Blog Post #10

Randy Pausch 

 Before Randy Pausch passed he gave one last lecture. In his Last Lecture he talks about the importance of childhood dreams. Randy also talks about his childhood dreams and how to enable the dreams of others. Randy has a big emphasis on not giving up. He says that you may have to go through quite a few obstacles but she should never stop until you achieve your dreams. In my opinion teachers could relate to this by taking that attitude into teaching students. So for example a student may be if you think a student has very high potential but they are stubborn and difficult sometimes that the teacher should not give up on that student but keep trying to push and help them towards their own goals. Randy also says that if a person tells you that you are doing something wrong and gets onto you for that that you should listen to them instead of just thinking they are out to get you or something like that. The person who is yelling at you for doing something wrong is usually just trying to give you advice so you should listen to them they could give you some good advice.

Randy is one amazing person in my book. It is very inspirational to me that he took time out of the last few months of his life to do a lecture like this and basically tell people to never give up! Even though he is weeks away from passing away he is still talking about how important childhood dreams are as well as enabling other people to achieve their own dreams! In my opinion if their were more people like Randy on this earth it would be a much better place!

Project #9 Podcast

Project 12 Part A

Blog Post #9

Project #10

Blog Post #8

Back to the Future-  Chris May

In Brian Crosby’s video Learning is messy he tells about his classroom that is full of multi racial and poverty stricken kids. In his classroom all of his students have their own blog as well as their own computer. In that sense his class is a lot like EDM 310. By having their own blogs and computers this urges his students to think outside of the box. His students are privileged enough to be involved in projects quite a bit. He tells about a project the students were given in which they sent up small hot air balloons into the air. After doing this the students were challenged to answer why and how the balloon lifted and flew through the air. After finishing up their answers they were then directed to write a story about what if they were the balloon and how they would react. The students also have their own wiki and flickr accounts which they use in their class as well.

In my opinion Mr. Crosby is one awesome teacher. Considering how young the students are is very impressive to me. When I was in 4th and 5th grade I was just happy to get to run around the gym I would have loved to have had a teacher like this. SInce I am planning on becoming a PE teacher I am not quite sure how I can use PBL in a PE situation but I do plan to look into how to incorporate it because PBL is extremely useful!

Making Thinking Visible- Corey Waldon

In the video Making Thinking Visible by Mark Church,  he discuss how his students make their thinking visible. He explains an assignment where he records  his students  learning and follow their thought process. In the video he asks his students to come up with a title that summarized their thoughts on what they were reading. They put the titles on a long blank sheet of paper and presented it to the class. What Mr. Church was doing was getting his students thoughts down in writing and after a couple weeks of going more in depth in the reading he said he was going to do the same assignment to see if the students title would change. He did this to see how much there thinking had differed from the beginning of the lesson.

As teachers one thing we can learn from Mark Church is how to get in touch with our students thoughts and how to document those thoughts. By making thinking visible Mark gives his students a challenge to come up with a title where they collaborate with other students and address all their thoughts and decided which one explains the thoughts of the whole group. Teachers can learn how students work together, how they listen to one another and how students express their thoughts. I believe making thinking visible is a great idea and I support it 100 percent.

Blended Learning Cycle- Kai Lopez

Mr. Paul Anderson's has been teaching science at the high school level for the last nineteen years. He is currently teaching AP biology class in Bozeman, Montana. In 2011, Mr. Anderson received an award named the Montana Teacher of the Year award and was a top finalist for the National Teacher of the Year award. In his video, Blended Learning Cycle, he talks about his combination of Blended Learning and Learning Cycle. Blended Learning is a combination of online, mobile, and classroom learning. And the Learning Cycle is when students engage, explore, explain, expand, and evaluate on what they are learning. Mr. Anderson puts those together and comes up with the Blended Learning Circle. He starts off his class with a good question which he calls the "hook" to grasp their attention. After the question he ask them to investigate or experiment on what they are learning. Then he has the students watch a video, and ask them to elaborate on what they are learning. After elaborating, he has the students review and make sure the students know what they just learned.  To end the class he gives them a timed summary quiz which if the student does not get a question right, then they go back and fix what they do not know.

What I learned from Mr. Paul Anderson is a successful way to teach my students. The main point I got out of his video was to make sure to ask a good question to have the students get engaged to what is being taught. Instead of being a basic teacher and just lecturing and reading the textbook, I can go above and beyond with my students in the way I teach with them by teaching off the Blended Learning Cycle.

C4T #2

I was assigned to Mr. Robos blog The PE geek for my C4T commenting. In the first post I commented on he talks about a new app for PE teachers called balance it. This app basically gives the PE teacher a visual representation of things the teacher could teach their students to do in class. For example it would should a picture of three students making a human pyramid. Two students would be on their hands and knees while the third students in on his/her hands and knees on top of the other two students backs. The app is a quick and easy way for teachers to come up with games and such things on a quick notice or can be used for planned out assignments as well. In the second post I commented on Mr. Robo is telling about how how senior level students are assigned an assignment in which they use Instagram. The students are assigned to find and post an inspirational picture before or after each of their own workouts. I think this is pretty cool! I am a very avid user of Instagram myself and I am always into reading inspirational quotes and picture they also get me pumped up for my workout!

Blog Post #7

Chris May

While watching the video iPad usage for the blind I learned about software available on an iPad that can be very beneficial to the blind. Basically this software has a response to every time the screen is touched. The program verbally responds to each touch. The programs responds to the user and explains to them what they are doing and what they need to do open, close, and doing other things with apps. I found this pretty interesting! I never knew that any type of software like this existed. This software makes for blind people to be able to listen to books as well as use other apps that are available on the iPad. But, I see a potential problem with this program. In the video the voice that responds responds extremely fast and is somewhat hard to understand. I feel that the users of this program could become frustrated with this program because it repeats itself so many times and speaks fast and hard to understand.

I watched a video called Meet sam. This video is about a boy who suffers from cerebral palsy and uses assistive technology to help him go to school and blog. I thought this video was pretty cool because Sam is a blogger and that is what our EDM class consists of. Sam uses his iPad, computer, and his voice recorder to help him out throughout the day. He uses all of these to help him take his notes during school. Before Sam gained these technologies he had an aid to help him with these things. Now that Sam has assistive technologies he can do these things on his own without the help of someone else. Sam uses the app Audionote. This app helps him record the teachers lectures as well as take his own notes. Sam also uses the kindle app to read his class books and other books. Sam would not be able to do any of these things without the assistive technology on his iPad

Kai Lopez

Assistive technology is technology used for students with certain disabilities in the classroom. There are a lot of different assistive technology tools that are available for teachers. For example, if a student that has limited mobility in using their hands may use a keyboard with larger keys on it. In the video, The Mountbatten, it talks about a device called the Mountbatten Braille Writer which gives the student audio and tactile feedback for a student who is blind. After researching about assistive technology tools, I found out that teachers can use applications on iPads as a tool in the classroom for the students. One tool that I found is called Proloquo2Go which is an application on the iPad that provides a voice for students who do not have a voice or have trouble speaking. According to Apple, this application is rated a four in a half star out of five, so it would be a great investment and teachers would have great results.

As a PE teacher, all the students will be included in the activities we do, no matter what type of disability they have. I can adjust the activity of the day for those students that are physically disabled. For example, if a student is in a wheelchair, I can instruct an activity that involves all the students being on scooters or anything that has at least two wheels on it. By doing this, it makes sure that everyone is included and no one is left out. Plus its a great chance for everyone to have FUN!!!

Corey Waldon

Assistive  Technology

As a teacher teaching in the 21st century there are numerous assistive technologies that could be used in a classroom. First off, what is assistive technology? It is any kind of technology that can be used to enhance the functional independence of a person with a disability. For example on a computer there is speech-generating technology in which computer software translates what a person types on a keyboard. Some computer software also has auto-correct where if a person type in a few letter it recognize the entire word. Some technology used for visual aid; are screen magnification software which enlarges the portion of the text that is highlighted with the mouse. One Physical assistive technology I thought should be very useful was the use of audiobooks. An audiobook can be used for students who do not have the ability to physically handle books.

After watching the video Teaching mom what her Blind/deaf child is learning on the IPad, I saw how helpful the assistive tools added to the ipad can help a blind or deaf child. In the video you see how a mother takes a tour of an ipad by using the assistive techniques already available. The mother learns how her child is learning and how if you use an ipad properly it can still benefit students with disabilities. The video basically explains how the assistive technology in an ipad can be used to help students with typing. What I thought was cool and creative was how the ipad did a lot of talking, letting the mother know what she was doing and what letters she was on while typing.

Assistive technologies can be used to enhance students learning with disabilities. Teachers can use many different technologies already available. There are technologies for students with visual, speaking, hearing and physical disabilities. As a teacher it is our job to provide a safe and enriched learning environment for all students.

Project #9

I chose to use symbaloo because it is quick and easy to use. All the apps are easily accessed and very organized.

Blog Post #6

"What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?"

 As teachers, we need to understand that asking questions is an extremely important part of our job. Asking questions creates opportunities for students to voice their opinions and for teachers to be able to evaluate these responses to see how students are progressing. Asking questions does not only help teachers teach but also helps teachers learn. Teachers learn just as students do. Many teachers have a misunderstanding that they need to know everything about a subject for them to be able to teach that subject. Students sometimes teach teachers things that they did not even know!

In Ben Johnson's blog post The right way to ask questions in the classroom he tells that some questions teachers use are over used and basically pointless. For example, when teachers ask " Does everybody understand?" Ben explains that teachers ask this question even though they know that whether students respond of not some of them still do not understand but teachers still continues to ask the question. He goes on to say that some students do not understand that they don't understand, and if they do not understand that they don't understand they can not ask questions. Tricky huh? Ben then tells that teachers should ask specific questions instead of broad yes or no questions like the "does everyone understand?"

 In my opinion teachers should ask questions that require students to apply what they were just taught instead of yes or no question. For example, I am planning on becoming a PE teacher so if I am teaching the students how to shoot a jump shot instead explaining it to them and then simply asking if they understand I will ask them to show me how to shoot the jump shot I just explained.

In Asking better questions in the classroom  by Joanne Chelsey she gives explains the
differences between open ended questions and closed ended questions. Open ended questions create the opportunity for students to give intellectual answers instead of short yes or no answers. A closed ended question makes it easy for students to just simply answer with yes or. An example of a closed ended question could be: If computers were involved in PE classes would it change the way PE teaches teach? That can simply be answered with a yes, or no. An example of and open eded question could be: If computers were involved in PE classes how would it change the way PE teachers teach? I feel that this is a very effective way of teaching and will be implemented into y teaching methods as much as possible.

Project #8

Blog Post #5

Flat Stanley Podcast. Langwitches Blog 


In this blog post a first grade teacher explains how she is introducing the use of podcasts to her students. She tells them the basis of the podcasts and gives them guidelines to creating a successful podcast. The project they are given for their podcast is Flat Stanley. The first graders, along with their parents, are to read the book Flat Stanley by Jim Brown. The book is a bout a little boy who was crushed by a bulletin board. Just like a pancake!! After reading the book they were given a homework assignment to pick a location around the world that they would want to be sent to if they were a Flat Stanley. The children's borrowed books from the library and used the internet to determine the following:
- The Location (City, State, Country and/or continent)
- How did they get there (transportation)?
- What did they do at the location?
- How did they get back home?
 I thought this assignment as awesome! I was a part of something similar to this when I was in elementary school. In my assignment we sent a Flat Stanley to other people around the world and they sent him to other and people and so on until finally Stanley returned to my mailbox I thought it was the coolest thing ever!


The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

In this video Doug Sanders explains some of the benefits of using a podcast in the classroom. He tells about how podcasts allow for creativity, incorporate videos, and allows for differentiate in projects. One huge benefit of using podcasts in the classroom is the fact that students who are out sick have the ability to learn over the podcasts that are uploaded to the internet. This video also explains that uploading these podcasts is easily done it is not a difficult time consuming task. ANother benefit to using podcasts is that parents can see exactly what their children are learning at school. This video also show a few interviews of actually children who tell how much they enjoy the podcast and give some of the same examples i stated earlier as the benefits of using podcasts.

Judy Scharf's Podcast Collection

On this cite it shows a few notes in which Judy Scharf explains what a podcast is. In her words a podcast is basically a cross between a broadcast and an iPod. She calls it a "radio-style" talk show. She also tells that podcast are cheap all that is required is a computer, microphone, and software. On this page there is also a link to two videos how to create a podcast as well as podcasting on teacher tube. In the first video is basically explains how to create a podcast and the simplicity of it. In the second video it talks about the concepts of a podcast, how to use a podcast, and other educational ways to use podcast.

Project #7 my sentence/passion

Project #3 Presentation

C4t #1

In my C4T project I was assigned to Mr. Robos blog The PE teacher. The first post that I commented on was basically explaining 5 PE teachers that should be followed on twitter. I found this very useful because I, myself am very involved with and I am also planning on becoming a PE teacher. In my comment I basically explained how I found his blog interesting and appreciated him giving a few PE teachers to follow on twitter. In the second post I read about an app that has recently been created that allows people to regulate their music while working out. For example, the Workout app would allow you to set a song or bell to go off every 20 seconds to notify you of when to rest and when to continue exercise. I found this app awesome! In my comment I was explaining to Mr. Robo that this not only will make my workouts more efficient but also more enjoyable.

Blog Post #4

Chris May

The tool that I decided on is a Wii Fit program. Because I am planning on becoming a PE teacher I could use this program constantly. The Wii Fit program easily incorporates technology and a fun time into a PE class. Many students would prefer to sit around and play video games rather than move around and learn about sports and other things. If these students prefer video games over actually moving and playing games then they get the best of both worlds by playing a video game while being somewhat active. Another beneficial aspect of using a wii fit program would be assisting disabled children. If a child is unable to run. jump, or swing a bat they will now have a way of being active while also associating with other students so they do not feel left out of any activities. In this video it explains how the Wii Fit system helps children with dyspraxia learn to better stabilize themselves and not become as clumsy. Dyspraxia is disease that causes people to be much more clumsy than the average person and also affects their motor skills. Implementing a Wii Fit program into a high school level PE may be a bit pricey but the benefits outweigh the costs. The Wii Fit would not only elevate these students level of fitness but help their morale by making them feel much more normal and accepted. Also, what the students learn in the Wii Fit program could benefit them for the rest of their lives by learning how to exercise properly through the program.

Kai's Blog

A tool that I think could be very useful for when I become a physical education teacher is an app called Coach's Eye. Coach's Eye app was first introduced to me when I was reading from John Hahnstandt blog The Flipped Coach. After doing research on the app, I found this video on YouTube that explains what the app does and it is called Coach's Eye: Change the Game.  The Coach's Eye is an application that allows a student, or athlete, to record themselves while participating in an activity. After performing the activity they will then be able to break down the video in slow motion once they have finished. For example, if a student wanted to know how to throw a football more accurately they would record themselves with the Coach's Eye app, and then be able realize their mistakes and correct them. Lets say the elbow was to far out, the Coach's Eye app would allow the athlete to see that and then fix that on their next rep when throwing the ball. Here is an example how the app works:

Corey Waldon's Blog

Open School ePortfolio for Authentic Assessment

An ePortfolio is a collection of student work that is used to document effort, progress, and achievement over time. By using this student become more involved with their learning, goal setting and decision making. ePortfolio is a great tool for authentic assessment because it allows teachers and students to work beyond just multiple choice test.

Open school ePortfolio is a free tool designed to help students and teachers manage their portfolio process.  Teachers can use this tool to create projects and divide students in groups to complete them. There is also a way parents can login and get more involved with their child’s education. There is also an option where teachers can create a grading rubric. The rubric is readily available to students to give them guidelines to follow to achieve project goals. Students can complete projects and assignments by using text, images, and links. There is a goal setting option too, where students set their own personal goal and can follow their progress towards those goals. Open school ePortfolio has an easy grading process where submitted projects can be graded quickly by using the grading rubric. The tool also has an app where students can gain access from an ipad.

I will use ePortfolio to engage my students in project based learning. This tool gives me the ability to place my students in groups that would allow them to do cooperative learning. My physical education class will be based on integrating technology with physical education. I will post assignment s inside Open School ePortfolio and my students will have to read instructions that would guide them through all their projects. This tool would benefit my classroom because it would allow my students to do work outside of the regular classroom setting. If my students need to get in touch with me they could email me or leave comments. ePortfolio gives me daily contact with my students and I will always try my best to be available for them. I will give assignments that focus on health issues and why physical education is important. The group assignment will involve students watching YouTube videos and research on statics dealing with physical fitness and benefits of great health

Blog Post #3

Peer Editing

These videos were very beneficial to me. I learned the importance of being positive when reviewing a classmates blog assignments. The video Peer Editing had very valuable information in it. The peer editing video even showed, and explained, the correct symbols to use when editing a peers assignments. The slideshow Tutorial Peer Editing gives the correct steps to peer editing which are: Step 1 Compliments. Step 2 Suggestions. Step 3 Corrections. The slideshow also gives examples of things to say when complimenting a peer. For example, I really liked your topic, or, I think you used alot of good detail. I found the video Writing Peer Review to be my favorite of the three. It shows many different types of reviewers and describes what you should not do when reviewing a peers work. For example it shows "Picky Patty"who is extremely picky and has to correct every single thing on your paper, things like the size of your commas and other things of that nature.

Blog Post 2

Mr Dancealot

Michael Johnsons video "Professor Dancealot" shows a video of a dance professor teaching a class about dance but not actually dancing. The professor give power points and lecture about dance but does not physically show the students how to dance. The professor then expects the students to be able to do all of the dances he taught them on finals day. In my opinion this is what the effects of burp back education looks like when a student has to apply the skills they "learned" in those burp back type of classes. When students do not learn actual skills but only information they will struggle when they have to actually apply the information they were taught.

Harness Your Students Digital Smarts

Chris May’s Part

The video "Harness Your Students Digital Smarts" focuses on Vicki Davis's way of teaching. Mrs. Davis teaches in a classroom that is full of technology use. In the video Mrs. Davis is teaching her students about a new program. While talking about this program, Mrs. Davis brings up a very interesting point, that teachers do not need to know everything about a subject to teach it. She goes on to say that she is learning new things about the program just like her students are. She even says that her students have taught her things about this new program. I really enjoy her way of teaching, mainly because it is all interactive and there is no type of lecture in the classroom. It is all physically learning skills through technology instead of listening to a teacher lecture all day.

The Networked Student

Kai Lopez’s Part

The Networked Student is about a student in high school who has a teacher who never lectures and believes in connectivism. Connectivism is based off the belief of learning from social networking. He uses social networking to learn and share opinions by using Google Scholar and his schools library database. After gathering his information, he then creates his own blog so he can post about what he has learned. Then his classmates and others on social media can leave their comment and opinions on his blog post.

Now the question, "Why does the networked student need a teacher?" The teacher basically ties up all the strings for the student and is there for him if he has any questions. The teacher can show him how to be organized and creative with social networking. The teacher hopes that the student will continue using social networking and use it to help him with his work in the future.

By posting this video, Wendy Drexler, is trying to help students, parents, and other teachers understand networked learning in the 21st century. Drexler is showing how networking can be successful in a student or teachers work. Technology has been evolved to where it makes networked learning acceptable and easier to learn.   

Teaching in the 21st Century

Corey Waldon’s Part

“Teaching in the 21st century” by Kevin Roberts. His big question is what does it mean to teach in the 21st century? For me, to teach in the 21st century you must be able to talk and relate to your students in a way in which they can understand. The big word I saw in the video was engaged and I think to teach in the 21st century you must be able to engage with the students to maximize their learning. In order for students to learn in this time period teachers have to provide the basic fundamentals of learning and ways to learn. Robert sees teaching changes from books, pencil, and paper to social networks, blogs, and online web browsing. What I think Robert sees is technology and the advancement of education by using it. I feel that Roberts is right that teaching is not the same and that if we continue to teach facts, dates, and theories then what are we really teaching.

If Robert is correct this will affect me as a future educator because I will have to learn how to adapt to this new change. Future teachers themselves have to pick up the new technology and use it to teach children more about life and how to survive instead of just basic learning. Teachers must be open-minded and willing to try new things to accomplish the main goal, which is to educate their students. To me teachers are role model for kids and we must get them to express their thought and feelings openly while respecting them and learning from them. So instead of giving notes daily and forcing uninteresting lists of dates and facts into student’s minds, as a teacher we must give assignments that allow them to apply their own knowledge of a subject to expand their thinking. As a teacher we must also teach the relevance of the material and how it will benefit the student long term, and it goes beyond the walls of their classrooms.