Blog Assignment 15

My Final Reflection of EDM310 Fall Semester 2012 By: Windy Powell

Project 13

Amanda, Meredith, Ashley, and I used Google Docs to create our project 15. We divided up the planets and found facts on each of them. We then met and recorded our video using the information we came up with on Google Docs. It was really neat to have never actually met face to face about a project and have it come together so easily just because we were able to all use the same program at the same time.

Project 16

Blog Assignment 13

After watching the videos, Back to the Future and A Vision of Students Today, I have mixed feelings on how I should feel. In the first video Back to the Future I could really see the point Brian Crosby was trying to make in that education must evolve with our students. Mr. Crosby makes the argument that there are so many free websites that are available to our students and allow them to become more engaged and motivated in learning. Yet, in the second video A Vision of Students Today I am reminded that the old fashion was isn’t always the worst choice. Students today are way busier than they ever have been and allowing them too much freedom eliminates their concentration.

With that being said I was at first left feeling a little contradicted, confused even. After a little more thought I think what these videos show us is that there is a fine line that has to be walked in our classrooms. We must be able to balance the integration of new ways of learning while still using the old ways too. As educators we must remember to keep this balance for the benefit of our students.

C4T #4 Summary

In my C4T assignment #4 I posted on the blog of Richard Byrne. In the first blog post I read Mr. Byrne talked about a new social networking site that allowed for group conferencing called Meetingl. In my comment back to Mr. Byrne I told him that I could see his point of view on how this would be helpful to help students work together for group projects and such even if they weren’t together. I also asked what would be the biggest difference between this site and sites like Skype.

In the second post I read from Mr. Byrne, he gave a guide for using Google Maps in the classroom. He provided a slideshow with many helpful tips to using Google Maps. In my comment back to Mr. Byrne I told him thank you for sharing and that I would definitely have this page bookmarked for future reference.

Project 15

PLN Final Report

My PLN is growing quickly and in just under 14 weeks I am amazed at the contacts I’ve made and the sites I’ve learned to use as great tools. I am still working on expanding my PLN and making new contacts and finding new resources daily. I still you Symbloo as my go to site to have everything bookmarked in one area, as well as my bookmark tool bar. I have continued to follow tons of people on Twitter and have even gain a few followers. I now check my Twitter more often and have learned to use as well as FaceBook as a tool to be successful. It’s amazing to me the information we have at our finger tips and misuse daily. I have become more aware of the way I used these tools and I plan to continue to expand my PLN.

C4K SummaryFor November

In my first C4K for November was a special assignment in which I got to read a blog post from Dr. Vitulli and Dr. Santolli while they were in Ireland. In this post Dr. Vitulli discussed a painting they had not seen in the art museum but that they found all over items in the gift shop. Upon further investigation they discovered this painting was only shown for a few hours a day a couple days a week due to its delicate condition.

The painting was of a man and women and it appeared to be the man leaving for war and the woman struck with heartbreak. It was by far one of the most moving pictures I’ve ever seen in my life. In this post Dr. Vitulli ask if we believed the painting picked up at the being, middle, or end of this couples story. In my comment back to Dr. Vitulli and Dr. Santolli I stated I believed this picture captures the middle of the story.

In my second C4K assignment for November I read a post from an eighth grader from Iowa in which he gave a very brief overview of a book he was reading called “The Outsiders.” In my comment back to Shane I told him that his description of the book made it seem as if it were a very interesting book and I that when I had some free time I would check it out.

In my third C4K post for November I read a post entitled “Make a Scene From History Not Boring,” and this post did just that. In this post the writer tells the story of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia with a lot of added ‘extras’. In my comment back I told him how I loved his imagination in writing this story. I told him my favorite part was when Napoleons men were attacked by UFO’s shooting rainbow lasers.

In my last C4K I watched a video about Ms. Yim and Ms. Nelson’s 4th grade trip to Montgomery. In this video the students told about their visit to Old Alabama Town. They told about they the sights they got to see and gave back ground on each of them. In my comment back to them I told them how neat I thought it was that Mobile was the first place to have a newspaper in Alabama because I’m form Mobile. I also told them how awesome they made Old Alabama Town look and that I was disappointed that on my trip with my niece to Montgomery last year we did not get to visit Old Alabama Town.