Additional Assignment #5

Pencil Integration

In John Spencer's post "Just Teach Them To Solve for X" he says "...metaphors are dangerous...life is dangerous...learning is dangerous." I highly agree with him wanting to show his students this message. It is so true and teachers want to make things easier on their students. The problem with this is life is not easy. As a parent of three, I make sure I do not "sugarcoat" anything for my children. I want them to know they might not like my answer, but it is the truth.

I also believe he and Dr. Strange are a lot alike...Dr. Strange doesn't teach us how to use the computer or even give us grades to know how we are doing in his class. He guides us in a direction and sees where it takes us. Some will use their time to find out more about it and others will do enough to just get by.


In another post, "He Just Likes the Class for the Pencils", John Spencer uses the word "pencils" as a metaphor for the subject he teaches. I believe it is a computer class or he uses computers in his class. Other teachers are telling a students' parent about his bad behavior. Mr. Spencer says he does not have any problems with the students. The other teachers proceed by saying the reason he does not have any problems is because of his "pencils". Mr. Spencer says, "...it is about trust and purpose...I take time to listen." What the other teachers were not realizing is it was not the class it was the teacher that made the child want to do well in that class.

Here is a link to John Spencer's blog.

Blog #13

ALEX

ALEX stands for Alabama Learning Exchange. It was made by the Alabama Department of Education. I had no clue it existed, but so happy Dr. Strange told us about it. I started messing with it to see what all it offered, and really enjoyed the Course of Study section.

After seeing Ms. Cassidy's video, "Little Kids...Big Potential" I decided to let my six year old use my net book. I will be using the Course of Study section in ALEX with him. There are so many things for him to do and learn...there are even games he and I can play together. I highly recommend teachers, parents, students, everyone to check out this website.

Project 15

Progress Report on Final Project

Thanks to Dr. Strange opening up our eyes to the various technology we have today. Erin Tillman, Courtney Banks and myself will be interviewing a professor in the College of Education to see how technology has changed her teaching methods. We are wanting to know if technology has helped her as a teacher and helped her students learn.

Additional Assignment #4

Summary from Project #6

I took this opportunity to get to know some of my classmates better. I know my life/home situation and was curious how many other students were in the same situation as I am. I found out that half the students should be graduating in the fall of 2012. I was also hoping to graduate in 2012, but some personal things have happened this year that will put me back a little longer than I expected. I will graduate! I am just not sure what year that will be. It was nice to see that 83% of my classmates plan on teaching in Alabama.

Majority of them are taking 13-17 hours at South and a little over half of them are working as well. At least only 29% of them work over 20 hours and 41% do not work. I am jealous of those that do not work, but then again they have a heavy school load. I was also curious about how many students have children. There are only two that are like me with three children. Although, 67% do not have any children.

As I said to begin with my questionnaire was based on getting to know my fellow classmates better and to see if any of them are in the same situation I am. Although, majority of them are taking more classes than I am. They are either not working or do not have children. I know every situation is different and therefore cannot be judged by this questionnaire.  

Blog #11

Ms. Cassidy's Class

I am so happy to see a teacher showing her students all the different technology Ms. Cassidy shows to her class. She has them involved with everything from blogging, using a wiki, learning how to use the internet, making movies, and even using their DS systems in the classroom. It is also a little scary because my son is six years old and in first grade just like her students. I do not give him enough credit on his knowledge of the computer about his age, but after watching this video I think I will start allowing him to use my computer. I do not want to hold my students back from learning as much as they can so why would I want to do that to my own son. I will not let his age or anyone else's age hinder their learning.

There are so many different things Ms. Cassidy does with her class that I hope to do in my own classroom. I have never been about reading a book and remember the answers. I believe when you get the students involved they will remember more. With all the different technology there is no reason a child should not enjoy and want to learn things. The children in Ms. Cassidy's class were really enjoying themselves and I hope to have a classroom really similar to hers.

I highly recommend teachers of all kind to watch Ms. Cassidy's video.

Teaching Mr. Corley How to Set Up His Own Blog

Smartboard Project