Project #12 Part B SmartBoard

C4K Summary for November

My first student to comment on in November was on Vaifoa's blog. Vaifoa is in sixth grade at Pt. England School in Auckland, New Zealand.  This student wrote a very detailed story about being alone and entering a cabin where there was blood everywhere.  I assumed this was not true.  However, I did ask in my comment if it was, in fact, a real experience he had encountered.  Here was my comment below:

Vaifoa, my name is Brantley Spillman. I am a student at the University of South Alabama.  Throughout this semester, I have commented on several students’ blogs throughout the world, although, you are the third student from the Pt. England School that I have commented upon.  I loved the story you wrote! Your writings created a really vivid image.  Is this a true story?  If so, then I am not sure I would have entered the cabin.  I can see you really enjoyed your writing assignment. Continue to keep up the good work.  Thanks for sharing your post.

My second assignment was to comment on an entire class’s blog.  For this lesson, I was assigned to Ms. George’s first grade class, also at Pt. England School in Auckland, New Zealand.  I was initially disappointed, but quickly realized that these were first graders.  I often ask myself if blogging is beneficial or appropriate at younger ages?  The class’s blog title was “Big Shells and Little Shells.”  Here was my response below:

Hey guys! My name is Brantley Spillman.  I am also a student at University of South Alabama.  I have enjoyed reading your school’s blogs throughout this semester.  I, also, live on the water, although, I rarely find pretty seashells like the ones you have shown.  However, I do catch lots of fish.  I really enjoy fishing in my free time. I hope you all continue to embrace the outdoors. Exploring nature was one of my favorite things to do as a child. I am glad to see you all enjoy it as well.  Good luck with your remaining school year. 

I believe I will remember the Pt. England School in Auckland, New Zealand the most when I recall commenting on student blogs. This school seems to have a relatively progressive mindset when it comes to blog use in the classroom. I appreciated seeing how it could be used at several grade levels.  Additionally, I have enjoyed getting a glimpse of how students interact with others throughout the world.  Seeing examples like this allows for future educators to gain a clear picture so as to prepare for his or her future classroom and technology implementation. 

Project # 2: PLN Final Summary

My PLN is a work in progress and involves the development of many personal relationships with educators in the local area. Because my PLN involves personal connections, I will keep the names of my contacts private to respect their privacy online. However, I will provide details of some of the information that these selected individuals have supplied me in my ongoing search and development of my PLN. Each of the contacts I will discuss are at three different local elementary schools so I can gain a diverse and representative group of educators to offer advise and guidance as I pursue my education degree.

Firstly, I have recently spoken in depth with a current principal of a local elementary school.  He and I have discussed many issues currently ongoing in the present educational system such as the implementing the common core, attempting new math teaching strategies, teacher training in new techniques and good methods for concerned parent interactions.  He has expressed both concerns and strategies to facilitate where education is heading.  Like many current educators, he is on board with technology and everything it has to offer in a classroom.  This particular principal is an enthusiastic educator and I love that he is always willing to voice his opinions.  Connections like this are rare and I am appreciative to have this connection and friendship.  I will stay in touch with this educator for future recommendations along with any future questions that may arise.

Secondly, I have visited my son’s kindergarten class on several occasions and had a number of meetings with both his teacher and principal. These interactions allow me to continue to gather ideas and strategies on how to approach my classroom.  My son’s teacher has been kind enough to show me what a teacher deals with on a day to day basis: the discipline issues, integrating the latest education theory, and implementing SMARTboard lesson plans, iPads and Computer stations when doing learning stations. By visiting my son’s school, I have been able to see how basic operations are implemented within the walls of a school.

Finally, another connection of mine that has been a long-term inspiration for me due to her enthusiasm and commitment to the betterment of her special education classroom at a another local elementary school.  I have now known this teacher for three years.  She has allowed me to visit her classroom and I have listened to many stories on the difficulties teachers can face when teaching special needs.  She is very dedicated and I know I will continue to ask her for advice even when I have my own classroom. This teacher never stops searching for the newest and latest practices to implement new learning and coping strategies. Her knowledge is diverse and expansive. Additionally, she has many connections within the area and had introduced me to many other educators here in Baldwin County. 

I will continue to build my learning network of educators throughout my educational journey.  Being well connected is important in every field.  We must always look for peers that can provide us with ideas that only come with experience. 

C4T Summary

Jerid W. Kruse Blog:

Jerid W. Kruse is a professor at Drake University.  Mr. Kruse provides great questions within his blog for future educators to ask themselves.  My first comment was in regards to his post titled, “Teacher Education Starts in Kindergarten”.  Here was my comment:

Mr. Kruse, my name is Brantley Spillman.  I am currently enrolled at the University of South Alabama and majoring in Education.  I have enjoyed reading your blog.  I am also a latecomer to education and am seeking tangible advice on how to be an effective teacher. Your questions posed in the post are provoking and require some thought. Anytime a teacher is stepping back to reflect on how they are communicating with their students is beneficial. I think your inspirational words are a good foundation to establish my personal strategy to teaching. I look forward to future post.

His second post was titled “Critical Curiosity”.  I enjoyed this read because I have doubted technology’s actual purpose in the classroom many times this semester.  He asked the question, “Can technology actually reduce the intellectual level of the classroom?”  I wanted to attack this question, however, I do not feel have enough experience to honestly answer such a question.  Below, is my comment that I left for Mr. Kruse on this particular post:

Throughout this semester I have been introduced to technology that is completely new to me.  These technologies have also, at times, led me to doubt different aspects of what it really has to offer.  However, as you have stated, technology is critical in the sense that it is here and it will only continue to evolve within all classrooms.  Thus, it is up to us, as educators, to find a happy medium that we can implement and feel comfortable with so that we can use that technology without using it as a crutch. 

This final C4T for this semester was interesting and enjoyable to read.  I like how he asked questions rather than stating personal opinions.  This approach, on many levels, allows individuals to think for themselves and not blindly agree or disagree.  I have enjoyed all C4T assignments assigned in EDM 310.  I look forward to following these educators throughout my educational journey.

Blog Post #14

Create Blog Post Assignment, write instructions and then do it!

Blog Assignment: Describe your concerns with any of the technology you have learned in EDM310.

Instructions: Discuss, if any, concerns for the fast pace implementation of technology into the classroom.

"The Surrender of Culture to Technology"

Neil Postman, College Lecture Series (1:25:12)

My Interpretation: 

Education is changing and moving forward into the technology realm whether, we as educators, like it or not.  We must embrace this change, however, this does not mean we have to get lost “behind the screen”.  One of the first videos we watched this semester was a lecture given by Dr. Sugata Mitra.  Dr. Mitra introduced the proposal in which teachers have become obsolete in the presence of computer access.  Yes, a computer has endless opportunities for students to educate themselves.  However, I believe only an educator can teach a deeper understanding of that information generated from more knowledge and experiences that a child does not possess.  I am concerned teachers will find it easy to lead by using technology but in the process create a crutch that debilitates their teaching capabilities. We do not need educators using technology because it is easy, we need educators to use technology as a final tool to educate our students because it is beneficial to his or her complete understanding of a specific subject after an educator has relied on his or her own teaching abilities to TEACH the topic. 

Dr. Postman explains that, “the brain is to a technology as the mind is to a medium.” Technology doesn’t have to be inherently bad or good. Again, as I’ve stated in previous blog posts, I believe that technology can amplify an already good teacher but can also be thoughtless and useless to an already bad teacher. The barrage of information that today’s students receive can be shallow and without roots. This creates a student without the necessary depth to really understand a particular subject. It is the educator that needs to provide directive in how to gain roots and true understanding that a wikipedia or even iCurio search will not supply.

I was first introduced to blogging this semester in EDM310.  At first, I blindly jumped on board with this new technological tool.  However, about halfway through the semester, I started thinking is wondered whether this tool was as important as people have suggested?  Initially, my concern was of privacy.  I have heard several parents voicing their concerns in their children participating in a class blog. Additionally, I was concerned about allowing the public to have access to my thoughts, my family, and my interests. They are personal and I prefer them to be personal. Maybe if more people kept their personal thoughts to themselves…there would be less “cyber-bullying” and “pedophilic cyber-stalking”. Social medias allow for a kind of boldness that was less prevalent when relationships and conversations relied on a face-to-face conversation. This argues against the benefits of social medias in the classroom as a learning tool. Additionally, I am unclear as to an appropriate age in which kids really benefit from blogging.  I understand it is “cool” that someone from the other side of the world read your blog but is that the end of their learning. If so, then I believe I may rely on a different technique to integrate “cool” into my classroom and generate a greater learning tool.  Interpersonal face-to-face relationships have equal capacity to generate a “cool” factor. How many people recall meeting their idol? How many can remember every word said by that individual? Why wouldn’t I attempt to capture this experience rather than a child’s favorite cartoon?

Cons of Technology Integration in the Classroom

Blog Post 13: 3 of Sir Ken Robinson's Top Ten Lectures

by Brantley Spillman           

Kakenya Ntaiya: A Girl Who Demanded School

I recommend this video to everyone. Ms. Ntaiya’s determination and personal experiences were truly inspiring to me. Hearing her life’s story from her own mouth made more of an impact than if I had simply read her story. I will give technology props for giving me that opportunity. In addition, if I could choose to work with another teacher’s class “collaboratively” with my own class, this would be my pick

Ms. Ntaiya is a native of Kenya who rose against traditional values and found true joy in learning.  Her background triggered memories of when I lived with a student from Kenya, from Uganda, and from Angola. All four of us were housed at the same time in a single college dorm room.  I was only 19 years old from a small town in southern Georgia. I immediately respected the “African” culture. Each of their stories made me realize what privilege and freedoms I had been raised with, even with my working class parents.  

 

Fortunately, Ms. Ntaiya was able to leave her hometown to pursue more education in America. Her determination was single-minded. One example is when she spoke of undergoing the tradition of “genital mutilation” (female circumcision) so as to return to her local school. With any society or culture, there will be people who want change and/or equality for local traditions or status quos. However, like most situations, it is easier said than done.

I believe this video was, by far, the most touching for me to watch this semester.  Although, I have said this before after watching Randy Pausch’s last lecture, I stand corrected.  I hope my children have this determination when attacking obstacles in their lives. When teaching students how to appreciate their own freedoms and applying determination to obstacles, interviews/lectures of firsthand experiences, like this, can offer a strong learning impact that I can appreciate technology offers.  Although, for an even larger impact, it would be amazing to have Ms. Ntaiya come to speak in my classroom so as my students can ask questions and generate meaningful discussion.

As a spoiled culture, we should learn from stories of this nature.  Life is short, fight for what you believe.  In the end, we can only hope people remember what footprints we leave behind.  Ms Ntaiya has left an influential footprint for both her own culture and ours, here in America.  She will be remembered as a hero for not only women, but for every individual that has challenged the norm in any way. 

by Haley Smith

To This Day...for the Bullied and Beautiful

When I was looking to see what video I wanted, my attention immediately turned to number eight, Shane Koyczan’s video, “To This Day...for the Bullied and Beautiful”. Bullying is something that has always been there but, lately, the bully victims and bully numbers have grown. This video not only covered bullying; it also covered goals and future aspirations that all of us have or have had at one time.

We are asked, constantly, as kids and, even now, as adults in college what we wanted or want to be when we “grow up”. Something that Mr. Koyczan mentioned is that it is an unfair question. The reason: it presupposes that we can’t be what we already are. Why couldn’t I just stay Haley growing up? Why do we always have to think of something to become. Another issue with this question is that, so often, we don’t give the people that ask us the answer they want. If a teacher asks us, we are told to “be more realistic” or “that is a stupid answer” or even “you won’t ever become that”. In order to please everyone around us in what we want to be, we have to become someone we are not. The way that Shane put it was, we must sacrifice what we are to inherit the masquerade of what we will be. Our dreams are something that are so important to us, but there are some people that will easily drop our dreams and dismiss them like they are the worst possible thing on earth. Why are our dreams so easy to dismiss? Why do our dreams get called silly or foolish or impossible? In a way, the manner in which our dreams, goals, and hopes are treated, it is bullying. Calling someone stupid due to a dream of being an astronaut is mean and selfish. There is nothing nice about tearing down someone’s dreams.

Bullying is something that can be found everywhere. Public school and private school have issues with bullying. Everyone knows the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. That is WRONG! Words hurt more than anything. Bones and bruises heal, but words stick  to your being until you decide it is time to let go. Even then, the remains are still buried in your body and mind. Each school has an arsenal of nicknames that only get bigger and bigger: stupid, spaz, dork. Kids are being called all sorts of names every day at school. I loved what Shane said about beauty. He said, “If you don’t see anything beautiful about yourself, get a new mirror. Stare a little longer because there is something inside you that made you keep going despite everyone trying to tell you to quit. Put a cast on your broken heart, sign it, and say ‘THEY WERE WRONG’.” In school, we always cheer for the underdog. The one that isn’t so great at basketball or football. When one of the underdogs makes the winning basket or the winning touchdown, we cheer and go crazy because they tried their hardest. Why do we cheer for the underdog? ...because we can relate to him or her. We see ourselves in them. We are more than a car abandoned sitting on empty. We are people. We must not judge ourselves by the pain we suffer but by the beauty in us.

by Hilary Thames 

Mae Jemison: Teach Arts and Sciences Together

 

It’s funny to think that in this video, Teach Arts and Sciences Together, this speech was given, by Mrs. Mae Jemison, over ten years ago, because every bit of what she said goes along with what is happening in today’s time as well. We, as educators, tend to have an attitude of, “whatever happens, happens,” just as Jemison mentions. In addition, she used a great quote from Lewis Carrol, “If you don’t much care where you want to get, then it doesn’t much matter which way you go” that sums up this attitude. That’s the problem with today’s education system, we have too many educators who don't care about what happens, or which way they get there. With this quote, Mrs. Jamison  begins to speak on  her topic of revitalizing arts and sciences.  

Our generation has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. From the shift of the farming age to the industrial age, our generation has taken a leap into an information age. We want all the information we can obtain, and we want it now! Just think about it, two to three seconds tops to pull up the news on your smartphone. Information generation students in our current school systems are thriving for knowledge. With closed minds running their classrooms, they are not allowed access to all that an open minded person wants. Creativity is the key to opening our students' minds. Stressing arts and sciences pushes open the doors of each student’s mind. With subjects, such as math and history, a student’s mind is not allowed fully opened opportunities, they simply call for a student to memorize and recall facts and equations. However, arts and sciences gives way for students to place thinking caps on their heads and to be creative, thinking for themselves. Mrs. Jemison uses another great quote from Albert Einstein, “The most beautiful thing we can experience, the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science,” to further this idea. When children begin to experience mystery, their eyes are opened to a whole new world.

Blog Post #12

by Brantley Spillman

Ken Robinson: Changing Education Paradigms

What can we learn from Sir Ken Robinson? Ken Robinson is a speaker, author, and educational advisor for the Arts.  Mr. Robinson petitions in favor of the Arts to non-profit organizations, government departments, and various educational programs throughout the country.

While watching Ken Robinson’s lecture, “Changing Education Paradigms,” my initial assessment of Sir Robinson’s video was, “how cool is that written cartoon that writes key points of his lecture on a white board!?”

Mr. Robinson opens his lecture by stating that everyone agrees that, “there is a problem with our current educational system”.  He further states that, “every culture wants to educate their children so that they have a sense of cultural identity.”  However, Mr. Robinson believes that by taking this approach, we are trying to embrace a future in education that correlates with what our cultures have done in the past not empowering students for what is to come.  He doesn’t explicitly say this approach is wrong but I am assuming he does not agree with this approach.  His argument is that millions of kids are alienated while using this approach. Specifically, modern education is creating survivors. I am not sure Mr. Robinson offers many suggestions to change these approaches; he only offers complaints of the system's limitations. His suggestions, specifically, ask for educators and parents to stop giving difficult/distractable children ADHD drugs, such as Adderall and Ritalin, to gain conformism from the child but to, instead, let these children embrace the Arts. Dispose of grade levels, and have these students work in groups to maintain their attention.  Honestly, his suggestions remind me of communism: it looks great on paper, but does it really work when implemented. I find two problems with this ADHD discussion:

1) What if you are a child who does not respond or learn well using the Arts? Are you tossed aside for me being math-minded? How is this not just swinging the exclusive learning pendulum the other direction? Now only the arts-minded will thrive.

2) I am not sure if he was arguing that ADHD is not real? Is it a figment of exhausted educators' and parents' imagination who just haven’t tapped into that child’s innate need for the Arts? I am not arguing that American culture doesn’t love a good pill to fix something that could be fixed by lifestyle change, but I challenge him to stand in front of a set of parents that have found some relief and normalcy by putting their child on these medications. I believe his argument is idealistic and may be too simplistic.

I did, however, like how he compared the current school layout to that of a factory setting.  I had never realized or even tried to compare a classroom to a factory before this lecture: bells that start/end tasks, task-designated rooms, product-oriented projects. I do agree with Mr. Robinson that our current educational system has issues. There should be some value and freedom to commend a student on their learning process rather than the end point. However, I feel it is easy to point out problems, but very difficult to find solutions.  Correct me if I am wrong, but I did not hear any solutions in his talk. I only heard complaints about the educational system that seems to have gotten him where he is today: a relatively successful lobbyist for the Arts in the educational system. Maybe he should admit that the "broken" system did do something right for him and we can expand on that? 

Overall, I appreciated hearing his argument. I can appreciate the problem with our current educational system in that 'certain students' are never given the opportunity to thrive. Obviously, we, as educators, have the difficult task to reach these students in some way. If technology offers a means to gain these students' attention, then I am all for it. If the Arts program offers a means to gain these students' attention, then, again, I am all for it. 

by Haley Smith

How to escape education's death valley

I really enjoyed watching this video because it focused on the “No Child Left Behind” Act that was put in place in schools all across America. American schools are such a beneficial program because there is more money, smaller class sizes, and the schools are always trying to improve. If that is the case, then why is the dropout rate in America 60%? There are three points that Ken Robinson made that causes American schools to be so unsuccessful. The first reason was that humans are naturally diverse. The example that he gave of this is that if a couple has two children, the two children are completely opposite without ever learning anything. No Child Left Behind is based solely on conformity, not diversity. A child that exceeds in arts, humanities, and physical education isn’t going to get the right attention that a student that exceeds in math and english. The artsy student is going to fail in the eyes of the state because he or she can’t pass the standardized test. Robinson made a point that there is an “epidemic” of American students diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. All “ADD” is is a childhood. Kids aren’t going to sit still especially if they aren’t engaged. Teachers should give students a broad curriculum that focuses on each talent not just a small range of them. The arts are important because it speaks to a part of a child’s mind that is untouched.

The second point is humans are naturally curious. If a teacher sparks curiosity, a student will learn. Children are natural learners. Teachers are the life flow of successful schools. Teaching is a creative profession not a delivery system. You can’t expect to use burp back education. You have to mentor, stimulate, promote, and engage students. Make them want to learn. Teaching and learning must go together. You can be engaged in the task of teaching but if students aren’t learning, then you as a teacher aren’t achieving. The teachers role is to facilitate learning. We must get out of the routine, and we must use our powers of creativity and imagination to do what we have to do.

The final point is that humans are naturally creative. As teachers we must awaken the powers of creativity in our students. Instead of doing that, we have a system of standardization. The issue with that is that tests are only on specific criteria rather than all talents. If someone is having trouble because they aren’t good at math but awesome at soccer, they are defined by their failure at math. In a sense, we “leave him or her behind”. Education isn’t a mechanical system; it is a human system. Every student that drops out has a unique reason for doing so. We need to create  a movement that turns into a revolution in education. 

by Hilary Thames

How Schools Kill Creativity

Creativity is something that I am going to stress on a high level to my students. I believe, just as Mr. Robinson, that it is just as important as any core subject. So when I received the opportunity to watch his video,  How Schools Kill Creativity, of course I jumped right on it! Mr. Robinson spoke on the way that the education system as it is today attempts to corral children into conformity, making the argument that all children are born with creativity but it is “educated” out of them. He says that creativity comes from the absence of fear of being wrong, however, the school systems of today make being wrong the one of the worst things you can do as a student. In my classroom i am going to promote creativity by not discouraging children after a wrong answer, but encouraging them to find the correct answer. 

Mr. Robinson stressed the point that the children in school today will not retire until 2065. He also mentioned that we, as educators, don’t know what is going to come about in the next five years, much less, in the next fifty. This is why I am going to promote creativity in my classroom. We look at University professors as those who have “ won the education game.” However, when we do not know where education is going then how can that be determined. The times are beginning to change more rapidly with each year and we need creative students who are not conformed to the usual restrictions of education to help pioneer this coming change. As Mr. Robinson said, the amount of students to graduate in the next thirty years will be the highest number of students to graduate since the beginning of education making degrees nearly worthless and jobs almost impossible to find. Therefore, I am going to encourage children to come up with new ideas, and not just have them bound by the answers the textbook tells us is correct. New creations come from things that were either not thought of or looked down upon previously. Allowing my students to think outside the box will open their realm of thinking beyond what the school system wants them to know and into the leaders of innovation in the society of tomorrow.