21st Century Skills

I think these are all valuable skills needed in today's technology based world. Just being able to use a computer or the Internet is not enough anymore. Almost all major communication in our society today is via technology. I believe at this moment I posses a few of these skills. I feel I am okay with play and being able to experiment to problem solve. As a college student and female I feel I am currently mastering the skill of multitasking. There is so much going on in one day. With distributed cognition, in my classes and online, I think I engage in new technology and information that expands my knowledge. Collective intelligence is what our podcast are about. In my group we are pooling our knowledge and information to create a thought out podcast.This class is teaching me Networking, and I feel I am still in learning mode here. Visualization is something that schools try to teach students early on with graphs and patterns, so I feel I am adequately prepared in this. The other skills on the other hand, I believe I must improve on. Performance seems fun, to alter your identity to fit the situation. I do not feel that I have had to deal with this one yet, but it seems like it will be soon to come. Simulation, Appropriation, TransMedia Navigation, and Negotiation I feel are things I have yet to work with or around yet. The only way to acquire these skills is to jump right in and do them. To start practicing them, or actively searching to learn them from others, because they are skills needed today.

Networked Student

I am slightly amazed and still confused when watching this video. I think becoming a networked student is something that students should do in certain classes, as part of them. If an entire class is based on what the students can learn and find on the Internet themselves there are loop holes and problems that can arise. One, how do you get all students to do this, enjoy it, and learn from it. After researching for my podcast, I've learned that a majority of the schools do not have an ample amount of computers in the classrooms; therefore, how can you expect students to create a PLN for an entire class. Two, this does not ensure that the material was properly learned. The students, no matter how much they learn to look for factual information, will always find many points of view and topics on any subject. Where do they narrow it down to? How much time will it take them to sift through all the information offered on the Internet to find what they need for one certain subject? There are so many questions I have for this topic.
I do think it is a valuable idea for the future. For the near future, I see it as difficult to monitor. I can honestly say I am not prepared for such a thing. There would be no need for me to study history if my students didn't need me to teach, but to show them techniques of finding information. I would be teaching them computer/Internet information instead of American History...

Dr. Miller

I like the idea Dr. Miller's videos are actually showing to the viewer. I like the fact he isn't just talking about it, but that his "presentation" actually shows us what he is talking about. I did think he made it a little bit boring. I don't really know what it was. It might have been the fact he was speaking in a lecture, "this is what I have to say..." kind of way. It was hard for me to follow and become interested.
I do believe that his idea is something that needs to be addressed in school. Although the schools are filled with books and print, the new life of reaching students is technology. Through visual and audio students listen and are able to see what is being taught. Not only that but with technology today, students, teachers, anyone is able to co-author anything on the Internet. To me, at some point this becomes scary. What then is real information, and what is crafted by the crazy person across the street. As for educational purposes I believe this technology will help create in our society the ability to communicate and work and learn via the Internet without classrooms and books; which can be good and bad.
I liked the end where he discussed sciences and humanities joining in a green building to collaborate. As a student here on campus, you see the main focus is on the automobile. I can not tell you how many students I've seen complain that our new dining hall is going to be a green building, which means there will be no additional parking for it. I think it's a marvelous idea and it will benefit the campus and students. Things like this should be considered when creating plans for construction and such at universities.

IPods in Instruction

I have considered ideas on using IPods in education. Apple has created many educational aspects to their products, not excluding their IPods. All the websites I looked at pretty much mentioned Podcast; which is something we have discussed in class. One suggestion I appreciated was using the basic use for music to get students interested in other cultures, to hear their music and speakers or movies. All basic IPods come with a picture viewer on it as well. Using this to being pictures to the students in a new and interesting way. They could view normal things, but it would be "on an IPod!" It would be a new cool technology thing. The students at Duke who received the IPod were able to use it in so many ways! One of the uses was to improve a foreign language accent by listening to the language on their IPod.

I think the biggest plus of using an IPod in education in our day and time, is the accessibility. One of the educational websites talked about the students liking the fact the audio and video possibilities are portable. You can put some ear plugs in anywhere; the doctor's office, the mall, car trips, in between classes, in your bed, the possibilities and places are endless. Not only can you take it with you anywhere, but you can stop the media and start it right where you left off later. You also have the ability to rewind to re-listen or watch something, or fast forward to a new thought.

One of the few cons, but it is a big one, is the price. One of the cheapest IPods that can show video and audio is in the $250 range; something most college students can't afford.

Links:
http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/t4/content/view/212/37/
http://cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf

ITunes U

I have visited ITunes U before and I love it. This idea puts distance learning in a whole new idea. Being able to download and listen to and even watch a lecture or educational video without having to pay for it makes being a teacher in our world a little easier. As a teacher and with what we have already talked about, has to be a continual learner. With waking up at the crack of dawn, running a classroom all day, grading papers, and trying to live life with a family; a teacher is pulled for time to learn new things. Yes there are workshops we can attend and websites we can read, but who has time or money to be informed like we need to be!?! With ITunes U, I can download lectures and new information from leading academic universities and take it with me in the car or during lunch, anytime I can really. That is so amazing and comforting to me!

As a college student, I see many of the same benefits. I have the opportunity to learn as much as I can about history, while in college. Adding ITunes U to my classes I am getting credits for and am taking here at South just doubles my learning and information to my students. For my students, ITunes is free and the ITunes U downloads are free as well; which means it would be open for them to get further information on things I can not get into my class time.

Dr. Christie's Google Earth Guide

I looked at Dr. Christie's Google Earth Guide. Since I am a Social Science major, geography will be a large part of my lesson plans. I had never really thought about using a tool like Google Earth to teach my students. First off, it's free!! Which means it can easily be incorporated into my lesson plans and lifestyle without bothering the school with monthly fee's. Secondly, it is updated regularly. This means that I will be able to continually show my students changing environments. This would also be a great tool for a Science teacher in so many ways!

Using this tool in a geography class would keep my students interested. Its a real life map that has been taken from satellites. Its new technology to them. Starting off would be key to keeping students interested. Maybe starting by searching a few students houses and mine would get them excited. Also, you can use this on one main computer and project it on the screen in a regular classroom, or make a geography project they could research in the library using Google Earth. I think using this would be a new technology that students could get interested in and enjoy... It seems easy too...