Blog Post #8

Learning to Change, Changing to Learn


Changes in the educational system is necessary to meet the needs of 21st Century students. First, we must understand that change is not an event it is a process. It is a process in which educators must be willing to undergo in order to provide students with a more meaningful or relevant education. There is a need for a re-evaluation of the classroom. By no means am I saying that the traditional ways of teaching are wrong or do away with the teachers who still practice these methods.  I'm saying that those teachers must be willing to reform to using technology in creative ways to make learning more engaging to students.

Here are a few ideas that stuck out to me:

• Students are having a much more stimulating and rich environment outside of school ratherthan in school.
• Every potentential turned of device is a potential turned off student.
• Technology has emerged an new environment.

This Is How We Dream- Richard E. Miller
Researching, writting, and publishing has changed tremendously through the web.   He makes several great points about how important it is for us as educators to learn all that we can about the new forms of communication (through technology) and to come up with better ways of teaching our students to use it advantageously. There are three things that he said that stuck in my mind when I listened to this podcast.

Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12

Her assignment is beyond outstanding. She clearly shows using the computer as a tool to foster the writing process and using multimedia to present her report. The objective, teaching philosophy, is very important. It is important for every teacher to have a personal philosophy that reflects personal ideologies and philosophies of teaching and the overall development of the children. And what better way to construct it is by using Youtube videos.  This technique was right on! This assignment is great because it is so versatile.  There's endless possibilities in what you can do with this.  You can use it for all subjects and ages.  This is a phenomenal example of what Dr. Miller means by writing with multi-media.


Does EDM Have You Down???

If your answer is yes, well guess what?  You are NOT the only one. Many students, as well as myself, feel overwhelmed.  As Dr. Strange has stated, EDM is different.  EDM is not only preparing us to be technologically literate teachers but, it preparing us to be professional educators.

Here's a video that might help to put your mind at ease.   EDM for Dummies portrays real attitudes of students in EDM310. In watching this myself, I was wondering what could I do to help future students.  Now I am aware that Dr. Strange asked for a video, but I would like to create a EDM310 for Dummies book.  I want to take the instructional manuel and more and turn into a book. A video does not allow you the time to throughly explain things.  I want the book to be a full tutorial of the class.  I want it to not only explain how to the assignments but why we do them. I wan t I want it to be something that real educators can use.

Scavenger Hunt


1. Find a tool to create a poll anywhere and at anytime. Create your first poll and post it here.

I found Poll Code.  Here you can customize your poll with your own colors, font, and settings. When you're finished, you are provided with an HTML code to paste into your website, or you can "quick post" your poll to MySpace, Facebook, WordPress, Blogger and many more in just minutes.  It's also free poll.

Has EDM310 helped you to become a technology literate teacher?

Yes No Undecided

pollcode.com free polls

2.  Find a video tool that you have never used. Summarize some it's special features.

I love Animoto! Animoto automatically produces unique video pieces from your photos, video clips, and music.  It syncs with Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, and SmugMug to get your images in a snap.  You can upload your own mp3 or choose from their collection of tunes in several different genres. Then watch your video in HD on Animoto.com or share it on Facebook, YouTube, your blog, or a DVD. It's fast and easy to post to websites or download.

3.  Find a tool to make-your-own comic strip. Create a comic and post a picture of it in your blog.

I found Toondoo.