Blog Post #10

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?

In the video The Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, Randy Pausch teaches us that one of the ways to build confidence in our students is to put them in situations where they can test their own limits.  One of the best ways to do that is to make learning fun or edutaining.  Edutainment is the process of teaching students something hard while making it feel like fun.  How can we do this?  One way to incorporate fun is by getting them involved in their own education. No two children are alike so we should find out what each of their interests are so that we may be able to incorporate them in with the lessons that we want for them to learn.  I understand that we have heard a lot lately about how project-based learning is the best way to encourage learning in the classroom, but that is not all PBL is good for.  These project-based assignments also teach students how to challenge their own mind to reach depths they had never thought they could, how to collaborate with others who may have different ways of thinking, and how to self-reflect to make themselves better with every evaluation.  As teachers, we should always stress the importance of giving and receiving feedback from our peers and learning from it.

Pausch teaches us of the importance of enabling our students to visualize their dreams and see them through.  We all know what it is like to want for something only to have someone make you feel inadequate or unworthy of getting it.  As teachers, it is our duty and our responsibility to show these kids that they are worth it and that they are capable of anything they set their minds to.  Pauch said, "Brick walls are there for a reason; they let us prove how badly we want things."  In other words, we should always drive our students to do better.  Since we don't know the limits of our students, we should ask for nothing and wait for everything.  One of the things that struck me was when he said, "Wait long enough and people will surprise you." We have the choice of being the difference in a child's life.  We can choose to do nothing or we can choose to never give up.  Pausch said, " Don't bail; the best gold is at the bottom of the barrels of crap."  What if my teachers would have given up on me?  What if your teachers would have given up on you?  Where would we be today?  We might not have been bound and determined to better ourselves.  We might have just given up on ourselves like so many students choose to do because they don't have someone telling them that they can.  It is important for us to always view our actions from the perspective of others.  We want to treat our students just as we want to be treated.  So many people have that teacher that they can remember always inspiring them in some way.  What do these teachers have in common?  All of these teachers took a personal interest in the students they inspired.  Now, imagine what it would be like if we did that with all of our students.  What kind of a difference would that make in our world?  Our students need to understand that we all make mistakes, but that is no reason to give up.  Not you giving up on them nor them giving up on themselves.  If we want our students to fulfill their dreams then we are going to have to show them that they are worthy of their dreams and that they should go after them with all they have.

When I was a young girl in elementary school, I was instructed to go with the special education students to the resource room.  I wasn't sure what that meant for me, but I did understand that I didn't want to go.  I might need to add that this was before formal testing was done on students and parents didn't have to be informed of the change that was being made.  I remember crying and begging to my teacher that I would do better.  She decided to give me that chance and I never did let her down.  I worked and worked until I was able to help teach myself during times when I struggled to understand.  There was another instance in high school when a teacher showed me that I was so much more capable of learning than I ever thought I would be.  He made me feel special and important.  He gave me the confidence to try new things and step outside of the box to do those things.  All it took for me was those two teachers giving me a chance and helping guide my way.  Today, I wouldn't say that I am exceptional, but I would say that I am moderately intelligent.  What kind of teachers are we going to be for the students we will have in our classrooms?  Are we going to be dream squashers or dream makers?  We are standing before our professional trails and we have some decisions to make. 

Project #14

Project-Based Lesson Plan #2

Mrs. Croft's Lesson Plans

My lesson plan focuses on how states of matter and molecule transport occur in nature.  Some students may not realize that they experience science everyday.  I want to show them that science is all around them with the food they eat, the drinks they enjoy, and the air they breathe.  First, I want for them to get an in-depth look at how particles move by conducting their own research quest and then by watching instructional videos.  They will be able to take that learned knowledge and perform experiments so that they may see that learned knowledge in action.  In this lesson plan, students will see some of the forces that cause particles to move and how the energy within the states dictate whether it is a solid, liquid, or a gas.

Blog Post #9

Back to the Future
- by Carla Young, Nathalie McCarty, and Danya Croft

In the Back to the Future video, Brian Crosby demonstrates how his 4th grade class can learn through project-based learning even though most of his class speaks English as a second language.  Crosby says, "It's hard to be able to imagine what could be if you don't know anything about what is.  And if it's hard to imagine, where does your creativity spark from?  And if you don't have a lot of imagination and creativity, where do you build passion from?" When we get into our schools to teach, we are going to have students that don't have the same understanding about the world around them as other students might have.  We will need to be able to bridge the gap in a way that connects all of the students and engages them in the same quest to learn.  In Crosby's class, he informs us that he has a 1 to 1 ratio of laptop computers for his students, several digital cameras, and an interactive whiteboard that allows for interactive learning in the classroom.  The students in Crosby’s classroom are learning to do various things that they can incorporate into their class and use throughout their educational journey.  He talks of a project where the class released a High-Altitude balloon into the air that had a camera attached that recorded what it was like to rise into the different layers of the earth's atmosphere.  During the release of the balloon, the students observes what was happening and immediately went into the classroom to blog about what they observed.  Crosby also had them create a Flickr presentation describing what happened to the balloon from the perspective of the balloon.  It was called the High Hopes blog which centered on setting goals for themselves, their community, and the world around them.  It allowed them the ability to connect with people from all over the world.  Another connection Crosby allowed the students to make was to set up a Skype conference with Celeste, a girl suffering from leukemia.  She was a classmate of the students, but she was unable to physically sit in class due to her vulnerability to infections.  However, Celeste was able to participate in learning with her peers in a way that was safe for her and exciting for her classmates.  By using modern resources like blogging, Flickr, and Skype, the students were more easily willing to stay engaged in what they were learning.  Attention was better kept when they were given a project to research and blog about rather than taking notes for an entire class period.  It also offered the students a sense of self assurance; let them know they were capable of doing the task at hand.  Crosby shows that active learning empower students to want to learn and to seek out learning for themselves.

We feel that Crosby was exactly right when he said that, "A motivational experience shouldn't be limited to those from schools with high test scores, but should be the birthright for every child."  We feel every child should have the opportunity to learn in an environment that allows for them to reach the peaks of their imaginations and possibly beyond.  We feel that assigning projects is one of the best ways to challenge the mind and enlighten the senses. By engaging students in a multitude of ways and on a personal level, we are ensuring that our students will see the value in the 'why' and continue to search for the answers throughout the rest of their lives.  Also, Crosby incorporates PBL in his classroom to prepare his students for what they have to look forward to once they are out in the “real world.”  He strives to inspire his students and constantly pushes them to express their creativity.

The Blended Learning Cycle
-by Carla Young, Nathalie McCarty, and Danya Croft

In The Blended Learning Cycle, Paul Andersen recognizes the power of the question and the power of learning in the science classroom.  He explains that Blended Learning consists of the key components of mobile, online, and classroom learning.  The Learning Cycle consists of the 5 E's: engage, explore/experiment, explain, expand, and evaluate. Andersen decided to combine the two learning styles to create the Blended Learning Cycle which has 6 parts known as Quivers:  Question, Inquiry, Video, Elaboration, and Review.  He says that the Learning Cycle starts out with an engaging question; something that the students do not understand in order to strike their curiosity on the subject.  It will also bring their attention to the second part of the cycle which is investigation.  Having the students investigate and research on their own is a good way for them to not only learn the material, but also retain it and hold their interest.  Andersen explains that showing a video on the subject is a good way to introduce the material to the students without just giving the normal lecture.  It will allow the teacher to engage with the students and interact with them one on one.  Next, the students would be able to expand on the explanation with thoughts of what they have discovered.  Finally, an evaluation could be done to gauge their level of understanding of the subject studied.  Andersen explains that he sits down with each student to review with them and make sure that they have a good grasp on the material.  If he is confident the student knows the material well enough, they will take the Summary Quiz; this is the last part of his cycle.  Andersen’s philosophy in the classroom is, "Let's start with a question and figure it out."  By allowing the students an active part in the learning process, Andersen is teaching the students how to learn for themselves.  He is teaching the students how to go from not knowing to knowing with understanding.

Making Learning Visible
-by Carla Young, Nathalie McCarty, and Danya Croft

In Making Thinking Visible, the 6th grade teacher, Mark Church, tries to teach the students how to convey their thoughts in a written form.  He gives his 6th graders an assignment in which they are to watch a video explaining the beginnings of the origin of humans.  Then, he has them get into groups and create a caption outlining its meaning which he will display on a bulletin board.  After a couple of weeks of study, he will give them an opportunity to come back to the caption and change it based on the changes in their opinion from the beginning of the study to the end.  Having the captions displayed and allowing the students to change them after they have learned more information on the subject, provides a good visual representation of the process they followed to get to their conclusion.  It allows the students to not only learn the material comprehensively, but also visually.  We think that this is a good way to get students to see the importance of expressing their thoughts in a visible way.

Blog Post #8

The Ever-Evolving Teacher
-Danya Croft, Carla Young, and Nathalie McCarty

We, as teachers, should never stop trying to find new and inventive ways to reach our students.  In taking EDM310, we are learning some of those new and inventive ways at pace much more accelerated than any we will experience again.  We need to take advantage of the skills that we are being taught and think of how we are going to incorporate them into the classrooms of our future.  Let us not forget that we are to strive to become lifelong learners so as to better educate our students.  It is extremely important to the students we will teach that we give them the best education possible.  Therefore, anytime we come across a helpful website, we should save it.  When we are informed of an excellent app that could be helpful in the classroom, we should write it down.  When we are in the classroom observing our teachers, we should ask them what they use that is helpful; ask them what the students seem to positively respond to the most.   As a habit, the Botticelli group has begun asking the students that we observe what they enjoy most about the class.  We want to find out what works and what does not work.  Our first few years will be a lot of trial and error until we figure out what works for us.  Why not go ahead and get started so that we may cut down on some of those errors?  Let us ALWAYS keep in mind why we want to be teachers.  It is because of the students and the students alone.  Let us make everything we do and learn about them.  Let us strive to constantly better ourselves so that we may better our students in the process. There is a blog called The Ever-Evolving Teacher that is an excellent resource for creative ideas that could help you along your journey of improvement.

Classroom-Aid
- Danya Croft



Pinterest
-Carla Young



Smart Music
-Nathalie McCarty

Project #9

The Real World: Project Style

C4T #2

C4T #2 Summary #1 - What I Did On My Summer Vacation

In Joseph McCaleb's blog What I Did On My Summer Vacation, he writes of a time when he was in school and was asked to write about something that he did during his summer vacation. He remembers that he always dreaded writing about that topic. He felt the need to demonstrate another alternative on how to better structure the question to allow for a fun, worthwhile writing experience. McCaleb decides to write from the perspective of his horse, Leg'cy. He has Leg'cy elborating on the fact that despite McCaleb not losing 100 pounds, he rides lighter than ever before. He writes that they learn new maneuvers and how surprised he is at this. Leg'cy also writes that instead of McCaleb giving mixed signals, Leg'cy is allowed time to process what happens. Then Leg'cy tells of how McCaleb "shifts him into powerdrive and off they go again." Leg'cy comments that he and McCaleb work well with each other and are both left "grinning and chomping on the bit for next time."

McCaleb makes an interesting suggestion that instead of writing on what the students did during the summer, maybe they should write about what they did from their dog's perspective or maybe their cat's. By doing this, you are allowing the students to use their imaginations and encouraging them to get into the minds of their pet's to explain the same thing they would have done otherwise. McCaleb states in his blog, "Working with the mind of the horse also inspires us to see engagement with humans in refreshed ways. Imagine classrooms distinguished by this delicate balance between external/internal. It needs a light touch, minute increments, time for absorption to trace tonalities into feel in order to track and recognize them for the treasure of deep satisfaction and personal empowerment."

C4T #2 Comment #1

I love the idea that teachers should get into the minds of their students just as you decided to get into the mind of Leg'cy. I think this is very beneficial for both the classroom as well as in life. So much more can be learned about why a person thinks the way they do if we just try to understand how it is that they think. Students do not think the same way and this is probably due to previous experiences throughout their lives. By trying to understand more about our students as individuals, we will learn better how to approach them in a way with which they can relate. I really loved how you were able to make your point through the thoughts of your horse, Leg'cy. It will certainly encourage me and anyone else who might read this to climb outside of our own heads to try to understand the needs and communications of others around us.

C4T #2 Summary #2 - Light Gets In

In Light Gets In, McCaleb tells of a new book written by Louise Penny called How The Light Gets In which was greatly inspired by the poem Anthem. McCaleb posts several pictures from around his property and comments, "Foggy this morning but that photobug started buzzing by my eyes, maybe my inner eyes, anyway. A little walk around our woods and light and love came breaking in on some silent tide." He is referencing himself letting the light in just as in the poem. I strongly urge you to read this poem if you get the chance. It is very enlightening. Once you have, please leave a post stating your interpretation and thoughts.

C4T #2 Comment #2

Hello again, Mr. McCaleb. I just want to say for one moment that I have never before read or even heard of the poem "Anthem." I am thoroughly moved. We are such flawed creatures, yet we strive to be perfect in ways we will never be. "There's a crack in everything." We need to learn to appreciate the cracks/flaws in us as well. We need to see that it is those cracks that make us who we are and how we are different from anyone else. I also love the line, "That's how the light comes in." Is it grace that allows light to fill our cracks? I believe that we will have an inner peace the moment we accept the way we are cracks and all. I am glad that you were able to experience a flood of light and love this morning. There is no better way to start the day.

Blog Post #7

Learning Tools In the Classroom
- Nathalie McCarty, Carla Young, and Danya Croft

A student that is engaged, is a student that is learning. If this is true, what can we do to ensure active engagement with our students? Anthony Capps, a 3rd grade teacher at Gulf Shores Elementary, offers a few ideas in an interview produced by Dr. John Strange in Project Based Learning Part 1 and Project Based Learning Part 2. Capps discusses the benefits of Project Based Learning and how to incorporate it into ACCRS (Alabama Career and College Ready Standards). Capps explains that project-based learning is a way of teaching that can be used by teachers of all subjects. However, as Dr. Strange points out, it takes a lot of time and planning on behalf of the teacher. He also makes an excellent point that project-based learning should be about more than just showing that the students understand the material, but rather the means with which we teach the material throughout the week. Capps says, "The goal of a good project is one that has an authentic audience so that the kids are rewarded for the work that they do and that they are motivated to do good work, one that has student interest so that you can do something that is relevant to the kids’ lives, one that involves the community, and one that is driven by content." Teachers succeed with project-based learning when they find a subject that is appealing to the students and incorporates the necessary information that is important for the student to learn. Anthony gives educators a bit of advice, "With project-based learning, you're going to get more than you expect so never limit your students by giving them exactly what you want them to do. Create an opportunity for them to go beyond what you want them to do and they will." He also suggests that we can further engage the students in the learning process by allowing them to critique their own work as well as the work of their peers. Whenever they disagree with the work of one of their peers, Capps has the student write out a defense that backs up the reasoning for why he/she disagrees and what he/she would have done differently. When students are allowed to make choices in project-based learning, the students tend to have more ownership and pride about the work that they do thus making it more personal to them. Doing things like having the students peer edit, teach the students to be more independent in the learning process and gives them the confidence needed to participate effectively. It is better to give the students the chance to figure out the answer instead of just giving it to them.

In Anthony & iCurio, Capps explains that the main feature of iCurio is that it is an educational tool that students can use to safely search filtered websites, images, and videos that are centered around information needed to adhere to the standards set by ACCRS and other states as well. Another great feature of iCurio is that it has a storage area that teachers and students can use to store content that they find valuable; it helps teach virtual organization. This tool can particularly come in handy when a student needs to go back and elaborate more on the day’s lesson, or if they happen to miss a day, they can pull up what they missed and look at it. This will allow the students to avoid getting behind in the class. For the visual learners, they will be able to have the information right in front of them. Timelines, is another feature offered by iCurio that allows students the ability to research historical figures and events. The student can simply type, “1960’s, African-American male” in the search engine and Timelines will direct him/her to websites containing information associated with African-American males in the 1960’s. Capps believes that iCurio is a useful tool for all school-aged students.

Capps states in Anthony & Discovery Ed, that Discovery Ed is a useful tool for project-based learning in that students retain more information when a text article is coupled with a visual aid. He says that Discovery Ed is the place to go when teachers want to support their assignments with some sort of illustration or video. Discovery Ed is also useful in that it brings experts into the classroom in the way of video which enriches the research experience and brings the texts to life. Capps proves that Project Based Learning can be a fun, rewarding, and constantly evolving process with which we can teach more effectively.


The Anthony-Strange List of Tips for Teachers
- Danya Croft

In The Anthony-Strange Tips for Teachers, Dr. Strange comments that teachers need to be interested in the continuation of learning. As educators, it is important that we show students what it means to be constantly searching for knowledge so that our students can be exposed to and possibly mimic that behavior. Capps suggests that work and play are not mutually exclusive when it comes to being a teacher. In other words, Capps says that educators learn the craft of teaching in their free time so that they may better themselves and become more effective teachers. Another tip that Dr. Strange gives is that teachers must be flexible, creative, and willing to change plans at a moments notice. There will be times when problems will arise and we must be able to make adjustments to continue the forward progress of learning. As Capps says, “You should keep in mind the end goal, but if things don’t go as you plan, figure out what it will take to allow the class to get to that end-goal.” Another important tip that Capps suggests is that we should aim for 100% engagement among the students which is directly in line with No Child Left Behind. He says that it is easy to engage students when you make it about content that they care about, use a process that they enjoy, and give them an audience with which they can share. Reflection is an important aspect for the students to experience because it allows them an opportunity to consider how they could improve or revise their work in order to present it to an intended audience. Capps recommends that teachers should always ask themselves, “What can I do today to ensure I gain full participation from every student?” Another question that teachers should ask themselves is, “What can I do today to ensure that every student is learning?”

Don’t Teach Tech - Use It
- Carla Young

In the video Don’t Teach Tech - Use It, Anthony Capps explained the importance of technology in the classroom and the benefits that comes along with implementing the use of technology into our daily lesson plans. He makes a very good point that it is better to not teach technology to your students, but to use it instead. This idea goes hand in hand with PBL. Allowing a student to figure out something on their own is a much more rewarding lesson for the student. We, as educators and future educators, can stand up in front of a classroom and go over the instructions for creating a blog. However, the student is more likely to retain the skill and be able to use it again if they learn the skill hands on. This will be rewarding for the students as well. They will feel very accomplished and proud to have learned a new skill on their own. Capps mentions that it is important to build a “scaffold” with the technology; it is better for the students to learn and use one technology at at time and add another each week instead of all of them at once. This allows the student to learn and get comfortable with that particular type of technology and be able to incorporate it into the next one and put them all together. This way, the students are not getting overwhelmed with all of it at once. They are being able to slowly build their knowledge of technology and use them effectively together and also be able to use them in future lessons.


Additional Thought About Lessons
- Nathalie McCarty

Anthony Capps’ Additional Thought About Lessons is that a lesson plan should be narrowed down through a series of steps. It allows you to see the overall fit of the lesson and your content standards together. The main point one learns from this video is to make sure to have a set goal. In order to successfully fulfill that goal, one must evenly distribute those task throughout the weeks and even on a smaller scale to each individual day allowing yourself to have a starting point for the following day. Basically knowing what will allow you to teach every phase of that unit in those state standards and being able to break it down.

Project #13

Project Based Lesson Plan
by Carla Young, Nathalie McCarty, and Danya Croft

How important is the Scientific Method? Well, to be honest it isn't a life or death necessity to know nor understand. However to some, it is exactly that. You see, it is because of science and the process of learning that we have discovered cures to diseases and other life saving advances. The Scientific Method is a method that is used to properly theorize, test, and conclude an observation or occurrence that was previously ladled with questions. Sometimes the process is proven correct, sometimes the process is proven incorrect, and sometimes the process remains completely inconclusive. Project Based Learning Lesson Plan #1 is a series of assignments meant to help each student get more acquainted with the scientific process so that they might use it in theories of their own.

Project #2a

My PLN Network



Symbaloo EDU is an excellent tool that allows educators instant access to digital resources deemed important for the classroom. When I start working, I plan to keep Symbaloo as my homepage so that I can keep technology at my fingertips. My plan for the classroom is to keep a fast, steady pace which will prevent boredom among the students and this tool will allow the ease of switching from one forum to another. I am very appreciative of being shown this tool and know that it will be a tremendous help to me in the future.

September C4K

C4K #1 Summary - This I Believe

Hakeem loves the game of basketball. He has been playing it since he was a little boy. His daddy has spent a lot of time helping him practice so that he could improve as he has gotten older. Hakeem admits to smiling every time his hands come in contact with the ball and that a good attitude is what makes him even better at it. He believes that nervousness is a sign of wanting to play whereas being scared is a sign that you really don't want to play. Hakeem believes that basketball has made him stronger physically as well as mentally. He believes that working hard to accomplish your goals is the best way to build character. He says that he is dedicated to the sport and will continue to work hard to be the best that he can be.

C4K #1 Comment

It is a pleasure to meet you Hakeem. My name is Danya Croft and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. My major is Secondary Biology Education which means that I want to teach biology to high school students. I love how you describe the game of basketball. I can tell that this is something in which you are very passionate. I think sports are an excellent way for anyone to keep healthy both mentally and physically. I used to play basketball when I was in high school and I just loved it. I played the point guard position and my specialty was the 3 point shots. There were times when we would get behind in points and my coach would start yelling, “3′s! We need 3′s!” Of course, I knew what he was asking so I would start shooting. Also, I like the quote you stated from Sherman Alexie. I agree that nervousness means that you want to play; it means that you care. In my opinion, scared is the feeling you get when you don’t have the confidence in yourself to do a job well done. It seems to me like you have a great attitude about how you should represent yourself as well as your team on the court. Your being able to smile while you play shows me that you have a calm temperament and a willingness to get along with your opponents. I understand how heated game situations can be and keeping a level head shows that you play with sportsmanlike conduct. Good sportsmanship is very admirable quality which demonstrates good leadership skills. Just keep up the good work and people will take notice. I bet your dad is proud of what you have accomplished and will continue to accomplish. What do you plan to do with your basketball talents after you graduate? Do you want to play for a college?

C4K #2 Summary - Who Like the book We Are Reading?

Hi everyone. Do you like the book we are reading? I do. I would like to know what you think about it. By Braiden.

C4K #2 Comment

My name is Danya Croft and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. I am going to school to become a high school science teacher. Like you, I love reading and think that it is a wonderful way to learn new things and visit new places without leaving your home. Have you ever read the Harry Potter series or the Percy Jackson series? If you ever get a chance to read them, you will not regret it. I absolutely adore them. I love reading books that allow me to feel like I am living a magical life in a magical land with magical people. What about you? From all the books you have read, what has been your favorite?


C4K #3 Summary - Rollercoasters



C4K #3 Comment

I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful job you and Juliet did on the video 'Rollercoasters.' I really love how the both of you explained the proper precautions needed to enjoy a rollercoaster properly. Personally, I love rollercoasters and I have since I was a child. Surprisingly though, many people don't know the things to look out for before riding one. I think that anyone watching your video will get a clear understanding on what they should do and should not do.

I was so interested to find out more about this theme park Rainbow's End that I looked it up as well. It looks like it is a whole lot of fun. What is your favorite ride there? Do you like the loops?


C4K #4 Summary - Why Birds Don't Get Shocked When They Sit on Telephone Wires

In Why Birds Don't Get Shocked When They Sit on Telephone Wires, Brandon learns that birds are not good conductors of electricity and that is the reason they do not get shocked. He learns that animals do not have an electrical base for electricity to flow through. However, he did learn that if a bird were to become grounded, it would then become a conductor of electricity and, therefore, be electrocuted.

C4K #4 Comment

I am learning to blog just like you. You did a very good job on your research on this topic. I like that you also use humor and examples to explain how the process works. One thing you might want to watch is capitalizing where there is not a need. By that, I mean shocked didn’t need to be capitalized. Otherwise, this is an excellent post. I would definitely recommend this read to others so that they can have a clearer understanding of why birds don’t get shocked. But what would happen if a bird were to touch two wires at the same time?