Project #12 Smartboard Instruction Part A

Blog Post #11

 

Ms.Cassidy's: Little Kids..Big Potential




Imagine a world were parents can monitor their child's educational progress instantly. This is the kind of learning environment that Ms. Cassidy offers her parents and students. She believes that children are never too young to begin using technology. During this video Ms. Cassidy has successfully proven that first grade is not too early to introduce children to technology. Now what do we mean by technology?  Today's technology is not the same as yesterday's technology. Yesterday's technology meant that if a first grader could successfully use a four function calculator, they would almost be considered gifted. In today's world being able to use a computer has almost become the common standard. Ms. Cassidy believes that in our ever expanding technological world, the students need to be introduced early to technology so they can keep up with the world around them.



 Although these learning programs are designed primarily for the students, they also benefit the parents because they can monitor their child's progress from anywhere. How do the parents really feel about having the child's work broadcasted on the world wide web? Until the schools implement a real online curricula or until privacy guidelines are in place, I am hesitant on using these practices in my own classroom. This does not mean that I disagree with them completely. Nine out of ten parents can say yes, but it is that one that disapproves that must be accounted for. The only major flaw or impediment I see in using the online wikis or blogs in the classroom, is privacy and legality. If 100% parent approval is not possible, I believe that maybe an in class only blog could be used instead. This would still offer the experience and feed back as the traditional blog would. I like these methods, but as a beginning new teacher it will be overwhelming enough without having to try and over come school bureaucracy. Introducing technology into the classroom is not without its benefits. One major benefit for the younger students is that the parents can monitor their children's progress online via the web. This can also benefit older students because we instructors can post assignments online that can be viewed anywhere without having to send individual emails to students. I am a firm believer when it comes to technology in the classroom and personally believe that global interface is the new generation of learning.

C4T Summary (October)

My comments for teachers assignments have helped me tremendously. The way these teachers think and teach are amazing. I have learned how to use some unique strategies and how to keep my future students engaged while teaching.  Each of these teacher's blogs allow anyone to view videos teaching techniques for the classroom. I think that as a future teacher, I will fall back on these blogs and keep them for ideas or questions I may have in the future.  I think by reading blog post from teachers with actual classroom experience, that is the best way to learn. I also am learning that when becoming a teacher, you learn by experience not books.


C4T#4
Link: Jenna Luca
Title of Blog: Lucacept intercepting the Web
What I Wrote:
Hey, I am a student at the University of South Alabama and I have been assigned your blog this week. I am taking a course named EDM310 and we use twitter as a communication tool. I loved the video with Justin Timberlake in it, it really does put in perspective how silly hashtags can be. It is absurd how this generation is so fully involved in technological trends. I fully agree that post with excess hashtags are very infuriating. For future twitter use I will definitely keep "The Hashtag Stuffer" in mind. Thanks for sharing this educational video and helping people become better twitter users.


C4T #3
Teacher: Jennifer Brokofsky
Title: Building A Culture of Wonder: Inquiry in Primary Education
Link:jennifer brokofsky's Blog

Summary:
Jennifer Brokofsky's blog had three videos: The problem, part 2 of the problem, and the solution.
During the video the small boy and young girl were both eating skittles. They both only ate certain colors and this caused an quality problem. Because the pack of skittles was unequally colored they opened a second pack to make both sides equal. This was a very simple and relatable way to interrupt equality to small children.

What I Wrote:
Hi, my name is Kayla Szymanski and I am currently in a class called EDM310. I am attending the University of South Alabama and I have been assigned your blog this week. Your videos explain equality in a simple and very relatable way. This is such a great way to show children not only math skills but also how to be kind a generous to others. I think that the videos are more powerful than just explaining it to the class because research shows that children respond to visuals. Very good work and thank you for the ideas, maybe on day I will show these videos to my future class.



C4T #2
Author:Travis Allen

Title: My Life As A 21st Century Student

Link:Travis Allen's Blog Post

This is what I posted on Travis Allen's blog post:

Hi, my name is Kayla Szymanski and I am currently in a computer course named EDM310. My professor specifically assigned your blog to me this week. I am so proud of your work with the Ischool Initiative, it is a great way for our age voices to be heard. I am so happy to hear that the University of Jyvaskyla is partnering with you also. It seems like the education system in Finland is flawless, and as a future educator I am delighted you are trying to mainstream that into our education system in the United States. One of your quotes really spoke to me, " The more responsibility you give to students at an earlier age, the more responsible they will become", I agree with this 100%. Thank you so much for all that you are doing, your are truly a blessing to our society. 

Summary:

Travis Allen is a young researcher and founder of the Ischool Initiative. the Ischool Initiative was basically set up to educate both students and teachers to become lifelong digital learners. He is researching the education system in Finland and trying to shape the U.S. in its model. He stated that in Finland the education system is very personal so it keeps the student engaged and eager to learn more. Instead of trying to teach each student the same way, this system allows you to teach yourself in your own style. I am very excited to see the changes in our school systems, and hopefully I will see them before I am an educator.


C4T #1
Author: Davis Wees
Title: Thoughts from a 21st Century Educator
Twitter: +David Wees
Blog: David Wees's Blog

David Wees is a math teacher trying to help his students learn how to double check themselves while solving math problems. He wrote in his blog about how he was trying to compile a list of questions for his students to use while problem solving. He based his list of questions off of a book named, "How to solve it?" by: George Polya.

Here are the questions you can ask yourself when solving a mathematical problems:
1. What are your assumptions?
2. How is this problem related to another problems you have done?
3. Is there another way to solve it?
4. Can you explain the solution to someone else?
5. What tools could you use to help you solve this problem?
6. How can you reflect on your problem solving process?
7. How can you justify your solution?

This is what I posted on David Wees's Blog:
Hi, my name is Kayla Szymanski and I am currently enrolled in the EDM310 course. I have been assigned your blog for this week, and by this being done I have read your current post. I think that it is a very good idea to give your students questions they can ask themselves while problem solving. As a former math student myself, sometimes just seeing a math problem will freak you out enough to where you don't even want to begin. I think by giving your students these quick questions it will ease this sensation that I repeatedly felt while taking math courses. Also just a tip I think maybe you could condense these rules into about 5 quick easy steps. This would be a great class motto or easy memorizing learning tool for each of your students. They could use it as a way to self check themselves while solving problems too. I had a teacher that once gave us a saying, and each word meant; subtract, multiply, etc.,and it worked. You will be surprised what works and sticks in your students heads.

C4K Summary (October)

I think my favorite assignments are the comments for kids. Like I said last summary, it's like a breath of fresh air getting to read all of these articles. This month particularly I was assigned to an AP student in an all girls boarding school. Her article was very interesting and actually opened my eyes to things I have no idea about. It was about the courts decisions on how to enforce punishments to mentally disabled individuals. I usually enjoy reading all of the lower grade blog posts because of the pure uniqueness, but this was very interesting. Also I was able to see how the elementary students are blogging very impressively. Their blogs are links, graphs and pictures they are just like our EDM310 blogs. I think the blogging aspect of teaching is amazing. While reading these children's blogs you can tell that they put their personality and thought into every post.



C4C #8
Student's Link to blog: http://osgapusgov.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/no-justice-for-all-the-dangerous-lack-of-standardization-in-our-criminal-system-and-the-man-whose-life-is-on-the-line-because-of-it/
Hi my name is Kayla Szymanski and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently in a computer class called EDM310 and I have been assigned your blog. Wow what a great article. I am very impressed with your blog, it looks great. Also the article was very interesting, I don't think most people even think about mental illness when things like this happen. Your charts and cartoon was very powerful, you did a great job. The chart was almost unbelievable and almost sad. I see you have a very strong platform within this blog and I encourage you to stick with it. If you don't tell it or explain it, nobody will ever know about it. What a interesting read, thanks! Keep up the good work.

C4K #7
Link to student's blog: http://pespehsoa.blogspot.com/

Hi Peh! My name is Kayla Szymanski and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently in a computer class called EDM310 and I have been assigned your blog for this week. I am very impressed, your art work as your background looks wonderful. Also I love how you made a paragraph rubric, these can be very handy when writing. It is amazing that you have added pictures to your post, your blog looks just like mine. Make sure you keep up the good work, I loved reading your blog.


C4K #6
Link to class blog:Mrs.Schroeder's Class Blog
Link to Students Blog: Tyler's Blog

Hi Tyler, I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently in a computer class called EDM310 and I was assigned to your blog this week. Your post states that you would like to have a Facebook account. I think that if you let your mom put the private settings and allow her to monitor your account weekly she would have no problem with you having an account. You should tell her that she has the option to set privacy settings on your profile, and provide her with the user name and password. She shouldn't have anything against it since she can help protect you this way. Just some helpful tips, keep up the good work!


September Summary:
During the month of September I was allowed to read and comment on student's blogs of all ages. This was very interesting, instead of being the student it made me feel as if I were on the other side of things. It made me feel like one day I could really be reading these blogs as a teacher. This was amazing to be able to get this feeling and also be doing an assignment all at once. Reading these blogs I caught myself smiling, these students get to express their selves on each of their blogs and you really do get a sense of personality out of each one. Most of the time there were spelling errors and the sentences didn't quite make sense, but all in all each blog has a great meaning. I noticed that a lot of the children's books these students are being read have great meanings behind them. These students write in their blogs about what they have taken away from these books and its amazing. They are being taught humility, responsibility, and to be thankful for everything they have. These assignments each week were a breath of fresh air, I loved doing them. It is always fun to see these books and thoughts threw a child's eyes, and these C4Ks allow that. Having students blog each week is almost like the new way of a weekly writing journal. The only thing I disagree with is the writing errors, I think it would be easier to grade writing journals weekly.


C4K #5
Class Blog Link:Class Blog Link
The students were given this assignment on their class blog by Ms.Eppele:
Your blogs are all looking wonderful! Please remember to use complete sentences. Today’s challenge is to write at least FIVE sentences. I want to hear your amazing thoughts and ideas. 

1.   Right away in Chapter 7, Melody talks about how she dreams she can do anything. Think about a dream that you have had. How can you make that dream into a reality?
2.    Why do you think it is hard for teachers to stay with Melody and her class?
3.    Why do you think the episode with Mrs. Billups is important to the story as a whole?

Link to Student's Blog: Andrew Pickle

What I Wrote:
Hi Anthony! My name is Kayla Szymanski and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently in a class called EDM 310 and I have been assigned your blog this week. Your post was very interesting, I loved reading it. I think that it's safe to say that Melody has taught you a very important lesson. Always stay positive no matter what. When we look at other peoples lives and what they have to go through it can sometimes make us feel like we have the perfect life. I believe that this is what your main focus was in this blog. Keep up the good work, and remember never complain sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

C4K #4
Class Blog:MrsRippsClass
Student's Blog: Leona's Blog
I Wrote:
Hey Leona! My name is Kayla Szymanski and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently in a computer class named EDM 310 and I have been assigned your blog this week. I love the book out of my mind by Sharon Draper, it really does show us how blessed we really are to be healthy. You should also check out the club house mysteries series, its written by Sharon Draper too. Keep up the good work your blog looks great. Remember if you love a book written by a certain author most of the time you will like the other books they have written as well. It is great to have a favorite author. Thanks for letting me read your blog and maybe I will be assigned to it again.


C4K #3
Ms. King - 7th and 8th grade
Class Blog: Class Blog
Student's Blog: Anthony
Hi Anthony, my name is Kayla Szymanski and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently in a course called EDM310 and I have been assigned your blog this week. I noticed that your last two post are math related, you are very good with numbers. If you can keep your mathematical knowledge throughout your academic career it will be a main key to your success. Math is such an important subject and you should be very proud. Your blog is very impressing, and the background looks wonderful. Keep up the good work and maybe I will be assigned to your blog again.

C4K#2
Student's Blog: Juani
This is what I wrote on Juani's blog:
Hi Juani, my name is Kayla Szymanski and I am in a computer class called EDM310. I am attending the University of South Alabama and I have been assigned your blog for this week. I love your background and the colors are so pretty; they match the parrot perfect. I loved hearing about your boring mornings. I am not a morning person either, so I can relate. It's very hard for me to wake up in the mornings. I guess I am just like your little sister. If you eat a healthy breakfast each morning it helps a lot with boring mornings. Before you know it you will be wide awake. You should tell your sister about eating healthy breakfast too, and it might help her. Keep up the good work and maybe I will be assigned to your blog again.  

C4K #1
Student: Mckenna
Link: McKenna's Blog Post

This is what she wrote in her blog:
Did you know that Alberta has endangered animals?They are Bull Trout ,piping plover,woodland caribou,whooping crane ,Trumpeter swan,white pelican,swift fox,ferruginous hawk ,Burrowing owl and the northern leopard frog. contact your local wild life centre on how you can help.

This is what I wrote to her:
Hi McKenna, my name is Kayla Szymanski and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I have been assigned your blog this week and I am so excited to read all of the fun things you are writing about. I had no idea that Alberta has so many endangered animals, this is very sad. I think that the best thing about your post is that you are helping these animals just by letting people know how to help. This is such a great thing, thank you for sharing this important information and keep up the good work. 

Project #10 (2nd Podcast) Interview Movie

Blog Post #10

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?

"Randy Pausch's Last Lecture"

Randy starts off by telling his audience that he has 10 tumors in his liver with 3 to 6 months left to live. He then simply states that you cannot change the cards you are dealt, just how you play the hand. He is not in denial; he just simply wants to inspire others while he still can. It is important to have specific dreams and to let your students know you are behind their dreams 100%. Randy tells his childhood dreams and explains that we should never loose sight of dreaming big. One of my favorite quotes from Mr. Pauschs's lecture was, "Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things." This quote means a lot to me because during college I have hit a lot of these brick walls and have learned if you want something bad enough, you keep going. Randy teaches us how we can enable the dreams of others by teaching from our lessons learned. As a future educator, I have learned that motivation and perseverance are two key terms of teaching. While your students are achieving their dreams, they will realize what and who helped them achieve it. If you can be a part of this incredible journey, that is priceless. Role models, parents, and mentors play a huge part in helping students achieve their goals and dreams. Teachers must realize their opinion matters. As an educator you will never know what your students will actually end up becoming. The sky is the limit, and they should know that. Mr. Randy is such an inspiration to everyone. He set out goals and dreams and fulfilled more than half of his dream list. His life is very impressive, and we should all try and inspire as he did.

Three main points for teachers to remember when teaching are:
Show gratitude, gratitude is a simple but powerful thing.
Don't complain, just work harder.

Never underestimate the importance of having fun.

If we keep these three points in our mindsets while teaching, we will have such an incredible impact on our students' lives. These types of teachers are remembered forever. Randy also wrote a book named Living while Dying. Even though he did not achieve all of his lifelong goals, he had an incredible outlook and understanding on life even when the odds were not in his favor

Project #14 Project Based Learning Plan #2

Blog Post #9

What can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?

1.) Brian Crosby, Agnes Risley Elementary School, Sparks, Nevada
http://learningismessy.com/blog/?p=854

In Brian Crosby's video lecture he shared what his 4th grade class was doing to learn science. Through his lecture, we have found that there is a lot to learn. He said how he was able to turn a class of high-risk, non-English speakers into a high-achieving class. This alone is amazing! He continues to say how this class was able to complete a massive project based on sending a balloon up with a camera and radio in order to observe the different layers of the atmosphere. This project was achieved by using technology and working with students at a local university. Not only did the students have to set up and complete this project, but they also had to then write about it. Each student made a story based on his or her observations after viewing the video. The stories were about the experience of going up into the air as the balloon.

The most important lesson here to learn is that any student, no matter where he or she comes from or what his or her background is, can achieve anything. The lesson for any teacher or future teacher is that it is our responsibility to provide the opportunity and help to these children. Teaching is a very difficult job, but in order to properly teach one must be willing to work with students as much as needed and not to give up just because students may not know much at first. In this video Brian Crosby starts off telling the audience that most of his students did not know what city, state, country, or street they lived in, nor what their own phone numbers were. This can be very discouraging to any teacher. But he did not let this lack of knowledge stop him or his students! He was able to help them learn and head towards a brighter future. This is the ways teaching should be, motivating all students to succeed and learn. This also shows that learning is not as many people view it. Learning can be achieved by anyone as long as he or she is willing to work.

The last part of the video shows Crosby's determination to teach and help every student learn. He was informed that he would have a new student join his class, the only problem was that she couldn't come to school because she suffered from Leukemia and her immune system was gone. Instead of just dismissing her, Crosby thought of a plan. She could come to class via Skype. The end shows one of the Skyped classes were she was able to learn alongside her classmates. This is truly remarkable and should be an example for every teacher to learn by. No matter the obstacle a student may face, the teacher should never give up or dismiss a student.


 2.) Mr. Paul Anderson: High School AP Biology Elementary School Teacher also known as "Bozeman science". He has a website bozemanscience.com that explains what he has been doing for the past 20 years as a science teacher. He has created over 100 science videos that students can view via the web. His videos are made in a way that will grab each students attention and have been viewed over a million times. On most of his videos he has created a small box that shows him actually lecturing while the video is still in motion. He explains each module and diagram, while talking inside the box.

His videos include:
AP Biology, AP chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Educational, Next generations science standards, Physics, Statistics and Graphing.

This is a great resource that he is contributing to the world of education. Each student, teacher, or professor can watch these videos and have a tutor in one click. By allowing his videos to be on the web he has made having to pay a tutor and spending time to meet up with your tutor, extinct. His work doesn't stop there, each video can be translated to Spanish, Mongolian, or Japanese.

While looking around his page we found a "How to Use Video game Tactics in the Classroom". Click here to watch Mr. Anderson's video. This video will explain how to engage your students while teaching in your classroom. While the students are having fun they are also learning, this is the main goal of this teaching method.


Making Thinking Visible

3.) Mark Church is a 6th grader teacher at an International School in Amsterdam. Church asks his students to group together to discuss a video presented to them about the origins of society. Each group will better understand the material by discussing a puzzle and collaboratively they will come up with a headline that summarizes what it is all about. He says previously he has asked his students to think about how they their ideas and thinking has been extended. Now he asks them to think about the challenge the puzzle presents. Church gives each group a piece of paper to create a headline that captures what the challenge of the search of human origins is all about. The students continue to trade ideas and work together on their headlines through the remainder of the video. Church talks about each headline with the class and says in two weeks he will go back and talk about how things have changed. I think from Church we learn that working collaboratively is important in building social skills. It is also important to ensure that students are engaged and understand the material that is being taught to them.

Group Podcast Project #9

Blog post #8 (Collaborative)

Find some 21st Century Learning and Communicating Tools?
Tell us about them, tell us where we can find them.
Give a thorough review of at least on of them.

Collaborative Group Post:
This new millennium was brought in with a dramatic revolution of technology. We now live in a diverse, globalized, and complex, media-saturated society. Today's Kindergartner's will be retiring from their jobs in 2067. We as teachers have no idea what they world will be like in 60 years, or how technology will be. This is why future educators have to look to technology as their main teaching aids. Emerging technologies and resulting globalization also provide unlimited possibilities for exciting new discoveries and developments. During our scavenger hunt this week our group has researched and came up with three different ways we can be effective teachers in the 21st century. 

Kayla Szymanski
I have chosen a tool named animoto, this is a website you can go to and create videos. Basically this is a site where you can upload pictures and make slideshows with text. This is different from Power point or even Google presentations because the background moves while the video is playing. You have the opportunity to pic your style, music, and text. These videos allow personality and creativity. The students will be able to show what they have learned through a video presentation. In three easy steps you can have a fascinating presentation that will catch the attention of the entire class.

First thing you can when you get to animoto is choose which pictures you would like to use. The great thing about animoto is that your Facebook, Instagram, Piscasa, Flickr and any other web based albums are available. This tool is very relatable with 21st century students because most of them already have pictures uploaded to each of these sites.  Having a tool that allows you to choose pictures from web based albums will save time and make it easier for our learners. You can also insert videos from YouTube, or make your own and insert it.

Next, you will be able to customize your style. This site allows you to choose from tons of backgrounds and themes. Here is a link that will show you all of the backgrounds they allow you to use: http://animoto.com/create . During this step you can also add text or points you would like to talk about during your presentation.

Once you have finished your text, you are ready to share your presentation. This site allows you do download and embed your video to Faceboook, Youtube, Vimeo, Twiter and more.






Haley Marrs:

By now, we are well aware of the countless educational tools available to teachers.iTunes U is one tool I find exceptionally useful for educators and students. iTunes U is a free tool through Apple iTunes where any college or university can upload courses available for anyone who wants to take them at no charge. With this being said, iTunes U has a multitude of educational classroom resources available. In addition to college courses there is also a section of iTunes U that focuses on K-12 Education. This makes iTunes U the perfect tool for any teacher or student. On top of having the some of the best resources in the world, such as Harvard and Stanford Universities, this tool is easy to use. Once you have downloaded iTunes all you have to do is select iTunes U on the main toolbar. A quick search of your topic, grade, school, or subject will leave you with plenty of content to explore and choose from. The searched content could be in the form of exciting videos, educational movies, elaborate PDF's, intriguing books, or lectures from some of the top professors in the world. I would like to use iTunes U in my classroom to help my students explore all the information that is available to learn. If I wanted to do a lesson on the Solar System I could do one simple search and find enough exciting content to entertain and teach my students for weeks. Another great thing about iTunes U is that you can use it on an iPad as well.

 

 

Alyssa Sherman

In recent years many schools have added smart boards to classrooms. With this tool, teachers can set up lessons on the board in advance and while still using their computers. When I was in middle school they were first brought into my school's classrooms. They were always very useful but we students never got to use them. There was also no way for us to take the lesson on the board home. Now there is a new app for iPads called "Show Me". This tool is very much like a smart board, except students are able to download this free app and work along with the lesson. Teachers can write anything they wish to write on their show me board and save it for future use. In addition, there is a record button so that students can actually see the teacher work out a problem or write something down in order. Teachers can show this in class and instead of having to waste class time writing they can start off by showing and then answering questions and better explaining any confusing steps. Students can go home (assuming that they have access to an iPad) and see the lesson again at home. This app is also a great tool for teachers and students to use because students can also see lessons from other teachers. This is a great way for students to learn if they are having a hard time understanding a certain topic.

As an example I made a show me lesson teaching how to solve the equation 1+2. The first step was to click the record button so that students could see the step by step method. Then you just speak as if you were in a classroom and "write". When you are done with the lesson you simple save and share to your class.

Students will also be able to use this tool. It can be used in test preparation, group projects, or just to help them better understand the material. If students make a show me as if they were teaching the lesson, they will always better understand the material. Also, this app gives them a global audience to work with.

Project #13

Blog Post #7

(This is a Collaborative Group Assignment)

What can you learn from conversations with Anthony Capps? (#1-4)

While watching Part 1: Experiences of a 3rd grade teacher, Anthony Capps tells us about his latest teaching experiences. He is a third grade teacher in a Baldwin County Elementary school located in Gulf Shores, AL. Dr. Strange asks Anthony how he approaches project-based learning in his 3rd grade class and what it entails. Anthony regularly uses PBL as a method of teaching and replies that project-based learning is constantly evolving. Many teachers may use projects at the end of a teaching unit to sum up the lesson or to clarify that the students comprehend what is being taught. Anthony thinks that teachers should always use PBL as a method in which the student learns content rather than just achieving something. The project assigned should be driven by a “need to know”; meaning the student needs to know the content of the standards before creating their project. This allows them to create their own learning experience. This also allows students to discover their knowledge and become enthralled with their final presentation. He implies that it is the teacher’s responsibility to assign a project that is based on the content of the state standards. Anthony says that the goal to a good project is one that has an authentic audience; this makes the kids feel rewarded for the work that they do. It also prepares them for the future. Another goal is to make the project relatable to the student’s interest and to incorporate your local community. When Anthony creates projects they all have to meet the state standards. For example, one project included the students writing letters to our congressman; this allows for the language, history, and writing standards to be met all in one project. This project is a prime example of having an authentic audience and getting the students excited about receiving a response.

Anthony also talks about iCurio and how he has used this tool in his 3rd grade class. He states that the students are able to log in and use it as a search engine. He encourages students and teachers alike to store content that they think is valuable. Using iCurio to store valuable content allows the students and teachers to have total online organization. You can add things and create your own folders with websites, audio, videos, and images. Overall using iCurio in the classroom is a great way to teach organization virtually. Anthony speaks from experience when he says "the outcome is extraordinary". It is appropriate and safe for students because only the material the teacher allows will be on the iCurio sight. Therefore it is very child friendly which is essential in the classroom. The students can also save any work they are currently working on, so if the bell rings and it’s lunch time they can conveniently save everything they are working on and come back to it at a later time.

 

"A picture is worth a 1000 words and a video must be worth a million." -Anthony Capps

Regardless of the text article you give a child if you can pair it with visual then they will retain a lot more information. 21st century teachers always should use illustrations when teaching and Discovery Ed is the perfect place to retrieve illustrations and other resources. Discovery Ed is useful for students to find pictures and articles on specific class related topics. Anthony uses Discovery Ed to bring certain text to life. 21^st century students are “listener watchers”, which means they listen and watch much more than they read or write. Dr. Strange intelligently states “our goal as a teacher is to convert people to more of a consumer of these products and into users of these products. Or even better producers.”

#5)
Written By: Alyssa Sherman
This was a very interesting conversation to listen to. I feel like this list will become very helpful in my future teaching career. Dr. Strange and Anthony create a list of 5 different key issues that new teachers need to consider. First, teachers must be interested in learning. I feel that this idea is very important. In the past I have had teachers who had no interest in  their subject or learning more about it. These were always the teachers I disliked. They made learning miserable and boring. The other teachers I  have had were always looking for more or new information. Even teachers who had earned a PhD in their field were always eager to go look something up if a student asked them a question they did not know the answer to. The second point that Anthony and Dr. Strange made was that teachers need to be flexible. I know this point will become very useful to myself and other future teachers. In 11th and 12th grade I taught a 2nd-3rd  and 3rd-4th grade Sunday School class. Because I only had 2-3 students I had to be very creative when coming up with lessons and projects. In addition, many weeks I would only have 1 student come. This made things even more challenging. This experience really makes me agree with this part of the list. The 3rd issue on the list is that teaching is hard work. This is very true. As a student I really can only imagine the work involved in making lessons, making homework, quizzes, and tests, grading these, and engaging students, and helping any student who might need a little extra explanation. Dr. Strange and Anthony also say that teaching is rewarding. From my brief experience teaching a small Sunday School class or teaching a young Girl Scout troop a new skill, this fact is very true; why else would so many people devote their lives to teaching. All new teachers should know this so that they know what they are getting into. The 4th issue is begin any plan with an end, meaning that always know what you want the end result to be. Again, flexibility is key here. The last issue is the get students engaged. Anthony says that the goal should be 100% engagement. This may seem like a very high, unlikely number, but like Anthony mentions "no child left behind". Why teach to the whole class if you only expect half to be interested and listening. I will always keep this goal in mind while teaching. Anthony and Dr. Strange share an extra 6th issue towards the end of the video that I think is very interesting. Sharing the final product with others. Having an audience makes many students want to do better and excites them. It also provides a way for students to reflect, the 6th issue on the list. Reflecting is very important. After a project is done many students want to simply relax, have fun, and not think about the topic anymore. This, however, is not a good idea. Dr. Strange and Anthony are very right to add this onto the list. I think that all of these issues are very important and I will keep them in mind and implement them when I begin my teaching career, as I believe all other future teachers should do!

#6)Title of Video: Don't Teach Tech- Use It
Link: Anthony Capps
Written By: Kayla Szymanski
Using technology in the classroom can be one of the best approaches in the 21 century. Technology is all around our students and they use it everyday, it comes completely natural to them. A great way to incorporate technology is to introduce these tools that are available like ICurio and Discovery Ed. Anthony explains how you can use technology weekly in your classroom. The first week of class he introduces the students to their new research tools. The following week they will then be assigned a research topic, for the research part they can use ICurio. Next they will have to research for a video that relates to their topic which can be done threw Discovery Ed. The final week Anthony explains how the students are then given a research project that may requires a movie component to it. There are many technologic tools that you can use in your classroom, and these are just two example of how Anthony Capps introduces them to his 3rd graders. The benefits of using technology is that it is completely free and the students get to create and design their projects in a unique manor. Sometimes there will be a one time fee for these technological tools. But what you have to remember is that when using technology the daily classroom supplies are no longer needed. This is a great way to ensure that your students will never run out of the materials during their learning process. Also it saves time in the classroom because it is clean. Anthony mentions how you don't have to clean up markers and spills, technology is the new way of learning.

#7)
Additional Thought About Lessons
Written By: Haley Marrs

This brief video is a wonderful learning tool for future teachers. This conversation features Anthony Capps discussing the four layers of teaching lessons. He makes a nice humorous point when saying "if it's anymore than four layers I'm just going to cry". The four layers are broken down as follows:

- Yearly: When planning our lessons for the year Anthony recommends drawing out a map. We have to ask ourselves "Are you going to cover all of your content standards?"
- Unit: Learning should be stretched out to be taught over the course of the appropriate unit size. By the end of the unit students should be able to master the standards taught. A question to ask yourself is "Have you devised unit projects in a meaningful way that is connected throughout the unit?"
- Weekly: Units should be planned by weeks. Each week should require a learning goal to meet your course standards. "How can you cover material needed in one week?" Will your goal be met?
- Daily: Weeks should be planned by day. Daily lessons should focus on ways to deliver content to students in a way that will keep them engaged. It is important to measure learning each day so you know where to begin the next day.

I find it interesting that Anthony says each layer of learning is equally as important. He suggests that all layers must be done successfully to finish a lesson.