Dragging Feet and Dragging Change

This week seemed like a rippled look into a past life. I don't procrastinate often like I used to, but this week I did. Our assignment asked us to write a short 500-700 paper with 5 sources. Are you kidding me! I can write a short paper with a few sources. I can write a long paper with a lot of sources, but a short essay--not research paper mid you--with 5 sources is ridiculous. To make matters worse there was no prompt. I didn't ask for a topic, just a prompt. So what did I do, I chose to avoid writing until 10:00pm on Sunday evening when the assignment was due by midnight. My best work? Probably not! I know I could have done better, but to limit the thoughts from five rather long sources to only 500-700 words is like a slow academic death. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the answer would be a longer paper either. It just seems to me that if you want quality analysis, which I did not have in my short paper, then either sources or length needs to be adjusted.

Again, not as proud of my writing as I usually am. I started off feeling creative, then ended feeling powerless to the limited questions to my interviewee and the overwhelming amount of information that could work with my theme. If youare bold enough to dare you may look at my wiki to see my assignment Dragging Change.

Universal Design for Learning

This week the focus has shifted from the various methods of teaching to creating differentiated, student-led lessons. In that focus we have created a UDL eBook and lesson plan.

To see my sample eBook on Nonverbal Communication visit http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view.php?op=share&book=bdff3c25ebb216e9a57f899f56b83b0a&sid=3965

For more information about UDL read from CAST online textbook at http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/index.cfm

The Topic of Conversation-Web Conference 3/3/11

I was glad to join in on our web conference back on 3/3. It was certainly a nice chance to meet Dr. Mason, and to hear more about her expectations.

This particular web conference covered information regarding our group project and covered the many questions we have on TK20.

On the Group Project
Glad to hear, "keep it simple." With such a broad scenario, I was worried that we would be expected to drive many details into the creation of our lessons. Dr. Mason also suggested that we finish week 2 work early and get a head start on our week 3 work since it is more writing intensive. Immediately after the web conference I began playing with the eBook program. I am confident in completing this weeks work now.

I still have concerns on the project since it seems unclear who our audience is. I think the suggestion was to address our overall plan to the administration and other teachers. We also don't have many guidelines on the action plan that is to be written. It just says to do it.

I feel at a loss in concern of our projects. The scenario is quite clear. I just wish I knew what products the professors truly want. I don't need an expected outcome, but clear expectations certainly do create a grounds for learning. After all, aren't we as teachers in primary and secondary schools expected to share our expectations with our students. I would expect nothing less from our graduate school leaders.

TK20
This seems to be a sore subject with all of the members of my cohort and with the majority of the program I am apart of through Lamar--of course with the exception of the actual school.

I am glad to say that Dr. Mason seemed to be a little more candid about the use of TK20; what it is, what it is for, etc.

Here is my concern--

1. TK20-according to our web conference-is strongly suggested, but not required. I am not sure I understand that, but later in the conversation it was noted that we would need it to finalize the current course we are in.
2. TK20 costs $100. It is considered a professional cost. Why on earth are we spending money on a portfolio program when we already started a free wiki based portfolio?
3. TK20 has only 50 megabytes of storage according to Dr. Mason. I can get a 256 meg flash for $7 and I can get 32 gigs or even 464 gigs--depending on brand--for less than $100.

So I must ask---who is getting a kickback from TK20 and what does it equal? Do we really need this or is it added BS. I only need one professional portfolio. A wiki last forever or at least until I delete it. TK20 is 7 years of 50 megs for $100. See a problem here?

Okay outside of my TK20 rant: as I said I am thankfull that Dr. mason was honest with us,--at least as much as she could be. I honestly haven't purchased the program yet. I can't afford it. It will have to wait until after my tax return comes in.

Constructivism, Connectivism, and Cyborgs, oh my!

This week I have felt encouraged to learn that my teaching style resembles that of the constructivist theory. I was not aware before that “in a constructivist classroom, students are more actively involved…they are sharing ideas, asking questions, discussion concepts, and revising their ideas and misconceptions” (Sprague & Dede, 1999). The best definition I found for constructivism basically states that students best learn by building on to their prior experiences. Technology in the classroom is a great way to allow students to add to their current leave of knowledge! I better understand now why we are encouraged to cluster units of knowledge around questions of discussion or in my classroom activities or projects. While I never particularly understood my teaching method, I have found in this week’s lessons that my teaching method, while encouraged by my administration, is not my philosophy or personal style of teaching.

This week we also discovered the theory of connectivism created by George Siemens. I have found that this closely relates to the philosophy that have believed in since I was a student teacher. In his theory, Siemens notes that connections between ideas or concepts is vital and should be viewed as a core skill. (Solomon &Schrum, 2007) I personally find it absolutely necessary to teach my students decision-making skills in my classroom. More importantly, I value and encourage students to discover information beyond their confort zone and outside of our little world in West Texas. Technology provides a means to transport our children into other worlds without leaving their own room. The internet has given students a pathway to so deeply expand their knowledge that my classroom has a tough time keeping up with the speed of potential learning. However, intrigued I am to connect my philosophy to my teaching, I am amazed and most deeply curious about the Cyborg theory of learning.

My final new experience in education and most thought provoking debate this week was on the Cyborg theory. While technology eliminates the gap for men and women who have lost or were born missing limbs or the ability to utilize what they were given, cyborg technology allows them to control their body with the bodies strongest muscle, the mind. In our reading, one of the authors even suggests that technology advance is not “separate from human but rather…on par with human evolution; both one and the same” (McPheeters, 2009). While I know that technology is ever-chaging and truly a fantastical sort of creature, is it truly on par with human evolution? I ask because technology has exponentially changed in the time since I graduated high school. As we speak, a computer has beat the most well versed men in the world at Jeopardy, and there is already technology being developed that we will not see in our homes for another decade. The idea of Cyborg theory is interesting, but also very scary. Perhaps I have spent too much time in the science fiction world with my father, but weren’t cyborgs bad? “Assimilate or die,” was the montra of the Borg in Star Trek the Next Generation, remember “resistence is futile.” Yet, McPheeters suggests that “this adaption to Cyborg learning theory will allow the next generation to assimilate their destiny and be educated to bear their responsibility as stewards of their culture for the sake of future generations” (McPheeters, 2009). Connect me to the world. Allow me to construct my viewpoints on what I know and where I have been, networking should be left to the social aspect of life not linked to our learning.

Technology is not the central point of our lives, rather it is a tool to lead students on journeys outside of the text. It can connect us to worlds apart or help us dig deeper in our own backyard, but perhaps it is not the manner of education. I say this while sitting at my computer for an online course, but there is such a missing element in technology being the central force of teaching or learning and that is the human connection.

Perhaps I went in a direction that was not planned by our professors or even seen by my classmates, but I understand why McPheeters speaks of the polarizing debate between students and teachers. However, I truly believe that constructivism or connectivism can bring technology to the classroom to create an environment for all levels of learners without taking over our lives or our education. (Special thanks to the scifi nerd and the debater in me for the direction I have gone today!)

McPheeters, D. (2009, March). Social Networking Technologies in Education. Tech and Learning. Retrieved February 22, 2011 from http://www.techlearning.com/PrintableArticle.aspx?id+16250



Solomon, G. & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.



Sprague, D. & Dede, C. (1999). If I Teach This Way, Am I Doing My Job: Constructivism in the Classroom. Leading and Learning, 27(1). Retrieved February 22, 2011 from http://imet.csus.edu/imet9/280/docs/dede_constructivism.pdf

Save TX Schools!!!

Most of us have heard it, and if you have not then perhaps you have been on extended vacation; Texas is in a budget crisis. Who is taking the fall-out of this? Our schools. No doubt those of you who are fellow teachers have already heard the news from your principal or superietendent. Budget cuts across the board, teacher layoffs in some districts, and cuts to school programs are eminent.

Why though? Why is education not the priority of our state and our nation? I admire the men and women I work with on a daily basis. We are not in this for a paycheck, but they truly care about the future of our children.

I think this crisis can be averted. My school district is already focusing on what they can do internally to prevent loss of staff and programs. Schools can and will survive, if we will be proactive and not reactive. We must contact our representitives and Gov. Perry. Let them know the status of the classroom now! Let them know that we do what we do for love, and losing jobs will take away opportunity for our students.

Whlie I don't often agree with Obama, he once said, "We are the change we seek!" If we are the change, then shouldn't we be in constant contact with our elected officials.

For those of you who seek change for the better, or at least want to maintain the status quo visit http://savetxschools.org/ and of course write to your representative.

EDLD 5366-Digital Gradphics Reflection

In this course I have had the opportunity to read so much more into the use of digital graphics in the classroom. I found the course work and readings fascinating. I think the most beneficial portion of this particular course for me was our first lesson about design principals.

No doubt in much of what I have done there has been a bit of the design principals in all of what I do, but now I have a better understanding of the concepts of contrast, repetitions, alignment, and proximity. I did enjoy breaking down the reasons that I am attracted to particular posters, newspapers, magazines, and well anything printed. I found myself going back to the yearbook that I helped design a few years ago. As I reviewed the overall design, I found areas that I struggle in. My deepest area of struggle is overall proximity. I began to also look at my power points and scrapbooks and noticed the same problems.

I was also glad to look more into technology in the classroom. Especially the focus on gaming. In a professional development book club I am currently attending we have also been discussing gaming in the classroom. I am fascinated by the simple fact that so many opportunities exist online for students to safely play games that education is more real world. I had the chance to explore teen secondlife. I know that this virtual world can seem like a scary thing to teachers and parents alike, but seeing that students have to utilize money appropriately, must communicate with others, and essentially live life through a more idealized self.

Overall it seems that the opportunities were beneficial and many concepts, though mainly the two mentioned above, will be new additions to my classroom in the spring semester!

Animation Nation-from Scratch!

Learn more about this project

So it was not creating a flash animation from scratch, but it was fun. I waited to finish my project until my daughter was home from grandma's house. She had fun telling mommy to add sound or make a fish move. Her favorite part the shark "eating" the fish. She did remind me though that in Nemo...Disney's Finding Nemo...that "fish are friends, not food!" We all got a laugh out of that!

I hope that you will enjoy the aguarium as my family has!