MY EDM 310 BLOG IS COMPLETE!

My blog is finally complete. I've enjoyed my first blogging experience. I'm glad I learned so much in class but I'm ready for the holidays! I hope everyone has a safe holiday season and I enjoyed being in class with you. And thanks to Dr. Strange who let me know how much is out there lurking in cyberspace that I didn't know about!

What I Wish I Had Learned

If there is anything I wished we would have learned this semester but didn't I think it may have been just a simple introduction to what a Smart Board is and similar technology that is in the classroom right now. I know most classrooms don't have these but when I saw one I was really fascinated but did not have a clue what it really did. However, I feel like I learned so much more than I was expecting to learn. I really enjoyed this class and I feel like it has made me more excited about using technology in the classroom.

What I Learned

This class has truly been beneficial for me. I wasn't excited about taking it because I figured it would be basic Microsoft Word and Power Point. However, what I learned was much more than that. I don't think that anything we learned in class was something I knew before hand. I think the main thing that I liked was everything we used was free. Therefore, when I'm a teacher on a tight budget I can still have amazing video resources and technology tools right at my fingertips. Here is a list of the things I learned this semester.

1. How to create and manage a blog
2. How to do ALT and TITLE modifiers so that someone visually impaired can "see" my pictures
3. All the free tools Google has to offer (I thought it was simply a search engine)
4. Wikipedia isn't always a trustworthy sight
5. How to create an IGoogle page
6. How to use ITunes
7. How to find educational podcasts and videos on Itunes
8. How to make a podcast (and what they were)
9. About ALEX and ACCESS

Before this class I was stuck in a technology rut, everything I knew about computers was about 2-3 years old and so much has changed since then. The scary thing is that I know technology changes daily so by the time I become a teacher this information will probably be out of date. This is why it is important to keep up with changes in technology gradually. Its not ok for teachers today to be technologically illiterate but its easy to see how it happens.

Daphne High Access Lab

I really enjoyed visiting and learning about the ACCESS lab at Daphne High. I met with Mr. Roh who talked to me about the pros and cons of the ACCESS program then gave me a tour of the lab. The concepts of the programs are great and once all of the logistics and kinks are worked out I think it will be a program that will really benefit the state of Alabama.

There are two different types of classes that can be taught in the lab, the first IVC, or interactive video conferencing is not currently being used at Daphne High right now. I found this one to be the more interesting of the two but it also seemed to pose the most logistical problems. IVC allows the teacher to be located anywhere within the state and teach to students in labs all over the state with open video communication. The main problem with this is that schools throughout the state have different schedules. In order for students to participate in this class, they must all be in their lab at the same time. Since some schools use a seven period day schedule and some a block schedule, not to mention different holiday schedules, IVC classes are hard to coordinate. However, I think this will be more beneficial to students because they are communicating with a teacher via webcam as opposed to just emails.

The second class that the ACCESS lab is used for is internet web-based classes. Currently, there are a few of these classes being used at DHS. These classes seem to be a lot like online college courses. The students have assignments and deadlines to meet but work on their own time and communicate through emails and chat boards. The students will probably never talk or meet the teacher. These are easier to coordinate because students don't have to have the same schedule to take the same class. Next year, all freshman at DHS will be required to take an internet class. This poses a problem because although the lab is well equipped, there still aren't enough computers to accommodate those students. Also, DHS offers most classes that are taught online, therefore students will be taking a class online instead of taking it in a classroom with a face to face teacher. The online classes will be beneficial to students who have failed a class. Remedial classes are offered online so students can retake a class and graduate on time. There are still problems with this system though- but not as many as IVC.

All in all, the lab was very fascinating. Its a good idea by the state but it just needs to be worked on a little. I think in about 5-10 years (or hopefully by the time I'm teaching) everything will be up and running smoothly.

Blogging in the Classroom

After learning about and creating a blog I think that it can be a very useful tool in the classroom. Blogging offers a simple and informal way of communication from the teacher to the parents and students. I think that setting up a class blog should be used in addition to parent newsletters, but that they shouldn't take the place of them. Most families now have some form of internet access but it may not be on a daily or weekly basis.

Blogging offers teachers a way to post pictures, videos, and presentations made by the class available for parents to see. Not only can you post student generated material but links to articles, or podcasts that you think parents may be interested in. It is a good way to keep parents up to date with what the class is working on.

The con to having a class blog is that it is an additional responsibility for the teacher to keep up with. It seems to be easier with practice though. When I first started blogging it seemed to take me much longer. Now that I am familiar with the layout it is pretty simple.

After reading Heather Rodger's EDM 310 blog we seem to have a lot of the same ideas. We both came in blind as to what a blog was all about and in the end have decided it can be a very beneficial classroom tool. I enjoyed reading about the schools and teachers she had communicated with as well as her outlook on the podcasts we had watched and listened too.

Center for Documentary Studies

Dukes Center for Documentary Studies provides the chance for students to address and acknowledge social situations in our world. Its a way of planting the seed for discussion on issues such as our history, race, and social situations that are normally pushed aside. I couldn't find any information on whether the students were required to listen to all of them, or just a select few or any at all, or whether this was just an available resource in case they wanted them. I think students need to address social situations and are many times hesitant. Listening to podcasts such as these in classrooms can be the way to spark discussions between students. These types on conversations can be related to any subject matter, really. In all subjects, literature, science, mathematics there has been some controversial history and conflict involved. It leads students to question what and why they are being taught the information that they are, and this is a powerful tool.

Class Podcasts

First of all, I have to say I enjoyed doing the podcast much more than I thought I would. Coming into this class I didn't even really know what a podcast was and was not thrilled at the idea of having to make one. However, I was assigned the topic of Randy Pausch's last lecture and I thoroughly enjoyed working as a group to make the podcast. After listening to our groups podcast I was satisfied, but also found room for improvement. I think our topic was one that lends itself to very in depth conversations, but we only had time to skim the surface. One thing we could have done differently was picked one or two main subjects and gone more in depth on those and how they related to education. Also, we could have included more background information on Randy Pausch and his life before getting into the topics we discussed.

I chose to listen to another groups discussion on The Last Lecture of Randy Rausch and enjoyed hearing the differences and similarities from ours. The podcast that I listened to did a good job of explaining who Paush was. It seemed at times that their manner of conversation a little sarcastic though. I would also suggest to this group that they go more in depth on how Paush's life could relate to teaching, it more just about him as a person. All in all though, I enjoyed listening to a different perspective on the same topic that I had.

I listened to a few others and found it interesting how different they all were. I found that some topics definitely lent themselves to easier conversations that other did. Everyone's style was a little different too. Some seemed to be reading off of a paper sitting in front of them while others were more casual conversation between a group of people. I thought this was interesting because they all in one way or another sounded like the different styles of podcasting we have listened too from iTunes. I tended to enjoy the ones in a conversational style more so than the rehearsed ones though.

Contacting Teachers Outside of the Area

I actually contacted a few teachers because I wasn't sure if they were actually going to respond back. However, I was so impressed that every single one I emailed responded within 2 days. I found this really amazing because I know teachers are so busy with their classrooms and I made it clear I was only a student. This was inspiring because I feel like when I am actually teaching, communicating with other teachers is only an email away. Since I had a few responses, I figured I'd just post them to my blog for everyone to read. Here was our communication. I contacted all the teachers through a chat board at Teachers.net.

My name is Virginia Grant and I'm an Elementary Ed student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, USA. I am currently taking and Educational Technology class and we were asked to establish contact with a teacher outside of our region. Ultimately, I believe this lesson is to have us use the internet and chatboards to introduce the idea of penpals for our students when we graduate. I'm sure you are extremely busy but if you wouldn't mind writing me a quick email with ways that you incorporate technology in the classroom I would be extremely grateful. Also, have you gotten any responses on your request for penpals? I'm sure your students would love that. Thank you for your time.

RESPONSE #1
I teach a self contained classroom of 17 students. I am looking for a 4th or 5th grade class to be pen pals with. My kids are very excited about this and we are looking forward to finding some penpals.

RESPONSE #2
I've gotten 2 responses so far for pen pals. We are located in southern
Georgia, and they are located in Arkansas and California (if I remember
right). We've only emailed back and forth once so far. I plan on doing
this via snail mail. As far as using technology in my classroom, I'm
very blessed to be in a county that values technology so much. Every
class in my school has a Smartboard with projector and a CPS system
(Classroom Performance System.) I use my Smartboard absolutely everyday
and I use the CPS weekly. I have 6 computers in my room, and students
use them different projects, group activities, taking AR tests, etc.
I'll be glad to help you in any way that I can. :)

RESPONSE #3
Yes, I got a reply from Maryland for pen pals. We are working on our letters already.

RESPONSE #4
I am just starting this teaching job, first official day will be December 1st. Not sure how I will integrate technology in the class. I will help you if I can be of any help/ also let me know if you have any suggestions. I will be out of town until thanksgiving without very much internet availability. Take care, best of luck

RESPONSE #5
Hi Virginia.
I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for, but these are ways I use technology in my room.

-we use the internet/interactive CD that came with our new math textbooks to introduce new concepts

-use Discovery Education/United Streaming to show videos to reinforce concepts learned

-Elmo/projector- i have the students come up and work on it

-We make powerpoints at the end of the school year, and they learn how to incorporate pictures from the internet to put in their project

-we use studyisland.com together in small groups on the computer and put it through the projector so they can all see

I hope that helps? I have had 1 person respond, and by the time i got back to them the next day, they had already hooked up with someone else, so we still dont have a pen pal yet.

RESPONSE #6
Virginia, hi!

My English isn't as good as I wish it was, but I'll try to help anyway.
I incorporate technology in my class a lot, I think. We have 3 digital
cameras and children take photos almost every day, than we look it together
and talk. I have children stories on Power Point sometimes. I also use lap
top... computer in suitcase :) on which I have music I make my preparations
for school. We use digital camera (for DVD), but not a lot. That is about
all.
Yes I got a response form y request-5 people, all from USA. From Texas, 2
from New York, and Chicago. Now we communicate through email, but I wish we
will write to each other too.
So I hope I helped you a bit... if you want to know anything else, just say.
All luck on your University.
Take care

Math with Technology

In Episode One, Judy Chandler talks about how technology is useful to math teachers. She says that many math teachers feel they don't need to integrate technology into their classroom. They say that they don't have the time, or that most of their students are doing fine so whats the need? However, Chandler insists that it is essential to use technology to teach math. She says that it is one of the six critical principles of a high quality education. Students come to us already using technolyg as a daily tool. Technolgy, integrated with pedagogy and content knowlege offers students an investigative approach. It also helps teach to alternative learning styles. She says that by using technolgy, you actually increase your instructional mintues and can cover up to five textbook lessons in one session.

In Episode Two, Chandler talks about thinking mathmatically. This episode was mainly based on the importance of asking students meaningful questions about math. Teaching math the traditional textbook way causes many students to memorize and forget or to disengage all together. By using technology in math, students are provided with hands-on experiences, they are engaged in what they are doing. Asking students meaningful questions leads to critical thinking. Students begin to connect ideas and investigate concepts. This leads to deeper concept development and helps perpare students for more learning.

I have always claimed to hate math, I think so much of this came from being bored with it. I made decent grades but it was because I memorized what I needed to know and used it on the test, then forgot it. However, the next year when I was asked to build on what I'd learned I struggled because I never truly understood what I was doing. This led to getting college math classes over with as soon as possible and hoping to never have to do it again. The point of this story is that had I been more engaged in what I was doing, I may have taken more of an interest in math. Had I been challenged to explain what I was doing, rather than just burping it back on the test my base would have been stronger. I think this is true of many students when it comes to math. We are taught to believe either you get it, or you don't. I think technology can help with this. Students think technology is cool, and you can teach concepts with out the traditional textbook ways. This makes students look forward to math. I think here in the US we have a long way to go in the math department, but it starts with reaching students young and engaging them.

Growth vs. A Fixed Mindset

In the Stanford University video Professor Carol Dweck discusses the difference between people with a fixed mindset and those with a growth mindset. She begins by saying that people who have a fixed mindset go about their work trying to prove their intelligence and gauge success on how smart they appear to be. However, people with a growth mindset believe that the mind can grow and that intelligence is achieved through passion, studying and education. In order to test this theory they decided to set up an 8 session workshop to teach the growth mindset. The students in the study were divided into two groups. Half were taught study skills to try to increase their academic performance. The other half was given the study sills along with the sessions on growth mindset.

In the growth mindset workshops, students were taught how to apply their mindset to get optimal performance. Students are taught that mistakes are inevitable, however what you do with them makes the difference. She compares it to driving a race car, you have to be in the zone, the difference is after mistakes are made, can you stay in the zone.

At the end of the semester, the students who had just the study skills course showed no signs of improvement. On the other hand, the students who had the study skills session along with the mindset sessions showed significant progress and a rise in grades.

Dweck says that there are two groups in the world, one group is curious to learn and the others just want to feel smart. As a future teacher this is extremely important to remember. I think that it is important to never be complacent with where you are as a teacher. If you want to succeed, you must continue to exercise your brain. Teachers who get set in their ways and don't try new things lose the interest of the students. I think this is easier said than done though because this requires more time from teachers outside of class. I think that teachers need to share ideas and collaborate, learning and sharing ideas with one another is an easy way to pick up new ideas. I hope to be a teacher with a growth mindset.

A Night in the Coral Reef

On the WGBH podcast site, one of the videos I watched was "A Night in the Coral Reef." This video was located under the K-5 section of videos. The short, three minute video took you on an underwater tour of the coral reef at night. It explained that day feeding fish hide at night to avoid nocturnal predators. The crevices in the coral serve as good hiding spots for these fish. Nocturnal sea animals such as the squirrel fish, porcupine fish, and octopus come out at night to feed. Some of these are carnivorous and look for plant eating fish to eat. The video did a good job of capturing an underwater ecosystem.

Podcasts such as these can be extremely useful in the classroom. Students attention is captured by videos and technology. By keeping it short, it can be a useful tool as an introduction to a lesson. Many times videos can spark discussions from students that traditional text book reading may not.

These video-podcasts also help students take a "virtual field trip" in a way. With just the click of a button they are able to visualize and see for themselves many environments that otherwise they may not have seen. Students love learning and discussing new things- if it is presented in an interesting way. I think that these podcasts can serve as an essential tool to opening the minds of students to new and exciting places.

Edutopia

The first video I watched was "The Edible Schoolyard" and I was amazed. I've read a few articles about this in magazines but getting to watch the video along with it was really cool. The Edible Schoolyard is located at Martin Luther King Middle School in California. It began as a way to improve school cafeterias and what students eat, along with teaching students where our food comes from and other valuable life lessons. The garden is the central focus of learning at Martin Luther King Elementary. Math, Science, Social Studies, and Reading are all taught using lessons from the garden. The innovative idea gets students outside, doing hands on activites and learning through other methods rather than the traditional book method our society seems to favor. The extremely beneficial part of this is that everyone has a chance to flourish. Students that don't test well and learn well in traditional classroom settings may be expert gardeners. Working in the garden also promotes teamwork, communication, and generosity. This is such an innovated and remarkable way to learn.

The second video, "A Night in the Global Village" was pretty neat as well. Students take an overnight field trip to a remote area that is set up as a global village. It is sponsored by the Global Gateway Program. The global village field trip focuses on hunger, poverty, sustainable development. Students are selected to live in either a refugee camp, Guatamalan, Thiland, Zambian, or urban slum area. All groups, with the exception of the refugees, are given some necessities needed to survive, but not everything. Therefore, they must barter and borrow from their neighbors in order to have what they need to live. Students must work together to cook their own food, which works on communication and team work. The idea behind this is that lessons learned the hard way often stick with us, rather than simply hearing about them. In the morning, students have to chop wood and feed the animals to get the area ready for the next set of campers. From the accounts of the students on the video, this field trip really opens the students eyes to world poverty and hunger.

The amazing thing about having these videos accessable on iTunes is that even if you can't grow a garden at your own school or travel to the Global Village in Colorado you can pull these videos up with the click of a button and begin exposure to these subjects. Having these video's accessable for the classroom can lead to smaller versions of what these schools are doing. You can take ideas from other schools and begin to implement them into your own school. These videos prove what many are beginning to realize, and that is students need to be doing hands on activities to have a complete education. Providing hands on enviornments and lessons help every student learn, not just those that are traditionally considered "smart."

I think in many schools, teamwork and communication is considered a good thing but not necessarily encouraged. For example, a student that has trouble keeping quiet in class and always wants to talk may have terrible conduct grades and may be a constant frustration to the teacher. However, a student like that would thrive in an environment where talking was necessary to learn. In an outside environment that demanded communication between students and teachers. So often lessons that are needed for life, such as generosity, uniqueness, and communication are left out of school lessons. These are lessons that are taught indirectly in the classroom but have a much better chance of being achieved if students are doing hands on type lessons.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture is inspiring on many levels. Especially for teachers or future teachers. There is an abundance of teaching techniques that Pausch talks about. Many of these are lessons for life that should be applied in the classroom. One of the first points that stands out to me in his lecture is that you can't change the cards you are dealt. As a teacher, this is important to remember. Many times, it is easy to blame the families, environment, or general knowledge level of a failing student. However, I feel like as teachers, it is our job to take what we have and inspire children, no matter what the case is. You can't change the class you have, only the attitude with which you approach them.

It is important to remember to have childhood dreams, and to keep your childhood wonder. This is extremely relevant in the classroom. Students need to have specific dreams of their own, it is our job to encourage these dreams. Many times it is easy to disregard the dreams of a child because they seem so far fetched. Randy Pausch was proof that with hard work, determination, and a focused mind, nothing is out of reach. Students today face so many obstacles, it is important for teachers to keep their dreams alive. Along this same line Pausch brought up the idea that brick walls are there, not to keep us out but to show us how much we want something. We should relay this to the students.

I think it is mandatory that teachers push students to succeed. Teachers and students should never be complacent with the level on which they are working. There is always room for improvement. If your students impress you, keep pushing them, you will be even more impressed. However, we need to be careful in the ways which we word things. Students should know that their teacher cares and is impressed, but also knows that they can do better. Sometimes, just the way we word things and our tone of voice can be enough to turn a child away. Teachers should never be arragant, remember that there is alot to learn from students. We are always learning, even if it is indirectly.

For me, probably the most important point that Randy Pausch made in his lecture regarding education has to do with the "head fakes." To me, this meant he was adressing the idea that burp back education doesn't work. The head fakes meant that most of what we learn, we learn indirectly. For example, when working in a group you focus on acomplishing the assigned task, but you are also learning how to communicate, cooperate, and have fun while learning. Many times, this is more beneficial for students than giving and A,B,C mulitple choice test. Studnets learn better in a hands on environment. It is our job to make learning fun. Boredom in the classroom often leads to disinterest in education. Keeping the children engaged in what they are doing keeps their interest and they don't realize they are learning sa much as they really are. Every moment is a teaching moment.

All in all, this lecture and Randy Pausch inspired me in many ways. It made me want to strive to be a better person and helped me reevaluate what is really important in my life. I think many times we take the small things for granted and spend way to much time focused on material possessions. Pausch reiterated the importance of dreams and childhood wonder, which I think many adults forget. I think everyone should watch this lecture because it has a lot to offer for all.

iPods in the Classroom

Starting in 2004 Duke university implemented a technology based curriculum that includes the use of iPods. iPods, which are usually used to listen to music are now being used to download lectures and talks from iTunes. There are at least four other universities that are using iPods in the 2008 school year. These are University of Maryland, Oklahoma Christian University, Abilene Christian and Freed-Hardeman. Standford University is also beginning to use iPod technology in the classroom.

An article written by Robert Craven says that the iPod should revolutionize the way that students learn. Some suggestions he has for implementing technology, even in elementary classrooms, are downloading and playing famous speeches, listening to audio books or even creating their own podcasts reviewing the weeks lessons. Craven suggests that when using an iPod for the classroom the iPod should contain only school related material so that the students aren't distracted. All-in-all iPods in the classroom can prove to be a very useful tool when used appropriately.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/technology/21iphone.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.schoolcio.com/showArticle.php?articleID=196604276

Dr. Alice Christie

Dr. Alice Christie is a twenty-five year veteran teacher who has created a website that compiles useful information for teachers. Dr. Christie now teaches classes and conducts workshops both in the United States and abroad on integrating technology into the classroom. As future teachers with the ever changing world of technology that we currently live in, integrating technology into our classrooms will be vital for the success of our students. Dr. Christie's website is an easy and free resource to help teachers.

Dr. Christie's website has many links such as Educational Technology, GPS and Geocaching, Searching the Web, Web design, plus more. I checked out the Educational Technology tab and spent a little time looking around. Dr. Christie gives many helpful tips and online presentations on almost every aspect of using technology in an educational manner. These tips span from anything such as digital cameras and their use to a list of text message lingo. This website will definitely be an import resource to me as a teacher.

Wikipedia

After reading the three assigned articles I was shocked. I always assumed Wikipedia was a trusty reliable online encyclopedia. I have personally used and quoted Wikipedia in many research papers for school. It amazes me that none of my teachers have read these articles and decided to not accept Wikipedia as a source.

While I'm sure that most of the information is correct, the fact that it can be edited by anyone still makes it somewhat unreliable. According to NPR, "It isn't illegal. The whole point of the online encyclopedia is that it is collaborative and multi-sourced. Wikipedia calls itself "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit," which is another way of saying it is not fact-checked." I wasn't aware of this. I assumed an online encyclopedia was as reliable as a book encyclopedia.

My Presentation

The Best of the Fischbowl- July 2007

The Best of the Fischbowl, July 2007 post talks about Fisch's experience at the NECC conference. The blog reflects on the fact that while the conference was a great experience, it was adults sitting around talking about what's best for students. there weren't students present to add their input on whats best for them. Fisch says, "I can’t help but wonder how much more powerful it would be to have students involved in these discussions as well. Particularly at my level – high school – I believe student voices would add a ton."

I think Fisch is correct. So many times students are left out of decisions that impact them. I think that if students are given more authority and decision making within a school their experience is more beneficial. Students have valuable ideas, and while adults may think they know what is best, many times adult decisions are distant from those students would prefer. I believe this creates a wider gap between teachers and students.

One comment left on the blog suggested having students Skype into the the conference and add their opinion and that way they are "virtually" present. Fisch agreed this is a good idea but still not the same as students being present. However, I think it brings up a good idea.

The Best of the Fischbowl

First of all, I guess I should start by saying thank you to Dr. Strange for introducing me to this site. Fisch's blog on whether or not it is acceptable for teachers to be technologically illiterate was so enlightening. I sometimes feel that even though I'm only 23, I'm settling for knowing only the basics. I'm hesitant to learn and use the computer for anything more than I have to. However, through this class and websites such as this I'm learning that being a technologically illiterate teacher is not only putting me at a disadvantage, its robbing my students of valuable skills and information.
I find that I get frustrated when I have teachers who don't really know how to use the computer for the basic things such as checking email- so I don't know why students would feel any differently. Computers and technology in general are such a huge part of a child's life today that its our responsibility to incorporate them into education as well. Being a technologically literate teacher will make children more responsive and interested in what is going on in the classroom. I really enjoyed Ficsh's website and plan on checking it out often.

International School Blog Sites

Finding two international blog sites was really interesting. I really liked playing around the sites and reading their blogs. I enjoyed comparing and contrasting the ways of the school in Switzerland and the school in Indonesia as opposed to our schools here in the United States.


The first blog that I found was the blog site for the Zurich International School located in Wadenswil, Switzerland. It seems that the main use of their school blog is to act as newsletters to the parents. There were many posts with updates on the different sports teams, community service projects as well as a new post to sign up for lockers in the locker room. I think this is a great way to keep open the communication between parents and the school. So many times students are told things, but often forget by the time they get home. This is an easy, efficient way to relay information.

http://moodle.zis.ch/blogs/

The second site was The Green School in Bali, Indonesia. As opposed the the Zurich International School which seemed alot like schools here in the United States, The Green School was like no school I've ever seen before. Set in a beautiful lush campus, The Green School tries to inspire children to not only love an appreciate the nature in which they live but to inspire education through nature. The Green School uses classroom blogs to give the students an opportunity to reflect and share what they have learned with others. This gives the parents a chance to actively talk and read about what their child is doing in school. They have a blog for each grade level, I checked out the years 3-4 blogs (I guess our equivalent of 3rd and 4th grade). This is the first year that the school is open, so the blog is very active. they are trying to encourage as much support and participation as possible. I was really blown away by this school and their concepts of education. I found it really amazing. Everyone should check it out.

http://www.greenschool.org/

K-12 Blogs in the US

The first blog I found was Grandview Elementary School's Library Blog site. Grandview Elementary is located in Monsey, NY. The librarian, Mrs. Chauncey has created blog sites for the third grade classes. Students are allowed to go to their classroom blog site and share their stories or anything they feel is newsworthy. The are also allowed to publish podcasts to the site. The blogs are used to practice editing, writing and publishing different types of works. However, for the students safety their names will never be published on the site and all works must be approved by a teacher before being posted.
http://www.grandviewlibrary.org/StudentBlogs.aspx

The second blog that I found was Mr. Gordon Brune's 5th grade class blog at Manarameck Avenue School in New York. The main goal of Mr. Brune's class blog is to keep open the communication between the parents and himself. He updates his site weekly with pictures from the classroom and stories of what students are doing. This is important because parents can check student activities and have a better understanding of what is going on in their child's classroom. They can also comment, or email him with comments, questions, or concerns.
http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=251

Shift Happens

Watching the "Shift Happens" video amazed and scared me at the same time. It also made me so thankful that I'm taking this class. While I consider myself "computer literate" I'm learning so many things just in the first few weeks of this class that I never knew existed. These are vital tools that I will be using in the classroom to help ensure my students are receiving a 21st Century education.

I think many times we are scared of change. I'm hesitant to try new things that I'm uncomfortable with and I think the same is true for many of today's teachers. However, this video proves that there needs to be a shift in the way we use technology in the classroom. So much of today's world is dependent on computers and technology. If used appropriately, this is a vital tool and resource for today's students. The statistics prove students are using technology such as texting, myspace, and youtube at rates that ten years ago were unimaginable. Our job is to teach them how to use technology to enhance education. Also, to help them see the value of having a machine that is smarter than a human right at their finger tips.

ACCESS

Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, commonly known as ACCESS is a program started by the Alabama Department of Education to enhance the learning opportunities across the state of Alabama. Students in Alabama can take advanced placement, college level or remedial classes using an online program. The main advantage of ACCESS is that it gives all students an equal chance to take higher level classes that many schools, especially in rural areas, don't have the teachers for. It also ensures that all students are using the same lesson plan and curriculum for these classes so they are all receiving top quality instruction.

In my opinion this is a huge step forward for the state of Alabama's education. This is such an innovative way to offer classes that otherwise, students may not be able to take. I think it will also begin to level out the playing field for students starting college. I'm anxious to visit and ACCESS lab and see it in working action. I'd never heard of ACCESS before this assignment but I think its a great program to offer to Alabama students.

Alabama Learning Exchange

The Alabama Learning Exchange, commonly known as ALEX, is an online resource for parents, teachers and administrators in the state of Alabama. ALEX provides easy access to lesson plans, web activities and many other valuable resources in one simple location. ALEX has links to the Alabama courses of study, lesson plans, web links, as well as links to professional studies, distance learning, and a personal workspace for teachers.

The benefit to the ALEX website is that it connects teachers and administrators all over the state of Alabama. As the resources on the website continue to grow, curriculum's across the state will begin to have more similarities than the do differences. This website also makes it easy for teachers to reference the courses of study they are responsible for teaching. This can be very beneficial, especially for new teachers because the lesson plans of veteran teachers are easily accessible. All-in-all, this website is a very helpful tool for the state of Alabama's education department.

My Story

I was born and raised in a Port Allen, Louisiana which is a small town outside of Baton Rouge. I am the oldest of four children. I was raised a true LSU fan and think that there is no other school that compares. Even though I now attend South Alabama my heart will always be in Baton Rouge.

After attending LSU for two years, I got married and moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. My husband graduated in Landscape Architecture and Florida was the booming spot at the time. Not long after getting married I found out I was going to be a mom. Little did I know I was carrying two babies instead of one. Twins don't run in our family so this was a huge surprise. We had no family in Florida and if it weren't for my wonderful husband I may not have survived. My daughters, Peyton and Madeline are now two and a half. I did two semesters at a community college in Florida after the girls were born. Then we decided Florida was to far from home.

So here we are, in Fairhope, Alabama. We moved to Fairhope in May of 2007 and love it. This is my third semester at South and I also picked up a few classes at Faulkner. I'm trying to see how many colleges I can attend before graduation (just kidding), so far I'm up to four. My major is Elementary Education. I have a love for children and a passion for education.

I am a full time stay-at-home mom and my girls keep me very busy. I love being outside and try to spend as little time inside as possible. I like to read a lot and I also like to cook. More than cooking though, I like eating. Exercising is my mental relaxation and on this Sunday, August 24th I'm doing my first triathlon. If I'm not in class next Wednesday its because I didn't make it. I'm hoping to do a half marathon sometime this year when the weather is a little cooler.

So there it is, that's my story until now.

First Day of Class

Hi, I'm Virginia (I prefer to be called Ginny) Grant. Welcome to my blog. This is my first time using blogger, or posting any type of blog at all. Hopefully it will be a good learning experience for me. I'm looking forward to exploring all of the options blogging has to offer.