Blog Post #3

For my third blog post, the assignment is to describe what I have learned about peer editing. In class, we went over our rubrics that we created within our personal groups. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to view other groups rubrics to get new ideas to incorporate for my future classes. Some of the unique characteristics that groups included in their rubric for grading blog posts are that of: text layout, timeliness, preparedness, and position of student. Of course grading of criteria, grammar, media, HTML, plagiarism, etc. were incorporated in most of the groups work, but it was the above four that were different that seemed appropriate and essential to this class.

Peer editing means to work with someone your own age to help improve, revise, and edit their work/writing. In the video, What Is Peer Editing, they define using peer editing into 3 simple steps: compliments, suggestions, and corrections. 1) Always begin your feedback with a compliment! It is important to let your peer know the good things about their work and to STAY POSITIVE. 2) Suggestions are appropriate for: word choice, details, organization, sentences, and topic (and remember to STAY POSITIVE). 3) Corrections. Always check for punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, and spelling (and again, STAY POSITIVE). An important reminder that they ended with is to be specific and always complete all the 3 steps!

Another video that is adorable, appropriate, and straight to the point about peer editing is Writing Peer Review (Peer Critique) TOP 10 Mistakes. The children who created this video was able to explain and demonstrate the wrong ways to approach peer editing. They give very clear and simple mistakes on what to do while practicing this useful tool. I believe from watching these two videos it has helped me see a clear understanding on what to do and not to do!

A question that I have been asked to think about is whether or not I believe in critiquing peer editing through comments on personal blog post or through private email. I believe it depends on the situation. If a blog post has no use of correct word choice, use of details, organization, correct sentence structure, or correct topic use (and it is a complete disaster) I would use private email to edit one of my peers post. If they do demonstrate these things correctly, with minor changes needed, I believe a comment would be sufficient.

Blog Post #2

Hello! This is my 2nd assignment for blogging with my EDM310 class. For this assignment, I had to watch videos that pertained to teaching in the 21st century. The first video was about Mr. Dancealot's dancing class(here is a link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k8aeDUC9XQ). The central message (that I took from the video) was students learn from practice and learner-centered instruction. At one point in the video, the teacher was demonstrating footwork behind his desk so the students could not see what he was doing. When a student stood up and walked over to the teacher to see his footwork, the teacher stopped what he was doing and instructed the student to sit down because it was a dance class. By this act, the author makes their point very clear. I agree with the authors conclusion (central message) because throughout the video the students were bored, sleeping in class, and by their final exam, the students still did not understand the material in any form.

The second video was by Kevin Roberts called "Teaching in the 21st Century" (http://www.edm310.com/Teaching21stCenturymed.m4v). From my gathering of the video, I believe Roberts thinks we as teachers should teach our students different ways to use technology and how technology can be effective; while also teaching students the proper ways to use this useful resource not only in the classroom but in our daily lives. I agree with Roberts conclusion to how teaching in the 21st century is changing. I am seeing it now as a student with my professors so I know it will only go further from here. If Roberts is correct by the way teaching is going in the 21st century, I believe teachers will start creating more of a student-centered learning atmosphere along with more problem-based learning. By using technology more, teachers take away the responsibility on themselves and put in on the students to find information and create their own ideas.

The third video I watched was called "The Networked Student" by Wendy Drexler (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwM4ieFOotA). At one point in the video, the speaker asks the question, "Why do we need teachers anyways?". I had three different thoughts that came to mind after I heard this question. First thought was that I was completely shocked that someone would even ask that question. Teachers are very important and critical to young peoples lives. The second thought that came very quickly after the first thought, was that we are living the 21st century where everyone has technology that surrounds their life daily. If I have a question or problem about something, I know all I have to do is Google the problem or question on my iPhone and I will have the answer in less that a minute.  So why do we need teachers when we can just teach ourselves? Then, the third thought came to mind: technology will never compare or take the place of a caring, loving, and guiding person. We as teachers may be competing with technology, but teachers will always have a place in a students role that technology can never fill.

The fourth video I watched was by Vicki Davis called "Harness Your Students Digital Smarts," (http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-teachers-vicki-davis-video). Mrs. Davis's thesis of her video is to use technology and help motivate the students to learn more about technology and how it can be used. Her goal is to show her students how useful technology can be and grasping every experience possible through it. We live in a technology-based world that keeps building. I love her thought process and attitude towards students and using technology because from now on technology is not going to go anywhere. It will only grow from here.

The fifth, and final, video is called "Flipping the Classroom," (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KWqw_7Ib1o). Before watching this video, I had no clue what flipping the classroom could even be about. Now that I have watched the video and have seen what it means, what the attributes are, and how essential it is towards the students, I have to agree that I will definitely try this out as a teacher! As a future Biology teacher, I know (from experience as a student) that there is a lot of information to go over with not very much time to do other things such as ask questions, go over a previous lesson, etc. With using this teaching method, I think it will be an asset to my classroom by saving more time towards my students.

Blog Post #1

Registering for EDM 310, I honestly had no idea what this class would be about or how it would be run. All I knew is that it had to be about media (obviously) which deals with technology. Since I am a transfer and this is my first semester here at South Alabama, I have not heard any details about this class. Receiving the email Mr. Strange sent a few days before class began, I realized I was going to have to put the effort into the class to be able to pass with an A. The email that was sent seemed strict, disciplined, and well organized.

Last semester I attended Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN, in which I took an educational class called "Computers in the 21st Century". EDM 310 and Computers in the 21st Century are very similar, in that, we learned about how to apply technology (computers, applications, blogs, etc) in the classroom and use media tools to help teach our students. The difference is that we did not use blog very much. I am glad I have the opportunity to learn more about blog so that I can have a further deeper understanding on how it works and what the pros and cons are of using it.

The biggest fear I have with this class is TIME. At the beginning of each site (for our projects, blog posts, and activities) is a full page that reads "NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION 9 HOURS A WEEK". I am afraid of falling behind. The only reason I am afraid of this is because ,so far, I have only been an athlete in college. This is my very first semester of college where I am not playing a sport and working (almost) full-time. I am getting in the "swing of things" by balancing school and work and not school and volleyball. From experience, I know that keeping in close contact with my professors, completing assignments on time, doing homework, and NOT PROCRASTINATING, will keep me organized and ready to learn! I am very excited about this class and ready to see all of the useful tools I will learn for my future students!

Test Post

Hopefully this publishes so that you may view it.

Practice Post

Hello! My name is Sheridan Jones and I am from Gadsden, AL which is about five or so hours from here. I went to Gadsden City High School where I spent four years playing volleyball and softball. I also was apart of the swim team and basketball team for one year. After I graduated, I accepted a scholarship to play volleyball at Faulkner State Community College for two years. After I graduated from FSCC, I accepted a scholarship to play volleyball at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN where I spent only one semester.

I am now here at USA for a few reasons: I have always wanted to be a Jaguar, the location of the school, and I had problems with my other university that I attended. I am double majoring in Secondary Education and Biology. My ultimate goal is to become a Biology teacher and a volleyball coach. I am from a very athletic family. Most of my family members have been and are soon to be collegiate athletes. An interesting fact about myself is that my dad was once a professional baseball player. He only spent less than a month in the majors but for his accomplishment, everyone in my family was very proud.

The reason I am entering into the field of education is because of my passion. I have a passion for wildlife and a passion for sports. I want to share my passion with others and help young students find what their own passion is. Yes, teaching course material is needed, but I want to do more than just teach biology. I want to teach my students about life, how to succeed, and different skills to help them with future classes or difficulties.