Happy Halloween! This is my daughter Caroline in her lady bug costume!
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Stanford College
Studies have shown that growing brains are smarter than fixed brains. The very impressive Dr. Carol Dweck administered a study in which two sets of students were given a "study work shop." One of the sets were taught that their mind was like a muscle and would get stronger if they used it. The other was never taught this.
Over all, the group that was taught the brain growth approach actually did better at the end of the year then the group that was not taught this. Without the teachers knowing who they could actually pick out the students who they thought were the ones taught their brain was a muscle. There obviously was a difference.
There is the active classroom and the passive classroom. I hope I can become an active classroom teacher and teach my students that if you study and try your best and "use your brain a growing muscle" you will see improvement. I will not just assign reading or busy work. I will make sure the students are involved in the lessons!
Over all, the group that was taught the brain growth approach actually did better at the end of the year then the group that was not taught this. Without the teachers knowing who they could actually pick out the students who they thought were the ones taught their brain was a muscle. There obviously was a difference.
There is the active classroom and the passive classroom. I hope I can become an active classroom teacher and teach my students that if you study and try your best and "use your brain a growing muscle" you will see improvement. I will not just assign reading or busy work. I will make sure the students are involved in the lessons!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Electronic Contact Assignment
So i spent a few weeks trying to get a teacher to e-mail me back. My last resource was teacher lingo website. One that I site I posted who I was and why I was trying to contact someone. (Edm 310) Within a few days, I had a teacher contact me from Africa. Her name was Miss. Hayes and she taught grade two.
In her school she said that the just replaced all their blackboards white "white boards" similar to that called a smart board. She said so far she had only used the board twice, but her students in her class loved the board. It's very similar to a computer generated board.
Unfortunately she does not have a class blog web page, but she does have a blog of her own teaching. This can be viewed at Miss. Hayes site. Miss Hapes said, "All I can remember when I was in Primary school (1991 - 1997) was playing educational games. We never learned how to use a computer, whereas nowadays, children are learning basic end user skills right from Gr 1. Our Gr 7's are, at the moment, learning how to use Excel formulas which is excellent as I only learned that at my first year varsity."
It's amazing how much technology is not only changing people in the United States, but across the world! Where would everyone be without technology?
In her school she said that the just replaced all their blackboards white "white boards" similar to that called a smart board. She said so far she had only used the board twice, but her students in her class loved the board. It's very similar to a computer generated board.
Unfortunately she does not have a class blog web page, but she does have a blog of her own teaching. This can be viewed at Miss. Hayes site. Miss Hapes said, "All I can remember when I was in Primary school (1991 - 1997) was playing educational games. We never learned how to use a computer, whereas nowadays, children are learning basic end user skills right from Gr 1. Our Gr 7's are, at the moment, learning how to use Excel formulas which is excellent as I only learned that at my first year varsity."
It's amazing how much technology is not only changing people in the United States, but across the world! Where would everyone be without technology?
Monday, October 20, 2008
What I choose to listen to!
The videos I found were by a series called teachers' Domain. I actually watched quite a few videos. All of them were science related. These podcasts like many others will be great for future reference when teaching.
One of the video podcast was about the moon. It described that is stayed in place because of a gravitational pull. This video podcast would be great for a grade level such as second and up when your class is learning about the solar system. Of course you would need to add to it since it was not extremely long or detailed. After watching these videos I felt like I was caught up with information that I had put in the back part of my brain. This podcast and many others will all serve as a great resource to me later. I could even hook the computer up to the tv in the classroom and watch my own class engage in this great use of technology!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Edutopia
The Edible School Yard
The Edible School Yard is a classroom that is outside which takes the shape of a garden. They are middle school students who follow their instructor. They can do it all! They plant,grow, harvest, and cook.
The thought behind this is that students can learn by experiencing. This is very true. When they get together in their garden they bring subject matter from almost all their other classes and make it have meaning. They learn skills that at one time were taught in the home such as cooking, team work, communicating, how to build a community and to rely on on another. Not saying that they are not still taught in some homes.
I actually enjoyed this clip. In this day in age the classroom is all about standardized test. I will try to incorporate a garden in my own classroom, but unfortunately it will be at most pots with plants in them or a class activity that they have to take home.
A Night in the Global Village
This program helps people to understand those who are less fortunate. In the group there is a pregnant woman, a two year old, and elder, and a person without a hand. The groups go to different third world country's and are not given everything they need for their overnight adventure. It really is a wake up call.
The middle school students really proved themselves. It was amazing to watch them ration like real adults. I believe there are always going to be you maturing middle school students, but this bunch was far from that!
I loved this activity, but I do not think I will be able to do these same activities. These seem very time consuming and I will be working with elementary students, not middle school. I will recommend A Night in the Global Village to others who seem to think they live a hard life when they really don't!
The Edible School Yard is a classroom that is outside which takes the shape of a garden. They are middle school students who follow their instructor. They can do it all! They plant,grow, harvest, and cook.
The thought behind this is that students can learn by experiencing. This is very true. When they get together in their garden they bring subject matter from almost all their other classes and make it have meaning. They learn skills that at one time were taught in the home such as cooking, team work, communicating, how to build a community and to rely on on another. Not saying that they are not still taught in some homes.
I actually enjoyed this clip. In this day in age the classroom is all about standardized test. I will try to incorporate a garden in my own classroom, but unfortunately it will be at most pots with plants in them or a class activity that they have to take home.
A Night in the Global Village
This program helps people to understand those who are less fortunate. In the group there is a pregnant woman, a two year old, and elder, and a person without a hand. The groups go to different third world country's and are not given everything they need for their overnight adventure. It really is a wake up call.
The middle school students really proved themselves. It was amazing to watch them ration like real adults. I believe there are always going to be you maturing middle school students, but this bunch was far from that!
I loved this activity, but I do not think I will be able to do these same activities. These seem very time consuming and I will be working with elementary students, not middle school. I will recommend A Night in the Global Village to others who seem to think they live a hard life when they really don't!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
ACCESS Project
Baker High School in Mobile, Alabama currently has the access program up and running and has found it to be of great use in the lab. Mrs. Falgout is the cisco teacher and also helps with the access program. She believes that the Access program is incredible and should be used in all high schools. Students do not not have to take an access course to be able to graduate, it is up to the students to decide. The access class are considered as advanced classes.
The Access program offers a big incentive to teachers that play an active part in this program. This incentive would be increased pay. Who would want to say no to this? Teachers using Access are not only helping with a whole different curriculum, but they are helping in the students for future college preparation.
The Access program offers a big incentive to teachers that play an active part in this program. This incentive would be increased pay. Who would want to say no to this? Teachers using Access are not only helping with a whole different curriculum, but they are helping in the students for future college preparation.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Picasa2
When we learned about Picasa2 I changed this picture and thought it was neat. I recommend everyone take advantage of the free Picasa.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Podcasting
After listening to educational podcasts at KidCast, EdTechtalk, MacBreak Weekly, and SmartBoard Lessons Podcast I realized that podcasts should be relaxed, yet the speakers need to be confident of the knowledge of the material they are talking about. The podcasts should not be rehearsed so that there conversation does not lack enthusiasm.
Listening to these podcasts it reminded me of listening to the radio. The speakers really seemed to have a knowledge of the material they covered. When we do our podcasts next week everyone needs to remember to just be involved in the conversation and make sure they get their input added in!
These podcasts will serve a a great example of how they should be used in the classroom. It prepares me better for next week when I do my own. I am now reminded to speak loud and clearly.
E-mail and blogs are a great asset in the classroom, but podcasts are on a whole different level. As a future teacher I realize that I can record my future lessons and upload them as podcasts as a reference to the students who need additional help as well as the parents to let them know exactly what material we are covering. These lessons could also be used as additional references to other teachers! Podcasting is the future education in my opinion.
Listening to these podcasts it reminded me of listening to the radio. The speakers really seemed to have a knowledge of the material they covered. When we do our podcasts next week everyone needs to remember to just be involved in the conversation and make sure they get their input added in!
These podcasts will serve a a great example of how they should be used in the classroom. It prepares me better for next week when I do my own. I am now reminded to speak loud and clearly.
E-mail and blogs are a great asset in the classroom, but podcasts are on a whole different level. As a future teacher I realize that I can record my future lessons and upload them as podcasts as a reference to the students who need additional help as well as the parents to let them know exactly what material we are covering. These lessons could also be used as additional references to other teachers! Podcasting is the future education in my opinion.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Randy Pausch
After Watching Randy Pausch's last lecture titled "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" I am now confident I learned a lot. In the beginning of the lecture he tells you that he has brain cancer and is terminally ill. After watching this I remember thinking how it reminded me of my grandfather who died five years ago from cancer. I also felt like any body can accomplish anything as long as they put their mind to it!
Randy Pausch had some excellent ideas. He tells you to never give up. His theory is that brick walls are supposed to pop up when you least expect them. You just have to keep on going with your everyday life. NEVER give up! I believe this is one of the best things you could do. I completely agree.
Pausch tells you that it is very important to achieve your own goals and never stop trying! I feel as those is great in every aspect. If you take the easy way and just try to get through life then what will you have to show for it? I know I rush through my school work, but I guarantee that when I spend a lot of time on a project and I am proud of then I feel a sense of gratitude to myself. In life you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride not just do enough to get by!
Randy Pausch has taught some of the present day geniuses. Through his classes and lectures he makes you believe the you can and should always work to your potential. I feel so moved by watching this movie. I believe Randy Pausch's ideas should be shared with more then just our class!
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