My Presentation

Karl Fisch and Her Blog on Technology and Teachers

First I listened to "You Tube as an Educational Tool", next I listened to Possibilities of Facebook for Educational Tools. These pod cast were very informational, but boring. Karl Fisch's blog Is It Okay to Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher? is very opinionated about teachers knowing their technology. I agree with her in some ways. Yes the world today is all about computers and technology. As teachers it is our duty to understand them, but that is not all that we need as teachers. The classroom should not be all technical there should be "Old Fashion" teaching.

There should be hands on teaching (old fashion teaching) where the teacher is not reading straight off the power point. I am a kinesthetic learner and technology is not how I learn. I believe that technology is isolating us and we are becoming an unsociable generation. Students do not have civil one to one conversations anymore. It is all about the text or instant messaging; no more conversations there should be equilibrium between computers and old fashion teaching.

Podcast and The way They are Done

Pod cast is like a talk show on the Internet. Many pod cast are instructional and teaching. I listened to many pod cast - SmartBoard Lessons, Kidcast, EdTechTalk, MacBreak Weekly, and This Week in Photography- doing research to see how most are setup.

Many pod cast start with interesting music. The music is what lets you think that the pod cast could be interesting. Many people put cool rock music to get a "hip" feel to their pod cast. Some will put in neat sound effects as in the pod cast SmartBoard Lessons. They put in school bells ringing to go along with their theme.

After the music, the introduction to the pod cast comes on stating the pod cast name; what they will be talking about; and sometimes advertisement. This allows the listeners understand what they will be talking about and discussing on the show.

When it is time to start the main person will introduce the co-host, if there are any. They will talk a few about news and other things to get relate to the listener. Most pod cast sound like talk shows off the radio. Many times these discussions lead into the issue of the pod cast. They clearly discuss the issue at hand. Some put in jokes to lighten up the mood, and to not bore their listeners. Some of the pod casts were boring so I agree with the ones that put in jokes or stories as in This Week in Photography. Pod cast are great instructional audio files that allow you to learn things easily.

International Teachers and How They are Using Blogs

I searched and searched for international teacher's blog, and found one. This blog is for international teaching community. It has post for students and teachers of the international community.
It just has things for students and teachers where they can relate and fit in. It gives them a place to ask and get answers for questions. I think this is a really great site and blog for students.

USA Teachers and How They are Using Blogs

Many teachers in the United States use blogs to keep parents, students, and other teachers up to date. As in these two examples:

In Fox Hollow Elementary fourth grade teacher Mr. Bachler has a blog for the parents of his students. Mr. Bachler's Blog has newsletters where parents see what he has planned for the week and also homework. This allows parents to be more connected to what their child is doing. Mr. Bachler has web links for parents to go to as in Scholastic book orders , Utah Core Curriculam , and Natianal standards for physical education. His blogs really connect the student's parents and give them easy access to web sites they need. She put pictures up from their class.

Also in California Mrs. Davis at Rio del Mar elementary uses her blog just like Mr. Bachler. Mrs. Davis' Blog states that "this page was created to help streamline communication between school and home, with information about field trips, homework, and other important news." Her blog shows homework, events, test dates, and what they will be learning. She has polls as well that way she can get parents and students' opinions. Her blog is set up to really help the students and connect the parents. She has links downloads and wish lists.

Me Trying To Alt Sample Text

Did You Know?

Technology is advancing every minute of the day. The video Did You Know, created by Kari Fisch, is a video about our students and technology. This video really opened my eyes to how much our world is changing. Kids rarely go out side and play anymore, video games, TV, and the Internet fill their minds.

It amazes me the increase of college graduates over the year. We had 1.3 million graduates in 2006. This to me means our world is becoming smarter and our minds are expanding to new heights. Are minds are growing where we cannot stay at one job the average learner will have 10 to 14 jobs by the age of 38. The question most of all was what will our world be like in the future for our kids and my answer is I have no idea!

Parents and teachers watch this video it will enlighten you in so many ways!!!

ACCESS Another Resource for Teachers!

ACCESS is Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators, and Student Statewide which is a distance learning program. This program, set up in 2005 by Alabama governor Bob Riley and State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Joseph B. Morton, allows student to have the opportunities to take AP courses, electives, and other classes which they may not have access to. This gives student the chance to be equal and to expand and challenge their minds. I believe this is a great program for students that come from areas that do not allow them many opportunities. This will allow them to get the education they deserve. Also, it will allow them to prepare better for college. ACCESS says that their vision is that the State of Alabama will provide equal access to high quality instruction to improve student achievement through distance learning. Students and teachers deserve the opportunity to be the best they can be.

Talking about teachers this distance program is not just about students. ACCESS provides multimedia and technology tools to enhance their teaching and classrooms. Teachers want the opportunities to help their children in anyway they can. As in my last post about ALEX, this is another great resource for teachers. Many teachers did not have the chance to use these advance technologies till now, using the ACCESS program.

I urge teachers and counselors to take advantage of this great resource. Your students deserve the best that you can give them and by using this website you can increase the learning in your classroom and allow them the chances and opportunities they ought to have.

The Real Me - Natalie Grant

Let God in he already sees your brokenness allow him to heal you!

Teachers Here is a Great Resource : Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) !

ALEX is a very helpful website for teachers, parents, and administrators. The Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) is a great source for lesson plans and ideas for teachers. The homepage has many different things you can look at. It has web links, course study, and a workplace to make your own lesson plan.

The courses of study cover all different classes; and ranges with grades K-12. The course study gives you terrific lesson plans from veteran teachers. You can trust that these lessons were efficient. With allowing teachers to share lesson plans this allows the teachers all across Alabama to be connected and teach closely the same curriculum. Also, the lesson plan is printer friendly which is great for people like me who are on the go and need to do I quick print out.

This web site also gives you a way to create your own lesson plan. It is well organized for teachers to save their lesson plans and share them. This can allow them to be able to go back and change things and compare their lesson to other teachers. This website is beneficial to all teachers.

Erica

ME!!!!!

Hi! My name is Erica. I am a freshman at South Alabama. I am majoring in Special Education k-6. My dream is to become an elementary teacher and teach the mentally challenged and handicapped. I love those kids they are so sweet. I want them to have somebody and to know that just because they are handicapped does not mean they are not self sufficient. People treat them as babies, but they can do everything we can, just with a little more work.
I also go to church at F.B.T.C. I am very active in church by teaching Sunday school, nursery, and being a youth leader. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He has taken me from the filthiness I was and has made me new. He loves me and I live everyday to please him. He also loves you and died on the cross for your sins. If you are feeling alone and hurt He can heal your pain.

Another thing about me is I have a wonderful boyfriend, Kendall, he is my everything. I love him with all my heart my body and soul. He makes me so happy! With him I am the happiest I have ever been. He has shown me so much as in how to open my heart and love a person again. He has helped me grow in the Lord, also. I would not know where I would be without him. Look for wedding bells soon hopefully. Ha just kidding.

That is me and my life it is not very exciting, but I am a simple girl so simple is all I need.

A Link to My University

Click Here to go to the University of South Alabama website.