Blog Post #2

Mr. Dancelot
The message found in the video Mr. Dancelot is that students are not able to learn from a teacher that does not allow them to practice the material they are supposed to be learning. The author tries to convince the viewer of this conclusion by showing a class that is only allowed to listen to a lecture instead of trying the process of learning to dance. The author furthers the conclusion by showing a class completely unable to physically dance for their final exam. I do agree with the author's conclusion. I know from my personal experience that I learn better if I am able to go through the steps one by one while learning something new. To me, learning is much more successful when someone is allowed to try it themselves.


What Does It Mean to Teach in the 21st Century
I. A Teacher's Role
A. Teachers can no longer provide only facts
B. Facts can be found anywhere
1. Can be found on places like Facebook, blogs, Twitter
C. Teachers now need to be a filter (Roberts, 2011)
II. What Skills Does a Student Need?
A. A student will need skills to answer everyday questions such as who to vote for or what is the best route home (Roberts, 2011)
B. A student will also need to know how to use technology skills for things like searching, posting, and locating (Roberts, 2011)
III. Teachers Need To Rethink the Classroom
A. Rethink the classroom by asking "how could you gather and discuss data?" (Roberts, 2011)
B. Rethink the classroom by asking "how could you talk about reliable sources?" (Roberts, 2011)
C. Rethink the classroom by asking "how could students be challenged to solve problems online?" (Roberts, 2011)
IV. How Does a Teacher Manage a Student Using Technology?
A. Make the content engaging instead of entertaining (Roberts, 2011)
B. Make the content relevant and challenging (Roberts, 2011)

I feel that Roberts is correct with his view of how the role of the teacher is changing. We will need to show our students the importance of technology and how to successful use it. I do however feel that while the technology itself is different, some of the ideas have not changed from when a teacher taught with paper and pencil. Whether or not the student is using the Internet or a book, they will still need to be taught how to find out if a source is reliable, how to not plagiarize, and the appropriate places to look for an answer.


The Networked Student
After watching this video, I found myself truly challenged on my idea of what a teacher should be.  It showed me that the role of the teacher is shifting from being someone who teaches the facts to someone who facilities the learning process allowing the student to find his own knowledge.   Even if the teacher does provide content knowledge, the format for doing so will be dramatically different such as the professor who provided podcasts of their lectures.


Harness Your Students Digital Smarts
In Vicki Davis video, she proposes that a teacher should not be the only one to teach. She believes that a classroom is successful when the students are allowed to learn and discover on their own as well as work together.  I agree with this idea.  Students who discover information and work together not only become more productive in the future, but they also become excited about learning and gain a sense of pride from being able to branch out and learn on their own.

Who's Ahead in the Learning Race?
After watching the video, the elementary students are by far ahead in the learning race.  I was amazed to see such young students being able to use such a diverse amount of technology.  Looking at my own experience, I know I am no where near as knowledgable about technology as they are.  My position in the race would be behind the elementary students.


Flipping the Classroom
Flipping the classroom is a new idea to me.  I can see the potential of using this technique in the classroom.  Instead of using time teaching the background of a subject, the students will come prepared to try their knowledge out and dig deeper into the topic they are learning.  I can also see how this method would also help students who need extra instruction in a topic.  Now instead of rushing through, a teacher could take time to address individual needs.

Bringing the Locker Room Into the Classroom
The idea I feel that could be used in my own classroom is allowing students to converse and collaborate with one another.  I can see how allowing them to discuss and follow their ideas and trains of thought would promote a more engaged environment with more learning taking place.  Again, it also seems that students that are allowed to participate and try their ideas out have a better chance of retaining the knowledge they are learning.

Blog Assignment #1

What are the things (if any) you have heard about EDM310?

Source: fotosearch.com 

When it came to asking former EDM310 students what they thought about the class, one thing always came up and that was how time consuming the workload was. On the other hand, these same students would be quick to mention that as long as you stayed up with the projects and posts, you would succeed in the class.


What fears (if any) do you have about EDM310

I think my biggest fear about the class is how much work there is to be done. As I start to look at the Master Checklist though, I see how making sure to do the work at the beginning of each week instead of waiting till the last minute will make a huge difference on whether or not I am able to keep up.


Compare and Contrast EDM310 with other classes you have taken in college or high school.

In some ways, EDM310 is a different experience than my previous classes. With my first degree being in history, I am used to a teacher standing in front of a class and lecturing for our entire meeting period. These lectures would ultimately be followed by a test that required us to regurgitate the information we were told. EDM310 has a more hands on approach to teaching with the students learning as they go instead of listening to a lecture. However, I do feel that EDM310 has some aspects that are similar to my previous courses. In history, we would chose a stance on a topic and search for writings that would support our idea. This type of research always taught me more about a subject than a lecture. As I move forward in EDM310, I see that same principle being the case. As I work on a project and seek out information that will help me, I know I will gain a lot more knowledge than if I was just given a lecture.


What do you think will be the most difficult thing for you in EDM310?

I feel the most difficult thing for me to do in this class will be evaluating and critiquing my own work. I find it is a challenging task to sit back and review my work, looking at it honestly and objectively. Sometimes I feel confident that my work is good and gloss over a review that would truly give me insight into what could be better.


What is the best way for you to address this "most difficult" aspect of EDM310?

For me to overcome this difficult task, I think I will have to make the time to look at and think about the work I am doing. I will have to challenge the way I think, and try to take an honest assessment of how I am preforming.


What questions do you still have about EDM310? What ideas do have about how to address those questions?

Moving forward, I feel as though I have a good understanding of how the class will progress and I am looking forward to what I will be able to accomplish during the semester. For right now I do not have any other questions, but I am positive that in the future I will have plenty.

Practice Blog Post

Outline:

I.  Who am I?
     A.  Name with where I have lived
     B.  Description of why I came back to South, including previous degree
     C. Interests are reading, running
     D.  Family
II.  Why do I want to be an educator?
     A.  To help change the perception of history
     B.  Want to give back to the community
III.  What does an educator do in his/her practice?
     A.  Educator teaches basic knowledge
     B.  Imparts knowledge about skills
     C.  Helps students prepare for jobs in the world
IV.  What are my passions?
     A. Autism
     B. History



Who Am I?

My name is Kellie Cuhaj and I am currently an elementary education major.  I have lived in Spanish Fort and Daphne for almost my entire life, but even before moving across the bay, Mobile was home. For me, South is like returning home.  I already have a degree in history from the university and elementary education will be my second degree.

When it comes to interests, I find that I have little time to enjoy the things I like to do.  I have two wonderful children, a two year old son and a six year old daughter.  They take up most of my free time, but in those blissful few moments of quiet, I love to read or step out the door and go for a jog.  My husband runs an ecotourism business, so as a family we love to kayak out in the delta or watch the sunset by boat.



Why Do I Want to be an Educator? 

I have always enjoyed history, but in high school all of the teachers I had who taught the subject seemed to have no interest in the subject.  To me they created an injustice by making us memorize dates, facts, and names.  I want to become an educator to hopefully show students how analytical and useful history can be.  I would like to impart my passion for understanding that the events in history involved real people and are not just stories in a book.

I also want to become an educator to help give back to the community that has helped us tremendously.  My daughter has autism and epilepsy and the school system has been such a tremendous help.  I would really like to take the compassion and understanding I have gained from her teachers and pass it on to other families.



What Does an Educator Do in His/Her Practice?

Source: Easter Seals Central Texas

When I think of what an educator does, I think they have a responsibility to pass on knowledge that will ultimately benefit the student in his/her future.  I also feel that an educator should teach a skill set that will prepare their students for the job market they will eventually enter.  The role of an educator goes even farther beyond that.  They provide encouragement and feedback that will make a student a better individual.



What are My Passions?

My passion includes my daughter and her diagnosis.  I spend a lot of time seeking out answers for how to help her navigate her world.  In doing so, I have begun to see that other families with autistic children struggle to receive the services they need such as occupational, physical, or speech therapies.  My husband and I are hoping to change that and are currently working on setting up a not for profit that would raise money so families would not have to deny their children the services they need to succeed in life.

Test

Test

My Test Post Title

This is my very first post as a student in EDM310. I clicked the HTML button which I should always do for EDM310. I am now officially a blogger!