My Personal Learning Network

As of now, my personal learning networks include facebook and twitter. I make use of them right now by following certain teachers and any announcements they have made that I might need to know for class. I currently follow Dr. Strange on Twitter, and Dr. Juarez on facebook.

I acquired twitter from this very class because it was a requirement. I acquired facebook about four years ago because it was a good way to get in touch with old friends. I use both every day, multiple times a day.

I plan on using it in the future by adding my future students. I will obviously have to delete many things that are on my profile now, and share it with the principal so that he/she knows I am using it in a good way so that my students and I have a way of communicating at all times.

Goodbye Dr. Strange and fellow classmates (for now).

I had a great time in the class. Although I probably didn't talk to half the class individually, I felt like I got to know everyone pretty good because of our presentations and such. I am sure I will have some more classes with a few you before I graduate.

Dr. Strange, thank you so much for everything you have provided for us this semester. You run a very fun, relaxed, and challenging class. You have undoubtedly prepared me to become a better teacher one day, which is all I can ask from my professors.

See all of you soon I'm sure!

EDM 310 reflection

1. Think about the many things we covered in class: blogs, wikis, presentations, Google Docs, Google spreadsheets, Picasa, podcasts, videocasts, YouTube, posts you read, PLNs, Twitter, other teachers and students outside of our region, comments4kids, iTunes, iTunesU, accessibility issues and the use of html tag modifiers to address some of those issues, who you are as a professional, Google forms, data bases, Google Earth, Delicious, ACCESS, ALEX, Foliotek,
technological literacy, the future of schools, your "intellectual trail". Did I miss anything? Take each of these and consider what you learned and how or if it may or will be useful to you as a teacher. and as an individual in this "modern age." List what you learned and comment about it if appropriate. List as many things as you can think of. If you did not learn anything from this class, say so. I hope, however, that was not the case.

I learned more in this class about technology than I have in any of my other classes combined. Before this class, I visited probably two websites on a daily basis. Now I know about blogs, wikis, presentations, Google docs, Google spreadsheets, Picasa, podcasts, videocasts, YouTube, posts you read, PLNs, Twitter, other teachers and students outside of our region, comments4kids, iTunes, iTunesU etc. I am no doubt better prepared not only as a student and future teacher, but also as a regular citizen when it comes to using technology.

2. Are there things you would like to have learned in this class but did not?

One thing I would have liked to have learned in this class was more about photoshop.

3. Are there things you learned in this class but wish you had not (and you will try and forget them or not use them as soon as possible)?

I honestly can't think of a single thing that I learned in this class that I wish I hadn't. Everything we learned will benefit me.

4. Did this class excite you in any way? I mean excite, as opposed to "was useful" or "was interesting" or "I did it"? If No, say that. If Yes, tell me what excited you, why, and how.

The project that excited me the most was project 11. I have always wanted to make a presentation using my own music, videos, and voice. That was a great project.

5. Did you find anything in this class to be particularly "intellectually challenging"? If so, what? Why do you think it was "intellectually challenging"?

Everything was intellectually challenging because everything required you to put sincere thought into it. This wasn't a class of right or wrong answers. You couldn't just make a guess at something and hope it was right. You have to put the work in, and your effort shows.

6. Were you bored by this class at any time? If so, what bored you and how might that be corrected?

Never bored.

7. Would you change this course in any way (add things/delete things or anything else)? If so, give me your suggestions. Since I am always changing this course I could use your input!

As stated earlier, photoshop would have been fun. Not sure how useful that could be in education, but it has always interested me and I have never done it.

8. Are you Technologically Literate at the moment? To what extent? Low Some Medium Good Great

I think I am medium when it comes to technologically literate. This class has taught me a ton, but I am still not close to where Dr. Strange is at.

9. How will you maintain or improve your technological literacy between now and the time you graduate? … the time you start teaching?

I will improve my technology by continuing to improve in everything we learned in this class. I know the basics now to many things I never had a clue on. Now it is time to master it.

Comment 4 kids

The comment 4 kids assignments were amazing to me for the simple fact that I could never imagine doing this type of thing when I was younger. These kids get to show their work for the whole world to see, and get feedback from all types of people from around the globe. Among the things I commented on were Mr. Lamshed's class talking about bullying, Motorua's blog showing students on a river bug, Mr. Deyenberg's class and their technology, and Mr. Brown's history class.

The most interesting thing when commenting on these kids blogs was how smart they are and how open they are to accepting constructive feedback. I use to get upset when my teacher made me write my definitions over when I was in elementary school. These students are getting critiqued not only from their teachers, but complete strangers.

Comment 4 kids is a great teaching tool for any teacher. No longer are the students getting taught by just their teacher's perspective, but many teacher's and student's perspectives.

Here are some of the blogs I commented on.


Mr. Lamshed's Class
River Bugs
Mr. Deyenberg
Mr. Brown's history class

My Presentation

Project 11 Incorporating text, video and audio into a presentation about Virtual Fieldtrips

Seven mistakes, seven brilliant things, and rules by education innovation.

The first statement I took from Seven Stupid Teachers Make with Technology is teachers using their class computers like they do their home computers. The reason this is a mistake is teachers spend more time looking and sending jokes rather than use it to enhance classroom lessons. Nothing of educational importance comes with this, and it should be left at the house. The other statement I thought was important was teachers thinking technology will go away. Not only will technology not go away, but it will continue to play a much larger role in schools as each year passes.

The first important concept I got from Seven Brilliant Things Teachers do With Technology is creatively finding and using resources. Teachers are continuing and need to continue to find ways to bring technology in the classroom. Whether it be through their own finances or grants, it is important to keep our students ahead of the curve. Sometimes a teacher has to sacrifice more than they bargained for. The other concept I took was learning to be a co-learner. This is very important to me because students do not respond well to being lectured all class. It is much better for the students to be a part of the teaching process. We should be teaching them while they should also be teaching us.

In New Classroom rules, the first rule I thought was important was completing all assignments neatly and on time and submit on line or post to your blog or wiki, and share it with your followers on Twitter. The first reason this is a great rule because completing your work on time would be much better than spending hours catching up on your blogs like I have done. The other reason it is important is sharing your work on Twitter and posting blogs will allow others to see your work and comment on it. They can learn from your work and you can learn from them. The other rule was know what you are supposed to be learning, why, and what you will do with the knowledge. This is obviously important because without knowing what you are suppose to be learning on why you are suppose to be learning, then what can you actually learn?