My last blog, for now!

Thinking about this class and how I think it will help me makes me proud. I know that all the items we have learned are going to prove to be very helpful to me in my teaching experience. I have learned a lot of important tools that I have already put into use in my classroom (even though I am not the teacher). I have shared many things with my staff and even taught the kids a few things. I do believe that it is important to know these things we have learned because our kids are learning them. If we are out of date with our students then we will not teach them. I am overwhelmed by the things I have learned to do, Blog, make a website and social bookmarking to name a few. I would have never imagined I would create a website with links and the whole nine yards. I think now that I am comfortable with it I will use these things more often. I found myself bragging to my mom tonight telling her that I have an electronic portfolio. Who would have thought? I told my kids today how easy it is to do. I explained that it can be started now and added on to because it is a "living document". They were blown away. I will use these things. Even if I can not find a reason I will make one. I feel that it is important not only for my future as a teacher but for their future as students!
E- Portfolio site: www.chauncywatts.weebly.com

Interactive White Boards

I have had the chance to see a classroom with a IWB and without in the alternative education setting. It has been a saving grace for our students. When a teacher knows how to use them and is using them to the best ability it really engages the students. They enjoy being a part of the learning and being able to teach some of the teachers how to use them. It has gotten students involved in some many topics and subjects that I witnessed them not being interested in. However, when a teacher does not use them to their potential it can become a major distraction. When a teacher is simply just popping on videos it does not interest the students. It is really just being used as a VCR. I do believe that it is an amazing addition to any classroom and offers the students the ability to use hands on for things like science experiments that they may not have had the ability to use before. I would love to have one when I am a teacher because I have found so many things that are useful and with the tools that I have acquired in this class it has strengthened my ability to not be scared of the IWB. I love them and I wish I would have had them when I was in school!

You tube site

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NipS2z_Skrc (I think)

Video Project

I was very surprised how my group worked together. In the busy life of ours and not getting to really know one another we worked awesome. We (together) were able to combine thoughts, ideas and knowledge about the project and get the job done. I was unsure how much of the information I was able to learn and retain about the computer and I surprised myself. I was able to help my team cut what needed to be cut and work through some of our difficulties. We had an original idea of how we were going to present the chat between the child and skanky scotty and it just did not work out. Together, we were able to utilize what we had learned to come up with an alternate. I feel like I learned how to utilize this video program and make it work. From the way the team worked together and really were not stumped I feel they learned too. I really think that the project could not have gone any better and in my mind we could have completed something longer and more complex if needed. Being able to take what was taught and apply it really gave me a boost when it comes to being back in school. I was afraid that I could not take the information given to me and apply it and I did. It really helped to take a video that I had my hands in and use the cut, fades, music and other options to get the true understanding of how it works. I really see this as being a valuable tool to students if it is available to them. It could make projects so much more interesting and bearable to complete.

Video

Video was mostly utilized with me in the past by taping presentations and playing them back. It helped me to become a better public speaker and to watch my mistakes that I made. I certainly could have used video to "spice" up any presentation I had. I did use a lot of movie clips and other things like that to emphasize my topic. I could have seen more use in my drama classes then anywhere else. It would have been fun to tape things and play them. I could see using video in my classes (especially in Literature) to have students describe or reenact the plays and classic novels in their own words. They could add music and turn it into whatever they wanted. It would be easy to teach a students something if they can make it their own. I would enjoy seeing the creative sides of the students in my class. When you allow someone to make something their own, I feel you are going to get a better response.
I also could see utilizing video instead of a school newspaper. Allow the students to tape the events that will occur almost like a news show. That would be the perfect assignment for an English class. I would imagine that you could use video with just about anything and allow a lot more creativity and there would be a job for everyone. If a person did not like being on the camera he/she could operate, write or make the story line allowing for all to be involved. The more hands on stuff a student can be involved in the more engaged that student is.
It is also important to utilize the things that are out there to enhance ones education. History channel, Aand E, youtube, etc. When a student can watch something and take it in they will understand it. When video is used to reinforce the idea then it is well worth it.

The end to endless possibilities

I am so glad that this reading addressed the lack of technology that is accessible to the children of the age of "net generation". I see this everyday at my program. The students at the school have the ability to text and some are on face book. (I have found that even if they are not on face book they will lie to the other kids and say they are to save face). This does effect how involved technology is in their lives. It would be wrong of a teacher at my school to assign a student a solely technology based assignment because whether it be for reasons of finances or the student has been legally banned from Internet and computer usage for legal infractions that student could not complete the assignment. I am a firm believer that all students want to learn so it is not that the concepts are far off. The kids in my building are telling the staff how to use the smart boards on a daily bases. They know more than we do when it comes to this. I believe to teach the "net generation" we must listen. Listen to their lives. What are they capable of outside of school and to teach on that level. Try and have everyone on the same page. If a teacher is going to teach a technology inclined listen put everyone on the same level of what is available to them. Do not assume that because they are in this age group that they know everything that the next 14 year old does. It is also not a good idea to assume publicly that they do not. I believe this will be one of the hardest generations to educate based on all the different socioeconomic statuses that are out there. The different religions, families, homes, availability to all the tools needed. It is assumed that we all have a computer, Internet and that we can all read how to complete lessons. I believe that now we may not be able to assume that of our students. It is the world we are in today, laid off parents, Internet shut off because the choice had to be made to pay the electric. This is not going to go away. The children will receive the brunt of this and as educators we may not know this. It will be our job to talk to and listen to the children we wish to teach. That will be the only way they will learn. We will have to learn with them.

Social Bookmarking as a tool

Social bookmarking could really be used in multiple ways in the classroom. It could be used to assist children who are out for illnesses. The teacher could post Reading assignments for the students so they would be able to stay current with the class. The students could place assignments on their blogs and post blog addresses in the social bookmarking site. Another way that it could be used is for extra credit work. The teacher could post extra assignments for students to do on their own time and receive extra credit points. It could also be used as a tool to provide reinforcement for a lesson for those who do not understand their assignments. The Readings could go into further detail than the teacher has time to cover in the classroom.
In my setting (Alsace) it may not be as effective because the students are not allowed to go on the internet in school and for that we do not do any instruction on the internet.
I picked Diigo to use and it was fairly easy to figure out. My only problem was when I made my excel sheet I took off some of the web addresses to shorten them not realizing that it would create a problem. When I placed them on my Diigo they would not open. I also used a couple of the same sights and it would not put them in twice as different sites. I do believe that I would get better and more comfortable using this and could go through the steps with ease once I have practiced more. It will be something that I can find use for and have shared it with many of my colleagues.
My Diigo address is http://www.diigo.com/user/chauncymb03