Sunday, April 28, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Blog Post 14
Teacher Knows if You've Done the E-Reading
CourseSmart has come up with a digital textbook. This allows teachers to track what a student has read and the key components they have highlighted. A problem has that has come up is that one student was doing ok on his quizzes but when the teacher looked at his textbook tracking, the student had only opened the book once. Another problem is that the software was having problem. For instance, one student had opened the book more than once but it was reported that the student only opened it once. By the end of the experiment, Mr. Guardia, who was testing the digital textbook, realized that his students tests scores were higher but their engagement into the textbook was still low. Maybe the textbook is too easy or maybe the course is too easy. Mr. Guardia is confused on this.
As a teacher I would love to have this in my classroom then I would know who is doing their work and who is working hard. But questions would arise when a student is regularly reading the material but not doing well on my quizzes or tests. Or like what happened in Mr. Guardia's class, a student who does ok on my tests and quizzes but only opens the book once. Or what about the students that don't actually read, they just open the book to make it seem like they are reading.
If this applied to me now as a college student, I would think it would be very dumb. I'm already paying my money to go to school and get my degree but now my teacher needs to know if I'm doing my readings every night. I would feel like my teacher should trust me enough to do my readings at night and if I don't then my grade will suffer.
A question I would ask the teacher is would he use it again? If it's worth it.
A question for the students would be if they felt like their trust is being challenged.
A comment I would write would be, although CourseSmart made this book out of benefit to the teacher, I think it draws a thicker line between the teacher and student and makes a relationship more business-like. Instead of the teacher actually caring about the student and the student wanting the teachers approval.
CourseSmart has come up with a digital textbook. This allows teachers to track what a student has read and the key components they have highlighted. A problem has that has come up is that one student was doing ok on his quizzes but when the teacher looked at his textbook tracking, the student had only opened the book once. Another problem is that the software was having problem. For instance, one student had opened the book more than once but it was reported that the student only opened it once. By the end of the experiment, Mr. Guardia, who was testing the digital textbook, realized that his students tests scores were higher but their engagement into the textbook was still low. Maybe the textbook is too easy or maybe the course is too easy. Mr. Guardia is confused on this.
As a teacher I would love to have this in my classroom then I would know who is doing their work and who is working hard. But questions would arise when a student is regularly reading the material but not doing well on my quizzes or tests. Or like what happened in Mr. Guardia's class, a student who does ok on my tests and quizzes but only opens the book once. Or what about the students that don't actually read, they just open the book to make it seem like they are reading.
If this applied to me now as a college student, I would think it would be very dumb. I'm already paying my money to go to school and get my degree but now my teacher needs to know if I'm doing my readings every night. I would feel like my teacher should trust me enough to do my readings at night and if I don't then my grade will suffer.
A question I would ask the teacher is would he use it again? If it's worth it.
A question for the students would be if they felt like their trust is being challenged.
A comment I would write would be, although CourseSmart made this book out of benefit to the teacher, I think it draws a thicker line between the teacher and student and makes a relationship more business-like. Instead of the teacher actually caring about the student and the student wanting the teachers approval.
C4T 4
Krissy Venosdale
Ms. Venosdale's class is in the NASA Zero Gravity program. Because they were chosen to do this they get to make up different experiments that would be taken out to space. For instance, they experimented with different fabrics that would be used out in space. Ms. Venosdale mentioned that this experience has taken thinking and learning to a whole new level and I completely agree with her. I think students should be engaged in more activities that involve the real world.
Ms. Venosdale's class is in the NASA Zero Gravity program. Because they were chosen to do this they get to make up different experiments that would be taken out to space. For instance, they experimented with different fabrics that would be used out in space. Ms. Venosdale mentioned that this experience has taken thinking and learning to a whole new level and I completely agree with her. I think students should be engaged in more activities that involve the real world.
Final Report on PLN
First starting off with this PLN, I was very overwhelmed. Thinking that I had so much to do on every network. But as time went on, I became more comfortable with it. I still believe that PLNs should be for older people, like high school or college age, maybe even middle school. Because having a PLN takes a lot of time, dedication, and focus which I don't believe children should be doing right now at least. As I said earlier, as time went on my PLN became easy and I can maneuver around anything! Practice makes perfect!
Monday, April 15, 2013
C4K April
Vanessa L
Vanessa was approached with the question what does she gain as a student blogging with other student in and out of her school, and is it worth her time? Although she never really stated if it was worth her time, I am going to assume that she does because she enjoys meeting new people all around the world. She also said that she learns about real life by blogging. She learns that even though you blog someone, you may never meet them in real life. I guess this shows Vanessa the more realistic side of life.
Megan O
Megan lives in Nebraska and her post was all about state facts. She mentioned Nebraska's state insect which is the honey bee, their state fish which is a catfish, their state drink which is kool-aid, their state dance which is square dancing. She also goes on to talk about the state tree, grass, fossil, and bird. She said Henry Dorly Zoo is a great place to visit in Nebraska. I never knew there were so many different state symbols but her post was very informative.
Clancy
This week, at the Leopold Primary School, a 5th grade class had a one week project to do. Clancy, the 5th grader I was assigned, did his project on thorny devils. A thorny devil is a desert animal, it has a fake head that grows back when attacked by birds. Female Thorny devils are bigger than males because they have to carry babies.
Vanessa was approached with the question what does she gain as a student blogging with other student in and out of her school, and is it worth her time? Although she never really stated if it was worth her time, I am going to assume that she does because she enjoys meeting new people all around the world. She also said that she learns about real life by blogging. She learns that even though you blog someone, you may never meet them in real life. I guess this shows Vanessa the more realistic side of life.
Megan O
Megan lives in Nebraska and her post was all about state facts. She mentioned Nebraska's state insect which is the honey bee, their state fish which is a catfish, their state drink which is kool-aid, their state dance which is square dancing. She also goes on to talk about the state tree, grass, fossil, and bird. She said Henry Dorly Zoo is a great place to visit in Nebraska. I never knew there were so many different state symbols but her post was very informative.
Clancy
This week, at the Leopold Primary School, a 5th grade class had a one week project to do. Clancy, the 5th grader I was assigned, did his project on thorny devils. A thorny devil is a desert animal, it has a fake head that grows back when attacked by birds. Female Thorny devils are bigger than males because they have to carry babies.
Progress Report on Final Project
Since my group is the "special" group, we already pretty much know what our project is going to be. It's just a matter of getting it all together. I am so thankful that I was put into this group because each person is so hardworking and dedicated to what they do. We already have an idea of what our project 16 is, we just need to meet up and get it done.
Blog Post 13
Paul Anderson
Mr. Anderson uses a blended learning cycle for his classroom. Blended learning is online, classroom, and mobile learning and blending them together. The learning cycle is engaging, exploring, explaining, expanding, and then evaluating. Putting together blended learning and the learning cycle, that is in fact the blended learning cycle. Mr. Anderson begins this cycle by asking his students a question, which is like a hook. He then has them investigate on the question. Next is video, it allows him to review with his students and it help students go back and which his lecture as many times as they want. Then, elaboration, this is when he assigns readings about the specific topic. Review is after that, this allows him to check the students understanding of the topic and the students are not allowed to move on to the final step until they fully understand. Finally, the summary quiz, this tests them on what they know. After Mr. Anderson has given a couple of this cycles, he then gives a unit test. I think Mr. Anderson's strategy is awesome. It really makes the students be engaged in what they are doing, they can't just half do the work. It really fits the field that he is in. With that being said, I think that it could fit any field that someone is in if tweaked a little.
Mr. Anderson uses a blended learning cycle for his classroom. Blended learning is online, classroom, and mobile learning and blending them together. The learning cycle is engaging, exploring, explaining, expanding, and then evaluating. Putting together blended learning and the learning cycle, that is in fact the blended learning cycle. Mr. Anderson begins this cycle by asking his students a question, which is like a hook. He then has them investigate on the question. Next is video, it allows him to review with his students and it help students go back and which his lecture as many times as they want. Then, elaboration, this is when he assigns readings about the specific topic. Review is after that, this allows him to check the students understanding of the topic and the students are not allowed to move on to the final step until they fully understand. Finally, the summary quiz, this tests them on what they know. After Mr. Anderson has given a couple of this cycles, he then gives a unit test. I think Mr. Anderson's strategy is awesome. It really makes the students be engaged in what they are doing, they can't just half do the work. It really fits the field that he is in. With that being said, I think that it could fit any field that someone is in if tweaked a little.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Blog Post 12
1. Visit Occupational Outlook read though each tab on the page.
2. Write a brief summary about what you looked at. What did you find that you didn't know about already? Is the work environment what you expected? Is the average pay what you expected?
3. Look through this Similar Occupations
4. Write a post about what you found on this tab. Which job is close in pay to the one you want? Would you want to further your education for a similar occupation?
My response:
Occupational Outlook
On this website, it tells you all about what you need to know about being an elementary teacher. While on this site, I looked at what kind of degree it takes to become an elementary teacher, the type of on-the-job training it takes, the number of jobs that were available in 2010, and what the pay was. What I found on the site that I didn't know already was the pay. I thought that most teachers got paid like 30,000 but actually, they get paid on average 51,380. With that being said, the average pay is not what I expected it to be. The working environment seems to be exactly what I thought it was going to be. What I like about this site, is that it tells you about the positive and negatives of teaching.
Similar Occupations
There are a lot of similar occupations to that of elementary education. Some that I didn't even think about. For example, teacher assistants, career and technical educational teachers, instructional coordinators, and postsecondary teachers. Middle school teachers are the closest in pay to what elementary teachers get paid. This actually surprises me because I expected middle school teachers to get paid closer to what high school teachers get paid because they have to take the same amount of classes in college. As for wanting to possibly furthering my education, I would want to become a principal after teaching for a while. For that to happen, I would have to get my master's degree.
2. Write a brief summary about what you looked at. What did you find that you didn't know about already? Is the work environment what you expected? Is the average pay what you expected?
3. Look through this Similar Occupations
4. Write a post about what you found on this tab. Which job is close in pay to the one you want? Would you want to further your education for a similar occupation?
My response:
Occupational Outlook
On this website, it tells you all about what you need to know about being an elementary teacher. While on this site, I looked at what kind of degree it takes to become an elementary teacher, the type of on-the-job training it takes, the number of jobs that were available in 2010, and what the pay was. What I found on the site that I didn't know already was the pay. I thought that most teachers got paid like 30,000 but actually, they get paid on average 51,380. With that being said, the average pay is not what I expected it to be. The working environment seems to be exactly what I thought it was going to be. What I like about this site, is that it tells you about the positive and negatives of teaching.
Similar Occupations
There are a lot of similar occupations to that of elementary education. Some that I didn't even think about. For example, teacher assistants, career and technical educational teachers, instructional coordinators, and postsecondary teachers. Middle school teachers are the closest in pay to what elementary teachers get paid. This actually surprises me because I expected middle school teachers to get paid closer to what high school teachers get paid because they have to take the same amount of classes in college. As for wanting to possibly furthering my education, I would want to become a principal after teaching for a while. For that to happen, I would have to get my master's degree.
Monday, April 1, 2013
C4T 3
Larry Ferlazzo
Mr. Ferlazzo had a guest post this week by John Thompson. In this guest post he was talking about how people are worrying about scores and bad teachers that just teach the test. Colleges are now not taking standardized tests as seriously in Texas because teachers are only teaching the test. So school systems are weening out the bad teachers and poor working students. But John with a bunch of colleagues started fighting back because as school systems are worried about getting the bad teachers out, they have ignored the good teachers and students. They are fighting for those teachers.
Well it seems as though I have Mr. Ferlazzo again. This week, well actually today he made a post with recent articles and posts of the educational policies. He has included links to Valerie Strauss’ blog at The Washington Post, Linda Darling Hammond being interviewed, John Prosser's post on the overall educational policy, Diane Ravitch’s blog post about raising concerns about teaching in America.
Mr. Ferlazzo had a guest post this week by John Thompson. In this guest post he was talking about how people are worrying about scores and bad teachers that just teach the test. Colleges are now not taking standardized tests as seriously in Texas because teachers are only teaching the test. So school systems are weening out the bad teachers and poor working students. But John with a bunch of colleagues started fighting back because as school systems are worried about getting the bad teachers out, they have ignored the good teachers and students. They are fighting for those teachers.
Well it seems as though I have Mr. Ferlazzo again. This week, well actually today he made a post with recent articles and posts of the educational policies. He has included links to Valerie Strauss’ blog at The Washington Post, Linda Darling Hammond being interviewed, John Prosser's post on the overall educational policy, Diane Ravitch’s blog post about raising concerns about teaching in America.
C4K March
Dilan
Mrs. Goerend's 5th grade class were writing posts about amendments. Dilan said if it weren't for Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks, his life would be totally different. He said that he wouldn't have his friends Ian and Bradley.
Chloe
This week Chloe had volleyball tryouts. She was so excited about the tryout and the tips the coach gave her. When the day was over, she rushed home to her computer to find that she had made the first cut.
Hosannah
Hosannah had to write a ten sentence story based on a picture. Her picture was of a dog on a surf board in a body of water. She starts off her story be wondering why the dog is on the surf board, but then all of a sudden, the dog falls off the surf board. He paddles back to the surf board, gets on, and shakes off the water. He decides to face his fears and swim to the shore. That is when Hosannah finds him and comforts him.
Mrs. Goerend's 5th grade class were writing posts about amendments. Dilan said if it weren't for Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks, his life would be totally different. He said that he wouldn't have his friends Ian and Bradley.
Chloe
This week Chloe had volleyball tryouts. She was so excited about the tryout and the tips the coach gave her. When the day was over, she rushed home to her computer to find that she had made the first cut.
Hosannah
Hosannah had to write a ten sentence story based on a picture. Her picture was of a dog on a surf board in a body of water. She starts off her story be wondering why the dog is on the surf board, but then all of a sudden, the dog falls off the surf board. He paddles back to the surf board, gets on, and shakes off the water. He decides to face his fears and swim to the shore. That is when Hosannah finds him and comforts him.
Blog Post 11
Ms. Cassidy
This first video was about how first grades use technology. They are learning how to use the internet and how to blog. They mention that each time that they blog they get better and better at writing. One of the first graders talked about what to say when commenting on someone else's blog. They also use smartboards for interactive learning and more hands-on learning. As for further learning and ideas, they will look up thing on wiki or other web pages. They use skype to talk to other children from other classrooms to help them understand anything they are confused about. I know that it usually seems that I am completely against technologies but I'm really not. I just don't believe it is right for technology to take the place of a teacher. With that being said, I wouldn't be totally against having my students blog. That would be one of the technologies that I would use in my classroom that Ms. Cassidy talked about in her skype video. It would be a way for them to express themselves or like Ms. Cassidy's first graders, it could improve their writing skills. It would also show them how to look things up on the internet.
This first video was about how first grades use technology. They are learning how to use the internet and how to blog. They mention that each time that they blog they get better and better at writing. One of the first graders talked about what to say when commenting on someone else's blog. They also use smartboards for interactive learning and more hands-on learning. As for further learning and ideas, they will look up thing on wiki or other web pages. They use skype to talk to other children from other classrooms to help them understand anything they are confused about. I know that it usually seems that I am completely against technologies but I'm really not. I just don't believe it is right for technology to take the place of a teacher. With that being said, I wouldn't be totally against having my students blog. That would be one of the technologies that I would use in my classroom that Ms. Cassidy talked about in her skype video. It would be a way for them to express themselves or like Ms. Cassidy's first graders, it could improve their writing skills. It would also show them how to look things up on the internet.
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