Blog Post 3

The substantive information I received from all three videos is to stay positive and be kind with your peers when evaluating he, or she's performance. It's important as a reviewer to articulate your suggestions in a way that is meaningful, so that they might grasp the knowledge and information, as well. I also believe it's pivotal to converse the importance of sentence structure, as well as grammar and punctuation. Remember to converse this information in a way that is beneficial to the writer. I think it is key for the writer not to feel inferior in the peer editing process. Then, as a reviewer collaborate with the writer, so he or she understands and comprehends their mistakes. As an educator, I will motivate and encourage my students to be open and honest with their work and not to be afraid to ask questions.

I know from my personal experience I hated getting a paper back from the teacher and the paper would be covered in red ink. I do not like the feeling of shame and embarrassment when others are evaluating my performance. However, I embrace criticism that educates as well as inspires me to be a more productive writer and thinker. So I believe these videos teach us to be open and honest with our peers and provide dialogue that is significant and substantive. The idea of being specific is key. When I am evaluating someone's paper I want the structure to be sound and the words to flow. The students did a good job representing some of the things I hate when someone else is reviewing my work. I do not like when someone is not on task or talking off topic when they should be reviewing and evaluating my work. Also, I do not like when a reviewer thinks they are always right about everything without adequately engaging in the research. One of my personal errors I make during the writing process is that I am not that good of a speller. So it's important for me to keep a written or online dictionary with me at all times. It's vital for the reviewer to stay positive and offer encouragement throughout the peer editing process.

Blog Post 2

I believe the central message in this video is that Mr. Dancealot is trying to educate his students about the art of dance; however, he doesn't allow his students to practice themselves. He uses the formal teaching methods of PowerPoint, and he is clearly the sole possessor of knowledge and information on the subject. Mr. Dancealot then expects his students to reenact what he's demonstrated in class for the final. The students had to rely on practice from home and the notes from class as a guide. Which this method obviously didn't help because Mr. Dancealot wasn't there for guidance or support. No, I do not agree with this conclusion on how to instruct a dancing class. The students needed to be instructed in an actual dance room. And Mr. Dancealot should be engaging and energetic with his students because the video clearly shows some were interested in the class at first.

I believe Mr. Roberts thinks teaching in the 21st century contradicts the idea that the instructor is the sole possessor or of knowledge and information. His thesis outlines that students do bring their own knowledge, skills, attitudes, and opinions in the classroom and they should express their ideas openly and honestly. Also, he outlines the countless number of resources available to students, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. I also agree it is vital for students to collaborate with their fellow students on projects and assignments. This allows for students to share their creativity and appreciate and understand the value of teamwork. Mr. Roberts believes students should take an active role in the classroom by using their creativity and information to solve problems. He also states that it is important to ask questions when you are unsure how to execute a task. I believe Mr. Roberts' ideas about the future of teaching are 100 percent correct. I believe with the advancement of technology, it is important as teachers to instruct our students in pursuing their passions and goals and inspiring them to work hard and to be motivated. As a future teacher, I want to incorporate technology and independent learning into my curriculum because I believe challenging your students is essential to their success.

This video illustrated to me for the first time of what it's like to be a student of Connectivism. I found this method to be very intriguing. The general message I received from watching this illustration is the idea of a teacher being more like a guide rather than the sole possessor of knowledge and information. I enjoy the thought of a teacher getting excited over the fact his or her students discovered the right resources or contacts. I believe this method is pivotal in this day and age of technology. I also like the idea that the instructor doesn't require a textbook for the course. From my personal experience, textbooks and worksheets have never excited me about learning. The idea of allowing students to reach out to contacts and resources and invite their knowledge and ideas into the classroom is fascinating. I like the method of Connectivism because it allows students to explore their own creativity and innovate new ways of communication on the World Wide Web. I believe the idea of independent learning and acquiring technological skills are crucial to be a good student in the 21st century.

I believe the point Ms. Davis is trying to convey in this video and her class is that technology is a wonderful resource for her students to connect with those around the world. Ms. Davis also believes each of her students learns differently and that technology is an avenue that allows her students to communicate their creativity. Ms. Davis also encourages her students to open up their minds and explore new ideas and communicate their skills in the classroom. Ms. Davis takes more of a non-traditional approach to teaching, as opposed to traditional ways. I thought it was very intriguing to learn about the website Ms. Davis and fellow teacher created called Digi Teen. This website encourages her students to write, blog, and share ideas and videos with students all over the world. The idea of collaboration between her students is also key because she believes she doesn't have all the answers so she challenges her students to seek out answers to questions and problems in the classroom. I believe this method is the best way for students to learn because it challenges them to work hard and stay motivated. I believe motivation is important because students get tired of paper and pencil in the classroom. Technology allows for students to embrace and share their creativity and express their knowledge, skills, and ideas.

This is my first time hearing about the instructional method called flipping a classroom. I am a visual learner so this method is intriguing. I enjoy the idea of students watching a lesson at home as well as being able to do practice problems and projects. This method allows for parents of the students to watch the lessons with them and provide help and guidance if needed. This also gives parents a better understanding of what is going on in the classroom, and it allows them to provide feedback to the teacher if they have any questions about the lessons. I think students get tired of sitting in a classroom all day so this method allows for them to watch the lessons at home and by doing it gives students a better knowledge and understanding of the material when they walk into the class the next day. I see this approach as being useful as a teacher, and I would go a step forward and probably would create a Facebook account for my class. This would allow students and parents to visit the page and see exactly when assignments and projects are due as well as watching videos of the lessons. Technology is becoming a significant part of the curriculum in today's classroom, and I believe this approach will be successful, and students will benefit greatly.

Blog Post 1

I am not going to lie that this class intimidated the heck out of me at first. I mean the first time I heard about this class and the horror stories was during registration. My advisor told me this course takes a lot of time and commitment. Then after reading the syllabus I immediately had a nervous breakdown thinking I couldn't do it. I believe I am a very engaging and creative individual, and this course welcomes both those traits. I like how this course is very open and honest about the idea of asking for help. I am a huge proponent of if you don’t know how to do something; ask someone.

Dr. Strange was very open and honest the first day of class by outlining the program and the expectations of it. My fears of this class are that I won’t be able to handle the workload or that I will have a panic attack. Also, the creative part of my brain will suddenly turn off, and I will fall into despair. I believe exercising daily and eating healthy and thinking positive are good things for the soul. My aspirations for this class are working hard and asking for help when I need it. I have never had a class like this before. The computer class I took in high school didn’t educate me about technology or feed my creativity.

I believe the most difficult part of EDM310 would be improving my time management skills. I have never had an issue with turning in assignments on time, and I definitely don't want to start now. I wouldn't call myself a procrastinator, but I sometimes wait to the last minute to do my assignments. I have to discipline myself to get my assignments turned in on time. Another difficulty I could face is that I am not all that computer savvy. I can address that problem by educating myself through educational videos and asking questions.

I don't have any questions that I need to be answered at the moment, but I definitely won't hesitate to ask. I am excited about embarking on this journey in EDM310, and although I know the road may be painful at times, you just have to weather the storm. I will always live by the words Jimmy Valvano said during the 1993 ESPYS.

Practice Post

Hello, my name is William Taylor, and I am a sophomore, majoring in physical education. I am originally from Mobile, but I moved across the bay to Daphne when I was sixteen. I have one brother named Charles and two sisters named Alice and Duffie. I love living across the bay because I am so close to the beach. I love the beach, and I try to go as often as I can. I love spending time outdoors as well as playing basketball. After high school I attended Faulkner State for two years and then I decided to transfer to South. I am enjoying South so far, and I am meeting a lot of new people.

My family is a big part of my life. I love spending time with them any chance I get. One interest of mine is Auburn football. I love attending Auburn football games. I love the city of Auburn as well. It's a beautiful city with lots of things to do. My brother and I had the opportunity to attend a few games this year, and all of the were exciting. Another interest of mine is that I am an avid runner. My exercise regiment consists of 2 miles a day, 6 days a week and also some light weight training.

I have always been told by those I love to help and inspire others. And that is the main reason I choose the field of education. For myself, I have always enjoyed working with kids. I was a camp counselor at the YMCA for three summers, and I must say they were some of the best days of my life. Working and interacting with the youth of today has always been a passion of mine. My dreams are to one day to be able to work in an elementary school and educate and inspire students to love physical activity and also to eat healthy.

A couple interesting things about myself is that I love old cinema. A few of my favorite films are Gone with the Wind and Driving Miss Daisey. When I was younger I used to watch old films with my grandmother. A couple of our favorites were Goldfinger and The Godfather. Personally, I miss the elegance and style of old films.

2nd Post Test

What's up!

My Test Post Title

This is my First Post. I clicked the HTML button which I should always do in EDM310. I am now a Blogger!