Monday, November 24, 2014

Blog Post 5 Part 2

My PLN has definitely grown over the semester. On my first post, Symbaloo was my only PLN, that has changed drastically. Now I have Symbaloo as well as other people in the Mobile County school system. Laurin Tew, is one of the women that give me advice and help in the education world. Mackenzie Easley is also in the school system that has recommendations and advice to go towards my career. Not only do I have people locally to add to my PLN, I also have the educators that I have connected with over C4T's. This exercise is a very good way to help connect. I also have people that I follow on Twitter and Pinterest that give me ideas and new tools to use in the classroom. I am very thankful; for this class and for the opportunities I have had to meet new people and broaden my learning system.
PLN

C4T #4

Beth Knittle
Beth's Blog

The first post I read from Beth was about education. This was my favorite post because it is true and it relates directly to an experience I am going through right now. College doesn’t take 4 years like advertised. Another thing she explains is that getting money to go to college isn’t easy. I love this post. It is a must read.
My Comment: Hi. My name is Alex and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I find this a very interesting post. When I was a senior in high school, multiple adults drilled into my head that I HAVE to go to college and it will ONLY take four years to get a good job that pays well. I am now noticing that the further I get in school, some of my peers that didn’t go to college are ending up making more money than me. My major is Special Education and I won’t be making much money at all. I will have student loans for probably the rest of my life because of the tuition going up to build a bigger and better football stadium. I am all for school spirit, but why not help the students out? We must make sure future students know that it is very hard and almost impossible to graduate college in four years. Unless the student takes 18 hours per semester, and takes summer classes, he or she won’t be able to graduate within four years. Colleges have drifted away from helping the students succeed, to helping the school grow. Most colleges don’t care about what is best for the student in the long run, they care more about what is better for the school. In my opinion, it shouldn’t take a teacher 5 years to graduate college. (Especially considering the pay that teachers receive) I hope that generations after me receive more help from the college of their choice than mine did.

The second post that I commented on was a post about connecting. Beth speaks of a story from her past and working with a team. She explains that coming together and connecting in the education world are important.
My Comment: Hi Beth! I agree! When teaming up with each other, we seem to get a bigger and better outlook for education. In my EDM 310 class, we are learning the importance of connecting with different educators around the world. This will better our systems and ideas for the classroom. Best of wishes and Happy Thanksgiving!

College Tuition

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Blog Post #14

Teaching Can be a Profession by Joel Klein


1. Giving more school choices to families, using technology, adopting a knowledge-based curriculum, starting education before age 5. (Intro problems)
2. Professionalize teaching.
3. Seniority problems.

1. When asked, “If you could wave a wand and change one thing, what would it be?” Joel Klein answered, “This isn’t an easy question. Lots of things need changing. For example, giving far more school choices to families, using technology to improve teaching and learning, adopting a knowledge-based curriculum and starting education before a child is 5 years old.” These are things that need to be changed but aren’t his main focus nor are they the most important things that need to be changed. School choices are an important thing when starting school. Obviously parents want to put their children in the school with the best reputation and best ratings. Second, technology is an important tool when teaching and learning. As learned from taking EDM 310, technology opens more doors than imaginable. Students can reach out to others from around the world and look up anything they are curious about or need an answer to. Next, adopting a knowledge-based curriculum is very important. With a knowledge-based curriculum students will learn more and gain more experiences through their school years. Starting children in the education system before age 5 is already happening around the world. There are certain day care facilities that offer children with lessons during day care, which is very helpful. This is up to the parents to put them there, but is encouraged. All of these things are issues in the education system today.

2. Professionalize teaching is the main thing that he would change. This would make educators respected just as lawyers or doctors. One example he gave was to pick from the best. He thinks that teachers would be better for educating if the top third of the graduates were chosen to be teachers. He doesn’t agree with just letting people that graduate with a teaching degree to be teachers. He believes only the most striving and intelligent, need to be in the field. I disagree with this. I believe that students that want to be teachers and think they are good for the job deserve the job. Teaching isn’t just about knowledge. A teacher also has to be humble and outgoing to interact with the students. He also states that teacher’s rewards need to be changed.

3. Seniority in the education system is a major problem. I agree that this system needs to be changed. Just because someone has been in the school system for a long time, doesn’t mean they are supposed to be. I believe the more equipped teacher should receive the job position, not the one that has been there the longest. I don’t think the education “police” system would be a good idea that Shanker talks about. That would just give people jobs based on opinions and tests. I don’t believe in the tests he explains either. Tests aren’t good ideas. I think instead of tests, we should have in class evaluations to see how the teacher relays the lesson and treats/teaches the students.


Conclusion: I think some of the ideas that were proposed were good ideas and some of them were bad. I believe that the education system needs to be worked on. I believe that teachers are overlooked as a serious profession because of the pay. Many intelligent people don’t consider being teachers because the pay is so low. The only people that want to be teachers are people that love teaching. The seniority rule is something that absolutely needs to be changed. When competing for a position, the most qualified individual should receive the job.
Tenured Teachers

Thursday, November 20, 2014

C4K November

Amber, 5th Grade, South Africa Amber's Blog
1. Frogs are first tadpoles.
 2.
Then they grow legs
 3.
They eat flys
 4.
They have long red tongs 5.
They stay in and out of water. As well as a picture of the frog lifecycle.
-My response: Hey Amber! My name is Alex and I am a student in college at The University of South Alabama, in Mobile, Alabama. What a great post. I like to fish with frogs sometimes. I like your picture you included in your post. This helps the reader understand the frog lifecycle. Have a great day!
Frog Life Cycle


Dillon, 8th Grade, Iowa Dylan's Blog
Dillon posted about his alter ego. I assume they added this post on to a previous lesson done in class. He had pictures changing like a slide show, it was pretty cool.
-My response: Hey Dillon. My name is Alex and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. What a cool post! I really like your pictures and the way they change in and out on the main screen. I don't even know how to do that! Keep up the good work!

Ethyn, 7th Grade, Kingsland MN Ethyn's Blog
Ethyn wrote a post about how well her second semester was going.
-My response: Hey Ethyn! I am a student at the University of South Alabama. A great strategy for school is to stay on task. I always turn my assignments in on time and I am well prepared for class. Keep up the good work and you will go far in life. Best wishes, Alex

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Project 12 Part B


Blog Post #13

List 5 Assistive Technologies that can be used in the Special Education classroom. Explain how a child can use them during class. Include source or sources that were used.

1. Speech recognition software: this technology converts talking into typing, making it easy for children struggling with movement or visual conditions that find it tough to use a keyboard. Ex. This can be used for a child that is blind for writing an assignment on the computer. The child can say what he or she wants written.
2. Talking calculators: this gadget relates mathematics via audio. This can help with visually impaired and learning disabled students. Ex. During math class a student that has a learning disability or is visually impaired, can use this tool to check previous math problems or use it to work math problems.
3. Switches: switches are usually attached to the hand. They allow students access to computer controls instead of using the mouse or a keyboard. They come in different structures to provide the best fit for each individual. Ex. A student with cognitive impairments can use this device to work a computer during an assignment.
4. Audiobooks: books that read the story aloud. This is not a new form of assistive technology but it will always be used. Ex. For students that have trouble reading, he or she can read along with the audiobook that reads aloud.
5. Ipads: small touchscreen computer. I always knew that Ipads were a popular tool in the special education world but after reading this post I knew they will become a must in my classroom. “I had a students with Cerebral Palsy who only has proficient access to one finger. The Ipad comes along and in 35 minutes after opening it from the box, he wrote his name for the first time.” This is so touching and uplifting. Ex. Ipads can be used for anything. As we read a second ago it can be used for writing, or learning games in apps during any subject.

Sources:1-4 5

Ipad

Friday, November 7, 2014

Blog Post #12

Shayla McCorvey's Contribution:In the video,Teaching a Mom What Her Deaf/Blind Child is learning on the iPad is video of a teacher giving instruction to a parent on how to work an Ipad if they were deaf or blind. The teacher says, the parent should place his/her hand across the icon and each one she would click, a voice over will say the icon’s names out loud. The parent would also have to use four fingers and turn it like a knob to be able to turn it into typing mode. Standard typing is when you are moving your fingers across the screen and the voice over says the letters out loud. Once you double tap, it will appear on the note pad. Most people prefer the touch typing mode. You are still in typing mode, where you move your fingers across the screen and voice over reads out the letters to you. Instead of double tapping a letter, you should hold the letter down and lift your finger, the letter will appear on the note pad.
The alternative source she looked up was: NCLD, Assistive technology can help students with many different learning disabilities. The assistive technology can help them become more independent through school and throughout life. Technology has apps to help students with Dysgraphia and Writing skills. For example, the video I watched was able to explain everything out loud. This app can make the writing process a little bit easier and fun. Another assistive piece of technology would be a keyboard with built in accessibility on standard computer.

My Contribution: Source #1- To Siri, With Love is an interesting blog post. It tells a story of a 13 year old boy with autism that asks Siri questions about everyday life and his personal interests. What a cool way to use technology. It got me thinking about the different ways Siri could be used in the classroom. This blog has a lot of great ideas on it. It mentions IPEVO Whiteboard or the Belking Stage app. These two things can help during science class to capture and annotate what the students capture under a microscope. It also mentions Boogie Board. This is a small board the size of an iphone that would be good for taking notes during class or answering questions like we used to do on smart boards. Adobe Presenter is a great tool to use in classroom. This is a great thing to use when you want to include text and pictures in a presentation or quiz during class. This could also be used when doing PBL. One of my favorite things that I found on this blog is the Belkin Tablet Stage. This is a tool that turns your ordinary ipad into a document, camera, and presentation system. This is a great way to get your monies worth out of an Ipad purchased for your classroom. Speaking of Ipad, they are mentioned everywhere on this blog. Ipad is a really neat tool to use when teching. It lets the students independently do work and play learning games on the apps that adhere to the lesson being taught. Great source!
Teachhub.com is my second source. Teachhub This was a really cool read. Not only does it give you different technology you can use in the classroom, it also gives you different ways you can use it and how it helps the children. Powerpoint is a very common tool. In the post it mentions ways you can use Powerpoint as a game show review. I think that would be a really cool thing to use powerpoint for. It also mentions blogs and twitter as being a good source of technology in the classroom. Blogs can be used instead of diaries. Blogs are also helpful to see how well the students have progressed overtime. Twitter can be used as a discussion or for a summary of material. Creating a class webpage is a tool that can also be used in the classroom. It also mentions that students can create a film on a computer. This is a great way to implememnt PBL. Doing this and having the kids present the films, are a good way to use technology.

Kelia's Contribution:Source A Waking up, you open your eyes, stretch, and hear the bubbling sounds of the coffee pot. Like me you may turn on your radio to listen to the sounds of Nickel Creek or the music of your preference. Communicating thoughts and ideas let alone learning becomes seemingly impossible. However, in this video it outlines the tools used to help in assisting hearing and visually impaired students learn. These tools provide opportunity and hope for these impaired students improve their chances of having successful futures. Their realities are next to impossible for those without the disabilities to imagine. With assistive learning tools it enhances learning and improves the students’ capabilities and chances at excelling. The barriers that seemed to have blocked their path now are almost non-existent due to the technological advances. It is our responsibility as teachers to encourage, enlighten, and help enrich the education for any and all students-with or without disabilities.
Second Source Students are unique and come with a wide variety of learning styles and capabilities. It is up to the teacher to be able to identify and adapt to their learning needs. All of this can be accomplished through technology. This is a great tool to not segregate students from the regular learning process but to help them participate with the class as a whole. Assistive learning devices are not just flashy gadgets; they can be something as simple as a wheelchair to help the student access the classroom physically. Hearing aids, glare-reduction screens, Braille note-taking devices, and voice recognition software are just a few examples of assistive learning technology. A common tool used in schools to help in assistive learning would be voice recognition software. This would be very helpful to a teacher due to the fact that if a student is visually impaired or in not fully mobile with their extremities they can speak into the microphone and it will record his or her spoken thoughts. This would be a very helpful tool that would help a wide variety of students. Assistive learning technology is a wondrous tool that will help improve the lives of children and ignite their drive to excel in their learning capabilities.

Brittneys Contribution:iPad Usage For the Blind Second Video I have chosen to research, “iPad usage for the blind.” Apple has made tremendous stride with making sure the visually impaired and blind have access to using the iPad device. After viewing, the video, “iPad usage for the blind”, I have learned a lot about how exactly a blind person effectively navigates a iPad. Wesly Marjeus is the Access Specialist for the National Federation for the Blind. Marjeus teaches about the different devices that Apple has installed in their devices for the blind. Marjeus explains a unique service called VoiceOver. VoiceOver basically reads everything that is one the screen of the iPad.VoiceOver not only reads what’s on the screen but, also reads books to the user as well. VoiceOver helps the user to effectively navigate the iPad. Hand gestures are just as important as the VoiceOver service. Hand gestures can be given as a demand over the VoiceOver service. Hand gestures are used to move or remove certain icons,apps, etc.
Andreas Head is her second source. Andreas Head shares some basic information about the services that Apple has for the visually impaired. For instance, Refreshable Braille Display is a electronic device that enables the user to write or text while using the iPad. The buttons on the device are Braille and, the device can act as a mouse while connected to the device. Another cool feature is called Bluetooth Keys. The Bluetooth keys connects with the iPad and controls the VoiceOver service as well. The user should be knowledge of locating certain important keys to effectively navigate the device. There are a number of assistive technology that is available for educators to use inside of the classroom. These are just a few to name a lot. Technology is making a powerful stance to all rims of it’s users.

Technology in the classroom

Project #10


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

C4T #3

Post #1
The first post that I read was about how standing desks can help students focus in the classroom. I was taken back when reading this because I have never heard of a standing desk. How cool?
My first comment was: Hey! My name is Alex and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in class EDM310. This is a new thing to me. Growing up in Mobile, Al I have never heard of standing desks. I believe that some children would definitely benefit from this but others not so much. I believe that children should always have their free time to run around and use their motor skills as Mark Benden stated above. P.E. and recess are vital to our health, especially small children because they are still growing and developing. This is a really great post and has brought this to light for me! In EDM310 we each have a blog and the class shares a class blog. If you would like to check it out here is the class blog http://edm310.blogspot.com/ and here is my blog http://growalexandriaedm310.bl.... I hope to hear back from you!
I never got a reply.

Post #2
The second post that I read was about technology in the classroom. The post showed a video and talked about a high school that allowed their students to use technology. It mentioned that the only reason that we don't allow technology in the classroom is because we don't trust student's and we block half of the search engines off. It then talks about this high school and the trust system that they go by. It seems to be working well from what I have read. I hope to get into a school system that allows these things.
My second comment: I think this is a really great idea. I am a senior in college and I think that if my classes included things like this, I would have been more interested in school. In my EDM310 class, we are learning about technology in the classroom. I have learned a lot over the past couple of months on this matter and pray that I get into a school system that has an open technology policy. What a great read!

Picture included in second post