Shoronda Charles' EDM310 Class Blog

EDM Final Reflection

2010-07-26T15:21:00.002-05:00

I Survived My Summer in EDM 310

Well, what can I say about EDM 310???. Well the first thing that can be mentioned, even though I think it goes without saying, is that I am glad it is over. The second thing to be said is that I learned more than I ever thought I could. Coming into this class as a music major, I saw this course as just another unnecessary requirement that I had to push my way through. I felt out of place. I felt as if no one understood my lack of vision as far as technology in MY classroom was concerned. I honestly did not come in expecting to learn much. I expected to just "play the game of school" by learning what it was the instructor wanted, and trying my best to deliver it to him. I was devastated when I found out that this course was not about Excel and Powerpoint. I was immediately overwhelmed by the workload and the expected homework time outside of class. For weeks, I heavily contemplated dropping the course, and picking it up at a later time. In the end, I'm glad that I stuck with it.

I came in feeling like the underdog. There were so many students that knew so much about computers and the different programs that we were using. I felt lost. I must say that my turning point was when we were asked to create our Google Forms Questionnaire. It may sound silly, but I felt very accomplished. Although my form was simple, it was mine. I had done it, by myself. This was about the same time I had picked up a rhythm with my blog posts, C4T, & C4K. Class became so much more manageable to me at this point. Even though I was still spending hours in front of my computer screen, I was getting the work done. This was my "light at the end of the tunnel" moment.

I had a hard enough time accomplishing things alone, but things became a little more hectic when it was time to accomplish group work. There was always a chance of miscommunication but at least there were people there who could share your load. I will most definitely approach teaching and technology differently. I have been exposing my friends and some of my family to the different programs that we used in EDM 310, as well as trying to get them to understand how crucial it is to be, at least, technologically aware in this day and age. I have also learned that I can do anything I put my mind to. I am glad that I pushed through this class. If I hadn't, I would have been limiting myself to the stereotype of what a music classroom should consist of, and eventually limiting my students. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined, and I owe it all to the EDM 310 staff and Dr. Strange.

A Message to Future EDM 310 students

There is not much advice that I can give to future EDM 310 students. I came in not knowing what to expect, and I am sure many students will do the same. I can say that they should attend all scheduled class meetings, even though they are not necessary. This goes the same for the optional lab hours. I learned that because they are not mandatory, many students do not attend. This leaves more time open for students who need one-on-one help on something, or just a second opinion. I would also suggest that they upgrade to a Mac if possible. Speaking as a PC user, there were a lot of cool things that I did not get to experience because I did not have a MAC like most of my classmates. It would be wise to start searching for teachers and other resources to go into your PLN. Also, time management is a MUST!! Staying on top of your assignments and starting things early will cut down a lot of the stress that the class typically brings. Overall, the most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind, and that there is often more than one way to accomplish things in this course.

Shoronda Charles Final Project

2010-07-24T13:22:00.001-05:00

Shoronda Charles Voki

2010-07-22T19:56:00.000-05:00

Get a Voki now!

C4K #5 Final Comments4Kids

2010-07-20T16:13:00.002-05:00

Kids Against the Oil Spill

Our final Comments4Kids hit very close to home. We were given the assignment to watch two videos entitled "The Mean Oil Spill" and "Just Pray". The unique thing about this Comments4Kids is that they were from a local middle school. The students from Alba Middle School, under the supervision of Ms. Sheila Hagler, created these videos that gave home front insight of the oil spill.

I liked their videos because it gave two different approaches to the situation. "The Mean Oil Spill" was a sillier take on the matter but it was still very informative. The video " Just Pray" was very touching. It was full of beach footage and interviews of local Mobile residents. They captured the thoughts of the residents and asked what they thought the solution would be. They all answered the same. JUST PRAY. It was wonderful to get insight from the people who it is affecting the most.

This was a great assignment. It was wonderful to see how involved and aware children can be about the world and their surroundings, no matter what their age. The captured some really great footage, and you could clearly see how much time and effort went into the making of these videos. It was refreshing to see all of these things come together.

Post #13 Final Comments for Classmates

2010-07-20T15:57:00.002-05:00

A Closer Look At My Peers

This week for Blog Post #13, I had to comment on more works from my peers. The assignments that I was asked to comment on varied in topics from projects to simple responses. I liked this week's blog assignment because it gave me a chance to see the work of more of my classmates.

The first assignment that I was asked to comment on was located on Gina Pace's Blog. I had to comment on her group's SMART Board presentation. I must say that I was very impressed. They had a complete lesson plan worked out that involved using the SMART Board to help student identify and write the letters of the alphabet. I liked their presentation because although the SMART Board made it very high tech, the lesson that was being taught was very realistic. It was something that I could see being taught in a traditional classroom.

The second assignment that I was asked to comment on was on Trung Nguyen's blog. I had to comment on his blog post #4. My favorite part about his Post #4 was his reaction to Eric Witacre's Virtual Choir. This is because he had the same reaction as I did. It was a mixture between shock, disbelief and amazement. That assignments was one of my favorites because of that video. I am glad someone else appreciated it as well.

The third assignment that I was asked to comment on was on Rachel McGuire's blog. I had to comment on her blog post #9. This was the one that covered Morgan Bayda's "An Open Letter to Educators". I liked her thoughts on this post because they were very realistic. They were also similar to my own. I too hated the long lecture classes, and I have also learned a lot from this computer class.

I enjoyed this assignment because it gave me a chance to compare my peers' work with that of my own. I got to see how our opinions were similar or different. It also gave me more insight on their thoughts about technology and it's rapid advancement in the school systems that we will soon be teaching in.

Shoronda Charles: Teach Someone Project: How to Replace the Strings on a Violin

2010-07-20T13:42:00.002-05:00

Blog Post #12

2010-07-15T20:35:00.005-05:00

Mr. McClung Year 2 Reflections

I found Mr. McClung's Year 2 reflections to be very interesting. I had often heard that teaching does not get easier after the first year. His post supported that. Just like the first year post, I liked the honesty of it all. He talked about the difference between teaching middle school student as opposed to junior high school students. He also talked about the new curriculum and courses that he had to teach. I liked his honesty about this as well. Most teachers keep up the facade that they know it all, no matter how long they have been teaching the subject. He revealed how hectic it really was to teach a subject you had never taught before. This was overall a great post.

M-CUBED ISTE Presentation Video

This video showed many young students doing graphic design work. It was very cool to see how it was made on the computer, then printed out in 2D, then they sent it through the machine and they could create 3D figures from their work. I also liked the fact that the students were allowed to work in groups without heavy supervision from their instructor. I was amazed and impressed by the level of their work, and they seemed proud of it as well.

The second ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsxarc7IDWs ) and third ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsxarc7IDWs) videos that I watched were just a closer, more tutorial view of what the students had done in their classroom. It was interesting to see how it all came together. I gained a whole new level of appreciation for the students, as well as their instructor because I was honestly lost throughout most of the video. I am not even sure how I would be able to apply these applications to my music classroom.

The fourth video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pv8ivGbvyY ) that I watched was the one that used Google Maps. I thought it was so cool, yet kind of creepy of how close that they can get. You could see most of the details of the neighborhood and its surroundings, including the trees. This video was my favorite of them all because it was something that I felt like I could use in my everyday life.

C4K #4

2010-07-15T10:46:00.002-05:00

Pt England Scribe's Report on Mice

The students from Room 11 worked together and created a report on mice. It was filled with quick, fun facts. They talked about where mice liked to live, what they liked to eat as well as their relationship with humans. I thought it was especially funny that they made sure to add that humans were not very fond of the small creatures and try to get rid of them as quickly as possible. I liked this post because it showed how students can work together to do research, pick out what is important, and relay the information that they learned.

Shoronda Charles PLN Updated

2010-07-14T21:14:00.002-05:00

My PLN UPDATE

I started on my PLN a few weeks ago and found some really great resources. The actual PLN with the descriptions can be found further down in my posts!I have found several more resources since then. Although the first set of resources of my PLN are great, I think that this set of resources will further aid me in my personal music classroom as well as in this EDM 310 class.

The first resource that I found this time around was a website called The Lesson Plan Page. I was drawn to this particular website because it had a special section of lesson plans that were strictly pertaining to music classrooms. It reminds me of the ALEX website that we had to research and explore in a previous post, but with music lesson plans. It gave a variety of grade levels for the music lesson plans. I liked this because even though I would love to teach high school music, it is not certain and I want to be prepared for any grade level that I may have to teach.

Another resource that I was excited to stumble across was the blog of Amy M. Burns! She has a blog entitled Elementary Music/ Music Technology Blog. Even though the title implies elementary music, I am open to all forms of suggestions as far as the integration of music and technology in the classroom is concerned. She talks about many things on her blog that I addressed in EDM 310 this summer like the issue of Smartboards and how they can be useful to the music classroom. She also keeps her blog fairly up to date and gives insight and experiences from the conferences that she attends. I was glad that I found this blog.

Through Amy Burns' blog site, I learned of the Music Education Professional Learning Network. It was founded by Dr. Joseph Pisano of musetech.net. He lauched this site on July 9, 2010. It is a site where music educators can join for free to network with other music educators. There they can share, discuss and collaborate on different aspects of the music classroom such as private lessons, composition, etc. I think that this will be a great network to join.

I am also adding Dr. Joseph Pisano's website mustech.net to my PLN. It is full of blog posts and projects . It has links to articles and different research as well. I think this will be useful to me in the long run.

C4T Comments for Teachers #2

2010-07-13T17:00:00.004-05:00

Dragonsinger: Learning, UNlearning & RElearning

For my Comments4Teachers #2, I was assigned the blog by Allanah King, also known as dragonsinger. The first thing I noticed about her blog, after her screename, was her brief bio in the corner of the website. I was drawn to it because she was very honest. She had a list of very realistic accomplishments, even including that she was a "wannabe photog". I also liked her explanation of what she thought teaching and education should be. I knew right away, that I would like this blog.

The first post that I was assigned to comment on was entitled, Potpourri. At first glance, I had no idea what it could possibly be about. It was a post about the many different forms of technology that she uses and how they benefit and work favorably into her everyday life by making it more organized and up to date. I liked this post because it included a lot of programs that we are using in EDM 310 with Dr. Strange. Her use of Evernote was the first thing that caught my eye. This post was one of my favorites because it included technology and programs that I was familiar with, and it showed me new ways that I could use them.

The next post was especially addressed to the students of Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. It made me feel special because she created a post just for us. She seemed very humbled by the fact that she was even considered to be included in our C4T assignments. She offered to help in any way that she could. I thought this was exceptionally nice because she took the time out of her day and schedule to volunteer to, in a way, teach another group of students. I took that opportunity to ask her how she developed her PLN. I am currently still waiting on that response though.

After the post that acknowledge the EDM 310 students, Ms. King had no more recent posts. Because of this, I had to read and comment on an older post of hers. This post was on Mobile Blogging. In this post, she briefly addressed the effects and efficiency of mobile blogging. She also discussed her plans of upgrading her technology so that she could further this convenience. She plans on getting and iPad and replacing her iTouch with the ever so popular iPhone.

Google Forms

2010-07-13T10:35:00.004-05:00

Post #11 Little Kids..Big Potential

2010-07-11T15:18:00.005-05:00

Ms. Cassidy's First Grade Class

If I had to sum up my reaction to Ms. Cassidy's methods of teaching and her first grade class in general, that word would be WOW!!!!.All throughout the discussion and throughout the video, I was asking myself if I was really ready to face children with that much knowledge of technology. When I was in the first grade, we had more children interested in eating glue than we had that knew how to even turn on a computer. Her classroom is technologically operated by her first grade students. They write, research, and film their own material with very little help from Ms. Cassidy. I was amazed that at six and seven years old, her students were comfortably and excitedly blogging. I was 20 years old before I even wrote my first blog. I liked the way the students were allowed to use all types of technology individually as well as collectively. It teaches them independence as well as responsibility and teamwork.

I think that in my future music classroom, I would like to use the method of letting my students record each other while they perform their solos or other private works in the classroom. I think they may be a little apprehensive at first because most young musicians are afraid to sound bad, especially in front of others. I will fix this problem by letting them know that it is better to learn from those mistakes in the classroom so they can be avoided during the real performance time.I will allow time for positive and constructive criticism.I think that allowing them to see and asses their posture, tone, stage presence and other performance aspects as a class in a positive environment will help build their confidence as young performers.

Smartboard Project

2010-07-10T19:38:00.001-05:00

Post #10

2010-07-06T22:23:00.005-05:00

PLE to PLN

This video was very interesting to me. It was amazing to see all the different things that she had included in her PLE. I also liked the program she was using to house all of her resources. Symbaloo looks really cool and high tech, as well as effective in keeping all of the different data organized and separated. I liked the fact that she could house all of her personal things with her school resources without having them get mixed up or having to use different programs. She is effectively using her PLE to help her learn more about the things she is taught in school.

Her PLE is most definitely a lot larger than my PLN is right now. I would like to fill my PLN with useful things that will help me throughout the remainder of my college experience as well as aid me in my teaching career. This video also shows how technology can help a student no matter how young they are.

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

I liked this video for many reasons. The first reason being that the video was short and to the point. I also like the graphics that were used. Lastly, I liked it because it made me think. It made me think about the person that I am today, the person that I was yesterday, and how I will become the person that I want to be in the future. I can honestly say that I am a better person today than I was yesterday, and I would like to be able to say that everyday for the rest of my life. The most thought provoking thing about this video, ironically, was the most simple question of the entire thing. "What's my sentence?" Well I hope that my sentence will be,

" She was an excellent teacher who brought music to life in the eyes of her students by showing them the beauty and necessity of stringed instruments in the school systems."

C4K #3 Where the Green Grass Grows

2010-07-06T21:54:00.009-05:00

Mr. McClung's Grass Competition

Mr. McClung created a grass-growing competition for his students. They were allowed to pick whichever type of soil they wanted. It ranged from topsoil to sand. The children were then given several weeks to maintain their grass. At the end of the competion, students showed a variety of results. Some had very little grass growth due to extreme dryness or flooding. Some had inches of grass growth. The group with the most grass growth won the competition.

I liked this experiment because it relates to life and the real world. The opportunities and tools for success are left in the hands of the students. They were given full responsibility of their grass from the very beginning (choosing the soil). They were held responsible for the potential of their grass growth (how often their grass was watered and how much water their grass received). They were taught a lesson that can apply to real life situations. The start of any situation begins with good planning. The better the soil they chose, the more potential they had for good grass growth. They were also taught that life is a constant work in progress. They could not just plant the seed and expect the rest to take care of itself. They had to constantly put in the work. They were also taught to be responsible with their resources. Some students did not have much grass growth because they put too much water or not enough water. The ones who took time and paid close attention to the needs of their grass obtained great results. This is a life lesson everyone is bound to learn at one stage of life or another.

Post #9

2010-07-06T19:53:00.007-05:00

An Open Letter to Educator by Morgan Bayda

This was an interesting topic this week. I must say that I was not surprised that Morgan had a less than pleasant college experience. This was due to the prehistoric ways of the modern day classroom. I can relate to her in the sense that she did not feel as if the way she was being taught was relevant or effective. I also feel as if the hundreds of dollars that I spend on textbooks are being flushed down the toilet. This is because the readings are not discussed in class nearly as frequent as the teachers claim they will be before you buy the textbook. I also sympathize with Morgan in her struggle to stay awake, much less soak up any useful information during those famously long, boring college lectures. I liked the fact that she put her boredom and imagination to great use during those lectures instead of just doodling art in the corner of her notes.

She took what she learned in her Ed Computers class and make the system work for her. Her Ed. Computers class is very similar to that of Dr. Strange and his EDM class. She also had a PLN and worked through Twitter to get her thoughts and idea out. She was able to accomplish her goal of finding volunteer opportunities with a study abroad program for Costa Rica. She is a student who takes initiative instead of just standing around while waiting for the education system to change.

She also included a video about Dan Brown who dropped out of school because he said it was "interfering with his education". After analyzing his statement, I completely understood what he meant. He made a valid statement that education will fail if it does not evolve and adapt to the quickly advancing society around us. His main point that he was trying to convey is that education is free and is easily accessible over the internet. This called me to question my own education. I am shoveling out thousands of dollars a year for a college education. This made me evaluate if I was really getting my money's worth. I realized that I never want my students to have to ask themselves the same question. As a future educator, I want to give my students the best educational experiences and opportunities while teaching them life skills that will allow them to continue without me after they leave my classroom. This was a very thought-provoking post, and I enjoyed it!

ALEX

ALEX is a website for current and future educators. It is filled with resources for any kind of teacher. It is basically filled with materials that teachers would receive in a faculty meeting or different workshops that they often attend.It is more accessible because it is all available online.This shows how far technology has come and how it is positively effective with the educators. My favorite part of this website is the section on Lesson Plans. I like it the most because it gives different ideas of creative lesson plans for new and old teachers. To me, it is an example of collaboration within the teaching circuit. It can give teachers new ideas and topics that they may want to include and give them insight on teaching styles that they may not find effective in their own personal classrooms. I think this is a great website.

Post #8

2010-06-29T20:44:00.010-05:00

What I've Learned This Year by Mr. McClung

This was another post that I thoroughly enjoyed because it brought to the forefront the more human side of teaching. Most of the posts and blog sites that we are required to visit are filled with lectures on how technology is the only way. Even though Mr. McClung touched on it briefly, technology was not the driving force behind his post. He shared all of his mistakes, fears and things learned as a first year educator. He was very open with this post, and I think this is what draws the reader in. Most teachers feel as if they cannot make mistakes or be wrong with a degree under their belt. Mr. McClung's post shows that this could not be further from the truth.

He lists many points that he learned as a first year teacher. He admits to getting so caught up in what his superiors thought, that he was missing the mark with the audience that mattered the most. He admits having "perfect" lesson plans that often killed his spirits when they did not turn out the way he had hoped. This taught him the importance of flexibility as a teacher. He touched on a subject that most teachers feel as if they are too grown up to admit. No matter how juvenile it may seem, Mr. McClung pointed out the importance of workplace peace and acceptance of others. Things run a lot smoother when people get along, or atleast have an understanding in the workplace. He also wrote about the importance of finding a balance when setting expectations for your students. This saves a lot of despair and disappointment with both teacher and student if the student does not succeed. He makes sure to mention that it is still necessary to set expectations for your students. He includes that technology can be your friend as an adult and a teacher. He speaks about the importance of being involved with your students because you may be the only person who listens to them. It makes for a better student/teacher relationship and will most likely end the chances of a power struggle between the parties. His last point was one that hit home to me. He makes it very clear that there is a very deep importance in continued learning. There is no reason to ever stop learning.

This was a great post. I felt as if it touched on a lot of important things that teachers miss out on. Many of his points that he made are things that many college course do not teach. Field experience cannot be found in a textbook. This is why I am so glad that he decided to invite us into his world and share his experiences with us. I think this will help us avoid some of these same mistakes as first time teachers.(because there will be many mistakes made). The more mistakes that can be avoided, the better. I say this is because you only get one chance to teach the students. You may stay in the same grade, but your students have to move on to their next level. I do not think I could live with myself as a teacher if I knew that my selfish mistakes caused me to lose an entire classroom of learners. I think that Mr. McClung made it clear that GREAT teaching goes beyond a degree and a brightly colored classroom.

Comments4Kids #2

2010-06-29T20:34:00.007-05:00

Comments4Kids #2 :Cyrus Knows How to Cross the Road SAFELY

This week I had to view the Little Voices, Little Scholars blog. I was actually very impressed at all of the work that they have put into their blog. I was assigned to Cyrus' post on crossing the road safely. The first thing that caught my eye was his illustration. I thought that not only was it a nice illustration, I think that it showed how serious he was about his post and topic as well as gave more detail to his whole presentation. The next thing that I noticed was that there were two videos. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the second video was a revision of the first. Even at that young age dealing with this advanced form of technology, he still took pride in his work and deemed it important to get it right. I think that it showed great character and dedication that he learned from and fixed his mistakes to make his work the best that it could be. I really enjoyed this post and all of the things, simple and complex, that I learned from it.

Comments4Teachers Post #1

2010-06-29T19:08:00.008-05:00

Caren Carillo: History,Education, Technology and Beyond

I have to start off by saying that this has been one of my favorite blogs that I have read this entire summer semester. I will most definitely be adding Ms. Caren Castillo to my PLN very soon. Even though she did not post as frequently as other blog sites that I had visited, I think her posts and advice will stand the test of time, even if she never posts again.(I pray this will not happen though).Even though I only had to read the three most recent posts on her blog page, I found myself reading them all very quickly. The length of her posts helped a lot as far as reading and watching was concerned.

She was not one of those bloggers who create posts just because they love to hear themselves talk. She approached the different struggles and strategies of teaching as a human being, not a dictator or a robot. Her post: Essentials for Teaching: Warm and Fuzzy File, was one of my favorites. Even though I was not required to read it, I am so glad that I did! She did not mask her emotions about the comments that were made about her teaching. She also revealed her mistakes as some teachers do not like to do. She showed that there is more to teaching than just grading papers, and your emotions will get involved if you love to teach and care about your students. As simple as her solution for situations like that were, I think they are valid and important to any teacher.

I also liked her post on choosing to be a THERMOMETER or THERMOSTAT in the classroom. Her analogy was very valid and made me evaluate what kind of teacher that I wanted to be, and how involved I could be with my students. It is a great analysis on what role a teacher should play in the classroom. Being a pulse behind a desk is not going to cut it in today's education system.

Her most recent posts Multiple Intelligences and Classroom Management: Commercial Breaks and Attention Spans shows how in tune she is with the modern day student. Instead of being a teacher who sits comfortably in her personal teaching styles, and demands that the student adapts to her teaching to get a good grade, she goes the extra mile. She does research on the different types of learners that could pop up in the modern day classroom. She also acknowledges the different types of combinations of learners that exist and even gives examples on how to reach each learner. She also changes up her lesson plans to keep the attention of her students. Instead of scolding her students for not being able to stay still and remain attentive, she adapts to them and their learning styles.

I really enjoyed following this blog. I really feel as if I have picked up some very valuable tools that I can use in my future classrooms with my students. I loved the deep simplicity of her topics and solutions. Great Blog!

Shoronda Charles Audacity Audio for Google Presentation

2010-06-28T23:05:00.001-05:00

WebCam Movie *The Meaning Behind the Music

2010-06-28T22:52:00.001-05:00

Educational Timetoast Timeline

2010-06-28T22:44:00.001-05:00

Post #7

2010-06-27T18:37:00.006-05:00

Mr. Pausch's Last Lecture

I must admit that I cringed when I read the instructional manual and saw that this video was over an hour long. I wasn't excited in the least to spead over an hour on one assignment. My mind has been completely changed after viewing this video. I can honestly say that I, like most of my peers probably are, am a fan of this man. "Randy Pausch's Last Lecture" was an amazing lecture indeed. I have never seen a man, even under his personal circumstances, be so full of life and joyful. He is so unselfish and giving in the sense that even though his life may be coming to an end, he is still thinking of ways to improve the lives of others that will still remain living. This was an amazing video that touched me, not only involving my career as an educator, but also as a human being.

In the first portion of the video, Mr. Pausch talks about his childhood dreams. He talked about how he accomplished them by being persistent. He did not take "no" for an answer. He even made loop holes when he had to. I think everyone should adopt this philosophy and be persistent with their dreams. So many things could be accomplished if we all had the mentality of Mr. Pausch.

He then talks about how he helped others achieve their goals. No matter what his condition or health status, he wanted to make sure that his students were all that they could be and lived life to the fullest. At a time where most people would dedicate the remainder of their lives to relaxing, reminiscing, or just fading away, Mr. Pausch made it his mission to help other. I think that is so amazing. If more teachers today would adopt his strategies on helping their students, we would have more dreamers in the classroom which would lead to more success outside of the classroom.

I learned so much while watching this. I am so glad this was required. I think every student, not just education majors, should watch this, because it has so much potential to change so many lives. I think that if Mr. Pausch would do all of these things for others, knowing that he was dying, and create such a profound effect, think of what the living and able-bodied educators could achieve. If Mr. Pausch's way is the only way to get our educators more optimistic and involved in their students' lives and in the classroom, I would suggest that we all live as if we were dying!

Shoronda Charles PLN

2010-06-23T23:27:00.002-05:00

Shoronda Charles' PLN Summer 2010

I am in the process of developing my PLN. I am trying to fill it with people that can help me with this EDM 310 course and prepare me for my technology filled teaching career. I have also added some people that we had to research for previous blog posts. If I thought they had very interesting things to say, or if I thought I would want to contact them at a later date on some of their materials, I included them as well.

I started off my PLN with the wonderful EDM 310 staff. I currently follow Dr. Strange, Jamie Lynn Miller, Anthony Capps, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Tashbin on twitter. I follow them because they know what is directly going on in the EDM 310 class from day to day, and they can help me on days that my questions span farther than the lab time.

I also follow Sir Ken Robinson on Twitter. I decided to follow him because I really liked and supported his argument on the problems of taking creativity out of the schools. I felt as if that lecture applied to me and my future music teaching career.

I follow Eric Whitaker's Virtual Choir because I thought they were really cool and interesting. I want to be up to date whenever he decides to do something new, and it also makes it more accessible to contact him if I had any questions about incorporating technology into music.

Post #6

2010-06-23T22:13:00.008-05:00

Richard Miller: This is How We Dream Parts 1 & 2

Although technology has had its minor setbacks and glitches throughout the years, I can honestly say it has become more of a convenience than a burden. As a student, I have been able to see and reap the benefits of having access to the luxeries of technology. Instead of having to leave the library with a moutain of books in tow whenever I have a report to do, I can conveniently surf the web for reliable sources. It enables me to broaden my resources further than just my local library.

Access to information on the internet has many other conveniences. To me it is better than just simply reading the book. I think this because the book only offers one perspective, most times it is that of the authors'. Over the internet, there is access to blogs, critic's reviews and many other forms of secondary opinions.

I think I would like to try to incorporate writing with multimedia into some of my classes before I graduate. It seems alot more interactive than just writing and taking notes on a piece of paper, and just sitting in a cramped desk watching a teacher pace back and forth while lecturing. I would like to try this out myself before I say that this is what I would like my future students to be involved in.

The Networked Student: Wendy Drexler

This post was about Drexler's students who did a Youtube video called "Networked Students". This video basically described the 21st century student. This video included students talking about how the importance of textbooks and memorized information has fallen to the sidelines of learning, and students are now relying more on their PLNs (Personal Learning Networks) for information. The traditional library days are now becoming a thing of the past because students have so many different ways of accessing information using technology. This brings up the thought that if this type of information is so readily available, that there may be no need to used memorized facts anymore.

Another question that was brought up was " If the students are so networked, what role does the 21st century teacher play in the classroom?" Students can now find all kinds of useful information on the web or through using their PLNs. I think of the 21st century teacher as a coach in the classroom. They are there to guide the students with different strategies to make a touchdown (learning and obtaining useful information). They cannot not execute the plays for the students, but they can give them a map because they have been there before.

I am working hard to become technologically literate for my potentially networked students. I want to be a great leader of the classroom, not just a paid accessory. I think that teachers will always be prominent in the classroom, but technology is just making the position of a teacher more flexible and modern.

Comments for Kids Post #1

2010-06-23T17:04:00.005-05:00

Instant Origami with the Students of 2KM at Leopold Primary School

For my first Comments for Kids assignment, I had to vist the blog of the students in Ms. McGeady's class. In the post that I was to comment on, they were learning how to make an origami box. I was impressed at the results of their work by just following a video that was posted on HOWCAST. I decided to try to make my own personal origami box, and I must admit that it was much harder than it seemed.

I enjoyed seeing the students be so interactive with their learning. It helps them work together and follow specific directions of all kinds. I was also very pleased to see that they also had the opportunity to respond to the comments that people left on their blogs. It was unbelieveable to see that children half my age, were doing the same things that I am doing in college (managing my own blog). It just opened my eyes to how quickly technology is taking off, and this was proof that it is steadily growing with the students.

Post #5 Smartboards

2010-06-22T18:23:00.011-05:00

Smartboards in the Classroom: Help or Hinderance??

The first two posts that we had to read, The Innovative Educator: Why Smartboards Are a Dumb Initiative by Michael Staton and Teacher Magazine: Why I Hate Interactive Whiteboards by Bill Ferriter, were not supportive of the use of Smartboard in the classrooms. They talked about how costly and inconvenient they were. They both talked about how school systems just want something tangible to spend tax payers' dollars on instead of solving the true problems with student learning inside of the classroom.

The blog site that I found on my own, misterteacher.com: How the Smartboard Has Changed My Teaching, had a completely different approach and view on Smartboards in the classrooms. He thought they were great and changed his teaching style and career. He said that it made his student become more interactive and involved in the lesson. He claimed they worked better when they were asked to become involved in the lesson plans and the interactive learning of the class.

I would have to agree with the first two posts in saying that Smartboards are not all they are cracked up to be. They are a great leap in technology in the classroom, but I do not feel as if they are absolutely necessary and worth the school funding dollars. I feel as if they are just a magnified version of traditional teaching. Students can be interactive with a regular chalk or a dry erase board as well, not just a Smartboard. Things like projectors already made it possible for mass viewing of materials in the classroom, so why would we need a Smartboard to reiterate that concept. I think that Smartboards would be nice for the classroom, but I think some other issues in the classroom need to be addressed and solved first. Before the school systems go out and spend thousands of dollars on these Smartboards, claiming that they will help the kids pay attention and learn at a faster rate, I think they need to figure out why the children are not doing this already. Technology is a privilege, not a necessity. So that privilege will become a waste if the children revert back to their inattentive ways after their newly found interest in the Smartboard dies down and school becomes the same old boring school to them again.

The Chipper Series and EDM 310 for Dummies

I enjoyed both videos because they gave me hope. The EDM 310 for Dummies video most definitely displayed my personal frustrations about the class and how all of the different websites and assignments seem to run together.

I would like to see an overall video about time management for this class and how to break down the assignments and stay on top of their due dates. I would like to see a a video on the different collaborative projects and different approaches that can be taken with each one. I think that these videos would be helpful to the students because there is nothing worse than to be bombarded with assignments and have no starting place. I think these videos will aid the students in a way that would be more convenient for the ones who cannot make it to the morning lab hours and have assignment due the next day.

How Podcasts Can Be Used in the Classroom (Group Podcast Project)

2010-06-22T16:56:00.003-05:00

Shoronda Charles Vocaroo

2010-06-20T20:47:00.001-05:00

Shoronda Charles' Journey Outside of the States !!

2010-06-17T23:33:00.002-05:00

Post #4

2010-06-17T20:57:00.008-05:00

Post #4: All About Podcasts!!

Almost all of this week's materials were dealing first hand with podcasts. They showed the different ways that they can be used in the classroom, and also how effective they can be when done right. Reading through these materials and listening to these podcasts makes me with that I had been introduce to these types of technology at a much younger age. It seems to make learning feel a lot more interesting and interactive.

There were many different types of podcasts. Some were tutorial. Some were strictly educational. My favorite was the Youtube video about how podcasts can enhance classroom learning. I felt as if it were just the thing that I needed to watch. My own personal encounters with podcasts in the classroom were nowhere near as effective as what was described in the video. Another podcast that I enjoyed was the one from the elementary school. It was refreshing to see students excited about learning and relaying information compared to the lethargic college kids I am constantly surrounded by!

Eagles' Nest Radio Podcasts

I thought their podcasts were cute as well as informational. It was nice to hear them be so involved in their facts. I liked the fact that everyone played an equally important role in making the podcasts. They all seemed excited to be included. It seems like a great initiative for their learning process. Getting an opportunity to be included in the podcast might give them more incentive to learn the facts and materials.

I thought their podcasts topics were creative and educational all at the same time. They seem to be enjoying their educational voyages through different time periods and subjects. Learning outlets like this one makes me excited and anxious to become a teacher. I want my students to have a sincere interest in learning like these students do, and I want to be able to provide a more hands-on, interactive learning experience like this one.

Langwitches Blog

I enjoyed this post, even though it included more tutorial content. I learned a great deal about podcasts and the ways that they can be used. I must admit that I was shocked when I saw the title with "podcasts" and "1st grade" in the same sentence. After listening to it, I realized that technology has no age limits. I loved the fact that they were inspired by and enjoyed the work of the second graders that they listened to.

My two favorite podcasts were the ones about Long Distance Storytelling and Flat Stanley. When I think of technology in the classrooms of early elementary students, these are the types of experiments and projects I envision. My younger cousin participated in a Flat Stanley project, and he loved it. I am glad to know that they are keeping the fundamentals of early childhood education in tact, while further enhancing it with technology.

Intergrating ITC into the MFL classroom:: The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

This video was one of the more informative ones that I watched. It open my eyes to the many different benefits of using podcasts in the classroom. I actually took notes on this one. This is because the only time that I had encountered podcasts in the classroom was in my Music Literature class. The only thing included was the music that we were going to be tested on, a brief introduction of the piece itself, and a picture of the composer while the music was playing. Now I feel cheated on what a real podcasts should be!

I like this one especially because it even included bulleted notes and key points to let the listener/ watcher the different ways. I also think I liked this one because it was a Youtube video, instead of a still podcast. Either way, I still learned a lot of great information that I cannot wait to apply in my classroom setting and involve my student in.

100 Ways to Use Your iPod to Learn and Study Better

This post was mind-blowing with how many different ways you can use you iPod to further your learning and education in some way or another. With all of these resources, people don't have an excuse as to why they cannot continue to learn. They had all types of programs that were available for this device. The Bible and English as a Second Language were the main two that I was surprised to see on there.

I liked the fact that they had things for all ages. They had items for professional adults, religious people, foreign laguage speakers, and tourist. They also had educational tools for every level of education. They had Sesame Street programs for young children, programs for elementary and middle school level children, as well as flashcard apps for college nusing students. I think that it is important to be convenient to all customers, and I think that this one did a really great job.

Shoronda Charles EDM 310 Timetoast Timeline

2010-06-17T19:59:00.002-05:00

Post #3

2010-06-13T10:19:00.007-05:00

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod

Scott McLeod is the Associate Professor of Educational Administration at the University of Iowa and the Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He is also the co-creator of the Did You Know videos, one of which we had to comment on in our blog posts.

This post is particularly interesting. It is hard for me to say who he is imitating in his rant about technology being irrelevant to schools, but it is indeed someone's viewpoint. I liked how he embodied the full character of the disapproving person. He stated that technology in the class was vain and kids did not need to have an audience. I also like the fact that he voice what many administrator are afriad of, the children taking advantage of the easy access to technology to do bad things, like look at pornography and talk to sexual predators. I really enjoyed this post as well as his alter ego like approach and delivery.

The iSchool Initiative

In this video, he is campaigning for all the things that are done in a traditional classroom to be tranferred and adjusted so that they can all be accomplished on the iTouch. He claims that it will save the school system many tax payer dollars and reduce the educational systems' carbon footprint. He acknowledges all of the current apps that are already classroom ready. He then introduces new innovative apps that would cover the rest of the classroom criteria.

I think that the notion of learning at the touch of one finger is great but not very realistic. While it may save money in terms of paper and books, not once did he mention maitenence of the device. Also because each device is individual, they may all have their unique gliches. There would be constant security issues as far as test and quizzes are concerned. I think that his ideas are great in theory, but when applied to a real classroom, with rambunctious teenagers, it may become a different story.

Watch The Lost Generation

I found this to be my favorite video yet!! I enjoyed her presentation and delivery. It was very unique and effective. I have never seen a video or presentation quite like it. It was nice to see the words turn around and change the mood from daunting to empowering. I give that video and the statements that it made a five star review, and I hope to see more like it soon.

Eric Whitaker's Virtual Choir

I was introduced to this video in my Music Literature class last semester. I thought it was absolutely amazing and beautiful. I think that technology has made great bounds and has opened many doors. Had it not been for technology, these wonderful singers would probably have never gotten the chance to sing together. It also provided a new scholarship, which is always a plus. I think that with all this talk of technology and its planned advancements, as a musician, I feel left out. That there will be no benefits for myself or my students. It was a relief to know that we had not been forgotten. We just have to work a little harder and think a little further outside of the box to make sure we take our place in this technological movement. Really enjoyed this one!!

Post #2

2010-06-13T01:38:00.006-05:00

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today (4:45)

This video post by Michael Wesch is more of my taste. I like to be visually engaged instead of listening to person drone on and on about certain material as the words bounce across the computer screen. Although I could have done without the creepy music, I really enjoyed this video. I feel as if it accurately reflected my life as a college student. These observations and statistics are very sad but very true at the same time. It is sad that children are told all of their lives to do well in school and graduate from college so that they can be successful. Unfortunately with statistics like the ones shown in the video, not many make it across that commencement stage, and I can see why.

I can relate to most of the statements that were displayed in that classroom. I too have spent hundreds of dollars that I cannot get back on books that I barely opened. The only way that I could stop myself from being on facebook in class was to stop bringing my laptop altogether and just take notes the old-fashioned way. I think most colleges have class sizes that are extremely too large to ensure a productive learning environment. Thankfully, South Alabama does pretty well in the student to teacher ratio area. Unfortunately, there are some college faux pas that not even good ol' South cannot avoid. The video did point out two things that made me scratch my head because they were so true yet they contradicted each other. One implied that the class sizes were too big, but yet another student made it clear that her absent neighbor had already paid for the class but failed to show up. I see both happen too frequently, but not enough that one would overpower the other.

"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about reading this post because by reading the title, I had a daunting feeling that it was going to go against everything that Dr. Strange is teaching us in EDM 310. I was not completely wrong in my guess, but I can say that I was pleasantly surprised to find someone whose views on technology match closer to my own.

I think that technology will become more prominent in the classroom, but I do not think that it should be the only way to learn. Being that I want to be a music teacher, I feel left out of the technological advancement loop that I feel will soon be happening in the classroom. I feel as if that more teachers should focus on reaching their students and getting them more excited and interested in learning before they break out the ever so tempting laptops. If they do not do this, they will have a classroom full of facebook-checking, tweet-crazy students.

I also agree with Mrs. Hines on the issue that technology should be used as an enhancement or supplement to the more traditional ways of teaching since most teachers have yet to conquer that battle.( traditional teaching). I think that if the school system itself does not build more structure and boost morale in the classroom, all of the technological advancements will be a waste of time and money, and they will lose many student throughout the process.

Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

I liked this post. The first few lines of how jobs positions and pay should be questioned for particular individuals who are not technologically literate were a little extreme in my opinion, but after sitting down and evaluating it, it made more sense. Why pay them for a job that they are constantly not prepared for, and why should the companies have to dish out more money to provide instructors for them to get to the level where they are supposed to be? I also like Fisch's comparison to the double standard of math and reading, and how society holds a higher expectation for one over the other, when both are essential.

One thing that I was worried about is how my major and potential profession of being a music teacher fits into all of this. Music is most definitely more hands on, and with every blog post that we are assigned, I try to find a way to fit music to those same standard. With Fisch's explanations, I had a hard time doing this.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

This post was very shocking to me. You hear about how active technology is all the time, but to actually see it being broken down to you by the second is a different kind of experience. I think that people, mostly teenagers and preteens are very active. The numbers were rapidly rising. I was hard to watch them all. It puts things into perspective when you actually get to see the numbers rolling, and how they pertain to every day uses like Facebook and Youtube.

Everyone keeps saying how the age of technology is quickly approaching, but it seems as if it is already here. There was so much technological activity that went on in one minute, its hard to think what else can get done that quickly and efficiently. These technological timings have surpassed the important time markers that we used to value, like how many babies were born in the last minute.

Post #1

2010-06-06T18:17:00.008-05:00

Did You Know? 3.0 by Karl Fisch

1. The video Did You Know? 3.0 by Karl Fisch was not what I was expecting to see. I was expecting a boring, documentary style video with very little graphic design and a monotonous narrator. I was pleasantly surprised when the upbeat music began to play, and the screen was filled with colorful, eye-catching graphics. I thought the presentation of the video was very helpful in keeping my attention, so that I could comprehend the facts and statistics that were being presented to me. Although the delivery of the material was a little on the fast side, I enjoyed the presentation of it all.
The comparisons between China, India and America were uncanny. I always knew that the United States placed behind China in many categories, but I had no idea India did as well. It was also interesting to see how far technology has come and where it will potentially go in the future. I was also very intrigued by the advances that China plans to make with technology within the next twenty years. It made me question if the United States will ever catch up, or do we even care to? If not, why is that?

Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman

2. The video Mr. Winkle Wakes by Mathew Needleman brings its viewers into reality. While the outside world is constantly changing and advancing in technology, the school systems, as a whole, tend to shy away from learning and practicing more advanced technology skills. Is school not the place that prepares the students for the outside world. If they are not technologically prepared, how will they perform efficiently in the workforce. They will probably be reduced to jobs that require as little technological proficiency as possible, which often times involves more manual labor and maybe not as much pay.
I think the reason being for this lack of technological advancement in the classroom is due to the fact that the teachers are not as technologically literate as they could or should be. This, in general, holds the students back. I think that even distribution of time and attention should be given to all aspects of the curriculum to broaden the horizons of each student, instead of constantly focusing the bulk of the classroom time on the "safer", more traditional core subjects such as mathematics, english, and history.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

3. The video, Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity, was a video that hit very close to home with me. My favorite quote throughout the entire video was when he stated, "Creativity is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status". I find that to be very true because just as some would find it absurd to send the students off into the real world without being literate, I think it is just as absurd to send them out into that same real world, stripped of their creativity which often has a key part of their identities attached to it. I also agreed with his view on how society stigmatizes the public on being wrong which make people afraid of ever stepping outside of the box in fear of being mocked and looked down upon.
I also felt a close relation to this video being that I am a Music Education major. Because I play two classical instruments, I have watched over the years as an increase of budget cuts, the fine arts programs are the first to go. Fine arts are the most creative outlet most schools have to offer. I also agreed with his hierarchy theory within the arts. I think Music and Art are among the top because they, for the most part, can be taught, no matter the capacity of the student. They offer more of a concrete outlet of learning. Drama and dance are low on the totem pole because often times, one cannot be taught to convey false emotions to cues effectively as everyone else, and rhythm is a lot harder to teach if it does not come naturally. The teachers are getting lazy and taking the easier way out instead of offering a fair opportunity to all students to express their preferred form of creativity. Instead they would rather close them into a box of convenience.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

4. I think the video, Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts, is an accurate portrait of what type of technology classes should be offered throughout the curriculum. It is almost a replica of what we are doing and being taught in EDM 310. The most prominent difference is that these children are receiving this vital information at a much younger age than the college level students in my EDM 310 class. I think that she is giving them the right tools to be able to function as a productive member of the workforce when they graduate from high school or college.
I liked the fact that she gave the students the power to teach the rest of the class. She also gave them fun activities that would catch their attention, and then she made the assignment deeper in depth. She gave them enough instruction for the assignments as well as opportunities to venture out on their own into the world of technology, all while giving enough opportunity for assistance and guidance. I liked the format of the course overall.

Shoronda Charles Wordle EDM310 Summer2010

2010-06-06T17:45:00.001-05:00