week 5 reflection

What: I am learning about vidcasts and how to create them. I look forward to being more knowledgeable on the subject.

So What: The reason Vidcasting is taught is because it has the potential of helping your students understand visually as well as with music. A lot of emotion can come from a good vidcast. Background information can be activated. A student can say "I've seen that" and that is a connection a textbook cant come close too.

Now What: Many kids today are visual learners, they need to see and process visual cues. A textbook becomes obsolete when a vidcast can be used in its place. I spent some time in a class where there were no computers, or presentations it was all book learning. All those kids were as board as I was. While they were quiet and respectful in the teachers lesson, all of the kids were bored. If a lesson is not fun would you stay and listen to it? Vidcasts could be created by students and they could import songs, pictures, and mix them together. there are a lot of fun ideas to consider out there.

week 4 reflection

What: This past week we learned about the Podcast and the many uses of them. By having a recording device and Audacity mixing tool you can really make a nice Podcast for your class.
So what: This podcast tool could be useful for everything in your classroom. A podcast can be used to create a reading of the homework, an announcement, or an advertisement about the next section in class. In the home a podcast could be used for a blog, or something that was missed can be put on the internet for all to enjoy.
Now What: I can see that for my students, I could record their assignment for them and do a before and after about something. I could have them talk about what they want to know during a year, and have them listen to what they said and what they actually did. I like the idea of having a recorded message for prosperity. Reflection is a very useful tool to keep you accountable, and also to see how far you have come. I would like to do that in my class have some sort of before and after activity.

Week 3 reflection

What: This week we learned about making a Google website and what needs to go into a useful site.
So What: This topic is nice to learn how to do because I can now publish what I am doing for my classes, what the main themes are about, what homework is due, what I am about and some fun stuff too. I think that it will help to make me more organized, more professional, more personal, and more accountable to students and parents. I like the idea of informing kids and parents what the assignments are.
Now what: By implementing this Google website, I would be able to have all of my calendar items, open to colleagues and students alike. I know one thing about myself is that I am not the most open person, and so if I can be prepared in this way, it may keep me accountable to everyone. That can only be a good thing.

Week 2 Reflection

What: For Google part 1 we learned about sharing documents through Google docs. We also talked about the Sync-ing of calendars through Google calendars, and what a time saver that can be. By sharing a Google doc with our partner, we were able to gather information independently and still share the document. That was cool.
So what: Google docs has really revolutionized the document sharing world. What is neat is when a document needs to be created and shared, all of the parties can be in on the editing, or you can just hop on and view it when you have time. I can see that collaborating over the web can help students with their assignment, as well as teachers that need to create documents and share them.
Google calendars is another time saving device that allows anyone you want to view your schedule. that will come in handy when it comes time for parents students and other teachers to know what you have planned and when. I love that you can sync the calendar in a couple clicks. No typing or writing it out to transfer to your calendar.
Now what: As I think about the possible uses of Google docs, and Google calendar, I am excited to use these programs for my students. An assignment for a student could be to go home and create a document and share it with a partner. Once you have played around on it share it with me. Think of all the people you have just engaged in learning. The students working together and the parents. Parents would love to show them how or the kids could walk their parents through the process.
There are countless possibilities with Google docs in school, work, family. These programs have already changed my thoughts on technology. I want to be able to engage the students using more that just a textbook or coloring. Being able to think abstractly is what I would like my class to do. The sky is the limit with this technology.

Reflection 1 My Hero in teaching

I had a hard time trying to find a teacher I really looked up to in my School career. I really wanted to talk about this subject though. I finally decided on a teacher that wasn't really a full-time teacher in a school. This person was the one who made me think about going into education. That person is my dad. My dad has been a teacher throughout his life, in his profession, his family, and his freindships. My dad worked for the Boy Scouts of America, he was a Professional scout for 33 years and I have never once met someone who didn't think very highly of my dad. He spent countless hours at scout camp teaching boys and leaders how to be better people.

About ten years ago my dad told me to think about being a teacher. I didn't even think of teaching as an option until last year. My dad was right, and I hope that I can have an impact like my dad has. I have learned from him that every person deserves a second chance, and to always keep an open mind for everything.