Assignment OER....

The inspiration behind this post was from Professor Smith aka Balddaddieteach.  Our assignment was to watch his video and to research Open Educational Resources (OER).  First we had to read on article on the things you need to know about OER.  The article was very informative giving information on everything from the definition, the positive aspects of OER, and the downfalls.  It was definitely a must read for me because I had never heard of OER before.  We then had to do a little digging of our own to find websites that offer OER and to link them in this blog.
Here is what I found:

OER are unlicensed teaching materials and tools that teachers worldwide have access to at little or no cost to the teacher.  Finding out new and different ways to teach lessons, reading articles that provide research on ways to teach students, and an endless supply of lesson plans, games, and quizzes all in one place can be a teacher's dream.  Professor Smith gave us a link to a website to get started finding websites offering OER.  I started browsing the site and decided to click on an entry entitled Beyond Pengquins and Polar Bears: Integrating Literacy and IPY into Elementary Classrooms.  I was able to read the overview and find out exactly what Beyond Penquins and Polar Bears is.  I clicked on the link to be able to see the many linked articles.  I chose to click on the article entitled Sense of Place which took me to a another page that had a link to lessons and activities that teachers can use to teach students.
My interests in OER were sparked and put OER into a Google search.  Pages and pages of OER were listed.  One OER website that I really liked is "40 Open Education Resources You Should Know About."  This website listed such sites as PBS Kids and Discovery Kids,  which both of my children have used and enjoyed.
Another website I liked was Kansas State Department of Education.  It is very easy to navigate with the overviews of each OER listed below the links.  The Hewlett Foundation offers another great websites for teachers looking for OER.  It also provides information on obtaining grants for deserving classrooms.  The VHS Collaborative offers free online instruction and information on all the benefits of OER digital media.  Check them out!

Although I was mostly checking out the OER that would benefit Early Childhood & Special Education students, there are OER's for students in all levels of education, including college.  In fact, alot of colleges now offer digital textbooks which helps lower the cost of higher education.

The OER movement is chugging along, are you on board??  :)

Watching videos

Sittting in class, waiting for the professor to arrive, and watching videos on CommonCure.  Yep that's what I did until the professor's email came through about his car having a flat tire.  I'm rambling.  Anyway, the videos we had to watch were about ways of teaching the standards set by the state using various tools, methods, and strategies.  They were very informative.  I think one way the videos could be improved is if Channing Tatum was the host. 

Flipped classroom or Flipped Learning Method...Ever heard of it???

 Flipped Learning method.  It started with an observation. Students only need a teacher around when a question needs an answer or to provide help if the student gets

stuck on an assignment, not when students are listening to a lecture or to review the content of a lesson.  Thus, a  new method of teaching

began.  I had never heard of this type of learning and so I began to research the concept.  Although, there is quite a debate about this teaching method, educators found that their students understood the material better than ever. 

What is the definition of "Flipped Classroom"?  Well, simply put there is no real definition other than what I found on the Techsmith website :

A reversed teaching model that delivers instruction at home through interactive, teacher-created videos and moves “homework” to the classroom. Moving lectures outside of the classroom allows teachers to spend more 1:1 time with each student. Students have the opportunity to ask questions and work through problems with the guidance of their teachers and the support of their peers - creating a collaborative learning environment.

Basically, this is how flipped learning works:

• Students prepare for class by watching video, listening to podcasts, reading articles, or contemplating questions that access their prior knowledge.
• After accessing this content, students are asked to reflect upon what they have learned and organize questions and areas of confusion.
• Students then log in to a Facebook-like social tool, where they post their questions.
• The instructor sorts through these questions prior to class, organizes them, and develops class material and scenarios that address the various areas of confusion. The instructor does not prepare to teach material that the class already understands.
• In class, the instructor uses a Socratic method of teaching, where questions and problems are posed and students work together to answer the questions or solve the problems. The role of the instructor is to listen to conversations and engage with individuals and groups as needed.

Over the past two years, the Flipped Learning method has created quite a stir. Often this method of teaching is often simplified to videos being watched at home and homework being done at school. Some argue that this teaching method will completely transform education, while others say it is simply an opportunity for boring lectures to be viewed in new locations.  Another article I found very useful listed the misconceptions about what flipped learning is along what flipped learning actually is about.
Reading the assumptions along with the truths helped me to learn more about the concept.

Ultimately, flipped learning is not about flipping the “when and where” instruction is delivered; it’s about flipping the attention away from the teacher and toward the learner

 The debate over this teaching method will continue to be argued. Dr. Eric Mazur of Harvard University has been researching this type of learning since the early ’90s.  This video shows how interactive learning is used to help teach physics.

What are some benefits of this method?

• Gives teachers more time to spend 1:1 helping students
• Builds stronger student/teacher relationships
• Offers a way for teachers to share information with other faculty, substitute teachers, students, parents, and
  the community easily
• Produces the ability for students to “rewind” lessons and master topics
• Creates a collaborative learning environment in the classroom

Another article I found useful was actually about the 2 men that came up with the Flipped Learning Method, Jonathon Bergmann and Aaron Sams.  Both are educators who have won awards for their teaching accomplishments.
To me, this teaching method is a great way to teach students to work more independently, think more critically, and has the benefit of taking pressure off the student and letting them learn at their own pace.
There are numerous other websites to research this topic, you should check them out!

 

http://flippedlearning.org/

http://21k12blog.net/2011/02/13/the-flipped-classroom-advances-developments-in-reverse-learning-and-instruction/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aGuLuipTwg

Experience Group

Lauren and I were paired together and we created a presentation on Enhancing Education.  Even through all the pitfalls we encountered (computers crashing, etc....), we were able to present the class a pretty good presentation.  Since we decided to talk about the use of Skype in the classroom, we decided to use Skype to begin our presentation.  I think it helped get everyone to pay attention to our topic.  I was in a different classroom, and using my phone with Skype downloaded, I made my first video call ever and presented part of our topic via video call.  It was pretty cool.  Lauren and I used Prezi for the presentation topics and she did a great job of editing.  Although Lauren and I were very nervous, we got nothing but positive feedback!  Great Job Lauren and great job to me too!

CRASH........ :_(

Let me start off by saying that sometimes technology can be the DEVIL.  Yes, I said devil.  Last week, Lauren and I started on our group project that consists of a 4-6 page report and a presentation.  We agreed that we would both compile research, that I would be in charge of typing the report, and Lauren would put together the actual slideshow presentation. We were doing great emailing back and forth for stuff we found that would make our project grand. As we worked on our project in class, Lauren told me the story of how her computer crashed and she lost everything on it-- reports, pictures, and homework for her other courses.  She told me she would finally be getting her computer back from being fixed and she was back to square one.  I told Lauren that her and I have the same bad luck when it comes to technology.  Her recent computer crash must have rubbed off on me...yesterday, I made some minor changes, saved our report, and headed to work.  When I got home last night, my plan was to print out our final report and read it aloud to myself to make any last minute changes.  However, my plans changed when my computer showed the dreaded "blue screen of death."  I didn't panic, I had been through something like this before.  I rebooted my system and went to get a glass of water while I waited for it to reboot.  The moment I saw the blue screen again, I knew it was hopeless. I had lost the whole report.  All of our research- quotes, pictures, websites, that were nicely typed and inserted into 5 pages-- GONE.  After crying for 30 minutes, I calmly woke up my husband and asked if he had touched the computer even though I know he doesn't touch computers (I just wanted someone to yell at). 
I kept thinking that Lauren is going to kill me and its my fault for not having a report typed.  I had to type another report......from my memory.  We had to have something.  I dried my eyes, grabbed my daughter's laptop and looked at the clock, it was 1 a.m.  It was going to be a long night and it was.  I have not yet gone to sleep and sadly, I was not able to finish typing or printing out our report. 
I find it ironic that mine and Lauren's project is on how technology can be useful tools for teachers.  Although computers and technology can be used to enhance lessons in school, there are flaws.  I will never, eveR, evER,eVER, EVER trust another computer again.

My Word Cloud

PowerPoint (I am undecided)

One of our assignments for SEDU 183 was to create a PowerPoint to "teach" a class.  We had to chose an age group, a lesson, and research what the PA standards that must be taught.  Let me tell you my stomach was in knots!  Right off I knew what lesson I wanted to teach however, I was unsure if my lesson would teach all the standards.  As I looked on the PAS website, I was baffled on what to look under for my specific lesson.  I finally figured out what I was looking for by consulting my professor (mental note: there are no dumb questions, only dumb answers....)! So began my journey in the development of my presentation.  I take that back, its not a journey, it is a mental workout!

I decided the lesson would be on "Crash Blossoms" or confusing headlines reporters use that have multiple meanings. I chose 3 headlines and used pictures to illustrate one way the headline could be interpreted. This would also be the assignment for the students.  I knew what I wanted to do, so I started off looking for funny headlines.  Wow! You wouldn't believe how many "Crash Blossoms" in newspapers there are!  I had to keep in mind that the lesson could be used to teach 7th-12th grade students, so that meant the headline " Tiger Woods plays with own balls, Nike says" wouldn't work.  I don't even want to think about what pictures teenagers would find to interpret that one!  I was able to find clean ones and started my PowerPoint.

First of all, I have never used a PowerPoint program.  It was all greek to me.  If I wanted to put something on the slide, it seemed like it took 3 steps, keep in mind that this was my first attempt.  My professor showed us how to hyperlink this and embed that, but I was still confused with what tab to click on just to go to the next slide!  The "UNDO" button became my best friend during this project.  I finally figured it out and had about 7 or 8 slides.  I had looked at my PowerPoint so much that every time I proofread it, I would yawn.  I agonized about my slideshow being boring but it would have to do, I had run out of time to work on it.

Then came the day to present it to my group.  With knots in my tummy, I flipped through each slide "teaching" my lesson.  To my surprise, my group really liked my PowerPoint!  All positive comments and they liked my use of humor. (mental note: don't overthink things, a joke is only the funniest the first time you hear it...)
My thoughts on this project are mixed.  I love to figure out ways to teach kids, but PowerPoint is confusing.  I realized I just need more practice with the program but my ideas on how to present lessons are pretty good!

"Prezi" your presentation!

So I am trying to complete the PowerPoint presentation project (say that 10 times fast!) and all I have to say is BLAHHHH!  I wondered how I could make it better, flashier, and well, not boring.  I failed miserably. :( 
I posted on Facebook asking for help and tips from anyone who has used PowerPoint.  A whole bunch of my friends told me about the website called "Prezi".
I will say it is a fantastic site, however, me having dial-up internet connection I was unable to access the amazing site to dress up my presentation.
So unfortunately, my presentation is still pretty boring,but once Verizon gets DSL to my house, I shall never have a boring presentation ever again!

Two More for the Roll!

I searched for blogs. Lots of them. I searched for ones that interested me and ones specifically connected to my major.  As I looked through them, I found many that I had no interest in at all! Finally, I found two that I will actually gain insight from and will continue to follow. One of the blogs is about Special Education and the other is about Raising Goats.  Although you may find it strange that I would find interest in one or both of these blogs, to me they are key.
Along with having a child with Autism, my family and I raise Boer goats, which has been great therapy for my son.

Technology: Our new best FRENEMY?!?!

A long time ago, a little girl marveled at the new gadget that was sitting on top of her family's television set. It was beautiful and it had the glorious new electronic smell. The little girl, only 7 years old, wondered what could they make better than this VCR with a remote. Sure,the remote had a cord that was attached to the VCR and had to be stretched across the room, but she wouldn't have to walk across the living room to press play. She was excited. That little girl was me.
I lived in the age of television sets with knobs you had to turn to change the station, remote controllers that had cords, cassette tapes, and computers that looked like white boxes with black screens and had green letters. Technology has come along way in the time I have been on this planet, but how is it helping us and how is it hurting us?
After reading "Is Google Making Us Stupid" by Nicholas Carr, I started to wonder are these advances really good for us?
My emotions are mixed.
Think about it. Computers aren't just for typing reports. Phones aren't just for making phone calls. Although I am a fan of texting and sending emails, I can't remember the last time I have written a letter or made a phone call just to say hello. Technology has advanced the way children learn, but it has also has made them lazy.  My 11 year old daughter needed help looking something up in a textbook. When I told her to look it up in the index of the book, she looked at me puzzled and asked "In the what of the book?"  I then showed her and asked her how she ever found anything in books without reading the whole thing. She then told me that she looks everything up on the internet. Lovely, that is just lovely. Another one of my beliefs, that will never change, is that everything electronic has its flaws.
I am not knocking advancing technology as a whole. Medical care has taken on a whole new dynamic, cell phones give people a piece of security, and computers help educators to teach and students to learn. However, I believe some of the "old" way of doing things should not become a thing of the past.

 

Important to Me

There is a special reason I am going to college to become a teacher. A reason that many of my classmates wouldn't understand until they become a parent. A parent of a child who has Autism. When my son started preschool, I truly believed that the teacher would be understanding to his situation, help in his journey, and most of all be sympathetic to me and my childs needs.  She convinced me that she was the teacher I was hoping for my son to have.  She was a far cry from what my child needed and I desired. This "teacher" assured me that she would love to have him in her class because she needed more experience working with children with Autism. About 3 weeks into the school year, I had to pick my son up early to get to an appointment. I found him sitting in a room by himself with the lights off. According to the teacher, he had become too distracting during story time.  Needless to say, I pulled him from her class.

My goal is to become a Special Education teacher. Not just a Special Education teacher but the kind of teacher that parents want their child with special needs to have. 

1st day of class

So today is the first day of SEDU 183. Already I am nervous-- not sure if I will be able to complete assignments due to living in a very rural area with no high speed internet!  I will tough it out and hopefully I will overcome this challenge! :)