iTunes U

With iTunes students can grab a meal, or drink even just ride around in their car while learning at the same time. It also allows students that are audio learners to learn. A student may not be a good note taker and this allows them to listen to a lecture rather than try and seat in class and take notes. iTunes provides another medium, and an alternative to learning.

I went to learnoutloud.com and it not only talks about many different techniques of learning but it also talks about the iTunes U. This site gives different insight about what it is and how it is useful. iTunes is 24/7 so its avaiable all the time. iTunes can be used on the go, it keeps students motivated and it allows the schools material to be open to the publi, alumni, and to whomever wants to learn.

At this site http://cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf
I found out some interesting insite on ipod technology. There were the pros and cons of the ipod use in classrooms.
Here are a couple of the pros:
*convenience for both faculty and students of portable digital course content, and reduced dependence on physical materials.
*Flexible-location independant access to digital and multimedia course materials, including reduced dependence on lab and library locations and hours.

Here are a couple of cons:
*Significant challenges in intergrating multiple systems for content storage, access, sharing and distribution with one another and with existing technology infrastructure.
*Absence of systems of bulk purchase or licensing of commercial mp3 audio content of acedemic use.

There are many more pros and cons for the use of ipods.

I also found a site in which a gentleman by the name of Robert Craven who is a teacher says "the ipod allows you to integrate audio seamlessly into the curriculum".
I think using the ipod in the classroom is is a great idea. Students can listen to readings at their own pace and use the voice recorder to tell the story in their own words.

Dr. Christie

When I visited this site I decided to look deeper at the safety for kids. Dr. Christie gives information on different websites that are "ok" for kids use. Although the internet is a good tool for learning it can also be ddangerous and Dr. Christie is aware of this and she gives different instruction about the safety of the internet.

Dr. Christie's site is very educational and she gives good background on everything she talks about. Not only does she like the idea of technology use in the classroom and think it is a very good tool, she also backs it up with information that would help everyone understand why technology is a good tool to be used in the classroom.

Wickipedia

Very interesting! I could not believe that anyone can change things on wickipedia. Honestly I have never used it. I really never understood it either. But I have a better knowledge of it and I really dont care for it.

I chose the March post. I chose this one because my birthday is in March and I hate making decisions so this made it easier for me. The post is called 2020 Vision on DesignShare. At first he talks about how he and another gentlemen through Doc sharing collaborated and designed this video/blog and they have never met. Now the blog is showing in many different design school architects, planners and designers. Karl Fisch said "The kindergartners that started school in 2007 will graduate in the spring of 2020." He is trying to explain that we need to have 2020 vision.

As educators we have a committment to teach students and help them get into college. Therfore, we have to think of the future. The future is what Karl Fisch was trying to explain with his blog. We as in educators, architects, workers of all kind need to be prepared for the future. The world is changing fast and if we live in the past our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and so forth will not be able to make it in the "real world".

I encourage everyone to look this blog over. Its kind of lengthly but very worth while.

My Thoughts.....

After reading Karl Fisch's blog I believe I have a better understanding of why technology is so important. I agree with what was said in his blog. In today's society, technology is everywhere, the grocery store, in homes, schools, business offices, I have even seen technology in a bathroom. So if you think about it technology is a good tool for everyone to be familiar with.

Teachers on the other hand should be more intune than most. There are so many ways for students to learn by using the internet/technology that if a teacher does not know what or how then the teacher may be keeping a student from expanding their mind. When I become a teacher I hope to know more about technology than I do now. There are so many different aspects of technonlogy that one could use in the classroom and I hope to keep expanding my technological abilities to better help with student learning.

Teaching in the South Pacific

This blog is in South Africa. Mrs Hayes is the teacher that set up the blog and it was a little different. It took me a while to find this but I'm glad I came across it. I noticed she talked about God in her class. This is different because we can not around her. There is a post she did for Mother's Day about why God made moms, she wanted to hear what her students thought about their moms. There is a list of about 11 questions she ask that range from Why did God make moms? to If there was one thing you could change about your mom what would it be? The comments the students made of course are sweet and they all talk great about their moms. One of the students says he/she would put make-up on her (mom) and thats what she would change. If you want to check it out go to http://thelivesofgrade2s.teacherlingo.com/default.aspx .
She also tells how teaching in the South Pacific is different from other places.

Why Let Students Blog

Rachel Boyd is a teacher of a year 1/2 class of 5 and 6 year olds. in Nelson, New Zealand. She has set up this blog to help students interact in the classroom. She posted a video of "Why Let Students Blog" and some of the reasons are to help students communicate, share, collaborate, discuss, enpowerment, interaction, motivation, engagement, excitment, conversation, creativity, reflection, and to extend the walls of the classroom. Her site has so many different links as well as her students postings with different writing and videos that you can respond to. I e-mailed the class to find more information as to what they think about blogging and now I am waiting to see what they say. I will keep everyone posted. Her link is http://rachelboyd.blogspot.com
I wanted to put the video up on this blog but I could not figure out how to so I just put a picture of her. If you get a chance check out her blog and the video of Why Let Students Blog, let me know what you think.

Sixth Grade English Class Blog

http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=17192

This is a 6th grade Language Arts class tacught by Julia Osteen at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, GA. This is her 21st year and she truly believes in her students having a greeat knowledge of technology. This blog allows her students to write summaries on books or articles they have read and post them. She really tries to reach out to her students and encourages them to use technology because it is a part of everyday life. At the top is a picture of her class.

Green Stream

This blog I found is a 9th grade class, I'm not sure where or what school it is but I really thought this class clog was very interesting. Anne Davis works in the Instructional Technology Center in the College of Education at Georgia State University. This blog was created to explore how ninth graders can use blogging to improve their literacies. The name of the ninth grade class blog is Green Stream. The class blog is mostly about going green and different things in the environment. It shows every students different blog entry and allows other people to come in and comment. I encourage everyone to take a closer look at this blog. http://itc.blogs.com/greenstream/

Shift Happens

When I was reading the blog topic for this week I did not know what to expect. After watching the video I was in awe. To see how much things have changed and seeing how many people use technology is to me mindblowing. Of course change happens everyday but to see how much change has accured of a few years really does make me wonder what the next generation will be like. Also, watching this video makes me want to explore the internet more and be "more intune" with the world of technology.

At first my view of the internet was very secluded because of all the "bad" things that are there. When I think about myself teaching in a couple of years, I always thought I would use the internet but not very much. After watching this video my thinking has changed. Although I will monitor what students explore on the internet, I will now encourage the use of the internet in my classroom.