EDM310: A History, Flowchart

Here are a few images of the flowchart Jamie Lynn and I have created to document the order of which assignments, contacts, tools and resources have been added to the course-- if you see any revisions that need to be made, or have any additions that should be included, please leave a comment and we will add it asap. Flowchart.com is what we have been using with great success; unfortunately, it is still in the beginnings stage and it is being problematic when it comes to publishing to PDF. However, we will keep trying... so be sure to check back and suggest changes!

Kindergarten teachers hold a huge responsibility!

Kindergarten teachers worth $320,000!

I read this article posted on Yahoo's home page, and it verifies my beliefs that kindergarten teachers have an enormous influence on children's futures. As my five-year-old little sister enters kindergarten this fall, I can only hope that her teacher instills strong values and learning habits in her, just as I have been trying to do her entire life.

I personally think good teachers are worth millions, but a six-figure income doing what I love sounds great to me!

William Chamberlain Prize Fund Established. First Recipients Announced

The William Chamberlain Prize Fund has been established at the University of South Alabama. Annual awards will be given to one or more students in the College of Education who have demonstrated an unusual interest in and ability to use technology in learning.

Mr. Chamberlain announced the first winners of the prize in a ceremony Saturday July 24. They are:
Poppy Bednorz
Anthony Capps
Paula Casallo
Jackie Gorski
Jamie Lynn Miller


Each prize winner was awarded $ 150.

Congratulations to all the winners.









Bill Chamberlain, Jamie Lynn Miller, Jackie Gorski, Anthony Capps, Poppy Bednorz, John Strange. Paula Casallo not pictured.

You're Invited!

We need EDM's best students to help us out, and if you are still perusing the Alumni Blog, you are likely the perfect candidate. This is the kind of project the WILL change lives and give Mobile schools an upgrade-- don't let this opportunity pass you by. Contact Anthony Capps or Jamie Lynn Miller for when, how's, and why's at awc802@gmail.com or jamielynn519@gmail.com

When considering this project, think to yourself-- "What would Randy do?"

Join Mr. Chamberlain for a Conversation and Lunch

Mr. Bill Chamberlain will meet with students Friday from 9- 1 in the EDM310 Lab. Come talk with a master teachers who has contributed so much to EDM310.

If you are present at 1:00 pm I'll take you to lunch at my expense.
John Strange

Amazing TedX Denver Talk By Brian Crosby

Mr. McClung is back! Check out his year 2 reflection!

Mr. McClung has posted his reflection from his second year of teaching on the summer semester EDM310 blog. Check out his reflection.

Our PLN continues to evolve.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Jackie

How Would You Use A Smart Phone in the Classroom?

from Wikipedia.com

I will be buying my first smart phone on Thursday. Dr. Strange don't be too shocked but I will be getting the Droid X from Verizon. I chose this phone because I don't have 3G coverage with AT&T so the iPhone makes no sense and because the X has a very large screen. (I must be spoiled with my iPad;)

I plan on using the smart phone in my classroom and school and will soon be writing a post about how I will be using it. I would really like for a few of you to think about how you might use one in your classroom. Assume you have permission to use it from your administration and parents.

A Life Without Limbs: Nick Vujicic

Today I was viewing Shelly Terrell's blog, and I came across a video she had posted. This video is extremely moving, and I think it could really minister to anyone. I think it is especially great for teachers because we will have students like the man in the movie. Our influence as teachers will have a huge impact on our students' lives. This video shows how one man's encouragement and belief can change another man's life.
To View The Butterfly Circus

Nick Vujicic's Website: Life Without Limbs

Forget Blogging... Start Glogging with Glogster.

Hey everyone! I stumbled over this website after watching a video about a twelve year old girl's PLE. Glogster is similar to blogging, but it is way more interactive. You can add backgrounds, pictures, videos, sounds, and movement to your glog. A glog looks like a virtual poster/ad. I found this one glog below, and I realized how great it would be for classes. This is one I could use in an English class, but the possibilities are endless. Glogster is a great tool to use for anything! I hope you enjoy!

Not Only Math : An Excellent Example of a Teacher Sharing her Knowledge, Experience, and Tools to Help Students, Parents and Teachers Alike

(This is the CoolMath.com Logo - I love it!)

This site is interesting in a number of ways. I was looking for a fun resource for math games that would be appealing to kids in Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade when I learned of CoolMath.com.

To all my teacher type friends... This site is a great add to your personal learning network. For those in Math Education, the material is priceless. For those not of the math sector, read Karen's account of how she brought her student success rates from 35% to 75-80% just by revamping her teaching approach.

The math teacher proffesional development section is super fantastic.

Hope the summer is going great for all!!!!

PS- It's free. :)

Shelfari

For all you book lovers out there, Shelfari is the site for books and readers. It is a place where you can add books that you want to read, are reading, and have read. You can join groups, add friends, and discuss your favorite books. I found this site through my RED 352 teacher, Dr. Tunks. She has required us to add books to our shelves as we go through the class. I absolutely love literature, so I have already added over 50 books that I have read and loved. I have also added a widget to my blog. You can either click on it, which is located to the left, or click here.

A Question

I had a conversation on Twitter yesterday where I was discussing with two other teachers how pre-service teachers should be educated. Basically we were discussing when pre-service teachers should have classes on education theory, how much time they should practice teaching before they were given their own classroom, and how veteran teachers should assist new teachers.

For example I argued that pre-service teachers need much more time working in a classroom with a veteran teacher than the usual 8-10 weeks. I really think they should have two years of team teaching with a vet and they should take theory classes after those two years. I think the theory makes much more sense after having experience.

So, my question to you pre-service teachers is, "What would you prefer?"

May 4: National Teacher Appreciation Day

I just wanted to say thank you to all the teachers that have made a difference in my life. So many times, teachers go unnoticed. If it wasn't for teachers, none of us would make it in life. As a future teacher, I hope I improve my students' lives and encourage them to pursue their dreams. I am so appreciative of the teachers who have encouraged me and believed in me, even when I no longer wanted to continue my education. Dr. Strange, thank you for accepting my random, quirky sayings and beliefs. I have loved this past semester, and my life will forever be changed. Mr. Chamberlain, thank you for helping our class and assisting with our blog. You are an amazing teacher, and I look forward to the many things you have to offer us. For all the future teachers, I encourage you on your educational journey, and I look forward to keeping in touch! Thanks again for a great semester!

Continuing to Build My PLN

Even though the semester is over for me, I don't feel like I am done with EDM 310. I think this is the first class I have ever taken that I will continue to work on even though I am not formally required to. I wrote on my final exam that I felt more like a collaborator than a student in Dr. Strange's class. Does anyone else feel that way?

I am continuing to build my PLN in my "free time". I was looking for some new sites to add to my PLN and came across this site: 100 Best Blogs for Teachers of the Future. I wanted to share this with you because it seems like a great resource. There are a variety of blogs listed here on many topics from blogs by student teachers to blogs by special education teachers. I hope you find it helpful.

Vocaroo

I recently tried Vocaroo as part of an assignment for EDM. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use. I also liked that it was free. I used Vocaroo to create a little message from the Librarian on my Library Blog. I started thinking of all the ways I could make Vocaroo work for me. I want to record one of my K5 students reading a book. I would like to record some books and post to the blog. Weekly recordings of what's happening in the Library is another idea.

My question was/is does anyone know enough about Vocaroo to tell me if it is capable of doing the things I want it to? I just really like that it was so easy but easy is not always best.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Paula Casallo

What is going on in our local schools?

I stumbled across this presentation when I was browsing in You Tube for a videocast to post to my blog. Tabitha Greenlee and Dina Tillman compiled this video for an EDM 310 Project. Mobile County Schools-The information Society video is below. I thought this would give our distant collaborators an idea of where we are and how we are using technology in our local elementary school district of Mobile County. Thank you Tabitha and Dina for the insight.



While I was doing service hours in the Mobile County School System this semester I was introduced to several interactive games available for free on the web. Timez Attack was my favorite. This application is using multiplication to progress through the game. Timez Attack is on the level of your popular video games. See the following promo - success and confidence guaranteed.

Attitudes are Important

This past week I have been so frustrated with the University of South Alabama. I transferred here this past August, and I was able to register for 300 level English classes. I had already completed EH 102 and several literature classes. I did not have to take EH 101 because I made a 3 on the AP English Exam. The community college I transferred from accepted it, and everything was great. Until, I was told I could not apply for candidacy until I had taken EH 101 or taken the Clep test. My 3 was not enough, they will only accept a 4 or 5. Being the determined person I am, I would not accept this. I have passed all my English classes with an A, and I am currently in a 400 level course. I have also passed all the state examinations. Therefore, I contacted my English teacher, and he got the Head of Freshman Composition to write a letter on my behalf.

The State Board of Education does not require me to have both EH 101 and 102; however, South will still not accept my score or the request from the English Dept. I think this is absolutely ridiculous. How can a school let someone take 400 level English classes without EH 101? They should have realized this mistake when I first applied. This system is so corrupt, and it definitely does not make sense. Obviously, I am highly qualified in English, and I personally do not think I should have to retake a test to get out of it. Almost all universities accept a 3 on the AP English exam, and South accepts 3s for all AP exams except the English one. Although I am quite frustrated, I have quickly realized that my attitude is quite important, and the way I respond to certain situations can either help or hurt me. I think this is something to think about. As teachers, we are always going to find ourselves in difficult and unfair situations. We have to choose to keep a positive attitude and stay strong, even though we will be suffering under the system's corrupt bureaucracy.

Great Education Blogs: 2¢ Worth

I thought that one of the best ways for me to help out pre-service and new teachers would be share the blogs that I read. The first blog I recommend is 2¢ Worth by David Warlick. It was the first education blog I found and the one I read first. I chose this blog because it focuses on learning. A good reminder of what we are all about.

On another note, do you all have rss readers? If not I would suggest using my favorite Bloglines. It is easy to use (although you might Google Reader better for integration purposes.)

Get Ready, Get Set, Post!

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but
set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love,
in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

As you continue your educational journey (which you must continue throughout the rest of your life!) you have been given a rare opportunity. Believe it or not, shared professional blogs are not common. You are on the frontier of personal learning networks.

What makes a shared professional blog so powerful? I find At the Teacher's Desk a wonderful place to write something that I have been thinking about. It is a place where I know at least a few people will read it. There is nothing worse than writing in a vacuum.

Even though you are at the very beginning of your professional journey, you are not new to education. As a matter of fact, you are experts; experts at being students. You must constantly reflect on your student careers to help guide you in your teaching career. You remember the teachers that cared and the teachers that didn't You remember the classes that you learned a lot from and those that were a waste of time (college health? seriously?) You must learn your lessons from these experiences and use them in your own classroom.

Do not be afraid to be honest, share your experiences especially your failures. You will not only help everyone that reads the post, you will also prove yourself to be an honest, reflective teacher. When you are willing to share your experiences, everyone benefits (most of all your students!)

Finally, if you choose to write for this blog you need to commit to being supportive of the others that write here. Leave them comments. Tell them what you think. Share with them what you have learned.

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother;
Shakespeare's HENRY V

Having a strong support system in place may be the difference between your success and failure as a teacher. Lean on each other, push each other, empathize with each other. Always remember, you have decided on a career that forces you to think of yourself second, the students must always come first.