Final Reflection for EDM 310

Wow, I probably could have reflected for more than 15 minutes on everything I learned in EDM 310. I decided to focus on the 2 most significant things to me that I learned in this class. From this class I have learned the art of blogging. When I first heard this was a paperless class and that most of my work would be presented on my very blog, I became very nervous. But now seeing that I could teach myself, with the proper guidance, how to blog and how easy it is, I probably will never stop. I believe blogs to be the future of classrooms everywhere. I do realize I am behind in this realization, but I do plan on having a class blog for my first classroom and for most of my teaching career, well until the next best thing comes around. With my blog, I have not only learned how to write and post blogs, but how to comment on other people's blogs, embed videos, and audio onto my blog. Another significant thing that I have learned in this class is the use of Google. When I originally thought of Google, I thought of it as strictly a search engine. Google has so much more to offer. We learned this semester how to make a Google presentations, how to use Google forms, and I got to use Gmail for the first time as well. I have already used my new knowledge of Google Surveys in my sorority to get feedback. I will continue to use Google forms in the future. I believe in a technological sense, I am no longer narrow minded about what technology has to offer me. Facebook is no longer a place where I just look at people's photos and write silly comments on other people's walls, but Facebook is now a social network that I need to make better use of. I will definitely approach teaching differently because of EDM 310. Kids today are growing up in the classroom with nothing but technology. So why would I try to revert the students back to pen and paper? Teachers need to be constant learners. Meaning when teaching styles change, the teachers should change their styles. When technology changes, the teachers should learn and progress forward. We no longer need to be afraid of technology. The things I need to work on to be an incredible teacher in the 21st century is time management, staying focused, and using my PLN to my benefit. Through the past eight weeks of this class my time management was not the best. I started out strong, but then was easily distracted. I strayed away from my plan. I cannot be easily distracted when I am a teacher, because if I stray off topic so will my students. Staying focused and having great time management skills I believe go hand in hand in my opinion. So ifIi am focused then my time management skills should follow. My PLN has been very useful to me over the past couple of weeks. I have everything I need on it. I made my PLN my home screen when I get on the internet, so that way I have everything I need at my fingertips. I have already set my mom up on symbaloo and helped her create her very own PLN. One thing I did not know was that my mother has actually been blogging for over a year now! So she helped me blog and I helped her with her social network.

The second reflection was just as overwhelming as the first. So much information flooded my brain on what I would share with someone who is taking this class in the fall. So I decided to make a list of 10 things I find to be the most important. They are in no particular order.

1. Be prepared to spend a lot of additional time outside of EDM 310.

2. Familiarize yourself with Facebook, Twitter, and Google.

3. Learn how to PROOFREAD yourself!

4. Come to class with an open mind.

5. Go to the lab time, even though it is not required.

6. Make sure Dr. Strange and his lab assistants know you by name and face.

7. Exercise great time management skills.

8. Make friends with people in your class.

9. Check the EDM 310 Blog daily.

10. Even though it is a lot of hard work be sure to have fun!

I have enjoyed this class over the summer and look forward to participating in the alumni blog!

Summative Project

Blog Post 12

M-Cubed ISTE Video

This was very interesting watching the children use the computer to design and create a small box. They were engaged, active, and excited. Multiple skills were learned and their creativity was expressed in color, form, and design. The main little boy was enthralled with the laminating process and the cutting process of the machines. He also enjoyed folding and showing the audience his creation, his box. He exhibited pride in his work.

M-Cubed1

This one showed more of the computer part of the design, choosing color and shape. I saw different logos being used that are familiar to children like Coca-Cola. One boy was excited about the print out and pretty excited when the cutting program worked on his picture. He formed a nice red and white box and displayed it proudly.

M-Cubed2

The children were very interested in the computer program. They could rotate, enlarge and shrink their design to suit their needs. Once it was printed they could put different tops on their design. The main boy seemed a bit skeptical of his success, but I was impressed with the trial and error shown through the other prints laying around. Also I was impressed with the different colors and shapes and sizes being printed, cut, and folded.

Digital Fabrication: Through the Eyes of a Five Year Old Boy

This was so precious. He was completely tuned in to the whole process of creating, designing and printing his flat box. Then he was learning and doing the programming to cut the piece out. He had a house created with a similar program in his hand, while he bounced up and down waiting for his cut out to emerge. Then he folded it and taped it together. He was quite happy.

Mr. McClung His Second Year

I enjoyed reading this blog. Mr McClung expressed his challenges and his tactics in addressing and handling those trials. Having his students participate in helping him hand out papers and having them guest post on the class blog show his adaptability in dealing with time constraints and stress.

I like that he admitted having issues with the administration yet chose to rise above and still keep doing his best for the students. Despite the challenges from his boss or co-workers, he put the students first. I like he felt humble after a hard year, yet still was passionate about his chosen profession. I also liked how he kept trying to change his teaching style in dealing with teaching Social Studies/History; a subject he had never taught before. He wanted to keep the lessons from being boring.

He is a young teacher and I will be a young teacher soon. I can take his lessons learned and his advice forward into my teaching experiences, and blend and mold them into my own teaching style. His best advice was to be open to new ideas and keep from becoming stagnant. Adaptability and flexibility and passion are key.

First PLN Post

I started a couple of weeks ago on my PLN. I am still figuring out how to work it. I decided to use symbaloo since I watched the video with the girl explaining how she used hers and it seemed the easiest way to create my PLN. So far on my PLN I have Facebook (duh), my new twitter account (still trying to figure out how that can benefit me), my Google e-mail, my Jag e-mail, my blog url, and a couple of teacher blogs I am following. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks their will be more to come!

Blog Post 11

First graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class

I am so behind on technology. I thought I was doing pretty good then I watched this video where first graders are blogging, meaning 6 year olds are BLOGGING! Not only are they blogging, they are doing it with ease. I watched in amazement as the first graders of Ms. Cassidy's class talked about how they used blogging to help with their writing. When I heard this I thought back to my first grade classroom and how I learned to write. We learned how to write on those big legal pads. My teacher, Mrs. Evans, would stand at the front of the room with a huge legal pad and then in front of each individual student we had our own legal to copy everything that Mrs. Evans did. I find now that blogging would have been a much better way to learn to write, rather than copying exactly what the teacher did. Great job to Ms. Cassidy's first grade class on being technologically friendly!

Teach Someone

I tried to teach Sarah Johnson how to make a paper snowflake, she did not succeed the first time. But we tired again after the video and she did succeed!

Google Forms Complete