My EDM 310 Blog Assignments are Now Complete

I think this class is very useful. But I also believe that certain topics do not need to be covered or the application of the topic needs to be changed. First thing I would drop is Tri-fold brouchure. Even though I enjoyed making it, I don't see a huge need for this skilled to be learned when there are many companies out there to do it for you, and at a professional quaility level. The topics I would give more time to and stress is Power point presentations, Spreadsheets (for use in making a gradebook not a interest log), databases, and webpage. All theses could be useful in the classroom. Though I like to blog I would have to say in this course they are more of a burden than a learning tool. Maybe a change on how it is used would help, but I really did not recieve much education for this part of the course.

The best thing about this course was Dr. Strange's use of video teaching. He would place a instructional video on his blog page from the last lesson he taught. This was extremly helpful, for any student that may have missed a class or who may not have understood the lesson when it was first taught. I was able to really understand many of the topics because of these videos and I think they are a great asset to the class.

Wickipedia

I have used Wickipedia many times to confirm or to start my research and searching. I believe that Wickipedia can be a good secondary source for information, but not a the authority of information you use. Because it can be changed and altered by anyone, it is difficult unless you know the subject well, if the information that is gathered is correct. Just like with any source you use, you should always double-check its information and only include it if it can be proven or confirmed.

Fischbowl January

I found this blog to be interesting. It is in regards to a colorado proposal to change how the school system should run. First off it would take a major change in the constituion for any of these changes to take place. One of the ideas to assume that the goal is that every child will go to college. The blog questions this because one where do you put all these students, and secondly, where are all these graduates gonna find jobs in their fields.

Another problem is the creation of a state board that would set the cricullum and administer state tests. The blog questions weather it is wise to base a students performance on one test. And if this would just increase the amount schools will just teach to the test.

I think the blog brings up good questions on where the future of education is going. If we are over testing our children and relying to much on those results to acess winning and failure of programs

Fischbowl September

I really enjoyed this blog. I think it was funny but also touched on a major issue in our schools today. Which is teachers and school staffs that are not technological literate. Many older teachers have not been exposed to new technology or programs that incoming student are aware of. This can cause the students to not be able to get a full and complete education in this changing world. The blog suggest that their should be standards for all schools and teachers.

Acess program

Looking at the power point. The Access program is a great step to the future. The power point was very clear the advantages that on-line learning can give students and teachers. It explained how the student of the 21st century will need to be more technolgcally advanced than todays students.

The Access program provides student and teachers the ability to study courses on-line that would and could not be available at their schools. This will allow students to expand their feild of learning, but also give teachers a chance to teach their subjects to a new student body. Students and teachers will be exposed to video conferencing, tablet laptops, microsoft office, video cameras, and interactive white boards. These are all things used in todays society and skill students will need to have in the world today

Using Alex

I was really excited about the resources ALEX had to offer teachers. Being a new teacher I think one of the biggest hurdles is being able to be organized and creative in the classroom. The first section of ALEX I would use would be the lesson plan section. Coming in as a novice teacher with very limited experience in making lesson plans I think it would help me a great deal to see what other teachers are doing in my subject area and be able to compare notes.

The web links section would also be something I would use to be able to bring the internet in use for homework. I believe it is important to keep children involved and active, and by using the internet something that children love, it would help keep them focused. I also like the ability to place homework, notes, test online for student access, that way no work can be missed if sick.

The professional development section would also be important to me since I will be trying to further my education. Its nice to have most of the information you need in one area instead of searching all over the web for it.

Over all I think this is a great resource for teachers. And I hope whereever I end up teaching we have a similiar website to help out

Alex Resources

When i clicked onto the Alex site I was amazed at the wealth of information and resources availible to teachers in all subject areas. Starting on the home page we have several links that a teacher can go to for certain resources. The course of study section is amazing it gives the teacher the ability to look up their subject area and get information on what is being or should be taught in the classroom. The web link section allows teachers and student the ability to access information and work that might have been missed due to sickness.

The lesson plan section is a great tool that allows teachers to place their lesson plans online so others can see what new ideas may be going on in the classroom of another school. The professional learning section is a important tool that allows the teacher to get information regarding continuing their professional development and education. The distance learning section is a area that a teacher can access the ability to give their student the chance to experience distance learning if their school don't offer it or offer it on a limited basis.

I think this is a great resource tool.

Power Point Project

I think I am going to focus my power point project on the varitey of places I have been and the jobs I have been involved in throughout my life. I want to show how I have experienced life and followed my dreams and aspirations. I will start from my hometown of Syracuse NY and follow it all the way to South Alabama. I think it is exciting to look back at the path you left and reflect and move forward to the future.

Introduction

Hi my name is Joe Reddick I am 34 years old and I am from Syracuse NY. My major is Secondary History Education. I came to South after moving to Foley Al to try and start fresh and finish my degree. I have lived in Germany and in Spain each for a year and I love to travel. Mt major interests are in sports. I play and coach tennis and basketball on the high school and college level. I also enjoy theater and have been in over 30 plays. I hope after graduation to begin teaching back in NY, but also work towards getting a job as a head basketball coach for a division one or two school.

Did you Know

Watching the video I was suprised how rapidly everything is moving in technology. As I prepare to become a teacher I know I will be faced with trying to keep up with my students in their knowledge of the internet. I believe as the video points out for students to be successful in the coming years our schools will need to provide every student a computer and the knowledge of its uses in everyday life and in education. With the internet information is provided faster than any form of technology ever created. American school children as the video shows are well behind the curve when it comes to using technology in education. If America is gonna close the gap between us and other devlop and undevelop countries we need to shift our focus away from traditional subjects and move more towards subjects that intergrate technology and computers

First Blog

this is my first Blog. Welcome everyone