Blogfolio

#1 Introduction video-- The introduction video meets the ISTE's NETS for teachers standards outlined in objective 3) C "communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats" The introduction video was a cool way to break the ice of  shyness and nervousness, that students often time experience when asked to stand up (in front of the classroom) and introduce themselves to their peers. Often time you feel under pressure as you try to think about what you're going to tell  the class (or what you want them to know) about you. The introduction video allows you to plan out and possibly rehearse what information that you would like to share with the audience. This technique is better because the student can create the recording anywhere ( in a comfortable and relaxed setting) and download it  to any computer. The recording can be edited to make it more personal (customized). It is a more creative way for not only your peers but also for teachers to get to know each individual. I did not like this particular assignment because we did this activity in class as a group  so therefore, students recorded one another. I was nervous and felt that I was put on the spot. However, I would have much rather have taken the camera home and made the recording on my own. In my opinion, I think this activity can be beneficial to the classroom because as I stated sometimes standing up in front of your peers and making an introduction can be challenging for some students.

#2 Concept Map-- Concept mapping meets the ISTE's NETS for teachers standards outlined in objective 1) C   "promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes" Concept mapping is a  creative diagram that allows students to use words, pictures, and form other ideas in any subject area to show relationship. It breaks away from the traditional brainstorming and jotting down ideas on paper. It is a more innovative and creative way of making connections between the main idea and its subtopics. The program itself has many examples and formats that you could choose. It also promotes individuality and the creativity of the students. Concept mapping  can be useful in the classroom because it allows the students to jot down main ideas (topics) and build relationships from that main topic. It enhances study skills and logical thinking patterns thus allowing students to view the parts of material as a whole. I liked concept mapping because the program was more creative than a typical cluster or tree branching map. I could use various shapes, color, and add images and form different lines patterns to show relationships .

#3 Voki-- Voki meets the ISTE's NETS for teachers standards outlined in objective 2) D " provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching" The voki tutorial is a fun and creative educational tool. It is easy to set up and it can be posted to any website or blog. This tutorial not only introduces learning material in a fun and innovative way but it promotes learning, motivates the students to participate more in the classroom and improves their study skills and comprehension. Teachers and students can create and customize speaking avatars. The information is typed (text) and the avatar can translate the information in several different languages. Since we live in the technological age, students as well as the teachers are shying away from the traditional classrooms. Teachers can post assignments and students can log on almost anywhere and not fall behind ( due to absences, activities/field trips during class times, or sports). Although, I had never heard of or used this tutorial before, I did find it quite interesting and somewhat useful for  future classrooms. In my opinion, I think we shouldn't deviate from the "hands-on" teaching methods of the past, but for this computer savvy generation this tutorial can be implemented into the traditional classroom setting as a reinforcement tool and creative learning strategy.

#4 Windows Movie Maker-- Windows movie maker meets the ISTE's NETS for teachers standards outlined in objective #1) A "promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness" The movie maker program, in my opinion, was much like a power point presentation. You can download images, add text, and sound. The program has unique because the  features enable students  to be creative and add a more personal touch and tailor made. For instance, if you have a lot of pictures loaded to a digital device,(such as a computer, camera, or  other devices); rather than trying to upload and share all these images via email or social networks, the pictures can be formatted to make a video. I have neutral feelings about this program, it was basically a power point presentation. It could be used  in a classroom because students would enjoy being able to download pictures and images of their choice and putting together  a story line.

#5 2.0 Sites-- 2.0 sites-- meets the ISTE's NETS for teachers standards outlined in objective #2) C "customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies , and abilities using digital tools and resources" Most of the applications on this site are helpful resources for students as well as teachers. These sites promote a more student-centered atmosphere than the traditional classrooms. Students tend to be more engaged in classroom discussions in the technological setting than teacher dominated classrooms. A student that is reserved might find it challenging to engage in a  regular classroom discussion but to engage in a discussion via blogs, wikis, etc they might be more prone to engage or participate. I did find some of these sites resourceful. There were some that as an educator I could use to create lesson plans, quizzes, and other educational games/activities that would motivate children to learn. Because technology is a vital part of our world and is being integrated into all the schools these programs are much needed tools. For the most part the sites that I did log on to were user friendly and implement creative and innovative ways to make learning fun.

101 Web 2.0 tools for teachers You should know about

I chose Sharendipity and Quizlet as the two tools that I would use in the classroom. The first one I chose was Sharendipity which allows you to create fun educational games. I chose this site because kindergarten students are easily distracted and need constant stimulation. This app allows the teacher to create word searches, puzzles, and other educational activities that are kid friendly and fun. It was easy to use and my son never noticed it was educational. It is a tool that parents could even sign up for to give the kids something to do on the weekends, during holiday and summer breaks to keep learning fresh on their minds. These games were not hard to create the tutorial walked you through the process step by step and there were several games to chose from for you to model so that you could personalize it. The second app I found interesting was the Quizlet, this app is perfect for students to use to study. On this app you can create flash cards. You can type the exact information you want on the card and it allows you to  choose different languages to be displayed on either (or both sides) of the cards. Quizlet would be ideal for children taking a foreign language. Also you can type a word on the front side of the card  and it will give you the definition of the word and places it on the other side of the card, which is great for definition quizzes. It also has a speaker so that it reads the information on the cards aloud which also is a good study technique. You can clear one side of the card so that you can test yourself  (from memory)on the information you know. It also shuffles the cards so they want be in any particular order.

gaming to reengage boys

First and foremost boys and girls are wired differently. Most boys have shorter attention spans than girls. This is why teachers and parents have to work together and finsd ways to keep their minds stimulated . Boys need to be able to explore everything in the world around them. I remember growing up boys were not allowed to play with 'girl' toys such as dolls and cooking sets because they were labeled ( it wasn't manly) if they did. However, it was okay for Suzy to play with Jim's toy cars and play football/catch with the boys.  In the black communities most African-American boys are being raised by single mothers along with many female siblings. They are not allowed to do "girlie" chores like washing the dishes, cooking, cleaning, or laundry. This same concept is being integrated in the schools. They are not only out numbered in the home but in the classroom as well. Teachers do not  let boys express or explore themselves to their full potential, they are given a set instruction or pattern to follow and can not deviate from it. Boys are not allowed to use their creativity through the arts or any other activities  because of the strict no tolerance laws set in place.  They are not allowed to be BOYS. They often do not try for this reason and fall behind and as a result give up and quit.
Video games allow them to be creative (selecting/creating avatars) they are allowed to apply  survivial skills and instincts while playing video games. We invest so much money in these violent video games, why not use this money to come up with more innovative learning tools (games) to keep our boys engaged and successful.

Video about modern technology

Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats

In my opinion, internet safety needs to be addressed at home first. Children in the US are given cell phones and are allowed to create facebook pages and my space accounts entirely way too early. Second, parents should at all times check to see what their children are doing online. Third, laws need to be changed regarding searching an electronic devise brought to school. If a school can check the content of a person's bookbag brought on campus and placed inside a locker (school property) then the school should be able to check the content of a digital device brought on the school ground. Teachers need to be more attentive to what's going on in the classrooms because most of this (bullying and threats) stems at school (in the classroom or on the playground) and then is carried to  social sites, because it is easier and much faster to spread rumors to a  larger crowd in just a short period of time. We are losing children at alarming rates due to suicide therefore, it is the responsibility of the parents and educators to take measures to prevent cyberbullying and cyberthreats from occuring at home and in schools.

Digital Citizenship

Because technology is vastly used and found in every arena in our everyday lives  (e.g., schools, workplace, homes, etc) we all need to be aware and take responsibility to make sure that it is properly being utilized for the purpose it was intended, people have abused technology severly and it is one of the reasons why I shy away from it in most cases. Personally I do not shop or pay bills on line out of fear of someone hacking into and retriving my personal information via internet. People have used technology to commit fraud and other vicious crimes like child pornography, cyberbullying, credit card fraud, etc. I use it srtictly as tool to research, keep in touch/track, and to communicate with realtives and friends who have moved away

Flipped Classrooms

Flipped classrooms has its advantages and disadvantages. Personally I prefer the tradition classroom lecture because I am more of a "hands-on" (visual) learner. Watching a pre-recorded lecture will allow me to become distracted especially if I did not get the point the first time and have to constantly rewind the video. Because many children already struggle with short attention span in the traditional classroom this may not be the answer either.  In subjects like math and science (which are my weakiest areas) I need to be able to ask questions right then. I do agree however, for a student who is out due to sports or even an illness this type of classroom setting has some advantages because they can stay afloat with the subject material, it's as if they never even missed class. Another advantage is that it allows the students more time to complete expieriments and clean the room in a resonable time period that wouldn't run into the next class.

Sharks concept map

SHARKS

 Tiger sharks
 Tigers sharks are common in tropical waters throughout the world. They get their name for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles.; as they mature the lines fade and almost disappear. They have sharp serrated teeth and are second to great whites in attacking people. They have an average life span of up to 50 years.
  Consummate Scavengers
  Blunt-Nosed Predators
Bull Sharks
Bull sharks live high population areas like tropical shorelines. They are grey on top and white below and their fins have dark tips. They are the most dangerous sharks in the world . They are currently not threatened or endangered species. They have a life span of about of about 16 years.
 Most Dangerous
 Found in Gulf of Mexico
  Territorial

 Hammer-head Sharks
 Hammerhead are found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide. They have wide set eyes that gives them better visual range than most other sharks. Their oddly shaped heads improve their ability to find prey. They are considered the largest of the 9 identified species and are fairly small and are considered harmless to humans. They have an average life span of up to 20 to 30 years.
  Aggressive Hunters
  Dorsal Fins
Great White Sharks

Great white sharks are found in cool coastal waters throughout the world. They are torpedo-shaped with power tails that can propel them through the water up to 15 miles per hour. They have serrated teeth behind the main ones, ready to replace any that break off. They are ranked first in a list of number of recorded attacks on humans. They reach maturity at 15 years of age and have a life span of over 30 years.
 Endangered
  JAWS
 Largest Predatory Fish
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks are the second largest fish in the sea. The whale shark populates all tropical seas. It migrates every spring to the continental shelf of the central west coast of Australia. It is a threatened species, but they are gentle giants who swim with its mouth open wide collecting plankton and small fish. They have an average life span of about 70 years.
 Filter Feeders
 Threatened Species

Sharks

CIPA

Schools and educators need to search for programs that filter all Internet activity securely.There are easy to install and use programs out there that are affordable and allow them to keep the discounts for the E-rate program. In my opinion, these educators are already carrying a stressful workload and the federal government keeps adding to it. Teachers are taking on more and more responsibilities and not receiving any more pay. Teachers should only have to monitor the usage of Internet activity while students are using it in the classroom. There is a software program called OpenDNS that is a filtering system to block harmful content while protecting students and school computers from the latest security threats. From the article I read about it, it is easy to use and still allows schools to receive the discounts offered through E-rate.

Safe Social Networking

We live an age where technology is a huge part of our everyday life. Sometimes the only we interact is through social networks. If I usually want to know something about an event, person, etc I can log on to my facebook and find out. So why not build an academic social network for children to learn and interact with peers and teachers. I feel this site should be monitered at all times to keep children from distractions like games, socializing (not pertaining to the lesson/discussion), etc. Often time teachers don't have enough time in class to cover every they may need to and having this site allows the teacher to touch every base that needs to be addressed. Students who may play a  sport  can stay on track or if a student misses a day of class.Even the student who is shy or afraid to stand up in front of the class and ask questions can benefit from this social tool.

A future full of badges

Using badges is not a bad idea in the educational realm, because it is a way of tracking a students' mastery levels and it allows the student to continue to build on it. However, it can be harmful to the workforce in some instances; in my opinion, badges will eventually do away with personable interviews; by allowing the employer to pull up a list of the applicants skills. You do not get to meet the real person or get to know his character and personality. Also not every skill or learning objective can be acquired from the classroom or a book, sometimes depending on the type of  job a more "hands-on" approach is more beneficial because you will have to apply these skills on the job. Experience is the best teacher and that can't be covered in a textbook, only by doing.

Blog Post #5

No two children are alike; therefore, when it comes to learning, there are visual learners and auditory learners. Gamificaton is a innovative and creative way of learning for the visual learner and children who suffer from ADD,ADHD, or any other learning disabilities. For my son who is ADHD, I incorporate learning games to help as a visual guide,( because he's a visual learner) to keep him  motivated about learning. It stimulates his mind, as well as keeps him focused (where sometimes in class he can't sit still or has problems paying attention). The only downfall to this style of learning, in my opinion, would be the competitiveness. Again, in my opinion I think it would single children out, who may not catch on like some of  the other children, thus making the child frustrated and discouraged.Gamification should be challenging however, its main goal should be to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the individual. Its primary function should be to track the progress of the student. It should be a building block (to strengthen weaknesses) and help bridge the gap between the "No Child Left Behind" Act.

Blog post #3

I'm not at all surprised at the statics in this video. First of all, the kids of the 21st century virtually grew up with advanced  technology. My seven year old can perform tasks on my smart phone that I still haven't figured out. He can navigate the web and download music and apps. It is amazing to me how computer literate he is. My generation  did not have or either could not afford the technology they we now today. I was an adult when  I purchased my very own PC. I did not have any (much) training, what I learned was largely from my oldest son (who was using computers in junior high school). Schools were integrating the use of computers in the classrooms as research tools.  I am still not that knowledgeable when it comes to all the latest technology.
Schools in the US have cut back so much that it is virtually impossible for our kids to keep up with foreign countries.  Schools are only partly to blame, parents need to bear some of the responsibility as well. We spend mega bucks on clothes,sneakers, game systems, IPods,  smart phones, etc...instead of investing in our child's education. Our children spend countless hours on social media sites, texting, and playing  games,  instead of utilizing that time to study. This attributes to poor study habits or the lack of.
Another argument is the fact that some veteran teacher's have a fear of technology. I have been in classrooms just recently where the instructor did not even know how to work a projector, she  would constantly request a tech to come in and "fix it" (all she needed to do was turn it on with the remote). You can not teach what you do not know. Therefore workshops and adequate training should be a major focus in all schools.
As far as the job market is concerned, most (if not all) require basic computer knowledge. I am a sales associate in a retail store and when I was hired I had to have experience with certain software programs (to even qualify for the position). Even in the medical field it is important to be able to know how to operate the various equipment.

Web literacy/Technology

First and foremost, one of the main  reasons  schools aren't teaching web literacy is largely due to cost. Second, is the fact that most veteran teachers aren't too computer savvy. Lastly, technology is constantly changing, which makes it harder to stay afloat.This affects me not only as a student, but  also as an Elementary major because I too, am not as knowledgeable when it comes to modern technology. I was first introduced to the computer in high school for the sole purpose of typing. I had never surfed the web nor did I have to do any kind of research; this was strictly a tool used to aid me in regards to typing. By the time I owned my own PC; I had very limited skills, and  once I mastered one goal, a new and improved technique came along. case in point, I have an older PC therefore the software is outdated. I recently upgraded to Microsoft Office 2007 and  mostly everyone is using Microsoft Office 2010.

Introduction

My name is Trahera Neely. I am the mother of two boys Ashley and Ashton. I am currently enrolled at USM Gulf Coast to become an Elementary School Teacher. I read inspirational books in my spare time and I like to study my bible. I am originally from the Gulf Coast however, I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. I moved away after to Georgia after Hurricane Katrina; where I plan on moving back too after finishing up my degree here. My future goal is to counsel youth in the inner city.