Project 13

My EDM 310 group designed a lesson using the Project Based Learning format. We decided to teach a third grade class about natural disasters. In order to teach the students about natural disasters, we created a project that engaged the students in the learning process through individual and group research as well explained the real world application of their activity. The project has the students use technology in order to describe a specific natural disaster, explain the cause and warning signs of the disaster, then create and demonstrate a safety plan. Here is our lesson plan, calendar, checklist, and two rubrics (group project and individual assessment) describing the project and how the students will be graded.


Links:

Lesson PlanGroup Project Rubric
Individual Effort Rubric
Checklist
Calendar

Project #8: Book Trailer

Blog Post #6

What do you learn from these conversations with Anthony Capps?

Anthony Capps is a very successful teacher in Baldwin County. It was a great learning opportunity to be able to have access to these videos. He has been exactly where we are, and has become a better teacher because of it. The statement that caught my attention most was stated by Capps, "Never limit your students, by giving them exactly what you want them to do. Create an opportunity for them to go beyond what you want them to do. They will do it." I learned throughout the series that kids will surprise you. They will teach you things, and you will teach them things. If you go into this profession thinking that you, the teacher, know it all. You are completely wrong. A lot of things covered in these videos I have, nor would have, ever thought of. He explained his different style of teaching, project based learning, and how it has changed his classroom. He told stories of his different projects he has give to his students. Some went great, but others turned out to be different than planned. He explained that a part of being a great teacher is being flexible. Things will not always go as planned, and that is okay. It is important to keep an open mind and go with the flow.

Using technology in the classroom is still a new concept for most of us. The most I used a computer for in my elementary classes were for AR reading test. We must not teach technology, but simply use it. The students have been growing up in a technology based society, they probably know more about things that we do. By giving them the opportunity to use these different types of technology in their projects, they improve their skills for use in the future. Capps said that we should scaffold the technology starting at the beginning of the school year. Do not expect things to be perfect. Let them use one tool at a time, and progress them with each project. They will remember how to use certain things to better their individual work.

Lastly, I learned how to be a teacher. Being a teacher is more than just going in, doing the minimum work, sending the students home, and your day is over. Being a teacher is being a learner. You constantly want to learn new things, or how to better yourself. You catch yourself talking with others about new ideas. You research different styles, and know how to tie it in to your ACCRS standards. You should love what you do. Be excited about seeing your students light up about things. You are changing their lives. Even if you do not feel like you make a difference, they are becoming a better person because of you. Keep the fire and excitement into teaching. Those are the teachers that make this world a better place.

Links to all of Dr. Strange and Anthony Capps videos:
1. Project Based Learning Part 1
2. Project Based Learning Part 2
3. iCurio
4. Discovery Education
5. The Anthony- Strange List of Tips for Teachers part 1
6. Don't Teach it. Use it.
7. Additional Thoughts About Lessons

Project 6: C4K Summary for September

C4K #1

Christopher's Blog @ PT England School

Christopher's blog post was about the book Goosebumps by R.L Stine. “My Book Review” by Christopher was posted on September fourth. In their blog post they were given a list of genres to categorize their books. He highlighted that Goosebumps was a fiction horror book. He rated the reading level as medium, and gave the book three stars. Christopher's review of the book was, "Jaskson Stander is every parents dream. He doesn't get into trouble he always does his home work and he never ever lies".

My comment was as follows.
Christopher,
Hi, my name is Coley Stephens. I am in the EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I have read a few of your blog post. I have also loved every single blog post, especially this one.
I used to love reading the Goose Bumps series whenever I was in middle school! I really wish we could have written book reviews like this when I was in school. It seems like it would help you remember it if you have to take a test on it, since you have to read so many during the school year. What did you like most about this book? R. L Stine really knows how to keep you on your toes with his books. I am usually hooked after the first two pages!
I hope you have a great day!



C4K #2

Grace's Blog

Grace's blog post about "The Elephant Whisperer Extract 3" The questions were not in her post but these were her answers:

"1. The elephants would feel very confused, annoyed and scared. They would also not feel free because they like to walk for miles and miles.

2. I think Laurence will feel bad, and when no-one was looking, he would let the elephants out the gate to walk free.

I looked up the book online to write my response. It seemed like a very interesting book to read, and I would like to use it in my class one day."


My comment:
My name is Coley, and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am in a class called EDM310, where I’m learning all about blogs and other technology. I love the green font to this post. I have a few questions for you. What did you enjoy most about the book? If they had not escaped, do you think the outcome would be different? I think Lawrence had his work cut out for him, and he knew it, because he called them “notorious escape artist”. I love animals, so I wrote this book down to read during my Christmas break. I hope you have a great week!



C4K #3

Skylar's Blog

Skylar's blog post was titled, "My Groceries". He wrote the following:

"I just got home from school and my mom said ” I got you a couple of things at the store”.  I went in the kitchen and took a look in the bags, I saw two soft green peppers, three oranges, and some soap that had a picture of a crocodile on it. After I took the soap out my mom yelled ” I forgot, to buy some chocolate milk, sorry”.  I said that’s ok. So then I began to put everything away. And then my mom  asked me if I had any homework. I said yes and then I did it."

My comment:
Hi, Skylar, my name is Coley. I attend the University of South Alabama, and I am in a class called EDM310. We learn all about how to use blogs and technology effectively. I'm sure you are much better at it than most of us.
I am curious, what was the assignment exactly for your "My Groceries" post. Side note, oranges are my favorite fruit!
"So then I began to put everything away. And then my mom asked me if I had any homework. I said yes and then I did it". With these lines, you might want to go back and check your comma placement. I would hate for your teacher to read it and count off points.
Other than that one slight misunderstanding, your blog post was very comical. I really enjoyed reading it, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else you write about.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

If you want to visit my blog site, here is the link: My Class Blog EDM310

My Sentences

Project #3. Presentation.

Blog Post 5. PLN's What are They? 1

What are Personal Learning Networks (PLN)?
Personal Learning Networks seem to be the best way to connect with people and tools that you can use when you need help, someone to talk to, and collaboration for new ideas. Teaching in the 21st century you have to be up-to-date on all the technology children are using. Incorporating this into your every day classroom prepares them for the future. If the students are already ahead of our generation, how can we better ourselves to teach effectively? Through PLN's you can ask questions, find websites, blogs, and get help in a matter of seconds. As teachers it is important that we continue to learn.

In Vicki Davis's blog, Personal Learning Networks Are Virtual Lockers for Schoolkids she states, "A PLN becomes a student's virtual locker, and its content changes based on the student's current course work". She explains how her students use iGoogle to help organize their their research. "Constructing a PLN is the essential skill that moves my students into the driver's seat of their own learning.", Davis Says.

If teachers want to be effective in their classrooms creating their own PLN is the way to do just that. Using sites like Edutopia, Creating and PLN with Web 2.0 Tools, and Twitter to form your own personal learning network. It can link you with more people and new ideas. Everyone, teachers and students, can be thinkers and investigators.

How can they help you as a teacher? How are they formed?
There are many ways to form a personal learning network. Dr. Strange has said that Twitter is a very good source. He provided us with links to sites that help you organize those PLN's, Symbaloo and Netvibes, as well as a list of helpful educators and their twitter namesProject 6.

They can help you be a learner yourself, as well as teach your students to look farther than just what google has to offer. It can connect you and your students all over the world. They can make skype calls with scientist who can explain their questions, they can email professors to get more information, and they can even send a quick tweet and wait for a response. The students stay engaged and interested with all the different resources they now have access to.

Who will be the first additions to your PLN?
I have already created a twitter account, separate from my personal one, just for connections in the more professional education world. I have added Dr. Strange, Dr. Vitulli, EDM310 Staff Members, classmates, authors, Education Weekly, edu blogs, and many others. I have enjoyed looking through my TweetDeck at what people post. They usually have links and helpful hints. Although, I am just starting my PLN it has already been helpful. I am excited to add to my personal learning network, especially when I do need help or ideas in my higher education classes.

Project #15. Search Engines

Different Search Engines for Different things.

1. Bing -"Bing is a search engine that brings together the best of search and people in your social networks to help you spend less time searching and more time doing."

Bing is very similar to google. It is google's biggest competition. I use bing for their images and suggest other do too, and the way they connect things similar to you and what you've looked at before. They have a bing app you can download on your phone for quick and easy access as well. They partner with MSN, outlook.com, xbox, windows, office, and microsoft word.

2. Dogpile- "InfoSpace metasearch engine offering search of the general web, or images, audio, video and news. Also offers search of Yellow Pages and White Pages."

"The time-saving philosophy of metasearch is so important to us that it even inspired our name! In rugby, players come together and pile on top of one another. This is exactly what Dogpile’s metasearch technology does – it compiles all the best results in one easy-to-access place! And because every good team needs a loyal mascot, we adopted Arfie. You can find him any time on Dogpile, where he works as a retriever of sorts. When you search the Web on Dogpile, he’s quick to fetch the exact results you want when you want them."

3.WolframAlpha- "Wolfram|Alpha introduces a fundamentally new way to get knowledge and answers— not by searching the web, but by doing dynamic computations based on a vast collection of built-in data, algorithms, and methods."

This website is good at giving you just the information you need. It does not send you all over the web for answers. It gives you graphs and all the stats on everything you want to know.

4. Yahoo-"Yahoo is focused on making the world's daily habits inspiring and entertaining - whether you're searching the web, emailing friends, sharing photos with family, or simply checking the weather, sports scores or stock quotes."

Yahoo is mainly known for YahooMail and YahooNews. It is along the same lines as bing and google. They take pride in their news stories and keep their site up to date. I would see people using it more for mail and news rather than searching, but it does the same tasks that bing and google do.

5.Ixquick- "Ixquick search engine provides search results from over ten best search engines in full privacy. Search anonymously."

They advertise that you can search privately. It includes Advance Searches, and global searches. You can search for phone numbers with their International Phone Directory.

6.Duck Duck Go- "DuckDuckGo is a search engine driven by community – you're on the team! "We're not just servers and an algorithm. We're so much more."

Their slogan says, "Real Privacy, Smarter Search, Less Clutter". It is very organized and easy to read. It is less clutter just like the slogan says. I think this would be helpful when searching for a very specific thing.

7.AOL- "At AOL, we're in the business of making the Internet better -- period. Through innovation and creativity, we've raised the bar and set the standard for what we believe high quality content is on the Internet."

Aol has a lot of information just on their homepage alone. They keep you up to date with the weather, news going around the world, sports, and more. They are also used as a mail tool that works very well.

8.Ask- "Our mission is to get our millions of users across the globe the answers they need. We've been in the Q&A business for more than 17 years, and although Jeeves has since retired, we carry on his passion for serving our 100 million users with answers they can trust. Learn more about the Ask.com story."

Ask is a lot like google and bing, again. They pride themselves in the fact you can "ask" them anything. They will find you an answer very precise.

Blog Post 4. Questions.

Does anyone have any questions?
We have all heard this question over and over in classrooms. Not only in grade school, but also in our college classes as well. Do people really understand everything we just went over? Not a single question was asked about the topic. In Ben Johnson's article, Asking Better Questions, he proposes that sometimes the student are not even fully aware that they do not understand what is going on. Questions are a very important part of learning. If you never question things will you ever understand it? He also says that as teachers, we do not always know everything. We stand up in front of the class, give a lecture on a topic, and turn around and ask questions like we have never even heard of the material. Keeping the students on their toes with questions help them pay closer attention during that lecture. He also stated that when asking a class a question wait three seconds after, then call on someone to answer it. Their initial reaction is to think of the answer, because no one likes to be called on and not know what they are even talking about. It keeps them actively engaged, and helps the teacher know who understands and who is having problems.
In the video, Open Ended Questions , Andi Stix talks about why we should use open ended questions as teachers. If we ask open ended qquestions it provokes a higher level of thinking. For example, She uses "Describe in detail..." or "Generate a list...". Those starters make you think longer, and harder about the questions that are asked. Class discussions are an easy way to let students teach other students. Any subject you want to know more about open ended questions are the way to go.

Blog Post #3 Peer Reviews

In my duel enrollment english class, my senior year of high school, was the first time I had to do peer reviews. I was nervous about it at first, but it ended up helping me in the class. It was helpful to see someone else's point of view on what I could have done differently to spice up my papers. I think back now and wonder, why we never tried this starting at a young age. It has positive effects, if it is done correctly. A lot of times, kids these days get offended if a teacher points out what they do wrong. They take it as they are speaking down to them or calling them out. If we turned this around and started peer reviews from a young age, and teach it the correct way, it could really help the students as the paragraphs turn into thesis papers.

I learned from the video What is Peer Editing that the three best ways to write a peer review are: Compliments, Suggestions, and Corrections. The most effective way to help your peer is to stay positive. If your peer says something in a negative way it could really effect your writing. It is important to be kind, and use constructive criticism. You always have to think about how you would want to be talked to about your work. In the slideshow Peer Editing by Adriana Zardini, I learned what to compliment about someone's work. Tell them how much you liked the topic, you liked when they used the word _____. Give specific examples. Tell them your favorite part, or what made you laugh. Be genuine with your compliments, and always end on a positive note. The video Writing Peer Reviews Top 10 Mistakes by Tim Bedly is humorous to say the least. The peer review "bozos" really show how to not give a peer review. This video would be a very effective way to show a class how to peer review, because it has amazing examples. My favorite Jean the Generalizer, as taught in the prior videos and slides it is important to be specific with your comments and suggestions. Peer reviews really teach the students how constructive criticism can help them succeed in everything they do. Every teacher and parent wants their child to succeed, and I believe peer reviews are the tool.