For those that are interested in how I am a 21st Century Learner, you may watch my video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Up1f0lmOA!
Children Learn What They See! Monday, Apr 28 2008
EDUC 628 Post 4:22 pm
Someone sent me a video the other day that was labeled “Children Learn What They See” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diUB7OGRJ8E) which has a very profound message. I really began to think after watching the video how true it is that children do learn what they see! When one looks at education, culture and technology and the role that the three play in society, it is apparent the importance of each of them. Without education, how will future generations be able to contribute to socieity? The answer is simple, they won’t! Education is the key that unlocks the door, technology is the door and culture is acturally what is behind the door.
As a parent and an educator, I see on a daily basis the importance of all three concepts. I am fortunate in that I teach technology and can help my students “open the door” with the key of education and enter into their culture along with the culture of others. As one progresses and goes through society, one can quickly see changes that need to occur to imporve the culture in which they live. But without education of the ones that will be required to make the changes, change will not occur! Without the knowledge of knowing what needs to be changed, changes will not occur! With knowledge, one must have information; technology is where the information can be found for the purpose of creating change. So back to the statement, children learn what they see; if children see a culture that doesn’t value education, they will also not value education. If children see a culture that doesn’t value and utilize technology, they will also not value or utilize technology. If children see a culture that doesn’t want change, they too will not want change!
And on a lighter note, my children also learn what they see from me (which is not always a good thing). Sometimes, you really don’t know what they are watching and learning which is why one needs to be extremely careful what they say or do. My oldest son, Dillon, is a lot like me (pray for him! 
) in that he loves technology. The other day, he got into the car and ask if we could play his CD that he had “burned” himself (now keep in mind that Dillon is only 10 years old and only watched me one time burn a CD for him). When I put the CD in, I was pleasently surprised to learn that he apparently likes the 1980’s hard rock bands (Guns n Roses, White Snake, Poison, etc.) which is what the CD consisted of. But other than being pleased with his wonderful taste in music (ha ha), I was even happier with his ability to apply what he had only seen me do one time!
I think that as parents and educators, one needs to realize that those that are viewing us are much more advanced in their abilities than ever before. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that you are allowing individuals to see the change that you want to occur in a culture. Just remember, you are the locksmith that can create the “key that opens the door”!
Remote Access Wednesday, Apr 16 2008
EDUC 628 Post 7:13 pm
As assessment time approaches, it always amazes me how much time and effort has to be spent throughout the school year preparing students for state assessments which is reality are a huge waste of time (in my opinion!). As Remote Access stated:
Remote Access
In education, innovation is a problem. As with any other industry, we have many parts and pieces that we need to look at, and many places that are in need of the “innovation spotlight.” Assessment, timetabling, course content, school building design, etc., etc. The list could continue.
Innovation is a problem in education, but it is also a must. If educators, especially those in the public school systems, don’t start standing up for what the children really need in the classroom instead of what the “suits” at the Department of Education think they need (which how would they know because many of them haven’t been in the classroom setting for years) the educational systems are going to go on a downward spiral from which one can not recover.
As we look at education and the educational environment, it is apparent that changes occur on a daily basis. The students in which one teaches are also rapidly changing. So why is it that those in charge of making the “important” decisions are having difficulty with innovation? It is my opinion that for someone to by innovative, one must have in-depth knowledge into what they are trying to be innovative about! When those trying to make decisions haven’t been on the “front-lines” for an extended period of time, it makes it a little difficult to understand how and what needs to be changed and improved upon.
Twitter – Finding Compatability Wednesday, Apr 9 2008
EDUC 628 Post 7:25 pm
I have really been exploring in Twitter based on some valuable information provided by Dr. Lowell and I have found that the best way to search for individuals is through those that you are following. I have been viewing profiles based on location and interest along with reading what they are talking about before I determine if I want to follow that particular individual. I have found that this type of research has been most helpful and provide me with the type of people I want to follow. Dr. Lowell also provided a site (http://twitterpacks.pbwiki.com/) in which one can search for different areas of interest. The best recommendation that I can provide regarding this site, is go to the link and look at the profile. This is another way in which you can view what people are interested in and talking about! This also give you access to those that they are following!
This is the way in which I find individuals to follow on Twitter. Others may be able to provide information that can help them access individuals with similiar interest. I was really excited to find links based on different states. I was born and raised in Michigan and I found several Twitter links that were associated with individuals from the area in which I lived (Ann Arbor) and I also found a Twitter profile that provided periodic updates of news events happening in Michigan! I am beginning to enjoy my Twitter account – still researching what it can do – I think there is more to this SNS than meets the eye!
Tuition Cost = Resources Wednesday, Apr 9 2008
EDUC 628 Post 6:12 pm
This is a huge topic in the state in Kentucky right now because the new governor has proposed a huge budget cut that apparent will be effecting the post-secondary institutions. The University of Kentucky has announced that due to the proposed budget cuts across the state, that tuition would probably be taking a 9% increase next year and it would more than likely result in loss in educators. After reading the following post, I felt that I needed to comment regarding tuition cost and the effect it has on the amount of resources a school can provide:
phaedrus
The theory goes that students are better off at universities that charge more so that they have more educational resources —
Well, lets take a look at exactly what resources the larger universitities are utilizing! I understand that a university the size of UK would require a lot of funding to ensure that the school can continue to operate but when so much funding is being spent in their athletic programs and for their coaches, the price tag immediately goes up. I also understand that athletics bring in a lot of funding but the majority of those that the tuition cost is being transfered on to doesn’t even participate in an athletic program.
I am a big fan of smaller community colleges because I feel that individuals can receive a really good educational experience without the high cost of the larger schools. The main important aspect that needs to be considered when attending a post-secondary institution is what your major will be and what is the best school to offer the program in which you are interested. Once again, it comes down to being an informed learner of the 21st century.
Physical Space and Learning! Monday, Apr 7 2008
EDUC 628 Post 1:40 am
I found this statement to be very profound when reading some of Dr. Lowell’s post for this week. In one of the blogs, Dr. Lowell directed to the following blog entry and I selected the comment below regarding physical space and learning:
blog of proximal development » Blog Archive » The Virtual Classroom Project
As an educator, I had never had to think seriously about the relationship between physical space and learning. Teachers usually don’t have to think about spaces for learning because they are provided for them.
Throughout my training to become an educator, especially at the Master’s level in School Administration, physical spaces and the effect it has on learning has become a huge topic. As educators, one really doesn’t give much though as to the physical space in which they teach because their classroom is usually provided for them and they are just required to work with what they have been given. But as we begin to teach to the 21st century learner, I feel that this will be changing. It is my opinion that educators will have to become more like architectures of their learning environment much like the individual in the blog entry above!
What It Means to Be Wise – Prevention.com Saturday, Apr 5 2008
EDUC 628 Post 3:10 am
I am the mother of two wonderful boys, a wife to a really good (not perfect) man, I work full-time as an educator, I advance my educational training through graduate classes (currently I am taking three), and I live on a very large farm with close to forty head of cattle. So any way that I can make my life less stressful is top priority because as the old saying goes: “if mama ain’t happy; no one is going to be happy”!
One of the best ways that I have found to ease stress and tension in my life (besides shrinks and perscribed drugs) is to try and take time out with something I enjoy which at this particular time in my life is weight loss, eating healthier, and being “one” with my mind and body (this one is sometimes difficult to accomplish because half the time, I really can’t find my mind because it has been temporaily misplaced ha ha). But one magazine that I really enjoy reading is Pervention; recently there was a really good article that one may want to look at regarding knowledge and wisdom and the role it plays in individuals lives: What It Means to Be Wise – Prevention.com.
I think as we get older, we need to understand what it really means to be wise and the information that is important enough to pass down from generation to generation needs to be determined. One aspect that I believe that has really been over looked is the role in which technology can play in helping to pass on wisdom and enhance knowledge.
Technology, Education, Culture: How does it all fit? Friday, Apr 4 2008
EDUC 628 Post 5:58 pm
After reading Dr. Lowell’s e-mail to the EDUC 628 students, I began thinking about what one should be reading and writing about when it comes to technology, education, and culture. All three of these topics are huge and when one is trying to determine how they all fit together within their own world, it can become somewhat overwhelming!
I am fortunate in that I deal with technology in my classroom environment daily (some are not so lucky; some have to schedule time for technology). And as sad as it may seem, not every child in the public school systems (especially in the area in which I live) have access to technology once they leave the school building. Even though it has been determined that everyone is a 21st century learner, not everyone has 21st century technology. As an educator, I have an advantage when it comes to technology because I can introduce my students to a wide range learning environment. But even with this type of educational setting, I am not exposed to every student at my school to ensure that technology and education mesh. I feel that largely, culture plays a huge role in the barries that exist between technology and education. As a “culture” of Eastern Kentucky, I am afraid that many haven’t accepted that everyone are 21st century learners or even know what that term means.
So back to the question – technology, education, culture: how does it all fit? I am not sure at this point because I am still trying to read about concepts that will help me! One thing that I do know for sure is that major changes are going to have to occur in the mind set of those involved in setting the rules for education; especially when it comes to technology.
April Fools! Tuesday, Apr 1 2008
EDUC 628 Post 1:41 am
As an educator, you can teach what you want with no restrictions. You are not required to prepare students just for state assessments! And you will be provided with any and all resources that will make you as an educator successful along with your students You will also be receiving pay deserving of what you do to help prepare all the doctors, lawyers, and all the other careers that make bundles of money – APRIL FOOLS!
Solomon – Chapter 11 Sunday, Mar 30 2008
EDUC 628 Post 2:09 am
In reference to Jsarnett’s and Solomon Chapter 11 « Ennaxor314’s Weblog, I have to agree that I too, have not been exposed to many good PD in my seven years of teaching. But the comment was made in Jsarnett’s blog:
For me, PD would be so much more meaningful if it was based on my core content, or else teaching strategies in my discipline that actually present an effective “how to” that could be used, evaluated and modified if need be.
And I have to agree totally; last year, I did attend a professional development session that was designed just for my program (Information Technology) where they began the training with a panel of professionals from the industry that discussed what they looked for in an employee. This provided better insight into concepts that I should be teaching my students. The whole day was packed with valuable information that I was able to take back to my classroom and in some way implement. This was the first time that I actually felt good about a PD and was “excited” about trying some of the topics discussed.
