Blogfolio

1.     Intro-video and paragraph

The standard that I felt went along with the intro-video and paragraph activity was 1c. This standard stated, “Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.” I think that this standard goes along with the intro-video and paragraph because in it we had to introduce ourselves while a classmate took a video of it. I think that I could definitely use video making in my classroom. I would probably not use this as a way to introduce the class but they could use it as a personal reflection activity or as a way to get the students to interview each other.

2.     Ghostery

The standard that I felt went along with ghostery activity was 3a. This standard stated, “Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.” In this activity we used a downloaded tool to see who is tracking us online. In order to get this tool you have to understand how to download and work ghostery that is why I believe it went along with standard 3a. I do not think that I would have the children in my classroom use ghostery. I might use it as a teacher to see who is tracking the websites I tell my students they can use as a tool in my classroom.

3.     Facebook

The standard that I felt went along with the Facebook activity was 4c. This standard stated, “Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.” I feel like this standard goes along with the Facebook activity because in this activity we are observing what our Facebook looks like from a viewer who does not know us. This is a good way to teach children to watch what they put on social media and that they need to use technology responsibly. I think that if I taught a high school class that this would be very beneficial in my classroom. I think that it really gets students thinking about what they are putting on the Internet and that would be very beneficial for some students. 

4.     Concept map

The standard that I felt went along with the concept map we created was 3c. This standard stated, “Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats.” This activity goes along with standard 3c because in this we used a program to make a concept map. We then used that concept map to give a presentation to the class about the information we had on the map. I think that this is something that will be very beneficial in a classroom one day. A teacher could use this as a visual aid in his or her lesson for the day. The students could also use this by having them create their own concept map about a certain subject and then have them present that to the classroom.

5.     Voki

The standard that I felt went along with the voki we created was1b. This standard stated, “Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.” In this activity we used a website to create an avatar that will relay information that you tell it to say. Our voki told what we wanted from the new president of the University of Southern Mississippi. This is a great way to get students engaged in issues that are going on in the world, which is part of standard 1b. I feel that I could use this as a way to give out information to the students about a topic but I could also have the students create their own Voki as a tool to share with the class information they have researched about a topic.

6.     Webpage

The standard that I felt went along with the webpage we created was 2c. This standard stated, “Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.” I thought that this standard goes well with creating a webpage because when we created our webpage we were able to be creative with it. We had the option of choosing our own topic for the webpage and using whatever format we wanted to for it. I think that this is something that is important for teachers to have for their own personal classroom. I will most likely not use this as a project to have my own students create but will use it for myself.

7.     Xtranormal

 The standard that I felt went along with the movie we created on xtranormal was 1b. This standard stated, “Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.” I thought that this standard went along with xtranormal activity because in it we created a scene where two avatars were making an infomercial. In mine I talked about the importance of not talking to strangers. This is a way that we a teacher can tell students important information but make it interesting for the students. This is also a way that students could have debates between characters or display their own information.

8.     Movie maker

The standard that I felt went along with the movie maker that we used was 2c. This standard stated, “Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.” I think that this standard goes along with the movie that we made in class because we used this as a way to express ourselves. This is a way to have students put their personal thoughts into learning. They would be able to show who they are by the use of a movie. I really enjoyed doing this activity and would like to have my students do it one day.

Facebook

~What is this person known for?
She is known for being a Chi Omega, working at Turkoyz, being a student at USM, and living in Jackson.

~What does this person value?
From her pictures you can tell that she values her friends, family, and boyfriend.

~Is this person committed to the growth of other people?
At first look it doesn't seem like she is but when you look at more of her pictures she seems to be. She has photos where she is helping with Make-A-Wish children and helping with youth. Her main concern is hanging around a specific group of friends and her sorority.

Ghostery

I found that Ghostery was a very informative tool. I thought that it was really interesting and scary to see how many different websites are tracking me online. I liked how Ghostery showed the ways that the different trackers were connected.

"Practical Advice for Teachers..."

This article is an interview with a teacher from Serbia named Snezana Markovic. In this Markovic talks about how she has integrated technologies into teaching education. She has used web tools of the students choosing to allow them to study a topic. Her students sets their own goals and even evaluate themselves. They learn at their own limits and tempo. She believes that students should be able to have a say in how they learn and they should use a tool that inspires them. The administrations of schools in their country does not allow the use of online education. She believes that in order for Serbia to better support education they must train teachers to use ICT and they must also change the concept of education from being centered around content to being centered around the students. The main piece of advice that she said she could give to students is that teachers MUST listen to their students. They need to hear what they have to say, their needs and opinions, and to get feedback from them.

Teachers' Expectations Can Influence How Students Perform

In this article Alix Spiegel talks about how a teacher believes a student will do in his or her class will have an impact on how they perform in the classroom. He states that if a teacher is led to think that certain students have a higher IQ then that teacher will help the student obtain a higher IQ. Teachers will give the students that they believe are going to succeed a longer amount of time to answer questions, give them more feedback, and show them their approval. They even smile at these children more. Research has shown that it really is not easy for teachers to control their expectations. In order to fully change this each teacher will have to be trained on a completely new way to behave. Spiegel wrote that if we are going to change the minds of the teachers we cannot simply change their mind. It is going to take more than that.

Video

PollDaddy Project

Xtranormal

Stranger Danger
by: StephanieRussum

Website

https://sites.google.com/site/msrussumskindergartenclassroom/home

Problem and Solution

The problem that I choose in class was the fact that I don't get enough hours at work. The random word that I choose was "bed." I have thought long and hard about how I could combine the two and most of my answers has lead up until a dead end. The only reasonable way that i could fix my work problem by using my bed is by simply being positive. If I spend more time sleeping in my bed while other people are busy working I will be more rested. That means that I will not be worn out when I do get to work or even in my classes.

My Voki

Walt Disney World Concept Map

Walt Disney World Resort

      The Walt Disney World Resort can be many things to a number of people. It can be a way to get away from the problems of life for a Make-A-Wish child. Families could see Disney World as a way to spend more time together and make memories. A college student could see Disney World as an internship helping them get in with a fortune 100 company. Teachers could view Disney World as a resource tool to get children involved in their classroom. Disney World is many things to many people, but to everyone it is a place to remember.

I.       Magic Kingdom

A.    Fantayland

1.    Dumbo the Flying Elephant

2.    Mad Tea Partty

B.    Tomorrowland

II.     Animal Kingdom

A.    Africa

1.    Kilimanjaro Safaris

     Kilimanjaro Safaris takes its guest right into the heart of an actual safari ride. Here there are multiple animals that would be seen on an actual safari in Africa. Some of these include the gazelle, elephant, cheetah, lion, and zebra. This isn't like a normal trip to the zoo though. The animals are not in cages, but are walking around the area. It is not uncommon for the driver to have to stop the bus for an animal to cross the road or for a giraffe to come up to the actual vehicle full of people. This is a great way for guests to interact and see animals in their natural setting. It makes learning about animals fun and interactive.

2.    Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

B.    Asia

III.    Disney College Program

       The Disney College Program is a four to six month internship that college students are able to apply for. Each student will either move to Walt Disney World or Disneyland for their program. During this they will stay in apartments with people from all over the country. This helps students to use to other cultures and how to adapt to living with people with different interests from your own. While on the program students will work in various areas on the properties. These roles could include merchandise, front entrance greeter, character attendant, character performer, and much more. The Disney College Program also provides its interns with a chance to take classes that are specific to their major, or will just better them in the job world all together. Students get the chance to attend seminars taught by some of the top employees for Walt Disney World.

A.    Earning

B.    Learning

C.    Living

1.    Travel

2.    Cultural Differences

IV.    Epcot

A.    Future World

            While all of Epcot is centered around learning, the future world showcase puts an interesting spin on it by using fun attractions. One of these attraction is called Soarin'. It is a hang gliding feeling attraction that takes you over multiple different areas on California. Some of the places include a orange field where you can actually smell the oranges, a hiking trail where you can smell the trees, an ocean that you can feel the breeze and multiple other settings. Another attraction is called The Seas with Nemo and Friends. This takes you into the movie Finding Nemo and teaches children about multiple parts of the ocean. Upon exiting the ride they have tanks of fish which children and families can view together. There are many more attractions here that relate back to education.

1.    Soarin'

2.    Living with the Land

B.    World Showcase

V.     Hollywood Studios

A.    Streets of America

B.    Hollywood Boulevard

1.    Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

2.    50's Prime Time Cafe

     Fifty's Prime Time Cafe is a restaurant located in Hollywood Studios that brings its guest back to what a household would be like in the 1950s. Guests sit at the dining room table and are waited on by a cast member who is the "Momma" or "Poppa" for the evening. The waiter or waitress not only takes the order and delivers the food to the guests, but they also interact with them on a comical level. They make sure that the guest do not put their elbows on the table, speak with their mouth full of food, or break any other table manners. This is a fun way for children, and sometimes even adults, to make sure that they have good manners. 

Nine Ways the Common Core Will Change Classroom Practice

In his article Robert Rothman breaks down nine very important differences the Common Core has from the old state standards. The first four are centered around mathematics while the fifth through ninth are based on changes in English language arts. The first is that the Common Core Standards are going to focus on fewer topics, but address each topic in greater depth. The second difference that the Common Core will introduce new topics that builds on each other in each grade. The third difference is that they clarify that each bit of mathematical knowledge is equal; there is not one that is most important. The fourth difference is that teachers must allow their students the opportunity to demonstrate the mathematical content that they have learned. The fifth difference is that they want to place a larger emphasis on nonfiction; half of the reading in elementary school should be nonfiction and seventy-five percent in high school should be nonfiction. The sixth difference is that students will be required to use evidence in their work rather than relying on their opinions of personal feelings. The seventh difference is that they must increase their level of difficulty on reading each year; teachers must select materials appropriate to their grade level. The eighth difference is that small group and whole –class discussion must be emphasized more because students must demonstrate speaking and listening skills. The last major change the common core will make is that students must be able to understand texts from other areas like history, science, and other technical subjects. These are big changes all at once, but most schools have the help of the state of private organizations

New technology welcomes students in Western Springs

This article written by Arcadia Kust is about a school that used technology to get their students in learning. The firth grade students at John Laidlaw Elementary School are now using Chromebooks in the classroom. This is a laptop that uses Google Chrome and Google Documents. The use of these new laptops has gotten students more excited and motivate about school work because it allows them to share more with other and receive more feedback from their instructors. Using Google documents students con write an essay on their computer at home, work on it in the classroom, have their instructor look at it, get their peers feedback, and even have students at other schools observe their work. The fifth grade is not the only one getting help from technology at this school though. The kindergarten through second graders have iPads to work with and the third and fourth graders use Macbooks. One of the teachers says in the article that by use of technology she has students who use to be reluctant writer come up for her asking what else can they do.

Four Ways to Teach the Common Core with Public Media

Matthew Green wrote this article about how educators can use the media in their classroom to meet Common Core State Standards (CCSS). KQED and PBS Learning Media are two aids that are given to help teachers engage students in content that is compelling and directly meets up with the standards. This article points out four different ways that an educator can use media to address some standards. The first is to emphasize informational text. The CCSS puts a big emphasis on students reading nonfiction and information texts. One way to incorporate media into this is to use updated radio and TV-based news coverage. The second is to focus on the argument. The CCSS requires students to read an argument in a text and also to write their own argument that supports a specific claim in a text. The article suggests that a teacher use video clips or audio from Prison break, a new TV series that is about the troubled prison system in California. The third way to use media to teach the common core is to push for media literacy. The CCSS stressed the need for students to be digitally confident and media savvy. One great way the article suggests a student do this is to examine the different way that the media has been used in the 2012 election, and how that has shaped the opinion of the public.  The final way is to encourage students to use the Internet to collaborate together and exchange their own ideas. The CCSS wants students to be a part of these online communities and to express their ideas with others without the restriction of their geographical location. Twitter and other social networks can be a great way for students to interact with other students they would not normally come in contact with.

Out-Of-School Settings Create Climate for New Skills

The article written by Nora Fleming talks about how out-of-school programs are using mobile gaming to reinforce lessons from schools and learning labs that help students create their own multimedia projects with the aid of digital tools. Ultimately these are new ways that technology helps students to keep learning when they are outside of the school doors.  These programs are ways to get children to be more engaged by helping them learn in new ways using digital and media skills rather than simply teaching. They are calling this new trend “connected learning.” The purpose of connected learning to incorporate kids passion into learning so that learning will become their passion. Children in this day and age need to have a bridge between the gap in what they are learning and the new experience in learning that are offered. This new system is so new that most are calling it a leap of faith to get started, but sometimes an educator must be willing to take a risk for their students.

Educators Evaluate ‘Flipped Classrooms’

In this article Katie Ash gets stories of teachers who are using a new approach to teaching called the “flipped classroom.” This is where teachers using videos, that can be sent home or played in class, to do most of the lecturing. This leaves the time in class to help students do hands-on activities and one-on-one work from teacher to student. Some teachers think that this is not an innovative way to engages students into learning more though, they believe that this is just a newer way of still using a lecture approach. The lecture is just at home and not in the classroom this time. One teacher uses the videos as a final aid for students. He first uses a guided inquiry method of teaching, then gets the students to complete lab work, and finally after then have learned all they can on their own he will introduce the video. Another way teachers are changing from a traditional classroom setting is by using a “mastery based” flipped classroom. This means that rather than students learning everything at once, they will be going through materials at their own pace. They watch the video, complete quizzes, perform labs, and even take tests when they are ready as opposed to with the entire class. These “flipped classrooms” are really just methods teachers are trying to use so that students who are not engaging in the classroom have a better chance of not being left behind. In the article one of the teachers interviewed stated, “It’s not going to make a bad teacher a good teacher.” Meaning that if a teacher thinks that flipping their classroom will make them automatically better is wrong, this is just another aid for them to use.

As K-12 classrooms go high-tech, colleges get more virtual

This article written by Sevil Omer and Devin Coldewey is centered around the major impact technology has made on grade schools as well as college. The grade school teachers are beginning to use more and more technology in their classrooms. While most teacher feel that technology is helpful n the classroom, many of them would like to see more whiteboards and tablets, and not outdated PCs. Cost is mainly the factor that is limiting most teachers from having the technology that they need. Although, some schools are requiring that all underclassman purchase iPads for this school year. Other schools are using video technologies to link multiple classrooms together so their students get higher-level courses that may not have been available to them without technology.  There are still some teachers who are skeptical about the use of technology though. They do not want this to be another aid in getting students to memorize and regurgitate information; they want it to be used as a way to create knowledge for them. When it comes to college, technology is becoming a way for students to learn in the comfort at home. Many believe that in the years to come students will spend less time on campus than they do taking online classes. School officials have argued over if this will be good for students, because a student can learn so much from mixing and mingling with those on campus that they would normally not be in a setting with. But no matter what a persons personal stance on technology in classroom is, they say that traditional lecture-and-test classrooms are on the way out the door.

Eight problems with Common Core Standards

This article written by Marion Brady goes into great detail about what is wrong with the Common Core Standards in the United States. This veteran teacher, administrator, curriculum designer, and author does not hesitate one bit on speaking out on how the Common Core is not something that will work and that it was poorly created. She states that it was put together with insufficient feedback from qualified educators, that there wasn’t enough research done, and that they did not conduce experimental programs before switching to these standards. Brady makes a list of eight problems with the Common Core. Her eight beliefs against the common core are:

1)   The standards shouldn’t be attached to a specific subject in school.

2)   Since the future isn’t discernible, we shouldn’t make a static strategy because it will end in failure.

3)   Children need to know much more than what only what is covered by the traditional core subjects.

4)   The level of childhood poverty is being ignored and that is a main reason for poor student performance

5)   The Common Core allows for no innovation.

6)   The Common Core is set up with the thoughts of national standardized tests in mind.

7)   American values are not in synch with the idea of standardized minds.

8)   The Common Core is made with the thought of college and careers in mind, when the young people should be exploring humanness.

Intro

Hello, My name is Stephanie Russum. I am 21 and am from Byram, MS. I am currently a junior by hours at the University of Southern Mississippi. I am pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. I have always had a passion for working with children. My previous experience with children span from babysitting, working at a summer camp, being a leader in Vacation Bible School, and working at a toy store in Downtown Disney. I am excited about a future filled with children in it because it brings me joy to work with them.