Blog Post #3

What is Peer Editing? & Peer Edit with Perfection Tutorial

        I learned from watching What is Peer Editing? and  Peer Edit with Perfection that peer editing is when someone your own age comments on someone that same age written work. The comments the peers makes on this written work should compliment, offer suggestions, and corrections. One note I will take from both videos is to stay POSITIVE. No one constantly wants negative criticism on their work, simply because it can be discouraging to writer. I learned that should always compliment their written work first. Complimenting first gives the writer some positive feedback over the possible negative feedback. Suggestions would come second and need to have specific instruction. For example, telling the writer the exact sentence that he/she may need to consider rewording, or even pointing on where he/she began getting off topic. Finally make sure to check for grammatical errors or any other writing errors.

Writing Peer review Top 10 Mistakes

          Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes discusses the correct and incorrect way to peer edit. This video displays the different types of peer editors that are not properly peer editing. Picky Patty, who points out all "little" negative mistakes. For example, she points out to the writer too much space between a word. Whatever William who does not care about his mistakes, and is satisfied with a D+. Then there's Social Sammy who talks to everyone around him, asking silly questions. Jean the Generalizer points out mistakes, but is not specific enough. For example, she tells the writer he spelled some words wrong, but not which words.

         Mean Margaret is exactly that, giving all negative and discouraging feedback. Loud Larry compliments very well, but is so loud he is discussing it with the entire class. Pushy Paula wants it done her way and is NEVER wrong. Off-Task Oliver is  starts off focusing on the assignment then ends up talking about a birthday party or a game. Speedy Sandy speeds through the peer editing not giving time for the writer to see and correct the mistakes. Finally, is Defensive Dave who takes the suggestions personally, which is something you can't do when someone is helping you to become a better writer. I learned from this video that you need to be positive and direct when peer editing. It is all about the approach and manner when peer editing.

Blog Post #2

Mr. Dancealot

              Mr. Dancealot is a video showing how a teacher taught his dance class and how the students behave in the class. The teacher states that he has taught the class for 12 years. The teacher uses the traditional teaching technique of him standing in front of the class reading directly from the power point. During this part of the class the students are inattentive and some are even falling asleep. One students attempts to stand up and practice the steps, the teacher just discussed, and the teacher asks him to down. The students have no involvement in the class, but are expected to perform well on the final. The author did an excellent job showing future educators what not to do in their classroom. The author shows that you cannot learn effectively using the teaching method Mr. Dancealot used. If students are not involved in the learning process, the outcome will be the same as the students in the video. Yes, I completely agree with the authors conclusion of this video. No one wants to be a teacher like Mr. Dancealot or be a student in his class. I feel that if students do not benefit from what is being taught, what is the point in teaching?

Teaching in the 21st Century

A Network Student

A Network Student is an insight into the future of schools, it illustrates how beneficial networking is to students, and creates independent learning. Technology advances daily and right at our fingertips, which brings up the the idea of teachers not being a necessity. I believe teachers are needed to help guide students in the right direction. Imagine a world absent of instruction and guidance. That thought just screams CHAOS! I think open learning and giving students the freedom to learn what interests them is great, but not all students will be as eager as other students.  This is where the teacher comes in to help motivate and make sure they are going in the right direction.
Some teaching methods may be outdated but the content of what they are trying to get across is still beneficial.  Teachers are still trying to give the students basic tools to use, but now it is left up to the students on how they use these tools.If students were to use the internet to help in active learning this would be a great tool for the classroom, but to leave the students to figure out what is good and bad is not a good tool.  Boundaries need to be set and having a physical teacher who gives them these boundaries and quizzes them to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing is one positive aspect of the teacher being in the classroom. I think there should be a good balance between teacher interaction and independent learning and networking.


Harness Your Students Digital Smarts

               Harness your Students Digital Smarts is a video showing how she teaches her network students. She shows how her teaches and how her students learn. She tells how she is not in the front of the class all of the time and that she does not know everything before introducing a new technology. She even tells how the students showed her how to use the technology. She states that it is all about empowerment, and reminded me so much the video Network Students. I agree with her that it is all about empowerment, it is about keeping student eager to learn by giving them basic tools to tackle new obstacles. 

Who's Ahead in the Learning Race?

Kindergarten is definitely ahead in the Learning Race. I am an undergrad in the learning race. This video is of Dr. Strange's visit from Gulf Shores Elementary contrasting and comparing what they are doing and what we (EDM 310 and EDM 510) do in class. Every slide/ topic from iMovie, rubrics, to commenting the students at Gulf Shores Elementary already know how to do it. 

Flipping the Classroom 4th Stem

            I thought Flipping the Classroom 4th Stem explained by Ms. Munafo was an excellent idea. I would definitely use this approach in my classroom. Ms. Munafo explains that flipping the classroom is an innovative approach to classroom instruction. Flipping the classroom is basically getting students out of the same routine of listening to the teacher teach and doing a worksheet; instead students would watch the video of the new lesson at home and come back the next day prepared to ask questions and go over the new lesson. I liked how they show the video in class also, for the students who may not have a computer at home. I think this approach would be helpful because everyone learns different and I would like to offer my students different options on how to learn new information. I feel it keeps the students prepared, and if you are prepared you can tackle almost anything. 

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Bringing the Locker into the Classroom

I enjoyed reading Bringing the Locker into the Classroom. This article is about a teacher who is given the opportunity to become an honorary coach. So with award he was able to be in the locker room before the game and states that the coach did not prepare the team with typical speeches and chants, but team discussions and debates on how to win the game, different strategies, and team strengths versus the opponents weakness. The teacher then realized they were using problem based learning. He then decides to get all of the studies at the college to take notes on how the football team practices and incorporate it into the classroom. From this article I would take with me "teach them the system", figure out what works for my class to get them involved in the lesson and not look for me to have all the answers.

Practice Blog Post

-background

-school

-hobbies

-why education

Hola! My name is Jessica and I am from Monroeville, AL.  I am an Elementary Education major at the University of South Alabama. I love to EAT and pizza is my favorite. I most recently discovered cooking home cooked meals.  I enjoy shopping and spending time with my family and laughing. I am the middle child, I have an older brother and a younger sister. I like going on nature walks and being outside, for the most part. I enjoy relaxing on the beach and going to amusement parks.  I would love to teach a kindergarten class and instill in them early the eagerness to learn. I choose teaching because I want to make an impact on the world the best way I know how, and that starts in the classroom.

Blog Post #1

What About EDM 310?

       Some of the things I have heard about EDM 310 have not been the most pleasant and comforting. For instance, I heard that the workload was insane and that you have to put at least 9 hours into this class. I do not currently have any fears about this class.

       EDM 310 is different from other classes I have taken because it is more independent learning than the traditional classroom. EDM 310 requires you to do more than just "scratching the surface" for the to a problem. EDM 310 does not have tests like the traditional classroom setting. The traditional classroom the teacher would assign a chapter to read then test on the material you read, while in EDM 310 you will read that same chapter put it in your own meaning and put it to use (literally). EDM 310 is similar to the traditional classes I have taken because they both have assignments graded by peers. Both classes have projects and group assignments.

           
                My most difficult task for me with this class will be time management. The best way for me to address my problem with time management is to get ahead and stay ahead with my assignments.  First by setting up a schedule and staying on that schedule.  I am going start my assignments early and break them down into smaller assignments. This way I will not feel so bombarded with the assignments and deadlines. I do not have any questions at this time about EDM 310.