The way Mrs. Cassidy goes about her classroom is really inspirational! All us aspiring teachers need to learn from her, and to the best of our ability incorporate technology!

Final Report on PLN

2010-12-05T20:03:00.000-06:00

As for creating my PLN, I used Symbaloo. It has a very well organized layout that allows for easy accessibility. My PLN consists of:
Amani Alloul's EDM 310 Class Blog
EDM 310 Classroom Blog
Dr. Strange's Strange Thoughts
USA's Homepage
Gmail
Hotmail
Youtube
Hulu
SideReel
Twitter
Screenr

By having all of these websites set up in front of me, it makes it much easier for me to complete my assignments and search through the web quickly and efficiently. Although, I've been trying to get used to using Symbaloo, I sometimes fall back on my original Google Chrome tabs. Now, I know there isn't a real comparison between the two since Symbaloo offers so much more than GC tabs, but old habits die hard.

Summary of C4K #8-11

2010-12-05T19:42:00.000-06:00

C4K #8
   As for this assignment, I commented on a classroom blog. The blog post was a video of 4th grade students playing "Old McDonald" on their recorders. What was fascinating about this video was the fact that these students learned how to play in just two weeks! They held such posture and form. It was adorable to see these little children play.

C4K #9
   As for this assignment, I commented on April, a student in Miss Byrnes' 7th grade class. She left a post about Remembrance Day in Canada. It was apparent through her text that she felt strongly about honoring the soldiers that go fight for a country. She kept emphasizing that those troops are fighting for our freedom. My response to April was that I completely agree that we should be grateful for these troops, and I also pointed out that she had very good writing skills.

C4K #10
   I commented on jcana's blog. It was a picture created by the class to show the order of the planets. It was very creative and detailed. It was a picture of aliens talking to one another, some driving, and some playing on the streets. I tried several times to leave a comment telling her how creative and great her picture was, but strangely it would not work. I tried leaving a comment through my twitter account, and that worked, but now that I look back at it, I believe it was moderated.

C4K#11
   As for this special C4K assignment, we were to post on an assigned blog and on Yasmine's blog. I'm going to begin with Yasmine's blog. She left a post that was an outcry for an audience. She felt the work she presented on her blog was not being acknowledged. So, Dr. Strange made it his goal to overwhelm her with blog posts to keep her going and not get discouraged. As for the post that I read, it was a summary of the book "Camp Saddlebrook." It seemed she really liked that book because of all the details she went through. I encouraged her to continue reading and not to get discouraged about her blogging. Whether she has an audience or not, blogging is a great learning experience and it will be something she will carry with her from this day forward. It will also always be there for her to reflect back.
   The other blog post that I was assigned to was one of a children's nursery. There were several pictures of the activities that were conducted to help support BBC Children in Need. I tried several times to leave a comment commending the teacher on her great work, but my post didn't seem to stick.

Summary of C4T#4

2010-12-05T15:43:00.000-06:00

As for my C4T Assignment #4, I was assigned to Paula White. Ms. White seems like a very resourceful person. While skimming through her blog, I noticed she is very interested in any articles, blogs, or sources that pertain to technology in the classroom, and what is best for our students. As for her first blog post that I commented on, it talked about always using the right word. It talked about how while a teacher is in front of her class teaching, they must be very specific in the word choice they use. Students are very literal, and a teacher must do their very best to prevent any confusion.

As for Ms. White's next blog post, it was a bit of a self-reflection and several teaching tips. She discusses teacher-student relationships and how it is important to try to get to know all of your students. Whether they are the troubled ones or not, a teacher must show interest in their each individual student. A way of trying to get to know a student a bit better would be to have them eat lunch with you. That way you and the student can discuss interests. When a student feels comfortable with a teacher, they are more inclined to open up and listen to what the teacher has to say.

Overall, Paula White's blog was interesting. I like to read different teacher's perspectives about what works and what doesn't, and this blog covers that.

Blog Assignment 10

2010-12-05T15:04:00.002-06:00

Morgan Bayda

I really enjoyed reading Morgan's post and watching Dan's video! They both pointed out some very thought provoking facts. I can agree with them about having some very similar college courses, but I can not say all of them are like that. Thankfully, USA attempts to incorporate technology in most of its classrooms.

It is sad to think that, for the most part, our school systems are just not evolving fast enough. It seems they are stuck at a stand still when it comes to technology incorporation. I do not remember using any sort of technology throughout high school. Other than the one computer class I was required to take, in which all we did were typing exercises. I truly do hope that when it's my turn to stand in front of a class to teach, I will have the ability to make technology a part of the class to enhance my student's learning experience!

Tom Johnson's Don't Let Them Take the Pencils Home

This was an interesting read! I'm glad Mr. Spencer has his head on straight, but as for this academic specialist... For me, the mentality of solely looking at test scores and what looks good on paper shows that people really aren't concerned with the students are being taught. They are more concerned with what looks good for their school, city, or state. I like that Mr. Spencer didn't automatically believe the "research" that was conducted, and knew it was unreasonable.

My Sentence

I really liked this part of the assignment. Those two questions are a really great way for one to gain self-motivation, confidence, and value. When one sees themselves improving to be a better person, their self-value improves. This may lead to better decision making.

My sentence would be:

"Through the hardships, she stands up, wipes herself off, and moves on with this crazy game of life."

Progress Report on Final Project

2010-11-29T20:55:00.000-06:00

As for my Final Project, I will be working with Amanda Brewton, Sarah Davis, Samantha Deardorff, Tara Watson, and May Krasovich. We have discussed several ideas, but aren't certain what we are going to do yet. It will possibly involve us doing a video in which we act out several parts.

Project #6: Form Results, Analysis, and Commentary

2010-11-29T20:36:00.056-06:00

My questionnaire did not have just one focal point. It was more like a list of questions to get to know the interests of my fellow classmates. Overall, I had 21 respondents.

As for the first question, the results came back as follows:

About 62 % enjoy Fall

About 14% enjoy Spring

About 9% enjoy Winter

About 14% enjoy Summer

Question 2:

38% like Country music

19% like Other music

14% like Rock music

14% like Alternative music

10% like Rap music

5% like Hip-hop music

Question 3:

52% like Saturday

24% like Sunday

14% like Friday

10% like Thursday

Question 4:

38% like American food

29% like Italian food

19% like Mexican food

5% like Mediterranean food

5% like Asian food

5% like Other foods

Question 5:

71% like Target

38% like Books-A-Million

33% like Dillards

19% like Best Buy

19% like New York & Company

14% like Gap

14% like Other

5% like Urban Outfitters

Question 6:

43% believe Common Beliefs & Interests are the most important factor in a relationship

38% believe Good Character

19% believe Personality

Question 7:

62% would like Mind Reading abilities

29% would like Flying abilities

5% would like Invisibility abilities

5% would like Superhuman Senses

Question 8:

95% are proud of the person they have become

5% are not proud of the person they have become

Question 9:

90% like to sing while driving

10% do not like to sing while driving

Question 10:

81% could not live without their Cell Phone

10% say Laptop

5% say TV

5% say Mp3 Player/ iPod

Question 11:

67% are Night Owls

33% are Morning People

Project #12

2010-11-22T17:07:00.001-06:00

Project #15

2010-11-21T23:20:00.005-06:00

Summary of C4K #3-7

2010-11-13T05:52:00.000-06:00

Overall, I'd have to say I'm very pleased with our C4K assignments. It's a nice way of interacting with young minds and seeing what they are capable of. Since I had the opportunity to respond to these youngsters, I got to see various levels of knowledge. It is clear that some of them had issues typing, some created short and choppy sentences, and some really didn't but that much effort in their post. But then there were others that were enthusiastic about the whole process. Their enthusiasm would have to be my favorite part! Although, I'd have to say I'm truly surprised that children that young are capable of blogging at all. It just shows how times have changed and how far technology has gotten.

Summary of C4T #3

2010-11-13T05:36:00.000-06:00

As for my teacher number 3, I was assigned to Dr. Strange himself. Reading his blog is very insightful and it varies with all kinds of information! The first post I commented on was a part of a series of posts. It stems from Dr. Strange's conversation with Anthony about how the lab was that day. Anthony responded with"...intense, great, and quiet..." I responded to the 'Great' post. The post was about how my fellow classmates continuously asked the same questions. Rather than going through the explanation over and over, Anthony decided to ask all the students watch him guide one student through the process. After a few moments though, he noticed that all the students had figured it out and carried on conversations about how they were able to do it. By doing what he did, Anthony helped create a learning community. Students were then able to assist one another.

As for my second comment, I looked over a graph that showed that 60% of Apple sales are from products that did not exist 3 years ago. I believe Dr. Strange posted this to make us think about how rapidly technology is growing. This graph shows the need for us new teachers to have the ability to update our teaching techniques and use all sorts of modern technology!

Short Movie Project #11

2010-11-13T04:24:00.001-06:00

Blog Assignment 9

2010-11-13T03:00:00.000-06:00

"What I've Learned This Year" by Mr. McClung
Mr. McClung talked about his first year of teaching. He explained to us what he learned, gave us advice and tips, and emphasized that the classroom environment should be all about the students. His post was very informative and helped shift my mindset a bit. He advises that we use technology and not to be afraid of it, to make connections and communicate with fellow teachers, and to never stop learning! We should always look to expand and perfect our teaching techniques. Some teachers create a lesson plan and stick to it each year. That is not a characteristic of an effective teacher, and being one is something we should all aim for!

Blog Assignment 8

2010-10-15T04:15:00.000-05:00

Just some more Mac vs PC humor!

Richard Miller: This is How we Dream
   To a certain extent I do believe I write with multimedia. I think we all do. I haven't turned in a hand written paper since gosh, I don't know, high school? The further I move into my educational career, the more I depend on technology to get my assignments completed. But I did find it interesting at the beginning of Mr. Miller's video when he said he never used the library or a book to write his articles. That he wrote them on Google Docs, published them, and shared them for the world to see all on one computer.
   Do I believe my students will be able to use multimedia to complete their assignments? Definitely! Growing up, I pretty much always had a computer near me, but it didn't really interest me to do anything with it. It appeared to me that computers were strictly for office work, and that was something I wasn't concerned with. I look at my young nephews now, and they are able to navigate through the computer and play games that I would never have been able to do at their age. I feel that this new generation is much more wiser when it comes to being technologically literate.
   Mr. Miller mentions Johnathan Harris's phenomenal work which uses the web to convey certain information. One of his programs searches blogs to find the current mood of the world. It's interesting in that it can find the happiest city at any given time. Mr. Miller also points out how much technology has advanced when he discusses the instant information one can find over the web. Events such as elections, football games, or even news can instantly be found with just a few clicks.

The Chipper Series and EDM310 for Dummies
   The Chipper Series was based on procrastination and setting your priorities straight. Chipper was so caught up in frivolous things such as facebook and her boyfriend that she didn't do her homework on time, she didn't go to class, she got fired from her teaching job, and several other downfalls. In the end, after she got to taste a bit of the real world, she came back to school to continue her education. Like Chipper, I do get overwhelmed from this course, but I know in the end I will learn a lot of different and new things so it will pay off.
   EDM310 for Dummies was a cute video! Jamie Lynn did a very well job acting! I like how the message being conveyed was that you shouldn't be afraid to work with others to learn the basics of networking. After looking through resources, the girls understood how to do the required things for this course and were able to achieve them.

SMART Board
http://www.waukeshaschools.com/WIT/smartBoard/benefits.htm
   The link posted above is one that explains all the great things that SMART boards are capable of. It even links you to other pages that go to even further detail about how to capture student attention, how it improves teaching and learning, and how to incorporate it in our lesson plans.
   In contrast, the links that Dr. Strange has provided for us to read were completely against SMART boards. They viewed them as a waste of money and thought that all the opportunities the interactive white boards offer can be replaced with cheaper products.

Additional Assignment #2

2010-10-15T01:03:00.003-05:00

1. What do you think? If learners are motivated, can they teach themselves?
   Yes, definitely! If I am motivated, I am more inclined to search for answers and teach myself.

2. If those motivated learners are kids, can they teach themselves?
   This video clearly proves that they can!

3. What conditions are necessary for kids to teach themselves? For anyone to teach him or herself?
   The learners must be interested. Learners nowadays don't find interest in the traditional textbook and are looking for other sources to learn from. Even with my geography textbook next to me, if I have a question I don't go rummaging through the book, I'd much rather Google it.

4. What role do computers and internet access play in the process?
   Computers and internet play a major role. Like I said in the answer before this, I rely on Google for the majority of my questions.

5. What role does motivation, a desire to learn?
   Motivation is the key to learning! If one doesn't go into something with the desire and readiness to learn, then they will achieve nothing.

6. What roles do a problem, a question or multiple problems or questions play in the process?
   Questions are also very important. This is how science experiments are begun, with a question that needs to be answered.

7. How do you motivate someone to learn?
   I believe you can not make someone learn, but you can always stand by their side, cheer them on, and push them. A teacher presents the information and uses techniques to motivate the students to want to learn.

8. How are you motivated to learn?
   Not just for the degree at the end of my college career, but also the fact I'd like to be a well-rounded person who is knowledgeable about several things. There are people in the world that have learned and know only one thing. I don't find these people smart at all. For example, you can graduate with an engineering degree, but if that is all you know, then you really haven't learned very much in my opinion. I appreciate a more worldly knowledge base.

9. Can anyone who is not motivated to learn learn?
   They can memorize, but not truly learn and understand.

10. Do you teach yourself? When? Why?
   Yes, I do teach myself. My teachers present information, and I'm the one who teaches myself and understands it. When do I do it? Everyday! Why do I do it? Because if I don't teach myself, no one else will!

11. What role does a teacher (either answer generally or use a specific example) play in your
learning?
   I believe teachers are more like coaches. They can lead the students in the right direction and give them all the materials and knowledge possible, but it is really up to the student whether they learn or not.

12. What is the most important idea, question or emotional response you take away with you as a result of watching this video?
   I was surprised how the children who have never seen a computer or had any proper training on how to use one, were able to navigate through it and learn several new things. The random holes in the walls were a great way to conduct this experiment.

13. What other questions or issues are raised by this video that should be considered and discussed by aspiring teachers?
   Aspiring teachers should understand that they should not baby their students through every step. They should allow their students to do their own exploring to find answers. Students will learn so much more through their own experiences!

Project #9B

2010-10-15T00:03:00.006-05:00

Progress Report on PLN Project #10

2010-10-14T22:02:00.000-05:00

Truly, I didn't really know how to start on my PLN. What really helped me get motivated was watching the seventh graders explanation of hers. It began making sense to me after that, and I used her video as a guide for me to create mine. Symbaloo has a very friendly user interface, which is great because it makes this so much more functional and easy to use. As for right now, I only have Google, EDM 310 home page, and my class blog set up. But hopefully soon enough I will have my PLN filled with all kinds of resources!

Blog Assignment 7

2010-10-14T21:56:00.000-05:00

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture was really touching! I have watched it before this assignment, and by the end I was in tears. I realized that the majority of people who are blessed by being healthy don't care to do anything inspirational or important in their lives. Since they don't have a known dead line approaching, they feel they have all the time in the world to do just nothing. On the other hand, I've discovered that the ones who are sick really understand the true meaning of life and know how to appreciate it. What I really loved about his lecture was that he just radiated with such a positive and enthusiastic aura.

Throughout his lecture, Mr. Pausch brought up several different life lessons. Each life lesson was really phenomenal and gave me a different outlook on life. Rather then letting that brick wall stop me from achieving my goals, I should find a way around that wall. By doing so, this proves how important it was to me and how much I really wanted to achieve it! A cute thing that he said was for us to decide if we were Tigger or Eeyore. Tigger the fun, enthusiastic, and bouncy character, or Eeyore the sad, slow, and depressed character.

What really made me happy was that he was able to look back at all the things he did in his lifetime, and truly be satisfied with himself. He was able to achieve all of his childhood dreams to a certain extent and he affected many lives in such a positive aspect. He also motivates for us to help enable other people's dreams, to always show gratitude, and be enthusiastic.

After watching this video, I have learned I should push myself to achieve my goals and dreams and not to take life for granted! I hope this video will be something I carry with me each day, which will help me maintain that positive outlook on life!

Rest in peace Mr. Randy Pausch. You've left a legacy that affects many lives in such a positive way.

Podcast Assignment

2010-10-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

FINALLY!! Got it up and running! Thank you Dr. Strange for assisting us! And thank you Apple for making video editing so easy!

Blog Assignment 6

2010-10-14T02:46:00.000-05:00

This video just sums up how I have been feeling lately! Enjoy! =)

The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler
   I love the way this video was made! It was very creatively done! It really opened my eyes to all the different applications and programs that are available for students to network. What I didn't realize was there is an actual name for this type of networking called connectivism. According to the video, connectivism is, "a theory that presumes learning occurs as a part of a social network of many diverse connections and ties." This network is made up with all kinds of technology, but its not the use of technology that is important, it is the connections that are that are important. A student should create their own personal learning network (PLN) which will help them gather all their resources.

   Am I prepared to be a teacher of a networked student? Truthfully, no, I'm not. I'm just learning how to be a networked student myself. Once I have learned how to be a successful networked student, then I will be able to teach it in the future. What I learn in EDM 310 simply will not be enough! I must continue to search for this knowledge and learn as technology grows.

A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
   This seventh grader's PLE was very well organized. I have not seen a PLE before this, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see this one and how it functions. A PLE allows one to pull all kinds of information and resources and place them on one page. This student has used Symbaloo, which seems to have a very user friendly interface. Since, this is a networked student, she can use this PLE to her advantage by pacing herself and turning her assignments in on time. She even mentions how she enjoys the freedom of choosing how to do her assignments, and when to do her assignments. I also like that she mentions that she can be easily distracted by things like facebook, but since she has all this freedom she has the inclination to be responsible. Overall, this video will help guide me create my own PLE.

The Machine is Changing Us
   Right when I saw how long this video was, I immediately became bored. But when I stopped to listen to what Michael Welsh had to say, I began to find his words very interesting! I really liked what he said and found myself agreeing to a lot of it. Over the decades as technology advanced, it greatly affected society. Long ago, society was based on the idea of collectivism, but now it is based on individualism. He made an interesting point when he said people have a narcissistic edge to them. I completely agree with that! I have met quite a few people in my life, and generally they all have this, "I'm a very important person!" ideology about themselves. It has become human nature. Now I'm not saying everyone is a self-centered, conceited person. I'm just pointing out that everyone believes they are of importance. This isn't a bad thing, but to give prime examples, networking sites such as facebook and twitter are very narcissistic. These sites were built upon the idea of, "let's celebrate ourselves and post everything that crosses out minds, whether important or unimportant, for the world to see." I don't know, I'm just not into all of that...

Project #9A

2010-10-11T00:48:00.002-05:00

TimeToast

Summary of C4T #2

2010-10-06T01:27:00.000-05:00

I was assigned to Mr. Steven Anderson. I read through his about me section, and discovered that he is very involved in networking. He was voted the Most Influential Tweeter and was a recipient of the Most Influential Series of Tweets. Overall, he mainly taught 7th and 8th grade.

The first post that I commented on was focused on LiveBinders. This was my first time even hearing about LiveBinders. After browsing through his posted links, I realized it is just that, a binder! One can add videos, websites, power points, and almost anything else they would like to in this binder. It places it all in one URL and that's it! If you want to share information with someone, rather than sending in a sloppy email, one can create a LiveBinder and share more organized and professional looking information. I also came across this link that clearly explains what a LiveBinder is. I definitely thought it was very informative. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hK6BeE9HCQ

The second post that I commented on was about BBC Dimensions. Again, this was my first time hearing about this as well. BBC Dimensions takes important events in history and current events and puts them in perspective on a map. For instance, one can look up the oil spill and see how much of our waters were effected. As an example, he showed how big of an area was flooded in Pakistan over the East Coast of the US. I really thought this was an interesting tool since it helps show the magnitude of an event.

Summary of C4K #1 and 2

2010-10-03T18:50:00.002-05:00

I was assigned to a sweet 8th grade girl named Naomi. She seemed very active and involved in all kinds of different activities. After reading her About Me post, I also learned she has trouble with Algebra and typing. It was evident in her post that she had issues typing. I encouraged her to use spell check.

Mr. Chamberlain also required his students to write a personal manifesto. I thought that was a fabulous idea! It allowed students to find the goals they wanted to fulfill, and find their own strengths and weaknesses. Naomi wrote that she would like to be a better typer, better at Algebra, and to pay more attention in class. I encouraged her to try and stay focused and to always engage herself in classroom activities. I also encouraged her to always ask questions when she feels any bit confused.

Overall, this would be my first time commenting on such a young person's blog. It was really interesting to read her posts which showed a bit of her personality. I think it's pretty fascinating that they are teaching kids to blog at that age. Good job to Mr. Chamberlain for putting together such an interesting course for those kids! I really hope they come out of it with tons of blogging experience, better writing skills, and they see the importance of technology and how it has taught them.

Blog Assignment 5

2010-09-26T03:40:00.003-05:00

Eagle Nest Radio & Class Blog
   When I was first assigned this podcast assignment, it seemed very difficult and complex! But now, it is a lot more comforting to know that even these young 3rd graders can achieve this task and do a phenomenal job at it. I do wonder how their teacher was able to get them so organized. As for motivation, well I imagine they were motivated because it is such an interesting project! Since they placed so much time and effort in it, I do wonder how much time was used to create this podcast. Is this an assignment that takes 1 week, 2 weeks, or a month? How much time each day was dedicated to this assignment? As a student moving into the teaching career, I like to know the details of such things.

Langwitches
   I like that this blog has a collection of several different podcasts! All the podcasts were so well put together as well! Although, the Flat Stanley podcast particularly interested me. My five year old nephew had a project similar to this, and after creating his Flat Stanley he sent it to us in the mail. I didn't really understand it, so I immediately got on Skype with him so he could explain. It really is a cute story and for those who haven't read it definitely should! Out of all the podcasts on this website, I liked this one the most. Because this website has several different podcasts placed on one website it makes it a good resource. I also like they give small summaries on how they were created.

Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
   What I liked about this website is that it begins with a definition of podcast. It continues on to give the benefits, tips, a timeline, suggestions, and step-by-step instructions. It is really thorough and explains every bit of the podcasting process. This website is also a really good resource due to the fact it has a detailed explanation and shows examples. After reading through the website, I now have a much better understanding of podcasts.

Blog Assignment 4

2010-09-17T04:00:00.002-05:00

1. Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod
   Scott McLeod is a very technology savvy man! After reading about him, I discovered he is one of the co-creators of the video Did You Know? (Shift Happens). While reading his post, all I could think was how hypocritical of him! He is saying we should not let children use any sort of technology as he is using technology himself to blog about it. Although, after I finished reading I realized he was being satirical.

   If children are taught how to use technology the correct way there are many benefits to it! By holding them back, one is not letting them grow and expand.

2. The iSchool Initiative (5:42)
   This high school senior's video was very thought provoking! I like how every idea of his was backed up and explained by how it would be achieved. He didn't just say lets do away with our traditional classrooms with books, paper, and pencils, but rather he explained why doing away with all these things would be a HUGE benefit to our school systems. We would be saving money, resources, and it would be a lot more interesting for students to do their schoolwork in a non-traditional manner, so I believe they would be more motivated. Collaborating with a few companies and sponsors could make this young adult's dream come true. His idea really isn't that far-fetched, and it could easily come into play.

   Overall, I liked the way this student presented his information. Not just did he suggest ideas that would dramatically improve our school systems, but he backed up each idea with how it would be made possible. In my opinion, that is what makes his video stand out.

3. The Lost Generation (1:44)
   I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT VIDEO! I have seen it before though. I believe it was through Dr. Paige Baggett's blog. But anyways, my favorite thing about this video is that it started off sounding really depressing, but once it was rewinded it was extremely hopeful and uplifting. The technique used to create this video was very wise and creative. I definitely applaud the creator!

4. Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir (6:20)
   The internet has all kinds of various uses available for the world. It really is a remarkable invention that has exponentially grown throughout the years. The internet could be used for things such as researching information, social networking, emailing, shopping, entertainment, business opportunities, and so many other activities. This video is a prime example of how the internet is capable of creating a connection among complete strangers. 185 people sang 'Lux Aurumque' via Skype. It sounded so clear and in tune which was really fascinating since these people have never even met before!

Just writing my thoughts out:
   I'm really impressed with all the different things I have learned in EDM 310 thus far. The funny thing about it, is we are only on week 3 and I have gained so much more knowledge and insight about a lot of different issues. I have always acknowledged that technology existed, I mean I use it every day, but I never thought about how dramatically it impacts our lives. Implementing it in the classroom is a whole other story though. That is something that hardly even crossed my mind 3 weeks ago.

Project #5

2010-09-16T16:58:00.002-05:00

Additional Assignment #1

2010-09-15T17:12:00.003-05:00

a. What are the educational implications of searches such as Google Squared provides?
Google Squared helps pull up whatever you are looking for and everything that may be similar to it. When I did my search, I looked up Carrabba's Italian Grill. It also showed me any restaurant that may serve similar Italian food. What was really interesting about it, was the fact that you could edit things on the spreadsheet. I believe this will be useful in the classroom.

b. What are the educational implications of searches such as Wolfram Alpha provides?
WolframAlpha will be very helpful in the classroom! It computes any word problem that it is given. If I was looking for the population of Mobile, it would give me the current population and the percent increase and decrease over the decades. It offers a lot of good tools to make finding statistics easier. This could be used in subjects such as Math, Social Studies, and Science. Overall, it is a very useful application that I will begin to use.

c. Did you know about Google Squared before this assignment?
No

d. Did you know about Wolfram Alpha before this assignment?
No

e. Reread your comments about Did You Know. Have my comments altered your thinking about anything you saw, heard, read, or reported for the Did You Know assignment? If not, say so. If so, describe how in as much detail as necessary.
I already had the same thought process. These tools only confirmed my thoughts after watching Did You Know 3.0.

f. What did you learn from this exercise about how you react to and deal with "statistics"?
Now that I know about Wolfram Alpha, I will be able to make comparisons and find real statistics.

After reading "The Stable Boy and the iPad" I realized that Steve Jobs creates all sorts of technology that are user friendly! It was an interesting story!

Blog Assignment 3

2010-09-13T03:57:00.011-05:00

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today (4:45)
   I really like the way the producers made this video. It was very clever! The use of real college students in a real classroom made me automatically relate it to myself. The statistics that were shown almost accurately represent my college experience. One thing I couldn't agree with would be getting that 7 hours of sleep at night. On average, I may get 4 to 6 hours on week nights. I don't know about the rest of my college peers, but I am definitely sleep deprived when school time rolls around.

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
   Lately, my train of thought has been how will I incorporate different kinds of technology in my future teaching career? But really, the question should be how I will use this technology for my benefit in teaching and helping those students learn? After reading just this one post, I noticed that Kelly Hines is an extremely intelligent individual. I posted on her blog the following statements:

As a student from Dr. John Strange's EDM 310 class, I was assigned to read and respond to your post. After reading it, I realized classroom success really isn't just about the technology. It's more about how you use it. In some cases, a teacher may achieve maximum benefits from using all kinds of technology, and in other cases they are really only restraining it. I'm glad I was allowed to read your blog post. If you would like to join me in my blogging experience, I would be honored! My blog is located at http://alloulamaniedm310.blogspot.com.

Thank you sharing your point of view with us.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
   Karl Fisch strongly feels that everyone must be technologically literate. When I began reading his post, I thought he was aiming it just at people in the education field. But as I continued to read, I then realized that he was aiming at society as a whole. His concept that being technologically illiterate is not ok is rather interesting. It's funny that he wrote that while he was frustrated long ago, yet it makes so much sense, and still holds truth. It was rather interesting material.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count
   This social media count moves so rapidly! Emails and text messages are the two most common means of communication it seems.

Summary of C4T #1

2010-09-09T15:07:00.000-05:00

I was assigned to follow Mr. Aaron Eyler. After reading his latest post That "Let's Do More Mentally, I came to the conclusion that Mr. Eyler proposes that, "Doing more is good. But doing it right is even more important. Otherwise, doing more is useless." His mentality really interested me. I was always the type of person to think that doing more is better, but really doing it right is what's important.

As for Mr. Eyler's earlier post, he discusses student's goals and teacher's goals at the beginning of the school year. He says that if we help student's create goals their school year may be more enjoyable. I definitely agree with him on this! If student's set goals, and do achieve them, their school year will feel more fulfilling. My goals entering each school year was to make sure I passed at the end. I didn't have short term goals, but maybe if my teachers had helped me set short term goals I would have enjoyed the school year much more!

Blog Assignment 2

2010-09-04T04:07:00.003-05:00

1. Did you know? 3.0 (4:56)
"We are living in exponential times." Wow, that quote really sticks out to me! I feel it pretty much sums up our generation. Ever since I can remember (late 20th-early 21st century) the world of technology has been rapidly growing and expanding. I feel like there is always some new invention or discovery that intends to make our lives a little bit easier or better.
With technology growing the way it is, I believe we should take advantage of that and implement it in our classrooms. If technology is what interests young minds, then why don't we use it to our benefit to capture their attention?

Overall, I would have to say this 5 minute presentation was filled with all sorts of new and interesting information. Super computer in 2013...that's just right around the corner!

2. Mr. Winkle Wakes (2:51)

When this video first started, I thought it would be pointless and silly. After it finished, the satirical twist at the end made me understand the point being made. After 100 years our education systems have yet to change! When you stop to think about it, you begin to realize how insane it really is. Everything changes over time. Our technology, medical approaches, lifestyles, fashion sense, anything you name has made some sort of mold or change through out the years. Yet strangely, our school systems remain the same. Teachers stand behind podiums and lecture in monotone voices. The students role? To silently write down everything the teacher says as quickly as possible. It should not be like this. We should not try to please Mr. Winkle Wakes. All that new and fun technology that is being invented needs to be incorporated in our classrooms.

3. Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity (19:21)

Ken Robinson is such a charismatic and intelligent man. He made a lot of of good and interesting points, but there are certain things that I could not agree with 100%. "Treat creativity like you would literacy" is a very powerful statement. While I do agree that creativity is very important, one can not compare it to literacy.

Being literate opens up many more opportunities in life than creativity does. The ability to read and write allows you to effectively learn and communicate with others. On the other hand, creativity is vital in the learning process, but it is not the backbone of society. Corporations will continue to move on with a lack of creativity, but would they be able to function with a lack of literacy?

Now don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the arts, but there is no way it measures up to literacy...

4. Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts (4:49)

   I liked that Vicki Davis did not feel the need to baby her students and define everything for them. She allowed them to venture out and discover and learn things for themselves. I believe her technique helps make students ambitious, rather than allowing them to sit around and wait for the information to be spoon-fed. I also appreciated her honesty. The fact that she allowed her students to teach her what terraforming was shows that she is not embarrassed to learn from her students.
   Most teachers walk around with the attitude that they know everything. To me, that is a really big turn off because it makes the teacher unapproachable. And aren't teachers there to teach? How are we going to learn if we aren't able to ask the questions we want to ask?
   Overall, I like Vicki Davis's teaching strategies, and wish that more teachers would integrate technology in their classroom like she did.

Project 2

2010-09-03T01:53:00.004-05:00

Blog Assignment 1

2010-08-31T15:06:00.000-05:00

     I was originally born in Dubai on February 26, 1990. I came to Mobile at 5 months old and stayed here for about 5 years. We chose Mobile because I have an aunt and uncle that live here as well. My family and I then moved to Pensacola and stayed there for about 3 years but returned to Mobile and I have been here since.

   I graduated from Baker High School in 2008 with an Advanced Honors diploma. I then came to South Alabama as a full-time student to major in Elementary Education. Ultimately, my professional objective is to become an effective elementary teacher. I am very patient and work well with children. I have two young nephews who I often tutor. This gives me the ability to think creatively, and to grab and keep the attention of young minds.

   As for unique things about myself, well, I’m Muslim. I absolutely love cars and racing! So I guess that is something unusual for a girl. My dad owns a dealership, so it has been fun being allowed to drive all sorts of cars. As most girls, I love shopping! Buying shoes and purses would have to be my favorite though.