Blog Post 6 - How A PLN Will Change Your Life

Okay...maybe it won't actually change your life, but it will definitely make surfing the internet a lot more convenient! The PLN (Personal Learning Network) system I chose was Symbaloo, and yes, when I first created my account, I was dreading whatever work was awaiting me. However, I quickly became amazed that I was never aware of this website until now. I actually chose to make my Symbaloo my home web address because I like the setup so much.

A PLN is something that every educator should be aware of, as well as something that every student should make use of. I have been in college for three years now, and I really wish someone had told me about PLN's sooner because I think mine will really help to keep my web searches, social networking, homework, and entertainment options organized in a neat way. A PLN is something that should be used to help you, not annoy you...and why would it? These things are great! PLN's are a tool used to access multiple different accounts and/or sites at one time, from one central location. Symbaloo makes use of the "app" look and has all of your tiles draggable, which is really nice if you're already used to using an iPhone or other Mac product. Instead of a Google image search result of Symbaloo, I actually screenshot my personal Symbaloo, see below:

When I become an educator, I will be absolutely positive that I teach my students about PLN's because I know that they will be forever grateful that I taught them to use Symbaloo, as an example, as early as I did. For me, personally, Symbaloo is really convenient when you're doing homework or planning a wedding...both of which I am currently doing. I am in the process of adding several wedding website tiles to my Symbaloo in order for me to keep up with all of my important dates, people whom I've booked to do a job at my wedding, and of course, my personal wedding website. This PLN thing will also be great for my insane amounts of social networking, checking my email, and online shopping (hello, Forever 21!).

P.S. The Symbaloo link at the beginning of my blog is my personal Symbaloo, so feel free to follow me there!

Welcome to My Personal PLE
Developing a PLN in EDM 310
Building Your PLN-A Primer For Anyone

Project 8 - Rainbow Fish Book Trailer

Blog Post 5 - Conversations with Anthony Capps

What I gathered from these videos was that the general consensus for learning is to teach by example, not just by following a strict curriculum. Teaching children in a classroom is the same as teaching a child how to ride a bike-they have to try it themselves or they will never get the hang of it. You could learn every little detail about how a bike is made, watch YouTube videos on how to ride a bike, or even have conversations with avid bike riders, but you will never figure it out until you try it.

“We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction.” -Malcolm Gladwell

In Dr. Strange's conversations with Anthony Capps, I thought his comment about teaching children about Project Based Learning to learn through their experiences instead of focusing on their (possible) shortcomings was so insightful. I believe it is too easy, as teachers, to draw too much attention to what a student may need to work on for the sake of their grades, instead of remembering that the most important part of teaching is to ensure that your students are becoming independent learners. Don't get me wrong, the content is important...but only to an extent. A student could write an entire paper about the Civil War and have crazy good material and a ton of reliable sources, but if they can take nothing away from this assignment, what good has it done? Will he/she really know anything more about the Civil War than they knew before?

The use of icurio in the classroom reminds me a lot of Dropbox, only with an enhanced search engine feature. There is nothing more interesting than watching a child learn how to use a new form of technology right before your eyes! Most people were terrified of the internet when it was first being used, and Google, what the heck is that about? But, now people are using Google's search engine without thinking twice. No one doubts Google. No one doubt the accuracy of the sources we find on the internet. I believe, along with Anthony Capps, that this is one of the breakthroughs that the education world needed. Teachers need a way to find materials, to show their students how to learn by searching on their own, and a place to save their findings. I think this would be an awesome tool to make use of in the classroom.

In Strange Tips for Teachers, Anthony Capps said that one of the most important thing to remember is to always be a learner! If you can take nothing away from your lesson, yourself, then what good did your teaching methods do for your students? How will your teaching ever impact lives if you allow yourself to stop being a learner as well? I know I love to watch children learn, but I also love to learn new things for myself. Tonight, for example, I learned a crash course on iMovie from my soon-to-be brother-in-law, becaus I used his Mac to do my video assignment. This brings me to my next point about the video Use Tech, Don't Teach It where Mr. Capps discusses the importance of not trying to teach our kids how to use technology, but instead, teaching them BY using technology. I have had a YouTube account for years )mostly because it is linked to my Google account), but I have never uploaded anything to it before-had I not been given an assignment where I was forced to use it, I probably would have never learned how to. The most fun thing I have seen used in a classroom is child interactions with a Smart Board without the constant supervision of a teacher. I am doing field service hours right now and the first grade classroom I am in has a "center" that is typing their spelling word on the Smart Board by using the touch screen on the board. I was so amazed to watch six-year olds use the board way better than I could have! Kids are way smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.

All in all, I learned that teaching is important, but learning is even more important, and that if we allow our children to be exposed to all that the internet and technology world have to offer, they will most likely be better off because of it. Our students want interaction and they want to learn, but they want to feel like what they are doing at school will be useful to them later in their lives and careers. The following picture shows a couple students using the Smart Board in their classroom on their own.

Project 7 - My Sentence & My Passion

So...I did take this assignment very seriously, but I had to have fun with it because I'm too silly to not enjoy things like this! I hope you enjoy this taste of my goofy personality on camera.

Blog Post 4 - How to Ask Questions in the Classroom

How do we know what questions are the right questions to ask? How do we know that our questions will benefit our students? What types of questions will help with our teaching methodology? As a teacher, it is so important to be continuously learning; the day that we stop learning is the day that our teaching careers become jeopardized. It seems, today, that so many teachers are gradually forgetting that their students are not the only ones in the classroom, but that they are in an environment of learning, as well. I believe that asking questions will, not only provide new ways of thinking for our students but, allow us to continue to learn from our students, as well.

While reading Asking Questions to Improve Learning, I learned that it is important to not ask questions that can be misleading to a younger mind. Asking a question that can help sculpt their mind should, surprisingly, be open-ended because it forces students to think critically. When a question is left without much explanation from the teacher, the student is able to assess what they know and formulate a legitimate response, or it can cause them to realize that they really need to learn a topic more in-depth. As I previously stated in my summary of Marc Prensky's vlogs, it is equally as important to remind children that it is okay to not answer every question correctly; we need to teach them that thinking deeper and more uniquely is the important task. Besides, we all know that it is adorable and entertaining to see what kind of responses you can get from a small child. I once asked my seven-year old niece (today is her birthday, Happy Birthday Ella Bug!) if she knew much about about the atmosphere or the solar system because she asked me how we were able to tell that it was cold enough for her to have to wear a jacket. I asked her, "What do you think the solar system is?" To which she responded, "Well, I know there are planets. Lots of them. And I know that the sun is really, really hot, but I'm confused about something. How has the sun not burned up the whole Earth?" Now, I'm no science major, but I said the first thing I could come up with, "Well, Ella, there's this thing called the atmosphere that protects us from all the harmful stuff in outer space. AND the sun is actually reeeeally far away from us right now." Back to Ella, "Okay, but what about this whole spinning thing? We're spinning right now?! I don't feel a thing!" Me- "Yes! We are spinning, but we're doing it so slowly that we can't feel it." Ella-"How come we don't spin around and hit other planets and run into the sun? Why hasn't the Earth like blown up or something by now? This makes no sense. I just wanted to know why it's cold outside." Me-"I know it makes no sense. I have no real reason for anything. I just know it's cold and you're going to wear a coat. Got it?" Ella-"Got it, boss."

That story is a perfect example of why I have to be a teacher! I have to be asked difficult questions, give my best answers, and ask silly questions back to my students. I have to watch them learn because it makes my heart happy to see their little faces light up with joy! Asking questions is so important for teachers to do because it benefits the students' ability to think long-term; however, it is also important to always remember that our students will probably ask us the most important questions ever. Young minds are eager to learn, and while their thoughts may seem goofy at times, they are genuine and we need to appreciate that. Always be grateful that you get to learn WITH your students!

Project 3 - Project Based Learning & ACCRS

Summary of Marc Prensky - C4T #1

How Can We Encourage Quality Storytelling in Our Children?
In Marc Prensky's video about quality storytelling, he talks about the importance of enhancing the imaginations of our children. His philosophies for teaching have taken my creative mind to an entirely new level and I can't wait to put some of my ideas in action. I, too, believe it is so important to inspire children to be happy and silly and maybe a little weird sometimes because those are the traits that make them who they are! As teachers, it is our job, early on, to teach children that being different is perfectly okay and to be a constant reminder that they are capable of anything they put their minds to. Some children may not be raised in the happiest settings, and teachers may be the only bright faces they see on a regular basis. We have to always remember to treat them with the respect we would want someone to treat our children with. Creativity seems to be something that is being taken out of the classroom, unless the "creativity" is via technology. I remember an assignment I had in high school-I was asked to create a child's book on a specific topic in a history class, and I loved every minute of it. Every child needs an opportunity to do something that uses the right side of their brain and requires unique skills.

How Do We Teach Children to be Brave to be Wrong and Ask Questions?
In this video, Marc Prensky discusses the importance of answering questions-not just answering correctly, but just answering. He says that they "need to be afraid to not fail a little bit", and that games are one of the best ways to make children more comfortable with quick thinking and even quicker responses. His idea about using different things in the classroom to help make children more comfortable is innovative and incredibly helpful, in my opinion. He also suggests the use of cameras in the classroom to cut down the shyness factor. There is nothing wrong with being shy or nervous or even wrong! The problem lies within the fear of being wrong and we, as future educators, need to teach our children that it is okay to be a little wrong sometimes because we are all constantly learning. I think it would be helpful, too, to have days where the children can tell YOU about new things and have them be the teacher for a minute. It would help them to feel important and smart, and be a reminder that it's okay to admit you don't know something, but you should never be afraid to try to learn more about it.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about some new, fun idea to use in the classroom from Marc Prensky. I also loved getting a little bit of insight about his opinion of creativity in students. I have included a fun picture I found of Marc Prensky that I found online!

Blog Post 3 - Peer Editing

"Editing should be, especially in the case of old writers, a counseling rather than a collaborating task. The tendency of the writer-editor to collaborate is natural, but he should say to himself, ''How can I help this writer to say it better in his own style?'' and avoid ''How can I show him how I would write it, if it were my piece?'"
-James Thurber

Everyone has peer edited at some point, whether it be purposeful because it was an assignment or if you were simply browsing the internet and saw something that could use some work. It's time to face facts- we are critical beings. There is nothing more offensive than having a 'Picky Patty' for a friend...oh wait, there is and her name is 'Mean Margaret'. I believe that when editing someone else's work, it is important to remember the golden rule, because if you wouldn't want someone to be harsh to you, you should have the same amount of dignity not to do it to them. Staying positive is the number one rule for effectively editing your peer's work, because no one wants to hear anything you have to say if they feel like all you do is tear them down.

In my opinion, these rules should always be written in order:

1. Compliments:When complimenting someone, you should never be overly nice. Coming from someone who constantly feels bad for being the least bit offensive to others, I know it is difficult to keep from repeatedly apologizing for having to do an assignment.

2. Suggestions:From the Peer Editing video, there are five things to remember to look for-word choice, details, organization, sentence structure and topic. Did your peer use a wide range of words? Did they use detailed explanations? Was their writing organized? Was the sentence structure easy to follow? Did they stay on topic?

3. Corrections: This is the most annoying step for both parties. The person editing has to point out every grammatical error they can find and the writer has to go back and fix every bit of it. Man, I don't miss my paper writing days.


I know I hate to let most people read anything I have written for fear of looking a) silly, or b) like I'm trying too hard. There is nothing more embarrassing than having someone pick apart everything you do, then throwing your opinion back in your face like it is garbage. I believe in constructive criticism, but in the setting of a blog, I believe it is most important to remember that my blog is mine and your blog is yours. I will never 100% agree with everything that everyone says and I will never expect those around me to agree with everything I say, but respect for other's should be kept in mind. It can be difficult to not be a 'Whatever William' when you're trying to brush things off your shoulder, but in the end, what is getting offended going to do? Nothing for me and nothing for you. Words are words and freedom of speech isn't going anywhere.

Also, without peer reviews, where would our world of literature be?! There would be books all over the world that are poorly written all because someone didn't want to offend their friend or the author was scared of getting offended. Literature in paper form is already fading away, and we all know computers can fix most errors that may appear. Thank the good Lord for computers (sometimes).

Basically, peer editing is super important, but it is only useful if everyone involved can do so with a Sweet Susie attitude!