7 Stupid things, and New Classroom rules overview


15. Know what you are supposed to be learning, why, and what you will do with the knowledge.

14. If you need help raise your hand, but don’t wait for the teacher get help from your neighbors and post your question to your online Personal Learning Network.I chose these two rules because they matter the most to me. All of the “new rules” were good but these happen to be my favorite. As a student you enter every class wondering what you can take from it. I will take everything I have learned in ED 310 with me into my classroom. At the beginning of each class you ever take your teachers hand you your syllabus. Some students might trash the syllabus, others read it carefully and use it. I would like to put my classroom “mission statement” at the top. The “mission statement” will list the skills or other things they will learn in my classroom. Any student wants to know what exactly will benefit them in the future, I hate when I hear a student say,“ I will never use this again.” I feel like a teacher should impact the students life, and I want them to remember that they really learned something in my class.
Some of the rules had the concept that the teacher was not the only one that could help you, and I agree. During EDM 310 we talked to our classmates a lot, either via skype, email, twitter, or facebook, and even text messaging. All these ways can be used in and out of the classroom. I think if my students are having trouble with something and asking a friend for help is quicker, more convenient, or more beneficial than they should have the opportunity to ask the other students. Also when I am an English teacher I might not be at the students’ side 24/7 so emailing me or using twitter you can get a quicker response, and a variety of answers depending on how big your PLN is.

I really liked the 7 stupid things that teachers, or any employee should not do. I want to post it in the break room of my office. It really opened my eyes to what I need to go ahead and change, and also things I should be careful never to do. My favorite point was number one actually that there is no excuse to lose any information that you might have on the computer. Now that we have discs, and USBs, printing out your work is also another good way to keep a copy of your work. I have not been the only victim to just losing your work either to your computer or even losing a floppy disc or two, but now I am very careful to always save a copy to everything and have a back up disc as well, I rarely ever delete anything except for the inappropriate emails that co-workers send me. I really do not understand why in a professional atmosphere you would send your boss emails with profanity or sexual content, I do not find it professional at all. I try to delete ugly or inappropriate emails, but realize that even if I delete it and delete the trash bin it is still floating out there in cyber-space.
I have no idea how many people actually “facebook stalk” but I do not, that is for people who have no life. I do not put anything on my facebook worth stalking though, I like the fact I only have 12 pictures, and most of my post discuss sports, or school. I do realize one day that my employer will take in to account the way my facebook, myspace, and other PLNs look and the content of them. I eventually will have students and parents also looking at my facebook page and would like it to be appropriate. I felt like all of his points on taking the internet seriously and watching your kids or students while they are using the world wide web because most kids can get around all 20 of the blocks that you have downloaded to keep them from not so great websites. I believe that the internet can really expand a child’s knowledge, but I do not want them to know too much.
Using the internet or company emails may not be easy but it would be in your best professional interest. You never really know who is going to be stalking you on the internet, so what do you want the world to know about you? I really enjoyed his post enjoy it yourself here.




click here to see Doug Johnson's Stupid is stupid does

the new class room rules, check them out and tell me what you think

At the Teacher's Desk: Getting Over It#links

At the Teacher's Desk: Getting Over It#links

At the teachers desk

I was not sure what I was going to find on this scavenger hunt on this blog page. I read the first five post, watched the videos and searched through the members and other links that I found.

What I liked most about this website, is that you are getting information from teachers who have had experience with technology in their classrooms, and also the teachers who are new at this and learning just like I am. It felt good to know that all teachers have a support group for trying to keep up with technology or the students for that matter.

I found the video about the PLNs very useful, it really encouraged me to go and try to participate and find more out on Twitter. I know that I may not get to use Facebook or Myspace in a very educational way but I believe a blog and twitter can be very beneficial for upcoming teachers.

I browsed through a few of the members and actually found some sites I could one day use for advice etc. when I have my own classroom. One website I found was 4 Elements of Education, which I plan to follow. I also will be following this blog from now on.

I did not find the first video so much useful as I found interesting, I will be teaching secondary education this fundred project is not really age appropriate. But many teachers can see this video now and the word just spreads that much faster to classrooms.

Another post I enjoyed on this website actually had to do with comments for kids. Throughout this project different people leave the children comments on their class blog where they post their in class projects and random bits of information and fun. He gave tips on how to comment properly on the students blog and how to encourage them in the right directions.

This website can be very helpful to students wanting to learn more about technology in classrooms, and of course teachers. Loved in the video I watched how he gave the example of using twitter to find an answer for something and NASA actually twittered him back.

Here is the video I enjoyed most.

Media Effects What?

This Michael Wesch video discussed the Media and all the tools and how it can change our conversations and ultimately our culture. He spoke about Media Ecology, of how our Media is the enviroment that we shape things in, how media chooses what we speak about, and when and how we can speak about things. One of my favorite things he spoke about was a question asked over 25 years ago that asked what we were going to do about our problem in Afghanistan and the answer being nothing, we were going to do nothing.

I was shocked at the picture of the classroom and then showing how many kids show up to be on American Idol.
I agree when he says that some of us can get lost in the mass and become just a victim of the culture really. I know exactly what he means that you can feel insignificant when in a bad work enviroment, or feeling like you are not important. Our generation makes you work for your place, that you have to make your own. We do live in Generation Me, our society, our commercials are always talking about making something for you, whether it be a cell phone or food, school. It is very rare I meet people that you do not find just a little bit self centered, that is totally selfless. I have also realized that our generation is focused, I really have never seen so many people that are so determined to do whatever makes us happy.

I could not believe some of the statistics about how 20 hours of video is uploaded every minute on you tube every day. The first time I was skyping I did think it was odd how I was really speaking to a computer, but just being on You tube would be odd. I have never wanted to post anything on You tube. Watching how people respond to one video is crazy. The people responding and on you tube vary in ages, and cultures. It is a new way to communicate or "be heard" on this planet. He talks about it having its own community I agree.

It just shows that anything is out there, you can google and you tube just about anything. I can see how television can shape a culture. I for one do not watch alot of T.V. I never have time. But I can tell when people do it shows in the way they talk their jokes, or the way that they will be in a situation. It is scary how some people actually want to be like the people you see on T.V., I mean are they even real. This effects you in everything in your life. It will one day effect my children and my students. I can only begin to understand what this all means and what to do with all the information heard. We need to be aware of how influenced we are and what we are trying to influence.

I had to add this photo at the end yes laptops are popular and most people have them, but by people do we mean all young college students. Just in this classroom how many students do you think are twittering, youtubing, or on facebook?

Why should students post their work on the web?

One is example is the PS 22 Chorus from New York. These students share their work or their song rather using YouTube on the world wide web. By sharing their music, Stevie Nicks saw it, and the chorus had the opportunity to open for Fleetwood Mac in Madison Square Gardens.

When teachers post their students work on a blog it allows the parents, teachers, and other students to not only see what they are learning in class, but they might learn something too. As a future teacher when looking at other classroom blogs i think of how or what I can use for my classroom. By looking at other blogs about teaching I can get an idea of the content to use in mine or ideas for classroom projects.

Another reason that students share their work on the web is to inform. I am in the process of making a presentation about EDM 310 with a group in my class. I am very excited that we are making something that shows what you will be learning, and what we enjoy about our class. Some of the assignments we do in class require us to leave our blog name or email when we comment. I think the link to our presentation would also be useful because I would want to know what exactly EDM 310 is.

Other ways students can share their work online is a wiki space. You can post information just like on a blog, but it allows other students to edit or change the information posted.

Watch the video Here

Fun with Forms New Students and Teachers

To fill out my interesting form click here.

Dear Kaia

Dear Kaia

While reading Mr. C's class blog I caught another glimpse of how technology can be used in the classroom; especially in Kaia’s case. I really enjoyed how he took seeing Kaia's Blog to an education level. Using the little girl’s simple blog to show his students another tool, Voicethread.
I thought this idea was brilliant. Kaia at just three was taking pictures of what was around her. Kaia’s father had been inspired to get his daughter back outdoors, into nature after reading Last Child in the Woods. Naturally her father helped her put all the pictures she took in a slideshow. Then Kaia goes through each photo telling you exactly what she captured. Hearin the three year olds voice describe the pictures was so cute.
Just as Mr. Chamberlin’s class used it to learn about Voicethread, and how to do their own presentation with pictures. Kaia’s father and Mr. Chamberlin both discuss the great connections that students, children can make around the world using this. You can take a picture of anything and even draw on the picture to emphasize what you talk about in your comment.
I do not think you can complete this blog without talking about what Voicethread and the possibilities it can be used for. The website shows you step by step how the pictures work and how to comment. There are five different ways to comment, on a pictures, photo, or document. Voicethread to me is like a picture blog that people can post comments on using skype, or just a microphone, and just by messaging. I would like to learn more about Voicethread, and the connections I could make there.

NML video

In this video the group working on the New Media Literacies Project describes what they are about and the list of skills that you need in order to be part of the new wave of literacies.

They listed several in the video to name just a few, judgement, performance, transmedia navigation, and there were several more. The group working on the project claim that you must have this list of skills to become artists, citizens, and workers. I believe that even if you posses a few the others you will acquire along the way or will learn through classes.

I agree with them, when they talk about how we are no longer consumers anymore. We are producers, we are now putting the information out there for others to use, or criticize. No longer are we just using the information, but say on a cite like wikispaces or wkipedia we can change whatever we like.

I posses some of these skills such as multitasking, I believe that is more second nature for me. I am not exactly sure what they mean by visualization but if I had to take a guess it would be that we can see the way things are changing, and what needs to change. Having a good visual of a dream I guess, and that I do have. Appropriation, this would be a skill I need to work on, I can take content and use it but I would love to be able to make a video like the one we saw. Two of the skills that Mr. Sullivan my EDM 310 teacher has helped my class with is negotiation and judgement. Learning what the best cites are and which podcasts to subscribe to.

There were many skills listed some I have, some I do not have, and most of them I am working on. It was nice to see a webite trying to better not only the way we communicate but the way we communicate with technology. To learn more go to New Media Literacies website. There is much ahead of us with technology, and we will need these skills to not only know how to navigate with it, but to teach a generation who will know so much more than us. Scary.

Wendy Drexler

While taking notes for this blog I kept thinking, is this not what we are doing in class? Answering the question, " why does the networking student need a teacher?" is simple.
Students conducting the presentation did a great job, I really liked the layout, it was easy to follow. Their classroom is a lot like our classroom I thought, no textbook, teacher hardly lectures, but is always there if we need any help or get stuck on a certain subject. The presentation discussed a student studying american psychology, shows that he had a blog, and deliscious account. Showed how he could go to other blogs or websites and other deliscious accounts and find more information on american psychology, whether it be from other students or teachers. This is exactly what we are being taught to do, just on the subject of technology literate teachers etc. We not only go to each others blogs for information but many other well known professors, or watch videos to help us further our understanding of the classroom and technology.

We are being taught to utilize our social networks for not only personal use but to help us in the long run, with anything we might have questions about. So why do we need teachers, well first of all most students would not go to google and start blogging right away, it would be face book or myspace. The teacher shows the students the best websites, the good and the bad information. Along with that the teacher can show the students which podcasts or blogs to subscribe to. Having a teacher allows the students to see first hand the skills that he or she will need to one day run their technology literate students.
To watch the video of why networking students need a teacher Click Here
See, I would not have known how to that trick without my teacher.

NML Project

I went to the all famous google of course and just typed in " New Media Literacies Project" to see what I could find. Hundreds of links came up but I just went to their website. Obviously this is a project that will change with time, knowing that the technology we use changes constantly. To know that what we are learning now will be the 'basics' one day makes me thankful for cites that are helping others, and the ones that need to know how to do accomplish the 'new'.

The website showed exactly what they were working on and everyone working on it. It is a project to update and keep everyone udated on exactly how we can use the internet for news, academics, and practically anything you want to write about. They also emphasize on all the skills that you would need to be able to compose this literature and get it out on the world wide web.

Really enjoyed how they showed everyone working on this project, and the bios and blog links to everyone involved. I bookmarked this link so I could learn a little bit more about Del.isci.ous because on the website or blog that was one of the things you could use was anything they had put on their del.isci.ous account.

To learn more about the New Media Literacies Project and their blog Click here.

Comments for Kids

When going to this class blog it confused me at first becuase there was only one post for October. I really liked how it only showed things going on that month.
This blog was for a middle shcool science class and it was so cute, it had a variety of things posted. Not only could the kids go on and see what the class was doing but so could the parents. It had projects the class had done, updates for the class, some of it looked like handouts. They also had pictures of Tie Tuesdays, and Music videos. There was also a video by our own Dr. Strange.
I really enjoyed this class blog, it is a great example for any teacher that wants to keep her students and parents informed. Also the first blog post for October was about using facebook in a classroom setting. Mr. McClung went over all the basics and how he intends to use it for updates etc. Even the podcast at the end of the post is a plus for parents who think facebook might not be such a good idea. I know many of our post have been about using technology in the classroom and this is such a great example of how to, and how great it can be.
To see more about Mr. McClung's Class Blog click here ENJOY!!

Richard Miller

Dr. Miller brought up a great point of how we can now communicate instantly globally. It is unbeleivable to think about how anything I write on my blog is on the web for anyone to see. He started off the videocast or video by talking about books and how he grew up working with books. Now you can buy the virtual version of the book online for a much lower price for a book you might not open but twice.

He pointed out all the incremental changes of technology in example the way we can put books online and it last forever. Anything that was online years ago is still there. Even wikispaces you can change but still are there when you are done.

The whole presentation just blows me away but goes on to say that he can not teach what he is showing. He was showing a print, visual, audio document in which several screens were shown at once, telling you everything that you could access. He discusses iTunes u and the success it has had.

Completly amazed by this video. Loved the last thing he said, The university is for ideas that belong to noone.

Itunes University

It is very common now to see students with an ipod or an iphone, each of which can acces Itunes University. For a student or teacher that is helpful, because you never know quite how busy you are going to be.
iTunes Universtiy has mobile learning networks, along with everything instructional book for mac products which is very helpful for students. You can acces podcast, videocast, with iTunes University.
It's helpful to teachers with all the podcasts of basically teaching you how to use new or different techniques in the classroom. Rather than reading a book you can download it and listen to it on the way to work.
To learn more about iTunes and education go this website. Or go to your iTunes account on your computer and access iTunes University.
For a guided tour of how to use iTunes University Click Here

Education Techonology

Dr. Christie's Website was helpful, and new I liked her workshops and classrooms. Thw whole setup was easy to use. This information is helpful to anyone going into the teaching field, or in a computer class like the one we are in now.
Educational Technology was interesting. I went to the Instant Messaging Icon to see what it was all about. I want to be an english teacher and its often the slang takes over. Although some view it as our generations language. With budgets being cut everyday I thought the virtual field trip was really neat and useful. Also the webcam directories is a good thing to have on the website. http://alicechristie.org/index.html

Randy Pausch: Childhood Dreams

Randy Pausch is on the top of my list now for people I want to be like. One thing he mentioned actually twice in his lecture was great, when he would talk like he never had a job. I have often heard if you love what you do, it will never feel like work. He also spoke about all the obbstacles or brickwalls that are put on our path to acheiving to weed out the people who really want or just want it a little bit. Also that they are there to challenge you not to stop you.

I learned so much through this, and very motivated to hold onto the things that I have always wanted to and have dreamed of. I had three pages of notes after watching him. My favorite technique he used not only through the lecture but also in any of his classrooms, is the "head-fake" theory. It is true by showing a group of kids that something is fun, or entertaining, but at the same time they are learning something valuable is my goal. Teaching is hard, let alone teaching students how to make virutal reality stuff on the computer, I would not know where to begin.

I really enjoyed how he got the audience involved in it, and also all the visuals he used. All students learn differently, but by showing us all the things he had accomplished with pictures, bringing out the bears, and even showing that really funny clip of the bunnies that his students had made was great.

While Pausch spoke about lessons learned, I was glad to hear that he was learning from his mistakes, and learning from what other people said, and giving back by incorporating everything he learned with his students. There are many lessons to be learned through failure or just finding another goal, also through true criticism from others, you can do nothing but better yourself. The story of Andy Van Dam telling him that he was jerk and how it was going to limit what he would be able to accomplis was interesting. I had never thought of it like that, but the people who are working with you are going to either love you or hate you and that is very important when you are working on a team.

One of his accomplishments that is now going global is ETC. The curriculumn has nothing to do with books, it is completely hands on, and there are companies that have a signed agreement stating that they will hire your students. He showed from beginnig to end how the program was developed all of the good and the bad that he went through while making this program.

This man always showed grattitude and always wanted to help others. Also about how loyalty has to be there when working together and starting new things. At the end of his lecture he was just showing examples of famous people and how they stuck with their dreams. The one thing I will take from this is when he said, " Don't complain just work harder", and I will. I know that compliaing does nobody any good, the only thing that will make it better is to push yourself and work harder. Karma is a touchy subject to some not all believe in it, but it is true you will get what you put in, if you truly love something go for it by working hard, you can only be rewarded.

Overall Randy Pausch was an amazing man, gave many amazing lectures I am sure. Now I am going to focus on my "Alladin", and focus hard on my dreams no matter what brick wall I might come across.

Next Generation Learning

This video blew me away! The first thing I want in my classroom is an interactive white board. This reminded me so much of my sister she has grown up around technology it is something we use everyday, and we can use it to benefit our classrooms.
I love being able to acces class assignments an homework from the computer, I have taken a few online classes that have been great. You can do so much with a computer, if you know how to use it. I do think that as something that is changing everyday and how our grandchildren will know a new age of technology we do need to teach it. I do not think our classrooms should revolve around technology but the kids love it and they are not bored with it. If they can acces games that help with spelling from a class website why not, I think that is great! I hope that we can help our students become prepared for what is ahead of them.

Teachers Who are Technologically Illiterate

He was so bold in all of his statements, I thought this post definitely should have won an award, it was very powerful ( in a since ). I strongly agreed with how Fisch said that communication is important, because I think communication is key. Working in any type of environment whether it be an office or sports team communication is key, it is how we know or learn new things.

I do believe that every teacher has the resources to be more computer savvy or technology literate. We send teachers to in-services all the time to learn new methods for the classroom, and how to better their teaching performances how would this be any different. Also the curriculum changes year to year, we have to update ourselves in math and English etc. or we would still be using the books from the 1800's text books. I strongly agree with number four on his list that "Headteachers and Principals who have staff who are technologically-illiterate should be held to account." I believe that as teachers we should never stop wanting to learn, that is why I want to become a teacher I love the classroom and new things. Principals should encourage their staff to learn as they teach, and that they should provide with the means to do so. This post was amazing and I will hopefully take what I learned from it along with what I am going to learn and take it to my classroom.

I found this awesome website called International Society of Technology in Education or iste. They are dedicated to using technology to the best of our ability for the students. Check their website out it has a lot of helpful information. (Click on the name to go to the website)

Who Is A Technologically Literate Teacher

Let me first start off by saying, I have never know what a Wiki space was, but I love it!! I felt as if I learned more just clicking here or there on the wiki page, but I also agreed with everything said. The things that students or readers had posted was awesome, I think this is a great classroom tool, for any subject or discussion.

There were so many answers going through my head also while reading the questions, the list just went on and on. After reading the other post made by Hines and Fisch I thought that the answers resembled a little bit of both their views on how a teacher needs to be willing to learn, but we should not solely depend on technology. I really liked the whole style of this post or wiki too, being able to not just comment but to make changes or edit the page was so neat. I even like how strange said all the comments are time based and will change because after all one of the joys of technology is that it changes everyday!

"It's not about the technology"

I agree on how the teacher needs to know the technology well in order to teach with or about technology. The resources are all there though, and I will always want to learn more especially if it will help my students or get them interested in learning.Most students go home and the first thing they do is get on their computer, and if classes were not available online then it would take me years to finish school. I can remember when my mom would bring us home games for the computer they were all educational, some taught us how to type and some math etc. But as a nine year old you really do not realize how much you are learning while scoring points. Technology made it fun to do multiplication.


Computers are very common now, they are in libraries, schools, even when filling out an application for the company I work for you have to use a computer. In my EDM 310 class now everything is based on technology, but we have learned so much, and it makes everything so much easier! It is amazing to me what we can do with technology now and scary to watch my 12 year old sister do exactly what I do, but really enjoy it. I do not think it all about technology or that we should depend on it to teach, but if the students we are teaching could learn more or faster with it, then why are we so hesitant to learn something new?

My EDM 310 Presentation

A Vision of Students Today

This was my favorite video I watched and there were hardly any words spoken. I am a huge music lover and just shows you the power of a score, or instrumental music. I loved the topic discussed throughout the film, technology is it saving us?

There were so many statistics showed that I grabbed my roomates and made them watch it was really good. The statistic about how his laptop cost more than what some people make in a year was sad. Yes technology is great and we benefit from it, but if everyone cannot benefit or even know the basics of using a computer what good is it really.

Benefit of Podcast in the Classroom

This videocast was awesome. I really enjoyed how they not only interviewed different people but used slides for a better illustration of the point. This video also used slides at the bottom that introduced the student or person talking. I thought this was more professional than introducing yourselves.

I really like how they used an actual teacher for an example and interviewed the principle too. There were many things that I learned through the interview with the teacher, enjoyed how the story was shown as a videocast rather than reading a book outloud in front of the class.

Podcast with Strange

The Technology Literate Teacher

For the first vidoecast I really had to critique, thought it was informative but could have been better. There is a list of things that I would change for my podcast but this being my first expeirence I cannont promise anything.

A few things that I would change, starting with the angle of the camera it bothered me the entire time I watched. I just was very disttacted by the setting and the people not talking. There were five people in the videocast but only a few really spoke up, there were a couple that did not say anything at all. I hope that the conversation goes a bit faster, I was bored at some points.

Picture Modifiers

Podcasts

Review of the Six Podcasts: Smart Board Lessons, ConnectLearning, EdTechTalk, MacBreak Weekly, Twip, and KidCast
Throughout listening to these podcasts I learned that there are many different ways to broadcast a podcasts. I also enjoyed what all of the podcasts, I hope to carry some of these procedures into my classroom one day. My favorite podcasts was the “Smart Board Lesson” podcast. This particular podcast not only had audio but had a slide show. It was very formal and informative. I followed along perfectly and got some good tips for when I have to work with a smart board. The four category pop up and seeing how the templates work is really helpful going step by step, you could follow along on your computer.


I thought that a few of the podcast just explained upcoming events or just talked about something new. A few of the podcast I listened to were very informal, but was very personal, made you feel like you were right there with them. The ConnectLearning episode had three men sitting in a restaurant and one via Skype and they just discussed how to use different tools in their classroom. One of the subjects discussed how when a student can have hands on experience with computers from start to finish how they would benefit. Also the MacBreak Weekly also was a discussion forum for all things Macintosh. There were two main DJs and one guest normally, and the biggest topics were what was new on the scene, what was next to come. They also talked about how to use them, and Snow Leopard was a big issue. Twip ( This Week In Photography) was the same as MacBreak Weekly. It was like they were flipping through a magazine of camera accessories. The DJs would discuss which was best for their own style and then discuss which accessories were best or not.

The KidCast podcasts was interesting, not at all what I expected. In this podcasts the DJ juxtapose videocasting verses podcasting. I thought he made very good points for both sides of the argument of which was better to use. The beauty of it thought is that it’s a personal choice, but also you need to do whats best for your audience. He gave examples of which would be better to use in certain situations, and discussed the myth of Videocasting being a step above podcasting.



The last podcast I watched was EdTechTalk, Teachers Teaching Teachers. This much like the Smart Board podcast was almost step by step of what to do but no visual all audio. The teachers were having more of a question and answer session. There were two teachers who just knew it all, every step on how to publish your own templates and share them. The other teachers just asked tough questions, in which they got answers step by step. This podcast made me realize how one day everything we do in the school system will all be computer based, or on the web.

All of these podcast can be found in the Education Category of the Itunes Store. They were very easy to find, and download. Listening to them was easy, all of them started out with some type of music and brief conversation completely off subject.

I have added a picture of our EDM 310 class after we had completed our podcasts, as you can tell we were all proud of our podcast projects. I will have the link to my groups podcast soon :).

My First Picture

Click Here to go to the homepage of my University.

Me Myself and I

Hi! My name is Elizabeth Eiland and I am a new blogger, I have never done this before. I am Junior at USA and I am pursuing my Masters and PhD is Education and Administration. I would like to teach high school for a few years and then work my way up. While I am not studying or worrying if I am going to be on time to class and work I keep myself pretty busy. I am a student at South because my mother is an Alum and I wanted to be close to home. I have lived my entire life in Mobile and cannot be any further from the beach. I love living right on the bay.
I am not a big reader, most of the reading is required. I spend most of my free time and all of my day listening to music. If I am in my car, my music is pretty loud. My ipod is always with me and I have records and compact disc galore! Other than listening to music I also like to paint and go to the beach. I also love my family and spend a lot of time with my two younger sisters. Watching TV is not one of my favorite things to do but there are a few shows I like. Most of the time I will watch Sports Center or whatever game is on. I am so excited about football season, and this summer is the World Cup! Go Argentina!!

Digi Teen Response

Vicki Davis and Digi Teen
This video was very interesting, I had no idea that a program like this was available for students. When we were in high school we were lucky if we got to use the computers in the library, and these students were learning how to use almost every software created.
This clip just showed me how easy it is to learn, and how every generation is going to be smarter than the last. The “Flat Classroom”, and the students interacting with the students around the world is awesome. What a great experience, I hope that this program continues.

"The Importance of Creativity" Reaction to Sir ken Robinson

“I completely agree with Sir K. Robinson”
This was my favorite blog for this week. Sir Robinson brings a very good point that everyone has something different that they are very good at. Every student is different, and we should treat creativity with just as much intensity as literacy. He believes that we are growing out of our creativity and therefore are scared to be wrong and cannot come up with anything original.
I also believe creativity is very important, that being diverse should be valued. One of the best points of the presentation was how he spoke of the jobs we were and were not capable of doing steering us away from creativity. I always wanted to be an artist but my parents always told me that they were unsuccessful and that they had hard lives. My parents always pushed me to do something else. The idea that “Academic Inflation” is happening is so true. Education is very important, but most people call their diploma their little piece of paper. The jobs that only required high school diploma are now requiring a Bachelors degree, or that you take classes through the company. Public Schools are directed toward just getting you in to a college but some of the things that children love are not valued in school. I agree that we need to rethink our fundamental principles to really know a student’s full potential.