Blog Post # 3

Peer Editing

I left my comment for my assigned student on their blog. I chose to do this, because what I was critiquing didn't seem too harsh that I would need to email them. I guess the way I see it is, would I get offended by my critique? If I wouldn't then I do not see a reason to email them.

The peer editing videos taught me a lot about editing. The first one, What is Peer Editing?, was straightforward with the information. The three major things I took from it was compliment, suggestions, and corrections. We need to make sure we compliment before we critique others. Another point made was stay positive, which I also think is important to do. Even when you are critiquing it should be in a positive manner.

The second video, Peer Edit with Perfection Tutorial, was pretty much the same as the first. They both conveyed the best way to leave a worthy comment. The third video, Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes, was my favorite. The kids portraying the different types of critiquing was pretty cool. They did a really good job showing how to critique and how not to.

Technology in Special Education

Lacy Cook's video was inspiring to me.She say's that the use of laptop's has changed the way she teaches. One of the student's, who used to have to be read to, now can listen to books on the Ipod touch. This is probably much faster and easier for him. It also keeps him in class rather that separating him. Another student's learning was made ,much easier by being able to communicate by laptop. He otherwise has a hard time communicating.

Students also have much more access to the teacher and the teacher to the students. Lacy says that it is much easier to keep the students attention when she uses technology. She wants her student's to be aware of all new technology so they have plenty of opportunity when working in the real world.

How the Ipad Works with Academics for Autism

The father in this video is awesome his son's learning capability using the Ipad was so great. I'd love to use app's in my future classroom to teach. The app I liked the most is called Alpha Writer, by Montessorium. This one caught my attention the most, because it has many possibilities. You can learn to; read, write and spell phonetically. You can even create stories using it. I'm planning to be an English teacher so this app would be helpful for me. If I was having a problem relaying information to a special needs student this app could possibly fill the gap I am unable to fill myself.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smart's

Vicki Davis uses many technologies, as shown in this video, to connect her student's to the rest of the world. She believes that pen and paper limit student's ability to learn, and that with that limitation only certain kinds of them will learn. She expects her student's to think. If you don't know the meaning of something then look it up.

Her method allows her student's to create blogs with people all around the world. It also gets the students truly involved in their work. They are interacting with each other, and you can see they are truly learning. Vicki say's this empowers the students which she believes is good for them, and I agree with her.

Blog Post # 2

Did You Know?

This video was very interesting to watch. It's unthinkable that the Chinese will have more English speakers than the rest of the world combined. It's also almost unthinkable to know how many people are on you tube all at one time. I personally didn't get a cell phone until I was 15, but the number of kids who have one, especially so young, is crazy.
Will I be ready to teach these kids that will have so much new technology by the time they are grown? I know I will do my best to stay up-to-date with the latest information in order to prepare them.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

This video was humorous and obviously meant to make you think. Why after all these years has everything around us progressed, yet education remains the same? Teachers still stand in front of students and lecture them, but are they really teaching them? We as future teachers should take this into consideration. If the future of education is to change we have to help change it.

Schools Kill Creativity

I really enjoyed this video, because I agree with it. He points out that we teach kids for one purpose, which is, to be college professors. We limit children from doing things they are good at and enjoy, and we try to force them into what society believes is right. We shouldn't hinder these kids from the things they are good at, but we should encourage them to branch out and pursue these things.

The Future

Watching those videos was pretty cool. It's hard to imagine a world where those things are second nature. To think I may be teaching children who will grow up to work in a world with these things is a little wild. The way I see it is I will also be working in this world possibly. I not only have to prepare my student's, but I will need to prepare myself. I honestly look forward to see the way things change and what's invented. I wan to be ready.

Blogpost # 1

Hey everyone, my name is Jessica LaForce, and I'm an English Education major here at South Alabama. I'm finishing up my third year, and I can't wait to graduate. I live here in Mobile, so that's really the reason I chose to come to South. I have a big family, and we are all very close sometimes too close! I married a year ago, and we are now expecting our first baby. I don't have many interest, but if I picked a favorite it would be reading. I could read all day everyday if I could get away with it! That pretty much covers everything I can think of, if you have any questions feel free to ask. Time Management Randy Pausch's "Time Management" video was very enlightening. When the video first started Randy mention's that if we could end procrastination we would do much better with managing our time. That is a big one for me. Procrastination is my middle name. I also liked when he said, "do the right things adequately." Also I liked the idea of have a plan, but be willing to change that plan. All around I really enjoyed the video.

My new Post #2

This is my new post # 2.

New Post

This is my new post.

Podcast Project # 8

C4K Summary for March

I commented on three different kids blogs and really enjoyed reading them. There was Erick, Jacob, and Charlotte. Jacob said he wanted to time travel to medieval times and be a Knight. I told him how some of my favorite books are time traveling books, and that would be a cool time period to travel to. Erick told me a little about his life of being a kid. Some things he does is homework,chores, and watches T.V. I told him how good it was that some kids still do chores. Then there was Charlotte, her blog was cool because she had a video with it. She wrote all about her summer vacation. I commented on the more interesting things she did like mini golf. It's been fun to comment on these kids post.