Blog Post #7

After watching the videos assigned, I discovered many things that I need to know and be prepared for in order for me to be a teacher that fosters student participation and learning. I need to have a great understanding of technology and how to use it effectively.  As shown in the Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten video, future educators need to have an understanding of iMovie. Teachers also need to master how to use iMovie in order to incorporate it into their lesson. Using iMovie encourages critical thinking and active engagement. It was also explained in this video how future educators need to know how to use the Alabama Virtual Library. The Alabama Virtual Library is a free resource provided to students in order for them to properly research a topic. I discovered from the video We All Become Learners that future educators should have knowledge on how to properly use an iPad. Teachers should also research and understand great apps to encourage learning. The video iPads in the Classroom also gave me insight on the importance of iPad usage in the classroom. This video explained how the iPad improves learning and how it also encourages engagement. Personally, I believe that the Top 10 Reasons to use Technology in Education video provided educators with the most valuable information that they need to know for the future, and that is the statement that Sridhar Raju made that "technology will not replace teachers, but teachers that don't know how to use technology will be replace."

I learned a lot from watching the videos provided. The "Using iMovie and the Alabama virtual Library in Kindergarten" video discussed that KINDERGARTEN students are now using iMovie. I personally believe that is amazing. I feel the same as Mrs. Michelle Bennett from Gulf Shores Elementary School does, and that is excited to see kids so young learn and grow while using technology. I also learned from this video that these same kindergarten students are learning how to properly use the Alabama Virtual Library. They learn how to research topics by using the Alabama Virtual Library search engine, and they research information on an animal that they were assigned that is located on a list that is provided for them by the teacher. In the video "We  All Become Learners," I learned about a couple of apps I did not know about. Mrs. Bennett discussed the apps padlet and popplet, and she discussed the reason for their usage. Mrs. Bennett also explained how using technology in the classroom "changes the dynamic of learning." Mrs. Bennett explained how changing this dynamic gives students the opportunity to not only learn but teach. I learned from the video "iPads in the Classroom" the many benefits for using the iPad to engage student learning. In this video I also learned about another app that I did not know about, and that app is called iconverse.  The Top 10 Reasons to use Technology in Education video explained the many reasons to incorporate technology into the classroom.

These reasons are as listed below:
1. Students love it
2. Engages four key components to learning
3. Professional development
4. Makes life easier for teachers
5. Improves test scores
6. Helps students with low attention spans (ADD and ADHD)
7. Allows students to Learn from the experts
8. Encourages homework
9. Saves Money
10. Remove obstacles (example: Allows teachers to increase the volume of their lesson.)

My Movies as a Teacher

Message to my Parents 

Link to "Message to my Parents" video

Message to my Students

Link to "Message to my Students" video

C4K Summary for February

For my first C4K assignment I was assigned Fernando O from Mrs. Weil's fourth grade class in Kansas. His post was very interesting. He explained that he liked winter weather, and that he loved snow days. He also explained what he would do on a snow day, and that was to play his favorite video game on his Xbox 360.

Below is my comment on Fernando O's blog post Winter Weather:

My name is Kaley McManus, and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. Great post! I also like winter, but our winters here in South Alabama are a little different. We usually never have snow. The last time there were consecutive days of snow in South Alabama was in 1993. Other than that, we have had some snow flurries throughout the years.  I think snow is great because I do not get to see it very often. For the most part I think that snow is very beautiful, and I would love to have a snow day. I mainly like winter because my birthday is in February and because of Mardi Gras. I do not play the Xbox 360, but I use to play my PlayStation when I was your age. My favorite games were Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. The Xbox360 seems pretty cool though.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

My second C4K assignment was Casey from Mrs. Leatherwood's 8th grade Literature class in New Jersey. Casey talked about how she used to live in Florida when she was younger. She told a story about how her and her family went fishing out at sea. She explain how all of a sudden the weather started to get bad, but how they made it back from their fishing trip just in time.

Below is my comment on Casey's blog post Set Sail to the Sea:

My name is Kaley McManus, and I am a college student from the University of South Alabama. The University is located in Mobile, Alabama, so Florida is only about 50 miles from here. I really enjoyed reading your post, and I found it to be very well written. I have had similar experiences with bad weather and fishing. One day I went fishing with my boyfriend, grandfather, and father. We got caught out in the bay during a tornado warning. Needless to say, It was scary. Bad weather can blow up real quick when out at sea or in the bay. I am like you because I really just enjoy the boat ride. I only like to fish when the fish are biting. The difference in some parts of Florida and Alabama is the water. The Gulf of Mexico is not clear, and you cannot see the bottom of the ocean floor. I love those sandy white beaches though.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

My third C4K assignment was Taylor from Mrs. Hartman's 4th grade class in Pennsylvania. Taylor discussed the book that she has been reading called The Maze Runner. She provided to her readers what page she was on and what chapter she was in. She also summed up what had happened so far since her previous post.

The Maze Runner official movie trailer

Below is my comment on Taylor's post The Maze Runner:

My name is Kaley McManus, and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post, and I found it to be very interesting. I have seen the previews to this movie, and it looks really good. I hope to watch it soon. I am currently not reading a book, but my favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. This book is a great read. This book is set in the 1930s and mainly focuses on the many issues dealing with racial inequality in the Deep South during the Great Depression. The author of this book, Harper Lee, lives in a small town in Alabama called Monroeville. I only live about 45 miles from Monroeville, and I use to attend a Junior College in Monroeville called Alabama Southern Community College. Keep up the good work!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

My fourth and final assignment for the month of February was Ariana from Mrs. Maslowski's 2nd period class at Joliet West High School in Illinois. I enjoyed reading Ariana's post. Ariana chose Jackie Robison for her Black History Month assignment. She explained why she chose Jackie Robinson, and gave details of all his great achievements. She also included some great graphics with her post. 

Pictures Casey included in her post:

#42

Below is my comment on Ariana's blog post Black History Month-Jackie Robinson:

My name is Kaley McManus, and I am student from the University of South Alabama majoring in Elementary Education. I really enjoyed reading your post, and I think you did a wonderful job. Jackie Robison's bravery is truly inspiring. He overcame so much adversity in order to play the game that he loved to play. The University I attend is located in Mobile, Alabama, and there is a minor league baseball field here named after another great African American Major League Baseball player named Hank Aaron. Hank Aaron is known as one of the "greatest hitters." Unfortunately he also faced the same challenges that Jackie Robinson faced, even though Hank Aaron joined the league 7 years after Jackie Robison. I have provided a link for you if you are interested in learning more about Hank Aaron. Both of these men are truly an inspiration. Keep up the good work!

http://www.biography.com/people/hank-aaron-9173497/videos/hank-aaron-mini-biography-2087068427

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

Video that is included in the link I provided for Ariana.

Blog Post #6

I really enjoyed all of these videos provided by Dr. Strange on his conversations with Mr. Anthony Capps. These videos provided detailed insight on what project based learning is, and how beneficial it is to use in the classroom. Project based learning (PBL) is a very useful tool to actively engage students into the lesson and content being taught. As discussed by Anthony Capps in the first video, project based learning is content driven. He also includes that PBL should involve the community in some way. Mr. Capps also explained that the most crucial part of PBL is revision and reflection done by the students. Throughout this first video Anthony Capps explains to Dr. Strange that project based learning should be used as a method of teaching, and not so much used as a method of student evaluation. In the second video covering project based learning, Anthony Capps explains the importance of student choice and the importance of creating an opportunity for the students to go above and beyond when using PBL. These two videos did a great job at providing information explaining to me what project based learning is, and it's components. These two videos also served as a form of encouragement for me as an educator to dive into PBL.

The third video provided by Dr. Strange was a discussion between him and Mr. Capps about icurio.  Anthony Capps defines icurio as a online tool that allows students to use a filtered search engine to safely find video, audio, and text research. He also explains the many features that icurio provides for the students. Icurio provides a storage system, which helps the students learn how to become virtually organized. It also provides features that can search information based on criteria. In the fourth video Anthony Capps explains another useful tool for PBL, and that tool is named discovery education. Discovery education is a resource for students used specifically for visual learning. Discovery ed is a way to bring experts on certain topics to the classroom through videos provided on this site. I have never even heard of icurio and discovery education. These two videos provided did a great job at helping me understand what these tools are and how they can be used during PBL. I definitely see both of these resources as a great way to carry out the PBL method of teaching.

Click here to view icurio
Click here to view Discovery Ed

In the fifth video provided by Dr. Strange, Dr. Strange and Mr. Capps give their listeners insight on what and how to be prepared as an early educator. Dr. Strange includes that educators should be really interested in learning, and that they should continue to be flexible throughout their career. Anthony Capps includes that early educators should understand that teaching is handwork and that teaching never ends. Mr. Capps also wants early educators to realize how rewarding being a teacher is. He also encourages educators to motivate ALL students, and to make sure you always have a purpose for reflection and self evaluation. The sixth video covered on how a teacher should not teach how to use technology, but instead use a scaffolding method to build on the student's understanding on how to properly use technology. The seventh and last video provided explained the layers of a lesson. Anthony Capps explains that the four layers of a lesson are the year plan, the unit plan, the weekly lesson, and the daily lesson. He covers that he feels all of these layers are equally important. What I learned from these three videos is what it takes to be a good teacher, how to incorporate technology into the classroom, and what are the four layers that my lessons should contain.