C4T#2

Turn Your Android Phone into a WiFi Hotspot
This time around for my C4T assignment I was again assigned to a particularly tech heavy blog. That blog would be Miguel Guhlin's Around the Corner. For my first entry I read his post on how to turn your android phone into a wifi hotspot. I do not have an android phone but I still found this post very interesting simply from a technical standpoint an also because of his writing. Guhlin included what could be considered a small anecdote and was very well written which added a lot of personality and made it easy to read.

BitTorrent Sync and Thunderbird Email Backups
For my second entry on Miguel Guhlin's blog I read his post regarding BitTorrent Syncing and Thunderbird Email Backups. While a lot of the info included in this post was way over my head in technical processes, I still found it to be very helpful. I could tell if I needed this kind of problem addressed Miguel Guhlin's blog entry would be very helpful. He gave many steps leading one through the processes for using BitTorrent Sync and handling Thunderbird backups on various OS's. He even used a very helpful graphic that clearly displayed the information. And yet again very well and interesting writing kept this post interesting.

Project #9

Source: Sugata Mitra

Blog Post #8

Learning Tools for the 21st Century

Authored by: Secoria Burks, Jo Davis, Lindsay Stewart

This week, we explored tools that we could use in our future classrooms; we have listed a few here, and will describe in detail our favorites. Grockit gets your students connected in study sessions on a social site.  Schoology is another site where teachers can connect with other educators as well as their students to stay connected.  Funbrain is a site with educational games, and Knewton is an adaptive learning site that personalizes the students’ learning experience based on their individual needs.  Quizlet is a great tool where you can make your own flashcards, or teachers can make flashcards and share them with the class.  Glogster is a site that helps you gather all data about a topic on an interactive, multimedia poster that can be shared publicly. Evernote is a useful tool that helps you organize all of your resources in one place. Diigo is another tool that assists in organizing all of your tools and resources; you can collaborate with others, highlight important information and keep everything in one place.  There are three more tools that we found very useful; we have described them below.

Digital History-”Using new technologies to enhance teaching and research”

Authored by: Jo Davis

When I first stumbled upon Digital History while looking for online history sources, I almost dismissed immediately as boring and generic. But something about the big empty timeline of the webpage intrigued me. As I investigated the site more I realized it is a fantastic, unique, and easy to use tool. As previously stated, the site at first seems to be nothing more than a large empty timeline of America from pre-1492 spanning into the 21st Century. But upon further investigation i realized that the empty tiles of the timeline were not merely empty tiles but cells functioning as links! On the top of the timeline there are dates and in the background are images that correspond with these dates (which is very visually appealing), and on the left side of the time line are four rows reading: media, documents, textbook, teaching. You use the timeline to find the desired period and then click the cell under the date that corresponds with the medium that you are seeking. Digital History provides an amazing amount of resources on every period available. Having the resources separated into media, documents, textbook, and teaching makes this an immensely useful tool. I will undoubtedly be using Digital History as an aide in the near future.


Timetoast

By Secoria V Burks

Timetoast is a tool that allows teachers and students both the opportunity to build interactive timelines.  Since I plan on teaching history it is comforting to know that I have a tool to help organize and present large spans of time. When first engaging Timetoast, you have to set up an account, there are plans you can pay for, or you can use the free one. To get a better feel of the site, I signed up for a free trial account; I began making my own timeline. This site is great for PBL or anything that requires research. In order to make an accurate and interesting timeline you would have to find precise dates and try to get as many details as possible. Another feature to this site is the ability to view timelines that have already been made by category. You can add groups to your dashboards and interact with them or even collaborate on timelines. While I was not able to use all the features of this site (due to my subscription status) I can say that this site is a wonderful tool for teachers and students of History, Literature, Art, and Science.   

Edmodo- “Where Learning Happens"

Authored by: Lindsay Stewart

Edmodo is an awesome resource that can be used in any classroom.  Its interface reminds me of Google in the way that is structured.  Teachers can create a virtual classroom for their students by creating an account and providing group codes to each participant.  After the students sign up, they are brought to their personal page that is not only functional but very appealing to the eye.  The site feels like a combination of Google and Facebook (and what student does not like Facebook?).  Students can comment on others’ posts and vote on questions posed by the teacher.  The teacher can share documents and keep track of the progress their class is making.  Overall, Edmodo would be a useful tool in any classroom, but it would certainly be a great addition to my high school literature class.  I cannot wait to use it with my own students soon.  The video below shows an example of how you can use Edmodo in your Language Arts classroom:  http://youtu.be/H4hy-0VxrRk

Blog Post #7

Conversations with Anthony Capps
Authored by: Secoria Burks, Jo Davis, and Lindsay Stewart

Project Based Learning, Part 1
Anthony Capps provides us with guidance regarding Project Based Learning. In the first video, he gives us an overview of this type of learning. Anthony tells us instead of assigning a project to summarize a lesson that we need to use project based learning as part of the actual lesson. He states he follows the ACCRS standards to assure his project will meet curriculum needs. Anthony also explains that getting others involved (family, community) will bring a learning based project full circle. He provides very useful examples such as peer-editing and peer-selection as an exercise in classroom democracy that truly lets the kids be a part of the whole experience. This very involved form of learning is extremely beneficial in the learning process. In addition, we get an example of how Project Based Learning will benefit the teacher as well and grow our knowledge.

Project Based Learning, Part 2
In this conversation with Anthony, he gives us another example of using Project Based Learning. In the project, Anthony wanted his students to provide a narrative from the perspective of living in Afghanistan. He explained that the outcome was phenomenal; students focused on food, clothing, and other cultural elements. Anthony had one parent who did not agree with the project assigned, and that child was allowed to do a project on a different topic. This showed us that we can make adjustments to our learning plan if needed, as long as the standards are still being met. In this particular project, the results were shown to a group of parents, and the parents were in awe of the abilities and skills shown in producing the projects. And with this, Anthony gives us the tip to never limit our students, because often they will go above and beyond the expectations, and we will be amazed. He also states that his students enjoy Project Based Learning, and he looks to their feedback to shape his future lessons. In addition, Anthony has the backing of his administration in using Project Based Learning in his daily lessons, and he is currently helping to develop a Project Based Learning template to use statewide.

iCurio
In this video, Anthony talks about the iCurio website and how he uses it in his classroom. iCurio is a curated website that his students use like a search engine to find approved content that meets ACCRS standards. Although he is a third grade teacher he made it clear that iCurio would be useful to all grade levels and subjects. He stated his students use iCurio to organize their data as well, and this allows the students to practice using online storage tools so that once leaving the classroom they will have a new skill of using online organization tools. The iCurio site is a safe site for students, and it has many resources including accessibility options. Anthony gives us tips on how to search in iCurio as well, and he explains how the directory in iCurio makes it easier for students to search for the specific information they need.

Discovery Ed
The Discovery Ed video shows us the importance of using Discovery Ed. Anthony tells us Discovery Ed has almost everything you can think of in terms of resources for Science and Social Studies. The videos found on Discovery Ed allow experts to deliver information to the students, and these videos enhance classroom learning and keep the students engaged. Accompanied with reading, the videos and resources found on Discovery Ed increase the students’ understanding of what is being studied. The aforementioned videos give us an overview of Project Based Learning and some of the tools/resources we can use to enhance Project Based Learning in our classroom. The real-life scenarios and experiences that Anthony gives us will assist in our own formation as a teacher.

The Anthony- Strange Tips for Teachers Part 1
Authored by: Jo Davis
Dr. Strange returns with his good friend Anthony Capps in this video to discuss things that are vital for a teacher, especially a new teacher. I found this video very interesting and Dr. Strange and Anthony Capps together constructed an excellent list of factors that teachers should most certainly take into consideration. They ultimately ended up with a list a little something like this:

Work hard
Be a learner
Have fun doing it
Be flexible
Know the importance of Review

These were the main points Dr. Strange and Anthony Capps discussed and they went into some depth on why each of these were key for teachers. I really liked how they were sure to hit on the fact that it is vital for a teacher to be open for the ongoing experience of learning. I believe this is very important and we all must certainly realize that teaching is itself a great learning experience. I also thought the importance they placed on being flexible was fantastic. Being flexible is essential to successful execution as of course things will never go the way you plan it exactly, and it’s foolish to operate on such an assumption. Dr. Strange and Anthony Capps cover these points and even more in the video, and I would definitely suggest that anyone interested in education should check it out.

Don’t Teach Tech - Use It
Authored by: Lindsay Stewart
Technology in the classroom is still controversial, but it is vital to the learning process. Anthony tells us how to incorporate technology into our lessons without “teaching” technology. There should not be a checklist for technology lessons; rather, technology will be used in each subject, and the use of different technologies will assist students throughout their learning process. Anthony teaches us that scaffolding the use of technology can be beneficial to the students in gradually becoming experts on using different technological tools. The advice Anthony gives regarding technology is valuable and should be considered by all teachers. Technology is not going away, and we need to embrace it in a way that our students see the value for themselves.

Additional Thoughts About Lessons
By Secoria Burks
In general I have enjoyed all the conversations between Dr.Strange and Mr.Capps. In this video Capps breaks lessons down into a matryoshka doll. Your lesson plans should ultimately fit into your year. How do you go about making sure this happens? First plan your curriculum year, so when you are making lesson plans you can make sure you’re going to hit all the marks on your map. Next, divide your goals into units. This will allow the lessons to flow in a more coherent way. Then, plan your goals for your week, try making every day functional so that your weekly goal will be met. Finally, you plan your day, how to get kids hooked and how to measure the improvement.

C4K Summary for September

For my C4K assignment on 15 September I was assigned Rose's blog where she expressed her beliefs on the topic of abortion. It is indeed a heavy subject matter for a high school sophomore but she handled it very well. Aside from a few very minor grammar errors, she very clearly stated her stance and used personal stories connect with her audience and get her point across.


On the 22nd of September I was assigned Maggie of Mrs. Lieschke's 5th grade class in Australia. Maggie talked about a trip to see her friend she went on and a detour she took to the Canberra mint. Maggie greatly enjoyed her trip to the mint and brought a question she had concerning the word mint and its origins. I too had wondered where this word came from and she went on to explain it. (which you can read on her blog here ) She certainly taught me something and her blog was very well written!


29 September I went to the blog of 5th grade Kyan of Miss Lavakula's class in Auckland, New Zealand. He had many things he had done for his class on his blog but an illustration of a bird caught my eye. This bird Kyan had made turned out to be the Kakariki of Maori legend. Kyan did a really top job of creating the Kakariki and gave a brief description of the legendary bird. (see for yourself here ) I find the Maori people and culture to be very interesting and I was glad I could learn a little something about them from Kyan.

Project #13

Project Based Learning Plan #1

Created by: Secoria Burks, Jo Davis, and Lindsay Stewart

This is my group and I's Project based lesson plan presented through a Google presentation.

Project #8 Book Trailer

Blog Post #6

What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?

As teachers our job is to facilitate learning. Learning cannot be had without thinking, and questions are the Miracle Grow for the proverbial thought garden. Hungry for more metaphor? Well questions are a teacher's greatest weapon in the war against ignorance! The point is questions are important! We as teachers must always ask questions and promote the importance of questions. In Ben Johnson's The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom he brings up the fantastic point that many teachers assume that just because their students do not ask any questions about a subject that they understand it. This is most certainly not the case. To battle this be consistent and specific with your question asking. Even if students do not answer, questions could be having an impact and getting their think-engines going! Great questions encourage students to question and critically think about what they're being taught. Ben Johnson brings up another amazing point about general questions when he addresses the problem with the majority of students assuming the "smart kids" will answer the questions so they just do not pay attention. This leads to some students almost never answering questions in class. These archaic methods of communicating with students is detrimental to education in our day-and-age. Be spontaneous and keep it personal with the students to overcome these obstacles. Knowing your students and how to approach them in asking questions is vital to helping them learn. Also keep in mind that they're not the only ones learning. Like I said previously our job as teachers is to facilitate learning. That is not a one way street! In helping others to learn you will inevitably learn much along the way!

Blog Assignment #5

C4T#1

"How To: Create a Custom Callout in Camtasia"
By Brian Bennett
C4T#1, Comment#1 17 August 2013

This was the 1st blog post from Brian Bennett's blog that I reviewed and commented on for C4T. In this post Brian Bennett talks about a program for Mac called Camtasia and a function known as Callouts. I am unfortunately not familiar with this program but I still found his post very interesting. In his post he explains his process of making custom callouts. I admire how he found the function of callouts in Camtasia and had the ambition to create his own custom callouts. His approach to his tutorial was through a clear and well composed video. I complimented him on his implementation of a video tutorial instead of a drawn out text walk through which tend to be boring and hard to follow. As I stated I am unfortunately not familiar with Camtasia or Callouts but I still found his tutorial education and even hope to put it to use some day when I finally get a chance to try out Camtasia.

"And Then There Were Three"
By Brian Bennett
C4T#1, Comment#2 13 September 2013

Upon reading the 2nd post of Brian Bennett's blog for my C4T assignment I was pleased to find this post was to announce Brain's family growing from two to three! I was certainly not expecting this pleasant surprise and I am so happy for him even being so new to his blog. I congratulated him and wished his new family the best. I also commended him on his admirable faith as he said, "I trust our doctor. I trust his judgement and wisdom. I trust his staff, who alerted us to the fact that Lindsey’s amniotic fluid is lower than it should be. But I also trust that God has arranged all of our meetings, relationships, and circumstances with our best interests in mind." I really enjoy reading Brian Bennett's blog and look forward to hearing more from him as he enters this exciting new stage of his life.

Project #3 Presentation

Blog Assignment #4

Podcasts



Langwitches-Flat Stanley Podcast
The Flat Stanley podcast assignment this first grade class had was pretty interesting. I wish I would have had assignments like this in grade school. After reading Jim Brown's Flat Stanley, the students were to research a location of their choosing at the library or online and use this information to make a short script. They used this script to describe a journey they would embark upon as Flat Stanley themselves. The kids did a fantastic job at reading expressively which is key in a podcast. I love this assignment, for it required the students to do research and to flex their creative muscles. The sensory appeal the kids had with their descriptions was fantastic and surprisingly detailed. I also really appreciate how these students have learned the skill of being articulate which is again key in an audio medium. This is definitely a skill that even I can learn from and employ in my own podcasts. If I were to ever carry out an assignment like this I would most certainly follow suit in having the students input their own creative ideas.

The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom by Joe Dale
In this video Joe Dale explains the new generation of students, Millenials, and how their lives are very different as they have never known life without the technology of today. He goes on to say that due to this fact, podcasting in the classroom is a very effective tool for teaching these tech savvy students. One of the first examples used in the video is how a podcast can be useful in the case of a sick student. If the student is sick and unable to attend regular class for an extended period of time, a podcast is a great solution for getting that much needed information to the student. One point I am really glad Joe Dale hit on in the video is that podcasts are easily accessible and can be consumed on the go. I personally am a big fan of podcasts and listen to them regularly while I am driving. Podcasts are an effective means of getting information while I am engaged in an activity like driving where I am unable to do anything else and it prevents that time from being wasted. In the video a Mr. Dell is shown using podcasts as a way of making reading materials during class more engaging. He had teachers read parts in character and I think this is a very effective way of presenting the information to his class. The vocally expressive podcast readings would do a much better job keeping the students' attention and getting them to visualize the scenarios. Another way podcasts are utilized in this video is as a medium for the students to perform in character as historical figures or other roles. I have seen this in various other applications of podcasting as it seems to be pretty popular. It is an interesting way to teach and get your students to interact that I had never even thought of before. This video definitely showed me that podcast are quite versatile as tools in project based learning.

Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
Judy Scharf's Podcast Collection is a great source for information on how to start podcasting. The collection even includes helpful videos showing you how to obtain and use software that is vital to podcasting. She provides many valuable tips when it comes to giving podcasting as an assignment to a class, which is very helpful, but these tips are also great for podcasting yourself. I will certainly be using some of these materials and tips when it comes time to make my own podcast. Some of her tips that really stuck out to me where to give yourself plenty of time(Everything tends to take longer than you would expect!) and to familiarize yourself with your software. She includes various documents that have step-by-step instructions on creating podcasts, utilizing websites such as podbean, and even submitting your podcast to iTunes. Judy Scharf did a fantastic job of compiling an extremely valuable source to anyone interested in podcasting, and I will most definitely be using her aid in the near future.

Blog Assignment #3

The What is Peer Editing? video and Peer Edit with Perfection Tutorial are two great sources for learning the process of peer editing. It seems elementary but mastery of this skill is key. Personally I found these sources very helpful as my editing skills are most certainly in need of improvement. I am great at complementing specific points of my peers work and even finding better ways of wording some ideas, but I unfortunately am terrible at spotting random grammar mistakes. I really like how both the video and slideshow split the process of peer editing into a three step system of compliments, suggestions, and corrections. This is a well structured system that covers all the bases and importantly has a great focus on staying positive. Being positive and conducting your edit with humility is key in peer editing effectively without incurring a negative reaction from your peer. I like how the slideshow tutorial enforces the fact that you need to be specific in every step of the editing process. It's not always the easiest job to peer edit correctly but I will try to implement these skills more from now on. During our collaborative project, my group mates and I peer edited quite successfully within our Google Document, which is an extremely useful tool. By using this tool together we created a well made review and bettered our own writing by finding each others mistakes and reinforcing our best ideas. However, if we would have not have used this method I would have left my edit in a public comment on their post. I do not think a personal email is necessary for there is nothing to be embarrassed about when it comes to editing! We are all human and all make mistakes and maybe someone else could benefit from the edit comment too. I often look at peer edit comments on other post to learn how to better spot these corrections myself.



Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes is a humorous yet helpful video showing the DO NOT'S of peer editing. The creative and cute short uses some very interesting archetypes to provide examples of negative and ineffective peer editing. Picky Patty, Mean Margaret, and Defensive Dave are few great examples of the archetypes that exemplify the wrong mindsets when it comes to peer editing. This video reinforces the What is Peer Editing video and Peer Edit Tutorial on the necessity of positivity during editing. All of the examples showed an outcome of what could happen if we all conducted our peer editing without any discipline or focus.

Blog Assignment #2

Professor Dancealot by: Jo Davis, Secoria Burks, and Lindsay Stewart
Professor Dancealot is not your ideal teacher. Was he knowledgeable about his subject? Yes. Was he knowledgeable about being able to effectively teach his skills to others? No, if anything, the professor provides an example of what not to do in teaching. Professor Dancelot did utilize one form of technology (PowerPoint) in his classroom; however, the subject he was teaching could have benefited from a more “hands-on” style of instruction as a dance class by nature should be interactive. Even though the professor used a PowerPoint, it did not engage the students as it was only words with a few diagrams. With the technology available today, even adding a video in his lessons would have made his teaching slightly less depressing for his students. Professor Dancealot attempted to teach his students the different types of dances including form and movement; however, Professor Dancelot stayed behind a long desk the entire time. This prevented his students from seeing the necessary moves for each respective dance, and when the students attempted to participate, the professor advised them to remain seated and quiet. The students stated they felt as if they were not learning anything, and they showed no comprehension of the material taught. This is because they were not allowed to practice the skills being taught nor were they able to see the skills performed correctly. Professor Dancealot’s teaching style leaves much to be desired, and this style could be aligned with the “burp-back” education method that today’s students see far too often. Professor Dancealot could benefit from a semester in EDM310!



Jo Davis: Harnessing Your Student's Digital Smarts
Edutopia’s video on “Harnessing Your Student’s Digital Smarts” showcased Vicki Davis and her fantastic take on the teaching and application of technology in school. Technology classes such as Vicki Davis’s are the future of our education system. We absolutely need more examples like this class and teacher in schools all around the world. It was made a point to say that Davis did not let the fact that she lives and teaches from rural Georgia stop her from being technologically literate. She has a passion for teaching future generations to be well versed in using technology and getting them to have a desire to explore it themselves. The fact that her class was completely hands-on, and even had the students instruct at times, ensures that the students have an actual understanding and are developing their skills. The use of tools like blogs, online-parter based projects, and even a class wiki provides great opportunity to learn how to utilize technology in various ways. Another thing I found very interesting is at one point in the video the curriculum director speaks on how Vicki Davis has gotten them connected to the whole world. The curriculum director being the one to say this made me think about how due to the fact that this class is being connected to the whole world, it is very likely that the standard of their curriculum is being raised to match that of an international level, not restricted to that of a rural area. This technological interconnectivity results in more culturally aware thinkers! This is a very exciting indication of the future of education and how it will mold the minds of generations to come. Simply giving children access to this kind of technology and then providing the opportunity to learn tech skills is a wonderful thing. Davis even at one point states that she learned how to terraform in the class software from the students. Early introduction of technology into everyday life for these children is first step for education in the Informations and Post-Information Age and its limitless possibilities. Forward thinking pioneers like Vicki Davis, and even sites like Edutopia, are what get me excited for future of education.

Secoria Burks: The Networked Student
The Networked Student, Connective learning gives students the ability to teach themselves in a very real and interactive way. Through the use of social networks and the internet, the student becomes his own instructor, there are no books and the teacher barely lectures. The idea behind this type of teaching is that learning is done with connections that can be acquired through technology.Essentially the student would make their own virtual textbooks. They would use databases,message boards, forums, and expert sources to create a knowledge base on the subjects they are studying.Classmates would then share their findings on a blog that can be seen by the world. The teacher might seem useless at this point but their role is to teach the student how to build and manage their newly acquired knowledge. The teacher would give guidance, teach how to effectively communicate with potential experts on subjects, teachers would also help students navigate away from propaganda and stick to the facts, and how to start the search for information.

Lindsay Stewart: Teaching in the 21st Century
Teaching in the 21st Century- In Kevin Roberts’ Prezi, he expresses his views for what it means to teach in the 21st century. Kevin views the changing landscape of education to be one that is evolving into an environment of technology, networking, and collaboration. Kevin describes how traditional education is becoming obsolete. He explains how students can now get the information they need on any topic at any moment via the internet (through various sources). Kevin suggests that teachers should become “filters,” because students can find the information they need; however, someone is needed to help the students break that information down and use it effectively with all the available technological tools. Kevin’s views on the future of education may in fact one day be the norm, and in some educational settings, it is being used on a smaller scale. While I agree with Kevin on many of his points, I also believe there is more work to be done in providing all students with the kind of technology that Kevin presents in his Prezi. There are still many locations/communities that do not have access to a high-speed internet service; in addition, how can we get more funding for our schools to stay on top of the ever-changing technologies? Today, many schools are working on outdated technology equipment (if they have access to any at all). These are issues that merit consideration, as our current education system has certain standards to be met for students at different grade levels. How can we measure a student’s progress if they do not have access to the same tools as a student from a school/community that has the latest technologies at their fingertips?

If Kevin is correct in his analysis, education as we know it will never be the same. Students (and adults) crave knowledge, and this desire cannot and should not be stifled. Kevin’s break down of teaching in the 21st century is certainly something we should contemplate, and when possible, we should utilize these concepts when teaching others.

Blog Assignment #1

A School in the Blue

I have often thought school could be so much more than it is now. As i watched Sugata Mitra's TED Talk, I was very excited by his call-out of the present state of schools as being antiquated. The whole system was created in a pre-Information age era and is simply not sufficient in our world. This problem has often led me to dreaming of a school that was...more! As Krissy Venosdale stated in her blog about her dream school, this is a DREAM school so i will not fret over the details and specifics of actually starting a school. Now on to the fun part!



What Would It Be?
I have a passion for the water. I love swimming and being out in the majesty of the ocean. That is where it would be, a school in the blue. Two islands only accessible by ship. One island would be a 9th-12th grade boarding school while the other would be the home of a magnificent university. Despite being an island the schools would have access to fiber optic internet connection and some of the most top of the line computers and technology. Technology is vital to learning in our world today, but this school is not just a technology school. The whole point of this school would be to use technology to learn about the world and also appreciate the world by experiencing it. (Hence the nautical location) The facility would have as much natural lighting as possible and completely run off of green energy. The technology college of the university would be like no other, spanning from art and media of movies effects and video game design to cutting edge of polymer science and medical and agricultural technologies. Technology studies would prosper here while the students and teachers would still experience mother nature at her best. The liberal arts college would be a thing of wonders, an educational experience like no other. As history, social studies, and culture have a special place in my heart, this department would be very special. The university would be home to a world class archive and beautiful library with passionate historians and literature/English professors. My dream school would have a very unique focus on culture. A great way to learn about the culture of a people is through their food, and my dream academy in the blue would have its very own culinary college. Food is so important and so many people in our world today have lost sight of what good food is and how important it is. A symbiotic relation would exist among the university as the culinary school would get ingredients from agricultural science department and all the campus would enjoy the delicious outcome. Finally one aspect I am very excited about is the sailing courses. Very few things excite me more than the idea of grand adventure sailing the seas in a beautiful ship. All of my students would have the opportunity to experience such an adventure. In these courses not only would students learn how to sail on a ship (a sail boat...masts, sails, rigging and all!) but these would also be classes. The professor/teacher (these classes would be available at the university and grade school levels) and students alike would work upon the ship doing all their duties to operate the ship while the whole experience is simultaneously a class. Some of these courses would be social studies courses in which you learn about the history/culture/language of a place while you sail there! Studying abroad is an amazing and rewarding method of learning and these sailing courses would be perfect for that. Learning is exciting, and all people not just kids need something to help them learn that. I would love to see this dream institute of mine become reality.

What I Want My Students to Know
I want my students to know that learning can be exciting and that they do not have to fit into a cookie cutter of something that society expects them to be. I also want them to know that history is more than just dates, that its a study of people and their lives! I want them to be excited about things played out to make the world we live in today!

What I Want My Students to Be Able to Do
I want my students to be able to use technology efficiently across many platforms. Sugata Mitra's views on what children can do with problem solving through technology is very interesting and I am excited about his school of thought. I would be teaching older age ranges than what he was working with with the Hole in the Wall experiment but that is of no consequence as technology should be available for all age ranges to work with. That being said i would also want my students to be able to hone their listening abilities and get a lot out of lectures.

Teaching Methods
My favorite method of learning is through listening to lectures from passionate teachers. Learning history through lectures and experience has always been my favorite and I would do the same. Telling the students the grand stories of history through lecture and sometimes being able to bring them to the place where history was made is how I teach my students. Also reading great books and having discussions is amazing way to build understanding. All of this could be done during the sailing courses at my dream school in a setting not available anywhere else!

Tools
For teaching history, maps are a great tool. I would certainly use maps and other images while giving history and other social studies lectures. Students' personal iPads would be great tools for taking notes and organizing information during lectures. Having amazing articles and images at their finger tips at any time during classes would be extremely beneficial. Laptops would be another tool that would aid the students greatly when it comes to research for topics. Films and videos are also a fantastic tool for the classroom. And among all the technology one cannot forget books! Books are still great tools for teaching, especially history.

Student's Role in Class
While the student would need good listening skills for lecture, their roles would still be active in the class room. Active participation in class discussions on films, videos,books, and lectures is key. Conversation is a great facilitator of information and understanding. I would also encourage my students to strive for adventure and experiences outside of the classroom. To always be learning, that is key.

My Test Post Title

And so it begins...

My Test Post Title

And so it begins...