A great website about Papert. Click Papert.


I didn't even know who this guy Seymour Papert was until now. He is one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence, as well as an inventor of the Logo programming language. It was in his lab that children first had the opportunity to use the computer to write and to make graphics. The Logo programming language was created there, so were the first children's toys with built-in computation. Papert also runs technology program for teen offenders. He has done a lot for children's technology!

Web Page

I did my page on Endangered Animals. Manatees have always been my favorite animals. I went swimming with then when I was younger, and it is such an amazing memory. I want the future to have the same experiences with manatees and other animals. I think it is so important for us to take action in making sure we protect animals endangered. I thought the web page was a good oppotunity to make others aware of some endangered animals.

iPods

Wow, I guess you learn something new everyday. It never would occur to me to use iPods in instruction. When I first read the assignment, i thought it meant iPod instructions, kind of a how to use guide, not in the classroom, but I found this great site at instruction.

Podcasting

Known by several names (e.g., coursecasting, lecturecasting, vodcasting, videocasting, screencasting), podcasting is the distribution of audio or video files, such as lectures, radio programs or instructional videos, over the internet using either RSS or Atom syndication for listening on mobile devices and personal computers.

I was amazed reading this quote. Podcasting? I had never heard of it. That just proves how out of it I am when it comes to technology.

Spreadsheets in the Classroom

Searching the internet for useful sites for spreadsheets in the classroom was so easy. A gazillion sites were open to me, all eager to tutor me on how to use Excel. It was a relief to find, after strugling to find international blogs. My favorite site you downloaded the information. It gave you info on simple math functions (which I will definitely use to add percentages for my student's grades). It also contained a lot of graphs. I think graphs are great visuals to show your students. Click here to get to that site.
I also found a lot of sites wanting my money! They were willing to sell me information on Excel if I bought the programs. I did find a site with info about the grade book for a classroom. I was surprised more web sites didn't have this. It seems like a vital source for teachers who use Excel. After all, you don't want to do all the calculations by hand!

International Blogs 2

If you click here, you can access Ms. Almeida blog for her students. As she puts it, it "A blog for me and my 5th and 6th grade students (2005-2007) in Parede, Portugal." I liked this blog. I think it was created to help her students with their English skills. I like how she addresses the students in the blogs. She also keeps them up to date on major and minor events. I think this is a good blog site to model after.

International Blogs

I had such a hard time finding international blogs! Maybe I am just bad with the search engine on the internet. However, British International School of Cracow had an website where you you could access the head of the school's blog. I thought it was a personal way to let your students know what goes on in your life. I don't think I would use this layout, but it is clever. If students see your blog they will be more prone to do their own. There wasn't a lot of information for students though, which was disappointing. I would have posted more positive information about the school. To access his blog for British International School of Cracow go here.

Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras was very un-Mardi Gras like for me. I really don't see my boyfriend that often so I take every chance I can to go to Auburn and see him. MArdi Gras was no different. I didn't go downtown to celebrate or eat moonpies and catch beads. I spent my off time in AU. Lab was canceled on Monday so I went that Friday thru Fat Tuesday up there. It was fun. We hung out with Peter's friends, watched a full season of Scrubs and cooked. We celebrated our 6 month together :)

U.S. Blogs

I found two very different examples of blogs being used in classrooms in the USA. The first was Ms. Kreul's Class Blog. A fourth grade class at Richards Elementary School in Whitefish Bay, WI. I really liked this blog, and if I did use blogs in the classroom I would immitate this set up. The teacher had everything on here! State captital info, homework reading logs, reminders, etc. Then she posted helpful links for her students. Her blog spot would benefit parents. If you would like to view the page click here.
Another USA blog I found was Ms. Dancunzo's classroom blog. It wasn't nearly as detailed as the other one. You could view your students blogs easily, which was positive. She also had her blog set up where students could receive information on each subject she was teaching. Her home page was setup to read "A "blog" is a web log. It is just like your writing journal except it's on the internet." Which I thought was a cute way to explain blogging to children. Though I wasn't sure which grade level she taught. It looked like elementary level. The page looked fairly new. To get to her blog click here. Here is a picture I found from Ms. Kreul's blog page!

Experience

I wish I had a positive experience in blogging in my EDM 310 class. To be honest, it has been more of a hassle than anything else. I think blogs could be fun, but I am behind on the times. I rarely have access to a computer, and when I do get on it takes forever to load pages! I am amazed at the technology we have though. It is an exciting thing to be able to post your thoughts on the computer and at a click of a button be able to read your classmate's thoughts. I like how you can personalize your blog too. You can design it in a layout to match your personality and share pictures about your life. Blogging would be really helpful if I had friend who lived far away. It is a good way to stay in touch and share links.
I don't know if I will use blogging in my classroon. If I was a high school teacher then maybe, but I am teaching younger children and I don't know. Though most 5th graders know more about computers than me. In terms of privacy I am not crazy about blogging. I want my students to be able to post their thoughts in a journal and have that to keep forever... on paper too. However, blogging is a good way to practice internet skills and typing skills. Which is super important to the future generation. And if my students blogged then reading their messy handwriting wouldn't be a problem! I guess I have mixed emotions on the experience.

Spring Break/Slacker/Mexico

I had a wonderful spring break!!! I hate that it flew by so fast! Sunday I left to go to Auburn to spend a few days with my boyfriend. It was really good to see him again. Then I came back Wednesday to go to the Dierks Bentley concert in Pensacola on Thursday. He was great live... and he had a hot bass guitar player. I realized today how behind I am on these blogs. In fact, it seems like I am behind on everything school related. I really need to get it together.! I am a slacker. On a brighter note I found out I would be spending my summer in Juarez, Mx!!! I am thrilled. I will work for Hands and Feet Ministries and help run a kid's day camp out there. I can't wait!!!
Here is a picture of me in Juarez two summers ago :)

University of South Alabama

To get to your USA email account click here.

Runs in the Family.

Here is a picture of my sisters and me. I think the desire to teach runs in the blood. My oldest sister, Stephanie, is an 8th grade history teacher in Andalusia. I want to be an elementary school teacher. My youngest sister, Katie, is going to college to be an elementary school teacher too. My parents aren't teachers though both of them considered it.

Attendance.

I am here in class... with a headache. I have a lot of work in my classes to do this weekend. I still have to buy a clicker for my biology class on Monday. The price of books is ridiculous.

My weekend :)

This weekend my boyfriend came down from Auburn to hang out with me. Friday night we went to Olive Garden with some friends... the food was yummy. Saturday we didn't do much. I went to Target to get the USB drive for 18 bucks. I got the last one on sale too so that made me happy. Sunday we went to the theater to see Night at the Museum. I liked the movie, but everyone was so loud. It was annoying. My weekend was good though. I was thrilled to have today off of school... even if I had to work. I am already looking forward to next weekend :)

Link to Tueday Thursday 2 Class Blog

To go to the Tuesday Thursday 2 Class Blog click here.

Welcome!

Welcome! This is my first blog entry in this class.