Comments for Kids Summary

I have made comments to four kids blogs during the month of September. I have a summary of what I read and what I wrote, but I must admit, some were more interesting to do than others.

First, and to me, the most interesting, was Tisha. Her blog was based on the subject, "This I believe". Her belief was piercings. The blog told the freedom that she felt by having her four piercings. The blog also went on to explain why she feels people should be left to express themselves the way they feel comfortable. No matter what you have on your body, do not judge people by their looks alone. I commented to how in many ways, expression by tattoos or piercings, suits and ties, skirts and pants or hair style/color etc. is one’s first form of communication to others. It is up to these others as to how they want to perceive you. The subject matter for me was just unusual, therefore, interesting. I also left questions as to some comments Tisha made in regards to definitions to certain piercing words.

The second comment I left was to Sang Jun. His blog was about a humorous event involving his soccer training. His training had some goal work where his header got chalk all over his body and grass in his mouth. Sang found the event very funny. I commented a thank you first for giving me a smile and that it was great that he had a sense of humor. Since his blog was full of grammatical errors (which I did not mention) I focused on his recollection of the event as well as his comic relief of a bad situation was wonderful.

The third blog I commented on was Hosannah's video involving hexagonal learning. The video was done with enthusiasm and a great sense of interest in his project. The video was almost impossible to hear because of all the kids in the background, but one can get where Hosannah was going. I bragged at how well he demonstrated his knowledge in the video and how his project was done with attention to detail. I also gave a bit of humor by telling him he needed to tell everyone to keep quiet next time because he was a master at work!

The last kids blog I commented on was Rose. Her topic was the government shutdown and she wrote about her opinion on the matter. She eluded to her lack of real knowledge on the subject, but her opinion was that the world looks down on the U.S. because we are a country divided. I responded by agreeing with her first and foremost and how the subject is so important to have knowledge in. I then told her that if she kept doing research she might one day be the one to put the U.S. into a harmonious nation.

In summary, I have tried to justify doing these comments. I can not find how this helps myself or them. If what we say is forced because we can only be positive or we would never read them under normal circumstances, then what are they learning? That people will lie just to make you feel good about yourself? I can't answer for sure, but the simple fact that none of the four commented on my comments shows me how they are doing this because they have to, not because this is such a wonderful form of communication and they can't wait to see what others thought. Seemingly, especially considering how poor each one's blog was written, my regard against jumping into the deep end of technology while abandoning reading and writing (with a pen or pencil) is justified.

Blog Post 7

As with many things in life, you are only as strong as your weakest link. Since this was supposed to be a collaborative assignment and everyone in my group has dropped the class, I have decided the group will be a collaboration of me, myself and I! With that, we will critique four videos and individually critique three others.

The first video is Project Based Learning Part 1. After watching this many times (as we did for all videos), we decided there were several positive applications mentioned that for sure needed to be discussed. So, Anthony Capps, a third grade teacher gives us some insight into how project based learning is so advantageous, as well as certain aspects that create the motivated learner . Involvement of the children's community into what they were learning was the first thing we noticed that was intriguing. We thought this approach would bring personal experiences to play. Using their opinions then basing them on facts in another project was also wonderful.

Some complaints though, why did some kids not finish their writings for the project? Comments by Anthony, such as,"Means to get them to learn something" or "Authentic audience..rewarded and motivated to do good work" seemed like fluff over substance. How about the mention of the kid that called out Anthony and was proven right, however, we found it was glossed over the fact she failed third grade and was repeating it. Why? Also, everything mentioned could of been done without PBL as the foundation.

We now move to Project Based Learning Part 2 which is just a continuation from the previous video. Once again, we saw positives and negatives with what was being discussed. The positives seemed fewer to pick out in this segment. The one thing we can for sure observe is Anthony cares for his students and puts a great deal of effort and time into making the best instructional environment he can. Also, giving choice to children, we agree, is such an important aspect in developing a sense of commitment,responsibility and understanding decision making processes. One of the most honest parts was when Dr. Strange said he was biased when it came to PBL.

The negatives, as we perceived, were numerous. Taking stabs at ideas without backing them up with facts is something that (speaking of) third graders do. Two people that are in 100 percent agreement with whatever the other says is not anything you learn from. One could listen to two people that agree the Holocaust did not happen and from an uneducated person on the matter listening, it might sound 100 percent like the truth. The question was presented as to comparing Anthony's third grade writing to EDM 310 writings and the response was predictable. However, are 8-9 year olds doing the same quality work as college students? Probably, but why? The constant reminder that PBL seems to be the end all know all is fundamentally a flawed perception. PBL templates to push other teachers to use this method of teaching seems to be the opposite of what PBL is supposed to represent:self motivated thinking. If the teacher is good, that individual will find what is right and proper for their kids. We believe it is better to think outside the box, not live inside it.

Icurio was the third film on the list. We acknowledge that Icurio is a great tool to use. As Anthony stated, the fact it has been screened and is just educational information, be it text or video, is a wonderful resource for teachers. We feel like it is Google for kids with strict educational context. So, this was a quick video and we thought there were nothing but positives that came out of it. We all agree that we would use Icurio in each others classrooms.

The last video which "we" collaboratively watched and will critique was Discovery Ed. This is similar to Icurio in the fact it is a web based source of screened information, however, it is more video based. We agree that visual aid increases the likelihood of that person retaining the information. We also agree that this should be used for mainly adding to something, not being the sole basis for understanding. We also agreed with Dr. Strange on the point that kids today are visual/listeners, not readers/writers. Of course, we believe this is a serious flaw in our state of education and one that needs to be fixed. We are not saying get rid of technology, on the contrary, we just want a happy medium between both old and new school. Taking the best of two is better than total exclusion of one.

Anthony - Strange Tips for Teachers Part 1. Reviewed by Me

"If you're not a learner, you will not be a successful educator" so says Dr. Strange. I agree beyond a shadow of a doubt, but I find it sad to believe this point has to be stated. How can anyone want to teach and have no desire to learn? "Let your work become a fun experience" states Anthony Capps. Well, I always believed that success is doing what you love, so this statement falls right into my sentiments. When you love what you do, you never have to label your job work. Digging a ditch is work to me. Educating others on subjects I have a passion for is like being payed for something I would do freely anyway. Dr. Strange follows with the third advice for new teachers and that is flexibility. I agree so much with that! Most things in life, if we never budge we eventually break. I teach and study Aikido and I have always said that you need to act like water because water always finds a way. I take that same thought into teaching. Flowing with the day is much easier than forcing the day to happen. A fourth tip was reflection. Reflection is a great step as long as we get the points of view of others. Sometimes we can fall into our own wonder and believe that we have it right and they have it wrong, but by taking others opinions we can collectively make sensible and educated choices moving forward. So, maybe a tip would be to leave one's ego at the door when it comes to being a teacher. The video was meant to be helpful and I believe it did just that. Any new or stagnant teacher would do well to take these tips into account everyday and grow into something more.

Use Tech Don't Teach It reviewed by Myself

Anthony and Dr. Strange are discussing the need for technology or rather that it is here, so go with it. Yes, it is here and there are many many aspects about technology I happen to find wonderful. I believe it has made finding information easy and in just about any medium you could desire. However, like anything that a teacher is teaching, the key to me is having the kids learn things without them even knowing they are really learning. "Slipping" in, if you will, other pertinent items that the kids should know, but having it done while engaged in another project. I believe Anthony, in his own way, is trying to incorporate this principle in his teaching too. I do, on the other hand, disagree with Anthony saying, for instance, Imovie, being better than coloring and paints because of clean up. Technically speaking yes, but I would argue that a mind is more at work, being more creative painting than someone putting a movie together on the web. The end of the video is the statement, questions are more important than the answers. Another point I agree with. Questions are always the beginning to finding any answer and the answer is never the final solution, but the importance is the desire to never settle.

Additional Thought About Lessons reviewed by I

So, this video mainly discusses the onion that is lesson plans. Yearly map goals is first. Then the unit and how it will unfold throughout the year. Third is the week and devising a plan of attack each day. Last is the daily plan and how you deliver content. These four parts create the entire lesson plan and explains how each part creates the whole and neither can do without the other. My basic thought after watching this is ok; sounds good. Now the biggest thing will be how to overcome the adversity, which will happen, when what was planned does not come to fruition. Adapting and overcoming is essential to one's yearly, weekly, daily and hourly lesson plan. Several things we said in BUD/S comes to mind when I think about teaching. One was, proper prior planning prevents painfully poor performance. Two is, the only easy day was yesterday. Each saying gives credence to the nature of teaching and the obstacles one faces every day. One creates who we are is how we manage these obstacles. Will you be a doer or a follower?

What questions do we ask? How do we ask?

When one becomes a teacher, one of the first priorities is, how will I teach. Will you be the classic and normal? That would entail the teacher reads, the students listen. The teacher shows a powerpoint, the students, listen or write. These "classic" styles are also the most boring to students as well as the ones that do not inspire.

To me, inspiration is THE most important aspect on becoming a real teacher. Teaching is not about making sure the students pass something to keep that school in a certain percentage for "no child left behind". Teaching is giving a desire to the kids to want to learn; to want to know that learning is the key to becoming a well rounded individual. Lastly, the key is teaching kids to become thinkers not just learners. Learners do, thinkers, ask why should I do first, then with appropriate information, move to the proper hypothesis onto the conclusion. Winston Churchill once said, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

I believe that quote is more because kids are taught to do as I say, not what do you think. A classic theme that I always fall back on is being a sheep or someone that just does for the sake of doing. Why not do because you know that is the best way? My own family motto is "animus omnia" which is latin for, "will is everything." That motto is a key component to being successful at anything one tackles, but where does will come from? Will, I believe, starts from a sense of confidence. Confidence comes from being correct on many things a plethora of times. Being correct comes from parents and teachers that constantly entice the desire to learn knowledge. Entice, that is the key! Just blurting out information and wanting the kid to repeat is a disaster on an intellectual scale waiting to happen. That is why teaching, whether from the parents or the "teachers" is so critical in creating an individual, not a drone. So, what is the most crucial aspect on creating a child that craves information? Questions!!!!

Questions, what a beautiful concept. Something that needs an answer, but what if many of the questions asked were not known by the reciprocate? Ahhh, a need to do research or better yet, self motivation. To push oneself to do the right thing, to explore beyond what is already known, to reach beyond one's stretch. Yes, a novel concept it seems in this day and time of education. However, children are born with the desire to learn, so then why not nurture that a child's entire life? We, as educators, have the ability to move a child toward a desired behavior, but it takes a real teacher to get the desired, long term, result.

The right way to ask questions by Ben Johnson is remarkably accurate. I say remarkably because of all the blogs and comments I have read about teaching, this blog is by far the most simple, yet brilliant. The form of the question is our start to kids being lethargic or compelled. Questions that spark a mind to move forward, not stagnate is the catalyst to knowledge. Project based learning is brilliant in the fact that theoretically, it creates a desire to look, explore and seek out the information. Creating questions that are open ended and are not "black and white" or yes and no is paramount in teaching a desire to go beyond basic knowledge and move toward a renaissance education. Renaissance in today's time merely states a move from the past into a transition towards the future or a total experience. We are teaching total education! We are not trade schools! Let us teach towards enlightenment for today and let's get the children for tomorrow out of the dark and into the light.

Book Trailer

My Sentences Videos

My Sentence is.....




My Passion is.....

Icurio and Discovery Ed.

Project Based Presentation

Why Podcasts?

Why indeed! I can not surmise as to why a podcast is THAT important, besides someone on the road wanting to listen to someone. To me it feels more like books on tape modernized as opposed to something revolutionary, especially if we are discussing podcasts on the basis of education. However, I will discuss a few examples of podcasts used at an elementary school as an educational tool and see if I am persuaded after my listening/reading.I will then come to my conclusion after a brief summary on the three blogs.

The first I will dive into is Podcasting With First Grade. The main starting point is kids were given "Vacation under the Volcano" by Mary Pope Osborne from the Magic Tree House series to read. Then,the idea was to pretend that the kids were interviewing Jack and Annie, the two main characters in the story, about their latest adventure that had taken them to Pompeii. Interesting and fun for 6 year olds for sure. By recording on garageband and making this fun project, the teacher says that the students learned or at least addressed:listening, speaking, presenting, comprehension, storytelling, performance, voice acting, oral fluency, media,and technology. Looks impressive, so many things focused on with one project. Now, let's see what the next blog brings us!

Flat Stanley Podcast is about Paper Flat Stanley and because the boy accidentally was squashed flat, he had the ability to travel to far off places easier than a regular kid. So, this comes to the idea for the kids to make believe the same has happened to them. The project let's the kids pick the location,tell how they got there,what did they did at the location and finally,how did they get back home? It is important too, when recording, to use emotions to describe the journey as opposed to just telling a story.

The last one I explored was the Listening Comprehension Podcast. The main drive on this project was fluency in a language. By taking turns reading a particular part in a story while adding words in Hebrew, then putting the podcast recording out of order, then making the kids put the story back in its proper order by listening and pasting the recording back to the proper sequence, the kids would learn, as the teacher puts it, "writing a script, listening, comprehension, collaboration, speaking skills, and fluency in the target language." Wow, that was a lot to spew out and I bet it was even more difficult to read, but that was it in a nutshell.

What do these three images conjure? Idiots? People that lacked a proper education involving podcasts I bet. If only...... Well, I believe after "learning" about the three blogs for these elementary students that nothing was accomplished that could of otherwise been accomplished from standard teaching. Let me state however, that my standards are high, so a standard teacher would be innovative and fun. Not at all to say that this teacher introducing podcasts does not fit that same description. On the contrary, I believe the teacher shows tremendous thought and attention to what expands a child's mind. You are probably saying I am contradicting myself, but I am not. My argument only falls on the tool, not the specific desire. Can podcasting be a tool, maybe. All I know is that the kids in the United States are overly reliant on technology and maybe we need to focus on what made our schools and kids great years ago before all this technology. Let parents and teachers set students up to imagine and ask questions. Google it has created a society of know it now, remember it never.


In conclusion, will I use podcasting now for this class? Yes, I have to. Will I when I am a teacher. Probably not. Bottom line, I do not jump to one thing just because, I jump only when I know the person before me survived.

How Can You Provide Meaningful Feedback to Your Peers?

What is peer editing? Well, it is not only a question, but a you tube video. "Peer Edit With Perfection Tutorial" is another helpful piece of information given in slide form. Finally, "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes" is a funny interpretation done by kids on the don'ts on peer editing. Three pieces of information, given in different forms of media, each with good insight on how to appropriately and with sensitivity give a review. In order to tell you about what I learned or in some cases, what I didn't learn, I will go in the order that most of them started.

First, two of the three videos/slides tell that peer review is a review of someone's paper/blog that are the same age as you, the writer. Well.....

This picture is what I feel like at the moment I "peer" review someone at my University. I am 39 and in many cases I graduated High School before many were even born.
Next, if we are to believe compliments, suggestions and corrections are the goals, in that order, that one needs to do when doing a peer review, we need to ask why. Okay, seems logical and sweet going in that order, but what if the paper you are reviewing does just stink, what then? Are we to lie or make up something to massage their egos before you blast them later in the critic? Also, the fact that one has to compliment first is intriguing. Why not correct, suggest, then compliment? I would rather end with praise than end with criticism. One leaves a, okay that is cool, I still have work to do, but I did not do that bad a job. The form they describe would leave at minimum a bad taste in the mouth, leave one a desire to give up, or just plain hate that "peer" reviewer.
Now then, do I believe that this method has some flaws, yes. Do I believe it is all wrong, no. Another set of friendly eyes on your paper can never hurt before grading, but i can not see the reason to be in 100 percent conformity in everything we do. Do I believe that we should act like the kids do in the "Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes"? No, of course not! However, I do not believe we are robots either or shall I say sheep in the conformity of life.

With all that I learned from those three lessons, I will try and critique my group partner. Will I do it by blogging it for all the world to see? No! I will however say Stephanie Aldridge is a concise and interpretive writer that puts a lot of time in her work. Everything else that can be seen by the world that could be a critic or suggestion, will be sent by e-mail to her. Life is hard enough without others putting negative remarks for anyone to see.
With that, I will end with this small remark. The mind is the source for happiness and unhappiness, so present happiness all the time and use multimedia to critic!

What Will Teaching in the Twenty-first Century Be Like?

What will it be like? To be honest, anything is better than the 90 plus percent of the current atypical classroom teachers. For an exaggeration, Professor Dancealot is a great video that unfortunately can seem more on target than many college students would like; take a look and see for yourselves....


Once seen it is easy to ascertain why this style of teaching is never functional or enjoyable. Regurgitating facts out loud to students who can read the same information on the powerpoint is laughable. “Teaching” something that obviously needs direct, teacher to student interaction without any form of actual class involvement is preposterous. However, this is and has been a formula for teaching for a long time now. Besides school already being expensive, school has become monotonous and boring. Tests are just a tool students use to throw down facts that they learned the night before and forget the next day. After all, college is about the destination now; not the journey. Most are here for the degree, not for the education. In part, this has become the normal way of life because the learning has become a chore instead of a desire. Teachers from preschool to college professors, all have the ability to create passion for learning in their students, but most never put forth the effort to find that perfect teaching path. Like an old shoe that stinks, but feels comfortable so people still keep and wear them, many teachers never change their teaching styles after years of doing the same routine over and over and over.

I completely agree with Colin’s statements about Professor Dancelot. Unfortunately, not all teachers put in as much effort as others. I do think that technology is a wonderful thing to use in the classroom, but it should not bet the main source. We still need physical activity in the education world. Computers, video games, ipads and all types of technological resources can brainwash a person. It is great to know technology, but one should also know resources outside technology. Professor Dancelot only used notes and powerpoints as his resources for teaching. He should have involved his students and had them dancing in the classroom! If he would have involved his students, the majority of his students would not have been so confused by the time of the final exam.


The Networked Student Video by Wendy Drexler, Reviewed by Colin Richard

The video, is about a 21st century high school student studying American Psycology. Most of his work is done online and he does not even have a book. He uses the internet to begin an intricate trail of information that will expand his potential fact base and without much puch, automatically go into an expanded question and answer switchboard of which this student will cherry pick wonderful facts from peers and the best professors in the world. The teacher is therefore used merely as a backup if the students gets stuck and as a motivator and cheerleader when the student does well.
I found this video to be well done in its presentation, but lacking in actual thought. As with most arguments for something new and different, one must take everything into consideration. This is not the case in this particular argument.
To begin with, towards the end of the video, the question is presented as to why we even need a teacher since basically all the students information has come from his own determination through resourceful internet scavenging. The answer would put teachers out of a job. It would close schools down. We need teachers to teach. Also, each subject has to be different in nature as to how it can be taught. One can not just have a round idea and fit it into every shaped cog out there.
The video also tells of how the student will be networked into the greatest professors in the world, yet if this form of teaching evolves, where would these great minds be teaching. The very definition of evolution dictates that the species must adapt or die. Well, in this case, would professors die out. Would they lose their desires to be the teacher to the student. Maybe they have passion for seeing kids grow because of their influence. After all, every child is not a genius. Every child is not from a perfect parenting background. Every child can not be placed out of sight, and almost out of mind.
Now, there can be modifications in order to incorporate this video’s principal idea, but let’s not put the cart before the horse. The twentieth century is here. That does mean the internet, computers and tablets are here to stay (for the moment), so let’s move toward the future with eyes wide open for everyone.


Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts By: Vicki Davis, Reviewed by Stephanie Aldridge
This video shows a great preview of how teaching will be like in the 21st Century. She makes students think and doesn’t always just give them the answers. The phrase “never tell, always ask” we discussed in class on Wednesday is a perfect example of this video. She will use new vocabulary in class on purpose, so the students will have to look them up to know what they mean. This requires the students to use what they have learned to find out new information. I think this is extremely useful and important, especially for our future students.
At one point in the video, the students actually teach her something new. She made a great point when she said that teachers do not have to know everything before they go in the classroom, they just have to have a place to start. Letting students teach each other creates a positive and intriguing atmosphere in the classroom. The fact that students can teach the teacher is not only an ego boost for the students, but motivates them to research more into the things that they are learning.
Overall, I think there are bigger and better things coming for the 21st century classroom. Some teachers are already on the right track and unfortunately, some are stuck in their ways. This class alone has shown me how much the technological world is growing and changing on a day to day basis. Teaching in the 21st century is guaranteed to be mainly technology based, I just hope they don’t completely rely on technology alone.

If I built it a School, It Would Be Like.......

Such dreams, such introspection, but most of all, such a wonderful fantasy. I am sure every educator or future educator daydreams about how they would change the "system" they know. However, the biggest fantasy would be the creation of a school where you had all the input into every possible scenario. So, since it is a fantasy, I figure I have the opportunity to go all out with my thoughts. I may go beyond say a Venosdale and Mitra, two people of varying backgrounds, but both having visions of a place where children learn far beyond what we see in an educational institution of today. So, where do I go......

Of course!!!!! Where no one has gone before......(play Star Trek music in your head please) OK, now that just seems to far ahead. Yes, I believe a Klingon would just be a distraction at first. Let's just go where no one right now has gone before.

So, there are simple questions that one must ask when creating such a project...

1) What ages will be in my school? Answer, ages 6-18, so basically, Kindergarten thru Senoir year high school. One building for all. A respect needs to be created up and down the age spectrim. After all, everyone is here to learn first and foremost.


2)What methodology will be used to teach? Encouragement!!!!

It just makes a more conducive environment to learn. As Professor of Educational Technology at the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences at Newcastle University, England, Sugata Mitra is a wonderful mind that brings to us that we need to pay attention to the fact that we have a part of our brains, known as the reptilian brain, that can shut down from forced learning. So, we need to give love, understanding and positive reinforcement more than anything. After all, just looking at this image to the right makes us feels better, so imagine a teacher saying the same thing.


3)What do I want my students to know? Reading will be very important from the start. Reading stirs the imagination and no matter how far in the future we look, it is hard to see us understand life without the power of reading. No matter what job a person has later in life, reading is invaluable. Shakespeare can only be felt through reading. Chaucer can only be as funny as the mind makes the "Canturbury Tales". History will also be a vital part from the start. Understanding that everything we do as a person and as a society influences our future every second of the day. Math, Science, P.E., and Music will be important too.


4)What do I want my students to be able to do? I want them to be able to think for themselves. We need individuals; not sheep. We need problem solvers; not problems. Simple.


5)What tools will I use in the classroom? Well, computers will be the most interactive tool. It is the present and future after all. There needs to be a comfort in using them in a classroom. A comfort that makes the laptop just an extension of what a book was 300 years ago.


6)How will the kids be a part of the learning process? They are the learning process. For example, a history teacher starts the class with the question, What were Hitler's reason for world dominance and how would the world be different if he succeeded? This gets the mind thinking beyond just the facts and creates an explorer of life. Who, what, when, where and the most important, why, can take on whole new meanings. From day one, learning to talk and intellectually explain one's ideas would be a major part in the learning and growing process.


This is but a brief step into my fantasy of a school. On a later blog, I will go into other features that will make this THE school for creating the best adult that THEY can be!!! Oh, I might as well end with...

Second Test Post

Hope this works!

My Test Post Title

First Blog and I clicked the HTML button which I will always do for this class!!!!!