Blog Post #15

My Future Classroom: Re-evaluated

In my first blog post I envisioned a classroom where using technology meant using PowerPoint to give lectures and show cool videos of experiments from YouTube. After my semester in EDM 310 I’m cringing just typing that out. I will definitely be implementing blogging as part of my class. I know my blog for EDM 310 has helped me improve my writing skills and has forced me to dig a deeper to form my own opinions of the topics and technology we’ve encountered. Thanks to this class I no longer plan on using PowerPoint presentations AT ALL to give lectures. I really liked the flipped and blended classroom methods discussed in previous blog posts. Both methods help to free up class time for demonstrations and allows the students more time to ask questions and have open discussion. I would really like to have the resources to implement a similar version of Paul Anderson’s QUIVERS method. Understanding science, especially in middle school and into high school, is not easily done by just simply memorizing a few definitions and formulas. Mr. Anderson’s method helps create an environment where students have to prove they not only know what they’re talking about, but also that they actually understand the knowledge they’re receiving.

Looking back at my first blog post in EDM 310, I have definitely changed what I picture my future classroom will look like. My love and, thankfully, my understanding of technology have only grown with this class. I still stand by my previous images of a classroom where technology is present and incorporated into my lessons. However, EDM 310 has shown me WHAT technology to use and HOW to incorporate those into my classroom effectively.

Final Reflection Video

C4K for April

C4K #9
For my 9th C4K I was read and commented on Tania's blog. In her blog post Nebraska Nature, Tania shared some interesting facts about her state. She also provided information on the different state symbol's of Nebraska. Tania asked readers to leave comments about their state's symbols and other interesting facts.

Hi Tania, I’m a college student at the University of Alabama studying to become a teacher. However, I was born and raised in Ocean Springs, Mississippi so I’d like to share some facts about Mississippi with you. Our state fossil is the prehistoric whale. The state insect is the honey bee. Our state stone is petrified wood. Our state land mammal is also the white-tailed deer, but we also have a water mammal, the bottle nose dolphin. I have seen quite a few white-tailed deer. My uncle actually rescued a baby doe and raised her as if she was a family pet. I’m from the coastal area of Mississippi so I love going to the beach and hanging out on our barrier islands. One of my favorite inventions came from Biloxi where I was born! It’s Barq’s root beer. We also have the longest man-made beach in the world. Thanks for sharing some of your state facts and keep on blogging!!

C4K #10
My last C4K assignment was to read and comment on Riley's blog. Riley is a 4KJ student in Victoria, Australia. I believe Riley and his classmates were just starting a new term so I commented on his Welcome To My Blog post.

Hi Riley,
I'm a college student at the University of South Alabama, in the United States. I love horses, though I've never actually gone horse-back riding. Great post and keep up the good work!