Reflections

Image by Richard Cawood via Flickr

This is by far the best class I have ever taken at South, or any school for that matter! I learned so much is such a short period of time. The programs we used, many for the first time, will be of great use in the years to come. The techniques used and learned will also be an asset for every teacher. Even if they do not realize it now. During our final presentation, there were a few students who stated they entered this class not expecting to get much out of it. I was floored! How can you not expect to get something out of a technology class? Even if they do not use it in their class rooms (gasp!), they can use nearly everything we learned somewhere. I know I entered with great expectations, and was not disappointed. Dr. Strange was great. He never chastised you for not agreeing with him, unless of course your augment was not well researched or written. And Anthony and Jamie Lynn were always eager to help with any problem. I really liked having a fellow student helping out. Sometimes it was easier to ask them a "dumb" question rather than a instructor (no offense Dr. Strange!).
I had never used a blog of any sort before this course. Now, I think will always use one in some fashion! Several of the other programs we learned I will also continue to use. Like symbaloo, for instance. This is an awesome tool to gather and categorize all those bookmarks into one easy to use and access place. Also, I had never use a movie maker before. But now I feel like an old pro! I have always had a passion for anything to do with computers, and now I have all these valuable tools we have learned to take with me on my journey as a new teacher. Hopefully I can impart to my future students the amazing world they live in by using these tools. If there was anyone who did not think this was an amazing, and instructional, class, they might should think about a career other than teaching. Our "job" is to "coach" them and teach them how to think for themselves. They are our future, and if we fail, the world's future fails.
I am a lot more secure in my future as a teacher now that I have completed this course. The lessons are just too numerous to list. Working well with others, even the ones who are outside you comfort zone. That was a big one for me. We tend to socialize with like minded people, but this class helped me to remember that everyone is different, and I will have to interact with quite a few of them regularly!
One final thought. If anyone is just starting this class and is reading this, please listen carefully. Plan your time wisely! Develop a schedule that allows you to devote that suggested time needed, plus some! I found I was having so much fun learning, I often logged 15+ hours a week devoted only to this class. It may seem like a lot, but time flies when your having fun! Also, use the labs! Use the labs! Use the labs! Did I mention, use the labs? Anthony and Jamie Lynn are there for you. Use them to your advantage. Go everyday, even if it is for only for one hour. At the end of class, you will feel it was time wasted.
Last, but not least, I have to give all due kudos to Dr. Strange for guiding me, sometimes not so gently, along my journey. I hope we can stay in touch. You have been an inspiration, more than you know. Thank you.

God Bless Those Who Faught For Our Freedom!

Learning is Messy

Image via Wikipedia

This was a cool video. The beginning, unfortunately, was not a huge surprise to me. That is why I want to be a teacher. The kids really responded to the technology he use in the class room. The hands on stuff he did was amazing. Just goes to show what you can do if you put a little work into it. Very inspirational. And when they set up the link with Celeste, it made my heart melt. That probably meant more to that little girl than he will ever know. Any way, he was creative with his methods, and the kids responded in kind. Is not that the point?
Watch video here.

Blog Post #13

Barry Gartman's EDM310 Class Blog said...
Very nice use of the smart board. Until we (I) have more instruction on it, I can see points to the downside argument. But I can also see the potential of it. All it takes some searching for templates already made to spur the imagination! Then we are only limited by our dreams!
July 19, 2010 9:14 PM
Katie's Video

Barry Gartman's EDM310 Class Blog said...

Excellent answer to the first question! Yes, they are expensive, but put in place of whiteboards, handouts, overheards, etc. they rapidly become cost effective!
This a very good video for the smartboard! Lots of information, just wish you would have provided links to the sites you found mentioned in this post. That would have been cool!
One question...is this a podcast or a video with bad lighting?

JULY 19, 2010 9:27 PM

Tyler's Video

Barry Gartman's EDM310 Class Blog said...

I also was impressed with her knowledge. She got me hooked on Symbaloo! I use it for my PLN, also.
I like your sentence. God has a plan for each of us and He wants us to succeed in it!

July 19, 2010 9:36 PM

Kimberly's Video

Final Project

This was such a learning experience for me and my group. We learned a lot from this exercise, not to mention the rest of the class. It was such a blast! Incredibly fast paced, but manageable. Caleb's Blog is up and running, and I intend to help him keep it updated. He is already getting email from family, and is very excited.
Feel free to visit him here.

Teach Someone

Zemanta

Image via Wikipedia

Just found this really, really cool program called Zemanta. If you look at the bottom of my post where it says "Zemified", there is a link to it. Really makes posting unique and fun!

Blog Post 12, #2

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

This seems like a really cool program to do projects, if you were a math or geometry teacher! But, alas, I'm history, so I'm not sure how it would pertain to my chosen field. But I did watch 4 videos because I liked the program. My background is in AutoCadd!
Video #1, video #2, video #3, and Video#4

My New and Improved PLN

Image by *janine* via Flickr

I chose to use Symbaloo as a starting point for my PLN. It is a cool program to organize all your bookmarks into one easy to search and use place. I have already inserted the standard stuff from class, like my blog, class blog, Dr. Strange's blog, Anthony's Blog, and of course Mr. McClung's blog. I also have some links to technical sites dedicated to teachers. Right now it is still pretty basic, but I am adding as I feel I have reached new contacts that will broaden me intellectually. I have decided to not only add like minded contacts, but also people/teachers with a different approach then me, just so I can have a fresh look. I feel that you should always be learning, and sometimes that means listening to opposing points of view. So I am adding to my PLN semi-regularly!

Blog Post12

Barry Gartman's EDM310 Class Blog said...
You have matured a lot in the last year. I hope I do as well in my first two years. I too, am terrified about the relationships with the other teachers. How will they like me? Will they shun me for being technological literate? These and many more questions swirl in my head every day.
Good catch on the difference from middle to jr. high schools. This is a very frightful time for most young people, and we need not pile it on by giving extra grief and stress. But it is also a time where they need firm direction and a sense that you really care for them. That you have their best interest at heart.
Anyway, nice to hear from you and your first two years. I plan on following you regularly as I graduate in less than two years. Maybe by then you will have it figured out, or at least know what not to do!
July 7, 2010 9:27 AM

Questionaire

Blog Post #11

Ms. Cassidy is really cool. She seems to have a good grasp of how to use technology in the class, and her hints on how to get the administration behind you were very instructive. As I have said before, I think the biggest obstacle we will face will be the entrenched establishment. If we can navigate beyond that, the kids will respond eagerly. That has been proven to me repeatedly. Overall, a good post, like the others. Dr. Strange, or his staff, must put in a lot of time finding these people. Or, this "technological literate" teacher thing has grown more than I thought...which is a good thing!
Click here to view her class blog video.

Final C4K

This was a pretty cool video. He put in the required information, and I'm sure he's proud of it. But, and I'm not trying to be critical, but the video seemed to me to be more about him than the minerals. Which is not really a bad thing, just wondering what the assignment guidelines were. Anyway, overall, I would have given him a B or B+. The beginning of the video have sound issues and at times you could not hear the relevant conversation. Other than that, I liked it!

Click here to view his movie. It is the second one down.

My Sentence

Did I learn anything today, or did I waste it?

Blog Post #10

This a very sharp girl. The technology she uses, Symbaloo, is very cool. I have created me an account, and am trying to customize it for my own PLN. It is not as advanced by far as hers, but I am working on it!
The methods for teaching in her class seem to be very effective. You can tell she is excited about the course work, and has put a fair amount time into it. I bet not many of her other teachers can say that!
Click here to view our her movie.

C4K #3, Report

This was a short post. It was Mr. Clung asking his students to keep their eye on the ball, as the school year was about to end. So, he added a song from Cake! Going the Distance. Very appropriate for the situation. And he put a little background in about the band. Always the teacher!
Please click here to view and enjoy!

Blog Post #9

This is very damning to the dominate education establishment. But it is also right on target. The establishment better get with the program, or they will be no longer needed. Information is readily available in an instant on any subject. The days of "selling" this information and providing a pay check for it, are rapidly approaching their end date. Sadly, I am postulating the establishment will have to be drug kicking and screaming into the new realm of technological education. They will be forced back to the basics of "how" to educate, not "what" to educate. Or they will become obsolete. Is that not how it all started in the first Universities? Students gathered and exchanged ideas, and learned how to think. Now, all you do, even (especially ?) at the college level, is regurgitate the supplied information on a standardized test, and promptly forget it. Can someone please explain to me why this system cost so much?

Smartboard Project

Interview