Podcasts from last semester

After listening to some podcasts from last year's class, I learned how to get ready for my podcast. I learned to be a loud speaker, and not to say a lot of ums. I also learned not be nervous or to try to hide it, because you can tell when people are nervous while conducting their podcasts.

I also learned that I need to interact with my group members when I do my podcast in order for the podcast too sound like a conversation and not so much an interview. I learned that I need to rehearse with more group a few times about how the conversation about our topic, especially with the narrator. I learned that she, the narrator, really conducted the flow of how the podcast went and how it came out. I also learned that I needed to know a lot about the material on my topic, so I would not be surprised when it was time to do my podcast.

About EDM 310

I learned many things, while being in EDM 310. I learned things such as how to do a podcast, Google docs, presentation on Google, how to set up a Google account and its uses, i tunes, alt tags, about those who need alt tags and how it helps them, about Delicious.com, Twitter, and word processing. I learned more than that, I can not possibly list everything I learned, or remember all of it. There was a lot of information crammed into this semester. I did enjoy learning about how computers and the internet can affect my teaching. I now know how to navigate around through Firefox and the internet in general. I enjoyed doing the presentations about ourselves in class. I learned that I have a good speaking voice, and I also learned a lot about my classmates. In class, we did a lot of blogging, and I mean a lot of blogging. Sometimes I felt like too much, about websites I may never use, but I was interesting to keep up with the other students in the class. There were also a lot of projects due in this class. I do feel there was ample amount of time to finish them though, if I had not waited till that last minute or had a full time job along with school. I have learned, that for me, working full time and going to school is hard for me. But I do feel I put forth my best effort to get what I could out of my classes and this class included.

About Twitter

I enjoyed learning about Twitter. I had been hearing about it on the radio each morning on my way to work, but had not looked at it until the other night in class. I had know idea what twitting was until class as well. In class, Dr. Sullivan made us get on Twitter, but not subscribe. We were still able to view twitting topics and see how popular Twitter has gotten. We then had to divide up into groups of 2 and discuss 10 ways we could use Twitter in the Education world. My classmate and I came up with ways to use Twitter such as, reporting lost and found items, keeping students up to date with assignments, school events, weather warnings and threats, school closings, news events like 9-11, for teachers and students or even parents to chat in an informal way, tutoring available, homework assignments and help, school holidays, and to show weekly lesson plans. We also, as a class, then discussed the ideas we came up with in our groups. Many groups came up with some of the same ideas we did. Also, Dr. Sullivan had us explore Twitter, to view what others had twitted about and how they had responded. Now I will admit, that since that night in class, I have not checked Twitter much, or subscribed. Not that I feel Twitter is not useful, I just do not find myself having time to twit very often. I did not see many negatives with Twitter other than remembering to check it, if your school was to use it. It is just one more thing students have to look at and keep up with, but if teachers use it right, it could save a student from failing or missing an assignment. For me- Im not so sure how much I would use Twitter with being a PE Coach. My lesson plans revolve around the weather, which is ever changing. I could use it to put a general game plan up, with students and parents understanding that plans are subject to change. But I do feel that teachers teaching a certain subject could really benefit from using Twitter.

Podcast Review

I enjoyed doing the podcast. At first I was nervous, but I once i got up to the mike and was sitting with my group members and talking about my subject, I was fine. I do feel like learned a lot listening in class, and then going home and reviewing them afterward. The podcast was not near as demanding as I thought it was. It was easy to figure out what to talk about once the narrator asked her questions.

I did notice how some people said a lot of ums, or look nervous. But overall I think the class did well on delivering the information asked of their narrators. I also felt like everyone took the time to get well prepared for their topic, and each did their part as a group member.

About the topics, I felt they had to do with what most of us are studying, such as elementary education. Even though I am studying to be a PE teacher, I found the websites useful that I had to look up and that others talked about. I knew there was alot on the web, but I usually have trouble finding it. This helped to learn about the use of podcast and how to prepare for projects using podcasts and websites in general.

4/12/09 plusses and minuses of blogging

I have been looking at Tiffany's class blog throughout the semester. I have noticed that she has been keeping up very well with the assignments. I feel one plus, is the blogging helps students to keep up with assignments, and when things are due. It also helps to let students interact outside of class, and talk about other things beside class in order to make friends.

Some minuses may be that it is time consuming, and a lot to do for a class. IT can be hard to get the assignments in on time if you are working and going to school. Another minus may be that the posts may not pertain to what you are studying in school, or what your future job may be, or what you are wanting to do/study.

One plus may be that you can also keep up with teacher's blog, and the class blog to find out about updates, get handouts, turn in assignments, email your teacher and other classmates, and find out about dates.

And one more minus may be that some classmates(not Tiffany) but others may not be as diligent with the blogs as you should be, so you cannot just go be their page as an example. You must keep looking at the class blog to read requirements about different assignments.

Duke University

Duke University has is now using technology to create fun, and interesting classes for those who are very interested in technology. By doing so their enrollment has increased even though tuition has gone up some. By using ipods for class, a student can have access to lectures, songs, reports, and other online resources from anywhere. These ipods are now made to hold more information now more than ever. Ipods are light, and easy to carry, and are becoming more and more affordable each day.

After first using Ipods teachers were able to get feedback, and learned that students liked using their ipdos for educational purposes. Students found accessing their ipods easy, and that they held a lot of information needed for the classes. Duke University is hoping this concept of using ipods in the classroom will leak into the other universities.

itunes university

itunes University has combined with apple to make learning easy and fun for students. As the website said, that students are already bringing portable devices such as laptops to school. The website suggests, then why not let students be able to learn from those devices. Teachers can use the itunes university just as the children can.

With the ipods now being in almost everyone's hands, children can view teacher's lectures by downloading it onto their ipod. Mac has also joined with Apple and Itunes to make things easier for students and teachers. Also schools have made their classrooms and campus have wi-fi so students can use their portable devices.

Fischbowl "Did You Know"

This video talked about the status in India and China compared to the United States. Things compared were social class, amount of people speaking English, amount of college graduates, and how many children are born each day. There was also a section in the video about the US Department of Labor and where most jobs are these days(what states). There was a list of what areas are hiring and what areas of the Us are in need of jobs. This video really touched on the economy in the past and the predictions of the economy in the future.

This video also talk about how much time is spent for people emailing, playing video games, text messaging, watching tv, and any kind of technology. There were also numbers on how many emails are sent out a day and now many text messages were sent out a day. I feel this video was interesting and a good summary was to what Americans and those from other countries spend their time doing.

Fischbowl best of 2007

For this blog from Fishbowl, I chose to read the blog for January about a blueprint for Colorado. This blog had a ton of information about teaching from all points of view such as, why be teacher, why not be teacher, and how graduates feel after they graduate about teaching. This blog also talked about how to take a poll from past teachers, students, etc about the overall teaching/student experience. This is helpful to see what has worked for students and teachers in the past and what has not as far as learning/teaching goes.

Teachers' salaries are also talked about here in this blog. It talks about teacher's salaries can be higher depending on state, experience, public school, and if they have a certificate. Also talked about is how the income of a teacher can influence some to not become teachers. The blog suggest that most teachers do not teach for the income, but for the love of teaching students and for loving to be around students.

Fischbowl, Technologically illiterate

I agree with what most of the list says about how much teachers should know about technology. The world of teaching, is now requiring teachers to know more and more about technology and about how to use it in the classroom in many ways. I agree that every teacher needs to know the basics of how to use computers and certain programs on computers. However I do not feel that teachers should be embarrassed if they do not know much about technology. Colleges are just now starting to teach about how to use technology for your benefit in a classroom.

I do feel that this list is a little harsh. I agree we need to know about technology, but to assume we already know about most of it is illiterate in itself. How can we know about technology, if know one teaches it to us, or if we do not have the means of exploring it ourselves. I have had classes on how to use technology throughout college and have access to a computer and still run into things I do not know how to do. Technology we always be changing and growing each day, that means as teachers we have to work extra hard to stay updated and be willing to learn more about technology.

Dr. Christie's Site

Dr. Christie's site cab be used for teachers to be able to learn about teaching from a professionals perspective. She has been teaching for 40 years and has a lot to offer teachers. On her website you can see a photo gallery,web designs, research publications, advice from other educators, and plenty more. She also has a menu over to the left hand side that lets you view and listen to some workshops she has attended and led discussions/activities in. You can also watch her in the classroom, as if you were really there being taught by her. There is also an biography about Christie you can read, and some information on educational technology.

I feel this site is a one stop site. Meaning you can answers to many questions here, without the stress of having search all over the web. I feel she makes teaching look easy, and gives advice on how it can be easy for every teacher. She also gives teachers new ideas to make the classroom more enjoyable through her website. I feel any teacher, teaching any subject, or any grade good really benefit from using this site.

About Wickipedia

After researching NPR(National Public Radio) from Wickipedia, I learned that wickipedia can be very helpful to research almost anything. It can be accessed by everyone through a computer, a nd has tons of credited infromation on any topic. I was able to learn about the history of NPR, who created it and why, and how it has affected radio stations throughout the years. Wickipedia has made research easy, with guideline instructions on to search for any topic. I could see myself using wickipedia for school, in my job, for writing research papers, and answering quick questions. I feel, after listening to the podcast and reading about Virigil Griffith, that wickipedia can be trusted. Although you can never have too many sources when researching a topic, I feel wickipedia is a vauluable resource.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Randy Pausch was a teacher. He taught others by living out his dreams and telling others about them. He used this along with telling others about his lived experiences as some of his techniques to teaching. He also talked about his childhoold dreams, lessons learned, and how to enable to dreams of others. He made the lessons he learned into comics that were funny and easy for others to learn from. He also said in the video that it is a good idea "to have something to bring to the table." This meant to be prepared with something interesting to talk about with a good, detailed presentation.

His presetation used techniques such as colorful text, scanned photographs, clip art, stories, and videos. Thi kept the auidence intrigued throughout the whole lecture. He also talked about you should never give up, and that you should always find a reason to enthusiastic. He then talked about his comfort zone, the football field, and how your dreams emcompass you. He also used quotes to deliver his message to people listenting to the lecture. He used good references aswell such as the web, articles, and the Encyclopdia World Book.

He did not talk much about his tumors in his liver. He did not want to dwell on his sickness, but celebrate his life he has lived. He talked about how his family just moved to a new house; meaning he was looking out for his family in the future. He had a great attitude about his sickness and was still in shape. He felt you really could not change the life you are handed, ang couraged people to move on and seek freedom no matter what tries to overcome them.

He talked about themes such as leadership, friends and fellowship, family, dreams, attitude towards life,the age of sinism, using your imagination, andd reliving his childhood experiences as often as he could. I felt his lecture was really inspirational. He reminded me of my dad and how the responded to his diagnoses of cancer. He continued to live life to the fullest and told others to do so as well. Randy also talked about how "brick walls" can be put up block you or to block others, it is your decision how and why they get put up, if they cannot be avoided.

posting my presentation

Try this link instead to go to my presentation.

Link to Presentation

here is link to my presentation given last Monday night. click here to go to my presentation.

Podcasts

The first podcast I listened to was titled Kidcast. This postcast was done as a radio broadcast. The lady on the radio talk show interviewed a first grader on his first day of school. She asked him many questions such as, how was your first day, what did you learn, did you make any new friends, do you think you will like your teacher, and what they did today in class? She also interviewed a student on his first day as a 6th grader. He talked about using lockers, and meeting 2 new students.

The next podcast I listened to was titled MacBreak Weekly. This podcast was done as an episode you can view and listen to from your computer while at work from MacBreak.com. On this particualar episode they opened up talking about the big win for the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Then as they introduced the other people on the show they put jingles to go along with names. These jingles were funny, and would give anyone a good laugh while doing stressful work in the office.

This Week In Photography is also a podcast done as an episode. This podcast internviewed more people. They started by asking them where they were then began talking about where they were. One interviewer said he was in new york and talked about the rising costs of living in new york,another was from virginia and talked about how he had power and that the weather brought ice, not snow like he wanted. This podcast is more designed as a live chat, where people talk about their surroundings and what they can photograph from there.

EdTechTalk is a podcast that talks about exactly what its title is-educational tech talk. Here teachers are interviewed and can be listened to through YouStream. This podcast is setup as a converstation between listeners, teachers, and people in the chatrooms. Everyone can tune in on the discussion . This particualar converstation was about Edcon, on Feburary 1st of 2009. This podcast does a good job of grabbing your attention right away by having rock music playing when you open it.

Second International Blog Summary

For the second paragraph about international blogging, I looked up BlogCatalog. Here I found information about blogging from other countries. I never knew blogging was such a big deal until I started having to research these sites. These are students more in the college that are blogging. Here you can view their profiles, much like our on this blogging site for our class. The profiles for this blogging site are setup more like myspace with being to have updates and view someone's friends. The blog is set in English, so students from the United States can read and understand, and respond to blog as well. Here is link to the blogclick hereto go to the blogcatalog homepage. Here is a picture from this site.

International Student Blog Summary

To view an International Student Blog, I went to www.internationalstudentblog.com. Here students can study abroad from here in the United States or Internaional students acan blog from their home about their schools. This gives students from the United States a chance to communicate with other students from another country. This also gives students the chance to act as an exchange student without actually moving countries. This website does its best to put students from the United States into blogging that would create an environment from them as if they were in another country. Here is a link to the website. click hereto go to the international blogging site. Here is a picture of a viewer from Livingston.

Second Blog

The other site I looked up for blogging was called eChalk. This is a safe blogging site for students k-12. This site is centered on helping students to develop 21st century learning skills, particulary in the area of technology. The blogs are setup as if the student was in a real-life classroom, talking with other students, about education andschool subjects. Here students can upload videos for eachother to watch, write reports on, and learn in new and entertaining ways. This site strives to make school more desirable for young students, hoping to keep them involved in school throughout college and not just highschool. Here is a link to eChalk. click here to go to echalk. Here is a picture of one of the administrators of this blogging site.

United States Class blog summary

For this first blog of this week I looked up www.gaggle.net. Gaggle is a website for students and teachers to use for blogging that is safe, community based, and filtered for inapporpriate conduct. Students and Teachers, together from the same school, can get Gaggle accounts and post blogs just like being in a regular online class. Sign-up is made easy for both teachers and students, with easy to read and follow instructions listed on the homepage of the website. Also from the homepage, you can search for other blogs, and look up blogs from students and teachers in different countries. Gaggle is trying to fast forward students and teachers into the future, where online classes will be the new "in thing" and not something they know nothing about. Here is a link to the website. click here to go to the gaggle website. Here is a picture of Michael Jason,a student which uses this blog. This picture is from how profile, much like the profiles we have here on our blogs.

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Access Review

After thoroughly review the ACCESS site, or Alabama Connecting Classroom,Educators and Students Statewide, I learned that Access is provided to offer students a better education. An education they might not be able to recieve without using Access. Students and teachers are able to use the site to find avaiable electives for high schools that some high schools do not carry in their cirrculum.

We were also told to examine the powerpoint for this blog posting. From the powerpoint I learned that students can participate in "online classrooms". This is a great advantage, because it helps get the student ready for college, where many classes are offered online or have online components. The powerpoint also offers students and teachers information about summer school, how the LEA can be available to your needs, answers about IEPs, and FAPE, and some general characertics about students in high school.

I found this site very helpful, and feel that other new teachers would also. I definitly feel it is good for students to have access to online classes before going to college. I, unfortunantely did not, and struggled in those classes. Students and teachers need to research Access and take advantage of all it has to offer. Here is a link to Access:Click hereto go to the ACCESS website.

About ALEX

ALEX stands for Alabama Learning Exchange. The internet site for ALEX is http://aelx.state.al.us. At the website a teacher could look at subjects such as Language Arts, Career Education, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, Driver's Education, Technology Education, Teaching Other Languages, Health, Math, and Other. A teacher can view lesson plans from any of those subjects just by clicking on the LessonPlans Icon. A Teacher can also run a search under any of those subjects. A teacher can also see the Alabama Course Of Study Standards. These Standards help teachers to see what Alabama(the State) expects of teachers and students in the classroom

This site is useful to teachers in helping them teach from a professional standpoint, by being able to view professional notes, lesson plans, lectures, etc. This website would also be helpful for a new teacher wanting to learn how to set up lesson plans and how to deliver from those lesson plans in a productive way for the children to learn. By being able to view the State Standards, the teacher can be assured they are always following the state and making sure their students get the best education possible. This website is open for an teacher in Alabama to join and use as needed. THis gives the teacher a place to refer to when needing ideas for teaching and engaging their students. Here is a link to ALEX:
click here to go TO the ALEX website.

A little bit about me

Hey, My name is Lauren Lemon. I already have a Bachlors Degree in Sports Management and Leisure Recreation from the University of South Alabama. I went back to get my masters in Community Counseling in Fall of 07 immedialtely after graduation. I loved the program, but was fortunite enough to land a job as Elementary PE Teacher at Mobile Christian(my highschool), and Head Track Coach. Loving that job even more than counseling, and realizing how much I loved being active with kids,made me decide to come back and get my PE Teacher Certificate. It will only take me two years to get certified. From there I may or may not go back at get my masters, depending on where I am in life. My fiance is in the military, which requires one to be able to move around alot. But for now I love my job, and am looking forward to getting certified. For little tidbits of info about me, you can read my profile I updated on here. There is much more to me than work and school, I am creative, spontaneous, determined, and very active. It doesnt take much to make me happy, usually a big bowl of ice cream, or playing with a puppy does the trick. But yeah Im pretty simple.

Add a Picture

Here is a test picture.

A Link to My University

click hereto go to the University Of South Alabama Website.

My First Post

This is my first post!