Kristina Weaver EDM 510

 In the video Back to the Future , Mr. Crosby shows us how to use incorporate technology and amazing learning experiences into a very diverse classroom. I learned from this video that just because we as teachers may be put into a complex situation, doesn't mean that we can't make the best of it. Mr. Crosby takes his class in which majority of them do not even know what country they live in, and gets them creating their own hot air balloon. Not only does his class experiment with the science of it, but they even incorporate writing and art. Technology plays a huge part in his classroom, too. I learned that kids are more than willing to work with technology and are excited about what it holds. The video Blended Learning Cycle is very informative on flipping the classroom. Paul Anderson gives a wonderful way that he teaches in his classroom. I love the acronym Qu.I.V.E.R.S. that he uses in the classroom. I learned that one of the most important things he talks about is the prob...

Post #1: I was assigned Terren's blog this week. He is a student at Joliet-West High School in Illinios. His post was very a very short welcoming message. I responded by introducing myself and telling him where I go to school. I also wished him happy blogging. Post #2: This week I had  Ulises's blog . He is also is from Joliet- West High School. In his blog, he gave some advice to future high school students. One of the most important tips he gave was to keep your grades up. I commented back by telling him that I am a college student. I also said that keeping your grades up and applying for scholarships was very important too. Post #3: This week I had  Jack's blog . He is a 7th grade student in Mrs. Lombard's class in Oklahoma. Jack gave a brief summary of the book The 39 Clues  by Rick Riordan. He said this book is about a big family secret and the children are trying to figure out what it is. I replied by saying that this sounded like an interesting book. I...

Mrs. Cassidy seems like a very well-educated teacher when it comes to technology. I think it is wonder how her children are so interested in the technology they use in the classroom. In the video  Little Kids, Big Potential , Mrs. Cassidy's children were talking about the ways they use technology in the classroom. Some of the things they used were blogger, wikis, and even Nintendo DS. It is very important to allow technology in the classroom because it introduces a new way of learning for kids. Not only are the introduced to a variety of new materaials, but they go on a self journey while learning. Children become more engaged in what they are doing. In the video  Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1 , Mrs. Cassidy explains how she got started with technology in the classroom. She first started a webpage trying to get things going. She also talks about the importance of protecting her children on the internet by only using first names and not matching their picture with their ...

What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning?  In the article Seven Essesntials for Project Based Learning , Larmer and Mergendoller list seven priorities that go along with PBL. All of these can teach us about PBL. 1. A Need to Know: This can be called an "entry event" which will make the student think and ask questions about the given subject. 2. A Driving Question: The driving question will be the main basis behind the whole project. It should be open-ended and require the students to work to find the answer. 3. Student Voice and Choice: This is important because it will keep the students interested in what they are doing. They should be able to have their own say in decision making during the project as long as it corresponds to the teacher's requirements. 4. 21st Century Skills: This project is important because it teaches the kids to use skills like communication and technology, which is important in this day and time. 5. Inquiry ...

Here are the links to our project: Family Ties Project Planner Content Rubric Oral Presentation Rubric Calendar

Post  1: This week, I was assigned Ken Halla's blog . He spoke about how he found this teaching tool called Kahoot through one of his new followers on Twitter. Kahoot  can be used as a review tool in the classroom. You can set up questions using your smart board, let the kids create their own names, and set a timer for the questions. I responded by saying I would love to use Kahoot in my classroom. I think it would be great to use on a review day or a quick review right before the test. Post 2: This week in Ken Halla's blog. He talks about where Daylight Savining originated from. He thought it was started by farmers, but it actually originated in England to help save energy. His post also says that the time change made its way over to the US during WWI. I commented back saying I had no idea that it started in England or that it came to the US during WWI. It was very interesting.

Randy Pausch's "last lecture" was amazing. He was a very inspirational professor to many students, peers, and most importantly, other educators. I learned from this video that it is important to not give up on the first try. When it comes to teaching, something may not work out the way you wanted it to go. Like Randy, we should continue to keep trying to make things happen when we have our mind set to them. I also learned that it is important to surround yourself with people who will help better you. In learning, you want to be around people who will help you when you when you do not understand something. Surrounding yourself with people who will better also play a huge part in teaching. There will constantly be other professors or higher educators around you to offer you advice and their opinions. But the most important thing I learned from Randy, was to always have fun. Teaching and learning will make a lasting impression when fun is involved.