Almost Over!

I only have one more project to submit and I will be finished with ED 307 at Athens State University.  This has been an interesting class. It has exposed me to some digital resources with which I was unfamiliar.  The class proved to be both challenging and exciting as I got to stretch myself and learn new and different things.  That, after all, is the job of a life-long learner. 

I am fond of quoting those more able to put in words what I am thinking so I will leave you with one more quote:
Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding. - Louis Gerstner, CEO, IBM
I agree!  We, as teachers, are here to supply that spirit, compassion, love, and understanding for our students as we guide them to become the best they can be in this digital age. 

Inquiry Based Learning Presentation

We were assigned to research inquiry-based learning and work with a partner to create an outline on http://www.mindmeister.com . Then we were to each use http://www.techsmith.com/snagit-gslp.html?gclid=CKWLto_C-LcCFWlp7AodX0kAlg (Snagit) to create a video presentation of the mindmap we had created. Once I figured out how to use Snagit, by watching several tutorials, I managed to record my presentation in 1 take - WOOHOO!! This is not like me.  My class introduction video probably took 15 takes before I was happy with it! I was really tempted to redo it, but after watching it I decided I did not think I would do much better even if I did it over.   You can be the judge here is the link to it on Youtube:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wck_7Kp3TBM .

I am really excited about all the new technology I am being exposed to in this class.  Of course some I can see using more than others.  For instance, I really like Snagit and anticipate using it a good bit.  I may need to go ahead and pay to have it past the 30 day free trial. It has been good to stretch myself and try these new things.  After all, I am always saying I am a life-long learner so this has given me a chance to prove it!

Flipped Classroom Video

This week my class assignment was to create an animated video.  There are various sites that one can use to create the videos.  One that was recommended was http://www.xtranormal.com/ .  The videos I have seen using this site sound very robotic so I thought I would explore a bit to see what other video generating sites are out there.  I found the site http://goanimate.com .  I thought the voices sounded more natural so I decided to go with this site.  It was rather fun playing around with the options on the site.  The free version is fairly limited, but it still had plenty of characters, props, backgrounds, and effects, so I decided to go with it. The subject was to be the Flipped Classroom. I will attach my video and you can see for yourself if I covered the material in the 2 minute limit imposed by the free version  http://goanimate.com/videos/0wzJXlAhp2m8 .

This class has been exposing me to new and different websites and ideas in education.  I am glad to be a life-long learner and to have this opportunity to add to my knowledge base.  Because of my experiences in this class and with this assignment I am leaving you with a quote from the great animator and visionary Walt Disney.  He said,  “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” So true!

  

Partnering

This week I started reading the book Teaching Digital Natives -  Partnering for Real learning by Marc Prensky. I have only made it through the first 3 chapters so far, but have found the book to be visionary yet practical and a fairly easy read.  I would recommend it to all educators. Prensky asks, "How can we motivate and engage today's students?"  He then goes on to talk about the partnership model that promotes the idea of setting aside the typical lecture style of teaching for a classroom where the teacher would ask questions, give guidance, provide materials and tools, and ensure rigor and quality of work.  This would allow the students to follow their passion, use technology, research, find answers, share thoughts, and create presentations.  In this way the roles of the teachers and students are different from the traditional roles.  They become more like equals working together to create lifelong learners who come away from school equipped to meet the challenges the real world will throw at them. I look forward to reading more of it and, hopefully, putting at least some of the ideas presented to use in my own classroom.

First Blog!!!

Ok, here goes, my first blog ever.  I never thought I would have a blog. Never thought I would have anything important, interesting, or funny enough for anyone else to want to read.  Maybe no one will, except for those who are in the class with me that required me to create this blog and required us to read the blogs of our classmates.   So, to my classmates, my professor, and anyone else who has stumbled upon my little blog I will try not to ramble, but keep my entries concise and, hopefully, somewhat interesting.

As a life-long learner I am always ready to try new things (such as blogging).  I agree with one of my favorite authors and philosophers, Dr. Seuss, who said, "If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good."  So, I am looking forward to this class and trying things I "never did." It's going to be fun!

Terry