Farewell

To Dr. Strange, thank you for your patience and guidance, it has indeed been a pleasure. To my fellow classmates, I have enjoyed meeting all of you, listening to your presentations, laughing at your jokes, and seeing a part of your lives. Thank you for sharing. To the ladies on my side of the room, thank you for all of your help and it was a treat to meet all of you and to learn a little about you. To Cade and Ryan, it was great to work with you and to meet you and thank you for sharing your knowledge with the OG. I have made some new friends and gained some new perspectives on communication. This is the second class I've been in that had everyone so involved together, and it has been fun and informative. Everyone, may you live long and prosper. I won't say goodbye, but, till we meet again, Happy Trails. And to paraphrase a comment made to me by a fellow classmate: 'Now I know what's it like to be in a room full of a bunch of 20 year old know-it-alls. Ha!!

My Reflections of the Class

I have gained so much knowledge in such a short period of time and this knowledge base will be with me until. As I walked in the door for the first time, I pondered the thought of 'just what is this class about'? And we're off to a fast start, I'm hearing terms that are foreign to me. Terms such as Delicious, Firefox and others all thrown at the class, also terms such as blog, video casts, and technological illiteracy. At the mention of technological illiteracy I think this is me. But no more, my knowledge base of the means of communication has drastically changed. After being introduced to blogging I saw a whole new world, adults and children sharing thoughts and knowledge.
At the beginning I was taught many things about Google and the applications that are available, not just spreadsheets and forms, but iGoogle home page with its RSS feeds to any website, blog, ect. I need. There is also Google Reader, another convenient forum of all the blogs and news feeds that I follow. I had looked at Google Earth before we used it in class, but it is interesting to look at your own neighborhood from on high, and I left my personal tag on one of the surveyor satellites on the moon. If you're bored, can you find it?
After watching and commenting of quite a few podcasts, it was time for me to present one. With directions from Doc Strange, I presented my first podcast, and I was seeing a new avenue of communication, one where I could post a video on YouTube and leave it for the whole world to see. Two sites I was glad to see were ACCESS and the Alabama Learning Exchange , both sites are geared toward connecting classrooms and the indexing and sharing of educational material. If Alabama could connect all of its classrooms, we would see a great change in out state, and as a future educator, what better thing to work toward.
One of the items we discussed in class was Foliotek, and even though we as students will not see much of it, I took the time to see exactly what Foliotek is. It is a system that allows our educators and administrators to see us individually and collectively as students and this system allows them to make assessments about us and the school system.
Now, do I consider myself a professional, certainly I do. Every different field I've worked in, I've always tried to do my best, to learn as much as I could in the field and be on time. I am certain nothing will change in my endeavors to become a math teacher.
As to the future of our schools, with the help and input of the ACCESS and Alabama Learning Exchange I hope Alabamas school system has a very bright future. I know that rural areas tend to not get as much funding as bigger school systems, but with Skyping and blogging and the sharing of the learning experience, I hope that the mixing of two different cultures, well off and not so well off, can grow up together in a learning environment that is lacking in social order, but rich in intellectual harmony.
You know, after some reflection, I really don't know if there is anything else I would have wanted to learn in this class. There is so much at my disposal now so that I have many tools available to me to become familiar with in the future. Dr. Stranges class has been a constant stream on information of communication. Not just local, no, global communication that can be fast paced and fun, as well as being informative. I won't say I was 'intellectually challenged', but the class was intellectually stimulating the entire time. Every system and application was new to me and each required its own time to learn. I have spent hours on the keyboard learning new things, so, I can't say I was excited, but, it was all fun from the beginning. I really like my new knowledge base. As far as changing the course in some way, I really don't know, maybe spend no time on Twitter, or barely mention it, and spend more time on connecting with another class somewhere. I remember we as a class, had a hard time with the anonymous survey, so spend a little more time on the basics of Google forms and their uses, just a little more time to see if it's worth having your students be faster at using Google apps. Don't use class time on Google Earth, it's somewhat entertaining, but it's really only useful to see where your assigned blog class is located, not much more for your class.
The question is put to me, "Am I Technologically Literate at the moment?", and the answer is a resounding "YES I Am". There are many avenues available to me now, both as a student and as a future educator. I look forward to the months ahead at the College of Education, and to the future career of molding young minds. There has been so much to say about this class, but, it too, must end. Adieu.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Personal Learning Network

My PLN has been with me since I was in my early twenties, the Saraland Public Library and Public Broadcasting Stations. At the library I started reading Newsweek , Time Magazine , Psychology Today , and Soldier of Fortune Magazine when I could find it. SOF gives an in depth look at the men and women in our military and a behind the scenes look at what they do and the things they endure.
I have been watching PBS for a long time now, all the nature shows and shows of nature and how it impacts our planet. Independent Lens is a show I watch now and then and on their website you can read articles as diverse as Womens' Empowerment, to Sesame Street turns 40. POVis a show which POV stands for Point of View, a source for documentaries and independent films. If you make a documentary film, just submit it to POV and if they deem it worthy, they will present it on their show. News Hour with Jim Lehrer is another show I watch from time to time and they have a RSS feed for students which can be found here which I've added to my Google reader. Well, you add to that iTunes and At The Teachers Desk and that's about it for now. There are other blogs and websites with just a little difference on the title of 'At The Teachers Desk' and I read some of these to get a glimpse of what the near future holds for me as an educator. For now, I am going to watch, listen and learn from the professinals from around the world. That's the cool part, around the world! I am sure I will add to my PLN in the near future and learn much from it.

New Classroom Rules

I only found one list, so first I'll start with #1, going to class online is the future anyway, why not start now. Number 3 is leaving your seat often, which I've had a few teachers that encouraged this behavior and it's fun to participate in this manner. On #6, 'don't talk unless asking for help', that's me. Remember you should always be polite, don't cheat and always follow your instructors instructions.
The last two rules are the ones I think will have the biggest impact of me, but it won't take much to get used to. Being able to ask questions in your PLN and collaborating the answer with your teacher and classmates will certainly increase the children's willingness to learn. And know what you're learning and why and how will you use it to teach your children to learn, and where will that knowledge take you? Hopefully into a vast new world of teaching and learning. If you would like to read the list from Education Innovationthenclick here.

Seven Brillant Things Teachers Do With Technology

Mr. Doug Johnson has a very comical outlook on life and it shows in his writing style, especially his use of goofy metaphors. But he is absolutely correct in his assessments and uses of technology in the classroom. It is imperative that one always empower children to do what they do best and to try their best at the subjects that are harder. Using the resources at hand to make something you need is my forte, I wanted an remote controlled air-boat and the body cost around $80. I built my own out of blue-core foam and hot glue, and it cost about $4.
About statement #3, parents who care can be found at any income level, but sometimes you do have to prod them along to get them motivated. Statement #4 is a fine example of Room 10 at PT New England School and of Mr. Chamberlines class blog. Putting children in touch with the world is the only way to raise a child anyway. Now #5 sure was an eye opener for me, to quote, Mr. Johnson say "One of the best signs of intelligent people is that they tend to willingly admit when they don't know something" and that's me! Does that mean that I am intelligent?, go figure. And now for #7, and I have always been a big fan of technology. When I was growing up I believed on day I would have my own jet-pack and I'm still waiting. If you would like to read Mr. Johnsons list then click here.

Seven Stupid Mistakes

This was a delightful read, full of the stupidity of humankind. Sometimes I wonder, "Will it ever go away?". Answer: Caveman:NO, Fifth grader:NO. For the really stupid, and you are out there, there is not much you can do about them or those set in their ways. Hopefully you will be able to recognize people that will listen to positive input. You should also learn how to talk to these types of people without apparently insulting them, something that can be easy to do with those whom can not take criticism, even positive criticism.
Of the list, #2 is a given but I feel this would be an easy mistake for most people. Then you have #3, and any young person should be supervised, especially if they are not your children. If they are not yours, how do you know what their behavioral patterns are at home? As stated, porn can be easy to find if you try long enough. Then there is #4, I still can not believe people still believe this, nothing on the internet is private and never has been. And #6, just ignoring kids creative output and talents is just plain wrong, if you do this, then you are just here for the paycheck. And finally #7, I just can not comprehend this train of thought, it has never been justified and it still is not. If you would like to read Mr. Johnsons' list thenclick here.

Video Podcasting In The Classroom

Click hereto view my classroom project with 3 classmates. I have not been able to upload the video to here. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Comments 4kids

This was a great project right from the beginning. I told most everyone I know about this and my Mom said "I'm so happy for you to get to do this". I'm glad I got to do it also, because where else would I blog with a third grade class in another country? I know I would not have done this by choice.
The class is called Room 10 at PT New England School. Even though I did not comment on any others I was not assigned to, I did visit a few of them. There were class trips and projects, such as their response to our class visiting them, and I commented and a few of the young boys who have a fondness for dinosaurs.
The best blog to me was the one when the class was in music and sang the Stevie Nicks classic "Landslide", and imagine getting invited to go up on stage and sing with Stevie, I sure hope they get to. If you would like to visit Room 10s blog thenclick here.

Project 11

This is a collaborative project with two of my fellow classmates, Ryan Rogers and Cade Somers. It is a video about the decline of the printed word, i.e. newspapers.

At The Teachers Desk

It has been a little while since I visited this blog and these people have been busy. The very first blog got my interest and I had no idea the male of the species was in such turmoil. Maybe if this info was more main stream knowledge something could be done. A few of the other blogs I read were Teaching 2.0, which is Dr. Stranges post of the importance of technology in the classroom. The blog Pencils and Crayons was a hoot, at first I thought 'are these people serious?'.
'Why I blog' by Mr. McClung was an inspirational piece of his thoughts and ambitions and the reason he blogs, to share ideas and innovations with others of the learning and teaching profession. On the blog 'Empowering Lifeskills' I visited Gever Tulleys' list of the seven things he has done or had done to him. That list brought back a lot of memories for me, except I was the one that pulled the trigger, not the other way around.
I visited Room 25s blog site, their teacher has said if they get 2,500 hits they will have no more homework. I put in a hit, so should you.
I also visited the blog of Willunga Primary School, a school in South Australia, it is 132 years old and they have a big blog site with lots of information and sharing of stories of the students.
The last blog I saw was Room 9, who has had 40,000 visitors since their blog was started. That is amazing, and their site is very large with many things to read and see.
'At The Teachers Deck' is a wonderful blog site with many collaborators who are all empowered to do their best to see to the education of out young people. As an up and coming teacher I am glad to see so much sharing of ideas, and to see the emotion and caring in so many educators. Reminds me of a few teachers I had will growing up. This site and others like it are going to change the world of education and learning and I know that these sites are very important in the collaboration of ideas. Thank You. If you would like to visit 'At The Teachers Deck'click here.

The New Future of Whatver

I love watching videos like this one, it was a portrait of about one half of my life. I was a teenager a long time before the MTV generation. I remember the first 'whatever', it was used as a way for the people I saw to pass the decision making onto someone else, no one wanted to take the responsibility of the decision upon themselves.
The second 'whatever' was a joke to me, someone young and knows everything, telling me 'whatever', I would just stand there in sadness, knowing that person did not have a clue and would probably be serving me french fries in a few years. So sad, and luckily I did not grow up around people of that attitude.
When Dr. Wesch talked about the writing skills and verbal abuse perpetrated on the comments on some web sites, especially you-tube, I felt his attitude, having seen this myself. I think of the ignorance of all of these people, young and old, and wonder if the light will ever shine inside their heads?
Well, all you can do is hope that this young generation of children will have a better perspective of the global consciousness. If you would like to see Dr. Weschs video thenclick here

HALLOWEEN WAS FUN

Anthony Capps Blog

This blog is great, I am envious of Anthonys' talent. The subject matter is one that I have watched change for some time now. But the biggest change has been the last three years for me. Those are the years I have been in college and in that time I have written a few papers but not many. I have visited the school library a few times, but that was between classes and it was convenient, they have computers there.
In the last few months this new type of teaching and corresponding with others has really taken on a new light. For me it was actually having the chance to try this new technology and seeing the impact from it. Putting your thoughts, opinions, questions, ect. on the web and getting, sometimes instant, responses. While cruising the internet I came upon a young architect who was designing a building and he asked for input, which he was told by many to not do this, you will not get the credit for the design, but, he had hundreds of collobrators from all over the world give their input and the design was finished with the best ideas. Great stuff.
I am thankful that the Univ. has made this a mandotory class. To see Anthonys blogclick here

Landslide

This is awesome, singing a song at school and why not blog it, show your talent to the whole world and look what comes of it, onstage with Stevie Nicks. Can you just imagine the thrill of the students when they heard the news. Just think how fast the news of this will spread around.
My best example of this type of response is when I got a comment from Intrepid Teacher on my blog about the day he spent with his daughter when they took some pictures. To see this blog postclick here.
I think a great example of pod casting is when Rm.18 Pt. England School needs a part time teacher. To see this podcastclick here.
Another fine example is from one of my classmates Ryan Rogers who posted a comment on his blog about Ms. Kelly Hines and her opinion of the use of technology is the classroom and he got a personal response from Ms. Hines, to read his blogclick here

ACCESS Program

ACCESS stands for Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Statewide and their website shows that this is a highly organized group of people dedicated to making high quality learning accessiable is any student in the state of Alabama. One other acronym is used: CAST, Connecting ACCESS Staff and Teachers, so you can see these people are determined to see that all students have a chance at learning thru the ACCESS system.
But this is not a website just anyone can sign to, you have to have a councelor from your school go thru a training program and then they can request that a student be included in the ACCESS system. ACCESS is a high caliber system where teachers continue their developement training throuhout their carrers. Just to be a teacher for ACCESS requires a lot of work. Like I said, very high caliber and if you would like to visit ACCESSclick here

Alabama Learning Exchange

ALEX as it's known is a web site devoted to the indexing and sharing of information and educational materials. On the main page you will find links to a Podcast Treasury, Web Links, Courses of Study and more. By clicking on the Courses to Study you are at a page with many different subjects on it, and by clicking on a subject you can see different grade levels you can chose from. I chose fourth grade and then clicked on web links and then student links which gives you different choices of study.
Now once you pick a subject you have many links to choose from including math which shows many fun games to play with numbers to arts education where you can hear Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures to a website for kids which includes a digital tool to let children make their own movies and plays. So for a teacher, administrator or student, ALEX is a very useful tool to help yourself and your students learn.
As for using ALEX when I become a teacher, why not, I have seen quite a few sites since I started this class and all of them seem to be very useful. ALEX is another great tool for me to assign items to my students use. To visit ALEXclick here.

Kaia

This video and voicethread was such a wonderful idea, to share something so personal with a little girl they did not even know. The way Mr. C's class responded was a very touching gesture on their part. This just goes to show the capacity of the human heart, Mr. C's class response has probably added joy to Kaias' and her dads' day, and now Kaias' way of life and her new found look on things is spreading throughout the world. To see the voicethread click here
Kaias' blog had so many nice responses about her pictures from everyone. Being able to see things not as you might usually look at them, she's being taught something important at an early age. Kaia seems to be having much fun exploring her world with her dad and her camera. Adding her tales of what the pictures represented was a very nice touch. If you would like to see her blogclick here
Intrepid Teacher: Singing Hearts was beautifully written, I myself have experienced all the emotions he is feeling now. He hopes that parents will spend time with their young ones' outdoors, and I did just that when my daughter was growing up and I have many pictures and memories. This story stirred up so many memories that for a few minutes I just sat here and remembered, so many great times camping out and building fires to cook out.
I fully understand Interpid Teachers' reluctance to put his daughter out there for the world to see, my grandson is 3 and I, right now, do not want him out there so to speak. So, sir, I say contuine with the path you are taking and may the world be a better place for meeting your daughter.

MIT Comparative Media Study

The "White Paper" put out by MIT has a lot of useful tips on how to become active in the media and in the community. The outcome of all these young people communicating with each other on such a massive scale is yet to be determined. But I notice some things that make me feel uneasy, such as this: "Participatory culture shifts the focus of individual expression to community involvement". Personally, I like being an individual and I like having an expression, if mine is different than the communities then I vote different. If I vote different than you am I a bad citizen, or do you think I do not want to be involved?
If all of these higher thinkers would just leave these kids alone, I guarantee you they would learn to work together, but to believe that everyone is going to work with everyone else is just a pipe dream in an imperfect world. The paper also goes into how media shapes what people think or believe and that is so true. Look at how many people waste their time keeping up with Hollywood and believing HW shapes America, when to me they just make movies and I watch them, I don't live my life by them.
Here is how I am portrayed by our current federal government, I do not approve of the way our President is handling our country, so to the people in charge I am a white, racists, Nazi, bigot. I just cannot get behind all this mind control, I must think this way, I must think that way! And I do not want to adopt an alternative identity for the purpose of improvisation and discovery. Why can I not do that with the identity I posses now? Why must I change?If I do not change, am I a bad citizen? If you would like to read MITs paperclick here

New Media Literacies

One minute in to this video and I had that strange feeling again, and I knew I was watching a video with young people getting caught up in applying new terms to just everyday experience. Case in point, the young lady who talked about 'play: the capacity to experiment with your surroundings as a form of problem solving'. Okay, lets' say she had a problem in her office, is she going to rearrange her furniture to help her solve said problem? If I have a problem in my front yard, what do I experiment with? If I have a problem at work do I experiment with my coworkers?
Now negotiation: knowing how to enter different groups and how to understand what the different norms are? She said it as a question, as if she didn't know exactly what it meant. Negotiation: the process of coming to an agreement that is suitable to all parties. What she is talking about is life experience, when you are with a new group of people and you fit in or you do not. Do you honestly think everyone is going to like you? Different norms? everyone is different and like hangs with like, that's the way its always been, you work with people, you do not have to be their friend, just be sociable and polite and do your job.
And now multitasking, which has been proven to not be as efficient as focusing on one problem and getting it done, two things okay, but concentrating on many things while trying to be productive is a waste of your companies time.
And now the term 'citizen', is this the new catch phrase for someone who is involved with the community? Am I not a good citizen if I do not what? History is repeating itself again.
This is so close to a media transcendentalism that I don't what to say really. Logic seems to have gone out the window. Everyone be a good citizen and tell on your neighbor if they do something you do not like. If you would like to see the videoclick here

Networked Student

And now I am introduced to the world of Connectivism, a world with no books in the classroom and your thoughts and opinions are shared with people whom have come to the same conclusions as you have based on the same information all of you have read. Your opinions are analyzed by others and thoughts are shared, with you always knowing there is an overseer to guide your way.
Since not having been taught with this method before, I'm glad I'm in this class, otherwise I do not know if I would be as aware of the possibilities of teaching methods. I can image not having to stick to a strict schedule of class, by that I mean working with the same student at different times of the week. And I know I've said this before, but students working at their own pace is something I like.
Wendy Drexlers' video is another piece of information I can use to shape the kind of teacher I will become, because I can see now I really do not know just what will be the outcome of the next 2plus years of training. But I can say I will be well trained and I can take all of this knowledge had teach and learn and have fun doing so. click hereto see Wendy Drexlers' video.

How Do We Dream?

I noticed this presentation was made in December 2008, but the premise of his speech has always been an important one. And now all this technology is at our fingertips, and it makes me comtemplate what will it be like when I get there (teaching)? I had to look up pedagogies and the correct use of any method is important, not just in teaching, so always keep that king of attitude no matter what you are doing.
Dr. Miller talks about how anything you write or make, visually, can be instantly avaiable to anyone in the world, the instant sharing of ideas and this is changing the world right before my eyes. I really enjoyed the colleage of Dr. Millers whom employed his little internet spy's to keep track of the emotional state of everyone, shades' of "1984" by George Orwell. But Dr. Miller is right, it's time to use the best teaching stratagies with all the technology we have today. Dr. Miller made use of iTunesU which can be found here.click hereto go to iTunesU.

iPods in the Classroom

This was a very interesting subject for me because all I knew about an iPod was it was a music storage device and was I wrong. I started with a general search and came upon a interview of Mr. Robert Craven, Educational Technical Director for Orange County Department of Education in California.clickhereto read interview. In the interview, Mr. Craven talks about how the students are using the iPods. These students are using the iPods for everything from class assignments to keeping track of how many calories they burn in a day. The students do listen to some music, but they also take the iPods home to show their parents their class assignments and what interviews or videos they have made, so they get everyone involved. Truly great!
Duke University started using iPods in 2004 and the response has been stellar. This device is being used as a classroom tool, study tool, and even a field recording tool. The part of the study I liked the best is the iPod is convenient and the less use of paper materials. Me thinks I want one. clickhereto read the report.

iTunes U

As someone new to iTunes, I have found it to be a place which has a large amount of knowledge available for anyone to use. After browsing thru some selections, it is easy to see how this website can be an effective learning tool for anyone to utilize. As a student, I could see how I would use podcasts and vodcasts to learn any new material I needed for class, or to write any report I needed.
As a teacher, I could assign any vodcast for my students to watch as much as they needed, plus they have the option, maybe, of watching other vodcasts. iTunes U is a great research and learning tool that would benefit anyone anywhere. click hereto go to iTunes.

Dr. Alice Christie

After I looked around for a moment, I clicked on 'Search the Web' and then 'Ask for Kids' formerly known as 'Ask Jeeves for Kids' at www.askkids.com/ and found some very routine search queues and any standard types of hits one might find on subjects children might look up. I began my search with 'turtles' and found clubs, how to care for, and general information. I searched this time for 'dog shows' and had ten pages and more so the information is standard but the sites are geared for kids. Now since I want to be a math teacher I entered in 'math games' and one hit was 'Math Goodies' which I am familiar with, and it's found at www.mathgoodies.com.
Next I clicked on 'Research Sites for Kids' and then clicked on 'High School Ace' and then the subject 'math' and was awarded with many helpful places on the subject of math from Algebra to Calculus and under 'More Math Stuff' free graph paper if anyone is interested.
So, to conclude, I certainly will use these sites if not others to help myself and my future students to acquire the knowledge of math. As with any website, these sites are available all the time and I, as an instructor, can chose which ones I see fit to use.

Mr. McClung's Message

This was a great read, from the beginning Mr.McClung recounts his nervousness and how he learned to deal with it. It just goes to show that no matter how much you think you are prepared, you just do not know how you will react until you put yourself out there. Mr. McClung is entirely correct that you have to be willing to talk and get to know your fellow teacher/workers and your students. My favorite teacher was my fourth grade teacher because she talked to us as if we mattered.
I thought it was great that Mr. McClung has such a positive attitude, he will be remember by a lot of children. And about all this new technology, if I can do it, anyone can do it. And remember what Mr. McClung said at the end, we work in a learning environment, so why not soak up as much knowledge as you can?

Old Style Language

elloha veryoneea, llwaysaa emembera ota everna etga aughtca upa nia ourya wnoa gendaa ota heta ointpa hata ouya illwa otna istenla ota notheraa pinionoa. Fia ouya anca otna istenla ithwa naa penoa indma, ota llaa deasia, henta ouya reaa eadingla ourselfya ownda aa athpa hichwa ourya wnoa eelingfa reaa ontrolingca ouya. Oda otna verea etla ourya motionsea ulera ourya ationalra ehaviourba. Your emotions rule your world, stop it.!! Use Logic.

Me In The Sunset

South Alabama

click here to go to the University web site.

Beautiful Sunset

My Life and Friends

Wikipedia: Trust It or Not?

At first one may surmise that Wiki would not be a trustworthy fact finding avenue. Whenever I read some article or such I always know that the information in it could be false or misleading. Now, however, we are being told that the articles on Wiki might have been changed to suit someone else's need or opinion, so every time you read something on Wiki, you will do so with a grain of salt, so to speak.
Now with Mr. Griffith's new snooper program, everything has changed. Any changes to any article can be traced back to its source. If you read a report on a person/company and you see that that person/company has made changes, you will know not to totally trust the changes and you can check the facts, hopefully, somewhere else. As far as trusting Wiki right now, I'll wait a little longer and see how these changes work out.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

In no way could anyone watch this lecture and not be moved. Learning and giving inspiration to others is one of the greatest ways to love and live, as long as you have friends with you. You may not grow up with parents, but along the way through your life, friends are one of the best things to have. Randy mentioned "head fake" learning. I was introduced to this type of learning when I was about 15 yrs. old. Had the worst year ever at batting and after the season was over my dad bought a ball on a string. We did not practice, we had fun in the back yard, about a hour per week. See, no drilling it into me, just go practice and fun until I got better. Next season, first time at bat, I hit a triple, and that was a great season for me. Then as I grew into a young man I started using this technique on myself. When you have to learn something you consider boring, make it into a story in your head that you can tell to others, and come test day, no worries.

Randy, or I should say Mr. Pausch, talks about brick walls and waiting long enough for people to show something different. I was lucky enough, or wise enough?, to notice when I started working that most of the bosses I had were smarter than me in their thinking process and even though they were not happier than me, something was different. Then I began to teach myself different things, such as I made myself better at math, and I improved my social skills. That led me to notice that some people treated me different. You get invited to gatherings that your red neck friends, as good as they may be, will not be invited to. So begins the path of personal betterment. Now comes the point in your life that you use this knowledge and impart it to others and help them see that they too can be different if they apply themselves.

I was born with a physical imparement in my foot, and the doctors told my dad I would not be able to walk correctly much less run. Wrong! I quickly went through that brick wall by walking up the stairs into our house and scared my mom nearly to death because I had disappeared. I was 3 yrs. old and it is as if no matter what the obstacle, I always find away to persevere. When Scott Paper laid me off, along with many others, I tried to get into the chemical factories in North Mobile County, along with everyone else. So I spent two yrs. driving an eighteen wheeler to get the experience, then transferred into hauling chemicals. After about 3 yrs. I was hauling chemicals all over the place making a good living. And now after that I'm in college to become a math teacher, so do not ever give up.

Mr. Pausch also talks about saying things in a different way and to just wait, someone might surprise you. I have quite a few stories from my life about how I just waited, acted the way I always act and letting people see how I am, and letting them come to the realization that what they were told could not be true because I do not act that way. Pay attention and do not compromise yourself in any way and always be faithful and truthful to those that deserve it. The others, do the best you can without ruining your own reputation.

Remember this the most from Mr. Pausch's speech, have fun in your life and share your enthusiasm for it with others. If there is someone whom you see is not as happy as you, invite them over for a cookout or something, to show them that things can be better. Remember to never set a permanent bar for yourself, also be prepared to change or raise that bar. Here's the cliche: Live your life as if there is not tomorrow, you may never know.

Figure out my head fake. This was not for you, it was for my grandson.

Did You Know 4.0

Another interesting video about the future, which, as a big science fiction fan, I've been waiting for this technology to finally get here. All those years of watching star trek and wishing I had a communication device, and now they are here. Instant tracking device with GPS locator built in, watch a movie, press pause, call a friend, is not technology great?
But the fun part was growing up as a young, and older, man and watching the tech actually get here. What will the future hold, with tiny implanted divices that connect you with the awesome technologies to come. Here's a prediction of a future application for you phone: Someone walks up to you and speaks a language you do not understand, you hold up your phone, ask them to repeat themselves and your phone translates. Viola! You heard it here first! Later.

Okay to be Technology Illiterate Teacher?

Well of course not, but I've seen it myself when people are not ashamed or concerened about the fact that they can not read or write. They consider their lack of knowledge to be the way things are, and there's no sense in changing. All so very sad, espically for their children whom will carry on their traits and habits. And then someone becomes a educator and might not have the drive to instill any passion for learning to their students, and it is all a shame.
I can see now how I will be able to use all this new technology is the classroom. Not all students will have the drive in them to be their best, but, if a teacher uses the available and advancing technology to instill just a little drive into an otherwise "does not care" student, then you will have changed someone for the better, and just maybe, I'll bet, that attitude will carry over into their children and maybe even their friends and family.
An educator must be an technology literate person, for the good of all the young people, because everyone you inspire to learn will do us all a favor.

It's Not About the Technology

Ms. Hines certainly makes a good point about how teachers need to be passionate about their subject and teaching the subject to others. Throughout my long life I have seen it too many times when a teacher is just there to get by and go home for the evening. Boring, and if she/he is boring then I am bored! I can not very well learn from someone who is boring. In today's classrooms it is being proved that if your students have access to the world with their subjects, the students show a better attitude toward learning with just about any subject.
Ms. Hines suggest that even without a smartboard or other technology one can still instill a good attitude for learning to students. I agree with that, but, without the tech one could surmise that that class will learn, but a similar class with some world wide tech will probably enjoy learning much better, whereas the tech less class will not advance at the rapid pace achieved by the tech wielding class.

A Vision of Students Today

Mr. Wesch certainly has a great perspective on the amount of time that technology is being used for something other than class assignments, even while in class. Of all the time spent in contact with one another, quite possibly the use of Facebook or some such application would be put to use as a learning tool instead of just a gossip tool. Not having grown up with these new forms of communication makes it different for me to get up to speed, but it's not hard to do.
The use of mass communication would be a great way for students to pair up with other students, even students from around the world, to learn a subject or two or three or ? No more textbooks, now there's a thought. My experience is somewhat different and I don't believe the movie captured my experience, but that is changing quite rapidly. Soon, it seems, there is going to be another big change in the academia world, first the chalkboard and now this.

Tech Lit Teacher and Podcasts

I could not get the Tech Lit video to work, I'm still trying. On the subject of pod casts, I looked at the cite from www.curriki.org and under the table of contents is a nice selection of subjects for the making of a podcast.
The material covers a wide variety of subjects, from time travel with Lincoln to interviewing a gorilla. I have the suit for that!
I watched the podcast from Joe Dale, http://is.gd/2cd21, Benefits of Podcast in the Classroom, which was an informative cast. It incorporated other teachers and the students while giving an example of some students making a podcast. The teachers are using a "project based learning experience" which is enabling the students to learn at a faster rate.

Pod Casts

First, if you do not understand some of the tech talk, this stuff can be boring. I definitely enjoyed the podcast on the smart board. Video and audio gets my attention more so than just audio. To me pod casting is a great way to get what you want to say out on the Internet. One can just sit and talk and it's recorded for the whole world to listen to or to watch and listen.
Audio pod casting will be a better format for those who can listen while driving, can you do that on satellite radio? But video and audio is a better format for demonstration purposes to an audience. Quite frankly, all the pod casts available is staggering, the amount of information out there is huge. It would take forever to listen or watch it all but I'm amazed at how much communicating has changed in such a short period of time.
With so much knowledge available now, how will the future look? For someone who only had an e-mail account when I came into this class I wonder what the future holds. Pod casts on the go with anyone able to see and hear it? Pod casts are to be a great way to get your opinion or information out to the world. Using only a microphone, a video camera and a computer and you can quickly share any subject with so many.
You know what? It's hard to come up with 4 paragrahs on this subject. But the info I listened to told me how to become a better professional or a better photographer. I learned how teachers and educators are coming together with all this new technology and hopefully our young people, children, will be 10 times smarter than I think I am.

Video in the Classroom

Very good point about how do you engage those students who have no drive to do something as boring as writing? And in the end we see a great short film with Darth Schoolkid going down in flames. Funny.

Harnessing you student's digital smarts

As someone who is training to be an educator, this is the video I needed to see. Ms. Davis has truly transformed a small rural classroom into a world wide learning experience. A group of young people, who most likely would have never been so thoroughly involved in the world this way, have had their lives changed. The young lady who was proud of her new blog that she and others, in different parts of the world, helped put together. This young lady will have friends throughout the world, and they will all have something in common, they became friends while learning.
Another aspect of the video is how the older generation, my generation, is benefiting from the influx of all this technology. Being able, quickly, to see how some other educator is teaching their class, and utilizing the techniques if you wish. I think about how I came into this class absolutely clueless about all this technology and now is a very short time, I too, will be teaching with all this technology at my fingertips. I can't wait for this new generation of young people to get to the point where they run the world and other leaders in other parts of the world will be their friends. They will have grown up and learned together in a world that I am definitely looking forward to.

creativity

Very interesting speech, the creativity of the human mind has been with us for quite some time as exampled with the cave drawings that our ancestors left us. Growing up in Alabama's public school system, I had many opportunities in art, music, and dance. Mr. Robinson gives a fine point on how some children are not exposed, on purpose, to the arts. The arts are a past time, not something needed for a proper job. Without creativity, just think how bland life would be.
Alabama's school system has, since I can remember, always had an opportunity for anyone in school to take an arts type class. I'm not aware of any school system that doesn't offer these types of classes. It seems if that is the case, then the parents or guardians would be responsible for any opinion about such topics. I was encouraged to do something, draw, paint, sing whatever, just sing. Mr. R is telling me that more needs to be done to entice children into the arts, but if the parents don't do it, and at school its just a choice, what then?
I just hope I'm able to somehow use music to teach math. And you want to spark the imagination of some young person into the arts, just talk about it, if you make it fun, kids will listen. Take for example Mr. R's speech, it is was not boring, it was comical.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

Mr. Winkle should have stayed asleep for another 20 yrs and then the new world would really blow his mind. This film was a very nice piece of psychological profiling. There are many people, young and older, who would prefer that all this tech not be here. Just consider that at one time multitasking was the new way to work. Then with studies done on work efficiency, it was shown that multitasking was not as efficient as everyone thought. So we go back to the old school of work, pay attention to only two things at once and get the job done. There has been a considerable amount of change in the work force and in teaching. Anyone with access to a computer can look up just about any piece of information they want, and to this ole guy, that is amazing.
I feel sort of like Mr. Winkle, not that I do not want all this technology, but someone thrown into a world where all these machines are suddenly here could be quite intimidating. Now me, having lived in a world that has changed so drastically has been quite the thrill ride. Now that I think about it, the only people I know who do not know how to use a computer are all older than me. Mr. Winkle has decided to not get involved with all the newfangled machines. But these machines have definitely changed the world and the people in it. You can decided not to participate, but sooner or later you're going to have to try it.

Did you know?

Yes, I did know. All this new technology coming at us has been coming for quite some time. When I was a young man, none of this technology was available to the public because it did not exist. The changes that have incurred have been phenomenal to watch. Just imagine a world where most households had just one phone, and it was attached to your house. Huh? you ask. Yes, if you wanted to make a call, you found a phone booth or went home. Messages were written on a note pad and left for you to read when you got home. Amazing all of us old people survived, huh?
Just think, your "Blackberry" or "I" phone has more computational power in it than has ever been to the moon. There are more people walking around with a communication device shoved in their ear than I have ever seen on Star Trek! All of you young people who accept this as everyday do not know what it's like to have lived and watched this transformation to this new age. But you will know and it will not take long and I for one am most excited to see what the future holds.

About me

Hello everyone, my name is John and I live in Chickasaw, Al. I know it's a small town but we do have a few red lights. I've always lived in Alabama and I love it here! I graduated from Satsuma High School in 1974, I know, ancient times right? After that I worked for Scott Paper Co. for eight years before being laid off. Then I became a truck driver and drove for seventeen years before giving that up. After a few jobs I decided to go to college and become an elementary teacher, hopfully teach sixth grade math.
My few hobbies are one big American bull dog named Sadie who is 8 yrs. old, and a few remote controlled airplanes that I enjoy flying at the park. I like to cook, hang out with friends and I enjoy movies. I just watched "Phonebooth" with Colen Farell and it was an excellent movie. Well. till next time. John