Blog Post 16

Final Reflection

C4T #4 (Post 1 and 2)

I was assigned Darren Fix's blog Science Fix.

The first video of Darren's that I commented on was Melting Rates. He did an experiment about ice cubes melting on two different blocks. One would melt faster than the other.
I commented
I am a student from the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed watching your video. It was very interesting. I found myself wondering why one would melt faster than the other. Thanks for sharing.




The second video of Darren's that I commented on was Floating Sinking Mystery. He did an experiment with two objects. They both had hooks in them and he had two bottles of water. He then placed one object in each bottle. The object on the left would sink while the one on the right would stay floating. He did several different experiments with these objects and then asked questions.
I commented
I am a student from the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed your video. I bet this video engages your students and makes them want to figure out the solution. I like how you asked questions and gave time to allow the students to think about what you just asked. Again, great video.

Blog Post 5 Part 2

At the beginning of the semester I had no idea what a personal learning network was. Now that I have an understanding of what a PLN is, I now realize how much mine has grown. I have been connecting with students and teachers from around the world, and I love it. My Blog has helped me connect with all of those people. I enjoyed seeing what students and teachers were doing around the world. I will continue to have a PLN when I become a teacher. This class was a great experience and gave me a lot of things to take with me when I become a teacher.

Blog Post 14

In the article, Teaching Can Be a Profession, Jon Klein was asked the question, "If you could wave a wand and change one thing, what would it be?". He responded with a list of changes, including: "more school choices, using technology to improve teaching and learning, adopting a knowledge-based curriculum and starting school before five years old". But if he had to choose one it would be to professionalize teaching, so it is like other respected professions. He talks about some problems and possibly some solutions, they are as following:

1.Pick from the Best
Students that are trying to become teachers are not being properly trained. The solution to that problem would be to provide the proper training for students. He states that teachers should be choose from the top third of the graduates. He would also, change how teachers are rewarded.

2.Seniority Distraction
Klein states, "Seniority dictates how the schools operate" and how teachers are paid the same no matter how they are performing. The solution to that problem would be a "national teacher examination" and "supervised internship" that could last anywhere from one to three years.

3.Radical Change
There are incompetent teachers that need to be removed from schools. The solution to this problem would be to establish standards in order for these teachers to be removed and teachers be promoted based on specialty exams.

1.Pick from the best
I agree with Mr.Klein that some teachers are not being properly trained. But I do not agree with him when he said teachers should be chosen from the top third of the graduates. Yes, someone being in the top third proves that someone is smart and makes great grades. But, it does not prove that they would be a great teacher. Being a teacher is not just about the grades made in college or being top of the class. It is about the students and how you connect with them in the classroom. One has to be a great teacher, listener, learner, and mentor to succeed. Therefore, it is not just about the grades.

2.Seniority Distraction
Seniority is an issue in the schools these days. I have heard many of times, "We cannot get rid of him/her they have been her for plus years". I do not agree with that if someone is not doing their job right, they should be let go it does not matter how long they have been there. I do agree with his solutions, but I do not really think it will happen.

3.Radical Change
I agree there are incompetent teachers that need to be removed from schools. I do agree that standards should be set so some of these teachers can get let go.

C4K November Summary

Grayson's Blog
He talked about a game called free rice. As you answer the questions and get them right you can get free rice and donate it to people who need food. The game is for all subjects.
I commented:
Grayson,

I am a student from the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post about the rice game. It seems fun. I like how you can work on your vocabulary while feeding the hungry. I will check this game out! Thank you!

Peter's Awesome Art Blog
He talked about the print making they had done in class.
I commented:
Peter,

My name is Jerica Baker. I am a student at The University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post about print making. It seems like you really enjoy doing it. I participated with print making in my class Thursday and I had fun! We did three different types of print making. I liked seeing the end product.

Laura's Blog
She talked about the first quarter coming to an end.
I commented:
Laura,

I am a student at the University of South Alabama. Great post! Great use of vocabulary words. Keep up the good work!

Blog Post 13

What apps are educational for elementary students that use iPad's?

When I looked on the website, 15 Free Must Have iPad Apps for Elementary Students, I found three apps that I found most interesting for students to use in the classroom.

1. Bookabi- Bookabi has everything a student needs to tell stories. The app has 2D and 3D characters available for students to choose from to help tell their story. The app also has different backgrounds, stickers, text bubbles, and text to choose from to make their story. The students can use their own personal photos. This is a really useful app to help students tell a story they have written. It seems like a very educational app. I would let my students get in groups and come up with a story and then use this app to help their stories come to life.

2. Doodle Buddy- Students can paint with their fingers on an app! They can also add different stamps to their paintings. They can also connect with their friends and draw with them. I think this is a cool app, students can paint without getting messy and connect with their friends.

3.Sushi Monster- It is a new game for students to get practice with math. It is also challenging for students. The student's will earn points when they get the correct answer. I like the sound of this and educational perception of this app. I would also use this app in my future classroom to help my students with math. I think it would engage students not only because it is a game, but because it involves food and a great way of learning. Who does not love a good meal and food?!

Project 12 Part B

C4T #3 (Post 1 and 2)

I was assigned Allanah's Blog Life is not a race to be first finished.

The first post I responded to of Allanah's was, Adding Keyboards in iOS8. She talked about the different keyboards that could be added with the new update. She let her students pick a keyboard that best suit them.
I commented
Allanah,

I am a student in EDM310 from the University of South Alabama. Thanks for the post, I did not know that about iOS8. I think it is awesome that you let your students pick which keyboard they feel suits them and their needs.

The second post I responded to of Allanah's was, Easy Accents – Macrons- Google Doc Add On. She talked about how in Google Docs accents could be used. She talked about how someone she knew used the accents but Māori macrons were not included. So she took it upon herself to contact New Zealand and try to get them added to the accents. After a few hours it was added.
I commented
Allanah,

My name is Jerica Baker a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post. I think it is awesome that you were able to get an accent added just because you were determined.

Blog Post 12

Project 10

Interview with Ms.Knight

Blog Post 11

After watching Back to the Future I was flabbergasted that Brian Crosby's students had no idea what city, state, and country they lived in or their phone numbers or addresses. Children should know these kinds of things, it is important in every day life. However, I do like that Brian let his students do hands on activities. I also like how each students has their own blog. The science project he talked about in this video amazed me. Brian's students were engaged in this project and it did not just stop when they released the balloon into the air. They wrote stories as if they were the balloon. I really liked that idea. It lets the students use their imagination, be creative, and think outside the box. The class then shared their ideas around the world. Brian's students learned how to collaborate with other students and they were also motivated to learn. I also like how Brian got a new student who had leukemia and she could not come to school, and he and his students still included her in class everyday via Skype. I assume not many teachers would have done that. I hope to get my students motivated and involved like Brian did.

After watching Blended Learning Cycle I learned more about what blended learning is. In the video Paul talked about the 5 e's: engage, explore, experiment, explain, and evaluate. His students do the 5 e's online, mobile, and in the classroom. Students need to be "hooked" by a good question to get their minds wondering and it will help them want to learn. It is amazing to see what students can come up with.

Making Thinking Visible it shows how students not only working in small groups but also using their imagination to come up with a headline. The students have to come up with a headline about a video they watched in class Early Human Beginnings. The students were able to use their creativity to come up with something. The headlines were then displayed on the class bulletin board. After a couple weeks into the lesson, students will be asked "What is the headline now?". I believe this is great!

I loved watching Sam Pane 4th Grade Super Digital Citizen. In the video Sam is talking to his students about how to be safe online. The students create a superhero and they make a comic story up with different examples of how to be safe while on the internet. After the students were done with their stories they got to read the other students stories and get feedback. For example, one of the students superheros stopped gossiping online. This was a great way of blending writing, reading, creativity, and how to stay safe.

After watching Project Based Learning I was kind of amazed how the teachers were blending different subjects. I have never heard of that before. I am interested to see if teachers will do this in the near future, as it will help students learn.

After watching Roosevelt Elementary PBL Program I learned that it is a great way to get the students involved and it is a great way to learn. PBL allows students think on their own and make decisions. They learn how to solve real world problems, which is wonderful. It also teaches students how to work in groups. In the video it talked about students learning public speaking in kindergarten. I think that is awesome because I know I was not taught that growing up and when I got to college I was terrified to take it. I have heard of a lot of people not going to college because they are scared of that class. So it is great children are learning about it at a young age, so they will not be scared in the future.

Project 14

As a group, we decided to have our students create a project on the founding fathers. Each group will be assigned to a founding father, and the students will collaboratively research and create a Board Builder project that they will present in class. The students will be given the option to dress up as their founding father for bonus points.

Lesson Plan
Calendar
Rubric
Checklist

C4K October Summary

Jikerius's Blog
School Improvements
I commented:
Jikerius,
I am a college student from the University of South Alabama. You have some great ideas on how to improve your school. I enjoyed reading your post. My favorite idea you had was about the takeout for lunch. I myself love Chinese food and you are right nobody would go hungry if they got to eat what they wanted for lunch.

Xavier's Blog
Grandfather
I commented:
Hi Xavier,
I am a student from the University of South Alabama. It is interesting that your grandfather is from Puerto Rico. I like how you call your grandfather Welo. I call my grandfather Pop.

Aleigha M.'s Blog
Dot Day with Prk
I commented:
Aleigha,
My name is Jerica Baker. I am a student at The University of South Alabama. It sounds like you had a blast celebrating Dot Day. I celebrated Dot Day at school too.

Maysun's Blog
Reading about Michel Tuffery
I commented:
Maysun,
I am a student from the University of South Alabama. Great post! I love the drawing that you did! Keep up the good work.

Blog Post 10

Ms. Cassidy's first video First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class showed how smart her first graders are. Her students know how to use technology and are proud of it. They use different websites to make connections such as: blogs, wiki, videos, and Skype. This was a great video to show just how smart children are becoming.

When I watched the interviews with Kathy Cassidy Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, I learned to not be afraid to use technology in my future classroom. In part 1 she talks about how she has a class blog that she and her students use. I really like that idea and I would use a blog in my classroom to connect with students and professionals around the world. The parents also like the blogs because they can see what their child is doing at school and how they are improving on their writing skills and other improvements in their school work. Students like it as well because it makes them proud and feel confident. They are learning while having fun. Ms. Cassidy's students have "blogger buddies", who they Skype with. I believe that Ms. Cassidy made a valid point when she said, "Technology is here to stay". In part 2 the question, "Where to start?" was asked and she responded with, "What you're interested in?". I agree teachers need to start with what they are interested in. Whether it be doing videos on YouTube, or taking pictures and loading them on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Personal Networks are used to connect with people around the world, so why not use a personal network that one is interested in, that makes learning memorable. In part 3 students from Edm310 were able to ask Ms. Cassidy questions. The one question that stood out to me and I agreed with was "How do we protect our students?". I myself have wondered the same thing. Ms. Cassidy's response hit the nail on the head. We as teachers have to tell our students not to post their last names or pictures of themselves. We then have to explain to them on what to and what not to click on while they are surfing the internet.

Project 12A

Blog Post 9

When I read Seven Essentials for Project Based Learning it reminded me of being in high school and doing projects. However, a statement stuck out to me, "A project is meaningful if it fulfills two criteria. First, students must perceive the work as personally meaningful, as a task that matters and that they want to do well. Second, a meaningful project fulfills an educational purpose. Well-designed and well-implemented project-based learning is meaningful in both ways." That basically means that the students need to be interested in the project they are doing. The students will retain more information if they are interested in the topic. Students need to be able to explore and have no limits.

In the video, Project Based Learning For Teachers it explains how project based learning works and what it is. Project based learning engages students. "It has students working over a period of time answering a driving question, which is deep and requires students to complete an end product to share their learning with others." Project Based Learning allows students to take charge of their learning and allows the to have the "voice and choice". The students feel like they have a purpose and it makes learning meaningful and memorable. While meeting certain standards, students are still learning: collaborative skills, communication skills, critical thinking skills, and career and life skills. Technology is involved in this learning process.

What Motivates Students:
-Teachers acknowledging students work
-Do well in school
-Making good grades
-Parents
-Extracurricular activities
Rewards such as:
-Candy
-Being able to go outside
-Brownie points

By watching and reading The two Students Solve the Case of the Watery Ketchup by Designing a New Cap it showed how project based learning works. The two students were inspired because they simply do not like runny, wet ketchup. One of the students said, "Wet bread is gross". Since the two students were inspired and wanted to fix the problem they came up with a solution. They worked together to create a new cap. They sketched for weeks and then designed the cap and put it into effect and it worked. It is amazing what students can do if they are engaged on the project.

The video below, Tour the States, is a great example of project based learning. The students were learning and having fun at the same time. The students learned the capitals of the states of the United States of America, while learning where they are located. They also drew pictures on each cut out of the states that go a long with the state. This is a great way to engage students and help them learn. The teachers did a great job in this video and the students look happy and like they are having a blast.

Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning

Part A
Zogby and EDM310 show percentages of smartphone usage in this generation. EDM310 posted, 18-24 years of age:
1. 87% say their smartphone never leaves their side.
2. 80% say the very first thing they do in the morning is reach for their smartphone.
3. 78% say they spend 2 or more hours per day using their smartphone.
4. 68% say they would prefer to use their smartphone instead of their laptop or personal computer for personal use.
5. 91% say that having a camera on their smartphone is important (61% very important)
6. 87% say they use their smartphone camera at least weekly. 59% use their smartphone camera at least every other day. 44% use their smartphone camera for still or motion picture taking every day.
Smartphones are part of everyday life. I know for myself I fall into all of those percentages listed above. I also believe that majority of the population fall into those percentages as well. Zogby said, "It makes life easy", I agree, we have everything at our fingertips. We can access anything and everything we want from our smartphones. On the iPhones we can talk to Siri and she will find it for us, so yes it does make life a bit easier.
Everyone with a smartphone stores various types of information on the hard drive. Smartphones are like our "Life Lines". For example: if something was to happen to someones smartphone he or she might feel like their life was spiraling downward. It is very common to see everyone with a smartphone these days, including young children.

Part B
By the time I become a teacher most of my students will have some kind of smartphone or tablet. I would use that in my classroom to my full advantage. I would have my students create various blogs. This would help them with their writing and spelling skills. I would also have them create iMovies, book trailers on their favorite books, and record themselves reading the book or sentences. The students could also do research on their smartphone or tablet. Technology is a great way to engage students and let them have fun and explore while learning. I myself, am learning so many different things, in EDM310, that I will be able to do with my future students.

Blog Post 8

After watching Randy Pausch's Last Lecture I was amazed. Randy is brilliant and passionate about everything he does. He is a prime example of no matter what our circumstance are we should never give up. He talks about his childhood dreams and how he achieved them because he did not give up when "brick walls" were in his way. Brick walls are there for a reason. He said, "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." I agree with him. Sometimes we do not get what we want so we learn from it and keep pushing on to do better so we can achieve that goal. I learned more about project based learning and how students' are having fun while learning. We all need to leave our mark when we move on through different parts of life, "Live on in something". He will live on through his program Alice. Not one single person can achieve their goals or childhood dreams alone. So who can help us? Parents, mentors, teachers, friends, and students. Randy asks a question that stood out, "Are you the Tigger or Eeyore?".

He listed tips to help people succeed:
Have fun!
Never lose childlike wonder
Help Others
Get people to help you
Be honest
Apologize
Focus on others, not yourself
Do the right thing, good things will happen
Show gratitude
Don't complain
Find the best in everyone
Be prepared

This video made me open my eyes and had me thinking about what my childhood dreams were and am I doing what I should be to achieve those dreams. I learned that life is never too bad to where we cannot achieve what we want. Randy seems to be amazing man and teacher, this video just shows how strong willed he is. He has inspired me to live my life and to go above and beyond, no matter how many "brick walls" I run into. He also inspired me to be the best teacher I can possibly be.

C4T #2 (Post 1 and 2)

I was assigned Sandi's Blog Rubberboots and Elf Shoes.

The first post I read and responded to of Sandi's was, The Book Whisperer: Chapter 1. She summarized chapter 1 and stated, "A book by a self avowed book nerd." She goes into detail about how "book nerds" are about reading. Teachers who are book nerds are at risk when it comes to teaching, because of how passionate they are. But the secret to teaching is to let it go. Sandi then tells about how in a kindergarten class students choose a book of their liking, the student then reads the book, and responds to the book. They will re-tell the story however they choose whether it be acting it out, comparing authors, and some may do yoga. Students need to see teachers reading as well, and also hear teachers read out loud or in silly voices. Students need to see other students and possibly teachers learning from reading. Sandi said, "Part of the master reader's responsibility is to present reading material in an accessible and inviting way." Students need to be interested in what they are reading.
I commented:
Sandi,
I am a student at The University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post! I cannot wait until I am a teacher so I can read books to my class. Reading can be fun and entertaining for the students. You provided some good ideas and tips in your post. I love that students will read in groups or alone and come up with different ways to express the book. Children are very creative and smart, they can also help us, as teachers, learn.

The second post I read and responded to of Sandi's was,The Book Whisperer: Chapter 3. She again summarized the chapter of the book. She posted a picture of a quote from the book, that summarizes the entire post.

She explains what she does in her kindergarten class. She mentioned that the students read everyday and she either reads to them or they read to themselves. She explains what she and her students do if they are in line. They might sing an alphabet song or play a rhyming game. She has books all over her classroom, and they will read where the mood strikes. That might be outside, in a house area she has set up in her room. In the book it states that "reading time is kept very quiet", Sandi and her students call their reading time "quiet reading time."
I commented:
I enjoyed reading your post! I like how you incorporated what you do with your students with each chapter of the book. You have provided some wonderful ideas when it comes to reading with students. I will keep these ideas in mind and use them when I become a teacher!

Project 9

Blog Post 7

In How to Make An Audio QR Code, I learned it is very easy to access, not only for teachers but also for students. Students will enjoy making recordings and making a code that someone can scan and hear them. Not only can their teachers and classmates can hear them read, their parents can too. It is a simple process first go to Record MP3 and record, then save the URL that was created. After that, go to qr code-monkey and copy and paste the URL, hit the create code, copy that bar code. Open up a word document and paste it there. Once it is printed, the code can be scanned by an app on the iPhone and the recording will be heard. This is a great way for students to feel good about themselves and boost their confidence.

In iPad Center, the teachers explains the iPad center she has setup in her room. She has the iPad sat up in front of the student. The student hits record and reads out loud and when the student is finished reading they stop the recording. The student then listens to the recording that was made and follows along with what they read to make sure no mistakes were made. This is a great activity and I would use this in my future classroom.

In Poplet as a Center, the teacher shows her students how to use an app, Poplet, on their iPads. The teacher had an assortment of books the students could choose from. The students had to pick one book and take pictures from the book and write about the pictures. This helps with the students sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and typing skills. When the students are done they have created a web. The teacher screen shots the end product.

In Alabama Virtual Library as a Kindergarten Center, the teacher explains how the students use a virtual library app to search. The teacher has a list of words the students search from. The students type the word they are researching in the search engine and examples of the word come up. There are pictures, videos, and even audio recordings the student listens to. Once the student is done researching the word, she has them draw a picture of the word. After that the students will draw a picture of the word and write a sentence. This is a great way to help students understand the meaning of words.

In How to use and build a Board in DE for a Project Based Learning Lesson, the teacher and student explains how to make a board on Discovery Education. First, a topic is chose, then a board is created. Once a board is created a title, pictures, and videos can be added to the board, along with facts. Once the board is made, it can be shared with the teacher and other classmates. In the videos Students Sharing Board Builders 1 and Students Sharing Board Builders 2 the students shared the boards they created. The students seemed proud and excited about the board they had created. I have never heard of boards until I watched these three videos. Honestly, I think it is an awesome way to get students involved and engaged.

In Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten, Dr.Strange, Michelle, and Elizabeth discuss how kindergartners use iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in a kindergarten classroom. Michelle talks about how kindergartners use iMovie and make trailers. Elizabeth talks about how kindergarteners use the Alabama Virtual Library to do basic research. This video blew my mind hearing how kindergartners can use this stuff and I am new to all of this. This video proves that we as teachers, do not know everything and will never know everything.

In We All Become Learners, Dr.Strange, Michelle, and Elizabeth talk about how we are all learners. Teachers teach students, students teach teachers, everyone becomes a learner. Michelle talked about how she was using Padlet and a student taught her how to take a picture the correct way. I thought that was awesome! Everyone needs to be open and ready to learn, because not everyone knows everything.

Project 7 Part B

Meet the Parents


Meet the Students

Project 13

As a group we decided to have our students complete a project on the solar system. The students will be separated into groups and assigned a planet. The students will be researching their planet and required to do an iMovie.

PBL Lesson Plan
Project Calendar
Project Rubric
Project Checklist

Blog Post 6

I learned a great amount of information by watching the videos with Dr.Strange and Anthony Capps. The first two videos Project Based Learning Part 1: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher and Project Based Learning Part 2: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher, I learned how important project based learning is in the classroom. Dr.Strange and Anthony Capps discuss different reasons why project based learning should be included while teaching. It gets the students excited about learning because they are creating something. It also interest the students and if the students are interested they are willing to learn more about it and will also be engaged in learning. Anthony said, "It never limits students", "It lets them go beyond". This will lead to the students taking pride in their work and they will become more confident to succeed. I do believe that project based learning is a key factor in a classroom. The students will retain more and remember more of the information they are learning in the long run. Like Dr.Strange says, "No burp back information" and that is exactly what project based learning is.

The two learning tools,iCurio and Discovery Education Dr.Strange and Anthony Capps discussed will be helpful when students need to do research. They described the search engine iCurio as a safe search engine for students. This particular website is also good for keeping not only students, but teachers organized as well. The search engine iCurio provides different files to store information, cookies and websites. This would be extremely helpful if the information just so happens to get lost. Anthony Capps best describes Discovery Education as "it brings text to life" and is great for research science and social studies related. Both of these search engines are great for students and teachers to learn.

The six key tips for teachers Dr.Strange and Anthony Capps made in their video, The Anthony-Strange List of Tips for Teachers Part 1 hit on positive points. I believe these tips are going to be helpful when I become a teacher and I will use them in my classroom when I become a teacher.
1. Interested in learning yourself.
2. Teaching is hard, but exciting.
3. Got to be flexible, pretty much a Plan B.
4. Start with a goal.
5. Engage your students.
6. Reflect/self evaluation.

The video Don't Teach Tech-Use It, Dr.Strange and Anthony Capps talk about why it is important that teachers should use technology in a classroom. They made some valid points in their video. Such as, technology is part of students lives and they need to know how to use it. It is also a fun way for students to learn. I agree with Dr.Strange and Anthony Capps as discussed in the video, technology is a great way for students to learn.

Anthony Capps said a Lesson is four layers thick in his video, Additional Thoughts About Lessons.
First Layer: The year
Second Layer: The Unit
Third Layer: The Week
Fourth Layer: The Day

Project 8 Book Trailer

Why Is Blue Dog Blue?

C4K Summary for September

I read Tyla-Marie's Blog. She made up a game called Dandy Shandy. She said the game is like "Piggy in the Middle" and "Dodge-ball".

I commented
Tyla-Marie,
I am a college student from the United States, I am taking a technology class at University at South Alabama. I enjoyed reading about the game you made up, it is very creative. I like how you incorporated dodge ball and "piggy in the middle". In the United States we call it monkey in the middle, it is the same game and has the same rules.

I read Grayson's Blog. In his post he talked about what they did in art class to celebrate Dot Day. He described all the different art project they did in class to represent dots for Dot Day.

I commented
I am a college student attending the University of South Alabama. I have also celebrated Dot Day in my art class. I blew up a balloon and did a paper mache. Once the balloon was dry I added paint. I painted the balloon black with white stripes around it. The final product was a big dot, in honor of Dot Day.

I read Christina's Blog. In her post she provided different YouTube videos that she enjoyed, they were all about cats.

I commented
Christina,
I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently enrolled in a technology class there. I enjoyed your blog post. I watched the videos that you provided in your blog post. I see that you like cats, is that your favorite animal? My favorite animal is an Owl!

Blog Post 5

In Developing A Personal Learning Network in EDM310 it describes a Personal Learning Network (PLN) as a place, person, organization, or activity that enables one to learn. PLN's can help me as a teacher in the future to connect with not only my students but other professionals around me. There are several ways to create a PLN such as: blogs, Twitter, Facebook, social gatherings, etc. I am connected to Twitter and Blogger and I follow professionals and other students. I want to connect with them so I can advance my learning. The video How to Start a PLN explains how to start your own personal PLN.



Personal Learning Network has advantages for everyone around the world. In Steve Anderson's video What My PLN Means to ME he explains why having a PLN is necessary. It helps teachers grow as educators in the fact that he or she is connecting with so many people beyond the school. It helps educators learn from other educators, so they can teach their students. I do believe that having a Personal Learning Network is important for everyone. Furthermore, we as teachers, educators and people in general can learn outside of our desks by taking it to a different level.

Project #3 Presentation

My Sentence Videos

My Sentence Is...



My Passion Is...

Blog Post 4

It is very important that teachers ask students questions in the classroom. When the teacher asks a question to the class it will keep them on their toes thinking about what was asked. When the right questions are being asked it can improve the students learning Asking Questions to Improve Learning, while challenging them at the same time. In the video Asking better questions in classroom she explains the difference between closed ended questions and open ended questions. Closed ended questions are questions that can be answered yes or no. Where as open ended questions are left open so the student can explain his/her answer. I honestly believe both types of questions are effective in the classroom.

In Ben Johnson's article The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom he stated, "As teachers, we need to come to grips with the fact that we really do not know everything, and there is no reason to assume that the students know nothing." I agree with him, we as educators and future educators do not know everything and are far from being a "know it all." Everyone has to ask questions in order to learn. Whether you are a teacher or a student it is perfectly fine to ask questions, that is how we learn. We were not born to know everything, we are all learners and the best way to do so is ask questions!

Project 15

1.WolfranAlpha is used for Educational purposes. It had an enormous amount of information on one topic when I typed something in. For example, when I typed in dog it gave me information on their organs. The diameter of a dogs eye ball is 0.83 inches and the brain weighs about 4.8 oz. It provided all the information someone could want to know. This website seems like it would be used for science purposes. I enjoyed reading the extra information about a dog that I did not know.
2.Dogpile reminded me of Google, but with a different title. It gives different places someone can search such as: Web, Images, Video, News, Local, Shopping, and White Pages.
3.Duck Duck Go gives different options other than websites. When I typed in the word water it gave me different types and pictures of water. It also gave me videos about water. This website has good, useful information.
4.Bing is more news related. It also has different historical aspects.
5.Yippy is research oriented. When I typed in the search engine it gave me different options to search from such as: Clouds, Sources, Sites, and Time. Each option has information underneath it. It is great for research.
6.Yahoo is good for emailing, news, finance, weather, etc. Yahoo gives tons of options.
7.Kid Rex is GREAT for children. It is a website that is safe for children to search. It is very adorable and welcoming to children. I will use this website in the future for my students.
8.GoGoGooligans is also safe for children and teens. It is an educational website. It will be great for children and teens to use in school.

C4T #1 (Post 1 and 2)

I was assigned Ben Jones.
In his blog post Bring your own ideas. He was discussing BYOD (bring your own device) classes. He also believes these types of classes will fail in the near future He is teaching a BYOD class, not by choice. I replied with; I am new to the BYOD program, the first time I heard about this program was when I read your blog and the two links you provided. I feel that if teachers approach the BYOD program in a positive way others opinions about it might change. But i do agree with Gary Stagers anti BYOD dissection article when he said, “Cell phones are not computers! They may both contain microprocessors and batteries, but as of today, their functionality is quite different.” Most everyone these days are attached to their cellphone and if a cellphone is allowed in the classroom as a “device”, more than likely the student will not be working on the assignment they are supposed to be working on. However, I think it is awesome that you are teaching a BYOD class. You are learning as are your students, and that could be a good or bad thing. What it comes down to is the teacher being constructive and the students actually wanting to learn.

In his blog post Weathering the Storm of Education, he was discussing how teaching is difficult and can be traumatic. He also states that we as people should surround ourselves with professionals. I replied with; Teaching can and will be difficult at times. However, as educators we must not give up! Students will look up to us as teachers and educators. If we as teachers gave up because it was too difficult, imagine how that would make you look as a professional, not a good one. As an educator there will be good days and there will be bad days, so yes teaching can be “traumatic”. That is why we became teachers in the first place! We will be there to help not only students out but help our fellow educators as well. I believe everyone should surround themselves with good people and professionalism.

Blog post 3

By watching What is Peer Editing? and reading the slideshow Peer Edit with Perfection Tutorial I learned a great amount on peer editing. I did not realize how taking a positive approach on editing ones paper can be so helpful towards my peers. Adriana Zardini said in her slideshow(slide 5), "Think about how you would feel if someone were telling you what needed to be improved in your own writing..." I agree one hundred percent with that! I now know how to approach someone when I have to edit their paper. The video and slideshow were helpful with learning how to take peer editing step by step.

The humorous video Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes was very adorable. The video has shown me different ways to not edit someones paper. The video kept my attention while I was learning new information about peer editing. The video could also be shown in an Elementary classroom to help students understand on what not to do when it comes to peer editing. Always be a constructive critic!

Blog Post 2

The teacher was supposed to be teaching a dance class but he stood at the board all semester. He would act out the dance moves himself, and would not let the students get involved. He did not do any hands on activity with the students, therefore they did not learn the dance moves. The students would not pay attention and would fall asleep. The teacher expected the students to act out the dance moves with a partner for the final. The students failed as a result of no hands on learning. I do not agree with this simply because, the teacher expected the students to know something he did not show them psychically.

>Students have access to information
>Different questions asked
>How to answer the questions
>Technology
>How to use technology
>Bloom's Taxonomy
>Where do we learn it
>What does it mean for the classroom
>How to manage it
>Technology not for entertainment
>Technology is to engage students
>Starts with you
>What does it mean to teach in the 21st century

I agree with Kevin Roberts teaching will change in the near future. It has already changed in schools today. It will affect me as a teacher simply because I am not that advanced in technology. However, I am willing to learn anything and everything I can so I can be a great teacher for my students.

I believe every school needs good teachers to guide and direct students. A network student needs a teacher. If he or she did not have a teacher to ask questions to, he or she would be lost. The student would need a teacher to go to if he or she had an issue with a lesson on the network or just a simple question. Teachers are still needed even though technology is advancing.

The video by Vicki Davis proves why students need technology and not just a piece of paper and a pen. This video also proves that teachers are learners as well. I agree with her, there is so much done with technology today, everyone needs to learn how to use it. Students need to learn how to use technology sooner or later, because everything in the future will revert back to technology.

Elementary Education is ahead in the learning race for sure. The students at an Elementary level are far more technologically advanced than most college students. I am an undergraduate and I am not afraid to admit that I do not know as much as an Elementary student in the "technology aspect." The students in this century blow me away with how advanced they are.

Flipping a classroom is very new to me. I have never heard of flipping a classroom until I watched this video. I do believe flipping a classroom will be helpful to me as an Educator. Flipping a classroom lets the students think and learn in a different way. It gives the students a way to get involved in the classroom and with other students. It also gives the students a different learning environment. The students might think this a fun way to learn.

I was an athlete at my previous college and I do believe working as a team can be effective in the classroom. It gives the students an opportunity to discuss a topic on a different level and also learn on a different level. The students will figure out ways to solve a problem, just like a team would. Like Craig N. Owens said "It also helps them learn the moves and routines". This approach to learning is a very useful teaching method because it gets the students involved and engaged.

Blog Post 1

Blog Post 1

1. What are the things (if any) you have heard about EDM310?

I have only heard a few things about EDM310. I was told that one has to put extra time into this course and also that this class can be easy once one gets the hang of it.

2.What fears (if any) do you have about EDM310?

I was very intimidated when I first walked into EDM310 because I have never been one to do a blog. I also fear I will not finish an assignment due to the fact that I do not understand a project instructions.

3.Compare and Contrast EDM310 with other courses you have taken in college or high school.

I have only taken one computer class in high school and at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and those classes were the same. We had to do different projects using the different programs within Microsoft Office. These two classes are a lot different than EDM310 due to the fact of having to do an online blog.

4.What do you think will be the most difficult thing for you in EDM310?

The one thing I will struggle most with in EDM310 is writing, I am not a strong writer.
5.What is the best way for you to address the "most difficult" aspect of EDM310?

The best thing I can do to address the most difficult aspect of EDM310 for me, is to take my time with each assignment and take deep breathes. I will get through this course!

6.What questions do you still have about EDM310? What ideas do you have about how to address those questions?

How do blogs actually work?

What are the difference between blog post and projects? Are these two things due at different times? If so, Will you tell us when?

I will simply ask Dr.Strange these questions by calling him or asking him in class.

Practice Blog

>Who I am

>Why I want to be an Elementary Teacher

>What we should do as educators

>My passions


What I want my students to know

My name is Jerica (Baker) Smith. I have lived in Hurley, MS my entire life. This will be my first semester at South Alabama. I transferred from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC). I have changed my major twice while attending school there. My first major was Elementary Education; however I was indecisive and did not think it was the right major for me. I then transferred to the MGCCC campus in Perkinston, MS and was in the Funeral Directing/Embalming program. I was also a cheerleader at this time. Once again I was indecisive on my major although it was very fun and entertaining; it just wasn’t for me so I changed it back to Elementary Education.

I am recently married to my best friend, David Smith. My parents are Wayne and Jeri Baker, they have been married for twenty eight years. I have one brother Lemuel Baker. I am family oriented. I work at Planet Fitness in Mobile, AL. I love my job and my co-workers.

I have wanted to be an Elementary Teacher since I was a little girl. I loved to play teacher and teach school in my room. I would come home from school, do my homework and pretend I was teaching it to my class. I would also read different books to my "pretend" students. Another reason I want to be a teacher is because I use to be a nanny for this little girl named Honey, and she was handicapped, I would spend everyday with her doing art projects such as: painting, coloring, and drawing outside on concrete with chalk. I adored this girl and I enjoyed being with her everyday and watching her learn new things, it was a great experience.

I feel its an Educators job to provide stability for the students, due to the fact of many outside circumstances. Teachers should make learning fun for students with different activities, hands on activities are one way to keep the students focused on learning. I also feel that it is important for a teacher to get to know their students, it makes each student feel important and loved.

My passions include:

>My husband, David

>Working out

>Focusing on being a healthier me

I need to get better at time management. I am not very good at it and it plays an important role in being a teacher.

This is a picture of David and I at a Braves Game.

This is a picture of Honey and I.

Screen Capture

My Test Post Title

This is my first post. This is first time using a blog, I am new to this. I clicked the HTML button like the instructions told me to. I am now a blogger and looking forward to the school year.