Blog Assignment #2

Mr. Dancealot


I believe the central message of this video was to let teachers know that if they want to successfully teach their students then they have to have some sort of hands on activity for students during the course. If students don't have experience using the material that is taught, then they will have no clue how anything actually works in the real world. I believe the author of this video gets his point across in the conclusion when the students are uncertain which dance they are trying to attempt. I agree with this conclusion. Instead of actually letting the students take part in the dances, the teacher only verbally taught during the class. The students often became bored they were never allowed to get up and try the dances and even looked to be sleeping sometimes. This video is a perfect example as to why classes should be hands on to successfully teach students the material and to get their brains thinking.

Teaching in the 21st Century


Outline
A.Teachers can't ONLY provide information
B. How do YOU find answers?
-Twitter
-Facebook
-Google
C.Ask your own Questions!
D.Use Programs
E.How do teachers give students experience?
F.Lessons have to be..
-Relevant
-Challenging
-Engaging
G. See whats out there.
-Explore new things
-Take risks
H. What is teaching like in the 21st century?

Roberts sees teaching changing in the 21st century because students are able to go out and find information on their own. Students are able to explore new things outside of the classroom and are not as reliant on teachers to teach information that they can find on the web. Lessons have to be relevant, challenging, and engaging for students to successfully pay attention and learn the assigned material. Teachers have to allow students to interact in the classroom. These things will have a huge impact on me as a future educator. I will have to be completely up to date with all the new computer programs and teaching methods because my students will have a desire to learn lots a new material. I will also have to create fun and interactive lesson plans that will really get the students brains working. My students will start out learning new computer programs and ways of learning that I was not able to learn until much later in life.


The Networked Student


I think this video was a great way to show that even though the world is changing, teachers are still needed in the classrooms. I like how the message at the beginning of the video was "Tools aren't as important as connections." Even though the student was able to use technology to communicate with his peers and find answers on his own, he still needed his teacher at the end of the day to tie everything together. Teachers are very important to students as they are who the student comes to for answers when they are having trouble or have questions. This video stated that students need teachers for: guidance, communicating properly with others, what sites to use, and organization. Even though the 21st century is a turning point for classrooms, teachers are still very much needed.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts


This video shows that technology should be brought into the classroom. I applaud Ms. Davis on allowing her students to be involved with so much technology in such a rural area in south Georgia. I think the thesis of this video is stated when Ms. Davis states that "Some students need more than a pencil and paper to learn the material." I am amazed at how much these students are involved with working on a computer during class. I couldn't help but notice when Ms. Davis states how she is teaching her students, and they are also teaching her. This is the same concept we are learning in this EDM310 class. My reaction to this argument is that I think it's wonderful that these students are able to do things on a computer that I don't even know how to do yet.


Who's Ahead in the Learning Race?


First grade students are definitely ahead of undergraduates like myself, and graduates in the learning race. Watching this video has completely blown my mind at how advanced first graders are becoming on a computer. They are using programs such as Google Forms and QR's when undergraduates and graduates are not. They are starting out learning much more technology, than I did when I was in the first grade. If these children are starting out learning all this new software then I can only imagine what they will be learning when they attend college. I think learning this new material at such a young age is a very good thing and will only make them smarter in the long run. I admire their teachers for introducing the students to such material.


Flipping the Classroom


Yes, flipping the classroom is deffinitly new to me. When I first started college, it was new to me to have my teacher assign readings for me to learn before attending the next class. However, I had never heard of teachers recording themselves for students to watch the night before class. I believe that using this teaching method could have a positive affect on students if they have the mindset to learn this way. It would be great for students to watch the video and come to class prepared with questions and methods they have learned. On the other hand, I think kids may become bored with watching videos every night and often may forget their questions before the next class. I think that actual teaching in the classroom is the best method of teaching. This allows students to ask a question as soon as it pops into their head. Also, the teacher is able to give a better explanation to her students than she would on the video. Even though I would be a little bit skeptical of flipping the classroom, as a teacher I would always be willing to try new things.

Bringing the Locker Room into the Classroom


I think this method of teaching is a great idea. I would definitely try this out in my future classroom because I think it would be fun and affective way of learning for students. I would use this method to practice english skills and grammar for example. I would divide my kids up into two groups and tell them to think of themselves to be on a team against the other. I would ask them a grammar question and allow them to talk with their teammates for the answer just like making a play in a sports game. I would play the role of the coach and answer any questions my students have, but not until after the game was over. I think kids would love this because so many of them could relate to sports. I would give bonus points to the winning team for a reward after the game was over. This method of teaching would drive my students to learn.