Comments for Kids 4

I commented on the classes map. I think that the map that they are using to locate famous scientists is great. I told them that they were doing a great job. The visual that they are using will help retain knowledge of the subject.

My Presentation

Karl Fisch: Is it Okay for Teacher to Be Technologically Illiterate

I am indifferent in agreeing with the blog that we read. I feel that new teachers, such as ourselves, we should be technologically savvy. We have the classes and the resources to know all about technology. In my opinion it would be completely ridiculous for a new teacher to not know about technology. Knowing about technology will only help us in our classrooms, it will also help our students. When our students see us using technology, then they can learn how it use it. We have to remember that as future teachers, we will be teaching the most influential people we will ever come in contact with. If we don't give them their first taste of technology then who will?
I also think that teachers who have been teaching for a while should be cut some slack. Technology changes everyday, and some teachers find it hard to find the time to learn all about the new technology. I don't mean that they shouldn't learn t all, I mean that they shouldn't be expected to become an expert in that field. I think they should be given a little more time to learn, and be expected to learn a little bit about the new technology.

Randy Paush

When I heard Randy Pausch's story I was shocked. I actually heard about it on Oprah one day when I was passing the television. My dad had liver cancer so his story really related to me. I listened to his story, and was touched in two minutes. I was astonished that a man to act so unselfishly, and think not of himself and dying but of his family and how they were going to be taken care of.
One teaching tactic that I learned from Pausch is to push your students. Pausch did not accept anything but the best from his students, and would push them and push them until he got what he thought they were fully capable of doing. I want to be able to do this with my students. The thing about Pausch is that while pushing his students he never came off as negative or hard, he came off as caring.
Paush is an amazing person and I hope that his legacy will live forever. It is a shame that someone so great has to leave this earth so soon.
Pausch has an inspiring story, and I am happy that his story lives on even after he is gone. His children have an extraordinary father, and should be proud. Pausch is an inspiration to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer and to all teachers.

Kelly Hines

I agree mostly with what Hines is saying. It is true that the number one thing a teacher must never forget is to be a learner. In one of my very first teaching classes my instructor told me that you should learn something from your students everyday or you are not being an effective teacher. I completely agree with that. I think that especially in these times we should be more open minded towards our students and realize that they probably know way more about technology than we do and that they can teach us a lot. I think that Hines should realize that although we do need teachers who are learners and learning and teaching are not the same. That technology needs to be incorporated in the classroom more than she states.

Did you Know 4.0

I love these "Did You Know 4.0" videos! They are set up so well. They actually keep me interested in reading the facts. I actually know teens who send over 5,000 text in a month. I had no idea about the cbs, abc.. comparison to facebook, myspace... that is amazing! I believe that President Obama was very smart in his decision on using technology in his campaign. This video makes me want an iphone even more!

Comments for Kids 3

I commented on Sidney W. post about his pet ginnea pig. He wrote is story very well.

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

I liked this video. It really related to a college students life. I also think that it relates to middle and high school students as well. I am not on facebook as much as the video shows, but I do get on a good bit. I think that everyone who goes to college will be in debt, that is common since. I have to better myself though. College and accomplishments take time and hard work. if it were not hard then everyone would do it.

Comments for kids 2

I really liked the fact that the students seemed free to talk about whatever they liked. It was cute to read about their camping trips and summer camp experiences.

Comments for Kids 1

I left comments for the fourth graders on their blogs. It was fun to go into a classroom. I liked that the students parents were able to leave comments on their child's work!

Last Semesters Podcasts

I think that the podcasts were good, but they needed a little something extra... maybe enthusiasm? I do not know what they were offered to do last semester, but I like that we are going to be able to make video clips. I think that will be more interesting than watching people sit and talk.