Saturday, November 29, 2014

Blog Post #5 part 2rainbowswithinreach.blogspot.com

My PLN is expanding everyday. The resources Dr. Strange has provided us has really helped me expand my learning on teaching. I now know how to use technology to help create lesson plans and ideas for my future classroom. The PLN idea is great it gives me a wide variety of ideas and opinions that I may have not thought of on my own. Some teachers may not give it much thought to post their lessons online, but to us beginners they are a big help to develop are own.
PLN: Personal Learning Network Time to LINK UP!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Blog Post #14

Problems and their solutions stated by: Joel Klein. He emphasizes on professionalizing teaching.


  1. Pick from the best.  Start with the academic training for teachers. We need to look at a new approach in recruiting teachers. Rewarding teachers should help enforce great and productive teaching. 
  2. Seniority Distraction. Job security and seniority dictate how schools operate. Professionalizing teaching means that excellence would be the guiding hallmark.
  3. Radical Changes. Teachers should establish their own standards. Lastly, teachers would abandon their support for mandatory assignment of kids to neighborhood schools in favor of "the greatest possible choice among public schools."



Academic training should be enforced for teaching. While some simply just have a degree in the field with no education degree, can become teachers. I agree, that teachers should be educated. Some teachers go over and beyond to teach their students as to some who simply do what they have to do to get by. The teachers who go over and beyond should be rewarded for their handwork. Seniority distraction can determine how schools operate. Experienced teachers end up in middle class schools, while the poor kids receive teachers who are not always effective. Radial changes would allow teachers to establish their own guidelines. Teachers would then be promoted based on specialty exams. 



Professionalizing teaching would give the teachers the respect they deserve. As teachers, we guide the next generation of doctors, lawyers, and everything else kids want to be. Providing teachers with the best academic before they get out on their own only benefits the students. Rewards help boost teachers work. Seniority can be a good thing or bad thing. A young teacher who works his or her tail off may be cut because they were the new hire vs. the teacher who has been their for 10 years that sits down everyday. Teachers should be able to write their standards. They see what is going on in the classroom everyday. 

The Professionalization teaching

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Blog Post #13

Write a Blog Post on what you have learned in EDM310 so far.




When I signed up for EDM310 I didn't know what to expect. It is my first semester at USA, I transferred from a two-year college. I am very knowledgeable on how technology can be incorporated in to the classroom. When I was growing up it was just pencil and paper, but times have changed. I learned multiple ways to integrate technology with lesson plans. I have also built my personal learning network in the process. Dr. Strange has also shared with us some great resources to look back at when I develop my own classroom. I am also knowledgable on how to create a book trailer which would be really fun for my future students. I have learned a lot about the SMART board and how the functions work. I can not wait to use all my knowledge gained from EDM310 in my classroom.
robinsonkelseyedm310.blogspot.com

Friday, November 14, 2014

C4K November

Cameron V,

Mission 1 T walkers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 On Digital Passport I watched a video and i saw when to use our devices in the right place at the right time.                                                                                you must not use it when your at a friends house and you can use it when your mom can pick you up.
Mission 2 Share jumpers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     In this lesson it teaches you what you should share and how.                                                                                                                                                                             I learnt that you should not share inappropriate things because people are watching.

My comment:
Hi Cameron,
I am Paula Holt. A student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I agree there is a time and place to use devices. At a friends house you want to make as many memories with that friend rather than being glued to your cell phone. It is a great way to build a life long friendship. There is always things that should be kept a secret with yourself. Everyone does not have to know every little thing. Do you have any secrets that you keep to yourself?


<a href="http://holtpaulaedm310.blogspot.com">Paula Holt</a>



Kurt,
My left picture is before I printed and the one on the right is when its on paper, and printed.
fish drawn on styrofoam

painted fish with blue water

My comment:
Kurt,
I am Paula Holt a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I love print making. We just we over this in my art class. I am in the process of making my own print. You did a very good job on this. It is taking me a while to figure out what I want to draw. I hope you are enjoying school.
<a href="http://holtpaulaedm310.blogspot.com/">Paula Holt</a>

C4T #4

Post #1
Annie Palmer,
Some of the greatest lessons I learned were on a softball field as a young adult.  Oftentimes, I find myself making connections between that context of learning and the context of learning about instruction.  Let’s make a comparison between a coach on a softball field and a teacher in a classroom and tie it all into feedback, which is one of the most powerful strategies in improving student achievement.
1. During any given practice, a softball player does not receive a score on their performance, but rather specific feedback, such as “hit the middle of the ball” or “keep your head tucked in when swinging.”  This feedback is specific and directed towards one particular player.
What this means for feedback in the classroom: Do not mistake scores for feedback.  Scores are oftentimes an end result and sends the message that learning is done.  Instead, give feedback in relation to the learning target and success criteria in the form of a verbal conversation or written explanation, not a number.  In addition, focus feedback on individuals as opposed to whole-class feedback.
2. When a coach enthusiastically yells “Way to go!” to a player, there’s a sense of pride and accomplishment. It makes them feel good. This is important; however, it also does not give feedback on improvement.
What this means for feedback in the classroom: There is a place for praise in the classroom. But, research shows that praise affect’s a student’s ego, not their achievement.  And, when given in tandem with feedback, praise dissipates the power of the feedback.  The lesson: give praise in the classroom, just separate it from feedback.
3. A coach does not wait until the end of practice and definitely not until the end of the season to give instruction to their players. Feedback is constantly given in the act of learning.
What this means for feedback in the classroom:  The most powerful form of feedback is in the form of formative assessment, done daily and in the act of learning.  A teacher’s “aha’s” about student learning should come daily or weekly as opposed to that happening as a summative assessment is graded.
What other analogies can you think of connecting coaching and instruction through the lens of feedback?  I would love to hear your ideas!


My Comment:
I found this post very interesting. I as well played softball all year round for over half my life. It caught my attention that someone has compared teaching to coaching. I think feedback should be directed towards one student for his or her accomplishment than as a class. Once you see someone struggling or needing a fix it is best to assess the moment when you see it as to waiting until it is to late. I do agree that grades give the illusion that we are done learning on that and it is not the case we are always learning. Great post. It has opened my eyes to the one thing I love and the one thing I want to become. 
EDM310 Student at the University of South Alabama.
Paula Holt




Post #2


Darren Fix,
This is a good discrepit event to start a conversation on heat energy. Ice cubes are placed on blocks made of different materials (although students aren't aware of that). One ice cube melts at a much faster rate than the other. The block that melted the ice cube faster feels colder than the other. Students are quick to predict/assume that the warmer block would have melted the ice cube faster. This leads to a critical thinking discussion of how heat energy flows and the ability of materials to conduct heat better or worse than others. 


My comment: 
I am a student at the University of South Alabama enrolled in EDM310. This is a great way to show students energy and heat. This allows the students to engage and see the actual thing happen. Great post,thank you for sharing. 

Project #12 Part B Group 4

We will be teaching First Grade how to add and subtract whole numbers.
 Lesson Plan


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Blog Post #12

Blog Post #12 Collaborative Group #4

A. This video is just about introducing what Assistive Technology is and why it is important to have the classroom. For example, you could have a blind child in the classroom and as a result they will require a different approach to learning. They are just as smart and able and their able-bodied counterparts. They just need a different kind of help.


B. Apple has a range of technological options to help those who have disabilities live their lives to the fullest with their technology.


For the users with vision problems the “Voice Over” will read the screen to them. For those with hearing problems they can access the “Face Time” feature on the phone and can then converse with people face to face. For the users who have diminishing motor skills can utilize the “AssistiveTouch” features in the IOS. The IOS also has features to assist those with attention deficit or cognitive disabilities stay on task.


  1. The Mountbatten brailler is introduced to be a way to incorporate the blind into the classroom curriculum. This device allows the student to type what he or she is trying to say and the device prints the message in braille and reads the message back to the student in the process. The Mountbatten saves files and is able to transfer and receive files from the computer. This gives the blind an opportunity to achieve all academic goals they have set for themselves.
a mountbatten brailler
By: Paula Holt










  1.      Technology never ceases to amaze me!! In Teaching Math to the Blind, Professor Karshmer discusses the difficulties of teaching math to the blind while he demonstrates how to use his innovative device that will make it simple and easy to teach math to the visually impaired.
                 For sighted children, it is very easy to explain a math problem on the board because        
           they can see how the numbers line up vertically. They then can add/subtract/divide/                                     
           multiply accordingly. But for blind students, Braille does not line up just so. Their            
           numbers stay linear and they can only read them from left to right. This makes math way  
           harder for them to figure out. But with Professor Karshmer’s device, students can scan
           numbered tiles which tells them what number each tile is. They then can place it
           anywhere on the board and line up tiles to make problems easier for them to feelbraillepic.gif
           and figure out. Such a simple creation but it has a remarkable impact on it’s particular set
           of students. I personally have a very close friend who is blind and just from talking to
           him I know that it is extremely difficult to get a job if you are blind. With math skills your
           chances increase drastically. That’s why technology is such a huge must for students
           with special needs.
  1.     Another more familiar piece of technology that is becoming increasingly important for the blind is the Ipad. It’s so refreshing to see something so popular being put to good use
           for once! After watching ipad Usage for the Blind, I’m so amazed at what Apple has
           done! Using the Ipad for the blind is simple and so easy for them to hear and understand
           what they are doing while they are using their Ipad. This opens so many doors for them.
           Now they can create and store all kinds of information and easily access it without any
           outside help. I know that there are other forms of technology that have been made
           accessible for the blind, but according to my friend who is blind, most of these devices
           are very expensive. An Ipad isn’t cheap but it is attainable. It is also being used more
           and more in schools. This gives special needs teachers an easy tool to interact with
           with their blind students and give them a chance to feel in control! By: Taylor Gray





  1. Denise shows us how learning on the ipad is simple and easy for someone who is blind. By simply running your finger over the screen the ipad tells you what app or program you are about to click on. It is set to double tap, so when you are over the app you need you can double tap anywhere on the screen and it opens the app. The keyboard is the same way making it easier to send messages for someone who can only hear. This is a great tool for a blind person to communicate with the world. I feel this is a great aspect and will go a long way for the people who simply can’t see, but have all the dreams just like the ones of people with vision.
By: Paula Holt
  1. Special Education isn’t for everyone. It takes a calm, cool, collected, organized , and confident person to work with the special needs. Teaching can become overwhelming, so it is great to have a variety of options in your PLN. Working with parents and other teachers can offer many new ideas to help the special needs. Jeff Dunn has created an article 50 Must-See Blogs For Special Education Teachers.  This article provides 50 blogs for you to add into your PLN. Jeff has broke them down into different groups making them easier to find what you need. Special Education Teaching Tips and Strategies, Technology and Assistive Technology, Special Topics, Special Education News and Policy, Special Education Law, and Various Topics on Special Education. Expanding your PLN allows you access to many ideas you can incorporate in your lesson plans.

          learning knows no bounds
By: Paula Holt

Thursday, November 6, 2014

c4t #3

http://teachhighschoolmath.blogspot.com/2013/04/have-students-teach-class-student.html


The student engagement wheel is introduced. When you teach your students something and they know the material and can use it gives students excitement that they can teach their classmates. The student engagement wheel describes different parts of how students should be engaged with each other and you.


my comment:


I am a student in EDM310 at USA. I love the student engagement wheel. I love getting everyone involved and making the learning process easy as possible. Students are more inclined to learn material from their peers. A student myself I have always learned material I struggled with from my classmates. Different styles of teaching from those who are just students.

<a href="http://holtpaulaedm310.blogspot.com">Paula Holt</a>

student engagement chart