Blog Post 6

After watching the conversations with Anthony Capps, I learned about a lot of what goes in to being a teacher. Anthony Capps is a 3rd grade teacher in Gulf Shores. He covers using technology in the classroom well, saying: "Don't Teach It, Use It." The students learn over time how to use technologies such as iMovie within a few weeks' time. He incorporates technology in the classroom because of the rapidly hanging methods of learning. He teaches the students by letting them use the technologies themselves instead of teaching a step-by-step guide on the SmartBoard. I learned from this particular conversation that even though they don't get it right away, they can eventually use these technologies in their learning process and reflect on their projects.

When hearing him discuss iCurio, I had never heard of the program before. The idea of a search engine specifically for students is a great idea to keep students focused on the research material. With iCurio, the student can learn how to properly and safely research a subject. Another great feature is that it has a storage space for students to keep tabs on what they have searched and what they need to successfully complete a project. I will certainly use this search engine with my students in the future.

The final thing I wanted to write about was his video "A Day in the Life of a 3rd Grade Teacher", I knew before watching the video that being an educator is a lot of work, When Dr. Strange made a statement about people being educators going into education because they "love children", I thought about myself in that moment. When people ask me that question, that is almost always the answer I give them. After Capp stating that he had 16 hour work days, a lot of work being done away from the classroom, I thought to myself about how difficult it is to be a teacher. It was very eye-opening to hear what it's like from a "new" teacher.

Anthony Capp had a lot of great things to say, and I suggest going to watch these conversations yourself!

Blog Post Assignment 5

What is a PLN?

A "PLN" is a "Personal Learning Network" used be teachers to be continuous learners throughout their lives. There are several different types of PLNs. A PLN can be a resource for your learning, whether it be a person, a book, or a website.

How can they help you as a teacher? 

A teacher must always be learning. That should be a phrase that all educators should believe in. It's like Glengarry Glen Ross, only for teachers. When an educator has a reliable PLN, they can use the resources that they have to educate themselves and in turn educate their students They can learn new and innovative ways to teach lessons, as well as read up on the latest educational articles.

How are they formed?

PLNs are formed by collecting sources of data you can always come back to. Blogs, books, even people can be good sources of information. Your PLN will suit your needs, and what you need to keep learning in your field.

How can you create your own PLN?

I can start by adding the EDM 310 Blog to my toolbar, so that it is at my fingertips at all times. That way, I can report to the blogs for different new ways on looking at a subject. I can also add the EDM instructors and assistants to my contacts, in case I ever have a question.

EDM 310 Sentence Part A

Blog Post Assignment 4

   In order to be able to effectively ask questions as a teacher, we have to realize that we do not have all of the answers, Our students must believe this however, so that they can have a figure they can count on when they do not have the answers themselves. Even though students see us as a source for the answers, we must know that we are not a endless source of information. As such, we must know how to ask others for guidance, whether it be a new method of teaching, or the teaching material itself.
     According to "Ask Questions to Improve Learning", you must keep the goals of the course in mind, You must also avoid asking questions that in a way provide their own answers. If they are these types of questions, it does not give the student the opportunity to think on their own.  Keep the questions specific, and be sure to ask one question at a time to keep the students on track ("Ask Questions to Improve Learning, 2009).

Asking Questions to Improve Learning

C4K Summaries

   I had the pleasure of reading Antonio F's blog from "Mrs. Weil's Fourth Grade Froggies!" In the particular post that I commented on, he talked about how hard it is to write when you don't have an idea. When I commented, I told him about how whenever you're stuck, you can always try different brainstorming activities. I hope that he will read it and I will help him in some way!

Antonio F's Blog!


My second blog post is from the Hartman/Centeno Readers in Pennsylvania. I read Ava's post on the JFK assassination. She discussed the details about the assassination and wrote in the post that the details of the murder were "gross" and "scary". I commented and told her that her post was written very well with little to no mechanical errors, which is more than I can say for a lot of college students! I didn't tell her that part, of course. I also told her that I agreed that the murder details were rather gruesome!

C4T Summaries

                                                      The Adventures of Library Girl 

          In the blog titled "The Art of Listening", she explains that she collected data by asking a group of people on the first day of school what they want from their school library. The data collected showed that they want an improvement of the space, the atmosphere, and "suggestions focusing on the purpose of the library"("The Art of Listening", 2014). She explains that she needs to take these things into account and better improve the teacher and the student's experience in the library.

         In another post titled, "27 Ways to Make This The Best Year Ever", she lists the ways that teachers can improve their experience throughout the year. She took her examples from several different instructors. She was so pleased with the results, she decided to do it again. She says that she has in a way "gone back to school", in that she has learned many new things in the ways of teaching.

The Adventures of Library Girl

Jenny's Learning Journey

                      In the blog post that I read, Mrs. She was talking about her students taking to the technological assignment and being proactive with it. One of her students showed great enthusiasm on the subject. She was taking the skills she learned from the lesson and doing something on her own. That, to me, is what being a teacher is all about. I commented on her blog saying that I loved her story, and that being an educator means teaching a child to prepare to rely on themselves successfully.

Blog Assignment 3

                         I watched a few tutorials and a very humorous video on how to properly edit a peer's work. I learned that when you are peer editing, you have to remember that it is not a way to insult someone's work. When editing you must understand the difference between constructive criticism and just plain criticism. Editing can also be a way to make suggestions to your peers to improve their post, whether it be relating to the content or to the mechanical aspect of the material.
                         In the video "Writing Peer Review Top 10  Mistakes", there are many different ways you should not peer edit. You can be to picky, rush through, go off topic, and many other ways. When watching this video, I noticed that at one time or another I was one of the people they were naming. like a "Picky Patty" or an "Off-Topic Oliver". Now that I have met the ten people who you should never be when peer editing, I'll look at each blog post and think to myself: I will just be Victoria. And Victoria will compliment, suggest, and politely correct.


Tutorial Peer Editing

Writing Peer Review: Top 10 Mistakes