Blog Assignment # 2

Video 1.  The central message of the Mr. Dancealot video I believe is that students learn best when their teacher involves them in the class by asking questions and practicing what they have learned. The author made a case for his conclusion by teaching a dance class that did not consist of actually practicing dance moves. Instead, Professor Dancealot taught the class by using a power point presentation and doing moves behind the counter that students could not see. During the class one student got up from his seat to observe what the professor was doing. Many students fell asleep in the class and stopped paying attention to the professor. I agree with the author that uninvolved teaching is not a good method of teaching Students will obtain information better when they actually practice it. If the professor had actually taken the students to a ballroom  and demonstrated the dance moves then, I think the students would have learned better.

Video 2. Roberts believes that teachers in the 21st century are not the main source of knowledge. Instead, teachers act as a filter for the information that students find.Teachers filter information by confirming if it is true, communicating the information, and problem solving with information.

1. Information

• Students can find information just about anywhere at any time using: 

- Twitter
-Facebook
-Google
 2. Curriculum  

• Should students be taught skills or facts?

-Students can not navigate the different technologies to find facts if they are not taught the skills to do it first.
-Facts should be found from a reliable source.
3.Create

• Creation today means

-Blogging
-animating
-designing
-programming
4. Teaching Methods

• Educators should rethink the tools they use to teach and considering using

-Twitter
-Facebook
-Online Surveys
-Blogs

• Teachers should discuss how to find reliable sources.

-Google
-Wikipedia
-Blogs 

Roberts is correct about the way of teaching has changed. This would affect educator because, I would have to keep up with all the new technology in order to properly teach my students. If I incorporate technology in the lesson then, I believe students will learn better.

Video 3
My reaction to The Networked Students video was that this student really does not need a teacher. The student basically navigated his whole way through his assignment by researching, blogging, and listening to lectures. At the end of the video it gave all the reasons why the student needs a teacher. I came to the conclusion that the student would not know how to find the information if the teacher had not taught him how to do it. He took all the information he learned and used it to do his assignment. I like the idea of using technology to do work because, students have to go look for information rather than the teacher telling them everything. In my opinion, learning how to find information on your own and decipher it is a good life skill.

Video 4
The thesis of Davis' video is that students learn better when using new technology, connecting and sharing with other students, and figuring out how to use software on their own. I like the way that Davis teaches her class because it keeps the students engaged in the lesson. The world is changing and so is learning. The typical pen and paper alone does not get students involved anymore. As an educator you have to incorporate the new technology in your class and Davis does this. I particularly like that she does not know how to use all the software and sometimes the students teach her. This makes the students confident and shows that teachers and students can learn from each other.

Video 5 
After watching the video created by Dr. Strange Who's Ahead in the Learning Race I have come to the conclusion that the kindergarten students are ahead in the learning race. I believe they are ahead in the race because some things that they already know how to do I am just learning. What is even more shocking is that these kindergarten students learned how to do all this stuff in two days. I think that I am way behind in the race in comparison to the kindergarten students. Software such and Google Docs and Blogger took me days to figure out. By the time I start teaching students will know even more about technology. This makes me feel like I have a lot to learn.

Video 6
Flipping the classroom is a new idea to me. When I was in elementary, middle, and high school teachers would go over a lesson and assign homework for that lesson. Flipping the classroom requires students to learn a new lesson at home the day before and bring questions to class. I think this method can be useful to me as a teacher. However, I am concerned that students who do not have a computer at home will not be as prepared as other students. Although, they can watch the videos at school the next day they will not have as much time to practice the lesson as the other students.

Test

This is a trail run

Blog Assignment #1

I have heard that EDM 310 is hard and requires a lot of work. My biggest fear is that I will be overwhelmed with work. Compared to other courses I have taken at South I believe this will be one of the most difficult courses I have taken. The blog assignments will be the most difficult to me. I had a hard time creating the blog and now I am having difficulty navigating it. By attending lab I believe I will be able to get help and get a better understanding of how the blog works. As of now I do not have any further questions about EDM 310. When I do have questions I should attend lab or ask Dr. Lomax.

Practice Blog Post 1

Outline
1. Who am I?


2.Why do I want to be  a educator?
3.What does an educator do in his or her practice?
4.What are my passions?


My name is Alexis Taite I was raised here in Mobile, AL. and I have lived here all my life. I am currently a junior at the University of South Alabama majoring in elementary education. I have always wanted to be a teacher because in my opinion it is the most rewarding profession there is. My grandmother was a teacher for over 20 years and when we were out and about she would always have former students of hers come up to her and say how much of an impact she had on their lives. I wanted to become an educator to make an impact on people's lives. I believe that if you do not make a difference in the life of others then you have not truly lived. An educator should be someone who teaches children the academic and life skills they need to make it in life. When a student leaves your class they should remember what you taught them rather than forget it. My passion is to help children from all different backgrounds. I believe children are the key to our future and everything they are taught will be our future.