Final Blog for CEP 416

     Although it was a hard adjustment to take an online class, I am so glad I had this course to encourage me in setting up resources for my future classroom. As I was taking TE 401, I would hear of great articles to read, websites to use, lesson plans to refer to and would develop ideas that I could use in education. While we were setting up online bookmarks such as Delicious, this blog, my website, and twitter, I had a place to store all these great resources. Also while I was writing lesson plans for 401 as were being encouraged to make it unique, up-to-date and engaging for the students, I could think about the latest technology we explored online and use them with my assignments.
      I have always really liked computers and have been interested in using the internet to not only simplify my life, but to get ideas and inspiration. This class really encouraged me to do such from a teaching aspect which has made me a little bit more confident in becoming a teacher. I have learned about some technologies like wiki spaces, Google Earth, Pandora, Google Docs, digital stories, online photos, and internet articles but only as a student or in the interest as an individual.  I have now had the chance to look at these technologies and think about how they can help me, my students, and their parents, and have some pretty awesome ideas!
     Working in a school, I see how much time the CT spends on preparing and planning lessons, double checking they meet with the curriculum, keeping in touch with parents, keeping up with each students progress, and trying to find a few minutes of fun for them. I would love to start of my teaching career being as technologically advanced and organized as I can to make my life a tad bit easier :) That's not to say she's unorganized at all, I just know everyone has their system and you have to find which system works best for you. Well I already use the calendar application on my Gmail, so why not incorporate my [future] classroom into the system that already works for me? I would love to keep interns, assisting students, volunteers, and parents involved by posting lessons on Google Docs, and even promote being green by sending out newsletters, schedules, memos, and notes home via online? That way I also wouldn't have to worry about papers being lost in book bags, eaten by dogs, or destroyed in any other way a five year old seems to come up with.
     Overall, I am very satisfied with the course and all the resources I have now acquired.

wiki!

Click here to view my Wiki!
     I have used wiki-spaces for many of my education classes, but this week I experienced this technology from a teachers prospective.  I have been skeptical of this resource because I have encountered so many problems in my TE courses with trying to find information, post things, and find when my instructor has updated pages.
     In one class, we were expected to post regarding a discussion question each week within the first five minutes of class. It was really unorganized with my instructor posting the question, then a some of the classmates commenting directly under the instructors post while other classmates would make a new post on their own to reply to the same question. Then if you wanted to go back and read your reply or add to it, it was such a hassle!
   In another class where the instructor used the wiki-space as a place for everyone to add and share ideas, it was a great intention, but the majority of the time we would end up canceling another person's addition trying to add our own.  If someone is editing the space and another person goes to edit the same space and page, the site won't accept both editing, so it will only add one to the page. So we would have to be really careful about going back and looking to see if our information was properly posted or not.
    However, it is a great way to post information for everyone in a class to see, and edit as needed. I really like how the discussion page is so accessible not only for students to post information, but for feedback as well.

Holiday Cheer!

This Holiday season has been a bit different for my family and friends for numerous reasons. Some of us are counting our blessings and are thankful those who are around our dinner tables, while others may be remembering those who once sat around the table. Some people might feel different this year for other reasons, but nonetheless, I'm feeling it too.
   I know there has been much debate throughout the last couple of years over how we refer to this time of year, whether it be calling it of CHRISTmas, Christmas, the Holidays, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or whatever else people celebrate, complain about or think of; but I like to think about this time of year as a spirit that lives in all of us, regardless of your race, religion, culture, hair color, etc.
   With the week of college finals leaving me little time to prepare all my Christmas shopping, baking, card writing, decorating, movie watching, and song listening, I began to stress out until of course it all ended up like a shaken up bottle of Coke, me upset, flustered, stressed, and ultimately cry, but this isn't doing anything to bring out the Christmas Spirit in me. So where else does a person of my generation turn to, but the Internet of course! Here I have listed a few sites that just might bring out the cheer within all of you. And even if you totally are in the Christmas spirit with your reindeer ears, red and green striped socks, jingle bells, and festive (maybe even ugly) Christmas sweaters, I hope you can enjoy this too!

1. A few Songs and Dances by the Big man in Red, and his surprisingly talented reindeer:
- http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=20967
- http://www.icq.com/img/friendship/static/card_7944_rs.swf

2. For you Pet lovers!
-Hire these dogs :) http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=36590
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0WVfj76bo&feature=player_embedded

3. This one is cute and pretty
- http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/preview/flash/bws8Shell_fps24.swf?ihost=http%3A%2F%2Fak.imgag.com%2Fimgag&brandldrPath=%2Fproduct%2Ffull%2Fel%2F&cardNum=%2Fproduct%2Ffull%2Fap%2F3166187%2Fgraphic1

4. Here's a little Christmas Joke I heard from an online lecture.
*~* A preschool was putting on a Christmas play and all the parts were set for the Nativity scene. All the 4 year olds knew their lines, were dressed, and the crowd of parents anxiously waited for the play to begin.The characters of Joseph and Mary were on stage when the three wise men walked in. The first said "I am a wise man and I have brought gold", so he placed the gift at the foot of the cradle. The second said "I am a wise man and I brought mir" as he too sat the gift on the floor. The third boy walked up and said "I am a wise man and Frank sent this" as he shrugged and walked off stage. *~*

School Spirit

     This video caught my attention on a friend's facebook which really got me thinking about how school spirit effects classrooms and schools overall. Not only is this video about my alma matter, Owosso High School, but it really shows a school with a lot of spirit and drive to win this particular food drive and new station competition. I am so proud that the band was showcased, as I was a member and current majorette coach, the dance team was featured, the student council, cheerleaders, and students, but was a bit disappointed about how briefly the food they have collected was shown. From my understanding as I participated in this competition five years ago, the goal of this competition is to award a prize to the school who collects the most canned goods to donate to charity. But along with the competition, the news station encourages the schools to be united and spirited in their ways of collecting the food to encourage school pride.
      As I reflected upon this video, I thought of again the days when I participated and how the teachers would award extra credit points to students who brought in canned goods, or who would set up smaller class competitions with in the school to see which homeroom could collect the most cans. I thought this was great fun as a student, and it really did work in bringing unity to the classrooms as we all strategized ways to beat other classes, and organized plans on how we could win.
     But the main reason in doing such competitions was to gather food to donate to charities and organizations to help provide to those in need. At Owosso High, I feel as though this message was given a few times, but the main concern I had was how we were going to be Mrs. Whoever's class, not that I was doing good in and for my community. And this isn't to say the students should be reminded about the importance of helping people over being encouraged to contribute, I just hope the media, schools, and people don't get caught up in the winning and losing aspect of it since any one who brings in a canned good is a winner (I know it sounds cheesy but it's true!).
    Which then makes me think about how I, as a future teacher, can merge the competitiveness and fun with the good citizenship and kind characteristics of such charity work. I really think it depends on the students, the school, the overall competitiveness nature of the individual students, and their experience with participating in charity work. My hope though, is to encourage students to participate in volunteering and the raising of goods for charities/organizations while encouraging them to do such in a fun and unique ways.

Exploring Further with Google Earth

    Ok, I admit it, I'm a Googler! I really like working with Google and all the various resources it has to offer such as maps, documents, e-mail, calendar, and earth. A few weeks ago, I wrote about Google Earth and how beneficial it was to use in a classroom, however, this was before I had the chance to explore this resource even more!
For educators, Google has set up a separate page dedicated to helping us in the classroom!! Click Here!

Helpful Resources!!

    In my TE 401 course, we talked about various resources available to teachers online. One that I found very helpful and explored a bit was through the Smithsonian Institution. By clicking on Educators at the left, typing in the state you are in, grade level, and subject area, one can find lesson plans and suggestions that line up exactly with the grade level content expectations!
   With the Smithsonian Institute resource, you can take virtual tours of some of the galleries they showcase which change every few weeks. I would feel very confident introducing this website to upper elementary students or even college students to aid them in learning about history, social studies, researching, or data collecting. Because this Smithsonian is such a well known institution with many credible historians contributing to the institution, I would also feel confident in giving students this resource so they can get scholarly information.
   I have been to the link (above) a few times this week, and every time I notice something different that I hadn't before! I just noticed the links to art/design, science, and the encyclopedia. This is like an all-in-one resource for teachers!

Also, a helpful video for how Google can help educators: Here!

Pandora... In the Classroom! (Choice)

    I have heard friends talk about Pandora, the Online radio station that you can personalize and hear any style, artist, new, or old song on. So, feeling in the music mood, I decided to create an account tonight. It was quite a bit to work through and try to think of my favorite artists to search and begin a station for myself. However, one of the great things about Pandora is since you create your own station, you can always adapt it or add to it!

     Also, being in my classroom, hearing all the students sing their hearts out every day regardless if they are in music class or not, I thought maybe having a classroom Pandora in my future class would be neat! I remember some of my favorite teachers (elementary through college) would play music for inspiration, for a mood changer, or just for fun at free time. The first graders have been singing holiday songs, gearing up for their upcoming Holiday Concert, so setting up a Pandora station of not only the songs they are preparing for the concert, but maybe other holiday and classroom favorites would be neat to add to a station.