Blog Post #6 PLN's

Personal Learning Networks are a very good way to learn, collaborate, and teach. I am currently making my PLN and it has grown quite a bit since I have been in the field. I feel like this is one major reason I am here because I have certainly had my fair share of help. The more I research, the more I build my PLN. As of right now, one of my favorite tools to use is my MAC computer. It has every thing I need to succeed. I have really come a long way and have learned more about my MAC since being in EDM 310. Not only am I building my PLN (continuing to build), I have also met people in the field that I can depend on for advice and/or ideas which add to my learning network. I believe that as time passes and I continue to teach, my PLN will keep growing and I will keep learning. As I learn more, I can be more able to affect my students in more positive ways. My network is not as big as I would like it to be yet but it will be one day. I know it will be very helpful and it already is helpful in many ways. Overall, my PLN will grow as I go and I am very thankful to know that I can depend on these people or tools to help me succeed.

Project #8 "Where the Wild Things are" Book Trailer

Blog Post # 5 Conversations with Anthony Capps

Mr. Anthony Capps is a Third Grade Teacher at Baldwin County Elementary. He uses Project Based Learning with his third graders. In watching the conversations and listening to the examples, I feel that it is vital to use projects in the class room as a learning tool. From what Mr. Capps said, I have learned that when I "officially" become a certified teacher, I definitely want to be a project based educator. There really are no cons about it. Well thats my opinion, but I am positive that with technology constantly evolving, it will be a need to teach from a project based prospective. Since there are standards that are set forth by the state, one has to develop projects for students that are driven by that standard content. There are more teachers that are learning more technology and in turn the teachers are using that to not only teach students but develop them as well. Overall, the videos and conversations with Mr. Capps has been a real eye opening experience because it was the testimony of an actual teacher who uses PBL, and even though it was just a videos, I learned from his examples and look forward to learning more about PBL.

Project #7 "My Sentence","My Passion" Videos

What should teachers know about asking questions to be effective?

Teachers are supposed to ask questions, thats what they get paid for. I think that in order to ask questions effectively, one must first of all know the subject matter in which he or she is asking the question. Asking questions can be a very effective way of finding out what students REALLY know. I think it takes someone who asks the right questions effectively to actually get an honest answer. If the teacher knows the material, he/she can ask the most questions about even the smallest of details about the lesson that was assigned. Not only that, the teacher can expect the students to learn more because the teacher is confident in his/her abilities to teach on the particular subject or lesson. Every teacher has his/her own style of teaching. Whether the teacher is a math teacher or a science teacher; every teacher has strategies and shortcuts. I think that the questions must not only be relevant but be worded in a way that the student, no matter what grade level should understand.

Blog Post # 3 How can I provide meaningful feedback to my peers

I think that in providing feedback, one has to be able to not only provide good feedback, but provide that in a way that is not offensive or critical to a peer. Meaningful feedback could be anything. I think that it is essential to provide constructive criticism in a meaningful way so that my peer will take that and learn from the criticism. My feedback could be taken in many different ways so one has to be able take the criticism with a good attitude and make the necessary changes according to the feedback. But I believe that in providing the feedback, I have to show my peer what I mean and with that approach, it can be meaningful. A quality peer review is ultimately what I would like to provide for my peer. I think that when I critique one of my peers work, I will be able to not only be constructive but it will be a quality review of the work.

The videos were a very good way of learning about how to critique and provide meaningful feedback. I think that the videos were very good examples of how to not only review a peers work but also how to make the peer learn from my review. The last video was very humorous and I feel like with the kids doing the talking, it was ironic and I really liked how it was set up. Overall, I feel that the videos provided me with the essential ways on how to give my quality, positive feedback in a way that is not only educationally friendly but also constructive so that my peer will take my review for what it is and do the work to make the changes properly.

Project #3 Presentation on Project Based Learning