Blog Assignment #2

Mr.Dancealot

In the video Mr. Dancealot, the professor is trying to teach his students how to dance by taking notes. The professor gets angry when the students attempt to practice the dance moves he is telling them about. He also did not approve of the students asking questions. Mr. Dancelot is an excellent example of how not to teach students. The professor did not take the time to demonstrate how to perform these dances, and when he did demonstrate the dances he was behind a large desk where the students were unable to see his feet. Mr. Dancelot never gave his students the chance to practice the dance moves and expected the students to learn by watching. In the end, when it was time for the final exam, none of the students were able to demonstrate the dances and most of them had the textbook in their hands while trying to dance.
Written by: Savanah Moore, Jacquelyne McKiernan, Shernaye James

Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts

In the video Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts by Vicki Davis she uses technology to encourage her students to learn for themselves and to be more self sufficient when using technology. The students are able to teach themselves and other students how to use different programs on the computer. Davis when in her classroom acted more like a guide rather than a teacher. This approach of teaching can be good in letting the students become more technology literate on their own. This type of teaching, however, is not appropriate for all students because all students have a different skill level. Students who do not use technology as consistently as others may fall behind because they are not as familiar with the software.
written by :Jacquelyne Mckiernan

The Networked Student

In this video written and directed by Wendy Drexler you are given an example of a student going into college. The student starts out with very little but soon starts to build his network. The students learns to blog, and share information using sites like Diigo and Google docs. The student starts out not very studious, he does not have a textbook but soon is able to find resources from all sorts of programs and sites that relate to his field of study. The video ends with the student being connected to a top professor at the University of California Berkeley.

The networked student needs a teacher because they need to learn the proper procedures on how to create their networks. They can not be expected to just have the sites and resources fall into their laps. The students need to be guided on the proper way to use the resources they are given and how to communicate through technology. The teacher would help improve the students success rate in widening their network, and show the students how to be more organized in keeping up with their numerous forms of technology and resources.

My reaction to the video is that it is very informative about creating and continuing to build your network. I like the idea of the term Connectivism being introduced. The video stating the importance of going through the process of creating a network, how to develop that network, and understanding how to properly build your network. Also, this video showed me how to understand the proper guidelines and format of creating a network. The importance of having good information and knowing when you see propaganda. The teacher wants the student to maintain their network and use the many tools that can be helpful in building your network.This video shows the importance of being able to learn effectively.
Written by:Shernaye James

Teaching in the 21st Century

In the video, Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts, Roberts feels that technology is the main teacher for students. I think he brings up good points in questioning what it means to teach in the 21st Century. The position described in the video is that as teachers we have to keep our teaching interesting.We have to keep students interested all day everyday. It is important to keep students motivated by creating lesson plans that are interesting. As an educator, It is important for me to know that I am not the only source of information for my students. I can provide technology in my classroom to help my students learn. But, it is important to teach my students that learning can be an ongoing process and that learning never stops.
written by: Savanah Moore

Blog Assignment #1

Sugata Mitra's video makes a very good point. It was very neat to watch the clips of the students teaching themselves and each other how to browse the computer. Mitra states that in this day and time " to know is obsolete" I find this very true because, kids in elementary school are able to navigate computers and could easily find the answer to a question they are looking for. The program SOLE that Mitra introduces with saying that we need to let learning happen was very intriguing to me. I agree with Mitra in that trying to force the material at the students will not make them want to learn the information. However, letting the students learn the material and find the information out on their own is a wonderful way to get these students excited about learning.

Mitra has great ideas about the education aspect of learning, but Krissy Venosdale's ideas about making the school an exciting and fun place to learn is an absolutely fantastic idea. Venosdale's dream school seems like the perfect idea for a school, students would be more excited to go to school and learn if they could go to school in an environment where they are comfortable and interested in what is going on around them. Her statement about putting comfy chairs and decorated, fun classrooms and hallways is great. In my perfect classroom I would love to be working with younger elementary students, using a very hands on method of teaching.

What I Want My Students To Know

In my classroom I would want my students to know how to have fun while learning. I would want my students to learn through hands on activities as well as through technology based learning. I would want my students to learn the basics but to use technology in a way that is creative and informational. For example a kindergartner using the computer to watch an educational video and then doing a corresponding activity in a hands on center.

What do I want my students to be able to do

In my classroom I want my students to be able to read and write but also be able to navigate on a computer or tablet device. I want my students to be able to learn and be creative on their own but to also be in the 21st century and use technology to make their learning and creativity grow into ideas and activities that were not possible before computers and other devices were introduced into the classroom.

What will be my primary way of teaching my students what I want them to know and to do

My primary way of teaching would be very hands on. I want my students to learn through doing rather than through sitting in a desk listening to me talk all day.

What tools will I use in the classroom

In my classroom I will use all tools that are open to me. In my dream classroom, that would mean computers for every student but also interactive boards and other technology devices students can use to learn by navigating the internet or by searching for pictures of far off places. In my classroom I would want sensory tools along with the technology devices. For example a hands on table for the different senses; The table would have different items to touch, smell, hear or see enabling the student to learn by doing.

What role will students play in my classroom

In my classroom the student would help move along the class. If the students are confused we would slow down, but if they understand the material we would move on. I want my students to get out all that is possible from my class. I want them to feel inspired to learn more.

Test Post Number 2

Test Post number 2

EVERY POST MUST HAVE A TITLE

My Test Post Title. I clicked the HTML button which I should always do in EDM310. I am now a blogger.