Blog Assignment 6

Randy Pausch: Last Lecture

Randy Pausch seems to be a good hearted man and is extremely inspirational. I am glad Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture video was in this week’s blog post. The timing could not have been better; considering, it is midterm and this is about the time I begin to get tired and weary in school. Pausch stated, “inspiration and the permission to dream is huge… we must not lose sight of this". He is addressing students, adults, and his own children telling them to never give up on their own childhood dreams, no matter how far fetched they may be. The “Last Lecture” was broken down into three parts: his own childhood dreams, helping others, and lessons learned.
In the first section, Pausch described his childhood dreams. His dreams consisted of being in zero gravity, playing in the NFL, authoring an article in the World Book encyclopedia, being Captain Kirk, winning stuffed animals, and being a Disney Imagineer. Pausch achieved in all of these goals, except playing in the NFL and being Captain Kirk; although, he did meet Captain Kirk. He never let the negativity of any one around him hinder his ability to succeed. When describing his football career, he states, “most of what we learn, we learn indirectly ‘head fake’”. A “head fake” is a situation, where, an individual thinks they are doing a task, like playing a sport, but in all reality, they are learning more important qualities for their future. I can relate with Pausch and his sports stories. I played volleyball throughout high school. At the time, I did not realize what playing a team sport would teach me, but now I appreciate the lessons learned. I learned self-confidence, how to work in a group, self-discipline, and strength to keep pushing, even when I wanted to quit. One of the reasons why I am the person I am today is because of playing a team sport. Pausch also stated, “when you’re screwing up and nobody’s saying anything to you anymore, that means they gave up”. This is another great point. Educators and parents must push their students and children to achieve their goals. Without critique and feedback, a child will not reach their full potential in life. I think this statement made me realize how big of an impact teachers have on student’s lives. We must help students accomplish their goals and never give up on them. Although criticism might be harsh and sometimes hard to handle, students need to feel like someone cares, and through this attention, they will work harder.
After he described his childhood dreams, in the next segment, Pausch talked about enabling the childhood dreams of others. He realized that he could help students attain their childhood dreams through teaching. The last place that he taught was Carnegie Mellon. At this university, Pausch created a class called “Building Virtual Worlds”. There were 50 students in the class from various departments who worked in groups for 2 weeks producing a virtual world. After 2 weeks, the groups were reassigned and the students built another virtual world; this went on for the duration of the class. He described it as “having a new playmate” every 2 weeks. In this lecture, he included an example of one of the virtual worlds, and it was fascinating. Pausch taught this class for 10 years, passed it to someone who was “better than” he was and created the Entertainment Technology Center. The ETC is a 2 year plan for a master’s degree. While talking about his teaching career, Pausch stated, “[the] best education to give is for somebody to be self reflective”. I think this is another great point. People learn from their mistakes, but if they are not “self reflective” then they will never change for the better. Sure, students can read grades on a paper, but if they are not responsible for their own actions then they will not learn. Dr. Strange uses this strategy as well. He told us in the first week of class that we would have to answer questions about our assignments, for example, were they turned in on time. If these questions are answered truthfully, a student already knows the answer to questions like “what is my grade for this semester”.
The final part of the video was lessons learned. In this section, Pausch gives many helpful tips on being a teacher, or life in general. The main statement that he kept referring back to was “brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things”. This is definitely true in my life, and I am sure true for others as well. “Brick walls” symbolize the challenges in life, and we must get “over” them to reach our goals. Those who want to achieve will find a way around them and those who do not care enough will quit. As educators, we must help our students find ways around these “brick walls” which will enable them to attain their goals. Just a few other words of wisdom that Pausch passes on are, “have fun”, “never give up”, “focus on others, not yourself”, “get feed back loop and listen to it “, and “find the best in everybody; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show it”. These are all helpful advice for anyone in any profession. My favorite is the last statement, “find the best in everybody; no matter how long you have to wait for them to show it”. I think this is extremely helpful advice for teachers. It seems like it would be easy for a teacher to turn their back on a student who does not care and does not try; but if we give that student enough support and feedback, they can and will strive to be a better person. The Freedom Writers Diary and Randy Pausch helped me understand this statement.
In conclusion, I think that Dr. Randy Pausch is an extremely inspiring speaker. He achieved his childhood dreams and never gave up, even when he was diagnosed with cancer. At this point in time, besides my mother, he is the most inspiring person. His lecture seemed to give me that extra boost that I needed to help me make it through this semester. I wish I could have met him. My favorite part of the entire lecture was the last few seconds when he said “this talk’s not for you, it’s for my kids”. Randy Pausch was an extremely intelligent man and is a great role model.

Project #8 Podcast

Project #9a Individual Timeline

Blog Assignment 5

Don’t Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?


Technology has become a necessity in today’s world. Almost everyone has a phone, television, computer, or cell phone, and if they do not personally own one, they have access to one. I remember when the Internet was just becoming available to the public, when cell phones were in bags and people still used the post office to mail letters. This is all old news and new technologies are being built so fast, the “new” does not have time to wear off before the next model comes out. With the technology industry moving this quickly, we struggle to keep up. It seems like every time I turn on my computer I have an update for a program. This gets frustrating! As soon as I learn how to use the “10.2.1” version, the “10.2.2” version is produced and I have to learn how to use the program all over again. I have been playing “catch up” since the beginning of this semester. Dr. Strange has opened my eyes to Internet resources and software that I had never heard of, like Google Home and Office and many more. If I am struggling now, I cannot even imagine what a student will experience a decade or more from now. Having technologies available in the classroom and home and teaching children how to use them is an obligation. Dr. McLeod, through a sarcastic and mocking tone, makes a very clear point in this post. He states numerous ways of using the Internet today, like, “connecting, social networking, and collaboration” and tells the parents not to teach their children how to use these resources; but at the end, he states, “…I’m doing all of it with my kids can’t wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two…” (McLeod).  He makes a brilliant point; in that, children and students need to be taught how to use the Internet. But! They need to learn how to use the computer in moderation. I just recently received this YouTube video in an e-mail. This video is scary. I did not even realize this was possible. Bottom line, any picture posted to the web through a Smart Phone can be used to trace the location of the picture taken. The news used a little girl as an example. The reporter took various pictures of her in different places with a smart phone and uploaded them to the Internet. Because the camera on the smart phone was linked to a GPS, each picture allowed the reporter, and anyone else with access to the pictures, to trace every where the child had taken pictures; places like, her bedroom, to her day care, even to her favorite spot in the park! This is an invisible trail that stalkers and other criminals can use against our children and us. A thing like this is one negative aspect of using websites like Twitter and Facebook. Another big problem I have with advances in technology is having a child always “plugged in". Although I think computers and other technologies are great, they need to be used in moderation. I will be planning a family in the near future and my children will not be on the computer 24/7. There will be a time limit and they will have other activities to do outside, like sports or even just playing outside in the sun. I think being on the computer, television, PlayStation, or iPad can be detrimental. If children are always on the computer, they lose family time and might not learn social skills.

Dr. Scott McLeod is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Kentucky and he is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). CASTLE is the nation’s only center devoted to helping educate school administrators in technology. They prepare “technology-savvy” educators. 

         All information was found on Dr. McLeod’s website and CASTLE's website.

The iSchool Initiative

In The iSchool Initiative and Zeitgeist YoungMind’s Enrty videos, high school student, Travis Allen is promoting the idea of iSchool. This advanced technology would look like the iPod Touch or the iPhone with the touch screen interface, but be used only for schoolwork. Allen believes that the iSchool will cut down on the cost of schools for both the administrators and students, keep teachers and students linked, and link educators with parents. He wants to have apps for learning and have all textbooks, workbooks, and library books available at the touch of a button.

After taking EDM310, I think that computers and other technologies are needed in the classroom, mainly to keep up with our fast paced society that heavily relies on technology. Having said this, I do not believe in taking out all textbooks, workbooks, handwritten notes or tests. I rely on having a hard copy of a textbook sitting next to me while I study, so I can easily reference anything I need. Now, some might argue with this statement. I understand that the textbook would be readily available at the touch of a button on a Kindle or iSchool, but there is a difference in looking at a piece of paper and looking at a computer screen. I tend to zone out when looking at a screen. I have read a few pages on a Kindle and I just do not like it as much as actually holding a copy of a book in my hands. I also like having a hard copy of notes in a 3-ringed binder rather than having them all online. Once again, I would much rather read from a notebook than a computer screen. In conclusion, I am cautiously pessimistic on the idea of the iSchool. Maybe it’s just because of the way that I was taught.  It will probably take the education system years to transition from pencil and paper to all computers.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir

I have always believed that music, any kind, can move people and this video is absolutely breath taking! I have performed with large groups on stage and I know that after practicing for hours and hours sometimes, the concert just does not sound exactly the way it was supposed to. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to produce a piece having never practiced together. This virtual choir is stunning. I have also recorded some stuff on the computer and without help, my voice or even my musical instrument sounds distorted. This video sounds like you are actually sitting in front of a choir during a concert. Only through the use of the Internet was this possible. Absolutely amazing!

Teaching in the 21^st Century

Kevin Roberts, through his presentation, portrays a new type of teaching which will need to be used now and in the future. He, like the rest of the future educators, sees the education field changing. Roberts thinks that teaching in the 21^st century means that teachers will no longer be needed to teach facts and other information because students will have this at their fingertips through the use of technology. He supports the idea of educators teaching students how to use the Internet in a positive way, like finding reliable sources, using podcasts and blogs, and programming.

My position on this presentation is that educators are needed and will always be needed. Children have to go to school to learn, to become prepared for the future. I do not think that teachers only provide “content, facts, dates, and information”, I believe that some teachers also provide skills needed in life. The only “parenting” some students receive is from their schoolteacher. If teachers are taken away, without their guidance, some children will remain at a third grade level, if they learn that much, for the rest of their lives. I agree with the statement, “teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge…we are the filter”. This is becoming true with the advances of the Internet. Along with teaching the main lessons, I believe that educators should also, to some extent, teach children how to use the Internet. They need to learn what is a reliable source, where to look for important information, and how to filter out the negative aspects of the Internet. I do not think that just because students have access to the Internet, teachers need to stop teaching basic information. How will students learn to speak and write well without teaching? I know that I would not just sit at a computer and read documents on “how to write a good paper”. Roberts also states, “these tools are no longer about pure entertainment…students do not need to be entertained…they need to be engaged”. I believe in using technology to engage students in learning, like using apps for iPads for special education students, but these technologies need to be used in moderation. I am not against “tricking” students to learn through fun educational games. In reference to the YouTube video I presented entitled “Don’t Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?”, the Internet leaves an invisible trail behind everything. Any picture posted, website visited, or document or video downloaded is traceable and can be used against someone, whether for criminals or job interviews. If the Internet is used as an “engaging” source rather than an “entertaining” source, then students’ educations can and will benefit for the good.

If Roberts is correct, then becoming an educator in the 21^st century will be more challenging than ever before. We, as educators, now have to prepare students for the future in technology and we have to teach them their basic needs. Educators will have to be up to date on technology and their subject matter. Technology is a wonderful resource if used with respect, moderation, and with an “engaging” attitude.

Reading Rockets 

The Helping Struggling Readers section of this website contains some valuable information for educators teaching or assisting students that are struggling to read and comprehend new information. Like any other disorder or struggle a child might have, if caught early, most reading problems can be prevented. According to Reading Rockets, 40% of children struggle with reading, and this problem can be prevented if caught early and helped immediately. Children who struggle with reading will fall far behind their classmates and their expected level of learning, which will lead to the feeling of failure. The feeling of failure is devastating. This section of Reading Rockets has 10 links for parents and educators that provide information for helping children who struggle with reading.  This website also provides links for related articles that further explain struggles with reading and ways to prevent this problem. It is essential to catch this problem early.

The next section that I found interesting was ABC’s of Teaching Reading. This section stresses the importance of good educators to teach children how to read in a systematic way. In this section, Reading Rockets provides 6 links with information for educators teaching children how to read. Reading does not come naturally. Children must be taught how to read. Reading is a crucial part of becoming educated. 

I am planning on being a high school Biology teacher. For many students, science is a struggle and a great deal of time must be spent studying this subject. When I was in high school, I remember thinking “Oh, it’s just memorization this will be easy” in my AP Biology class. Needless to say I procrastinated and did everything at the last minute, only to make a C in the class. I did not struggle reading, sure I had to read some things three or four times to remember it, but reading comprehension did not hinder my ability to learn. I cannot imagine the hardships that a student experiences if they have trouble reading. Reading skills are developed by the time a child is in the 3^rd grade, without this skill, the child will not fulfill his/her full potential. Reading Rocket and other websites provide useful information for teaching students how to read. I think it is a great website. Many thanks to Anthony Capps for discovering this website and to Dr. Strange for bringing it to my attention! 

Project #6 My Sentence Video

Blog Assignment 4

Resources, like podcasts, can be very helpful, in that, students acquire the feel for technology and learn their lessons. Through the use of podcasts, Ms. Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano makes reading fun. I think this is an important aspect of learning. By making learning fun, children are “tricked”. They forget what they are being “forced” to do, but rather they are having fun doing what they are supposed to do. The first post that I read from Langwitches was 1st Graders Create Their Own Read-Along Audiobook. By using innovative advances in technology, Tolisano teaches her students to read. By allowing her children to record their own voice in an Audiobook, the children can listen to their recording making sure it sounds just right. Not only are they listening to their own recording, but they are also reading.  I think it is amazing how easily technology can teach children and how they are eager to learn when they use it.

The second post that I read was Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting. Tolisano discusses the importance of repetition when learning a new language. I can relate with her. I was a Spanish major, and the more that I used, pronounced and wrote a word or phrase, the better the word “stuck” in my memory. Learning a new language is extremely difficult. There are words in the English language that do not translate into other languages. I could not imagine having to learn English because of all of the homophones and different meanings of words. She states, “in order to internalize a new vocabulary word, you have to hear it at least 70+ times” (Tolisano). Think about all of the different words we use everyday, or even all of the words written in this post.  Having to hear each word 70+ times just to get the sound and pronunciation right seems like an impossible task. Students who lack vocabulary usually fall behind in reading and writing because they cannot comprehend new material. My biggest struggle in Spanish was conversation; although I could read and write well, actually pronouncing the words correctly was challenging. Tolisano describes how her class made a podcast of the story Purim in Hebrew. After recording all of the sentences out of order, the children put it together in the right order. Incredible! The major point found in this post was that the kids were using technology to learn the language. They were able to learn to speak and comprehend a different language. I think the podcasts would be of enormous assistance in a foreign language class.

The next post that I read was Podcasting with First Grade. In this post, Tolisano explains how her students read a book and then came up with questions to use as an interview script. The students then recorded, edited and published the script. It seems like these first grades had a lot of fun. I think that Ms. Tolisano has really found a good teaching resource for her students. She said that even the shy and quiet kids were eager to participate in the podcast project. Once again, her students were having fun while learning comprehension, listening, and speaking skills.

 

After reading these blog posts, I have found that using technology in the classroom not only teaches students how to efficiently use technology but also, teaches students their lessons. They learn new skills, like comprehension, vocabulary, and speaking while having fun. These posts have convinced me that using technology in the classroom is helpful.