Mr. McClung- What I've Learned This Year

I really enjoyed this post by Mr. McClung. He shared his feelings and experiences from his first year if teaching, and he had many helpful things to say. This will be a post that I may need to refer to before I enter my first year teaching. There were quite a few things mentioned that will help me in my own classroom. I thought it was great that he mentioned that the lessons should be student centered. Different classes will learn in different ways and at different rates, so this is an important thing to remember. He also mentioned that the lessons do not have to turn out just as the teacher expects. It is alright to make mistakes, even for the teacher. Mr. McClung mentioned the importance of communication. I am a firm believer that communication is one of the key ingredients to a strong foundation for a relationship.

Mr. McClung tells us to be reasonable. This is one of the most important things that I got from this post. No one is perfect, and teachers have to allow room for the students to improve. I think that it is good to challenge students and encourage them to do their very best, but I think that it is important for students to feel that glorious feeling of accomplishment more than they feel the disappointment of not reaching their goals. He also says that we should not be afraid of technology. I agree that technology can be a useful tool in the classroom, and students need to be comfortable with technology because they will be using it daily. Mr. McClung said, "Listen to your students. You may be the only one that does." This is very true, and I hope that I am a teacher that the students can approach and talk to because, again, communication is important. Another big statement that Mr. McClung made was, "Never stop learning." I think that teachers should want to learn as much as possible for the students and for themselves. I know that I am excited that I am going to teach a field that is constantly changing and growing-science. So, sometimes I may have to learn with my students, and that sounds good to me.

Can Wikipedia Be Trusted?

I have not trusted Wikipedia for some time now because I had heard from a former teacher that it is not a reliable source, since anyone can make edits to entries. After reading these few pieces: the NPR news blog, the NPR article,and the Wired article, I think that Wikipedia may be a trusted resource, but very rarely. I think that the Wikipedia Scanner that has been developed by Virgil Griffith is an incredibly helpful tool for Wikipedia users. Now, everyone can see who is making the edits to the online encyclopedia and judge whether or not the information is true. I also think that people will think before they edit Wikipedia since they can be traced using the Wikipedia Scanner. I think that Wikipedia can be used as a trustful source of information if, and only if, the information can be found true when compared to other sources. Also, other sources must be searched for information that may have been left out or deleted from Wikipedia. I think that because of the development of the Wikipedia Scanner, Wikipedia will become more trustworthy. However, I think that as long as the general public can edit entries, it is not completely reliable. I, personally, do not want to use Wikipedia because there are more trustworthy resources available.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Before I begin to discuss the information presented in Randy Pausch's Last Lecture I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this video. This man is so energetic and optimistic while going through something that causes most people to be depressed. His talk inspired me as a future teacher and a person. These things I should know and do, but I needed to be reminded to live my life to the fullest, take everyday for granted, and know that everyone that I come into contact with is important. He discussed several ideas and techniques that are not only useful to teachers but good principles for life. He talked about chasing your dreams, helping others, and also gave very good advice.

Randy Pausch mentioned dreams throughout the entire lecture. He talked about how important it is to go after your own specific dreams. I think that it is important to recognize your goals at a young age and practice making effort to achieve those dreams and goals. This sets up a lifestyle that will bring more success than one with no determination to reach any goals. He also talked about how important fundamentals are in your life. We learn certain things at a young age that can be used throughout life. He called those fundamental lessons "head fakes" because we get them indirectly from learning something else. His example was how sports teach us teamwork, discipline, and perseverance which is exactly right. This concept can easily be used in the classroom because you can make learning fun and interesting by playing games or doing fun projects while teaching the students the lesson behind it all.

In his lecture, Randy Pausch also discussed the importance of other people in our lives and us in other people's lives. He worked on several programs (Alice, Building Virtual Worlds, and Entertainment Technology Center Masters) that required students to work together in groups. Their success was determined by the group. Throughout life, we have to learn to work with other people. Teamwork and an open mind are required of most people on a daily basis, so it is important that we learn those skills at a young age and continue to practice those things. His students received a bar chart that showed them the feedback from their classmates as to how well they worked with others. Feedback is always important, and we should take that information and use it to fix the problems and better ourselves. Randy Pausch made the point that when no one bothers to tell you that you are doing something wrong, that is bad because that means they have given up on you. He made the point that everyone in our lives is important; teachers, friends, colleagues, and even students are all people that we can learn from. Also, I completely agree with him that we need to take advantage of opportunities to help other people.

Randy Pausch had very good advice to pass on in his last lecture. One of the most important points to him seemed to be to always have fun. I agree that this is something that will definitely help teachers because students are always eager to have fun. It makes it easier to learn something that is presented in an interesting, enthusiastic manner. He also said that we never need to lose our childlike wonder. This is so true. One of my favorite things that he said was that brick walls do have a very important purpose. He said that they are there to keep out the people that did not want it badly enough and to let the people that did want it badly enough to prove that. This was something that is inspirational to me because I often get overwhelmed and ask "Why?" when I hit a brick wall. He also made the point that you have to decide if you are Tigger or Eeyore. Only you can decide if you want to be happy and optimistic about life, or pessimistic and become a victim of your circumstances. Even in spite of the fact that he is dying, he decided to be a Tigger, and that spoke to me because I find myself being more of an Eeyore sometimes and I would love to change that. I like that he closed with the "head fake" of the entire lecture, and that was that he was trying to tell us that the big picture of his talk was that these things are ways that we should live our life. Thank you Randy Pausch for a wonderful, inspirational last lecture.

Karl Fisch- Is It Okay to be a Technologically Illiterate Teahcer?

After reading Mr. Fisch's post, I thought that it was very blunt, but needed to be said. There are so many teachers that think that is it okay to be technologically illiterate. Some teachers think that if they only use PowerPoint to teach, that is enough. Others think that if they give students a list of helpful internet sites, they have done enough. This is not true. To be technologically literate is to have a number of abilities and qualities. Technologically literate teachers are a necessity in schools today in order for the students to reach their full potential and be successful now and always.

I must agree with Mr. Fisch's statement, "If a teacher today is not technologically literate- and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more-it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write." He is right that people who are technologically illiterate do not have as many opportunities for success as those who can use technology. Teachers have to be willing to accept changes in technology, learn how to use new technological tools and incorporate them into the class, and learn, sometimes along with the students. Although I do not think that technology is the top priority in the classroom, I have to agree that it is a vital tool. Almost every day we are required to use some form of technology, and it is going to continually move in that direction. Who are we, as teachers, to hinder the students from being able to perform what will be basic tasks in a few years?

It's Not About the Technology

I completely agree with the post that Kelly Hines wrote. She said quite a few things that I have believed and tried to get other people to see for a while. Technology is not the key to education in the future. It is important, useful, convenient, and is a great supplement. I just don't think it should be the top priority. She mentioned some things that teachers must understand and be willing to do before they can be successful. I believe that the teacher is the foundation in the classroom, and if the foundation is not strong, it cannot support the rest of the structure (students), with or without the help of the technological tools. Mrs. Hines said that teachers must be learners and have a pro-learning attitude. That is exactly what I hope to be. If the teacher is unwilling to learn, I do not think that he or she will be keen to learn to use and get creative with technology enough to be successful with it and benefit the students.

I especially liked when Mrs. Hines applied physics to education and said that if the students did not learn anything, then no teaching was done. She said, "Teaching in the 21st century is going to be about working smarter, not harder." That is exactly right. Too many teachers push and push the information onto students, but they do not get creative enough and manipulate the method of teaching enough for the students to learn. I think that technology could be used as an aid to present the material differently and more creatively, but I think that it would have to start with the teacher being willing to get creative. There were several topics that present things that teachers can improve themselves before getting technology involved that would be beneficial. I think that the bottom line is that in order for technology to be used successfully, the teacher must be able to be successful without it, by having those qualities that Mrs. Hines listed. Better teachers is the priority, technology is the supplement that, when combined with a great teacher, will bring a number of possibilities for achievement into the classroom.

A Vision of Students Today

This video, Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today, hit the nail on the head. In the college education system, there are more wrongs than rights, I believe. Students like myself are desperate for a degree because there will be no bright and hopeful future without it. Yet, students are just making their personal debt pile higher and higher because the expenses are so outrageous. Sure, it is an investment in our future. However, I think there needs to be a reform in the financial aspect of college education. I think that is is unfair to overwhelm students with such a huge financial burden when they are already dealing with so much in the transition process of becoming a college student. Plus, students are seeing more and more problems in and out of the classroom, which makes it easier to complain about the cost. I am paying a very large amount of money, and while I know that college is not a business, I do not think that I should feel like there are more wrongs than rights with the college education system. I think there is a way to combine customer and student into one and make college more in favor of the students since they are the ones that are paying most of the bills and keeping the college in business.

The video pointed out some problems in the classroom environment. There was a sign that said the student's average class size was 115. This is not uncommon in most schools. I have a couple of large classes, and I have noticed that the teacher may or may not make an effort to get to know individuals and names. Most of the time, students are just a number to those teachers, which usually makes the teacher seem less personable and approachable to the students. Also, most teachers just present the material in a lecture format, and they do have a thorough knowledge of the information but the way in which it is presented is hard to understand or keep focused on. Maybe that is why so many students skip class or browse the internet while the instructor is speaking. I know that personally, I want to learn those things that will help me in my future career and I think it would benefit many students to have more hands on training in their field and less time sitting, listening (or not) to a teacher repeat themselves in an unappealing manner. Also, those classes that are irrelevant to my field are just costing me unnecessary money. There may be advantages to becoming more "well rounded", but there are too many of those classes that are in the general studies category that are required. I am not saying cut out all of those, but I don't want to spend two years of time and money reading and hearing things that I am going to forget before I even graduate. As a college student, I am trying to prepare myself for a future career and I want to learn the things that will aid me in that. All of those extra classes are just a waste of time and money that I could be spending on job training. Also, the price of textbooks was brought up in the video. It is hard for me to understand why I need to spend so much money on a book that I barely use for only four or five months. Even if I use the textbook, I do not usually keep it. Then there goes five or six hundred dollars usually per semester in textbooks, down the drain.

The video had several students saying that they facebook in class and do other things on their laptops than take notes. I do not bring my laptop to class, but I see students in all of my classes browsing the internet and looking at things that have nothing to do with the class. We are paying all this money ( or borrowing and will pay later) to sit in class and play around on the computer or not come to class at all. That is the students' faults, of course. However, don't you think that if the lecture was presented in a way that caught and held our attention that we would be more apt to stay focused? I know that college professors and doctors do not have to have a teaching degree to teach, and I am not sure that is the problem. I just know that without having training in teaching, they may not know some methods to present the material in a better way that would benefit the students and themselves. It seems as if sometimes the teachers are not interested in helping the students at all, and I think that is wrong. As for the comment about people thinking that technology can save us, I am not sure what my opinion is yet. I can see where technology can be convenient, and a time saver, but as for a life saver in college, I am not so sure.I think that a lot could change in the attitude of the students and in the polices of the colleges to make college into a better, more beneficial institution.

Plagiarism

The United States' copyright regulations protect original works in many different types of media. Authors who produce an original work, even if it is unfinished, can get a copyright for their work. Literature is not the only thing that get a copyright, but musical works, dramatic works, architectural works, and more can be protected too. This is to ensure that the public will know the original creator of the work so that everyone does not claim the credit for it. Because of the copyright laws, it is important to give credit to the original creator or author of the work when the ideas or statements you are presenting are not yours originally. If you fail to give credit to the original author, you have committed plagiarism.

Plagiarism is one of the worst offenses that a student can make and is usually grouped in the academic dishonesty category (cheating). There are several ways to give credit to the original author and avoid plagiarizing. For example, when using a direct quote from someone (as in an interview, for example) or someone else's work, use quotation marks and give the name of the source from which it came. Also, if you are paraphrasing someone else's words, you must use your own words to summarize the work and cite the source from which those things came. There are some things that you do not have to cite a source for such as common knowledge and, of course, your own experiences, thoughts, and ideas that did not come from anyone else. Sometimes people accidentally plagiarize because some things are unclear whether to cite or not, but when in doubt you should go ahead and cite the source. That will avoid trouble in case you would have plagiarized without citing. Plagiarism is a serious offense, and it is completely avoidable. We must all remember to give credit where credit is due.

This information is a summary from the following plagiarism websites:
The OWL at Purdue 1
The OWL at Purdue 2
Indiana University Writing Tutorial Services
Bates College Statement on Plagiarism
U.S. Copyright Office

Alternative Web Browsing

There are several useful alternative tools that make it possible for people with disabilities to use the internet. There are several federal acts and guidelines that require the availability of information via internet sources to the general public, which includes people with disabilities. Examples of these include the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Web Accessibility Initiative is an effort to better the accessibility and use of the internet for those who have disabilities as well as for people who have alternative devices to use, such as cell phone users. Because of these things, several helpful tools have been developed including alternative we browsers and user agents. By using voice recognition, Braille and audio output, and other methods, the entire general public can access information and maneuver around the world wide web effectively.

Certain browsers are designed specifically for the disabled. These include Braillesurf, with speech and Braille output as well as large text; Marco Polo with speech output, auditory icons, and simple keyboard commands; and MultiWeb with screen magnification, speech output, and scanning for switch to devices just to name a few. There are also browsers that are for general use but include adaptive technology that allow enhanced screen navigation options. A few examples are Lynx, Internet Explorer, and Opera. Certain useul devices are available to use with a computer such as a screen reader that reads all parts of the screen for totally blind users. The screen magnification software, voice recognition software, screen readers, and alternative browsers make it possible for people with disabilities to access and browse the internet effectively.

This information is a collaboration from Stephen Sullivan's blog presentation and an Alternative Web Accessibility website.

Podcast Resource

I visited the Langwitches Blog site, click here to see it, and it had some very helpful guidelines on creating a pbodcast. They talked about finding what fits your group and purpose of the podcast. There was a list of different types of recordings, which is a good reference. They listed the steps for each step in developing a podcast. The list included some things listed that I would not have thought of in the process of creating a podcast. One of those things was showing the students what their voices "look" like in audacity. They also said to add in sound effects to mark transitions. This list will be a great tool to use in my classes in the future.

The site also included several examples of students' podcasts. They were fun to listen to and were nicely done, especially for such young students. Those will also be something useful to listen to when I am doing podcasts myself. There was also a list of several sites that might be interesting to visit under the heading Interesting Stuff to the left side of the page. It is always good to be able to see additional resources while you are looking at a site. The Langwitches Blog is useful now and will be a great tool later as well.

Videocast from past class response

After listening to the Technology Literate Teacher video podcast, I see things that will help me make a better video podcast myself. They did several good things that made the videocast good, but there were several things that could have been done differently to make it even better. They were very clear in their speech, which was good. I had no problems understanding their conversations. They were conversational when they talked, which is how videocasts are supposed to be. They stayed on subject for the most part, and that made it easier for me to pay attention. These are things that I will remember when I do a videocast.

There were a few things that I could try to do differently than they did in order to make a good videocast myself. Most of the time, only two women were dominating the conversation instead of all four making comments on the current topic. I think everyone in the group should be prepared to give input on most of the topics. Also, some of them looked very uncomfortable. I know it is understandable to be nervous, but you should become more comfortable and involved in the conversations at some point. These are some things that I can make improvements on in my own video podcast.

To see the Tech Literate Teacher videocast, Click Here.